Sunday, September 29, 2019

SEEKING THE HEART OF JESUS: The Heart I Really Want - Sermon Outline (A blog post for a sermon to be preached at Kenwood Church in Livonia, MI, on September 29, 2019)

SEEKING THE HEART OF JESUS: The Heart I Really Want - September 29, 2019

Video - Worship countdown

Prayers

INTRODUCTION

Vacation is over.  Meltdown has been averted.  Life may return to normal, but I sure hope it doesn't.

Concluding sermon of my series was titled "SEEKING THE HEART OF JESUS: The Heart I Want."

Maid asked if we were Christians.  She saw my book.

Traveling out of the country - passports, copies of passports, TSA precheck,

I.  THE HEART I WANT IS . . . A NICE TITLE FOR A CONCLUDING SERMON IN A SERIES

"Are you Christians?"

A.  I never said anything about the heart I want

B.  I know what Jesus' heart was like

C.  I want Jesus' heart

II.  THE HEART I SETTLE FOR IS . . . A GOOD HEART

“You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
‭‭Romans‬ ‭5:6-8‬ ‭NIV‬‬

A.   Good enough

B.  Good in comparison to others

III.  THE HEART I REALLY WANT IS . . . ONE THAT IDENTIFIES ME AS HIS

A.  Good
“In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.”
‭‭ Matthew‬ ‭5:16‬ ‭NIV‬‬

““Be careful not to practice your righteousness in front of others to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven.”
‭‭ Matthew‬ ‭6:1‬ ‭NIV‬‬

B.  Spirit filled
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.”
‭‭ Galatians‬ ‭5:22-23‬ ‭NIV‬‬

C.  Love
““A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.””
‭‭ John‬ ‭13:34-35‬ ‭NIV‬‬

CHALLENGE

Passports identify us in places where we are not known.  Photo ID's, fingerprints, etc.

Reflect Jesus.  You are the light of the world.

Lighthouse at the end of Paradise Island.  Fort Fincastle

Saturday, September 7, 2019

SEEKING THE HEART OF JESUS: The Heart I Want - Sermon Outline (A blog post for a sermon to be preached at Kenwood Church in Livonia, MI, on September 8, 2019)

SEEKING THE HEART OF JESUS: The Heart I Want - September 8, 2019

Video - Worship countdown

Prayers

Special Music - Pam and Kelly Gatzka "Blessings"

INTRODUCTION

A leper - A heart that touches
A Centurian - A heart that marvels
The Samaritan woman at the well - A heart that accepts
The Two Daughters (bleeding and Jairus daughter) - A heart that cares
The Pharisee and the woman who anoints Jesus' feet - A heart that confronts
The Canaanite woman - A heart that reaches
The blind man - A heart that restores
A hurting dad - A heart that comforts
A tax collector - A heart that transforms
A guilty woman - A heart that forgives
A man born blind - A heart that values
A politician - A heart that challenges

I.  COULD YOU IDENTIFY "THE HEART OF JESUS"?
A.  What does it mean to have "the heart of Jesus"?
B.  How would someone act that had "the heart of Jesus"?
C.  What one word best describes "the heart of Jesus"?

II.  HOW CAN YOU HAVE "THE HEART OF JESUS"?
A.  You can identify "the heart of Jesus."
B.  You can desire "the heart of Jesus."
C.  You can receive "the heart of Jesus."
D.  You can develop "the heart of Jesus."

VIDEO - Lauren Daigle "Here's My Heart"

III.  WHAT SHOULD YOU DO RIGHT NOW TO HAVE "THE HEART OF JESUS"?
A.  Confess
“Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.”
‭‭ James‬ ‭5:16‬ ‭NIV‬‬
B.  Ask your father
“Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.”
‭‭ Psalm‬ ‭51:10‬ ‭NIV‬‬
C.  Live a new way
“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!”
‭‭ 2 Corinthians‬ ‭5:17‬ ‭NIV
D.  ‬‬Keep up with the Spirit
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.”
‭‭ Galatians‬ ‭5:22-25‬ ‭NIV‬‬

CHALLENGE

Live out the heart of Jesus.
The church does not suffer from a lack of understanding about the heart of Jesus.
The church lacks people who live out the heart of Jesus.

What would the world look like if more people lived out of the heart of Jesus.
Love, joy, peace, forebearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.

Wednesday, September 4, 2019

SEEKING THE HEART OF JESUS: The Human Heart - a Biblical perspective (A blog post for a sermon to be preached at Kenwood Church in Livonia, MI, on September 8, 2019)

Above all else, guard your heart,
for everything you do flows from it.
As water reflects the face,
so one’s life reflects the heart.
The heart is deceitful above all things
and beyond cure.
Who can understand it? “I the Lord search the heart
and examine the mind,
to reward each person according to their conduct,
according to what their deeds deserve.”
May he give you the desire of your heart
and make all your plans succeed.
You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.
Create in me a pure heart, O God,
and renew a steadfast spirit within me.
But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”
Let love and faithfulness never leave you;
bind them around your neck,
write them on the tablet of your heart.
Then you will win favor and a good name
in the sight of God and man.
Trust in the Lord with all your heart
and lean not on your own understanding;
in all your ways submit to him,
and he will make your paths straight.
Jesus replied: ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’
Take delight in the Lord,
and he will give you the desires of your heart.
Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.
A cheerful heart is good medicine,
but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.
For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
My son, do not forget my teaching,
but keep my commands in your heart,
for they will prolong your life many years
and bring you peace and prosperity.
The wise in heart accept commands,
but a chattering fool comes to ruin.
Be strong and take heart,
all you who hope in the Lord.
I seek you with all my heart;
do not let me stray from your commands.
Teach us to number our days,
that we may gain a heart of wisdom.
May these words of my mouth and this meditation of my heart
be pleasing in your sight,
Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer.
Blessed are those who keep his statutes
and seek him with all their heart.
I will praise you with an upright heart
as I learn your righteous laws.
Truly I tell you, if anyone says to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and does not doubt in their heart but believes that what they say will happen, it will be done for them.
But be very careful to keep the commandment and the law that Moses the servant of the Lord gave you: to love the Lord your God, to walk in obedience to him, to keep his commands, to hold fast to him and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul.

Tuesday, September 3, 2019

SEEKING THE HEART OF JESUS: A Final Word - Hebrews 13:20-21 (A blog post for a sermon to be preached at Kenwood Church in Livonia, MI, on September 8, 2019)

As we have been seeking the heart of Jesus, I want to remind you that God has equipped you with everything good for ding his will.  That includes having a heart like Jesus.


Hebrews 13:20-21 New International Version (NIV)

Benediction and Final Greetings

20 Now may the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, 21 equip you with everything good for doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.
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.