06-26-11 PM - How To Rule Like An Elder

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 HOW TO RULE LIKE AN ELDER

1 Peter 5:1-4 The elders which are among you I exhort, who am also an elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed: Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind; Neither as being lords over God's heritage, but being ensamples to the flock. And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away.

Titus 1:6-9 An elder must be blameless, the husband of but one wife, (there are differing opinions on what this means) a man whose children believe and are not open to the charge of being wild and disobedient. Since an overseer is entrusted with God's work, he must be blameless--not overbearing, not quick-tempered, not given to drunkenness, not violent, not pursuing dishonest gain. Rather he must be hospitable, one who loves what is good, who is self-controlled, upright, holy and disciplined. He must hold firmly to the trustworthy message as it has been taught, so that he can encourage others by sound doctrine and refute those who oppose it.  Can anyone fit into this tall order?
1. A LOOK AT PETER (VS.1)

A. I am an elder-
B. I am an eye-witness to the sufferings of Christ-
C. I witnessed his glory-

2. A LOOK AT ELDERS DUTIES (VSS.2-3)
“Feed the flock of God”

a. Lead willingly not by force:

1Cor. 9:16 For though I preach the gospel, I have nothing to glory of: for necessity is laid upon me; yea, woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel! 2Cor. 5:14 For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead:

John 4:34  Jesus saith unto them, My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work.

1Thes. 2:8 So being affectionately desirous of you, we were willing to have imparted unto you, not the gospel of God only, but also our own souls, because ye were dear unto us.

Rev. 22:14 Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.

b. Lead without personal gain as a priority.
- Nor as a profession
- Nor as a means for livelihood
- Nor as a means to serve humanity
- Nor because someone says you have a gift
- Nor because people say you would make a great minister

NEVER to be “the reason” for entering the ministry.

Phil. 3:8 Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ.

c. Lead without lording but by example.                                         

The King James says don’t Lord over God’s heritage. And the NIV says don’t lord over those entrusted to you.                                                     

Mk. 10:42-44 But Jesus called them to him, and saith unto them, Ye know that they which are accounted to rule over the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and their great ones exercise authority upon them. But so shall it not be among you: but whosoever will be great among you, shall be your minister: And whosoever of you will be the chiefest, shall be servant of all.

3. A LOOK AT THE REWARD (VS4)

And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away.

Matthew 25:23 His lord said unto him, “well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.”

Rev. 3:11 Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown.

06-26-11 AM - Write the Vision Plain

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WRITE THE VISION PLAIN

For any organization to grow it takes several things.
• Creativity in the way it conducts itself.                                                               
• Willingness to change.                                                                                              
• Leadership that is willing to make hard choices.
• Clarity for overarching purpose. This keeps the focus intentional.

The church as a whole was given one mandate from the Lord in Matthew28:19-20 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."
“If you continue to do what you have always done you will continue to get the results you have always got.”

Habakkuk 2:2 Then the Lord replied: "Write down the revelation (vision) and make it plain on tablets so that a herald may run with it.
Pro 29:18a Where there is no vision, the people perish:

“If your church closed its doors today would your community be affected, would they even care?”

Maturity (by that I mean we need to have honest dialogue in a safe and healthy environment where we can be heard but ultimately follow the leading of the leaders the Lord has put in front of us)

Flexibility ( by that I mean we may all have to surrender some of the things we thought sacred because of longevity, and we may be called accept something we don’t have completely figured out)

Unity ( by that I mean we cannot do this with a handful of people. We need to have all of us on board and chase after a new adventure as the Lord leads. We have always been a church that has operated in unity and now is not the time to stop).

Energy (energy management) and time as well as finances and gain continuity with all our ministries.

Goal: Make Disciples. What is a disciple? Allow response Disciples:
1. Personally pursuing Christ.
2. Involved in a community of believers.
3. Serving out of their giftedness where ever there is a need.
4. Mentoring or reproducing.

Love God                     Love People          Serve w/Passion
Celebration Service      Life Groups           Outreach in the community
                                    C.L.U.                   Ministries in your giftedness

06-19-11 AM - The Father's Day Blessing

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Gen 27:1-34

"The Blessing."

