Flying in 2011

• Submit a Flight Plan. Colossians 1:9-10
• Follow the instructions of the Air-Traffic Controller.
• Listen to what the controller tells you. John 10:4
• Trust the controller’s access to the larger picture. Hebrews 4:13; Matthew 6:8
• Learn from other pilots. 1 Corinthians 11:1; Hebrews 13:7; 2 Timothy 2:2
• Admit when you are lost. Proverbs 3:5-6; 1 John 1:9; Romans 12:2

A couple benefits of flying:

1. You will experience less obstacles.
2. You will be more effective.

When Things Get Tough

Acts 8:1-8

• Lesson #1 – See your suffering for Christ as an opportunity to fulfill your mission (v. 1, 4).  Hebrews 10:32-34; Acts 1:8; Acts 11:19-21
• Lesson #2 – Do not allow your comfort, prosperity, safety and freedom to cause spiritual inertia (v. 1). Deuteronomy 8:10-18; Mark 4:19; Romans 12:11
• Lesson #3 – Be careful about your sincerity because you can be sincerely wrong (v. 3). Galatians 1:13; John 3 (Nicodemus)
• Lesson #4 - Make sharing the Gospel a top priority in all the circumstances of your life (v. 4-8). Acts 10:43
• The Gospel:  John 1:12-13; John 3:16-17; John 3:36; John 14:6; Acts 4:12; Romans 3:10, 20-24; Romans 5:1, 8; Romans 10:9-10; 2 Corinthians 5:20; Ephesians 2:8-,9; Titus 3:5; 2 Peter 3:9; 1 John 1:8-9; 1 John 5:11-13; Revelations 3:20.

God has the solution – his grace

John 3:16

• G – God Exists - “God so…” Genesis 1:1; Romans 1:19-20
• Our Problem: Genesis 6:5; Psalm 14:1; Psalm 51:5; Isaiah 64:6; Jeremiah 17:9; Mark 7:21-22; John 3:19; Romans 3:23; Ephesians 2:1; Colossians 1:21
• R – Radical love - “so loved the world” 1 John 4:8
• A – Amazing gift - “that He gave His One and Only Son” 1 John 4:10; Romans 8:32; Romans 6:23; Ephesians 2:1-6; Romans 5:7-8
• C – confessing christ - “that whoever believes in Him” Galatians 2:16; Luke 9:23
• “belief” means to “rely upon” or “cling to” or “place confidence in.”
• Biblical belief is not clinging to your righteous deeds; rather it is finding all of your merit in the cross.
• Biblical belief is not esteeming yourself; rather it is losing yourself for Christ’s sake.
• E – Eternal Life - “shall not perish but have eternal life”
• Perish: John 8:24; Revelation 14:10-11; 2 Thessalonians 1:9
• Life: Colossians 1:13-14; 1 John 5:12-13; John 10:10

"God"...The greatest Lover
"So loved"...The greatest degree
"The world"...The greatest number
"That He gave"…The greatest act
"His one and only Son"…The greatest gift
"That whoever"…The greatest invitation
"Believes"...The greatest simplicity
"In Him"...The greatest Person
"Shall not perish"…The greatest deliverance
"But"....The greatest difference
"Have"....The greatest certainty"Eternal life"…The greatest destiny

The Guy had a Religion Problem--Do You?

John 3:14-21

• Religion does not produce spiritual life (v. 14-15). Numbers 21:4-9; 1 Corinthians 2:2; Galatians 6:14; John 8:28; John 12:32; 2 Kings 18:4
• Religion does not rescue you from Gods righteous judgment (v. 17-18).
• Option A – Be acceptable before God based on yourself. Revelation 20:12; James 2:10
• Option B - Be acceptable before God based on Christ. Galatians 2:21; John 12:47-48; 2 Corinthians 5:21
• Religion prefers the darkness (v. 19).
• Light and darkness are used in the Bible as a metaphor to represent goodness and evil.
• Jesus refers to Himself as light. John 8:12
• The nature of light:
• The nearer we are to the source, the brighter the light appears.
• The brighter the light, the more revealing it is.
• Light reflects more clearly from a clean surface.
• Light means little to the blind; they can neither see it nor appreciate it.
• A person walking toward the light walks in the light
• Light cannot dwell with darkness nor can darkness dwell with the light.

