Money and the Consecrated Life (part 2)

SERMON NOTES:  

The consecrated life is the life of a Jesus follower.  It is a unique “set apart” life with Jesus leading and me following.   How do I follow Jesus with my money?

Part 1 - Jesus On Money!

Part 2 – First Things First!

Matthew 6 32 For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

God’s First-ness in the lives and living of His people has deep roots.  He doesn’t fit in any other place!

Exodus 13 The Lord said to Moses, 2 “Consecrate to me every firstborn male. The first offspring of every womb among the Israelites belongs to me, whether human or animal.”

Exodus 20:3 You shall have no other God’s before me

Exodus 23 19 “Bring the best of the first fruits of your soil to the house of the Lord your God.

Proverbs 3 9 Honor the Lord with your wealth,    with the first fruits of all your crops;
10 then your barns will be filled to overflowing,    and your vats will brim over with new wine.

Malachi 3 “In tithes and offerings. 9 You are under a curse—your whole nation—because you are robbing me. 10 Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,” says the Lord Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it.

·        The first-born is God’s.  The first-fruit is God’s.  The whole tithe is God’s.  Through these offerings God’s people worshiped and honored Him as first in their lives giving Him first claim on their all.

·        This “If God is First then the First is God’s” lifestyle trusts Him for everyday living and eternal life!

·        When the First is offered to God the rest is consecrated under His blessing! 

We all desperately need all we are and have consecrated to the Lord!

Study Guide

Solitude, Scripture & Prayer 

Find a quiet place and 15 minutes.

Solitude – Spend TWO minutes quietly alone.  Take some deep breaths… Just be… … …Ask, “Holy Spirit, speak to me through Your Word!”

Scripture – Read slowly, out loud if possible, listen, reread, dwell, notice words & phrases you are drawn to & return there!  (Sermon notes may help with understanding, but don’t stop there.)

Keep asking, “Jesus, what are You saying?  Why this word this day?

What are You asking me to believe about You and about me? 

How do I join You today on Your mission and in my transformation?”

Prayer – Let your conversation with God flow from what He is saying then talk about what you notice is on your heart and also on your list.

Finish - Spend TWO minutes again with God

The readings this week help us unpack this truth, “If God is First then the First is God’s”.  God’s claim to first place in our lives has deep roots in the biblical story and the teaching of Jesus.  What does all of this mean for my everyday living especially with regards to money? 

Monday – Matthew 6:25-34

Tuesday – Matthew 8:18-22

Wednesday – Matthew 10:32-42

Thursday – Exodus 13:1-2, 11-16 

Friday – Proverbs 3:1-10

Saturday – Psalm 130

Got questions?  Continue the discussion.  Follow the link @  https://goo.gl/Jd93J7

Money and the Consecrated Life (part 1)

SERMON NOTES:  

The consecrated life is the life of a Jesus follower.  It is a unique “set apart” life with Jesus leading and me following.   How does money fit in to following Jesus?

Jesus On Money!                                 Jesus loves us way too much to leave us to handle money on our own!

Luke 19 8 But Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, “Look, Lord! Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount.”  9 Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house,

Jesus is saying …
A relationship with Jesus as Lord and Savior shows up in how I handle money!

Luke 18  22 When Jesus heard this, he said to him, “You still lack one thing. Sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”
23 When he heard this, he became very sad, because he was very wealthy. 24 Jesus looked at him and said, “How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God! 25 Indeed, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.”

Jesus is saying …
 Money is by nature a seductively, dangerous obstacle to a life of following Jesus in the kingdom of God!

Luke 12 15“Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; life does not consist in an abundance of possessions.” 19 And I’ll say to myself, “You have plenty of grain laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry.”20 “But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?’
21 “This is how it will be with whoever stores up things for themselves but is not rich toward God.”

Jesus is saying …
It is natural and often encouraged to put my security in money but my security must rest solely in God! Trusting God while using money – vs – Trusting money while using God!

Study Guide

Solitude, Scripture & Prayer 

Find a quiet place and 15 minutes.

