Vacation Bible School 2017 - July 16-19

Edmonton, KY

Friends & Family Day - April 2nd

Edmonton, KY

8/21/16 Heaven: Experience It Today!

Have we missed something big about heaven?

     If we focus too much on heaven as a place for us to go in the future, then we might miss that heaven is special because it is full of God's presence. If we focus too much on heaven as a place for us to go in the future, then we might miss that God's presence can be found among us even today (we get a glimpse of heaven on earth).

     We sometimes get the idea that we will one day leave this cursed earth to go to the wonderful place called heaven. Notice some of the Scriptures we looked at within the last 2 weeks and what they focus on... Revelation 21:1-5, 10, 22-24; 2 Peter 3:10-13

I believe the key can be found the Lord's model prayer – Matthew 6:9-13

“your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” (v.10)

Daniel2 – prophecy about God's kingdom spreading over EARTH! (see v.35 & v.44)

“Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.” (Matthew 3:2, 4:17, 10:7)

Matthew 13 parables

- sower (3-9, 18-23): the entire parable takes place here on earth! (v.23)

- wheat & weeds (24-30, 37-43): “the field is the world...” (v.38)

- mustard seed (31-32): seed growth – takes place here on earth or in heaven?

- leaven/yeast (33): spread of the kingdom – does it happen on earth or in heaven?

- hidden treasure (44): Where was this treasure found? - heaven or earth?

- pearl of great price (45-46): Do we go to heaven before we find this pearl?

- dragnet (47-50): Where are the fish caught – on earth or in heaven?

    * Sometimes, when we focus the most on heaven is when we turn our attention to the earth! At least that's what ALL those parables indicate.

The Temple: God Among His People

John1:1, 14; 2:21; 14:17b

God was working in the early church

Acts 2:42-47

Acts 3:1-2, 19-22

Acts 4:13-14, 23-31, 32-37

Is God working among the church today? Is His presence here among us / within us?

If the answer is yes → why can't we enjoy this NOW & look forward to future

If the answer is no → what are we going to do to change it & what do we look forward to?

8/14/16 Heaven: Setting your mind on it!

Heaven: setting your mind on it...

What's Wrong With Us?

Why do we sin? (Why did Adam & Eve sin?)

1.) Not because it was within our hearts

2.) Not because creation was flawed

3.) It was because of temptation by serpent (our mind became corrupted through temptation)

What happened because of sin? (to Adam & Eve … and all of us)

1.) Innocent hearts were corrupted

2.) God's “very good” creation was cursed

3.) Pure minds were no longer focused on God

 

How do we fix this?

First: We must refocus our minds (this change is called repentance)

This is how to fix... Pure minds were no longer focused on God (#3)

Colossians3:1-4 The reverse of our downfall is seen in these verses. Our heart, life, and mind must be changed → it must start internally!

Peter3:10-14 Since everything will be destroyed (v.11) → what keeps us going forward is our hope!

Second: We must focus on the example of others

This is how to fix... God's “very good” creation was cursed (#2)

Hebrews11:8-10, 13-16 Abraham looked forward to / set his mind on the heavenly city. Other early followers of God looked forward to / set mind on heavenly country (v.16).

Then: We must focus on leaving an example of our own

This is how to fix... Innocent hearts were corrupted (#1)

Hebrews12:18, 22-24 , 25, 28-29 Are we leaving an example of faith that could be found among the examples in Hebrews chapter 11? These verses speak of our reality (v.18,22-24) Since these things are true... then let us be thankful and worship God in all we do v.28-29.

Conclusion: Now we know how to fix...

#1.) Innocent hearts were corrupted

#2.) God's “very good” creation was cursed

#3.) Pure minds were no longer focused on God

The question now is will you choose to fix these things in your own life?

07/31/16 He is Risen! Matthew 28

He is Risen! - Matthew 28:1-20

By Phillip Benshmuel (Own work) [CC BY-SA 4.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

Intro: We have looked at Jesus' teaching and His life for several weeks now. But THIS truth about Jesus changes everything!

Jesus has already died and been buried, then on the third day...

