Beyond Sunday (Love And Sunday Service) Series

Beyond Sunday pt. 1

Introduction to Beyond Sunday Series:

Our new series is designed and I believe inspired by the Holy Spirit to show how Christianity is not just about going to church on Sunday morning. It’s not about doing good works to get myself into heaven, like going to church every Sunday. Christianity is about relationship - number 1 with Jesus (God in the flesh) and number 2 - relationships with others. The Bible says my neighbors to be exact in reading what it said is those who are in close proximity to me every day. Christianity is not something we do but instead it is a lifestyle rooted in love (Gods Love) which goes beyond a Sunday morning event.

I am excited about this new series – the other point of this series is to show how important – no - how critical it is for the church to go beyond just Sunday morning service. The leadership of Christian Hills Church and I are excited about focusing on the world around us – our neighbors, those who live on our street, those we work with every day, those we go to school with and yes even our own families.

I sincerely believe we are at a critical junction in the history of our nation and in the spiritual direction of our nation. I believe the church of Jesus needs to rise up in this dark hour and bring forth the light of the truth of Jesus to those lost in darkness, lies and bondage. I am convinced after much prayer and reflection that we the church “The Body of Christ” must reach out beyond these four walls and reach those around us with His truth and His love!

So over the next few months we have put together outreach events like “Labor of Love” , special dramas, and even illustrated messages to help us all go beyond Sundays!

Thesis: Beyond Sunday is designed to help us understand that Christianity is not a Sunday morning even but is instead a lifestyle based and rooted in the love of God. Beyond Sunday means we desire to reach out to those in darkness and bring them into the light of truth through random acts of kindness. Beyond Sunday is a challenge to the believer to be empathetic to the needs and the issues surrounding them and their lives. It’s opening our busy eyes to the conditions and situations right around us every day and then with the power and authority of Jesus we minister to these people in need.

Scripture Texts:

1 Samuel 13:14: “A man (woman) after God’s own heart”

Matthew 22:37-38: 37Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’38This is the first and greatest commandment.

Mark 12:28- 30: 28 One of the teachers of the Law of Moses came up while Jesus and the Sadducees were arguing. When he heard Jesus give a good answer, he asked him, “What is the most important commandment?” 29 Jesus answered, “The most important one says: ‘People of Israel, you have only one Lord and God. 30You must love him with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength.

Do you remember my formula for a miracle last week?

LOVING GOD = GROWING IN DARING FAITH = MAKING THE GOD CONNECTION = RECEIVING A MIRACLE!

This formula goes “Beyond Sunday” if you want to be a person who is after the heart of God you have to go beyond just Sunday morning service!

Beyond Sunday is about being a person who is after God’s own heart – a person who loves God first and foremost – who places their love relationship number one in their life – the person who does the One Thing – the greatest thing first with God/Jesus– a person who was like King David in the Bible who was called “a man after God’s own heart “ – his heart is revealed in his ultimate love for the Lord – he would sing to him (worship), write poems to Him (See the book of Psalms), A person who trusted Him (Even when people were trying to kill him), A person who defended His name (With Goliath), A person who would sacrifice for Him (Accumulating the stuff to build God His house the temple), a person who would obey Him (Following His call to be King), a person who would admit mistakes to Him (When he sinned with Bathsheba/Uriah and Nathan called him on it), a person who would repent to Him (Like he did), and a person who would 100% live for Him both politically and personally (See 1,2 Samuel, Kings).

Scripture Text for Sermon “Beyond Sunday” Turn to Luke chapters 9,10:

Introduction:

As I was pondering our subject “Beyond Sunday” my mind reflected on why people seem to not understand the Bible’s primary message to Love God first and foremost?