Wednesday, December 28, 2016

FROM MEMBER TO MINISTER - A New Series Supported by David Platt's "Follow Me" (a blogpost for a sermon to be preached at Kenwood Church in Livonia, MI, on January 1, 2017)

As we take a deep dive into personal ministry at the beginning of 2017, I am going to challenge us all to look at our status as "members" of Kenwood as second to our position as "ministers" in the Kingdom."  While "membership has its privileges," we have all been called to minister within our calling as part of the body of Christ.  

Remember the words of Jesus in Matthew 28:18-20:

18 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 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, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

New International Version (NIV)Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
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Monday, December 19, 2016

THE DAYS AFTER CHRISTMAS - Matthew 2:1-18 (a blogpost for a sermon to be preached at Kenwood Church in Livonia, MI, on December 25, 2016)

The Magi Visit the Messiah

After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi[a] from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.”
When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him. When he had called together all the people’s chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Messiah was to be born.“In Bethlehem in Judea,” they replied, “for this is what the prophet has written:
“‘But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,
    are by no means least among the rulers of Judah;
for out of you will come a ruler
    who will shepherd my people Israel.’[b]
Then Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared. He sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search carefully for the child. As soon as you find him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship him.”
After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen when it rose went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. 10 When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. 11 On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh.12 And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route.

The Escape to Egypt

13 When they had gone, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream. “Get up,” he said, “take the child and his mother and escape to Egypt. Stay there until I tell you, for Herod is going to search for the child to kill him.”
14 So he got up, took the child and his mother during the night and left for Egypt, 15 where he stayed until the death of Herod. And so was fulfilledwhat the Lord had said through the prophet: “Out of Egypt I called my son.”[c]
16 When Herod realized that he had been outwitted by the Magi, he was furious, and he gave orders to kill all the boys in Bethlehem and its vicinity who were two years old and under, in accordance with the time he had learned from the Magi. 17 Then what was said through the prophet Jeremiah was fulfilled:
18 “A voice is heard in Ramah,
    weeping and great mourning,
Rachel weeping for her children
    and refusing to be comforted,
    because they are no more.”[d]

Footnotes:

  1. Matthew 2:1 Traditionally wise men
  2. Matthew 2:6 Micah 5:2,4
  3. Matthew 2:15 Hosea 11:1
  4. Matthew 2:18 Jer. 31:15
New International Version (NIV)
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Friday, December 16, 2016

THE JOYS OF CHRISTMAS - What are your greatest joys? (a blogpost for a sermon to be preached at Kenwood Church in Livonia, MI, on December 18, 2016)

When I was in 4th or 5th grade, I received a castle complete with soldiers, a dragon, and a dungeon.  I used to love church programs at Christmas.  I like singing Christmas carols.  I enjoy the sight of the Christmas tree lit up in the living room.

What joys have been yours at Christmas time?

Thursday, December 15, 2016

THE JOYS OF CHRISTMAS - Hearing the Good News (a blogpost for a sermon to be preached at Kenwood Church in Livonia, MI, on December 18, 2016)

Think back on when you were given good news.  It could have been the news that you got the job.  She said, "Yes."  You were going to have a baby.  The Cubs won.  The Lions are good.  The election is over.  Your thesis was accepted.  You don't need to tear out the entire plumbing.  Your car can be fixed.

Receiving good news is a powerful thing.  It can change our present and brighten our future.  Our entire outlook can transform with just a few words.  Attitudes can improve.  Dispositions soften. Good news is great!

Joy was an appropriate word to be used on that day.

Tuesday, December 13, 2016

THE JOYS OF CHRISTMAS - Luke 2:8-20 (a blogpost for a sermon to be preached at Kenwood Church in Livonia, MI, on December 18, 2016)

Luke 2:8-20New International Version (NIV)

And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. 11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. 12 This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”
13 Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,
14 “Glory to God in the highest heaven,
    and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”
15 When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”
16 So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. 17 When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, 18 and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. 19 But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. 20 The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.
New International Version (NIV)
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Thursday, December 8, 2016

THE STRUGGLES OF CHRISTMAS - Joseph's Dilemma (a blogpost for a sermon to be preached at Kenwood Church in Livonia, MI, on December 11, 2016)

Joseph's fiancee is pregnant.  He is faithful to the Law.  What should he do?