I. THE FIRST INGREDIENT WAS A MEANINGFUL TOUCH
Notice vs. 22, "Jacob went close to his father Isaac, who touched him."
Vs. 26 says, "Then his father Isaac said to him, `Come here, my son, & kiss me."

In Mark 10 people brought children to Jesus so that He could touch them. Jesus took them & placed them on his knee, & laid His hands upon them, & the scripture says, "He blessed them."

II. THE SECOND INGREDIENT WAS A WORD OF AFFECTION & LOVE
27, "Ah, the smell of my son is like the smell of a field. . ."

"You’re worth something. You’re such a good little boy or girl. I’m glad that God gave you to us. You’re better than any Christmas present I could ever receive. Father’s Day is special just because you’re here."

“I love you son and I’m proud of you.”

III. THE THIRD INGREDIENT WAS THE ATTRIBUTING OF A HIGH VALUE

28 May God give you of heaven's dew and of earth's richness-- an abundance of grain and new wine.

"You’re special, so God will give you the best He has to give."
"You’re so valuable that God came into our world & died on the cross for you."

IV. THE FOURTH INGREDIENT WAS THE PICTURING OF A GLORIOUS FUTURE
In vs. 29 Isaac says to Jacob, "May nations serve you & peoples bow down to you. Be lord over your brothers, & may the sons of your mother bow down to you. May those who curse you be cursed & those who bless you be blessed."

Proverbs "Train up a child in the way he should go, & when he is old he will not depart from it."

06-12-11 PM - Seven Perspectives of Persecution

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1 Peter 4:12-19
12 Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: 13 But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy. 14 If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified. 15 But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or as an evildoer, or as a busybody in other men's matters. 16 Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf. 17 For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God? 18 And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear? 19 Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to him in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator.

1. DON’T THINK IT STRANGE Vs. 12

Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened (walk together) unto you:

The world cannot begin to comprehend the life of denial, self-discipline, and the call to purity and righteousness.

There were five slanders against the early church.
1. That they were cannibals because of the language that was used at the Lord’s table.
2. They were charged with breaking up homes and family relationships.
3. They were charged with heresy
- because they refused to put tradition before God.
– and they were charged with heresy because they refused to put Caesar and the worship of other gods first.
4. They were charged with lust and immorality because they celebrated the love feast and were known to be very close to each other. The public perverted this closeness and twisted it to be immoral.
5. They were charged with insurrection and being traitors.

2. REJOICE IN PERSECUTION Vs.13
1. When we suffer we are sharing in Christ’s suffering. Acts 5:41 And they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name.
2. Along with our suffering comes great reward when Christ returns in glory.

Rom. 8:16-17 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: 17 And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.
3. GOD’S GLORY REST ON YOU Vs. 14
Col. 1:24 Now I rejoice in what was suffered for you, and I fill up in my flesh what is still lacking in regard to Christ's afflictions, for the sake of his body, which is the church.

4. DON’T BRING IT ON YOURSELF Vs. 15
1 Tim. 1:9-10 We also know that law is made not for the righteous but for lawbreakers and rebels, the ungodly and sinful, the unholy and irreligious; for those who kill their fathers or mothers, for murderers, 10 for adulterers and perverts, for slave traders and liars and perjurers--and for whatever else is contrary to the sound doctrine

5. DON’T BE ASHAMED Vs. 16
Romans 1:16 I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile.

6. ACCEPT IT AS PURIFING JUDGEMENT Vs. 17-18
Luke 3:17 His winnowing fork is in his hand to clear his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his barn, but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire."

7. COMMIT TO DOING GOOD Vs. 19
The word “commit” means to deposit or entrust into the hands of a trusted banker or friend
2 Tim 1:12 That is why I am suffering as I am. Yet I am not ashamed, because I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him for that day.

