Sunday, March 19, 2017

Faithful in Routine

Faithful in Routine
There are times in our lives when we feel like we’re going around in circles. Be faithful when nothing new is happening. It’s easy to be our best when were getting good breaks. When you’re faithful in the routine something is happening that you can see. Your spiritual muscles are being developed. When God can trust you to be faithful in average days then you will exceptional days. Sometimes we’re frustrated because we know that we have more in us. You may be dealing with something mediocre
  1. David
    1. Anointed to be the king then sent back to the shepherd’s fields for months then sent into may unfair situations.
    2. Your anointing will supersede what you're doing right now.
    3. David didn’t slack off
      1. He showed what he was made of even when no one was watching.
      2. Ordinary days of being his best led him to the thrown
      3. You won’t see promotion if you aren’t being your best where you are now.
  2. Heroes of the Faith
    1. Most of their life was routine.
    2. There will be more ordinary days than there are exciting days.
      1. Learn to enjoy the ordinary days.
      2. You’ll be miserable if you’re sitting around waiting for the next big thing
      3. Psalm 118:24
        1. This is the day the Lord has made;We will rejoice and be glad in it.
  3. God uses the circumstances to change us
    1. Stop waiting for the circumstances to change
  4. God is the Potter
    1. Isaiah 64:98
      1. Yet you, LORD, are our Father. We are the clay, you are the potter; we are all the work of your hand.
    2. Potter’s Wheel
      1. A device with a rotating horizontal disk upon which clay is molded by a potter.
      2. Like that clay we are being formed from a lump of clay to a beautiful vase
      3. The spinning is working for my good.
      4. Sometimes it seems like things are spinning out of control but it will work to my advantage.
        1. Romans 8:28— And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who[a] have been called according to his purpose.
  5. City of Jericho
    1. Joshua 6
  6. God has explosive blessings.
    1. Psalm 18:29—In your strength I can crush an army; with my God I can scale any wall.
    2. Psalm 110:1—The Lord said to my Lord,[a] “Sit in the place of honor at my right hand until I humble your enemies,    making them a footstool under your feet.”
  7. Don’t Negative Talk
    1. You can do the right thing with the wrong attitude
  8. Indian Migrant Example
    1. Traveled to the US to go to Bible College
      1. Tried to mow lawns for money with no luck
      2. Ate out of dumpsters
      3. Finally got a job at the Bible School
      4. Forced to leave the school when he fell in love with a white student
      5. Married the lady graduated from someone else
      6. Ended up being the president of that very school
    2. Obstacles
      1. Circumstances put him at a disadvantage
      2. Lost his promised support
  9. Sometimes you’ll be overlooked.
    1. Abilities will be unnoticed
    2. If you’re not faithful when you’re hidden
      1. Exodus 2:1-2—Now a man of the tribe of Levi married a Levite woman, and she became pregnant and gave birth to a son. When she saw that he was a fine child, she hid him for three months.
    3. Exodus 2:3—But when she could hide him no longer, she got a papyrus basket for him and coated it with tar and pitch. Then she placed the child in it and put it among the reeds along the bank of the Nile.
      1. Moses went from being hidden to being noticed by the most influential family in the area.
  10. Jesus Changes Water Into Wine
    1. They ran out of wine
    2. Jesus told them to fill six stone water jars (30 gallons each) with water
      1. The Ordinary: Pumping Water
      2. It would have been easy to have faith if as they were filling the jars it immediately turned into wine.
    3. You may be believing for wine but all you see is water.


Prayer Exhortation
Let's Be Believers and Not Doubters

  • 2017 is My year of Yes
  • Psalms 112:4
  • When darkness overtakes the godly, light will come bursting in. They are generous, compassionate, and righteous.
  • Don't use your faith in reverse. It takes just as much energy to believe as it does to be negative.


