I thought I hadn’t blogged in 4 months, but apparently I’m wrong. So here we go, my sermon notes from October 24 I was right; I haven’t blogged for about 4 months; here are my notes from Sept 5 until December 19!

9/5/2010 – What’s Next?

Pastor Rick

Isa 54:1-6; Acts 18:9-10

Isa 52: a time of spiritual childlessness (barren), not growing new believers
- Isa 53: salvation through Jesus, 800 yrs in future
- The Redeemer’s work is done!
- Isa 54: sing, burst into song, shout for joy!
  - why must the barren woman sing?
    - will have the nation through you
prepare for the great increase!
israel will rise, since they’re God’s people BUT those who are Gentiles shall reach even more
Gen 28:14; vision of stairway to Heaven
4 Great Expectations of Children of God
1. Increase the expanse of your location (Isa 54:2)
  - where you can impact; your reach
  - ask yourself “Where is God not being worshiped?”
2. Make the curtains larger; increase in capacity
  - not the physical sense, but rather the reach, influence and impact
  - increase the points of entry (ie. 1st time experiencing God)
3. Make your hold longer; bigger cords to take more strain of the increased number in ministry
4. Expand the potential for greater responsibility
  - need stronger anchors (pegs/stakes of a tent) (ie. strengthen the leadership)
    - when wind blows against larger tent, big bad things can happen
  - secularism will never work; is just a stage for the spiritual
    - humans made to be spiritual by default
  - DO NOT HOLD BACK! (holding back leads to giving people over to other spirituals)
    - plan to burst forth in all directions
  - spiritually increasing churches should prepare themselves for the growth
  - when you are anxious, God wants you to know your credentials/capabilities (Isa 54:5)
  - “The church is outgoing, vigorous in its missionary endeavour” – Young
  - those who have chased after other gods, He will call back
  - Acts 18:9,10; Jesus says “FOLLOW ME”
  - “You can’t go with God and stay where you are.” – H. Blackaby
  - God constantly stirs up our lives so we do not grow complacent… [?]

9/12/2010 – What is Underneath You?

Pastor Stairs

Matt 7:24-27

what are you building upon? what are you striving toward?
- do you think it will last? can’t always depend on the outward appearances
you can’t always tell what your life is built upon from outside
- ie. “fasting” (Matt 5:16), etc.; physical acts
- only way to see is through the STORMS
everyone will face a storm in life, so why do we get surprised?
most people think their “house” (life) is secure; we never see the “flash floods”
“foolish builder didn’t know he was foolish” – Josh Harris
lots of people have house built on sand; why!?
- sand signifies water/convenience
Prov 24:3; do you want to withstand storms of life?
- what does it men to build on rock?
  - matt 7:24; practice what has been taught
  - “Hear these words of mine and put them into practice”; Matt 5-7
preparing for the storms: don’t just pray when the storm hits; mourn when your spouse dies, but with everyone
- these actions should be spirit born, heart-driven actions NOT just motions
ROCK is mentioned 31 times in OT…
- what do we try to fill our numbness with? video games, alcohol, fame, etc.?
  - when we are filled with pain, we should lift it up to God
  - Matt 7:28-29; we see rock as authority, so we should act accordingly
why do we say “Lord, Lord” but not take action?
- we think its too difficult (ie. switch back while going up mountains)
- more storms; quickly, furious come but quickly leave as well
matt 7:27; “Great was the full of it!”; sometimes can’t always rebuild your house when the storm hits
Prov 12:7

9/19/2010 – If God Owns Everything, Why Ask us to GiveBIG?

