Sex, Love, Lust, and Marriage
What does Jesus say about Sex, Love, Lust, and Marriage? Here are the sermon notes for:
“For the Love!” | Week 2
Listen to the podcast of this message here. Watch the video of it here.
For the Love! a typical expression in our society. An explicative of sorts. “FOR THE LOVE! FOR THE LOVE OF ALL THINGS. FOR THE LOVE OF ALL THAT IS PURE AND HOLY. FOR THE LOVE OF GOD!”
Last week, Pastor Will brought a great message: For the Love of God! I GIVE financially.
Today, Valentine’s Day, ….pause….(are ya’ll ready for this)….we are going to take this phrase and talk about one of the most practical and applicable topics: For the Love of God!
Matthew 5:27 “You have heard the commandment that says, ‘You must not commit adultery.’ 28 But I say, anyone who even looks at a woman with lust has already committed adultery with her in his heart. 29 So if your eye—even your good eye—causes you to lust, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. 30 And if your hand—even your stronger hand—causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. (NLT)
Jesus teaches in ch 5-7 (Sermon on the Mount) how to live everyday life. Sex is a big part of life. In fact, if sex didn’t happen you wouldn’t even be alive. (let’s not think about that. no one wants to think about that.)
Bible is full of positive thoughts on sex. Don’t have time to list them all.
You want a couple of examples???
Genesis 2 – God brings Eve to Adam and Adam bursts into song. He writes the first poem, “At last, this is flesh of my flesh and bone of my bone…” Don’t forget, they were naked! The Bible starts with a naked man singing passionate love songs over a naked women in the presence of God. That is just the start!
The book of Proverbs has some love gems too! Let your wife be a fountain of blessing for you. Rejoice in the wife of your youth…Let her breasts satisfy you always. May you always be captivated by her love.
People ask me if I’m fundamental and think the Bible is literal… ‘Well sometimes there is an advantage!”
The first thing that Jesus teaches in our passage is:
THE INTEGRITY OF SEX
In Matthew 5, Jesus accepts this Old Testament law on sex. The law says do not commit adultery: No sex outside of a covenant. Sex only inside a covenant. No sex outside of marriage.
The essence of marriage is a Covenant. There is no other way to describe it. Covenants create relationships. A covenant creates a far more loving and intimate relationship than a ‘legal’ relationship. It is far more binding and enduring than a merely emotional relationship.
Let’s look at two distinctly different types of relationships across San Marcos right now:
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CONSUMER RELATIONSHIP
In a consumer relationship you relate to a vendor. You have a relationship as long as the vendor has a product at a good price. But you are always looking for an upgrade. You say, “We have a relationship, but you have to keep adjusting to me and if you don’t meet my needs, I’m out of here! My needs are more important than the relationship.” “My needs are more important. If I can get my needs met somewhere else cheaper or quicker, then that is more important than our relationship.”
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COVENANT RELATIONSHIP
The complete opposite of a consumer relationship. A Covenant relationship says, “I will adjust to you because I have made a promise.”
“The relationship is more important than my needs. My needs are less important that the sustenance of this relationship.”
If both people are ready to make a covenant (marriage), then three powerful things result:
- You finally have a Zone of Security. A Zone of Safety. A place where you can finally be yourself. In a consumer relationship you are always marketing. You are always selling yourself. You have to perform! In a covenant, you have a zone of safety. You can get rid of the facades and finally let them know about your insecurities. You can stop spinning, marketing, and be yourself.
- Deeper Feelings grow when are committed in spite of your feelings. Example: parents and children is another example of covenant relationship. Parents give and give and give and it takes a long time for kids to give back and it never catches up really. For parents, it is not a consumer relationship at all. You give and give and give. You do it so much and are so much invested that you love them EVEN when they act really really bad. Because you are so invested in them in a covenant relationship, you have a DEEPER love and connection to them. In the same way, if your marriage is a covenant relationship, then you have these same deeper transcending feelings than you have in a consumer relationship.
- There is FREEDOM. Freedom from your emotional bondage. Danish Philosopher Kierkegaard said, “If you are in a relationship where you have to feel it… “if you are not meeting my needs, then I am out of here.” Then, you are a slave to your feelings. You are not free, you are bound to your emotions.” In a covenant marriage, you are not a puppet on a string. Your relationship is more important than my feelings.
What does this all have to do with SEX? EVERYTHING The Bible says that sex is a covenant good, not a consumer good.
Remember, a consumer good is a way you keep someone in a relationship. You have a need.
- Women want a man and use sexuality to get him.
- Men want sex and find a woman to fulfill him.
Sex is a consumer good in our culture.
However, the Bible tells us that it is NOT a consumer good, but a covenant good.
