The Church Awakens - Part Seven: What is Love?

What is Love?

Life is ultimately about relationships - relationship with God and other people. This is why the two greatest commands that summarize all the rest focuses on this truth. Today we will look at what two men who were once very far from God discovered about love and how we can walk in true love in the light of Christ today.

WHAT LOVE IS AND IS NOT

Love is a choice, not merely a feeling

1 Corinthians 13:1-10 If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing. Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends. As for prophecies, they will pass away; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when the perfect comes, the partial will pass away.

“In friendship...we think we have chosen our peers. In reality a few years' difference in the dates of our births, a few more miles between certain houses, the choice of one university instead of another...the accident of a topic being raised or not raised at a first meeting--any of these chances might have kept us apart. But, for a Christian, there are, strictly speaking no chances. A secret master of ceremonies has been at work. Christ, who said to the disciples, "Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you," can truly say to every group of Christian friends, "Ye have not chosen one another but I have chosen you for one another." The friendship is not a reward for our discriminating and good taste in finding one another out. It is the instrument by which God reveals to each of us the beauties of others.” ― C.S. Lewis, The Four Loves

Don't fall prey to loneliness in the city. Embrace your church as the family of God with all of its practical benefits. Love the ones you're with and make an effort to connect this week with someone with whom you might begin the adventure of God.

LOVE IN LIFE'S STAGES

Love looks to give rather than simply to receive

1 Corinthians 13:11-13 When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I gave up childish ways. For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known. So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love.

How often should I be the one giving without reciprocation?

As often as you are able.

Matthew 18:21-22 Then Peter came up and said to him, “Lord, how often will my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times?” Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you seven times, but seventy-seven times. Parable of the unmerciful servant

“Need-love cries to God from our poverty; Gift-love longs to serve, or even to suffer for, God; Appreciative love says: “We give thanks to thee for thy great glory.” Need-love says of a woman “I cannot live without her”; Gift-love longs to give her happiness, comfort, protection – if possible, wealth; Appreciative love gazes and holds its breath and is silent, rejoices that such a wonder should exist even if not for him, will not be wholly dejected by losing her, would rather have it so than never to have seen her at all.” ― C.S. Lewis, The Four Loves

Find one way to show appreciative love to the one with whom you've chosen to connect.

THE LOVE OF CHRIST

Love is demonstrated not relegated to a mere sentiment

“To love at all is to be vulnerable. Love anything and your heart will be wrung and possibly broken. If you want to make sure of keeping it intact you must give it to no one, not even an animal. Wrap it carefully round with hobbies and little luxuries; avoid all entanglements. Lock it up safe in the casket or coffin of your selfishness. But in that casket, safe, dark, motionless, airless, it will change. It will not be broken; it will become unbreakable, impenetrable, irredeemable. To love is to be vulnerable.” ― C.S. Lewis, The Four Loves

Romans 5:6-10 For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die— but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God. For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life.

Find one way today to show extravagant love to someone who would have otherwise seemed unlovable as an expression and possibly an introduction to the gospel of Christ.

Second City Church- The Church Awakens Sermon Series 2016

The Church Awakens - Part Six: Perseverance

Hebrews 6
1Therefore let us leave the elementary doctrine of Christ and go on to maturity, not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God, 2and of instruction about washings, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment. 3And this we will do if God permits. 4For it is impossible, in the case of those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, and have shared in the Holy Spirit, 5and have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the age to come, 6and then have fallen away, to restore them again to repentance, since they are crucifying once again the Son of God to their own harm and holding him up to contempt. 7For land that has drunk the rain that often falls on it, and produces a crop useful to those for whose sake it is cultivated, receives a blessing from God. 8But if it bears thorns and thistles, it is worthless and near to being cursed, and its end is to be burned. 9Though we speak in this way, yet in your case, beloved, we feel sure of better things—things that belong to salvation. 10For God is not unjust so as to overlook your work and the love that you have shown for his name in serving the saints, as you still do. 11And we desire each one of you to show the same earnestness to have the full assurance of hope until the end, 12so that you may not be sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.

Second City Church- The Church Awakens Sermon Series 2016

The Church Awakens - Part Five

 

We value virtue but do not discuss it. The honest bookkeeper, the faithful wife, the earnest scholar get little of our attention compared to the embezzler, the tramp, the cheat. -John Steinbeck, Travels with Charley: In Search of America

When the church awakens, we see that our lives are those that aren't meant to fall into the reactionary malaise of our fallen world, but your life is meant to be marked by honor - the honor of God and the honor that He bestows upon you for honoring Him.

Philippians 1:18-26 What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is proclaimed, and in that I rejoice.Yes, and I will rejoice, for I know that through your prayers and the help of the Spirit of Jesus Christ this will turn out for my deliverance, as it is my eager expectation and hope that I will not be at all ashamed, but that with full courage now as always Christ will be honored in my body, whether by life or by death. For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. If I am to live in the flesh, that means fruitful labor for me. Yet which I shall choose I cannot tell. I am hard pressed between the two. My desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better. But to remain in the flesh is more necessary on your account. Convinced of this, I know that I will remain and continue with you all, for your progress and joy in the faith, so that in me you may have ample cause to glory in Christ Jesus, because of my coming to you again.

Genesis 12; II Corinthians 6

He first pulls you out of the culture to be set apart to Him that you might be sent back into it to shape it.

What the world says honor is:

Wealth, prestige, titles, physical beauty, sexual prowess and power.

Whole cultures are built around the concept of honor.

To be wealthy and honored in an unjust society is a disgrace. -Confucius, The Analects

What God says honor is:

John 13:12-16

When he had washed their feet and put on his outer garments and resumed his place, he said to them, “Do you understand what I have done to you? You call me Teacher and Lord, and you are right, for so I am. If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet. For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you. Truly, truly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him.

Luke 22:24-27

A dispute also arose among them, as to which of them was to be regarded as the greatest. And he said to them, “The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them, and those in authority over them are called benefactors. But not so with you. Rather, let the greatest among you become as the youngest, and the leader as one who serves. For who is the greater, one who reclines at table or one who serves? Is it not the one who reclines at table? But I am among you as the one who serves.

What does honor look like?

To esteem, to protect, to build the reputation, resources or support of a community rather than to tear down it down. Expressing gratitude and thankfulness for a service or job valiantly pursued. To search for and make it your focus to commend the noble qualities of an individual. To praise.

What it is and what it isn't:

It is not agreeing with wrongdoing or turning a blind eye to evil. It is not agreeing with everything that someone says or does.

It is looking to bless rather than to curse. It is looking, like Christ, to be a source of redemption rather than condemnation.

John 3:17-18 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.

It will free your heart from being a perpetual cynic, fault finder and despiser of authority (which is bondage and comes from pride thinking you can always do better not knowing what they had to endure). It instead empowers you to be a team player, a servant, one who is humbly looking to be part of the solution in any scenario rather than the armchair quarterbacks we'll hear from during next week's Super Bowl.

In the home

It's the little words that count.

Ephesians 6:1-4 Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. “Honor your father and mother” this is the first commandment with a promise, “that it may go well with you and that you may live long in the land.” Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.

Proverbs 18:21 Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruits.

In the community

Living a life worthy of honor through godly wisdom

The most tragic thing in the world is a man of genius who is not a man of honor. -George Bernard Shaw

Simple, genuine goodness is the best capital to found the business of this life upon. It lasts when fame and money fail, and is the only riches we can take out of this world with us. -Louisa May Alcott, Little Men (Little Women, #2)

Proverbs 8:12-21 “I, wisdom, dwell with prudence, and I find knowledge and discretion. The fear of the Lord is hatred of evil. Pride and arrogance and the way of evil and perverted speech I hate. I have counsel and sound wisdom; I have insight; I have strength. By me kings reign, and rulers decree what is just; by me princes rule, and nobles, all who govern justly. I love those who love me, and those who seek me diligently find me. Riches and honor are with me, enduring wealth and righteousness. My fruit is better than gold, even fine gold, and my yield than choice silver. I walk in the way of righteousness, in the paths of justice, granting an inheritance to those who love me, and filling their treasuries.

Proverbs 21:21 Whoever pursues righteousness and kindness will find life, righteousness, and honor.

In the workplace

Don't drown in water cooler gossip.

David and Saul 1 Samuel 24:1-10 When Saul returned from following the Philistines, he was told, “Behold, David is in the wilderness of Engedi.” Then Saul took three thousand chosen men out of all Israel and went to seek David and his men in front of the Wildgoats' Rocks. And he came to the sheepfolds by the way, where there was a cave, and Saul went in to relieve himself. Now David and his men were sitting in the innermost parts of the cave. And the men of David said to him, “Here is the day of which the Lord said to you, ‘Behold, I will give your enemy into your hand, and you shall do to him as it shall seem good to you.’” Then David arose and stealthily cut off a corner of Saul's robe. And afterward David's heart struck him, because he had cut off a corner of Saul's robe. He said to his men, “The Lord forbid that I should do this thing to my lord, the Lord's anointed, to put out my hand against him, seeing he is the Lord's anointed.” So David persuaded his men with these words and did not permit them to attack Saul. And Saul rose up and left the cave and went on his way. Afterward David also arose and went out of the cave, and called after Saul, “My lord the king!” And when Saul looked behind him, David bowed with his face to the earth and paid homage. And David said to Saul, “Why do you listen to the words of men who say, ‘Behold, David seeks your harm’? Behold, this day your eyes have seen how the Lord gave you today into my hand in the cave. And some told me to kill you, but I spared you. I said, ‘I will not put out my hand against my lord, for he is the Lord's anointed.’

Proverbs 27:18 Whoever tends a fig tree will eat its fruit, and he who guards his master will be honored.

In the church

Honor can be boiled down to loyalty.

We are all in the same boat, in a stormy sea, and we owe each other a terrible loyalty. -GK Chesterton

Romans 12:9-10 Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor.

Turning honor to Christ

Psalm 91:14-16 “Because he holds fast to me in love, I will deliver him; I will protect him, because he knows my name. When he calls to me, I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will rescue him and honor him. With long life I will satisfy him and show him my salvation.”

Second City Church- The Church Awakens Sermon Series 2016

The Church Awakens - Part Four

Finishing Faith

God's intention is always to finish the good work that He's started in and through you in Christ Jesus.

We need faith to finish what God has begun.

Philippians 1:1-11 Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus, To all the saints in Christ Jesus who are at Philippi, with the overseers and deacons: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine for you all making my prayer with joy, because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now. And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ. It is right for me to feel this way about you all, because I hold you in my heart, for you are all partakers with me of grace, both in my imprisonment and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel. For God is my witness, how I yearn for you all with the affection of Christ Jesus. And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment, so that you may approve what is excellent, and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.

What can keep you from finishing the work God has begun in you?

1) Being an island unto yourself

Finishing the task together Elisha's hands on Joash's

Stop being an island unto yourself. Allow other believers to help steer you in the direction of God.

Who will you allow/who has God appointed to help guide your hand?