Religion imparts death … a relationship imparts life.
Religion is based on works … a relationship is based on faith.
Religion is grounded in uncertainty … a relationship is grounded in a promise.
Religion is external … a relationship is internal
Religion brings judgment … a relationship brings salvation.
Religion loves the darkness … a relationship loves the light.
Religion takes credit for salvation … a relationship gives God the credit.
Religion seeks personal glory … a relationship seeks God’s glory.

The Guy had a Problem--Do You?

John 3:1-10

What does NOT get you into God's Kingdom:

• Impressing others with your spirituality Matthew 23:5-7
• Devoting yourself to strict adherence to God’s law Romans 10:2
• Helping others live by God’s rules 
• Gaining great knowledge of spiritual truth John 5:39-40

What gets you into God's Kingdom:

• Being Born A Second Time (v. 3-5) Job 34:14-15
• Spirit in the Old Testament constantly refers to the distribution of life (Gen.2:7; Joel 2:28). God’s Spirit was a symbol of both physical and spiritual life. 
• Water in the Old Testament habitually refers to renewal or cleansing (Num. 19:17). 
• Therefore water and spirit in the context of John 3 come together to signify a cleansing from impurity, a transforming of the heart that enables people to be clean and have a desire to follow God. Ezekiel 36:25-27
• Being Born the Second Time of the Spirit (v. 6). Jeremiah 13:23a
• The flesh has a human nature; 
• the Spirit has a spiritual nature. 
• The flesh has an earthly father; 
• the Spirit has a heavenly Father. 
• The flesh has an appetite for food; 
• the Spirit has an appetite for God. 
• The flesh has an impulse to save its life; 
• the Spirit has an impulse to lose its life for Christ. 
• Those of the flesh are lost; 
• those of the Spirit are saved. 
• Being Born the Second Time By God (v. 7-8). John 1:12-13; 1 Peter 1:23; 2 Corinthians 5:17; Ephesians 2:4-5

For God so loved the world
that He gave His one and only Son,
that whoever believes in Him
shall not perish
but have eternal life.
John 3:16, NIV

Which Soil Describes Your Soul?

Mark 4:1-20

Soil #1 – hard (v. 4)
Soil #2 – shallow (v.5, 6)
Soil #3 – clogged (v. 7)
Soil #4 – good (v. 8)

• #1 –Hardened soil describes the unresponsive soul (v. 15).
• #2 – Shallow soil describes the impulsive soul (v. 16, 17).
• #3 – Clogged soil describes the preoccupied soul (v. 18, 19).
• #4 – Good soil describes the responsive soul (v. 20).
• These are people who hear the word. 
• These are people who accept the word. 
• These are people who practice the word. James 1:22-25

Some qualities that promote good soil: Hebrews 12:11; John 15:16; John 15:5

• Open to God’s sowing
• Eager to learn God’s truth
• Available to grow

Why Follow Jesus?

Luke 19:29-44

At age 19, I had a renewed interest in playing the piano (I took lessons when I was in grade school). I bought a book and arranged to take lessons from a friend of mine. That lasted about one month. When I was 14, I threw myself into lifting weights (I was a 4’10” little kid). That only lasted about two months. Lately, I have tried to lose weight by using various diets, but that has been a roller coaster experience. What these three experiences have in common is an initial desire and passion followed by some good effort, ending in losing interest and quitting the pursuit. I am sure you could tell me similar stories from your experiences.

This year our theme is about helping others passionately pursue Jesus Christ. It has been my observation and experience that many people seriously struggle with keeping an interest in and passion for this pursuit. It often can be like the experiences I described from my own life. Initial enthusiasm, followed by good effort, only to end up quitting the pursuit. Has that ever happened to you? Presently, how would you rate your desire and effort in pursuit of Jesus?

The sermon text for this Sunday, Luke 19:28-44, gives us some key insights about our motives for pursuing Jesus. If those motives are mixed, we will seriously struggle and find ourselves on a roller coaster ride in walking with Christ. I invite you to read the text and see what answers you find for the question.

