United In Christ · Growing In Grace · Reaching Out In Love

Sunday Morning Sermon Summary

Note to the visitor:  These are Pastor Paul’s sermon notes from Sunday Morning.  They probably won’t make much sense if you weren’t in the service.  Feel free to contact Pastor Paul if you’d like more detailed information.
For past sermons, please visit the Sermon Archive. 

“We Love Because…”

1 John 4:19

Sunday, September 27, 2009

1 John 4:19  We love because He first loved us.

ME:     Struggle with Mission-Vision-Strategy-Values (Sentences that soar…)

Realize value of slogan we’ve always had (STRATEGY):

                    UNITED                  GROWING             REACHING

 “Come, follow me” – love each other – go, make disciples”

“Direction (not intention) determines destination” So, what’s the path?

WE:    Philippians 2:5-9:  Let this mind be in you…

            Problem:  I don’t feel like I have the mind of Christ

1 Corinthians 2:16 "For who has known the mind of the Lord that he may instruct him?

… But we have the mind of Christ.)

Humbled himself: Starting point: can’t do the rest without this one

            My book: Humility and How I Attained it!

When Jesus said, “Follow me” what was humble about it?

            “I am the way, the truth and the life?”  Humble?

“I and the Father are One!” Not very “humble”!

Misunderstood word: “lowliness of mind”

Romans 12:3 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.

Matthew 5:2-11 – Beatitudes describe an “upside down kingdom”

THREE STEPS TO HUMBLING HIMSELF (Philippians 2:5-9)

1.         Made Himself of no reputation

            “Though He was God, thought it not something to be grasped to be considered equal with God”.

            Assumed the position!  Never stopped being God, just lived as though he had no reputation

 ILLUSTRATION: 60 years of “experts” (drips under pressure) make things worse

2.         Took the form of a servant: (humbled Himself by taking the form of a servant)

            Luke 22:24-28  Also a dispute arose among them as to which of them was considered to be greatest. Jesus said to them, "The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them; and those who exercise authority over them call themselves Benefactors. But you are not to be like that. Instead, the greatest among you should be like the youngest, and the one who rules like the one who serves. For who is greater, the one who is at the table or the one who serves? Is it not the one who is at the table? But I am among you as one who serves.

ILLUSTRATION: Patton’s aide: “don’t forget the Russians”

3.         Became obedient (unto death)

Hebrews 5:8-10 Although he was a son, he learned obedience from what he suffered and, once made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him.

ILLUSTRATION” Girl at the funeral  – never learned obedience; always seemed to consider obedience as unfair, unreasonable, unwilling to “suffer” to be obedient.

            GIFTED BUT USELESS.  Nobody wanted her to stop being who she was

            Sarah’s Mexico trip:  Became (reluctantly) obedient; grateful later.  Didn’t stop being Sarah

            Obedient unto death – putting to death the deeds of the body

Romans 8:13-17 For if you live according to the sinful nature, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live, because those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.

SO WHAT?   Keywords: “HUMBLED HIMSELF, MADE HIMSELF, TOOK THE FORM…, BECAME”

                        PROMISE: “Wherefore God __has highly exalted him__(Applies only to Christ?)

Matthew 23:12 For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.

Clearly, exalting ourselves and humbling ourselves is something we do to and for ourselves.

Scott Peck: Maundy Thursday Revolution

Footwashing at Los Al (ceremony that carries the same message for our time?)

Communion: “Christ in you the hope of glory”

NOW WHAT?   Leonard Sweet’s Titanium Rule: Do unto others as Christ has done unto you

CHALLENGE: Do unto ____ONE OTHER      as Jesus has done for us!

The most unresponsive, unloving, thoughtless, least likely to reciprocate person we know:

“while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”

Humble ourselves, Make ourselves of no reputation (“I was among you as one who serves”), take the form of a servant (intentional, towel-over-the-arm service), become obedient unto death (sacrificing natural priorities)

STORY OF THE RABBI’S GIFT: “Monastery fallen hard times, Rabbi in a small hut, one of the Monks visited, end of visit said “It has been a wonderful thing that we should meet after all these years, but I have still failed in my purpose. Is there nothing you can tell me that will help me save my dying order?” The Rabbi replied, “No, I am sorry. I have no advice to give.  The only thing I can tell you is the Messiah is one of you.”

Went back to tell the story, all of them wondered who was the Messiah.  Treated each as though he were. People came picnicking, sometimes touring the old monastery.  Saw the Monks treatment of each other, some determined to become monks for the community. Soon the monastery was thriving.

Closing: Philippians 1:9-11

Legend:

Green: Mission and Vision
Blue: Illustrations and quotes
Red: Scripture

Note to the visitor:  These are Pastor Paul’s sermon notes from Sunday Morning.  They probably won’t make much sense if you weren’t in the service.  Feel free to contact Pastor Paul if you’d like more detailed information.
For past sermons, please visit the Sermon Archive. 

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