EXTRAVAGANT, EXTRAORDINARY GENEROSITY
(November 30, 2009 – Beausejour Church – Pastor Chris Jordan)
OPENING: Special guest speaker from Union Gospel Mission in Winnipeg.
INTRODUCTION TO TOPIC: 1
• In Canada, none of us thinks we’re rich, but the truth is, we’re all rich.
• If you have a household income of over 40,000, you are in the top 4% wage earners in the world. If your income is over 50,000, you are in the top 1% of wage earners in the world.
• You don’t feel any richer, do you? Why? Because most of us are more focused on what we don’t have than we are grateful for what we do have.
• STORY: The richest I’ve ever felt was when I worked for McDonalds when I was 16 making minimum wage. I remember going home with that first paycheque, around $200, and thinking, “What in the world am I going to do with all of this money?”
• The point isn’t ‘yahoo, we’re rich’, but what are we going to do with it?
• If you own a car, you’d be considered rich by most people in the world.
• We don’t feel rich, especially with the current economy, but we are rich. We’re doing better than most people in the world.
STATS:
• If you have food in your refrigerator, clothes on your back, a roof over your head and a place to sleep, you are richer than 75% of this world.
• If you have money in the bank, in your wallet, and spare change, in a dish someplace, you are among the top 8% of the worlds wealthy.
• More than 1 billion people do not have access to safe water
QUOTE: “Living in the twenty-first century offers tremendous opportunities to those who have, but for the three billion people of the world living on less than two dollars a day it’s a crushing existence of grinding poverty, despair, and unremitting daily challenges.” Dave Toycen, President of World Vision Canada, The Power of Generosity).
OPENING TEXT:
“Tell those who are rich in this world not to be proud and not to trust in their money, which will soon be gone. But their trust should be in the living God, who richly gives us all we need for our enjoyment. Tell them to use their money to do good. They should be rich in good works and should give generously to those in need, always being ready to share with others whatever God has given them. By doing this they will be storing up their treasure as a good foundation for the future so that they may take hold of real life.” (1 Tim. 6:17-19).
THE BIG IDEA: God wants us as His children to be extravagantly rich in good works, and to be extraordinarily generous to others as well. Why? Because our Heavenly Father is extravagantly, extraordinarily generous.
1. BE EXTRAVAGANTLY RICH IN GOOD WORKS:
Jesus said: “But if you are willing to listen, I say, love your enemies. Do good to those who hate you. Pray for the happiness of those who curse you. Pray for those who hurt you. If someone slaps you on one cheek, turn the other cheek. If someone demands your coat, offer your shirt also. Give what you have to anyone who asks you for it; and when things are taken away from you, don't try to get them back.” (Luke 6:27-30).
• Extravagant - spending much more than is necessary or wise; wasteful; going beyond what is deserved or justifiable
• This kind of serving is extravagant – going beyond what is deserved or justifiable
2. BE EXTRAORDINARILY GENEROUS:
“Do for others as you would like them to do for you. "Do you think you deserve credit merely for loving those who love you? Even the sinners do that! And if you do good only to those who do good to you, is that so wonderful? Even sinners do that much! And if you lend money only to those who can repay you, what good is that? Even sinners will lend to their own kind for a full return.” (Luke 6:31-34).
• Even a sinner (someone who doesn’t know God) will lend to those who can repay them.
• But God wants our generosity to be extraordinary:
• Extraordinary - beyond what is usual, ordinary, regular, or established
3. WHY SHOULD WE BE EXTRAVAGANT AND EXTRAORDINARY?
“Love your enemies! Do good to them! Lend to them! And don't be concerned that they might not repay. Then your reward from heaven will be very great, and you will truly be acting as children of the Most High, for he is kind to the unthankful and to those who are wicked.” (Luke 6:27-35).
• Jesus said, “I want you to be extraordinarily service minded and extraordinarily generous because that’s how I am, and you’re my follower.”
• Why are we to be extravagantly rich in good works, and extraordinarily generous? Because that’s what our Heavenly Father is like!
• “But that matters little. What matters most to me is to finish what God started: the job the Master Jesus gave me of letting everyone I meet know all about this incredibly extravagant generosity of God.” (Acts 20:24, The Message Bible).
• Our generous, extravagant giving should cause our community to say, “What’s that all about?” Our generosity allows people to see God’s generosity.
THE BIBLE HAS A LOT TO SAY ABOUT GIVING AND BEING GENEROUS:
• “The wicked borrow and never repay, but the godly are generous givers.” (Psalm 37:21).
• “All goes well for those who are generous, who lend freely and conduct their business fairly.” (Psalm 112:5).
• “Blessed are those who are generous, because they feed the poor.” (Prov. 22:9).
Remember, Jesus said: “It is more blessed to give than to receive.” (Acts 20:35).
CLOSING TEXT:
“As the Scriptures say, "Godly people give generously to the poor. Their good deeds will never be forgotten." For God is the one who gives seed to the farmer and then bread to eat. In the same way, he will give you many opportunities to do good, and he will produce a great harvest of generosity in you. Yes, you will be enriched so that you can give even more generously. And when we take your gifts to those who need them, they will break out in thanksgiving to God. So two good things will happen – the needs of the Christians in Jerusalem will be met, and they will joyfully express their thanksgiving to God. You will be glorifying God through your generous gifts. For your generosity to them will prove that you are obedient to the Good News of Christ.” (2 Cor. 9:9-13).
CHALLENGE: God wants us as His children to be extravagantly rich in good works, and to be extraordinarily generous to others as well. Why? Because our Heavenly Father is extravagantly, extraordinarily generous.
CLOSING BENEDICTION: (2 Cor. 13:14, The Message).
“The amazing grace of the Master, Jesus Christ, the extravagant love of God (the Father), and the intimate friendship of the Holy Spirit, be with all of you.”
1. Some of the thoughts in this introduction were inspired by Andy Stanley in his Be Rich, Do More, Give More podcast.
To download a printable version of these notes, click HERE.
To listen to or download an audio version of this message, click HERE.
Beausejour Community Church Website: http://www.beausejourchurch.ca/
Pastor Chris Jordan’s Blog: http://thelandofpromise.blogspot.com/
Monday, November 30, 2009
Sunday, November 22, 2009
Sermon of the Week: The Pause That Refreshes
THE PAUSE THAT REFRESHES: A FRESH LOOK AT THE SABBATH
(November 22, 2009 – Beausejour Church – Pastor Chris Jordan)
INTRO TO TOPIC:
• Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out? Overloaded? Overwhelmed? Stressed out?
• If you answered yes to any of those questions, then today’s message is for you.
• Liza and I just returned from a week long sabbatical retreat at Genesee in California.
• Today’s message is birthed out of my experience on this retreat.
KEY TEXT:
“Then Jesus said, "Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke fits perfectly, and the burden I give you is light.” (Matt. 11:28-30).
“Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you'll recover your life. I'll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me - watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won't lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you'll learn to live freely and lightly.” (Matt. 11:28-30, The Message Bible).
QUOTE:
“Tragically, precious little in this hurried and hassled age promotes such intimacy. We have become a body of people who look more like a herd of cattle in a stampede than a flock of God beside green pastures and still waters.” (Charles Swindoll, Intimacy with the Almighty).
PERSONAL TESTIMONY– 17 YEARS BUSY DOING THE WORK OF THE MINISTRY:
• When we were at Bible Fellowship in Surrey, BC, I was: Youth Pastor, Christian Education directory, elementary school chapel speaker at Regent Christian Academy, substitute teacher for many elementary and high school classes (Bible, math, science, you name it!), I taught two classes every year at Pacific Life Bible College, and if that wasn’t enough, in our last year there, Liza and I pioneered the Revolution Master’s Commission.
• I can’t tell you how many time in my Christian life the Lord convicted me through the story of Mary and Martha. “Mary sat at Jesus' feet and heard His word. But Martha was distracted with much serving, and she said, "Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her to help me." Jesus answered and said to her, "Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things. But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part.” (Luke 10:39-42).