In a covenant, when you have made a promise, sex becomes like a sacrament. We don’t the word “sacrament” a whole lot at PromiseLand, but we definitely have sacraments. A sacrament is an external visible sign of an invisible reality. It is an external symbol of an internal reality. Communion and baptism are examples of sacraments. External sign of something else going on.
When you use sex inside of a covenant, it becomes a vehicle for engaging the whole person in an act of self giving and self commitment. In marriage, when people make themselves physically naked and vulnerable, it is a sign of what I have done with their whole life. By giving up my independence and making this promise of covenant marriage, sex is a sign of what I have done with my whole life. That is the why, according to the Bible, sex outside of marriage lacks integrity. You are asking someone to do with their body what you’re not doing with your life. You are saying let’s be physically vulnerable but not whole-life vulnerable.
CS Lewis “The monstrosity of sexual intercourse outside marriage is that those who are trying to indulge in it are trying to isolate one kind of union (the sexual) from all other kinds of union which were intended to go along with it and create the whole union.”
To have physical union without whole-life union is a lack of integrity. When sex is inside a covenant, then each act is a renewal ceremony. It becomes a commitment apparatus. You are getting married all over again. You are committing all over again. An incredibly solidifying and nurturing act.
Sex inside of marriage says, “I belong completely and wholly to you and I am acting it out. I am giving you my body as a token of how I am giving you my complete life. I am open to you in every way.” Sex in this context is a very deeping/nurturing thing.
Sex in a consumer relationship says, “I love the feeling that I have with you.” You are taking and not giving. You are receiving. You are holding on to your life. You are not giving. It is a consumer good.
When you use sex like that, you are damaging its ability to be a commitment apparatus in the future.
If you are sexually active before marriage in consumer type relationships, then when you do get married, you carry that same sexual disfunction into a marriage even though you are legally married in the eyes of the government and God. You can still have that same consumer mindset in a marriage, because that is your only context for sex.
There are many articles coming out talking about how cohabitation seems to be counterproductive.
“The Downside of Cohabitation” article in New York Times, April 14, 2012 written by clinical psychologist, Meg Jay points out that there are more and more studies showing that people who live together before marriage are more likely to divorce than people who don’t. This goes totally against the thinking of the average San Martian or Texas State student.
2/3 to 3/4 of all young adults say that if you live together before marriage, you are more likely to make a good decision because you will figure out if you are compatible. In this article, the clinical physiologist says this is impossible. She says in her research, one of the things everyone agrees on is that their standards for a live-in boyfriend or girlfriend is lower than what they have for a spouse. One woman said, “I felt like I was on this ongoing, never ending audition to be his wife.” If you are living together, then you are in a consumer relationship. Why? Because you are thinking…could I do better than this? You are trying to figure out if you are compatible. You are trying to find out if this person is good enough to marry or if you could do better. You are looking out for yourself.
What is sex in a situation like that? MARKETING In this situation, sex is attracting. Sex is enticing. Sex is not trusting. Sex is not resting. It is not giving. So therefore, sex outside of marriage in no way prepares you for sex inside of marriage. In cohabitation, you are learning how to live as consumers. Marriage becomes simply this next phase where you are trapped in the relationship instead of covenant partners.
The Integrity of Sex is that there must be an integrity of body and life. You must not do with your body that which you wouldn’t do with your life.
the next thing Jesus teaches is:
THE CHALLENGE OF LUST
Jesus said, “Ok, you have heard that you must not have sex outside of marriage, but I want to talk to you about your mind and thinking…I say, anyone who even looks at a woman with lust has already committed adultery with her in his heart. ” The word “lust” that Jesus uses here is not talking about sex. The word is typically translated to mean idolatry covet and greed. Jesus is using a word that is associated with greed.
Just as we talked about last week, there is absolutely nothing wrong with making a lot of money. Money is not sin. Today, we are talking about the same thing. Sex in and of itself is not wrong or bad.
Greed is wrong for three reasons: Greed is Selfish. You want it for you. You want to take it from others. Greed is Addicting. We will work hard, break rules, do anything just to get it. Greed is Defining. We want it to affirm us in a way that only God can. That affirmation and false sense of fulfillment defines us.
How could we look sexually in greed or covetousness or idolatry “Lust”?
- Pornography and Self Gratification – Remember, we talked about sex not being a consumer good. Sex in the Bible is for giving and serving. It is not just for our self. However, pornography is completely selfish. It is completely a consumer good. Every second 28,000 Americans are looking at porn on the internet. Every second over $3000 is spent on porn on the internet. You have it when you want it, how you want it, where you want it. No one else is even there. Pornography is the exact opposite of what the Bible says sex should be. It is addicting. It is selfish. It brings about fantasy. In the book – Premarital Sex in America Mark Regnerus addresses the myth that pornography has no bearing on relationships or marriage or sex life. The prevailing Myth says: Porn is private and it doesn’t affect anything.
