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Come Follow Me #7: The Cage of Fear

Most of us are educated way beyond the level of our obedience.

We are the most resourced church in the most resourced country the world has ever known. You know what is most lacking? Good old-fashioned guts!

1 Samuel 14:1-15 - Jonathan’s Daring Plan

Jonathan did not let his fears dictate his decisions!  Jonathan played offense! With his life!
He exposed himself to the enemy in broad daylight.  They knew he was coming. 
He conceded the high ground…he had to CLIMB up! They just got to sit back and watch him come.

“Perhaps the Lord will help us…for nothing can hinder the Lord..”
As “guiding principles” go…that’s a GOOD ONE. 

Matthew 11:12

God’s way is the best way. (but it’s often the hardest way)

When the Bible says, “Love the Lord your God with all your strength”...did you think it was joking?

1 Samuel 14:2: “Saul [THE KING!!] was staying on the outskirts of Gibeah under a pomegranate tree in Migron.”

Saul was a spiritual spectator.

This isn’t spiritual codependency. Church should equip you and challenge you to fulfill the great commission, and go into all the world and PREACH the good news!!! 
Church is not the END, it’s a means to an end.

1 Samuel 13:22 tells us that no one in Israel had a sword or spear EXCEPT Saul & Jonathan.  

No one had a weapon for battle, except the king and his son! So if I’m not Jonathan…I’m thinking…well, my dad’s not gonna do it…and if he’s not, who is?!  I’ve got to do something. I’m the only other one who CAN.  

We can’t just play not to lose.  We’ve got to play to win!  That sometimes takes some risk.

Stop living defensively, and start living dangerously for the cause of Christ!

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Come Follow Me #6: The Cage of Victimhood

Acts 28:1-10

Paul isn’t traumatized.  Instead of sulking and moaning and complaining, he preaches the Gospel.  He heals the sick.  He encourages, he comforts, he prays! “to live is Christ, to die is gain.” 

Paul landed on Malta because his ship sank in the Mediterranean. Athens, Troas, and Malta weren't part of his plan. But God used what seemed like detours to position Paul right where He wanted him!

How we handle those shipwrecks in our lives will determine weather our lives become a tragedy or a comedy.  We can’t control what happens to us.  But we can control our response.

Quit trying to write your own story. Let HIM write HIS through you.

Daniel 3:16-18

I will fear God, and nothing less.

We move from dependence to indepence…but it’s the exact opposite with God. (which is often why children “get it” so much more quickly than we do! They’re already used to be dependent, so it clicks for them!)

“Spiritual maturity is moving along the continuum toward total dependence on God. It is saying ‘I’ll take all the help I can get.’ It is learning to live in daily dependence on God. And sometimes it takes a shipwreck or a snake bite to get us there.

When we get stuck in the cage of victimhood, however, we can’t see God working through the craziness. It limits your ability to see Him working.

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Come Follow Me #5: The Cage of Guilt

Part of spiritual growth is recognizing how we have been conditioned and allowing God to recondition the reflexes and instincts that need to change.

Quote from Wild Goose Chase:
“When we sin, guilt is a healthy and holy reflex.  Thank God for the conviction of the Holy Spirit that drives us to repentance. But some conditioned reflexes are like psychological straitjackets that immobilize us emotionally, relationally, and spiritually.  False guilt is a great example.

When we already KNOW that God forgives us, but we continue to hold things over ourselves, and let it come between us and God.  We’ve met many a demon that won’t come out, because of unforgiveness of SELF. When we preach the Gospel to that thing, I AM FORGIVEN because of Jesus!! It leaves.

The moment we confess our sin to god, our sin is Forgiven and forgotten. but for most of us, it is far easier to accept God's forgiveness than it is to forgive ourselves.   Why? Because we can forgive, but unlike god, we cannot forget. if we don't allow the grace of God to saturate and sanctify our sinful memories, we continue to experience false guilt over confessed sin. we become so fixated on past mistakes that we forfeit future opportunities. we mistakenly think our mistakes disqualify us from being used by god. and our feelings of guilt become the cage that keeps us from chasing the wild goose.”

“Whether you're experiencing true guilt that is a byproduct of unconfessed sin or false guilt that is the byproduct of confessed sin, both forms of guilt dull your spiritual sense of adventure. and you won't be able to chase the wild goose until you get past your guilty feelings. the good news is that there's freedom and forgiveness because of what Christ accomplished on the cross. and if you receive his grace it will not only recondition your spiritual reflexes; It will transform your life.” 