• I would get so busy doing things for the Lord; I would neglect my personal relationship with the Lord. When Liza and I accepted the call to come pastor the church here in Beausejour three years ago, we thought things would slow down.
• I still work six days a week – but now I am leading the adult congregation, preaching, teaching, preparing sermons, studying, writing, leading a home group, running a Christian club in our high school, doing chapels at East Gate Lodge, visitation, marriage counseling, crisis counseling, elders meetings, council meetings, fall outreach, more!
• When people saw how busy I was, my mantra became: There’s no rest for the righteous!
• I’ve found myself in a hurry, missing or forgetting things, and not realizing why.
• Two times over the past couple of years, Foursquare Care (they care for our Canadian pastors) invited Liza and I to attend a sabbatical retreat (that they would pay for). Our response: we were too busy! When they asked us this last time, we said yes. I am so glad that we did! I didn’t realize how much we needed this retreat until we got there!
OUR SABBATH RETREAT:
• FIRST MORNING: I went out to the Elijah room on the second floor of the prayer barn for some alone time with Jesus. I climbed the spiral staircase to the quaint upper room, and decided before jumping in and reading a spiritual book or studying the Bible that the first thing I needed to do was get alone with the Lord in prayer. For about half an hour, I wept before the Lord, repenting of my busyness and neglect of my prayer life, praying through the Lord’s Prayer, and then David’s penitent prayer in Psalm 51.
• READING: “Setting apart an entire day – one out of seven – for feasting and resting, and worship and play, is a gift and not a burden. And neglecting the gift too long will make your soul, like soil never left fallow, hard and dry and spent… The root idea of Sabbath is… that all living things thrive only by an ample measure of stillness.” (Mark Buchanan, The Rest of God).
• “God gave us the Sabbath to protect us from overload. He designed it as a day to restore us…” (Steve & Mary Farrar, Overcoming Overload).
• LAST DAY: On the last morning, I went up to the Elijah room again for a time of praise and worship, and found myself belting out songs of praise and worship amidst spontaneous joy and laughter and dancing. I had been refreshed and restored!
A LOOK AT THE SABBATH:
“Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord your God. In it you shall do no work: you, nor your son, nor your daughter, nor your male servant, nor your female servant, nor your cattle, nor your stranger who is within your gates. For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and hallowed it.” (Exodus 20:8-11).
• Why had I never seen the importance of the Sabbath in the Scriptures before?
• One of the main reasons is because most of the people who I knew that kept the Sabbath did so in a strict, joyless, legalistic manner, and like the Pharisees used it to judge others.
QUOTE: “The Pharisees have taken His Sabbath and loaded it up with more than 1,500 nitpicky rules and regulations. They took a good gift from God and made it into an unbearable burden for the people to live under… Let’s keep the Sabbath as a good gift. Let’s not make up our own Pharisaical laws and judge our brothers and sisters because they don’t follow our particular rules and preferences… So, how should you observe the Sabbath? That’s between you and the Lord. Remember, Jesus freed up the Sabbath from the rules and regulations of men. How you apply and enjoy the Sabbath is a matter of personal choice and conscience.” (Steve & Mary Farrar, Overcoming Overload).
• How you keep the Sabbath is between you and the Lord.
• As soon as you start judging someone else for what they do or don’t do on the Sabbath, you have taken on the Spirit of the Pharisee. Repent!
JESUS AND THE SABBATH:
“1 At that time Jesus went through the grainfields on the Sabbath. And His disciples were hungry, and began to pluck heads of grain and to eat. 2 And when the Pharisees saw it, they said to Him, "Look, Your disciples are doing what is not lawful to do on the Sabbath!" 3 But He said to them, "Have you not read what David did when he was hungry, he and those who were with him: 4 how he entered the house of God and ate the showbread which was not lawful for him to eat, nor for those who were with him, but only for the priests? 5 Or have you not read in the law that on the Sabbath the priests in the temple profane the Sabbath, and are blameless? 6 Yet I say to you that in this place there is One greater than the temple. 7 But if you had known what this means, 'I desire mercy and not sacrifice,' you would not have condemned the guiltless. 8 For the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath.” (Matt. 12:1-8).
• In Mark’s account of this story, He adds Jesus saying: “The Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath.” (Mark 2:27).
• In other words: “The Sabbath is God’s merciful appointment for the common benefit of all mankind. It is not a yoke but a blessing. It is not a burden but a mercy. The Sabbath is good for man’s body. We all need a day of rest.” (J.C. Ryle, Keep it Holy).
1. KEEP IT HOLY:
“Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy.” (Exodus 20:8).
• The first thing the Scriptures teach us about the Sabbath is that it is a holy day.
• The most basic definition of holy is: “dedicated or devoted to the service of God.”
• Therefore, the Sabbath is a day to seek God. We see this in the name of the New Testament Sabbath = the Lord’s Day (Rev. 1).
• One of the main ways we do this is by attending a worship service at church.
• It is a time set apart to seek God and think about His kingdom. Pray. Read His Word.
• How we do that is up to us as individuals – how can YOU keep the Sabbath holy?
2. REST FROM WORK:
“Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord your God. In it you shall do no work.” (Exodus 20:9-10).
• If we don’t rest, we will burn out or die! The Sabbath rest is for our benefit.
• Remember how I used to say, “No rest for the righteous?” The Lord convicted me this past week through a Scripture in Revelation 14:11 that says, speaking of the wicked: “they have no rest day or night.” God wants His people to REST!
• “There remains therefore a rest for the people of God. For he who has entered His rest has himself also ceased from his works as God did from His.” (Heb. 4:9-10).
• Jesus said to His disciples, when they were busy from doing the work of the ministry: “Come aside by yourselves to a deserted place and rest a while." For there were many coming and going, and they did not even have time to eat.” (Mark 6:31).
• It’s not a legalistic thing – Jesus said we can do works of mercy and necessity (Matt 12).
3. DO SOMETHING FUN:
“If you watch your step on the Sabbath and don't use my holy day for personal advantage, If you treat the Sabbath as a day of joy, God's holy day as a celebration, If you honor it by refusing 'business as usual,' making money, running here and there - Then you'll be free to enjoy God!” (Isaiah 58:13-14, The Message Bible).
• There is nothing in the Scriptures that says you can’t have fun on the Sabbath!
• What is more fun than being in the presence of the Lord where there is fullness of joy?
• For example, this afternoon I’m going to watch a football game with my son!
THE BIG IDEA: God has given us a wonderful gift in the Sabbath rest – it is the pause that refreshes. God wants us to keep it holy, rest from work, and do something fun.
CLOSING QUOTE:
“The technology of Sabbath keeping is not complex. We simply select a day of the week (Paul seemed to think any day would do – Romans 14:5-6) and quit our work…
Monday is my Sabbath. Nothing is scheduled for Mondays. If there are emergencies I respond, but they are surprisingly few.
Sabbath keeping cannot be carried out as a private enterprise. We (as pastors) need our congregations help. They need our help to keep their Sabbath; we need their help to keep ours… One of my tasks is to lead you in the celebrative keeping of Sabbath each Sunday. But that is not a Sabbath for me. I wake up Sunday morning with the adrenaline flowing. It is a workday for me. Monday is my Sabbath, and I need your help to keep it. I need your prayers.” (Eugene Peterson, Working the Angles).
CLOSING PRAYER: Come to Jesus!
“Jesus said, "Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.” (Matt. 11:28).
TO DOWNLOAD A PRINTABLE COPY OF THESE NOTES, CLICK HERE.
TO DOWNLOAD AN AUDIO VERSION OF THIS SERMON, CLICK HERE.
