Today we continue “Who We Welcome and Why”...

     ...John 14:23 (NKJV) “Jesus answered and said to him, "If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him.” Today we will look at welcoming God the Father into our lives and into His church. Pastor, you just said it is Jesus’s church, is it His church or the Father’s church and the answer is yes. You cannot separate God the Father, Jesus the Son, or Holy Spirit because they are One. The Godhead is showing us, His church, His people, His sheep, His disciples how important it is for all of us to be One like they are One. Listen to Jesus beautiful prayer about unity.

1. We Welcome the Father Because He Always Exalts the Son. Matthew 3:17 (NIV) And a voice from heaven said, "This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased." The Father always exalts the Son. "This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased." We always want to welcome the Father because He exalts and magnifies the Son. We should magnify the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

2. We Welcome the Father Because Our Prayers Are Directed to Him. John 15:16 (NKJV) “You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My Name He may give you.” What a privilege to pray to our Heavenly Father and what a privilege pray in His Son’s Name…Jesus. Our Heavenly Father wants us to cry out to Him and trust Him. We welcome Him and we pray to Him because He can fill gaps not even family can fill. My family is so dysfunctional and messed up. 

3. We Welcome the Father and We Direct Our Worship to Him. Watch these verses showing us to be dependent on Holy Spirit, directing our ministry we perform toward the Lord Jesus Christ, and giving thanks (worship) to the Father. We must worship and welcome our loving Father. Ephesians 5:18&20 (NLT2) “Don’t be drunk with wine, because that will ruin your life. Instead, be filled with the Holy Spirit, And give thanks for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.” Psalm 89:26 (NLT2) “And he will call out to me, ‘You are my Father, my God, and the Rock of my salvation.’ Welcome Him, worship Him and be thankful for Him. Our heavenly Father deserves our total devotion. Colossians 3:17 (NKJV) “And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.” Life Church, I exhort you to always acknowledge and welcome our Heavenly Father. 

--Happy Resurrection Sunday! Today we want You to See a Victory!...

 ...Luke 24:1-7 (NKJV) “Now on the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they, and certain other women with them, came to the tomb bringing the spices which they had prepared. But they found the stone rolled away from the tomb. Then they went in and did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. And it happened, as they were greatly perplexed about this, that behold, two men stood by them in shining garments. Then, as they were afraid and bowed their faces to the earth, they said to them, "Why do you seek the living among the dead? He is not here, but is risen! Remember how He spoke to you when He was still in Galilee, saying, 'The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again.' " 

1. To See a Victory You Must Believe Jesus Came and Died to Identify with Us. Hebrews 2:17-18 (NLT2)
^“Therefore, it was necessary for him to be made in every respect like us, his brothers and sisters, so that he could be our merciful and faithful High Priest before God. Then he could offer a sacrifice that would take away the sins of the people. Since he himself has gone through suffering and testing, he is able to help us when we are being tested.” He became like us in every way so we could See a Victory. A victory of salvation and healing.

2. To See a Victory You Must Believe Jesus Rose from the Dead. Everything in our faith hinges on the fact that Jesus died, was buried, and that He rose from the dead.  1Cor. 15:17 “And if Christ is not risen, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins!” 

3. To See a Victory You Must Receive Him as the Risen Savior. What a beautiful story and a beautiful reality that Jesus loved us so much that He laid down His life for our salvation. Here’s the catch. To see a victory, you must receive Him as Lord and Savior. John 1:12 (NKJV) “But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name.” Today can be your day. To See a Victory, receive Jesus and believe on His Name.

Today, with sadness in out hearts, we honor and send out...

 ...Pastor Bob and Jo Ann Yothers to do the work God has called them to do. Acts 13:2-4 (NLT2) “One day as these men were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Dedicate Barnabas and Saul for the special work to which I have called them.” So after more fasting and prayer, the men laid their hands on them and sent them on their way. So Barnabas and Saul were sent out by the Holy Spirit.” According to the Scriptures the people who are called by God really don’t have a choice except to be obedient. Such is the case with Pastor Bob and Jo Ann.

1. For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable. Irrevocable – binding, irreversible, final, unalterable, unchangeable, permanent, and irretrievable. I trust and believe that Pastor Bob can hear from God and has heard from God so he is answering that call. I definitely admire people who can step out into the unknown and trust God even though they cannot see exactly what lies before them. We definitely want God’s blessings.  