Victoria’s Exhortation
Keep Your Heart free from offense.
  1. You start to spend your energy on things that don’t matter. Don’t take the bait.
    1. Everyone will be offended.As long as you’re here offense will come. Someone is going to say something that we don’t understand. It’s one thing when it’s the people around you but now people not even in your life can offend you since everyones opinion can go public.
  2. Offense is Bait
    1. skandalon: a stick for bait (of a trap), generally a snare, a stumbling block, an offense
      1. Original Word: σκάνδαλον, ου, τό
      2. Part of Speech: Noun, Neuter
      3. Transliteration: skandalon
      4. Phonetic Spelling: (skan'-dal-on)
      5. Short Definition: a snare, stumbling-block
        1. Definition: a snare, stumbling-block, cause for error.
    2. Don’t Swallow it
      1. Spending all of our time directing what people say is a waste of time.
  3. You have to learn to drop it and let it go. 
  4. Carpet Spot Remover
    1. The longer a spot stays there the harder it takes to get it off.
    2. It’s the same way with offense.
  5. Scripture References
    1. Proverbs 19:11
      1. Sensible people control their temper they earn respect by overlooking wrongs.
    2. 1 Peter 2:23
      1. When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly.
        1. Jesus knew that other people’s opinions don’t have to affect you.
  6. Jesus slipped through the fingers of offense.
    1. Luke 4:28-30 28 
      1. When they heard this, the people in the synagogue were furious. 29 Jumping up, they mobbed him and forced him to the edge of the hill on which the town was built. They intended to push him over the cliff, 30 but he passed right through the crowd and went on his way.
    1. 2 Timothy 4:14
      1. Alexander the coppersmith did me much harm, but the Lord will judge him for what he has done.
      2. IF you ever feel that yucky feeling of offense in your mouth spit it out.

Sunday, March 5, 2017

Sermon notes "Get with the Good Shepherd"

Get with the Good Shepherd


We are honored to have our One Weekend Pastor Jason Cook with us today: 


Jason Cook played collegiate football at The University of Mississippi (Ole Miss) where he would be a 4 year starter and 4 year letter winner at Fullback. In 2009, Jason enjoyed a brief stint with the Baltimore Ravens through the pre-season before embracing the call to ministry.  Jason holds a Masters of Divinity from Beeson Divinity School in Birmingham, Alabama.  Jason and his wife Courtney, have two children Charlie and Cager. Together they serve as the Associate Pastor of Preaching at Fellowship Memphis and as the editor with the Gospel Coalition contributing to the Faith and Work initiative.

Psalm 23
23 The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
2     He makes me lie down in green pastures.
He leads me beside still waters.[a]
3     He restores my soul.
He leads me in paths of righteousness[b]
    for his name's sake.
4 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,[c]
    I will fear no evil,
for you are with me;
    your rod and your staff,
    they comfort me.
5 You prepare a table before me
    in the presence of my enemies;
you anoint my head with oil;
    my cup overflows.
6 Surely[d] goodness and mercy[e] shall follow me
    all the days of my life,
and I shall dwell[f] in the house of the Lord
    forever.[g]
Footnotes:

Psalm 23:2 Hebrew beside waters of rest
Psalm 23:3 Or in right paths
Psalm 23:4 Or the valley of deep darkness
Psalm 23:6 Or Only
Psalm 23:6 Or steadfast love
Psalm 23:6 Or shall return to dwell
Psalm 23:6 Hebrew for length of days
• God chose David because David recignized that Israel already had a King, Yahweh, the Lord.

• "I shall not want": Abundance

• Still waters: Peace

• Yahweh is the location for peace and abundance.

1.  The Good Shepherd


— Leads

• God chose David because David recignized that Israel already had a King, Yahweh, the Lord.

• "I shall not want": Abundance

• Still waters: Peace

• Yahweh is the location for peace and abundance.

• God chose David because David recignized that Israel already had a King, Yahweh, the Lord.

• "I shall not want": Abundance

• Still waters: Peace

• Yahweh is the location for peace and abundance.

• God chose David because David recignized that Israel already had a King, Yahweh, the Lord.

• "I shall not want": Abundance

• Still waters: Peace

• Yahweh is the location for peace and abundance.

• God chose David because David recignized that Israel already had a King, Yahweh, the Lord.

• "I shall not want": Abundance

• Still waters: Peace

• Yahweh is the location for peace and abundance.

• God chose David because David recignized that Israel already had a King, Yahweh, the Lord.

• "I shall not want": Abundance

• Still waters: Peace

• Yahweh is the location for peace and abundance.

2.  The Good Shepherd


— Guides
• Israelites took 40 years to take a 2 week trip because they took their eyes off of God.

• The Lord is my destination

• Israelites took 40 years to take a 2 week trip because they took their eyes off of God.