Luke 22:54-62

Nothing reconditions our spiritual reflexes like prayer & fasting.
(worship renews your focus & the Word renews your mind!..but those reflexes…that’s prayer and fasting)

How did Jesus forgive Peter? He prayed for him!

Luke 22:31-32

The enemy's attacks become counterproductive when we counteract them with prayer.

Jesus’ modus operandi seems to be love people when they least expect it and least deserve it.  
He went around touching lepers, eating with tax collectors, hanging out with Samaritans, befriending and redeeming prostitutes.Jesus’ modus operandi seems to be love people when they least expect it and least deserve it.  

John 8:4-11

Challenge: love someone who least expects it, and least deserves it.

Luke 22:61

John 21:15-17

Not only did Jesus TAKE our guilt on the cross…but 

God also gave us a couple antidotes to the feeling of guilt:

  1. Confession! Nothing is as freeing as confessed sin.  Nothing is as isolating as a guilty secret.

  2. Recommissioning. The crazy thing is, once you’ve battled your way through something, you’re now anointed to help others through it. 

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Come Follow Me #4: The Cage of Assumptions

Assumption #1: It’s time to fight back! No, it’s time to shine brighter.  The Gospel doesn’t need you to FIGHT, it needs you to SHINE.  Just like Charlie, I believe.  He didn’t fight.  He just loved God loudly.  He just believed in something so much that he showed up and talked about it. No one is asking you to fight right now.  SHINE! Even in the garden of gethsemane, the night of Jesus’ arrest, he told Peter to put away his sword, he healed an ear, and he willingly laid down his life. SHINE!

Assumption #2: We need to pray for protection. No, we need to pray for boldness. We trust God for protection, when I’m doing His Will, I believe He automatically protects me.  Until…such a time, as He can use even my death.  Almost all of the disciples were martyred. They weren’t praying for protection.  They were praying FOR BOLDNESS!  I’ve been saying this for a few years now…our culture needs our BOLDNESS.  Not us hiding away from the world, they need us praying the same prayer they prayed in Acts.  “Lord, hear their threats, and give us, your servants, great boldness in preaching your word.”

Assumption #3: Our world needs to see our anger! No, our world needs to see our Jesus. Think about this for a second:  Our resurrected Jesus didn’t come back from DEATH to enact revenge.  He didn’t come back from DEATH to smite the murderers!! Is that not INSANE to think about!  He literally resurrected Himself from death…and didn’t even show up on the high priest’s doorstep to give him a disapproving stare, He didn’t even announce that He WAS back!…when He asked God to forgive, HE FORGAVE TOO.  He so FULLY and completely trusted HIS FATHER, that He left all that HIM.  We can do the same right now.

It’s time to shine brighter, trust God wholeheartedly, and show them Jesus.

My ASSUMPTION…was that for God to use me, I’d have to be IN on the plan.
Assumption #4: For me to follow the Holy Spirit…I’d have to know WHAT I was following. I don’t have to know WHAT I’m following.  I just have to trust WHO I am following.

Fame is the counterfeit of holiness.
Fame: the external, public display of approval, often gained through public performance, charisma, or achievement. It is concerned with how one appears to the world.
Holiness: in a spiritual context, is an inward quality of genuine devotion, moral integrity, and purity of heart. It is concerned with one's true nature, how one appears to God. 

Genesis 15:1-6
1 Corinthians 8:1-3
Matthew 11:25-26
The more faith you have, the fewer assumptions you will make.  Why?  Because with God all things are possible.

Thank GOD for children though! We NEED that kind of curiosity in our lives. We need someone challenging our adult assumptions! We have a responsibility to teach them, but we also have a responsibility as believers to learn from them!

Matthew 18:3
Romans 4:18-19
Faith is not logical.  But it isn’t illogical either.  Faith is THEOlogial.  It does not ignore reality, it just adds GOD into the equation.

Logic questions God. Faith questions assumptions.

Trying to go deeper in your faith? Find a partner, and do this with them:

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Come Follow Me #3: The Cage of Routine

If you let routine rule your life, you’ll never get where the Wild Goose of the Holy Spirit wants you to go.

