Sermons

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If you are ever in the Denver Colorado area we would love for you to stop in and worship God with us. Living Branch is a small, community based family of believers that desires to know God better, and to make Him known in our community by worshiping Him and loving one another (John 13:34). Here at Living Branch, we are seeking ways to say;

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Living Branch Community Fellowship Sunday September 20, 2009

Lesson 3 of 6

Speaking Words of Life

Do you ever wonder how effective, for good or bad the words you say are? Several years ago a professor at the University of Pennsylvania was know for giving boring, cliché-ridden lectures. At the beginning of one semester, an innovative class breathed new life into his course by assigning baseball plays to each hackneyed phrase. For example, "on the other hand" was a base hit; "by the same token" was a strikeout; "and so on" was a stolen base. Divided into two teams by the center aisle of the lecture hall, the students throughout the term played inning after inning of silent but vigorous baseball. On the last day of class, the impossible happened -- the score was tied, the bases were loaded and the batter hit a home run! The winning team stood and cheered wildly. Though deeply appreciative, the professor was quoted later as having wondered why only one-half of the students had been enthusiastic about his lectures. .

Ephesians 4:29 says "No rotten talk should come from your mouth, but only what is good for the building up of someone in need, in order to give grace to those who hear." Now while many of us may be familiar with this verse, you , like me may have focused mainly on the first part of the verse. In order to learn from it’s complete meaning, let’s break it down real quick.

NO - Is there any excuse acceptable to God for unwholesome words coming out of our mouths? Maybe you had a bad day, or just lost your job. Maybe your spouse or child or coworker is a difficult person to be around. Is there any excuse acceptable to God? God makes no allowances for His children, His people to speak unkindly toward one another. NONE!

Rotten- This word means "corrupt, unwholesome, or putrid" You know the kind of words. They’re the ones that leave you feeling dirty, defiled, belittled. Why is it so easy to use the same words that hurt us so much on others?

Talk- Words hold power. With a word, God created the heavens and the earth. With a word Jesus raised people from the dead. With a word hopeless people are encouraged. And likewise, with a word hopes are dashed, hearts are broken and lives are devastated. James wrote in his letter, "... but no man can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison" (James 3:8).

Come Out- Spoken words are no longer stagnant. Spoken words flow from one person’s life into the hearts and minds of others. They can either wash them in kindness or drown them in a swamp

From Your Mouth- You’re the only one that can control your words. You can’t control anybody else’s and they can’t control yours. The words you and I are to be concerned about are the one’s that we speak.

But- we don’t have to accept words that are hurtful to others, there are alternatives.

Good- Proverbs 12:18 says "There is one who speaks rashly, like a piercing sword; but the tongue of the wise brings healing." There are words that bring hope, healing, wholeness, and that generally encompass what is good and beautiful. How did Grandma used to say it? "If you can’t say anything good, don’t say anything at all."

For the- Don’t miss these two seemingly insignificant words. Perhaps in your translation it says "necessary" or "helpful". For quite some time now we have had posters up all over the place that display the acronym of the word THINK. It speaks to think before you speak. Is it Truthful, Helpful, Inspirational, Necessary, and Kind. Everyone needs to be built up and encouraged. Life has a way of knocking us down and sapping our strength. Words of kindness and GRACE are not a luxury, they are a necessity.

Building Up- the Edification means to "strengthening, making better." Words can do that! Carefully chosen words of encouragement can bolster people facing the impossible or enduring the unthinkable. Kind words bring healing to deeply wounded souls.

Like I said in the beginning, I’ve always looked at this verse as a warning about the words that I use. And it is right to see and understand it in that manner. That’s what the first part teaches us. But that’s less than half of the verse. What does the last part of Ephesians 4:29 say?

"________________________________________________________________"

"...in order to give grace to those who hear." Perhaps you have heard or used the acronym "God’s Redemption At Christ Expense" for the word GRACE. Maybe you have always seen grace as something dispensed by God. And perhaps ultimately, it is. But the end of this verse clearly teaches that it is a gift that you and I have the opportunity and privilege to give, to speak into the lives of others. We are to be intentional with our words. They have the ability to be the source of grace – God’s grace – to those who so desperately need them.

Our words have the ability to bring life into the lives of others. Our words have the power to bring life into relationships. What an incredible privilege! What an awesome opportunity! What a frightening thought! Everyday we are surrounded by people who need to be built up. The world has battered them down. Perhaps you have even been a part of that. People have deceived them. Life has confused them. Words of Grace, God’s grace, spoken through YOU will give them hope and heal their souls.

How do you prepare yourself to used in such a great and awesome role in God’s Kingdom work? _________________________________________________

You pray! Let me suggest praying Psalm 141:3. "Lord, set up a guard for my mouth; keep watch at the door of my lips." Take a moment and do that now. Ask the Father to keep your mouth from speaking words that are hurtful toward others.

