US*

Tonight we welcomed the folks from Stony Creek's Youth Ministry "The Edge."
We had an awesome time of worship where you could the group singing from every room in the church. It was great piece of encouragement for our teens.

It's hard to know exactly how to sum up the sermon notes so I've decided to post all of my notes here. You should be able to piece together what happened.

The basic idea however, is how we're all called to be priests or pastors. But instead we usually treat life like we're called to have a job. The application is to look at our lives and move according to our calling not just our education or our careers.

Here are the notes.
(origins from Rob Bell)

US*

We want to talk about who we really are as human beings at the deepest levels.

Mark 2:23-26

Haven’t you guys read the Bible?

Haven’t you read the stories about David?

And the stories about David were the stories.

They were hungry and they broke the religious rules…

Who were his Companions?

They were known for some specific things

They weren’t called just companions… they were called “mighty men”

1 Chronicles 11:10 - 14

Get a good name don’t just be Gary from Tulsa.

v.20

v.22

awesome!!!

v.23,24

This Chronicler is telling this story in kind of an epic rhythm

So when it says “David and his companions” to a good Jewish disciple.. Jesus’ disciples are like “those are the mighty guys” that’s the guy who went down into a pit on a snowy day…

Cause when I kill lions on a snowy day.. much harder. ;)

Back to Jesus

Like eating grape nuts without milk

Dude… you’re so busted when you get home.

But Jesus says “are you still sticking with your own old interpretation of the torah?”

So Jesus relates himself in the story to the what figure? David

Which means he’s likening his disciples to who? The mighty men

So these pre-pubescent boys are hearing this are like

“yeeeah, I could take out a lion if I had to”

So if you’re one of His disciples how empowering would that be?

John 14

Be careful if you follow Jesus, because He has a rather high view of humanity, Jesus believes that people are capable of greatness.

- talks about when he is going to ascend to the father

v.12

So you have to understand that you’re seeing this and your kind of amazed with these signs “my followers are not only going to do these things, but my followers will do things far greater than anything you are seeing me do.”

Be very very careful if you follow this Jesus, because he will pull out of you the simple truth that he has faith in people. Jesus believes his disciples are capable of greatness.

Exodus 19

The Ten Commandments are meant to save the whole world.

They are essentially a relationship agreement.

This is God saying

- “This is how you’re going to live in harmony with each other.

- God is looking for a group of people who will be God, be the presence of God, be the hands and feet, be the incarnation of the divine to the world. To bring about the healing and caring of the world.

And God says he’s about to give this covenant, this relationship to them

v.5-6

a priest simply shows the divine, a holy nation (meaning set apart). Your task is to show the world God

- by your actions

- by your speech

- by the way you live and move

God says “I’ve chosen you to show the world, to save the world, you’re the instrument through which I want to do this.”

So the commandments are… ok here’s how we’re going to do this.

20:18-21

This is the calling of humanity, to show the world God,

And when God calls them to the task, believing that they’re up to it….

But the people remained at a distance.

I would argue that this is talking about geography, but that it also works as a metaphor as well.

That we have been called to a divine task

That there’s something within us that tells us to stand at a distance.

- God you don’t know what I’ve done

- You don’t know who I’ve been with

- I don’t have the skills that that person has

- I didn’t grow up religious so I’m just kind of clueless to all of this

And with all the ways that we have been called there is something bent within our sin condition that even though we are called to be priests or “God showers” to the world, we don’t move.

Ephesians 4

Moses questioned just like we do “who am I” but the first Christians are constantly calling people back to the divine saying “come back come back”

v.11

The purpose of those leaders v. 12

Is to equip his people….

That’s some seriously big words, but here’s the idea

“that church would be the kind of gathering and the kind of people that when you are with them or that when you observe them, or you in some way ended up working with them, you would say ‘I saw Jesus’ that’s what Jesus is like.

I can tell you what Jesus is like because I have seen His body at work”.

That’s the whole measure of Christ part.

