Author: eengle

Do We Have Free-Will If God Already Knows the Future?

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Do We Have Free-Will If God Already Knows the Future?

Sermon series: Hot Potatoes – 3 of 9

July 6, 2008

Psalm 139

Pastor John Fanous

What Does God Know?

“O Lord, you have searched me and you know me.” Ps 139:1

1. God knows _________.

What are the good things you would want people to understand about you?

What are some of the bad things in your life you’d rather keep hidden?

“You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar.” Ps 139:2

2. God knows my ______________________________.

“You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways.” Ps 139:3

3. God knows my ______________________________.

“Before a word is on my tongue you know it completely, O Lord.” Ps 139:4

4. God knows my ______________________________.

“If I say, ‘Surely the darkness will hide me and the light become night around me,’ even the darkness will not be dark to you; the night will shine like the day, for darkness is as light to you.” Ps 139:11-12

5. God knows what others ______________ know about me.


How Does God Know All This?

1. Because God _______________________________.

“For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, your eyes saw my unformed body.” Ps 139:13-16a

2. Because God _______________________________.

“All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.” Ps 139:16b

How Should I Respond?

1. Recognize the _______________________________.

“How precious to?? me are your thoughts, O God! How vast is the sum of them! Were I to count them, they would outnumber the grains of sand. When I awake, I am still with you.” Ps 139:17-19

2. Be completely _________________ with God.

“If only you would slay the wicked, O God! Away from me, you bloodthirsty men! They speak of you with evil intent; your adversaries misuse your name. Do I not hate those who hate you, O Lord, and abhor those who rise up against you? I have nothing but hatred for them; I count them my enemies.” Ps 139:19-22

3. Give God _______________________.

“Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.” Ps 139:23-24

What About Other Religions and Those Who Haven’t Heard About Jesus?

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What About Other Religions and Those Who Haven’t Heard About Jesus?

June 29, 2008

Sermon series: Hot Potatoes – 2 of 9

Pastor John Fanous

The Belief: “All religions are just different legitimate attempts to discover God. To claim that one religion is the only way is exclusive and oppressive.”

Three Observations

1. This belief shows an ________________________ of religions.

2. This belief tends to justify one’s own __________________.

3. This belief is _________________________.

Big Question #1: Who will you trust to reveal God _________________?

Jesus kept pointing to _______________

“For my Father’s will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day.” John 6:40

“I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” John 8:12

“I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies.” John 11:25

“I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” John 14:6

“We are not stoning you for any of these,” replied the Jews, “but for blasphemy, because you, a mere man, claim to be God.” John 10:33

“But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins…” Mark 2:10

“I kept looking in the night visions, and behold, with the clouds of heaven One like a Son of Man was coming, and He came up to the Ancient of Days and was presented before Him. And to Him was given dominion, glory and a kingdom, that all the peoples, nations and men of every language might serve Him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion which will not pass away; and His kingdom is one which will not be destroyed.” Daniel 7:13-14 (NASB95)

“Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved.” Acts 4:12

Big Question #2: Who do ______ say Jesus is? (Mark 8:27-30)

Isn’t it exclusive to believe that Jesus is the only way?

Jesus got into trouble because of who he _________________.

But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.” Luke 15:2

Why didn’t God provide multiple paths to Him?

God’s good news is essentially ____________________ in nature. It makes sense that God would choose to make us _____________ on others to learn about Him.

“And how can anyone tell them without being sent by the Lord? The Scriptures say it is a beautiful sight to see even the feet of someone coming to preach the good news.” Romans 10:15 (CEV)

We have replaced the value of love with the value of _________________.

What about those who haven’t heard about Jesus?

“For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse.” Romans 1:20

We know that God is _______________ and ___________________.

“Even though I was once a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent man, I was shown mercy because I acted in ignorance and unbelief.” 1 Timothy 1:13

Why Do Bad Things Happen to Good People?

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Why Do Bad Things Happen to Good People?

