Tag: christianity

Lose Your Mind 1 of 4

Lose Your Mind 1 of 4

Objective: With improvement in mind, we will use Acts 16 as a guide for discipleship development, to lose our restrictive view in favor of God’s unrestricted power for progress.

‌You Were Born For This

Acts 16:1-5 New Living Translation… Paul went first to Derbe and then to Lystra, where there was a young disciple named Timothy. His mother was a Jewish believer, but his father was a Greek. 2 Timothy was well thought of by the believers in Lystra and Iconium, 3 so Paul wanted him to join them on their journey. In deference to the Jews of the area, he arranged for Timothy to be circumcised before they left, for everyone knew that his father was a Greek. 4 Then they went from town to town, instructing the believers to follow the decisions made by the apostles and elders in Jerusalem. 5 So the churches were strengthened in their faith and grew larger every day.

Introduction: Christians fully understand the precious beauty of birth, but we also understand the blessed burden of being bound to the purposes of God.

Transition: Luke, the author of our text, quickly shares a biographical sketch of who Paul meets. Verse 1 “…there was a young disciple named Timothy“.

Exposition:

-Christian legacy is strong.

Reference I Timothy 1:5

-Christian character is key.

-Christian progress is on the other side of pain.

Reference Acts 15:1-21

Conclusion: Timothy was mixed up, but thank God he wasn’t messed up!

Nehemiah 4:6 “So built we the wall; and all the wall was joined together unto the half thereof: for the people had a mind to work”.

Taking Jesus At His Word 3 of 3

Taking Jesus At His Word

Objective: To encourage disciples to be fully present in their relationship with God.

Embrace Me

John 14:6 New Living Translation… Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me”.

Introduction: There are three Greek words to for life… bios (physical), psuche (soul), and zoe (eternal).

Transition: Zoe is the divine life of God, imputed to humanity at salvation.

Exposition: Embrace the creation, resurrection, and eternal life of Jesus Christ that is imputed and accessible to us.

–Life-giving: Creation…

Reference John 1:3-4 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. 4 In him was life; and the life was the light of men.

‌-Life-saving: Resurrection… 

Reference John 11:25 Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live…

–Life-anchoring: Eternal… 

Reference I John 5:11-12 And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. 12 He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.

Conclusion: Subtraction is not the business of our savior, but addition is! 

The God of Another Chance

The God of Another Chance

Luke 13:6-9 NLT… Then Jesus told this story: “A man planted a fig tree in his garden and came again and again to see if there was any fruit on it, but he was always disappointed. 7 Finally, he said to his gardener, ‘I’ve waited three years, and there hasn’t been a single fig! Cut it down. It’s just taking up space in the garden.’ 8 “The gardener answered, ‘Sir, give it one more chance. Leave it another year, and I’ll give it special attention and plenty of fertilizer. 9 If we get figs next year, fine. If not, then you can cut it down.’”

Introduction: In the wake of two national tragedies, Jesus preaches that condemnation is not the posture to assume but repentance is. When we fail to repent, we choose to perish. Reference verses 1-5

Transition: This parable of the barren fig tree is an appendix of the verses that precede it. It’s Jesus’ way of illustrating that when your focus is judgmental, critical, and damning of others, you have lost sight of your responsibility to be faithful and fruitful.

Exposition:

-The landowner’s expectation is fair but futile… verse 6

-The landowner’s evaluation is not rash but reasonable… verse 7

-The extension is granted because of the gardener’s plea for mercy and plan for grace… verse 8

Conclusion: This story is left incomplete, because it wasn’t about the tree in the first place. There is a possibility for conversion or condemnation… verse 9

The Scandal of Christmas

The Scandal of Christmas

Genesis 3:1-10 The Message… The serpent was clever, more clever than any wild animal God had made. He spoke to the Woman: “Do I understand that God told you not to eat from any tree in the garden?”   2-3 The Woman said to the serpent, “Not at all. We can eat from the trees in the garden. It’s only about the tree in the middle of the garden that God said, ‘Don’t eat from it; don’t even touch it or you’ll die.’”   4-5 The serpent told the Woman, “You won’t die. God knows that the moment you eat from that tree, you’ll see what’s really going on. You’ll be just like God, knowing everything, ranging all the way from good to evil.”   6 When the Woman saw that the tree looked like good eating and realized what she would get out of it—she’d know everything!—she took and ate the fruit and then gave some to her husband, and he ate. 7 Immediately the two of them did “see what’s really going on”—saw themselves naked! They sewed fig leaves together as makeshift clothes for themselves. 8 When they heard the sound of God strolling in the garden in the evening breeze, the Man and his Wife hid in the trees of the garden, hid from God.   9 God called to the Man: “Where are you?”   10 He said, “I heard you in the garden and I was afraid because I was naked. And I hid.”

