We're on a journey, following Jesus. The destination is known - we know exactly where we're going as long as we tether close to the one navigating the way. But we will get off course if we spend our time comparing our sin / righteousness to others around us. We need to see others as equals, leave the judgment to God and focus on our own path to righteousness.
Two weeks ago I was called to be the pastor of CrossPoint Fellowship. As I have stated previously it is one of the greatest honors ever bestowed upon me. I believe in this church, I believe in these people, but most importantly I believe wholeheartedly in the God I serve. It is my belief that to be the church God desires us to be we must do three things: Love, Serve, and Pray.
After Jesus rose from the dead, it would have been easy to come down hard on his disciples who ran and fled. Instead, we seeing Jesus being extremely compassionate, forgiving and reassuring after his return from death. In this final sermon in the "Who's He?" Series, we're looking at Jesus, the conqueror of death and the bringer of peace.
If you asked Jesus what his mission to Earth was all about, likely he would say that it was to be the world's Savior. We'll look at a couple stories from the book of John today that show Jesus doing the Savior role even before he went to the cross. He loved to find people whom the world had rejected and save them from themselves, save them from others and, ultimately, save them from their sin.
Jesus wasn't shy about telling people that He was the promised Messiah - in fact, he told everyone that he was the only way to God and the rest of the New Testament confirms that. This week, we're looking at Scriptures that tell us how wonderful heaven is, what Jesus sacrificed to offer it to us and that Jesus is indeed the only Way to achieve this perfect treasure promised to us.
Last week, we talked about how Jesus was 100% man when he was here on Earth, and this week we talk about the mystery that Jesus is also 100% God. How do we know that he is God? It wasn't just Jesus claiming that he is God - Scripture and God himself confirm it. What does it mean that Jesus was and is and will forever be God himself?
Because he was human, Jesus can empathize with us. Because he was human, Jesus knows what it's like to not have all the answers, but still submit to the will of God. Because Jesus was human, he knows what it's like to deny himself. All because he chose to become 100% man.
Members of a team have to give of themselves in order for that team to be successful. It's important that we willing to sacrifice our time, our talents and our treasure for the good of the group.
It's proven that employees that are recognized are more like to stick with a company and give their all to support it. It's no different in teams within the church. Recognizing the efforts of others is a great way to pay our debt to them, build the team's spirit and let them know exactly where they stand.
Communication is key in any relationship and is definitely important in a team. We're looking at 3 roadblocks to communication that any team needs to steer clear of. We must avoid presumption (assuming that everyone already knows the goal at hand), being impatient, and pride in order for communication within our teams to be successful.
Affirmation can be a powerful way to confirm someone's position in your team, encourage them to be dedicated to the task and breed a culture of "pay-it-forwardness" where people are affirming one another. Who can you encourage this week?
When we find ourselves on teams in life, we have to be loyal, consistent and show the people on our team that we can trust them if we want them to trust us. Any successful team establishes trust amongst the individual members. How can you inspire trust on the teams that you're on?
Successful teams are diverse but also inclusive. For our team (Christ's body) to be successful, we must accept our varied roles to serve the other parts. We need each other and we are in this together - we are many parts of the body, but we are altogether one. How can you make your team better?
Every team is made up of individuals who fill certain positions so that the team as a whole can find success. What spiritual gift has God given you and how can you use it to strengthen the team God has placed you in? How can you serve others to help achieve the collective goal?
Whether we are the ones doing the gossiping or the ones listening to the gossip or the ones being gossiped about, it's bad for everybody involved. How wonderful this world would be if we judged people by their own character and not what others have to say about them. We are better together when we refuse to tear others down with gossip.
A true friend will not ignore the weaknesses in your character but will rather point them out in love so that we can be better people. How can you be a loving friend who is both open to rebuke and also willing to give it to sharpen another?
We as Christians should be slow to anger because anger leads to foolishness, is divisive, and gives way to sin. We are better together, so how can we be like Christ and learn to keep from having a quick temper and instead forgive one another and not hold a grudge?
A dependable person is all to rare in our world today. A true friend doesn't falter or fail - they are a constant for their friends. Are you there when your friends need you as often as you expect them to be there for you? We are better together when we are unwavering in our love for each other.
We can spread ourselves too thin, trying to gather up so many friends that we aren't truly close to any of them. Friendship requires us to be genuine and go deep with another. However, there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother - what a friend we have in Jesus!
This Christian life was never meant to be lived on our own. We need to seek out the righteous around us so that they can lift us up when we fall. The key to staying on the right path is building a firm foundation and then living like we are all in this together.
The Bible says that as iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another. We have to get rid of our "they're wrong" complex about others and instead look to sharpen them (as they sharpen others). Who or what is sharpening you in your life? Are you a sharpener?
God will sometimes ask us to jump out in faith. Hebrews 11 records a list of people from days of old who have done just that. Faith isn't an easy choice, but it's one that God asks us to make even though it's uncomfortable. And God promises that our steps of faith will be rewarded.
In the Old Testament, God was separated from his people, even, to an extent, the high priest. But with Jesus, the separation has been removed and we - all of us - can come to him in confidence. But we shouldn't do it as individuals; we need to walk together.
In the Old Testament, the law was perfect but got perverted over time by religious leaders. In the New Testament, we see Jesus bringing love back to the law and changing the co-existence partnership with Israel into a love relationship with the world.
Relationship growth needs to happen even in a relationship with Jesus. Salvation is more than a "get of our jail free" card - we need to be growing in our knowledge and in our love of Him every day.
God rested on the 7th day after creation, but not because he had to. It was to make an example for us to follow because he knew we would need it. And it's not a suggestion - taking a regular rest from your labor is a command.
God took on flesh and became human in the form of Jesus Christ. Because of that, He knows what it's like to go through temptation. He gets it because he's been there, done that.
Jesus came to be the Giver of Eternal Life. What is Eternal Life? How do we receive it? We see that Jesus is the Giver of Eternal Life because he restores us.
Jesus came to be the Giver of Eternal Life. What is Eternal Life? How do we receive it? We see that Jesus is the Giver of Eternal Life because he gives us new life.
Jesus came to be the Giver of Eternal Life. What is Eternal Life? How do we receive it? We see that Jesus is the Giver of Eternal Life because he gives us Light in the darkness.
