021914: What Is This You Have Done To Us?

Message: What is this you have done to us?

I.                    Introduction

a.       Our goal this year is to see you get more rooted in Christ as we grow together

b.       One way we are doing this rooting is through sermons about questions found in the Bible.

II.                 Body

a.       Last week we looked at the question: What have you done to me?  We talked about how our sin doesn’t just hurt us, but those around us as well.

b.       In the story, Abraham had his wife lie to a king about their relationship, saying they were merely brother and sister.  This hurt Abimelech and his household…but tonight we will look at one other person that was affected by this sin.

c.       Genesis 26:1, 6-11 – “Now there was a famine in the land —besides the earlier famine of Abraham’s time—and Isaac went to Abimelech king of the Philistines in Gerar…^.So Isaac stayed in Gerar. When the men of that place asked him about his wife, he said, “She is my sister,” because he was afraid to say, “She is my wife.” He thought, “The men of this place might kill me on account of Rebekah, because she is beautiful.” When Isaac had been there a long time, Abimelech king of the Philistines looked down from a window and saw Isaac caressing his wife Rebekah.  So Abimelech summoned Isaac and said, “She is really your wife! Why did you say, ‘She is my sister’?” Isaac answered him, “Because I thought I might lose my life on account of her.” Then Abimelech said, “What is this you have done to us?  One of the men might well have slept with your wife, and you would have brought guilt upon us.” So Abimelech gave orders to all the people: “Anyone who molests this man or his wife shall surely be put to death.”

d.       The question of the night is: What is this you have done to us?

                                                             a.      The answer isn’t all that important on this one, but rather the principle it teaches us is: Just because they have, doesn’t mean you have to

e.       When Parent’s Sin

                                                             a.      Isaac and Rebekah follow in the footsteps of Abraham and Sarah, his parents and her in-laws…they sin in exactly the same way, claiming sisterhood/brotherhood rather than being married…they lie.

                                                             b.      They are caught before anyone else sins by touching her, thankfully sparing others from the pain of sin…

                                                             c.      Here is the sad truth…we all have parents or guardians, and they are not perfect. 

                                                             d.      Some are abusive, some are addicted to drugs, alcohol, or tobacco, some lie, some are crude or crass, some watch or look at porn, some are lazy, some are angry, some are violent, some are selfish, some date one man after another or sleep with one woman after another.

                                                             e.      Parents don’t always set a good example for us, and many times we walk right behind them, following in their footsteps.  We become abusive, addicted, liars, crude, look at porn, lazy, angry, violent, selfish, and promiscuous. 

                                                              f.      It is follow the leader but it leads only to destruction. 

f.        Just because they have, doesn’t mean you have to

                                                             a.      Some of you have parents that are horrible examples for you in many areas, but the good news is this:  Just because they have, doesn’t mean you have to.

                                                             b.      You don’t have to follow them in their sin, you can walk your own path, that ends with you being loving, self-controlled, honest, pure, hard-working, gentle, patient, selfless, and faithful.

                                                             c.      But you have to decide that you don’t want to follow that path that leads to destruction and start following a different leader.

III.               Conclusion

a.       Freedom comes through Christ, following his footsteps, rather than your parents

b.       Galatians 5:1 – “It is for freedom that Christ has set us free.  Stand firm then and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.”

                                                             a.      Freedom comes through only one, Jesus.  Without him you will always be stuck, imprisoned by the sins of your parents, led around like an ox to do the will of what you have seen them demonstrate to you.

c.       Galatians 5:22-23a – “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.”

                                                             a.      When we follow in Christ’s footsteps, rather than our parents, we will find ourselves allowing the Holy Spirit to gain control over our lives.  Rather than the ugliness that once was part of our walk, we are instead shown to have other traits: Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.

d.       How many of you would rather have a life filled with those kind of things rather than what you have seen your parents demonstrate?  Then it is time to turn your life over to Jesus and start to follow him, allowing him to reshape you from the inside out.

e.       Pray

Wednesday Video: 021914

Follow the Leader Prank

Wednesday Video

OK Go! -- This To Shall Pass

021214: What Have You Done To Me?

Message: What Have You Done To Me?

I.                    Introduction

a.       Our goal this year is to see you get more rooted in Christ as we grow together

b.      One way we are doing this rooting is through sermons about questions found in the Bible.

