We will…
Lead and transform
Father’s Day 2007
2 Timothy 1: 3-18
The last two weeks we’ve looked at a couple of passages that show clearly the church is to primarily participate in and encourage Worship.
An effective church is a body of believers living a 24/7 lifestyle of worship and encouraging others to worship through evangelism and missions. This church encourages worship through making disciples and growing as disciples.
An effective church does not lose this primary focus: to worship God and call others to worship. Keeping focus on God and worshipping Him through making disciples is the sign of an effective church.
*It is not the church who makes disciples but the members of the church. Sometimes when we talk about “church” we can think of an institution or a religion like Christianity. When I talk about church today I want us to think in terms of relationship with God, each other, and the community – the kind of gathering that we talked about last week from Acts 2. In Matthew 28, when Jesus gave the command to make disciples of all nations he gave it to his followers – the church – not as an institution but as individuals.
We have a real, spiritual, faith relationship with Jesus and part of that relationship is to befriend others, tell others about Jesus, and call people to worship Him – the 24/7 lifestyle of worship, not just coming to “Church” on a Sunday morning.
How do we develop that kind of relationship with Jesus? How do we become a church of leaders who lead others to worship?
Leadership today, unfortunately is more often based on skill than character. The need of leaders starts with character, not skill or gifting. Your skills or you spiritual gifting can carry you to places that your character will pull you back from unless your character is ready to sustain you. Some thieves are highly skilled – but aren’t leaders. In High School the most skilled athletes can be captains, but the character isn’t there to sustain them. A church of leaders must be a gathering of believers who worship and live their devotion to God all the time, upholding the Bible, loving God, and living for His name.
Today, Next week, and the week after I return from vacation (we’re going to Rapid City, SD, catching a Cubs game on the way, fireworks at Mt. Rushmore, and hopefully stamp our National Parks Passport at the Badlands – as well as a family wedding), these next several weeks we’ll be digging through some passages in 2 Timothy that can help us answer those questions about how to develop as leaders and what spiritual leaders are.
I’m excited to start with today – because today is Father’s day. There are a few father’s here, and there are a few of you who will one day be father’s so I hope that what is said will help you on the journey of fatherhood. Ultimately, fathers, fathers – to – be you are leaders in your families.
The examples and instruction from 2nd Timothy come from the last letter Paul wrote before His death. He is passing on final instruction and encouragement to Timothy, his friend and “son in the faith.” Their relationship will show us a lot about being spiritual leaders: people who lead others to God, and authentic Christians: believers who put God first despite the consequence.
Read 2 Timothy 1:3-18.
1. A good leader has “deep” relationships. 3-7
a. Why “Deep” relationships? Because most of our relationships today are pretty superficial: it is work to get beyond the weather, food, sports, or the activities of life. It is work to love and share life. Most of us feel like if we can love one other person – a spouse maybe – our needs are met and we’re fine – not really needing more. But that’s not it: we are meant for so much more. Among humans your spouse if married should be your first relationship, but not the last. It should be a special, intimate in a way that no other relationship you have will be; it should be unique in character and quality – it should be a witness of Christ and His church to everyone around you. But if you make it an end in itself, then there will be no one to witness its beauty.
b. So what am I talking about in a deep relationship? It is a relationship that moves beyond the mundane of life to spiritual issues, life issues – parenting, dating, encouragement, celebration and mourning together.
c. It starts with God.
i. Paul thanked God for Timothy. Do you thank God for your relationships? All of Paul’s life flowed from His relationship with God.
1. He served God with a clear conscience – the way his forefathers did.
a. We’ll start with the back of that statement first: we have models in the faith: older Christians, more mature Christians who pass the good news on to us, and we should do the same – as Paul is to Timothy. Leaders lead and follow. Jesus was a leader of 12 and follower of 1: His father. If you’re in a debacle, call on those older in the faith. Now, about the clear conscience (how hard is that to obtain – I can think at night of things I did years ago without even remembering it in the mean time).
2. Prov. 4:23
3. The springs flow clear or dirty. More on that in a couple of weeks, but for now know that your heart relationship with God defines how you relate to other people. You will be a source of refreshment, or a polluted stream pulling others down.
4. Paul was confident in God, faithful in prayer, and committed to Him.
d. 2nd the leader relates to friends.
i. Paul and Timothy had a deep relationship: Timothy cried as he and Paul went their separate ways.
ii. Most of us will build walls to insulate us from such pain before we build such a close relationship that we cry, long to see each other, and hurt over separation.
