Practice: Serve 8.4 - April 25, 2010

        Practice #8 – Serve
8.4 – When Serving Becomes Work

  
   A.    Jesus’ appearance with His disciples had sent Martha into a tailspin   
      1.    Martha was going around in circles
      2.    Instructed the Lord to send Mary to the kitchen
      3.    Mary had chosen to sit at Jesus’ feet and learn
      4.    Martha could have been a workaholic
         a.    Probably the oldest sister
         b.    Mary was probably the middle child

3 scriptures about Mary—each time she is sitting at Jesus’ feet    
B.    The second occasion—John 11:1-6, 17-27, 28-33
      1.    Martha’s approach was one of detail—“why did you not come?”
      2.    Mary’s approach was one of worship—she fell at His feet

   C.    Martha’s second chance – John 12:1
      1.    “Martha served” – vs 2
      2.    Mary worshiped – by anointing Him
      3.    We may need passion and practice


I.    Burnout comes from forcing ourselves to do something we are not passionate about; we have a tendency to get crabby
   A.    Martha was all about the task
   B.    Service for Christ can get in the way of communion
      1.    We are a task-oriented society
      2.    Many of us are performance driven
      3.    Tasks however are very needful—sometimes even when we don’t feel like it
      4.    Ministry is full of people who will look around and complain when everything is not getting
         done.
         a.    If Jesus were coming to your house tomorrow, what would you change?
         b.    Illustration—mother asked daughter to go get the book we always read
Matthew 13:22 (New King James Version)
Now he who received seed among the thorns is he who hears the word, and the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and he becomes unfruitful.
The cares of this world choke out our spiritual life.

II.    We may need worship as well as work
   A.    Mary’s heart longed to honor the Lord
      1.    Sitting at His feet is a safe place
      2.    Hard on Him, easy on ourselves

B.    Mary had chosen the better things
      1.    What was cooking in the living room was much more important than what was cooking in the
          kitchen
2.    When our heart is right, our hands are right

III.  Learn to get things done with the right attitude
   A.    We need a consistent place of worship and learning
      1.    Jesus had a place of prayer consistently
      2.    Paul always looked for a place to worship and pray
      3.    Maybe this is why there are so many epiphanies in the shower
  
   B.    Learn to come into His presence with intentionality
      1.    Church is not just fellowship

   C.    Devote ourselves to sit at His feet;
I Peter 2:2 as newborn babies, desire the sincere milk of the word that you may grow thereby

D.  Devote ourselves to getting His work done

Revelation 21:3-4 (New King James Version)
And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying.
There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.”
    1.    Jesus longs to be with us.
    2.    Honoring Him will make us feel comfortable.

Practice: Server 8.3 - April 18, 2010

Practice #8 – Serve
8.3 – People Value

Review: The mission – Luke 19:10; Our responsibility – 2 Corinthians 5 – we must take on the mission

What does God care about?
 
Deuteronomy 6:5 (New International Version)
Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.

Deuteronomy 30:2 (New International Version)
and when you and your children return to the LORD your God and obey him with all your heart and with all your soul according to everything I command you today,
 
Joshua 22:5 (New International Version)
But be very careful to keep the commandment and the law that Moses the servant of the LORD gave you: to love the LORD your God, to walk in all his ways, to obey his commands, to hold fast to him and to serve him with all your heart and all your soul."
 
Proverbs 3:5 (New International Version)
Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding;
Jeremiah 29:13 (New International Version)
You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.

Joel 2:12 (New International Version)
"Even now," declares the LORD, "return to me with all your heart, with fasting and weeping and mourning."

Zephaniah 3:14 (New International Version)
Sing, O Daughter of Zion; shout aloud, O Israel! Be glad and rejoice with all your heart, O Daughter of Jerusalem!

Matthew 22:36-40 (New International Version)
"Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?" Jesus replied: " 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments."