Solitude – Spend TWO minutes quietly alone.  Take some deep breaths… Just be… … …Ask, “Holy Spirit, speak to me through Your Word!”

Scripture – Read slowly, out loud if possible, listen, reread, dwell, notice words & phrases you are drawn to & return there!  (Sermon notes may help with understanding, but don’t stop there.)

Keep asking, “Jesus, what are You saying?  Why this word this day?

What are You asking me to believe about You and about me? 

How do I join You today on Your mission and in my transformation?”

Prayer – Let your conversation with God flow from what He is saying then talk about what you notice is on your heart and also on your list.

Finish - Spend TWO minutes again with God

The readings this week unpack some of what Jesus says about money.  Notice how Jesus, when honestly heard, calls His followers to an attitude and practice of handling money that is truly counter cultural.  How are His words counter cultural?  Are they “good words” for today?   Is it hard to agree with Him?

Monday – Luke 19:1-10

Tuesday – Luke 18:18-29

Wednesday – 1 Timothy 6:6-10

Thursday – Luke 12:13-21 

Friday – Matthew 6:19-24

Saturday – Psalm 49

Got questions?  Continue the discussion.  Follow the link @  https://goo.gl/Jd93J7

Prayer and the Consecrated Life (part 4)

SERMON NOTES:  

The consecrated life is the life of a Jesus follower.  It is a unique “set apart” life with Jesus leading and me following.   Prayer is vital to this life!  It brings our everything into alignment with our Father.

Matthew 6 9 “This, then, is how you should pray:
  Our Father in heaven,
         hallowed be your name…
     10 your kingdom come…
        your will be done…                                                        …on earth as it is in heaven.
     11 Give us today our daily bread.
     12 And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.
    13 And lead us not into temptation but deliver us from the evil one’

What exactly are we praying in this petition?

This petition jolts us out of any naive interpretations of life.
We live in a world at war and prayer is a crucial weapon!

1 Peter 5  8 Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. 9 Resist him, standing firm in the faith,

James 4  7 Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 

Prayer helps us practically submit to God, stand firm in the faith and resist the evil one!

Helpful words for praying “Deliver us from the evil one”:

In the name of Jesus, I come against satan and his kingdom and every force of evil that is coming against me, my family, my kingdom and domain.  I bind and banish them away in Jesus name!

I now bring the Kingdom of God, the authority rule dominion of the Lord Jesus Christ over myself, my kingdom and domain. I now bring the authority, rule and dominion of the Lord Jesus Christ against satan and against his kingdom and against every foul and unclean spirit that is coming against me, my family, my kingdom and my domain.  In the authority of Jesus I pray!

Father, deliver us from the evil one!

P.S. When shutting the front door on evil don’t leave the garage door wide open!  Check the garage door!

Study Guide

Solitude, Scripture & Prayer 

Find a quiet place and 15 minutes.

Solitude – Spend TWO minutes quietly alone.  Take some deep breaths… Just be… … …Ask, “Holy Spirit, speak to me through Your Word!”

Scripture – Read slowly, out loud if possible, listen, reread, dwell, notice words & phrases you are drawn to & return there!  (Sermon notes may help with understanding, but don’t stop there.)

Keep asking, “Jesus, what are You saying?  Why this word this day?

What are You asking me to believe about You and about me? 

How do I join You today on Your mission and in my transformation?”

Prayer – Let your conversation with God flow from what He is saying then talk about what you notice is on your heart and also on your list.

Finish - Spend TWO minutes again with God

The readings this week unpack some of the realities about evil, spiritual warfare, and how we do battle living in a world at war.  Notice the truths to believe, convictions to have, practices to adopt, and ways to pray revealed by these verses.