1. We insulate ourselves with our work, our family commitments, our own kids can be easy to hide behind, our educational commitments, or just making ourselves so busy that we simply can’t spend time hanging out, fellowshipping, growing together.
iii. Spiritual leaders take time for friends – no matter how close or far. My brother and one of His friends live about 8 hours apart – they meet for breakfast about 6 in the morning every 3-4 months to continue their relationship and encourage each other. They make time, make the effort, and are rewarded well. Paul constantly remembers Timothy, and in His pain drew comfort from God, who he thanked – so that he would be filled with joy.
iv. In our pain, we can have joy if we can see past the hurt to thank God for the friendships, the opportunities, and the lives He has given us.
v. Leverage your friendships for God’s glory. Paul, in v. 6 calls Timothy to obedience for the Kingdom. If we build great relationships, but never share Christ or leverage them for spiritual purposes, we’ve missed the point of being a leader: one who leads another to worship.
e. 3rd go deep with family. Timothy’s mother and grandmother poured into Him, so evidently that Paul knew about it, and knew first hand their faith. Fathers, Parents, pour faith into your kids – it starts with your heart, let clean streams of faith flow into their lives. If you’re the only Christian in your family, don’t forsake them, witness to them. If they won’t hear it, win them by your actions so they will see it. I Corin. 7:14 (read). Your faith will sanctify them – your clear stream of life will clean up a polluted stream. But, listen, they are not justified, they just know by your example the behavior they should live, but the faith is not evident in their lives until they confess it. So live that they may see God in you, be sanctified, and pray that they will come to faith and be justified – that is they will be saved by grace through faith – not by works.
2. Leaders are Courageous (v.7-12, 16-18)
a. Attempting great things for God takes courage. Wed. Debra, Mandy, James and I made a trip to Williamstown, MA, 3 hours away near the NY/VT border. We went to the Haystack monument on the campus of Williams College that commemorates the beginning of the American Foreign Mission movement in 1806. Haystack story: 5 men, ministers, missionaries, 80 years later 20,000 students with 80,000 student supporters; Luther Rice…
b. Those 5 men, led by a freshmen, had courage. Courage comes from confidence in God: read 7, 12
c. Suffering for the Gospel is part of being a leader. No leader is immune from suffering from personal attacks, pessimism, doubt, slander. But a confident leader can suffer for the Gospel – by the power of God, live their holy calling, and rejoice in the destruction of death and the light of life and immortality. Take Courage, believer, God is able and willing to meet you, empower you, and lead you to make His name great. The Haystack monument had 5 names on it, erected by a secular campus. Names of men: but their work, the movement, the power, the outcome is all about God. I don’t even know all their names, but I know the One whom they believed and preached.
d. Courage involves action: Onesiphorus: sought Paul out and ministered to Him – in Ephesus and Rome. He was a leader, a servant leader who was not ashamed of the chains. Courage to travel, go to prison, be identified with a prisoner. A spiritual leader's actions speak for them. Friends of ours who live elsewhere recently spent an evening with an acquaintance that was hurting and suffering. They got to know each other – but he was encouraged all the more by their presence. Sometimes our actions, like Onesiphorus speak so much louder than words: Maria & the Silent children.
3. Leaders hold to the truth. (13-14)
a. Get a firm grasp on the gospel – in your head and in your life. And Guard it by the Holy Spirit. There is one truth, one way, one salvation, one baptism, one Lord, one Savior, one God and Father of all. We live in a world of many that refuses to recognize the One.
i. This is gay pride month. Either homosexuality is a sin, therefore morally wrong and destructive in the end to society, or it is not. God is not making up His mind. He is not on the fence. With Him it is one way or the other. The world promotes many paths, many gods, many ways of life. But in the end, Jesus says, “I am the alpha and omega, beginning and end.” And “I am the way and the truth and the life; no one comes to the father but by me.” Hold firmly to Jesus and guard the faith of your life closely.
b. Read 1 Tim. 1:18c-19 rejecting the faith, letting the stream of your life flowing from your heart become muddied, and embracing the ways of the world will shipwreck your faith. Leaders persevere and hold the faith close.
Leaders go deep in relationships, are courageous, and hold the Truth. The power of the Gospel allows this. When Jesus Christ lived, and died on the Cross, he freed everyone who would call to Him and believe from every action that muddies their heart, every belief that ensnares them, and every attitude that enslaves them. When he rose again he defeated death. There is always hope! Pray.
6.15.2006
6.08.2006
We will...
We will…
Acts 2:41-47
Last week we examined some values from the life of David in Psalm 145. The values that he laid out:
1. God
2. Worship
3. Evangelism and Missions
4. Discipleship
We saw that these values were centered in God and rooted in one action: Worship.
Worship is the main action of the church and everything we do is an act of worship. We believe that God is so grand and awesome and worthy that nothing else is worth living for and if an action in our lives is not worship to Him it’s not worth doing.
So we’ve walked into the 3rd part of the church covenant: the We will… section. These are the actions and behaviors that we will do.
