"Foundations"
August 26, 2007
Introduction
MONTY PYTHON: We built the castle on our land and it sank into the swamp. We built a second one. That one burned and then sand into the swamp. But the third one. That one stayed.
We've all built sandcastles. Maybe even seen elaborate pics of sculptures. How do you build one? You need sand and water. Their are techniques, time and patience required, but in the end they are always washed out by the tide.
Building on a Solid Foundation~Matthew 7:24-29
—“Anyone who listens to my teaching and follows it is wise, like a person who builds a house on solid rock. Though the rain comes in torrents and the floodwaters rise and the winds beat against that house, it won’t collapse because it is built on bedrock. But anyone who hears my teaching and doesn’t obey it is foolish, like a person who builds a house on sand. When the rains and floods come and the winds beat against that house, it will collapse with a mighty crash.”
— When Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were amazed at his teaching, for he taught with real authority—quite unlike their teachers of religious law.
THERE ARE SOME OBSERVATIONS WE MUST MAKE ABOUT THIS TEXT.
1. Listening or hearing Jesus words are NOT enough.
2. The opposite of wisdom is NOT stupidity, but foolishness that causes the collapse.
3. Jesus' teaching has unparralleled authority that demands our attention.
4. The rain and winds are coming, so we'd better be prepared.
How have you prepared? If you've heard and done nothing, you're in a sandcastle.
SANDCASTLES…
—Are temporary.
—Are weak.
—Have not foundation.
So, what is a house built on a solid rock?
HEALTHY CHURCHES..
—Last and last.
—Produce fruit.
—Are built on obedience to Jesus Christ.
The OC's Foundations
—Sharing the love of Jesus at the coffee shops, in living rooms & with families.
—Organic
—Relationship DOING
—Community
—Holy Spirit
—Answers
—Relationship BUILDING
—Developers
OUR VALUES ARE OUR BUILDING BLOCKS FOR A BEDROCK FOUNDATION
We need to recapture our core value system as we enter into this fall.
We need you all to get on board...
1. in a small group
2. serving the community
3. supporting the church financially
Sunday, August 26, 2007
Saturday, August 25, 2007
LISTENING TO THE HEART OF THE MASTER: Part 12
Matthew 6:19-34
Two roads, One choice…
August 19, 2007
Intro:
The road less traveled – Robert Frost:
Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,And sorry I could not travel bothAnd be one traveler, long I stoodAnd looked down one as far as I couldTo where it bent in the undergrowth.Then took the other, as just as fair,And having perhaps the better claim,Because it was grassy and wanted wear;Though as for that the passing thereHad worn them really about the same.And both that morning equally layIn leaves no step had trodden black.Oh, I kept the first for another day!Yet knowing how way leads on to way,I doubted if I should ever come back.I shall be telling this with a sighSomewhere ages and ages hence:Two roads diverged in a wood, and I--I took the one less traveled by,And that has made all the difference.
Doing some research regarding Frost’s writing, I know that this poem is likely not about anything faith related. Some say it’s him writing a poem asserting his individualism in the face of society, others say it’s actually him making fun of a walking partner who always slowly pondered which path to take on a given day. Regardless, I love the imagery of this poem and how it makes me think about life and faith. I believe life and faith to be a journey. One filled with experiences, choices, and pitfalls – all which are immeasurably valuable, not just a means to the destination. Many times in this journey of life we come to a fork in the road - a place where a definitive decision must be made. You can’t go both ways – you’ve got to make a choice and go with it. Most of the time we’ll never have the opportunity to revisit these choices, as they lead to other choices and before we know it we’re miles away from that split in the road so long ago.
Jesus understands that we face some important choices. In the Sermon on the Mount, he preps his disciples, the ones closest to him, for the next two and a half years of ministry that they’ll be a part of with him, as well as the years ahead in the early formation of the church. This first major sermon to them is a crash course of sorts for what they’re to expect and endure in the coming years. It’s his way of saying to them, here’s where we’re headed. As with any good sermon, Jesus winds down his time with some warnings and some challenges to his hearers.
