2015/11/22
Christ Church, Mountain Top
Christ Church, Mountain Top
Call
to Worship, Psalm 145.8-21
to Worship, Psalm 145.8-21
Children, 2 Chronicles 20 – switch to Genesis 12, Abe’s
call?
call?
Message,
Philippians 3.4-14
Philippians 3.4-14
Our message series:
Story
telling as those delivered from slavery, the context of generosity (PAST) –
Deuteronomy, offerings upon entering the land
telling as those delivered from slavery, the context of generosity (PAST) –
Deuteronomy, offerings upon entering the land
Story
telling as those who are alert to what God is doing NOW, the context of
gratitude (PRESENT) – promise of God’s “new thing” attended to in the present
telling as those who are alert to what God is doing NOW, the context of
gratitude (PRESENT) – promise of God’s “new thing” attended to in the present
Story
telling as those dreaming of God’s best, the context of faith (FUTURE) –
letting go and pressing on
telling as those dreaming of God’s best, the context of faith (FUTURE) –
letting go and pressing on
Jeremiah
29.11 – future with hope
29.11 – future with hope
Paul – giving up on success
Philippians
3:8-9 I regard everything as loss
because of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I
have suffered the loss of all things, and I regard them as rubbish, in order
that I may gain Christ 9 and
be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law,
but one that comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God based on
faith.
3:8-9 I regard everything as loss
because of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I
have suffered the loss of all things, and I regard them as rubbish, in order
that I may gain Christ 9 and
be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law,
but one that comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God based on
faith.
Trust in God instead of my pedigree, my
goodness, my will
goodness, my will
We never can, never do, deserve grace or
earn forgiveness – a gift
earn forgiveness – a gift
Personal transformation narrative: If I
decide to change, I’ll change
decide to change, I’ll change
Change the way we think, feel, act
Mindfulness
Nothing changes a human being like Jesus
Abraham – no home but the promise of God
Hebrews
11:8-16 By faith Abraham obeyed when
he was called to set out for a place that he was to receive as an inheritance;
and he set out, not knowing where he was going.
9 By faith he stayed for a time in the land he had been
promised, as in a foreign land, living in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were
heirs with him of the same promise. 10
For he looked forward to the city that has foundations, whose architect and
builder is God… 13 All of these died in faith without having
received the promises, but from a distance they saw and greeted them. They
confessed that they were strangers and foreigners on the earth, 14 for people who speak in this
way make it clear that they are seeking a homeland. 15 If they had been thinking of
the land that they had left behind, they would have had opportunity to return. 16 But as it is, they desire a
better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be
called their God; indeed, he has prepared a city for them.
11:8-16 By faith Abraham obeyed when
he was called to set out for a place that he was to receive as an inheritance;
and he set out, not knowing where he was going.
9 By faith he stayed for a time in the land he had been
promised, as in a foreign land, living in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were
heirs with him of the same promise. 10
For he looked forward to the city that has foundations, whose architect and
builder is God… 13 All of these died in faith without having
received the promises, but from a distance they saw and greeted them. They
confessed that they were strangers and foreigners on the earth, 14 for people who speak in this
way make it clear that they are seeking a homeland. 15 If they had been thinking of
the land that they had left behind, they would have had opportunity to return. 16 But as it is, they desire a
better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be
called their God; indeed, he has prepared a city for them.
Trust in God despite evidence to the
contrary
contrary
Journey as metaphor of personal transformation
Luke Skywalker to Dagobah
Abraham never got to the “destination”
More about obedient submission than
about transformation
about transformation
Abe: Departure, arrival (incomplete)
Paul: Letting go, pressing on (unattained)
Me – past and future
It is not about ourself at the center, but
about God at the center
about God at the center
Discernment is called for, along with
faith
faith
Giving up on success
Becoming homeless, except for the
promise of God
promise of God
1955
Nov 6, vote to merge
Nov 6, vote to merge
Giving up the stained glass windows
Those
called out from us to pastoral ministry:
called out from us to pastoral ministry:
Jim Slapinski, Jan Tiebert, Ken Brown,
J.-P. Duncan, Mark Dodson
J.-P. Duncan, Mark Dodson
Leaving home for an uncertain future
Old
dreams:
dreams:
Expanded building
SS class for kids with special needs
Recent
dreams:
dreams:
Care ministry
ActionChurch
Contemporary worship
Hopes
and dreams:
and dreams:
Gym, multipurpose space
Music and arts academy – YOMAMA
Youth Orchestra & Mountaintop
Area Music Academy
Area Music Academy
Sponsor a Syrian refugee family
God has not given us a spirit of
fear but of LOVE (2 Tim 1.7)
fear but of LOVE (2 Tim 1.7)
Prayerfulness, love of Scripture
Pay off mortgage
Small group ministry
Children’s drama & music
Young adult ministry/group
No child goes to bed hungry
Children most at risk are surrounded with
love and opportunity –
love and opportunity –
Sherman’s Hills
What are your hopes and dreams for Christ
Church, or for your own life?
Church, or for your own life?
(Music – Here I Am, Lord)
Prayer
Writing down our hopes and dreams
Singing, bringing our dreams forward to
post at the front
post at the front
