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Sermon Notes

Using Power for Good

10/11/2022

 

Using Power for Good

Luke 9.46-62
An argument arose among the disciples about which of them was the greatest. Aware of their deepest thoughts, Jesus took a little child and had the child stand beside him. Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever welcomes this child in my name welcomes me. Whoever welcomes me, welcomes the one who sent me. Whoever is least among you all is the greatest.”
John replied, “Master, we saw someone throwing demons out in your name, and we tried to stop him because he isn’t in our group of followers.”
But Jesus replied, “Don’t stop him, because whoever isn’t against you is for you.”
As the time approached when Jesus was to be taken up into heaven, he determined to go to Jerusalem. He sent messengers on ahead of him. Along the way, they entered a Samaritan village to prepare for his arrival, but the Samaritan villagers refused to welcome him because he was determined to go to Jerusalem. When the disciples James and John saw this, they said, “Lord, do you want us to call fire down from heaven to consume them?” But Jesus turned and spoke sternly to them, and they went on to another village.
Just before this, the disciples have been given a measure of power and authority, and the assurance that they can do the things Jesus does. They’ve also seen how great that feels. But almost immediately, that power and authority starts to cause problems.
  • They argue over which one is the absolute greatest
  • They start putting up fences for who gets to have that sort of power
  • They start offering to use their power to destroy people who are mean to them
So--they act a lot like Jesus' followers today might act.

Then Jesus introduces a child to their circle and tells them--unless you become as powerless as this child, you won't understand the ways of my world.
Will you welcome into your life and value giving up authority, power, celebrity, legacy, security, standing, all of it?
Because--Whoever is least among you all is the greatest
Jesus' work is all about—welcome, teach, heal
And the disciples try to use their power to exclude, stop, destroy
What do we need to learn from this?
  • Whoever is least among you all is the greatest—means there is no greatest
  • God decides who’s in and out
  • We all have power somewhere. Do we bring welcome, teaching, and healing to those places were we have it?

Discussion Sunday—April 25

4/18/2021

 

Be the Best at Showing Honor

Anyone want to recap so far?
Big ideas we’ve covered in Romans 12:
1. The kingdom of God is to be a welcoming community

2. Our sacrifice of worship is turning our minds and hearts over to God, out of gratitude for God’s mercy, and saying “Your will be done.”

3. Renewed minds give us an “other” orientation instead of a “me” one.

4. We can’t live in unity with our Christian siblings unless we’re willing to live in honesty.

Moving on in Chapter 12

Romans 12.4-13
4 We have many parts in one body, but the parts don’t all have the same function. In the same way, though there are many of us, we are one body in Christ, and individually we belong to each other. In his grace, God has given us different gifts for doing certain things well. If your gift is prophecy, you should prophesy in proportion to your faith. If your gift is service, devote yourself to serving. If your gift is teaching, devote yourself to teaching. If your gift is encouragement, devote yourself to encouraging. The one giving should do it with no strings attached. If God has given you leadership ability, take the responsibility seriously. And if you have a gift for showing kindness to others, do it gladly.

9 Don’t just pretend to love others. Really love them. Hate evil, and hold on to what is good. Love each other like the members of your family. Be the best at showing honor to each other. Delight in it! Don’t hesitate to be enthusiastic—be on fire in the Spirit as you serve the Lord! Be happy in your hope, stand your ground when you’re in trouble, and devote yourselves to prayer. Contribute to the needs of God’s people, and welcome strangers into your home. 

  • What stands out to you?
  • Do you see recurring ideas or words?
  • What are Paul’s main ideas here?
  • What are some ingredients of his recipe for solving this division?
 
  1. How are gifts to be viewed in God’s kingdom?
  2. What even is a spiritual gift?
  3. If we are gifted to do certain things well, how do we keep from “thinking too highly of ourselves” when using them?
  4. “Be the best at showing honor to each other. Delight in it!” How does this attitude combat thinking too highly of oneself?
  5. What effect does it have on the whole body of Christ when we show others honor and encourage their gifts?
  6. How do you feel when someone sees and calls out your gifts and goodness?
  7. How does that change the dynamic in a body that might tend toward self promotion and putting ones own wishes first?
  8. What do you make of all of Paul’s language of joy and happiness—he seems to use it a lot here.
  9. How do we cultivate an attitude of joy and delight in our service to one another?
  10. What is God saying to you in this? What will you do about it?
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Easter Sunday Bulletin

3/31/2021

 