Check out Matthew 7:13-23
His warning begins… The gate to life is narrow but the road to hell is broad. Two roads, one choice. There are so many spiritual self help book out there these days. The “religious” section at Barnes and Noble is growing like crazy with books about fixing yourself in your spare time. Our faith has been treated like everything else in our lives. Do the miracle “quick fix” in your spare time and be in awe of the results. 8 minute abs. A simple shake for lunch. Lose weight with this simple pill. All from the convenience of your own home. Pray this prayer. Give to this ministry. Repeat this phrase to yourself. But Jesus says that the way is narrow, the road difficult, and hard to find. These faith band-aids are definitely not the answer. We cannot expect to work on our faith in our spare time and have it survive. We cannot expect to find and follow the narrow road if we only give God the down time of our lives. The gate to life is narrow. If it’s easy for you to be a Christian then something’s wrong.
The road to hell is broad. It’s a highway with flashing neon lights at every on ramp. Six lanes, well paved – never any construction. You can’t miss it. I had a hard time this week with something that I saw on the blog of a friend of mine. He came across a website called “The Blasphemy Challenge”. A group of atheists and agnostics are actually giving away prizes to people who are willing to “condemn themselves to hell” by uploading a video of themselves blaspheming the Holy Spirit. Theological interpretations aside, my heart broke for these people. Practical joke or serious, these people clearly were hurting and needed Jesus. I could not get the passage out of my head – the road is wide for the many who choose it. Everywhere around us people are hopping on, and in the process, it can be easy to miss the narrow gate.
Over in John 14, Jesus says “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” Nothing more than Jesus, nothing less than Jesus. Just Jesus. In our smorgasbord world of faith these days this can be hard for some people to stomach. Our pluralistic society says believe what you want to believe and you’re fine. You hear constantly that as long as you believe in something we’re all headed towards the same God in the end. Some people take a little of everything they encounter and end up with a hodge podge of beliefs. Some Jesus, some Mohammed, some Budda, with a little Oprah mixed in for good measure. Sometimes Jesus doesn’t even make it into the equation. Simply live a good life. Do good things and avoid evil and karma alone will get you to heaven. Finish your heaven prep checklist with getting baptized and you’ll make it to heaven. Others try to add stipulations to Jesus. Jesus and Christian music will get you to heaven. Jesus and no cursing, no tattoos, and no drinking will get you to heaven. Jesus and a membership within this denomination will get you to heaven. Jesus doesn’t add stipulations though. Nothing more, nothing less, Just Jesus. He is the way. He is the truth. He is the life. He is the narrow road. Two roads, one choice…
In his warnings though, Jesus goes on… Pay attention to the fruit people produce. Two fruit, one choice. He tells us to beware of false prophets disguised as sheep. They work their way through the flock, looking for those they can devour. Their looks you may miss, but their actions you will not. Their fruit will always give them away. Jesus says we can tell what kind of tree a person is by the type of fruit they produce. It makes sense. If you pick an apple off of a tree, it’s gonna be an apple tree. Pears from pear trees, peaches from peach trees, etc… You don’t get a banana from a grape vine. It just doesn’t happen. The tree is the type of tree it is long before fruit is produced.
In the same way, actions can easily determine the type of person someone is. Their fruit gives them away! Their actions, the things that people produce, don’t lie. You can clearly determine what kind of person you’re dealing with by the fruit that they produce. Paul outlines what good fruit and bad fruit look like very clearly in Galatians 5:19-22. I heard a phrase earlier this week that I really like. Character precedes Conduct. Your character, who you are, comes before what you do. What you do flows naturally out of who you are. If you are filled with the spirit your life should reflect this. You should produce good things in your life. Your fruit will quickly give you away. Two fruit, one choice…
Jesus’ warning goes on though… Not everyone who calls out Lord, Lord, will make it into the kingdom. Two outcomes, one choice. There will be those who claim the name of the Lord in that time who will not be saved. There will even be those who have done things in the name of Jesus such as prophesy and casting out demons that will not be allowed into the kingdom of heaven. Jesus’ explanation is simple and direct – Only those who actually do the will of my father in heaven will enter. Only those who are producing genuine fruit. There seem to be two implications to this that are worth discussing a little more.