Monday – 1 Peter 5:5-9

Tuesday – James 4:4-8

Wednesday – Ephesians 6:10-20

Thursday – Luke 4:31-37 

Friday – Luke 10:1, 17-21

Saturday - Revelation 12:1-17

Got questions?  Continue the discussion.  Follow the link @  https://goo.gl/Jd93J7

Prayer and the Consecrated Life (part 3)

SERMON NOTES:  

The consecrated life is the life of a Jesus follower – nothing more nothing less.  It is a unique “set apart” life with Jesus leading.   Prayer is vital to this life!  It brings our everything into alignment with our Father.

Matthew 6 9 “This, then, is how you should pray:
  Our Father in heaven,
         hallowed be your name…
     10 your kingdom come…
        your will be done…                                                        …on earth as it is in heaven.
     11 Give us today our daily bread.
     12 And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.
    13 And lead us not into temptation but deliver us from the evil one’

 “Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors”

Forgiveness of wrongs makes reconciliation of relationship with God and others possible! 
This “clean slate, free-soul living” is at the heart of the meaningful life Christ intends!

Forgiveness is …                                                                       Forgiveness is not …

Where is the freedom?
Forgiveness both directions is funded by Jesus’ full and complete payment for all sin.

Words help us do what we pray!

“I am sorry for ……”                                      “I forgive you”                 (w/out a “but” or “it’s ok.)

 Note: If it’s worth an “I’m sorry … it’s worth an “I forgive you”!

“I receive ……. Thank you!”

“I need to hear you say …”

Study Guide

Solitude, Scripture & Prayer 

Find a quiet place and 15 minutes.

Solitude – Spend TWO minutes quietly alone.  Take some deep breaths… Just be… … …Ask, “Holy Spirit, speak to me through Your Word!”

Scripture – Read slowly, out loud if possible, listen, reread, dwell, notice words & phrases you are drawn to & return there!  (Sermon notes may help with understanding, but don’t stop there.)

Keep asking, “Jesus, what are You saying?  Why this word this day?

What are You asking me to believe about You and about me? 

How do I join You today on Your mission and in my transformation?”

Prayer – Let your conversation with God flow from what He is saying then talk about what you notice is on your heart and also on your list.

Finish - Spend TWO minutes again with God

The readings this help us dig into the habit of confession and forgiveness.  Jesus knew we would need lots of help so He gave us a way to pray about it.  Notice how these verses help us see the value of confession and forgiveness and help us do it.  Enjoy!

Monday - Matthew 18:21-35

Tuesday – Psalm 51

Wednesday – Colossians 3:12-15

Thursday – 1 John 1:8-2:2 

Friday – 1 Corinthians 13:1-7

Saturday - Psalm 32:1-7

Got questions?  Continue the discussion.  Follow the link @  https://goo.gl/Jd93J7

Prayer and the Consecrated Life (part 2)

SERMON NOTES:  

What is the Consecrated life?

Romans 12 Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. 

      The consecrated life is the life of acting like I am set apart by God as His through Jesus.
      Prayer is vital to the consecrated life!  It helps bring our entire being into alignment with our Father.

Matthew 6 9 “This, then, is how you should pray:
  Our Father in heaven,
         hallowed be your name…
     10 your kingdom come…
        your will be done…
                                                        …on earth as it is in heaven.
     11 Give us today our daily bread.
     12 And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.
    13 And lead us not into temptation but deliver us from the evil one’

How is Jesus teaching us to pray in the Lord’s prayer outline?

The posture of prayer is humility where He is the center of our focus. 
In this posture we can experience the “meaningful life Christ intends.”

In the second set of three petitions He teaches us to pray for real needs!

“Give us this day our daily bread!”      Bread?         Daily?

All that we are and have are gracious gifts from our Father in heaven.

“Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors”

Forgiveness of wrongs makes reconciliation of relationship with God and others possible! 
This “clean slate soul-free living” is at the heart of the meaningful life Christ intends!

Study Guide

Solitude, Scripture & Prayer 

Find a quiet place and 15 minutes.

Solitude – Spend TWO minutes quietly alone.  Take some deep breaths… Just be… … …Ask, “Holy Spirit, speak to me through Your Word!”

