Loving God with all my heart, mind and soul and loving my neighbor as myself by making disciples, baptizing and to teach all things commanded by Jesus Christ in the Gospels, the Acts, the Epistles and the Revelation. HEAR THIS GOSPEL - Romans 10:17 BELIEVE ON CHRIST - John 6:47 REPENT OF EVERY SIN - Luke 13:3 CONFESS JESUS AS CHRIST - Matthew 10:32 BE BAPTIZED FOR THE REMISSION OF SINS - Acts 2:38 LIVE FAITHFULLY - I John 1:7 SPREAD THIS SAME GOSPEL - Acts 8:4
Thesis: First fiddles
can’t fiddle without a 2nd fiddle!
1Introduction
A. Source of phrase
B. Washington had his 2nd fiddle spies
1. The
landing of the French army
2. The
saving of West Point from Benedict Arnold
3. The
stealth of Yorktown
C. Grant had two 2nd fiddles, Sherman and Sheridan
D. Sometimes 2nd fiddles get promoted and 1st
fiddles get demoted.
1. Prior to
the 2nd WW, the Filipino commander was Douglas MacArthur. His aide?
Dwight Eisenhower.
2Caleb
spoke up for obedience before Joshua – Numbers 13.26 - 33
A. What’s right, not who’s right
B. Leadership was the result of faith, not ambition
C. He cared not for his own safety, reputation or career
3Caleb
took up his second fiddle willingly and played the same tune – Numbers 14.1 -
10
A. He tore his clothes with Joshua
B. He spoke with unison with Joshua
C. He accepted death as a consequence with Joshua
4Caleb
took up his 2nd fiddle willingly and publically – Deuteronomy 1.34 -
38
A. He accepted that Joshua was on the platform and he wasn’t
B. He accepted that he was in the audience and Joshua wasn’t
C. He was comfortable in the 2nd chair
5The
Meaning of the Text
A. There is no shame in the 2nd chair
B. The 1st chair fails without the 2nd
C. Accept elevation and demotion with equal grace
6The
Challenge of the Text
A. Am I subservient to God and others?
B. Am I ambitious to be 1st chair?
C. Do I see my worth to God regardless of chair?
7“The
Gospel Call”
·My fifth great uncle was Hugh Gaston who was
rector at the Ballywillan Presbyterian Church (pictured above left) in County
Antrim, Ulster Plantation (Northern Ireland) and wrote the most dangerous book
of his time; Gaston’s Collections. It
allowed “the ploughman to know more Bible than his clergyman.” Hugh fled to South Carolina where he died
prematurely of the measles. He is buried
just one hour south of Charlotte in Chester County, S.C. in “Burnt Meeting House
Cemetery.” Uncle Hugh continues to
inspire my ministry to this very day.
You can read more about Uncle Hugh here: http://www.ballywillanpci.org/rev-hugh-gaston Ruins photo courtesy of: ballywillanpci.org.
·On Friday night, August 12, 2016 Russ will
dramatically portray the life and times of his 5th Great
grandfather, John “Justice” Gaston entitled; “A Patriot of the Revolution.” A
portion of the event will cover also the life and times of his brother, Hugh
Gaston. The event will take place at the
Archdale church of Christ, 2525 Archdale Drive, Charlotte, NC 28210 at 7
p.m. The public is invited to this free
presentation.
Thesis: God can, and will, bless our descendants by
faith as did our Father Abraham before us.
1Introduction
A. Abram was first called in Ur of the Chaldeans
B. Abram and his family were polytheistic pagans
1) Ur was the center of the
worship of the moon god
2) Joshua 24.1 – 3
3) God did more than just
“call” Abram, He APPEARED to
Abram!
a. Acts 7.2
C. Abram not only followed God, he convinced his family to go
with him!
1) Genesis
11.31 – 32
2) His
family was extended even unto his nephew Lot.
D. Abram’s faithfulness to God’s call was rife with
incredulity!
1) He had
to leave his country
a.
Ur was the center of the known world at the time
2) He had
to leave a good portion of his family
3) He had
to leave his father’s house
a.
He had to leave whatever blessing was his as his
older
brother, the heir, had just died leaving him the
heir
to his father’s house.
4) He had
to wrest control of the family from his father
In order to
lead this familial band in an unheard of journey
To unknown
places!
E. Faith has its reward!
1)
Salvation is the most self-serving thing one will ever do!