1. We will worship. Everything we talk about today should only be done as worship. We want to be people who are near to God in heart – in our emotions and thoughts and being – not just our words. So we will act in worship.
After the Holy Spirit came at Pentecost in the Book of Acts, the first believers were empowered and the church experienced phenomenal growth. In Acts Chapter 2 Luke records a summary of the actions of the church – the behaviors that characterized them.
Read Acts 2:41-47
Exuberant Joy characterized the early church. They were full of life and joy because of Christ. Before we delve into what they did, we need to ask ourselves: do I have joy in Christ? Am I living victoriously and joyously in Him?
If you are not – what is holding you back? Is it an attitude, a tough relationship, a time commitment, an imbalanced physical life, a longing of your soul that hasn’t been met? Confess this to God and cry out to Him for joy. He opens his hand and satisfies the desire of every living thing – remember last week.
We will…
Out of our Identity as invaluable, Holy Spirit indwelled, Saints, because of our value of God, Jesus, Scripture, and worship
I. Live with Purpose
a. This purpose is to worship God in all that we do.
b. To live with purpose is the opposite of complacency, confusion, and unsatisfied hunger. Purpose gives action, clarity, and goals in life. Do you wake up each day with a purpose in mind?
i. It’s so easy to just roll with the punches – have you ever been given that advice? Sometimes in life you have to take what comes, but what you do with it declares your purpose.
ii. A friend asked me this week if it’s emotionally hard to be diabetic. I said no – not until we had children and I wonder if they had it. But when I was diagnosed Amy and I settled on a purpose– to live a productive life with the disease under control. To roll with the punches would have meant to let the disease control us.
iii. The early church had purpose, and this purpose was seen in 3 ways in their life:
II. Live with purpose in relationship with God (42, 43).
a. 3 actions characterized their relationship with God.
b. 1st, they grew as disciples.
i. Believing in Jesus Christ is not always clearly defined for us. I’ve talked to tons of people on the streets, in coffee houses, wherever and they all claim to believe in Jesus. What does that mean? James 2:19: you believe that God is one (there is one God). You do well; the demons also believe and shudder.
ii. Believing on Jesus for salvation means a life changing belief: Jesus is your Lord. That means He leads your life, you seek Him out and what He wants. You live by His way, His words, His desires. It is not assenting to say I believe in Jesus but it is showing it in your life. The fruit of a purposeful relationship with God is evident in your life.
iii. The early church grew as disciples. They purposely sought to learn from God and obey Him: that is what it means to be a disciples of Jesus: to learn from Him (through His word) and obey.
1. All the head knowledge in the world won’t get you anywhere: it’s acting on it that counts. That’s called wisdom: applying the knowledge you have and are gaining.
2. “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline.” Proverbs 1:7
3. When Amy and I moved into the city – we got a lot of questions. Are you crazy? Why? House values aren’t all that great, the schools stink, and you could be killed. Well, those sound like good reasons not to bring the gospel to the students of the city and all the people who live in that environment? Right – no, we’re taking the risk. 2 years ago on our normal walking route a man was shot and killed – over drugs. Living in the city isn’t the issue, it’s wisdom. It is foolish to get involved in some things – drugs being one of them – and the outcome of the involvement will cost you. There are many testimonies to this in our gathering today.
4. The early church determined not to be foolish – they sat at the feet of the apostles and learned.
iv. Learn from your bible, grow your relationship with God by faith and learn the Word.
v. 2nd, they devoted themselves to prayer.
1. In January we talked a lot about prayer. Let’s revisit: prayer is communicating with God. It is personal praise, quite before Him, and powerful for His purpose.
2. Inform your prayer with what you learn from the Bible.
a. We pray with Micah and Mia every night after we read a Bible story. And we try to bring out something from the story to pray about. Well, we ask Micah -= would you like to pray, and he usually says no. We ask who should we pray to: Jesus, but on occasion he’ll say – we need to pray for Mia, or mommy, or daddy. He’s starting to learn, but how often do we just stop there: what we need, or someone who needs something. Let your prayer be vibrant and purposeful.
vi. 3rd the church gathered for Praise.
1. Not a big surprise, because worship is their overall theme.
a. Signs and wonders occurred among them – at the hands of the apostles. These miracles gave testimony to the witness of the Apostles. In Scripture miracles give credence to what God is saying or doing, they are never the main things, God is, and His word is next to Him. Read Acts 4:29-30. The church was facing persecution, Peter had been threatened, and the church prayed for the word to go forward, and the name of Jesus to be honored.
