28
October
2007
2:1 So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any incentive of love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy,
2:2 complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind.
2:3 Do nothing from selfishness or conceit, but in humility count others better than yourselves.
2:4 Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.
2:5 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus,
Key Point: Despite the possibility of being let down by other Christians, we need to keep pursuing fellowship friendships characterized by harmony, humility, and honor
>Barriers of “clay feet” Christians due to:
M_______ _________
F________ _________
L________ _________
I________ _________
>Experience and examples of being burned by believers
>Hope springs eternal – why do we keep pursuing friendships, fellowship despite barriers and experiences?
>Keys to quality relationships & healthy groups
> v. 2 H__________ – relationship building
>v. 3b H_________ – outreach/common mission
>v. 5 H__________ - Biblical direction
Where do we need to grow in our “3D” fellowship?
rochcov 
Pastor Gary Downing, 1st Service, Sermons 
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21
October
2007
7:16 You will know them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thorns, or figs from thistles? 7:17 So, every sound tree bears good fruit, but the bad tree bears evil fruit. 7:18 A sound tree cannot bear evil fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. 7:19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 7:20 Thus you will know them by their fruits.
5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 5:23 gentleness, self-control; against such there is no law. 5:24 And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 5:25 If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit.
Key Point: We need the fellowship of other Christians to grow the way God intended and gifted usHarvest Season: What is God the “farmer” doing in your life?
Fruit of Fellowship: Which Spirit fruit would you seek?
“Grape Expectations” principle: pain is part of growth
Discipline Pruning
Why? _______________
What? _______________
Response? _______________
The “Mirror” of a Small Group for fellowship
Washing feet = ________________________
Patience = PBPWMGITWMY
Where is God pruning or disciplining you/us?
15:1 “I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. 15:2 Every branch of mine that bears no fruit, he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. 15:3 You are already made clean by the word which I have spoken to you. 15:4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. 15:5 I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in me, and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. 15:6 If a man does not abide in me, he is cast forth as a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire and burned. 15:7 If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you will, and it shall be done for you. 15:8 By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit, and so prove to be my disciples. 15:9 As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you; abide in my love. 15:10 If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love. 15:11 These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full. 15:12 “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.
rochcov Pastor Gary Downing, 1st Service, Sermons Comments (0) » |
21
October
2007
17:20 I do not pray for these only, but also for those who believe in me through their word, 17:21 that they may all be one; even as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.
10:24 and let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works,
10:25 not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.
Key Point: Our gathering together is an important witness of love to our worlds; therefore make authentic fellowship a priority
What do people look for when they come to worship = “go to church”?
_______________________________________
vs. What do they expect?
_______________________________________
Space and place -
Excellence and informality -
Heart and Soul -
Paradox –
Authentic fellowship rarely happens in a “big” setting Small Group = place to ______ & _____
Modeling connections -
Take the transparency risk -
rochcov Pastor Gary Downing, 1st Service, Sermons Comments (0) » |
21
October
2007
1:26 Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness; and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps upon the earth.”
1:27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.
2:18 Then the LORD God said, “It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper fit for him.”
Key Point: We were created for “3D” relationships; therefore, in order to grow personally and spiritually we need to invest time and energy into being part of a small fellowship group Ever felt like a “castaway?”
The lonely American
Why relationships are unnatural
satan’s intent - create illusion of reality by offering counterfeit
Biblical text: We were created for “3D” relationships
↑ ________________________
→ ________________________
© ________________________
Church stands as a “signpost”
Make a Small Group a priority
Communion is a sign of fellowship
rochcov Pastor Gary Downing, 1st Service, Sermons Comments (0) » |
21
October
2007
(READ Job chapter 1)
SO… where did SATAN come from? Ezekiel 28 and Isaiah 14. They both point out his beginning design and then his chosen path. He, Satan, (originally called Lucifer) was created perfect (Ez: 28:12-13). He was among all the other angels in heaven (Jude 1:6). His primary role was to the guardian of God’s glory (Ez. 28:14).
Here is a summary of my study through God’s word of what evil is:
Evil is the displacement or the corruption of the best God has intended for us and His world.
Key words:
Displacement = the substitution of one thing for another
Corruption = exploitation of power for personal gain
In Answers to Tough Questions Skeptics Ask about the Christian Faith by Josh McDowell and Don Stewart point out that,
“Sometimes the problem of evil is put to the Christian in the form of a complex question, “If God is good, then He must not be powerful enough to deal with all the evil and injustice in the world since it is still going on. If He is powerful enough to stop wrongdoing, then He Himself must be an evil God since He’s not doing anything about it even though He has the capability. So which is it” Is He a bad God or a God that’s not all powerful?”
The pattern I see in Scripture for God’s purpose in allowing evil is simply this… to show us that without Him, we are nothing but a failure.
Romans 3:23, Isa 64:6, John 3:20
In The Problem of Pain, C.S. Lewis wrote: “God whispers to us in our pleasures, speaks in our conscience, but shouts in our pains: it is His megaphone to rouse a deaf world.”
God allows evil to show you how what it is like without him… and what it will be like to be without him FOREVER!
But the inverse is also true… in allowing evil to exist, it shows us God’s power to transform our lives for His glory!
3:21 But he who does what is true comes to the light, that it may be clearly seen that his deeds have been wrought in God.
How can we then respond to the evil around us?
(Read: Job chapter 2)
Conclusion: 2 Peter 3:1-14
rochcov 1st Service, Pastor John DuBall, Sermons Comments (0) » |
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