2. Pastor Choco – Obedience comes first and understanding comes later. I am sure that Paul (Saul) and Barnabas had no idea what was ahead of them when Holy Spirit said, “Dedicate Barnabas and Saul for the special work to which I have called them.” Literally when Pastor Bob came to my office he quoted Pastor Choco, “Obedience comes first and understanding comes later.” Obedience should always be the first step. John 15:10 (NLT2) “When you obey my commandments, you remain in my love, just as I obey my Father’s commandments and remain in his love.” 

3. We welcome Pastor Bob and Jo Ann to follow God’s calling. When someone I trust tells me God is calling them elsewhere, I only have one response. That is to believe they have heard from God and bless them in the process. Today we are blessing them with an offering and with a severance package to help them fulfill what God has lead them to do. In situations like this God always gives us a choice: Deut. 30:19-20 (NLT2) “Today I have given you the choice between life and death, between blessings and curses. Now I call on heaven and earth to witness the choice you make. Oh, that you would choose life, so that you and your descendants might live! You can make this choice by loving the LORD your God, obeying him, and committing yourself firmly to him. This is the key to your life. And if you love and obey the LORD, you will live long in the land the LORD swore to give your ancestors Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.” We choose life, blessings, and obedience for Pastor Bob and Jo Ann. As with Paul and Barnabas they laid hands on them, prayed for them, and sent them out with Holy Spirit. We do the same.

Today we begin a new series that has been stirring...

  ...in my heart for a long time. Who We Welcome and Why. If you have been coming to Life Church for any time at all you know we welcome Holy Spirit. During this series we will look at welcoming Jesus, welcoming God the Father, welcoming Holy Spirit, welcoming the lost and hurting, and welcoming other believers. May add others. Who we welcome and why in our church and in our lives will greatly define who we are and where we are going. It will help define our vision and purpose for the Lord. Today we look at welcoming Jesus Christ, the Son of the Living God. John 2:1-2 (NLT2) “The next day there was a wedding celebration in the village of Cana in Galilee. Jesus’ mother was there, and Jesus and his disciples were also invited to the celebration.”

1. Welcome Jesus to a Wedding. Think about this…there was a wedding in Cana in Galilee. Not a church service, not a conference, not a prayer meeting, a wedding celebration. Do you just suppose that this is simply saying to us that Jesus should be welcomed or invited to whatever we are doing with our lives? When we have received Jesus as Lord and Savior we have a promise from Him…He says, “I promise you… I promise you I will never leave you and I will never forsake you.” He is our helper. We welcome Jesus because He is the One constant in our lives in whom we can depend on all the time. You can’t say that about anyone else.

2. A Miracle in the House. John 2:3-5 (NLT2) “The wine supply ran out during the festivities, so Jesus’ mother told him, “They have no more wine.” “Dear woman, that’s not our problem,” Jesus replied. “My time has not yet come.” But his mother told the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.” Think about this, the first miracle that happened in the life of Jesus and at the beginning of His ministry was simply because He was invited to an event. Could it be that one of the reasons we do not see more miracles is because we do not invite Jesus, we do not welcome Jesus into whatever we are doing?

3. I Stand at the Door. Revelation 3:20 (NKJV)  “Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me.” We often use verse 20 for someone to receive Christ and that’s ok but keep it in context. Jesus is standing at the door of the church, He gave His life for, waiting for a welcome or invitation to come in. How sad. Shouldn’t Jesus always be welcomed in His Church. Sadly, He is not. Our programs, platforms, and prejudices keep Him out. He’s knocking! Let Him in! Welcome Him!

Today we end our series, “Let’s Lose Some Weight”...

  ...and today we will be discussing how we have to die to live. Hebrews 12:1-3 (NKJV) “looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” You have to die to live. Pastor Rick, we don’t even like the way that sounds. It sounds like we have to be sacrificial and willing to endure pain and suffering. Exactly. Being a Christian or being a disciple of Jesus Christ all comes down to choices doesn’t it? We die to live. If you are going to lose some weight or become a true disciple of Jesus Christ it will happen because you have made the tough choices to die to yourself. Do you really want to be a disciple?

1. What the Apostle Paul said about dying to live. I believe one of the most profound things that Paul said about living a disciplined and sacrificial life can be summed up in this simple verse: 1 Corinthians 15:31 (NIV) “I die every day--I mean that, brothers--just as surely as I glory over you in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Here we find in scripture a truth that can help us be a true disciple of Jesus Christ. What is needed in our lives and what is needed in our church is not event oriented programs but is a lifestyle change!

