Sermon: The Breakthrough
Scripture: 1 Corinthians 6:9-11 Summary: The third in a series of messages on counteracting and breaking through the Christian subculture to reach more people for Christ. 1 Corinthians 6:9-11 Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders 10nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. 11And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God. * And that's what some of you were! Step One: ƒ{ Build friendships o Get out of the bubble o Get into the world o Get a life o Stop expecting non-Christians to act like Christians ƒ{ Be a missionary ƒ{ America is the 3rd largest mission field in the English speaking world ƒ{ Explain Acts 2 o They all understood their language Step Two: ƒ{ Is the Church culture ƒ{ Our task is to create the right soil ƒ{ The culture is what people pick up on first * It is often the invisible that makes the difference Not the candles / but community Not the art / attitude Not the liturgy / love The Divine Dozen 1. FORWARD THINKING - So many churches are in a time warp - Many churches are yesterday thinking - You can't reach a future generation - Being backward mindset - Behind the time 2. SUPERNATURAL WITHOUT WEIRDNESS - Super natural = beyond the natural 3. PROMPTNESS - Start on time 4. ACCEPTANCE / NOT ALWAYS AGREEMENT - In Christ Jesus there is neither Male or female Bond nor free Jew nor Greek - Everybody is somebody - We accept all the people that pretty churches don't accept Matthew 7:1-3 "Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye?" 5. PARTICIPATION - I like interaction -- not library -- cemetery or seminary - Singing loud - Talking -- coffee bar - Worship clap sing dance - Preaching - Shout back - It's agreement - Active learning - I will be active in my preaching (energy) - I want you to be active in your learning 6. ORDER - Most churches want a chaplain - But they don't want a leader - Many churches have pastors - But they don't have leaders - Everything should be done orderly and in order 7. INCREASE WITH INTEGRITY - Not excess - But success - Joshua 1:8 "Put this law in your heart and you will have success" - Deut 28 -- head not tail - Above only and not beneath - 3 John I desire above all else for your soul to prosper and be in health" 8. Deliberately Driven - Believe that what we don't accomplish we are training our children to - A church with the next generation in mind - MTV generation - Video, lights, camera 9. IDENTIFIABLE LEADERSHIP - Deacons aren't maintenance men - They are elders -- spiritual overseers - Can pray with you - Explain them at altars - Deacons shouldn't be elected because they are popular - So, if they are there we've identified or qualified them 10. GENEROSITY - Spirit of Generosity - Love Down - Love side-to-side - Love up 11. THE METHOD ISN'T SACRED -- THE MESSAGE IS 12. GRACE A SHELTER IN THE TIME OF STORM “The LORD is good, a refuge in times of trouble. He cares for those who trust in him.” Nahum 1:7 When my heart is overwhelmed, I find so much comfort singing songs of praise. They lift my spirit. The song “A Shelter in The Time of Storm” describes our LORD as a shelter for us amid life’s storms. It assures us that we are safe with God, our Shelter, during dark and difficult times. Our LORD is our Shelter because He is our Rock in whom we hide in the time of storm. He is a great Rock in a weary land. "Each will be like a hiding place from the wind, a shelter from the storm, like streams of water in a dry place, like the shade of a great rock in a weary land" (Isaiah 32:2). Because He is our Rock, we can surely hide in His shadow for safety. "Keep me as the apple of your eye; hide me in the shadow of your wings... " (Ps. 17:8-9). As we hide in His Shadow, we are secure from all ills. "You will be secure, because there is hope; you will look about you and take your rest in safety. 19 You will lie down, with no one to make you afraid, and many will court your favor" (Job 11:18-19). Our God is our defense from alarms. He is our shade by day as a tree provides shade from the sun. "The LORD watches over you— the LORD is your shade at your right hand; 6 the sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon by night" (Ps. 121:5-6). Indeed, our God is our fortress, stronghold of defense in darkness, by night. "In you, LORD, I have taken refuge; let me never be put to shame; deliver me in your righteousness. 2 Turn your ear to me, come quickly to my rescue; be my rock of refuge, a strong fortress to save me" (Ps. 31:1-2). Hence, we have no reason to be afraid or fearful amid our time of storm. "When I am afraid, I put my trust in you. 4 In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I shall not be afraid. What can flesh do to me?" (Ps. 56:3-4). He is our Shelter in the time of storm, for He is our retreat in Whom we find safety. God provides us a safe retreat from our trials and tribulations. "I would hurry to find a shelter from the raging wind and tempest" (Ps. 55:8) "Sustain me so that I may be safe, That I may have regard for Your statutes continually" (Psalm 119:117). "And sent Timothy, our brother and God’s minister in the gospel of Christ, to establish you, and to comfort you concerning your faith; 3 that no man be moved by these afflictions; for yourselves know that hereunto we are appointed. 4 For verily, when we were with you, we told you beforehand that we are to suffer affliction; even as it came to pass, and ye know" (1 Thess. 3:3-4). "But the Lord is faithful, and he will strengthen you and protect you from the evil one" (2 Thess. 3:4). “For Thou hast been a shelter for me” (Ps. 61:3). The past few months have been rough for my family and me. We have been afflicted with sickness and death—sorrow over sorrow. I feel as if a big tsunami has hit me. Without mercy, it has almost drowned me! But I keep reminding myself that our God is much bigger and more powerful than anything. He is more powerful than the COVID virus, and He will continue to be our place of refuge during difficult and dark times. It is a fact that all Christians must walk through the valley of affliction. We must acknowledge that God has not promised us immunity from trouble. In fact, Jesus told His disciples, “In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world” (John 16:33). Or, as the New Living Translation translates it, “You will have many trials and sorrows.” (John 16:33, NLT) We must understand that God never promised that life would be easy or “a bed of roses.” God has never promised that we Christians would never experience loss, failure, death, or pain. He never promised that our path would be smooth. But God did promise never to leave us, for He will forever be standing by our side, strengthening us, comforting us, carrying us through the tough patches and bumpy roads. He has promised to be our stronghold. He has promised a place of refuge where we can go and hide amid the storms of life that rage all around us. God wants us to find great comfort and peace when things get tough and ugly. And I believe in all His marvelous promises with all my heart! We serve a God who knows us well, for He knows all of our afflictions one by one. He walks with us in our afflictions, for He is the God of all comfort. He is the Father of mercy. May our God shower His mercy down, that He may bring comfort to you and me in our time of affliction. May we comfort those who need comfort as God has shown His comfort to us. May we show the comfort of God to others in their time of affliction as God has so graciously comforted and upheld us during our difficult times. Let us take a quick look at what is going on during Nahum’s time before considering chapter 1:7, where I want to focus this study. |