Announcements
So first let me give you an update on what’s going on right now around the church.
· All events and classes, bible studies are canceled until further notice
· As you can tell we are only streaming our service @ 10am until further notice
· What happens if we get confined to our homes?
o I will stream church from home, we are setting up for that now
· What about Easter?
o The honest answer is we don’t know
o We are, just like you, taking things one day at a time
· What about Tithing?
o We have an online option (the link is in the description)
o You can mail it (PO Box 185, Haysville KS, 67060)
o Or drop it off at the church
o Days of the week: Wednesday’s and Friday’s
o Times: 8am–10am and 5pm-7pm
· What can I do?
o We have a hotline set up at the church (316-260-5382)
§ If you have needs, please call
o Stay in contact with your small groups/bible studies
o Use the buddy system (hook with another member and stay in contact)
· How can we stay spiritually fed during this time?
o We will have weekly content (devotionals, Q and A, daily word)
o Read your Bible with your family
o Use RightNow media
Covid19
Week 2
Our response
Matthew 22:37–40 (NIV)
37 Jesus replied: “ ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’
38 This is the first and greatest commandment.
39 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’
40 All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”
“Comfort and prosperity have never enriched the world as much as adversity has.”
Billy Graham
With everything going on!
With all the things going on today, the mass hysteria, everyone running scared, the media filling our heads full of panic and worry, it’s time to take a breath! I wish I had answers to your questions, I wish I could tell you this will all be over soon, I can’t.
Just like you, I struggle with all this, I get discouraged, I get angry, I get scared, and feel lost!
And Jesus knows how you feel and what we are going through, and we all have to remember He has a purpose in this, and He is at work, and He wants us to remember we also have a purpose and mission in this as well!
Heard this song and thought wow, it fits!
Moses had stage fright
And David brought a rock to a sword fight
You picked twelve outsiders nobody would've chosen
And You changed the world
Well, the moral of the story is
Everybody's got a purpose
So when I hear that devil start talking to me, saying
"Who do you think you are?" I say
And David brought a rock to a sword fight
You picked twelve outsiders nobody would've chosen
And You changed the world
Well, the moral of the story is
Everybody's got a purpose
So when I hear that devil start talking to me, saying
"Who do you think you are?" I say
I'm just a nobody trying to tell everybody
All about Somebody who saved my soul
Ever since You rescued me, You gave my heart a song to sing
I'm living for the world to see nobody but Jesus
All about Somebody who saved my soul
Ever since You rescued me, You gave my heart a song to sing
I'm living for the world to see nobody but Jesus
How fitting is that today?!
All throughout the bible, God used ordinary people to do extra ordinary things in people’s lives
And we are no different. This time we are in right now needs God's people to step up and make sure the world sees Jesus!
So, let’s take that deep breath, and look at what Jesus might just want us to be doing right now!
Before we even begin to talk about what we can be doing, let’s take a minute and never forget God is in control!
Daniel 4:3 (NIV)
3 How great are his signs, how mighty his wonders! His kingdom is an eternal kingdom; his dominion endures from generation to generation.
· Nothing can tear down or destroy God's reign over the earth and His people
· His kingdom is not just here on this earth, but overall the heavens and earth!
Isaiah 41:10 (ESV)
10 fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
· God assures us He is with us
· He will help us
· And He will hold us up
· In times like this, we have to anchor to Jesus!
And we have a great big brother who is there for us to lean on!
Hebrews 4:15–16 (ESV)
15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin.
16 Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
· Our Father sent us a big brother in Jesus
· To be the one who goes to bat for us
· And helps us when we need it the most
· So, it is in times like this that we lean on Him the most
o It's where we find our strength
o It's where we find peace and calm in the storm
· And right now, we are in a mighty storm
Satan is all up in this!
He is just walking around, looking for trouble!
Job 1:7 (ESV)
7 The Lord said to Satan, “From where have you come?” Satan answered the Lord and said, “From going to and for on the earth, and from walking up and down on it.”
And our fight is not just the virus
Ephesians 6:12 (ESV)
12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.
· We know that the real fight is not a virus
· The real fight is with the panic and hysteria that is coming with it
· We all know what we have to do
· And we can’t stop the virus
· We have to deal with it
· But Satan is using it to his advantage
Satan is a happy camper right now!
John 10:10 (ESV)
10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.
· He is using this to cause anxiety
· To cause fear and panic
· He loves to see business shut down
· And schools closed
· Sporting events shut down
· And people, business, and even countries on the brink of financial ruin
· He is dancing for joy over churches closed with no way for God's people to gather and worship
· He thinks this is his time to shine!
But I think Jesus has different plans! Jesus is the best at taking the bad and turning it to good!
· He turned 12 ordinary men into world changers
· He used a sinful king to bring us a savior
· And turned the ultimate image of torture and death (the cross) into a symbol of hope and peace!
It’s time that we love one another, help one another!
39And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’
Billy Graham said it best:
“it’s the Holy Spirits job to convict, God's job to judge, and My job to love!”
Let me tell you my observations and thoughts about how we can do that!
1. Jesus is making us rely on Him and His wisdom
· We are all in uncharted territory
· There is not one single person in the world that feels safe; like they have the answers
· And now more than ever people are looking for something to anchor to
· And it’s our job as believers to take Jesus’s message of hope to the world
· Our money can’t save us
· Our stuff can’t protect us
· Only Jesus can give us the security of a life everlasting
2. Jesus is telling us to use this time to slow down our lives and evaluate what’s really important!
· We are getting the time to stop and evaluate our lives
· We are getting the opportunity to reconnect with friends and family
· We are getting the time to spend with the ones that mean the most
· I tell people at every funeral I do that we live crazy busy lives
o And to not forget the ones who a suffering
· Jesus has seen the hectic crazy pace we all live
· And He is saying “Satan wants you to panic, I want you to see the blessing in slowing down and loving people”
· And as I venture out, I am seeing that
o And if you believe, please be the calm in the storm
o Be patience
o Love on people
o Be kind
o Show mercy
3. Jesus wants us to use this time to bring the family back together
· Families can finally slow down
· Reconnect
· I see the most encouraging things
o Family out walking and biking
o Playing in the yard
· I see FB post of family’s teaching school at home
o Making it fun
o Learning life skills
· I see heads bowed around a dinner table
· Games being played
· Forts being built (by dad engineers)
4. Jesus will use this kind of crisis to bring neighbors together
· I am seeing neighbors helping each other
· Communities banding together
· And as believers we need to be in the middle of it all
o Showing the world that even in times like these
o We can love one another, help one another!
Jesus said: shine my light!
“Everywhere I go I find that people... both leaders and individuals... are asking one basic question, 'Is there any hope for the future?' My answer is the same, 'Yes, hope does not rest in the affairs of the world. It rests in hope that is Jesus Christ.” Billy Graham
· So, let’s do just that
· Let’s rest our hope in Jesus
· Let’s not walk in fear,
· let’s walk in love
· clothed in compassion, and kindness
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