DAN GOULD

FROM THE INSIDE OUT

Author: dgould77

  • Sunday AM Remix – 10.23.11

    How About a New … Body?

    We’ve been in this series called Extreme Makeover, and we’re talking about how God in His compassion, brilliance, grace, and power takes average ordinary people like you and me, and radically changes us into people that honor Him in the way we think, act, and live.  Now, today we’ll be looking at one of the most glaring weaknesses in modern Christianity, and that’s our treatment of our bodies.

    * QUESTION: Have you ever been frustrated, irritated, or even nauseated with your body?
    * REALITY: First time in history there are more people dying from being overweight than dying from malnutrition.  
    * 50 million people this year will die from weight related diseases alone.
    * 61 percent of the population in the United States is overweight.  With 27% of all adults considered medically obese.

    “And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind He will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship Him.” Romans 12:1 (NLT)

    * THE PROBLEM: we have is that we’ve let Cosmopolitan, Glamour, GQ, Muscle & Fitness, Seventeen, Vogue and Vanity Fair and all those magazines set the stage for the body, as opposed to allowing Scripture to set the stage for the body.
    * Most Americans are body conscious.  But the church should be even more body conscious than the world.

    “. . . honor God with your bodies.” 1 Corinthians 6:20 (NIV)

    “Glorify God with your body.” 1 Corinthians 6:20 (KJV)

    * Honoring God with our body means we take an active approach in caring for it!
    * QUESTION: If we can’t be obedient with something we can see like our body, how can we ever truly be obedient with things we can’t see like our heart, mind, or will?
    * NOTE: A healthy body is not determined by being skinny, its about seeing your body as a gift from God and being as healthy as you can.  You can be skinny today, but not be healthy.
    * REALITY: We have a tendency to condemn the alcoholic, and condemn the drug addict, and condemn the sex addict, but we excuse the food addict.

    A NEW BODY REQUIRES ME TO …

    1.  DEVELOP A HEALTHY ATTITUDE TOWARD YOUR BODY.

    * Your attitude toward your body starts first with how you think about your body.

    “As a man thinks in his heart, so is he.”  Proverbs 23:7

    * REMINDER: You become what you think.
    * The Body is the greatest engineering marvel on the face of the planet … and God expects us to take care of it.

    • Say ‘no’ to REJECTING your body!
    • Say ‘no’ to PERFECTING your body!
    • Say ‘no’ to NEGLECTING your body. 
    • Say ‘yes’ to RESPECTING and PROTECTING your body!

    WHY?

    A. Because God MADE your body.

    “You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body and knit me together in my mother’s womb. Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex! Your workmanship is marvelous—how well I know it. You watched me as I was being formed in utter seclusion, as I was woven together in the dark of the womb. You saw me before I was born. Every day of my life was recorded in your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed.” Psalm 139:13-16 (NLT)

    Here we have David talking about the fact that our bodies are handcrafted by God.  Genesis tells us that we are made of dust with God’s life blown into us.  In other words, we have a little bit of earth and a little bit of heaven in us.  You’re no fluke of evolution.  The best technology that we could muster up right now pales in comparison to our human bodies. Listen to some of these things:

    – Our lungs inhale over two million liters of air every day, without even thinking. The surface area of the lungs is approximately the same size as a tennis court.
    – The total length of your circulatory system stretches an amazing 60,000 miles. That is more than twice the distance around the Earth.
    – Except for your brain cells, 50,000,000 of the cells in your body will have died and been replaced with others, all while you heard me read this sentence.
    – Messages travel along the nerves as electrical impulses. They travel at speeds up to 248 mile per hour.
    – Our eyes can distinguish up to one million color surfaces and take in more information than the largest telescope known to man.
    – Our hearing is so sensitive it can distinguish between hundreds of thousands of different sounds.
    – We exercise at least 30 muscles when we smile.
    – You use 200 muscles to take one step.
    – The acid in your stomach is strong enough to dissolve razor blades.

    * You are a medical marvel and a medical miracle.  Your body is a gift from God.

    B. Because Jesus PAID for your body.

    “Don’t you realize that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God? You do not belong to yourself, for God bought you with a high price. So you must honor God with your body.” 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 (NLT)

    * Value is determined by how much someone would pay for something.
    * God showed us how valuable we are to Him when Jesus died on a cross to pay for our sin.
    * Your body is a loan from God. We are not our own.
    * Listen, life on this earth is a test.  It is preparation for eternity.  And God is seeing what he can trust you with.
    * QUESTION: What are you doing with the opportunities, the abilities, the freedom, the wealth, the health, and … that God gave you?

    C. Because the Spirit LIVES in your body.

    “Don’t you realize that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God? You do not belong to yourself, for God bought you with a high price. So you must honor God with your body.” 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 (NLT)

    * You are not just something God has made, but as a Christian, you are something that God indwells.
    * Just as you would condemn the abuse of the church house from being desecrated because this is where we meet God, you ought to be upset and displeased when we abuse our bodies that are actually the place where God lives.

    2.  DISCOVER A HOLY APPETITE FOR YOUR FOOD.

    Interesting Facts about food in the Bible

      • The very first disobedience in the Garden of Eden was over food.  Adam and Eve wanted to eat that which they were forbidden to eat and sin entered the world.
      • Esau traded his birthright, which held all the privileges of being the firstborn son, to his younger brother Jacob for a bowl of soup because he came home famished from a hunting party.  He traded his future for food.
      • In I Samuel 4:18, Eli the priest was sitting on a chair when he heard some bad news and he fell off the chair backward and broke his neck because he was so fat.  His sons, the bible says, were gluttons, and if the people of Israel didn’t give them food, they took it from them.
      • What did the Israelites complain about most out in the desert?  Food.  You remember they begged Moses to take them back to Egypt because they said, “At least we had plenty to eat back there.”  They had forgotten about freedom, they had forgotten about the promises of God, all they could think of was their stomach.
      • When Jesus was tempted in the desert, what was the very first temptation Satan used on Christ?  Jesus had been fasting for 40 days.  Satan said, “Turn this stone into bread.”  Of course, Jesus refused, and said, “Man does not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.”  Just over and over and over again are stories where food played an important part in the deception and downfall of people.

    “For, as I have often told you before and now tell you again even with tears, many live as enemies of the cross of Christ. Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is set on earthly things.” Philippians 3:18-19 (NIV)

    * Some of us are digging our graves with our teeth.  We’re killing ourselves with our forks.  What we need is a holy appetite for our food.

    • Refuse to OVER-INDULGE. 

    * Scripture teaches us over and over is that most things are fine in moderation, but nothing is good in excess.

    “God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of love, and of power, and of self control.”” 2 Timothy 1:7 (NLT)

    “It’s not good to eat too much honey, and it’s not good to seek honors for yourself. A person without self-control is like a city with broken-down walls.” Proverbs 25:27-28 (NIV)

    * A person who has no self control is constantly making themselves vulnerable to the attack of the enemy.

    “. . . and put a knife to your throat if you are given to gluttony.” Proverbs 23:2 (NIV)
    “Do not carouse with drunkards or feast with gluttons . . .” Proverbs 23:20 (NLT)
    “A discerning son heeds instruction, but a companion of gluttons disgraces his father.” Proverbs 28:7 (NIV)

    A Dieter’s Poem
    Lord, grant me the strength that I may not fall
    Into the clutches of cholesterol
    At polyunsaturates, I’ll never mutter
    For the road to hell is paved with butter
    And cake is cursed and cream is awful and Satan is hiding in every waffle.
    Beelzebub is a chocolate drop and Lucifer is a lollypop.
    Teach me the evils of hollandaise, of pasta and gobs of mayonnaise
    And crisp fried chicken from the south.
    Lord, if you love me, shut my mouth!

    • Rebound from SELF-DISCIPLINE to GODLINESS.

    * We need to move from will power to God’s power.page1image31552

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    “Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. Therefore I do not run like someone running aimlessly; I do not fight like a boxer beating the air. No, I strike a blow to my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.” 1 Corinthians 9:24-27 (NIV)
    * QUESTION: What race are you running? Who are you living for?
    • Remember to FAST.

    “All the toil of man is for his mouth, yet his appetite is not satisfied.” Ecclesiastes 6:7 (ESV)

    * Fasting is giving up one meal or two meals or three meals,  so that I can let God know that He is more important to me than eating.
    * People who will not practice the spiritual discipline of fasting are making food more important than God and the things of God.
    * QUESTION: When was the last time you fasted? What were some of the things you experienced?
    * REALITY: If you want to get a healthy and holy viewpoint of your food, and break A stronghold of food in your life, begin to fast periodically.

    • Readjust your mealtime PRAYING.

    “Now the Holy Spirit tells us clearly that in the last times some will turn away from the true faith; they will follow deceptive spirits and teachings that come from demons. These people are hypocrites and liars, and their consciences are dead. They will say it is wrong to be married and wrong to eat certain foods. But God created those foods to be eaten with thanks by faithful people who know the truth. Since everything God created is good, we should not reject any of it but receive it with thanks. For we know it is made acceptable by the word of God and prayer.” 1 Timothy 4:1-5 (NLT)

    * REALITY: When you put God in control of your eating, He will let you know what to eat and how much.

    SMALL GROUP DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

    1.  What has been your overall attitude toward your body this year?  If there was one thing you could change about your body what would it be?  Why?

    2.  What are some major differences between how a Christian views the body and how the world sees it.

    3.  Read Romans 12:1 and John 4:23-24.  What does God expect from us in worship?  How is this difficult for most people?

    4.  Why do you think God wants our body for worship?  What does that look like?

    5.  Pastor Bob said there are three attitudes toward our body we must avoid: rejecting, perfecting, and neglecting.  What do each of these mean?  How do we see these attitudes displayed around us?  Have you ever struggled with any of these attitudes?

    6.  Read Psalm 139:13-18. How should these verses inspire us?  What’s the most amazing aspect about the human body in your opinion?

    7.  Read 1 Corinthians 6:19-20.  What does it mean that God bought us with a price?

    8.  What does it mean that our body is the temple of the Holy Spirit? How well have you been caring for the temple?  What repairs need to be made?

    9.  If you are to ‘honor God with your body’ what do you most need to start doing?

    10.  If there was one area of your eating habits that needed to change what would it be?  What is God calling you to do?  How can your group help you get started?

    MUSICAL WORSHIP SET

    Holy Is The Lord – Tomlin

    That’s Why We Praise Him – Walker

    Holy, Holy, Holy

    Great Is Thy Faithulness

    We hope that you found Sundays Message and following Small Group Questions helpful. If you missed this weeks message, I encourage you to get it here.  While you are there, browse around our website … we think you will like it and find it to be a great tool in inviting friends to FBC Harvester.

    As always, I hope you make plans to join us at FBC Harvester next weekend! If distance is a problem, you are always welcome to listen to any of the teachings from our worship service on our website. If you have questions, please feel free to contact us here. We would love the privilege of helping where we can and seeing God do amazing things in our lives together.