Download Bulletin

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Sabbath and Rest, Part 2

6/21/2020

 

Trivia Questions

 Ages 10-17
1. What did God make on the third day? (Genesis 1)
2. Which animals get to rest on the Sabbath? (Deuteronomy 5:14)
3. What was Paul's name before he was called Paul? (Acts 9)
Ages 18+
1. What does the Hebrew word "remember" (Zakar) fully mean?
2. What is the second reason to remember the Sabbath? (Deuteronomy 5)
3. What street did Paul go to in Acts 9
Extra credit for both: Why don't we have unicorns?
Most creative answer wins
Text answers to: 630-439-6290
Email answers to: [email protected]
You can use your Bible as a resource, but NO GOOGLING
Points accumulated at the end of June. Winner will receive a gift card.

Spoken Words

The Lord's Prayer

Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
Forgive us our sins
as we forgive those who sin against us.
Lead us not into temptation
but deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom, the power,
and the glory are yours
now and for ever.
Amen.
Galatians 5:1, 22-26

So Christ has truly set us free. Now make sure that you stay free, and don’t get tied up again in slavery to the law.

But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!

Those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed the passions and desires of their sinful nature to his cross and crucified them there. Since we are living by the Spirit, let us follow the Spirit’s leading in every part of our lives. Let us not become conceited, or provoke one another, or be jealous of one another.

Psalm 46
God is our refuge and strength,
    always ready to help in times of trouble.
So we will not fear when earthquakes come
    and the mountains crumble into the sea.
Let the oceans roar and foam.

    Let the mountains tremble as the waters surge! Interlude
A river brings joy to the city of our God,
    the sacred home of the Most High.
God dwells in that city; it cannot be destroyed.
    From the very break of day, God will protect it.

The nations are in chaos,

    and their kingdoms crumble!
God’s voice thunders,
    and the earth melts!

The Lord of Heaven’s Armies is here among us;
    the God of Israel is our fortress. Interlude

Come, see the glorious works of the Lord:
    See how he brings destruction upon the world.
He causes wars to end throughout the earth.
    He breaks the bow and snaps the spear;
    he burns the shields with fire.

“Be still, and know that I am God!
    I will be honored by every nation.
    I will be honored throughout the world.”

The Lord of Heaven’s Armies is here among us;
the God of Israel is our fortress.


Songs

Be Still My Soul
Be still, my soul, The Lord is on thy side
Bear patiently, the cross of grief or pain
Leave to thy God, to order and provide
In every change, He faithful will remain
Be still, my soul, thy best thy heavenly friend
Through thorny ways, leads to a joyful end

Be still, my soul, thy God doth undertake
To guide the future as He has the past
Thy hope, thy confidence, let nothing shake
All now mysterious shall be bright at last
Be still, my soul, the waves and wind still know
His voice who ruled them while He dwelt below

Be still, my soul, the hour is hastening on
When we shall be forever with the Lord
When disappointment, grief and fear are gone
Sorrow forgot, love's purest joys restored
Be still, my soul, when change and tears are past
All safe and blessed, we shall meet at last
How Can it Be?
I am guilty
Ashamed of what I've done, what I've become
These hands are dirty
I dare not lift them up to the Holy one

Chorus

You plead my cause, You right my wrongs
You break my chains, You overcome
You gave Your life to give me mine
You say that I am free
How can it be? How can it be?


I've been hiding
Afraid I've let you down, inside I doubt
That You still love me
But in Your eyes there's only grace now


Chorus

Though I fall, You can make me new
From this death I will rise with You
Oh the grace reaching out for me
How can it be
How can it be


Chorus

Scriptures

Deuteronomy 5.12-15 Observe the Sabbath day by keeping it holy, as the Lord your God has commanded you. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a sabbath to the Lord your God.

On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your male or female servant, nor your ox, your donkey or any of your animals, nor any foreigner residing in your towns, so that your male and female servants may rest, as you do.

Remember that you were slaves in Egypt and that the Lord your God brought you out of there with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm. Therefore the Lord your God has commanded you to observe the Sabbath day.

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Discussion Questions

1. What would grasping the concept of "You are God and I'm not" do for us?
2. Nuach vs. Sabbath: settling into the place where you've stopped to rest vs. taking time to rest. How do we see the difference?
3. God settled into God's kingdom. And he wants us to as well. How can we "settle in" to God's kingdom?
4. How do we set boundaries to rest?
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​Oswego, Illinois
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