VIDEO: 7-12-20 Sermon "WE ARE THE CHURCH: Where the Kingdom is priority"

As we worship together "from house to house," we make worship a priority.  While we could find many other things to do during this time, we choose to worship our God.

As you gather together this Sunday in our own home, we invite you to sing along with the worship videos.  We encourage you to take the Lord’s Supper.  In this way, we can take communion together even though we are apart.  Pray for one another.  Watch my message WE ARE THE CHURCH: Where the Kingdom is priority.  Respond to the invitation.  Enjoy the bonus video.

WORSHIP

COMMUNION

Read 1 Corinthians 11:24 (NIV), "And when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, 'This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me."  Here is a possible communion prayer to say before you take the bread and the juice, "Father, as your son commanded us to "do this," we take these emblems, the cup and the bread, out of obedience to you.  We humble ourselves to do those things you have commanded.  Let this communion be a reminder for the rest of the week of devotion to your commands.  In Jesus' name, amen."

Take the Lord's Supper.

PRAYER

Pray for your personal priorities.  Pray that they might be sanctified by the Holy Spirit and become the priorities of your Heavenly Father.  Pray for the power to live according His Kingdom and righteousness.

MESSAGE

“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life? “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭6:25-34‬ ‭NIV‬‬

CHALLENGE

What is your highest priority? Rank the five most important things in your life (What takes the most time, money, energy, focus, etc.) from 1 to 5 (5 is the highest). Circle where God’s Kingdom and righteousness rank. Consider what it would take to move God’s concerns to number 5 if they are not there already. Do what it takes to get your priorities in order.

INVITATION

It is our custom to offer an "invitation" following the preaching of the Word at Kenwood Church.  You may want to follow Jesus.  You may want to proclaim your faith.  You may want to repent (stop doing ungodly things and start doing Godly things).  Perhaps you want to be baptized for the forgiveness of your sins and receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.  If you have been moved by the Holy Spirit to make a decision in your life, I encourage you to speak with me via phone (248-476-8222) or an email (toddlackie@kenwoodchurch.org).  I would be honored to speak with you about what God is doing in your life and try to connect you with a community of faith in your area.

Bonus Video

WE ARE THE CHURCH: Where the Kingdom is priority (Matthew 6:25-34) Sermon Outline (a blog post for a video sermon for Kenwood Church in Livonia, MI, on July 12, 2020)

WE ARE THE CHURCH: Where the Kingdom is priority (Matthew 6:25-34) - July 12, 2020

INTRODUCTION‬

We are the church where the Kingdom is priority.

In recent years a head coach divorced his wife of 26 years when he left coaching a college team to become head coach in the National Football League. He said he needed a wife while coaching on the college level for social functions and to show families that he would be looking out for their sons. In pro football, however, she was an unnecessary accouterment and a distraction to winning. He said winning football was his number one priority and his two sons second. How tragic! 

In contrast to this, Tom Landry, former coach of the Dallas cowboys said, "The thrill of knowing Jesus is the greatest thing that ever happened to me ... I think God has put me in a very special place, and He expects me to use it to His glory in everything I do ... whether coaching football or talking to the press, I'm always a Christian ... Christ is first, family second and football third.

“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life? “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭6:25-34‬ ‭NIV‬‬

I. THE CONCERNS OF LIFE ARE NOT OUR CONCERNS

A. Provision

1. What shall we eat?

2. What shall we drink?

3. What shall we wear?

B. Worry

C. Faith

1. Fundamentally faith is trust.

2. Belief that does not trust is not faith.

II. OUR CONCERNS ARE HIS CONCERNS

Over the triple doorways of the cathedral of Milan there are three inscriptions spanning the splendid arches. Over one is carved a beautiful wreath of roses, and underneath it is the legend, "All that which pleases is but for a moment."

Over the other is sculptured a cross, and there are the words, "All that which troubles us is but for a moment."

But underneath the great central entrance to the main aisle is the inscription, "That only is important which is eternal."

If we always realize these three truths, we will not let trifles trouble us, not be interested so much in the passing pleasures of the hour. We should live for the permanent and the eternal.

A. He is lord.

1. LORD GOD

a. Hebrew

b. YHWH - Yehweh - Tetragrammaton

c. “I am that I am”

2. Lord

a. Greek

b. Kyrios

c. “Master”

B. He is provider.

1. Jehovah-Jireh = The LORD who provides

“And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.”