Before the angel showed up, Joseph was going to quietly divorce Mary and move on.  A difficult decision, but an honorable one.  He did not want to do harm to Mary, and he did not want to be with an unfaithful wife.  Pretty tough first Christmas.

Struggles at Christmas are common.  We may not have the money to afford gifts for those we love.  We may miss a loved one who has passed away.  We may not have anyone to celebrate with.  We may not be in a good frame of mind.

Joseph changed his plan after hearing from an angel.  In light of Christmas, he chose to do something different.

You may not have heard from an angel, but you have heard the story of the angels.  Jesus came into the world for you.  In light of Christmas, what are you going to do differently?

Wednesday, December 7, 2016

THE STRUGGLES OF CHRISTMAS (a blogpost for a sermon to be preached at Kenwood Church in Livonia, MI, on December 11, 2016)

Matthew 1:18-25New International Version (NIV)

Joseph Accepts Jesus as His Son


18 This is how the birth of Jesus the Messiah came about[a]: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit.19 Because Joseph her husband was faithful to the law, and yet[b] did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly.
20 But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. 21 She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus,[c] because he will save his people from their sins.”
22 All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet:23 “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel”[d] (which means “God with us”).
24 When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife. 25 But he did not consummate their marriage until she gave birth to a son. And he gave him the name Jesus.

Footnotes:

  1. Matthew 1:18 Or The origin of Jesus the Messiah was like this
  2. Matthew 1:19 Or was a righteous man and
  3. Matthew 1:21 Jesus is the Greek form of Joshua, which means the Lord saves.
  4. Matthew 1:23 Isaiah 7:14
New International Version (NIV)
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Tuesday, November 22, 2016

WHERE ARE THE OTHER NINE? - What Happened to Him? (a blogpost for a sermon to be preached at Kenwood Church in Livonia, MI, on November 27, 2016)

Have you ever noticed that there are great characters in the Jesus' story that seem to come and go very quickly?  There is the guy who gets his ear cut off by Peter, the friends of the man lowered from the ceiling, the bride and groom from Jesus' "first miracle", and the boy who gave his lunch to feed a crowd.  What happened to them?

What happened to our grateful former leper?  Did he continue to follow Jesus?  Did he make it to the temple?  Did he share the secret of faith with others?  What happened to him?




Monday, November 21, 2016

WHERE ARE THE OTHER NINE? - Gratitude (a blogpost for a sermon to be preached at Kenwood Church in Livonia, MI, on November 27, 2016)

The story of the 10 lepers often focuses upon the 9 who did not return to thank Jesus (as in my message last Sunday).  While this might be a warranted response to this story, I want to look at the actions of the foreigner who did come back.  I want to learn about gratitude, not ingratitude.

What did this person do?  What was he giving up by returning to Jesus?  What made him return?


Tuesday, November 15, 2016

WHERE ARE THE OTHER NINE? - 90% Really ?!?!?!? (a blogpost for a sermon to be preached at Kenwood Church in Livonia, MI, on November 20, 2016)

Jesus story in Luke 17 about the 10 lepers may be an excellent example of hyperbole or an unfortunate description of reality.  Of the lepers cleansed, only one came back to thank the one who healed them.

Does this reflect reality?  90% of us are ungrateful?  Was the percentage the point?  Should we stretch this to all people, or does this refer only to those 10 individuals?  While all of these questions have merit, I don't know that the exact answer to any of them is the real point.

Nine of them did not consider "showing gratitude" was a good enough reason to go back.  Perhaps they were too busy celebrating with the priests, returning to their families, paralyzed by their new complexion, signing up for those college courses they were not allowed to take before, shaking hands with everyone they met, or going for a massage.  They did not return is the seminal truth.

How often have we demonstrated an attitude of ingratitude by not thanking the ones that we owe so much?  When your Father has blessed you, how often have you enjoyed the blessing and failed to thank the blesser?  In this case, I think we are too often in the wrong when we stand with the majority.  Like so many others, I spend much of my time enjoying my blessings rather than demonstrating gratitude for them.

Next time you are blessed, show your gratitude and then enjoy the blessing.