  • Sunday AM Remix – 10.16.11

    How About a New … Mind?

    “Sow a thought, reap an action. Sow an action, reap a habit. Sow a habit, reap a character. Sow a character, reap a destiny.” Famous Quote

    *REALITY: You don’t ever do anything that you don’t first think about.
    *Our thoughts produce who we are, which produces our character, which produces our destiny.
    *QUESTION: Have you ever thought about what you think about?

    “For as (a man) thinks in his heart, so is he.” Proverbs 23:7 (NKJV)

    *REALITY: You will either rule your thoughts, or your thoughts will rule you. What you think you become.
    *QUESTION: What thoughts are you allowing to dominate your life?
    *QUESTION: How are your thoughts changing the trajectory of your life? What if your thoughts were revealed, how would that change your life?

    “For though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ . . .” 2 Corinthians 10:3-5 (ESV)

    *The word “captive” literally means to conquer or force into submission.

    ➢ Satan wants to CAPTURE your mind.

    *Another word for capture is “Stronghold”. The Greek word for Stronghold is Ochyroma which means prisoner locked by deception or false ideas.
    *QUESTION: What are some false ideas that the world seems to believe? What about you?

    “The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel that displays the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.” 2 Corinthians 4:4 (NIV)

    *Interesting Fact about the Human Eye: The optic nerve is mad up of several nerves traveling from the eye to the brain. Many people would think that the eye sends signals to brain to let it know what it is seeing. However, this is not the case. The brains actually tells the eye what it is seeing not the eye telling the brain what it’s seeing.
    *REALITY: We only see what our brain tells us to see.

    ➢ The world wants to CONTAMINATE your mind.

    *QUESTION: What are you feeding your mind? Are you feeding it toxins or healthy things?

    “A wise person is hungry for knowledge, while the fool feeds on trash.” Proverbs 15:14 (NLT)

    ➢ God wants to CONTROL your mind.

    “Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.” Romans 12:2 (NLT)

    *REALITY: Romans 12:2 reveals Gods will for your life!
    *TRUTH: In order to do what God wants you to do, we have to think about what God wants us to think about.

    YOUR MIND WILL BE TRANSFORMED & GUARDED BY . . .
    *We all have a mental illness … it’s one word called sin.

    1. WORRYING ABOUT NOTHING.

    “. . . do not be anxious about anything . . .” Philippians 4:6a (ESV)

    *Worry causes you to have a divided mind, energy, thoughts, emotions, and Faith. It affect every aspect of your life.

    “A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.” James 1:8 (KJV)

    *Worry causes a rut in your mind that every other thought has to travel through.
    *Sadly, Worry has become so common in the church that is has become a respectable sin.
    *TRUTH: Worry is not a weakness, it’s wickedness!

    • Worry is assuming RESPONSIBILITY God NEVER INTENDED you to have.

    *Worry try’s to control the uncontrollable.

    “You will keep Him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on You, because He trusts in You.” Isaiah 26:3 (NKJV)

    2. PRAYING ABOUT EVERYTHING.

    *REALITY: Sometimes we use prayer as a last resort instead of our first resource.

    “. . . but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.”
    Philippians 4:6b (ESV)

    *Prayer and panic, Worry and Worship, and Fear and Faith can never co-exist because they are the opposite of each other.
    *There are no big prayers to God … even our biggest worry is small when it comes to God.

    THREE WORDS FOR PRAYER …

    ➢ “Prayer” means WORSHIPING God.

    *This is simply telling God how great He is.
    *We don’t do this because He needs to be reminded of His greatness, we do this to remind ourselves of how great God is.

    ➢ “Supplication” means ASKING God.

    ➢ “Thanksgiving” means APPRECIATING God.

    3. THINKING ABOUT THE RIGHT THINGS.

    *Your mind can store up to 100 trillion thoughts. (Scary but cool)
    *Your mind is a gift from God. However, you have the choice of how you program it.

    “And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.” Philippians 4:7-9 (ESV)

    *These 8 underlined words in Philippians 4:7-9 becomes the filter in which we submit our thoughts.

    “How can a young person stay pure? By obeying Your word.” Psalm 119:9 (NLT)

    “I have hidden Your word in my heart, that I might not sin against You.” Psalm 119:11 (NLT)

    “. . . and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” John 8:32 (ESV)

    SMALL GROUP DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

    1. As a group, create a list or discuss what a Spiritually Healthy Mind looks like.

    2. What thoughts are you allowing to dominate your life? What if your thoughts were revealed, how would that change your life? How are your thoughts changing the trajectory of your life?

    3.  Read 2 Corinthians 10:3-5.  Pastor Bob described a ‘stronghold’ as a false idea that dominates our life.  It’s a lie of Satan that we have believed.  An example is a thin, pretty girl who thinks of herself as fat and ugly.  Do you have any ‘strongholds’ that hinder your thinking? How do you think they got there?  What steps do you need to take to tear them down?

    4.  Read Proverbs 15:14.  With all of the technology and entertainment available today its easy to feed our mind on the wrong things.  When you look at them from God’s perspective are they helpful and beneficial to your mind?  Describe the things you feed your mind that are mental health food, mental junk food, and mental toxic food.

    5.  Read Romans 12:2.  Share some ways God has transformed your heart and mind since you’ve become a follower of Jesus.

    6.  Read Philippians 4:6 and James 1:8.  Pastor Bob said, “Worry is assuming a responsibility that God never intended you to have.”  What are some things in life you worry about most?  Why is this wrong? What should you do first about it?

    7. Paul gives three types of prayer that can help us with our worries: prayer that adores God, prayer that asks of God, and prayer that appreciates God.  What kind of praying do you do most?  What area do you need to work on most?  Why?

    8.  Read Philippians 4:8.  Describe the eight ‘filters’ God wants us to push all of our thoughts through.  How would this help your thought life?  How could daily intake of God’s Word help you?

    9. Maintaing a healthy mind is growing in Gods Truth and Knowledge of His plan for your life, by staying connected to him daily through Prayer and Study of His Word. Read John 15:1-8. How would applying this passage change the way you live?

    MUSICAL WORSHIP SET

    Hosanna – Baloche

    1st Love – Horn

    You Alone Can Rescue – Redman

    In Christ Alone – Young

    Before The Throne – Shane & Shane

    We hope that you found Sundays Message and following Small Group Questions helpful. If you missed this weeks message, I encourage you to get it here.  While you are there, browse around our website … we think you will like it and find it to be a great tool in inviting friends to FBC Harvester.

    As always, I hope you make plans to join us at FBC Harvester next weekend! If distance is a problem, you are always welcome to listen to any of the teachings from our worship service on our website. If you have questions, please feel free to contact us here. We would love the privilege of helping where we can and seeing God do amazing things in our lives together.

  • Sunday AM Remix – 10.09.11

    HOW ABOUT A NEW … HEART?
    Romans 10:8-13

    “Create in me a clean heart, O God,  And renew a steadfast spirit within me.” Psalm 51:10 (NKJV)

    * QUESTION: If there is one thing that you could change about yourself … what would it be?

    * Yes, God loves us the way we are …  BUT He loves us way to much to leave us the way we are!

    * TRUTH: God loves the inside work more than the outside work. He changes us from the inside out and the changes He makes are permanent rather than temporary.

    “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.” 2 Corinthians 5:17 (NKJV)

    * TRUTH: God loves to transform people and the 1st place He always starts is with the heart!

    **The word heart (kardia) appears 900 times in the Bible.
    ** The heart is the control center for who you are. Everything you are, think, and do, comes from the heart.

    * TRUTH: The condition of your heart dictates the direction of your life. 

    * TRUTH: All of us are born with a rotten sinful heart. Therefore he has to give us a new heart.

    “I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will keep My judgments and do them.”  Ezekiel 36:26-27 (NKJV)

    * TRUTH: God’s not into making your heart better, he transplants your old heart with a new heart that loves him.

    YOU & I NEED SPIRITUAL HEART TRANSPLANT BECAUSE …

    • Our own heart is WICKED AND EVIL.

    “Then the LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of His heart was only evil continually.”  Genesis 6:5 (NKJV)

    * REALITY: We don’t have to teach our kids to sin, it comes natural them.

    • Our own heart is DECEITFUL AND SICK.

    * QUESTION: Have you ever thought you were doing the right thing and then found out otherwise?

    * TRUTH: You can be deceived by your own heart.

    “The human heart is the most deceitful of all things, and desperately wicked.  Who really knows how bad it is?   But I, the Lord, search all hearts and examine secret motives.   I give all people their due rewards, according to what their actions deserve.”
    Jeremiah 17:9-10 (NLT)

    * God rewards you on the secret motive of your heart!

    * QUESTION: What rewards are you missing out on because of the secret movies of your heart?

    • Our own heart is THE SOURCE OF OUR SIN.

    “But the words you speak come from the heart—that’s what defiles you. For from the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, all sexual immorality, theft, lying, and slander.”  Matthew 15:18-19 (NLT)

    * If you have a dirty                                , It’s because you have dirty heart!

    * The fruit of your life comes from the root of your heart.

    * You won’t be able to change your behavior until you change your heart

    ** The heart of the problem is a problem of the heart.

    * QUESTION: How does God do this? ANSWER: It is done by Faith.

    “I pray that out of his glorious riches He may strengthen you with power through His Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith.”
    Ephesians 3:16-17a (NIV)

    * TRUTH: There are a lot of people who think they are saved,  but they have never had a personal encounter with Christ. They have focussed on externals instead of allowing God to change the internals.

    “But what does it say? ‘The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart’ (that is, the word of faith which we preach):  that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the Scripture says, ‘Whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame.”  For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, for the same Lord over all is rich to all who call upon Him. For ‘whoever calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved.’” Romans 10:8-13 (NKJV)

    * Doest it matter that we have to call upon the name of the lord? Only the difference between lightning and lightning bug!

    * It’s not just calling on the Lord, it’s not just believing in God. It’s calling on the name of the Lord, Jesus.

    * QUESTION: Who did you call on, who did you trust for help and salvation?

    THREE TYPES OF FAITH

    • WRONG FAITH #1:  COUNTERFEIT FAITH.

    * Looks like, smells like, tastes like, but its not real

      • The heart condition?  No real CHANGE.

    * TRUTH: When God changes our heart, everything changes!

      • The mouth confession?  ‘I’M A CHRISTIAN’.

    * Outwardly, they look, dress, & act like a Christian.

    * Just because someone says something doesn’t make them something. I can say I’m Ronald McDonald, but it doesn’t make me Ronald McDonald.

    * People may say the right things, but sadly there has been no life transformation.

    ”These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me.”’
    Matthew 15:8 (NIV)

    * People can look good on the outside but be dying with an old sinful heart on the inside

      • The problem?:  You can’t call Jesus SAVIOR  and reject Him as LORD.

    * NOTE: Verse 9 doesn’t say believe in Jesus as Savior, it says believe in Him as Lord.

    ** Lord means boss, controller, sovereign

    * Jesus is not fire insurance, He demands everything. Many people want Him as Savior but not as Lord.

