by admin | Aug 18, 2020 | Picture This, Sermon Audio and Notes
13 Someone in the crowd said to him, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.” 14 But he said to him, “Man, who made me a judge or arbitrator over you?” 15 And he said to them, “Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.” 16 And he told them a parable, saying, “The land of a rich man produced plentifully, 17 and he thought to himself, ‘What shall I do, for I have nowhere to store my crops?’ 18 And he said, ‘I will do this: I will tear down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. 19 And I will say to my soul, “Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be merry.”’ 20 But God said to him, ‘Fool! This night your soul is required of you, and the things you have prepared, whose will they be?’ 21 So is the one who lays up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God.”
Luke 12:13-21
As we continue looking at the parables of Jesus, this week we hear from Pastor Ken from Blantyre Baptist Church as he shares more insight from the story of the rich fool. Jesus cautions us to “Take care and to be on guard against all forms of greediness, acquisitive behavior. We are not to devote our lives to gathering and accumulation of wealth. It is in human nature to lose sight when we are blessed with wealth, instead of using it to further the Will of God,we are so focused on managing and increasing our possessions.
We are not blessed by God to keep all our possessions to ourselves, we are blessed to be a blessing in our lives to others and to build the Kingdom of God. This life we treasure so much is going to be demanded at some point and we are going to have to account for it. Let us involve God in our lives and how we use our resources. We are not guaranteed tomorrow but that should not stop us from making plans, God should be at the center of those plans.
- Is there any area of your life where you feel like you are putting “things” above God?
- What steps do you need to take this week to live more like Christ this week?
Catch up on earlier Picture This sermons: Week 1, Week 2, Week 3, Week 4
by admin | Aug 12, 2020 | Picture This, Sermon Audio and Notes
1 Now the tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to hear him. 2 And the Pharisees and the scribes grumbled, saying, “This man receives sinners and eats with them.”
3 So he told them this parable: 4 “What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the open country, and go after the one that is lost, until he finds it? 5 And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. 6 And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and his neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep that was lost.’ 7 Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.
Luke 15:1-7
This week we take a look at the story of the lost sheep. We hear from Andee as she enlightens us on how natural it is for children of God to get lost in our lives or communities, and how amazing God is in searching for that one lost individual.
God is just so amazing that He affords us the free will to make our own choices, and oftentimes times these choices are not the right ones, they lead us astray. The God, our King, is going to leave the 99 just to search for the one who is lost. God is going to welcome him/her home and celebrate along with others. His love is just so overwhelming that He will search for you and He will find you, God loves us even more when we are lost.
- Who in our community is lost? Do we need to go and search for them? Go find them! Go get them and bring them back.
- How is your heart? Do you feel lost right now?
- If you are feeling lost, can you reach out to one of us? We will come find you.
Catch up on earlier Picture This sermons: Week 1, Week 2, Week 3
by admin | May 3, 2020 | Prodigal, Sermon Audio and Notes
11 And he said, “There was a man who had two sons. 12 And the younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of property that is coming to me.’ And he divided his property between them. 13 Not many days later, the younger son gathered all he had and took a journey into a far country, and there he squandered his property in reckless living. 14 And when he had spent everything, a severe famine arose in that country, and he began to be in need. 15 So he went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, who sent him into his fields to feed pigs. 16 And he was longing to be fed with the pods that the pigs ate, and no one gave him anything.
17 “But when he came to himself, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have more than enough bread, but I perish here with hunger! 18 I will arise and go to my father, and I will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. 19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Treat me as one of your hired servants.”’ 20 And he arose and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him. 21 And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ 22 But the father said to his servants, ‘Bring quickly the best robe, and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet. 23 And bring the fattened calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate. 24 For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.’ And they began to celebrate.
25 “Now his older son was in the field, and as he came and drew near to the house, he heard music and dancing. 26 And he called one of the servants and asked what these things meant. 27 And he said to him, ‘Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fattened calf, because he has received him back safe and sound.’ 28 But he was angry and refused to go in. His father came out and entreated him, 29 but he answered his father, ‘Look, these many years I have served you, and I never disobeyed your command, yet you never gave me a young goat, that I might celebrate with my friends. 30 But when this son of yours came, who has devoured your property with prostitutes, you killed the fattened calf for him!’ 31 And he said to him, ‘Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours. 32 It was fitting to celebrate and be glad, for this your brother was dead, and is alive; he was lost, and is found.’”
Luke 15:11-32
This week we conclude our Prodigal series by looking at the great cost the Father paid for both of his wayward sons. Not only did the Father have to endure the rejection of his younger son but also the shame that both of his son’s caused him. However, because he is a good father, we see that his response is one of love and compassion as he invites his sons back into his good graces. He even celebrates when they return because he cares more about their hearts than he does about his stuff.
This sermon also reveals the identity of the true elder brother: Jesus. Instead of being angry when we mess up, Jesus goes after us and actually gives up his share so that we do not feel alienated. As the True Elder Brother, Jesus fights for our place in the family and chooses us to be loved by God, our ultimate Father.
- With the understanding that God cares more about our hearts than He does about what we do, what areas of your life do you need to repent and turn back to God?
- How can you embrace Jesus as your True Elder Brother and live knowing that He is perusing you, fighting for you, and choosing you every day?