The first implication seems to be that you’ve got to actually produce fruit, not just look like a good tree. Over in Matthew 21 Jesus encounters a fig tree that is in full bloom of leaves, and appears to be a beautiful tree. Upon further inspection though, Jesus finds that the appearance is deceiving, as there are no figs. He curses the fig tree, and it writhers up immediately. Sadly, there are many people out there who are very similar to this tree. Their appearance is deceiving, as they look like a Christian. They’re covered in leaves so to speak – they go to church each week, they drop their money in the basket on the way out the door, they have every appearance of being a believer, except one problem – no fruit. Going through the motions of Christianity does not produce fruit. It may make you leafy and you may blend in, but end the end it’s, well… fruitless.
The second implication is that there is a difference between doing God’s will and doing things in God’s name. Jesus says that there will be people who did amazing things in his name – prophecy and cast out demons – yet they did not do it with the right motives and it was therefore it was useless. It is fake fruit so to speak… It can be easy to get so caught up in the “doing” that we forget the “why”. One of my favorite musicians, Shane Barnard, has a song called “received” in which he echo’s this exact thought…
you can only go so far, until the bottom falls outall my singing, smiling, pleasure finds me, i'm all rightpretty melody, dedicated to Godto be called by one Almighty God and take it for grantedheard a rumor i guess, but i wanna know who told me sotold me serving You replaced me knowing You!You whispered to Your child todaybut i haven't got a minute to listenYour child is busy with the work of God and taking Him for grantedgot a lot to do today, kingdom work's the game i playLord my serving You replaced me knowing You
Jesus wraps up his inaugural kingdom of heaven sermon with some very sobering warnings to his disciples. He’s telling them, get ready now, because there’s a lot ahead that you need to be prepared for. Make a decision now. Draw a line in the sand now. Choose now because I’ve got a lot in store for you. If they only knew the things they were going to face in the coming years. I wonder how much these words of Jesus echoed in their hearts and minds as they went through three years of ministry with Jesus, the Passion Week, the cross, the resurrection, and Pentecost. As they saw false prophets attack Jesus and later the church, as they saw people like Judas who got caught up in the doing instead of the why.
2000 years later the warnings still ring true loud and clear:
The gate to life is narrow but the road to hell is broad. Two roads, one choice.
Pay attention to the fruit people produce. Two fruit, one choice.
Not everyone who calls out Lord, Lord, will make it into the kingdom. Two outcomes, one choice.
Two roads, One choice…
August 19, 2007
Intro:
The road less traveled – Robert Frost:
Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,And sorry I could not travel bothAnd be one traveler, long I stoodAnd looked down one as far as I couldTo where it bent in the undergrowth.Then took the other, as just as fair,And having perhaps the better claim,Because it was grassy and wanted wear;Though as for that the passing thereHad worn them really about the same.And both that morning equally layIn leaves no step had trodden black.Oh, I kept the first for another day!Yet knowing how way leads on to way,I doubted if I should ever come back.I shall be telling this with a sighSomewhere ages and ages hence:Two roads diverged in a wood, and I--I took the one less traveled by,And that has made all the difference.
Doing some research regarding Frost’s writing, I know that this poem is likely not about anything faith related. Some say it’s him writing a poem asserting his individualism in the face of society, others say it’s actually him making fun of a walking partner who always slowly pondered which path to take on a given day. Regardless, I love the imagery of this poem and how it makes me think about life and faith. I believe life and faith to be a journey. One filled with experiences, choices, and pitfalls – all which are immeasurably valuable, not just a means to the destination. Many times in this journey of life we come to a fork in the road - a place where a definitive decision must be made. You can’t go both ways – you’ve got to make a choice and go with it. Most of the time we’ll never have the opportunity to revisit these choices, as they lead to other choices and before we know it we’re miles away from that split in the road so long ago.