The leaders are to equip his people (the word people is “saints” or haugious in greek) for works of service (the word there is diakuhnoid… its where we get the word ministry or to minister).

The only reason a church has ministers is to equip and prepare the people (that’s us) to do ministry.

we believe that everybody is a minister.

We believe that if ministers aren’t equipping and pulling out of people their sacred calling than the leadership has failed.

So this scripture raises the bar on what it is to be a Christian, but it also raises the bar for a leader.

Every leader is to

- equip

- empower

- and let loose the body to be ministers

The scriptures take this much much further, because they insist that every believer is a minister

1 Peter 2
v.9

When you do communion is it done with a priest standing with a priest, or are you serving it to each other?

- We actually believe that the body and blood can be handled by every day people.

- That means that you are theologically no different that any other priest in full garb.

- That every one of us has a priest hidden inside of us that God wants to evoke so that you can bring the divine into the world.

There are so many great organizations out there that work in

- urban renewal

- the HIV/aids pandemic

- the homeless cause

- the make poverty history campaign

- the one campaign

lots and lots of great organizations, and they do very specific experts who work for them.

And very often what happens is that the church ends up writing checks to fund these agencies.

We bless these organizations and we love them, but why do they exist?

I would argue that the only reason these agencies exist is because the church didn’t do the job that Jesus gave the church to do

Let’s play the word association game

1. Seminary Student

a. Cause you immediately radical revolutionary

2. Church budget meeting

a. Oh hold me down

3. Church membership

a. Just revolution just washes over me

No, you’re bored out of your mind.

And I would argue for many people they say “if you want to change the world go join one of these agencies.”

(Urban renewal program)

“can the church be converted to help the great cause of our day”

“No, churches are all about themselves”

They might write a check now and then…

My question “why do the agencies get to have all the fun”

I don’t want to miss out

Why would we write checks to do when we have people sitting right here who can do amazing things right now.

Can we pull out the passions and abilities within the people sitting right here to do something about it?

What if church budget meetings became “oh I am there, if we can pull a little bit of money from over here we can save 10 more lives.”

What if the church could be converted to Jesus?

If you had a couple of thousand priests like that in one place, the earth would tremble from its weight.

That’s why I take issue with the word missionary.

Why do some people get to be missionaries and others don’t?

Aren’t we all missionaries?

I thought it was the priesthood of all believers.

What if there were a church that committed to something bigger than its own goods and services

What if you saw the way they treated each other that you said “That’s what Jesus had in mind”

What if there was such an overwhelming movement of good to where “I could say a lot of things, but that’s Jesus”

What if every person in this room had a friend who was poor?

What if in year from now when I say poor you had a name and face?

It would change everything.

What if when we said poverty, every person in this room had a name and face?

Well you wouldn’t let that person drown. It would change everything.

A couple hundred priests not standing at a distance, this area would tremble.

Waiting in Action

We started off the talk the time with answering a question from something called "the question box." This ministry is just a way of allowing the teens to ask any question while remaining anonymous. Last night's question asked about Acts 2:38 and whether or not baptism is something that is required in order to be saved.
We worked through that we believe that God doesn't require a formula for being saved, but a real relationship with Him. But part of having a marriage with somebody is taking the opportunity to demonstrate publicly that you are in love and dedicated to that person. That's why we get dressed up and wear wedding rings... to demonstrate publicly our commitment.
So I encouraged the teens to know that though Baptism is required for salvation to happen (though it is a commandment), but is similar to a wedding ring. It isn't required, but it is a testament to the sincerity of the commitment.

I used a new sermon illustration this past Wednesday that I think will sum up the bulk of what we talked about.
I was trying to work with a new way to help youth understand what it meant to wait on God.
Like any normal person it's difficult to wrap your mind around the concept that waiting on God doesn't mean sitting around doing nothing but praying and hoping.

In an effort to point on what God is always doing we narrowed God's constant desire down to 3 things.