The truth: pornography affects virtually EVERYONE. Research shows:
- People who use pornography have crushingly unrealistic expectations for their partner. How you should look, act.
- They have a significantly lower tolerance for the difficulties of a real marriage. They are far far less willing to deal with the messiness of a real relationship.
- Women are increasingly are being forced to accommodate their appearance and behavior to the images and styles of pornography. It trickles down to all forms of media. Have you seen the magazines at the check out at the grocery store? Fashion industry, culture, movies, etc are all shaped after sexual consumerism.
Jesus is also addressing:
- Selfish Sex “Premarital Sex in America”- most people when asked why they participate in premarital sex answer, “To keep the relationship going.” Consumer. Adjust to me or I’m out of here.
Here is another issue Jesus is addressing here. A big one.
- Sex Requirement. The belief that you can’t be a whole person or happy person without sex. This is something that is actually being taught and propagated in our society. We are evolved animals that can not control ourselves and so we need to simply accept the fact that sex has to happen. THIS IS NOT BIBLICAL. TRUTH: The only person or thing that you look to as a human to fulfill you or that has control over you is GOD. Nothing else. Anything else that we say we have no control over becomes an idol for us. You can be whole without sex.
Let’s read verses 29-30 again:
So if your eye—even your good eye—causes you to lust, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. 30 And if your hand—even your stronger hand—causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell.
He calls for drastic act. Jesus is saying, “Look at how this is damaging!” He is saying be drastic.
Jesus uses an interesting word for hell here. Gehenna. This was actually a literal place in Jerusalem where the trash was burned. In some previous centuries, there was child sacrifice here. Jesus is saying that hell is a place of unquenchable thirst and longing. He was using this literal place as a metaphor. The stench, the depravity, the loneliness, the Finality of Gehenna is where you are headed if you remain outside of God’s plan for sexuality.
If sex outside of marriage points to hell. Then, what does sex inside marriage point to?
What is the:
THE FUTURE OF LOVE
Romans 7 and Ephesians 5: that even the best sexual relationship is just a foretaste of what it will be like when we fall into the arms of God. Our true spouse.
In John 4, Jesus is talking to “the woman at the well”. He says, I have a water that if you drink it, you will never thirst again. All the longings you have inside will be fulfilled. She says, “Give me this water.” Jesus responds, “Bring to me your husband.” She says, “I don’t have one.” He responds, “Right, you have had five husbands, and the one you have now is not your own.”
Why does he talk about her messed up sex life?
He says, “I can satisfy your longings. You have been looking for it in all the wrong places. You have been looking to men to satisfy you. LUST. You have being trying to find in the arms of men, the deep affirmation that only God can bring. God can bring this closure.” God is spouse 1. Husband or wife is spouse 2.
If Erica does not love Jesus more than she loves me, then she will not be able to love me well. Even inside marriage you can be guilty of marriage idolatry. If her relationship with God is not stronger than the one with me, then she will look to her and I will look to her. I have to do the same thing. We will crush each other with this expectation. We fall into this consumer relationship and it is all about each other changing to fit the other.
You will never be well married unless Christ is your first spouse. Look to his spousal love. Then and only then will you be in the place of a healthy marriage relationship.
RESOLVED | Week Two Sermon Notes
RESOLVED: such a strong word. Resolved means: firm in purpose or intent; determined. to come to a definite decision.
“I am RESOLVED to live in the Light.”
Romans 1:18 …God shows his anger from heaven against all sinful, wicked people who suppress the truth by their wickedness. 19 They know the truth about God because he has made it obvious to them. 20 For ever since the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky. Through everything God made, they can clearly see his invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature. So they have no excuse for not knowing God.
I love the way the Bible says, “Duh…look at the sea and the mountains and the sunset. YES! God exists.”
21 Yes, they knew God, but they wouldn’t worship him as God or even give him thanks. And they began to think up foolish ideas of what God was like. As a result, their minds became dark and confused. 22 Claiming to be wise, they instead became utter fools. 23 And instead of worshiping the glorious, ever-living God, they worshiped idols made to look like mere people and birds and animals and reptiles.
In our day and time, most of us do not make gods of birds, animals, reptiles. Our idols are things like acceptance: people liking us, approval of a co-worker or family member, promotion, money, fame, success: making a name for ourselves, We often think that success means there is no conflict in our life. Therefore we work so hard to eliminate conflict and anything challenging. We work so hard and are so focused on this that in it essence this desire takes the place of Jesus and becomes an idol for us.
We have put all of these things as our priority instead of God.
24 So God abandoned them to do whatever shameful things their hearts desired. As a result, they did vile and degrading things with each other’s bodies. 25 Americans have traded the truth about God for a lie. So they worshiped and served the things God created instead of the Creator himself, who is worthy of eternal praise! Amen.