    * TRUTH: Jesus says, It’s all of me, or none of me, and requires all of you, not part of you?

    “. . . that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.”  Romans 10:9 (NKJV)

    * Counterfeit Christians can do some good things. However, one of these days Jesus will separate those that are true believers and those who are counterfeit christians.

    ‘Not everyone who calls out to me, “Lord! Lord!”’ will enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Only those who actually do the will of my Father in heaven will enter. On judgment day many will say to me, “Lord! Lord! We prophesied in your name and cast out demons in your name and performed many miracles in your name.” But I will reply, “I never knew you. Get away from me, you who break God’s laws.”’  Matthew 7:21-23 (NLT)

    * TRUTH: Jesus doesn’t just want to save your life after death, He wants to control it while you’re alive.

    • WRONG FAITH #2:  CAUTIOUS FAITH.
      • The heart condition?:  BEGINNING  to believe.

    * It’s  easy to believe with a head knowledge, but to deny it with the heart.

    * Salvation is not an intellectual assent to Christ, but a surrender of the heart and will.

      • The mouth confession?:  NO PERSONAL confession.

    * They claim nothing.

      • The Problem?:  You cannot remain a SECRET BELIEVER for long.

    *A secret believer is no believer at all.

    * The Bible makes it very clear, you can’t be a Christian and keep quiet about Christ.

    ‘Anyone who isn’t with Me opposes Me, and anyone who isn’t working with Me is actually working against Me.’ Matthew 12:30 (NLT)

    * REALITY: You are either on one side or the other. It’s impossible to ride the fence!

    “You brood of snakes! How could evil men like you speak what is good and right? For whatever is in your heart determines what you say.”  Matthew 12:34 (NLT)

    * TRUTH: If you really want to know a person … Listen to what they talk about … it will reveal their heart!  What’s in a person’s heart is going to come out!

    * When a person doesn’t talk about Christ, it leaves us to wonder if there is a real faith at all.

    • SAVING FAITH:  COMPLETE FAITH.
      • The heart condition?:  ‘I believe Jesus is ALIVE in me!’

    “. . . that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.”
    Romans 10:9-10 (NKJV)

    * This is not just a belief that Jesus is alive, it’s belief in the fact that He is alive within my heart.

    * Look at the words from the Hymn: He Lives

    Stanza 1:
    I serve a risen Saviour; He’s in the world today.
    I know that He is living, whatever men may say.
    I see His hand of mercy, I hear His voice of cheer,
    And just the time I need Him He’s always near.
    Chorus:
    He lives! He lives! Christ Jesus lives today!
    He walks with me and talks with me along life’s narrow way.
    He lives! He lives! Salvation to impart!
    You ask me how I know He lives? He lives within my heart.
    Stanza 2:
    In all the world around me I see His loving care,
    And though my heart grows weary I never will despair.
    I know that He is leading, thro’ all the stormy blast;
    The day of His appearing will come at last.
    Chorus:
    Stanza 3:
    Rejoice, rejoice, O Christian! Lift up your voice and sing
    Eternal hallelujahs to Jesus Christ, the King!
    The Hope of all who seek Him, the Help of all who find,
    None other is so loving, so good and kind.

    * REALITY: He saves you and then is the Lord of you

    * Jesus doesn’t just want to be a resident of your heart … He wants to be president.

    “I pray that out of his glorious riches He may strengthen you with power through His Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith.”
    Ephesians 3:16-17a (NIV)

      • The mouth confession?:  ‘I am not ASHAMED!  Jesus is Lord!’

    “For the Scripture says, ‘Whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame.’”  Romans 10:11 (NKJV)

    * Many of us have never been threatened for our faith in Christ, yet we lack the boldness to share!

    • The Proof?
      • PUBLIC devotion.

      * Confession, Baptism, Fellowship in a local church, Service in the church and the community

      “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.  And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.” Galatians 5:22-26 (NKJV)

      • PRIVATE obedience.

      * When no one else is around, you still listen and follow Christ!

      * Who you are in private matches who you a in public.

      “Those who accept My commandments and obey them are the ones who love Me.”
      John 14:21a (NLT)

      * QUESTION: Look at these three faiths, only one transforms a person! Which one do you have.

      SMALL GROUP DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

      1.  If there is one thing that you could change about yourself what would it be? Why would you change it?

      2.  Read 1 Corinthians 5:17.  This is God’s ultimate extreme makeover verse.  Has there been a time when Jesus made you a new person? What major changes did God make in your life when you became a Christian?  What changes is He still making in you?

      3.  Read Jeremiah 17:9-10. Have you ever thought you were doing the right thing and then found out otherwise? What did you do?

      4.  Read Ezekiel 36:26-27, Ephesians 3:16-17 and Romans 10:8-13.  How does a person have a heart change?  What is God’s part and what is our part? How is a person saved?  How do we keep this from being a formulaic process to salvation?

      5.  The central affirmation of the early church was ‘Jesus is Lord’, everyone else was saying ‘Caesar is Lord’.  Who (or what) are some gods that compete with your allegiance to Christ?

      6.  Pastor Bob talked about a counterfeit faith that has people believing all the facts about Jesus with their head, but they have no heart change.  He said they will miss heaven by 18 inches…the distance between their head and heart.  Do you think this is possible?  Why or why not? Read Matthew 7:21-23

      7.  How does a person ‘confess Jesus as Lord’?  How important is it to go ‘public’ with your faith in Jesus?  If you were to give yourself a grade on going public, what grade would you give yourself? Why? What needs to change in order to bring that grade up?

      8.  What are some ways we demonstrate an embarrassment or shame for the Gospel?  Many of us have never been threatened for our faith in Christ, yet we lack the boldness to share! Why is it so difficult to share? What do you think this says about our heart? Read Romans 1:16, how does this apply to sharing?

      MUSICAL WORSHIP SET

      When The Waters Rise – Darnell

      Made To Worship

      Our God – Tomlin

      Take My Life – Tomlin

      You Alone

      We hope that you found Sundays Message and following Small Group Questions helpful. If you missed this weeks message, I encourage you to get it here.  While you are there, browse around our website … we think you will like it and find it to be a great tool in inviting friends to FBC Harvester.

      As always, I hope you make plans to join us at FBC Harvester next weekend! If distance is a problem, you are always welcome to listen to any of the teachings from our worship service on our website. If you have questions, please feel free to contact us here. We would love the privilege of helping where we can and seeing God do amazing things in our lives together.

  • Sunday AM Remix – 10.2.11

    * The Greatest sin in the church today is not the sin of any commission or the sin of omission, it’s the sin of NO MISSION!

    * We have to understand that the church isn’t a LOVE BOAT but a LIFE BOAT, not a COUNTRY CLUB but a RESCUE STATION.

    * This isn’t another teaching to fill us up, its one to send us out! It’s not meant to be a check up from the neck up!

    * At FBCH we want to be a church that WORSHIPS, LOVES, Goes!

    ** God wants us to love Him with everything. That’s WORSHIP!

    ** God wants us to love one another deeply. That’s LOVE!

    ** God wants us to love the lost. That’s GOING!

    “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. . .” Matthew 28:19(NKJV)

    * Jesus never meant for the church to be a come and hear church, He sent them out with go and tell message!

    * You can’t spell Gospel with out the word GO.

    * QUESTION:Where are the places that God has sent you? Are you taking the Gospel to these places? Why or Why not?

    “What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ and be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith inChrist—the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith.” Philippians 3:8-9 (NIV)

    * There are only 2 types of people in the Bible: Those that are FOUND and those that are LOST.

    * When we refer to the LOST we are NOT referring to them in a negative way.  All of us know what it feels like to be lost and need to  remember that so we can appreciate what it means to be found even more!

    * TRUTH: We will never understand the state of our LOSTNESS until we understand the fullness of being FOUND!

    ‘For the Son of Man came to seek and save those who are lost.’ Luke 19:10 (NLT)

    * This is why Jesus came, and this is why we are to go and share!

    * Of the 9 times the Bible talks about the lost, 5 of them are found in Luke 15.

    * TRUTH: Our faith is personal. But it was never meant to be private! We must be people who are willing to go and share because…

    OBSERVATIONS ABOUT LOST PEOPLE …

    1.  LOST PEOPLE ARE EVERYWHERE.

     “Then all the tax collectors and the sinners drew near to Him to hear Him.”  Luke 15:1 (NKJV)

    * Jesus was a magnet for the lost people!

    * There is a difference in being ODD and being DIFFERENT. Being ODD repels people! Being DIFFERENT, causes them to question and wonder why or what makes you different.

    ‘Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it.’  Matthew 7:13 (NIV)

    * Jesus calls us to be different. However, the world wants us to blend in, to be good.  In fact, the world tries to get us to blur the line so it’s not so clear as to whats right and whats wrong.

    * QUESTIONS: What lines seem to have become a blur in your life? What steps need to be taken to clarify them?

     2.  LOST PEOPLE ARE SEARCHING.

    “Then all the tax collectors and the sinners drew near to Him to hear Him.”  Luke 15:1 (NKJV)

    * Lost people don’t know they are lost!

    * All people are shaped with a God shaped vacuum in their heart that they try to fill with things that only Jesus can fill and fully satisfy.

    3.  LOST PEOPLE ARE A NUISANCE TO RELIGIOUS PEOPLE.

     “And the Pharisees and scribes complained, saying, ‘This Man receives sinners and eats with them.’”  Luke 15:2 (NKJV)

    * There is difference in being RELIGIOUS and be GOSPEL DRIVEN.

    * Being Religious is not the goal, nor a good thing.

    * God help us if we are a religious church

    * QUESTION: How do you tell the difference in someone who is Religious and someone who is Gospel Driven? Which one are you? Would others agree?

    * The church is WHO we are not WHERE we meet!

    *TRUTH: When we hate a lost person, it puts us as an enemy of GOD! (Remember Luke 19:20)

    4.  LOST PEOPLE ARE WORTH THE SEARCH.

    * God takes attendance much differently than we do! We look at who and how many are present, God looks at who and how many are absent! OUCH!

    * QUESTION: Who is missing that you have direct influence with?

    ‘What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he loses one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness, and go after the one which is lost until he finds it?’  Luke 15:4 (NKJV)

    ‘Or what woman, having ten silver coins, if she loses one coin, does not light a lamp, sweep the house, and search carefully until she finds it?’  Luke 15:8 (NKJV)

    The shepherd felt a sense of PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY for the one lost. 

    * TRUTH: Some if us are the only Christians our family and friends may ever know.

    * QUESTION: If it’s not me, than who?

    The shepherd felt a sense of URGENCY for the one lost.

    * TRUTH: Some if us are the only Christians our family and friends may ever know.

    * QUESTION: If it’s not me, than who?

    The shepherd felt a sense of COMPASSION for the one lost.

    * TRUTH: Typically the most evangelistic people are the ones who have just been found.

    * QUESTION: When was the last time shared about Christ with someone who was lost? How did it go? What did you learn from the experience?

