8/30/15 Do not add to or take away from...

Rembrandt painting via Wikimedia Commons

“You shall not add to the word which I command you, neither shall you take away from it, 

that you may keep the commandments of Yahweh 

your God which I command you. ”

- Deuteronomy 4:2 (WEB)

Intro: Psalm 15 & Deuteronomy 4:1-2

I. Sins of Commission - Do Not Add To...

10 Commandments → 613 total commands (http://www.jewfaq.org/613.htm)
     Aren't there enough commands without adding any?
     No one was able to keep all the true commands – except Jesus

There is a need to know what God has said!
     If you think you have come up with a great new law, then I am sure God has already thought of it and it is already in the Law!
     If God hasn't thought of it, then it probably isn't that great of an addition

Hear what Jesus said about this specific problem during His day – Matthew 23:1-4 (v.4)

"Moses seat" at the Chorazin synagogue. Bible.ca

II. Sins of Omission - Do Not Take Away From...

Jesus addresses this issue too – Matthew 23:23b-24 

     Notice this is the same chapter of Matthew as earlier
     This text comes from a passage of Matthew where Jesus strongly addresses issues

Which is harder? – not to add to or subtract from?

Ovoid Shaped Strainer. Terracotta, slip, Height: 5 1/2 in. (14 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Charles Edwin Wilbour Fund, 09.889.654. Creative Commons-BY

III. Our Mission - Keep The Commands... (Deuteronomy4:6-9)

If this feels like a familiar sermon → well, it should be familiar (see v.9)

     our task is to make sure this message is proclaimed over and over again!

“this will show your wisdom & understanding to the nations”!
     The nations will say what nation has – “gods near them” & “such righteous decrees & laws”
     They were unique! → so are we today!

Conclusion:

Hebrews7:17-22 
    if these truths were true in OT → how much more for NT (today)!

8/23/15 God & Smell

Intro: How important is smell?

I love experiencing God's word using multiple senses – smell is not often used

one possible example: Jonah theme VBS – can of sardines with fan for smell

- Compare with other senses...

     “The ear sometimes is deceived in in hearing sounds, which are only imaginary; the eye, too, sees things in motion, which in reality are at rest; the sense of smell alone is not deceived” - Ibn Eza

many devices to help our other senses – not much help for smelling

we care a great deal about how something smells

     example: driving down the road... BBQ vs. skunk

The God Who Smells

- God inhales the pleasing fragrance of sacrifices- mentioned over 40 times in the Hebrew Bible (Pulpit Fiction Podcast)

Genesis 8:21 & Exodus 30:7-8 (daily @ Tabernacle/Temple)

- When God is displeased with scent – Isaiah 1:1-2, 13f

contrast with Messiah – Isaiah 11:1-5 (v.3)

The Biblical Illustrator –

     “'Of quick understanding in the fear of the Lord' a word which relates to the power of smell or scent; He is to have that keen sense which the hound has when the game is not far away, and yet is deeply hidden; He is to know wisdom and right and truth as the thirsty hart smells the water brooks...”

New English Translation – free notes

     “The Hebrew text reads literally, 'and his smelling is in the fear of the Lord.'

The God Who Smells – the smell of Jesus

- often focus on what Jesus looked like

what about His smell?

- Ephesians 5:1-2

What did Jesus smell like from the cross?

     Nard from recent anointing? (Mark 14:1-3)

     Blood? Sweat? Death?

Application: 2 Corinthians 2:14-17 

(same smell could be good/bad → perspective?)

Conclusion:

What do you smell?  What smell are you offering up to God?

Sermon concept and outline from Pulpit Fiction Podcast

 

8/16/15 God & Laughter

Intro: Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 “a time to weep and a time to laugh...”

- Comedians are usually only funny if they are relevant to YOUR life!

     Only the court jester could make fun of the king & get away with it

     There is a time fore everything, but is there ever a time for God to laugh? …

The Fool & Laughter

- Ecclesiastes 7:6 – like crackling thorns

     this makes a lot of noise without much to show for it

God & Laughter

- Psalm 2:1-6, 37:8-13, Proverbs 1:23-29

- The righteous take after him – Psalm 52:6-8

     our perspective – should be formed by God's!

          Example: being chased by a dog – K-9 unit police dog vs. chihuahua (which is worse?)

          Devil like a lion (1 Peter 5:8) → more like a kitten (as far as true power)

          Lion of Judah → appears like a lamb who was slain (Rev. 5:5-6)

Jesus & Laughter

- comedy – don't expect the Bible to be found in comedy section at bookstore but...

     Comedy surrounding Jesus is unexpected (circumstances, responses, etc.)