Romans 13:8-10 (New International Version)
Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for he who loves his fellowman has fulfilled the law. The commandments, "Do not commit adultery," "Do not murder," "Do not steal," "Do not covet," and whatever other commandment there may be, are summed up in this one rule: "Love your neighbor as yourself." Love does no harm to its neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.

1 John 1:7 (New International Version)
But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.

Jesus tells a story about how this looks:
Luke 10:25-37 (New International Version)
On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. "Teacher," he asked, "what must I do to inherit eternal life?" "What is written in the Law?" he replied. "How do you read it?" He answered: " 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind'; and, 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'" "You have answered correctly," Jesus replied. "Do this and you will live." But he wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, "And who is my neighbor?" In reply Jesus said: "A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he fell into the hands of robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, took him to an inn and took care of him. The next day he took out two silver coins and gave them to the innkeeper. 'Look after him,' he said, 'and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.' "Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?" The expert in the law replied, "The one who had mercy on him." Jesus told him, "Go and do likewise."

1.    If we are going to be on God’s mission, people have to matter.
Galatians 5:22-23 (New International Version)
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.
 
2.    Many people, when trying to love God, decide to study the Word.
John 5:39-40 (New International Version)
You diligently study the Scriptures because you think that by them you possess eternal life. These are the Scriptures that testify about me, yet you refuse to come to me to have life.
 
3.    If you are going to love God, you have to care about what He cares about.
Matthew 25:31-46 (New International Version)
When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his throne in heavenly glory. All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left. Then the King will say to those on his right, “Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.” Then the righteous will answer him, “Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?” The King will reply, “I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.” Then he will say to those on his left, “Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.” They also will answer, “Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?” He will reply, “I tell you the truth, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.” Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.

Practice: Server 8.1 - April 4, 2010 - Easter Sunday

Practice #8 – Serve 8.1 –
It’s Just Too Far-Fetched

Philippians 2:3-8 (New International Version)
Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: 
 Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, 
but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death—even death on a cross!

We can kill the reality of Jesus’ work on the cross when we try to debate worldview for worldview. The story is pretty crazy if you think about it. Genesis 1:1 (New International Version)
In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.
John 3:16 (New International Version)
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
Luke 1:31-35 (New International Version)
You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever; his kingdom will never end." "How will this be," Mary asked the angel, "since I am a virgin?" The angel answered, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God.
Hebrews 4:15 (New International Version)
For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet was without sin.
Romans 5:18-19 (New International Version)
Consequently, just as the result of one trespass was condemnation for all men, so also the result of one act of righteousness was justification that brings life for all men. For just as through the disobedience of the one man the many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of the one man the many will be made righteous.

Here is the crux of the story: As a result of this amazing process of events, I am supposed to be different.
John 8:36 (New International Version)
So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.
Romans 8:1 (New International Version)
Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus,
Romans 8:31-32, 37 (New International Version)
What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things…No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.

So, how do we live in response to this?
Philippians 2:3-8 (New International Version)
Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: 
 Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, 
but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death—even death on a cross!

As a result of this story, we should be affected to DO certain things.

Practice: Worship 7.4 - March 28, 2010

Practice #7 – Worship
7.4 – The Living Sacrifice

Romans 11:36-12:2 (New International Version)
For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be the glory forever! Amen. Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

•    The parts of worship:  For the glory of the one worshipped
•    Something is offered or sacrificed or dedicated in worship
•    The things offered in worship belong to the one worshipped, not the worshipper.
Here is how we do it:1.    Know who God made you to be.Romans 12:3-8 (NIV)
For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you. Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a man's gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith. If it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach; if it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously; if it is leadership, let him govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully.