1. God is always proclaiming His glory

2. God is always looking out for His people's best interest.

3. God is always looking to connect with people through His son Jesus.

But what does this have to do with waiting on God? Well it's simple. When you and I claim we don't know what God wants us to do in a situation we really only to look at the three things He's always doing to gain some insight.

It's almost like God is sitting a big table in a restaurant. God makes it clear what He always wants. His Holy Spirit is working in the kitchen cooking up opportunities, but its up to us to pick up those opportunities and bring them to the father. See waiting on God doesn't mean sitting around it means it's time to be a waiter for Him.

And doesn't God deserve our best platter to bring it to Him? Think of the platter is the best of your ability, your best try, etc. You also never know what the trip from the kitchen to the God's table is going to be like though. The floor might be slippery and you'll have to change your path. You might have other customers demanding your attentions and efforts. And who knows, there might be want to sneak away some of that food for yourself. A guy's gotta eat right?

Something amazing though, is that when we do bring God's order to the table, He doesn't just keep it all for himself. Can you imagine seeing the best customer in the place offering some of his meal to the waiter? Heck no! But here's God offering it to us "Here, you can be satisfied to, here eat be nourished and energized, here be blessed by this meal too and don't worry about helping out with the check, my son's already paid the bill."

Honestly, I wouldn't have any problem waiting on a guy who always shares his meals with me.
And yet sometimes we bring God a happy meal instead of the full three course meal He ordered.
What do you think would happen to the waiter who never brings the full course to the best customer? He wouldn't get a good tip for one thing, but he would also never have the chance to be satisfied by that awesome food. The waiter would really be robbing himself too.

So here's the holy Spirit preparing the food, all we have to do is carry it to the table on our best platter, bring the best quality food to the Father as our spiritual act of worship, and realize that the bill has already been paid by the Son.

Big Picture God

(original outline by Louie Giglio)

Last Night we looked at the story of Joseph. Pastor Tom also showed a picture made up of some of the ugliest colors. Later he showed us how those ugly colors were just a piece of a beautiful painting and how God sometimes only shows us one piece of the painting where He can see the whole work of art that He is working on. Here are some of the key themes would pulled from the story.

(the small piece)


(the whole picture)

Hope and faith foster faithfulness

"We walk by faith and not by sight and we consider our present affliction light in comparison to the eternal glory that God is working." - Paul

1. I believe somehow you’re going to use this to bring glory to your name.

2. I believe you’re committed to me and my well being, it’s a dungeon it’s a pit, but I believe your with me.

3. God I believe you’re redeeming. Is there anybody in this picture that wants to know Jesus? Is there anybody in this picture who couldn’t know the Gospel unless I was in there with them?

What my employer meant for evil, God meant for good

What my ex meant to hurt me with, God meant for good

What my parents meant for evil, God intended for Good.
Because God works together everything for the good of those who love Him.

Small Picture World, Big Picture God.

Lost

Lost – Week 1

Original outline by Chris Spradlin

Gut Level Honesty Game: Check if applies to you…

I’m not satisfied with…

Cell phone coverage Financial situation

My body My parents

How I am living my life

In 1965 the lyrics to “I can’t get no satisfaction” were written by Mick Jagger.The song was all about how he was having an amazing outward success he was eroding on the inside.

It was the same with how King Solomon could not get any satisfaction.

The first page of his notes says (aka Ecclesiastes).

“Meaningless, meaningless says the Teacher. Utterly meaningless, everything is meaningless.” Ecclesiastes 1:2

We're like, "Hey man could you just be a little more honest with us here?"

This King was once full of purpose and had a plan, but he kind of took a road trip from God.

(we watched a video about how trying different things in life is like giving everything a huge taste test. The problem is that after a while you look down at all of these empty things that you tried to be satisfied with, but none of it worked. It can leave us feeling even more empty than when we started.)

- Maybe if I can get boyfriend/girlfriend

- drinking… maybe one more will make me happy

- maybe it’s the way you look.. if you’re better looking then maybe it will make me feel better

-

King Solomon went on a 40 year search for satisfaction, instead he ended up lost wandering through life.