F. The rewards are in the promise.
2Reward
One: (12.1) I will show you!
A. I will show you the way
B. I will show you the truth
C. I will show you the life
3Reward
Two: (12.2) I will make of you a great nation!
A.God
makes patriarchs and progenitors
1) Patriarch:
“Founder…the oldest member or representative of a group.” MWOLD
2) Progenitor: “A person
who begins something.” MWOLD
B.God
will make Abram a nation
1)His
legacy is assured by the number of descendants
2)His
legacy will be numerous
C.Not
only will God make Abram numerous, He will make him GREAT!
1)Father
of the faithful
2)Father
of a nation
3)Father
of a Great Nation
4)Father
of the Land Promise
5)Father
of the child of promise
6)Father
of the Christ
7)Ruler
of the Bosom
4Reward
Three: I will bless you and make your name GREAT
A. Abram will bring fear into the hearts of the kings of
Canaan
B. Abram will bring fear into the heart of Pharaoh himself!
C. Abram will sweep his enemies before him in battle
D. Abram will receive a blessing from the greatest king – the
king and priest of Salem, Melchizedec
5. Reward Four: I will make YOU a blessing
a. He blesses Lot by saving him
b. He blesses the kings of the
Canaanites by defeating their
enemies.
c. He blesses himself by serving God
first and only
d. He blesses all nations by his
faithfulness
5The
Meaning of the Text – Abram and faithfulness are one in the same!
A. By faith God showed Abram the way
B. By faith God made of Abram a great nation
C. By faith God made great the name of Abram
D. By faith God made Abram a blessing to others
6The
Challenge of the Text is this: Will we become a FATHER ABRAHAM in our day the
time?
A.Will
we, by faith like Father Abraham, allow God to show us the way?
B. Will we be, like Father Abraham, a progenitor of a great
people?
C. Wil we, like Abraham, honor the Holy Name of God and He in
turn our name?
D. Will we, like Father Abraham, be a blessing to all others?
7“The
Gospel Call”
·My fifth great uncle was Hugh Gaston who was
rector at the Ballywillan Presbyterian Church (pictured above left) in County
Antrim, Ulster Plantation (Northern Ireland) and wrote the most dangerous book
of his time; Gaston’s Collections. It
allowed “the ploughman to know more Bible than his clergyman.” Hugh fled to South Carolina where he died
prematurely of the measles. He is buried
just one hour south of Charlotte in Chester County, S.C. in “Burnt Meeting
House Cemetery.” Uncle Hugh continues
to inspire my ministry to this very day.
You can read more about Uncle Hugh here: http://www.ballywillanpci.org/rev-hugh-gaston
Ruins photo courtesy of:
ballywillanpci.org.
·On Friday night, August 5, 2016 Russ will
dramatically portray the life and times of his 5th Great
grandfather, John “Justice” Gaston entitled; “A Patriot of the Revolution.” A
portion of the event will cover also the life and times of his brother, Hugh
Gaston. The event will take place at the
Archdale church of Christ, 2525 Archdale Drive, Charlotte, NC 28210 at 7
p.m. The public is invited to this free
presentation.
Why church events? Let's be candid. Church events are hard work! They require time, effort, planning and expense. They keep us from our normal routine and they break up "normality."
We have church events because, as Christians, we have a threefold mission according to Matthew 28.18 - 20:
Make disciples
Baptize those disciples
Teach those disciples "all things commanded" by Jesus.
In order to "make" a disciple, we first must understand just what IS a disciple? The word in the original Greek for "make disciples" is metheteusate, "to make learners," or to make "believing followers." This, of course, presupposes something far more foundational...a preexisting acquaintance, a friendship of at LEAST a casual acquaintance,
We now must ask the question; "How do we make friends?" It's odd asking how to do something we USED to do all the time without even thinking of it or of it's definition! We were all good at making lots of friends when we were young. Now, not so much. What's the difference between then and now? The lives of young people are filled with what? EVENTS. You remember, club meetings, communal lunch 5 days a week with your friends, weekly sporting events, group study, holiday concerts...and...just "hanging out." Back in the day, we all had more friends than we could count! Now...?
What's changed? A number of things. Adulthood is far more of an isolated time than was school. We work alone. We have daily contact with fewer and fewer people as time advances. Events become fewer and farther between. Events that were once both common and spontaneous are now un-common and are likely contrived, Another factor, far more difficult to cope with, is the fact that when existing friends either move away or die, we fail to replace them. Though totally unnecessary, "old and alone" often go hand in hand, What to do? We can't do anything about the "old" part but the "alone" part can be dispatched completely!