2.    Treat other people correctlyRomans 12:9-21 (NIV)
Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves. Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Share with God's people who are in need. Practice hospitality. Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited. Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God's wrath, for it is written: "It is mine to avenge; I will repay," says the Lord. On the contrary: "If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head." Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

Paul gives us a list of what this looks like:
•    Hate Evil
•    Focus on good things (Philippians 4:8)
•    Be devoted to one another and honor each other (Ephesians 4:32)
•    Never be lacking in zeal
•    Maintain hope, patience, prayer
•    Take care of those in need
•    Hang out with people
•    Be a blessing
•    Join people where they are – the easy ones and the hard ones
•    Get along with people
•    Be humble
•    Don’t be vindictive
•    Do what is right – even if it hurts
•    Don’t be vengeful.  God will take care of it
•    Be a blessing to those whom you do not like
•    Romans 13:1-7 – honor your government
•    Romans 13:8-14 – reinforcing loving your brother and sister
•    Romans 14 – how to handle people who do churchy things different than you

This is Paul’s definition of what worship is, and according to Paul is the only logical thing that we can do in view of how good God has been to us.

Practice: Worship 7.3 - March 21, 2010

Practice #7 – Worship
7.3 – When Life Gets In The Way

Matthew 13:1-9 (New International Version)
That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat by the lake. Such large crowds gathered around him that he got into a boat and sat in it, while all the people stood on the shore. Then he told them many things in parables, saying: "A farmer went out to sow his seed. As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root. Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants. Still other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop—a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown. He who has ears, let him hear."
 
Matthew 13:10-11 (New International Version)
The disciples came to him and asked, "Why do you speak to the people in parables?" He replied, "The knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of heaven has been given to you, but not to them.

Matthew 13:18-23 (New International Version)
Listen then to what the parable of the sower means: When anyone hears the message about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is the seed sown along the path. The one who received the seed that fell on rocky places is the man who hears the word and at once receives it with joy. But since he has no root, he lasts only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, he quickly falls away. The one who received the seed that fell among the thorns is the man who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke it, making it unfruitful. But the one who received the seed that fell on good soil is the man who hears the word and understands it. He produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.

1.    Many people cannot understand why anyone would want to worship God.Psalm 53:1-3 (New International Version)
The fool says in his heart, "There is no God." They are corrupt, and their ways are vile; there is no one who does good. God looks down from heaven on the sons of men to see if there are any who understand, any who seek God. Everyone has turned away, they have together become corrupt; there is no one who does good, not even one.

2.    Many People make all kinds of commitments when things are easy, but cannot stay the course.Philippians 3:10-14 (New International Version)
I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead. Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.

3.    Many People just let life get in the way.Revelation 3:15-17 (New International Version)
I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth. You say, “I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.” But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked.

Practice: Worship 7.2 - March 14, 2010

Practice #7 - Worship
7.2 – Entering In

Romans 11:36-12:2 (New Living Translation)
For everything comes from him and exists by his power and is intended for his glory. All glory to him forever! Amen.  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.   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.

   •    Three Key Components of Worship…
      o    It brings glory to the one Worshipped.
      o    In Worship, the worshipper offers, presents, or dedicates something.
      o    That offering no longer belongs to the worshipper, it becomes a Sacrifice to that which is
               worshipped.

A Picture of the Temple
The Process:
1.    Teaching
Romans 10:14-15 (New International Version)
How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!”

2.    Confession
James 5:15-16 (New International Version)
And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise him up. If he has sinned, he will be forgiven. Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.
 
3.    Repentance
1 Kings 8:46-49 (New International Version)
When they sin against you—for there is no one who does not sin—and you become angry with them and give them over to the enemy, who takes them captive to his own land, far away or near; and if they have a change of heart in the land where they are held captive, and repent and plead with you in the land of their conquerors and say, “We have sinned, we have done wrong, we have acted wickedly”; and if they turn back to you with all their heart and soul in the land of their enemies who took them captive, and pray to you toward the land you gave their fathers, toward the city you have chosen and the temple I have built for your Name; then from heaven, your dwelling place, hear their prayer and their plea, and uphold their cause.
 
2 Chronicles 32:26 (New International Version)
Then Hezekiah repented of the pride of his heart, as did the people of Jerusalem; therefore the LORD's wrath did not come upon them during the days of Hezekiah.
 