FYI: I changed the word ‘they’ to Americans.
26 That is why God abandoned them to their shameful desires. Even the women turned against the natural way to have sex and instead indulged in sex with each other. 27 And the men, instead of having normal sexual relations with women, burned with lust for each other. Men did shameful things with other men, and as a result of this sin, they suffered within themselves the penalty they deserved.
This last sentence is not just talking about homosexuality but all unnatural actions that are against God’s plan. We as humans suffer within ourselves the consequences of these actions. There is an earthly consequence that we suffer because of our sin and there is an eternal consequence for our sin. What is even worse is that often there are multiple other victims of our sin that did not directly desire to suffer the consequences.
28 Since they thought it foolish to acknowledge God, he abandoned them to their foolish thinking and let them do things that should never be done. 29 Their lives became full of every kind of wickedness, sin, greed, hate, envy, murder, quarreling, deception, malicious behavior, and gossip. 30 They are backstabbers, haters of God, insolent, proud, and boastful. They invent new ways of sinning, and they disobey their parents.
“…And they disobey their parents.” I love how it tags that statement with that final thought. Right there with murder, hate, wickedness…disobeying parents.
31 They refuse to understand, break their promises, are heartless, and have no mercy. 32 They know God’s justice requires that those who do these things deserve to die, yet they do them anyway. Worse yet, they encourage others to do them, too.
I love how 1 Peter 2 fits so perfectly with Romans 1…
1 Peter 2:9 But you are not like that, for you are a chosen people. You are royal priests, a holy nation, God’s very own possession. As a result, you can show others the goodness of God, for he called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light.
1 Peter is talking to the church. The saved church who is looking to Jesus for salvation. To be clear, Peter is not talking to a select group of people who have not rebelled or a group of people that have been without sin. Peter is talking to a group of people who have found Jesus in the midst of the trash pit they are living. Amongst the pigsty, the Holy Spirit is moving. God is on the move. Working through the mess of American culture and selfish ambition. Working through the filth of abuse and betrayal and sin-filled living. God is on the move.
You are here today because God is working on and in your heart. Some of you know it and have responded. Others of you here today are new to this idea and have yet to make a move.
The message for you today is that YOU CAN LIVE IN THE LIGHT. You do not have to be bound by the way everyone else lives. You can be free of the bondage of addiction and depression and monotonous chase of happiness and freedom.
Let’s go back to Romans 1 and see what Paul says to all of the folks here today at PromiseLand San Marcos!
Romans 1:16 For I am not ashamed of this Good News about Christ. It is the power of God at work, saving everyone who believes—the Jew first and also the Gentile. 17 This Good News tells us how God makes us right in his sight. This is accomplished from start to finish by faith. As the Scriptures say, “It is through faith that a righteous person has life.”
1 John 1:5-9 This is the message we heard from Jesus and now declare to you: God is light, and there is no darkness in him at all. So we are lying if we say we have fellowship with God but go on living in spiritual darkness; we are not practicing the truth. But if we are living in the light, as God is in the light, then we have fellowship with each other, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, cleanses us from all sin. If we claim we have no sin, we are only fooling ourselves and not living in the truth. But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness.
I am RESOLVED to live my life in Power of the Gospel. I am RESOLVED to live in the Light.
Let’s move into 2016 with a confession of faith. Let’s confess our sins to God. He is faithful and just to forgive us.
In doing so, we reflect the light of JESUS. The light of Jesus is also the grace or power of Jesus. This light, grace, power of Jesus is the determining factor to making a difference in the world.
Almost every service as you leave the building, I pray Matthew 5:14 over you:
Matthew 5:14 “You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden. 15 No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house. 16 In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.
Jesus told his followers to believe in the light while it was with them. Jesus brought a revelation from God, but he was more than a revealer. He was himself that revelation. John the Baptist came to vouch for the light so that it would bring people to believe. Those who received Jesus, who believed in the light, received “the power to become children of God”.
This message of Jesus reaches its highest point He says to his followers: “You are the light of the world” (Mt 5:14), thus applying to them words which are also applied to himself. We don’t save the world like Jesus’ light saved the world. Our light points to the one who saves. We are to show the quality of life proper to the people of God and in this way act as light to the people of the world. We are to let our light shine before the world in such a way that people will see their good deeds and so come to praise God.
If we ignore the illumination he brings us and live like those in the dark, then indeed we are in deep darkness. We are worse than others because we know what light is and what it can mean to us, and have turned away from it. But we need not do this. We are reminded that Jesus said of John the Baptist that the people were ready to rejoice for a period in his light (Jn 5:35). Their response was brief, and they are blamed for not taking John more seriously. But the point is that John’s light shone clearly. They knew what he stood for. Paul urges the Romans to put on “the armor of light” (Rom 13:12), a metaphor that points us in the same direction.