Speaking Words of Death

There is another side of the words we can speak though. Speaking Words of Death. Now I’m not going to spend a whole lot of time here because these are the words that come far to easily for most of us, if not all of us. But we need to at least acknowledge their presence and power in or lives.

Job once asked his friends, "How long will you torment me and crush me with words?" (Job 19:2). Proverbs 12:18 says "There is one who speaks rashly, like a piercing sword; but the tongue of the wise brings healing." And Proverbs 15:4 says that "The tongue that heals is a tree of life, but a devious tongue breaks the spirit."

I cannot tell you how many people, adults that I have spoken with over the years that still, to this day, carry huge burdens placed on them by careless, harsh words spoken to them all the way back in their childhoods. Respectful, successful men and women that break down in tears as they not only remember the words spoken to them, but relive the pain over and over. The words may have been spoken decades ago, but the pain is as powerful today, if not more so, than the day they were said.

Why would we call these types of words, Words of Death? ________________________________________________________________________________

Look at Psalms 17:1-5. As you determine to BE The FACE of Grace, then start with its mouth. Perhaps you should write this prayer of David’s down and make it a part of your own daily prayer. "Lord, hear a just cause; pay attention to my cry; listen to my prayer— from lips free of deceit. 2 Let my vindication come from You, for You see what is right. 3 You have tested my heart; You have visited by night; You have tried me and found nothing evil; I have determined that my mouth will not sin. 4 Concerning what people do: by the word of Your lips I have avoided the ways of the violent. 5 My steps are on Your paths; my feet have not slipped."

Proverbs 18:21 says "Life and death are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit." What are you feeding on? The Bible says what goes in your heart comes out you mouth (Matthew 12:34-35).

When your spouse pushes your buttons, when your co-worker caries it too far, what are you prone to say? ________________________________________. "Life and death are in the power of the tongue..." which one will you speak?   (circle one)                Words of Life            or             Words of Death

Shopping for Grace

Last week I was out shopping for end tables, so I thought. But since then, I have learned that I was Shopping for Grace. I have a weakness for used stores, Goodwill, Savers, that type of store. Much of the decorations and appliances used here in the Church building came from these stores.

Well, like I said, last week I was feeding my weakness, browsing a used furniture store. While I was there I approached the counter to ask the store associate about a piece in the back of the store. There was a man about 50 years old, and a woman probably in her late 70's sitting at the counter.

When I walked up, she seemed hesitant to speak to me. Then asked with what seemed to be a lack of certainty "Can I help you?" Immediately the man toward the back became engaged in our conversation. When I asked about the piece in the back of the store, he gave me a price, then asked me why I was interested in it.

After explaining to him Steven’s condition and what I hoped the piece could do for him, the woman turned and looked at the man. Kind of staring at him, he shouted "What. Can I do something for you? Do you need something from me?"

The air was so thick you’d have to use a chainsaw to cut through it. Walking past the counter a short while later I heard the man and woman speaking about a bill of sale. Then the woman said this "Oh just shoot me."

I went about my way browsing through the store, and then left shortly afterwards. Walking out into the parking lot, I saw the woman walking to her car. Approaching her I was compelled to say something encouraging to her. So I told her, "You know, I’m sure that you have done a million things right for every time you’ve done something wrong."

She said, "You think so?" I said "Yeah". "Why" she responded. So I told her, "Because you couldn’t have lived as long as you have, and have the joy you have inside if you hadn’t." we talked for a little while. I learned that the man that spoke so sharply to her was her son, and that his business has really struggled the past few years. She was working there for free, trying to help him out.

In my own pain and embarrassment I confessed to the woman that I could see her worth and the joy that resided in her heart. I apologized for being that type of boss, that kind of son far too often myself. I watched as the pain of her moment was replaced by the peace of her Creator.

I wasn’t suppose to go home with a table that day. I was to leave something behind, Grace, God’s Grace, powerfully passed on through simple, kind words. Now please listen to me. I’m not bragging on myself, but on the power of Jesus who lives in me. I’m more often like her son than like God’s.

Are you more often a messenger of hope, peace, and grace, or you own selfish motives? __________________________________________________

But when we make ourselves available to "hear the cry of every longing heart", we will also be able to hear the Voice of Truth, the Voice of Grace, the voice of the Holy Spirit that will empower you with the perfect words.

Jesus, once teaching about being under pressure in uncomfortable circumstances said, that we shouldn’t "worry about how or what you should speak. For you will be given what to say at that hour, because you are not speaking, but the Spirit of your Father is speaking through you." I often pray, "Oh Lord Jesus, keep me from speaking. May they hear your heart, Your words, Your love for them through me."

Grace: Bringing Life to Relationships

Richard Blackaby wrote, "The Words we speak dramatically affect the quality of the relationships we enjoy." How would you describe how the words you have shared with those you have been with these week has been used? Have they built up the relationships you are in, or torn them down?