A change of pace + a change of place = a change of perspective

Exodus 3:1-5

If the God of Heaven shows up, it’s HOLY GROUND.

“What do you want me to do with my life?” is a dangerous question.  But the only thing more dangerous than asking that question is NOT asking that question.

If you ask it, you better be willing to hang on for a WILD ride.

Luke 10:30-37 - Parable of the Good Samaritan

Dallas Willard said: “Hurry is the great enemy of spiritual life in our day. You must ruthlessly eliminate hurry from your life.”

The word Sabbath means “to catch one’s breath.  And it’s not just a day off.  It’s a day set aside to rest in the presence of God.

Exodus 3:11-12

Exodus 4:1-12

What staff do you need to let go of, in order to let God work?
What routine, do I need to allow the Holy Spirit to disrupt?

Job 38:4

Job 38:11-27

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Come Follow Me #2: The Cage of Responsibility

Another day
Another adventure

Matthew 19:16-26
Following Jesus is the hard part, but following Jesus is also the adventure! That’s where the MORE lies!

1 Timothy 6:10
 "For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil"

Acts 4:29-30

What if Jesus didn’t die on the cross to keep us safe?!  What if He died on the cross, to make us dangerous?!

I don’t want my guardian angel to be bored…wishing I would give him something to do once in a while….I want mine having to ask for back up!
The rich young ruler chose an accessorized life, over a life of adventure, over a life of Wild Goose Chases…

An excerpt of the very first chapter of Wild Goose Chase by Mark Batterson:
“The Celtic Christians had a name for the Holy Spirit that has always intrigued me.  They called Him An Geadh-Glas, or “the Wild Goose.” The name hints at the mysterious nature of the Holy Spirit.  Much like a wild goose, the Spirit of God cannot be tracked or tamed. An element of danger and an air of unpredictability surround Him. And while the name may sound a little sacrilegious at first earshot, I cannot think of a better description of what it’s like to pursue the Spirit’s leading through life than Wild Goose Chase. I think the Celtic Christians were on to something that institutionalized Christianity has missed out on.  And I wonder if we have clipped the wings of the Wild Goose and settled for something less–much less–than what God originally intended for us.

"Come, Follow Me" is a call to adventure from Jesus.

The Wild Goose chase beings when we come to terms with our greatest responsibility: pursuing the passions God has put in our heart.

Matthew 8:18-22

Responsible irresponsibility means refusing to allow your human responsibilities to get in the way of pursuing the passions God puts in your heart.

Ephesians 3:20, “Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think.”

Nehemiah 1:1-4

Signs follow faith: “They went forth, and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following.”

Nehemiah 2:1-2

The Wild Goose doesn’t take shortcuts.  The HS loves leading us through the scenic route.  But that’s why we always say, when God does something…He’s DOING SOMETHING!

BE THE BEST CUPBEARER YOU CAN BE!  That’s responsible irresponsibility.  That’s pursuing passion.

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Come Follow Me #1

Another day, another adventure

Matthew 4:18-22
18 One day as Jesus was walking along the shore of the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers—Simon, also called Peter, and Andrew—throwing a net into the water, for they fished for a living. 19 Jesus called out to them, “Come, follow me, and I will show you how to fish for people!” 20 And they left their nets at once and followed him.

21 A little farther up the shore he saw two other brothers, James and John, sitting in a boat with their father, Zebedee, repairing their nets. And he called them to come, too. 22 They immediately followed him, leaving the boat and their father behind.

“Come, follow me..”

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Grace Bomb #5: Go In Peace

Mark 5:17 says, “17 And the crowd began pleading with Jesus to go away and leave them alone.”

But Mark 5:21 says, “21 Jesus got into the boat again and went back to the other side of the lake, where a large crowd gathered around him on the shore.

A despised Gospel will cross the water, and go where it will have better [reception]. (Matthew Henry’s Commentary)

Proverbs 11:30, “"The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, and he who wins souls is wise."