June 22, 2008

Pastor John Fanous

How long, O Lord, must I call for help, but you do not listen?

Or cry out to you, “Violence!” but you do not save?

Why do you make me look at injustice? Why do you tolerate wrong?

Destruction and violence are before me; there is strife, and conflict abounds.

Habakkuk 1:2-3

This, then, is how you should pray:

“Our Father in heaven,

hallowed be your name,

your kingdom come,

your will be done on earth as it is in heaven…” Matthew 6:9-10

Important to remember:

It ________________  ? God’s _____________

But Isn’t God All-Powerful?

  • ______ and ________.
  • God gives us freedom to choose to _____________________.
  • With freedom comes the possibility for us to choose for ____________.
  • God chose to partially _________ His power by creating us __________.

Why Doesn’t God Intervene Every Time Someone Misuses Freedom?

  • If God prevented freedom every time it was going to be ____________, it wouldn’t be freedom.

How Does God Deal With Suffering?

1.       God ___________________________ your suffering through Jesus.

“But he took our suffering on him and felt our pain for us” Is 53:4 (NCV)

2.       God ___________________________ your suffering.

“You meant to hurt me, but God turned your evil into good…” Ge 50:20 (NCV)

3.       God ___________________________ suffering.

“I heard a loud voice shout from the throne: God’s home is now with his people. He will live with them, and they will be his own.. He will wipe all tears from their eyes, and there will be no more death, suffering, crying, or pain. These things of the past are gone forever.” Re 21:3-4 (CEV)

What Do I Do When I Am Suffering?

Habakkuk means to “______________” or to “________________”

Four Gifts a Father Can Pass On To His Children

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Four Gifts a Father Can Pass On To His Children

Father’s Day, June 15, 2008

Pastor John Fanous

Genesis 48:1-16

GIFT #1: Give your _________________________ of God.

Jacob said to Joseph, “God Almighty appeared to me at Luz in the land of Canaan and blessed me. He said to me, ‘I will make you fruitful, and I will multiply your descendants…’” Ge 48:3-4a (NLT)

Then Jacob said to Joseph, “I never thought I would see your face again, but now God has let me see your children, too!” Ge 48:11 (NLT)

“I revealed myself to those who did not ask for me; I was found by those who did not seek me. To a nation that did not call on my name, I said, ‘Here am I, here am I.’” Is 65:1

When the servant of the man of God got up early the next morning and went outside, there were troops, horses, and chariots everywhere. “Oh, sir, what will we do now?” the young man cried to Elisha. “Don’t be afraid!” Elisha told him. “For there are more on our side than on theirs!” Then Elisha prayed, “O Lord, open his eyes and let him see!” The Lord opened the young man’s eyes, and when he looked up, he saw that the hillside around Elisha was filled with horses and chariots of fire. 2 Ki 6:15-17 (NLT)

GIFT #2: Give your ______________________________.

“Jacob’s eyesight was failing because of his age, and he could not see very well. Joseph brought the boys to him, and he hugged them and kissed them.” Ge 48:10 (GNT)

“So he returned home to his father. And while he was still a long way off, his father saw him coming. Filled with love and compassion, he ran to his son, embraced him, and kissed him.” Lk 15:20 (NLT)

GIFT #3: Give your willingness to _______________________________.

“…the angel who has redeemed me from all evil, bless the boys…” Ge 48:16 (ESV)

“For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.” Ps 103:11-12

GIFT #4: Give your _________________________.