How would you answer the following question. How often would those you know say your words are gifts to their soul? Circle your response.

Never Seldom Occasionally Usually Always

It very difficult for some people to use their words to bless others. Perhaps you are one of them. Maybe you suffer from deep insecurities, subconsciously afraid of being left at the bottom of the human barrel if you lift others up.

Others are so needy, so self-focused that they simply can’t bring themselves to lookout for others. Even kind gestures are done with self-fulfilling motives. And perhaps the saddest are those that have no idea what it means to speak grace into someone else’s life because they have never had any spoken into theirs.

Friend, let me talk to you for a moment. Maybe you fit into one of these categories, or thousands similar to them. Today, God wants you to know how much He loves you. He wants you to know that His voice, the Voice of Truth, that He has given up everything so He can have a relationship with YOU. My prayer for you today is that you would hear from Him and that His words of Grace will change your life.

But maybe you’re in the other group. Maybe you are a person that has always struggled to curb your tongue. Maybe you have all but given up hope to change the way you speak to others. 2 Timothy 2:16-17 says that we are to "... avoid irreverent, empty speech, for this will produce an even greater measure of godlessness." Do you know what that means? Sarcasm, empty, meaningless speech.

Proverbs 18:2 says that "A fool does not delight in understanding, but only wants to show off his opinions." And Philippians 2:1-4 says that "If then there is any encouragement in Christ, if any consolation of love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any affection and mercy, 2 fulfill my joy by thinking the same way, having the same love, sharing the same feelings, focusing on one goal. 3 Do nothing out of rivalry or conceit, but in humility consider others as more important than yourselves. 4 Everyone should look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others."

If God can work in a heart like mine, and He has, He can transform anyone into a person of Grace, if that person is willing. We need to chose to talk about things that matter, things that will bring life into relationships.

Let me give you seven things to work on this week as we strive to be The Face of Grace, starting with the mouth.

God brings people together for a reason. None of the relationships that you and I have are purely coincidences, they have a divine purpose. In that truth, you and I have a great opportunity to be used in great and miraculous ways in the lives of others.

2 Corinthians 4:14-15 says "...knowing that the One who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus, and present us with you. For all this is because of you, so that grace, extended through more and more people, may cause thanksgiving to overflow to God's glory."

"Lord Jesus, I pray that you would make me a person of Grace. I want to be used by you, more and more to extend grace to others so that the thanksgiving would overflow for the glory of God."

(720) 435-5216, or an email at Partners@4Him.com to let us know how we can pray, walk with, and encourage you.

Living Branch Community Fellowship Sunday September 27, 2009

.According to a study of more than 500 family counselors, the following are the top traits of successful families: *Communicating and listening *Affirming and supporting family members *Respecting one another *Developing a sense of trust *Sharing time and responsibility *Knowing right from wrong *Having rituals and traditions *Sharing a religious core *Respecting privacy.

Focus on the Family Bulletin, December, 1988 ..

Last week we looked at Bringing Life to Relationships. In this lesson, we would like to bring that message, that lesson, home. So in this lesson, we would like to look at Bringing Life to Your Family. We’ll do this by looking how we can Blend Home and Grace, Grace in Marriage, and how to bring Grace to Your Children.

.Clovis Chappell, a minister from a century back, used to tell the story of two paddleboats. They left Memphis about the same time, traveling down the Mississippi River to New Orleans. As they traveled side by side, sailors from one vessel made a few remarks about the snail's pace of the other. Words were exchanged. Challenges were made. And the race began. Competition became vicious as the two boats roared through the Deep South.

One boat began falling behind. Not enough fuel. There had been plenty of coal for the trip, but not enough for a race. As the boat dropped back, an enterprising young sailor took some of the ship's cargo and tossed it into the ovens. When the sailors saw that the supplies burned as well as the coal, they fueled their boat with the material they had been assigned to transport. They ended up winning the race, but burned their cargo.

God has entrusted cargo to us, too: children, spouses, friends. Our job is to do our part in seeing that this cargo reaches its destination. Yet when the program takes priority over people, people often suffer. How much cargo do we sacrifice in order to achieve the number one slot? How many people never reach the destination because of the aggressiveness of a competitive captain?

In the Eye of the Storm by Max Lucado Word Publishing, 1991, pp. 97-98. .

What have you burned in the boiler of success, or catching up, or getting ahead? What, or who have you sacrificed to be, or to become successful? As a Church member, or as a Community of believers, How many people have we sacrificed to "BE HOLY"?

A fellow Christian told a story of struggling with his 17 year old son. The older the boy got, the less the things of the Lord seemed to matter, and the more he participated in worldly things. He traded his Christian music in for hard core rock and role of the world. Often staying out into the wee hours of the morning, too tired to go to church on Sunday mornings.

