Notes on New Sermon Series at WFC: Know Jesus

I popped into WFC's Online Campus this morning after seeing a Tweet from Pastor Jason Morris and just happened to logon just five minutes before worship began.  I had some initial problems with the video feed (a simple browser refresh fixed that) and wasn't overly impressed or inspired by this morning's worship song set (but I'm partial to Speedway's worship band and not the main campus' one). 

Pastor Dan introduced the new sermon series "Know About Jesus" by stating that he plans to focus on the Gospel of John exclusively for the entire year (and joked that his sermon today would cover only the first verse of John).  I listened attentively to his sermon, took notes as directed (see below) and pondered questions I've pondered before. 

I have a big personal concern with our (and by "our" I mean Christians) focus on Heaven as the reward for our good behavior (dare I say our 'good works'?)  Often, I feel like it's a golden carrot dangled in front of me and I'm waiting for the whip to fall.  Does Jesus (and God) really want me so selfishly focused on my own salvation?  Shouldn't I be willing to risk Hell (as Jesus himself did) if it means saving just one other person, no matter how unworthy or sinful or ungrateful?  I struggle with this internally and often.  Do you?  Or am I just over-analyzing (again)?  I guess it's time for more prayer on that. 

In the meantime, enjoy the notes I took this morning while Dan Southerland preached about knowing Jesus and knowing God (and they're one and the same):

JESUS IS GOD
Knowing Jesus - 1
January 8, 2011
Pastor Dan Southerland

Studying through the book of John, asking:

•    who is Jesus?
•    what does Jesus say?
•    what does Jesus do?

Pet peeve:  Jesus is not past tense ... he is alive ... present tense.  What he said then, he would say now.

Big idea for this series:  Knowing about Jesus is not the same as knowing Jesus.

1.  Jesus is God.

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.  John 1:1

No one has ever seen God, but the one and only Son, who is himself God ... John 1:18a

• Jesus is not just a good man
• Jesus is not just a great teacher
• Jesus is not just a prophet

The Bible declares repeatedly and clearly that Jesus is God.

John 14:6, John 20:31, Acts 10:36, Acts 20:21, Romans 6:11, Romans 6:23, Romans 8:39, Romans 15:17, Romans 16:27, 1 Corinthians 1:3,1 Corinthians 8:6, 2 Corinthians 13:14, Galatians 3:26, Ephesians 2:10, Philippians 2:11, Philippians 4:7, Colossians 1:1, Colossians 3:17, 1 Thessalonians 3:11, 2 Thessalonians 1:8, 1 Timothy 1:1, 2 Timothy 4:1, James 1:1, 2 Peter 1:1, 1 John 4:15

How does anyone read this book and claim Jesus isn't God?

Handiwork ... Greek word for poem ... we are a real piece of work ... God's.

Everything is built on the foundation that Jesus is God.

2.  If you know Jesus, you know God.

God with skin on (according to Dan's daughter).

No one has ever seen God, but the one and only Son, who is himself God and is in closest relationship with the Father, has made him known.     

Jesus came so that we can know God.

If you know the Son, you know the Father.

3.  If you don't know Jesus, you can only know about God.

You can learn about God in any religion.  There is good in all religion.  All religions will lead you closer to good (Pastor Dan believes that).  It can't take you all the way there.

Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.  John 17:3

I can see it now - at the Final Judgment thousands strutting up to me and saying, 'Master, we preached the Message, we bashed the demons, our God-sponsored projects had everyone talking.' And do you know what I am going to say? 'You missed the boat. All you did was use me to make yourselves important. You don't impress me one bit. You're out of here ...  Depart from me.  I never knew you.'  Matthew 7:22-24 (Mes, NIV)

There are many people who know a lot about God but do not really know God at all.

Do you know Jesus?  He is God!  And He is worth knowing!

Invitational (altar call) prayer

Jesus, I don't want to just know about you.  I don't want to just have information in my head.  I want to know you.  So right now, Jesus, I am putting my life in your hands.  Thank you for loving me.  I am going to go after you.  I want to follow you.  I want to know you and love you back.  Thanks for beginning this new journey with  me today Jesus.  I look forward to knowing you more and more.  In Christ we prayer, Amen.

Cow Tipping 4 - Super Size Me!

Cow Tipping - 4
Super Size Me!
Troy Kennedy, Worship Pastor

Worship led by Jimmy this morning (because Troy was preaching).   Last song of the worship set was "It Is Well With My Soul" - one of my all-time favorite hymns. 