Monday, November 14, 2016

WHERE ARE THE OTHER NINE? (a blogpost for a sermon to be preached at Kenwood Church in Livonia, MI, on November 20, 2016)

Luke 17:11-19New International Version (NIV)

Jesus Heals Ten Men With Leprosy

11 Now on his way to Jerusalem, Jesus traveled along the border between Samaria and Galilee. 12 As he was going into a village, ten men who had leprosy[a] met him. They stood at a distance 13 and called out in a loud voice, “Jesus, Master, have pity on us!”
14 When he saw them, he said, “Go, show yourselves to the priests.” And as they went, they were cleansed.
15 One of them, when he saw he was healed, came back, praising God in a loud voice. 16 He threw himself at Jesus’ feet and thanked him—and he was a Samaritan.
17 Jesus asked, “Were not all ten cleansed? Where are the other nine?18 Has no one returned to give praise to God except this foreigner?”19 Then he said to him, “Rise and go; your faith has made you well.”

Footnotes:

  1. Luke 17:12 The Greek word traditionally translated leprosy was used for various diseases affecting the skin.
New International Version (NIV)
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Tuesday, August 30, 2016

HANG IN THERE - From Hope to Life - a blogpost for a sermon to be preached at Kenwood Church on Sept. 4, 2016)

So what happens when you get to the top of the ladder.  What happens once you have hope?  What happens when you know that everything will be alright in light of the glory of God?  No thing can come upon us that impacts God's glory.  I can fall, fail, suffer, succumb, die, deteriorate, waste away, or wake up in glory, and the glory of God is unchanged.

Hope offers freedom to those who are chained to a reality that will never turn out as bright as we would like.  Hope offers assurance beyond the unimaginable situations we find ourselves in.  Hope offers not a way out but a way through our painful lives.

Hope opens the door to life.  Once we realize this life cannot steal what God has given, we are free to live this life with hope.

Hang in there.  Hope.  Live!

Wednesday, August 24, 2016

HANG IN THERE - From Suffering to Hope - Romans 5:1-5 - a blogpost for a sermon to be preached at Kenwood Church in Livonia, MI, on August 28, 2016

Suffering produces perseverance.  Perseverance produces character.  Character produces hope.

Alchemy attempted to produce gold from other common elements.  The idea was that if you could produce gold by means of cheap materials you could reap a great reward.  Alchemy fell short because the product could not be duplicated by taking a shortcut.

How often do I try to shortcut God's process?  How often do I try to attain His character without the requisite suffering and perseverance.  How often do I want hope without developing His character deep within me?

Are you suffering?  Do not think for one moment that God has forgotten you!  He is working with you to develop perseverance, character and hope.  If you want hope, do not give up in the midst of suffering.

Giving up has its own special product-despair (the complete loss or absence of hope).

Tuesday, August 23, 2016

HANG IN THERE - Romans 5:1-5 - a blogpost for a sermon to be preached at Kenwood Church in Livonia, MI, on August 28, 2016



The progressive steps up the Ladder of Hope (suffering, perseverance, character, hope) take us to the very brink of peril but leave us safe.  Join me this week as we climb even higher on the ladder.

"And we boast in the hope of the glory of God."  Romans 5:2b

Wednesday, May 4, 2016

Haggai - A New Two Week Series from the OT (a blogpost for a sermon to be preached at Kenwood Church on May 8, 2016)

Haggai 2
1on the twenty-first day of the seventh month, the word of the Lord came through the prophet Haggai: 2“Speak to Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, to Joshua son of Jozadak,a the high priest, and to the remnant of the people. Ask them,3‘Who of you is left who saw this house in its former glory? How does it look to you now? Does it not seem to you like nothing?4But now be strong, Zerubbabel,’ declares the Lord. ‘Be strong, Joshua son of Jozadak, the high priest. Be strong, all you people of the land,’ declares the Lord, ‘and work. For I am with you,’ declares the Lord Almighty. 5‘This is what I covenanted with you when you came out of Egypt. And my Spirit remains among you. Do not fear.’
6“This is what the Lord Almighty says: ‘In a little while I will once more shake the heavens and the earth, the sea and the dry land. 7I will shake all nations, and what is desired by all nations will come, and I will fill this house with glory,’ says the LordAlmighty. 8‘The silver is mine and the gold is mine,’ declares the Lord Almighty. 9‘The glory of this present house will be greater than the glory of the former house,’ says the Lord Almighty. ‘And in this place I will grant peace,’ declares the Lord Almighty.”