Then one Sunday morning, the situation hit a heart breaking low. The son told his dad that his girlfriend was pregnant, and that they were considering an abortion. The dad lost it and blew up all over the son, no longer able to pin-up months of frustration and disappointment. He labeled the son a disgrace to God and the family and threatened to throw him out of the house, and then charged out the door.

Anger and embarrassment flooded over him as he drove to Church that morning. But as he approached the Church building, he saw the Cross, and was reminded that Jesus died for people’s sins. He said the Holy Spirit nudged his heart and asked him, "What do you think the cross was for? Was it not for sinners like your son?"

Despite the years this man had studied, sang, even taught about grace, in the heat of his own family crisis he realized he had no idea how to show it. But he knew who did. So he prayed, "Lord, help me know how to show grace to my son!"

That’s when God began to work a miracle, not only in his heart, but in his family. Instead of criticizing the music his son was playing in night clubs and bars, he started to attend his performances. Finding a table close to the stage he ordered a drink he hope was obviously non-alcoholic looking.

At one of the intermissions the shocked musician went over and asked "What are you doing here dad? You hate this music, and you hate this kind of place." "You’re right son" his dad said, "but I love you."

The dad, although he had been a Christian for decades, and in the Christian ministry all his adult life was learning a whole new dimension of practical grace. Then the dad finished his story with this statement: "Do you know what? After I went to see my son in that bar, he has been in Church with his girlfriend every Sunday since!"

"Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! 5 Let your graciousness be known to everyone. The Lord is near. 6 Don't worry about anything, but in everything, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses every thought, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."

Now let’s make this passage personal. I want you to write a family members name in the first space on your outline sheet, and a troubling situation in the second. 5 Let your graciousness be known to _________________________________. The Lord is near. Don't worry about __________________________________________________________________________ but in everything, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God.

Remember in the beginning we said that Grace is an undeserved gift. It Gives Life, it Builds Up! If there is one place that we should be generous with our grace, it should be in the home. It should be with our family. God intended the family to nourish and protect one another. Home, the family is where people should find security and forgiveness.

But the words HOME and GRACE don’t always blend together. For countless numbers of people, home is where the most painful memories occurred. But friend, I am here today to promise you that by God’s grace, He can make your home an oasis of peace and joy.

Why do so many home resemble war zones more than they do safe havens? Why do so many family members constantly attack one another, wounding one another instead of being there for each other, Watching out for one another. I think the answer is simple, but profound. Because they don’t understand Grace, and they don’t know how to apply it. In this lesson, I pray that you will see that there are numerous areas that God can carry out His miraculous work of Grace in your life, and that of your family.

Home = Grace                     Home … Grace

Take a moment right now, reflecting on your answer and not "worrying about anything, but in everything, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God".

For years now every study on marriage comes to the same conclusion. There is no difference in the divorce rate between those who claim to be Christians, and those who don’t. Now why do you think that is?

Let me be so bold to answer my own question. It’s because we as Christians claim to know grace, to understand it, but we really don’t. I’m willing to bet that even now your mind is racing with seven things you want to say about that. There are exceptions, allowances, and the list goes on and on. Right?

But the fact is, the Church, the Global, Universal Church is plagued with graceless marriages only because it is filled with graceless Christians. We covered this in the first lesson. We saw in the previous lesson that our relationships are characterized with words of death instead of words of grace, of life.

Let me talk for a moment to those of us that are married. And this applies to everyone that has, or had been married. God gave you the opportunity to walk through life with a companion, showing grace toward them, and helping them to become the person God originally planned for them to be. That is the intention of marital grace

Husbands, before you criticize your wives for not meeting your expectations, or "their obligations" in the marriage, let me ask you a question. Have you "... loved your wives, just as also Christ loved the church and gave Himself for her, to make her holy, cleansing her in the washing of water by the word.""(Ephesians 5:25-26).

And wives, do you "... submit to your own husbands as to the Lord, for the husband is head of the wife as also Christ is head of the church. He is the Savior of the body." (Ephesians 5:22_23).

You see, your expectation, or demands of your spouse is not, and has never been the standard for your marriage. Your needs aren’t even what sets the standard! But the Standard is Christ. His love for you, for His Bride, for His Body led Him to give completely of Himself for you. Is that the standard in which you measure yourself, and your personal commitment to your marriage?

"Do nothing out of rivalry or conceit, but in humility consider others as more important than yourselves. Everyone should look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others."

Now let’s make it personal again. In the first space write the name of the person you are most closely involved with right now. If you’re married, that would be your spouse. If your not, it may be a boyfriend or girlfriend. Perhaps for you, it is a parent, child, or best friend.

And then fill in the second and third spaces accordingly to the truth and direction of God’s word and your relationship, your family.