“But Jacob crossed his arms and put his right hand on the head of Ephraim who was the younger and his left hand on the head of Manasseh, the firstborn. Then he blessed them…” Ge 48:14-15a (The Message)

The angel of the Lord appeared to him and said to him, “The Lord is with you, you mighty warrior.” Jdg 6:12 (NRSV)

“Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path.” Ps 119:105

“Fathers, don’t exasperate your children by coming down hard on them. Take them by the hand and lead them in the way of the Master. ” Eph 6:4 (The Message)

How God Wants To Take Care of You Financially

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How God Wants To Take Care of You Financially

Getting a Grip on Your Money – Part 4 of 4

Pastor John Fanous

June 8, 2008

“You cannot be the slave of two masters! You will like one more than the other or be more loyal to one than the other. You cannot serve both God and money.” Matthew 6:24

Serve Money Serve God

“Don’t worry and ask yourselves, ‘Will we have anything to eat? Will we have anything to drink? Will we have any clothes to wear?’ Only people who don’t know God are always worrying about such things…But more than anything else, put God’s work first and do what he wants. Then the other things will be yours as well.” Matthew 6:31,33


JESUS SAYS, “I WANT TO REASSURE YOU WITH TWO PIECES OF INFORMATION…”

“ONLY A FEW THINGS REALLY MATTER IN LIFE – ___________ ON THEM”

“Isn’t life more than food or clothing?” Mt 6:25

“Don’t store up treasures on earth! Moths and rust can destroy them, and thieves can break in and steal them. Instead, store up your treasures in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy them, and thieves cannot break in and steal them.” Mt 6:19-20

” Jesus answered: ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, and mind.’ This is the first and most important commandment. The second most important commandment is like this one. And it is, ‘Love others as much as you love yourself.’” Mt 22:37-39

“YOU REALLY _________________ TO ME”

“Look at the birds in the sky! They don’t plant or harvest. They don’t even store grain in barns. Yet your Father in heaven takes care of them. Aren’t you worth more than birds?” Mt 6:26

“God gives such beauty to everything that grows in the fields, even though it is here today and thrown into a fire tomorrow. He will surely do even more for you! Why do you have such little faith?” Mt 6:30

“Your Father in heaven knows that you need all of these.” Mt 6:32b

“But God showed how much he loved us by having Christ die for us, even though we were sinful.” Ro 5:8

All Bible verses in this outline are from the Contemporary English Version (CEV)

Tools for Avoiding and Getting Out of Debt

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Tools for Avoiding and Getting Out of Debt

Getting a Grip on Your Money – Part 3 of 4

Pastor John Fanous

June 1, 2008

AVOIDING DEBT

Realize that debt makes you a ____________________

“Suppose some of your people become so poor that they have to sell themselves and become your slaves.” Le 25:39 (CEV)

“The rich rule over the poor, and the borrower is servant to the lender.” Pr 22:7

Realize that God wants you to ___________________ and not borrow.

“The Lord will open the heavens, the storehouse of his bounty, to send rain on your land in season and to bless all the work of your hands. You will lend to many nations but will borrow from none. The Lord will make you the head, not the tail. If you pay attention to the commands of the Lord your God that I give you this day and carefully follow them, you will always be at the top, never at the bottom.” Dt 28:12-13

Be ___________________ with living simply.

“…Give me neither poverty nor riches, but give me only my daily bread. Otherwise, I may have too much and disown you and say, ‘Who is the Lord?’ Or I may become poor and steal, and so dishonor the name of my God.” Pr 30:8-9

Make a ________________________.

“Plan carefully and you will have plenty; if you act too quickly, you will never

have enough.” Proverbs 21:5 (GNT)

Only charge for what you can ______________________ immediately.

” Let no debt remain outstanding…” Ro 13:8

GETTING OUT OF DEBT

(2 Kings 4:1-7)

“At the end of every seventh year there is to be a canceling of all debts! Every creditor shall write ‘Paid in full’ on any promissory note he holds against a fellow Israelite, for the Lord has released everyone from his obligation.” Dt 15:1-2 (The Living Bible)

1. Write down all your __________________

The wife of a man from the company of the prophets cried out to Elisha, “Your servant my husband is dead, and you know that he revered the Lord. But now his creditor is coming to take my two boys as his slaves.” Elisha replied to her, “How can I help you? Tell me, what do you have in your house?” “Your servant has nothing there at all,” she said, “except a little oil.”