2 Kings 13:14-25 Now when Elisha had fallen sick with the illness of which he was to die, Joash king of Israel went down to him and wept before him, crying, “My father, my father! The chariots of Israel and its horsemen!” And Elisha said to him, “Take a bow and arrows.” So he took a bow and arrows. Then he said to the king of Israel, “Draw the bow,” and he drew it. And Elisha laid his hands on the king's hands. And he said, “Open the window eastward,” and he opened it. Then Elisha said, “Shoot,” and he shot. And he said, “The Lord's arrow of victory, the arrow of victory over Syria! For you shall fight the Syrians in Aphek until you have made an end of them.” And he said, “Take the arrows,” and he took them. And he said to the king of Israel, “Strike the ground with them.” And he struck three times and stopped. Then the man of God was angry with him and said, “You should have struck five or six times; then you would have struck down Syria until you had made an end of it, but now you will strike down Syria only three times.” So Elisha died, and they buried him. Now bands of Moabites used to invade the land in the spring of the year. And as a man was being buried, behold, a marauding band was seen and the man was thrown into the grave of Elisha, and as soon as the man touched the bones of Elisha, he revived and stood on his feet. Now Hazael king of Syria oppressed Israel all the days of Jehoahaz. But the Lord was gracious to them and had compassion on them, and he turned toward them, because of his covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and would not destroy them, nor has he cast them from his presence until now. When Hazael king of Syria died, Ben-hadad his son became king in his place. Then Jehoash the son of Jehoahaz took again from Ben-hadad the son of Hazael the cities that he had taken from Jehoahaz his father in war. Three times Joash defeated him and recovered the cities of Israel.

2) Being determined to live outside the lines

Living outside the lines

If you are always trying to be the special one or the exception to the rule, you will miss the very grace of God for your life by not doing the things God has said to do with whom and where He has placed you.

Luke 7:29-30 When all the people heard this, and the tax collectors too, they declared God just, having been baptized with the baptism of John, but the Pharisees and the lawyers rejected the purpose of God for themselves, not having been baptized by him.

The root of this is pride thinking that you are faster, stronger, better than others who need such things. However, God will always resist the proud while giving grace to the humble.

Proverbs 3:7-8 Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord, and turn away from evil. It will be healing to your flesh and refreshment to your bones.

Where have you done this in your life? In relationships? With your work? With your finances? With how you spend your time?

We've tried to represent these lines God has clearly set forth in His Word with our Next Steps growth tracks at Second City.

Israel often fell into apostate states during times of peace and prosperity. God would raise up nations to discipline them that they might turn back to Him in desperation.

3) If you quit before God's work is done

"A Christian never falls asleep in the fire or in the water but grows drowsy in the sunshine.” -Samuel Wilks (1800s)

David and Bathsheba

Acts 8 persecution Acts 8:1-4 And Saul approved of their killing him.On that day a great persecution broke out against the church in Jerusalem, and all except the apostles were scattered throughout Judea and Samaria. Godly men buried Stephen and mourned deeply for him. But Saul began to destroy the church. Going from house to house, he dragged off both men and women and put them in prison. Those who had been scattered preached the word wherever they went.

John 5:16-17 So, because Jesus was doing these things on the Sabbath, the Jewish leaders began to persecute him. In his defense Jesus said to them, “My Father is always at his work to this very day, and I too am working.”

Joshua 1:12-18 But to the Reubenites, the Gadites and the half-tribe of Manasseh, Joshua said, “Remember the command that Moses the servant of the Lord gave you after he said, ‘The Lord your God will give you rest by giving you this land.’ Your wives, your children and your livestock may stay in the land that Moses gave you east of the Jordan, but all your fighting men, ready for battle, must cross over ahead of your fellow Israelites. You are to help them until the Lord gives them rest, as he has done for you, and until they too have taken possession of the land the Lord your God is giving them. After that, you may go back and occupy your own land, which Moses the servant of the Lord gave you east of the Jordan toward the sunrise.” Then they answered Joshua, “Whatever you have commanded us we will do, and wherever you send us we will go. Just as we fully obeyed Moses, so we will obey you. Only may the Lord your God be with you as he was with Moses. Whoever rebels against your word and does not obey it, whatever you may command them, will be put to death. Only be strong and courageous!”

There will always be more souls to be saved, people to be clothed and fed, businesses to begin, young people to disciple, etc..,

Joshua 13:1-5 When Joshua had grown old, the Lord said to him, “You are now very old, and there are still very large areas of land to be taken over. “This is the land that remains: all the regions of the Philistines and Geshurites, from the Shihor River on the east of Egypt to the territory of Ekron on the north, all of it counted as Canaanite though held by the five Philistine rulers in Gaza, Ashdod, Ashkelon, Gath and Ekron; the territory of the Avvites on the south; all the land of the Canaanites, from Arah of the Sidonians as far as Aphek and the border of the Amorites; the area of Byblos; and all Lebanon to the east, from Baal Gad below Mount Hermon to Lebo Hamath.

Learn to ask for help.

Being so private that you never let anyone in is detrimental.

Never dealing with issues - always calling problems something other than what they are -  only perpetuates issues and keeps you from the grace Christ has for you.

Come to the cross and find grace in His community today.

Second City Church- The Church Awakens Sermon Series 2016

The Church Awakens - Part Three

Luke 4:14-15 And Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit to Galilee, and a report about him went out through all the surrounding country. And he taught in their synagogues, being glorified by all.

What are the things that lull us to sleep?

1) Comforts 2) Discouragement 3) Sin

Ephesians 5:13-21 But when anything is exposed by the light, it becomes visible, for anything that becomes visible is light. Therefore it says,“Awake, O sleeper,and arise from the dead,and Christ will shine on you.” Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit, addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart, giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ.

Re-Setting our eyes on the prize

Get a biblical picture in your mind of what the promised land looks like for your: 1) Walk with Jesus 2) Your family life 3) The results of your work life 5) Your ministry (service) to the Lord

Sow daily into that vision by changing your speech.

Replacing the old patterns with new

Galatians 6:7-10 Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap. For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith.

Maxims to persist in the power of the Spirit:

1) Slow down to stay sharp.

Ecclesiastes 10:10 If the iron is blunt, and one does not sharpen the edge,he must use more strength,but wisdom helps one to succeed.

Slow down and take the time you need to stay sharp before God in worship, the Word of God and prayer.

Psalm 16:1-2 Preserve me, O God, for in you I take refuge. I say to the Lord, “You are my Lord; I have no good apart from you.”

2) Godly fellowship is gas for your soul. Continue to fill 'er up.

Commitment to both church and/or a community group are non-negotiables for premium health, encouragement and consistent joy.

Psalm 16:3 As for the saints in the land, they are the excellent ones,in whom is all my delight.

3) Cast your lot in the right place.

You are a limited resource. God is inexhaustible. You only have so much of it, so prioritize your time and energy (both emotional and physical) for things that will build God's kingdom, His church and have eternal reward.

Psalm 16:4-5 The sorrows of those who run after another god shall multiply; their drink offerings of blood I will not pour out or take their names on my lips. The Lord is my chosen portion and my cup; you hold my lot.

4) Many hands make light work; so everyone find your place of service. (The next Volunteer Fair is Feb. 7th.)

Ephesians 4:15-16 Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.

5) Have holy restraint.

Let your yes be yes and your no, no to the right things.

Learn to say no to the wrong things that you might say yes to the right things.

Psalm 16:6 The lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; indeed, I have a beautiful inheritance.

6) Fix your eyes on Jesus.

Fix our eyes on Jesus and get a renewed vision of who He is.

Hebrews 12:1-3 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.

Psalm 16:7-11 I bless the Lord who gives me counsel; in the night also my heart instructs me. I have set the Lord always before me;because he is at my right hand, I shall not be shaken. Therefore my heart is glad, and my whole being rejoices;my flesh also dwells secure. For you will not abandon my soul to Sheol, or let your holy one see corruption. You make known to me the path of life;in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.

Second City Church- The Church Awakens Sermon Series 2016

The Church Awakens - Part Two

Fasting brings clarity and preparation for the new things God wants to do in and through you.

Matthew 9:14-17 Then the disciples of John came to him, saying, “Why do we and the Pharisees fast, but your disciples do not fast?” And Jesus said to them, “Can the wedding guests mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them? The days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast. No one puts a piece of unshrunk cloth on an old garment, for the patch tears away from the garment, and a worse tear is made. Neither is new wine put into old wineskins. If it is, the skins burst and the wine is spilled and the skins are destroyed. But new wine is put into fresh wineskins, and so both are preserved.”

The fasting guide and Bible study is on the web. Prayer is held on Friday nights as well as before every Sunday service. (See the web calendar for details.) Prayer points are the vision statement for the church.

1 Samuel 14:1-15 One day Jonathan the son of Saul said to the young man who carried his armor, “Come, let us go over to the Philistine garrison on the other side.” But he did not tell his father. Saul was staying in the outskirts of Gibeah in the pomegranate cave at Migron. The people who were with him were about six hundred men, including Ahijah the son of Ahitub, Ichabod's brother, son of Phinehas, son of Eli, the priest of the Lord in Shiloh, wearing an ephod. And the people did not know that Jonathan had gone. Within the passes, by which Jonathan sought to go over to the Philistine garrison, there was a rocky crag on the one side and a rocky crag on the other side. The name of the one was Bozez, and the name of the other Seneh. The one crag rose on the north in front of Michmash, and the other on the south in front of Geba. Jonathan said to the young man who carried his armor, “Come, let us go over to the garrison of these uncircumcised. It may be that the Lord will work for us, for nothing can hinder the Lord from saving by many or by few.” And his armor-bearer said to him, “Do all that is in your heart. Do as you wish. Behold, I am with you heart and soul.” Then Jonathan said, “Behold, we will cross over to the men, and we will show ourselves to them. If they say to us, ‘Wait until we come to you,’ then we will stand still in our place, and we will not go up to them. But if they say, ‘Come up to us,’ then we will go up, for the Lord has given them into our hand. And this shall be the sign to us.” So both of them showed themselves to the garrison of the Philistines. And the Philistines said, “Look, Hebrews are coming out of the holes where they have hidden themselves.” And the men of the garrison hailed Jonathan and his armor-bearer and said, “Come up to us, and we will show you a thing.” And Jonathan said to his armor-bearer, “Come up after me, for the Lord has given them into the hand of Israel.” Then Jonathan climbed up on his hands and feet, and his armor-bearer after him. And they fell before Jonathan, and his armor-bearer killed them after him. And that first strike, which Jonathan and his armor-bearer made, killed about twenty men within as it were half a furrow's length in an acre of land. And there was a panic in the camp, in the field, and among all the people. The garrison and even the raiders trembled, the earth quaked, and it became a very great panic.

What do we do once we've fasted and prayed?

Fasting brings strength and conviction for the old.

Hidden in Plain Sight

God is not trying to keep his will hidden from you. He makes it more obvious than you realize with where you are, who you are with and what you are doing.

Exodus 4:1-2 Then Moses answered, “But behold, they will not believe me or listen to my voice, for they will say, ‘The Lord did not appear to you.’” The Lord said to him, “What is that in your hand?” He said, “A staff.”

1 Corinthians 7:17-24 Only let each person lead the life that the Lord has assigned to him, and to which God has called him. This is my rule in all the churches. Was anyone at the time of his call already circumcised? Let him not seek to remove the marks of circumcision. Was anyone at the time of his call uncircumcised? Let him not seek circumcision. For neither circumcision counts for anything nor uncircumcision, but keeping the commandments of God. Each one should remain in the condition in which he was called. Were you a bondservant when called? Do not be concerned about it. But if you can gain your freedom, avail yourself of the opportunity. For he who was called in the Lord as a bondservant is a freedman of the Lord. Likewise he who was free when called is a bondservant of Christ. You were bought with a price; do not become bondservants of men. So, brothers, in whatever condition each was called, there let him remain with God.