‭‭Philippians‬ ‭4:19‬ ‭NIV‬‬

C. He is enough.

“For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name. I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.”

‭‭ Ephesians‬ ‭3:14-21‬ ‭NIV‬‬

III. OUR PRIORITY IS HIS PRIORITY

Haddon Robinson points out that one old recipe for rabbit started out with this injunction: "First catch the rabbit." Says Robinson: "The writer knew how to put first things first. That's what we do when we establish priorities -- we put the things that should be in first place in their proper order.

A. His Kingdom

1. The rule of Jesus Christ on earth

2. The blessing and advantages that flow from living under Christ’s rule.

3. The subjects of this kingdom, or the church

“From that time on Jesus began to preach, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.””

‭‭ Matthew‬ ‭4:17‬ ‭NIV‬‬

B. His righteousness

“God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.”

‭‭ 2 Corinthians‬ ‭5:21‬ ‭NIV‬‬

C. The interconnectedness of His Kingdom and His righteousness.

““Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom. Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will never fail, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

‭‭ Luke‬ ‭12:32-34‬ ‭NIV‬‬

CHALLENGE

What is your highest priority? Rank the five most important things in your life (What takes the most time, money, energy, focus, etc.) from 1 to 5 (5 is the highest). Circle where God’s Kingdom and righteousness rank. Consider what it would take to move God’s concerns to number 5 if they are not there already. Do what it takes to get your priorities in order.

INVITATION

It is our custom to offer an "invitation" following the preaching of the Word. You may want to follow Jesus. You may want to proclaim your faith. You may want to repent (stop doing ungodly things and start doing Godly things). Perhaps you want to be baptized for the forgiveness of your sins and receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. If you have been moved by the Holy Spirit to make a decision in your life, I would be honored to speak with you in the upper parking lot following the service about what God is doing in your life.

VIDEO: 7-5-20 Sermon "WE ARE THE CHURCH: Where God is present"

As we worship together "from house to house," we celebrate a legacy of freedom.  As you freed the slaves in Egypt, you have set us all free from the slavery of sin.  The truth of our freedom in Christ is greater than any freedom we may have in this life today.  One day we will be set free and be with our Father forever and ever.

As you gather together this Sunday in our own home, we invite you to sing along with the worship videos.  We encourage you to take the Lord’s Supper.  In this way, we can take communion together even though we are apart.  Pray for one another.  Watch my message WE ARE THE CHURCH: Where God is present.  Respond to the invitation.  Enjoy the bonus video.

WORSHIP

COMMUNION

ReadJohn 8:36 New International Version (NIV) "So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed."  Here is a possible communion prayer to say before you take the bread and the juice, "Father, as we wonder in the freedom we have in this nation, we are more amazed by the freedom we have in Christ.  We are grateful that we are free through Christ's sacrifice.  In Jesus' name, amen."

Take the Lord's Supper.

PRAYER

Pray for our nation as we face the scourge of a global pandemic.  Pray for our citizenry as we struggle with the freedom that is ours.  Pray for us that we might be "One nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all."

MESSAGE

“For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.”

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭18:20‬ ‭NIV‬

CHALLENGE

As the “bride of Christ,” choose one way to demonstrate your love for Christ this week and do it. As the “body of Christ,” choose one way to demonstrate the life of Christ in your world this week and do it. Write these actions down and circle the one that feels more natural to you: “bride of Christ” or “body of Christ.”

INVITATION

It is our custom to offer an "invitation" following the preaching of the Word at Kenwood Church.  You may want to follow Jesus.  You may want to proclaim your faith.  You may want to repent (stop doing ungodly things and start doing Godly things).  Perhaps you want to be baptized for the forgiveness of your sins and receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.  If you have been moved by the Holy Spirit to make a decision in your life, I encourage you to speak with me via phone (248-476-8222) or an email (toddlackie@kenwoodchurch.org).  I would be honored to speak with you about what God is doing in your life and try to connect you with a community of faith in your area.

Bonus Video

WE ARE THE CHURCH: Where God is present (Matthew 18:20) Sermon Outline (a blog post for a video sermon for Kenwood Church in Livonia, MI, on July 5, 2020)

WE ARE THE CHURCH: Where God is present (Matthew 18:20) - July 5, 2020

INTRODUCTION‬

When it was built for an international exposition in the last century, the structure was called monstrous by the citizens of the city, who demanded it be torn down as soon as the exposition was over. Yet from the moment its architect first conceived it, he took pride in it and loyally defended it from those who wished to destroy it. He knew it was destined for greatness. Today it is one of the architectural wonders of the modern world and stands as the primary landmark of Paris, France. The architect, of course, was Alexandre Gustave Eiffel. His famous tower was built in in 1889.