Mark 5:21-43

  1. Jaurius: (Jesus took time to respond to a BIG request)

    1. When we ASK, Jesus responds! Prayer WORKS. (James 5:16)

    2. He made the laugh-ers, leave.

    3. He told them to get her something to eat.

    4. It’s about the ONE.

  2. The woman:

    1. He gave her BELONGING.

    2. He gave her EMPOWERMENT.

    3. He gave her REST.

    4. He gave her a NEW BEGINNING.

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Grace Bomb #4: What I Have I Give You

Acts 3:1-11

Peter Heals a Crippled Beggar

3 Peter and John went to the Temple one afternoon to take part in the three o’clock prayer service. 2 As they approached the Temple, a man lame from birth was being carried in. Each day he was put beside the Temple gate, the one called the Beautiful Gate, so he could beg from the people going into the Temple. 3 When he saw Peter and John about to enter, he asked them for some money.

4 Peter and John looked at him intently, and Peter said, “Look at us!” 5 The lame man looked at them eagerly, expecting some money. 6 But Peter said, “I don’t have any silver or gold for you. But I’ll give you what I have. In the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, get up and walk!”

7 Then Peter took the lame man by the right hand and helped him up. And as he did, the man’s feet and ankles were instantly healed and strengthened. 8 He jumped up, stood on his feet, and began to walk! Then, walking, leaping, and praising God, he went into the Temple with them.

9 All the people saw him walking and heard him praising God. 10 When they realized he was the lame beggar they had seen so often at the Beautiful Gate, they were absolutely astounded! 11 They all rushed out in amazement to Solomon’s Colonnade, where the man was holding tightly to Peter and John.

Vs.1 - stay plugged into the source.

Vs 2 - they were looking for problems, to be solutions.

Vs - 6 - we have JESUS.

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The Kingdom of Heaven is like... #7: The Mustard Seed & The Yeast

Matthew 13:31-33
Parable of the Mustard Seed
31 Here is another illustration Jesus used: “The Kingdom of Heaven is like a mustard seed planted in a field. 32 It is the smallest of all seeds, but it becomes the largest of garden plants; it grows into a tree, and birds come and make nests in its branches.”
Parable of the Yeast
33 Jesus also used this illustration: “The Kingdom of Heaven is like the yeast a woman used in making bread. Even though she put only a little yeast in three measures of flour, it permeated every part of the dough.”

  • When studying the parables of the mustard seed & yeast I've found that there are 2 different ways to interpret them.

  • Obviously when Jesus was telling these parables he had a particular point he was getting across about the Kingdom of Heaven. So I’m not sure both interpretations can be correct when we’re talking about Jesus’ original intent when he taught them.

  • But what's interesting is even though its unlikely both of them can be Jesus’ original intent, the conclusions both interpretations come to are biblically true.

  • Which I think is interesting, so I like to teach them alongside each other.

  • Whenever we come across a parable in order to understand it first you have to identify the key figures or pieces of the story and figure out what they’re representing. Once we know what they represent we can piece it together to find out what the parable is teaching.

Ezekiel 17:22-24
22 “This is what the Sovereign Lord says: I will take a branch from the top of a tall cedar, and I will plant it on the top of Israel’s highest mountain. 23 It will become a majestic cedar, sending forth its branches and producing seed. Birds of every sort will nest in it, finding shelter in the shade of its branches. 24 And all the trees will know that it is I, the Lord, who cuts the tall tree down and makes the short tree grow tall. It is I who makes the green tree wither and gives the dead tree new life. I, the Lord, have spoken, and I will do what I said!”

Psalms 91:1-2
1 Those who live in the shelter of the Most High will find rest in the shadow of the Almighty. 2 This I declare about the Lord: He alone is my refuge, my place of safety; he is my God, and I trust him.

  • Now let's get into the 2nd way to interpret these two parables.

  • I must warn you, for those who have never heard these parables taught differently than what we just went over, this is probably going to be pretty shocking, as this interpretation is very different from the previous and it's not as cheerful.

  • In light of that though let's remember two things as we go into this interpretation.

  • The first is what I said at the beginning of this message: the conclusions both interpretations come to are biblically true. And I’ll have supporting scripture to back that.

  • And second is what Jesus tells Peter in Matthew 16:18

    • 18 Now I say to you that you are Peter (which means ‘rock’), and upon this rock I will build my church, and all the powers of hell will not conquer it.

  • The takeaway to keep in mind from this passage is the last part. The powers of hell will never conquer the church.

  • Now does that mean it's always smooth sailing for the church? No. Satan has his days, even in the church. But Satan will never conquer the Church. The Kingdom of Heaven will persevere and eventually see victory over the enemy.

