Thursday, January 28, 2010

Do Something (Part 4 of 4)

January 27, 2010

Wednesday night Pastor Shane taught on "Doing Something for Your Creation" from Genesis 1:1, 27-31.
In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth...So God created human beings in his own image. In the image of God he created them; male and female he created them. Then God blessed them and said, "Be fruitful and multiply. Fill the earth and govern it. Reign over the fish in the sea, the birds in the sky, and the animals that scurry along the ground." Then God said, "Look! I have given you every seed-bearing plant throughout the earth and all the fruit trees for your food. And I have given every green plant as food for all the wild animals, the birds in the sky, and the small animals that scurry along the ground--everything that has life." And that is what happened. Then God looked over all he had made, and he saw that it was very good! And evening passed and morning came, marking the sixth day.

3 Keys for Doing Something For Creation:
  1. God and His Creation (God created everything)
  2. God and His Humanity (God created us in His own image)
  3. People and God's Creation (God put us in charge to rule over the animals)
Greed vs. Generousity:

In 1Kings 21:1-19...King Ahab wanted to buy the vineyard next to his castle, but the owner could not sell it to him...it had to remain in the family. The king went back home and told his wife, Jezebel. Jezebel arranged for the owner of the vineyard to be accused and convicted of blasphemy and was stoned to death. At which time, she returned to her husband the king and told him that the land is now available because the owner is dead...go and claim it!

2 Challenges for you:
  1. Do something that isn't easy. (Get out of your comfort zone to do something for someone else).
  2. Do something that has a ripple effect. (Doing something good that affects someone else long term.)
What can you do to help others?

Thursday, January 21, 2010

Do Something (Part 3 of 4)

Wednesday Night, January 20, 2010

Pastor Shane preached on "Do Something" to comfort the afflicted. Jesus will afflict the comfortable to help those that need help. Jesus wants to clean us from the inside out. This is what Shane taught the youth about Luke 11:37-47:

When Jesus was speaking, one of the Pharisees invited him home for a meal. So he went in and took his place at the table. The host was amazed that Jesus sat down at the table before washing his hands, which was a Jewish ceremonial custom. Jesus told the Pharisees that they are so careful to clean the outside of a cup and a dish, but leaving the inside...filthy. (Keeping unrighteousness in their hearts). By doing something for the poor it was an act of love revealing what was on the inside...internal righteousness.

Our Mission Statement for SRBC holds us accountable for what we need to be doing as a church body:
  1. Exalt the Savior!
  2. Equip the Saints!
  3. Evangelize the Lost!
  4. Go and Extend God's Love to All!
Jesus wants to cleanse us from the inside out. So, what can we do?

Life Action Steps:
  1. Identify the afflicted.
  2. Make their affliction or pain our own.
  3. Afflict your own comfort. (Rework the way the Lord works from the rest of the world. The world keeps a person who is down...down. Help someone to do their best, fairly).
God changes us from the inside first. God has to change your heart first for others around you in order for us to do something.

Thursday, January 14, 2010

Do Something (Part 2 of 4)

This week Pastor Shane is teaching on how we need to "Do Something" for others and not become numb to their needs. How numb have we grown? How can you become numb to the important things in life? How can you overcome your numbness? How numb are you to God?

In Luke 16:19-31, it talks about a rich man who lives in luxury every day and a poor man named Lazarus covered in sores begging for food laying outside his house. One day, both men die. One goes to heaven and the other goes to hell. In hell, the rich man looks up and sees Abraham far away in heaven with Lazarus by his side. The rich man calls out to Father Abraham to have pity on him and asked if he will send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water to cool his tongue, because he was in agony in the fire.

Abraham reminds him that when he was alive he had the best of things, while Lazarus had bad things. Now the poor man was being comforted in heaven and the rich man is in agony in hell. Now that they have died, there is no way to cross over from heaven to hell or vice versa. (No way to help someone from heaven/hell that went to hell/heaven). The rich man then pleaded with Abraham to let Lazarus go to his family to warn them of hell. Abraham told him that Moses and the Prophets were on earth to warn them and they need to listen. The rich man again pleaded with Abraham that if someone from the dead would warn them, then they would turn away from their sins. Abraham told him that if they would not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.

3 Things that Separate the Rich Guy from the Poor Guy (Lazarus):
  1. Distance (social status)
  2. Clothing (rich man...purple/fine linen - poor man...beggar covered in sores)
  3. Food (rich man...had a banquet all the time - poor man...begged for food)
In Isaiah 61:1...talks about proclaiming good news to the poor, binding up the brokenhearted, proclaim freedom for the captives, and being released from darkness for the prisoners. (The one that has grown numb is the brokenhearted). What can we do?

Anti-Numbness Therapy:
  1. Do something with your Money.
  2. Do something without Expectations.
  3. Do something with your Possessions.
  4. Do something without Something. (Giving up something)
Stop being numb to the needs around you!

Thursday, January 7, 2010

Do Something

On Wednesday, Pastor Shane started a new 4-week series on "Do Something".  We need to wake up and become the people that God has designed us to be. So what do we do that will make a difference?


First We Have to Notice the Needs Around Us

Key Scripture is Matthew 25:34-46

Do we as Christians notice the needs around us? How do we look at the world around us? Here are a few
views that we can take in looking at the world around us.

1. The world is mostly good and needs little help

2. The world is mostly a mess and is in need of serious help

3. I haven't thought much about the world around me, but I am a mess

4. I haven't thought much about the world around me and I'm not a mess

5. I'm not okay with injustice, poverty, disease, racism, etc.

6. I'm okay with injustice, poverty, disease, racism, etc.

Upcoming Events:

  1. Mission Serve 2010 will cost $300 per person this year, food included. So, pray about signing up.
  2. Fundraisers for Mission Serve will be January 16th & February 20th @ Winn Dixie on Veteran's Pkwy from 1-5pm ET. If you need money to go to Mission Serve then come help bag groceries on these two dates.
  3. If you owe a balance on Snowbird, there will be a Youth Luncheon Fundraiser on January 17th in the Fellowship Hall following Morning Worship Service. Please come and help serve lunch to the church.