Now all the tax-collectors and sinners were coming near to listen to him. 2And the Pharisees and the scribes were grumbling and saying, ‘This fellow welcomes sinners and eats with them.’
So he told them this parable: Which one of you, having a hundred sheep and losing one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness and go after the one that is lost until he finds it?When he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders and rejoices. And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and neighbours, saying to them, “Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep that was lost.” Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous people who need no repentance.
The story sounds just Bizarre. Jesus leaves a whole flock of sheep to go after one lost sheep. Would anyone leave 99 alone to go find just one? I mean think about it, if you had 100 pennies and you lost one would it really bother you? I mean if you were to leave 99 children alone at a Daycare to go looking for one you would lose your job. So what could this parable possible say to us? This week we start a 5 week series on the least, the last and the lost. We start with a Shepherd and his love for each sheep. You see the reason that Jesus used such an outlandish parable to show the love of a Shepherd is because it is the love that he has for us. So often, we find ourselves in the skin of one of the lost sheep, We have wondered from the flock and have gone astray. It is at this point that Jesus leaves the ones that are entacted and goes looking for the strays, You see that is the Beauty of the Holy spirit that Jesus left with us. The spirit refuses to leave us outside the flock. He is always helping to put us back into a right relationship. Do you feel lost? Do you feel like you have been left outside the flock? This week we will visit the outlandish story of why anyone would leave 99 to find just one. Here is the question are you that one?
Sunday, April 26, 2009
Sunday, April 19, 2009
Dead Man Under!
While they were talking about this, Jesus himself stood among them and said to them, ‘Peace be with you.37They were startled and terrified, and thought that they were seeing a ghost. 38He said to them, ‘Why are you frightened, and why do doubts arise in your hearts? 39Look at my hands and my feet; see that it is I myself. Touch me and see; for a ghost does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have.’ 40And when he had said this, he showed them his hands and his feet 41While in their joy they were disbelieving and still wondering, he said to them, ‘Have you anything here to eat?’ 42They gave him a piece of broiled fish, 43and he took it and ate in their presence.
44 Then he said to them, ‘These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you—that everything written about me in the law of Moses, the prophets, and the psalms must be fulfilled.’ 45Then he opened their minds to understand the scriptures, 46and he said to them, ‘Thus it is written, that the Messiah is to suffer and to rise from the dead on the third day, 47and that repentance and forgiveness of sins is to be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. 48You are witness of these things.
Have you ever seen a ghost or what you thought to be a ghost? I remember in college sitting around talking with this friend of mine that promised he had lived in a house that was occupied by a ghost. The funny thing is that he never saw the ghost, only affects of what the ghost had done: Things like opening and shutting doors and drawers, furniture that was rearranged, and pictures turned over or moved. He also said that he heard strange voices/breathing and loud footsteps. The problem I had was that he said, that he never witnessed the ghost but felt only the presence of a paranormal being. This week we will explore the witness that the disciples had with what at first must have seemed like a "Ghost". To believe that someone is dead and then to have them stand in your presence has to leave one with a strange feeling. The disciples were witnessing the "dead man from under". Everything that he had promised them had come true. They had in essence had a ghost in there presence but it was the presence of the Holy Ghost. Jesus' appearance was a way of showing them that he had not left them alone. It not only showed that he was alive but it also reiteration that Jesus was leaving them the Holy Ghost to help them in there doubt and ministry. We have been given the same power as the Disciples did but the question is do we tap into that power? The other question stems from whether we really believe the promises that Jesus fulfilled and whether they really made a difference in our life. I love the quote from Sixth Sense were the child says, "I see dead people everywhere". You know Jesus may look at it differently. He may say,"because of my death I see living people everywhere." Join us this week as we explore how an event that happened so long ago in a locked upper room still mandated us today to become "living people".
44 Then he said to them, ‘These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you—that everything written about me in the law of Moses, the prophets, and the psalms must be fulfilled.’ 45Then he opened their minds to understand the scriptures, 46and he said to them, ‘Thus it is written, that the Messiah is to suffer and to rise from the dead on the third day, 47and that repentance and forgiveness of sins is to be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. 48You are witness of these things.
Have you ever seen a ghost or what you thought to be a ghost? I remember in college sitting around talking with this friend of mine that promised he had lived in a house that was occupied by a ghost. The funny thing is that he never saw the ghost, only affects of what the ghost had done: Things like opening and shutting doors and drawers, furniture that was rearranged, and pictures turned over or moved. He also said that he heard strange voices/breathing and loud footsteps. The problem I had was that he said, that he never witnessed the ghost but felt only the presence of a paranormal being. This week we will explore the witness that the disciples had with what at first must have seemed like a "Ghost". To believe that someone is dead and then to have them stand in your presence has to leave one with a strange feeling. The disciples were witnessing the "dead man from under". Everything that he had promised them had come true. They had in essence had a ghost in there presence but it was the presence of the Holy Ghost. Jesus' appearance was a way of showing them that he had not left them alone. It not only showed that he was alive but it also reiteration that Jesus was leaving them the Holy Ghost to help them in there doubt and ministry. We have been given the same power as the Disciples did but the question is do we tap into that power? The other question stems from whether we really believe the promises that Jesus fulfilled and whether they really made a difference in our life. I love the quote from Sixth Sense were the child says, "I see dead people everywhere". You know Jesus may look at it differently. He may say,"because of my death I see living people everywhere." Join us this week as we explore how an event that happened so long ago in a locked upper room still mandated us today to become "living people".