  • So again keep those two things in mind as we go into the 2nd way to interpret these parables.

Acts 20:28-30
28 “So guard yourselves and God’s people. Feed and shepherd God’s flock—his church, purchased with his own blood—over which the Holy Spirit has appointed you as leaders. 29 I know that false teachers, like vicious wolves, will come in among you after I leave, not sparing the flock. 30 Even some men from your own group will rise up and distort the truth in order to draw a following.

2 Corinthians 11:12-15
12 But I will continue doing what I have always done. This will undercut those who are looking for an opportunity to boast that their work is just like ours.13 These people are false apostles. They are deceitful workers who disguise themselves as apostles of Christ. 14 But I am not surprised! Even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. 15 So it is no wonder that his servants also disguise themselves as servants of righteousness. In the end they will get the punishment their wicked deeds deserve.

  • Jesus’ own ministry had a Judas. Why should we expect ours to be any different?

  • Your job as the church in light of this truth about the Kingdom is to know the word. Know right from wrong, truth from lies so that when false teachers come you can identify it, and stand firm in truth. When Judas’s come to bring disunity you don't participate in it.

2 Peter 2:1-2
1 But there were also false prophets in Israel, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will cleverly teach destructive heresies and even deny the Master who bought them. In this way, they will bring sudden destruction on themselves. 2 Many will follow their evil teaching and shameful immorality. And because of these teachers, the way of truth will be slandered.

  • This leads nicely into the 2nd interpretation of the Parable of the Yeast…

Matthew 24:10-13
10 And many will turn away from me and betray and hate each other. 11 And many false prophets will appear and will deceive many people. 12 Sin will be rampant everywhere, and the love of many will grow cold. 13 But the one who endures to the end will be saved.

  • Now lets take both interpretations of both parables and fuse them together to get a complete picture of what we learned today about what the Kingdom of Heaven is Like…

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Grace Bomb #3: Uncomfortable Prayers

Jesus LOADED (got in it with us)
John 1:1-3 / John 1:14
Hebrews 4:14-16

Jesus LISTENED (to the will of the Father)
Luke 22:42-44

Jesus LET'ER GO (on Calvary)
Isaiah 53:4-6

Uncomfortable Prayers: Compassion
Uncomfortable Prayers: Curiosity
Uncomfortable Prayers: Conversations

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Grace Bomb #1: Pop That Bubble

Believers Have a Bubble Problem

  • It’s not about the crowd, it’s about the ONE.

  • Jesus taught his followers to be DIFFERENT!

  • “There’s no growth in the comfort zone, and no comfort in the growth zone!”

    • Get comfortable in the growth zone…that’s following Jesus!

  • We gotta get better at learning names! Getting to know PEOPLE.

  • State of the American Church:

    • 80% stalled or in decline

    • 16% growth by addition

    • 4% growth by multiplication

  • What we need is good neighbor-loving-habits in everyday life.  We need to build trust outside these walls, in order to bring them in.

Ephesians 2:10: “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.”

We are grace built people

(so we...) grace bomb people

  • A Grace Bomb is one fun way to walk in good works. Leveraging the element of surprise and loving someone unexpectedly and implicating Jesus as the source of your kindness is Grace Bombing someone.

  • Random acts of kindness are not enough…we have to be able to link them back to Jesus, because HE IS who is motivating us to do these things, and serve our fellow man!

  • God’s love language is Obedience - and he calls us to this life of love over and over again.“If you love me, obey my commandments!” John 14:15

  • 2 Corinthians 9:8, “And God will generously provide all you need. Then you will always have everything you need and plenty left over to share with others. 9 As the Scriptures say,

    “They share freely and give generously to the poor.

        Their good deeds will be remembered forever.”

  • Colossians 1:10, “Then the way you live will always honor and please the Lord, and your lives will produce every kind of good fruit. All the while, you will grow as you learn to know God better and better.

  • Titus 2:14, “14 He gave his life to free us from every kind of sin, to cleanse us, and to make us his very own people, totally committed to doing good deeds.

  • Hebrews 13:16, “16 And don’t forget to do good and to share with those in need. These are the sacrifices that please God.

  • 1 Peter 2:12, “12 Be careful to live properly among your unbelieving neighbors. Then even if they accuse you of doing wrong, they will see your honorable behavior, and they will give honor to God when he judges the world.

Matthew 5:14-16: “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works, and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.”