2. The essence of praise was wonder and awe: the valued the Awesome God: he was their primary concern.
III. Have purpose in relationship with each other.
a. They supported each other: they loved each other.
i. They met each other’s needs, they cared for each other, and each responded back.
b. The early church was not a commune. They kept the OT model of caring for the poor and believers sold what they had as needs arose to give to the poor.
i. Grace Harbor keeps a “benevolence” fund – we should call it the need fund, that is in the budget – but you can give to if you want – just put your money in an envelope and mark it or write on the memo line – benevolence. That money is for people who need help.
ii. V. 44 – all things in common. They were a united group, they shared together, yes, but they were united in heart and mind. If you read through Acts this wouldn’t always stay the same, differences would arise – but throughout Acts and throughout History the true church maintains unity of purpose: make God known and worship Him.
c. It can get real easy to sit back and receive in a culture like this. But even those with needs would meet what needs they could. And the message of the New Testament and the developing church is this: “we were not idle when we were with you, nor did we eat anyone’s’ food without paying for it. On the contrary we worked night and day, laboring and toiling so that we would not be a burden to nay of you. We did this, not because we do not have the right to such help, but in order to make ourselves a model for you to follow. For even when we were with you, we gave you this rule: “If a man will not work, he shall not eat.”” 2 Thess. 3:7-10.
i. Work while you can, and do what you can. And worship God with what you have: “Honor the Lord with your wealth, with the firstfruits of all your crops; then your barns will be filled to overflowing, and your vats will brim over with new wine.” Prov. 3:9-10.
ii. We take an offering as worship – worship God with your money and give. He receives the glory. (10%)
IV. 3rd: Have purpose in relationship with your community.
a. V. 41 – we purposefully share the gospel, baptize believers, and make disciples. That is our purpose in community.
b. Part of that purpose is to bless the community. The early church enjoyed, momentarily, the favor of all the people. They were a blessing to the community. We will be a blessing to greater providence. That is the hope of Grace Harbor: when we give out snow cones, provide a backyard Bible club, volunteer at FirstWorks we bless the city – for the purpose of the glory of God and His word going forward.
c. God added daily to the numbers of believers.
d. Share the Gospel, lead others to Christ.
i. We will share the gospel, leading others to Christ, baptize believers and make disciples – all in worship and to the Glory of God.
Acts 2:41-47
Last week we examined some values from the life of David in Psalm 145. The values that he laid out:
1. God
2. Worship
3. Evangelism and Missions
4. Discipleship
We saw that these values were centered in God and rooted in one action: Worship.
Worship is the main action of the church and everything we do is an act of worship. We believe that God is so grand and awesome and worthy that nothing else is worth living for and if an action in our lives is not worship to Him it’s not worth doing.
So we’ve walked into the 3rd part of the church covenant: the We will… section. These are the actions and behaviors that we will do.
1. We will worship. Everything we talk about today should only be done as worship. We want to be people who are near to God in heart – in our emotions and thoughts and being – not just our words. So we will act in worship.
After the Holy Spirit came at Pentecost in the Book of Acts, the first believers were empowered and the church experienced phenomenal growth. In Acts Chapter 2 Luke records a summary of the actions of the church – the behaviors that characterized them.
Read Acts 2:41-47
Exuberant Joy characterized the early church. They were full of life and joy because of Christ. Before we delve into what they did, we need to ask ourselves: do I have joy in Christ? Am I living victoriously and joyously in Him?
If you are not – what is holding you back? Is it an attitude, a tough relationship, a time commitment, an imbalanced physical life, a longing of your soul that hasn’t been met? Confess this to God and cry out to Him for joy. He opens his hand and satisfies the desire of every living thing – remember last week.
We will…
Out of our Identity as invaluable, Holy Spirit indwelled, Saints, because of our value of God, Jesus, Scripture, and worship
I. Live with Purpose
a. This purpose is to worship God in all that we do.
b. To live with purpose is the opposite of complacency, confusion, and unsatisfied hunger. Purpose gives action, clarity, and goals in life. Do you wake up each day with a purpose in mind?
i. It’s so easy to just roll with the punches – have you ever been given that advice? Sometimes in life you have to take what comes, but what you do with it declares your purpose.
ii. A friend asked me this week if it’s emotionally hard to be diabetic. I said no – not until we had children and I wonder if they had it. But when I was diagnosed Amy and I settled on a purpose– to live a productive life with the disease under control. To roll with the punches would have meant to let the disease control us.
iii. The early church had purpose, and this purpose was seen in 3 ways in their life:
II. Live with purpose in relationship with God (42, 43).
a. 3 actions characterized their relationship with God.
b. 1st, they grew as disciples.
i. Believing in Jesus Christ is not always clearly defined for us. I’ve talked to tons of people on the streets, in coffee houses, wherever and they all claim to believe in Jesus. What does that mean? James 2:19: you believe that God is one (there is one God). You do well; the demons also believe and shudder.
ii. Believing on Jesus for salvation means a life changing belief: Jesus is your Lord. That means He leads your life, you seek Him out and what He wants. You live by His way, His words, His desires. It is not assenting to say I believe in Jesus but it is showing it in your life. The fruit of a purposeful relationship with God is evident in your life.
iii. The early church grew as disciples. They purposely sought to learn from God and obey Him: that is what it means to be a disciples of Jesus: to learn from Him (through His word) and obey.
