Looking to Jesus - Continued III
Looking to Jesus Part 62
April 29, 2018 • Pastor Luke Dailey
Sermon Meditation Looking to Jesus, Part 62 (Final) Times are Changing Hebrews 13:18-25 The time change we still practice in California is unnecessary. We began practicing the Spring Forward and Fall Back time changes so that farmers would have more daylight in the summer season to do work in their fields. However, because of electricity and technology, the need for the seasonal time change has become a thing of the past. States in our country are deciding one by one to no longer practice the time changes. One thing that I thought was helpful and even good about the time changes was that there was (and currently still is) a clear change of seasons. As we complete our verse by verse study of Hebrews this Sunday, we have a clear change of season in our church. We will discuss the main themes of Hebrews one more time together, and exegete the final passage together. The main focus this week is found in verses 21 and 22. Our God of peace has equipped us to do good works according to His will. That’s an AWESOME truth! God has given us everything we need to walk in a way that is good and pleasant to Him! We will also look forward with great anticipation to what God has planned for us after the current series. I’m very excited to walk with you into the next season of life for Centerpoint Church. See you Sunday, Pastor Luke Home Fellowship Discussion Guide Week of April 29th Q: What would it mean to you to live with a “clear conscience?” What would be the benefits to this? Q: What’s the most peaceful place you’ve ever been? What about this place inspired peace? READ FIRST: Hebrews 13:18-25 Q: The benediction found in verses 20-22 are among the most beautiful in all of Scripture. What are the three greatest blessings promised here? Q: Verse 20 provides two names for God. What are they and what do they teach us about God’s character? Q: In verse 21, what is God “equipping” us for? Q: What do you think was the reason that Timothy was in jail? Would you be willing to follow this same path? If you were arrested for being a Christian, what evidence would the prosecution give in favor of a conviction? Q: During the last 62 weeks in Hebrews, what has been your greatest “take away?” Q: Take a few moments and pray these “benediction” blessings for one another.
Looking to Jesus Part 61
April 22, 2018 • Pastor Steve Pope
A Message to the Wandering Sheep of Simi Valley “Obey your spiritual leaders, and do what they say. Their work is to watch over your souls, and they are accountable to God.” Hebrews 13:17a The verdict is in - church attendance patterns in our city have changed drastically. Those who formerly attended worship each Sunday now find it more convenient to attend only once or twice a month; this has got to change. And our city has a growing population of those who claim to believe in Jesus but no longer see regular church attendance as necessary to their growth in faith; this, too, must change. And, once we decide to attend a church, we are more reluctant to become a member of that church; this certainly needs to change. Strong churches are used by God to produce strong families and blessed cities. This is a message to the wandering sheep of Simi Valley. If you love Jesus, you will love that which He loves. Jesus loves His church and sacrificed His life for her. We will spend eternity together with Him. He wants our fellowship to begin right here and now. Life together on earth with Jesus Christ as the head of our fellowship is essential preparation for ministry, missions, and eternity! Options, options, options - so how should we choose the church to which we entrust our family’s spiritual health and growth? Are we looking for cool bands? Funny preachers? Programs offered? Our passage provides the clearest Biblical answer; we are to choose our church family based upon leadership who fully believe in the authority of God’s word, teach it without compromise, and love us enough to speak the truth at all times . . . even when it hurts. Understand this; a worthy church is led by elders and Bible teachers who understand that worldly success is not the goal. Our goal is the please the God to Whom we will, one day, give an account. Looking forward to spending time with you in the word this Sunday! Pastor Steve HOME FELLOWSHIP DISCUSSION GUIDE Q: Who’s the best leader you’ve ever followed? What made this leader easy to follow? Q: In your life, who has best set the pace for following Christ? What made their lives worth imitating? READ FIRST: Hebrews 13:17 Q: Read II Timothy 2:1-5. Name some roles of pastors and elders listed in this passage. What is to be the content of their leadership and teaching? Q: Read Hebrews 4:11-13. What affect does Scripture have in our lives? How should we respond to this? Q: In what ways do your spiritual leaders “keep watch over our souls?” Is this guardianship something you naturally welcome or do you naturally rebel against this? Q: What do you think it means that spiritual leaders and Bible teachers will “give an account?” When will this account be required? Q: How can you help pastors and elders carry out their responsibilities “with joy” rather than a heavy heart?