Beausejour Community Church Website: http://www.beausejourchurch.ca/
Pastor Chris Jordan’s Blog: http://thelandofpromise.blogspot.com/
(November 22, 2009 – Beausejour Church – Pastor Chris Jordan)
INTRO TO TOPIC:
• Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out? Overloaded? Overwhelmed? Stressed out?
• If you answered yes to any of those questions, then today’s message is for you.
• Liza and I just returned from a week long sabbatical retreat at Genesee in California.
• Today’s message is birthed out of my experience on this retreat.
KEY TEXT:
“Then Jesus said, "Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke fits perfectly, and the burden I give you is light.” (Matt. 11:28-30).
“Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you'll recover your life. I'll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me - watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won't lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you'll learn to live freely and lightly.” (Matt. 11:28-30, The Message Bible).
QUOTE:
“Tragically, precious little in this hurried and hassled age promotes such intimacy. We have become a body of people who look more like a herd of cattle in a stampede than a flock of God beside green pastures and still waters.” (Charles Swindoll, Intimacy with the Almighty).
PERSONAL TESTIMONY– 17 YEARS BUSY DOING THE WORK OF THE MINISTRY:
• When we were at Bible Fellowship in Surrey, BC, I was: Youth Pastor, Christian Education directory, elementary school chapel speaker at Regent Christian Academy, substitute teacher for many elementary and high school classes (Bible, math, science, you name it!), I taught two classes every year at Pacific Life Bible College, and if that wasn’t enough, in our last year there, Liza and I pioneered the Revolution Master’s Commission.
• I can’t tell you how many time in my Christian life the Lord convicted me through the story of Mary and Martha. “Mary sat at Jesus' feet and heard His word. But Martha was distracted with much serving, and she said, "Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her to help me." Jesus answered and said to her, "Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things. But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part.” (Luke 10:39-42).
• I would get so busy doing things for the Lord; I would neglect my personal relationship with the Lord. When Liza and I accepted the call to come pastor the church here in Beausejour three years ago, we thought things would slow down.
• I still work six days a week – but now I am leading the adult congregation, preaching, teaching, preparing sermons, studying, writing, leading a home group, running a Christian club in our high school, doing chapels at East Gate Lodge, visitation, marriage counseling, crisis counseling, elders meetings, council meetings, fall outreach, more!
• When people saw how busy I was, my mantra became: There’s no rest for the righteous!
• I’ve found myself in a hurry, missing or forgetting things, and not realizing why.
• Two times over the past couple of years, Foursquare Care (they care for our Canadian pastors) invited Liza and I to attend a sabbatical retreat (that they would pay for). Our response: we were too busy! When they asked us this last time, we said yes. I am so glad that we did! I didn’t realize how much we needed this retreat until we got there!
OUR SABBATH RETREAT:
• FIRST MORNING: I went out to the Elijah room on the second floor of the prayer barn for some alone time with Jesus. I climbed the spiral staircase to the quaint upper room, and decided before jumping in and reading a spiritual book or studying the Bible that the first thing I needed to do was get alone with the Lord in prayer. For about half an hour, I wept before the Lord, repenting of my busyness and neglect of my prayer life, praying through the Lord’s Prayer, and then David’s penitent prayer in Psalm 51.
• READING: “Setting apart an entire day – one out of seven – for feasting and resting, and worship and play, is a gift and not a burden. And neglecting the gift too long will make your soul, like soil never left fallow, hard and dry and spent… The root idea of Sabbath is… that all living things thrive only by an ample measure of stillness.” (Mark Buchanan, The Rest of God).
• “God gave us the Sabbath to protect us from overload. He designed it as a day to restore us…” (Steve & Mary Farrar, Overcoming Overload).
• LAST DAY: On the last morning, I went up to the Elijah room again for a time of praise and worship, and found myself belting out songs of praise and worship amidst spontaneous joy and laughter and dancing. I had been refreshed and restored!
A LOOK AT THE SABBATH:
“Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord your God. In it you shall do no work: you, nor your son, nor your daughter, nor your male servant, nor your female servant, nor your cattle, nor your stranger who is within your gates. For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and hallowed it.” (Exodus 20:8-11).
• Why had I never seen the importance of the Sabbath in the Scriptures before?
• One of the main reasons is because most of the people who I knew that kept the Sabbath did so in a strict, joyless, legalistic manner, and like the Pharisees used it to judge others.
QUOTE: “The Pharisees have taken His Sabbath and loaded it up with more than 1,500 nitpicky rules and regulations. They took a good gift from God and made it into an unbearable burden for the people to live under… Let’s keep the Sabbath as a good gift. Let’s not make up our own Pharisaical laws and judge our brothers and sisters because they don’t follow our particular rules and preferences… So, how should you observe the Sabbath? That’s between you and the Lord. Remember, Jesus freed up the Sabbath from the rules and regulations of men. How you apply and enjoy the Sabbath is a matter of personal choice and conscience.” (Steve & Mary Farrar, Overcoming Overload).
• How you keep the Sabbath is between you and the Lord.
• As soon as you start judging someone else for what they do or don’t do on the Sabbath, you have taken on the Spirit of the Pharisee. Repent!
JESUS AND THE SABBATH:
“1 At that time Jesus went through the grainfields on the Sabbath. And His disciples were hungry, and began to pluck heads of grain and to eat. 2 And when the Pharisees saw it, they said to Him, "Look, Your disciples are doing what is not lawful to do on the Sabbath!" 3 But He said to them, "Have you not read what David did when he was hungry, he and those who were with him: 4 how he entered the house of God and ate the showbread which was not lawful for him to eat, nor for those who were with him, but only for the priests? 5 Or have you not read in the law that on the Sabbath the priests in the temple profane the Sabbath, and are blameless? 6 Yet I say to you that in this place there is One greater than the temple. 7 But if you had known what this means, 'I desire mercy and not sacrifice,' you would not have condemned the guiltless. 8 For the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath.” (Matt. 12:1-8).
• In Mark’s account of this story, He adds Jesus saying: “The Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath.” (Mark 2:27).
• In other words: “The Sabbath is God’s merciful appointment for the common benefit of all mankind. It is not a yoke but a blessing. It is not a burden but a mercy. The Sabbath is good for man’s body. We all need a day of rest.” (J.C. Ryle, Keep it Holy).
1. KEEP IT HOLY:
“Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy.” (Exodus 20:8).
• The first thing the Scriptures teach us about the Sabbath is that it is a holy day.
• The most basic definition of holy is: “dedicated or devoted to the service of God.”
• Therefore, the Sabbath is a day to seek God. We see this in the name of the New Testament Sabbath = the Lord’s Day (Rev. 1).
• One of the main ways we do this is by attending a worship service at church.
• It is a time set apart to seek God and think about His kingdom. Pray. Read His Word.
• How we do that is up to us as individuals – how can YOU keep the Sabbath holy?
2. REST FROM WORK:
“Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord your God. In it you shall do no work.” (Exodus 20:9-10).
• If we don’t rest, we will burn out or die! The Sabbath rest is for our benefit.
• Remember how I used to say, “No rest for the righteous?” The Lord convicted me this past week through a Scripture in Revelation 14:11 that says, speaking of the wicked: “they have no rest day or night.” God wants His people to REST!
• “There remains therefore a rest for the people of God. For he who has entered His rest has himself also ceased from his works as God did from His.” (Heb. 4:9-10).
• Jesus said to His disciples, when they were busy from doing the work of the ministry: “Come aside by yourselves to a deserted place and rest a while." For there were many coming and going, and they did not even have time to eat.” (Mark 6:31).
• It’s not a legalistic thing – Jesus said we can do works of mercy and necessity (Matt 12).
3. DO SOMETHING FUN:
“If you watch your step on the Sabbath and don't use my holy day for personal advantage, If you treat the Sabbath as a day of joy, God's holy day as a celebration, If you honor it by refusing 'business as usual,' making money, running here and there - Then you'll be free to enjoy God!” (Isaiah 58:13-14, The Message Bible).
• There is nothing in the Scriptures that says you can’t have fun on the Sabbath!