... Pastor Dan introduces Pastor Troy Kennedy (while explaining the pastor team model - nine pastors). We use a team teaching approach.

Big idea for this series: Jesus expects us to examine our beliefs in the light of scripture.

... Take whatever we believe from whatever source we got it, hold it up against scripture. Passing the mic to Troy Kennedy, Worship Pastor.

... praising Dan's character. Approached this topic with great fear and trepidation ... talking about God and your bod. A biblical framework for how we treat our bodies. Not going to impose some kind of cultural standard about how we should look. Our standard has always been different as Christ followers.

... Troy relates his struggles with his body and his health. Had a case a diverticulitis and a hernia. How do I manage my age and be the best possible person I can be for Him and my family.

Big idea for this teaching: Your body was made by God, for God, to honor God.

... Pastor Troy using a wagon wheel to explain the hub and spokes as a metaphor.

Your relationship with God is not a category. It is the hub of the wheel.

We all tend to fall into two categories regarding our health - Worshipers and Neglecters.

... easy to obsess on our image.

1 Timothy 4:8 TNIV For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come.

... only about four percent of people who were healthy and active in high school and college maintain that lifestyle in the future. The neglect happens over a long period of time.

Taking care of our bodies is an act of worship.

Romans 12:1 I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.

... Paul juxtaposing your physicality with your spirituality. It is the whole of our lives but it also includes our bodies. How many of your have heard the body is the Temple of the Holy Spirit? Troy relates the context for the Temple in Paul's time as a Jew. Also goes way back to Moses, wandering in the wilderness, pillars of smoke and fire, the Ark of the Covenant, the Tabernacle, then Solomon and building the Temple. Then Jesus and the sacrificial system but He pays the ultimate price, once and for all. The Comforter (the Holy Spirit) will come to you (the Disciples).

1 Cor. 6:19-20 Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? ...

... The Temple is no longer a place, it is you. We don't worship the Temple or neglect it, but we value it because of who lives there.

Taking care of our bodies is an act of stewardship.

... How many Lord of the Rings fans out there? City of Gondor from the outside this guy looks like he's the king, he's part manager part protector. He is the Steward. The King gave him the keys to the kingdom to take care of it while he was gone.

1 Cor. 6:19b-20 You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies.

... Manage your weakspots. It is not an excuse to say 'that's just the way I am, accept it.'

We take care of our bodies because it is wise.

... Saving for retirement is wise, correct? Those little decisions you make now add up to a quality of life later on. Our lives are the accumulation of all our decisions.

... Parenting examples and the excuses we use to neglect our bodies. Not all cultures are equally good. You are just doomed to feel poorly about yourself (if you follow the Hollywood standard). Since when have we let culture dictate what we as Christ followers do?

... When you and I are irresponsible about our bodies now, we burden the ones we love.

The Spirt of God will give you everything you need to do what he is calling you to do.

2 Tim 1:7 for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.

... We are not animals. We are not slaves to our urges and appetites. Loving God, not a cruel God. He promises to meet us in the middle.

Three things to get started:
admission,
assistance,
accountability.

Starting a lifeline here in September called Body & Soul to go on this journey together.

We are accountable to a creator who gifted us this body ... do something good with it.

... Pastor Dan takes back the mic after Troy's ending prayer. See you at the park next week.

Announcements from the Bulletin

Cow Tipping 3 - Grace Is Free, But It Isn't Cheap

Cow Tipping - 3
Grace Is Free But It Isn’t Cheap
Brian Phipps, GROW (Discipleship) Pastor at Westside Family Church

Big idea for this series:  Jesus expects us to examine our beliefs in the light of scripture.

... East Coast City Boy anectdotes ... college in Oklahoma  ... an automobile graveyard in Missouri ... old Pontiac Firebird ... rusting combine ... Spirital Aha ... we are created in God's image ... but that image of God is still visible in us, but is corrupted and rusted away.  We resist God's truth.  Our emotions go up and down ... crazy ... guilt and shame ... we are left broken on the side of the road ... in need of someone to come and restore us.  Talking about the American Restoration show ... transition to Jesus, the master restorer of lives. 

Big idea for this teaching: Jesus came to give you life... not just life insurance!

... He is not just a rescuere ... he's a restorer. 

His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.  

2 Peter 1: 3-4 (NIV)

1.  Prioritize what Jesus made possible!

For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith...

2 Peter 1:5 (NIV)

Work out your salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.  