I will demonstrate grace to _______________________________ by considering ____________________________________________________ as more important than myself. I will not look out only for my own interest, but also for _________________________________________________________.

Do you know two of the most graceless people I have ever met? Preachers and Nurses. And no, that is not a reflection on myself and Jamie. But often people that are in the "people business" seem to have the shallowest supply of grace. I know of far too many Pastor’s homes that are empty of joy. A home can’t be filled with grace and void of joy. That’s not possible.

Take a moment and evaluate your relationship with your most significant person. (Circle one)

Many families produce children. Others adopt children formally or through relationships with other families, pouring their lives and love into them as it they were their own. God has always intended for the childhood home to be a place where we are first loved, accepted, and develop our first impressions about Him

In Deuteronomy 6:4_9 God, speaking to His Chosen people, His Children, said, "Listen, Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is One. 5 Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength. 6 These words that I am giving you today are to be in your heart. Repeat them to your children. Talk about them when you sit in your house and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. 8 Bind them as a sign on your hand and let them be a symbol on your forehead. 9 Write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates."

Children, whether your own or others are a gift from the Lord. Nothing seems to make people prouder, or break their heart harder than children. "What are we going to do with the kids these days?" is a question I often overhear. Love them! That’s the answer. How? By demonstrating grace in their lives.

How do you think the children in your life today see how you feel about them. Do you believe that they see themselves as your:  (circle one):

I have frequently and openly shared with you many of my regrets as a parent. But mu children have never been one of them. Many times my selfishness overshadowed my better judgment and I have blown it as a father. But praise God, I’m not done being a dad yet.

I’ve told you that for many of the years my kids were growing up, I was an angry man. There wasn’t a whole lot of joy or grace in our home. Just lot’s of rules, hurt feelings and a sense of disappointment and frustration. Anger never produces grace; Love always does!

But then, over a period of time and through lots of life’s challenges, God began to chip away at my hardness, my anger, and my graceless behavior. Let me allow you to hear from my daughter, who today lives in the Dallas Texas area, through a letter that she sent to me.

Insert Adriene’s Testimony

Adriene and Steven have always had parents that loved them. But that haven’t always had parents that showed them mercy and grace. But praise God, He’s not done with us nor our children. God’s Word says in Philippians 1:6_7 "I am sure of this, that He who started a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. 7 It is right for me to think this way about all of you, because I have you in my heart, and you are all partners with me in grace..."

More than anything else in my ministry, I want to be partners with you as God uses you, uses us to instill grace into the lives of those all around us, starting at home with our families, in our marriages, and with our children. The question for you as parents is whether you will choose to participate in what God is doing in the lives of your children.

Sermon in a Sack is one of my favorite times. If I could keep the kids attention for 30 minutes I would teach the whole lesson sitting on the wall in the front of the Church, allowing you to be a spectator in all that God is doing.

That’s why we have BUDS. We believe it is the best way to teach our children God’s truth and principles. It’s not to get them out of here so we can have some quiet time. It’s to bring them in so we can have some family time.

I believe our role in the lives of these children are to be their life-long cheerleaders! They live in a mean, dirty world that desires to chew them up and spit them out. You can have a real impact in the lives of our kids by volunteering one Sunday a month in BUDS, or in our Worship Preschool. Our kids need to know that they can always count on us when they need support. How are you doing in loving the kids that God brings us/ How are YOU demonstrating grace in their lives?

We are all wayward children. We have all sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. But He hasn’t blown us off, or written us off as unredeemable. He has pursued us in an everlasting love relationship. He has given up everything so that we can be restored in a rightful relationship with Him.

If it were left up to us, we would have remained alienated forever from God. But He saw our weaker condition, and in His Amazing Grace, He met us on our level to demonstrate his love for us. Grace motivated Him to listen to our heart cry, will it motivate you to listen to rock and roll, or play a game of WII Tennis, or X-Box Ghost Recon?

You don’t have to be the best at it. You don’t even have to be good at it. You just need to be in it. In the lives of the children God has brought into your life. Grace doesn’t look for what we are comfortable with, Grace looks for what is really important: a meaningful relationship with the kids God has entrusted to our care.

Let me close with this passage. In 2 Corinthians 12:14_15 Paul is writing to the Church in Corinth. The family of the Corinthian Church was a dysfunctional one, not without their fair share of challenges. But Paul, speaking as a father to his child said, "Look! I am ready to come to you this third time. I will not burden you, for I am not seeking what is yours, but you. For children are not obligated to save up for their parents, but parents for their children. I will most gladly spend and be spent for you."

As your Pastor, as the under-shepherd of this flock, this family, I publicly pledge, promise myself to you. I will pour myself out to help you become people of grace, a family of grace. Will you walk with me? Will you likewise make yourself available to be poured out, to be spent as a love offering in the lives of others?