• What is more fun than being in the presence of the Lord where there is fullness of joy?
• For example, this afternoon I’m going to watch a football game with my son!
THE BIG IDEA: God has given us a wonderful gift in the Sabbath rest – it is the pause that refreshes. God wants us to keep it holy, rest from work, and do something fun.
CLOSING QUOTE:
“The technology of Sabbath keeping is not complex. We simply select a day of the week (Paul seemed to think any day would do – Romans 14:5-6) and quit our work…
Monday is my Sabbath. Nothing is scheduled for Mondays. If there are emergencies I respond, but they are surprisingly few.
Sabbath keeping cannot be carried out as a private enterprise. We (as pastors) need our congregations help. They need our help to keep their Sabbath; we need their help to keep ours… One of my tasks is to lead you in the celebrative keeping of Sabbath each Sunday. But that is not a Sabbath for me. I wake up Sunday morning with the adrenaline flowing. It is a workday for me. Monday is my Sabbath, and I need your help to keep it. I need your prayers.” (Eugene Peterson, Working the Angles).
CLOSING PRAYER: Come to Jesus!
“Jesus said, "Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.” (Matt. 11:28).
TO DOWNLOAD A PRINTABLE COPY OF THESE NOTES, CLICK HERE.
TO DOWNLOAD AN AUDIO VERSION OF THIS SERMON, CLICK HERE.
Beausejour Community Church Website: http://www.beausejourchurch.ca/
Pastor Chris Jordan’s Blog: http://thelandofpromise.blogspot.com/
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
Sermon of the Week - The Life Transforming Power of the Gospel
SUPERNATURAL: THE LIFE-TRANSFORMING POWER OF THE GOSPEL
(November 8, 2009 – Beausejour Church – Pastor Chris Jordan)
KEY TEXT: “But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” (Acts 1:8).
REVIEW PART ONE: MAPS
• In Acts 13, the Lord called Paul and Barnabas to go on a missionary journey.
• They went from ANTIOCH to SELEUCIA, then sailed to CYPRUS
• On Cyprus, they went to PAPHOS, where they found a sorcerer, a false prophet named Bar-Jesus and the proconsul, Sergius Paulus. They led Sergius to the Lord.
• They returned to the mainland and went to ANTIOCH in Pisidia, and preached there.
• The whole city came to hear the Word, people were saved, the disciples were persecuted.
THE BIG IDEA: God has called us to be missionary Christians – to share the Gospel (Good News) with everyone we meet. The Gospel has the power to transform their lives.
BEING A MISSIONARY CHURCH: WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE?
“A missionary is not someone who crosses the sea, but someone who sees the cross.”
THE GREAT COMMISSION:
“And Jesus said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned. And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover” (Mark 16:15-18).
• If you are a believer, then Jesus has called you to share the Good News with other people.
• Lost people in the world are going to hell because they don’t know God’s love!
• Our job is to present JESUS to the world – the Saviour, Healer, Baptiser & King!
MISSIONS TRIP TESTIMONIES: From Mexico and the Yukon – personal stories.
KEY TEXT:
“Now it happened in Iconium that they went together to the synagogue of the Jews, and so spoke that a great multitude both of the Jews and of the Greeks believed. But the unbelieving Jews stirred up the Gentiles and poisoned their minds against the brethren. Therefore they stayed there a long time, speaking boldly in the Lord, who was bearing witness to the word of His grace, granting signs and wonders to be done by their hands. But the multitude of the city was divided: part sided with the Jews, and part with the apostles. And when a violent attempt was made by both the Gentiles and Jews, with their rulers, to abuse and stone them, they became aware of it and fled to Lystra and Derbe, cities of Lycaonia, and to the surrounding region. And they were preaching the gospel there.” (Acts 14:1-7).
• Paul and Barnabas continued sharing the Gospel – Good News – in Iconium.
• As Jesus had promised, when they preached the Word, He confirmed the Word through the accompanying signs and wonders.
1. THE GOSPEL HAS THE POWER TO TRANSFORM LIVES:
“And in Lystra a certain man without strength in his feet was sitting, a cripple from his mother's womb, who had never walked. This man heard Paul speaking. Paul, observing him intently and seeing that he had faith to be healed, said with a loud voice, "Stand up straight on your feet!" And he leaped and walked.” (Acts 14:8-10).
• Jesus never commissioned a signless, powerless Gospel!
• Paul wrote: “in mighty signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God, so that from Jerusalem and round about to Illyricum I have fully preached the gospel of Christ.” (Romans 15:19).
• In other words, wherever the Good News is preached, lives should be transformed!
• Jesus wants people to be set free – saved, delivered and healed:
• Saved = sins forgiven, adopted into God’s family
• Delivered = joy in our emotions, peace for our troubled minds
= set free from addictions and bondages
• Healed = in our physical bodies as well.
2. THE GOSPEL CALLS US TO REPENT – TO TURN FROM OUR SINS TO GOD:
“Now when the people saw what Paul had done, they raised their voices, saying in the Lycaonian language, "The gods have come down to us in the likeness of men!" And Barnabas they called Zeus, and Paul, Hermes, because he was the chief speaker. Then the priest of Zeus, whose temple was in front of their city, brought oxen and garlands to the gates, intending to sacrifice with the multitudes. But when the apostles Barnabas and Paul heard this, they tore their clothes and ran in among the multitude, crying out and saying, "Men, why are you doing these things? We also are men with the same nature as you, and preach to you that you should turn from these useless things to the living God, who made the heaven, the earth, the sea, and all things that are in them.” (Acts 14:11-15).
• The Bible says to turn from useless things.
• Useless = mataios = fruitless, empty, futile, frivolous, hollow.
• People look to useless things like drugs, alcohol, sexual relationships to try to find satisfaction and fulfillment. These are empty things!
• Paul preached that the people should turn from their sins, and turn to God = repentance.
• You can go to church your whole life and never experience the Good News of salvation.
• Peter preached: “Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that He may send Jesus Christ, who was preached to you before.” (Acts 3:19-20).
• True happiness in life is found only in the person of JESUS. Jesus IS the Gospel!
• Peter preached: “Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.” (Acts 4:12).
• Why must we go preach the Gospel? Because Jesus is the only way to Heaven!
3. WHEN WE PREACH THE GOSPEL, WE WILL BE PERSECUTED:
“Then Jews from Antioch and Iconium came there; and having persuaded the multitudes, they stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city, supposing him to be dead. However, when the disciples gathered around him, he rose up and went into the city. And the next day he departed with Barnabas to Derbe.” (Acts 14:19-20).
• Wherever and whenever the Good News is preached, there will be opposition.
QUOTE: Jim Elliott said, “That man is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose.”
QUOTE: Nate Saint said, “People who do not know the Lord ask why we waste our lives as missionaries. They forget they too are expending their lives, and when the bubble has burst, they will have nothing of eternal significance to show for the years they have wasted.”
Martyrs CD: “As Joan of Arc was dying at the stake, she said this quote: every man gives his life for what he believes…sometimes people believe in little or nothing, and yet they give their lives to that little or nothing. One life is all we have, we live it and it’s gone, but to live without belief is more terrible than dying, even more terrible than dying young. What do you burn for?”
QUOTE: John Piper says there are three kinds of people when it comes to missions:
1. Those who GO to the missions field
2. Those who SEND others to the field, and support them with prayer and finances
3. Those who are DISOBEDIENT.
CLOSING CHALLENGE: MY LIFE FOR THE GOSPEL
“When Jesus had called the people to Himself, with His disciples also, He said to them, "Whoever desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel's will save it. For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul?” (Mark 8:34-36).
• Jesus is calling all of us to lay down our lives for the sake of the Gospel.
• Call #1 – those who feel (one day) called to full time missions or ministry work
• Call #2 – those who want to join us on our missions trip to Costa Rica in August 2010
CLICK HERE to download a printable version of these notes.