In the same way we are struck by Jesus' loyalty to another structure--the church--which he entrusted to an unlikely band of disciples, whom he defended, prayed for, and prepared to spread the gospel. To outsiders they (and we) must seem like incapable blunderers. But Jesus, the architect of the church, knows this structure is destined for greatness when he returns. 

John Berstecher

“And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.”

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭16:18‬ ‭NIV‬

Church is used 116 times in the New Testament‬

We are the church where God is present with us.

“For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.”

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭18:20‬ ‭NIV‬

I. JESUS’ PROMISE

“Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭28:16-20‬ ‭NIV‬‬

A. “I am with you always”

B. “To the very end of the age”

II. OUR GATHERING

• Lutherans. “A congregation of saints in which the gospel is rightly taught and the Sacraments are rightly administered” (Augsburg Confession, art. 7).
• Anglicans. “A congregation of faithful men in which the pure Word of God is preached and the sacraments be duly ministered” (Thirty-Nine Articles, art. 19).
• Presbyterians. “Those . . . that profess true religion; and . . . their children” in “particular churches, which are . . . more or less pure, according as the doctrine of the gospel is taught and embraced, ordinances administered, and public worship performed” (Westminster Confession of Faith, 25.2, 4).
• Baptists. “A company of visible saints, called and separated from the world, by the Word and the Spirit of God, to the visible profession of the faith of the gospel, being baptized into the faith, and joined to the Lord, and each other, by mutual agreement, in the practical enjoyment of the ordinances” (1644 London Baptist Confession, art. 33).

A. The Church

1. Ekklesia - “called out ones”

2. Church from the Germanic Kirk (church or cathedral) which is from Koine Greek Kuriakon doma (Lord’s house)

3. The invisible Kingdom of God on earth

4. All of the saved of God

B. Our church

1. Local gathering

2. Portion of the Body of Christ

III. HIS CHURCH

A. The bride of Christ

“Let us rejoice and be glad and give him glory! For the wedding of the Lamb has come, and his bride has made herself ready. Fine linen, bright and clean, was given her to wear.” (Fine linen stands for the righteous acts of God’s holy people.) Then the angel said to me, “Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding supper of the Lamb!” And he added, “These are the true words of God.””

‭‭Revelation‬ ‭19:7-9‬ ‭NIV‬‬

1. We are His beloved

2. We love Him

B. The body of Christ

“Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.”

‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭12:27‬ ‭NIV‬‬

“There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.”

‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭4:4-6‬ ‭NIV‬‬

“From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.”

‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭4:16‬ ‭NIV‬‬

“The church is the only cooperative society in the world that exists for the benefit of its non-members.”

William Temple

1. The hands and feet of Christ

2. The visible presence of Jesus in the world

CHALLENGE

As the “bride of Christ,” choose one way to demonstrate your love for Christ this week and do it. As the “body of Christ,” choose one way to demonstrate the life of Christ in your world this week and do it. Write these actions down and circle the one that feels more natural to you: “bride of Christ” or “body of Christ.”

INVITATION

It is our custom to offer an "invitation" following the preaching of the Word. You may want to follow Jesus. You may want to proclaim your faith. You may want to repent (stop doing ungodly things and start doing Godly things). Perhaps you want to be baptized for the forgiveness of your sins and receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. If you have been moved by the Holy Spirit to make a decision in your life, I would be honored to speak with you in the upper parking lot following the service about what God is doing in your life.

VIDEO: 6-28-20 Sermon "RADICAL FAITH: Faith perfects us”

As we worship together "from house to house," thank God for the opportunity to lift up His name.  Consider the privilege we have.  We can come before the King of the universe with all our flaws and frailties.  We are allowed in the throne room of the King.  We are allowed in His presence.  

As you gather together this Sunday in our own home, we invite you to sing along with the worship videos.  We encourage you to take the Lord’s Supper.  In this way, we can take communion together even though we are apart.  Pray for one another.  Watch my message about Radical Faith.  Accept the challenge to allow faith to perfect us.  Respond to the invitation.  Enjoy the bonus video.

