Category: Sermon Notes

THEME: Uncharted

SERIES: Staking Your Claim

Special Guest: Rob Grandi

THEME: Uncharted

SERIES: Staking Your Claim

TITLE: Lean on Me

Text:  Mt.25:35-46

I.    BY SHOWING COMPASSION   

“A church can become part of the problem instead of part of the solution. “  Jud Wilhite in Stripped

“Be careful, lest in fighting the dragon you become the dragon.” Nietzche

To become (judgmental and condemning) is not the way of Jesus and should not be the way of any church.

II.   BY SHOWING EMPATHY       

There is a difference between (sympathy) and (empathy).

– Sympathy can be broken down by saying it is “feeling sorry for someone.”

– Empathy can be broken down by saying it is “being able to put yourself into someone’s shoes and know how they feel.”

– Sympathy is (feeling sorry); empathy is (acting upon those feelings).

“When people look at your life, it should so easy for them to see Jesus in how you treat them, love them, and share truth with them.”  (God of Tomorrow-p.200)

“We can be orthodox in our theology while committing heresy by how we treat others.”  (p.196)

How do we show compassion and empathy?

1)      Allow our heart (to break).

2)      Ask God for a (mission).

“It doesn’t matter how much you know if you have no compassion to show.”

NEXT WEEK:   Rob Grandi here to sing and preach

THEME: Uncharted

SERIES: Staking Your Claim

TITLE: Who Me? Serve?

Text:  Mt.20:25-28; John 13:1-20

“A Christian man is the most free lord of all, and subject to no one; a Christian man is the most dutiful servant of all, and subject to everyone.”  Luther

I.    THE FOUNDATION FOR SERVICE                                       
 

“Being unselfish doesn’t mean thinking less of yourself-it means thinking of yourself less.”

“The difficult journey of life is to move from a selfish heart to a serving heart.”  (Both quotes by Joel Manby in Love Works)

The essence of the Christian faith is not that (we serve Christ) but that (He served us).

It now comes down to (we serve others) because (Jesus served us).

II.   THE MOTIVATION FOR SERVICE          
 

Why do people serve?

1.      (Compassion)

2.      (Guilt)

3.      (Force)

4.      (Pride)

“Jesus is the beginning of service, the foundation and motivation of service, and yet He is also the end of our service-because He is both the example for serving and our highest purpose for serving.” (Creature of the Word-p.74)

Let’s serve with a (servant’s heart).

NEXT WEEK:   Theme: Uncharted   Series: Staking Your Claim

Title: Lean on Me- Matthew 26:35-46

THEME: Uncharted

SERIES: Staking Your Claim

TITLE: Returning to Reclaim

Text:  Revelation 2:1-6

“It’s the promises of God that make the church, and not the church that makes the promises of God.” Martin Luther

I.    OUR PRIMARY EMPHASIS (OUR MISSION)                                      
 

The church at Ephesus had a fatal flaw. They had doctrinal orthodoxy. They continued to serve Christ. BUT their service had deteriorated into (mechanical action). They did, not because of their love, but because it was (required and expected).

Our goal as a church: (To Connect People to Jesus)

II.   OUR SECONDARY VISION         
 

“Without vision, there is rarely direction. Without direction, there are no goals. And without goals, there is no progress.”

Vision #1: (To be Passionate Pursuers of Jesus)

Vision #2: (Be Models of Truth and Love)

Vision #3: (To Be Involved in Our Community)

NEXT WEEK:   Theme: Uncharted   Series: Staking Your Claim

Title: Who Me? Serve?  Phil.2:5-11; Mt.20:25-28; John 13:1-20

THEME: Uncharted

SERIES: Staking Your Claim

TITLE: Jesus, Continued

Text:  John 16: 1-15

I.    THE DILEMMA WE FACE                                     
 

3 possible reasons for the dilemma:

1)      A lack of (learning).

2)      A lack of (leaning).

3)      We can’t understand the (mystery of the Trinity) so we just give up.

II.   THE DETAILS WE NEED TO KNOW        
 

“For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called “Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” Is.9:6

One thing I know: the Spirit and the Word are (inseparable).

Two extremes people take:

1.      Some pursue (experience) apart from the Word.

2.      Some seeks to know and obey the (Word) without any interaction with, or real dependence upon, the Spirit.

Who is the Holy Spirit?

1.      The Holy Spirit is a (person).

2.      The Holy Spirit is (God).

3.      The Holy Spirit is (eternal and holy).

4.      The Holy Spirit was never to (draw attention) to Himself.

NEXT WEEK:   Theme: Uncharted   Series: Staking Your Claim

Title: Returning to Reclaim- Rev.2:1-6

OVCF’s 14th Anniversary celebration!!

THEME: Uncharted

SERIES: Staking Your Claim

TITLE: The Rock

Text:  Matthew 16: 13-18; John 14:6

I.   WHY THE CONFUSION?                                    
 

“All the armies that ever marched, all the navies that ever sailed, all the parliaments that ever sat, all the kings that ever reigned, put together, have not affected the life of man on earth as much as that One Solitary Life.”

II.   WHAT DOES JESUS SAY?       
 

“Jesus Christ is the most compelling, interesting, and remarkable person who ever lived. He is exactly who he claimed to be, precisely who the Bible teaches that he is-God in the flesh, the King of kings and Lord of lords.” (Superheroes Can’t Save You-Miles-p.3)

Jesus made a very (exclusive) claim.  He was very, very clear: “I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”

What did Jesus say about Himself?

1.      He (came down) from heaven.

2.      He was (God).

3.      He was (sinless)

4.      He (forgave sin).

5.      He was the (only way) to heaven.

Who do the writers of the NT say He is?

