CHRISTMAS MOVIES part 2

CHRISTMAS VACATION

DECEMBER 14, 2008

with Adam Waters

OPENING

· I love sunshine.
· False light v. sunlight.
· Today, we want to discuss relationships. Do you have a relationship with darkness? Or a relationship with light?
· A darkness relationship means a relationship with sin, with self, with the stuff of this world and not the next, living a life that carries no meaning to the world.
· A light relationship mean a friendship with purity, with loving others, with eternity, with a life steeped in purpose and meaning for today. A friendship w/light is a friendship w/Jesus.

D-THOUGHT: Jesus brings light to a dark world.
· When Jesus brings light to a dark world, it brings about a dynamic change in you and me. He radically alters our job descriptions…
· Dynamic Sprinters ~ John 3:16-21 “For God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through him. “There is no judgment against anyone who believes in him. But anyone who does not believe in him has already been judged for not believing in God’s one and only Son. And the judgment is based on this fact: God’s light came into the world, but people loved the darkness more than the light, for their actions were evil. All who do evil hate the light and refuse to go near it for fear their sins will be exposed. But those who do what is right come to the light so others can see that they are doing what God wants.” COME TO THE LIGHT.
· Dynamic Maids ~ Ephesians 5:10-14 Carefully determine what pleases the Lord. Take no part in the worthless deeds of evil and darkness; instead, expose them. It is shameful even to talk about the things that ungodly people do in secret. But their evil intentions will be exposed when the light shines on them, for the light makes everything visible. This is why it is said, “Awake, O sleeper, rise up from the dead, and Christ will give you light.” CLEAN OUT YOUR COBWEBS.
· Dynamic Electricians ~ Matthew 5:14-16 “You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden. No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.” CHRIST EMPOWERES US TO BE HIS EMISSARIES. John calls Jesus the light of the world in John1, but Jesus turns the tables and expects us to reflect him!

Re-Evaluate your Jesus fixation…
Last week we discussed Jesus’ ability to bring faith to a cynical world. How a real relationship with the Savior brings that “Jesus! I know him!” kind of reaction.

As we Reevaluate our Jesus fixation this week, we need to look at how a fixation with Jesus is a fixation with light: 1)warmth, 2)sight, 3)exposure, 4)life, 5)clarity.

My favorite aspect of "Christmas Vacation" is that Clark is always trying to make Christmas perfect for his family. Making Christmas perfect can only be wrapped up in our Jesus fixation.
Knowing Jesus and believing in him causes us to walk transparent, to clean out the dusty corners and to shine… “make them wonder what you got, make them wish that they were not on the outside looking board.”

CHRISTMAS MOVIES part 1

"ELF"

December 7, 2008

with Adam Waters

OPEN

· Why don’t you believe in Santa Clause anymore?
· If we did, how would Christmas be different? Magical element, wait up all night just to catch a glimpse of him, explorers to the North Pole searching and searching for his home, we’d try to behave better (nice list/naughty list)… how would XMAS be different?

THOUGHT: Jesus brings belief to a cynical world.
· Most of us have gotten cynical about Xmas… keeping up with the Jones family… we have to get a present for everyone… stress… depression… lost family times… travel… anxiety… will they like what I give them…. XMAS whether it be the secular OR the spiritual meaning as it is intended is lost!
· When the Christ Child was to come into the world, the same thing had happened… it’s been too long since the Messiah was promised… so he was unrecognizable to most of those who encountered him… unless their faith was childlike!
· TODAY if he showed up on our doorstep, how would we react? “Yeah sure… you’re Jesus. Take off the fake beard. Put away the costume and leave me alone.”
· When Jesus (and John the Baptist) encountered a cynical culture and had to shake the dust off of their faith! They called the “religious” of their day: snakes, white-washed tombs, hypocrites, blind guides, and more! I hope they wouldn’t have to do the same to us…

Luke 13:18-21 “The Mustard Seed and the Yeast.”
If suddenly we began to believe Santa was real, how great would the belief have to be before the neighbors thought you were NUTS!
Jesus speaks to that. Your faith doesn’t have to be this great thing. We’re not all going to be Will Ferrell. Most of us are his dad (J.Caan).
YEAST: the store elf girl getting other’s singing

John 20:24-31 “Blessed are those who have not seen and yet believe.”
Children everywhere walk with wide-eyed-wonder towards Christmas because they have faith that an old fat guy in a red suit will bring them something special on Xmas.
Blessed are we when we walk with wide-eyed-wonder towards Christmas because we have faith that a Jewish carpenter was born of a virgin, lived fully man and fully God, died on a tree, and rose from the grave… that’s crazy talk! Give me the fat guy, at least I get presents once a year!