     5.  LOST PEOPLE ARE JOYOUSLY CELEBRATED WHEN FOUND.

     ‘And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and neighbors, saying to them, “Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost!”  I say to you that likewise there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine just persons who need no repentance.’  Luke 15:5-7

     ‘And when she has found it, she calls her friends and neighbors together, saying, “Rejoice with me, for I have found the piece which I lost!”  Likewise, I say to you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.’ Luke 15:9-10 (NKJV)

    * As a church we want to engage and equip our people Locally and Globally.  We feel that we can do this best through our Small Groups (Life Groups & Bible Studies).

    ** Each small groups will be given a family to connect with thru our partnership with We Love St. Charles.  We will use a Coats for Kids initiative to begin to link families with our small groups so they can begin to develop a relationship with their family by sharing with actions so they can share with words.

    ** Each small group will be strongly encouraged to partner with one of out local missions partners so their group can have the opportunity to serve together with people who are reaching out to this community meeting needs and sharing the hope found in the Gospel.

    ** Here is a list of the Local and Global Partnerships that align with the vision of our church

    LOCAL MISSIONS
    The primary way that Harvester serves our local community of St. Charles is through We Love St. Charles. This organization is a movement of volunteers gathered for the purpose of taking city initiative to bring restoration to those in need of assistance in the City of St. Charles. To learn more about We Love St. Charles, click here.

    Our Lady’s Inn
    Our Lady’s Inn is an emergency shelter for pregnant women in crisis, helping them to choose life for their child.

    Habitat for Humanity
    Seeking to put God’s love into action, Habitat for Humanity brings people together to build homes, communities and hope.

    Christian Activity Center
    The CAC is an after-school center in the Samuel Gompers Housing Projects of East St. Louis, which provides a safe, Christ-centered environment for kids.

    Powell Terrace
    Powell Terrace is a food pantry near downtown St. Charles that helps those in need through the weekly collection and distribution of food.

    The Sparrow’s Nest
    The Sparrow’s Nest Maternity Home will be a Christ-centered shelter providing care and education to homeless, pregnant, and parenting teens. Their mission is to provide a wide range of services that empower these young mothers to make positive and healthy life decisions for themselves and their babies. The Sparrow’s Nest will open its doors July 2012 in St. Charles County.

    Carpenters for Christ
    C4C undertakes construction projects throughout the year in order to help individuals, churches, and communities in need.

    GLOBAL MISSIONS
    To serve our partners globally, we have planned a number of mission opportunities for 2011-2012.

    Madhya Pradesh, India
    Our effort is focused on developing church planting movements in order to grow healthy churches allowing Gospel access through native believers to the entire state. More specifically, this effort is aimed at the state’s Unengaged and Unreached People Groups.

    October 2011 – Church Planter Training and Discipleship
    February 2012 – Church Planter Training and Discipleship
    July 2012 – Partner Support, VBS
    July 2012 – City Evangelism

    East Asia
    Our team will go into English language college classes as an introduction to students for the purpose of sharing the Gospel through relational evangelism.

    May 14-30, 2012 – Student Evangelism

    Bengkulu, Indonesia
    This will be our first trip to our new mission partnership! We will be exploring the opportunities in this area where there is no known church or Gospel effort.

    September 2012 – Discovery Trip

    International Students, Inc.
    We are partnered with ISI at Lindenwood University attempting to reach international students with the Gospel through relational evangelism.

    WHAT CAN I DO?

    • PRAY 

     “He said to his disciples, ‘The harvest is great, but the workers are few. So pray to the Lord who is in charge of the harvest; ask him to send more workers into his fields.’”  Matthew 9:37 (NLT)

    • LOVE the lost.
    • GIVE your money.
    • PACK your bags.

    SMALL GROUP DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

    As Bob mentioned on Sunday, this isn’t another teaching to fill us up, it’s one to send us out! As we begin to GO, will you think about the role you play in accomplishing this mission?  Are you willing to stack hands with us? Will you join us in praying Ephesians 3:20 over the opportunities we have as a church to impact this community?

    1.  Pastor Bob made this statement: “The church is not a clubhouse. It is a rescue station.  We are not the Love Boat.  We are to be a lifeboat. Never ever forget that the church is the only organization that exists primarily for those people who are not members yet.  It is the church God has chosen to use to get the Gospel out and draw people to Himself.”  What are your thoughts?  How is our church doing? What role do you play in the solution?

    2.  God doesn’t waste any opportunities. People are in your life for a reason. Who is the person or people currently in your path that are lost? How can you be more intentional in sharing your life and the Gospel?

    4. Many times “churched people” eliminate their friendships with the lost. We huddle in a Christian bubble. Can you remember when you were spiritually lost and separated from God? How were you found?

    5.  How do you tell the difference between someone who is Religious and someone who is living out the Gospel? Which one are you? Would others agree? Why or Why not?

    6.  Read Luke 15:1-2.  What was it about Jesus that had sinners flocking to Him?  How can we imitate this?  Should we? Read 2 Corinthians 5:20. What does this passage say we are to do?

    7. Read Luke 15:3-32 and answer these question:

    * How were each of the valuable items lost?

    * How much passion/energy was put out in the search?

    * How does the search for the sheep and coin differ from the search for the lost son?  Why is this?

    * What is the common denominator in verses 6, 9-10, and 22-24?  Is this how you feel when people are saved?  Why or why not?

    8. FBCH is strongly connected to local and global mission partnerships!  How are you currently involved?  How can your life group do a better job of strengthening our missions effort?

    MUSICAL WORSHIP SET

    For Your Glory – Matt Maher

    Everlasting God – Brown

    The Solid Rock – Page CXVI

    We hope that you found Sundays Message and following Small Group Questions helpful. If you missed this weeks message, I encourage you to get it here.  While you are there, browse around our website … we think you will like it and find it to be a great tool in inviting friends to FBC Harvester.

    As always, I hope you make plans to join us at FBC Harvester next weekend! If distance is a problem, you are always welcome to listen to any of the teachings from our worship service from our website. If you have questions, please feel free to contact us here. We would love the privilege of helping where we can and seeing God do amazing things in our lives together.

  • Sunday AM Remix – 9.25.11

    * Question: Do you know why good people don’t go to heaven? Because there are no good people.

    “None is righteous, no, not one; no one understands; no one seeks for God. All have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one.” Romans 10:10-12 (ESV)

    Today, we are going to spend some time talking about what it means to be a loving church.  Jesus says that people should be able to tell you are a Christian by the way you love.

    “By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” John 13:35 (ESV)

    * TRUTH: People will know that we are Christians not by the fish on the back of our car or the Jesus is my Homeboy shirt that we wear, they will know we are Christians by the love that we share!

    * We cannot truly love others without the power of God.

    At Harvester, we want to be a loving church. In order to do this as a church we must be loving people individually. Paul writes about what this looks like in Romans 12:9-16. We learned on Sunday that first part of Romans reveals Gods love by showing us How God saves people. The second part of Romans reveals Gods love by showing us how saved people are to act. Let’s take some time to look at this a little closer.

    FBCH WILL BE A LOVING CHURCH IF EACH OF US WILL BE …

    1. SINCERE with our LOVE.

    “Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good.” Romans 12:9 (NIV)

    * Don’t let you love be hypocritical by saying one thing to someones face and then another, when they aren’t around.
    * Don’t wear a mask, be authentic.

    “There are six things the Lord hates— no, seven things he detests: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that kill the innocent, a heart that plots evil, feet that race to do wrong,a false witness who pours out lies, a person who sows discord in a family.” Proverbs 6:16-19 (NLT)

    * TRUTH: The more you love, the more you hate sin!

    * QUESTION: How sincere is you love for others? How sincere are you when you talk with people?

    2. ATTENTIVE to others people’s NEEDS.

    “Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves. . . Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.” Romans 12:10, 13 (NIV)

    * Sadly the English language only has one word for love, and we use it to describe everything. However, in the Greek there are 4 words for love.

    Agápe (ἀγάπη agápē) means “love” (unconditional love)

    Éros (ἔρως érōs) is passionate love, with sensual desire and longing

    Philia (φιλία philía) means friendship or brotherly love

    Storge (στοργή storgē) means “affection”

    * The Words BE DEVOTED combines the Greek words Storge & Philia and is defined like this – To lovingly love with all brotherly love.

    * REALITY: God blesses us so we can be a blessing to others.

    * QUESTION: How well are you sharing the things God has blessed you with? Why is it difficult or easy to share these things with others?

    3. ENTHUSIASTIC in our SERVICE.

    “Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord.” Romans 12:11 (NIV)

    * Spiritual Fervor means to be on fire with the Spirit. However, many of us have lost our fire.

    “I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! 16 So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth.” Revelation 3:15-16 (NIV)

    * THOUGHT: The most loving people tend to be the most energetic.

    “And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men . . .” Colossians 3:23 (NKJV) 

    * TRUTH: If you have passion in your heart … it has to come out!

    * REMINDER: We serve for the Lord, not for the people we serve. Often times this is forgotten. However, when we serve for the applause or appeasement of people, when we don’t get that, we often quit in disappointment.

    4. POSITIVE, PATIENT and PRAYERFUL when Trouble hits.

    “Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.” Romans 12:12 (NIV) 

    “Rejoice evermore” 1 Thessalonians 5:16

    *FAST FACT: 1 Thessalonians 5:16 is the shortest verse in the Bible. – Shorter than “Jesus Wept” by two letters when looking at the Greek.

    * DEEP THOUGHT: Many of us get depressed because we try to make Earth Heaven.

    “We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation.” Romans 5:3-4 (NLT)

    5. WISE with our TONGUES.

    * SAD REALITY: Only the Christian Army is the one who shoot it’s wounded. Typically, its with their mouth.

    “Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse.” Romans 12:14 (NIV) 

    * Bless means to speak well of.

    * QUESTION: Are you more likely to bless with your words, curse with your words?

    “Don’t speak evil against each other, dear brothers and sisters. If you criticize and judge each other, then you are criticizing and judging God’s law. But your job is to obey the law, not to judge whether it applies to you.” James 4:11 (NLT)

    6. SYMPATHETIC to each others FEELINGS.

    “Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn.” Romans 12:15 (NIV)

    * REALITY: It’s easier to mourn with mourners than it is to Rejoice with Rejoicers.

    * QUESTION: When was the last time you celebrated another persons success or promotion.

    “Finally, all of you, live in harmony with one another; be sympathetic, love as brothers, be compassionate and humble.” 1 Peter 3:8 (NIV)

    7. COURTEOUS with everyone and CONCEITED about nothing.

    “Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited.” Romans 12:16 (NIV)

    “Let us not be conceited, provoking and envying each other.” Galatians 5:26 (NIV)

    * TRUE STORY FROM TONY CAMPOLO

    A few years ago Tony flew to Hawaii to speak at a conference. The way he tells it, he checks into his hotel and tries to get some sleep. Unfortunately, his internal clock wakes him at 3:00 a.m. The night is dark, the streets are silent, the world is asleep, but Tony is wide awake and his stomach is growling.
    He gets up and prowls the streets looking for a place to get some bacon and eggs for an early breakfast. Everything is closed except for a grungy dive in an alley. He goes in and sits down at the counter. The fat guy behind the counter comes over and asks, “What d’ya want?”