2. Make a _______________________ plan

“The wicked borrow and do not repay…” Ps 37:21

Elisha said, “Go around and ask all your neighbors for empty jars. Don’t ask for just a few. Then go inside and shut the door behind you and your sons. Pour oil into all the jars, and as each is filled, put it to one side.”

3. Work hard and trust God for His ________________________

She left him and afterward shut the door behind her and her sons. They brought the jars to her and she kept pouring. When all the jars were full, she said to her son, “Bring me another one.” But he replied, “There is not a jar left.” Then the oil stopped flowing. She went and told the man of God, and he said, “Go, sell the oil and pay your debts. You and your sons can live on what is left.”

Escaping Materialism

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COVETING A LITTLE CONTENTMENT!?

Escaping Materialism

Guest speaker: Roger Dill

Edgewater Covenant Church May 25, 2008

I. HOW MUCH IS ENOUGH?

Human desires are like the world of the dead. There is always room for more-Proverbs 27:10 (GN).

II. THE CONFESSIONS OF A FORMER CAR SALESMAN

When the Woman saw that the tree looked like good eating and realized what she would get out of it -she’d know everything!-she took and ate the fruit and then gave some to her husband, and he ate–Genesis 3:6 (The Message). BEWARE THE PHYCHOLOGY OF ETHER!

Thus marks the birth of the “Age of Materialism!”

DEFINITION: 1. Philosophy-the theory that physical matter is the only reality and that everything, including thought, feeling, mind and will, can be explained in terms of matter and physical phenomena, 2. The theory or attitude that physical well-being & worldly possessions constitute the greatest good & highest value in life.

In more personal terms, “You may be a Materialist if you believe that…”

  • I AM WHAT I DRIVE
  • I AM WHAT I _____________.
  • I AM WHAT I ________________.
  • I AM WHAT I ________________.
  • I AM WHAT I SPEND
  • I AM ________________ or I AM _______________________..

MY NET-WORTH EQUALS MY ___________—____________!

III. COVETING IS THE GATEWAY TO MATERIALISM

You shall not covet your neighbor’s house. You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or his manservant or maidservant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor.-Exodus 20:17 (NIV).

The Influenza Epidemic of 1918 vs. The Affluenza Pandemic of 2008

AFFLUENZA’S SYMPTOMS (See Ecclesiastes 5: 10-17):

  • FATIGUE: Don’t wear yourself out trying to get rich; be wise enough to control yourself.-Proverbs 23:4 (NCV).
  • DEBT: The rich rule over the poor and the borrower becomes the lender’s slave.-Proverbs 22:7 (NASB).
  • WORRY: Hard and honest work earns a good night’s sleep, whether supper is beans or steak. But a rich man’s belly gives him insomnia-Ecclesiastes 5:12 (The Message)
  • CONFLICT: Do you know where your fights and arguments come from? They come from the selfish desires that war within you –James 4:1 (NCV)
  • DISSATISFACTION: Whoever loves money never has money enough, whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with his income.-Ecclesiastes 5:10 (NIV)

IV. THE CURE OF CONTENTMENT (See Philippians 4:10-19).

Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have-Hebrews 13:5 (GN)

A. GAIN A CLEAR _____________________.

I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.-Philippians 4:11, 12 (NIV).

B. DEVELOPING ABSOLUTE DEPENDENCE IN THE _____________________

______________________________!

I can do all things through him who gives me strength.-Philippians 4:13 (NIV).

C. SET CLEAR ___________________.

…you sent me aid again and again when I was in need…I have received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent. They are a fragrant offering, an acceptable sacrifice, pleasing to God… -Philippians 4: 16b, 18b (NIV).

The purpose of tithing is to teach you to always put God first-Deuteronomy 14:23

D. ENJOY THE _______________________________!

Not that I am looking for a gift, but I am looking for what may be credited to you account…And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.-Philippians 4:17a, 19 (NIV).

V. FINAL WORD:

What is one thing that you can do to begin to learn the secret of contentment? Will you start today?