James 1:5-8 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.

Unless God clearly calls and sends you somewhere else: 1) Buckle down in your job 2) Love your family 3) Marry if you need to 4) Love your family 5) Serve your church.

A man was trapped in his house during a flood. He began praying to God to rescue him. He had a vision in his head of God’s hand reaching down from heaven and lifting him to safety. The water started to rise in his house. His neighbour urged him to leave and offered him a ride to safety. The man yelled back, “I am waiting for God to save me.” The neighbour drove off in his pick-up truck.

The man continued to pray and hold on to his vision. As the water began rising in his house, he had to climb up to the roof. A boat came by with some people heading for safe ground. They yelled at the man to grab a rope they were ready to throw and take him to safety. He told them that he was waiting for God to save him. They shook their heads and moved on.

The man continued to pray, believing with all his heart that he would be saved by God. The flood waters continued to rise. A helicopter flew by and a voice came over a loudspeaker offering to lower a ladder and take him off the roof. The man waved the helicopter away, shouting back that he was waiting for God to save him. The helicopter left. The flooding water came over the roof and caught him up and swept him away. He drowned.

When he reached heaven he asked, “God, why did you not save me? I believed in you with all my heart. Why did you let me drown?” God replied, “I sent you a pick-up truck, a boat and a helicopter and you refused all of them. What else could I possibly do for you?”

Shiny new coin syndrome:

The enemy has a trap of diminishing efforts where he has us looking for something mysterious or out of reach when God has made His will plain.

If you see the need, take the lead. There's no need to continue to pray about what God makes obvious. Once you've prayed, asking for His direction and blessing, go forward, serve build and win battles for the Lord!

1 Samuel 14:16-23 And the watchmen of Saul in Gibeah of Benjamin looked, and behold, the multitude was dispersing here and there. Then Saul said to the people who were with him, “Count and see who has gone from us.” And when they had counted, behold, Jonathan and his armor-bearer were not there. So Saul said to Ahijah, “Bring the ark of God here.” For the ark of God went at that time with the people of Israel. Now while Saul was talking to the priest, the tumult in the camp of the Philistines increased more and more. So Saul said to the priest, “Withdraw your hand.” Then Saul and all the people who were with him rallied and went into the battle. And behold, every Philistine's sword was against his fellow, and there was very great confusion. Now the Hebrews who had been with the Philistines before that time and who had gone up with them into the camp, even they also turned to be with the Israelites who were with Saul and Jonathan. Likewise, when all the men of Israel who had hidden themselves in the hill country of Ephraim heard that the Philistines were fleeing, they too followed hard after them in the battle. So the Lord saved Israel that day. And the battle passed beyond Beth-aven.

Enough talk!

In 2016, let's turn all faith to prayers and prayers to ACTION!

Find a way you can participate in the building of the church and get involved today (go to the vision statement if you need ideas)!

Proverbs 14:23 In all toil there is profit, but mere talk tends only to poverty.

Second City Church- The Church Awakens Sermon Series 2016

The Church Awakens - Part One

Proverbs 29:18 Where there is no prophetic vision the people cast off restraint, but blessed is he who keeps the law.

1 Corinthians 9:24-27 Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it. Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. So I do not run aimlessly; I do not box as one beating the air. But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified.

Luke 2:22-38 And when the time came for their purification according to the Law of Moses, they brought him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord as it is written in the Law of the Lord, “Every male who first opens the womb shall be called holy to the Lord” and to offer a sacrifice according to what is said in the Law of the Lord, “a pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons.” Now there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon, and this man was righteous and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord's Christ. And he came in the Spirit into the temple, and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him according to the custom of the Law, he took him up in his arms and blessed God and said, “Lord, now you are letting your servant depart in peace, according to your word; for my eyes have seen your salvation that you have prepared in the presence of all peoples, a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to your people Israel.” And his father and his mother marveled at what was said about him. And Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, “Behold, this child is appointed for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign that is opposed and a sword will pierce through your own soul also, so that thoughts from many hearts may be revealed.” And there was a prophetess, Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was advanced in years, having lived with her husband seven years from when she was a virgin, and then as a widow until she was eighty-four. She did not depart from the temple, worshiping with fasting and prayer night and day. And coming up at that very hour she began to give thanks to God and to speak of him to all who were waiting for the redemption of Jerusalem.

The Boiler Room:

Spurgeon's "Boiler Room"

Five young college students were spending a Sunday in London, so they went to hear the famed C.H. Spurgeon preach. While waiting for the doors to open, the students were greeted by a man who asked, "Gentlemen, let me show you around. Would you like to see the heating plant of this church?" They were not particularly interested, for it was a hot day in July. But they didn't want to offend the stranger, so they consented. The young men were taken down a stairway, a door was quietly opened, and their guide whispered, "This is our heating plant." Surprised, the students saw 700 people bowed in prayer, seeking a blessing on the service that was soon to begin in the auditorium above. Softly closing the door, the gentleman then introduced himself. It was none other than Charles Spurgeon.

Taken from, Our Daily Bread, April 24

Charles Haddon Spurgeon (1834-1892) is known as the ‘prince of preachers.’ He was a Baptist minister in England who saw enormous blessings from God upon his ministry. It is not an exaggeration to say that thousands came to Christ through his preaching. Some of services drew as many as 10,000 people at a time!

But Spurgeon never took credit for the success of his ministry. Instead, he always pointed to the hundreds of people who came before services and prayed for God’s blessing. He said any success he had came from God in answer to their prayers. Spurgeon was often fond of calling these prayer gatherings the church’s “boiler room.”

In Spurgeon’s time, steam was the power source of the day. Boiler rooms were the powerhouses, the driving forces of everything from vast machines in factories to household heating systems. Boiler rooms, however, were not pleasant places to visit. They were functional, dirty, and hot; often tucked away in the basement. Likewise, Spurgeon saw the prayers of his people as the spiritual power behind his preaching and ministry.

This is why he told his fellow pastors, “Brethren, we shall never see much change for the better in our churches in general till the prayer meeting occupies a higher place in the esteem of Christians.”

-From the blog https://prayingforrevival.wordpress.com/2009/03/29/spurgeons-boiler-rooms/

This is available to you every Sunday from 8:30-9:30 a.m. at the church.

Proverbs 3:5-6 Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.

The ABCs of fasting:

When you otherwise would be eating, set aside time that you are praying about these areas:

1. Areas you need to ADVANCE your service to God i.e. - Miracles on the job front

2. Areas you need a BREAKTHROUGH from God - Your provision from God i.e. - Breaking sin habits Financial breakthroughs Relational breakthroughs

3. Areas you need to be CONSECRATED in a whole new way Your heart before God

Luke 2:39-40 And when they had performed everything according to the Law of the Lord, they returned into Galilee, to their own town of Nazareth. And the child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom. And the favor of God was upon him.

To grow in strength, you need a plan:

Writing out a mission statement before the Lord:

What are goals that He is giving you this year for: 1) Your time with Him 2) Your service in and through the church 3) Your finances (budgeting) and giving

Your relationships: 1) Marital or romantic - How do you need to go to the next level? 2) Pro-active child rearing 3) Covenant relationships

Your academics/career: 1) What new ventures do you need to pursue? 2) What learning opportunities are available to you? 3) What new responsibility can you take on to be a blessing to the school/company?

Your health: 1) Eating 2) Exercise 3) Rest

What do you need to do to achieve these things: 1) Daily 2) Weekly 3) Monthly 4) By the end of the year Your place in this city:

Jeremiah 29:4-7 (NIV) This is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says to all those I carried into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon: “Build houses and settle down; plant gardens and eat what they produce. Marry and have sons and daughters; find wives for your sons and give your daughters in marriage, so that they too may have sons and daughters. Increase in number there; do not decrease. Also, seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you into exile. Pray to the Lord for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper.”

We envision being a house of prayer for all the nations to the glory of God.

We envision sharing the Good News of Christ’s death and resurrection with thousands of unchurched friends and people in the greater Chicagoland area, many of whom will accept Him as Lord and Savior.

We envision developing people – new believers as well as established believers – into fully functioning followers of Christ through Bible study, worship services, community groups, special events, and leadership training.

We envision being a church that lives and models biblical community: a safe place where we are accepted, loved, shepherded, encouraged, forgiven, and are built into disciples of Jesus Christ.

We envision helping all our people – youth as well as adults – to discover their divine designs so that they are equipped to serve Christ effectively in some ministry within and outside our church.

We envision welcoming numerous members into our body who are excited about Christ, will experience healing in their family relationships and marriages, and grow together in love.

We envision being a people who care for the orphan, the widow, the victim, and the poor through practical means that help to rebuild lives.

We envision training and sending out missionaries, church planters, and church workers all over the world. We also see a number of our people pursuing short-term missions service domestically and abroad. We see our people ministering to unreached people groups and serving the least Christianized cities of the world.

We envision training marketplace Christians to be fully devoted followers of Christ who help transform culture by bringing the kingdom of God to every sphere of industry and influence.

We envision being a generous people. We see the people of God giving radically to the advance of the gospel in the city and the nations because of the love of God in their hearts.

Second City Church- The Church Awakens Sermon Series 2015

Christmas - Part 2

God has an identity for you that may be different than the one that the culture has tried to give you.

Luke 1:57-66 Now the time came for Elizabeth to give birth, and she bore a son. And her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown great mercy to her, and they rejoiced with her. And on the eighth day they came to circumcise the child. And they would have called him Zechariah after his father, but his mother answered, “No; he shall be called John.” And they said to her, “None of your relatives is called by this name.” And they made signs to his father, inquiring what he wanted him to be called. And he asked for a writing tablet and wrote, “His name is John.” And they all wondered. And immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue loosed, and he spoke, blessing God. And fear came on all their neighbors. And all these things were talked about through all the hill country of Judea, and all who heard them laid them up in their hearts, saying, “What then will this child be?” For the hand of the Lord was with him.

What you do in your private life with God will ultimately shape who you become publicly.

Luke 1:68-80 “Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, for he has visited and redeemed his people and has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David, as he spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets from of old, that we should be saved from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us; to show the mercy promised to our fathers and to remember his holy covenant, the oath that he swore to our father Abraham, to grant us that we, being delivered from the hand of our enemies,might serve him without fear, in holiness and righteousness before him all our days. And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High; for you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways, to give knowledge of salvation to his people in the forgiveness of their sins, because of the tender mercy of our God, whereby the sunrise shall visit us from on high to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.” And the child grew and became strong in spirit, and he was in the wilderness until the day of his public appearance to Israel.

What you are to become will help bring the good news to all people.

Luke 2:8-21 And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear. And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest,and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!” When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.” And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger. And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child. And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them. But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart. And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them. And at the end of eight days, when he was circumcised, he was called Jesus, the name given by the angel before he was conceived in the womb.

What does that mean in the new year for you in Chicago?

Second City Church- Christmas Sermon Series 2015

Christmas - Part 1

Who Is This Jesus?

Luke 1:26-38 In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. And the virgin's name was Mary. And he came to her and said, “Greetings, O favored one, the Lord is with you!” But she was greatly troubled at the saying, and tried to discern what sort of greeting this might be. And the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.” And Mary said to the angel, “How will this be, since I am a virgin?” And the angel answered her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy—the Son of God. And behold, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son, and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren. For nothing will be impossible with God.” And Mary said, “Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her.