You need to Re-Evaluate your Jesus fixation…
Quote from THE SANTA CLAUSE – “Most people think that seeing is believing, but the truth is that believing is seeing!”
I don’t want this series to be just another “remember what Xmas is all about” set of talks. It needs to be “remember what Christianity is all about” series!
Christianity is about the smallest amount of belief (centurion: help my unbelief!) being ENOUGH to get the sleigh off the ground! If you have seen Jesus, they W. Ferrell kind of enthusiasm is definitely warranted. If you believe just a little… “singing loud for all to hear is the best way to spread Christmas cheer.”
Use what faith you have… let it grow as the mustard seed does into something amazing and beautiful… Get fixated on Jesus again (SANTA! I know him... JESUS! I know him!), it will not disappoint you.

Don't Forget! We launch with "ELF" this weekend!

FAITHFUL part 5

CHARACTER: Family
November 30, 2008

Yesterday, we celebrated the dedication of Natalie Faith Hunley and Mona Spencer's baptism. We also worshipped and took communion together as a family. Here is a page from our handbook on baptism...


BAPTISM
The wedding of salvation.

As with all of the values of worship within the ORCHARD, we look to the Bible for our answers in this matter. The Scriptures teach that God created man for the purpose of relationship. We, also, know that sin separates us from that relationship. We feel that baptism plays a pivotal role in the restoration of that relationship to our Heavenly Father. In Luke 15, we see the parable of the lost sheep. We see the happiness and joy of even the angles when one of God’s sheep comes home. This parable gives us insight into how God sees the importance of our restored relationship with Him. Baptism is the step of obedience that cleanses us and brings us new life in Him. After we believe what He’s done to show His love for us, repent of how we’ve wronged our love, and openly confess that He is our bridegroom, our relationship with God is restored. It is restored at our wedding with Christ (baptism) that results in our forgiveness (see Ephesians 5:25-27 for wedding illustration).

PURPOSE OF BAPTISM
• The forgiveness of sin – Acts 2:38
• Washing away of sin – Acts 22:16
• New birth/new life – John 3:5, Romans 6:3-6, Colossians 2:12
• Clothed with Christ – Galatians 2:26-27
• Saved (salvation) –Acts 2:40-41, 1Peter 3:21
• Appeal to God – 1Peter 3:21

METHOD OF BAPTISM
• The Biblical method was to submerge or immerse completely in water (Jesus’ own example – Matthew 3:13-16, Ethiopian – Acts 8, Death, burial and resurrection – Romans 6).
• The Greek word means to dip, immerse, wash, plunge, sink, drench and overwhelm (Greek-English Lexicon by Bauer, Arndt & Gingrich).
• The early church leaders immersed after a confession of faith. This was the teaching of Justin Martyr (AD 110-165), Tertullian (AD 145-220), Cyril of Jerusalem (AD 315-386), and Gregory of Dyssa (AD 334-394).
• Jesus tells us “not to forbid the little children to come to him.” Christening is accepted as a dedication of children to God and the church (see Samuel), but is not associated with the forgiveness of sin. Christening is an intention of the parents. Water baptism is a way of completing or fulfilling the intention of the parents. In Matthew 19, Jesus placed His hands on them and blessed them.
• Actual infant baptism is not seen in the Bible, but was brought into church tradition years later. We feel that an individual must understand how they have broken their relationship in order to submit to baptism.
• Baptism was the command of Christ (Matthew 28:19-20).
• Must be done in His name and no other (Acts 19).