CLICK HERE to listen to the audio version of this message.
Beausejour Community Church Website: http://www.beausejourchurch.ca/
Pastor Chris Jordan’s Blog: http://thelandofpromise.blogspot.com/
(November 8, 2009 – Beausejour Church – Pastor Chris Jordan)
KEY TEXT: “But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” (Acts 1:8).
REVIEW PART ONE: MAPS
• In Acts 13, the Lord called Paul and Barnabas to go on a missionary journey.
• They went from ANTIOCH to SELEUCIA, then sailed to CYPRUS
• On Cyprus, they went to PAPHOS, where they found a sorcerer, a false prophet named Bar-Jesus and the proconsul, Sergius Paulus. They led Sergius to the Lord.
• They returned to the mainland and went to ANTIOCH in Pisidia, and preached there.
• The whole city came to hear the Word, people were saved, the disciples were persecuted.
THE BIG IDEA: God has called us to be missionary Christians – to share the Gospel (Good News) with everyone we meet. The Gospel has the power to transform their lives.
BEING A MISSIONARY CHURCH: WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE?
“A missionary is not someone who crosses the sea, but someone who sees the cross.”
THE GREAT COMMISSION:
“And Jesus said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned. And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover” (Mark 16:15-18).
• If you are a believer, then Jesus has called you to share the Good News with other people.
• Lost people in the world are going to hell because they don’t know God’s love!
• Our job is to present JESUS to the world – the Saviour, Healer, Baptiser & King!
MISSIONS TRIP TESTIMONIES: From Mexico and the Yukon – personal stories.
KEY TEXT:
“Now it happened in Iconium that they went together to the synagogue of the Jews, and so spoke that a great multitude both of the Jews and of the Greeks believed. But the unbelieving Jews stirred up the Gentiles and poisoned their minds against the brethren. Therefore they stayed there a long time, speaking boldly in the Lord, who was bearing witness to the word of His grace, granting signs and wonders to be done by their hands. But the multitude of the city was divided: part sided with the Jews, and part with the apostles. And when a violent attempt was made by both the Gentiles and Jews, with their rulers, to abuse and stone them, they became aware of it and fled to Lystra and Derbe, cities of Lycaonia, and to the surrounding region. And they were preaching the gospel there.” (Acts 14:1-7).
• Paul and Barnabas continued sharing the Gospel – Good News – in Iconium.
• As Jesus had promised, when they preached the Word, He confirmed the Word through the accompanying signs and wonders.
1. THE GOSPEL HAS THE POWER TO TRANSFORM LIVES:
“And in Lystra a certain man without strength in his feet was sitting, a cripple from his mother's womb, who had never walked. This man heard Paul speaking. Paul, observing him intently and seeing that he had faith to be healed, said with a loud voice, "Stand up straight on your feet!" And he leaped and walked.” (Acts 14:8-10).
• Jesus never commissioned a signless, powerless Gospel!
• Paul wrote: “in mighty signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God, so that from Jerusalem and round about to Illyricum I have fully preached the gospel of Christ.” (Romans 15:19).
• In other words, wherever the Good News is preached, lives should be transformed!
• Jesus wants people to be set free – saved, delivered and healed:
• Saved = sins forgiven, adopted into God’s family
• Delivered = joy in our emotions, peace for our troubled minds
= set free from addictions and bondages
• Healed = in our physical bodies as well.
2. THE GOSPEL CALLS US TO REPENT – TO TURN FROM OUR SINS TO GOD:
“Now when the people saw what Paul had done, they raised their voices, saying in the Lycaonian language, "The gods have come down to us in the likeness of men!" And Barnabas they called Zeus, and Paul, Hermes, because he was the chief speaker. Then the priest of Zeus, whose temple was in front of their city, brought oxen and garlands to the gates, intending to sacrifice with the multitudes. But when the apostles Barnabas and Paul heard this, they tore their clothes and ran in among the multitude, crying out and saying, "Men, why are you doing these things? We also are men with the same nature as you, and preach to you that you should turn from these useless things to the living God, who made the heaven, the earth, the sea, and all things that are in them.” (Acts 14:11-15).
• The Bible says to turn from useless things.
• Useless = mataios = fruitless, empty, futile, frivolous, hollow.
• People look to useless things like drugs, alcohol, sexual relationships to try to find satisfaction and fulfillment. These are empty things!
• Paul preached that the people should turn from their sins, and turn to God = repentance.
• You can go to church your whole life and never experience the Good News of salvation.
• Peter preached: “Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that He may send Jesus Christ, who was preached to you before.” (Acts 3:19-20).
• True happiness in life is found only in the person of JESUS. Jesus IS the Gospel!
• Peter preached: “Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.” (Acts 4:12).
• Why must we go preach the Gospel? Because Jesus is the only way to Heaven!
3. WHEN WE PREACH THE GOSPEL, WE WILL BE PERSECUTED:
“Then Jews from Antioch and Iconium came there; and having persuaded the multitudes, they stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city, supposing him to be dead. However, when the disciples gathered around him, he rose up and went into the city. And the next day he departed with Barnabas to Derbe.” (Acts 14:19-20).
• Wherever and whenever the Good News is preached, there will be opposition.
QUOTE: Jim Elliott said, “That man is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose.”
QUOTE: Nate Saint said, “People who do not know the Lord ask why we waste our lives as missionaries. They forget they too are expending their lives, and when the bubble has burst, they will have nothing of eternal significance to show for the years they have wasted.”
Martyrs CD: “As Joan of Arc was dying at the stake, she said this quote: every man gives his life for what he believes…sometimes people believe in little or nothing, and yet they give their lives to that little or nothing. One life is all we have, we live it and it’s gone, but to live without belief is more terrible than dying, even more terrible than dying young. What do you burn for?”
QUOTE: John Piper says there are three kinds of people when it comes to missions:
1. Those who GO to the missions field
2. Those who SEND others to the field, and support them with prayer and finances
3. Those who are DISOBEDIENT.
CLOSING CHALLENGE: MY LIFE FOR THE GOSPEL
“When Jesus had called the people to Himself, with His disciples also, He said to them, "Whoever desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel's will save it. For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul?” (Mark 8:34-36).
• Jesus is calling all of us to lay down our lives for the sake of the Gospel.
• Call #1 – those who feel (one day) called to full time missions or ministry work
• Call #2 – those who want to join us on our missions trip to Costa Rica in August 2010
CLICK HERE to download a printable version of these notes.
CLICK HERE to listen to the audio version of this message.
Beausejour Community Church Website: http://www.beausejourchurch.ca/
Pastor Chris Jordan’s Blog: http://thelandofpromise.blogspot.com/
Saturday, November 7, 2009
Costa Rica Missions Video
Here's another missions video from Costa Rica, where we are planning on taking a missions trip in August of 2010. Contact Pastor Chris Jordan for more info. Visit our blog at http://thelandofpromise.blogspot.com/ to watch the video.
Pastor Chris Jordan
www.beausejourchurch.ca
Friday, November 6, 2009
Costa Rica Missions Trip - August 9-19, 2010
Dear friends,
Here it is - the info for our Missions Trip to Costa Rica, August 9-19, 2009:
Are you interested in learning more about becoming part of the team? E-mail me, let me know who in your family is interested in attending, and I will send you a copy of our missions manual, and application form. Blessings!
BEAUSEJOUR COMMUNITY CHURCH:
COSTA RICA MISSIONS TRIP – AUGUST 9-19, 2010:
We will be partnering together with Canadian Missionaries John & Debbie Overholt. They have Foursquare Church plants in La Isleta, Martina Bustos and La Guinea, in the Guanacaste province, about half an hour from Liberia.
Hudson Taylor said: "Finding one's purpose with God can be a strange and mysterious journey; or, it can be as plain as asking God for a task and then watching your desire for that task grow within you. Problem is, most of us forget to ask God to fill us with a fervent spirit to serve Him. Then, years later, we wake up and realize we had our life. We made our choices....our safe choices; but, somehow, we missed the richness of following our God down an uncharted path."