Jesus is the supernatural, prophesied Jewish Messiah - king and ruler of all the earth. The very meaning of His name points to the mission of the Son of God who comes to save this fallen world from its sins, it's self-destruction.

Matthew 1:21-23 She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet: “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel” which means, God with us.

What He Meant to Elizabeth

Jesus was Elizabeth's source of redemption taking years of pain and disappointment and replacing them with fruitfulness. Elizabeth's faithfulness would make ready her son, John the Baptist, who would be the forerunner to the Savior of the world.

Luke 1:39-45 In those days Mary arose and went with haste into the hill country, to a town in Judah, and she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. And when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, the baby leaped in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit, and she exclaimed with a loud cry, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! And why is this granted to me that the mother of my Lord should come to me? For behold, when the sound of your greeting came to my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her from the Lord.”

Jesus brought restoration to Elizabeth's barren years and importance to her older years.

What He Meant to Mary

Jesus was Mary's definition, giving purpose to her youth. He is the one who the Father used to birth a heavenly call by the Holy Spirit taking Mary out of obscurity and placing her in humble service. She would have the enormous charge to care for, protect and nurture the Savior of the world.

Luke 1:46-56 And Mary said,“My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has looked on the humble estate of his servant. For behold, from now on all generations will call me blessed; for he who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is his name. And his mercy is for those who fear him from generation to generation. He has shown strength with his arm;he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts; he has brought down the mighty from their thrones and exalted those of humble estate; he has filled the hungry with good things,and the rich he has sent away empty. He has helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy, as he spoke to our fathers,to Abraham and to his offspring forever.” And Mary remained with her about three months and returned to her home.

God chose Mary and it was her responsibility to believe Him and order her life accordingly.

In the same ways, God is calling out to you.

What He Means to You

Jesus has come to be your king. You can be made new through repentance for the forgiveness of your sins. Through faith in Jesus as the Son of God, you can receive adoption into His family.

Like Elizabeth, because of the cross, Jesus can redeem your barren years of pain and disappointment. He is ready to entrust one who has been faithful with responsibility in His Kingdom that your latter years may have eternal impact.

Like Mary, He is here to give you definition, birthing significance through His word to give your life a purpose that will ultimately glorify God through Jesus Christ.

You will not fulfill the purposes of God on your own.

Jesus wants to join you to others upon whom He is moving for His eternal purposes. You are together with those in God's church to be a part of His story of redemption for humanity. All parts are indispensable. Elizabeth was the older woman who had the life experience and wisdom of how to walk with God even through the trial of her barrenness. Mary was the youth, the teenager who was learning reverent submission to the divine will, overcoming stigma and allowing her life to be an offering to God.

In the church, God wants both the wisdom of age and the zeal of youth meeting at the feet of Jesus to provide redemption for this city and the world. Let's commit to this as a perpetual offering to God as we celebrate the birth of His Son, Jesus.

Second City Church- Christmas Sermon Series 2015

The Unshakables - The Unshakable Destiny - Week Twelve

The Unshakable Destiny: The unshakable life is destined for eternity with God.

Death and Resurrection The Justice of God and the Sinfulness of Humanity The Judgment of Sinners The Judgment of Saints

Psalm 9:7-8 But the Lord sits enthroned forever; he has established his throne for justice, and he judges the world with righteousness; he judges the peoples with uprightness.

Ecclesiastes 3:17 I said in my heart, God will judge the righteous and the wicked, for there is a time for every matter and for every work.

Death and Resurrection

Hebrews 9:27-28 And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment, so Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin but to save those who are eagerly waiting for him.

Romans 14:10-12 Why do you pass judgment on your brother? Or you, why do you despise your brother? For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God; for it is written,“As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to me,and every tongue shall confess to God.” So then each of us will give an account of himself to God.

An excerpt from The Purple Book:

Annihilationism is the view that human beings cease to exist at the moment of physical death. This view denies the eternal existence of the soul and the Justice of God.

Reincarnation is is the view that upon death a person's soul passes into a new body of either the same or different species as punishment or reward. This view denies the biblical teaching of eternal judgment.

Resurrection is the biblical teaching that the dead shall rise, be judged, and be given either eternal punishment or eternal rewards.

Hebrews 2:14-15 Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery.

The Justice of God and the Sinfulness of Humanity

An excerpt from The Purple Book:

"Many who don't know God and assume that people are basically good wonder, "How can a loving God send people to hell?" The goodness of God's creation was scarred by humanity's sin. Once we see how sinful we are and how perfectly holy God is, we will wonder, "How can a holy God allow sinful people into heaven?"

Psalm 89:14 Righteousness and justice are the foundation of your throne; steadfast love and faithfulness go before you.

James 2:10-12 For whoever keeps the whole law but fails in one point has become accountable for all of it. For he who said, “Do not commit adultery,” also said, “Do not murder.” If you do not commit adultery but do murder, you have become a transgressor of the law. So speak and so act as those who are to be judged under the law of liberty.

The Judgment of Sinners

Romans 2:5-11 But because of your hard and impenitent heart you are storing up wrath for yourself on the day of wrath when God's righteous judgment will be revealed. He will render to each one according to his works: to those who by patience in well-doing seek for glory and honor and immortality, he will give eternal life; but for those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, there will be wrath and fury. There will be tribulation and distress for every human being who does evil, the Jew first and also the Greek, but glory and honor and peace for everyone who does good, the Jew first and also the Greek. For God shows no partiality.

Revelation 20:15 And if anyone's name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.

Revelation 21:8 But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death.”

Matthew 24:48-51 But if that wicked servant says to himself, ‘My master is delayed,’ and begins to beat his fellow servants and eats and drinks with drunkards, the master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he does not know and will cut him in pieces and put him with the hypocrites. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

Hebrews 10:26-31 For if we go on sinning deliberately after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a fearful expectation of judgment, and a fury of fire that will consume the adversaries. Anyone who has set aside the law of Moses dies without mercy on the evidence of two or three witnesses. How much worse punishment, do you think, will be deserved by the one who has trampled underfoot the Son of God, and has profaned the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified, and has outraged the Spirit of grace? For we know him who said, “Vengeance is mine; I will repay.” And again, “The Lord will judge his people.” It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.

An excerpt from The Purple Book:

"The Bible teaches that God is loving, kind and compassionate. But he is also holy and just. That is why we are commanded to "fear" him - that is, to treat him with reverence and awe. We do not "fear" God because he is fickle and unreliable. Far from it! God will always show mercy to those who fear him (Luke 1:50).

The Judgment of Saints

An excerpt from The Purple Book:

"All who repent of their sins and put faith in Christ will be with him in paradise forever. Because God is just and our justifier, we will not be judged with those who die apart from Christ. But our life work will be judged - not to determine our eternal destination, but to determine our eternal rewards."

Psalm 116:15 Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints.

To the church in Ephesus: Revelation 2:7 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who conquers I will grant to eat of the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.’

To the church in Smyrna: Revelation 2:11 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. The one who conquers will not be hurt by the second death.’

To the church in Pergamum: Revelation 2:17 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who conquers I will give some of the hidden manna, and I will give him a white stone, with a new name written on the stone that no one knows except the one who receives it.’

To the church in Thyatira: Revelation 2:26-28 The one who conquers and who keeps my works until the end, to him I will give authority over the nations, and he will rule them with a rod of iron, as when earthen pots are broken in pieces, even as I myself have received authority from my Father. And I will give him the morning star.

To the church in Sardis: Revelation 3:5 The one who conquers will be clothed thus in white garments, and I will never blot his name out of the book of life. I will confess his name before my Father and before his angels.

To the church in Philadelphia: Revelation 3:12 The one who conquers, I will make him a pillar in the temple of my God. Never shall he go out of it, and I will write on him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, which comes down from my God out of heaven, and my own new name.

To the church in Laodicea: Revelation 3:21 The one who conquers, I will grant him to sit with me on my throne, as I also conquered and sat down with my Father on his throne.

Romans 3:21-26 But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it— the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction: for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God's righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins. It was to show his righteousness at the present time, so that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.

Second City Church- The Unshakables Sermon Series 2015

Guest Speaker - Peter Ahlin

From Division to Diversity: How Christ's Church Demonstrates Love and Advances the Gospel

I was all set to preach a different message up until two weeks ago. But as I was reading an article in the Wall Street Journal about recent events in the city of Chicago, particularly centered around the shooting of Laquan McDonald, this message dropped into my spirit. Because you see, there are families mourning the loss of sons, brothers, parents, or friends. There are citizens living in fear right now, whether in specific neighborhoods or on the police force. When we perceive injustice, it’s natural to respond with anger, frustration, fear, sorrow, offense, confusion, and even hopelessness. In the midst of all this raw emotion, how do we find the grounds to respond as Christ would have us do?

On the flight here, I was reading a book written by New Orleans Saints receiver Benjamin Watson, entitled Under Our Skin: Getting Real About Race—And Getting Free from the Fears and Frustrations that Divide Us. The introduction was taken from his Facebook post upon learning of the jury’s decision in Ferguson, and I think it’s so valuable that I’d like to read it verbatim:

At some point while I was playing or preparing to play Monday Night Football, the news broke about the Ferguson Decision. After trying to figure out how I felt, I decided to write it down. Here are my thoughts:

I'M ANGRY because the stories of injustice that have been passed down for generations seem to be continuing before our very eyes.

I'M FRUSTRATED, because pop culture, music and movies glorify these types of police citizen altercations and promote an invincible attitude that continues to get young men killed in real life, away from safety movie sets and music studios.

I'M FEARFUL because in the back of my mind I know that although I'm a law abiding citizen I could still be looked upon as a "threat" to those who don't know me. So I will continue to have to go the extra mile to earn the benefit of the doubt.

I'M EMBARRASSED because the looting, violent protests, and law breaking only confirm, and in the minds of many, validate, the stereotypes and thus the inferior treatment.

I'M SAD, because another young life was lost from his family, the racial divide has widened, a community is in shambles, accusations, insensitivity hurt and hatred are boiling over, and we may never know the truth about what happened that day.

I'M SYMPATHETIC, because I wasn't there so I don't know exactly what happened. Maybe Darren Wilson acted within his rights and duty as an officer of the law and killed Michael Brown in self defense like any of us would in the circumstance. Now he has to fear the backlash against himself and his loved ones when he was only doing his job. What a horrible thing to endure. OR maybe he provoked Michael and ignited the series of events that led to him eventually murdering the young man to prove a point.

I'M OFFENDED, because of the insulting comments I've seen that are not only insensitive but dismissive to the painful experiences of others.

I'M CONFUSED, because I don't know why it's so hard to obey a policeman. You will not win!!! And I don't know why some policeman abuse their power. Power is a responsibility, not a weapon to brandish and lord over the populace.

I'M INTROSPECTIVE, because sometimes I want to take "our" side without looking at the facts in situations like these. Sometimes I feel like it's us against them. Sometimes I'm just as prejudiced as people I point fingers at. And that's not right. How can I look at white skin and make assumptions but not want assumptions made about me? That's not right.

I'M HOPELESS, because I've lived long enough to expect things like this to continue to happen. I'm not surprised and at some point my little children are going to inherit the weight of being a minority and all that it entails.