- Jesus challenged our expectations

     virgin birth & born in stable (manger) – Luke 1:27, 2:7

     Son of God – but doesn't follow the 'rules' – Matthew 15:2

     Nazareth – “can anything good come from Nazareth?” – John 1:45-46

     mocked near death – conquers death (He has the last laugh) – 1 Cor.15:55?

Sermon concept and general outline from Pulpit Fiction Podcast

8/9/15 Angel Food: God as Bread

Image from imagebank.org.uk uploaded by ostegaard

 "he rained down manna for the people to eat,
    he gave them the grain of heaven. 

 Human beings ate the bread of angels;
    he sent them all the food they could eat."

- Psalm 78:24-25 (NIV)

 

Psalm78:23-29, Exodus 16:2-4, 9-15; & John 6:24-35

Bread of heaven – Exodus 16:2-4, 9-15 (NIV) 

- God is the one providing above and beyond what they need

     He is always faithful & we are the ones who fall short

     v.4 “... I will reign down bread from heaven for you...”

     “... I will test them and see whether they will follow my instructions.”

- We need to remember who provides for our needs – v.15

    “... Moses said to the, 'It is the bread the LORD has given you to eat.'”

     It is an ancient problem of remembering to give God the glory!

     Another example – this time Jesus is there to correct their behavior...

Bread of Life – John 6:24-35 (NIV)

Focus – where is yours? v.24-27

- the multitude were only sticking around Jesus “... because you ate the loaves and had your fill.” v.26b

- Jesus responded, “Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life...” v.27a

Faith – it is needed & must in the Father v.28-33

- The multitude asked, “What must we do to do the works God requires?” v.28

- “Jesus answered, 'the work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent.'” v.29

- Jesus helped them correct their focus and faith by reminding them “... it is not Moses who has given you the bread from heaven, but it is my Father...” v.32

Forever – this bread is for us today & forever more v.34-35

 

- Jesus is the bread of life!

- We will never need to be hungry again! – all who come to Him

- We will never need to be thirsty again! – all who believe in Him

/\ these truths are for both now and forever more!

8/2/15 God as clothing

Galatians 3:27 (NIV)
"for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ."






Clothed In Our Own Skin

Genesis3:21 (WEB)
“Yahweh God made coats of animal skins for Adam and for his wife, and clothed them.” 

- Notice context of Genesis 3 – after sin entered 

- Do you feel good about the way you look?
     God created you
     Sin has had its toll – welcome to humanity!

- Christ as our example – He did not stand out
     When they came out to arrest Him – Judas had to reveal who He was with a kiss...
     He didn't stand out! - should we be surprised if we don't?

Clothed In Christ

Galatians3:26-29 (NIV)
26 So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith, 27 for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. 28 There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 29 If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.

- “Fashion” has changed from a verb to a noun

     Merriam-Webster origin of fashion “... from facere to make”
     Does your clothing “fashion” you? – or does Christ “fashion” you?

- If you truly focused on putting on Christ today/tomorrow, then how would your life change?

What Our Clothing Says...

James2:1-4 (WEB)
1 My brothers, don’t hold the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ of glory with partiality. ² For if a man with a gold ring, in fine clothing, comes into your synagogue, and a poor man in filthy clothing also comes in; ³ and you pay special attention to him who wears the fine clothing, and say, “Sit here in a good place”; and you tell the poor man, “Stand there,” or “Sit by my footstool”; ⁴ haven’t you shown partiality among yourselves, and become judges with evil thoughts?

Matthew25:36 (WEB)

“I naked and you clothed me...”

James2:15-17 (WEB) 

¹⁵ And if a brother or sister is naked and in lack of daily food, ¹⁶ and one of you tells them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled”; and yet you didn’t give them the things the body needs, what good is it? ¹⁷ Even so faith, if it has no works, is dead in itself.

1Timothy 2:9-10 (WEB) 

⁹ In the same way, that women also adorn themselves in decent clothing, with modesty and propriety; not just with braided hair, gold, pearls, or expensive clothing; ¹⁰ but (which becomes women professing godliness) with good works. 

- clothing is not supposed to be a dividing factor among Christians

– there is no room for favoritism among God's people (James 2:1-4)

- How do we respond when we see a brother or sister in need of clothes?

      This question is asked by Jesus & James (Mt 25:36 & James 2:15-17)

     Jesus only listed a handful of things we would we judged by on the Judgement Day

          this is important to remember!

     James said we have a dead faith if we wish them good health, but don't help when we are able!

- Paul speaks of how our attitude should be of more concern then fancy clothing

     We must change our focus on clothing!

Conclusion: 

Clothed in our own skin – do we feel good about how God made us?

Clothed in Christ – no matter what clothing we wear → we must be clothed in Christ!

What our clothing says... – what does your clothing say about the

God you serve? 

Concept & outline from Pulpit Fiction podcast