40 years lost and gone

Some of you maybe feel the same way… man I’ve lost 2 years lost and gone.

So one day when he’s driving he pulls over and makes one last entry in journal.

Ok, I’ve got more money to search higher and deeper than anyone else could I've done more than you can imagine, but all I have is this final conclusion.

• His final conclusion “Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man.”

Man some of you are like “fear God” man I grew up with that, forget that.

You think that God is some kind of Cosmic kill joy just waiting you for you to screw up.

Fearing God isn’t about being afraid of him, it’s about worshiping Him.

There are times that when I prayed something so powerful was going on that I've sensed His presence.

Some of you are like “man I have not connected like God like that in a long time”

Some of you are just so in despair and want that kind of connection

And you don’t know where to go.

Well here's a great action step.

1. Cultivate a heart of worship.

“Come, let us bow down in worship, let us kneel before the Lord our Maker.”

Psalms 95:6

How we can cultivate a heart of worship:

• Be still.
• Confess.
• Meditate on God’s Word.
• Practice the presence of God.

(I told a story here about my dad Jack who got lost because he wouldn't listen to the GPS in the car.)

I believe that all of us have a GPS built in us called "The Holy Spirit."

Unfortunately we often just turn it off because we think we know a better way or because the voice just starts feeling a little old to us.

And that’s the idea of following God’s commandments.

2. God deserves our radical obedience.

- God has built us an internal GPS called the Holy Spirit

There’s this voice saying “hey you’ve got to recalculate your route, your destination is peace, hope, and purpose so you’ve got to recalculate.” And instead of you just kind of hit the cancel button.

- sometimes you get caught up in the scenery

“My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.” John 10:27

I wish Jesus would said “my people are like rhinoceroses, they can pave their own way.”

How a shepherd broke in a new lamb

- through developing a personal relationship

- by watching over them

- but eventually putting them into the fold

- sometimes the sheep would run away and get lost never to return from the mountains it just went to

- and sometimes it would go so far that it wouldn’t be able to hear the shepherd’s voice.

Question for some of you

“Do you hear the shepherd’s voice?”

Can you recognize God’s voice in your life?

If you want purpose, it’s only found in following God.

When you finish your time here, the only thing that’s going to matter is if you know the voice of your God.

And you only know that through that relationship with Him, that accepts the direction of your built in GPS.

It’s through a relationship with Christ.

What the shepherd did to the sheep that got away, but He found again.

- He would break their legs so the lamb would have to learn how to depend on Him again.

- It keeps you close

- And makes you get lower.

Sometimes it all starts with the prayer "God, do whatever it takes to bring me closer to you."

(the night concluded with a time of prayer)

Difficult People Week 4 - Hypocrital People

Difficult People – 4

Hypocritical

- we’ve always got room for one more

You hypocrites! Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you: “’These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me.” Matthew 15:7-8

We could call them spiritual posers, or pretenders in the pews, those who claim Christ, but their life does not reflect His teachings whatsoever. Jesus called them hypocrites.

hupokrites (hoop-ok-ree-tace’); an actor; stage-player, one who hides behind a mask, hypocrite.

- actors would walk off stage and switch between masks.

HOW DID JESUS HANDLE HYPOCRISY?

…you hypocrites! You give a tenth of your spices-mint, dill and cummin. But you have neglected the more important matters of the law-justice, mercy and faithfulness. You should have practiced the latter, without neglecting the former. You blind guides! You strain out a gnat but swallow a camel.

Matthew 23:23-24

2 Biblical Principles on how to deal with hypocrisy

1. JESUS CONFRONTED HYPOCRISY.

2. JESUS MAJORED ON THE MAJORS.

He only confronted the big issues or the dangerous ones.

Christians can often zero in on the things that don’t really matter.

“You’re church isn’t right with God because of the way people dress…”

But God looks at the heart.

“The music is too this or that..”

God’s not going “I’m more of a Dashboard fan”

HOW DO WE CONFRONT?