    Well, Tony isn’t so hungry anymore so eying some donuts under a plastic cover he says, “I’ll have a donut and black coffee.”

    As he sits there munching on his donut and sipping his coffee at 3:30, in walk eight or nine provocative, loud prostitutes just finished with their night’s work. They plop down at the counter and Tony finds himself uncomfortably surrounded by this group of smoking, swearing hookers. He gulps his coffee, planning to make a quick getaway. Then the woman next to him says to her friend, “You know what? Tomorrow’s my birthday. I’m gonna be 39.” To which her friend nastily replies, “So what d’ya want from me? A birthday party? Huh? You want me to get a cake, and sing happy birthday to you?”

    The first woman says, “Aw, come on, why do you have to be so mean? Why do you have to put me down? I’m just sayin’ it’s my birthday. I don’t want anything from you. I mean, why should I have a birthday party? I’ve never had a birthday party in my whole life. Why should I have one now?”

    Well, when Tony Campolo heard that, he said he made a decision. He sat and waited until the women left, and then he asked the fat guy at the counter, “Do they come in here every night?”

    “Yeah,” he answered.

    “The one right next to me,” he asked, “she comes in every night?”

    “Yeah,” he said, “that’s Agnes. Yeah, she’s here every night. She’s been comin’ here for years. Why do you want to know?”

    “Because she just said that tomorrow is her birthday. What do you think? Do you think we could maybe throw a little birthday party for her right here in the diner?”

    A cute kind of smile crept over the fat man’s chubby cheeks. “That’s great,” he says, “yeah, that’s great. I like it.” He turns to the kitchen and shouts to his wife, “Hey, come on out here. This guy’s got a great idea. Tomorrow is Agnes’ birthday and he wants to throw a party for her right here.”

    His wife comes out. “That’s terrific,” she says. “You know, Agnes is really nice. She’s always trying to help other people and nobody does anything nice for her.”

    So they make their plans. Tony says he’ll be back at 2:30 the next morning with some decorations and the man, whose name turns out to be Harry, says he’ll make a cake.

    At 2:30 the next morning, Tony is back. He has crepe paper and other decorations and a sign made of big pieces of cardboard that says, “Happy Birthday, Agnes!” They decorate the place from one end to the other and get it looking great. Harry had gotten the word out on the streets about the party and by 3:15 it seemed that every prostitute in Honolulu was in the place. There were hookers wall to wall.

    At 3:30 on the dot, the door swings open and in walks Agnes and her friend. Tony has everybody ready. They all shout and scream “Happy Birthday, Agnes!” Agnes is absolutely flabbergasted. She’s stunned, her mouth falls open, her knees started to buckle, and she almost falls over.

    And when the birthday cake with all the candles is carried out, that’s when she totally loses it. Now she’s sobbing and crying. Harry, who’s not used to seeing a prostitute cry, gruffly mumbles, “Blow out the candles, Agnes. Cut the cake.”

    So she pulls herself together and blows them out. Everyone cheers and yells, “Cut the cake, Agnes, cut the cake!”

    But Agnes looks down at the cake and, without taking her eyes off it, slowly and softly says, “Look, Harry, is it all right with you if…I mean, if I don’t…I mean, what I want to ask, is it OK if I keep the cake a little while? Is it all right if we don’t eat it right away?”

    Harry doesn’t know what to say so he shrugs and says, “Sure, if that’s what you want to do. Keep the cake. Take it home if you want.”

    “Oh, could I?” she asks. Looking at Tony she says, “I live just down the street a couple of doors; I want to take the cake home, is that okay? I’ll be right back, honest.”

    She gets off her stool, picks up the cake, and carries it high in front of her like it was the Holy Grail. Everybody watches in stunned silence and when the door closes behind her, nobody seems to know what to do. They look at each other. They look at Tony.

    So Tony gets up on a chair and says, “What do you say that we pray together?”

    And there they are in a hole-in-the-wall greasy spoon, half the prostitutes in Honolulu, at 3:30 a.m. listening to Tony Campolo as he prays for Agnes, for her life, her health, and her salvation. Tony recalls, “I prayed that her life would be changed, and that God would be good to her.”

    When he’s finished, Harry leans over, and with a trace of hostility in his voice, he says, “Hey, you never told me you was a preacher. What kind of church do you belong to anyway?”

    In one of those moments when just the right words came, Tony answers him quietly, “I belong to a church that throws birthday parties for prostitutes at 3:30 in the morning.”

    Harry thinks for a moment, and in a mocking way says, “No you don’t. There ain’t no church like that. If there was, I’d join it. Yep, I’d join a church like that.”

    * Don’t we all want to be a part of a church that loves one another in a way than compels people to be a part of what God is doing?

    * QUESTION: What are you willing to do, to help FBCH become a church that is known for its love?

    SMALL GROUP DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

    As Bob mentioned on Sunday, the take-away from this weekends Sermon is not that we would have more information but that we would have better evaluation.  Will you take the risk and do a deep evaluation of your heart and be willing to share with your group the things you are doing well and the areas you need some prayer, encouragement and accountability?

    1. Sometimes it’s easier to focus on the outward signs of love instead of the inward commitments that love require. As Christ Followers, our love for others should come out of our love for God. What would it look like if we lived out Deuteronomy 6:4-8?

    2. Romans 12:10 says, “BE DEVOTED to one another in love.” We learned that Being Devoted in the Greek literally means to be lovingly loving with all brotherly love.  In the last 6 months what events, situations, excuses have kept you from Being Devoted to others?

    3. Have you ever lost your passion to serve? What drained your passion? How do you keep your passion to serve well and faithfully? What does it mean to “Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord” as stated in Romans 12:11. Reminder why we serve Colossians 3:23

    4. When your life is squeezed like a tube of toothpaste, what tends to come out reveals the real us. When your life is squeezed by stress, circumstance, and situations, what do you think others see being revealed by you?

    5. Our words can both build people up and tear people down. The words we use say a lot about us. How might your family and the people closest to you describe your words to them and to/about others?  What is the lesson for us to learn from James 3:1-12?

    6. Romans 12:15 says, “Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn.” What is your typical reaction when someone prosper? Why is it difficult to celebrate with our friends success?

    7. Whether it is intentional or not, sometimes we get uncomfortable around people who may be different from us. When you heard or read the true story from Tony Campolo what were some of the feelings that stirred within you? Are you allowing yourself to be used by God in a way like this? Why or Why not?

    8. What are you willing to do to help FBCH become a church that is known for its love?

    MUSICAL WORSHIP SET

    Love The Lord – Brewster

    Come Thou Fount – Williams

    The Wonderful Cross – Smith

    All The Way My Savior Leads – Tomlin

    We hope that you found Sundays Message and following Small Group Questions helpful. If you missed this weeks message, I encourage you to get it here.  While you are there, browse around our website … we think you will like it and find it to be a great tool in inviting friends to FBC Harvester.

    As always, I hope you make plans to join us at FBC Harvester next weekend! If distance is a problem, you are always welcome to listen to any of the teachings from our worship service from our website. If you have questions, please feel free to contact us here. We would love the privilege of helping where we can and seeing God do amazing things in our lives together.

  • Sunday AM Remix – 9.18.11

    We started a brand new series this weekend titled Refresh. Over the last year, we have embraced these three words as a church … worship, love, go. During this series, we will be casting vision as to what each of these words look like for us as a church and what they mean for us as individuals.  Here are my notes from the first week of Refresh

    Refresh
    “Worship”
    Isaiah 58:1-9

    Worship can be described in a lot of ways.  We want to be a church were Worship happens.  However, there are some things that we need to understand about it so we can fully engage in it.

    * Worship isn’t about where you are physically but where you are spiritually.

    * Singing is the movement of your mouth, Worship is the movement of your heart.

    “The Lord says, ‘These people come near to Me with their mouth and honor Me with their lips, but their hearts are far from Me.  Their worship of Me is based on merely human rules they have been taught.’” Isaiah 29:13 (NIV)

    * We can do many things without totally putting our heart into what we are doing.

    ** Singing without heart is not Worship, it’s simply music.

    ** Preaching without heart is not Worship, it’s simply a lecture.

    * If we can get excited about temporal things, how much more should we get excited about eternal things?

    * REALITY – Many people attend church services but never worship.

     “‘Cry aloud; do not hold back; lift up your voice like a trumpet; declare to my people their transgression, to the house of Jacob their sins. 2 Yet they seek me daily and delight to know my ways, as if they were a nation that did righteousness and did not forsake the judgment of their God; they ask of me righteous judgments; they delight to draw near to God.’” Isaiah 58:1-2 (ESV) 

    * Getting caught up in the routine of righteous things is not what pleases the Lord, He desires a righteous heart seeking Him completely.

    * SCARY THOUGHT – God doesn’t go to every church! Some church have been going through the motions for so long they haven’t even noticed He was missing.

    * The fire in the pew never burns hotter than the fire in pulpit.

    * The Pastor is the thermostat for the people they are leading.

    1.  GOD IGNORES OUR WORSHIP WHEN WE ARE…

    • SELFISH

     “Behold, in the day of your fast you seek your own pleasure, and oppress all you workers” Isaiah 58:3b (ESV)

    * QUESTION – Who are you doing worship for?

    * We can’t have everything we want and throw God in on the side. Because we grow to where we don’t need Him. In this we grow restless and complacent.

    * We must realize that worship has never been about us, it has always been about Him.

    “If I regard iniquity in my heart, The Lord will not hear.”  Psalm 66:18 (NKJV)

    * TEST – When was the last time you  turned everything off and focused on God? Yes this includes your phone, e-mail, Facebook, and Twitter. OUCH!

    * REALITY – Many of us never shut down our stuff even for a Worship Service

    * QUESTION – Am I here for God or am I here for myself?

    • STRIFE-FILLED 

    “Behold, you fast only to quarrel and to fight and to hit with a wicked fist.  Fasting like yours this day will not make your voice to be heard on high.”  Isaiah 58:4 (ESV)

    * Jesus said that people will know that we are His Disciples by the way we love one another.

    * If we can’t love the people we can see, how can we love the one we can’t see?

    “I desire then that in every place the men should pray, lifting holy hands without anger or quarreling.”  1 Timothy 2:8 (ESV)

    “In the same way, you husbands must give honor to your wives.  Treat your wife with understanding as you live together.  She may be weaker than you are, but she is your equal partner in God’s gift of new life.  Treat her as you should so your prayers will not be hindered.”  1 Peter 3:7 (NLT)

    * Just because we do the right things, does not mean God listens.  He has instructed us on how to live, yet we still want to do it our way and have Him adjust to us.