WORSHIP

COMMUNION

Read John 15:5, "I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.“. Here is a possible communion prayer to say before you take the bread and the juice, "Father, as Christ is the vine from which the blood flowed that gives me life, I remain in Him.  As I drink the cup and eat the bread, I am sustained by the nourishment that is mine through the sacrifice of His body.  As I remember His death until He returns, I remember that apart from Him I can do nothing.  Bear fruit in my life.  In Jesus' name, amen."

Take the Lord's Supper.

PRAYER

Pray for us as a body.  As we begin to connect again, may our God grant us strength, courage, compassion,  devotion, vision, and understanding.  

MESSAGE

“And what more shall I say? I do not have time to tell about Gideon, Barak, Samson and Jephthah, about David and Samuel and the prophets, who through faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, and gained what was promised; who shut the mouths of lions, quenched the fury of the flames, and escaped the edge of the sword; whose weakness was turned to strength; and who became powerful in battle and routed foreign armies. Women received back their dead, raised to life again. There were others who were tortured, refusing to be released so that they might gain an even better resurrection. Some faced jeers and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment. They were put to death by stoning; they were sawed in two; they were killed by the sword. They went about in sheepskins and goatskins, destitute, persecuted and mistreated— the world was not worthy of them. They wandered in deserts and mountains, living in caves and in holes in the ground. 

These were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised, since God had planned something better for us so that only together with us would they be made perfect.”

‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭11:32-40‬ ‭NIV‬‬

CHALLENGE

What promises of God have not been realized in your life to this point? Write down 3 promises of God that have not been fulfilled yet? How can you support a fellow Christian in remaining faithful? Who will you support this week? Support that person in prayer and in action.

INVITATION

It is our custom to offer an "invitation" following the preaching of the Word at Kenwood Church.  You may want to follow Jesus.  You may want to proclaim your faith.  You may want to repent (stop doing ungodly things and start doing Godly things).  Perhaps you want to be baptized for the forgiveness of your sins and receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.  If you have been moved by the Holy Spirit to make a decision in your life, I encourage you to speak with me via phone (248-476-8222) or an email (toddlackie@kenwoodchurch.org).  I would be honored to speak with you about what God is doing in your life and try to connect you with a community of faith in your area.

Bonus Video

RADICAL FAITH: Faith perfects us - Hebrews 11:32-40 Sermon Outline (a blog post for a video sermon for Kenwood Church in Livonia, MI, on June 28, 2020)

RADICAL FAITH: Faith perfects us (Hebrews 11:32-40) - June 28, 2020

INTRODUCTION

Radical Faith perfects us. Faith may seem like a personal choice, but it is a communal choice. We are all in this together.

“And what more shall I say? I do not have time to tell about Gideon, Barak, Samson and Jephthah, about David and Samuel and the prophets, who through faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, and gained what was promised; who shut the mouths of lions, quenched the fury of the flames, and escaped the edge of the sword; whose weakness was turned to strength; and who became powerful in battle and routed foreign armies. Women received back their dead, raised to life again. There were others who were tortured, refusing to be released so that they might gain an even better resurrection. Some faced jeers and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment. They were put to death by stoning; they were sawed in two; they were killed by the sword. They went about in sheepskins and goatskins, destitute, persecuted and mistreated— the world was not worthy of them. They wandered in deserts and mountains, living in caves and in holes in the ground. 

These were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised, since God had planned something better for us so that only together with us would they be made perfect.”

‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭11:32-40‬ ‭NIV‬‬

I.  FAITH PERSEVERES

“To live by faith is to live joyfully, to live with assurance, untroubled by doubts and with complete confidence in all we have to do and suffer at each moment by the will of God. We must realize that it is in order to stimulate and sustain this faith that God allows the soul to be buffeted and swept away by the raging torrent of so much distress, so many troubles, so much embarrassment and weakness, and so many setbacks. For it is essential to have faith to find God behind all this.” - Jean-Pierre de Caussade, 1675-1751, in Discipleship Journal, issue 40

A. Faith continues through all adversity.

B. Faith continues.

II.  FAITH PERSEVERES WITHOUT RECEIVING WHAT HAD BEEN PROMISED

A man named Smith was sitting on his roof during a flood, and the water was up to his feet. Before long a fellow in a canoe paddled past and shouted, “Can I give you a lift to higher ground?” “No, thanks,” said Smith. “I have faith in the Lord and he will save me.” 