Simply put, those of us who are older must "prime the friendship pump." That requires meeting more people more often than we might be comfortable with. Events make that process easier. It's easier to invite a stranger, or an acquaintance to a planned event than it is to create an event specific to the same purpose. Whatever the reasons are, people today are very reluctant to having people in their homes. Events give us a reason to engage potential friends who can then become "believing followers." The first step is the hardest...talking to strangers. I think it was Will Rogers who said; "I don't know any strangers, only friends I've yet to meet."
This is why we have events at the Archdale church of Christ in Charlotte, NC. On June 5, 2016 we had a "Comedy Night" with Charlotte comedian, Dan Sinski/ It was a great success. People who were strangers to us are now acquaintances. People who had never heard the gospel, heard it. We all became closer because we did something that fewer and fewer people are doing these days...we laughed out loud together. "Laughter is the best medicine" we are often told. Dr. Cyntia Thaik says this; "If you can find a reason to laugh every day, you'll find that your mood will improve, your relationships with others will seem more meaningful and effortless, and life's hurdles wont' seem so daunting. Moreover, your body, mind and soul will reap the health benefits of the natural and free medicine." (1) More importantly, we are all created "in the image of God." Part of that creative genius is laughter! God made people to laugh!
We have events so we can talk to strangers, make them acquaintances, make them friends, make them disciples, baptize them and then teach them "all things commanded."
Besides all that, who doesn't want more friends?
(1) HUFFPOST HEALTHY LIVING, "Why Laughing is Good for Your Health," March 16, 2016
Thesis: The Love of God
conquerors all things including treachery, loathing and unrequited love!
1Introduction
A.The
Four Tops – “Just Ask the Lonely”
When
you feel that need
To make it all alone,
Remember no one is thinking of,
Going alone
Just
ask the lonely
They know the hurt and pain,
Of losing a love, you can never regain
B.Jacob
betrayed Esau at Beersheba
1.Located
75 miles SW of Jerusalem
2.Founded
when Abraham and Abimelech made a covenant regarding the well Abraham had dug
in Genesis 21.
3.The
name means “The Well of the Oath” or “Seven Wells.”
4.Isaac
built an altar of sacrifice there (Genesis 26)
5.Near
here Jacob had his vision of the Stairway to Heaven (Genesis 28)
C.Rebecca
told Jacob to flee to Paddan-aram
1.599
miles from Beersheba
2.Name
means “Field of Aram”
3.Actually
an area in which is located Haran
4.Laban
was Rebecca’s brother and Jacobs uncle
5.Rachael
and Leah were his cousins
D.Jacob
comes under the tent of his uncle Laban
1.Begins
as an extended visit
2.Employment
offered by Laban to Jacob because of kinship
3.The
wages – 7 years of labor in return for Rachael
2The
Treachery of a Father – Genesis 29.15 - 24
A. (We see how Jacob inherited his devious ways!)
B. Laban breaks his covenant with Jacob
C. Laban uses Leah as a bargaining chip to double his money
1. He saw
his daughter as not being valuable because of
Poor eyesight.
2. By his snookering (THE FREE DICTIONARY - To lead(another)into a situation in whichallpossiblechoicesareundesirable;trap.)
he got 7 extra
years of free labor by Using his daughter as a pawn in a business deal.
D. Leah’s father’s treachery must have left her very alone
and very afraid of her future.
1. Once bartered away, women were under 100% control of their
husbands, the father was no longer any factor whatsoever. Leah had no legal rights at all whatsoever.
E. We can hear the sobs and see the tears as her father “high
fives” over his business deal.
3The
Loathing of a Husband – Genesis 29.25 - 30
A. Leah is a trick to Jacob not a lover though she is his
wife
B. Jacob sees Leah as making him a victim
C. Jacob sees Leah as an instrument of deception
D. Jacob is told the “fine print” of the covenant and
realizes he’s been “snookered.” GOTCHA!
E. Jacob spends a week with Leah, not out of love for her but
for the love of her sister!
1. “I’m going through the motions so I can marry your sister
that, UNLIKE YOU, I love!”
F. Leah’s husbands open and notorious loathing of her must
have left her in absolute terror, loneliness and self-hatred.