Matthew28:1-10

“... He is risen, just as he said.” v.6

This is the truth everyone wanted → but nobody expected it

this is connected to similar truth for us today – our hope of our own resurrection!

This is our journey → to follow Jesus in this life and trust Him to take us to the next life

“... afraid yet filled with joy...” v.8

When met with our own death → similar response

Matthew28:11-15

Those who are opposed... will be opposed

Some opposed Jesus, some opposed the early church, and some still oppose the church today. It never seemed to bother Jesus when peopl opposed Him because He knew the truth!

Matthew28:16-20

The Great Commission → our task today

- “make disciples” - a similar relationship is learning a trade from another

- “baptizing them” - washed clean through Jesus' blood

- “teaching them” - continue to follow Him for our entire lives!

7/24/16 Jesus' Seven Sayings From The Cross

Jesus' Seven Sayings From The Cross

Intro: If a certain character is about to die while you watch a play or a movie, then you know how they set the scene. It usually has some type of music that you know the end is near and time seems to just slow down nearly to a stop. This is the time that the character can say some words of wisdom with their final breath. Well, in the gospels we have some of the final words of Jesus Christ and they can help give us a clearer view of the cross...

By Miguel Angel Buonarroti para Vittoria Colonna. (Own work, Manuel Gómez (Magopi), 2006-12) [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

 

1) Luke 23:34 “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they were doing.”

Jesus' first task with the cross was forgiveness for you... for me... for everyone!

2) Luke 23:43 “... today you will be with me in Paradise.”

Jesus showed just how great his forgiveness is!

3) Matthew 27:46 “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”

He is quoting Psalm 22:1 – At first he seems like he has been forsaken...

But Psalm 22:24 gives hope and the Psalm ends with “...he has done it!” (v.31)

4) John 19:26-27 “Woman, here is your son,” ... “Here is your mother.”

Joseph likely has died by now

it was Jesus' responsibility to take care of his family and especially his mother

Since his heavenly father had not forsaken Him (see Matt. 27:46 above)

he has been reminded of his responsibilities for his family

5) John 19:28 “I am thirsty”

See Psalm 22:15 & Psalm 69:21

This was to fulfil ALL prophecies & to allow us to see Jesus' humanity

He had no God-given pain killers

Jesus endured the full suffering of the cross → He did this all for us!

6) Luke 23:46 “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.”

even at the end He trusted his heavenly Father

7) John 19:30 “It is finished.”

Remember Psalm 22:31

the debt has been paid, freedom has come to all through Jesus Christ on the cross!

*All Scripture quotations from this sermon outline are from the New International Version of the Bible.

07/17/16 - The Last Supper - Matthew 26:17-35

Leonardo da Vinci [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

The Last Supper – Matthew 26:17-35

Intro: Since the last Lord's Supper came from the Passover feast, it only makes sense to look at it through a Passover lens. As we work our way through what has become known as the Last Supper, let us notice some Old Testament parallels.

Trust – v.17-19

New Testament: the disciples trusted Jesus with the Passover preparation. They might not have known what was going on, but they trusted him and did what he asked.

Old Testament: Moses displayed a similar type of trust in God's direction when he listened to his voice from the burning bush and was sent to Egypt.

Application: following Christ with full faith is what we must do today → not seeing yet still believing.

Trust? – v.20-25

New Testament: one of Jesus closest friends is the very one who betrays him (v.23).

Old Testament: there is a new Pharaoh who turned his back on God's people and enslaved them.

Twist – v.26-30

New Testament: the elements of the Passover feast now come to represent the body and blood of Christ Jesus. Jesus brought a new and unexpected meaning to an ancient feast.

Old Testament: the Passover was a reminder of punishment passing over God's people.

Application: let us never forget that it is by the blood of Jesus that we receive forgiveness & peace (Ephesians 2:12-18).

Scatter – v.31-35

New Testament: all disciples scattered – they chose to follow yet...

Old Testament: the verses here are a close parallel to the Israelites choice in the wilderness. Will they follow the one true God who brought them out of slavery?

Application: we must make the same choice today → we must choose to follow God today & stick with this choice throughout our lives!