Soon the water rose to Smith’s waist. At this point a motorboat pulled up and someone called out, “Can I give you a lift to higher ground?” “No, thanks. I have faith in the Lord and he will save me.” Later a helicopter flew by, and Smith was now standing on the roof with water up to his neck. “Grab the rope,” yelled the pilot. “I’ll pull you up.” “No, thanks,” said Smith. “I have faith in the Lord and he will save me.”

But after hours of treading water, poor, exhausted Smith drowned and went to his reward. As he arrived at the Pearly Gates, Smith met his maker and complained about this turn of events. “Tell me, Lord,” he said, “I had such faith in you to save me and you let me down. What happened?” To which the Lord replied, “What do you want from me? I sent you two boats and a helicopter!”

A. Faith as a means to achieve is not faith.

B. Faith as a means to receive is not faith.

C. Faith as a means to self-fulfillment is not faith.

III.  FAITH PERFECTS

A. We are not “plan B;” we are the fulfillment of the plan.

B. We are perfected together.

C. Faith is always communal.

“He is the author and perfecter of our faith.”

“On April 30, 1976 Evelyn Mooers attached a rappelling rope to a drain pipe grating on the roof of the Mark Twain South County Bank. Mooers, an experienced climber, had once scaled 14,410-foot Mt. Rainier in Washington state. The rappelling exercise from the bank building would have been routine but for one miscalculation. The drain pipe grating wasn’t anchored.

Numerous bank officials and their friends watched as Mooers plummeted to her death. Her faith in the grating was fatally misplaced.” - Today in the Word, May, 1990, MBI, p. 16

Faith in Jesus is our only hope.

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.”

‭‭John‬ ‭3:16-17‬ ‭NIV‬‬

“Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.””

‭‭Acts‬ ‭4:12‬ ‭NIV‬‬

“For there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all people.”

‭‭1 Timothy‬ ‭2:5-6‬a ‭NIV‬‬

CHALLENGE

What promises of God have not been realized in your life to this point? Write down 3 promises of God that have not been fulfilled yet? How can you support a fellow Christian in remaining faithful? Who will you support this week? Support that person in prayer and in action.

VIDEO: 6-21-20 Sermon "RADICAL FAITH: Faith changes our reality"

As we worship together "from house to house," we proclaim the glory of God whether we are in our building in our cars in the church parking lot or inside our homes.  We give honor to our King.  We worship Him as the Lord of all.  

As you gather together this Sunday in our own home, we invite you to sing along with the worship videos.  We encourage you to take the Lord’s Supper.  In this way, we can take communion together even though we are apart.  Pray for one another.  Watch my message about Radical Faith.  Accept the challenge to allow faith to change your reality.  Respond to the invitation.  Enjoy the bonus video.

WORSHIP

COMMUNION

Read Acts 2:42 NIV, "They devoted themselves to the apostle's teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer."  Here is a possible communion prayer to say before you take the bread and the juice, "Father, might we be devoted to your Word, one another, communion, and prayer like the early church.  Might we demonstrate that devotion by our focus and dedication as we take the Lord's supper.  Strengthen our devotion.  In Jesus' name, amen."

Take the Lord's Supper.

PRAYER

Pray for one another.  As the early church prayed, we see many examples in the New Testament of the believers praying for one another.  Pray for devotion, health, holiness, courage, perseverance, joy, peace, and fervor.  Pray for the fruit of the Spirit - love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.  Pray for revival.

MESSAGE

“By faith the prostitute Rahab, because she welcomed the spies, 

was not killed with those who were disobedient.”

‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭11:31‬ ‭NIV‬‬

CHALLENGE

Write down in a column 4 ways you have changed because of your faith. Write down 4 things that still need to change because of your faith in another column. Write down the difference between the 2 columns in the space between the columns. Determine actions that will move the second column into the first. Pray for the active faith that demonstrates that we are changed. 

INVITATION

It is our custom to offer an "invitation" following the preaching of the Word at Kenwood Church.  You may want to follow Jesus.  You may want to proclaim your faith.  You may want to repent (stop doing ungodly things and start doing Godly things).  Perhaps you want to be baptized for the forgiveness of your sins and receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.  If you have been moved by the Holy Spirit to make a decision in your life, I encourage you to speak with me via phone (248-476-8222) or an email (toddlackie@kenwoodchurch.org).  I would be honored to speak with you about what God is doing in your life and try to connect you with a community of faith in your area.

Bonus Video