Mission Opportunities: Most importantly we will work alongside of local Costa Rican church members. They have several church plants in humble barrios that we can help with.
MINISTRY OPPORTUNITIES:
These are just a few of the different opportunities available to us. Once we put our team together, and take a look at the gift-mix and skill set of the members of our team, we will make the decision as to what specific ministry areas we will focus on.
PRACTICAL:
· We have opportunities to help with construction projects if we have members who would like to be involved in this type of ministry. Building a new church building, or renovating existing facilities.
· Serve the community through beach cleanup.
· Bring a supply of numbered reading glasses to give out to the many people down here who can not afford to go to an optical store.
EVANGELISM:
· Door to door ministry in some of the needy areas. Make up supply bags to give out along with new testaments and gospel literature, salvation bracelets.
· Be open to pray for people’s needs: healing the sick, setting the captives free and simply doing what Jesus and His disciples did.
· Drama/music presentation/testimonies in the downtown square and/or some of the areas that they are working in. Praying for people.
· Show Jesus DVD or other Spanish speaking Christian DVD’s in some of the barrios they are working in.
· There are lots of opportunities for children's ministry - VBS etc.
· Open air meetings – crusades.
· Street ministry: One of their assistant pastors does ministry with the street people that we can involve ourselves in.
PROJECTS:
It is always a blessing to be able to give basic food supplies like rice and beans and/or health kits to some of the very needy areas that we will be ministering. If we want to raise any money for this, we can purchase supplies when we get down there and then go to needy areas where they are working to help with the distribution.
BCC CHURCH FAMILY:
Please be agreeing together with us in prayer about this exciting missions opportunity, and consider joining us as we GO… into all the world!
Click here to visit John & Debbie's website: http://www.fmcr.info/index.html
Chris Jordan
Lead Pastor, Beausejour Community Church
---------------------------------------------
Church Web-site: http://www.beausejourchurch.ca/
Pastor's Blog: http://thelandofpromise.blogspot.com/
Here it is - the info for our Missions Trip to Costa Rica, August 9-19, 2009:
Are you interested in learning more about becoming part of the team? E-mail me, let me know who in your family is interested in attending, and I will send you a copy of our missions manual, and application form. Blessings!
BEAUSEJOUR COMMUNITY CHURCH:
COSTA RICA MISSIONS TRIP – AUGUST 9-19, 2010:
We will be partnering together with Canadian Missionaries John & Debbie Overholt. They have Foursquare Church plants in La Isleta, Martina Bustos and La Guinea, in the Guanacaste province, about half an hour from Liberia.
Hudson Taylor said: "Finding one's purpose with God can be a strange and mysterious journey; or, it can be as plain as asking God for a task and then watching your desire for that task grow within you. Problem is, most of us forget to ask God to fill us with a fervent spirit to serve Him. Then, years later, we wake up and realize we had our life. We made our choices....our safe choices; but, somehow, we missed the richness of following our God down an uncharted path."
Mission Opportunities: Most importantly we will work alongside of local Costa Rican church members. They have several church plants in humble barrios that we can help with.
MINISTRY OPPORTUNITIES:
These are just a few of the different opportunities available to us. Once we put our team together, and take a look at the gift-mix and skill set of the members of our team, we will make the decision as to what specific ministry areas we will focus on.
PRACTICAL:
· We have opportunities to help with construction projects if we have members who would like to be involved in this type of ministry. Building a new church building, or renovating existing facilities.
· Serve the community through beach cleanup.
· Bring a supply of numbered reading glasses to give out to the many people down here who can not afford to go to an optical store.
EVANGELISM:
· Door to door ministry in some of the needy areas. Make up supply bags to give out along with new testaments and gospel literature, salvation bracelets.
· Be open to pray for people’s needs: healing the sick, setting the captives free and simply doing what Jesus and His disciples did.
· Drama/music presentation/testimonies in the downtown square and/or some of the areas that they are working in. Praying for people.
· Show Jesus DVD or other Spanish speaking Christian DVD’s in some of the barrios they are working in.
· There are lots of opportunities for children's ministry - VBS etc.
· Open air meetings – crusades.
· Street ministry: One of their assistant pastors does ministry with the street people that we can involve ourselves in.
PROJECTS:
It is always a blessing to be able to give basic food supplies like rice and beans and/or health kits to some of the very needy areas that we will be ministering. If we want to raise any money for this, we can purchase supplies when we get down there and then go to needy areas where they are working to help with the distribution.
BCC CHURCH FAMILY:
Please be agreeing together with us in prayer about this exciting missions opportunity, and consider joining us as we GO… into all the world!
Click here to visit John & Debbie's website: http://www.fmcr.info/index.html
Chris Jordan
Lead Pastor, Beausejour Community Church
---------------------------------------------
Church Web-site: http://www.beausejourchurch.ca/
Pastor's Blog: http://thelandofpromise.blogspot.com/
John & Debbie Overholt
Thursday, November 5, 2009
W2F3 - Wild West Fun Fest Fotos!
Dear friends,
Here are some of the photos from our Wild West Fun Fest outreach at the church.
On Sat. Oct. 31st, Beausejour Community Church hosted its first annual "Wild West Fun Fest" family fun night. With over 150 people in attendance, from our church and the community, this event was a smashing success. This carnival type event included many different booths and activities, including lasso roping, mini-golf, hockey shoot-out, bowling, a fishing pond, ring toss, sponge throw, football, face painting, balloon darts, free popcorn and cotton candy, door prizes, prizes for best costumes, and more. At BCC, we are a family church with something for everyone. Come and join us for our worship service every Sunday morning at 10:30 am. See http://www.facebook.com/pastorchrisjordan for more photos...
Pastor Chris Jordan
http://www.beausejourchurch.ca/
Here are some of the photos from our Wild West Fun Fest outreach at the church.
On Sat. Oct. 31st, Beausejour Community Church hosted its first annual "Wild West Fun Fest" family fun night. With over 150 people in attendance, from our church and the community, this event was a smashing success. This carnival type event included many different booths and activities, including lasso roping, mini-golf, hockey shoot-out, bowling, a fishing pond, ring toss, sponge throw, football, face painting, balloon darts, free popcorn and cotton candy, door prizes, prizes for best costumes, and more. At BCC, we are a family church with something for everyone. Come and join us for our worship service every Sunday morning at 10:30 am. See http://www.facebook.com/pastorchrisjordan for more photos...
Pastor Chris Jordan
http://www.beausejourchurch.ca/
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
One Year of Faith Building Devotionals
Dear friends,
I have just finished compiling all of my daily Faith Building Devotionals into booklet form. You can download and print out these two booklets by clicking below:
One Year of Faith Building Devotionals #1: January - June
One Year of Faith Building Devotionals #2: July - December
Most of these devotionals were originally written between 2002-2004, and were updated and revised from 2008-2009. I pray that they will be a blessing to you and your family!
Starting tomorrow, I will begin writing a brand new series of daily devotionals called "Supernatural: The Book of Acts." If you want to receive these daily devotionals in your e-mail box, visit http://chris-jordan.blogspot.com/ and sign up today. My goal and desire is - once I have finished - to compile all of these teachings into my first full length book, and see it be published. Pray with me about this!
Blessings...
Pastor Chris Jordan
http://www.beausejourchurch.ca/
I have just finished compiling all of my daily Faith Building Devotionals into booklet form. You can download and print out these two booklets by clicking below:
One Year of Faith Building Devotionals #1: January - June
One Year of Faith Building Devotionals #2: July - December
Most of these devotionals were originally written between 2002-2004, and were updated and revised from 2008-2009. I pray that they will be a blessing to you and your family!