Sunday, April 12, 2009
Life is Good!
Acts 4:32-3
Now the whole group of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and no one claimed private ownership of any possessions, but everything they owned was held in common. With great power the apostles gave their testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was upon them all. There was not a needy person among them, for as many as owned lands or houses sold them and brought the proceeds of what was sold. They laid it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to each as any had need.
You have seen the sticker on mugs, t-shirts, and even wheel covers. The stickers all have a stick figure that is riding a bike, kayaking, or mountain trekking. The slogan has been adopted by many people to say I may work a 9 to 5 but what really makes me happy is my hobby. I think that so often that is true of many of us. Our escape is what we do in our free time. But in these economic down times and with so many looking for employment can we really say that, "Life is Good". I think we wish that life was good. I think that we hope that life is good. But do we really believe that life is good. I think that many people run to the mountains or head to the rapids because their slogan may really be "life is not so good". Today, we see a scripture where life may not have been good but the people were trying to make life better for everyone. They lived together in harmony. They made sure that they shared everything with one another. They made sure that those that were in need were a priority. The question is how hard is that to do in today's society. The example that was being set were these things: common purpose, common place, and common possessions. Theses week we will explore how the Lakeview Community may live out these same principles. Just maybe we do not have to escape Christianity in order to live the "Good Life".
Now the whole group of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and no one claimed private ownership of any possessions, but everything they owned was held in common. With great power the apostles gave their testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was upon them all. There was not a needy person among them, for as many as owned lands or houses sold them and brought the proceeds of what was sold. They laid it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to each as any had need.
You have seen the sticker on mugs, t-shirts, and even wheel covers. The stickers all have a stick figure that is riding a bike, kayaking, or mountain trekking. The slogan has been adopted by many people to say I may work a 9 to 5 but what really makes me happy is my hobby. I think that so often that is true of many of us. Our escape is what we do in our free time. But in these economic down times and with so many looking for employment can we really say that, "Life is Good". I think we wish that life was good. I think that we hope that life is good. But do we really believe that life is good. I think that many people run to the mountains or head to the rapids because their slogan may really be "life is not so good". Today, we see a scripture where life may not have been good but the people were trying to make life better for everyone. They lived together in harmony. They made sure that they shared everything with one another. They made sure that those that were in need were a priority. The question is how hard is that to do in today's society. The example that was being set were these things: common purpose, common place, and common possessions. Theses week we will explore how the Lakeview Community may live out these same principles. Just maybe we do not have to escape Christianity in order to live the "Good Life".
Sunday, April 5, 2009
Playing Jesus
What if you had to play Jesus everyday? I mean in one day you went from the desert temptation to the Resurrection. Les Cheveldayoff gets crucified six times a week, he works at the Holy Land Experience theme park in Orlando, FL. He explains that he is so often touched to the point of tears as he sees the faces of the people during the Crucifixion and Resurrection scenes. But the truth is that we also play Jesus everyday. We may not have to grow out our beards and ride into town on a Donkey. We also may not have to die on a cross but as Paul says, we must die to self. (Gal. 2:20) It is about not only talking the talk but walking the walk. You see we are Easter people. That means that we have the whole story. The resurrection has given us all the hope that we need to be just like Jesus. In our Wednesday Night Bible Study we have learned that the cross gave us everything that we needed. Jesus supplied us with the same things that he gave the Apostle's. He left with us the Holy Spirit to help us discern right from wrong.
So let me ask you? Do you really believe that you are Easter people? If you really believe that you are Easter people then you must not just play Jesus but you must be a little Jesus. The Apostle's had hide behind fear and timidity after Good Friday but they finally caught the power of the Holy Spirit. In the end they mounted up the strength to go out and to be the Disciples that Christ had called them to be and taught them to be. In reality, the tragedy of Good Friday made them truly appreciate the open grave. The Apostles were apostles but they were also Easter people.
So let me ask you? Do you really believe that you are Easter people? If you really believe that you are Easter people then you must not just play Jesus but you must be a little Jesus. The Apostle's had hide behind fear and timidity after Good Friday but they finally caught the power of the Holy Spirit. In the end they mounted up the strength to go out and to be the Disciples that Christ had called them to be and taught them to be. In reality, the tragedy of Good Friday made them truly appreciate the open grave. The Apostles were apostles but they were also Easter people.
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