newlifepembrokepines

In It Together

Series: Together In Christ 9/11/12 In Josh 1:1-2, Moses has died, and God was letting Israel know that he still had a plan, and it didn’t depend on one person, and that what seems like an end is really just a beginning in his scheme of things. Sometime we come up on things that seem like the death of a dream God has given, a dead end...but God is saying “I’ve still got a plan, and this is just the beginning of a new phase to get you to where I am taking you.” Moses’ death did not catch God by surprise. He had everything under control, and as long as the people would unite together in faith, and move forward to fulfill God’s will, He guaranteed them the victory.

Partnering Together

Series: Together In Christ 9/2/12 The Bible emphasizes that there is much to be gained and much can be accomplished when we partner together. That is the focus of our message this morning, as we being a new series titled “Together in Christ.” One of the images that best depicts the power of partnering together is that of rowing. Galley ships in ancient times were powered by rowers. The rowers on the lowest level were generally slaves in chains, and they were called “under rowers.” The word “under rower” is found in 1 Cor 4:1, the text of this mornings message: NIV - This, then, is how you ought to regard us: as servants of Christ and as those entrusted with the mysteries God has revealed.  Of all the words that Paul could have chosen for servant, he uses the Gk hyperetas- “under rowers.” He says I don’t want you to put me on a pedestal, I want you to view me as an under rower. This would have been a particular powerful image to the people at Corinth, because Corinth was surrounded by water, and had 3 major ports, so the concept of an under rower was a very familiar one. Paul chose this word because this church torn by disunity needed to hear the message revealed in this word, and so do we today.

Connecting Call and Career

Series: Working for Christ 8/28/12 We are a royal priesthood. The word “royal” speaks of a kingdom. It speaks of power and authority, and the fact that we are chosen by God as His representatives in this world to advance His kingdom purposes. As a Christian it means that our entire life, not just a few hours a week within the walls of the church, is to be lived for the purpose of representing God and His Kingdom in the world. We are not part time volunteers working a couple of hours a week for God. We are all full-time ministers. The majority of our time is spent at work, and God has chosen us to be  agents of God’s Kingdom in our workplace. It means that we need to see our work as ministry unto the Lord. We are there to represent God and His interests, His Kingdom. Our call and our career are connected. We really need to look at this more in depth, so that we will be able to grasp what it means for us and what it will look like in our lives, so that we put it into practice.

Connect the Dots

Series: Working For Christ 8/19/12 David had come to a place of convergence or integration in his life, where he saw how all the pieces of the puzzle fit together according to God’s plan, and he was experiencing utter joy and delight.  David simply delights in life.  He had come to the place of convergence or integration, where he had allowed God to connect the dots of his life, and that’s the place to which God desires each of us to come as well. God wants us to come to the place where our life is no longer fragmented but all of the facets of our life are connected in Him, and we are experiencing fruitfulness and fulfillment. Today, we want to consider convergence, why it is important, and how to attain it, so that we can all come to that place where the dots of our lives are connected, and we can find the delight in life that David found.

Take It To The Next Level

Series:  Working For Christ 8/12/12 A reference point refers to a fixed point which helps ships and planes determine their direction, keep on the right course, and hit their target. God is the reference point of life. Our life finds its meaning, its purpose, and its direction only in relationship to Him. If we want to know why were created, why we are here, what our purpose is, if we want to find direction for our life, we absolutely must begin with God. Unfortunately that is a lesson that Solomon learned too late.  In Ecclesiastes we have recorded Solomon’s search for happiness and the true meaning to life. Only at the very end of the book are we given a brief glimpse of the truth, that Solomon discovered, an alternative to the meaninglessness and futility:  Eccl 12:13 “Fear God, and keep his commandments” stands as the only alternative to utter vanity of life. Unfortunately for Solomon, it appears that he discovered the answer too late. However, his own wasted life is Solomon’s gift to us, a lesson, that we might discover the truth before it is too late, before our life is wasted.