06-12-11 AM - Four Heart Conditions

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Matthew 13:1-30 That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat by the lake.
2 Such large crowds gathered around him that he got into a boat and sat in it, while all the people stood on the shore. 3 Then he told them many things in parables, saying: "A farmer went out to sow his seed.
4 As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. 5 Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. 6 But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root. 7 Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants. 8 Still other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop--a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.9 He who has ears, let him hear." 10 The disciples came to him and asked, "Why do you speak to the people in parables?" 11 He replied, "The knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of heaven has been given to you, but not to them. 12 Whoever has will be given more, and he will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken from him. 13 This is why I speak to them in parables: "Though seeing, they do not see; though hearing, they do not hear or understand. 14 In them is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah: "'You will be ever hearing but never understanding; you will be ever seeing but never perceiving. 15 For this people's heart has become calloused; they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts and turn, and I would heal them.' 16 But blessed are your eyes because they see, and your ears because they hear. 17 For I tell you the truth, many prophets and righteous men longed to see what you see but did not see it, and to hear what you hear but did not hear it. 18 "Listen then to what the parable of the sower means: 19 When anyone hears the message about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is the seed sown along the path. 20 The one who received the seed that fell on rocky places is the man who hears the word and at once receives it with joy. 21 But since he has no root, he lasts only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, he quickly falls away. 22 The one who received the seed that fell among the thorns is the man who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke it, making it unfruitful. 23 But the one who received the seed that fell on good soil is the man who hears the word and understands it. He produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown."

1. THE PATH OF NO UNDERSTANDING (4;19)

4 As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. And Jesus interprets it in verse 19
19 When anyone hears the message about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is the seed sown along the path.
The word understand means: to put together, mentally comprehend, or act piously.
The enemy of your soul knows the value of the seed
If you leave something valuable lying around it won’t take long for a thief to steal it.

2. THE ROCKS OF PERSECUTION (5;20)

John 6:63 The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing. The words I have spoken to you are spirit and they are life.

3. THE THORNS OF WEALTH AND WORRY (7;22)

Worries, Riches, and Pleasures Lk. 8:14
-The next strangler of our faith mentioned in the text is riches.
“If I have enough money I won’t have any worries.”
“love of money is the root of all evil”.

4. THE SOIL OF UNDERSTANDING (8;23)

8 Still other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop--a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.
23 But the one who received the seed that fell on good soil is the man who hears the word and understands it. He produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown."

What made this soil different from the rest?
good (beautiful, chiefly literally and morally good, Valuable or virtuous for appearance or use).

Jer 4:3 For thus saith the LORD to the men of Judah and Jerusalem, Break up your fallow ground, and sow not among thorns.

Hos 10:12 Sow to yourselves in righteousness, reap in mercy; break up your fallow ground: for it is time to seek the LORD, till he come and rain righteousness upon you.
So how do we break up the fallow ground?
seeking (frequenting his presence, following Him, asking of Him, or worshipping diligently) the Lord.

Lk.8:15 The Kingdom of God is not based on being fair but being filled. Vs. 12 Whoever has will be given more, and he will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken from him.

Like 8:18 Therefore consider carefully how you listen. Whoever has will be given more; whoever does not have, even what he thinks he has will be taken from him."

They that hunger and thirst after righteousness shall be filled.

06-05-11 PM - Be Kind, Rewind

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1. ABSENCE OF ABSOLUTE TRUTH
John 14:6 Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

“What is good for you may not be good for me, and what is right for you may not be right for me?” “Who are you to tell me what is right and wrong”

2. INSTRUCTIONAL VERSES RELATIONAL
This is a generation that wants relationships not facts. Not just event relationships where everything is superficial, but social relationships where life is experienced together.

3. FATHERLESS GENERATION
Malachi 4:5-6 5 "See, I will send you the prophet Elijah before that great and dreadful day of the Lord comes. 6 He will turn the hearts of the fathers to their children, and the hearts of the children to their fathers; or else I will come and strike the land with a curse."

He indicates for us that the separation of hearts of both Fathers and children will be an issue in the last day or before that great and dreadful day of the Lord; the day of Judgment.
It is also indicated for us that the issue of separation will be addressed. And their hearts will be turned toward each other.

But then the prophet says if this does not happen I will strike the land with a curse.
Whether Elijah comes physically or the spirit of Elijah comes, the injustice of this issue will be addressed.

4. MOSAIC VERSES CONCRETE
So what is our response to this?

1. We need to first live genuine lives before them.
2. We need to admit when we are wrong and model repentance and forgiveness.
3. Admit we don’t have all the   answers.
4. Demonstrate grace.
5. Value relationships above things.

5. BOUNDRIES VERSES SECURITY
1Tim. 4:12   

06-05-11 AM - Missionary Message: Spain

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