061913: Water Baptism

Water Baptism

I.                   Introduction

a.       Illus: Hiking (I hate it), hiking up the coast, reaching the top, but not continuing to the goal, then went back to the beginning.

b.      We talked about Jesus being the only way to God last week, and this was summed up with the idea of salvation, but often times we think this is the pinnacle of our Christian Journey.  But that decision to make Jesus your God and ask him for forgiveness is really only the beginning.

II.                Body

a.       Read Matthew 28:18-20 – “Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations,   baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

                                                              i.      We are all on a journey of our faith and here we see the beginnings of a road map.

1.      Become a Disciple, Be Baptized, Learn/Obey, Tell Others

                                                            ii.      Become a Disciple

1.      We choose to be a follower of Jesus.  This includes the making of him as your God and asking for forgiveness, but also committing to following Him the rest of your life.

                                                          iii.      Be Baptized

1.      We will talk about this in a second

                                                          iv.      Learn/Obey

1.      We then learn what it means to be a Christian, how to be more like God wants us to be, how to follow the destiny God has for us, how to have a successful life

                                                            v.      Tell Others

1.      The final part of this journey is restarting the whole process by recruiting others to follow Christ on this journey.

b.      But let us move back to baptism

                                                              i.      What is it?  Baptism is a picture and a commitment.

                                                            ii.      What is the picture? 

1.      Read Romans 6:3-4 – “Or don’t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death?  We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.”

2.      It is a picture of what has already happened when we get saved

a.       We die to our old master (sin), we get forgiveness through Jesus, and then come into a new life of serving our new master (God)

                                                          iii.      What is the commitment?

1.      You are committing to following Jesus the rest of your life, rather than doing things your own way. 

2.      It isn’t a commitment to take lightly, as some of you have already seen.  Life happens and temptations arise, but with this commitment you are saying you are going to stick with it, despite those temptations.

c.       So why do it?

                                                              i.      It is the next step

                                                            ii.      It is what God wants

1.      Read Matthew 3:13-15 – “Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to be baptized by John.  But John tried to deter him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?”  Jesus replied, “Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness.” Then John consented.”

III.             Application

a.       So are you interested in being baptized?

061213: Welcome to the TAB #1 -- The TABernacle

Welcome to the TAB! #1 – Only One Way

I.                   Introduction

a.       Welcome to the TAB!  We have been known as the TAB since January 1^st, 2003, when the youth at that time picked it as the name.  There were other choices like:

                                                              i.      Anchors, Anti-Cats, Alex is Cool, The Ax Youth Group, Hoi Hagiazoi, Kitty Cat Lovers, More than Conquerors, NLH (Ne Life Hunters), The Rampaging Mad Men, Ravenous Crusaders, Rock Solid, S.C.H.O.O.L (Solid Christians Holy Organized Outfitted Loving *motto: School Rocks!*)

b.      Tonight we are starting our summer series called: Welcome to the TAB!  Tonight I want to talk about the thing we are named after, the Tabernacle.

c.       The Tabernacle was a tent structure that the Israelites kept with them in order to meet with God and worship Him.  So let’s go and explore it outside!

II.                Body

a.       The Outside (Anyone Jewish Could Enter)

                                                              i.      The Court (150’x75’x7’6”)

1.      The Entrance (30’x7’6”) to the east

a.       Made of purple, red, blue linen with angels embroidered into it

b.      Only way in or out of the Tabernacle, access was limited

2.      The Bronze Altar (7’6”x7’6”x4’6”)

a.       This is where all the sacrifices were made, whether grain, oil, or animal.

b.      It was to stay burning continually, even when it was being cleaned.

3.      The Basin

a.       Made of bronze mirrors and filled with water

b.      Priests would wash their hands and feet before sacrificing or entering the tabernacle.

                                                            ii.      The Tent (45’x13’6”x15’)

1.      It was called the tent of meeting.  During their travels with the Tabernacle, the presence of God travelled with them in the form of a pillar of cloud during the day and a pillar of fire by night

2.      The first cover was linen that was blue, purple, and red with angels embroidered into them

3.      There was three other covers one that was similar to the first, just without the embroidery.  The second was made rams skins dyed red, then manatee skins.

b.      The Inside (only priest could enter)

                                                              i.      Odds and Ends

1.      Entrance curtain made of blue, purple, and red linen, connected to 5 posts

2.      The tabernacle contained 1 ton of Gold, 3 ¼ tons of Silver, and 2 ¼ tons of Bronze.

                                                            ii.      Table of the Bread of the Presence/Showbread (3’x1’6”x2’3”) (North)

1.      Fresh bread was put on it every Sabbath (Saturday)

2.      Bread was placed on gold plates, there was frankincense in a gold bowls, gold cups and a pitcher of wine were placed there as well.

                                                          iii.      Lampstand (south)

1.      Made of 75lbs of pure gold

2.      It was the only source of light in the tabernacle

3.      Stayed burning continually

4.      Had 3 branches on each side, on each branch were 3 cups that looked like almond flowers.  There were 4 cups under each branch

                                                          iv.      Incense Altar (1’6”x1’6”x3’) (in front of curtain)

1.      Burned incense there morning and evening, as a symbol of prayer.

2.      The incense was a recipe that could only be used for the tabernacle

                                                            v.      Dividing Curtain (only high priest, once a year could enter)

1.      Made of blue, purple, and red linen with an angel design embroidered into it

                                                          vi.      Ark of the Covenant (3’9”x2’3”x2’3”) (in Most Holy Place)

1.      Wood box with gold over it

2.      Contained, Aaron’s budded staff (showed God had picked Aaron and his family has high priests); Stone tablets of the Covenant; Jar of Manna