1)      According to Jesus He is the (“I Am”).

2)      According to Matthew He is (the Christ).

3)      According to Mark He is the (Son of God).

4)      According to Luke He is the (Servant of the Lord).

5)      According to John He is the (Word)

6)      According to Paul He is (Lord)

NEXT WEEK:   Theme: Uncharted   Series: Staking Your Claim

Title: Jesus, Continued  Text: John 16:1-15

THEME: Uncharted

SERIES: Staking Your Claim

TITLE: The Bigness of God

Text:  Is.44:6-8, 21-28; Ex.3:1-15

“A god small enough to be understood is not big enough to be worshipped.” Evelyn Underhill

I.    CONFUSED THINKING

If we (diminish) God in any way, such a God cannot (sustain) faith.

What we (think) about God determines (everything else) in our lives: what we value, what we pursue, and how passionately we pursue it.

UN-BOXY THINKING

Many of us have never grasped that God is a being of (unfathomable) magnitude, wisdom, and goodness.  We have not (rejected) God; we have (reduced) Him.

Please turn to Isaiah 44 (page 604)

If our faith and belief in Him depends on us figuring out (all the answers), we’ll never possess faith. God is (far bigger) than our answers and if we have all the answers He is not God.

“This is the one to whom I will look; he who is humble and contrite in spirit and trembles at my word.” Is.66:2

NEXT WEEK:   Theme: Uncharted   Series: Staking Your Claim

Title: The Rock  Text: Matthew 16:13-18; john 14:6

THEME: Uncharted

SERIES: Got Wisdom?

TITLE: Flying Blind

Text: Proverbs 3:1-12

Setting up the Main Thing:

1.)    A Father’s (Love) for and (Charge) to his Son (with a Promise)

NOT the “prosperity gospel” -> John Piper: “If God’s love for his children is to be measured by our health, wealth and comfort in this life, God hated the apostle Paul.”

2.)    Two Necessary Qualities that Must be Ingrained

a.       (Love) and (Faithfulness) (see Galatians 5:22 and Matthew 22:37-39)

b.       These are uncommon qualities that Paul says are a by-product of our relationship with Jesus – qualities that we can’t help but exhibit if the Holy Spirit lives in us!

Trusting God is the Main Thing:

(God’s Way v. My Way) – Which will I trust?

1.)    The (SADDEST) verse in the Bible – Judges 21:25 “Every man did what was right in his own eyes.”

2.)    The Logic of (Perspective): My way v. God’s way…

Two Examples of What “Trusting” Looks Like:

The first is an action on our part: We initiate it. The second is a reaction: It is a recognition and a response to what God is doing!

1.)    (Generosity) and Offering – Honor the Lord with your wealth

2.)    Cherish the Father’s (Discipline)

If we are to trust in the Lord with all our hearts, leaning not on our own understanding, we need look no further than the example Jesus left for us.

THEME: Uncharted

SERIES: Got Wisdom?

TITLE: Stay Away!

Text:  Proverbs 6:12-19

“Small deeds done are better than great deeds planned.” Gen. George C. Marshall

I.   STAY AWAY FROM THE INSINCERE                                  
 

Two things worth realizing:

1.      God sees through our (feigned sacrifice).  (Pr.15:8,29 and 21:3,27)  “he has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God.” Micah 6:8

2.      The wise person sees the danger of (duplicity).

II.  STAY AWAY FROM FRAUDS    
 

“When we ‘get even’ with someone, that is literally what we are doing-becoming even with them, that is, descending to their level of vengeance and losing whatever moral advantage we may have had.” Sydney J. Harris

What does God hate?

1.      Haughty eyes.

2.      A lying tongue.

3.      Hands that shed innocent blood.

4.      A heart that devises wicked plans.

5.      Feet that makes haste to run to evil.

6.      A false witness.

7.      One who sows discord.

NEXT WEEK:   Theme: Uncharted   Series: Got Wisdom?

Ryan East preaching

THEME: Uncharted

SERIES: Got Wisdom?

TITLE: Don’t Lose Control

Text:  Proverbs 14: 16-17, 29; 15:18; 16:32

I.    KNOW HOW TO RECOGNIZE ANGER                                  

5 Different degrees of anger:

1.      (Mild irritation).

2.      (Indignation)

3.      (Wrath)

4.      (Fury)

5.      (Rage)

II.   KNOW THE TRUTH ABOUT ANGER   

A few negatives to consider:

1)      A quick temper ignites conflict even in situations that could have been easily reconciled.  “Fools have short fuses and explode all too quickly; the prudent (wise) quietly shrug off insults.” 12:16 (MSG)  “Some people make cutting remarks, but the words of the wise bring healing.” 12:18 (NLT) “Short-tempered people must pay their own penalty. If you rescue them once, you will have to do it again.” 19:19 (NLT)

2)      A person without patience misses many opportunities if he had cooled off.

What does the Bible say about anger? See Ephesians 4: 26-27

1.      Anger is a (God-given) emotion.

2.      Anger is not necessarily (sinful).

3.      Anger must have (safeguards).

III.  KNOW HOW TO CONTROL YOUR ANGER

Here’s a catch-phrase to remember: DON’T NURSE; REVERSE.

1)      Anger always (alienates).

2)      Anger always (creates anger).

How can we manage our anger?

1.      (Resolve) to manage it.

2.      (Remember) the cost.

3.      (Reflect) before reacting.

4.      (Renew) your mind by focusing on Jesus.

NEXT WEEK:   Theme: Uncharted   Series: Got Wisdom?

Title: Stay Away!

Scripture: Proverbs 6:12-19