Job 34:33 (New International Version)
Should God then reward you on your terms, when you refuse to repent?
 
Revelation 3:2-3 (New International Version)
Wake up! Strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have not found your deeds complete in the sight of my God. Remember, therefore, what you have received and heard; obey it, and repent. But if you do not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what time I will come to you.
 
4.    ConsecrationExodus 19:21-22 (New International Version)
and the LORD said to him, "Go down and warn the people so they do not force their way through to see the LORD and many of them perish. Even the priests, who approach the LORD, must consecrate themselves, or the LORD will break out against them."
 
What is consecration?“To set apart as Holy; to devote to sacred or serious use.” 
This is the offering piece of Worship.  This is what Paul is talking about in Romans 12:1: “Offer your bodies as living sacrifices” - in other words…Consecrate yourself to the LORD.
 
5.    AdorationLeviticus 16:34
This is to be a lasting ordinance for you: Atonement is to be made once a year for all the sins of the Israelites.

Practice: Worship 7.1 - March 7, 2010

Practice # 7 - Worship
7.1 – The Worship Wheelhouse

Romans 11:36 - Romans 12:2 (New International Version)
For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be the glory forever! Amen. Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

Some Simple Elements of Worship:
•    It is for the Glory of whatever is worshipped.
•    There is an Offering where the worshipper will Present or Dedicate something.
•    Whatever is dedicated or offered or presented to the thing worshipped becomes sacrificed – it                     belongs to the thing that is worshipped.

A View of Worship from Scripture:
Offering and Sacrifice:
•    Genesis 4:2b-5… Cain and Abel are offering sacrifices
•    Genesis 8:20-21… Noah builds an altar and makes sacrifices
•    Genesis 14:17-20…Abraham and Melchizedek
•    Genesis 22 – Abraham and Isaac – Abraham makes a Sacrifice
 
Acknowledging who God is and what He is doing:
•    Genesis 24:26-27 – Abraham’s Chief Servant finds Rachel for Isaac to marry.
•    Genesis 28:16-19… Jacob’s dream and reaction
•    Genesis 35… Jacob goes back to that spot and builds an altar to remember.
•    Exodus 15… Moses and Miriam Sing to God

Obedience to the Lord’s Commands:
•    Exodus 12… Hebrews obey God through the Passover
•    Exodus 19-20… Commitment from the People and a Commitment from God
From Exodus 21 – Matthew 3 everything takes on a defined process – the LAW…
Jesus called them back to a perspective that honors God…

John 4:23-24
Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth.

•    The Question she asked was immediately about worship.
•    There is a place for the law, but it is not the observance of the law that pleases God.
 
Isaiah 1:11 (New International Version)
“The multitude of your sacrifices— what are they to me?” says the LORD. “I have more than enough of burnt offerings, of rams and the fat of fattened animals; I have no pleasure in the blood of bulls and lambs and goats.”

2 Traps in Contemporary Worship:
1.    Religiosity – Truth without the Spirit
Galatians 3:2 (New International Version)
I would like to learn just one thing from you: Did you receive the Spirit by observing the law, or by believing what you heard?

John 5:39-40 (New International Version)
You diligently study the Scriptures because you think that by them you possess eternal life. These are the Scriptures that testify about me, yet you refuse to come to me to have life.
•    How can I know if I have fallen too far on this side of the worship balance?
 
2.    Anarchy – Trying to Emphasize the Spirit without any truth.
Galatians 5:13 (New International Version)
You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature; rather, serve one another in love.

Jeremiah 17:9 (New International Version)
The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?
•    How can I know if I have fallen too far on this side of Balanced Worship?

Conclusion:
When I Worship, is it in the wheelhouse of Spirit and Truth?
What did I offer in Worship today?  Whatever I offered, it is no longer mine.  If I offered nothing, I did not Worship.  What then did I do?  Is God okay with that?