Pastor Charlie

Core reasons people abandon their faith:

1. Spiritual truth is viewed as a matter of personal experience and opinion.
2. Spiritual truth has become a man-centered theology.

Perspectives of Jesus’ Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem:

• For Jesus, it signified His official presentation to the nation as King and Messiah.
• The twelve disciples thought He would immediately set up is rule on the throne of David.
• Others in the crowd saw the event in terms of meeting personal or political need. John 12:17-18
• The Jewish leaders saw Jesus as a threat to their power base. John 11:47-48

Why Follow Jesus?

• We follow Jesus because He is the Lord of authority. Matthew 28:18; John 10:18-19; Acts 4:27-28; Psalm 103:19; Psalm 115:3; Philippians 2:9-11
• We follow Jesus because He is the Lord of creation. Deuteronomy 21:3; John 1:3
• We follow Jesus because He is the Lord of prophecy. Psalm 118:22-27; Zechariah 9:9; Daniel 9:24-27; Psalm 2:1-4
• We follow Jesus because He is the Lord of judgment. 2 Peter 3:9; Exodus 34:6-7; Revelation 19:11-16
• We follow Jesus because He is the Lord of salvation. John 1:29; Romans 6:23; Mark 10:45; 2 Corinthians 5:21; Romans 3:21-22

We follow Jesus because…

• He is the Lord of authority, Who works all things after the counsel of His will.
• He is the Lord of creation, Who spoke the universe into existence, who created you for His purpose.
• He is the Lord of prophecy, Who has revealed in His Word in advance the course of history.
• He is the Lord of judgment, before Whom every knee shall bow.
• He is the Lord of salvation, Who gave His life so that all who believe in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.

"Then He said to them all: ‘If anyone would come after Me,
he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow Me."
(Luke 9:23, NIV)

Second Chances

Introduction

When we talk about Second Chances, we all know that we like getting them.

We certainly want God to give us Second Chances and third and fourth and so on and so on…. In fact, throughout Scripture we see that God demonstrates this patience. The book of Judges is one example of God giving multiple chances to get it right.

Pattern for Israel during the time of Judges “In those days, there was no king in Israel; everyone did what was right in his own eyes.” This happened 7x as recorded in the book.

Pastor Jay

Read Acts 15:36-41

The Players

• Paul
• Saul of Tarsus
• Background (Philippians 3:4-6)
• Task oriented (“Git-r-done”)
• Barnabas
• Joseph of Cyprus
• Background (Acts 4:36-37)
• Relational/People oriented
• John (also called Mark)
• Cousin to Barnabas
• Family Background—Mother was a believer (Acts 12:12)
• Prayer meeting when Peter in was in jail held at their house

The Problem

• John (Mark) deserted the missionary team to return to Jerusalem (Acts 15:38—cf. Acts 13:13)
• Barnabas wants John (Mark) to join them on trip #2, Paul does not
• “Sharp disagreement” results in separation

Truth is, following Christ is not a nice neat package that looks the same for everyone. Our uniqueness and our freedom to choose how we live our lives, makes Christianity a bit messy at times. In his book Messy Spirituality, Mike Yaconelli writes:

Spirituality is not a formula; it is not a test. It is a relationship. Spirituality is not about competency; it is about intimacy. Spirituality is not about perfection; it is about connection. The way of the spiritual life begins where we are now in the mess of our lives. Accepting the reality of our broken, flawed lives is the beginning of spirituality not because the spiritual life will remove our flaws but because we let go of seeking perfection and, instead, seek God, the one who is present in the tangledness of our lives. Spirituality is not about being fixed; it is about God’s being present in the mess of our unfixedness.

The Process

• Recognize the risk
• Betrayal—Disappointment—Loss
• Willing to absorb the cost
• Acknowledge & Affirm
• Acknowledge the past (mistakes, sin, betrayal, etc.)
• Affirm the progress (baby steps)
• Restoration
• We are called to restore a brother/sister (Galatians 6:1) with gentleness
• Forgiveness and acceptance

Rest of the Story

John (Mark) returns to the team

• To be welcomed in Colossae (Colossians 4:10) if he arrives
• Found to be helpful to Paul in ministry (2 Timothy 4:9, 11)

What’s Your Story

• Have you accepted God’s Second Chance?
• 2 Timothy 3:9
• First time salvation
• Repentance from sin
• Do you need to give a Second Chance to someone?
  …or receive a Second Chance from someone?
• Are you willing to commit to the journey from Risk to Restoration?