     

    • SUPERFICIAL

    * TRUTH: It’s easier to focus on the externals and look good on the outside than it is to do the hard work of changing from the inside out.

     “Is such the fast that I choose, a day for a person to humble himself?  Is it to bow down his head like a reed, and to spread sackcloth and ashes under him?  Will you call this a fast, and a day acceptable to the Lord?”  Isaiah 58:5 (ESV)

    * Burlap & sackcloth were signs of brokenness. It was displaying on the outside the dirtiness that was being felt on the inside. However, over time, this just became routine.

    * QUESTION: What externals have you allowed to become routine?

    * REALITY – We can do all the externals and never leave eternally changed or different.

     

    2.  GOD IGNITES OUR WORSHIP WHEN WE …..

    • Experience the FREEDOM OF CHRIST.

    “Is not this the fast that I choose: to loose the bonds of wickedness, to undo the straps of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free, and to break every yoke?”  Isaiah 58:6 (ESV)

    * The idea here is being freed from the bondage of sin … we could spend all kinds of time naming and listing these sins, but you know the one that really seems to keep you trapped.

    * When we are set free from sins bondage we don’t surrender to it anymore.

    “Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage.” Galatians 5:1 (NKJV)

     * TRUTH – “Whoever the Son sets Free, is Free Indeed.” John 8:36 

    * Jesus says, “Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God;[a] believe also in me. 2In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you?[b] 3And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also. John 14:1-3 (ESV)

    • Express the COMPASSION OF CHRIST.

     “Is it not to share your bread with the hungry and bring the homeless poor into your house; when you see the naked, to cover him, and not to hide yourself from your own flesh?”  Isaiah 58:7 (ESV)

    We are called to show compassion to the …

    • HUNGRY (Others)
    • HOMELESS (Others)
    • HELPLESS (Others)
    • HOMESTEAD (Family)

     

    WHAT HAPPENS WHEN GOD SHOWS UP?

    “Then shall your light break forth like the dawn, and your healing shall spring up speedily; your righteousness shall go before you; the glory of the Lord shall be your rear guard.  Then you shall call, and the Lord with answer; you shall cry, and he will say, ‘Here I am.’” Isaiah 58:8-9a (ESV)

     1.  LIGHT 

    * God will shine His Face on us so we can be the light of the world.

    2.  RECOVERY

    * Healing will Happen

    3.  RIGHTEOUSNESS

    * Because of Christ we have Victory!

    4.  PROTECTION

    * The Glory of the Lord shall be your rear God … God’s got yo back.

     5.  PROVISION

    * You shall call on the Lord and He will answer you.

    SMALL GROUP DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

    1.  What is your favorite part of a worship service?  Why?  What is your least favorite?  Why?

    2.  Read Isaiah 29:13.  What is God’s indictment of the Israelites?  How could you apply this to your worship life?

    3.  What does passionate, heartfelt worship look like to you?

    4.  Read Isaiah 58:1-5.  God says He ignores worship that is selfish (verse 3), strife-filled (verse 4), and superficial (verse 5).  What does it mean for God to ignore our worship?  How do you see these three problems in the church or in your own life?

    5.  Read 1 Peter 3:7.  How does marital problems hinder worship?  Why does God force us to get along with our spouse in order to have a close relationship with Him?

    6.  Read Isaiah 58:6 and Galatians 5:1.  How do these two verses go together?  How should our worship be a celebration of freedom?  What have you been freed from through the cross of Jesus?

    7.  Read Isaiah 58:7.  God says one way to prepare ourselves for great worship is to diligently with four groups of people: the hungry, the homeless, the helpless, and the homestead.  How are you doing in these four areas?  How could you do better?  How could your group work together to help others and improve corporate worship?

    8.  Read Isaiah 58:8-9.  God promises four blessings of powerful worship: light (verse 8), healing (verse 8), righteousness (verse 8), protection (verse 8), and provision (verse 9).  Which one of those excites you the most?  Which one do you need most in your life right now?

    9.  What area of your worship life needs the most improvement?  What steps are you going to take to make adjustments?

    MUSICAL WORSHIP SET

    Awesome Is The Lord Most High-Able

    Your Grace Is Enough-Maher

    One Thing Remains-Jesus Culture

    Be Thou My Vision-Glorious Unseen

    Christ Is Risen-Maher

    We hope that you found Sundays Message and following Small Group Questions helpful. If you missed this weeks message, I encourage you to get it here.  While you are there, browse around our website … we think you will like it and find it to be a great tool in inviting friends to FBC Harvester.

    As always, I hope you make plans to join us at FBC Harvester next weekend! If distance is a problem, you are always welcome to listen to any of the teachings from our worship service from our website. If you have questions, please feel free to contact us here. We would love the privilege of helping where we can and seeing God do amazing things in our lives together.

  • Sunday AM Remix – 9.11.11

    Why Would a Good God Allow
    Innocent People to Suffer?
    September 11, 2011

    If I could ask God ….? Have you ever thought or said something like this? Let’s be honest, we all have things that we don’t understand, things that cause us to question. Even some of the greatest people in the Bible asked Why? Listed below are just a few:

    (Gideon) “…if the Lord is with us, why has all this happened to us?” Judges 6:13

    (David) “Why, O Lord, do you stand far off?  Why do you hide Yourself in times of trouble?” Psalm 10:1

    (Jesus) “At about three o’clock, Jesus called out with a loud voice… ‘My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?’” Matthew 27:46

    George Barna asked people if there was one thing they could ask God what would it be? The number one question was this: “If God is a loving God, why is there so much evil and suffering in the world today?

    Many of us would probably agree to this also. I mean look around us, things don’t seem to be getting better.  Maybe some more questions to ask would be: Why do babies, children, and teenagers die at young ages? Why do good people fail, and bad people succeed? Why do people have brain tumors, cancer, and other ailments that limit their life? Why is there so much violence in the world? Why do 1/3 of the kids in the world today go to bed hungry?

    These are all questions that we want answers for, and sadly, when we can’t find the answers we want to place the blame.  However, these questions cause us to respond in one of two ways.

    WAYS TO RESPOND TO SUFFERING

    • THE SKEPTICS RESPONSE TO SUFFERING:

    Many times when bad things happen and we look to place blame on someone or something, we place our blame on God.  However, we must remember that Christians believe that God exists, that He is all good, all powerful, all knowing, and that evil exists. We become skeptics when we believe …

    1.  God is not POWERFUL ENOUGH to help me.

    This has been coined as Open Theism. Open Theism is the belief that there is a God, but he can’t help us because He doesn’t know the future and in this has limited power.

    The Bible however says,

    “For nothing is impossible with God.” Luke 1:37

    “The Lord is watching everywhere, keeping his eye on both the evil and the good” Proverbs 15:3

    2.  God is not CARING ENOUGH to help me.

    We see this differently when we look at the truth of scripture.  The Bible describes and says this about God,

    “You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body and knit me together in my mother’s womb.” Psalm 139:13

    “And the very hairs on your head are all numbered. So don’t be afraid; you are more valuable to God than a whole flock of sparrows.” Luke 12:7

    • 4 BIBLICAL RESPONSES TO SUFFERING:

     1.  GOD HASN’T TOLD US EVERYTHING.

    This isn’t a copout!!! Have you ever known a know-it-all? They aren’t very fun to be around are they? God has intentionally not told us everything. There is a mystery to life whether we like it or not.  In fact, if God told us everything, we still wouldn’t understand.

     “Now we see things imperfectly as in a cloudy mirror, but then we will see everything with perfect clarity.  All that I know now is partial and incomplete, but then I will know everything completely, just as God now knows me completely.” 1 Corinthians 13:12

    Circle the words but then.  But Then means that one day we will see perfectly. This only happens when we are in the presence of God in Heaven.

    “Life can only be understood backward, but must be lived forward.” Soren Kierkegaard.

    “Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding.” Proverbs 3:5 

    Heres the Truth – you will either put your trust in your own knowledge and understanding or you will put your trust in the Lord. It’s better to be the one who trust that God has all the answers then to be the one who needs all the answers.

    2.  GOD ISN’T THE AUTHOR OF EVIL.

    When God created all that we have seen and yet to see he describes it as excellent!

    “Then God looked over all He had made, and He saw that it was excellent in everyway.” Genesis 1:31

    If this is so, where did evil come from? Great question! What separates Humans from all of Gods other creation is the fact that we have the ability to choose. Animals live by instinct but humans live by a series of choices.  In fact, we can override, hide, and ignore deep feelings if we choose too. He has given us an element of free will.  The reason God has done this is so we can choose to Love Him in the same way He has loved us. He wants us to choose to love Him because if He forced us to love Him it wouldn’t be love,  it would be duty or obligation.

    WHERE DOES SUFFERING COME FROM?

    SINFUL choices.

    “Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked.  A man reaps what he sows.  Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life.” Galatians 6:7-8

    Truth: People starve people and God gets the blame. People hurt people and God gets the blame. Our sinful choices impact all areas of our life and we see it lived out in the world today

    SATAN.

    “We know that we are children of God, and that the whole world is under the control of the evil one.” 1 John 5:19

    “The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy.” John 10:10

    NATURAL LAWS of a broken world.

    Truth: Everything is affected by Sin!

     “For all creation is waiting eagerly for that future day when God will reveal who His children really are.  Against its will, all creation was subjected to God’s curse.  But with eager hope, the creation looks forward to the day when it will join God’s children in glorious freedom from death and decay.  For we know that all creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time.”  Romans 8:19-22

    3.  GOD CAN USE PAIN TO PRODUCE GOOD.

    “And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to His purpose.  For God knew His people in advance, and He chose them to become like His Son…” Romans 8:28-29

    Will you circle the word everything. God uses everything in our life to bring Glory to His name. We have to understand that happiness doesn’t always lead to Holiness. Gods intent is to always make us Holy, then happiness tend to follow.

    “Even though Jesus was God’s Son, He learned obedience from the things He suffered.” Hebrews 5:8

    Some of our deepest learnings and most heart wrenching prayers happen in times of great need. I’m not talking about the spare tire prayer we pray when something happens, I’m talking about the pursuit of God in a time when we realize how great our need is for Him.

    One person described pain and suffering as Gods way of revealing Himself to the world. Every time an unbeliever gets cancer or a life threatening illness or ailment, a believer gets that same ailment to show Gods great power through their journey and Faith.

    The Bible records this story in John 9,

    “As Jesus was walking along, he saw a man who had been blind from birth. 2 ‘Rabbi,’ his disciples asked him, ‘why was this man born blind? Was it because of his own sins or his parents’ sins?’ 3 ‘It was not because of his sins or his parents’ sins,’ Jesus answered.’This happened so the power of God could be seen in him. 4 We must quickly carry out the tasks assigned us by the one who sent us.’”