RESOLVED Week One | Sermon Notes
Today, we are launching a new RESOLVED sermon series that will run the rest of January. We are going to end the month with a big BAPTISM service on the 31st. If you are wanting to be baptized, start telling your friends and family to join you on the 31st. We are going to have photos and videos of everyone’s baptism.
RESOLVED: such a strong word. Resolved means: firm in purpose or intent; determined. to come to a definite decision.
Today, I want to talk to you about two areas that I am resolved in. I would love for you to follow me in these areas. Come on in, the water is fine!
I am RESOLVED to submit my life to God and remain consecrated to him.
I am RESOLVED to respond to the Gospel with everything that I have.
This series is one of those series where it will be easy for some of the churchy people to think: “oh, yeah. I know someone who really needs to hear this message. So and so has really been posting some bizzare things on Facebook, they need to resolve some things with God today!” However, this sermon series is not for so and so. It is for YOU. This is about YOU & GOD.
15 Do not love this world nor the things it offers you, for when you love the world, you do not have the love of the Father in you. 16 For the world offers only a craving for physical pleasure, a craving for everything we see, and pride in our achievements and possessions. These are not from the Father, but are from this world. 17 And this world is fading away, along with everything that people crave. But anyone who does what pleases God will live forever. 1 John 2: 15-17
Last week, we had one of those days. You know one of those days when:
- When the Dryer breaks – large piles of laundry strewn out over whole downstairs. Went all the way to Lowes to get a new belt because their website said they did and they didn’t.
- When your indoor dog has diarrhea
- When one of your fish dies
- When you have people calling with emergencies.
- When two of your three kids are squirting things from all places
- When there is about 3 hours of homework at night
- We marinated the chicken so long that it tasted like a salt block. I went ahead ate it like a good husband. “mmmmmm, babe, this has so much flavor.” I was so thirsty.
- Poor thing when she took it out of oven some of the burning hot juice fell out of pan and burned her leg through her clothes.
When you have one of those days, it is extremely hard to keep your eyes on things above and not the things of this world. And…the things of this world are LOUD and RELENTLESS.
At the end of the BAD day, all of the pressure was temporal. All of the bad things were not eternal. They were earthly. They were the “things of this world”.
The world means anything that is opposed to God or His ways. Alienated by God. In rebellion against God. In the garden of Eden when sin first entered into creation, there was a separation between God and heavenly realm and the world.
This scripture is clear in saying that the world that we see, touch, experience, is temporary. It is fading away. The life that we live is just a blip on the timeline of existence. If all we do is focus on the temporary and loose sight of what is eternal and heavenly then we are not only wasting our time, but we do not have the love of the Father in us. The love of the Father draws us to what is truly important. Those things that are beyond what we can see and touch and smell and hear and taste.
Oh, but how enticing and captivating are those things that arouse or offend our senses. Pain hurts. Stress depletes. Betrayal robs. Loneliness abandons. Sin slowly kills.
Pain, stress, betrayal, loneliness, and sin are all symptoms of worldly issues. Most of the problems and heaviness we feel in life is because we have put too much attention or focus on the temporary world.
In order to deal with these difficulties, we often go to the wrong solution.
We crave attention from others so that they can provide our needs.
- We often look to other people to give us the affirmation or approval that will support our worldly view of ourselves.
- We look for pleasure in relationships, in sex, in money to deal with the consequences of our worldly pain
- We work so hard to achieve status and acclaim professionally. We need to be known or appreciated in the workplace.
When there is an absence of this approval and acceptance from others, we are driven to work harder or find someone else that will approve of you or satisfy you.
The Bible teaches a different way.
The bible teaches us how to MAKE SURE we are not lured into worldly vision and to keep our eyes on God’s ways.
I am RESOLVED to submit my life to God and remain consecrated to him.
I am RESOLVED to respond to the Gospel with everything that I have.
This is why I remind you to fan into flames the spiritual gift God gave you when I laid my hands on you. 2 Timothy 1:6
Cling to your faith in Christ, and keep your conscience clear. For some people have deliberately violated their consciences; as a result, their faith has been shipwrecked. 1 Timothy 1:19
Dear children, keep away from anything that might take God’s place in your hearts. 1 John 5:21
Once you were like sheep who wandered away. But now you have turned to your Shepherd, the Guardian of your souls. 1 Peter 2:25
Let’s take some time right now and examine ourselves. Let’s seek God to show us the areas where we are not focused on Him. We want to know where we focused on the world and not him. We want to know where we have placed substitutes in the position that He is only worthy to hold.
Wait a moment in meditation and prayer
We are so stuck, blinded, and used to our way of life that we need something to shake us and clear our thinking.