Living Branch Community Fellowship Sunday, October 4, 2009

Lesson 5 of 6

In the last four weeks we have looked at what grace is, and what it isn= t. We have looked at the paradox of graceless Christians, and how grace is an expression of God= s heart. We have also looked at bringing grace into our relationships, and into our homes. And in that progression, in this lesson, we are going to look at Grace: Sharing Life with Other Believers.

To help us do that, we want to welcome Ben and Jill Barfield. They are here this week to be commissioned, set apart, and sent out as Church Planting Strategist in the Tucson Arizona area. Ben and Jill are going to come up a little bit later and share with us their call, and equipping in just how God has and is going to continue to use them in Sharing Life with other Believers.

As we have said the past few weeks, the Church should be the place where grace flows most abundantly. So why does it seem to be so absent instead of abundant, fleeting instead of flowing, oblivious instead of obvious?

Watch this video clip, and let us see if we can pick up a clue? (Show Video Clip from Amazing Grace).

For many Christians there seems to be a tension between serving God, and serving mankind. As we saw in this clip, God has called, and equipped us to be able to do both. We struggle in grace when we struggle in realizing, and remembering all that Christ has done for us, on our behalf. When we begin taking salvation for granted we begin to develop a heart that is oblivious to God= s continuous gift of grace, and soon becomes calloused toward others.

As we have seen in the previous lessons, we as God= s people are a forgetful group of wanderers. God back and look at the book of Genesis and Exodus. Even in the middle of the miracle we were prone to forget all that God had and was doing for and in us.

How important is GRACE in your daily walk? Have you prayed this week like I asked you to, to better understand grace and how to apply it to those in your life? Open your Bible with me please to the book of Hebrews, we will read from the 12^th chapter, starting at the 14^th verse. You can find it on page

( ) of the Bible under your seat , or in the seat next to you.

This letter, written by an unknown author is what we call a A General Epistle@ . That means that it was a letter written to the Church, not to a single person like the book of Timothy was. There are eight letters of this kind in the Bible, Hebrews being the first of them.

Read along silently with me as we see that God= s word teaches us to A Pursue peace with everyone, and holinessC without it no one will see the Lord. 15 See to it that no one falls short of the grace of God and that no root of bitterness springs up, causing trouble and by it, defiling many@

(Hebrews 12:14-15).

The Bible says that everyone A falls short of the Glory of God@ (Romans 3:23). But here, we are told to see to it, make sure that A no one falls short of the grace of God@ . Much of the universal, global Church struggles today because we have allowed others to fall short of the grace of God. We have allowed others to fall into sin, forgetting that they are loved and valued by a graceful and forgiving God. And we have ridiculed, harassed, and judged others because of sin in their lives to the point that they have stopped going to the very place and people that are suppose to be there for them, the Church.

When people come to accept Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior, and come and join the fellowship of His Body, the Church,, they don= t stop needing grace. As a matter of fact, it is these people that have just come to understand that that is exactly what they need in life, GRACE! The Church attracts people who recognize their desperate need for grace. Jesus was holy, sinless ad perfect. He never compromised the truth, or excused the sin in others lives, and yet sinners were attracted to Him like a magnet. What was the pull? Why were sinners attracted to Jesus? _____________________________

Put a bookmark in your Bible here in Hebrews. We will come back to this in a little bit. Then go with me to Matthew 9:9-13. You can find it on page ( ) of your Church Bible. In the first part of Matthew 9, Jesus had just healed a man that had been crippled. Seeing the faith of this man and his friends, Jesus spoke words of grace and life into the man’s life, forgiving him of his sin.

The religious people of Jesus= day threw a hissy-fit. And so he asked them, A Why are you thinking evil things in your hearts? 5 For which is easier: to say, 'Your sins are forgiven,' or to say, 'Get up and walk'? 6 But so you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins"C then He told the paralytic, "Get up, pick up your stretcher, and go home." 7 And he got up and went home. 8 When the crowds saw this, they were awestruck and gave glory to God who had given such authority to men.@ (Matthew 9:4-8)

So pick up the story with me there, in Matthew 9:9-13. Here the Word of God says, A As Jesus went on from there, He saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax office, and He said to him, "Follow Me!" So he got up and followed Him.

12 But when He heard this, He said, "Those who are well don't need a doctor, but the sick do. 13 Go and learn what this means: I desire mercy and not sacrifice. For I didn't come to call the righteous, but sinners.@

What= s the setting? __________________. Who were there? __________________________ It’s a party attended by sinners and Tax Collectors, some of the most reviled people in all of the Jewish culture. People are sitting around eating dinner, enjoying each others company. Except for a few, peering in from the outside. It was those religious people again. But getting back to those that were fellowshiping and enjoying their time together, let me ask you a question. Why do you think those enjoying the party wanted to be with Jesus? _________________________________________________________

The sinners and tax collectors wanted to be with Jesus because He loved and valued them. He had something they needed, something they wanted, and knew that He had to spend time with them for them to see, to desire, and to receive it. Grace!

