Check out 700 Club Interactive – July 28, 2010 - CBN TV - Video

When you have a chance, watch this; it can be our "Thought for the Day." And of course, fodder for future discussions. I should mention, in regards to the link I sent, that you can skip to somewhere around the 18:30 minute mark in the show (the first part of the show practically made my head explode, for reasons I can explain at another time).

Sunday (7/25/10) sermon: Next steps

Greetings, all.

First, let me say how happy I am to begin my sixth year as pastor of Memorial AME Zion Church. Thank you to the Pastor's Aid for the very nice welcome reception after worship on Sunday, and to all the members for the kind and heartfelt expressions of welcome as we begin the best year ever at the best church in Rochester!

Now...let's talk about Sunday's sermon - and the "next steps" for us as we journey on in faith.

The text was from Hosea 1; the subject was "I Can't Stop Loving You" (thanks, Ray Charles). What did the Spirit say to you as a result of the sermon?

1. Do you find yourself outraged by injustice in the world? If so, what do you do about it? Or who do you expect to do something about it if you do not?
2. Is Hosea's description in 1:2 that "the whole country has become a whorehouse, unfaithful to God" a fitting description, or is it too much, too strong?
3. Do you agree with the observation from the commentary that "seldom does prosperity lead to behavior that pleases God?"
4. What does Hosea discover in his relationship with his wife when she is unfaithful? What have we discovered in our relationship with God in times of our unfaithfulness?
5. If, as we assert, that God "is not all powerful" (i.e., God cannot make us or force us to love him), what responsibility (or as Stephen Covey puts it, "response-ability") do we have in this relationship?

A thought for the day

"God's grace turns out men and women with a strong family likeness to Jesus Christ."

Oswald Chambers

Sunday's sermon: Next steps

Good morning,

Sunday's sermon text was from Galatians 6:9: “So let us not grow weary in doing what is right, for we will reap at harvest time, if we do not give up.” The sermon title was, "A Word for the Weary."

I encourage you to reflect on the sermon and think today about your "next steps" and what you will do as a result of hearing the sermon as you continue on your faith journey.

1. Dr. G. Ray Coleman stated, "You have to search high and low to find a congregation with real joy." Are you a person with "real joy?"

2. Are there areas of your life or ministry where you notice you have grown "weary?"

3. Do you see opportunities for God to use you to restore a fallen brother or sister as Paul suggests a mature believer should do in Galatians 6:1-2?

4. Read Galatians 6:7. What is your attitude or response when dealing with ungrateful people? Does this attitude reveal your true agenda for what you do?

5. What is the "seed" that God has given you to sow? Can you be patient and wait for your harvest? Remember, "we will reap at harvest time, if we do not give up" (Galatians 6:9).

A Thought for the Day

"Therefore, at the beginning of they day let all distraction and empty talk be silenced and let the first thought and the first word belong to him to whom our whole life belongs." Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Life Together, p. 49

Sunday's sermon: Next steps

Good morning.

Yesterday's sermon text was from 2 Kings 2:9: "And so it was, when they had crossed over, that Elijah said to Elisha, 'Ask! What may I do for you, before I am taken away from you?' Elisha said, 'Please let a double portion of your spirit be upon me.'" The subject was "A Double Portion."

Take time to think today about your "next steps" and what you will do as a result of the sermon on your faith journey.

1. After hearing the sermon yesterday, can you identify areas in your life where "process" is at work? Remember, God takes his time.

2. Since the call is up to God, but the response is up to us, how have you responded to God's call on your life? Read 1 Kings 19:19-21

3. What have the storms or whirlwinds in your life taught you? Read 2 Kings 2:1.

4. You may acknowledge that you have not passed every test. But can you see where you are making progress? Remember, promotion is not based on perfection, but on progress.

5. What is your priority or passion? What drives you? Read 2 Kings 2:9.

6. Whose life inspires you by their passion or devotion so much so that you want to emulate that? What stops you or makes you think you couldn't be that spiritual or passionate?

Continue to pray for our church. I believe that God sent us a "test" yesterday during our worship, and I pray that we passed that test in a way that pleased God. I particularly want to thank the men of Memorial for the way you stepped up and responded.

If we are serious truly about being the Lord's church, such tests will come from time to time, and we must be ready to do what the Lord would have us do. We cannot be apathetic, casual or erratic about this if we really want that "double portion." It will take a seriousness of pursuit that frankly we have not always shown. We pray God's forgiveness and grace on our efforts when they have been less than the best we could do, and pray for God's grace and strength to do better as we make progress.

Thought for the day: "Next steps"

Greetings.

Starting today and each Monday, I am going to e-mail those of you on our list and ask you to consider the "next steps" regarding the sermon you heard and the worship experience you shared on Sunday. There will just be a few questions you will ask of yourself that I pray will encourage, challenge and support you on your faith journey.

Yesterday's sermon at Memorial was from Luke 8:35: “Then people came out to see what had happened, and when they came to Jesus, they found the man from whom the demons had gone sitting at the feet of Jesus, clothed and in his right mind.” The sermon title was "A Brand New Man."

Think for a moment about your "next steps" and what you will do as you continue on your faith journey.

1. After hearing the sermon, can you identify an area in your life where you need God's guidance to grow or mature?

2. What "storms" in your life do you think are keeping you from getting to Jesus, or keeping him from getting to you?

3. If you are confident that Jesus is on his way to help, save or deliver you, are you ready to let him do what he wants to do now, or will you send him away? Read Luke 8:37.

4. Read Luke 8:30. Who "named" you? What issues define you? What is God saying to you about this?

5. Where and to whom is Jesus sending you to witness to his goodness in your life?

You do not have to respond to me unless you feel the need to dialogue about your journey, but I trust that you will take time to reflect on these questions as we continue together to develop in our daily walk with God.