Introduction: Scandal is defined as an action or event regarded as morally or legally wrong and causing general public outrage.

Transition: The Christmas story is familiar to us, but the scandalous truth is something we choose ignore and deem as inappropriate for our picturesque customs.

Exposition: The scandal of Christmas is sin, which is rooted in self and that is a dilemma that demands a savior.

Conclusion: Yes, our story is scandalous but our God is the solvent for sins scarlet stain!

I Like Church, But… 1 of 3

I Like Church, But… 1 of 3

It Should Serve This Broken World

Luke 4:18-19 (NLT) “The Spirit of the LORD is upon me, for he has anointed me to bring Good News to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim that captives will be released, that the blind will see, that the oppressed will be set free, ¹⁹ and that the time of the LORD’s favor has come.”⁠

Introduction: Everyone who claims Christ by faith, has been cleaned, called, and charged to share in the work of Christ. 

Transition: Jesus is now a 30 year old rabbi, who is beginning his earthly ministry. He offers fresh perspective for a familiar passage.

Exposition: The issue that we are faced with this morning, is a broken world who knows the role of the church in this work, but they also know that we are slacking on the job. So, there are broken people who are telling the church of the Lord Jesus, that “I like Church, But” your work is insufficient.

-We don’t have to do this work, we get to do it!

-Serving a broken world is not about catering to the healthy, but about convalescing the sick.

-Our sharing in the work of Christ has to be grounded in humility, because we haven’t always been healthy.

Conclusion:

What Are You Waiting For? 9 of 10

What Are You Waiting For? 9 of 10

The Wise and Foolish Bridesmaids

Matthew 25:1-13 NLT… “Then the Kingdom of Heaven will be like ten bridesmaids who took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. 2 Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. 3 The five who were foolish didn’t take enough olive oil for their lamps, 4 but the other five were wise enough to take along extra oil. 5 When the bridegroom was delayed, they all became drowsy and fell asleep.

6 “At midnight they were roused by the shout, ‘Look, the bridegroom is coming! Come out and meet him!’ 7 “All the bridesmaids got up and prepared their lamps. 8 Then the five foolish ones asked the others, ‘Please give us some of your oil because our lamps are going out.’ 9 “But the others replied, ‘We don’t have enough for all of us. Go to a shop and buy some for yourselves.’

10 “But while they were gone to buy oil, the bridegroom came. Then those who were ready went in with him to the marriage feast, and the door was locked. 11 Later, when the other five bridesmaids returned, they stood outside, calling, ‘Lord! Lord! Open the door for us!’

12 “But he called back, ‘Believe me, I don’t know you!’ 13 “So you, too, must keep watch! For you do not know the day or hour of my return.

Introduction: Old wisdom advises us to embrace the principle of readiness. “It’s better to have it and not need it, than to need it and not have it”.

Transition: The early church fully expected the second coming of Jesus during their lifetime. This created an issue of looking being more prevalent than living.

Exposition: This parable is both an exhortation and admonition…

-Don’t believe the hype (verses 3-5)

-Stop depending on charity to cover your immaturity (verse 8)

-Midnight always tells the story (verse 6)

-Some opportunities really are once in a lifetime (verses 10-12)

Conclusion: What are you waiting for? You can only conceal temporarily and somethings you can’t steal, you must be ready so you can enjoy the journey.

Character Under Construction 2 of 4

Character Under Construction 2 of 4 Guarding Your Heart

Objective: To develop a deeper commitment to becoming disciples who embrace and embody, Christ-like principles and practices.

Proverbs 4:20-23 NLT… My child, pay attention to what I say. Listen carefully to my words. 21 Don’t lose sight of them. Let them penetrate deep into your heart, 22 for they bring life to those who find them, and healing to their whole body. 23 Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life.

Introduction: The book of Proverbs is a part of the Wisdom Literature genre, which promotes practical principles for successful living.

Transition: REFERENCE I Samuel 16:7 But the Lord said to Samuel, “Don’t judge by his appearance or height, for I have rejected him. The Lord doesn’t see things the way you see them. People judge by outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”

Exposition: Understanding your heart will make guarding it make sense to you…

–What is the heart? A person’s center; where God should be enthroned.