Jesus understands that we face some important choices. In the Sermon on the Mount, he preps his disciples, the ones closest to him, for the next two and a half years of ministry that they’ll be a part of with him, as well as the years ahead in the early formation of the church. This first major sermon to them is a crash course of sorts for what they’re to expect and endure in the coming years. It’s his way of saying to them, here’s where we’re headed. As with any good sermon, Jesus winds down his time with some warnings and some challenges to his hearers.
Check out Matthew 7:13-23
His warning begins… The gate to life is narrow but the road to hell is broad. Two roads, one choice. There are so many spiritual self help book out there these days. The “religious” section at Barnes and Noble is growing like crazy with books about fixing yourself in your spare time. Our faith has been treated like everything else in our lives. Do the miracle “quick fix” in your spare time and be in awe of the results. 8 minute abs. A simple shake for lunch. Lose weight with this simple pill. All from the convenience of your own home. Pray this prayer. Give to this ministry. Repeat this phrase to yourself. But Jesus says that the way is narrow, the road difficult, and hard to find. These faith band-aids are definitely not the answer. We cannot expect to work on our faith in our spare time and have it survive. We cannot expect to find and follow the narrow road if we only give God the down time of our lives. The gate to life is narrow. If it’s easy for you to be a Christian then something’s wrong.
The road to hell is broad. It’s a highway with flashing neon lights at every on ramp. Six lanes, well paved – never any construction. You can’t miss it. I had a hard time this week with something that I saw on the blog of a friend of mine. He came across a website called “The Blasphemy Challenge”. A group of atheists and agnostics are actually giving away prizes to people who are willing to “condemn themselves to hell” by uploading a video of themselves blaspheming the Holy Spirit. Theological interpretations aside, my heart broke for these people. Practical joke or serious, these people clearly were hurting and needed Jesus. I could not get the passage out of my head – the road is wide for the many who choose it. Everywhere around us people are hopping on, and in the process, it can be easy to miss the narrow gate.
Over in John 14, Jesus says “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” Nothing more than Jesus, nothing less than Jesus. Just Jesus. In our smorgasbord world of faith these days this can be hard for some people to stomach. Our pluralistic society says believe what you want to believe and you’re fine. You hear constantly that as long as you believe in something we’re all headed towards the same God in the end. Some people take a little of everything they encounter and end up with a hodge podge of beliefs. Some Jesus, some Mohammed, some Budda, with a little Oprah mixed in for good measure. Sometimes Jesus doesn’t even make it into the equation. Simply live a good life. Do good things and avoid evil and karma alone will get you to heaven. Finish your heaven prep checklist with getting baptized and you’ll make it to heaven. Others try to add stipulations to Jesus. Jesus and Christian music will get you to heaven. Jesus and no cursing, no tattoos, and no drinking will get you to heaven. Jesus and a membership within this denomination will get you to heaven. Jesus doesn’t add stipulations though. Nothing more, nothing less, Just Jesus. He is the way. He is the truth. He is the life. He is the narrow road. Two roads, one choice…
In his warnings though, Jesus goes on… Pay attention to the fruit people produce. Two fruit, one choice. He tells us to beware of false prophets disguised as sheep. They work their way through the flock, looking for those they can devour. Their looks you may miss, but their actions you will not. Their fruit will always give them away. Jesus says we can tell what kind of tree a person is by the type of fruit they produce. It makes sense. If you pick an apple off of a tree, it’s gonna be an apple tree. Pears from pear trees, peaches from peach trees, etc… You don’t get a banana from a grape vine. It just doesn’t happen. The tree is the type of tree it is long before fruit is produced.
