Abiding In The Vine... Together

Sunday 1/5/13 - Sunday Sermon - To Know Him & Make Him Known

1/8/2014

Our sermon texts were: John 4 and Hebrews10:19-24 (Hold fast - stir one another up to love and good deeds – persevere)

Purpose, Goals, Intentionality

VIM - Vision, Intention, Means - Dallas Willard

"Without VIM (or purpose goals, and intentionality) being understood, the inner person is left substantially as it was, as it is in non-Christians… That is why today you find many Christians circling back to non-Christian sources to resolve the problems of their inner life." Dallas Willard (these are essential if we are to make progress in Christian spiritual formation) (click here for an article by Dallas explaining his V-I-M principle)

Purpose – To Know God (My soul shall not find rest until it rests in Thee – Augustine)

Simeon & Anna
This is eternal life – that we may know the only true God - John 17 (Jesus’ prayer)
Love the Lord with all your being…

Goal – To Make Jesus Known

Simeon – consolation of his people
Anna – redemption of her people
Matthew 28:19 – Go… make disciples (or as you are going… not some far off place but rather right where you are as you live your everyday life)
Love your neighbor as yourself

Intentionality

John 4 – The Samaritan woman at the well
Jesus intentionally broke through political, religious, and social barriers to stay to the purpose and goal.

People need Jesus. They need his love and mercy and grace. In this year ahead, let’s be determined and intentional to make Jesus known!

Here is a short thought provoking video clip by Francis Chan that we watched in Sunday School. As always you are invited to share your comments.

Verne

1/14/2014 07:27:39 am

I have been so blessed by my pastor and church family through discussion and interaction lately. This past sunday we were talking about believing in God or Christ and his teachings. Is it enough to say we believe? No! Noel mentioned that the devil acknowledges and believes God exists.Most people claim to be believers. How can we know we are true believers? What might constitute proof? Is it because we go to church every Sunday or give generously to church and charities in the form of cash, time or good works? Since being part of this church body I have learned that these are good things but, the answer is again, no. Jim brought up the issue of trust as being proof. Trust is the key. I still am in awe at the fact that after a life of "doing it on my own", I so quickly conceded and placed my trust in God, and was able to accept his will. Yes, I found myself between a rock and a hard place, but I could have chosen not to accept and trust him. Only when one believes and trusts in God do they receive salvation. When one reaches this point in their relationship with God you will also display an almost unexplainable ability to cope with life's worst fears and tragedies with strength and calmness, and a peace that surpasses all understanding.
Two weeks in a row now Pastor Ron has brought us back to the story of the Samaritan woman and Jesus at the well. One of the points in this story is that the woman had been trying to handle life on her own without God's help (five husbands) and Jesus was there to tell her that he had what she needed, living water. I was thinking in our study before church that when non Christians or non true believers try to deal with life's problems on their own, one thing that they try to hide or mask problems with are vices. A person stumbling in their walk might as well. Things like smoking, drugs, alcohol, sex, wild party lifestyles come to mind. These things I thought would be considered as negative type vises.Then I thought of some things that might be considered as positives, but still might be vices used to cope. I thought of totally engulfing ones self in one's job or career, becoming a workaholic or even trying to lose yourself in doing acts of good works. Pastor Ron expressed this same train of thought with almost the same wording in his sermon a few minutes later...Selah! The title of an old Doobie Brothers album comes to mind, "What were once our vices are now our habits." Somehow this seems pertinent.
Lastly, on the subject of going and making disciples, I'd like to applaud Francis Chan for his convicting comments about how we treat this command from Jesus in Matthew 28:19 and many others. Pastor Ron also added that we can do this not in some far off place, but right where we are, living our everyday lives. This fits nicely with the answer I got in prayer to my repeated question of what God wants of me in my life now....Go on you way. Live your everyday life. As a true Christian you are spirit filled and God will use you as he wants when he wants often without you realizing it is happening.Yesterday I was the recipient of the benefits of someone bearing fruit by way of just living her life. She was just going on her way! This person has helped me more than she will ever know in my struggle with cancer these past four years and this is all she ever does. We meet perhaps only once or twice per year and early on she always tells me, Verne, I'm still praying for you every morning (big smile - eye contact) and I'm so thankful for how well you are doing! Later she said I want you to read Psalm 91. When ever I read it I always think of you now! She quoted just verse 12, On their hands they will bear you up, lest you strike your foot against a stone. Before I left she again said, remember, read psalm 91! And I thought as I was leaving, wow, that's how it's done! She's such a great witness/disciple maker, and she does it without any effort. It's just there and it comes out. Four years ago she probably viewed me as a lost person and now I would assume she does not, but nothing has changed. So, is she still witnessing to me or is this considered fellowship??
This morning I read psalm 91 and this scripture really meant a lot to me. I have read it before, I think recently even, but you know sometimes when you have been through some life experience or just gained more knowledge about other scripture that something like this just comes alive for you. My friend had no idea of the subject matter in our Sunday school sessions or sermons these past two weeks, so her actions would seem an act of God. Wait, do you suppose that is possible? ;)
So, I am so thankful for Pastor Ron and this church body and my wife for all the support and fellowship I receive. I really feel I have grown spiritually this past year. I pray that our pastor will continue to be divinely inspired. I thank God for this prayer having been answered and all the benefits that we share as a congregation as a result. Read p

Ron

1/14/2014 09:43:00 am

Brother Verne, the Lord has used your thoughts to fill my heart abundantly ! You are a blessing to many as you"go on your way"!

bob vargason

1/29/2014 12:20:38 pm

Brother Verne l thank you for your faithfulness and true love for GOD you are a true man and a believer, true inspiration to us all thank you for those words and being a brother in CHRIST. GOD Bless you

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Sunday 1/5/13 - Sunday Sermon - To Know Him & Make Him Known

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