Brothers (This is Christ followers correcting Christ Followers), if someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual should restore him gently. But watch yourself, or you also may be tempted. Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. Galatians 6:1-2

1) CONFRONT WITH CAUTION.

...restore him gently. But watch yourself, or you also may be tempted. Galatians 6:1b

- you risk pride

- people will test you, and your sins will find you out.

- you have to do it with your best interests in mind.

***video***

2) CONFRONT WITH THE GOAL OF

RESTORATION.

Brothers, if someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual should restore him gently. Galatians 6:1

restore: katartizo (kat-ar-tid’-zo); to perfectly repair; make better than new.

My brothers, if one of you should wander from the truth and someone should bring him back, remember this: Whoever turns a sinner from the error of his way will save him from death and cover over a multitude of sins. James 5:19-20

[Review the First two points]

3) CONFRONT WITH COMMITMENT.

Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. Galatians 6:2

As we confront, we also commit to carry each other’s burdens. And, in so doing, we will do what Christ calls us to do. I like the Greek word that is translated as carry.

carry: bastazo (bas-tad’-zo); to lift, to sustain, take up.

So, when we confront, we don’t just say, “You are wrong. Check you later.” What we do is say, “We are here because we love you, and we will be here for you no matter what.”

It doesn’t take anything to criticize, but It takes true love to confront.

- tell them a story of life change that came from confrontation

Everybody take a deep breathe!

We’re about to turn up the heat.

WHAT IF YOU ARE THE HYPOCRITE?

David saw something he shouldn’t see and acted on it.

Nathan loved him enough to do something about it.

And he told him a story.

Once upon a time, there were two men. One was filthy rich. He had sheep and cattle galore. The other was very, very poor, and this poor man, although good, was poor. He had only one little lamb, and this little lamb, he had raised since birth. It was like his own pet. This little lamb would actually sleep beside the guy at night, and the man deeply loved his one little lamb. One day, a traveler came to the very rich man and said, ‘I’m hungry. Will you give me something to eat?’ The traveler, the rich man, rather than taking one of his own thousands of lambs, took the one lamb that belonged to the poor man, slaughtered it, and killed it and offered it to the traveler.’ “ David could not believe that someone could commit such a horrendous sin, and he responded this way.

David burned with anger against the man and said to Nathan, “As surely as the LORD lives, the man who did this deserves to die! He must pay for that lamb four times over, because he did such a thing and had no pity.” Then Nathan said to David, “attah iysh” “You are the man! 2 Samuel 12:4-7

The spirit will say to many of you…. you are the man: attah iysh

And it is time for you to repent today.

- if we’re going to call ourselves Christ followers lets be Christ followers.

IF we confess our sins to God He is faithful and just to forgive.

So, today, in the presence of God, come humbly before Him. Let us be the real things. Not perfect, but hearts broken and humble before God. If you would be the attah iysh, let your heart break open. Confess, repent, and let God make you better than new.

If you know someone who is not living the truth and you want to pray for them, just lift your hands and we’ll pray for them

Second, if you are someone who isn’t living a real life for God.. You’re acting one way here and another way else ware, just raise up your hands and repent.

Give your sin a name and tell God what it is

And ask him humbly “Please forgive me”

If you’ve told God and ask forgiven let me tell you what he says “You’re forgiven”

Now its time to ask God for the strength to overcome this sin

And I’ve got news “the bible says that when you’re weak, he’s strong”

AFTER DAVID FACED HIS SIN, HE PRAYED…

Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me. Psalm 51:10-12

Difficult People Week 3 Manipulative People

· JACOB MANIPULATED ESAU. Gen. 25:29-34

· WOMEN MANIPULATED HEROD. Mark 6:21-26

· DELILAH MANIPULATED SAMSON. Judg 16:15-16

Then she said to him, "How can you say, 'I love you,' when you won't confide in me?...16 With such nagging she prodded him day after day until he was tired to death. Judg 16:15-16

…couldn’t stand it any longer…NLT

…vexed his soul unto death…KJV Amen.

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How many of you – have someone – would control you if they could?

