Video... Welcome to our Church
Slide #1
Welcome...
Prayer
While sitting and praying in my office this past week about a man the world only knows as Jesus.
My mind began to wonder who the non-church goer really thinks that Jesus is...or why He even came and lived on earth.
For those of us here today that are believers...we are familiar with Jesus and the Easter Holiday...we know the reason why He came and lived on earth.
We know all about the sacrifice He made...the lives He changed...the difference He makes in the believers life.
But what about the unbelievers???
-most of them feel like it’s too late for Jesus
-most of them feel like their lives are unforgivable
-To them Jesus is nothing more than a fictional character in another book
Understanding who Jesus was...and the reason why He came is a life changing event that every person needs to understand and experience...
And once Jesus enters our lives...
Our thoughts immediately change from who is Jesus too...
Slide # 2 What are you willing to do for Jesus?
One of the first things a believer must realize is...
Slide #3 Following Jesus in not always about out Plans
God may be asking some of you here today to step up to a challenge...that He has laid on your heart.
And how you respond to that challenge...is important...
I can’t help but think about how the city of Nineveh would have ended up if Jonah would not have been willing to step up when God challenged him?
Slide #4 Jonah...
Jonah Chapter 1:1-2...
“The LORD said to Jonah son of Amittai, 2 “Go immediately to Nineveh, that large capital city, and announce judgment against its people because their wickedness has come to my attention.”
Know we all know that as soon as God asked Jonah to go to Nineveh...without hesitation...he immediately jumped up and went...right?
No...Jonah did completely the opposite...
At the port of Joppa...He bought the first ticket on any ship that was heading as far away from Nineveh as possible.
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again...serving God is not an easy thing to do.
And I truly believe that when most new believers are asked by God to step up to a challenge... they do it with good intentions.
But like Jonah...before they become totally committed...they must each go thru a time where there desires and thoughts go from self-motivation...to Godly motivations.
For Jonah this meant ...3 days and night in the belly of a whale. (God has a unique way of getting our attention doesn’t He?)
I don’t think that very many of us will ever have to get to a point that God would force us to be swallowed by a whale.
But I do believe that there are times that God is asking more of us and we “kinda put Him on the back burner” (He has the power to turn up the heat)
The only way that God is able to minister thru us...is by us being submissive to whatever it is He asks us to do!!!!!
Let’s be Honest...Being Submissive is not an easy thing to do...
Matter of fact...I’m sure there are even some of you here today that are saying...that’s easy for you to be Submissive Pastor Bret...that’s your job!
But I would disagree with you... being a Pastor is not a job...It’s a Ministry that I love to do. (Being a servant in the body is not a job either...it’s a ministry)
What most people fail to realize about knowing who Jesus is...is He wants every one of us to surrender to His plan...but most people Will Not.
The world struggles with giving up the pleasures of this life...
I can remember before Christ entered Shiela And My life...everything that we did...was for personal gain.
-We owned a home...
-We had the brand new Bass Boat
-We ordered the brand new Ford Explorer
-We had the man cave...pool/darts
-I drove my dream truck
-We contributed to a retirement funds
-I had big plans of taking Shiela to Hawaii on our 25th anniversary (God still has ---days and ---years)
But when Christ entered my/our lives...we began to see the big picture.
We understood that...
-we do own a home in Heaven
-the bass boat/explorer isn’t needed in Heaven/ color clash...
-Our treasures should be heavenly focused –not on the 401k or the Roth IRA.
-As nice as Hawaii is Heavens better.
God’s desire is that every person...lives their life with the mindset that...
Following Jesus’ plans for our life...is more important than what we feel is...
The next important thing that every new believer needs to understand is...
Slide #5 Following Jesus Must Involve Community
We read story after story of where Jesus’ ministry always was structured around people.
It didn’t matter if He was meeting with an individual...or the multitudes.
He ministered with a single concept in-mind...Community.
Jesus Loved spending time with people...He loved reaching out to those that were unfamiliar with Him.
He knew no strangers...He looked forward to the times of sitting down with people and breaking bread with them while sharing with them the meaning of life!
Jesus had just received the news of his friend John being be-headed by King Herod
Slide #6
When He and the disciples feed the 5000 +...with 5 loaves of bread and 2 fish! (matt. 14:13-21)
He did it with community in mind.
Just like today...people like you and I...maybe even some of us here today...forget the power that Jesus holds.
Try and imagine the message Jesus was trying to share at this moment....
-5000+ of His followers were gathered.
-its supper time / their all hungry
-disciples are about ready to send...food
-little boys lunch
-Jesus Commands the Multitudes to sit
Matthew 14:19 “Then he instructed the crowds to sit down on the grass. He took the five loaves and two fish, and looking up to heaven he gave thanks and broke the loaves. He gave them to the disciples, who in turn gave them to the crowds.”
This is a truth that every Believer must understand about having a relationship with God. (God will provide)
Matthew 6:25-26... ““Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink, or about your body, what you will wear.
Isn’t there more to life than food and more to the body than clothing?
26 Look at the birds in the sky: They do not sow, or reap, or gather into barns, yet your heavenly Father feeds them.
Aren’t you more valuable than they are?
Why is it after reading these passages from Matthew chapter 14; and 6 over and over again?
Still today we find ourselves holding on to our (Gods) finances because we are concerned that we might have to go without?
Looking back at Matt. 14...5loaves/2 small fish...
Verse 20... “They all ate and were satisfied, and they picked up the broken pieces left over, twelve baskets full.”
Even when Shiela the kids and I were homeless 4 years ago in Illinois...Jesus never let us starve...
Being homeless was a very humbling time in my life...
During that time God reminded me many times of the story behind the Widows Offering.
Slide #7
Mark 12:41-44...
“Then He (Jesus) sat down opposite the offering box, and watched the crowd putting coins into it.
Many rich people were throwing in large amounts.
42 And a poor widow came and put in two small copper coins, worth less than a penny.
43 He called his disciples and said to them, “I tell you the truth, this poor widow has put more into the offering box than all the others.
44 For they all gave out of their wealth. But she, out of her poverty, put in what she had to live on, everything she had.”
The only way that we are going to reach people for Jesus in our communities is by sharing everything we have....
Following Jesus Requires Surrendering All
Jonah surrendered all after God got his attention from the belly of a whale.
The Woman with the copper coins...Surrendered her all ...with no expectation of return.
The young boy was willing to share his lunch even knowing that was all he had to eat.
Even the 12 Disciples...Surrendered their all by leaving behind their careers without question.
Video... Project 7
Slide #8 Following Jesus Takes People
Project 7 Gives Back to Jesus
The owner/founder of project 7... Tyler Merrick is using his business as his mission field.
His testimony speaks high about the trust and faith he has in His God.
We heard from the video...that he was living a great life...before his step of obedience and faith in following the Lord.
Project 7 was designed around giving back to community.
Every tray of gum that is sold...provides 7 meals for families in need.
Every tray of mints sold...provides 7 meals for families in need.
Tyler is defiantly contributing to the “Great Commission which clearly tells us to Go Win Build.
Slide # 9 Community
Calendars....April 14th
We as a church will be going out into our very own community and serving others.
-setting up some home improvement projects
-Having several crews going around and picking up trash
-Ministering to the widows in the community
Tee-shirts...12.00 donations
Meeting at the church at 9:30 for prayer
-Donuts milk, and juice,
-Charles Johnston has said he would come early and prepare burritos
-Need all people involved
-trash collectors
-Water bottle haulers
-carpenters
-demolition
-some stay at the church and pray
Don’t forget your Tithe...