In the same way, actions can easily determine the type of person someone is. Their fruit gives them away! Their actions, the things that people produce, don’t lie. You can clearly determine what kind of person you’re dealing with by the fruit that they produce. Paul outlines what good fruit and bad fruit look like very clearly in Galatians 5:19-22. I heard a phrase earlier this week that I really like. Character precedes Conduct. Your character, who you are, comes before what you do. What you do flows naturally out of who you are. If you are filled with the spirit your life should reflect this. You should produce good things in your life. Your fruit will quickly give you away. Two fruit, one choice…
Jesus’ warning goes on though… Not everyone who calls out Lord, Lord, will make it into the kingdom. Two outcomes, one choice. There will be those who claim the name of the Lord in that time who will not be saved. There will even be those who have done things in the name of Jesus such as prophesy and casting out demons that will not be allowed into the kingdom of heaven. Jesus’ explanation is simple and direct – Only those who actually do the will of my father in heaven will enter. Only those who are producing genuine fruit. There seem to be two implications to this that are worth discussing a little more.
The first implication seems to be that you’ve got to actually produce fruit, not just look like a good tree. Over in Matthew 21 Jesus encounters a fig tree that is in full bloom of leaves, and appears to be a beautiful tree. Upon further inspection though, Jesus finds that the appearance is deceiving, as there are no figs. He curses the fig tree, and it writhers up immediately. Sadly, there are many people out there who are very similar to this tree. Their appearance is deceiving, as they look like a Christian. They’re covered in leaves so to speak – they go to church each week, they drop their money in the basket on the way out the door, they have every appearance of being a believer, except one problem – no fruit. Going through the motions of Christianity does not produce fruit. It may make you leafy and you may blend in, but end the end it’s, well… fruitless.
The second implication is that there is a difference between doing God’s will and doing things in God’s name. Jesus says that there will be people who did amazing things in his name – prophecy and cast out demons – yet they did not do it with the right motives and it was therefore it was useless. It is fake fruit so to speak… It can be easy to get so caught up in the “doing” that we forget the “why”. One of my favorite musicians, Shane Barnard, has a song called “received” in which he echo’s this exact thought…
you can only go so far, until the bottom falls outall my singing, smiling, pleasure finds me, i'm all rightpretty melody, dedicated to Godto be called by one Almighty God and take it for grantedheard a rumor i guess, but i wanna know who told me sotold me serving You replaced me knowing You!You whispered to Your child todaybut i haven't got a minute to listenYour child is busy with the work of God and taking Him for grantedgot a lot to do today, kingdom work's the game i playLord my serving You replaced me knowing You
Jesus wraps up his inaugural kingdom of heaven sermon with some very sobering warnings to his disciples. He’s telling them, get ready now, because there’s a lot ahead that you need to be prepared for. Make a decision now. Draw a line in the sand now. Choose now because I’ve got a lot in store for you. If they only knew the things they were going to face in the coming years. I wonder how much these words of Jesus echoed in their hearts and minds as they went through three years of ministry with Jesus, the Passion Week, the cross, the resurrection, and Pentecost. As they saw false prophets attack Jesus and later the church, as they saw people like Judas who got caught up in the doing instead of the why.
2000 years later the warnings still ring true loud and clear:
The gate to life is narrow but the road to hell is broad. Two roads, one choice.
Pay attention to the fruit people produce. Two fruit, one choice.
Not everyone who calls out Lord, Lord, will make it into the kingdom. Two outcomes, one choice.
Sunday, August 12, 2007
LISTENING TO THE HEART OF THE MASTER: Part 11
August 12, 2007
Matthew 7:7-12
PRAYERFUL PERSISTENCE PAYS OFF
**“Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened.”
**Ask ~ this means a constant habit
**Seek ~ perpetual quest
**Knock ~ be loud in your attempts
EXPECT EXCITING EXPERIENCES
**“You parents—if your children ask for a loaf of bread, do you give them a stone instead? Or if they ask for a fish, do you give them a snake? Of course not! So if you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give good gifts to those who ask him.”
**Parents know what’s best.
**We’re asking a Father who knows precisely what we need.
**We’re asking a Father who has limitless resources at his disposal.
PREPARE YOUR PERSONALITY
**“Do to others whatever you would like them to do to you. This is the essence of all that is taught in the law and the prophets.”