Pastor Rick

remember: “You cannot go with God and stay where you are” – Blackaby
God chooses to finance his work around the world solely on the basis of the grace, gratitude and love his people have toward him
- people/gathering of people = storehouses
Mal: “how do we rob you?”; robbed through tithes & offering
- God says to test him and try to not see the miracles that come
- Matt 5:23-24, matt 23:23
Job 41:11; we don’t really understand that God owns everything
- God COULD give us everything and anything we want but why not?
  - why are WE called to give to him?
    - not so ministry will thrive/go fwd
    - not so God can finish his mission…
In God’s plan to produce followers who deny themselves, and take up their cross, the act of giving may be the most significant tool and training ground God employs to cause you to reach spiritual levels of bigness completely unreachable to those who resist or settle or struggle to giveBIG
- this all started for you when GOD first gave (John 3:16)
  - God used the best to get you back, not with leftovers
  - we were once seeking everything the world seeks; going our own way…
1 Pet 1:17-18; strangers of the world’s values
God took pity on you and bought you back (1 Cor 6:20; 1 Pet 1:18-19)
God cleared the burden of hvaing to worry about self; has set us free
- God tends for sparrows, and we are much more than sparrows!
- take energy of prioritizing things and put them into kingdom of God
- has freed us to live on faith, even if we continue to try living alone
2 Cor 8:9; Jesus became poor to make you rich
- leaving splendor og God temporarily to bring us back
- this way, Jesus would be our treasure above all things
Ps 61
so what do you think someone would be willing to pay?
giving is about…
- weening our dependencies on world
- - but it all beings @ foot of the cross
  - God never sends you a bill…
[refer to Youtube video of God and pie]

9/19/2010 – Sunday School: The Harvest

Prov 10:5

Prov 10:3; does not let the soul of the righteous go hungry
What did you harvest this summer?
Are you pursuing a harvest for eternity or one that won’t last?
- Do you have anhedonia?
  - Anhedonia: “loss of capacity to experience pleasure or the inability to gain pleasure from normally pleasurable experiences” -Archibald Hart
How do we become content with what God has given us?
1. Be content with who God is!
  - Creator, Provider, Lord!
2. Make God’s glory your only goal!
  - “The glory of God (rather than personal fulfillment) is the prime motivation” – Duane Garrett
3. Ask for your daily bread
  - nothing more, nothing less (Prov 30:8; Matt 6:11)
  - you are no longer trying to become self-sufficient!
Prov 30:7-9
- a lot of people waiting for God to do something in their lives such that THEY can find joy THEN do what God wants, rather than doing what God wants and getting joy in that
- finding God is finding satisfaction
- make finding God one of your highest goals
- ask for daily bread!

9/26/2010 – How Rich is Rich Enough?

Pastor Rick

Ps 49

should I be concerned I don’t have much $? (enigma from Ps 49:4; relation between wealthy and death)
should I be concerned I have a great amount of $?
- this Psalm relates to EVERYONE

a couple points to touch on in this message:
1. death is a big reality check
2. how to live with death looming?
Death renders $ useless:
- Reality checks:
  1. $ is temporal (“great riches, but trusting in their wealth”)
  2. $ can’t buy redemption (“one ransom we cannot pay for with $”)
  3. the rich die as often as the poor (Ps 49:10)
  4. everybody ends up with very similar real estate (ie. very small plot…)
  5. $ can’t keep it going (when death comes, you can’t afford/pay to stay one more night)
So what’s in your spiritual wallet?
- “Those who have cared themselves in life waste away in death” – VanGemeren
- God can do for you what $ could never do
- upright will rule; they with hope in Jesus
- don’t envy those growing rich, prosperity can distract people from the most urgent realities
  - “When you don’t understand the true implications of death, you will miss the implications of true life” – Craigie
- bless is he/she who dies with a full spiritual wallet…
- don’t fear those with more wealth; fear the LORD!
  - this is the beginning of wisdom

9/26/2010 – Sunday School: What Should You Do Before You Pray?

Prov 28:9

prayer must become like air, rather than exercise; it is essential to the spiritual life, rather than merely optional
- but…you must obey before you pray!
Prov 28:9
- God says there are some prayers that are detestable and it is not necessarily the words people use
- not listening to God means He won’t listen to you
- this is not the lone warning in scripture…
Prov 15:8; Prov 15:29
- God’s omnipresence
  - but if we struggle everyday how can our prayers be heard?
    - repent first
    - ceaseless prayer
      - not just us talking, but also listening
Does this mean we should pray less and practice more God’s Word?
- Divine communication skills
  - just like any relationship, the goal is always to listen first to God and then talk!
    - “What God has to say is always more important than what we have to say to Him!” – Phil Stairs
  - Heb 4:12; “God’s answer” to your prayer should be aligned with Word
- Has God actually already answered your prayers before you asked?
How should we pray from now on?
1. Obey; search God’s Word for the answers and obey them!
2. Trust; trust God for the ability to do what is right!
3. Pray; pray for God to reveal answers from His Word!

10/17/2010 – Don’t Cheap Out On God!