Philippians 2: 12-13  (NAS)

... What do we prioritze in our life?  Our checkbooks and our calendars are great indicators of what we prioritize. 

2.  Take your next step!

Make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. 

2 Peter 1: 5-7 (NIV)

... can get overwhelmed with the process ... can't get to the end zone tomorrow ... take little steps.  Goodness then Knowledge then Self-Control then Perseverence then Godliness ... one step at a time. 

... from preaching to meddling ... Brian shares his life with us ... we need people around us to have the same passion to be restored.  He's been in a men's group since college and he'll be in one until he dies because he doesn't trust himself.  He needs accountability. 

... You might ask, why bother? 

“Life is an uphill battle. If I am in neutral, I’m going backwards!”

... we must be going forward, taking initiative. 

3.  Never forget the price Jesus paid.

But if anyone does not have them, he is nearsighted and blind, and has forgotten that he has been cleansed from his past sins.

2 Peter 1:9 (NIV)

... driven to restoration by Christ's sacrifice. 

Back to American Restoration anectdotes ... combined episode (entitled "The Pick, the Pawn, & the Polish") between American Pickers, Pawn Stars and American Restoration ... restoring a 57 Chevy for 70th birthday to the tune of over $70k ... Jesus went all-in. 

Therefore, my brothers, be all the more eager to make your calling and election sure. For if you do these things, you will never fall, and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  2 Peter 1: 10-11 (NIV)

That's what God wants for you.  That's what Jesus has done for you. 

... back to Roach, Missouri and the old Firebird (before and after pictures). 

Discipleship Pastor (GROW Pastor) is Brian's title.  Heads a team of five who fast and pray to get you into the right group.  Ask God for your next step and take.  Sign up for a Life Group this week. 

Prayer:  Jesus, all glory and praise and honor to you who though scorn and pain was coming, walked past it and through it, and the Cross and endured it ... let us be restored in your image to your glory.  Amen. 

Pastor Dan ... don't just float along.  Go for it.  If you are not in a group, why not?  You cannot do the Christian life solo.  Next Week:  My Health Really Doesn't Matter 

***

Later in the week, you can watch the video of this message from Westside's website repository. 

Pickle Jar Theology Message Notes

CHRISTIANS IN A PICKLE JAR
Cow Tipping - 1
August 7, 2011
Dan Southerland, Senior Pastor at Westside Family Church (as broadcost via their Online Campus). 

Follow this link to watch Pastor Dan give this message.  

Intro Thoughts:

• Sacred cows are commonly held beliefs that are considered to be immune from question or criticism.

• Sacred cows can be a problem because they are often based on non-biblical ideas. Example:  God's Will is always done.  Do you think God's happy with the condition of this world?  

• Sacred cows make great hamburgers. Shoot 'em and eat 'em.  Vegetarians ... don't e-mail Pastor Dan.  He claims the word vegetarian is ancient Greek for 'bad hunter.'

Big idea for this series: Jesus expects us to examine our beliefs in the light of scripture.

"All scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to observe what is right."2 Timothy 3:16 (NLT)
... Scripture is not for our entertaiment or to make us feel good.  Basing your belief on logic or emotion will not get you the whole picture.

In other words - we should have no sacred cows!

What happens when we do not examine our beliefs in the light of scripture?

"These people honor me with their lips, but their heart is far from me. They worship me in vain; their teachings are merely human rules. They have let go of the commands of God and are holding on to human traditions." Mark 7:6-9 (NIV)
.. so said the Son of God.
... Why is this so important?  What we believe eventually determines what we become.

Today's sacred cow: God picks us, God saves us, and God keeps us - and that is all there is to it.
... The first part of that statemen tis totally true, but the second part is totally false.
... 'That's all there is to it."  NO!!!! That's just the start.  Why has Pastor Dan called this 'Christians in a Pickle Jar'?  Anecdote about his Aunt's garden, cucumbers into sweet pickles ... the point being to give those away.

The truth of scripture: God does pick us, save us and keeps us - but that is only the start! God also calls us, sends us and uses us.
... What was Jesus's number one invitation?  "Come and follow me."

"Come and follow me and I will send you out to fish for people."Jesus in Matthew 4:19 (NIV)

The invitation - Jesus calls us.
Come and follow me ...

The ordination  - Jesus sends us.
and I will send you out ...
... means you have sent someone with a mission.   If you read a harmony of the gospels, after four months, Jesus sent the disciples out.