Looking to Jesus Part 60
April 15, 2018 • Pastor Steve Pope
Looking to Jesus, Part 60 “Pleasing God” Hebrews 13:15, 16 It is not uncommon anymore to speak with someone who doesn’t believe in God, or even to speak with someone who subtly believes he is god. There are also those who believe that there is a God, but that He is distant and uncaring. But the Bible reveals a God who is both all powerful and indescribably loving! He is knowable through the work of Jesus to those who believe and receive Him. Our passage clearly reveals a God who has fully accepted His children and loves us by grace. There is nothing we can do to earn this love and nothing we can contribute to make this love more permanent. But, for those overwhelmed with gratitude for the salvation that has been provided, there are three sacrifices with which to please Him and make His heart glad. There is (1) a sacrifice of gratefulness for all He is and for all He has given us (a “thank offering”). There is (2) a sacrifice of loving service to those He brings into our path. And there is (3) a sacrifice of generosity. With these three things, God is well pleased. As we speak of our gratitude to God among the lost, willingly serve the people of the city we’re called to love, and share with those in need, the gospel of God’s grace is clearly communicated. The lost will see our love for God and for people and be drawn to Him. Now, this makes His heart glad! See you on Sunday, Pastor Steve
Looking to Jesus Part 59
April 8, 2018 • Pastor Steve Pope
Therefore, through Him let us continually offer up to God a sacrifice of praise, that is, the fruit of our lips that confess His name. - Hebrews 13:15 Have you ever witnessed something take place that was so amazing that you were made speechless? I've had moments in my life that are very difficult to communicate clearly just how they've impacted me. One of those moments was during my first daughter's birth, Kaia. My wife was in labor for 84 dreadful hours. There was difficulties with labor and delivery. Kaia came out of the womb not breathing. My wife was exhausted and weak like I've never imagined her to be. There I was in the middle of the room with a team of 6 specialists working on Kaia and my wife laying in a bed. That feeling, in that moment, is the most difficult feeling to express. I truly believe that only those who have experienced that same tension are the only one's that know the feeling I had then. See, it takes me stumbling over words, reaching for the correct way to communicate my feelings to even slightly begin to relay my heart in that moment. Did you know that you have a communicational tension like that about your story of what Jesus has done in you? Do you think we can truly grasp how good God is? Do you think we can fully understand God's love? Do you think we can truly understand the grace that was poured out on those who believe? All of these truths are experienced by believers, but we can't really understand their impact upon us, let alone muster up mere human words to communicate what Jesus has done for us. Our God is so good that it will take eternity for us to figure out just how good He is. With that in mind, our words that we stumble over, and reach to communicate His goodness, will never truly be enough, but they are words of praise. He has blessed us in many ways. Our words will never give justice to the work of His hand, but we will pour out our words as fruits of the lips. See you Sunday! Pastor Luke
Looking to Jesus Part 58 - Palm Sunday
March 25, 2018 • Pastor Steve Pope
SERMON MEDITATION Looking to Jesus, Part 58 “Home Where You Belong” Hebrews 13:10-14 In 1983, the Good Humor Company launched one of the most successful add campaigns in the history of advertising. The catch phrase “What would you do for a Klondike Bar?” has become a cultural icon. People insert all kinds of negative, shameful, and embarrassing behaviors in response to the desire for ice-cream covered in chocolate. My favorite? “I will never be able to run for president because of what I did for a Klondike bar." Human love becomes bondage when it drives us to seek approval from the person we long to please. The nod of approval becomes our focus rather than loving God and obeying His law. In exchange for this love, all varieties of sin and compromise seem like a small price to pay. Bondage is broken, freedom reigns, and joy overflows when Jesus’ followers leave behind the love of this world and the desire for its approval. We find our ultimate motivation in knowing that “this world is not our permanent home; we are looking forward to a home yet to come.” In Galatians 1:10, the Apostle Paul declared, “Obviously, I’m not trying to win the approval of people, but of God. If pleasing people were my goal, I would not be Christ’s servant.” So, what would you do to please Jesus Christ? Looking forward to sharing worship with you this Sunday, Pastor Steve HOME FELLOWSHIP DISCUSSION GUIDE Home Fellowship Discussion Guide Week of March 26th Q: In your lifetime, where have you lived the longest? Was it a good place to be? Why or why not? Q: What vacation spot have you enjoyed the most? READ FIRST: Hebrews 13:10-14 Q: According to verse 10, what kind of altar do we have? Why can we have access to this altar when the Levitical priests can’t? Q: Why did Jesus have to suffer “outside the city gates?” Q: What “reproach” or “disgrace” did Jesus have to bear? How do we “bear the reproach that He bore?” Q: To “go to Him outside the camp” is a metaphor for leaving behind our love for this world and the desire for its approval. What does this mean to you? In what areas have you left your love for the world behind? (I John 2:15) Q: Do you look forward to “the city that is to come?” Does it seem real to you that this will be your eternal home? What do you anticipate with the most joy concerning your eternal home with Jesus?