1. All the head knowledge in the world won’t get you anywhere: it’s acting on it that counts. That’s called wisdom: applying the knowledge you have and are gaining.
2. “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline.” Proverbs 1:7
3. When Amy and I moved into the city – we got a lot of questions. Are you crazy? Why? House values aren’t all that great, the schools stink, and you could be killed. Well, those sound like good reasons not to bring the gospel to the students of the city and all the people who live in that environment? Right – no, we’re taking the risk. 2 years ago on our normal walking route a man was shot and killed – over drugs. Living in the city isn’t the issue, it’s wisdom. It is foolish to get involved in some things – drugs being one of them – and the outcome of the involvement will cost you. There are many testimonies to this in our gathering today.
4. The early church determined not to be foolish – they sat at the feet of the apostles and learned.
iv. Learn from your bible, grow your relationship with God by faith and learn the Word.
v. 2nd, they devoted themselves to prayer.
1. In January we talked a lot about prayer. Let’s revisit: prayer is communicating with God. It is personal praise, quite before Him, and powerful for His purpose.
2. Inform your prayer with what you learn from the Bible.
a. We pray with Micah and Mia every night after we read a Bible story. And we try to bring out something from the story to pray about. Well, we ask Micah -= would you like to pray, and he usually says no. We ask who should we pray to: Jesus, but on occasion he’ll say – we need to pray for Mia, or mommy, or daddy. He’s starting to learn, but how often do we just stop there: what we need, or someone who needs something. Let your prayer be vibrant and purposeful.
vi. 3rd the church gathered for Praise.
1. Not a big surprise, because worship is their overall theme.
a. Signs and wonders occurred among them – at the hands of the apostles. These miracles gave testimony to the witness of the Apostles. In Scripture miracles give credence to what God is saying or doing, they are never the main things, God is, and His word is next to Him. Read Acts 4:29-30. The church was facing persecution, Peter had been threatened, and the church prayed for the word to go forward, and the name of Jesus to be honored.
2. The essence of praise was wonder and awe: the valued the Awesome God: he was their primary concern.
III. Have purpose in relationship with each other.
a. They supported each other: they loved each other.
i. They met each other’s needs, they cared for each other, and each responded back.
b. The early church was not a commune. They kept the OT model of caring for the poor and believers sold what they had as needs arose to give to the poor.
i. Grace Harbor keeps a “benevolence” fund – we should call it the need fund, that is in the budget – but you can give to if you want – just put your money in an envelope and mark it or write on the memo line – benevolence. That money is for people who need help.
ii. V. 44 – all things in common. They were a united group, they shared together, yes, but they were united in heart and mind. If you read through Acts this wouldn’t always stay the same, differences would arise – but throughout Acts and throughout History the true church maintains unity of purpose: make God known and worship Him.
c. It can get real easy to sit back and receive in a culture like this. But even those with needs would meet what needs they could. And the message of the New Testament and the developing church is this: “we were not idle when we were with you, nor did we eat anyone’s’ food without paying for it. On the contrary we worked night and day, laboring and toiling so that we would not be a burden to nay of you. We did this, not because we do not have the right to such help, but in order to make ourselves a model for you to follow. For even when we were with you, we gave you this rule: “If a man will not work, he shall not eat.”” 2 Thess. 3:7-10.
i. Work while you can, and do what you can. And worship God with what you have: “Honor the Lord with your wealth, with the firstfruits of all your crops; then your barns will be filled to overflowing, and your vats will brim over with new wine.” Prov. 3:9-10.
ii. We take an offering as worship – worship God with your money and give. He receives the glory. (10%)
IV. 3rd: Have purpose in relationship with your community.
a. V. 41 – we purposefully share the gospel, baptize believers, and make disciples. That is our purpose in community.
b. Part of that purpose is to bless the community. The early church enjoyed, momentarily, the favor of all the people. They were a blessing to the community. We will be a blessing to greater providence. That is the hope of Grace Harbor: when we give out snow cones, provide a backyard Bible club, volunteer at FirstWorks we bless the city – for the purpose of the glory of God and His word going forward.
c. God added daily to the numbers of believers.
d. Share the Gospel, lead others to Christ.
i. We will share the gospel, leading others to Christ, baptize believers and make disciples – all in worship and to the Glory of God.