Two Truths About Light:

  1. Light feels good

  2. Light reveals truth

How to use Grace Bombs: Load, Listen, Let'er Go

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The Kingdom of Heaven is like…#6: The Flow & The Fruit

Those who have ears to hear, let them hear. 

103,000 people in Adams County

Each represents a soul that needs Jesus. 

Everything we do has to be about eternity. 

Matthew 13 

The Flow & The Fruit of the Baptism in the Holy Spirit

Jesus appeared after his resurrection to about 500 people during a period of 40 days, but 120 were in the upper room to receive the Holy Spirit. 

Azusa Street Revival: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Azusa_Street_Revival

7 Feasts: Passover, Feast of Unleavened Bread, First Fruits, (50 days after Passover) Feast of Weeks (Pentecost= 5x10), Harvest of Wheat, (4 month gap), Feast of Trumpets, Day of Atonement (Yom Kippor), Feast of Tabernacles (or booths) 

When the wind (the spirit of God) blows, you’ve gotta go with the flow (of the Holy Spirit). The weeds won’t bend down with the wind, the wheat will. Many of us won’t receive the Holy Spirit baptism because we aren’t willing to bend our will to the moving of the Holy Spirit.

One of the reasons so many of get tired so fast, because we refuse to bend to the will of the Lord and we try to do it in our own strength. The will of the Father is that NONE should be perish.

“Rushing of the wind” = The Greek word rushing, actually means to release a burden.

The fruit of the weed is so much different than the fruit of the wheat. God allows us to go through pressing moments because He knows they produce fruit in our lives!

As believers, we’re not guaranteed a life without storms, but we are guaranteed a life without storms WITHOUT PURPOSE.

Thinking gifts, speaking gifts, acting gifts.

The whole purpose of the Holy Spirit baptism is the harvest of souls.

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The Kingdom of heaven is like...#5: The Fishing Net

Matthew 13:47-52
Parable of the Fishing Net
47 “Again, the Kingdom of Heaven is like a fishing net that was thrown into the water and caught fish of every kind. 48 When the net was full, they dragged it up onto the shore, sat down, and sorted the good fish into crates, but threw the bad ones away. 49 That is the way it will be at the end of the world. The angels will come and separate the wicked people from the righteous, 50 throwing the wicked into the fiery furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. 51 Do you understand all these things?”

“Yes,” they said, “we do.”

52 Then he added, “Every teacher of religious law who becomes a disciple in the Kingdom of Heaven is like a homeowner who brings from his storeroom new gems of truth as well as old.”

Matthew 4:18-20
18 One day as Jesus was walking along the shore of the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers—Simon, also called Peter, and Andrew—throwing a net into the water, for they fished for a living. 19 Jesus called out to them, “Come, follow me, and I will show you how to fish for people!” 20 And they left their nets at once and followed him.

1 Peter 3:15
”…if someone asks about your hope as a believer, always be ready to explain it.”

Find your passion to fish. And your part of the net.

Resources you can get started with:

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The Kingdom of Heaven is like...#4: The Vineyard Workers

Matthew 20:1-16
Parable of the Vineyard Workers

20 “For the Kingdom of Heaven is like the landowner who went out early one morning to hire workers for his vineyard. 2 He agreed to pay the normal daily wage and sent them out to work.

3 “At nine o’clock in the morning he was passing through the marketplace and saw some people standing around doing nothing. 4 So he hired them, telling them he would pay them whatever was right at the end of the day. 5 So they went to work in the vineyard. At noon and again at three o’clock he did the same thing.

6 “At five o’clock that afternoon he was in town again and saw some more people standing around. He asked them, ‘Why haven’t you been working today?’

7 “They replied, ‘Because no one hired us.’

“The landowner told them, ‘Then go out and join the others in my vineyard.’

8 “That evening he told the foreman to call the workers in and pay them, beginning with the last workers first. 9 When those hired at five o’clock were paid, each received a full day’s wage. 10 When those hired first came to get their pay, they assumed they would receive more. But they, too, were paid a day’s wage. 11 When they received their pay, they protested to the owner, 12 ‘Those people worked only one hour, and yet you’ve paid them just as much as you paid us who worked all day in the scorching heat.’