God gives us a package just for that.
- Prayer and Fasting.
- Meditation and Scripture reading.
- Gathering to Worship and Fellowship with other believers.
YOU RECEIVED A FASTING GUIDE.
LOOK AT INFO ON THERE FOR A CHURCHWIDE 21 DAY FAST. Monday and Tuesday we will have prayer meetings here 7pm. Childcare provided.
RERUN Sermon Notes from Jan3
There is nothing like a good rerun! It was great the first time. Wonderful the second time.
Today, you are getting a rerun of 2015. The best moments of the preaching and teaching and discipleship.
2015 was been a year of extremes for our church. Some individuals in the church experiencing the worst year of their life. Family problems, Illness, the passing of loved ones. Two dramatic flooding events with millions of dollars worth of damage. Then, on the other hand, as a collective group we have records broken at the church with attendance, giving, new members.
Let’s look at 2015 according to the numbers:
- On average, we have 88 people watch live each Sunday, however the archives have been watched and listened to 20,052.
- On an Average Sunday we had: San Marcos: 826 = Biggest: 1260 (2 weeks ago)
- 190 went through 101 (membership session)
- 74 – Promise Groups in 2015. Meeting every day of the week.
- 515 – Average number of people attending groups each week
Every week, we encourage you to give financially to support the work here.
- We gave $40,000 to international missions and $60,000 to local missions
- In our 2020 vision offering, we had $13,426 given and $54,368 pledged
We began the year wanting to THRIVE.
We want to eliminate the separation of positive faith “moments” at church/private devotion and mundane everyday life so that we can live in the healthy rhythm of a Spirit saturated life.
Ephesian 4: 21 Since you have heard about Jesus and have learned the truth that comes from him, 22 throw off your old sinful nature and your former way of life, which is corrupted by lust and deception. 23 Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes. 24 Put on your new nature, created to be like God—truly righteous and holy.
God wants us to be spiritually mature and emotionally mature. So we need to be aware of our self. Our emotions. Knowing yourself helps you get to know God. Awareness of yourself and your relationship with God are intricately related. We won’t be afraid to admit our struggle, our emotional trouble. Instead we humbly take it to God.
If we want a FIRE of God in our life we need three key elements. Just like earthly fire needs heat, fuel, and oxygen. Our relationship with God needs: God’s Presence (heat), Devotion (fuel) and Sabbath (air) Intentionally and consciously plan to keep God at the center of everything we do.
One of those ways is to TALK TO GOD
Most of us have a problem talking to God because: We don’t understand how much God really likes us. We give a lot more attention to people that we like and those who we are connected to closely.
When it comes to prayer, God is not concerned with our oratory skills or what others think about our prayers. You don’t have to sound a like a preacher or a deacon. You need to sound like a child that is needing a Father.
God wants us to share our thoughts, desires, concerns with him. He cares for us. We spent a whole sermon series going through the Lord’s model of prayer in Matthew 6. It gives us a structure for our conversations with God.
We begin talking to God…”Father, I come in the name of Jesus Christ.” The name of Jesus Christ is my ticket. My access. Dropping the name Jesus gives us access, credibility and common ground in our conversation with God.
As we left winter and approached the Easter season, our mind focused on why Jesus goes to such great lengths.
When reading the Old Testament we actually hear the broken heart of Jesus. Listen to what he says.
Song of Solomon 3:1… I sought him whom my soul loves; I sought him, but found him not. 2 I will rise now and go about the city, in the streets and in the squares; I will seek him whom my soul loves. I sought him, but found him not. 3 The watchmen found me as they went about in the city. “Have you seen him whom my soul loves?” 4 Scarcely had I passed them when I found him whom my soul loves. I held him, and would not let him go…”
At each turn in the story, Jesus is making his way to you. He is searching the valleys and ascending the high mountains. Where is Pete? Where is Monica? Where is Robin? Where is James? Where is Sharon? I hear them crying. I know they are hurt. I know they are separated from me and are afraid. Afraid of life. Afraid of me.
But, I’m looking for you! You are my love.
We think we are different or weird because of our problems.
We often think that God is inaccessible to us because WE have separated from HIM. This separation is our fault and we don’t understand how he could still want us. After all when people leave us it is so difficult for us to accept them back into our lives.
We think that we will always be THE SAME. The SAME ol’ SAME ol’ The SAME cycle of addiction – The SAME relationship issues – The SAME financial trouble. If you are ready to change the SAME habits as your dad and granddad and great granddad ……. I HAVE GOOD NEWS FOR YOU! God gives SAMEness a new look.
“the SAME” has been getting a bad rap because it mostly is associated with negative, boring, or monotonous patterns. God gives SAMEness a new look.