G. We can hear the sobs and see the tears while Jacob sulks
in the corner over having been out maneuvered by his uncle as he yearns for
Leah’s sister.
4Unrequited
Love – Genesis 29.31 – 34; 30.8
A. Reuben is born – “Now my husband will love me.”
B. Levi is born – “Now this time my husband will be attached
to me because I have born him 3 sons.”
C. Intense competition erupts with her sister who claims
victory over her
D. We can hear the sobs and see the tears as time after time
with each new son the love and affection of Jacob elude her.
5. Love Conquerors All! – Genesis 29.35ff
A.
A progression of faith in God – HER TRUE FRIEND AND HELPER
1) 29.31 – The Lord came to her rescue when HE saw she was
hated.
2) 29.32 – “Because the Lord has looked upon my affliction…”
3) 29.33 – “Because the Lord has heard that I am hated…”
4) 29.35 – “THIS TIME I WILL PRAISE THE LORD!”
a)
JOY HAS REPLACED SORROW FOR HER LOVE
IS
NOW FOCUSED ON GOD AND NOT JACOB.
b)
This is the turning point in Leah’s life when
she
ceases crying and begins rejoicing!
5) 30.11 – “Good fortune has come!”
6) 30.13 – “Happy am I!
For women have called me happy.”
7) 30.18 – “God has given me my wages because I gave my
servant to my husband.”
8) 30.20 – “God has endowed me with good endowment…”
6The
Legacy of Leah’s Life
A.With
God’s loving help:
1)Leah,
like Churchill said, “Never, never, never give up!”
2)Leah
did not allow loneliness to defeat her
3)Leah
did not allow treachery to destroy her
4)Leah
never rebelled against her father
5)Leah
never rebelled against her husband
6)Leah
did not allow her loathing husband to cease striving for his love and affection
7)Leah
did not allow jealousy of her sister embitter her
8)Leah
waited on the Lord to hear her case
9)Leah
always sought what was best for her husband
10)Leah
accepted her circumstances
11) Leah gave thanks to God for the
success of others
12)Leah
always gave God the glory
13)Leah
was given two great gifts that continue to bless us today!
a)It
was her son, Judah, that became the savior of the family and the familial
progenitor of the Lord Jesus Christ!
b)She
received the highest commendation of those who lived centuries later:
1.“Then
all the people who were at the gate and the elders said; “We are
witnesses. May the LORD make the woman,
who is coming into your house, like Rachael and LEAH, who TOGETHER built up the
house of Israel…” – Ruth 4.11a
7Leah
Challenges Us This Morning:
A. To know that when God is for us, no one can be against us
B. To realize that surrender to our circumstances is not an
option
C. To understand that suffering is not failure
D. To know that treachery is never final
E. To realize that every person has at least one other person
in life who loathes them
F. To understand that getting “snookered” is not a reflection
on me
G. To give God Thanks for every circumstance
H. To give God all the praise and glory for all achievements
I. To understand that a small faith can grow great
J. To grasp the fact that family is greater than all
possessions
k. To willingly rejoice with the success of our adversaries
l. To realize that rebellion against God, parents or spouses
is never an option
m. To come to grasp with the fact that true happiness is
found ONLY in God and nowhere else!
1. “I have
come to give you life and life more abundantly!”
n. To “Never, never, never give up!”
8“The
Gospel Call”
·My fifth great uncle was Hugh Gaston who was
rector at the Ballywillan Presbyterian Church (pictured above left) in County
Antrim, Ulster Plantation (Northern Ireland) and wrote the most dangerous book
of his time; Gaston’s Collections. It
allowed “the ploughman to know more Bible than his clergyman.” Hugh fled to South Carolina where he died
prematurely of the measles. He is buried
just one hour south of Charlotte in Chester County, S.C. in “Burnt Meeting
House Cemetery.” Uncle Hugh continues
to inspire my ministry to this very day.
You can read more about Uncle Hugh here: http://www.ballywillanpci.org/rev-hugh-gaston
Ruins photo courtesy of:
ballywillanpci.org.
·On Friday night, August 5, 2016 Russ will
dramatically portray the life and times of his 5th Great
grandfather, John “Justice” Gaston entitled; “A Patriot of the Revolution.” A
portion of the event will cover also the life and times of his brother, Hugh
Gaston. The event will take place at the
Archdale church of Christ, 2525 Archdale Drive, Charlotte, NC 28210 at 7
p.m. The public is invited to this free
presentation.
