Jesus: He gives us rest

We need to get past performance based Christianity and the guilt that comes with it. Instead, we need to rest in Jesus and trust in the sacrifice he made for us.
Mt 11:28-30 Come to me all who are weary and I will give you rest.
He's speaking to all of those who are feeling weighed down by rules and life.
-Come to me! It's an incredible invitation from Jesus to come to him. Start there.  This verse requires a response from us.
-Reject works-based salvation and righteousness. We can't follow all of the rules perfectly -Jesus has done all of that for us. 2 Cor 5:21, Rom 3:20, Mt 23:4, 1Jn 5:3, Acts 15:10, Gal 5:1 Jesus freed us so that we can be free!
-Rest in Jesus! He is gentle and here to give us rest, not to condemn us. Lk 10:38-42, Is 40:31, Eph 3:16-21

Jesus: Friend of sinners

Lk 19:1-10 Jesus and Zacchaeus
Zacchaeus may have been short, but he was a despised rich man. He was probably very proud that Jesus picked him out from the whole crowd.
This story comes after the parable of the Pharisee and the tax collector in Lk 18:9-14.
All of the people wondered why Jesus would want to hang out with Zacchaeus, a sinner.
Something supernatural changed in Zacchaeus between verse 6 and verse 8. He calls Jesus "Lord" and his attitude is different. Zacchaeus was radically changed and saved that day because he came face to face with Jesus.
We all are sinners in need of Jesus. As a church, we need to be about helping sinners find Jesus and salvation.
While we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Rom 5:8

Jesus: Who is Jesus?

Jesus WAS and IS God. There's no neutral ground.
What did Jesus say about himself?
-He came down from heaven. Jn 6:38, 41-42, 60, 66
-He was more than just a good man. Mk 10:17-18, don't call me good unless you are also calling me God.
-He was the son of man. Dan 7:13-14
-He performed miracles. Jn 10:36-39
-He said he was God. Mk 14:61-64
-He confirmed to others that he was God.  Mt
-He was sinless. Jn 8:46
-He forgave sin.  Mk 2:5
-He taught people to pay to him as God. In 14:13-14
-He claimed all authority.  Mt 28:18-20
-He is the only way to heaven. Jn 14:6
THAT is the Jesus who came and died for me.

Sermon: What is church? Love one another

1Jn 3:11-18 Love one another.
- "one great priority of the church is one anothering one another." Much of this takes place outside of the sanctuary/church building.
-we must love each other, not hate each other.  1Jn 3:12-13, 15 Cain and Abel. Hating others is like murder. How do we handle it when we are angry with others in the church? Mt 5:23-24 make it right with your brother or sister. It's way easier to avoid the conflict than to face it.
---always operate from a position of grace. 1 Jn 3:1 extend grace
---take it serious and fix it now.  Mt 5:23-24, 18:15-17.
---watch your words! Jas. 3:2-6
-the love that we have for each other as brothers and sisters must make an impact. 1 Jn 3:16-18,  Jn 13:33-35. "Love one another as I have loved you. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another."
★Trust that if you love one another, God is going to do something spectacular!

Sermon: What is church? Serious about our sin

We have to get serious about dealing with our sin.  We can be honest about our sin in church.
-the church is a place where the gospel needs to be proclaimed over and over...
-when you repent and are saved, transformation takes place, and you begin to have a hatred for sin Mt 4:17; Rev 2:5, 2:22, 3:2, 3:19.
REPENTANCE
-2 Cor 7:8-11 sorrow led to repentance.
-there is grief involved in repentance. We need to be sorry for our sin.
-our sin must repulse us. Energy to fight against sin. Hate sin.
-desire to make things right with other people.
-Godly sorrow leaves no regrets, but worldly sorrow leads to death. Worldly sorrow is more about us (sorry I got caught, sorry it hurt you...). Luke 18:9-14

Sermon: What is the Church? The Manifest Presence

What is the church? The body, a family, a people, the bride. Mt 16:18
The church is important.
Eph 2:17-22 Jesus preached peace to Jews (you can be religious and still not be saved) and Gentiles. Through Jesus, we have access to God by his Spirit. Eph 2:1.
We are family in God's household, the church, built on the foundation of Jesus. Jesus is doing a transforming work in our lives. All of us are joined together to be God's church, and he is building each of us to become a dwelling place for his Spirit.
★Did I come today longing for God's presence? Do I have an expectation that God will be here working through his Spirit? Don't settle for anything less than the manifest presence of God, God working in and through us.

Sermon: I Am Second ... John Carruthers

John 3:30 He must increase, and I must decrease.
John 1:6-9, Luke 1:16-17 John was a forerunner to the Christ. His purpose was to preach the coming of Christ. John 3:28
- to be second, you have to submit and give control to who is first. John 3:27-30, John was full of joy and content to give all over to Christ.
- to be second, you must remain second. 1 Cor 3:7
- because I am second, I am forgiven.  Rom 3:23-25, Jn 3:16.
- because I am second, I belong to the Lord. Rom 14:8
- because I am second, I am an example. Gal 2:20
★ in my life, what is God trying to use me for?
Iamsecond.com
Mt 11:28-30