Look at the possibilities of when our SAMEness is transformed into His SAMEness! Instead of focusing on our SAME brokenness, let’s focus on Jesus. We as believer, can boldly say because of our faith in Jesus, “oh, yeah, I am the SAME.” “I’m the SAME as HE has always been.” This begins to redefine your past, present and future. When you put your faith in the person and work of Jesus Christ, then you have access to a new YOU.
When you get down to it….Most of us have a problem with our pattern. The problem of our lives is not our problems but our patterns. The problem is the pattern.
Romans 12:2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. (NIV)
We are to pattern our life after the original Word of God.
It is not complicated. It is not. Peaceful people are those that are following the pattern. Get over yourself, submit to a higher authority (Jesus), live for him, serve others.
When you change the pattern, you change the product!
When we come to Jesus, he converts us through THREE BAPTISMS:
Salvation, Water, Spirit
- Salvation to all those who call on the Name of the Lord – brings eternal life.
- Water baptism ushers you into a new identity in Christ.
- Spirit gives confidence and clout.
We need that Confidence from God’s Spirit. We live in a very difficult, broken world!
There is true evil existing in the world and someday it will be dealt with efficiently and effectively. We can trust in our heavenly Father as the ultimate Judge setting all things right. In the meantime,
We should respond to it with the love and hope of Jesus. We bring justice to our situations not by judging but by bringing Jesus.
Not by drawing guns (smoke wagons), but instead by turning the other cheek, being the salt of the earth, being a city set on a hill. You can trust God today that He will take care of you. He will heal your wounds now. He will make sure that anything that needs to happen will happen. You can rest.
Romans 12:17 Never pay back evil with more evil. Do things in such a way that everyone can see you are honorable. 18 Do all that you can to live in peace with everyone. 19 Dear friends, never take revenge. Leave that to the righteous anger of God. For the Scriptures say, “I will take revenge; I will pay them back,” says the lord. 20 Instead, “If your enemies are hungry, feed them. If they are thirsty, give them something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals of shame on their heads.” 21 Don’t let evil conquer you, but conquer evil by doing good.
We studied the book of GALATIANS in the month of July.
The book of Galatians brings clarity to the Gospel of Jesus. It gives a picture of a fake gospel that looks and sometimes feels like the real gospel, and then the actual Good News. The fake gospel says that you will be accepted and approved of by what you can accomplish as a good person.
Real Gospel is the Good News that you don’t have to save yourself from this world, but that God loves you so much He saves you
Galatians 3:6 In the same way, “Abraham believed God, and God counted him as righteous because of his faith.” 7 The real children of Abraham, then, are those who put their faith in God. 8 What’s more, the Scriptures looked forward to this time when God would declare the Gentiles (all of us in here today) to be righteous because of their faith. God proclaimed this good news to Abraham long ago when he said, “All nations will be blessed through you.” 9 So all who put their faith in Christ share the same blessing Abraham received because of his faith.
And…
Everyone who calls on the name of the lord will be saved. “People of San Marcos, listen! God publicly endorsed Jesus by doing powerful miracles, wonders, and signs through him, as you well know. 23 But God knew what would happen, and his prearranged plan was carried out when Jesus was betrayed. Jesus was nailed to the cross and killed. 24 But God released him from the horrors of death and raised him back to life, for death could not keep him in its grip. (Acts 2)
We baptized 132 people in 2015. We went to the San Marcos River on August 23rd and baptized 68 people!
You were created with specific talents, skills, and abilities. You have a unique personality. You were created with Spiritual Gifts.
1 Corinthians 12:4 There are different kinds of spiritual gifts (abilities), but the same Spirit is the source of them all. 5 There are different kinds of service, but we serve the same Lord. 6 God works in different ways, but it is the same God who does the work in all of us. 7 To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.
In Mark 2:1, When the crippled man needed to get to the feet of Jesus, his friends carried his mat to the house, up to the roof, tore off the roof, lowered him to Jesus. At the point of his greatest need, his relationships carried him to Jesus. Who is carrying your mat?
HOME WRECKERS
Matthew 7:24 “Anyone who listens to my teaching and follows it is wise, like a person who builds a house on solid rock. 25 Though the rain comes in torrents and the floodwaters rise and the winds beat against that house, it won’t collapse because it is built on bedrock. 26 But anyone who hears my teaching and doesn’t obey it is foolish, like a person who builds a house on sand. 27 When the rains and floods come and the winds beat against that house, it will collapse with a mighty crash.”
Our finances wreck us because of our selfishness and lack of discipline. Our desire to please our self. Our marriages wreck us because we look to another human being to be our source of completion.
What Paul is saying is that contentment and peace comes from something besides what money can buy. It comes from something besides being married to a specific person.
Give to God your finances. Wives submit to your husbands. Husbands love your wives as Christ loved the church.
