March 25, 2007 by PastorMark.

 #273, Dead Center, Sunday 03-25-2007

Theme: If you’re going to know God, you’ve got to face and deal with any obstacle between you and God.

Text: Luke 18:18-27

Introduction

1. Log jams.
   
   1. They usually start with one log getting stuck, “the obstacle” It doesn’t move off dead center
      
2. One day a young man ran up to Jesus and fell on his knees.
   
   1. Who was he? What did he want? Could Jesus help him?
      
   2. He was burdened by a “log jam”, an obstacle.
      
3. If you’re going to know God, you’ve got to face and deal with any obstacle between you and God.
   

Text: Luke 18:18-27

1. Deep down we feel these obstacles. (v18)
   

3. 1. This young man had everything (almost)
      
   2. He was young, successful.
      
   3. He was moral, well-respected.
      
   4. He felt no real assurance, peace with God.
      
   5. He didn’t even know what the problem was.
      
   6. There was something inside that was dead.
      
   7. Have you felt this way?
      

2. 1. Jesus was available for the young man.
      
   2. Jesus didn’t reject him.
      
   3. Jesus didn’t require him to have it all together.
      
   4. We think we have to fix our log jam first.
      
   5. “I’ll untangle it and then Jesus will help me.
      
   6. The message of the Gospel is “come as you are”, but it isn’t “stay as you are”
      

   1. He will probe us with questions.
      
   2. Example: “Why do you call Me good?”
      
   3. He will lead us to the problem.
      
   4. Jesus held up the mirror of the law
      
   5. He quoted five commandments.
      
   6. The young man gave himself an A
      
   7. The water is fine, the logs are fine …
      
   8. He will point out the “log.”
      
   9. “You still lack one thing” (v 22)
      
   10. Exodus 20:17 “You shall not covet.” (one of the ten commandments) The young man’s money and wealth separated him from God.
       
   11. God revealed my log …
       

   1. The man’s question: “What must I do to inherit eternal life?” (v 18)
      
   2. Jesus gave the man something to do.
      
   3. “Sell everything you have … give to the poor … come, follow me.” (v 22)
      
   4. This challenge is what he needed to be set free.
      
   5. The command to sell all is not a universal one.
      
   6. Salvation is by grace, but we are involved.
      
   7. His grace is not “irresistible.”
      
   8. We are told to repent. “Repent, for the Kingdom of heaven is near.” (Matthew 4:17)
      
   9. We must be willing to get off “dead center.”
      

   1. The young man became very sad.
      
   2. He had a “near life” experience but walked away.
      
   3. Very few times did people leave Jesus disappointed, but he did.
      
   4. He had great wealth.
      
   5. Great wealth had him.
      
   6. What keeps you from life? What’s the obstacle?
      
   7. Fear of the opinion of others?
      
   8. Unwillingness to consider giving up a habit?
      
   9. Lack of faith to believe God can control your life?
      
   10. Afraid that you may lose a relationship?
       
   11. With all these obstacles it’s amazing that anyone gets saved!
       

3. Jesus welcomes us, obstacles and all.
   
4. Jesus will lovingly reveal the obstacle. (v 19-22)
   
5. Jesus will show us the way to life. (v 22)
   
6. The final choice is ours. (v 23-24)
   

Conclusion:

• Where is this young man now?
• Where is his wealth?
• If he could go back and choose over, what do you think he would do?
• What holds you back?
• Jesus says, “Come follow me.”
  

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March 25, 2007 by PastorMark.

Strength isn’t always what you think. King Rehoboam (son of Solomon) should have known better. God allowed him to become king, but the Bible tells us that after “he had become strong, he and all Israel with him abandoned the law of the Lord” (2 Chronicles 12:1). Life for them went downhill quickly after this. If we really embrace God’s truth, we understand strength rather than being deceived by it. Strength and its accompanied blessings are a gift from God for which we should be thankful and humble. Ultimately, strength comes from the Lord, so we can declare, “The Lord is the strength of my life!” (Psalm 27:1, KJV).

Pastor Mark Boucher

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March 22, 2007 by PastorDave.

Message #1

Scripture: taken from Genesis 2:20-24
“But for Adam no suitable helper was found. So the Lord God caused the man to fall into a deep sleep…then the Lord God made a woman…and he brought her to the man. For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united (cleave) to his wife, and they will become one flesh.”

Message
Adam was created in paradise! He enjoyed sweet fellowship daily with the Lord and received pleasure from the work God gave him to do. But something was missing, no suitable helper was found for Adam. Even in paradise Adam had a need and God acting in love (without Adam’s input) created Adam’s perfect helper, Eve!Next, God brought the woman to the man. FOR THIS REASON, a man is to unite (cleave) to his wife, and they are to become one flesh. THIS THEN WAS NOW PARADISE! A husband and wife living in oneness under the protection of their God and living in daily fellowship with Him and each other! It was the most beautiful life—until the first sin. The first sin was not only Satan deceiving Eve, but the result of a lack of “oneness” between Adam and Eve. Imagine if Eve had gone to Adam to consult him on the matter, and then the two of them going to consult with the Lord about it!

Prayer Point
So many couples today live “separate Christian lives.” They love the Lord individually and have drifted from God’s original intent for marriage—for the two to become one and in that oneness love and serve the Lord. Make Jesus’ words in John 17 the prayer of your marriage this week. “That they…may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us.