Pastor Rick

Gen 4:1-9

your external worship signifies your internal (wrt offering); in your giving, what story are you writing about your heart?
- but what about those who fake it?
don’t cheap out on God, or you will take yourself out of blessing!
God will not accept anything that is contaminated by sin; He is the Consuming Fire
demonstration of understanding of the forgiveness from sin, acceptance/sovereignty of God through our actions of service & gratitude (ie. offering and thanksgiving)
Lev 9:24; why fall facedown? God consumed the sacrifice and the people were not vaporized by God, as they deserved to be
- the sacrifices of the ancient times were to avert the wrath of God
Ex 13:12-15
- giving is act of faith and belief in God; next week, what we get may not even be close to w/e we gave this week
Lev 3:16; all the fat is the Lord’s
Cain & Abel
- sinful? yes
- imperfect? yes
- thankful? unsure
- resentful? unsure
  - will be shown through their offering
  - your gifts express the favour how you feel; you can’t buy; “my offering is my best token of gratitude, understanding that God the Father took out his consuming fire wrath for my sin on Jesus, instead of me!”
Heb 11:4; BY FAITH
- what made Abel’s offering better?; offerings don’t change your heart…your heart changes offerings
  - Abel’s offering showed faithfulness & righteousness
no sympathy for Cain?; the idea that offering to God is unneeded & therefore gave leftovers “he should be grateful I gave anything”
4 Q’s God asks to address your gifts and heart:
1. After service, why are you angry?
2. Where is your joy? Isa 30:41; first thing to leave us is our joy
3. Where is your righteousness? you don’t take the rebuke like you should…
4. Where is your brother? is it all about you?
is your passion slipping? are your talents going to waste?
- your sacrifice isn’t the substitute; Jesus was our sacrifice

10/17/2010 – Sunday School: Be A Winner

Prov 11:30

We all know that we should witness but how do we win people?
- differences in approaches to witnessing (winning to self first vs going straight at it)
Prov 11:30
1 Cor 9:19-27; is being similar being manipulative?
- because of genuineness in Christ we should have Jesus’ heart and character to evangelize
But how do I have righteous character and thus bear fruit?
- We win people to Christ by Christ being in us and letting Him win them!
- we are righteous because of Christ! (rom 3:22)
- when Jesus’ character shines through us we can’t help but “seek and save the lost” because that is what He did and does (Luke 19:10)
- there needs to be humility in order for grace to breathe
- winning souls is like winning a championship, not just a single game; it should be like a season…look away from your past losses/failures/setbacks and look to the future wins!
The sad part is that few people lead another to Christ…
- remember:
  - Christ is in you and you no longer have a spirit of timidity but of power, love and of self-discipline (2 Tim 1:7)
  - you are just sharing what you know and believe to be true! That is what witnesses do! As Christ’s witnesses, you share what He has done for you! (Acts 1:8)
  - you are part of the Body of Christ and therefore work with other parts of the Body as witnesses! (1 Cor 12:27); you are not alone in your witnessing…winning people is a team sport!
  - you can’t save people so leave salvation up to God!

10/24/2010 – GiveBIG Like the Prodigal God

Adapted from Tim Keller’s “The Prodigal God”; Pastor Stairs

Luke 15:11-32

can you give like a prodigal?
- def’n of prodigal:
  1. recklessly extravagant
  2. having spent everything
“give me my share of the inheritance” == “I want you dead and out of my life”
- dad’s response should be “STFU, GTFO”, but instead he splits everything…
- the father would have to go around selling everything AND explain to whoever he’s selling things to why (i.e. “Oh, nothing much…my son wants me dead”)
  - Village would have a lot of Haterade toward the son now
- sometimes getting somebody come back to you means letting them go
AWOL vs AWL; but just because you help them do something doesn’t mean you are giving them a blessing
v16: “no one gave him anything” rather, his father gave him everything
- all Jews absolutely disgusted at the son, 1st re:inheritance thing, 2nd re:being with pigs
- son is commanding father to give him a job (“hired man” vs “slave”)
  - he STILL wants his freedom
compassion: father runs to his son
- protective compassion
  - village traditionally performs “kuzzazah” ceremony to put shame to the person
  - father runs to son to prevent this, puts HIS robe on him in front of the village
  - ring = credit card ack then; son can spend again
  - feast: father asking village “Do you forgive and accept my son? If you come to this party…you do.”
    - whole village came
parallel with today: the Chilean miners…
- cost $10-20M to save them; couldn’t you just find new miners?
  - the families and the lives of those affected are worth it
v15:1-2: younger son = sinners & tax collectors; older = pharisees
- elder bro is furious; makes father leave party to talk…
- both sons hated father’s authority…both wanted to rebel
  - one by up & going
  - the other by doing all good to build enough power/testimony to overthrow
    - the heart of a person is shown when someone in need of grace requires it
are we trying to earn the Father’s love (like the elder brother), or are we being like the prodigal?
1965 Vietnam: Donald Dawson searching for his pilot brother who was shot down by the Vietcong
- captured by Vietcong on suspicion of being a spy; pleaded he just wants his brother
- after many many years of just asking for his brother while being captive, Vietcong understand he really WAS just looking for his bro…tell him he’s dead, and let him go
  - are you willing to love like he did?