Catch up on earlier Prodigal sermons: Week 1, Week 2
by admin | May 3, 2020 | Prodigal, Sermon Audio and Notes
11 And he said, “There was a man who had two sons. 12 And the younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of property that is coming to me.’ And he divided his property between them. 13 Not many days later, the younger son gathered all he had and took a journey into a far country, and there he squandered his property in reckless living. 14 And when he had spent everything, a severe famine arose in that country, and he began to be in need. 15 So he went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, who sent him into his fields to feed pigs. 16 And he was longing to be fed with the pods that the pigs ate, and no one gave him anything.
17 “But when he came to himself, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have more than enough bread, but I perish here with hunger! 18 I will arise and go to my father, and I will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. 19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Treat me as one of your hired servants.”’ 20 And he arose and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him. 21 And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ 22 But the father said to his servants, ‘Bring quickly the best robe, and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet. 23 And bring the fattened calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate. 24 For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.’ And they began to celebrate.
25 “Now his older son was in the field, and as he came and drew near to the house, he heard music and dancing. 26 And he called one of the servants and asked what these things meant. 27 And he said to him, ‘Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fattened calf, because he has received him back safe and sound.’ 28 But he was angry and refused to go in. His father came out and entreated him, 29 but he answered his father, ‘Look, these many years I have served you, and I never disobeyed your command, yet you never gave me a young goat, that I might celebrate with my friends. 30 But when this son of yours came, who has devoured your property with prostitutes, you killed the fattened calf for him!’ 31 And he said to him, ‘Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours. 32 It was fitting to celebrate and be glad, for this your brother was dead, and is alive; he was lost, and is found.’”
Luke 15:11-32
When reading the Parable of the Prodigal Son, it can be easy to focus our attention on the rebellious acts of the younger brother, or even of the forgiveness and grace of the Father, all while unintentionally overlooking the entitlement of the elder brother. In this sermon, Pastor Yami takes some time to explain why the elder brother is so important for us focus on today and provides 4 clear markers of “elder brotherness” that we can be on the lookout for in our own lives.
If we are unable to recognize the areas of our lives where we tend to look more like the elder brother, we can unintentionally create a culture that is counterproductive to the Gospel. Instead of sewing seeds of love and mercy, we tend to be hyper critical, judgmental, and even hateful. Thankfully, the same Father that warmly welcomed the younger brother also invites the elder brother into his loving arms of grace.
- Are there areas in your own life that look more like the elder brother?
- What might God be inviting you to surrender into His loving arms today?
Catch up on earlier Prodigal sermons: Week 1
by admin | Apr 19, 2020 | Prodigal, Sermon Audio and Notes
11 And he said, “There was a man who had two sons. 12 And the younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of property that is coming to me.’ And he divided his property between them. 13 Not many days later, the younger son gathered all he had and took a journey into a far country, and there he squandered his property in reckless living. 14 And when he had spent everything, a severe famine arose in that country, and he began to be in need. 15 So he went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, who sent him into his fields to feed pigs. 16 And he was longing to be fed with the pods that the pigs ate, and no one gave him anything.
17 “But when he came to himself, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have more than enough bread, but I perish here with hunger! 18 I will arise and go to my father, and I will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. 19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Treat me as one of your hired servants.”’ 20 And he arose and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him. 21 And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ 22 But the father said to his servants, ‘Bring quickly the best robe, and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet. 23 And bring the fattened calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate. 24 For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.’ And they began to celebrate.
25 “Now his older son was in the field, and as he came and drew near to the house, he heard music and dancing. 26 And he called one of the servants and asked what these things meant. 27 And he said to him, ‘Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fattened calf, because he has received him back safe and sound.’ 28 But he was angry and refused to go in. His father came out and entreated him, 29 but he answered his father, ‘Look, these many years I have served you, and I never disobeyed your command, yet you never gave me a young goat, that I might celebrate with my friends. 30 But when this son of yours came, who has devoured your property with prostitutes, you killed the fattened calf for him!’ 31 And he said to him, ‘Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours. 32 It was fitting to celebrate and be glad, for this your brother was dead, and is alive; he was lost, and is found.’”
Luke 15:11-32
We tend to think of the story of the Prodigal Son as a story of one really bad child, a really good dad, and a goody-two-shoes older sibling, but in this sermon Pastor Yami invites us to recognize that for all their differences, the two brothers actually had the same goal, just different tactics for achieving that goal. As one of the Bible stories most well known even outside of the believing community, it can be difficult to read the parable of the prodigal son and hear anything new. We think we know the characters, what to expect, and exactly what we are supposed to learn. Join us in this sermon to re-investigate this old story with fresh lenses, exploring truths we thought we knew only to find that they still have to power to change and enliven us.
We too might have the same goal, just different tactics. You might find your tactics within the younger brother, who represents people who are largely disobedient, freedom seeking, and on a journey of self-discovery rather than path following. Or you might find your tactics within the older brother, who represents people who are largely obedient, moralistic, and find their worth succeeding within a given structure. Or you may need to examine your tactics more carefully to determine your own way of pursuing this same goal that seems to infect all of us… we want the Father’s stuff, but do we really want the father that goes with it?
Next Step Questions:
- Do you find yourself more as a younger brother (disobedient, driven by self-discovery) or as an older brother (obedient, driven by moralism)?
- Consider how you might be pursuing the same goals as the two brothers (the Father’s stuff, without relationship to the Father) and try to identify your own tactics
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