Blessings for a Defiled People
10On the twenty-fourth day of the ninth month, in the second year of Darius, the word of the Lord came to the prophet Haggai:11“This is what the Lord Almighty says: ‘Ask the priests what the law says: 12If someone carries consecrated meat in the fold of their garment, and that fold touches some bread or stew, some wine, olive oil or other food, does it become consecrated?’ ”
The priests answered, “No.”
13Then Haggai said, “If a person defiled by contact with a dead body touches one of these things, does it become defiled?”
“Yes,” the priests replied, “it becomes defiled.”
14Then Haggai said, “ ‘So it is with this people and this nation in my sight,’ declares the Lord. ‘Whatever they do and whatever they offer there is defiled.
15“ ‘Now give careful thought to this from this day onb —consider how things were before one stone was laid on another in theLord’s temple. 16When anyone came to a heap of twenty measures, there were only ten. When anyone went to a wine vat to draw fifty measures, there were only twenty. 17I struck all the work of your hands with blight, mildew and hail, yet you did not return to me,’ declares the Lord18‘From this day on, from this twenty-fourth day of the ninth month, give careful thought to the day when the foundation of the Lord’s temple was laid. Give careful thought: 19Is there yet any seed left in the barn? Until now, the vine and the fig tree, the pomegranate and the olive tree have not borne fruit.
“ ‘From this day on I will bless you.’ ”

Zerubbabel the Lord’s Signet Ring
20The word of the Lord came to Haggai a second time on the twenty-fourth day of the month: 21“Tell Zerubbabel governor of Judah that I am going to shake the heavens and the earth. 22I will overturn royal thrones and shatter the power of the foreign kingdoms. I will overthrow chariots and their drivers; horses and their riders will fall, each by the sword of his brother.
23“ ‘On that day,’ declares the Lord Almighty, ‘I will take you, my servant Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel,’ declares the Lord, ‘and I will make you like my signet ring, for I have chosen you,’ declares the Lord Almighty.”

Footnotes:
a 2 Hebrew Jehozadak, a variant of Jozadak; also in verse 4
b 15 Or to the days past

Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Monday, April 25, 2016

Haggai - A New Two Week Series from the OT (a blogpost for a sermon to be preached at Kenwood Church on May 1, 2016)

New International Version
A Call to Build the House of the Lord

1In the second year of King Darius, on the first day of the sixth month, the word of the Lord came through the prophet Haggai to Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and to Joshua son of Jozadak,a the high priest:
2This is what the Lord Almighty says: “These people say, ‘The time has not yet come to rebuild the Lord’s house.’ ”
3Then the word of the Lord came through the prophet Haggai: 4“Is it a time for you yourselves to be living in your paneled houses, while this house remains a ruin?”
5Now this is what the Lord Almighty says: “Give careful thought to your ways. 6You have planted much, but harvested little. You eat, but never have enough. You drink, but never have your fill. You put on clothes, but are not warm. You earn wages, only to put them in a purse with holes in it.”
7This is what the Lord Almighty says: “Give careful thought to your ways. 8Go up into the mountains and bring down timber and build my house, so that I may take pleasure in it and be honored,” says the Lord9“You expected much, but see, it turned out to be little. What you brought home, I blew away. Why?” declares the Lord Almighty. “Because of my house, which remains a ruin, while each of you is busy with your own house. 10Therefore, because of you the heavens have withheld their dew and the earth its crops. 11I called for a drought on the fields and the mountains, on the grain, the new wine, the olive oil and everything else the ground produces, on people and livestock, and on all the labor of your hands.”
12Then Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, Joshua son of Jozadak, the high priest, and the whole remnant of the people obeyed the voice of the Lord their God and the message of the prophet Haggai, because the Lord their God had sent him. And the people feared the Lord.
13Then Haggai, the Lord’s messenger, gave this message of the Lord to the people: “I am with you,” declares the Lord14So the Lord stirred up the spirit of Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and the spirit of Joshua son of Jozadak, the high priest, and the spirit of the whole remnant of the people. They came and began to work on the house of the Lord Almighty, their God, 15on the twenty-fourth day of the sixth month.
The Promised Glory of the New House
In the second year of King Darius,

Footnotes:
a 1 Hebrew Jehozadak, a variant of Jozadak; also in verses 12 and 14


Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.