I'M HOPEFUL, because I know that while we still have race issues in America, we enjoy a much different normal than those of our parents and grandparents. I see it in my personal relationships with teammates, friends and mentors. And it's a beautiful thing.

I'M ENCOURAGED, because ultimately the problem is not a SKIN problem, it is a SIN problem. SIN is the reason we rebel against authority. SIN is the reason we abuse our authority. SIN is the reason we are racist, prejudiced and lie to cover for our own. SIN is the reason we riot, loot and burn. BUT I'M ENCOURAGED because God has provided a solution for sin through the his son Jesus and with it, a transformed heart and mind. One that's capable of looking past the outward and seeing what's truly important in every human being. The cure for the Michael Brown, Trayvon Martin, Tamir Rice and Eric Garner tragedies is not education or exposure. It's the Gospel. So, finally, I'M ENCOURAGED because the Gospel gives mankind hope.

As Benjamin Watson shared with eloquence, transparency, and grace, the Gospel is the only hope! The root cause of violence, injustice, mistrust, and fear is SIN, and the good news of Jesus Christ the only hope. So how do we very practically experience that hope and put it to work in our lives?

I want to break this message into four simple parts:

(a) The Reality

(b) The Response

(c) The Revival

(d) The Revelation

We are going to be mostly in the book of Acts, to see a specific example of a cry of injustice, a response, and what happened following that response.

First, what is the present REALITY? Though laws and cultural mores change from country to country and century to century, the same reality persists, because there is nothing new under the sun. What did Solomon say in Ecclesiastes?

Moreover I saw under the sun: In the place of judgment, wickedness was there; And in the place of righteousness, iniquity was there. (Ecclesiastes 3:16) (In the very places where a lawful response should have been made. In the very place where officers should have sought to protect. And so on. In the very place where there should have been righteousness, there was wickedness.)

Let’s look at our main passage, Acts 6:1:

1 Now in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplying, there arose a complaint against the Hebrews by the Hellenists, because their widows were neglected in the daily distribution.

Satan comes to bring ethnic division; the church is called to celebrate ethnic diversity. Not just peaceful coexistence. How does it happen? The apostles have received gifts for distribution to those in need, but the Grecian Jews (i.e. those not native-born) perceived that they were neglected in the daily distribution. This created disunity and murmuring among the believers – there had been this beautiful unity of meeting together in each other’s homes, breaking bread together, sharing everything they had – and now division and dissension was striking near the very core of what made apostolic Christianity so vibrant. The health of the Christian church was at stake in what happened next.

2 Then the twelve summoned the multitude of the disciples and said, “It is not desirable that we should leave the word of God and serve tables. 3 Therefore, brethren, seek out from among you seven men of good reputation, full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business; 4 but we will give ourselves continually to prayer and to the ministry of the word.” 5 And the saying pleased the whole multitude. And they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit, and Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas, a proselyte from Antioch, 6 whom they set before the apostles; and when they had prayed, they laid hands on them.

So what was the apostles’ RESPONSE? Like good leaders should, they responded with proactivity and wisdom. They did not

(a) ignore the problem (aaawww, it’s fine, it will work itself out)

(b) act as though the church had no role (this is really a welfare issue, kinda political, and we’re a church. We had best stay out of it.)

(c) not prioritizing one extreme at the exclusion of the other (James 1:27); word of God and serving the poor (Galatians 2:10). Ah we just do theology here. We just evangelize here. We’re not really into social issues. OR we don’t really evangelize, we just feed people and trust that they’ll figure out how to be saved by a revelation.

They empowered a team (this is God's way: to have His children share the weight of ministry and steward/develop their gifts). REMEMBER Jesus said ask the Lord of the harvest, and in the very next verse, they were sent! Of

(A) diverse individuals (Nicolas a convert to Judaism from Antioch). It wouldn’t just be one homogenous group serving the diverse population they needed to reach with food. They also didn’t decide to have two groups, kinda separate but equal, to serve the Palestinian Jews and the Grecian Jews. Instead, it would be a diverse team, mutually benefiting each other with their gifts.

(B) capable of loving each other in their diversity (under persecution, Philip went straight to Samaria (Jews don't associate with Samaritans) and witnessed to an Ethiopian eunuch). ROLLAN AND I – he is exuberant, energetic, bold evangelist, light-up-the-room extrovert, with a Jamaican flair. I am an introverted, Swedish bookworm. That could either drive us crazy, or that could give us cause to celebrate and praise God for those differences that complement each other and fill out the beautiful fulsome picture of God’s infinitely amazing character.

(C) humble enough to serve in obscurity though amazingly and dramatically gifted. Stephen, we know you're full of faith and the Holy Spirit. People trust you ... So we want you to wait tables very Tuesday.

Stephen could have taken offense. I am so gifted and important, and they want me to take food to widows? No one sees my gift! No one values me! I know where I can find prominence -- with the Pharisees. I'm out of here.

Stephen could have bided his time and done a half-hearted job. I'll just wait til I am discovered. No one sees anyway. Instead, Stephen said: I am honored to serve. Thank God I have faithful leaders who want to empower me, not hoard responsibility for themselves. Thank God I have a commission to serve the poor, rectify ethnic injustice, and a good reason to be out preaching as I serve.

(D) good reputation (unimpeachable character -- they will rectify the problem and replace dissension with dynamism. Have you ever noticed, even when you are working for God with all your heart, accusations against your motives can still come? Maybe especially when you are working for God with all your heart. What’s needed are men and women, like Daniel, about whom it is said – “We can’t find anything on him, unless it’s something about his God.”)

(E) full of the Spirit (as they serve, they will preach the gospel. They’ll say, this is great! Now we can reach the Greek-speaking world, because I’m gonna witness to everyone who gets my food delivery.)

(F) full of wisdom (welcoming diverse perspectives while promoting the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. Naturally there will be different ideas about how to do things, and it takes tremendous wisdom to listen to those viewpoints respectfully and reach a just, equitable conclusion.)

(G) able to take responsibility because they have been charged by the church leadership to make a difference. Laying hands confers commission, approval, blessing, and anointing.

Wow. What can happen with a team this great? Wisdom of diverse perspectives, filled with the Spirit, great reputations, connecting with the population they are going out to serve, devoted to rectifying injustice and bringing equity and fairness! Now that’s a team!

What happened when they got to work?

The REVIVAL

7 Then the word of God spread, and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests were obedient to the faith. (Acts 6:1-7)

(1) the Word of God spread and the disciples multiplied greatly!

(A) the apostles could focus on prayer and preaching the Word

(B) Stephen and others shared the Word as they served

(C) real and unhypocritical faith was on display. Ethnic unity was preserved as the church acted justly. Feeding the poor was done justly, not corruptly.

(2) priests became obedient to the faith!

(A) they had resisted the preaching of Jesus and worked to see Him killed

(B) they had initially opposed the apostles and had them persecuted

(C) they had everything to lose from a system that elevated common believers. They wouldn't have special seats in the synagogue anymore! They wouldn’t have a temple that corruptly extracted excess money from those who came to sacrifice. They were the last people you might have predicted would become obedient to the faith. So why turn to Christ now? They repented at the sight of the preaching of the gospel via an empowered church, ethnically diverse yet unified. They had seen the form of religion but denied its power their whole lives, but now – after they didn’t turn at the preaching of the greatest teacher who ever lived, his resurrection which they denied, the miracles in the early church – they repented because they saw authentic love in diversity.

Want to see those “hard cases” come to faith, those family members or friends who act like they would never believe? They will believe, when they see God’s church modeling just, authentic love in a diverse population. Watch the people you have prayed over for years and even decades repent when they see this. The world does not have it! The world’s choices seem to be either unrepentant anger, pointing fingers, closing doors, and huddling up with people exactly like me. They will know that you are Christians when they see this love, against all expectation, against the societal trend, in the face of every painful reality we are seeing in this great city.

Finally, the REVELATION. Even the apostles who had witnessed this experience needed a fresh revelation of God’s ultimate plan. I want to share three moments with you, when the apostles of God caught a vision for God’s design for the nations of the world, and the revelation transformed them forever.

34 PETER: “I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism 35 but accepts from every nation the one who fears him and does what is right. (Acts 10:34-35)

24 PAUL: The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by human hands. 25 And he is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything. Rather, he himself gives everyone life and breath and everything else. 26 From one man he made all the nations, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live. 27 God did this so that they would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from any one of us. (Acts 17:24-27)

9 JOHN: After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could number, of all nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, with palm branches in their hands, 10 and crying out with a loud voice, saying, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!” (Revelation 7:9-10)

When you catch that revelation, when it is written on your heart with the indelible ink of God’s Spirit, it will never leave you.

I want to close by reminding you of a comment from the Isaiah 60 message preached in September of 2013, about four key attributes that would mark this church. A penetrating light in deep darkness. A refuge of tranquility in a sea of turmoil. From a small beginning, a mighty army to reach thousands here and worldwide. And finally, love in diversity: a beautiful picture of God’s kingdom diversity from many nations will be joined together in your church family, and those who come will be able to build and minister with great efficacy. (Isaiah 60:5-10a)

You see, the Bible does not teach that nations and cultures are homogeneous, nor that their differences are irreconcilable ones. The biblical picture Isaiah shares is that even in the perfected future, national and ethnic distinctions persist. Tim Keller points out here that every culture brings something different, something for which it is known, and that each culture has strengths and contributions to the flourishing of mankind that cannot be replaced. This is a restoration of the beautiful diversity that existed within the twelve tribes of Israel. Further, these cultural distinctions will persist for all of eternity – John looked into heaven and saw a countless multitude of all nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. And so with this promise to the church comes a commission for every member in it – to demonstrate love in diversity, to model a community of believers from every nation about whom it may be said – see how they love each other! Jesus went through Samaria when his Jewish contemporaries who hated Samaritans walked miles out of the way to avoid it. Now that He has ascended to heaven, He has called each of us to show his love in diversity. Jesus is the one who reconciled divided foes both to God in one body through the cross, thereby putting to death the enmity between them, and if you’ll allow Him, He’ll fill you with His love as your church fills up with a beautiful diversity of cultures, languages, and nations.

Let me summarize. The only hope to bring authentic, loving diversity to our city and world is the gospel of Jesus Christ lived out by the church of Jesus Christ. There is no plan B, no other alternative. There’s injustice at work in places where there ought to be justice. The goal is not just peaceful coexistence or separate but equal – remember how Martin Luther King said “I have a dream that one day the sons of former slaves and the sons of former slave owners will be able to sit together at the table of brotherhood.” Not peacefully coexist, but sit at the table together as brother and sisters. We cannot ignore the problem, or opt out because that’s “not our focus.” Instead, we must empower God’s diverse, loving, humble, wise, Spirit-filled, wisdom-oriented, anointed, unimpeachable team to sit at the table of brotherhood and sisterhood to rectify injustice. When we do, we will see the Word of God spread, those people who have rejected the gospel for years or decades turn to Jesus, as we embrace His revelation. Jesus has made the two one! Jesus reconciled enemies to Him through the cross, and we will see the full beauty of his variegated creativity in the church that is built.

Second City Church- Guest Speakers Series 2015

The Unshakables - The Unshakable Compassion - Week Eleven

The Unshakable Compassion: The unshakable life moves compassionately towards people with the gospel through word, deeds and power.

