May 25, 2008 by PastorMark.

#312, Ready or Not, Pastor Mark Boucher, Sunday 05-25-2008

Text: Joshua 1:1-9
Theme: With God’s help I can change.

INTRODUCTION:

The story of Henry Ford: Change is inevitable, growth is optional.

1. God spoke to a man named Joshua.
   1. “Moses my servant is dead.” Joshua 1:2
   2. Life for Joshua and the Israelites would change.
   3. Moses was the dominant person in 4 of the 5 first books.
   4. Moses died, but God’s plan did not die with Moses.
   5. God’s next word to Joshua was …
   6. “Now then, you and all these people, get ready to cross the Jordan River.” Joshua 1:2
   7. How are we to “get ready” for change?
   8. (God did not give Joshua a detailed plan. First He spoke to his heart.)
2. Readiness begins by how we perceive change (attitude).
   1. We don’t feel an urgency to change.
   2. We can try to refuse to change.

God loves us just the way we are, but He loves us too much to let us stay that way.
Theme: With God’s help I can change.
Text: Joshua 1:1-9

1. Don’t let the past prevent you from change. (The past is important. Learn from it, don’t live in it.)
   1. The desert wanderings were all they knew for 40 years.
   2. Life would be very different from what they knew.
   3. No Moses / There would be:
   4. No cloud, fire / Battles to fight
   5. No manna / Land to divide
   6. No large group / Temptations to overcome
   7. But also …
   8. No wandering / Great opportunities
   9. No discipline / Multiplied blessings
   10. Joshua could have been “stuck in park.”
   11. “I was always Moses’ assistant, his aide.”
   12. “I’ve already been in a battle or two … and won.” (he would have been older than almost all the others.)
   13. Philippians 3:12b-13 “I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead.”
2. Anticipate the future with faith. (With God’s help I can change.)
   1. After God said, “get ready”, He filled Joshua’s future outlook with promises (vv 3-5).
   2. “I will give you every place you set your foot.” (v 3)
   3. “I will give you extended territory.” (v 4)
   4. “I will give you my abiding presence.” (v 5)
   5. “No one will be able to stand up against you …”
   6. Will we believe God or our fears?
   7. Joshua could have filled his mind with doubts. (What if … I fail, the people lose confidence, our enemies get together … ?)
   8. But what about right now?
3. Receive strength and courage from God now. (vv 6-9)
   1. God commands strength and courage three times
   2. How do we receive strength and courage?
   3. You make up your mind you’re going to obey God.
   4. “Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave to you.” (v 7)
   5. Obedience in the present prepares you for a great change in the future
   6. Joshua, as one of the 12 spies, obeyed God by being positive about the promised land. Because Joshua obeyed God, he lived to change the future.
   7. You receive strength and courage from His Word.
   8. The Word is to be in our mouth. (v 8 )
   9. The Word is to be in our mind. (v 8 b)
   10. You receive strength and courage now by believing that God wants the best for you.
   11. “that you may be successful wherever you go.” (v 7 b)
   12. “then you will be prosperous and successful.” (v 8 b)

CONCLUSION:

There is a promised land. There is a desert. You can be a believer in both.
Thrive? Or just survive?

My heart: to let Christi change me from the inside out … to lead us into lives of:

1. being true disciples
2. making true disciples of others

What is the one thing God is saying to change?

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May 25, 2008 by admin.

JOIN US TODAY

• WORSHIP and THE WORD at 8:30 AM and 11:00 AM
  • Nursery, 4s and 5s, Kids 4 Christ
  • Pastor Mark Boucher, “Ready or Not,” Joshua 1:1-9
• CHRISTIAN EDUCATION at 10:00 AM
• WELCOME RECEPTION at 1:00 PM (after second service)
  • Join us for a light lunch on the front lawn as we welcome
  • Pastor Darryl and Pastor Rafael and their families.
• ALPHA COURSE at 3:00 PM in the Fellowship Hall
• GOSPEL EXPLOSION SERVICE at 6:30 PM
  • Water Baptism Service and short movie, Future Tense