Loving Jesus Passionately

Luke 7:36-50

Contrasts tend to help us truly appreciate what is good. Stumbling around in the dark can help us appreciate light. Biting into a rotten apple helps us appreciate a tasty apple. Having a car that breaks down often helps us appreciate dependable transportation. When a part of our body quits working, we become more grateful for when it does work. One last one is weather related. When it rains hard and often, like this week, we gain a renewed appreciate for the sun, its warmth and blue sky. As for me, having grown up in Portland where this week’s weather is common place, I actually did not need it to appreciate the sun, blue sky and warmth.

The principle that contrast tends to help us appreciate what is good is seen in the text for this week’s sermon. In this story, recorded in Luke 7:36-50, we see two people in opposite places in life, with radically different perspectives, experiences, past choices and current view of Jesus. One was full of appreciation for Jesus and one was not. One was full of love for Jesus and one was not. I invite you to read the text and ask yourself, which one of these two people best describes me in relationship with Jesus.

Notes

• The Pharisee: Simon. His relationship to Jesus could be described as formal, distant and cool.
• The Prostitute: Unnamed. Her relationship to Jesus could be described as a fervent, demonstrative love for the Lord who had done so much for her.
• Which of these two characters most describes your relationship with Jesus?
• The Prophet: Jesus.
• Who is this man? The One Who has the right and ability to forgive sins

• To love Jesus passionately, you need to realize your great debt. (v. 39) Romans 3:23; Romans 3:10
• To love Jesus passionately, you need to realize your utter inability to repay your debt. (v. 42) Isaiah 64:6; Mark 7:20-23
• To love Jesus passionately, you need to trust in His grace to forgive your un-payable debt of sin. (v. 42) Titus 3:4-5; 1 John 1:9

Questions to ponder

1. Is your relationship with Jesus more like the Pharisee or like the prostitute in the story? What in your life demonstrates this?
2. To what extent should our love for the Lord be emotional? Are feelings important? How do they relate to faith?
3. How can we help people to see their great need before God?

Keeping It Clear

Matthew 28:18-20

This week another disaster struck our world. The people of Haiti are in the midst of deep suffering, pain, fear and worry. Their immediate needs are very clear: water, food, shelter and medical attention. So no one is asking what the mission is, because clearly it is to help provide these basic needs. But everyone is scrambling with how to meet those needs.*

This Sunday we are going to look at what Jesus says very clearly is our greatest mission. He states it most plainly in Matthew 28:19-20. We will explore Jesus’ teaching to gain clarity on our mission. In preparation for Sunday, I invite you to read verses 16-20 and ask yourself in what ways you might be able to fulfill your mission of making disciples of Jesus Christ.

Notes

Matthew 14:22-33 – keep your focus on Jesus

Our Mission:
To introduce people to Jesus and bring them into a community of believers who are helping each other become fully devoted followers of Christ.

• Christ's authority empowers you. (v. 18)
• Christ's plan encourages you. (v. 19, 20)
• You are to make disciples.
• “Disciple” means “a learner” or “to learn.”
• A disciple is one who:
• has surrender to Jesus as their master;
• becomes immersed in Jesus’ teachings and way of living;
• lines up their beliefs and values with Jesus.
• You are to mark disciples.
• Baptism is a public statement identifying yourself with your master.
• Submission – your new master has absolute authority over you.
• Surrender – you will give up all you possess and all your plans to follow your master.
• Identification – you are now known as a follower of your master. Acts 2:41; Acts 8:38; Acts 9:18; Acts 16:30-33; Acts 18:8
• You are to mature disciples.
• Teaching that creates people who live in responsive obedience to God’s will.
• The key meaning of disciple is to line up with the master in belief and behavior. 2 Corinthians 3:18; Romans 12:2
• The key method of disciple-making is transformation in community. Acts 2:42-47
• Hindrances to disciple-making:
• Our lecture approach to teaching;
• Our spiritual individualism and privacy approach to community. Galatians 6:1-2
• Christ's presence enables you. (v. 20)

Jesus’ power and presence
will be most strongly felt
wherever disciples are being made.