Everyone a Minister Boldness Spiritual Conflict and Evangelism Miracles, Signs and Wonders To the Ends of the Earth

Everyone a Minister

2 Corinthians 5:16-20 From now on, therefore, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we once regarded Christ according to the flesh, we regard him thus no longer. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.

Romans 1:14-16 I am under obligation both to Greeks and to barbarians, both to the wise and to the foolish. So I am eager to preach the gospel to you also who are in Rome. For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.

Romans 10:14-15 How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!”

Acts 10:24 And on the following day they entered Caesarea. Cornelius was expecting them and had called together his relatives and close friends.

Acts 20:17-21 Now from Miletus he sent to Ephesus and called the elders of the church to come to him. And when they came to him, he said to them:“You yourselves know how I lived among you the whole time from the first day that I set foot in Asia, serving the Lord with all humility and with tears and with trials that happened to me through the plots of the Jews; how I did not shrink from declaring to you anything that was profitable, and teaching you in public and from house to house, testifying both to Jews and to Greeks of repentance toward God and of faith in our Lord Jesus Christ.

Boldness

Acts 4:29-31 And now, Lord, look upon their threats and grant to your servants to continue to speak your word with all boldness, while you stretch out your hand to heal, and signs and wonders are performed through the name of your holy servant Jesus.” And when they had prayed, the place in which they were gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and continued to speak the word of God with boldness.

Proverbs 28:1 The wicked flee when no one pursues,but the righteous are bold as a lion.

Proverbs 29:25 The fear of man lays a snare,but whoever trusts in the Lord is safe.

Ephesians 6:19-20 and also for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains, that I may declare it boldly, as I ought to speak.

Spiritual Conflict and Evangelism

2 Corinthians 4:4 In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.

Colossians 2:8 See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ.

Ephesians 6:12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.

John 6:44 No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him. And I will raise him up on the last day.

Acts 16:14-15 One who heard us was a woman named Lydia, from the city of Thyatira, a seller of purple goods, who was a worshiper of God. The Lord opened her heart to pay attention to what was said by Paul. And after she was baptized, and her household as well, she urged us, saying, “If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come to my house and stay.” And she prevailed upon us.

Miracles, Signs and Wonders

Acts 8:4-8 Now those who were scattered went about preaching the word. Philip went down to the city of Samaria and proclaimed to them the Christ. And the crowds with one accord paid attention to what was being said by Philip when they heard him and saw the signs that he did. For unclean spirits, crying out with a loud voice, came out of many who had them, and many who were paralyzed or lame were healed. So there was much joy in that city.

John 14:12-14 “Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father. Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it.

To the Ends of the Earth

Acts 1:8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”

Second City Church- The Unshakables Sermon Series 2015

The Unshakables - The Unshakable Generosity - Week Ten

The Unshakable Generosity: The unshakable life stewards God’s provision well in order to live a life of generosity.

The Dangers of Wealth Biblical Principles of Prosperity Putting God First Extreme Generosity

As we enter into the Thanksgiving season, we want to be sure to give honor to God for all that He has so generously provided for us - in life, in family, in finances, in fruitfulness through His church. As God has been abundantly generous to us, we want to learn to do the same in being generous as a people unto His kingdom cause.

The Dangers of Wealth

Mark 4:18-19 Still others, like seed sown among thorns, hear the word; but the worries of this life, the deceitfulness of wealth and the desires for other things come in and choke the word, making it unfruitful.

Luke 16:13 “No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.”

What does it mean to serve money?

Every decision that you make and action that you take is done for its accumulation or preservation. You live out of fear of not having enough to meet your needs or desires.

1 Timothy 6:9-10 Those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.

What does it mean to love money?

You begin to look to money as your source of identity, value, worth and security rather than the God who ultimately provided it for you. You give it the majority of your time and attention. The lion's share of your goals have to do with your incessant pursuit of money. It becomes an end in and of itself rather than a means to God's greater kingdom good. A life driven by the love of money is focused on its continued acquisition with no greater purpose than having more of it and spending it on your pleasures. It is a frustrating search for fleeting satisfaction and pseudo-stability outside of a vibrant, growing relationship Jesus Christ, His church and His eternal gospel mission.

Proverbs 11:28 Those who trust in their riches will fall, but the righteous will thrive like a green leaf.

Proverbs 23:4-5 Do not wear yourself out to get rich; do not trust your own cleverness. Cast but a glance at riches, and they are gone, for they will surely sprout wings and fly off to the sky like an eagle.

Luke 12:15-21 Then he said to them, “Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; life does not consist in an abundance of possessions.” And he told them this parable: “The ground of a certain rich man yielded an abundant harvest. He thought to himself, ‘What shall I do? I have no place to store my crops.’ “Then he said, ‘This is what I’ll do. I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and there I will store my surplus grain. And I’ll say to myself, “You have plenty of grain laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry.”’ “But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?’ “This is how it will be with whoever stores up things for themselves but is not rich toward God.”

Biblical Principles of Prosperity

Proverbs 10:3-4 The Lord does not let the righteous go hungry, but he thwarts the craving of the wicked. Lazy hands make for poverty, but diligent hands bring wealth.

Proverbs 22:9 The generous will themselves be blessed, for they share their food with the poor.

Luke 6:38 Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”

2 Corinthians 9:6-11 Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. As it is written:“They have freely scattered their gifts to the poor;their righteousness endures forever.” Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. You will be enriched in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God.

Putting God First

2 Chronicles 31:5-8 As soon as the order went out, the Israelites generously gave the firstfruits of their grain, new wine, olive oil and honey and all that the fields produced. They brought a great amount, a tithe of everything. The people of Israel and Judah who lived in the towns of Judah also brought a tithe of their herds and flocks and a tithe of the holy things dedicated to the Lord their God, and they piled them in heaps. They began doing this in the third month and finished in the seventh month. When Hezekiah and his officials came and saw the heaps, they praised the Lord and blessed his people Israel.

Leviticus 27:30-33 “‘A tithe of everything from the land, whether grain from the soil or fruit from the trees, belongs to the Lord; it is holy to the Lord. Whoever would redeem any of their tithe must add a fifth of the value to it. Every tithe of the herd and flock—every tenth animal that passes under the shepherd’s rod—will be holy to the Lord. No one may pick out the good from the bad or make any substitution. If anyone does make a substitution, both the animal and its substitute become holy and cannot be redeemed.’”

Extreme Generosity

Luke 21:1-4 As Jesus looked up, he saw the rich putting their gifts into the temple treasury. He also saw a poor widow put in two very small copper coins. “Truly I tell you,” he said, “this poor widow has put in more than all the others. All these people gave their gifts out of their wealth; but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on.”

2 Corinthians 8:1-7 And now, brothers and sisters, we want you to know about the grace that God has given the Macedonian churches. In the midst of a very severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity. For I testify that they gave as much as they were able, and even beyond their ability. Entirely on their own, they urgently pleaded with us for the privilege of sharing in this service to the Lord’s people. And they exceeded our expectations: They gave themselves first of all to the Lord, and then by the will of God also to us. So we urged Titus, just as he had earlier made a beginning, to bring also to completion this act of grace on your part. But since you excel in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and in the love we have kindled in you—see that you also excel in this grace of giving.

A generous life is one centered in the gospel.

2 Corinthians 8:8-9 I am not commanding you, but I want to test the sincerity of your love by comparing it with the earnestness of others. For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich.

There is no outgiving God. He demonstrated this by giving the life of His own son on the cross that we might be reconciled to Him.

Second City Church- The Unshakables Sermon Series 2015

The Unshakables - The Unshakable Hope - Week Nine

The Unshakable Hope: The unshakable life is anchored in hope through faith in God.

Saving Faith, Faith and Obedience, Faith and Hope

Saving Faith

You are saved solely through what Jesus has done for you, not what you do for Him.

Romans 3:21-28 But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it— the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction: for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God's righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins. It was to show his righteousness at the present time, so that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus. Then what becomes of our boasting? It is excluded. By what kind of law? By a law of works? No, but by the law of faith. For we hold that one is justified by faith apart from works of the law.

Romans 5:1-2 Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God.

Faith and Obedience

If you have faith, it will produce a move towards God and obedience to His Word.

1 John 3:2-3 Beloved, we are God's children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is. And everyone who thus hopes in him purifies himself as he is pure.

Faith puts you on a trajectory in life by the leading of God's revealed Word to you (Hebrews 11).

Faith and Hope

Biblical faith is not merely grounded in a concept, but your trust in the character, heart and disposition of the person of Christ.

Hope is the longing of your heart based on that person. Elpizo: to expect, wish for; rely upon, place confidence in, count upon. To wish or desire something to be true, long for a favorable event to occur or a circumstance to arise.

Hebrews 11:1-2, 6 Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. This is what the ancients were commended for.

And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.

We can be trapped by our previous experiences and comfortable paradigms regarding God.

Matthew 13:53-58 And when Jesus had finished these parables, he went away from there, and coming to his hometown he taught them in their synagogue, so that they were astonished, and said, “Where did this man get this wisdom and these mighty works? Is not this the carpenter's son? Is not his mother called Mary? And are not his brothers James and Joseph and Simon and Judas? And are not all his sisters with us? Where then did this man get all these things?” And they took offense at him. But Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his hometown and in his own household.” And he did not do many mighty works there, because of their unbelief.

Jesus responds to our hunger.

John 6:1-15 After this Jesus went away to the other side of the Sea of Galilee, which is the Sea of Tiberias. And a large crowd was following him, because they saw the signs that he was doing on the sick. Jesus went up on the mountain, and there he sat down with his disciples. Now the Passover, the feast of the Jews, was at hand. Lifting up his eyes, then, and seeing that a large crowd was coming toward him, Jesus said to Philip, “Where are we to buy bread, so that these people may eat?” He said this to test him, for he himself knew what he would do. Philip answered him, “Two hundred denarii worth of bread would not be enough for each of them to get a little.” One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, said to him, “There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish, but what are they for so many?” Jesus said, “Have the people sit down.” Now there was much grass in the place. So the men sat down, about five thousand in number. Jesus then took the loaves, and when he had given thanks, he distributed them to those who were seated. So also the fish, as much as they wanted. And when they had eaten their fill, he told his disciples, “Gather up the leftover fragments, that nothing may be lost.” So they gathered them up and filled twelve baskets with fragments from the five barley loaves left by those who had eaten. When the people saw the sign that he had done, they said, “This is indeed the Prophet who is to come into the world!” Perceiving then that they were about to come and take him by force to make him king, Jesus withdrew again to the mountain by himself.

We live in a fallen world that Jesus has come to redeem. It began with His sinless incarnation and sacrificial death on the cross. It continued with His resurrection from the dead and outpouring of His Holy Spirit to give ongoing testimony to His victorious life and work. It will culminate with His triumphant return where the Father will judge both the living and the dead, bringing the new heaven and new earth as the home of righteousness (Isaiah 66; Revelation 21). Suffering takes place in the time between our present circumstances and God's inevitable manifestation of His care, whether now or in the life to come. We have an eternal hope in Christ that will not be disappointed.

Romans 8:22-25 We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption to sonship, the redemption of our bodies. For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what they already have? But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.

Timing is the issue. Either now or in the life to come, we have Christ's sure promises. Go down swinging.

How should we posture ourselves in a present hope?