Understanding God’s Financial Plan

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Understanding God’s Financial Plan

Getting a Grip on Your Money – Part 1 of 4

Pastor John Fanous

May 18, 2008

“So if you have not been trustworthy in handling worldly wealth,

who will trust you with true riches?” Luke 16:11

Five Foundations for Financial Freedom

1. Keep _____________________________________

“Be sure you know the condition of your flocks, give careful attention to your herds; for riches do not endure forever…” Proverbs 27:23-24

“Dishonest money dwindles away, but he who gathers money little by little makes it grow.” Proverbs 13:11

2. Plan _____________________________________

“Plan carefully and you will have plenty; if you act too quickly, you will never have enough.” Proverbs 21:5 (GNT)

3. Save _____________________________________

“The wise man saves for the future, but the foolish man spends whatever he gets.” Proverbs 21:20 (The Living Bible)

4. Return _____________________________________

“Honor the Lord by giving him the first part of all your income, and he will fill your barn…” Proverbs 3:9-10 (The Living Bible)

“Bring all the tithes into the storehouse… try Me now in this,” says the Lord of hosts, “if I will not open for you the windows of heaven and pour out for you such blessing that there will not be room enough to receive it.” Mal 3:10 (NKJV)

“He who is kind to the poor lends to the Lord, and he will reward him for what he has done.” Proverbs 19:17

5. Be _____________________________________

“It’s better to enjoy what we have than to always want something else, because that makes no more sense than chasing the wind.” Ecclesiastes 6:9 (CEV)

“If God gives a man wealth and property and lets him enjoy them, he should be grateful and enjoy what he has worked for. It is a gift from God.” Ec 5:19 (GNT)

What most people do: The order God blesses:

1. Earn it 1. Earn it

2. Enjoy it 2.

3. Repay it (past) 3.

4. Save it (future) 4.

5. Give it (eternal) 5.

“If I have put my trust in money, if my happiness depends on wealth… it would mean that I denied the God of heaven.” Job 31:24-25,28 (The Living Bible)

Dependable to Our Community – the Vision of Edgewater

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Dependable to Our Community –

the Vision of Edgewater

Sermon series: Dependable – Part 7 of 7

Pastor John Fanous

May 4, 2008

The Story We Find Ourselves In

1. God ________________ it.

We were created for _________________________ with God.

We were created for _________________________ with people.

We were created to _________________________ for the world.

2. We ______________ it. Result: ________________________________

3. God ________________ it.

Through Abraham: “I will make you into a great nation and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing.” Ge 12:2

Through Jesus: “For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.” Jn 3:17

4. Jesus invites you to _______________ Him.

“The time has come,” he said. “The kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe the good news!” Mk 1:15

Why does Edgewater exist?

1. We are God’s _________________ (the antidote to isolation from God)

“For we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field, God’s building.” 1 Co 3:9

“Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit lives in you?” 1 Co 3:16

“But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, ‘This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.'” Lk 15:2

Implication: You _________________ to God.

Our motto: “Loving _______________.”

2. We are God’s _______________ (the antidote to isolation from people)

“You belong to God’s family.” Eph 2:19b (NCV)

“Then, even if I am delayed, you will know how to live in the family of God. That family is the church of the living God, the support and foundation of the truth.” 1 Ti 3:15 (NCV)

Implication: You have a new __________________.

Our motto: “Loving _______________.”

3. We are Jesus’ ________________________ (the antidote to selfishness)

“Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.” 1 Co 12:27

“The Spirit has given each of us a special way of serving others.” 1 Co 12:7 (CEV)

Implication: God has a specific ____________________ for you.

Our motto: “Serving our _­­­­__________________.”

How do I prepare?

1. Re-_______________ your life to Jesus

“And so John came, baptizing in the desert region and preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.” Mk 1:4

2. Pray for, love, and invite ___________________________ to church

“For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost.” Lk 19:10

1.

2.

3. Get to know ________________ at Edgewater

4. Pray for ___________________________