* Praise God for TFB generosity: in two offerings on Sunday, Jan 17, over $7,000 was given for Haiti relief!

Keeping it Simple

Matthew 22: 34-40

The beginning of a New Year seems like an appropriate time for us to look ahead and set some goals -- to make some New Year resolutions. They say that in America, the two most popular New Year resolutions deal with health and wealth. A very high percentage of Americans are over-weight, so losing pounds is a very popular New Year goal, thus improving one’s health. And everyone would like to have more money, even more so this year with our economy in a recession.

As followers of Christ, health and wealth are secondary goals, not primary goals. I want us to stop, remember and recommit to God’s primary goals for us. After all it is fairly easy to let secondary goals become primary goals. So for the next two Sundays, I want to look at two texts and review what God has said are our primary goals. In preparation for Sunday, I invite you to look at Matthew 22:34-40 and ask yourself: “If this was my primary goal, how might I live life differently than I do now?” If you want to gain more insight from the context, I would suggest you start your reading from Matthew 22:15.

Notes

• Your eternal purpose is to love God and become like Jesus
• Matthew 22:34-38 – The greatest commandment of God Romans 8: 28-29; Galatians 5:22-23; Galatians 5:19-21
• Your earthly mission is to help others love God and become like Jesus Matthew 22:39; Luke 10:29-37
• The six Ps to fulfilling God's purpose
• Live in the presence of God. John 15:5; Acts 4:13; Joshua 1:9
• Trust in the promises of God. Matthew 28:20; 2 Peter 1: 3-4
• Be led by the promptings of God. John 16:13-14; Galatians 5:25-26
• Be driven by the passions of God. Acts 20:24
• Focus on the priorities of God. John 17:4; Matthew 6:25,32,33; Matthew 6:19-21
• Serve in the power of God. John 15:5b; Ephesians 3:20

The Truths We Stand Upon

When God created human beings, He shared His own image and likeness with them. This gift makes each individual far too significant to live a brief, solitary life, and then cease to exist. Each human being will exist beyond his or her physical death, to find a destiny in eternity. The gift God gave man also brought with it personal responsibility. Man was given the capacity to choose, and with that capacity the possibility of making wrong, and even disastrous, choices. Sin brought mankind under God’s wrath, for justice demands that sin be punished. Yet human beings were too precious to God to be abandoned, so through Jesus’ suffering and death, God provided salvation for everyone who responds with faith to God’s offer of salvation; “God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him”(John 3:17). God has acted, at great personal cost, to free every person from the threat of eternal punishment. Only refusal to respond to God’s revelation of Himself can now condemn an individual. The choice of each person’s destiny is his or hers alone.

Pastor Charlie

Our Beliefs

• GOD is the creator & ruler of the universe
• JESUS CHRIST is the son of God & the only Savior for humanity
• THE HOLY SPIRIT is God's presence in every believer's life.
• THE BIBLE is God's written word.
• PEOPLE are God's supreme creation, but are separated from God by sin.
• SALVATION is God's free gift to every person who received Jesus Christ.
• ETERNITY consists of either living with God in heaven, or apart from Go in hell.

Reviewing the Purpose and Mission

In the book of Ecclesiastes we read that there is nothing new under the sun. That I am sure of, but I also know that most of us forget as much as we learn, if not more. So to launch our new year, I want to spend three weeks focusing on what we already know and have heard before, but I think easily forget. That is our purpose, mission, vision, values and beliefs as laid out in our purpose booklet.

Let me prime the pump by asking you some questions. Can you recite our TFB motto? If you are having trouble, here it is ‘Helping people become fully devoted followers of Christ.’ Can you recite our purpose and mission statements? This Sunday we will focus on these two statements and their biblical foundation. One last question, which of these scripture references is called our great commission and which is called our great commandment?: Matthew 22:34 and following and Matthew 28:16 and following. In preparation for Sunday, I encourage you read these references.

See you Sunday,
Pastor Charlie