These are INSEPARABLE. You can’t have one without the other. When these are together, this is where the magic happens.
Your home is built on a firm foundation.
It’s a Wonderful Life | Week 3
I want to talk to you a bit about your Wonderful Life. In the Movie, It’s a Wonderful Life, George Bailey lives in Bedford Falls. A man of big dreams and high aspirations. Yet, he spent his whole life helping others all the while his own plans are ruined. He never gets where he wants to go. George is stuck. He is frustrated. Ultimately, he is suicidal because of a bad business transaction. He finds himself angry at the world and proud of nothing.
Then, he has a “come to Jesus” moment, when God leads in through this life and he sees first hand the value of his life. He sees the deep meaning below the meaningless surface.
Let’s check out this spoiler footage at the end of the movie when he realizes he has a wonderful life after all.
- CLIP ONE George comes down stairs happily with family. He is led with his wife to the living room where he is about to receive a bunch of money.
STOP! Hang on a second. I want you all to see a very profound truth in life that is clearly defined in this movie. You might skip over it if you don’t watch closely.
When we see George here he is ecstatic, yet he has no clue (THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT) at this point that he will receive any money. When he is walking down the stairs, he still believes that he owes $8000, his business is a total failure, that he will loose his possessions.
REWIND THE TAPE AND LETS SEE IT AGAIN.
- CLIP TWO
Rewind and start scene over. Ok, right here George has no idea that a blessing is coming. For some reason, he is profoundly at peace and has joy in the midst of his dark financial and future reality. Then, we see the grace of God displayed as the community comes and drops all this money on his table. Now, he not only has peace, but he also has blessing and understanding.
So, how did George find peace before he found his reward or blessing?
Quite simply, he prayed. “I don’t really know you. I am not really a praying man, but if you are listening, “Help me find my way.”
Some folks in here today, might not have talked to God in a long time, or you have not been focused on God. You are not a praying person, but you find yourself in the place needing the magic of Christmas to overwhelm you.
Let’s talk to God, today. The good news is that He is listening and ready to move.
There is peace in His manger that precedes your blessing.
There is peace available to you today is not based on the fulfillment of your dreams.
There is a peace from God that surpasses understanding. It guards your heart and mind.
Philippians 4:6 Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. 7 Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.
Before we go to the next verse, let’s make sure we understand that last line. “His peace will guard your hearts and minds AS you LIVE IN Christ Jesus.” Live in the truth of who Jesus Christ is. Why he came and what he accomplished.
8 And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. 9 Keep putting into practice all you learned and received from me—everything you heard from me and saw me doing. Then the God of peace will be with you.
Can you imagine what it would look like to live in a village of 100 people your entire life. The village is in a remote, mountainous area of central Guatemala. About 30 minutes down a rough 4×4 path to the nearest small town.
Marry a guy from the village and raise 6 kids. Then, after your kids are almost grown, you husband leaves you. Two years after your husband leaves, 2 of your sons are murdered.
This is the story of Dora Flores Morales. She found herself single. No support. Heartache from divorce and then the despair of loosing two children.
But, God…
She cried out to God and God’s response was, “I need you to lead the church of the village.” Not exactly the message she thought she would hear or wanted to hear, but she was obedient and began to lead the only church in the village of Las Joyas.
Dora has sort of found herself in the place of George Bailey. Trapped. Life not going as planned. Things that she thought were secure and trustworthy have been pulled from her, But GOD…
Check out this video of a prayer session I captured of this church praying to God for provision.
God’s peace moves towards her and envelopes her. She gives all the glory to God for the amazing peace she feels that passes all understanding.
How could you be at peace and live in these conditions? Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.
Dora has no idea, but we are about to walk to the front and start dumping money in this manger just like the community did for George. George had no idea it was going to happen and as the people of Las Joyas prepare for Christmas this season, they have no idea that there is a group of people in San Marcos, Texas about to sacrificially give so that their community can have fresh water this year. So that their kids can have a safe place to learn this year. A new water system for the whole village. A fence, bathrooms, a new roof and playground at the school.
Today, we are going to participate in the blessing of a whole village. They have been praying for God to help them with their needs. So many great needs in this rural village of Guatemala. When Erica and I were there this summer, we captured this video of them praying for God to help their need.
If you are new and haven’t heard about what we are doing, we are taking up a special offering right now that will 100% go to reach people outside of these walls. We have a 5 year plan to completely transform the village of Las Joyas. In 2016, we will start with water and school.
We are also going to start other campuses of PromiseLand in surround areas: Lockhart, TX State, etc.
You should have been given a card when you walked in today. If you didn’t get one, we want to hand you one now. Raise your hands and we will get you a card.
- Explain Card
- PRAY
- GIVE!
Robin Steele 