Looking to Jesus Part 57
March 18, 2018 • Pastor Steve Pope
Looking to Jesus, Part 57 “Stronger Every Day” Hebrews 13:8, 9 The Los Angeles S.P.C.A. presents a yearly “hero dog” award. The award usually goes to a service dog or a household pet who has provided some heroic service to its master. A military dog, a police K-9, a therapy dog, and a search and rescue dog have all been recipients of this very special honor. in 2015, however, the award was given to a most unusual animal. In Bakersfield, a four-year-old boy was attacked by a 60 pound stray dog. His unlikely rescuer was his pet cat, Tara! When the dog attacked, the cat leaped into action by attacking and then chasing the dog away. The cat then returned to make sure her boy was OK. After a few stitches, the boy and his cat returned home to a hero’s welcome. What motivated a ten-pound cat to attack a 60-pound dog? Nothing less than the cat-version of love for his boy. With no thought for her own safety, the cat didn’t think twice about protecting her boy. This is the love that motivates us to share the gospel with our lost neighbors. We who know God, realize that His holy demands are only satisfied in the sacrifice of Christ Jesus. No matter how small or weak we may feel, love compels us to rescue the perishing by bringing them the gospel - good news to all who are saved. And, once the gospel is believed and received, grace gives us strength for each new day. See you on Sunday, Pastor Steve HOME FELLOWSHIP STUDY GUIDE Home Fellowship Discussion Guide Week of March 19th Q: What’s the best gift ever given to you by a friend or family member? Why did it mean so much to you? Q: Have you ever felt pressured to change you diet due to a current cultural or health trend? READ FIRST: Hebrews 13:8, 9 Q: The Hebrew Christians were at risk of being “led away” by “diverse and strange teachings.” From verse eight, what can you learn about this “strange teaching?” Q: In the book of Jude, verses 3 - 4, what doctrine was being “perverted” by these false teachers? Q: In Jude 17-19, how do false teachers affect the life of the Body of Christ? Q: In Jude 20-23, what are the seven exhortations for church members in response to false teachers in verses 20-23? Q: In our passage, what is it that “strengthens” us?
Looking to Jesus Part 56
March 11, 2018 • Pastor Luke Dailey
SERMON MEDITATION Hello Church Family, I've been employed by Satellite Auto Glass for two years. The job was a comletely new concept to me. I never replaced auto glass before, and I never thought about replacing it. But I have a friend, Aaron, who gave me an opportunity to get an interview and then through the process, a job. Since the concept was brand new to me, I had to take time to learn the job so I could perform my duties well. Satellite helps in this process. They train you with two guide books, two tests, and then hands on training that takes about 6 months to complete. What I learned through my time of training was that I learned the job best when I could watch an experienced technician do the job. After watching them, I could imitate them. Our passage is Hebrews 13:7-8. Verse 7 says, Remember your leaders who have spoken God’s word to you. As you carefully observe the outcome of their lives, imitate their faith. Can I just boast about our leaders quickly? I LOVE OUR LEADERS. I thank God for our Elders. We have caring, loving, gentle, compassionate, strong men who love Jesus and teach us His Word. We belong to a strong church because of the health in our leadership. We most likely don't take enough time to thank God for our Elders. Our gratefulness to God for our leaders is a good start. Gratefulness towards our elders is the starting point in the will of God of how the congregants acknowledge their leaders. Over time, our hearts are to be opened to the elders in such a profound way that our lives would be impacted by their faith to a point where we begin imitating them. This is the plan of God. This is why the Bible speaks so clearly on the qualifications of leaders. Their faith is supposed to be impacting our faith. I cannot wait to study this topic with you on Sunday. In Jesus' Awesome Name, Pastor Luke HOME FELLOWSHIP DISCUSSION GUIDE Q: Who has been your greatest spiritual example through the years? Q: For whom does God want you to serve as a spiritual example? READ FIRST: Hebrews 13:7, 8 Q: Who are your spiritual leaders? What does the author of Hebrews mean when he says that they “spoke the word of God” to you? Q: What most impresses you about the “outcome” of your spiritual leader’s lives? What long-term effect did a godly life have on them? On the people around them? Q: What does it mean to “imitate their faith?” Why is their “faith” the most important issue here? Q: Jesus is the source and origin of our relationship with God - He’s the One who opened the way to relationship with the Father. How does His unchangeable nature relate to the issue of spiritual leadership? Q: Does it comfort and strengthen you to know that Jesus is always the same? Why?