Scripture – Read slowly, out loud if possible, listen, reread, dwell, notice words & phrases you are drawn to & return there!  (Sermon notes may help with understanding, but don’t stop there.)

Keep asking, “Jesus, what are You saying?  Why this word this day?

What are You asking me to believe about You and about me? 

How do I join You today on Your mission and in my transformation?”

Prayer – Let your conversation with God flow from what He is saying then talk about what you notice is on your heart and also on your list.

Finish - Spend TWO minutes again with God

The readings this week expound on and illustrate different themes in the petitions of the Lord’s Prayer.  As you read the verses look for the connection.  For example, “Thy kingdom (reign) come” could apply to forces of nature or sickness or sinful forces which we are asking Jesus to reign over.  Enjoy!

Monday - Matthew 9:18-34

Tuesday - Acts 3:1-10

Wednesday – Acts 4:1-22

Thursday - Matthew 6:25-35 

Friday – Exodus 16:1-28

Saturday - Psalm 103:1-13

Got questions?  Continue the discussion.  Follow the link @  https://goo.gl/Jd93J7

Prayer and the Consecrated Life

SERMON NOTES:  

Prayer and the Consecrated Life

What is the Consecrated life?
Remember consecrated means holy, set apart, dedicated afresh under the authority and reign of Jesus.
 
Romans 12 Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. 

      The consecrated life is the life of acting like I am set apart by God as His through Jesus.

      Prayer is vital to the consecrated life!  It helps bring our entire being into alignment with our Father.

Matthew 6 8 Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.
9 “This, then, is how you should pray:
  Our Father in heaven,
         hallowed be your name…
     10 your kingdom come…
        your will be done…
                                                        …on earth as it is in heaven.
     11 Give us today our daily bread.
     12 And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.
    13 And lead us not into temptation but deliver us from the evil one’ 

How is Jesus teaching us to pray in the Lord’s prayer outline?

              The posture of prayer is humility, our role is strategic and the content is significant.

In the first set of three petitions, what does it mean for us to pray to our Father saying:

Holy be Your Name?   (Essence and Presence)

              Your Kingdom come?  (Reign, authority, rule)

              Your Will be done?

Study Guide

Solitude, Scripture & Prayer 

Find a quiet place and 15 minutes.

Solitude – Spend TWO minutes quietly alone.  Take some deep breaths… Just be… … …Ask, “Holy Spirit, speak to me through Your Word!”

Scripture – Read slowly, out loud if possible, listen, reread, dwell, notice words & phrases you are drawn to & return there!  (Sermon notes may help with understanding, but don’t stop there.)

Keep asking, “Jesus, what are You saying?  Why this word this day?

What are You asking me to believe about You and about me? 

How do I join You today on Your mission and in my transformation?”

Prayer – Let your conversation with God flow from what He is saying then talk about what you notice is on your heart and also on your list.

Finish - Spend TWO minutes again with God

Monday - Ephesians 3:14-21

Tuesday - Ephesians 1:17-21 

Wednesday – Acts 4:23-31

Thursday - Habakkuk 3:1-2 

Friday – 1 Kings 8:22-30

Saturday - Psalm 141

Got questions?  Continue the discussion.  Follow the link @  https://goo.gl/Jd93J7

With an Upright Heart and Skillful Hands

SERMON NOTES:  

CHS’s Mission:  to help our students develop a commitment to life-long learning, leading and living out God’s plan —seeking His will for their lives.

1.  An Educational Framework

Psalm 78:72   The Psalmist describes David, the king of Israel, this way —-

“with upright heart he shepherded (led) them and guided them with his skillful hand.”

- What role does the law play in David and Saul’s lives?

- What is an “upright heart?”   What are “skillful hands?”

- Where does trust come from?

Proverbs 4:23  Above all else guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.

Philippians 4:7  And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.

2.  The Gospel Changes Everything

2 Corinthians 5:17  Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation.  The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.

- How are we a new creation?

- What are we free from?

- How has your life changed as a new creation?

3.  We are Called to Vocation

Titus 3:8  ...so that those who have believed in God may be careful to devote themselves to good works.