JOIN US THIS WEEK

• TUESDAY
  • 6:30 PM—English for all Nations (ESL)
  • 7:30 PM—Christian 12 Step
• WEDNESDAY
  • 5:45 PM—A.L.I.V.E. Homeschoolers Prayer
  • 6:30 PM—FAMILY NIGHT
  • Rainbows (girls & boys, 3 up to K)
  • Girls Ministries (grades K-8)
  • Royal Rangers (boys’ clubs, K-12)
  • Impact Student Ministries
  • Adult Bible Study (L.A.B.I.)—Qualities of a Healthy Church
• THURSDAY
  • 6:30 PM—Ladies’ Night Out
• SATURDAY
  • 4:00 PM—African Fellowship Prayer
  • 7:00 PM—All-Church Prayer

ANNOUNCING

• THE CARE NET BABY BOTTLE FUNDRAISER CONTINUES. There are more baby bottles at the Welcome Center to be filled in support of our local Pregnancy Resource Center. Pick up a baby bottle today, fill it, and bring it back by Father’s Day.
• ESL CLASSES WILL END for the semester this Tuesday night. Students and workers will enjoy a time of games, songs, sharing, and pizza. What a joy it has been to plant the Word of the Lord deep in the hearts of our students—some who were new to Christianity! We look forward to September when Rita Trainque and Bernadette Oinonen will be co-directors of the “English For All Nations” school. Thanks to all who help make this school possible.
• ISRAEL AND PROPHECY! Come hear this special teaching by Rev. Fumio Taku on Wednesday, June 4, 6:30 PM, in the main sanctuary. Pastor Fumio has lived and ministered in Israel, and he will share slides of Israel as he teaches.
• HOLY LAND TRIP: Stop by the table in the foyer to pick up a flier with information about this exciting trip planned for February 23 to March 4, 2009.
• POWER VISITOR “CALLERS” NEEDED! With a growing number of visitors coming to this church comes an urgent need for additional “callers,” who have the singular purpose of reaching out and welcoming “first timers” through the use of their computers and telephones in their own homes. One or two hours a week can make a difference for eternity. Please fill out your information on the “Opportunity for Ministry!” insert, and, if you need more information, see Pastor Harv at the Welcome Center.
• IF YOU’VE HAD A BABY in the last few months and have not received your gift from the church, please see Tatiana McIntosh.

HOMETEAMS MEETING THIS WEEK

• Christians in Action (Proiettis)—Tuesday, 7:00 PM
• Branches of Messiah (Wheelers)—Wednesday, 6:30 PM
• YACC for Young Adults (Riehles)—Thursday, 6:30 PM
• Women of Faith (Telliers)—Friday, 10:00 AM
• Pick up directions at the Welcome Center. You are invited!

CHURCH LIBRARY

• The library, located next to the Youth Chapel, is open:
• Sunday: 10:00-11:00 AM, after second service, 6:00-6:30 PM
• Wednesday: 6:15-6:30 PM and after Family Night ministries

TAKE THE LAND OFFERINGS TO DATE

• Beginning Loan Amount: $600,000
• Regular Principal Payments: 11,252
• Extra Principal Applied: 105,078
• Current Loan Balance: $483,670
• At an average $8500/month extra applied each month, the loan should be paid off by Aug 2011.

NEEDS IN OUR CHURCH FAMILY

• There are always ongoing needs in our body. You can give an offering to Benevolences anytime. Just designate the amount on your offering envelope. Remember: “He who is kind to the poor lends to the Lord” (Proverbs 19:17).

BULLETIN INSERTS

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May 25, 2008 by PastorMark.

Hate is a strong word, yet the Bible teaches us to hate something. Psalm 97:10 declares, “Let those who love the Lord hate evil, for he guards the lives of his faithful ones.” Notice that the Bible doesn’t say, “Hate people” or even “Hate evil people.” Our hatred needs to be directed toward the evil and sin which would tempt us away from our God. Our battle with evil must not descend into fights and quarrels with people. The Holy Spirit gives us the ability to hate evil while showing love and respect to those who embrace evil. Living in this world has its challenges…which drive us to our knees!

Pastor Mark Boucher

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