    4.  GOD WILL BRING AN END TO EVIL AND SUFFERING.

    “I saw the dead, both great and small, standing before God’s throne.  And the books were opened, including the Book of Life.  And the dead were judged according to what they had done…” Revelations 20:12

    “I heard a loud shout from the throne, saying, ‘Look the home of God is now among His people!  He will live with them, and they will be His people.  God Himself will be with them.  He will remove all of their sorrows, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain.  For the old world and its evil are gone forever.’” Revelations 21:3-4

    SMALL GROUP DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

    1.  List five national events that are so memorable that you remember exactly where you were when you heard the news. (examples: Pearl Harbor bombing, Challenger space shuttle explosion)

    2.  Where were you when the planes hit the Twin Towers on 9/11/01?  How did it affect you?

    3.  Read 1 Corinthians 13:12.  What things are difficult for human beings to see clearly?  What are you currently struggling with that forces you to trust and depend on God even when you don’t understand?

    4. Do you think we have a free will to choose to love God or not, or do you believe God picks out those who will love Him?  How does the power of choice lead to sin, evil, and suffering in the world?

    5.  Read Romans 8:28-29 and Hebrews 5:8.  How have you seen God take something ‘bad’ from your life and make something ‘good’ out of it?  What are some of the more difficult/ ways God carves people into being more like Jesus?

    6.  One writer wrote, “I believe for every unbeliever who gets cancer, God allows a believer to get cancer so that the world can see the difference.”  What do you think about this statement?  Have you ever seen this?

    7.  Read Revelation 20:12.  How will non-believers be judged by God?  How will believers be judged by God?

    8.  Read Revelation 21:3-4.  What excites you about heaven and eternity?  Are you eager or reluctant for Christ to return to end the world as we know it?  Why?

    9.  How has this study impacted your thoughts on evil and suffering in the world?

    MUSICAL WORSHIP SET

    It Is Well

    Rescue/Everything by Sojourn Community

    Your Love Never Fails by Jesus Culture

    How Deep The Father’s Love For Us

    We hope that you found Sundays Message and following Small Group Questions helpful. If you missed this weeks message, I encourage you to get it here.  While you are there, browse around our website … we think you will like it and find it to be a great tool in inviting friends to FBC Harvester.

    As always, I hope you make plans to join us at FBC Harvester next weekend! If distance is a problem, you are always welcome to listen to any of the teachings from our worship service from our website. If you have questions, please feel free to contact us here. We would love the privilege of helping where we can and seeing God do amazing things in our lives together.

  • Sunday AM Remix – 9.04.11

    HEROES
    Jonah: When You Don’t Want To Go

    * Jonah is a reluctant Hero: A person God calls, but who reluctantly went.
    * 2 Reasons why Jonah is literal

    ** Because of the Resurrection
    ** Because Jesus says so.

    * The book of Jonah isn’t as much about a fish (mentioned 4x) or of Jonah (mentioned 18x) but about God (mentioned 38x).

    * Nineveh – very mean people who caused others to be terrified and even commit suicide if the town heard the Ninevites were coming.

    “For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. 41 The men of Nineveh will rise up in the judgment with this generation and condemn it, because they repented at the preaching of Jonah; and indeed a greater than Jonah is here.” Matthew 12:40-41 (NKJV)

    * When we refuse to share Christ we have the Jonah attitude.

    5 SCENES THAT STAND OUT

    • SCENE 1: GOD’S PASSION FOR SOULS.

    “The Lord gave this message to Jonah son of Amittai: 2 ‘Get up and go to the great city of Nineveh. Announce my judgment against it because I have seen how wicked its people are.’” Jonah 1:1-2 (NLT)

    “But Jonah got up and went in the opposite direction to get away from the Lord. He went down to the port of Joppa, where he found a ship leaving for Tarshish. He bought a ticket and went on board, hoping to escape from the Lord by sailing to Tarshish.” Jonah 1:3 (NLT)

    * Jonah was a racist and realist that doesn’t want to go where the Lord is telling him to go.

    “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” John 3:16 (NKJV)

    “As the Scripture says, ‘Anyone who trusts in him will never be put to shame.’ 12 For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile—the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, 13 for, ‘Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.’”
    Romans 10:11-13 (NIV)

    * These are the only 2 cities mentioned in the book of Jonah and represent these 2 realities

    * Nineveh = The Will of God

    * Tar-shish = The Will of Man

    • SCENE 2: GOD’S PENALTY FOR SIN.

    * Our sin is either paid for by the cross of Christ or by us in Hell.

    * Sin will take you further than you want to go, teach you more than you wanted to know, keep you longer than you wanted to stay, and cost you more than you wanted to spend.

    “‘Get up and go to the great city of Nineveh. Announce my judgment against it because I have seen how wicked its people are.’” Jonah 1:2 (NLT)

    * Sin affects more than Just you. It affects every part of your life!

    “Now the Lord had arranged for a great fish to swallow Jonah. And Jonah was inside the fish for three days and three nights.” Jonah 1:17 (NLT)

    * Disobedience always brings Discipline.

    “He said,  ‘I cried out to the Lord in my great trouble, and he answered me. I called to you from the land of the dead, and Lord, you heard me!’” Jonah 2:2 (NLT)

    * The word dead here is the Hebrew word Sheol. Sheol in Hebrew = Hell.

    * If we would get a glimpse of what Hell is really like … we would share more passionately!

    • SCENE 3: GOD’S PATIENCE FOR SURRENDER.

    * TRUTH: Some of our best prayers happen in the valley not on the mountain.

    * TRUTH: There is a time when God’s patience runs out.

    “Then Jonah prayed to the Lord his God from inside the fish.” Jonah 2:1 (NLT)

    “Then the Lord spoke to Jonah a second time:” Jonah 3:1 (NLT)

    “On the day Jonah entered the city, he shouted to the crowds: ‘Forty days from now Nineveh will be destroyed!’” Jonah 3:4 (NLT)

    * FACT: One of Nineveh’s god’s was a fish. When Jonah is spit up on the beach by a giant fish, you know the word traveled fast!

    * TRUTH: God always prepares people for the message they hear.

    • SCENE 4: GOD’S POWER TO SAVE.

    “The people of Nineveh believed God’s message, and from the greatest to the least, they declared a fast and put on burlap to show their sorrow.” Jonah 3:5 (NLT)

    “When God saw what they had done and how they had put a stop to their evil ways, he changed his mind and did not carry out the destruction he had threatened.” Jonah 3:10 (NLT)

    * There is no forgiveness for being sorry!!!! Forgiveness only happens with repentance!

    “The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.” 2 Peter 3:9 (NIV)

    * Jonah 3:10 and 2 Peter 3:9 shows the true heart of God.

    • SCENE 5: GOD’S PROBLEM IS SAINTS.

    * Too many refuse to share the Good News … BE DIFFERENT!!!

    * Be different in the things you say, the way you act, and things you stand for.

    “This change of plans greatly upset Jonah, and he became very angry.2 So he complained to the Lord about it: ‘Didn’t I say before I left home that you would do this, Lord? That is why I ran away to Tarshish! I knew that you are a merciful and compassionate God, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love. You are eager to turn back from destroying people. 3 Just kill me now, Lord! I’d rather be dead than alive if what I predicted will not happen.’”
    Jonah 4:1-3 (NLT)

    * Many of us are guilty of misguided emotion.

    * QUESTION: What circumstances have caused me to be angry at the wrong things?

    TRUTH: You can tell a lot about a person by what they laugh at, cry about, and get angry over.

    “But how can they call on him to save them unless they believe in him? And how can they believe in him if they have never heard about him? And how can they hear about him unless someone tells them?” Romans 10:14 (NLT)

    What a great way to end this series!!! If you missed this weeks message, I encourage you to get it here.  While you are there, browse around our website … we think you will like it and find it to be a great tool in inviting friends to FBC Harvester.

    As always, I hope you make plans to join us at FBC Harvester next weekend! If distance is a problem, you are always welcome to listen to any of the teachings from our worship service from our website. If you have questions, please feel free to contact us here. We would love the privilege of helping where we can and seeing God do amazing things in our lives together.


  • Sunday AM Remix – 8.14.11

    What a great day at FBC Harvester!!! Pastor Bob was back from vacation and we had several first time guest join us today. Shout out to Malach and his 10+ football buddies who attend the 9:00 service today! Today, as we continued our Heroes series, we took a look at the life of Daniel! From a young age to old age Daniels example is powerful and one to learn from. Here are a todays notes provided by Kyle King, one of our interns.

    HEROES
    Daniel: When They Call for the Lions
    Daniel 6

    * There was 15-30 lions in the lion’s den in Daniel’s day.
    * Daniel made the decision that he would rather die than deny the Lord–we all have to make this decision
    * Genuine followers of Christ will experience pain and persecution for your faith

    “Yes, and everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.” 2 Timothy 3:12 (NLT)

    * It is a fact that we will face persecution

    “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” Matthew 5:10 (NKJV)

    * Heaven is for those who are persecuted on earth
    * The Gospel will cost you something
    * If you are not facing persecution than there is something wrong with your walk with Christ
    * Everything worth something costs you something
    * Is your Christian walk costing you anything right now?

    ‘Remember the word that I said to you, “A servant is not greater than his master. If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you …”’ John 15:20a (NKJV)

    “It pleased Darius to set over the kingdom one hundred and twenty satraps, to be over the whole kingdom; and over these, three governors, of whom Daniel was one, that the satraps might give account to them, so that the king would suffer no loss. Then this Daniel distinguished himself above the governors and satraps, because an excellent spirit was in him; and the king gave thought to setting him over the whole realm. So the governors and satraps sought to find some charge against Daniel concerning the kingdom; but they could find no charge or fault, because he was faithful; nor was there any error or fault found in him. Then these men said, ‘We shall not find any charge against this Daniel unless we find it against him concerning the law of his God.” So these governors and satraps thronged before the king, and said thus to him: ‘King Darius, live forever! All the governors of the kingdom, the administrators and satraps, the counselors and advisors, have consulted together to establish a royal statute and to make a firm decree, that whoever petitions any god or man for thirty days, except you, O king, shall be cast into the den of lions. Now, O king, establish the decree and sign the writing, so that it cannot be changed, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which does not alter.” Therefore King Darius signed the written decree. Daniel 6:1-9 (NKJV)

    *Satraps = Jealous Joes
    *We cannot change our values or beliefs in the face of persecution–we have to stand strong

    WHEN THE THREAT OF PERSECUTION COMES YOU SHOULD . . .

    1. Keep on BEING what you’ve BEEN.

    * Daniel was 90 years old at the time the story in Daniel 6 happened

    ➢ Daniel had an outstanding ATTITUDE.

    * It is easier to be negative than positive–It takes work to be positive
    * The more you are in God, the more enthusiastic you will be

    “Then this Daniel distinguished himself above the governors and satraps, because an excellent spirit was in him; and the king gave thought to setting him over the whole realm.” Daniel 6:3 (NKJV)

    ➢ Daniel had unblemished INTEGRITY.

