Sunday, March 31, 2013

Because He Lives I can face tomorrow

Austin Evangelical Fellowship.com
How sweet to hold newborn baby. He can face uncertain days because He lives.
Our God reigns. Can we sing this with certainty?

Pastor Colin Bell
Matthew 28 we know the end of the story. We love it. The disciples were devastated. They had given 3 years of their lives to him.
How do we face these uncertain days?
The women went to see the tomb on Saturday but nothing happened. On Sunday there was an earthquake and the tomb was empty. The soldiers fainted for fear of what happened.
The angel said to the women, don't be afraid for there is hope. Come see the place where he lay.
Faith is the assurance of things hoped for. I trust in God no matter what happens.
We can move from despair to hope. Ps 34 taste and see the Lord is good!
V11 the opposite happens. The guards were paid to tell the world that Jesus' body was stolen.
The promise has been fulfilled. 1 Cor 15 if Christ has not been raised our faith is in vain. Not one part of the Bible is true.
On good Friday Satan had a party. Ever since Easter Sunday Satan has been fighting the Truth.
V20 highlight it. Christ HAS been raised and all in Christ will be made alive. The perishable will put on immortality. The only way we can have victory is in Christ. Every religion's founder has a body in a tomb except Christianity! The tomb is EMPTY!
We were given the responsibility to go and tell. Christ is ALIVE!
How will people know unless we tell. What is heaven like? What is hell like? Don't miss Jesus. If you do you miss everything.

Our preaching is not in vain! Jesus lives. That's awesome!

Easter Sunday

www.one88.org
A special ordinary day. When Jesus showed up the disciples were fishing. The first thing Jesus did was to make breakfast. The resurrection takes place in everyday life.
At an Easter service where there was a challenged individual who interrupted the service with extreme noise. His caregiver had to take him out. The resurrection brings hope to both of them.
The resurrection comes alive everyday as you live it out day by day. At work at school wherever you are.

Friday, March 29, 2013

Good Friday

www.EasTview.org
Pastor Dave Ens

Today is a paradox an irony. A dark day when we celebrate a death. In darkness we face the darkness in our own souls. This is a good day of hope. The symbol of God's love is the cross. The cross is where God comes to meet us.
Bring peace in the darkness.
Luke 22:39-42 The mount of olives the Garden of Gethsemane.
Matthew 26:36 NLT

Then Jesus went with them to the olive grove called Gethsemane, and he said, "Sit here while I go over there to pray."
Were you there when they crucified my Lord?

John 19:1 NLT

Then Pilate had Jesus flogged with a lead-tipped whip.

They crucified Jesus with the criminals.
Luke 23:46 NLT

Then Jesus shouted, "Father, I entrust my spirit into your hands!" And with those words he breathed his last.

I come to the cross where you died in my place seeking mercy and grace. You called me by name. Jesus, I come.

http://www.introducingjesus.org/inj007cross.htm

Jesus did this deliberately. He knew exactly what was happening. To make things right between us and God. We remember his death knowing God knows beyond our understanding.

Eternal God, in whom we live and have our being.

The disciples must have felt alone.  The man they spent the last 3 years with was taken away without a fight. Left alone. Purposeless. Dark day. Good because we are reminded that God has not left us alone. He finds us wherever we are. God takes on the powers of darkness. His love for us is profound.

Allow yourself to sit and meet God at the cross. God will meet you in the darkness.

We know this is a true story. A 1st century fiction writer would never have invented a story where women were the first to meet the crucified founder.

Sunday, March 24, 2013

The Reconciling Church

Www.TheMeetingHouse.com
YouVersion app notes at Live search The Meeting House

Efrem Smith - Superintendent/Bishop of 150 Churches in the U.S.
Book - Post Black Post White World

Appetizer - Bizarro World
2 Cor 5.14-21
the reconciling church
Love movies. Super hero
Went 3 times to see them. In childhood had Bizarro World comics. Superman sacrifices himself to save planet earth. We live in Bizarro World on planet earth with evil and brokenness. Someone came into this world to redeem us. Jesus.

Dine in - the big idea
Out of the overflow of God's love we are called to reconciliation
1. A Deeper Understanding of Culture and Context
Jesus is coming back. When? 2011?
How are we to live until Jesus returns. Justice will come but until it does it is just us. We need to make ourselves available to
We need to be connected to God. Paul wrote to a diverse church teaching them to live in reconciliation. Love is kind.
How to live as reconcilers.
1. Corinth was multicultural and an evil empire that was broken. We see more and more consolidation. GTA includes nearby cities. Growing diversity and disparity.
God is calling you to be a reconciler in your community. V15 live as Christ.