6.01.2006
Values (2)
Two weeks ago we talked about the Bible and how we, as Christians, root our lives in it and seek God according to His word. We believe, at Grace Harbor, that the Bible is the inspired infallible Word of God, gives Light for salvation, and direction for life.
It can be trusted. From the Bible we gather our beliefs and values that guide us as a church in the decisions we make, and as individuals who live for Christ in a world full of hurt, disappointment, and disillusionment.
Without the Bible we have no compass, or knowledge of our Anchor as we navigate life. At Grace Harbor we talk about a compass for your life, which is the word of God and an anchor for your soul, who is Jesus Christ. As a church we recognize the importance of the Savior, the Historical and real Jesus, and His word, the Bible.
Today we’re going to be concluding a study of Christian values and moving to the next and final part of the Church covenant – the “We will…” section.
Values determine much of our lives. If your life is out of balance – you feel pushed and stressed and overworked, it’s probably because your values aren’t clearly defined or are off base.
When I was in college I had a pretty big project, along with finals looming. But there was also a ball game I wanted to watch on TV. My values got challenged: Watch TV, study, sleep – choose two. If my highest value had been grades, then obviously study and sleep would have been the right choice. I won’t tell you what I chose to do, but it’s a choice many have made.
That’s a small example: what about when it comes to doing our job, raising kids, being involved in the ministry God created you for, spending time with friends, running errands, taking time for yourself, dealing with extended family, handling the pressures of your job, making ends meet. Our values help us find balance and direction in life.
In Psalm 145 David, the King of Israel and a man after God’s own heart, lifts a song of praise to His King. In the heart of praise, David reveals a pattern of values that give light and direction and balance.
David went through tough times: he was hunted down, jeered by brothers, cast an outlaw; he jeopardized his peace with God by his deliberate choices to sin; yet through the tough times he stayed true and returned to God.
Read Psalm 145.
4 Values that directed David’s life – who saw a lot more trouble than most of us will ever see – and these values should direct our lives.
1. The Awesome (1-3, 8-9, 14-20)
a. David did not have a life of ease. He grew up in the fields, lived an outcast in caves, fled to foreigners for help, once lived like a mad man, and then became king. Even as king he faced war and battles and distrust in his own family. Listening to the radio this week Charles Stanley said, “A life of comfort and ease will not grow you spiritually. God will not grant it if you ask to grow.” If you want to grow as a person, there will be stress, conflict, disappointment, and failures. But David knew the key to living and growing was the Awesome God.
i. God is awesome and powerful. In premarital counseling I feel like the only truth I keep coming back to is that God can do anything. Remember that truth and no matter how sticky life gets, God can answer you powerfully.
b. We love the Lord. Psalm 145 is full of praise to the living Lord who enamored David. Our God is praiseworthy. He is eternal and infinite, and exists, one God, in three persons: God the Father, God the Son who is Jesus Christ, and God the Holy Spirit who lives in every believer and empowers Christ followers to be like Christ.
c. David never lost his understanding of God. Even when he committed heinous sin by adulterating another man’s wife and having that man killed, he returned to the Awesome God and sought Grace and forgiveness. He could write, “The Lord is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and rich in love. The Lord is good to all; he has compassion on all he has made”[8-9] from experience. That understanding leads to the 2nd Value:
2. Worship (7, 10-12, 21)
a. This is a psalm of worship, and worship in 2 ways.
b. 1st Worship is extremely intimate and personal. Read v. 1-3. This is David from his heart to God. Worship starts with a heart warmed toward God, and it overflows the lips into life.
c. Personal worship is past, present, and future.
d. V. 4b – the acts of God through history offer the starting point. Begin your personal worship with recognition of all that God has done. And personally, all he has done in your life.
i. Grace Harbor started in 2002 with no one but the Conti family who moved here from Florida. God opened doors of ministry to students, to the streets, to the neighborhood, and has raised up this body today. And He is still working.
e. In v. 3 David offers up current praise. It is a declaration of God: He is great! God is opening doors today with the Youth Acting in Christ ministry led by DJ and with Debra’s arrival to serve in the month of June. God is doing great things Christian – rejoice! What about in your own life: do you see God’s hand in your own situation?
i. Worship is all of life. Coming to church, going to a Bible study, these are good things. But we are to be worshippers in Spirit and in Truth. There is no stopping the truth – it is always on. In the morning awake to praise, sing His praise High with the sun at noon, and marvel in His splendor and majesty with the moon at night. Walk in worship.
f. And worship is future: v.1-2. David plans on it: as long as I breathe I will praise you, O God. I heard one pastor say that he will retire when they take all the air from His lungs.
i. The sounds of our city never stop. This time of year, we sleep with windows open welcoming the cool nights. Sirens, neighbors coming and going, awaken us Kanye West driving by on somebody’s system. Praise should not stop, ever. Walk in worship.
g. Worship is also public. V.21. Join with a body to worship: that’s what the church is about: worship. It’s what we do. Because we love God, we worship. We encourage people to come and worship – it is the reason you are hear on earth: to worship through faith. Everything else we do flows from our warm hearted and loving worship of God.