10/31/2010 – From The Whole Church to Our City

Dr. Gary Nelson

Luke 19

3 parallel themes: Zacchaeus, Jesus, The Crowd
Zacchaeus
- Jewish (and therefore traitor, since was a tax collector and stole for profit)
- thief
- wealthy
- small
- eager to see Jesus
  - our society is also eager to see God, but don’t think the church is the answer…
Jesus
- calls out to Zacchaeus
- crowd thinks Zacc will get judged
- murmurs/grumbles when Jesus says He’ll eat at his place
- son of Man/God came to seek those who are lost

Zacchaeus’ of this world are not in the “synagogue”; due to feelings of unworthiness [?]
- Jesus is in the crowd
Jesus ID’s with Zacc (calls him by name)
- ID’s in such a way the relious leaders did not want to associate & ID with Jesus
- to be uncomfortable and inconvenienced…

11/7/2010 – Its Harvest Time

Rev Benji Davadason

Matt 9:35-38; Matt 10:1; John 4:35

The people of the harvest are… (Matt 9:35-38)
- harassed; being drawn by devil into different directions
- helpless; can’t do anything about sin & powers of darkness…bondage to sin
- hopeless; Eph 2…everyone is hopeless
The Potential/Plentitude
- “harvest is plentiful”…
- if all the unsaved people are lined up one behind the other, the line will go around the earth 30 times; it will be growing twenty miles longer each day
The Problem
- “harvest is plentiful, but workers are few”
The Pain
- Matt 9:36; “He had COMPASSION on them”
  - Compassion: love and pain; inward agonization
- Rom 9:2
- should read Jeremiah before entering ministry; all the pain of it is shown Jeremiah 9:2
The Perils
- Matt 10:16
- deception (all around us, constant lies)
  - “if it feels good, do it”
  - “there is no absolute, just relative”
  - discouragement
    - therefore, be diligent in studying the Word
    - be encouraged in God and move forward
The Prayer
- Matt 9:38
- Definite Asking; specific asking, thrust/push
- Dangerous/Delightful Answer; “send someone”…it could be YOU
The Program
- Matt 28:19-20
- need to be willing to GO; we are without excuse
The Power
- Matt 28:18; when He sends, He empowers
- all authority in Heaven, all authority in Earth…therefore go in name of Jesus
The Promise
- Ps 126:5-6
- “I am with you always, even to the end”: applies only to those in ministry
  - ORLY?
- Reap a harvest/Rewarding/Rejoicing; Ps 126:5-6
- Reality of the unfailing presence of the Lord; Matt 28:20b
The Participation
- Acts 1:8
- Local and global…
- Groan; agonize…we are by default, whiners
- Guidance; curtain is coming down and everything will be left here THEREFORE what do You want me to do??
- Go; in His name
- Give; yourself, for His purposes
Make yourself available…and see what happens