2. A Deeper Understanding of Christ
We see no one from a worldly point of view. See them through the eyes of Christ. Something happened to Paul so he saw Jesus differently. He used to see Jesus and his followers as a trouble maker group. Then he met Jesus. Now he saw everything differently. It opened up his eyes. Let God change you.

3. A Deeper Understanding of Change and Transformation
V17 God was reconciling the world. Understand change. You are new but the Christian life is a journey of change. You are changed and changing at the same time. I'm the same person and we need to purposefully change and transform.

TAKE OUT - Closing the Gap
No Christian should assimilate into the culture. Our citizenship in heaven should show through at all times. God blesses us with cultural diversity. We are tourists here on this earth.

Sunday, March 17, 2013

How the Resurrection Changed Everything. A Great Expense

www.EasTview.org
Pastor Delbert Enns

John 12.1-8
Mary's great expense. Why wasn't the perfume sold and money given to the poor?
Passover was coming. This was the 3rd recorded Passover with Jesus. This one was in Bethany. This is where Jesus raised Lazarus.
Jesus has a price  on his head. He knew that he would soon be crucified. He would become the new Passover lamb. Here he was with Simon the leper. They were Ceremonial unclean.
Here he was with unclean people. He was safe from the self righteous religious leaders. Jesus loves a party. We are in the party! Martha is serving. That was her love language. Lazarus had his own love language. Praising Jesus. Mary was always at the lowest place worshipping at the feet of Jesus!
The value of the perfume was $50,000 or more. She worshiped fully. She undid her hair to dry Jesus's feet. She held nothing back. She laid it all on the alter.
We tend to think that spare giving is good enough.
Some of us are with Judas. Criticize what is going on.
Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit.
This is not about Mary. It's the story of Jesus. For those who have no hope there is hope. We are invited to Jesus's hope. Worship him who is worthy of praise.

Sunday, March 10, 2013

Pointing At Jesus

http://www.themeetinghouse.com/
The Lion The Lamb Easter series coming up

Promo: Parenting course is a good idea.

Churches are preaching Gospel Centred themes. But the point is JESUS! Nothing else. This is a person to person church.

Jesus said follow me. When we do that he takes our leadership. Submit to Jesus as Lord.

Philip became a witness immediately after he was called. We have found the messiah. not I but we. We have found the messiah. Of Nazareth (technically incorrect) son of Joseph (technically incorrect)
But better than not inviting people to Jesus. The God of the universe from Puslinch? Come and see! These 3 words are a magical gift to us. Come and hang out with us. Today people will ask can anything good come from Christianity? Come and see. Gen 27 the story of Jacob. Jacob wanted to be known as the firstborn. He was a manipulator. He manipulated to get the birthright and and the Blessing.
Gen 32 wrestling with God to get a bigger blessing. Here is the Israel with no Jacob (deceipt).
Jesus said Nathaniel was no Jacob. An honest sceptic became a believer. You are the king of Israel, my king. Gen 28 Jacob has a dream. Ladder from earth to heaven. God defines himself by the people he is involved with. I'm the God of you guys. All the people of the world will be blessed through you.

Jacob talks about that place as the thin place.

Jesus said amen amen. He starts important sentences with that. It is a Jesus's exclusive. The you is plural. You Will see heaven opened up and the angels. You'll see Jacob's ladder.

Jesus called a Nazarene is a generalization. There is the concept of Jesus making himself less.

Takeout. If you declare Jesus as Lord, you will be saved. Lord means giving control to Him.

Core community not a membership.

These notes are online at: YouVersion.com Live Event Notes - Pointing At Jesus #4
QUOTES
===============
Today we're learning from John 1:43-51…

The next day Jesus decided to leave for Galilee. Finding Philip, he said to him, "Follow me."

Philip, like Andrew and Peter, was from the town of Bethsaida. Philip found Nathanael and told him, "We have found the one Moses wrote about in the Law, and about whom the prophets also wrote—Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph."

"Nazareth! Can anything good come from there?" Nathanael asked.

"Come and see," said Philip.

When Jesus saw Nathanael approaching, he said of him, "Here truly is an Israelite in whom there is no deceit."
"How do you know me?" Nathanael asked.

Jesus answered, "I saw you while you were still under the fig tree before Philip called you."
Then Nathanael declared, "Rabbi, you are the Son of God; you are the king of Israel."

Jesus said, "You believe because I told you I saw you under the fig tree. You will see greater things than that." He then added, "Very truly I tell you, you will see 'heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending on' the Son of Man."
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APPETIZER -- Review: Come and See
===============
Broken Record Witnessing…
Proclamation  = Jesus / Jesus / Jesus
Invitation  = Come & see / Come & see / Come & see

WHO AM I?: Seeing Ourselves Through God's Eyes

Starting April 7 / 14
Who are you inviting?