    “So the governors and satraps sought to find some charge against Daniel concerning the kingdom; but they could find no charge or fault, because he was faithful; nor was there any error or fault found in him.” Daniel 6:4 (NKJV)

    * Daniel was so deep in his relationship with God that his attitude was different than everyone else
    * Our private life affects our public life–our private life will always come out

    “(God) is a shield to those who walk with integrity.” Proverbs 2:7 (NLT)

    * God does not protect us when we are in sin. He will allow the consequences of sin to come and He will be there to help us put the pieces back together. Throughout this whole process, God never stops loving us, He just stops protecting us.

    “Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went home. And in his upper room, with his windows open toward Jerusalem, he knelt down on his knees three times that day, and prayed and gave thanks before his God, as was his custom since early days. Then these men assembled and found Daniel praying and making supplication before his God.”
    Daniel 6:10-11 (NKJV)

    2. Keep on DOING what you’ve DONE.

    “Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went home. And in his upper room, with his windows open toward Jerusalem, he knelt down on his knees three times that day, and prayed and gave thanks before his God, as was his custom since early days.” Daniel 6:10 (NKJV)

    * In the face of persecution we need to keep living like a Christian
    * Our Biblical disciplines are not created in crisis, they are exposed
    * We face a crisis one of three ways, panic, pity, or prayer
    * We need to duplicate Daniel’s prayer life
    * We should have the attitude that we cannot wait to get to church
    * When we are persecuted, it reveals which team we are on!

    ** KEYS TO A DYNAMIC PRAYER LIFE:

    • Get a SPECIFIC PLACE.

    “. . . And in his upper room, with his windows open toward Jerusalem. . .” Daniel 6:10b (NKJV)

    “Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where He prayed.” Mark 1:35 (NIV)

    • Get in a DEVOTED POSTURE.

    * The phrase, “head bowed and eyes closed,” is not found in the Bible

    “. . . he knelt down on his knees . . .” Daniel 6:10c (NKJV)

    * We need to have a devoted posture when we pray
    * Our posture is an indication of where our heart is

    • Find a REGULAR ROUTINE. 

    “. . . three times that day. . . as was his custom since early days.” Daniel 6:10d, f

    * It is better to be in the lion’s den with God than be in the palace alone
    * When we fill our lives with anything other than God, we will never be satisfied

    “And the king, when he heard these words, was greatly displeased with himself, and set his heart on Daniel to deliver him; and he labored till the going down of the sun to deliver him. Then these men approached the king, and said to the king, ‘Know, O king, that it is the law of the Medes and Persians that no decree or statute which the king establishes may be changed.’ So the king gave the command, and they brought Daniel and cast him into the den of lions. But the king spoke, saying to Daniel, ‘Your God, whom you serve continually, He will deliver you.’ Then a stone was brought and laid on the mouth of the den, and the king sealed it with his own signet ring and with the signets of his lords, that the purpose concerning Daniel might not be changed. Now the king went to his palace and spent the night fasting; and no musicians were brought before him. Also his sleep went from him. Then the king arose very early in the morning and went in haste to the den of lions. And when he came to the den, he cried out with a lamenting voice to Daniel. The king spoke, saying to Daniel, ‘Daniel, servant of the living God, has your God, whom you serve continually, been able to deliver you from the lions?’ Then Daniel said to the king, ‘O king, live forever! My God sent His angel and shut the lions’ mouths, so that they have not hurt me, because I was found innocent before Him; and also, O king, I have done no wrong before you.” Now the king was exceedingly glad for him, and commanded that they should take Daniel up out of the den. So Daniel was taken up out of the den, and no injury whatever was found on him, because he believed in his God.” Daniel 6:14-23 (NKJV)

    3. Keep on TRUSTING whom you’ve TRUSTED.

    ‘I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.’ John 16:33 (NIV)

    * God over and over again saved and helped Daniel and so when the events in Daniel 6 happen, Daniel is just trusting the God who has always been there for him
    * Daniel did not have his eyes on the lions but on the Lord

    If you missed this weeks message, I encourage you to get it here.  While you are there, browse around our website … we think you will like it and find it to be a great tool in inviting friends to FBC Harvester.

    As always, I hope you make plans to join us at FBC Harvester next weekend! If distance is a problem, you are always welcome to listen to any of the teachings from our worship service from our website. If you have questions, please feel free to contact us here. We would love the privilege of helping where we can and seeing God do amazing things in our lives together.

  • Sunday AM Remix – 7.31.11

    Have you ever had it all and then in a flash lost it?  Have you ever had one bad thing happen after another causing you to ask God, “Why”? This is exactly what happened to Job!  In the book of Job we see and incredible journey of faith.  It’s not a story of easy faith.  It’s a story of faith that survives one bad situation after another.  It’s a faith that draws Job closer to God, when everything in his life seemed to try to pull him away.  It’s a real life story that allows us to see the spiritual battle over one of Gods faithful! But it’s also a story that leaves us asking questions … the hard questions about our own faith.  Here are my notes from today’s message!

    HEROES
    Job:  God Does Not Waste Our Suffering
    Job 1:21

    ** Job had a great life, but tragedy came knocking and turned his life upside down.

    ** TRUTH & REALITY: The accuser (Satan) is always looking to test the faith of Believers!

    ** When tragedy happened Job never stopped trusting God!

    *** When tragedy happens, how do you respond? Do you tend to blame God or question Him?

    *** Why God. Why would you let that happen?

    *** It’s easy to ask why God questions when we don’t understand why things are happening!

    ** TRUTH: In our selfishness, it’s easier to blame others than to cry out to God for help!

    ** REALITY: God doesn’t promise to answer every problem, but he does promise to be with us in every situation.

     

    LESSONS LEARNED FROM JOB

    1.  God INITIATES the testing of Job. 

    “Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan also came among them. The LORD said to Satan, ‘From where have you come?’ Satan answered the LORD and said, ‘From going to and fro on the earth, and from walking up and down on it.’ And the LORD said to Satan, ‘Have you considered my servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, who fears God and turns away from evil?’” Job 1:6-8 (ESV)

    Note:  Purpose is not to test Job as an end to itself; rather it’s an opportunity to honor God.  God is proving a point to Satan, Satan could not break someone’s faith regardless what he did to the person.

    2.  Job BLESSED the name of the Lord rather than CURSE it as the accuser had hoped. 

    “Then Job arose and tore his robe and shaved his head and fell on the ground and worshiped. And he said, “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return. The LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD.’” Job 1:20-21 (ESV)

    * QUESTION: If I was to lose it all like Job, what would my immediate reaction be? HONESTLY!!! It’s easy to say worship, until it really happens!!!

    * Job had Boils with pus oozing out all over his body. Thanks for the visual Chris Chapman!!!

    Note:  Christians are to submit to trials and still worship God, not because they see the reasons, but because God wills them and has His own reasons, which believers are to trust.

    3.  Job’s friends have a simple theology, those who PROSPER must be righteous, and those who SUFFER must be wicked.

    “Then Bildad the Shuhite answered and said: ‘How long will you say these things, and the words of your mouth be a great wind? Does God pervert justice? Or does the Almighty pervert the right? If your children have sinned against Him, He has delivered them into the hand of their transgression.’” Job 8:1-4 (ESV)

    * REALITY: It’s easy to focus on the circumstances and the things seen instead of focussing on the things unseen and trusting God.

    * TRUTH: One day God will restore all things.

    * QUESTION: The question isn’t where is God, the real question is where do I put my faith?

    * Jobs friends have an if … Then … theology?

    Note:  Religion is when circumstances in my life go wrong I am angry with God or myself, since I believe, like Job’s friends, that anyone who is good deserves a comfortable life.  Gospel is when circumstances in my life go wrong, I struggle but I know all my punishment fell on Jesus and that while He may allow this for my training He will exercise His Fatherly love within my trial.

    * When things are tough in my life, do I fall back on religion or the Gospel. It’s a Works vs Faith situation.

    4.  Elihu’s counsel . . . Job, “in this you are not RIGHT.  I will answer you, for God is GREATER than man.” Job 33:12 (ESV)

    Note:  Though the righteous suffers, the sovereign Lord is just, He does not waste our suffering and is worthy to be exalted.

    * My opinion doesn’t matter when compared to scripture.

    ** The Truth found in Scripture is the only thing that can change any person or situation.

    “Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, 3for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. 4And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.” James 1:2-4 (ESV)

    “Behold, we consider those blessed who remained steadfast. You have heard of the steadfastness of Job, and you have seen the purpose of the Lord, how the Lord is compassionate and merciful.” James 5:11 (ESV)

    “More than that, we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, 4and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, 5and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us. Romans 5:3-4 (ESV)

    * TRUTH: The Gospel is not a formula … it’s a lifestyle.

    * REALITY: If you’re not growing you are dying!!!

    * TRUTH: Growth happens most on an individual level! But sadly, many people rely only on corporate worship experiences for growth.

    5.  “The LORD said to Satan, ‘have you CONSIDERED my servant Job?’. . . Then the LORD ANSWERED Job out of the whirlwind and said: ‘Who is this that darkens counsel by words without knowledge?’” Job 1:8 . . . 38:1-2 (ESV)

    Note:  In Job’s suffering he felt abandoned, yet through this test God gave him personal attention.

    6.  God silences Job.  Job constantly wanting to ask questions of God; Job asked 114 questions searching for answers.  God responds by becoming the questioner, He asked 72 questions. 

     “Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind and said: ‘Who is this that darkens counsel by words without knowledge? Dress for action like a man; I will question you, and you make it known to me.  Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth?  Tell me, if you have understanding.  Who determined its measurements—surely you know!   Or who stretched the line upon it?’” Job 38:1-5 (ESV)

    * God silences Job and basically tells him to man up!!!

    Note:  God never told Job the reason for Job’s suffering; He questioned Job if he were eternal, great, powerful, wise and perfect.

    * In this moment, Job realizes his greatest need is and always will be God!!!

    7.  How we RESPOND matters. 

    “Then Job answered the LORD and said: ’I know that you can do all things, and that no purpose of yours can be thwarted. Who is this that hides counsel without knowledge? Therefore I have uttered what I did not understand, things too wonderful for me, which I did not know.  Hear, and I will speak; I will question you, and you make it known to me.  I had heard of you by the hearing of the ear, but now my eye sees you; therefore I despise myself, and repent in dust and ashes.’” Job 42: 1-6 (ESV)

    Note:  Job repents and confesses . . . God’s power and purpose will not fail.

    Where are you in this story? Have situations caused you to question God?  Maybe the voices of others have caused you to distance yourself from God. Wherever you are, God is not far away!

    Remember, the accuser is testing us to see if our faith is real, and to see if we will remain faithful. We have to realize that there is more to our battles than what are seen.  The next time the accuser (Satan) tests you, will you resist him … or will you give into the temptation?

    If you missed this weeks message, I encourage you to get it here.  While you are there, browse around our website … we think you will like it and find it to be a great tool in inviting friends to FBC Harvester.

    As always, I hope you make plans to join us at FBC Harvester next weekend! If distance is a problem, you are always welcome to listen to any of the teachings from our worship service from our website. If you have questions, please feel free to contact us here. We would love the privilege of helping where we can and seeing God do amazing things in our lives together.