Matthew 9:27-31 And as Jesus passed on from there, two blind men followed him, crying aloud, “Have mercy on us, Son of David.” When he entered the house, the blind men came to him, and Jesus said to them, “Do you believe that I am able to do this?” They said to him, “Yes, Lord.” Then he touched their eyes, saying, “According to your faith be it done to you.” And their eyes were opened. And Jesus sternly warned them, “See that no one knows about it.” But they went away and spread his fame through all that district.

Jesus will at times limit Himself to the extent of our desire, even when our need is obvious.

Luke 18:35-43 As he drew near to Jericho, a blind man was sitting by the roadside begging. And hearing a crowd going by, he inquired what this meant. They told him, “Jesus of Nazareth is passing by.” And he cried out, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” And those who were in front rebuked him, telling him to be silent. But he cried out all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!” And Jesus stopped and commanded him to be brought to him. And when he came near, he asked him, “What do you want me to do for you?” He said, “Lord, let me recover my sight.” And Jesus said to him, “Recover your sight; your faith has made you well.” And immediately he recovered his sight and followed him, glorifying God. And all the people, when they saw it, gave praise to God.

What do you want Jesus to do for you?

The Emmaus Road

Luke 24:27-32 And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself. So they drew near to the village to which they were going. He acted as if he were going farther, but they urged him strongly, saying, “Stay with us, for it is toward evening and the day is now far spent.” So he went in to stay with them. When he was at table with them, he took the bread and blessed and broke it and gave it to them. And their eyes were opened, and they recognized him. And he vanished from their sight. They said to each other, “Did not our hearts burn within us while he talked to us on the road, while he opened to us the Scriptures?”

Faith will cry out for Jesus to move in your life even when it seems He has passed you by.

Second City Church- The Unshakables Sermon Series 2015

The Unshakables - Guest Speaker Reggie Roberson - The Baptism of the Holy Spirit - Week Eight

Introduction

(Pastor Reggie shared about his family, showing a picture.)

We’ve been in a series called The Unshakables.

Have you ever had someone give you a task to do but did not give you the right equipment?

Personal examples:

College entrance exam on Spanish Paper writing Trying out for football (Wonkey)

Jesus has given us a great task.

Jesus has given Christ followers the task of bringing Him glory and helping others to grow spiritually in order to fulfill His purpose for their lives. (Pastor Reggie showed a picture about being made great for a great purpose.) This is called being a disciple and making disciples. Matthew 28:18-20 speaks of this task.

Matthew 28:18-20 NIV Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

We need special equipment to complete the task.

(Pastor Reggie showed a picture with wrong equipment.)

Without the right equipment this can be a daunting task. Why?

• People immerse or baptize themselves into things that will promote them, give them possession, or give them pleasure.
• Our natural tendency is to be self-centered and not consider other people.
• We don’t want to be rejected.
• We don’t want to hold others to a standard because we don’t want anyone to hold us to a standard.
• People seem to love doing what they want to do: sin.
• We are convinced that other assignments are more important instead of that which will impact eternity.

When Jesus gave this task to His followers they were facing similar situations. Jews -thought a suffering savior was foolish. Romans -thought redemption of the world was foolish. They persecuted Christ's followers. Epicureans -emphasized enjoying earthly pleasure as the highest state of happiness. Stoics - believed that life was not about feelings, only ethics and morality which ultimately a man’s mind could control. Christians taught a need for Christ to change.

Despite all of these challenges they faced, His followers were able to complete the task. Christ followers multiplied and spread all over the earth. (Pastor Reggie referenced China, Sudan, and Indonesia.) How did they do it?

Jesus makes the right equipment available to us:

(Pastor Reggie showed a picture with firefighters.)

Let’s read the parallel verse to Matthew 28:18-20 which is Luke 24:

Luke 24:44-49 NIV He said to them, “This is what I told you while I was still with you: Everything must be fulfilled that is written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms.” Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures. He told them, “This is what is written: The Messiah will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, and repentance for the forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things. I am going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.”

Jesus is saying He is going to give Christ followers special equipment to glorify Him and make disciples. This equipment is power. Acts 1:4-5 gives us another version of the same story:

Acts 1:4-5 On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.”

Acts 1:7-8 He said to them: “It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

In both of the stories we see that Jesus is promising to give special equipment to Christ followers through the Baptism of the Holy Spirit.

In Acts 2 they receive the equipment or power:

Acts 2:1-5, 7-8, 11 NIV When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them. Now there were staying in Jerusalem God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven. Utterly amazed, they asked: “Aren’t all these who are speaking Galileans? Then how is it that each of us hears them in our native language? both Jews and converts to Judaism; Cretans and Arabs—we hear them declaring the wonders of God in our own tongues!”

The Baptism of the Holy Spirit is: An immersion into the Holy Spirit’s power; That happens immediately or some point after you’ve become a Christ follower; Accompanied with physical manifestations of the Spirit; For the purpose of power to serve and minister to others for Christ's glory.

Many other times throughout the Book of Acts we see this power through the Baptism of the Holy Spirit being used to glorify God and help others to grow spiritually in order to fulfill His purpose for their lives.

In Acts 4:8 Peter is again filled with the Holy Spirit and speaks with such power that the Jewish leaders were amazed at his boldness in spite of his being relatively uneducated (4:13). In Acts 4:31 other disciples were praying and the place where they were was shaken and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit. The effect of their fullness was that they spoke the Word of God with extraordinary boldness and Christ-exalting power. In Acts 6 we meet Stephen who is full of faith and the Holy Spirit (v. 5). And Luke tells us in verse 8 that he was therefore full of power and did wonders and signs among the people, but especially in verse 10, the leaders could not resist the wisdom and Spirit with which he spoke. His fullness gave him an extraordinary power for Christ-exalting ministry. In Acts 9:17 Paul is filled with the Holy Spirit at his conversion and the result was that he spoke with such extraordinary power that the Jews of Damascus were confounded (9:22). In Acts 11:24 Barnabas was full of the Holy Spirit and faith and the effect Luke mentions was that “a large company was added to the Lord” (as at Pentecost).

Conclusion

Jesus has given us a great task. We need special equipment to complete the task. Jesus makes the right equipment (power) available to us through the Baptism of the Holy Spirit so we can complete the task.

If you have not yet, receive the Baptism of the Holy Spirit. (Pastor Reggie shared some testimonies.) If you have already, be active in using your equipment: God gave it to you for accomplishing His task.

1 Timothy 4:14 Do not neglect your gift, which was given you through prophecy when the body of elders laid their hands on you.

Second City Church- The Unshakables Sermon Series 2015

The Unshakables - The Unshakable Devotion - Week Seven

The Unshakable Devotion: The unshakable life passionately pursues God through a life of devotion.

Personal Prayer The Power of Prayer Corporate Prayer Biblical Prayers Worship

Personal Prayer

Matthew 6:5-15 “And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites. For they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you. “And when you pray, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do, for they think that they will be heard for their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him. Pray then like this:“Our Father in heaven,hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come,your will be done,on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts,as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation,but deliver us from evil. For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

The Power of Prayer

What did Jesus say about the power of prayer?

Matthew 7:7-11 “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. Or which one of you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a serpent? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him!

Mark 11:22-24 And Jesus answered them, “Have faith in God. Truly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and thrown into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says will come to pass, it will be done for him. Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.

Matthew 21:22 And whatever you ask in prayer, you will receive, if you have faith.”

Corporate Prayer

Matthew 18:19-20 Again I say to you, if two of you agree on earth about anything they ask, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them.”

Biblical Prayers

1 John 5:14-15 And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us. And if we know that he hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests that we have asked of him.

Worship

Hebrews 10:23-25 Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.

Hebrews 12:28-29 Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe, for our God is a consuming fire.

Emotionalism vs. Biblical Praise

Psalm 47:1, 5-6 Clap your hands, all peoples! Shout to God with loud songs of joy!

God has gone up with a shout,the Lord with the sound of a trumpet. Sing praises to God, sing praises! Sing praises to our King, sing praises!

Psalm 96:8-9 Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name; bring an offering, and come into his courts! Worship the Lord in the splendor of holiness; tremble before him, all the earth!

Psalm 150:3-6 Praise him with trumpet sound;praise him with lute and harp! Praise him with tambourine and dance; praise him with strings and pipe! Praise him with sounding cymbals; praise him with loud clashing cymbals! Let everything that has breath praise the Lord! Praise the Lord!

Second City Church- The Unshakables Sermon Series 2015

The Unshakables - The Unshakable Family - Week Six

The Unshakable Family: The unshakable life commits to the family of God.

The Victorious Church

Matthew 16:13-18 Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” And they said, “Some say John the Baptist, others say Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Simon Peter replied, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” And Jesus answered him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven. And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

From p. 68 in The Purple Book:

Peter preached the very first sermon of the New Testament church. He called his listeners to repent, to be baptized and to receive the Holy Spirit. All who responded were then added to the local body of believers - called the church. Everyone who is saved, baptized and filled with the Holy Spirit today should also become part of a church - a local community of believers.

Why? Because we were not made to live the Christian life alone. We were not meant to follow God by ourselves. As you'll discover in this study, the early church did nearly everything in community. They didn't just meet together once a week; they shared life together. They taught one another, encouraged one another and met each other's needs.

Just as God determines our parents and other family members, he has also chosen the spiritual family that we are born into. The church is God's instrument for advancing his kingdom. He has no "plan B." The church is the only legitimate setting for living the Christian faith. No long-term "lone ranger' can be a true disciple of Christ. All who truly desire to follow Christ must find their place in a church family.

Acts 2:42-47 And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. And all who believed were together and had all things in common. And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.

Acts 4:32-37 Now the full number of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and no one said that any of the things that belonged to him was his own, but they had everything in common. And with great power the apostles were giving their testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was upon them all. There was not a needy person among them, for as many as were owners of lands or houses sold them and brought the proceeds of what was sold and laid it at the apostles' feet, and it was distributed to each as any had need. Thus Joseph, who was also called by the apostles Barnabas which means son of encouragement, a Levite, a native of Cyprus, sold a field that belonged to him and brought the money and laid it at the apostles' feet.

The Body of Christ

Find your place of service.

1 Corinthians 12:14-26 For the body does not consist of one member but of many. If the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body. And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body. If the whole body were an eye, where would be the sense of hearing? If the whole body were an ear, where would be the sense of smell? But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose. If all were a single member, where would the body be? As it is, there are many parts, yet one body. The eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you,” nor again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.” On the contrary, the parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, and on those parts of the body that we think less honorable we bestow the greater honor, and our unpresentable parts are treated with greater modesty, which our more presentable parts do not require. But God has so composed the body, giving greater honor to the part that lacked it, that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another. If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together.

Church Leadership

Jesus is the head of His church but He also appoints leadership.

Ephesians 4:1-16 I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call— one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. But grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ's gift. Therefore it says,“When he ascended on high he led a host of captives,and he gave gifts to men.” In saying, “He ascended,” what does it mean but that he had also descended into the lower regions, the earth? He who descended is the one who also ascended far above all the heavens, that he might fill all things. And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.

1 Timothy 3:1-13 The saying is trustworthy: If anyone aspires to the office of overseer, he desires a noble task. Therefore an overseer must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, sober-minded, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, not a drunkard, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money. He must manage his own household well, with all dignity keeping his children submissive, for if someone does not know how to manage his own household, how will he care for God's church? He must not be a recent convert, or he may become puffed up with conceit and fall into the condemnation of the devil. Moreover, he must be well thought of by outsiders, so that he may not fall into disgrace, into a snare of the devil. Deacons likewise must be dignified, not double-tongued, not addicted to much wine, not greedy for dishonest gain. They must hold the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience. And let them also be tested first; then let them serve as deacons if they prove themselves blameless. Their wives likewise must be dignified, not slanderers, but sober-minded, faithful in all things. Let deacons each be the husband of one wife, managing their children and their own households well. For those who serve well as deacons gain a good standing for themselves and also great confidence in the faith that is in Christ Jesus.