Marriage Challenge
Oneness begins with communication. Husbands take your wives out to dinner this week and ask them where in your life you have been acting “alone.” (It is not good for man to be alone). Wives let your husbands share from their heart where they need you to help them. (God created you to be his helper)Both of you write down what your spouse shares and pick one thing to act on this week.
Through Jesus Christ,
Pastor Dave & Tatiana

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March 18, 2007 by PastorMark.

#272, Right On The Money, Sunday 03-18-2007

Text: 1 Timothy 6:6-10, 17-19

Theme: Take hold of the life that is truly life.

There are about 1000 different verses in the Bible that reference money.

Instruction About True Life

1. Keep the Big Picture in mind.
   1. What is the goal of life?
   2. Reflect Godliness
   3. Live life close to God.
2. Think about your own birth and death.
   1. You came to the world with nothing.
   2. You will leave the world with nothing.
3. When it comes to money, does it really mean anything?
   1. Everything we have will be gone in a moment.
4. What truly gives us joy in life?
   1. Knowing and loving Jesus.
5. Be careful about what you desire.
   1. Money without character = disaster.
   2. With money, many wandered from the faith.
6. What if you are rich? – What NOT to do.
   1. Do not be arrogant – v17
   2. Never think you are better then someone else.
7. What if you are rich? – What to do.
   1. Put your hope in God. V17.
   2. Be rich in good deeds. V18a
   3. You will be sending it ahead. V19.

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March 18, 2007 by PastorMark.

King Hezekiah received the news, “Put your house in order, because you are going to die” (2 Kings 20:1). Instead of just giving up, Hezekiah turned his face to the wall and prayed to the Lord. Isaiah, God’s prophet and messenger, was stopped in his tracks by God and went to Hezekiah with a word from God: “I have heard your prayer and seen your tears; I will heal you” (2 Kings 20:5). We don’t always understand God and His ways, but we can rest assured that God is compassionate and loving. We can trust Him to do what is best. He hears us and sees our tears!

Pastor Mark Boucher

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March 11, 2007 by PastorMark.

#271, It’s About Time, Sunday 03-11-2007

Text: 2 Timothy 4:1-8

Theme: We need a new appreciation toward God’s gift of time.

Introduction

1. The apostle Paul wrote a last letter.
   1. He knew he was about to die.
   2. He wanted to leave something for timothy and us.

Text: 2 Timothy 4:1-8 “The time has come for my departure” (v6)

What does the Bible reveal about time? What should our outlook be toward time?

“Time is God’s gift to us, what we do with time is our own gift back to God.”

Questions about time:

1. How are we to understand time from God’s Word?
   1. Time is part of God’s creation.
   2. God purposely provided variation, change, cycles; He didn’t leave the earth static.
   3. He made day and night. (Ecclesiastes 1:5)
   4. He established the week (7 days).
   5. He established the cycle of the moon (by placing the moon where it is).
   6. He made the years.
   7. God is above time
   8. He is eternal.
   9. He made time and one day all will revert back to “eternal time.”
   10. As physical beings we move through time.
   11. God helps us make sense of time.
   12. He gave us the ability to consider past, present and future.
2. How should we think about the past?
   1. The past offers us opportunity to gain wisdom.
   2. God’s story can impact our story.
   3. We see God’s faithfulness and how others were blessed.
   4. We see God’s warnings and how others failed.
   5. “These things happened to them as examples and were written down as warnings for us …” 1 Corinthians 10:11
   6. Our own past can help us learn and grow.
   7. We can learn from our failures (self awareness of weaknesses)
   8. We can learn from our past blessings.
   9. example: at the end of his life, Paul rejoiced in god’s faithfulness as he said “I have fought the good fight.”
   10. The consideration of our past is to help us now.
   11. We are not to dwell in the past. “But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead.” Philippians 3:13
3. How should we think about the future?
   1. The future will have times of testing.
   2. “But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days.” 2 Timothy 3:1
   3. The testing is only temporary.
   4. The future is filled with great glory and victory.
   5. “There is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day …” 2 Timothy 4:8
4. How should we think about right now?
   1. The present is given for us to be right with God.
   2. “Come now, let us reason together, says the Lord” Isaiah 1:18
   3. “Today, if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts …” Hebrews 3:15
   4. I tell you, now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day f salvation.” 2 Corinthians 6:2
   5. The present is for us to pursue right relationships with others.
   6. They say time heals. There is good time and bad time:
   7. Good time is when we obey the Word … forgive, go to the person.
   8. Bad time is when we remain bitter, angry.
   9. The present is for us to invest in life.
   10. “making the most of every opportunity because the days are evil.” Ephesians 5:16

Conclusion:

At most funerals I remind the people of our privilege to still walk in the world. Lord, renew my appreciation of today.

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March 11, 2007 by PastorMark.

What God values and what man values are often far apart. While people value charisma and good looks, God values integrity and uprightness. King Solomon was told, “As for you, if you walk before me in integrity of heart and uprightness. . .I will establish your royal throne over Israel forever” (1 Kings 9:4-5). Integrity of heart is not some unattainable goal sought after by only the spiritually elite. To be a person of integrity means you are going after honesty, wholeness, and healing in your relationships with God and others. God promises His blessings if we humble ourselves and simply acknowledge our need of Him. Be real with God, and you’ll see Him work in your life!

Pastor Mark Boucher