**Everything that Jesus has been teaching and everything that God had been saying throughout history collide here in this “golden rule.”
**In Mark 12:30-31, Jesus essentially tells us to “love God and love people.”
**Treating others with the respect they deserve shows are love for Jesus.
The secret to a great VBS is in the P.E.P. talk... The secret to tackling all the challenges of life is in this PEP talk.
Matthew 7:7-12
PRAYERFUL PERSISTENCE PAYS OFF
**“Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened.”
**Ask ~ this means a constant habit
**Seek ~ perpetual quest
**Knock ~ be loud in your attempts
EXPECT EXCITING EXPERIENCES
**“You parents—if your children ask for a loaf of bread, do you give them a stone instead? Or if they ask for a fish, do you give them a snake? Of course not! So if you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give good gifts to those who ask him.”
**Parents know what’s best.
**We’re asking a Father who knows precisely what we need.
**We’re asking a Father who has limitless resources at his disposal.
PREPARE YOUR PERSONALITY
**“Do to others whatever you would like them to do to you. This is the essence of all that is taught in the law and the prophets.”
**Everything that Jesus has been teaching and everything that God had been saying throughout history collide here in this “golden rule.”
**In Mark 12:30-31, Jesus essentially tells us to “love God and love people.”
**Treating others with the respect they deserve shows are love for Jesus.
The secret to a great VBS is in the P.E.P. talk... The secret to tackling all the challenges of life is in this PEP talk.
Sunday, August 05, 2007
LISTENING TO THE HEART OF THE MASTER: Part 10
August 5, 2007
The Discipline of Forgiveness
Matthew 7:1-5
“Do not judge others, and you will not be judged. For you will be treated as you treat others. The standard you use in judging is the standard by which you will be judged.”“And why worry about a speck in your friend’s eye when you have a log in your own? How can you think of saying to your friend, ‘Let me help you get rid of that speck in your eye,’ when you can’t see past the log in your own eye? Hypocrite! First get rid of the log in your own eye; then you will see well enough to deal with the speck in your friend’s eye."
FORGIVENESS BEGINS
…when we stop looking at another’s sin.
…when we let God take care of other’s sin.
…when we start looking at ourselves closely.
…when we let God get close to our sin.
SCRIPTURES
Matthew 7:1-5 Focusing on your “planks” is going to be a painful process for us.
John 15:1-17 The Master’s pruning will be painful, but fruitful.
We DO NOT want the Master to cut us off completely.
THE PRACTICALITY OF SELF-EXAMINATION
Have an accurate view of God: Judgment is His alone!
Have a healthy view of others: We are all in this together.
Have an honest view of self:
**Do you need to apologize?
**Do you need to forgive others?
**Do you need to forgive self?
**Do you need to repent?
The Discipline of Forgiveness
Matthew 7:1-5
“Do not judge others, and you will not be judged. For you will be treated as you treat others. The standard you use in judging is the standard by which you will be judged.”“And why worry about a speck in your friend’s eye when you have a log in your own? How can you think of saying to your friend, ‘Let me help you get rid of that speck in your eye,’ when you can’t see past the log in your own eye? Hypocrite! First get rid of the log in your own eye; then you will see well enough to deal with the speck in your friend’s eye."
FORGIVENESS BEGINS
…when we stop looking at another’s sin.
…when we let God take care of other’s sin.
…when we start looking at ourselves closely.
…when we let God get close to our sin.
SCRIPTURES
Matthew 7:1-5 Focusing on your “planks” is going to be a painful process for us.
John 15:1-17 The Master’s pruning will be painful, but fruitful.
We DO NOT want the Master to cut us off completely.
THE PRACTICALITY OF SELF-EXAMINATION
Have an accurate view of God: Judgment is His alone!
Have a healthy view of others: We are all in this together.
Have an honest view of self:
**Do you need to apologize?
**Do you need to forgive others?
**Do you need to forgive self?
**Do you need to repent?
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