Created for Good Works

Series: Working for Christ 8/5/12 Let ask ourselves a question today, a question that we are often too busy to even think about.  The question is: am I living life to the fullest? At the end of your day, before you crawl into bed, do you look back over your day with deep inner joy and say to yourself, “This is what I was made to do?” For most folks, too often the answer is a nagging “no.” We sense that there is something missing, that God made us to do more than pay the bills, do chores, watch TV, and go to bed. He made us for more than going to work.  He created us for good works.   Eph 2:10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath beforehand ordained, that we should walk in them. The key to helping us live life to the fullest as Christ intended, is found in this verse. There are three questions that have been identified as the greatest questions of life: Why am I here?  Does my life matter? And what is my purpose? These are questions for which the human soul longs to find an answer. This verse answers these 3 Basic Question of Life.

On the Job for God

Series:  Working For Christ 7/29/12 Jesus spent three years preaching and working miracles, and most likely about 18 years as a carpenter. That’s six times as many years as a carpenter.  At the very least, we know that he worked as a carpenter long enough to have gained a reputation as “Jesus the carpenter” to the people of Nazareth. The fact that Jesus spent so much of his life working in the marketplace reveals several important lessons for everyone who works outside of the church, spending the bulk of their lives on the job.

Doing Your Job For God

Series:  Working For Christ - Discovering How Your Calling, Career, Creativity and Community all connect to fulfill God's purpose and design for your life. 7/22/12 In Eden, God assigned humankind work to do. They were to till the garden and to guard it (Gen. 2:15). They were to serve as both farmer and watchman. They had a calling and that calling was his work. All work has a divine purpose and is a divine calling. Not just work in the church, but all work...all work is holy unto God. Let’s consider what the Scripture teaches us about work, so that we can have a proper view of work, and so that we can fulfill our divine purpose and calling.

Honor God

Series:  The Blessed Life 7/8/11 There are 500 verses in the Bible on faith, 370 verses on loving others, and 270 verses on prayer, but more than 2000 on money and possessions.  So this is a very important subject spiritually. Now I know that these are difficult economic times, but that is all the more reason that we need to talk about this critical subject. In the current financial environment, many people are thinking ab out their finances.  There are professionals called financial planners, who help people to develop a path to attain their financial goals, whether that goal is to buy a house or pay for their kids education or for retirement. But we need ask do our plans line up with God’s plan (Mal. 3: 7-12)?  God is the best and most trustworthy financial planner. God’s plans are the very best, and in His Word, He has given us the wisdom we need to avoid the bondage of debt, to walk in His favor, to live a blessed life, and to have the security and peace of mind to know that He is our provider, and He will supply all of our needs.  Mal 3:7-12 sets out God’s financial plan for us. If we will follow it, we will experience the blessings He promises.

Recognize God's Ownership

Series: The Blessed Life 7/1/12 David had been preparing to build a House for the Lord for 27 years, because his heart was grieved that he lived in a palace, while the ark dwelt in a tent (2 Sam 7:2). David goes on to say that he was giving more than 112 tons of gold from Ophir and over 262 tons of refined silver to build the house of the Lord (v. 4), the equivalent of about $17 million today. Now we think giving is private between us and God: , so why did David publicly announce how much he was giving?  David wasn’t boasting, or seeking recognition, because v17 testifies of the righteousness of his heart in giving. David was standing before the people as an example of commitment to God and His house, an example of a life that honors God, a life God blesses. You may say well I don’t have millions, maybe not at this moment, but the average American will have approximately $2 million pass thru their hands in their lifetime, and God can only give us what he knows he can trust us with to honor Him. David wasn’t always a millionaire, he started out as a shepherd boy, then a soldier and ultimately a King. However, one thing remained consistent, he had a heart after God, and that is why God blessed and prospered Him. David’s prayer reveals several vital truths about the life God blesses.