Starting tomorrow, I will begin writing a brand new series of daily devotionals called "Supernatural: The Book of Acts." If you want to receive these daily devotionals in your e-mail box, visit http://chris-jordan.blogspot.com/ and sign up today. My goal and desire is - once I have finished - to compile all of these teachings into my first full length book, and see it be published. Pray with me about this!
Blessings...
Pastor Chris Jordan
http://www.beausejourchurch.ca/
Monday, November 2, 2009
Sermon of the Week - Keys to Healthy Relationships
SUPERNATURAL #14: KEYS TO HEALTHY RELATIONSHIPS
(October 2009 – Beausejour Church – Pastor Chris Jordan)
INTRO: Last week, we took a look at Paul’s first missionary journey from Antioch.
This was the first time I preached ‘from the maps’ – it was fun!
We looked at the journey Paul took with Barnabas and John Mark. But when they came to Perga in Pamphylia, John departed from them, and returned to Jerusalem (Acts 13:13).
This week, I want to look at what happened after this missionary journey had ended.
OPENING TEXT:
“Then after some days Paul said to Barnabas, "Let us now go back and visit our brethren in every city where we have preached the word of the Lord, and see how they are doing." Now Barnabas was determined to take with them John called Mark. But Paul insisted that they should not take with them the one who had departed from them in Pamphylia, and had not gone with them to the work. Then the contention became so sharp that they parted from one another. And so Barnabas took Mark and sailed to Cyprus; but Paul chose Silas and departed, being commended by the brethren to the grace of God. And he went through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches.” (Acts 15:36-41).
Contention = paroxysm – violent, hostile, angry. “Tempers flared.” (The Message).
Paul was one of the greatest preachers in the early church, and yet he wasn’t perfect.
Paul gave up on Mark who had deserted them and wouldn’t give him a second chance!
But thank God for Barnabas, the son of the encouragement, who believed in John Mark.
THE BIG IDEA: Relationships are one of the most important aspects of the kingdom of God. Therefore, we need to learn these key principles from God’s Word to have healthy and loving relationships with one another.
KEY TEXT:
“Jesus said to him, "'You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.' This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” (Matt. 22:37-39).
The two most important things we can learn to do are love God and love people.
MEN’S MINISTRY BREAKFAST YESTERDAY: Discuss sharing – teary time!
Because love is so important, the enemy will do whatever he can to get us in strife.
So – we will have disagreements with one another. But how do we respond to them?
ILLUSTRATION: WHAT’S THE SOLUTION?
"Here’s the scenario," the truck driving instructor announced to his class. "You’re in an 18-wheeler with a heavy load, barreling down a mountainous two-lane highway. Your co-driver, Ed, is asleep. There are six trucks behind you, and as you come over the top of a hill, they pull out beside you to pass. Suddenly, you see several trucks coming in the opposite direction, pulling into your lane to pass. What do you do?"
"That’s simple," a student called out. "I’d wake up Ed." "Why would you do that?" asked the instructor. "Because," replied the student, "Ed ain’t never seen a truck wreck like this before!"
PAUL’S KEYS TO HEALTHY RELATIONSHIPS:
1. BE PATIENT:
“Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. Love does not demand its own way. Love is not irritable, and it keeps no record of when it has been wronged.” (1 Cor. 13:4-5).
If someone does something wrong to you, FORGET ABOUT IT!
“Be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other's faults because of your love.” (Eph. 4:2).
People will make mistakes and hurt and offend you – be patient – love is patient.
2. DON’T BE ANGRY:
“And "don't sin by letting anger gain control over you." Don't let the sun go down while you are still angry, for anger gives a mighty foothold to the Devil.” (Eph. 4:26-27).
Anger is dangerous! When you are hurt or offended by someone, and hang onto your anger, it can turn to bitterness.
“Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord: looking carefully lest anyone fall short of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up cause trouble, and by this many become defiled.” (Hebrews 12:14-15).
Sometimes (see Paul and Barnabas), separation is preferable to continued disagreement.
3. WATCH YOUR WORDS:
“Don't use foul or abusive language. Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them.” (Eph. 4:29).
The Bible has a lot to say about our words! We DO NOT have the right to say something negative about another person – either to them, or about them!
“Death and life are in the power of the tongue.” (Prov. 18:21). *Hurt people hurt people
Thumper’s mom said: “If you can’t stay anything nice, don’t say anything at all.”
4. CHOOSE TO FORGIVE:
“Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of malicious behavior. Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you.” (Eph. 4:31-32).
The alternative to anger = to be kind, and FORGIVE!
“Make allowance for each other's faults and forgive the person who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others.” (Col. 3:13).
“And above all things have fervent love for one another, for "love will cover a multitude of sins.” (1 Peter 4:8). Extend grace! Treat them the way you want to be treated!
ILLUSTRATION: REMEMBER THE DUCK:
A little boy visiting his grandparents was given his first slingshot. He practiced in the woods, but he could never hit his target. As he came back to Grandma's back yard, he spied her pet duck. On an impulse he took aim and let fly. The stone hit, and the duck fell dead. The boy panicked. Desperately he hid the dead duck in the woodpile, only to look up and see his sister watching. Sally had seen it all, but she said nothing. After lunch that day, Grandma said, "Sally, let's wash the dishes." But Sally said, "Johnny told me he wanted to help in the kitchen today. Didn't you, Johnny?" And she whispered to him, “Remember the duck!” So Johnny did the dishes.
Later Grandpa asked if the children wanted to go fishing. Grandma said, "I'm sorry, but I need Sally to help make supper." Sally smiled and said, "That's all taken care of. Johnny wants to do it." Again she whispered, "Remember the duck." Johnny stayed while Sally went fishing. After several days of doing both his chores and Sally's, finally he couldn't stand it. He confessed to Grandma that he'd killed the duck. "I know, Johnny," she said, giving him a hug. "I was standing at the window and saw the whole thing. Because I love you, I forgave you. I wondered how long you would let Sally make a slave of you. (Richard Hoefler, Will Daylight Come?).
PROVERBS KEYS TO HEALTHY RELATIONSHIPS:
“A troublemaker plants seeds of strife; gossip separates the best of friends.” (Pr. 16:28).
“A gossip tells secrets, so don't hang around with someone who talks too much.” (Pr. 20:19).
“Fire goes out for lack of fuel, and quarrels disappear when gossip stops.” (Pr. 26:20).
Gossips are troublemakers who destroy friendships.
God COMMANDS us: DO NOT hang around with people who gossip!
NOTE: “If someone will gossip TO you, they will also gossip ABOUT you.”
Make a commitment to never say something negative about someone again.
Unity is so important to the health and success of the church – and all our relationships:
“Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity! It is like the precious anointing oil…For there the Lord commanded the blessing.” (Ps. 133).
KEYS TO DEAL WITH OFFENSES:
1. Talk to God about it first in prayer. Pray that God would heal your brokenness.
2. If you feel you need to talk to that person about it, Jesus tells us how to do that: “Moreover if your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone. If he hears you, you have gained your brother.” (Matthew 18:15).
3. DO NOT talk to someone else about it!
Another key = always “T.H.I.N.K.” before sharing something with another person:
T Is it True?
H Is it Helpful?
I Is it Inspiring?
N Is it Necessary?
K Is it Kind?
CLOSING: “Aristarchus my fellow prisoner greets you, with Mark the cousin of Barnabas (about whom you received instructions: if he comes to you, welcome him)… These are my only fellow workers for the kingdom of God… they have proved to be a comfort to me.” (Col. 4:10-11).
This letter was written during Paul’s first Roman imprisonment, around 61 AD.
“Get Mark and bring him with you, for he is useful to me for ministry.” (2 Tim. 4:11).
This letter was written when Paul was in prison, near his death, about 66 AD, and his heart towards Mark had changed. He was useful = helpful (NLT), profitable (KJV).
John Mark went on to write the Gospel of Mark around 67 AD.
CLOSING PRAYER: For wisdom and grace to walk in healthy, loving relationships.