Titus 1:5-9 This is why I left you in Crete, so that you might put what remained into order, and appoint elders in every town as I directed you— if anyone is above reproach, the husband of one wife, and his children are believers and not open to the charge of debauchery or insubordination. For an overseer, as God's steward, must be above reproach. He must not be arrogant or quick-tempered or a drunkard or violent or greedy for gain, but hospitable, a lover of good, self-controlled, upright, holy, and disciplined. He must hold firm to the trustworthy word as taught, so that he may be able to give instruction in sound doctrine and also to rebuke those who contradict it.

Church Discipline

Proverbs 6:16-19 There are six things that the Lord hates,seven that are an abomination to him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked plans,feet that make haste to run to evil, a false witness who breathes out lies, and one who sows discord among brothers.

Matthew 18:15-17 “If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother. But if he does not listen, take one or two others along with you, that every charge may be established by the evidence of two or three witnesses. If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church. And if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector.

1 Corinthians 5:9-13 I wrote to you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral people— not at all meaning the sexually immoral of this world, or the greedy and swindlers, or idolaters, since then you would need to go out of the world. But now I am writing to you not to associate with anyone who bears the name of brother if he is guilty of sexual immorality or greed, or is an idolater, reviler, drunkard, or swindler—not even to eat with such a one. For what have I to do with judging outsiders? Is it not those inside the church whom you are to judge? God judges those outside. “Purge the evil person from among you.”

Holy Communion

1 Corinthians 11:23-32 For I received from the Lord what I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, “This is my body which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” In the same way also he took the cup, after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.” For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes. Whoever, therefore, eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty concerning the body and blood of the Lord. Let a person examine himself, then, and so eat of the bread and drink of the cup. For anyone who eats and drinks without discerning the body eats and drinks judgment on himself. That is why many of you are weak and ill, and some have died. But if we judged ourselves truly, we would not be judged. But when we are judged by the Lord, we are disciplined so that we may not be condemned along with the world.

From the One 2 One App:

PERSONAL APPLICATION

Are you being discipled, either one-to-one or in a small group setting? Are you making disciples? Who are you teaching to obey God's Word? Are you an active member of a local church? Name three Christians you can call for help in case of a spiritual emergency.

Second City Church- The Unshakables Sermon Series 2015

The Unshakables - The Unshakable Mission - Week Five

The Unshakable Mission: The unshakable life helps others find and follow Jesus.

Matthew 28:18-20 And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

The Cost

2 Timothy 2:1-7 You then, my child, be strengthened by the grace that is in Christ Jesus, and what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men who will be able to teach others also. Share in suffering as a good soldier of Christ Jesus. No soldier gets entangled in civilian pursuits, since his aim is to please the one who enlisted him. An athlete is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules. It is the hard-working farmer who ought to have the first share of the crops. Think over what I say, for the Lord will give you understanding in everything.

The cost of discipleship is absolute surrender: Reputation, time, money, comfort, worldly stability, relationships, laziness, prior autonomy, etc.

Luke 14:25-33 Now great crowds accompanied him, and he turned and said to them, “If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple. Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple. For which of you, desiring to build a tower, does not first sit down and count the cost, whether he has enough to complete it? Otherwise, when he has laid a foundation and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him, saying, ‘This man began to build and was not able to finish.’ Or what king, going out to encounter another king in war, will not sit down first and deliberate whether he is able with ten thousand to meet him who comes against him with twenty thousand? And if not, while the other is yet a great way off, he sends a delegation and asks for terms of peace. So therefore, any one of you who does not renounce all that he has cannot be my disciple.

The Cross

Understanding the cross is the key to discipleship.

Colossians 2:13-15 And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross. He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him.

Galatians 2:20 I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

Galatians 6:14-15 But far be it from me to boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. For neither circumcision counts for anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creation.

The Commitment

One evidence of true discipleship is growing Christian character. The other is growing involvement in Christ's mission.

2 Peter 1:3-11 His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence, by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire. For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. For whoever lacks these qualities is so nearsighted that he is blind, having forgotten that he was cleansed from his former sins. Therefore, brothers, be all the more diligent to confirm your calling and election, for if you practice these qualities you will never fall. For in this way there will be richly provided for you an entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Matthew 4:19-20 And he said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.” Immediately they left their nets and followed him.

Next week we'll speak about the community that is imperative to both shaping that character and fulfilling that mission.

Second City Church- The Unshakables Sermon Series 2015

The Unshakables - The Unshakable Hunger - Week Four

The Unshakable Hunger: The unshakable life is both satisfied by and hungry for God’s Word.

Acts 6:4-7 But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.” And what they said pleased the whole gathering, and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolaus, a proselyte of Antioch. These they set before the apostles, and they prayed and laid their hands on them. And the word of God continued to increase, and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests became obedient to the faith.

The word of God shows us our maker.

Because God has already spoken, we know and come to recognize the sound of His voice through His Word.

John 1:1-5 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

John 17:14-18 I have given them your word, and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one. They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth. As you sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world.

The word of God gives us our mission.

Matthew 24:35 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.

John 12:48-49 The one who rejects me and does not receive my words has a judge; the word that I have spoken will judge him on the last day. For I have not spoken on my own authority, but the Father who sent me has himself given me a commandment—what to say and what to speak.

2 Timothy 3:16-17 All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.

Hebrews 4:12-13 For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account.

The benefits of the Word

Psalm 1:1-3 Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked,nor stands in the way of sinners,nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the Lord,and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither.In all that he does, he prospers.

Psalm 84:1-2, 10 How lovely is your dwelling place,O Lord of hosts! My soul longs, yes, faints for the courts of the Lord; my heart and flesh sing for joy to the living God.

For a day in your courts is better than a thousand elsewhere. I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of wickedness.

Psalm 119:9-11 How can a young man keep his way pure? By guarding it according to your word. With my whole heart I seek you;let me not wander from your commandments! I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.

Meditate on it

Memorize it

Confess it (Matthew 4)

Teach it

Psalm 119:72 The law of your mouth is better to me than thousands of gold and silver pieces.

Psalm 119:97-105 Oh how I love your law! It is my meditation all the day. Your commandment makes me wiser than my enemies,for it is ever with me. I have more understanding than all my teachers,for your testimonies are my meditation. I understand more than the aged,for I keep your precepts. I hold back my feet from every evil way,in order to keep your word. I do not turn aside from your rules,for you have taught me. How sweet are your words to my taste,sweeter than honey to my mouth! Through your precepts I get understanding; therefore I hate every false way. Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.

Psalm 119:160 The sum of your word is truth, and every one of your righteous rules endures forever.

God expects obedience to His Word.

The Word of God brings us into His might.

James 1:22-25 But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing.

Luke 6:46-49 “Why do you call me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do what I tell you? Everyone who comes to me and hears my words and does them, I will show you what he is like: he is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid the foundation on the rock. And when a flood arose, the stream broke against that house and could not shake it, because it had been well built. But the one who hears and does not do them is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. When the stream broke against it, immediately it fell, and the ruin of that house was great.”

Second City Church- The Unshakables Sermon Series 2015

The Unshakables - The Unshakable Direction - Week Three

The Unshakable Direction: The unshakable life is a lifestyle of repentance.

Acts 2:36-47 Let all the house of Israel therefore know for certain that God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified.” Now when they heard this they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself.” And with many other words he bore witness and continued to exhort them, saying, “Save yourselves from this crooked generation.” So those who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls. And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. And all who believed were together and had all things in common. And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.

True repentance involves the entire Trinitarian Godhead and His body.

1. Turning away from sin and to God the Father.

2. Be baptized in the name of Jesus.

3. Receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

4. Be added to the church - the community of believers.

Luke 15:11-24 And he said, “There was a man who had two sons. And the younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of property that is coming to me.’ And he divided his property between them. Not many days later, the younger son gathered all he had and took a journey into a far country, and there he squandered his property in reckless living. And when he had spent everything, a severe famine arose in that country, and he began to be in need. So he went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, who sent him into his fields to feed pigs. And he was longing to be fed with the pods that the pigs ate, and no one gave him anything. “But when he came to himself, he said, ‘How many of my father's hired servants have more than enough bread, but I perish here with hunger! I will arise and go to my father, and I will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Treat me as one of your hired servants.”’ And he arose and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him. And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ But the father said to his servants, ‘Bring quickly the best robe, and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet. And bring the fattened calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate. For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.’ And they began to celebrate.

Mark 1:14-15 Now after John was arrested, Jesus came into Galilee, proclaiming the gospel of God, and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.”

Luke 13:1-5 There were some present at that very time who told him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. And he answered them, “Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans, because they suffered in this way? No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish. Or those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them: do you think that they were worse offenders than all the others who lived in Jerusalem? No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.”

Who should repent?

Acts 17:30-31 The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent, because he has fixed a day on which he will judge the world in righteousness by a man whom he has appointed; and of this he has given assurance to all by raising him from the dead.”

Acts 26:19-20 “Therefore, O King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision, but declared first to those in Damascus, then in Jerusalem and throughout all the region of Judea, and also to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, performing deeds in keeping with their repentance.

Proverbs 28:13 Whoever conceals his transgressions will not prosper, but he who confesses and forsakes them will obtain mercy.

2 Corinthians 7:10-11 For godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret, whereas worldly grief produces death. For see what earnestness this godly grief has produced in you, but also what eagerness to clear yourselves, what indignation, what fear, what longing, what zeal, what punishment! At every point you have proved yourselves innocent in the matter.

Restitution is evidence of real repentance.

Luke 19:1-10 He entered Jericho and was passing through. And behold, there was a man named Zacchaeus. He was a chief tax collector and was rich. And he was seeking to see who Jesus was, but on account of the crowd he could not, because he was small in stature. So he ran on ahead and climbed up into a sycamore tree to see him, for he was about to pass that way. And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, hurry and come down, for I must stay at your house today.” So he hurried and came down and received him joyfully. And when they saw it, they all grumbled, “He has gone in to be the guest of a man who is a sinner.” And Zacchaeus stood and said to the Lord, “Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor. And if I have defrauded anyone of anything, I restore it fourfold.” And Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, since he also is a son of Abraham. For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”

The sacrament:

Romans 6:4-5 We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life. For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his.

1 Corinthians 10:1-4 For I do not want you to be unaware, brothers, that our fathers were all under the cloud, and all passed through the sea, and all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea, and all ate the same spiritual food, and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank from the spiritual Rock that followed them, and the Rock was Christ.

Colossians 2:11-12 In him also you were circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ, having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the powerful working of God, who raised him from the dead.

1 Peter 3:18-21 For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit, in which he went and proclaimed to the spirits in prison, because they formerly did not obey, when God's patience waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was being prepared, in which a few, that is, eight persons, were brought safely through water. Baptism, which corresponds to this, now saves you, not as a removal of dirt from the body but as an appeal to God for a good conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ,

Second City Church- The Unshakables Sermon Series 2015