Thesis: Being first compassionate and thankful, we
then can be sent away by Jesus.
1Introduction
A. “Good morning, Mr. Phelps.
Your mission, Jim, should you choose to accept it is to …. As always should any member of your IMF force
be captured or killed, the secretary will disavow all knowledge of your
actions. This tape will self-destruct in 5 seconds. Good luck, Jim.”
B. Being sent on a
mission is often fraught with danger, uncertainty and the possibility of
failure.
C. Work, preparation
and risk are required for the mission.
D. ARE WE READY TO ACCEPT?
E. Mark is all about action!
1) Action
is described by VERBS.
a.
The action verbs in this passage:
*
Have
*
Gave
*
Sent
2JESUS
HAD COMPASSION – 8.1 - 3
A.In
order to have compassion like Christ one must pray for it
1. (Jas 1:5 - 8) If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God,
who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting,
for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by
the wind. For that person must not
suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man,
unstable in all his ways.
B. In order to have compassion like Christ one must observe
others for good
1. (Mat 25:34 – 40)
Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed
by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the
world. For I was hungry and you gave me
food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed
me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in
prison and you came to me.' Then the
righteous will answer him, saying, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed
you, or thirsty and give you drink? And
when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? And
when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you? And the King will answer them, 'Truly, I say
to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to
me.'
C. In order to have
compassion like Christ we must draw a true and righteous comparison.
1. Compassion is the opposite of vanity, arrogance, pride,
haughtiness and condescension.
a. INSTEAD OF LOOKING DOWN YOUR NOSE AT YOUR NEIGHBOR, LOOK
UP YOUR NOSE TO OUR SAVIOR ON THE CROSS.
3JESUS
GAVE THANKS – 8.4 – 7
A.In
order to be thankful like Jesus we must pray for it
1.Prayer
for Christ was more than a recital, it was a continuous conversation.
2.Prayer
for us should be the rule, not the exception
B.In
order to be thankful like Jesus we must pray as individuals
1. (Col 3:15) And let the peace of Christ rule in your
hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful.
C. In order to be thankful like Jesus we
must pray collectively
2. (Col 3.16) Let the word of Christ
dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom,
singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts
to God.
4JESUS
SENT THEM AWAY – 8.8 - 9
A.In
order to be sent away by Christ on our mission we must understand the prime
directive of being sent away:
1. (Mic 6:8) He has told you, O man, what is good; and
what does the LORD require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and
to walk humbly with your God?
a.
We must do justice
1) Dr. King’s plea of “judgement on the content of character”
is justice
2) “Doing justice” is treating everyone the same, the “same”
being your very best
b.
We must love kindness
1) (Col 3:11 - 13)
Here there is not Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised,
barbarian, Scythian, slave, free; but Christ is all, and in all. Put on then,
as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness,
humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a
complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you,
so you also must forgive.
5The
Meaning of the Text
A. Individually and collectively, we have been sent on a
mission
B. In order to accept that mission we must first be
compassionate
C. In order to accept that mission we must be thankful
6The
Challenge of the Text
A. Will we “accept the mission?”
B. Will I be compassionate?
C. Will I be thankful?
7“The
Gospel Call”
·My fifth great uncle was Hugh Gaston who was
rector at the Ballywillan Presbyterian Church (pictured above left) in County
Antrim, Ulster Plantation (Northern Ireland) and wrote the most dangerous book
of his time; Gaston’s Collections. It
allowed “the ploughman to know more Bible than his clergyman.” Hugh fled to South Carolina where he died
prematurely of the measles. He is buried
just one hour south of Charlotte in Chester County, S.C. in “Burnt Meeting
House Cemetery.” Uncle Hugh continues
to inspire my ministry to this very day.
You can read more about Uncle Hugh here: http://www.ballywillanpci.org/rev-hugh-gaston
Ruins photo courtesy of:
ballywillanpci.org.
·On Friday night, August 5, 2016 Russ will
dramatically portray the life and times of his 5th Great
grandfather, John “Justice” Gaston entitled; “A Patriot of the Revolution.” A
portion of the event will cover also the life and times of his brother, Hugh
Gaston. The event will take place at the
Archdale church of Christ, 2525 Archdale Drive, Charlotte, NC 28210 at 7
p.m. The public is invited to this free
presentation.