When people walk through the doors at Living Branch do we expect them to leave all of their troubles behind? ___________ Do we demand that they leave their bad habits, their hang-ups, and their pain at home? ______________ No, of course not. Or at least that= s what we say.

I can tell you story after story of people that were drawn by the Spirit of God to seek His mercy and grace. But when they went to what they thought was His house, they were judged, looked down on, ridiculed, and pointed out.

But I can also tell you stories of people that found the House of Worship, the local Church body to be a place of healing, a place of Hope, a place where they were given grace, and taught how to extend it to others. What will our story be Living Branch? How will people tell others they were received while they were here? _______________________________________________________________

Often, it= s easier to extend grace to non-believers, or people outside the Church, must like it > s easier to be patient toward people outside your family. We assume that people in the Church don= t need grace as much as others, they need discipline because after all, A they should know better.@

Flip back with me in your Bible to the book of Hebrews, this time to the 10^th chapter, verse 19.

A Therefore, brothers, since we have boldness to enter the sanctuary through the blood of Jesus, 20 by the new and living way that He has inaugurated for us, through the curtain (that is, His flesh); 21 and since we have a great high priest over the house of God, 22 let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed in pure water. 23 Let us hold on to the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful. 24 And let us be concerned about one another in order to promote love and good works, 25 not staying away from our meetings, as some habitually do, but encouraging each other, and all the more as you see the day drawing near.@ (Hebrews 10:19-25).

According to the 24^th and 25^th verses, what should our Attitude be? _________________. What actions should we be taking? ____________________________ And what should be our goal? __________________ We should be concerned for one another, promoting love and good works, and encouraging one another.

Ben and Jill Barfield are here with us from Tucson, Arizona. They are here this week to celebrate with other North American Missionaries and Chaplains God= s calling, and equipping in their lives. I have invited Ben and Jill to share with us what it means, and what it looks like to be called from God to Share Life with Other Believers.

Insert Ben and Jill= s Testimony

Remember we talked in lessons one and two that grace is not a blanket tolerance and acceptance regardless of what someone does. We are not to simply turn a blind eye toward those who continue to live in sin, granting them full fellowship when they remain unrepentant or even defiant.

But it= s just as wrong to believe that our position should feel guilty about knowing or mentioning another= s sin saying, A Who are we to judge?@ In grace, we don= t have to worry about who we are to judge, we are to ask ourselves, A Who are we to care?@

Read Galatians 6:1-3. Then read the following sentence, scratching through the wrong idea, writing above it, the correct one:

False grace, or cheap grace as some call it, avoids dealing with sin and instead focuses on being A loving.@ But showing genuine grace never involves condoning sin. Grace never compromises the truth or righteousness. Jesus forgave the woman brought to Him after being caught in the act of adultery, but He also commanded her to A go and sin no more@ (John 8:11).

So how are we to walk along side one another? How can we "carry one another's burdens?" (Galatians 6:2) How can we answer the call given to us as God= s Missionaries right here in Englewood, Parker, Centennial and the greater Denver area to A consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Not giving up meeting together... but encouraging one another.@

(Hebrews 10:24-25).

Genuine Grace always draws people to Christ and His righteousness. False grace tolerates sin and attempts to quite those that speak against it. But a loving, graceful response to sin sometimes means caring enough to say the hard things that may help people understand the consequence of their decisions.

Proverbs 27:5-6 says, A Better an open reprimand than concealed love. The wounds of a friend are trustworthy, but the kisses of an enemy are excessive.@ And Psalms 141:5 says A Let the righteous one strike meC it is an act of faithful love; let him rebuke meC it is oil for my head; let me not refuse it. Even now my prayer is against the evil acts of the wicked.@

What is God concerned about? _________________ People. That= s what God is concerned about. We need to always remember that an individual= s repentance before God is far more important than immediate restoration into the Christian community.

Now what does that mean? It means that if you are considering not saying something to a loved one, or friend about sin in their life that is leading them away, then you need to be faithful to God= s principles. A Better an open reprimand than concealed love.@

Let our hearts be tempered by the Holy Spirit. And "...since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us hold on to grace. By it, we may serve God acceptably, with reverence and awe; for our God is a consuming fire" (Hebrews 12:28). If you are feeling defensive, or posturing for an argument, then take time to be silent, alone with God in your thoughts, motives, and tactics.

A Show family affection to one another with brotherly love. Outdo one another in showing honor. 11 Do not lack diligence; be fervent in spirit; serve the Lord. 12 Rejoice in hope; be patient in affliction; be persistent in prayer. 13 Share with the saints in their needs; pursue hospitality. 14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. 15 Rejoice with those who rejoice; weep with those who weep. 16 Be in agreement with one another.