II.                 Body

a.      How many of you have ever been hurt by a choice that someone else made?  Some of you have been hurt by a parent who chose to abuse you, some of you have been hurt by someone considered a friend lied to you.  Your life changed because someone else did something. 

b.      Illus: Add Food Coloring to Water, Add Water to Water

c.       Tonight’s story has everything to do with that, so let’s read it:

d.      Genesis 20:1-18 – “Now Abraham moved on from there into the region of the Negev and lived between Kadesh and Shur.  For a  while he stayed in Gerar, and there Abraham said of his wife Sarah, “She is my sister.”  Then Abimelech king of Gerar sent for Sarah and took her.  But God came to Abimelech in a dream one night and said to him, “You are as good as dead because of the woman you have taken; she is a married woman.”  Now Abimelech had not gone near her, so he said, “Lord, will you destroy an innocent nation?  Did he not say to me, ‘She is my sister,’ and didn’t she say, ‘He is my brother’?  I have done this with a clear conscience and clean hands.”  Then God said to him in the dream, “Yes, I know you did this with a clear conscience and so I have kept you from sinning against me.  That is why I did not let you touch her.  Now return the man’s wife, for he is a prophet, and he will pray for you and you will live.  But if you do not return her, you may be sure that you and all yours will die.”  Early the next morning Abimelech summoned all his officials, and when he told them all that had happened, they were very much afraid.  Then Abimelech called Abraham in and said, “What have you done to us?  How have I wronged you that you have brought such great guilt upon me and my kingdom?  You have done things to me that should not be done.  And Abimelech asked Abraham, “What was your reason for doing this?”  Abraham replied, “I said to myself, ‘There is surely no fear of God in this place, and they will kill me because of my wife.’  Besides, she really is my sister, the daughter of my father through not of my mother; and she became my wife.  And when God had me wander from my father’s household, I said to her, ‘This is how you can show your love for me: Everywhere we go, say of me, “He is my brother.”’”  Then Abimelech brought sheep and cattle and male and female slaves and gave them to Abraham, and he returned Sarah his wife to him.  And Abimelech said, “My land is before you; live wherever you like.”  To Sarah he said, “I am giving your brother a thousand shekels of silver.  This is to cover the offense against you before all who are with you; you are completely vindicated.”  Then Abraham prayed to God, and God healed Abimelech, his wife and his slave girls so they could have children again, for the Lord had closed up every womb in Abimelech’s household because of Abraham’s wife Sarah.”

e.       The question of the night is: What have you done to us?

                                                             a.      The answer isn’t all that important on this one, but rather the principle it teaches us is: Our sins hurt others, not just ourselves

f.       Sin’s Solution

                                                             a.      Just briefly I wanted to make sure I made this statement.  Our sin separates us from a close relationship with God and can only ultimately be solved when we admit our sin to God and ask him for forgiveness.

                                                            b.      This forgiveness is only possible because Jesus died, taking our sins upon himself and giving us grace (something good we don’t deserve) in this case forgiveness.

                                                             c.      Until you have dealt with the sin you have committed between you and God, you won’t make any headway finding healing in your life or your relationships with those you have hurt with your sin.

g.       Our Sin Hurts Others, Not Just Ourselves

                                                             a.      In the story, Abraham and Sarah lie: saying they were just brother and sister…but leaving out they were only half-siblings and married, is a lie of omission.

                                                            b.      That sin did two things, and our sin does the same two things to others:

                                                                                i.      Can lead others to sin (Abimelech almost committed adultery)

a.       If others see you doing it they can be drawn into doing it, you are making it normal for them.  Think about yourself, when you hear about something over and over again, it seems like it is the normal thing, so you start doing it as well.  Cussing works this way.

                                                                              ii.      Hurts other’s lives (Abimelech almost dies, the women of the kingdom are not allowed to have children, Abimelech must pay off to assure people that he didn’t touch her)

a.       If you sin, it isn’t a private moment that only effects you, it makes an impact on those around you and even those you might not know about being effected.  It is like the opening video, one thing hits another, hits another, until paint is finally sprayed all over someone.

III.               Conclusion

a.       So what do we do when we sin and it hurts someone else?

                                                             a.      Admit: To yourself, to God, and to them.  Tell the truth, don’t make excuses.

                                                            b.      Ask: For forgiveness, you were the one who made the choice, even if you feel like you were “justified, pushed into, etc…”  You still made the choice

                                                             c.      Atone: Make amends for what you have done, if you stole something repay it, ask them what you can do to pay them back, to make things right.

