Monday, November 30, 2020
Saturday, November 28, 2020
Video: 11-29-20 Sermon “FEAST AND FAMINE: Thanksgiving for the Blessing and the Curse in the Age of COVID-19 - part 2’
VIDEO: 11-29-20 Sermon "FEAST AND FAMINE: Thanksgiving for the Blessing and the Curse in the Age of COVID-19 - part 2’
As we worship together "from house to house," we are thankful for You. You are with us always. You are our great provider. You are our God.
WORSHIP
PRAYER
FEAST AND FAMINE: Thanksgiving for the Blessing and the Curse in Age of COVID-19 - part 2 Sermon Outline (a blog post for a video sermon for Kenwood Church in Livonia, MI, on November 29, 2020)
FEAST AND FAMINE: Thanksgiving for the Blessing and the Curse in the Age of COVID-19 - 11-29-20
INTRODUCTION
Blessing and Curse - a dialogue of redemption
The blessing and the curse in the age of COVID-19
“Your theological perspective might be myopic if unrest in America leads you to talk about the end times but suffering, disease, or famine in parts of Africa does not.”
Esau McCaulley, PhD
What curses are you grateful for?
“Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
“. . . always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
Ephesians 5:20 NIV
“Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
Philippians 4:4-7 NIV
“Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done."
Philippians 4:6 NLT
I. TROUBLE MAY BRING A CORRECTING MINISTRY
Hebrews 12:6 NIV says, "because the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and he chastens everyone he accepts as his son.” And Hebrews 12:11 NIV tells us, "No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.”
II. TROUBLE MAY BRING A DEEPENING DEPENDENCY
Troubles bring us to Jesus so that we might depend more upon Him. The apostle Paul had a thorn in his flesh and he said, "Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But he said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.' Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.”
2 Corinthians 12:8-9 NIV
If your trouble causes you to depend more upon God, can't you realize why we are to thank Him for it?
III. TROUBLE MAY BRING A CONFIRMING TESTIMONY
Paul knew much sorrow and he said, "Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.”
2 Corinthians 1:3-4 NIV
If you didn't have tribulation, you wouldn't need comfort and God so graciously gives that comfort.
IV. TROUBLE MAY BRING AN INCREASING MATURITY
God's Son was without sin, but not without suffering. James 1:4 NIV says, "Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.”
The words "mature” and “complete" do not mean sinless, it means maturity or reaching full potential. The word "perseverance" means endurance. You're not going to be mature until you learn patience, and the only way that you can learn patience is to have something to endure.
“You don't sharpen an axe on a pound of butter.”
V. TROUBLE MAY BRING EXCELLING GLORY
1 Peter 4:12-14 NIV says, "Dear friends, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that has come on you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice inasmuch as you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed. If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you.”
How would you like the Spirit of glory and of God to rest on you? How would you like to undergo a fiery trial?
But, you see, it is the fiery trial that brings the Spirit of glory upon you. Acts 6:5 describes Stephen as "a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit." While he was being stoned, the Bible says that his face was like the face of an angel (see Acts 6:15).
If your trouble causes you to know God's glory, shouldn't we thank Him for it?
VI. TROUBLE MAY BRING BAFFLING MYSTERY
Isaiah 55:8-9 NIV says, "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord. “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.”
God will give you enough to know to obey Him. Friends, there are some things we may not understand, and we don't have to understand them in order to thank God.
VII. TROUBLE WILL BRING ETERNAL VICTORY
Romans 8:18 says, "I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.”
Paul was not saying the glory offsets the sufferings. Instead, he was saying that there's no comparison. What a day that will be when He turns every tear to a pearl!
And then we understand that He has not forsaken us.
Now since all of these things are true, then can we not give thanks in everything?
For Paula and I, the last 7 years have been very difficult. God has been greater than our difficulty. God deserves the glory!
“For three things I thank God every day of my life: thanks that he has vouchsafed me knowledge of his works; deep thanks that he has set in my darkness the lamp of faith; deep, deepest thanks that I have another life to look forward to--a life joyous with light and flowers and heavenly song.”
Helen Keller
CHALLENGE
Write down 4 reasons for thanksgiving that seem like troubles but are really blessings. Testify to someone about the goodness of God in the midst of a trial and tell them why you are thankful for it. Thank God for all things - good and bad.
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. Possibly, if you have already responded to God’s call in these ways, you would like to become a member of Kenwood Church. 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.