13 “He answered one of them, ‘Friend, I haven’t been unfair! Didn’t you agree to work all day for the usual wage? 14 Take your money and go. I wanted to pay this last worker the same as you. 15 Is it against the law for me to do what I want with my money? Should you be jealous because I am kind to others?’

16 “So those who are last now will be first then, and those who are first will be last.”

HEART CHECK:

Is the landowner’s practice unfair or generous?

Luke 15:25-32
The Prodigal Son

25 “Meanwhile, the older son was in the fields working. When he returned home, he heard music and dancing in the house, 26 and he asked one of the servants what was going on. 27 ‘Your brother is back,’ he was told, ‘and your father has killed the fattened calf. We are celebrating because of his safe return.’

28 “The older brother was angry and wouldn’t go in. His father came out and begged him, 29 but he replied, ‘All these years I’ve slaved for you and never once refused to do a single thing you told me to. And in all that time you never gave me even one young goat for a feast with my friends. 30 Yet when this son of yours comes back after squandering your money on prostitutes, you celebrate by killing the fattened calf!’

31 “His father said to him, ‘Look, dear son, you have always stayed by me, and everything I have is yours. 32 We had to celebrate this happy day. For your brother was dead and has come back to life! He was lost, but now he is found!’”

Luke 23:39-43
39 One of the criminals hanging beside him scoffed, “So you’re the Messiah, are you? Prove it by saving yourself—and us, too, while you’re at it!”

40 But the other criminal protested, “Don’t you fear God even when you have been sentenced to die? 41 We deserve to die for our crimes, but this man hasn’t done anything wrong.” 42 Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your Kingdom.”

43 And Jesus replied, “I assure you, today you will be with me in paradise.”

Eternity with the Father is NOT based on:

  • works

  • time served

  • self-righteousness or perfection

Eternal life IS based on: JESUS

  • His grace, given by (through) Jesus Christ

  • —> which means, BELIEF in Jesus Christ is necessary

  • ———> which means, TRUE repentance is necessary. Not just sorry because you think it’s what He wants. But TRULY coming to the realization that sin is bad for me. God’s way is GOOD for me.

 Eric Sterner grew up at FVYouth, spending his time with people who surprised him with their kindness and generosity. He hadn’t experienced human kindness outside of the people of his own household, before coming to Freedom Valley Church, and so when he graduated the youth group, he continued on as a volunteer, and developed a passion for students finding Jesus and their place within His church.

Eric passed away 2 days before he got to travel with a missions team to the Los Angeles Dream Center. For months prior, he worked tirelessly to send all the youth students he could on that trip. Today, we honor his memory by sending as many kids to camps and retreats and missions trips as possible. This fund is used for that purpose.

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The Kingdom of Heaven is like...#3: The 10 Bridesmaids

Matthew 25:1-13

1. The Bridesmaids represent Israel here.  The professors of religion, His holy people set apart for a purpose.
In Jewish culture, 10 was the number of witnesses one would have to have for a synagogue, a circumcision, passover, marriage, etc…Boaz, when he married Ruth, had ten witnesses, Ruth 4:2…this was a common number required for official things. 

Israel should have been the shining example.  The oil carriers.  Instead they became an exclusive club, only looking out for themselves.

2. The Groom is the Messiah. Our Lord Jesus Christ; (he is represented this way also in the Psalms. 45:1-17, Song of Solomon; and often in the New Testament. It represents his love for, and covenant with his people. Israel was meant to be those people!

3. The Bride is His People, who is now the church. Throughout scripture the church is described as the beautiful bride of Jesus.  Jesus lays down his life for his bride, just as husbands are meant to lay down their lives for their wives, and wives submit everything to their husbands, just as the Church submits to Christ.  

Believers are now betrothed to (or engaged to) Christ (Hos. 2:19); but the solemnizing of the marriage is reserved for the great day, when the bride, the Lamb’s wife, will have made herself completely ready, Rev. 19:7, 9 – the wedding feast of the lamb. 

4. The Job - right now, we' are both the bride, and the bridesmaids.

We’re not only meant to be disciples, but discipleMAKERS too!
We’re not only the fish, we’re also the fishermen! 
We’re not only the Kingdom, we’re a kingdom of priests!!
We are to wait upon the bridegroom, and to wait for him in the meantime.  

Our chief concern should be to have lights in our hands, when Jesus returns or calls us home.

If the heart is the lamp, then grace is the oil.

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