020514: Wednesday Video

Fruit Ninja Live!

020514: Is Anything Too Hard For the Lord

Message: Is Anything Too Hard For the Lord

I.                    Introduction

a.       Our goal this year is to see you get more rooted in Christ as we grow together

b.      One way we are doing this rooting is through sermons about questions found in the Bible.

II.                 Body

a.       Background

                                                             a.      3 men show up, Abraham jumped up and gave them food and drink, as a good host should do.  But he recognizes they aren’t ordinary men, but rather angels…

b.      Read Genesis 18:10-14 – “Then the LORD  said, “I will surely return to you about this time next year, and Sarah your wife will have a son.” Now Sarah was listening at the entrance to the tent, which was behind him.  Abraham and Sarah were already old and well advanced in years, and Sarah was past the age of childbearing. So Sarah laughed  to herself as she thought, “After I am worn out and my master is old, will I now have this pleasure?” Then the LORD said to Abraham, “Why did Sarah laugh and say, ‘Will I really have a child, now that I am old?’  Is anything too hard for the LORD? I will return to you at the appointed time next year and Sarah will have a son.” Sarah was afraid, so she lied and said, “I did not laugh.” But he said, “Yes, you did laugh.”

c.       Why it was funny

                                                             a.      Sarah was 90 or 91 and Abraham was 100 years old…this was not something that should have been possible to even happen…plus…ewwww!

                                                            b.      It was funny because it was thought to be impossible.  And the thought of it being impossible showed her belief in who God was.  In her view there was a God, the God of her and her husband.  He talked with them, he called them, he promised them wealth and delivered, he protected them in a foreign land, but he couldn’t do the impossible. 

                                                             c.      He is God…but with a limit to his power

                                                            d.      Illus: I had a friend whose parents installed a speed limiter on his car so that he couldn’t go faster than 70.  It made it so that the engine wouldn’t allow him to go any faster and he hated it.  And he eventually disengaged it.

                                                             e.      Sarah’s God was thought to only be able to go up to 70, pretty fast, but that was it, he couldn’t go further or do more…but then that view changed as she got a bigger view of who God was.

d.      Read Genesis 21:1-7 – “Now the LORD was gracious to Sarah as he had said, and the LORD did for Sarah what he had promised. Sarah became pregnant and bore a son to Abraham in his old age, at the very time God had promised him. Abraham gave the name Isaac to the son Sarah bore him.  When his son Isaac was eight days old, Abraham circumcised him,  as God commanded him.  Abraham was a hundred years old when his son Isaac was born to him. Sarah said, “God has brought me laughter,  and everyone who hears about this will laugh with me.”  And she added, “Who would have said to Abraham that Sarah would nurse children? Yet I have borne him a son in his old age.”

a.       The question of the night is, “Is anything too hard for the Lord?”

III.               Conclusion

a.       Some of you might think that God is able to do anything, but would laugh if I said he could change your life to be better than what it is now.  You would laugh if I said he could remove the obstacle that has been placed in your life. You would laugh if I said he could heal you of an addiction.  You would laugh if I said he could use you to change this world.

b.      My God doesn’t have that limiter though, nothing is too hard for him, he is God.

c.       He created the universe, He is above all things he has created, He is strong enough to destroy the most powerful in the world, He is wise enough to know exactly what to do at all times, He is smart enough to know all the answers, He is outside time, allowing him to see both my past and my future

d.      He is the same God who gave Abraham and his wife a child in their old age, he is the same God who flooded the earth but saved Noah and his family, He is the same God who delivered Israel from slavery, parting the Red Sea so they could walk through it, He is the same God who knocked down the walls of Jericho, He is the same God who enabled David to defeat the giant Goliath, He is the same God who sent fire down on the sacrifice of Elijah, He is the same God who fed that same Elijah with ravens, He is the same God who saved Daniel in the Lion’s den, He is the same God who enabled Esther to rescue her people, He is the same God who sent his son to this earth to save us, he is the same God who healed many of leprosy, blindness, deafness, and even rose them from the dead, He is the same God.

e.       He is the same God healed me of addiction to porn, He is the same God kept me safe when I should have died, He is the same God took away my bitterness.

f.       And he can do anything, nothing is too hard for him, he has no limits.

g.       Maybe you have something going on in your life and you need that God to show up and change it, raise hand and let us pray for you!