• The Lord is my destination

• Israelites took 40 years to take a 2 week trip because they took their eyes off of God.

• The Lord is my destination

3.  The Good Shepherd


— Provides
4.  The Good Shepherd


— Protects
• The bogeyman has a bogeyman

• Fear is a preoccupation of what may happen given a certain set of circumstances.

• wa·di
ˈwädē/
noun
plural noun: wadis
  1. (in certain Arabic-speaking countries) a valley, ravine, or channel that is dry except in the rainy season.
 
When they were try robbers would hide waiting to harm travelers.

• The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.
John 10:10 NKJV

• The one holding my

• Rod and Staff: Instruments of correction become instruments of comfort. We need people to keep us accountable. Staff: Rod: Blunt instrument used to correct and fend off enemies.

• But as for you, you meant evil against me; but  God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it  is this day, to save many people alive.
Genesis 50:20 NKJV

5.  The Good Shepherd  


— Delights in His sheep
Community Group Discussion Questions


"Get With the Good Shepherd"   Psalm 23    Mar 4/5 
Guest speaker: Pastor Jason Cook

Going Deeper



1.  The Good Shepherd — Leads.  (vs. 1-2)


In the culture of their day, shepherds lived with their sheep and thoroughly knew every single sheep in their flock.  Green pastures and quiet waters speak of abundance and blessing in the presence of one who would give his life for the sheep. 

How would you explain the connection between 'The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want' and 'He restores my soul'?

How does a good understanding of the first make the second a reality in your life?  (possible answer: when I stop wanting the wrong things, He can restore my soul to desire the right things)

2.  The Good Shepherd — Guides. (v. 3)


God guides us in paths that are right in His eyes and that will be in agreement with His holy character.  (Our name represents our character). 

When someone says your name, what do they think of you? 

Or, if your group has been meeting for a while, you may choose to go around the room and ask the group to say some affirming things about each person, based on what you have come to know about them.

3.  The Good Shepherd — Provides. (v. 5)


Several years ago, Capital One credit card company had a commercial that depicted Vikings rushing to attack a hapless person who was about to use their high-interest credit card to make a purchase.  But, right at the moment the Vikings arrived, the person would say, "Don't worry, I used my low-interest Capital One card," at which point the disappointed Vikings would have to walk away and leave the person alone. 
This silly commercial is a good illustration for the Good Shepherd who provides for us in the presence of our enemies.  Our lives often seem to be under attack and we can see the enemies approaching.  Yet, in the midst of these attacks, we are told that God wants to sit down with us, enjoy a meal with us, and remind us that He is here to provide for our real needs. 

Based on this verse, what do you think your greatest need is?  (possible answer: relationship with God)


4.  The Good Shepherd — Protects. (v. 4)


Sheep are known as being among the dumbest of animals, prone to wandering off, becoming separated from the shepherd and the flock, and being killed by predators.  In this verse, we see the Good Shepherd carrying a rod and a staff.  The rod was used to fight off wolves and bears.  The staff was used to groom and rein in the sheep.

What does it mean to you that God fights your battles for you? 

Share with us about a time when your life was out of control, or scary, and yet you felt the calming presence of God right beside you.


5.  The Good Shepherd — Delights in His sheep. (v. 6) 


'The house of the Lord' is the place where God is.  The Bible promises us that we will live with Him forever.  But even while we are still Earth-bound in these bodies, we can experience God's goodness and lovingkindness.  That word lovingkindness is the Hebrew word 'hesed' and it is the word used most often (250 times) to describe God in the Old Testament.  It has a rich meaning: loyal, steadfast, faithful love.  It stresses the idea of belonging together with someone.  It is the basis of communion, deliverance, enabling, enlightenment, guidance, forgiveness, hope, praise, and preservation.


As you consider the description of God's hesed love for you, how does that change your understanding of God? 

Will He ever give up on you? 

Can you ever do anything so bad that He will turn away from you? 

Does this kind of love overwhelm you? (it should!) 

How does this kind of love inspire you to let Jesus live in and through you so you can show this kind of love to others? 

Prayer Requests


Pray that all those who heard this message will feel closer to the Good Shepherd.

Pray for Pastor Ed's next message series, which will take us through several of Jesus' "I AM" statements from the Gospel of John.