–What is in the heart? Either faith or foolishness (Psalm 14:1).

–What is the function of the heart? To guide your life with the wisdom of God’s word.

–How do you guard the heart? Learn from the the experiences of others. Let wisdom help you!

–What should you guard your heart against? Idolatry (Exodus 20:3-6) Covetousness (Exodus 20:17) Pride (Proverbs 16:18)

Conclusion: Your character is constructed when the word penetrates your heart, and it pours out of you. It causes you to not stoop at standing time!

Sold Out For Chicken Change (LENTEN DEVOTIONAL)

Sold Out For Chicken Change *This Lenten devotional was prepared and presented for the 2024 Lenten Lunch series, of Ashland Place U.M.C. in Mobile, Alabama. PastorAEW was honored to be their pulpit guest.

Luke 22:1-6 NLT… The Festival of Unleavened Bread, which is also called Passover, was approaching. 2 The leading priests and teachers of religious law were plotting how to kill Jesus, but they were afraid of the people’s reaction. 3 Then Satan entered into Judas Iscariot, who was one of the twelve disciples, 4 and he went to the leading priests and captains of the Temple guard to discuss the best way to betray Jesus to them. 5 They were delighted, and they promised to give him money. 6 So he agreed and began looking for an opportunity to betray Jesus so they could arrest him when the crowds weren’t around.

Introduction: Listen to the story of the change.

Transition: Judas was a follower of Jesus Christ, who had sticky fingers.

Overwhelming Observations: According to verse 3, Satan entered Judas a disciple of Jesus.

-Being close to Jesus doesn’t anesthetize your humanity.

-Being close to Jesus doesn’t exempt you from Satan’ use radar.

-Being close to Jesus isn’t merely about what we believe but is inclusive of how we believe.

Conclusion: Let’s not become so involved with pointing fingers at Judas, that we forget how easy it is to become Judas.

Service – 5 of 6 Spiritual Disciplines

Service – 5 of 6 Spiritual Disciplines

I Peter 4:10-11 NLT… God has given each of you a gift from his great variety of spiritual gifts. Use them well to serve one another. 11 Do you have the gift of speaking? Then speak as though God himself were speaking through you. Do you have the gift of helping others? Do it with all the strength and energy that God supplies. Then everything you do will bring glory to God through Jesus Christ. All glory and power to him forever and ever! Amen.

We are God’s workmen who worship.

We are God’s workmen… empowered to engage and explore with enthusiasm.

Who worship… because God chooses to work through us, and is worthy of our adoration.

Challenge: Since your faith community is incomplete without you, identify what you do well and make it a priority to share your gift with members of this fellowship.

Community – 4 of 6 Spiritual Disciplines

Community – 4 of 6 Spiritual Disciplines

Hebrews 10:19-25 NLT… And so, dear brothers and sisters, we can boldly enter heaven’s Most Holy Place because of the blood of Jesus. 20 By his death, Jesus opened a new and life-giving way through the curtain into the Most Holy Place. 21 And since we have a great High Priest who rules over God’s house, 22 let us go right into the presence of God with sincere hearts fully trusting him. For our guilty consciences have been sprinkled with Christ’s blood to make us clean, and our bodies have been washed with pure water. 23 Let us hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm, for God can be trusted to keep his promise. 24 Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. 25 And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near.

Introduction: Building Christian community is a worthwhile work that is difficult but doable. It is difficult because of humanity’s rebellion toward unity, but it is doable because of the blood of Jesus that changes our nature.

Transition: Community is not so much where you live, as much as it’s about how you live.

Exposition: When we live into the discipline of Christian community, we exchange ‘I, my, and me’ for ‘we, our, us’ which is covenant language.

–Let us (verse 22) approach… faith

We have access because Christ cleansed us with his blood (Hebrews 9:22; Romans 5:1-2), and we’ve been publicly claimed by water baptism.

–Let us (verse 23) hold fast… hope

Our confidence in God is secure, because God’s promises are yes in Christ (II Corinthians 1:20)!

–Let us (verse 24) motivate one another… love

Our intelligence should be used to invest in each other (I Corinthians 13:4-8a). #GoodVibesOnly

–Let us (verse 25) gather together… obedience

Your presence makes the difference!

Challenge: Connect with a member of our faith community this week (call, write, text, meet) to motivate them, and do some random and unselfish for someone.

Devotional song of the week: Jesus At The Center (Israel & New Breed)