Put both hands in the air – just seeing if I still have control – Yes –

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MANIPULATORS’ GREATEST WEAPONS:

· They love to use Threats:

o If you want to work here, you’ll do this.

o If you don’t do this, I’m leaving you.

o If you don’t tell me, I’m hanging up.

o If you don’t pay more attention to me, I’m taking you out of my will.

o If you don’t do this, you are not getting any of that.

· Guilt:

o If you love me, you’d do what I ask.

o After all I’ve done for you; you won’t do this one thing.

o Silent treatment: I’m not talking to you right now.

o Thought we were close; obviously I can’t count on you.

o If you don’t do this, you’re not good Xian.

o If you don’t meet my needs, I’ll find another way to get them met.

BREAKING THE POWER OF MANIPULATION

1) RECOGNIZE WHEN SOMEONE IS TRYING TO CONTROL YOU.

Most people do this unconsciously…

…Jesus began to explain to his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem…and that he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life. 22 Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. "Never, Lord!" he said. "This shall never happen to you!" Matt 16:21-22

Peter took Jesus aside – manipulators lose power in groups.

Some are predators – calculated – some do it unintentionally

Peter didn’t mean any harm – just wanted his plan for Jesus’ life.

HOW DO YOU KNOW YOU ARE BEING MANIPULATED?

· You can’t say “no” to a certain person.

o When you’d like to say no, you feel like you’re obligated, it’s like your under their control. And you may be being manipulated and you’re allowing it if you’re there.

· You always feel guilty. (can’t have any fun, exclusive loyalty)

o This happens in a lot of relationships like when you’re going out to have fun and you feel guilty.

· You feel ultimately responsible. (fear letting down)

o I should have done more, I should have been there for them.

· You compromise your values to please others.

o You find yourself doing things that you usually wouldn’t do… (sexual)

§ You’ll find someone who turns up the heat

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You have to verbalize and then show it.

2) THIS IS NOT GOING TO WORK ON ME.

- in the past you could control., but not anymore

- now I don’t do what people want, I do what God wants.

Look at what Jesus said to Peter.

Jesus turned and said to Peter, "Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men." Matt 16:21-23

This is not going to work on me – then, call them Satan! J

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Not going to allow another person to control my life.

· If someone else has control, you are committing the sin of idolatry.

o Thou shall have no other Gods before me

§ You can never become all that God wants you to be if you become a people pleaser.

Lawnmower/shopping cart dance- Dysfunctional Dance

When you change the dance you’re going to Step on their toes, then they’re going to squeeze harder and you might want to go to the old dance

– the dance has change

You better be prepared to defend it and it’s going to be hard because sparks are gonna fly.

But hang in there.

Because you’re going to be doing what God wants and not what someone else wants.

The only way you can learn a new dance is to break the rhythm of the first one.

1. you have to recognize when someone is trying to control you

2. You have to say “this is not going to work on me”

3) REDEFINE THE RELATIONSHIP.

Jesus allowed Peter to fail

Again Jesus said, "Simon son of John, do you truly love me?" He answered, "Yes, Lord, you know that I love you." Jesus said, "Take care of my sheep." John 21:16

Learn the two-handed backhand – tempting to go back

Obviously, I'm not trying to be a people pleaser! No, I am trying to please God. If I were still trying to please people, I would not be Christ's servant. Gal 1:10 NLT

There’s two scenarios that I want to run by you

First how many of you are being controlled by manipulators , “Yes I’ve allowed someone to control me, but I want to break free”

Second, that you’re a controller, that you probably do so out of fear, that you do think that you might try to manipulate things to make them go a way that you see fit and it’s affecting others, but you want to be free of that.

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Some want to meet God on their terms, but life doesn’t work that way.

You might say “yeah I’m not perfect all the time, but there are some good things that I do that way:

But life doesn’t work that way.

God can’t be controlled or convinced, he can only be known through a life long relationship.

And just like any other healthy relationship you cannot control Him, but He can change your life through His love.

It’s starts like any other relationship and that’s through a conversation with Him.