Do not be proud; instead, associate with the humble. Do not be wise in your own estimation. 17 Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Try to do what is honorable in everyone's eyes. 18 If possible, on your part, live at peace with everyone. 19 Friends, do not avenge yourselves; instead, leave room for His wrath. For it is written: Vengeance belongs to Me; I will repay, says the Lord. 20 But: If your enemy is hungry, feed him. If he is thirsty, give him something to drink. For in so doing you will be heaping fiery coals on his head. 21 Do not be conquered by evil, but conquer evil with good.@

When I keep my eyes focused on Jesus and God= s work going on all around me, it= s a lot easier to be The Face of Grace, to be able to extend grace to others. But when I concentrate on my activities, or the activities of others, being full of grace becomes quite the challenge.

I can learn where my focus is by the observations I make. Does that make sense. You can tell where people are focusing their attention by the observations that they make. If people are always noticing what others are or aren= t doing. Then they are focusing on people. If they are seeing what God is doing in other= s lives, then they are focused on the things of God. Does that make sense?

When people complain about the kids running around in the Church, or people getting up and down, or how far away they have to park, they= re really not focused on the things of God. When they complain that they didn= t A GET anything out of the Service of Worship it demonstrates that they misunderstand the purpose of worship.

People of Grace, however thank God for the little ones that are in the Church. They are appreciative of the people that are in the classes or services. The Face of Grace parks across the street, or in the back to leave the best parking spots for others. The Face of Grace focuses on God, not themselves during the worship hour. These truths give a whole other meaning to A What are you looking at?@

Look at Mark 12:28-31. ( ) A One of the scribes approached. When he heard them debating and saw that Jesus answered them well, he asked Him, "Which commandment is the most important of all?"

29 "This is the most important," Jesus answered: Listen, Israel! The Lord our God, the Lord is One. 30 Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength. 31 "The second is: Love your neighbor as yourself. There is no other commandment greater than these.= @

During my time in the ministry I have heard a lot of stories from a lot of unhappy campers. But none is as frequent as the one where people consider leaving the church because they don= t have any friends, or that no one calls on them, or visits with them.

One of the questions I will always try to find a kind and gentle way of asking is A Who have you reached out to in an intentional, and deliberate attempt to befriend?@ My father-in-law said it this way years ago. A What are you putting on your plate?@

Reaching out to someone to be a friend is not the same thing as to reach out to someone to get a friend. The principle is biblical. One is to put the other person first, the other is to put yourself first.

Although many people have attended church meetings for years, they still struggle with knowing and showing grace because they are stuck in the mind-set that A church@ is there to meet their needs instead of them being there to meet the needs of others.

I have had the privilege to be present in a good number of family gatherings, and other meetings where someone had taken a bold step to confess their sins and short-comings to the others, and then to watch the others in the group get up, go to, and love on the one making the confession. This my friend, is The Face of Grace!

Let me share two more Bible verses with you in a challenge to strive this week to become more and more, The Face of Grace. The first one is in Ephesians 1:7-9. From the book of Mark, Ephesians is to your right. Past Luke, John, Acts, the letter to the Romans, and Corinthians. Past the letter to the Galatians, and to the letter to those in Ephesus, page ( ).

Listen to this passage considering how we are to act toward one another. A In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace that He lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding.@

Grace is for sinners. We, as followers of Christ have come to understand that we need to be saved by Grace through Faith in Jesus Christ. In God= s perfect love for us, He gave us His very best, His One and Only Son, Jesus. Jesus gave up heaven, perfection, peace, endless worship, and a whole list of things so He could come and pay our penalty for sinning against God. That= s Grace!

To be a Christian, Christ-like, a part of His Body, His Church, we need to be a redemptive community. The Church needs to be a safe haven for repentant sinners. It needs to be a place, a people group that shares the truth in love and gentleness. It needs to be a magnet for Jesus, where the worst of our culture feels drawn, loved, and valued.

When we, the Church, truly grasp what Grace is, when we begin to not only fully receive it from God, but begin to extend it to others, we will become irresistible to the rest of the world. In an age of hatred, terrorism, and division, the message of grace has never been more necessary. In a day when people are looking for peace, looking for hope, looking for love: What will they see when they look at you? Will they see The Face of Grace?

1 Peter 4:8-11 says this. A Above all, keep your love for one another at full strength, since love covers a multitude of sins. 9 Be hospitable to one another without complaining. 10 Based on the gift they have received, everyone should use it to serve others, as good managers of the varied grace of God.@

How can we, the Church, the Bride of Christ be the Face of Grace? By putting on Love, the perfect bond of unity (Colossians 3:14) and keeping it at full strength. Pedal to the metal, full engines ahead! May we be mindful of the grace given to us through Christ Jesus, and faithful stewards of the grace of God entrusted to us for others.