The expectation - Jesus uses us.
to fish for people.
... God uses me becuase I expect God to use me.  And I expect God to use me because he's promised that he'll use us.

If God picks us, saves us, and keeps us - and that is all there is to it - then it is all about me.
... Here's the problem ... it makes it think it's all about me.  Christian in a Pickle Jar theology.

That belief system leads to a self-centered life.
... Pastor Dan ... the most self-centered people I've ever met are at church.

If God also calls us, sends us and uses us, then it is all about others.
... Do you hear the difference?

That belief system leads to a service centered life.
... Who else can we rescue?

What do you believe? Which life do you want?

Next week:  Jesus and politics.  Pastor Dan guarantees he's going to offend everyone in the house.

Humble Pie Notes

My notes from today's message at Westside Family Church Online Campus

Life Apps - Week 4
Humble Pie - Jimmy Nickelsen
James 4:1-11


Big Idea for the series:  God offers the wisdom you need, download it, use it.

Pastry filled with the entrails and organs of slaughtered animals ... basically hot dogs.  :)

Jimmy telling his story ... being his own boss as a plummer.

Make sure you can fulfill the promises that your making ... the little voice in the back of his head. 

Relationships stretched to the breaking point ... heading for a train wreck.

He was cracking under the pressure, he cracked, it was crushed, end of dream. 

James 4.6 - opposes the proud, grace to the humble

Today’s Big Idea:  “God’s plan A: humility   God’s plan B: humiliation"

1. God loves you enough to oppose you.

Proverbs 8:13b  ...I hate pride and arrogance, evil behavior and perverse speech.

... I had stretched everyone around me ... evil behavior, nothing uplifting ... this verse applied to me. 

Leviticus 26:19  I will break down your stubborn pride and make the sky above you like iron and the earth beneath you like bronze.  (Holman Christian Standard)

... God will oppose your work and dry up your resources in order to get your attention. 
... Humble Pie app is the bell at the back of your head dinging ... the idiot light on your dashboard.  God's trying to get your attention.  Stop, slow down, read the road signs (Danger!)

What's this look like in real life?  Fewer friends, and the friends you have left are perhaps telling you you're drinking too much.  You're not sleeping enough.  Feel like God is judging you. 

Luke 14:11 For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled and those who humble themselves will be exalted.

... Back to the basics.  Own those bad behaviors. 

2. Win through daily humble choices.

Luke 14:8-10  “When someone invites you to a wedding feast, do not take the place of honor, for a person more distinguished than you may have been invited.  If so, the host who invited both of you will come and say to you, ‘Give this person your seat.’ Then, humiliated, you will have to take the least important place.  But when you are invited, take the lowest place, so that when your host comes, he will say to you, ‘Friend, move up to a better place.’ Then you will be honored in the presence of all the other guests.

... parable that talks about daily choices.  Choose the cheap seats, not the box seats. 

Philippians 2:3-4  Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit.  Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own  interests but each of you to the interest of others.

... Pay attention to the little things.  Small steps of obedience. 

Romans 12:10  Be devoted to one another in love.  Honor one another above yourselves.

... God does not guarantee a result that we will like.  No expectation of a reciprocating response.  Trust Him to lift you up. 

3.  Trust God to do the lifting.


Isaiah 66:2  These are the ones I look on with favor: those who are humble and contrite in spirit and who tremble at my word.

... contrite=broken, teachable

... Back to the end of the story.  End of Jimmy's dream.  Talking to an attorney, who advised he file bankruptcy.  Scary moment before the bankruptcy judge.  Judge said: I'll be seeing you again ... I know your type.  Something hit Jimmy, that shattered his crust.  He did not like that judge because he saw through him.  There is another Judge, his name is Jesus, and he knows your type. 

Jesus is the Judge!  He knows your type.

... We are all built to need praise, love and respect.  Need to be held and validated.  But we must look in the right direction and trust God to do the lifting. 

Philippians 2:8  And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death - even death on a cross!

... God lowered himself to be with us (as Jesus).  How do you tell the difference between a good shepherd and a bad shepherd.  He smells like his sheep.  He got stinky for us and endured the shame of the cross but before that he walked in humility among us.  He was the lowest, and lifted up the highest.  Trust God to do the lifting up. 

... God's plan for us is humility. 

Choose Plan A!

Prayer:  You are the hope that we have.  Turn toward God.  Look to God and trust Him with all your heart.  Jesus, we love you, we pray to you and in your perfect name, Amen.