3. Evangelism and Missions (4-6) come from our desire to worship.
a. This is the 3rd value: God, Worship, Telling others about God so they can worship: #3.
b. V.4-7. We value the next generation. Grace Harbor is committed to partnering with parents to disciple children. To loving our city and telling the good news to youth – and empowering youth (YAIC) to live their call in life and tell others. And to young adults and students we believe we have a responsibility to commend God’s works to the next generation.
c. v. 6: We tell others about Christ and prepare them to tell even more people. Evangelism is corporate: we as a church minister, serve, and bless our community as we tell the good news. But it is also personal.
d. Get involved in telling His good works to another. As we covenant together we will provide opportunities to be involved in impacting the city, the world, with the Good news, because we love God and we worship.
4. 4th: Worship Discipleship.
a. In the verses we just read something powerful is written: “I will meditate on your wonderful works.” Evangelism that leads people to pray to receive Christ is great, but not the goal. GHCC is about making disciples. But because we love God and worship Him we are about leading others to Worship. In other words, the goal of our lives as Christians is to lead others into life long worship. What does that look like?
i. People who live for God, whose lives are transformed into His life, and who worship.
1. Kingdom living (v.13): believing God’s promises and living by Faith. A transformed life lives for God’s Kingdom, not your own Empire.
2. Read v. 18. Knowing God is worship. Call on Him in truth.
3. Your life may crazy: have you called on God in truth? Not just checking it off your list, but calling on Him?
a. With these long daylights we are blessed with in RI I took some days and got up early to do outside work, and was doing it late as well. Wed. night I was getting tired. I drove some fence posts to build some screening with a very heavy hammer, and my arms were tired. Next I was driving some small tacks through vinyl, with the same hammer – I was racing daylight, and I hit everything: tack, vinyl, and finger mash. I screamed out to God for help.
b. Calling out to God in trouble and pain and necessity is one thing. What about for love’s sake?
c. Read v. 16. God satisfies by faith. Read v.19 – call on the Lord. Love is a tricky word today. It can mean a lot of things. But Loving God, the love Amy and I share for each other; this type of love is fervent, selfless, and committed. Read v. 20. Hear the warning: love God, worship God, read 21.
Pray.
It can be trusted. From the Bible we gather our beliefs and values that guide us as a church in the decisions we make, and as individuals who live for Christ in a world full of hurt, disappointment, and disillusionment.
Without the Bible we have no compass, or knowledge of our Anchor as we navigate life. At Grace Harbor we talk about a compass for your life, which is the word of God and an anchor for your soul, who is Jesus Christ. As a church we recognize the importance of the Savior, the Historical and real Jesus, and His word, the Bible.
Today we’re going to be concluding a study of Christian values and moving to the next and final part of the Church covenant – the “We will…” section.
Values determine much of our lives. If your life is out of balance – you feel pushed and stressed and overworked, it’s probably because your values aren’t clearly defined or are off base.
When I was in college I had a pretty big project, along with finals looming. But there was also a ball game I wanted to watch on TV. My values got challenged: Watch TV, study, sleep – choose two. If my highest value had been grades, then obviously study and sleep would have been the right choice. I won’t tell you what I chose to do, but it’s a choice many have made.
That’s a small example: what about when it comes to doing our job, raising kids, being involved in the ministry God created you for, spending time with friends, running errands, taking time for yourself, dealing with extended family, handling the pressures of your job, making ends meet. Our values help us find balance and direction in life.
In Psalm 145 David, the King of Israel and a man after God’s own heart, lifts a song of praise to His King. In the heart of praise, David reveals a pattern of values that give light and direction and balance.
David went through tough times: he was hunted down, jeered by brothers, cast an outlaw; he jeopardized his peace with God by his deliberate choices to sin; yet through the tough times he stayed true and returned to God.
Read Psalm 145.
4 Values that directed David’s life – who saw a lot more trouble than most of us will ever see – and these values should direct our lives.