DINE IN -- Jacob's Ladder
===============
That this view is correct is supported by the fact that everyone else who comes to Jesus in this chapter does so because of someone else's witness. … John the author is reinforcing his theme of the importance of bearing witness.
~ D.A. Carson, The Pillar New Testament Commentary

When we help people see how much Jesus knows them, they may have a Nathanael experience too.

Like with Thomas, Jesus reveals the most to the honest skeptic.

Genesis 27:35-36
Isaac said, "Your brother came deceitfully and took your blessing." Esau said, "Isn't he rightly named Jacob?"

Genesis 32:28
Your name will no longer be Jacob, but Israel.

What you'll see from now on is the reality towards which Jacob's ladder, and even the Temple itself, was pointing like a signpost.  If you follow me, you'll be watching what it looks like when heaven and earth are open to each other.
~ N.T. Wright, John for Everyone

When you're with Jesus, it is as though you're in the house of God, the Temple itself, with God's angels coming and going, and God's own presence there beside you.
~ N.T. Wright, John for Everyone

John 1:43-51
===============
John 1:43-51 (NIV)
---------------
The next day Jesus decided to leave for Galilee. Finding Philip, he said to him, "Follow me." 
Philip, like Andrew and Peter, was from the town of Bethsaida. Philip found Nathanael and told him, "We have found the one Moses wrote about in the Law, and about whom the prophets also wrote—Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph." 
"Nazareth! Can anything good come from there?" Nathanael asked.
"Come and see," said Philip. 
When Jesus saw Nathanael approaching, he said of him, "Here truly is an Israelite in whom there is no deceit." 
"How do you know me?" Nathanael asked.
Jesus answered, "I saw you while you were still under the fig tree before Philip called you." 
Then Nathanael declared, "Rabbi, you are the Son of God; you are the king of Israel." 
Jesus said, "You believe because I told you I saw you under the fig tree. You will see greater things than that." He then added, "Very truly I tell you, you will see 'heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending on' the Son of Man."

Genesis 27:35-36
===============
Genesis 27:35-36 (NIV)
---------------
But he said, "Your brother came deceitfully and took your blessing." 
Esau said, "Isn't he rightly named Jacob? This is the second time he has taken advantage of me: He took my birthright, and now he's taken my blessing!" Then he asked, "Haven't you reserved any blessing for me?"

Example Bible Reference Title
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Genesis 1:1 (NIV)
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In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.

Genesis 32:22-30
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Genesis 32:22-30 (NIV)
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That night Jacob got up and took his two wives, his two female servants and his eleven sons and crossed the ford of the Jabbok. After he had sent them across the stream, he sent over all his possessions. So Jacob was left alone, and a man wrestled with him till daybreak. When the man saw that he could not overpower him, he touched the socket of Jacob's hip so that his hip was wrenched as he wrestled with the man. Then the man said, "Let me go, for it is daybreak."
But Jacob replied, "I will not let you go unless you bless me." 
The man asked him, "What is your name?"
"Jacob," he answered. 
Then the man said, "Your name will no longer be Jacob, but Israel, because you have struggled with God and with humans and have overcome." 
Jacob said, "Please tell me your name."
But he replied, "Why do you ask my name?" Then he blessed him there. 
So Jacob called the place Peniel, saying, "It is because I saw God face to face, and yet my life was spared."

TAKE OUT -- Following the King
===============
Jesus is Lord.

The Apostle Paul (Romans 10:9)
If you declare with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.

Jesus is Lord.

How we follow Jesus at The Meeting House…

Four Qualities of Core Community…
1) Believer baptized
2) Home Church connected
3) Volunteer serving
4) Regular giving not necessarily to this church. But get connected to a great church. Help us find more Nathaniels.

Note: This is not the complete list of what following Jesus entails, but the basics of what sustaining this community entails, so that we can continue to make disciples through The Meeting House.

HOME CHURCH QUESTIONS -- HANGOUT
===============
1. Have you ever invited a friend or family member to "come and see" at The Meeting House or another church?  How did that go?

HOME CHURCH QUESTIONS -- HEAR
===============
2. Read John 1:43-51. Try reading it slowly, letting each line sink in.

a. What verse or idea stands out to you?  Why?

b. Notice all of the titles / descriptions of Jesus.  No other chapter of the New Testament provides such a comprehensive list.  What do we learn from each title?... Lamb of God; Rabbi/Teacher; the one Moses and the prophets wrote about; Nazarene; Son of Joseph; Son of God; King of Israel; Son of Man.

c. Nathanael objected to the town Jesus was from.  What are some contemporary objections raised against Jesus today?  For each one, talk about how you might respond.

d. Review verse 51. Now read the story Jesus is drawing his imagery from in Genesis 28:10-22. What are we saying when we claim that Jesus is Jacob's ladder? The house of God? The gate of heaven? The offspring who will bless all people on earth?