3.      On top of it was placed the Mercy Seat/Atonement Cover

a.       A gold lid that had blood sprinkled on it on the day of atonement

b.      Above it were 2 cherubim (angels) facing each other with wings overshadowing the cover

c.       This was where the pillar of cloud/fire hovered over

III.             Application

a.       Ever since sin entered the world man has longed to be near God again, but not allowed.  Sin makes it so we cannot go near God, yet both us and He want a relationship again, we want to be near each other again.  But sin has put up a wall between us and God. (like the outer curtains)

b.      We are still allowed to see glimpses of God, but our access has been cut off.  And because our access has been cut off for this life, it means that our access has been cut off for eternity, when we die.

c.       Is there a way into the tabernacle?  Yes, through the east entrance, it is the only way in.

d.      What about in real life, how can we have a restored relationship with God and again be in his presence?  How can the sin be removed so there is no longer curtains standing in the way?

e.       John 14:1-6 says, ““Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in  me. ² In My Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you.  I am going there to prepare a place for you. ³ And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. ⁴ You know the way to the place where I am going.” ⁵ Thomas said to him, “Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?” ⁶ Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

f.       In the tabernacle there was only one entrance at the front of the tabernacle, only one way to God.  There is still only one way to God, only one way to salvation, only one way to forgiveness, only one way to peace, only one way to contentment, only one way to heaven, and only one way to hope.

g.      No person can approach God unless it is through Jesus.  What do I mean by that? 

h.      Jesus died on a cross, taking our sin upon himself, because of that he offers us the opportunity to have our sins removed/forgiven if we ask and repent. 

i.        Romans 10:9 says, “That if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.”

j.        So tonight if you are wanting those curtains removed so you can have access to God, to freedom, to peace, to heaven, you have to go through Jesus, and that is by both confession of Him being your God and Leader, and believing that He came back to life, giving you forgiveness of sins, confessing them to God and turning away from them, and instead choosing to follow him. 

k.      Is that you tonight?  Do you want to be back in relationship with God?

060513: Hulk Smash -- Anger

Hulk Smash! – Anger

I.                    Introduction

a.       Illus: Royal City Basketball Game

b.      How many of you struggle with anger?  This sermon is for us.

II.                 Body

a.       Why Do We Get Angry?

                                                              i.      There are 6 main reasons why people get angry:

1.      Frustration – wanting something but not able to achieve it

a.       Not being able to get the grades you want

2.      Alienation – not accepted by those around you

3.      Hurt or threat of hurt – physical and emotion

a.       Sometimes there isn’t even a visible threat but it is caused by a flashback of a similar situation in which you were hurt

4.      Injustice – you or someone else is being treated wrongly

5.      Fear – not living up to standards, losing love

a.       Not being able to live up to what your parents expect from you

6.      Learned – see parent or adult or friend doing it

                                                            ii.      The reason I bring up the question of why we get angry is because if we can identify why we are getting angry it can help us to deal with the anger. 

b.      Is Anger A Sin?

                                                              i.      Mark 3:1-5 – “Another time he went into the synagogue, and a man with a shriveled hand was there. ² Some of them were looking for a reason to accuse Jesus, so they watched him closely to see if he would heal him on the Sabbath. ³ Jesus said to the man with the shriveled hand, “Stand up in front of everyone.” ⁴ Then Jesus asked them, “Which is lawful on the Sabbath: to do good or to do evil, to save life or to kill?” But they remained silent. ⁵ He looked around at them in anger and, deeply distressed at their stubborn hearts, said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” He stretched it out, and his hand was completely restored.

                                                            ii.      Did Jesus sin?  No, he was sinless.  By these verses alone you have a quick understanding that anger is more complex than what you thought.  Anger is not a sin.

                                                          iii.      Psalm 4:4-5 – “In your anger do not sin; when you are on your beds, search your hearts and be silent.  Offer right sacrifices and trust in the Lord.”

                                                          iv.      Notice in this one it says: in your anger do not sin.  Not: don’t get angry and thus you will be sinning.

                                                            v.      If anger is not a sin then it means that what we do with anger and why that anger arrived are more important than the anger aspect of it.

1.      We already talked about different reasons anger comes about, some are okay reasons, for instance injustice.

2.      But we need to now look at what we should, so that we don’t sin, do when anger does show up.

III.               Application

a.       The best way to handle anger is to be WISE:

                                                              i.      Wave goodbye to angry people

1.      Proverbs 22:24-25 – “Don’t make friends with a hot-tempered man, don’t associate with one easily angered, or you may learn his ways and get yourself ensnared.”

2.      If you must spend time with them (ie they are a family member, put good influences in your life that will counteract and overturn their influence)

                                                            ii.      Invite God to Help

1.      Pray, Read the Bible

2.      Fill your life with the Goodness of God and it will overflow and put out the fire of anger

                                                          iii.      Seek the Root

1.      Figure out why you are getting angry

a.       Frustration, Alienation, Hurt, Injustice, Fear, or Learned

                                                          iv.      Ease It Quickly and Correctly

1.      Ephesians 4:26-27 – “In your anger do not sin: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold.”

a.       How quickly should anger be handled?  Before the day ends

b.      Why so quickly?  So it doesn’t fester and get worse, so we handle it correctly instead of bursting out in uncontrollable rage that has built up.

2.      There are a lot of ways we can deal with anger incorrectly

a.       Open your mouth right away, Let your fists do the talking, Stay in the situation, Dwell on it, Don’t deal with it, Use an inappropriate action (Eating, cutting, punching, muttering)

3.      But we can do some things to help ease our anger correctly

a.       Exercise, clean, write, draw, cry, laugh, take a bath, talk to someone about it, listen to music (uplifting), read something, or watch something to take your mind off it for a while, read your Bible, pray, etc…

b.      Pray and let them talk about it in their group