Thanks, veterans. Because of your service we get to do what we are doing today. Thanks.
Today we’re talking about money. Some people don’t like it when the church talks about money. But we’ve asked questions of our staff and know that it’s worth it to talk about money. Jesus addressed money issues.
As I read questions from the staff the thought came to mind, “How much does God really care about these questions. After all, it’s just a piece of paper that tells value, how much does God care?”
We’re going to begin with a celebration of something we did in October. We were on a mission to Fill the Bus to Haiti. We did it! We also had a mission to make pillowcase dresses. We made 226 of them! Each one of these dresses will go to a girl in Haiti. Also, 36 new children were sponsored in Mozambique, bringing our total to 290 sponsor children in Gorongosa, Mozambique.
A month ago, I asked the staff to write down their money questions.
I took the questions that focused on giving to the church.
If you’re a guest or visitor, we’re glad you’re here. Jesus taught a lot about money. More than we teach about money. So this is a good day to be here.
Last week, we learned that if we’re going to be fully devoted followers of Jesus then we’ve got to follow him in Christ-centered service.
Kingdom Service is about four things:
Christ Centered – Inviting people into new life
Relationships – Reconciling people to God and one another
Wholistic – Caring for the whole life of others
Development – All of us grow and share gifts
This morning, we’re going to look specifically at how Jesus served the WHOLE person. Mind, body and soul.
We’re going to focus on a tough section of scripture.
I didn’t want to teach on this text, it’s tough! But God wanted me to and he won.
Prophets spoke in a way that would make the hearers think, be uncomfortable, and disrupt their life for a better direction.
Jesus is kind, loving, and good but he was also a prophet. His words will disrupt us a bit and cause us to think hard about the direction of our lives.
Psalm 42:1-2 As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, my God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When can I go and meet with God?
How’d you feel about hearing those verses?
Today is the wrap-up of our series, Passionate Faith, learning about how to live out faith in God. Most of the teachings in this series have been about the “faith” part of that phrase. Today, we’re going to focus on the “passion” part.
Passion – Strong emotion or feeling.
We could divide you into two groups: 1 – Feelers 2 – Thinkers Most of us are one or the others
The psalmist was sharing his feelings about God. Think about the images he used: – As a deer longs for water…
Illustration: Dry land
We’ve had a dry summer
I think I could hear the lawn crying out, “Water! Water, we’re dying!”
Illustration: The Watchman
It’s dark
He knows the city is under siege, waiting for the enemy attack
He longs for the light
Some of you have a longing for God. You understand it, feel it even.
Some of you don’t really know what I’m talking about
Illustration: Memorization
Say the first verse over and over again
Move to the next
Say them together
The first verses that I say over and over I know really well
Not as much the later ones, but still it’s been a good system for me
Matthew 5:6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled
In my head, I don’t know what this means
In my heart, I long for this
Illustration: The book titled Adam
A story about Genesis 1
Has a description of how Adam would meet with God
Waiting in the cool of the day. Waiting… waiting…
Then he realizes that God is there. Even though he isn’t seen
Encounters with God are the highlight of the day!
Reading this created a longing for God
I want meeting with God to be the highlight of the day
This touched my mind and my heart
Psalmist – Your love is better than life – That speaks deeply of my hearts desire
Some of you know what I’m talking about – I’m not talking to you at all today – We’ve taken up the offering, you can leave (ha!)
I want to talk to the “thinkers” today – The ones who are more serious – You don’t like “touchy feely” stuff – You don’t like when I cry during my sermons – It’s you I want to talk to today
When you strip away all the extra stuff, to be a follower of Jesus is to love God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength. And to love your neighbor as yourself. To do this means relating to God with your heart, emotions and passions.
Question: Is there, in you, some emotion/feeling/passion that you could use in your relationship with God?
You do, in fact, have deep feelings and passions. There are some things in which you feel very deeply.
Illustration: Conversations
It’s like having an easy conversation with someone
Then it turns
Someone speaks faster, louder, and passionate.
“Whoa, where did that come from?” You wonder…
I believe, in all of us, there are areas where we are passionate. Where we have very deep feelings.
Can you take those feelings and apply them to God?
Illustration: White Castle
Like the first time you had a White Castle hamburger
You longed for it
You could eat 10, 15, or 20 because, after all, they’re only 62 cents
Then you learn that there is no franchise in Iowa!
You would drive anywhere for White Castle!
The frozen ones from Aldi don’t compare
Ha! (Ed is obviously passionate about White Castle)
Can we somehow use our passionate feelings about other things, and apply them to our relationship with God?
Ways to unleash your emotions/feelings and connect them to God:
1 – Listen to the stories of people who have experienced God in a deep way.
Illustration: Junior High Camp while in Seminary
I met a man named Preston
He was a hippy
They lived in the mountains in California. Grew their own food, pot, and LSD. They were pretty “happy”
There was a Christian couple that came to visit them
Preston shared that he knew NOTHING about Christianity. Had never been to a church
The couple shared Jesus with them.
Preston read the New Testament. He believed it!
Hearing Preston’s story stirred up a longing for Jesus in me. His passion for Jesus made me long for that kind of connection with God.
I think if we can have ears and eyes that help us look for and listen to deep stories for God, it will create a longing for God
Psalm 34:8 Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in him.
Illustration: We can find stories of people who encountered God in powerful ways in the the Bible
Illustration: Growing up
At 15 years old, we were church regulars
On a Sunday night, I was home alone
I was watching TV. A program called “GE Theater”
The drama they were doing was the story of David and Goliath
Side note: I found the episode online (It was sooo poorly done!)
But, back for me as a 15 year old, watching that drama created a longing for God. I wanted to connect with God in a way that David had.
“God, I will fight the giants for you. I will live for you.”
That story stirred a passion and a longing for God in me
Read these stories in the Bible. Don’t get boged down, read these stories.
2 – You can work at putting yourself in situations where God is likely to turn up.
Doing this may open you up to God’s work.
One of the places this happens is worship. By singing, we can become vulnerable to God. Somehow, through worship. God can breakthrough to us (even the thinkers)
Many of you have experienced this. Even if you don’t feel like you’re a singer (and you’re not singing) that’s okay. But even if you’re not singing, could you look at the words on the screen and say them to God?
We are going to do that now. Let’s sing to God. The song we’re going to sing is called “Heart of Worship”
I remember the first time I heard this song. It was at a Caravan return service. I remember it struck me in a powerful way. When it all comes down to it, it’s about Jesus. Nothing else matters.
Don’t worry about those around you. The bad singers, hand raisers, or loud drums. Strip it all away and focus on God. It’s all about you, God.
Questions
What are two or three things about which you are passionate?
How would you describe your feelings about these things?
How do your feelings for God compare with those feelings you listed in question two?
Managing Your Resources
Ben There Do That 