2. What Jesus said about dying to live. If you think the Apostle Paul was tough about dying daily, there is a really good chance that you will not want to hear what Jesus had to say. Mark 8:34-35 (NKJV) “When He had called the people to Himself, with His disciples also, He said to them, "Whoever desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel's will save it.” The words to verse 35 blow my mind when it comes to dying to ourselves…For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel's will save it. Just living for yourself you become a dead man walking but dying to yourself, denying yourself, and following Jesus, you find what living is all about. 

3. Let’s Lose Some Weight…let’s die to ourselves. We are surrounded by people every day who are witnesses of us living a sacrificial life or watching us take care of number one. Our family is watching and everywhere we go people are watching. To be a true disciple of Jesus you have to die daily, you have to deny yourself, take up your cross, and you have to follow Jesus. Come on, Life Church! Let’s Lose Some Weight!

Today let’s look at this phrase in our text...

 ...we have been using for the last couple of months: Hebrews 12:1(NKJV)  “let us lay aside every weight.” Today I want us really think about the phrase “let us lay aside every weight”. We will be looking at one of Paul’s amazing adventures and how God came through for him. In Acts 27, as Paul was being transported by ship as a prisoner to Rome, a great storm arises and was so great that death to the almost 300 souls on board was imminent. Life Church, I cannot promise you things will not get worse than they are now but I can tell you that you can trust the God we serve. 

1. When All Hope is Lost.

--Have you ever been there? Things are bad and you cry out to God and they get worse. It appears the enemy has you bound, tied up, and on your way for more trouble. Now you are in the storm of your life. It could not get worse but it does. You’re cold, hungry, and fearful. Please never forget God’s way may be in the sea. Say what? The will of God may be thru turbulent waters and a rough sea. What seems like it might kill you may be salvation for you or someone else. Psalm 77:19 (NKJV) ^“Your way was in the sea, Your path in the great waters.” I know you will be surprised by this but I see missions in this story. His way, His will may be through the sea so that people can hear the gospel for the first time.

2. Unusual Kindness, a Fire, and Being Welcomed. Acts 28:2 (NKJV) “And the natives showed us unusual kindness; for they kindled a fire and made us all welcome, because of the rain that was falling and because of the cold.” The natives kindled a fire – after everything they had been through in the sea, these prisoners needed a warm place. Don’t you think people need church to be a warm place. The natives made them feel welcome. Do you have the kind of spirit that makes people feel welcome or are you the kind of person who pushes people away? The natives showed them unusual kindness. I love what this is saying. They showed up uninvited and left debris all along their shore line but they treated them with unusual kindness. People are used to being treated rude and disrespectful by the world. Do you just believe if we treat everyone with unusual kindness, we might be able to lead them to Christ?

3. Shake It Off! Paul was gathering sticks for the fire and a viper fastened on to him. What did he do? Panic? Die? No, he shook it off into the fire! Our God is a consuming fire. Whatever has fastened onto you, shake it off into the fire! Lay aside every weight! Shake it off into the fire! Shake it off, Life Church!

Today we will be talking about “What you looking at?”...

...Hebrews 12:1-2 (NKJV)   ^“Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” 

1. Look at the Fields. John 4:34-35 (NLT2) ^“Then Jesus explained: “My nourishment comes from doing the will of God, who sent me, and from finishing his work. You know the saying, ‘Four months between planting and harvest.’ But I say, wake up and look around. The fields are already ripe for harvest. What is our nourishment, what stirs us to action, what is our motivation in the Kingdom of God, what do we perceive to be the will of God? I hope it is the Great Commission. For weeks I have desperately tried to communicate with you the passion of God the Father and Jesus Christ is reaching this lost world with the good news that Jesus saves. 

2. Look out for the Good of Others. Philippians 2:3-4 (NIV) ^“Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.” Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. Stop being self-centered. Your relationship with Jesus was never meant to be a private thing. Every knee should bow and every tongue should confess that Jesus is Lord…not because they are forced to on judgment day but because we have reached out to them personally and thru missions.

3. Look to Jesus. Hebrews 12:1-2 (NKJV. Looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. You will never get missions or evangelism on your own. Look to Jesus. For the joy set before Him He endured the cross despising its shame…He went thru torture, crucifixion, humiliation, shame, and pain for joy. What Joy? Jesus went thru all that for us so He could do the will of the Father and so that He could win the lost (to finish His work). 1 Timothy 1:15 (NKJV) ^“This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief.” What you looking at, Church?