Take your hurts and offenses to the Cross and receive healing and forgiveness!
Click HERE to download a printable PDF version of these notes.
Click HERE to listen to an audio version of this message.
Pastor Chris Jordan
http://www.beausejourchurch.ca/
(October 2009 – Beausejour Church – Pastor Chris Jordan)
INTRO: Last week, we took a look at Paul’s first missionary journey from Antioch.
This was the first time I preached ‘from the maps’ – it was fun!
We looked at the journey Paul took with Barnabas and John Mark. But when they came to Perga in Pamphylia, John departed from them, and returned to Jerusalem (Acts 13:13).
This week, I want to look at what happened after this missionary journey had ended.
OPENING TEXT:
“Then after some days Paul said to Barnabas, "Let us now go back and visit our brethren in every city where we have preached the word of the Lord, and see how they are doing." Now Barnabas was determined to take with them John called Mark. But Paul insisted that they should not take with them the one who had departed from them in Pamphylia, and had not gone with them to the work. Then the contention became so sharp that they parted from one another. And so Barnabas took Mark and sailed to Cyprus; but Paul chose Silas and departed, being commended by the brethren to the grace of God. And he went through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches.” (Acts 15:36-41).
Contention = paroxysm – violent, hostile, angry. “Tempers flared.” (The Message).
Paul was one of the greatest preachers in the early church, and yet he wasn’t perfect.
Paul gave up on Mark who had deserted them and wouldn’t give him a second chance!
But thank God for Barnabas, the son of the encouragement, who believed in John Mark.
THE BIG IDEA: Relationships are one of the most important aspects of the kingdom of God. Therefore, we need to learn these key principles from God’s Word to have healthy and loving relationships with one another.
KEY TEXT:
“Jesus said to him, "'You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.' This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” (Matt. 22:37-39).
The two most important things we can learn to do are love God and love people.
MEN’S MINISTRY BREAKFAST YESTERDAY: Discuss sharing – teary time!
Because love is so important, the enemy will do whatever he can to get us in strife.
So – we will have disagreements with one another. But how do we respond to them?
ILLUSTRATION: WHAT’S THE SOLUTION?
"Here’s the scenario," the truck driving instructor announced to his class. "You’re in an 18-wheeler with a heavy load, barreling down a mountainous two-lane highway. Your co-driver, Ed, is asleep. There are six trucks behind you, and as you come over the top of a hill, they pull out beside you to pass. Suddenly, you see several trucks coming in the opposite direction, pulling into your lane to pass. What do you do?"
"That’s simple," a student called out. "I’d wake up Ed." "Why would you do that?" asked the instructor. "Because," replied the student, "Ed ain’t never seen a truck wreck like this before!"
PAUL’S KEYS TO HEALTHY RELATIONSHIPS:
1. BE PATIENT:
“Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. Love does not demand its own way. Love is not irritable, and it keeps no record of when it has been wronged.” (1 Cor. 13:4-5).
If someone does something wrong to you, FORGET ABOUT IT!
“Be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other's faults because of your love.” (Eph. 4:2).
People will make mistakes and hurt and offend you – be patient – love is patient.
2. DON’T BE ANGRY:
“And "don't sin by letting anger gain control over you." Don't let the sun go down while you are still angry, for anger gives a mighty foothold to the Devil.” (Eph. 4:26-27).
Anger is dangerous! When you are hurt or offended by someone, and hang onto your anger, it can turn to bitterness.
“Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord: looking carefully lest anyone fall short of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up cause trouble, and by this many become defiled.” (Hebrews 12:14-15).
Sometimes (see Paul and Barnabas), separation is preferable to continued disagreement.
3. WATCH YOUR WORDS:
“Don't use foul or abusive language. Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them.” (Eph. 4:29).
The Bible has a lot to say about our words! We DO NOT have the right to say something negative about another person – either to them, or about them!
“Death and life are in the power of the tongue.” (Prov. 18:21). *Hurt people hurt people
Thumper’s mom said: “If you can’t stay anything nice, don’t say anything at all.”
4. CHOOSE TO FORGIVE:
“Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of malicious behavior. Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you.” (Eph. 4:31-32).
The alternative to anger = to be kind, and FORGIVE!
“Make allowance for each other's faults and forgive the person who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others.” (Col. 3:13).
“And above all things have fervent love for one another, for "love will cover a multitude of sins.” (1 Peter 4:8). Extend grace! Treat them the way you want to be treated!
ILLUSTRATION: REMEMBER THE DUCK:
A little boy visiting his grandparents was given his first slingshot. He practiced in the woods, but he could never hit his target. As he came back to Grandma's back yard, he spied her pet duck. On an impulse he took aim and let fly. The stone hit, and the duck fell dead. The boy panicked. Desperately he hid the dead duck in the woodpile, only to look up and see his sister watching. Sally had seen it all, but she said nothing. After lunch that day, Grandma said, "Sally, let's wash the dishes." But Sally said, "Johnny told me he wanted to help in the kitchen today. Didn't you, Johnny?" And she whispered to him, “Remember the duck!” So Johnny did the dishes.
Later Grandpa asked if the children wanted to go fishing. Grandma said, "I'm sorry, but I need Sally to help make supper." Sally smiled and said, "That's all taken care of. Johnny wants to do it." Again she whispered, "Remember the duck." Johnny stayed while Sally went fishing. After several days of doing both his chores and Sally's, finally he couldn't stand it. He confessed to Grandma that he'd killed the duck. "I know, Johnny," she said, giving him a hug. "I was standing at the window and saw the whole thing. Because I love you, I forgave you. I wondered how long you would let Sally make a slave of you. (Richard Hoefler, Will Daylight Come?).
PROVERBS KEYS TO HEALTHY RELATIONSHIPS:
“A troublemaker plants seeds of strife; gossip separates the best of friends.” (Pr. 16:28).
“A gossip tells secrets, so don't hang around with someone who talks too much.” (Pr. 20:19).
“Fire goes out for lack of fuel, and quarrels disappear when gossip stops.” (Pr. 26:20).
Gossips are troublemakers who destroy friendships.
God COMMANDS us: DO NOT hang around with people who gossip!
NOTE: “If someone will gossip TO you, they will also gossip ABOUT you.”
Make a commitment to never say something negative about someone again.
Unity is so important to the health and success of the church – and all our relationships:
“Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity! It is like the precious anointing oil…For there the Lord commanded the blessing.” (Ps. 133).
KEYS TO DEAL WITH OFFENSES:
1. Talk to God about it first in prayer. Pray that God would heal your brokenness.
2. If you feel you need to talk to that person about it, Jesus tells us how to do that: “Moreover if your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone. If he hears you, you have gained your brother.” (Matthew 18:15).
3. DO NOT talk to someone else about it!
Another key = always “T.H.I.N.K.” before sharing something with another person:
T Is it True?
H Is it Helpful?
I Is it Inspiring?
N Is it Necessary?
K Is it Kind?
CLOSING: “Aristarchus my fellow prisoner greets you, with Mark the cousin of Barnabas (about whom you received instructions: if he comes to you, welcome him)… These are my only fellow workers for the kingdom of God… they have proved to be a comfort to me.” (Col. 4:10-11).
This letter was written during Paul’s first Roman imprisonment, around 61 AD.
“Get Mark and bring him with you, for he is useful to me for ministry.” (2 Tim. 4:11).
This letter was written when Paul was in prison, near his death, about 66 AD, and his heart towards Mark had changed. He was useful = helpful (NLT), profitable (KJV).
John Mark went on to write the Gospel of Mark around 67 AD.
CLOSING PRAYER: For wisdom and grace to walk in healthy, loving relationships.
Take your hurts and offenses to the Cross and receive healing and forgiveness!
Click HERE to download a printable PDF version of these notes.
Click HERE to listen to an audio version of this message.
Pastor Chris Jordan
http://www.beausejourchurch.ca/
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