Sermons About Poor
Slaying Financial Giants
The government bailout, investment losses, credit debt and a culture of consumerism all breathe down upon us with ferociousness. How does one live within our means and not fall prey to easy purchases and tyrannical payments? How does the “Jesus-life†stand in the midst of financial chaos?
0 Amens
James 2 - The Gospel & Partiality
The letter from James to a group of dispersed Christians is an extremely practical guide for us today. This series explores the major themes of this short NT book.
0 Amens
I want more!
We've come full-circle in our discussion. I don't think you can prioritize the order of importance of evangelism, worship, fellowship, discipleship, and service; they all happen to some degree simultaneously. However, there are two ends to this journey. God calls us "out" of the world and back to Himself. The word "ecclesia" literally means the "called out ones." At the other end of the spectrum, we have the missional and sending heart of the Father that pushes us back out into the world. As He sent Jesus - He sends us! What a privilege to live "on mission" with and for God Himself! That's a calling worth stepping in to! Key Passage: Micah 6:8
1 Amens
The IT Factor That Impresses God and Guards Your Rear
The IT Factor That Impresses God and Guards Your Rear Scripture: Isaiah 58; Matthew 25 When we meet, is it present? How can we tell? Do first time attenders experience it ? Can it be programmed into our gatherings? Where can I buy it ? If it doesn’t show …well, why not? WHAT is it anyhow? If any of you see a brother or sister in need and you have material possessions to do something about it but turn a cold shoulder and do nothing, what happens to God’s love? It disappears. And you made it disappear. (1John 3:17) Message Bible George Barna’s research poll: 1. Only 14 % of Bible-believing Christians believe that poverty is an issue that the church should address. The complexity of ministering to the poor in today’s culture 1. Who are the poor? 2. Who are the “shake down†artists? (John 6:26) 3. Who are the lazy and irresponsible? (2 Th. 3:10-12) 4. Who will use you and disrespect you? (Matthew 7:6) 5. Who are the ones trapped in a cycle of poverty and hopelessness? Four actions that impress God (Isaiah 58:7, 8) 1. Share your food with the hungry 2. Provide shelter for the poor 3. Supply clothing for those who need it 4. Don’t turn away from helping your relatives You do these and the glory of the Lord will be your rear guard! God rewards and indicts the global Church on the basis of its actions to the poor. (Matthew 25:31-46) Reward- “Come you blessed of My Father inherit the kingdom†Indictment- “Depart from Me, you cursed, into everlasting fire... The sins of omission are the most serious with the outcome of eternal punishment Observations: We will encounter Jesus in the final judgment and one of the determining factors will be our actions toward the poor. Both sides seem unaware of the impact of their behavior Christ identifies with the poor so completely that these deeds of love done to “the least of these†are the same as if done to Him.
0 Amens
Everything You Know is Wrong
Wealth. Possessions. Food. Laughter. Popularity. We strive for these things because we see them as being fundamentally necessary for a happy life. Almost every man, woman, and child who has ever walked the earth has believed this, and everything that we experience in our lives seems to reinforce this. Roughly two thousand years ago Jesus Christ stood up in front of His followers and turned this worldview completely upside-down. He said that those who lacked these things were the ones who had it good, and the ones who had these things in abundance were headed for disaster. At first, second, and third glance this makes absolutely no sense but it is rock-solid truth. While money, food, and the approval of others can make us temporarily happy, they are temporary and can be taken from us in a heartbeat. Not only that, we also turn them into idols and they distract us from the most important thing in the universe, God. Those who lack such basic things are the ones that are blessed because it helps them to see just how much they need God, and just how much more valuable He is than the things they lack.
0 Amens
21-SEP-2008 Matthew 26,27,28 -The Gospel as Told by Matthew
Everything about Jesus’ life, teachings and even death, is marked by an inner truth that rings true with everyone. The good news that Jesus proclaimed and lived can not be packaged by one group or another. Jesus and his gospel defy classification. Was he a zealot? Was he a pacifist? Was he religious? Was he anti-religion? Jesus let the proverbial genie out of the bottle and no matter how hard we try to put it back in, the gospel refuses to be bottled.
0 Amens
