18
May
2008
4:23 When they were released, Peter and John went to their fellow believers and reported everything the high priests and the elders had said to them. 4:24 When they heard this, they raised their voices to God with one mind and said, “Master of all, you who made the heaven, the earth, the sea, and everything that is in them, 4:25 who said by the Holy Spirit through your servant David our forefather,
‘Why do the nations rage,
and the peoples plot foolish things?
4:26 The kings of the earth stood together,
and the rulers assembled together,
against the Lord and against his Christ.‘
4:27 “For indeed both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the people of Israel, assembled together in this city against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed, 4:28 to do as much as your power and your plan had decided beforehand would happen. 4:29 And now, Lord, pay attention to their threats, and grant to your servants to speak your message with great courage, 4:30 while you extend your hand to heal, and to bring about miraculous signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus.” 4:31 When they had prayed, the place where they were assembled together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak the word of God courageously.
Acts 4:23-31
Key Point: As we become more passionate about God, the Holy Spirit may answer our heart desire with extraordinary opportunities for ministry.
Context: (cf. Acts 4:1-30) from prison to prosecution to praise
Natural Church Development
What are the key elements of “passionate spirituality”?
Romans 12:11-12
Heartless orthodoxy vs. Headless zeal
Boldness = expression of confident, persuasive evidence of the presence of the Holy Spirit
Outcome? “Authentic Church Life”
In what ways is the Holy Spirit shaking up our lives?
rochcov 
Pastor Gary Downing, 1st Service, Sermons, Acts 
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27
April
2008
12:8 For you will always have the poor with you, but you will not always have me!
John 12:8
Key Point: When we act on a theology of God’s heart for the poor, we inevitably become change agents in the church and the community; we become personally involved, and recruit others with us in a 360° resource network… what joy!
Who is truly poor? Experience of “mission trips” – Who is being ministered to?
God has a heart for the poor
What hinders true justice/compassion from occurring?
How do we experience becoming “poor”?
My experience of Kenya Compassion Trip
rochcov Pastor Gary Downing, 1st Service, Sermons, John Comments (0) » |
21
April
2008
Key Point: Unless we follow the Way to be “born again” we cannot enter God’s Kingdom – no matter how “good” we are!
[”Born again” means to begin and grow in our relationship and faith experience with God] Story of Nicodemus – it is good to ask questions In what ways are you looking for “more”? Difficult for good people to be saved – or to grow
- my “program” is working; = no way
- “pseudo-transformation;” = my way
- false identity; = wrong way
Experience of God defies words! Process of birth and growth feels like death Revelation raises soul above reason 3 “Kisses” of God (St. Bernard)
- Feet - “Via Negativa/Purgation” leads to peace
- Hands - “Via Illumination” leads to truth
- Mouth - “Via Union” leads to love
Christ is center of all spiritual life and experience Don’t settle for pseudo! How? Give up! Give in! Give all! Risk - Be Born Again – Grow in Him!
rochcov Pastor Gary Downing, 1st Service, Sermons, John Comments (0) » |
13
April
2008
Key Point: Maintain a discipline of prayer even when God seems distant, silent, or unable to respond.
Common experience of Christians – what’s yours?
Models of effective ministry
“Via Negativa” Character of God - e.g. coin (3 sides)
Sovereignty = ___________
Openness = ___________
Link = ___________
Changes:
Us
Others
Circumstances
Via tears leads to Via consolation (cf. Psalm 30)
Persistent Prayer = stopping time
[Benedict of Nursia]
O gracious and holy Father,
Give us wisdom to perceive Thee,
Intelligence to understand Thee,
Diligence to seek Thee,
Patience to wait for Thee,
Eyes to behold Thee,
A heart to meditate upon Thee,
And a life to proclaim Thee;
Through the power of the Spirit
Of Jesus Christ our Lord.
rochcov Pastor Gary Downing, 2nd Service, Sermons Comments (0) » |
6
April
2008
11:1 Now Jesus was praying in a certain place. When he stopped, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples.”
11:2 So he said to them, “When you pray, say: Father, may your name be honored; may your kingdom come.
11:3 Give us each day our daily bread,
11:4 and forgive us our sins, for we also forgive everyone who sins against us. And do not lead us into temptation.”
Luke 11:1-4
Key Point: We are called to live out our lives as part of God’s new creation on earth now, in preparation for heaven
If you could invent your own religion, what would you like?
Traits/Trends of American Evangelicals {George Barna}
Tolerance insufficient; love demands more
“The ‘Kingdom’ According to Steve Reynolds”
“We are standing on the ground that Jesus has won in His resurrection”
“Heaven is important, but it’s not the end of the world.”
{N.T. Wright, Bishop of Durham}
Live “on earth as it is in heaven”- reflect God’s Kingdom
The Kingdom “constitution and by-laws”
Communion is “living proof” of God’s 3-D Kingdom
rochcov Pastor Gary Downing, 1st Service, New Testament, Sermons, Luke Comments (0) » |
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