1. The Awesome (1-3, 8-9, 14-20)
a. David did not have a life of ease. He grew up in the fields, lived an outcast in caves, fled to foreigners for help, once lived like a mad man, and then became king. Even as king he faced war and battles and distrust in his own family. Listening to the radio this week Charles Stanley said, “A life of comfort and ease will not grow you spiritually. God will not grant it if you ask to grow.” If you want to grow as a person, there will be stress, conflict, disappointment, and failures. But David knew the key to living and growing was the Awesome God.
i. God is awesome and powerful. In premarital counseling I feel like the only truth I keep coming back to is that God can do anything. Remember that truth and no matter how sticky life gets, God can answer you powerfully.
b. We love the Lord. Psalm 145 is full of praise to the living Lord who enamored David. Our God is praiseworthy. He is eternal and infinite, and exists, one God, in three persons: God the Father, God the Son who is Jesus Christ, and God the Holy Spirit who lives in every believer and empowers Christ followers to be like Christ.
c. David never lost his understanding of God. Even when he committed heinous sin by adulterating another man’s wife and having that man killed, he returned to the Awesome God and sought Grace and forgiveness. He could write, “The Lord is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and rich in love. The Lord is good to all; he has compassion on all he has made”[8-9] from experience. That understanding leads to the 2nd Value:
2. Worship (7, 10-12, 21)
a. This is a psalm of worship, and worship in 2 ways.
b. 1st Worship is extremely intimate and personal. Read v. 1-3. This is David from his heart to God. Worship starts with a heart warmed toward God, and it overflows the lips into life.
c. Personal worship is past, present, and future.
d. V. 4b – the acts of God through history offer the starting point. Begin your personal worship with recognition of all that God has done. And personally, all he has done in your life.
i. Grace Harbor started in 2002 with no one but the Conti family who moved here from Florida. God opened doors of ministry to students, to the streets, to the neighborhood, and has raised up this body today. And He is still working.
e. In v. 3 David offers up current praise. It is a declaration of God: He is great! God is opening doors today with the Youth Acting in Christ ministry led by DJ and with Debra’s arrival to serve in the month of June. God is doing great things Christian – rejoice! What about in your own life: do you see God’s hand in your own situation?
i. Worship is all of life. Coming to church, going to a Bible study, these are good things. But we are to be worshippers in Spirit and in Truth. There is no stopping the truth – it is always on. In the morning awake to praise, sing His praise High with the sun at noon, and marvel in His splendor and majesty with the moon at night. Walk in worship.
f. And worship is future: v.1-2. David plans on it: as long as I breathe I will praise you, O God. I heard one pastor say that he will retire when they take all the air from His lungs.
i. The sounds of our city never stop. This time of year, we sleep with windows open welcoming the cool nights. Sirens, neighbors coming and going, awaken us Kanye West driving by on somebody’s system. Praise should not stop, ever. Walk in worship.
g. Worship is also public. V.21. Join with a body to worship: that’s what the church is about: worship. It’s what we do. Because we love God, we worship. We encourage people to come and worship – it is the reason you are hear on earth: to worship through faith. Everything else we do flows from our warm hearted and loving worship of God.
3. Evangelism and Missions (4-6) come from our desire to worship.
a. This is the 3rd value: God, Worship, Telling others about God so they can worship: #3.
b. V.4-7. We value the next generation. Grace Harbor is committed to partnering with parents to disciple children. To loving our city and telling the good news to youth – and empowering youth (YAIC) to live their call in life and tell others. And to young adults and students we believe we have a responsibility to commend God’s works to the next generation.
c. v. 6: We tell others about Christ and prepare them to tell even more people. Evangelism is corporate: we as a church minister, serve, and bless our community as we tell the good news. But it is also personal.
d. Get involved in telling His good works to another. As we covenant together we will provide opportunities to be involved in impacting the city, the world, with the Good news, because we love God and we worship.
4. 4th: Worship Discipleship.
a. In the verses we just read something powerful is written: “I will meditate on your wonderful works.” Evangelism that leads people to pray to receive Christ is great, but not the goal. GHCC is about making disciples. But because we love God and worship Him we are about leading others to Worship. In other words, the goal of our lives as Christians is to lead others into life long worship. What does that look like?
i. People who live for God, whose lives are transformed into His life, and who worship.
1. Kingdom living (v.13): believing God’s promises and living by Faith. A transformed life lives for God’s Kingdom, not your own Empire.
2. Read v. 18. Knowing God is worship. Call on Him in truth.
3. Your life may crazy: have you called on God in truth? Not just checking it off your list, but calling on Him?
a. With these long daylights we are blessed with in RI I took some days and got up early to do outside work, and was doing it late as well. Wed. night I was getting tired. I drove some fence posts to build some screening with a very heavy hammer, and my arms were tired. Next I was driving some small tacks through vinyl, with the same hammer – I was racing daylight, and I hit everything: tack, vinyl, and finger mash. I screamed out to God for help.
b. Calling out to God in trouble and pain and necessity is one thing. What about for love’s sake?
c. Read v. 16. God satisfies by faith. Read v.19 – call on the Lord. Love is a tricky word today. It can mean a lot of things. But Loving God, the love Amy and I share for each other; this type of love is fervent, selfless, and committed. Read v. 20. Hear the warning: love God, worship God, read 21.
Pray.
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