A Word From the Father

A Word From the Father; nv 8/28/05am

OS: 1What a Week! 2 Weeks! Month! An attorney tells the story of a man who died, and the attorney said to his wife, "He did not leave a will. So we need to know the last words he ever said to you." She said, "I don't want to tell you." He said, "Look, he did not leave a will. We need to know the last words he ever said to you." She said, "I don't want to tell you. It was something between the two of us." He said, "May I beg you one more time?"  She said, "Okay, I'll tell you. The last thing he ever said to me was, 'You don't scare me. You couldn't hit the broad side of a barn with that old gun.' " She was caught.

Watch this!

Preacher’s most common last words:

o     Thank you for the unanimous vote of confidence.

o     We'll incorporate a seeker sensitive approach into our present worship service.

o     In ancient Israel, the people danced before the Lord.

o    I'll show the church secretary who's boss around here!

TS] There are times when something needs to be said: Child’s first football game, baptism, graduation, wedding, etc.

Last Sunday night – What does the Father want to say to His children this morning? Sunday night, Monday, Tuesday, etc. different -  (John 13-17)

I.       2 I am so proud of you for sticking together. (:17 – Prayer for Unity) – Words we need to hear – our children need to hear.

A.   Changes

                      1.       Carpet & Pews; PowerPoint; Small Groups; Two Services

B.    Relocation

                      1.       We don’t grasp the immensity of the fact we lost no member due to our move – A demonstration of the hand of God among us.

C.   There are struggles ahead – Stick together!

TS] What does the Father want to say to His children this morning?

II.    3 Finish what you have begun, and press on. I know your tired, sick of moving, of things not being the way they should be, but hoe your row to the end.

A.   :John 17 4 I have brought you glory on earth by completing the work you gave me to do

                      1.       There is yet work to be done. Let’s finish it, and press on.

B.    What matters most is not where we stand, but what direction we’re headed.

                      1.       Like riding a bicycle – you always have to be moving forward or you’re falling.

C.   Have you thought about:

                      1.       Support groups etc.; Small Groups; Men’s Fraternity? (Thursday’s 7:00 p.m.)

                      2.       Fall Festival?; Youth Quake?(October 7th – 8th)

                      3.       Dedication Sunday (October 16th); Holiday Season?

D.   How are you going to help people know Jesus, grow to be like Him, and show Him to the world?

TS] I’m so proud of you, now finish what you’ve started and get on with the work. 1 Corinthians 15 58 Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.

III.  4 Love People - One Another

A.   :John 13:1, Jesus knew that the time had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he now showed them the full extent of his love.

                      1.       5 34 “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. 35 By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”

B.    Understanding!

                      1.       Bear with one another. We will rub one another the wrong way. 1 Peter 4 8 Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.

                      2.       It will take some time to work all the bugs out.

C.   Being the church God wants us to be doesn’t have to be so complicated!

                      1.       Helping people know Jesus, grow to be like Him, and show Him to the world doesn’t have to be so complicated!

                      2.       Just love people.

TS] I’m so proud of you, now finish what you’ve started and get on with the work of loving people.

IV.6 You are not forgotten. I know what you’re going through.

A.   If you’ve been going through a tough time over the past couple of weeks you may feel overlooked.

                      1.       No small groups / different places of worship / little real contact / etc.

B.    “I’ve been carrying you along on the aroma of prayer offered by your family”

                      1.       We are becoming more and more a praying church.

C.   The invitation – stigma – good tradition, but like many traditions it comes to mean something never intended from the start.

                      1.       We want no person to enter with a burden and leave without that burden lifted through sharing and prayer.

                      2.       :Galatians 6 2 Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.

                      3.       You carry by sharing and prayer.

TS] 7 I’m so proud of you for sticking together in all you’ve been through, now finish what you’ve started and get on with the work of loving people. If you’re hurting now is the time to lean on your family.