- How are we a new creation?

- What is a vocation?

- What is your vocation?

Study Guide

Solitude, Scripture & Prayer 

Find a quiet place and 15 minutes.

Solitude – Spend TWO minutes quietly alone.  Take some deep breaths… Just be… … …Ask, “Holy Spirit, speak to me through Your Word!”

Scripture – Read slowly, out loud if possible, listen, reread, dwell, notice words & phrases you are drawn to & return there!  (Sermon notes may help with understanding, but don’t stop there.)

Keep asking, “Jesus, what are You saying?  Why this word this day?

What are You asking me to believe about You and about me? 

How do I join You today on Your mission and in my transformation?”

Prayer – Let your conversation with God flow from what He is saying then talk about what you notice is on your heart and also on your list.

Finish - Spend TWO minutes again with God

Monday - Psalm 78:70-72

Tuesday - Proverbs 4:20-27 

Wednesday – 2 Corinthians 5:16-20 (17)

Thursday - Titus 3:3-8 

Friday - Mark 10:35-45 (43-45)

Saturday - Psalm 78:1-8

Got questions?  Continue the discussion.  Follow the link @  https://goo.gl/Jd93J7

Consecration "The Utter Relief of Holiness" - Set Apart for His Mission

SERMON NOTES:  

CONSECRATION!
           The Utter Relief of Holiness

Set Apart for His Mission

What is Consecration?

To consecrate is to make holy, sacred, “set apart unto the Lord!”, surrender, dedicate afresh!

Consecrated for what?

1 Peter 2 9-10 But you are the ones chosen by God, chosen for the high calling of priestly work, chosen to be a holy people, God’s instruments to do his work and speak out for him, to tell others of the night-and-day difference he made for you—from nothing to something, from rejected to accepted.

John 4 34 “My food,” said Jesus, “is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work. 35 Don’t you have a saying, ‘It’s still four months until harvest’? I tell you, open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest……
39 Many of the Samaritans from that town believed in him because of the woman’s testimony, “He told me everything I ever did.” 40 So when the Samaritans came to him, they urged him to stay with them, and he stayed two days. 41 And because of his words many more became believers.
42 They said to the woman, “We no longer believe just because of what you said; now we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this man really is the Savior of the world.”

Jesus followers are set apart (consecrated) to join Jesus in His mission to redeem and restore humanity to their Father in heaven who loves them very much!

This gives meaning, purpose and joy to everyday ordinary living – we get to join Jesus on His mission.

We don’t go for Him we go with Him.  He is doing all the heavy lifting.

We get to join Jesus on His mission through Alpha by praying, inviting and bringing people.

Alpha is a profoundly effective evangelism (reaping) tool relevant for today. 

Study Guide

Solitude, Scripture & Prayer 

Find a quiet place and 15 minutes.

Solitude – Spend TWO minutes quietly alone.  Take some deep breaths… Just be… … …Ask, “Holy Spirit, speak to me through Your Word!”

Scripture – Read slowly, out loud if possible, listen, reread, dwell, notice words & phrases you are drawn to & return there!  (Sermon notes may help with understanding, but don’t stop there.)

Keep asking, “Jesus, what are You saying?  Why this word this day?

What are You asking me to believe about You and about me? 

How do I join You today on Your mission and in my transformation?”

Prayer – Let your conversation with God flow from what He is saying then talk about what you notice is on your heart and also on your list.

Finish - Spend TWO minutes again with God

Monday - John 4:27-42

Tuesday – 1 Peter 2:4-12 

Wednesday – 1 Peter 3:8-17

Thursday - Matthew 5:13-16 

Friday - Acts 1:1-9

Saturday - Psalm 66

What do these passages reveal being “consecrated” to Jesus’ mission in the world?  Drudgery or joy? How does daily surrender to His call to join Him on mission look and feel?  Can I trust Jesus even with this? 

Got questions?  Continue the discussion.  Follow the link @  https://goo.gl/Jd93J7