Looking to Jesus Part 55
March 4, 2018 • Pastor Steve Pope
Looking to Jesus, Part 55 “The Real Secret to Happiness” Hebrews 13:5, 6 I was shocked one day to discover where my neighbor's cars go at night. Two very nice cars just disappear and magically reappear the next morning when they leave for work. I was curious until I discovered their secret - they put them in the garage. So, that’s what a garage is for! Our garage is filled with “stuff.” We couldn’t fit another feather on top of our six-foot pile. I’m no longer able to recall our inventory, but it must be very precious (to someone). If a fire started, I’d squeeze my motorcycle out and wait on the sidewalk for the fire-fighters, not really sure if any burning object had any real value. Our houses are filled with stuff. Our garages are filled with stuff. Our cars are filled with stuff. Our lives are filled with stuff. And yet, we’re never content. Our longing is for one more bit of stuff. Jesus wants us to be entirely content in Him alone. The Psalmist nailed it when he wrote “The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want.” Full faith leads to contentment, and contentment makes room in our hearts for joy and peace. Contentment happens when we fully grasp the truth that Jesus said “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” Hope to see you on Sunday! Pastor Steve Sent from my iPhone Home Fellowship Discussion Guide Week of March 5th Q: What is the best thing that happened to you this week? Q: Where do you store most of your “stuff?” Do you tend to be a hoarder or do you prefer to travel light in life? READ FIRST: Hebrews 13:5,6 & Philippians 4:10-13 Q: In Hebrews 13:5, 6, what is the ultimate “secret” to contentment? Q: In Phil. 4:10-13, what is Paul’s secret to contentment? Q: What is the closest you have come to experiencing what Paul talks about here: rebounding from loss of freedom? Loss of some physical skill? Loss of some vocational opportunity? Loss of a partner? Loss of financial security? Other? Q: How can Paul’s attitude toward giving and receiving enable you to be a better giver? How can it enable you to be a better receiver? Q: What outside force is most likely to upset your contentment? Since God does not always change negative outside forces, what can he change in you to make contentment possible?
Looking to Jesus Part 50
February 4, 2018 • Pastor Steve Pope
Looking to Jesus, Part 50 “Remember the Prisoners” “Remember those in prison, as if you were there yourself. Remember also those being mistreated, as if you felt their pain in your own bodies.” Hebrews 13:3 Talk about redemption stories! A former Watergate conspirator lived one of the most impactful lives in recent history. Charles Colson (AKA “Nixon’s Hatchet Man”) was saved after serving time in prison for his part in the political conspiracy of the 20th century. His testimony, which is chronicled in his book, Born Again, has touched tens of thousands of lives with the gospel. While in prison, Colson’s heart was broken by the needs of the hopeless and morally bankrupt criminal inmates who shared his incarceration. His passion for reaching prisoners with the gospel led to the establishment of the powerful outreach, Prison Fellowship. As exciting and strategic as the work of Prison Fellowship is, our passage is not referring primarily to the criminal inmates in modern prisons, but to Christians in the first century imprisoned for their faith. Persecution of the church led to the seizure of land and resources, loss of employment, and imprisonment of Christians who only sought to do good (Hebrews 10:32-34). Christians imprisoned for their faith relied upon the donations, provision of meals, visits, and prayers of the Body of Christ. This exhortation to “remember those in prison” refers to the needs of all those who suffer in the church. Jesus summed up His most important teaching by commanding that we “love one another” as proof of our membership in HIs family. We “remember” by reaching out to minister to those who suffer with the love of Christ. Set Free in Christ, Pastor Steve HOME FELLOWSHIP DISCUSSION GUIDE Q:Who were your four closest friends in high school? What did you do together? Any memorable pranks? Q: Have you ever visited someone in jail or prison? What was the experience like to you? READ FIRST: Hebrews 13:3 & Luke 5:17-20 Q: The man in our story came for healing, so why did Jesus bring up forgiveness? How do you think the friends reacted to Jesus’ words in verse 20? And then to His actions in verse 24? Q: What new realm of Jesus’ authority is revealed here? Q: What motivates the Pharisees to respond as they do to the situation? (v. 21) Q: What motivation was in the hearts of the friends? Q: From Hebrews 13:3 as well as our story, what motivates Christians to sacrificial love? Q: What more can be done to display this kind of love and compassion in your life? In the church?