John 1:43-51
===============
John 1:43-51 (NIV)
---------------
The next day Jesus decided to leave for Galilee. Finding Philip, he said to him, "Follow me." 
Philip, like Andrew and Peter, was from the town of Bethsaida. Philip found Nathanael and told him, "We have found the one Moses wrote about in the Law, and about whom the prophets also wrote—Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph." 
"Nazareth! Can anything good come from there?" Nathanael asked.
"Come and see," said Philip. 
When Jesus saw Nathanael approaching, he said of him, "Here truly is an Israelite in whom there is no deceit." 
"How do you know me?" Nathanael asked.
Jesus answered, "I saw you while you were still under the fig tree before Philip called you." 
Then Nathanael declared, "Rabbi, you are the Son of God; you are the king of Israel." 
Jesus said, "You believe because I told you I saw you under the fig tree. You will see greater things than that." He then added, "Very truly I tell you, you will see 'heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending on' the Son of Man."

Genesis 28:10-22
===============
Genesis 28:10-22 (NIV)
---------------
Jacob left Beersheba and set out for Harran. When he reached a certain place, he stopped for the night because the sun had set. Taking one of the stones there, he put it under his head and lay down to sleep. He had a dream in which he saw a stairway resting on the earth, with its top reaching to heaven, and the angels of God were ascending and descending on it. There above it stood the lord, and he said: "I am the lord, the God of your father Abraham and the God of Isaac. I will give you and your descendants the land on which you are lying. Your descendants will be like the dust of the earth, and you will spread out to the west and to the east, to the north and to the south. All peoples on earth will be blessed through you and your offspring. I am with you and will watch over you wherever you go, and I will bring you back to this land. I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you." 
When Jacob awoke from his sleep, he thought, "Surely the lord is in this place, and I was not aware of it." He was afraid and said, "How awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of God; this is the gate of heaven." 
Early the next morning Jacob took the stone he had placed under his head and set it up as a pillar and poured oil on top of it. He called that place Bethel, though the city used to be called Luz. 
Then Jacob made a vow, saying, "If God will be with me and will watch over me on this journey I am taking and will give me food to eat and clothes to wear so that I return safely to my father's household, then the lord will be my God and this stone that I have set up as a pillar will be God's house, and of all that you give me I will give you a tenth."

HOME CHURCH QUESTIONS -- HUDDLE
===============
3. Do you have friends who aren't Christians?  What has your witness to them been like so far?  Are you planning to invite any of your friends to our Easter services this year, or our post-Easter seeker series – Who Am I?: Seeing Ourselves Through God's Eyes? 

4. Are you a part of "Core Community" at The Meeting House?  If not, what is holding you back?

MEMORY VERSE
===============
If you declare with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. (Romans 10:9)

Sunday, March 03, 2013

How the Resurrection Changed Everything

Www.EasTview.org

Corey Bell youth pastor
2 missions trips. 27 to inner city during spring break. 17 to Thailand this summer.

Sing: Great is Thy Faithfulness Lord unto me.

Dave Ens, Servant Leader:
Something exciting happened this week. A historical occasion review. Where were you when Crosby scored that goal in Vancouver? Where were you on 9/11? 
We have shared experiences. Some of them change us and our world. Our perceptions change.

We are in the season in the history of the world that changed everything. It was an extraordinary event that changed the history of the world. Is this story too familiar already?
How can we reignite the wonder of the world changing event? Jesus is the most influential person in history.
We can't ignore him. He is not a good man. He is God incarnate. If the resurrection isn't true Christianity falls apart.
Jesus wants you to know him personally. The best evidence of the truth of the resurrection is a changed life.
Paul said that whatever gains he had personally, are rubbish compared to the power of Jesus's resurrection.
What are the things I strive for?
Eternal hope is sure and certain because Jesus rose for you. You have the power of the resurrected God in you. No one who believes in Jesus will not be saved.

We want to celebrate the Lord's table today.

Regardless of where you are at, read the Easter story in all 4 gospels. You''ll find God works in mysterious ways. The disciples should have known that Jesus would rise in 3 days. They should have been excited. When Jesus rose it was entirely unexpected.
Pray for eyes to see God when things don't go as expected. An Engineering Student sent 200 resumes. Got 1 phone call from a mine in northern Manitoba where he did NOT want to go. Now he has huge Christian influence in that community.
We have an Ironic relationships with the Easter event. We celebrate but the disciples lived in fear that first Easter.
2 responses - for fear the guards fainted. The women left the tomb in fear AND Great joy and amazement. They were pulled into the action of God.
I want my life to be what God wants it to be.

Lord's Table. For 2,000 years Christians have celebrated.