11/14/2010 – The Human Heart

Quan @ TJCAC

Ps 73

does your heart yearn to be like who we read, even when you fail? (ie. Ps 73:25-26)
knowing God = knowing in the sense your heart is GRIPPED by God; the reality of Him GRIPS your heart/soul
- what to do when you don’t have the joy of salvation anymore? when the drive is gone? dryness?…
- this Psalm dives into these questions
v1-2
- “God is good, but I’m still tempted…”
- “God is good, but I _________”
v3
- prosperity can be wealth BUT also joy, enjoyment/fulfillment of life
- nothing we can do to earn/lose God’s love which is given freely to us
v4-10
- they are prosperous/”chainless” yet have not God, so they don’t see the need for God; by their happiness and joy they entice believers away
v13
- climax of passage; “I think I’ve served/believed in vain…”
  - “I can always repent at end of my life…maybe I should just enjoy life without God?”
v17
- KEY; “and then I understood”
  - go to the temple to seek and wait on God!
  - when we earnestly seek, God will speak
    - “I AM better”
    - “I AM always for you, never against. I AM always for your well-being”
the reality of Christ is always there, but we ourselves get blinded
passages in NT about the body/congregation being the temple
- when you don’t want God, the church/fellowship/small-group is here for you to pray/talk/guide…bring you back and out of temptation
THEREFORE build up in doctrine so when temptation comes you know God is better
- To respond and righten…
  1. repentance
  2. praise
  3. - need to seek, wait, be rebuked
- the seeking process can be short, or take a long time; could be difficult…
  - but He will be found, and you will be answered

11/21/2010 – The Problem of the Reasoning of Judas

Adapted from “Manna or Mammon” by Daniel Propson; Pastor Rick

John 12:1-11

pharisees plotting to kill Jesus VS Mary&Lazarus’ family preparing for Passover
Judas thinking the ointment was a waste
The Problems of his reasoning…

1. It doesn’t see the difference between waste and worship
  - being emotionally immune to the wonder of Christ; utilitarian, analytical
  - creation != fundraising for the poor
    - creation = worship of God
  - the perfume: one of the most rare, expensive ones
    - used in temple; high regard to Egyptians; reserved for next funeral
2. overly practical focus on cost which misses worth
3. Pretend piety
  - “should have been given to poor”
  - pretend piety may seem strategic but it always misses the spiritual purpose
  - Jesus NOT saying don’t take care of poor; at THIS moment v7
    - “Mary is demonstrating from Song of Songs the attitude of love; anointing the Lamb of God prior to sacrifice”

Judas represents every one of us who go to church for all the wrong reasons/heart
- Path to desensitization:
  1. Too familiar with whats amazing
  2. Oddity to things around us
  3. Embezzlement
  4. Betraying/objecting purposes of God
language of love is LAVISH
- be practical to self, LAVISH toward God

12/19/2010 – Out of Control!

Pastor Rick

Matt 1:18-23; Joseph wants to slip under the radar, have quiet life (v19), wants to be in control (ie. marry nice girl, have family…)
- but he is of David’s lineage, therefore can’t possibly be under the radar; must raise the Son on God
God’s vision is bigger than your personal abilities; His intentions for you cannot be met by your present character
- requires us to accept our brokenness in order to seek fullness
“DO NOT BE AFRAID”: central message of Christmas; “fear not…” facing vulnerabilities/hardship
- don’t be afraid of being out of control of your life!
Pathological fears:
1. To accept your assigned mission: God is in this (Matt 1:20)
  - you can’t lay low and become a man/woman of God
2. When your life is suddenly God focussed: God is ______ this (Luke 1:13)
  - “God takes away the good, so we can pursue the better…only in His absence can we grasp toward Holiness” – Campbell
  - Those who think life still isn’t where it should be/unfair/fruitless…disappointed with God (Luke 1:5-24)
    - v18: so much disappointment, no more faith God answers prayers; why didn’t God answer them earlier?
  - Satan’s best job is: creating a self-sufficient person; longing for easier lives
3. When your inabilities and impossibilities collide: God is about this (Luke 1:30-37)
  - God doesn’t want just another priest; wants a more God-focussed life
  - time sensitive purposes to which God has chosen to abstain from answer for now
    - v27: afraid out abilities are smaller than God’s vision
  - God wants to take you away from what you can’t do and perceived impossibilities by having you do the impossible
  - v35: presence and power of God: how will it be that you do anything for God?
4. Of God (being in charge of your life): God is for you (Luke 2:8-11)
  - fear of giving over control; idea of God is greater than reality of God
    - “romance” of God merely being contained within confines of Bible, so we can live our lives the way we want…
  - the fear that God will completely clear house in our hearts; always enjoy the stories of God being in peoples’ lives, but fear having Him show up in our own
    - the shepherds in the field returned to their job praising and honouring God; changed for the better
you were never designed to control life; hence worry and anxiety exists
- God is in the change; wants you to achieve extra-ordinary life
- the Good News of going where you need to be, rather than being stuck where you are