The Danger is Misplaced Dependence – Isaiah 19
My final sermon at Dallas Theological Seminary was from the text of unfulfilled prophecy. I've always found the second half of Isaiah 19 to be shocking, even difficult to understand. It comes after such a long series of judgements against different nations, and adds a crazy positive to an otherwise negative section of the book. However, after some study, I came to realize that the gloomy parts of Isaiah's prophecy about Egypt led them to the crazy high at the end of it.
Here's my understanding of what the prophecy is teaching us. And as always, I have placed links after the video for anyone who wishes to utilize my manuscript or outlines.
Documents to Download:
Sermon Outlines - Exegesis and Expositional - Word Doc - PDF File
Sermon Manuscript - Word Doc - PDF File
Sermon #8 – “The Golden Rule” Lev 19 and Luke 10
I have been intrigued by the importance that Judaism places on the Shema–the centrality of Loving God with all that we are. So I took time to study the text as it appears in the Old and New Testament. However, it didn’t take long for me to find myself drawn to the phrase that is placed alongside it in the New Testament: “love your neighbor as yourself.” While Deuteronomy 6 is powerfully presented in the Scriptures, Leviticus 19 is not. Yet is seems to be a key verse that everyone knows in Jesus’ day. It’s my hope that you will find yourself challenged in the same way that I was as you explore the command to love your neighbor as yourself.
As always, I am sharing my work here for your benefit. There’s no need to give me credit for the material, take it and allow God to use it in your work however you see fit.
Download the Sermon Manuscript here: Word Document PDF
Download the Sermon Research and Outlines Here: Word Document PDF
Another Mac to PC Convert…
You’ve got to love it when some lost soul comes back to the light from darkness, abandoning the shameless pursuit of the forbidden fruit of the technological world (why did Steve Jobs choose that logo again?") and returning to the technology that the rest of the world depends upon for its daily business. But I digress… let me allow you to read it from the convert’s perspective. Here’s the opinion of an 11 year Mac user, who admits that Windows is releasing some amazing products.
“…the experience is incredible, unlike any operating system I've ever used. It's the perfect hybrid of old and new. While Apple attempts slowly to merge its mobile operating system into the desktop with new iPhone-like features, Microsoft made a bold move and jumped ahead to the future where most computing takes place on touch-friendly smartphones and tablets. It's enough to make an Apple fan like me drool.”
from Steve Kovach, Business Insider
Small Group Leadership – Class Materials
"We should not think of our fellowship with other Christians as a spiritual luxury, and optional addition to the exercises of private devotions. Fellowship is one of the great words of the New Testament: it denotes something that is vital to a Christian’s spiritual health, and central to the Church’s true life…The church will flourish and Christians will be strong only when there is fellowship." ~ J.I. Packer
"It is both foolish and wicked to suppose that we will make much progress in sanctification if we isolate ourselves from the visible church. Indeed, it is commonplace to hear people declare that they don’t need to unite with a church to be a Christian. They claim that their devotion is personal and private, not institutional or corporate. This is not the testimony of the great saints of history, it is the confession of fools." ~ R.C. Sproul
I have a passion to equip and encourage small group leadership in the church.
It seems that every church I hear about has adopted a small group strategy--so there are a lot of people doing small groups--but I fear that most of them are not doing small groups WELL. Small groups can be a bad strategy if they are not done well. Think about it for a moment, and I'm sure you will agree. Most people don't leave the church because of the sermons, the worship, or the children's program...they leave the church because someone hurt them, violated their trust, or even "stabbed them in the back." And where does that hurt come from? Not from Sunday morning, but from small group environments.
In response to the need of churches everywhere, I took last summer to refine a lot of my thoughts on group leadership, to read some more books on the subject, and to package a class into notes and a PowerPoint presentation. This past Saturday, I taught the class through DTS's Lay Institute for the second time. Now that these notes have been tested and received a good response, I want to pass them along to you as well. PLEASE--use these! I don't want credit or fame, I just want to build up the body of Christ...and I hope you find these notes to be a key resource in your own life and ministry, to that end.
Let me leave you with one other quote that I believe sums up my thoughts on Small Groups.
There is no passage in the Bible that says, ‘You must have a small group for people to grow in their faith.’ Instead, what is in the Bible is an understanding, from beginning to end, that people need an authentic, intimate community in which to grow.
Click here for the Word Document of the notes
Click here for the PDF version of the notes
Click here for the Power Point Presentation
Things Mass Effect has in common with Church and the Spiritual Life
I am a sucker for an epic story...especially one that you can interact with to determine the conclusion. Hence my love of Mass Effect. And while I slowly work my way through the episodes of the latest release as my reward for hours spent in the study of Hebrew and Greek, I find myself with many intriguing connections between the game and the spiritual life. Here are a few of my conclusions:
One Strategy is Poor Strategy
Just as the Mass Effect universe is made up of different races of beings, our world is made up of diverse and unique cultures and languages. When the Protheans in Mass Effect attempted to enslave all the races in their time to defeat their enemies, they failed to grasp that unity is both a strength and weakness. When their enemies figured out their strategy and overcame it, the Protheans were defeated. It is the same with our church. Our world does not need one super-mega-ultra church model and strategy. There is not one form of worship that is demanded of all the world. That would be a very inspiring organization to look at, but it would also be one that Satan could easily corrupt and defeat. God, who created our world's diversity, intends His church to reflect it. We should enjoy the unique expressions each culture gives to the teachings of Christ. Different songs, different ways of gathering, and different emphasis in the way that they appear to the outside world. Morality and belief's should be consistent, but consistency in those areas does not demand precision in worship.In Revelation God has worshipers from every tribe, tongue, and nation. We shouldn't think that they are all singing the same Chris Tomlin tune. Diversity is strength...diversity is beauty. Our unity is in Christ's redemptive work, not our form of worship.
Choices Matter
Having played through three consecutive games, my choices from long ago are beginning to have HUGE consequences. Some consequences were foreseen, others were not. Some are helping me greatly, others are costing me dearly. People I chose to save are showing up after 3 years in the Mass Effect world, some trying to kill me, and some saving my life. Sexuality, traumatic events, and actions expressed out of intense anger can follow a person for ages in this life. We can't simply let go of things we did in a moment of foolishness decades ago...they mark us like tattoos and scars. They won't fully heal until God redeems the world in the last days. Make careful choices. Remember that God's way is the best way for reasons you cannot yet see.
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