Author: eengle

The Challenge of Being Prepared

Posted on by eengle

Note from sound team: Part of this week’s recording was interrupted during scripture reading, please refer to Mark 13 for the missing material.

Note from Pastor John: I want to correct one statement I made in this sermon that I later found was incorrect historically.  I stated that the first “abomination that causes desolation” in Daniel 9:27, 11:31, and 12:11 referred to a time when a Roman emperor erected an altar to himself in the temple of Jerusalem, which happened before the first Temple was destroyed.

There were two errors in this statement:

  1. The altar was to the pagan god Zeus, not himself.
  2. This happened in 168 B.C., which is long after the first Temple was destroyed.  Thus, this happened in the second Temple (the one Herod expanded and remodeled for the Jews during Jesus’ time), and no destruction followed this.  However, it was still considered an “abomination,” which Jesus’ hearers would have known about from their own history.

Hope this helps!

Download Sermon Notes and Growth Group homework

Helping Your Friends and Family Find God

Posted on by eengle

HELPING YOUR FRIENDS AND FAMILY FIND GOD

But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander. 1 Peter 3:15-16

THE LIE:  That it’s all up to _____

Why?  Because God loves your friends and family

___________________________________

The first church: And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved. Acts 2:47

[God] has planted eternity in the human heart… Ecclesiastes 3:11 (NLT)

How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of the messenger who brings good news, the good news of peace and salvation, the news that the God of Israel reigns! Isaiah 52:7 (NLT)

Jesus said to his followers, “There are many people to harvest but only a few workers to help harvest them. Pray to the Lord, who owns the harvest, that he will send more workers to gather his harvest.” Matthew 9:37-38 (NCV)

Who are the two people you most want to ___________________?

1.

2.

1. Prepare your ____________

“But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord.”

2. Prepare your ____________

“Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have.”

Internal stages of answering tough questions:

1.

2.

3.

4.      

“Good people think before they answer.” Proverbs 15:28a (NCV)

Resources:

* Give Me an Answer by Cliffe Knechtle

* Edgewater’s “Hot Potatoes” teaching series from Summer 2008

3. Prepare your ____________

Link to story and audio

“But do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander.”

Why A City Would Love a Church

Posted on by eengle

WHY A CITY WOULD LOVE A CHURCH

This is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says to all those I carried into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon:

“Build houses and settle down; plant gardens and eat what they produce. Marry and have sons and daughters; find wives for your sons and give your daughters in marriage, so that they too may have sons and daughters. Increase in number there; do not decrease. Also, seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you into exile. Pray to the Lord for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper.” Jeremiah 29:4-7

Beware of the temptation to long so much for ________________

that you never decide to seek the _______________ of where you live.

MANTRA:

GOOD __________

GOOD __________

GOOD __________

The first church:

Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need… praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved. Acts 2:45,47


1. Believe that God has a _________________ for where you live.

This is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says to all those I carried into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon… Jeremiah 29:4

2. ___________ for your city.

Pray to the Lord for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper. Jeremiah 29:7b

3. Work for the _____________________ of your city.

Also, seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you into exile. Jeremiah 29:7a

Shalom = “welfare, prosperity, well-being, good things, peace”

Video link

“You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.” Matthew 5:14-16