Wednesday, November 25, 2020
Saturday, November 21, 2020
Video: 11-22-20 Sermon “FEAST AND FAMINE: Thanksgiving for the Blessing and the Curse in the Age of COVID-19”
VIDEO: 11-22-20 Sermon "FEAST AND FAMINE: Thanksgiving for the Blessing and the Curse in the Age of COVID-19”
As we worship together "from house to house," we are grateful for all we have, all we did not ask for, and all we do not want. In your providence you have blessed us and allowed us to experience the curse. We are thankful for all you provide us whether understandable or not.
WORSHIP
PRAYER
FEAST AND FAMINE: Thanksgiving for the Blessing and the Curse in Age of COVID-19 Sermon Outline (a blog post for a video sermon for Kenwood Church in Livonia, MI, on November 22, 2020)
FEAST AND FAMINE: Thanksgiving for the Blessing and the Curse in the Age of COVID-19 - 11-22-20
INTRODUCTION
The blessing and the curse in the age of COVID-19
Blessing and Curse - a dialogue of redemption
Blessings
Big and small - meeting together, learning to ration,
Ralph Waldo Emerson once said that in order to achieve contentment, one should "cultivate the habit of being grateful for every good thing that comes to you, and to give thanks continuously."
“Praise the Lord. Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever.”
Psalm 106:1 NIV
“I will give thanks to the Lord because of his righteousness; I will sing the praises of the name of the Lord Most High.”
Psalm 7:17 NIV
“Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth. Worship the Lord with gladness; come before him with joyful songs. Know that the Lord is God. It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, the sheep of his pasture.
Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name.
For the Lord is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations.”
Psalm 100:1-5 NIV
"Gratitude is the fairest blossom which springs from the soul." - Henry Ward Beecher
I. SAY "THANK YOU"
“Thankfulness is a social norm applicable in grateful situation while gratitude is the special manifestation of spirituality, love, and affection.”
A. Are you grateful (feeling)?
B. Tell God thanks (action)
C. Schedule thanksgiving
“I will praise God’s name in song and glorify him with thanksgiving. This will please the Lord more than an ox, more than a bull with its horns and hooves.”
Psalm 69:30-31 NIV
II. ACT THANKFULLY
A. Pouting person
B. How to act thankfully and show gratitude
7 Habits of grateful people - Lindsay Holmes for Huffington Post
1. Journal
2. Don't avoid the negative - setbacks are part of the journey
3. Spend time with loved ones
4. Mindfully use social media
5. Know the value of the little things
6. Volunteer
7. Get moving
C. Help someone else
III. PROCLAIM THANKS
A. Let others know
B. Be thankful as a community
C. Worship with a spirit of thanksgiving
“Come, let us sing for joy to the Lord; let us shout aloud to the Rock of our salvation. Let us come before him with thanksgiving and extol him with music and song. For the Lord is the great God, the great King above all gods.”
Psalm 95:1-3 NIV
“Shout for joy to God, all the earth! Sing the glory of his name; make his praise glorious. Say to God, “How awesome are your deeds! So great is your power that your enemies cringe before you. All the earth bows down to you; they sing praise to you, they sing the praises of your name.” Come and see what God has done, his awesome deeds for mankind! He turned the sea into dry land, they passed through the waters on foot— come, let us rejoice in him. He rules forever by his power, his eyes watch the nations— let not the rebellious rise up against him. Praise our God, all peoples, let the sound of his praise be heard; he has preserved our lives and kept our feet from slipping. For you, God, tested us; you refined us like silver. You brought us into prison and laid burdens on our backs. You let people ride over our heads; we went through fire and water, but you brought us to a place of abundance. I will come to your temple with burnt offerings and fulfill my vows to you— vows my lips promised and my mouth spoke when I was in trouble. I will sacrifice fat animals to you and an offering of rams; I will offer bulls and goats. Come and hear, all you who fear God; let me tell you what he has done for me. I cried out to him with my mouth; his praise was on my tongue. If I had cherished sin in my heart, the Lord would not have listened; but God has surely listened and has heard my prayer. Praise be to God, who has not rejected my prayer or withheld his love from me!”
Psalm 66:1-20 NIV
Rory and Joey Feek (who was diagnosed with terminal cancer in the fall of 2015 saw her dad come to Christ about a month before that. She told a reporter from The Tennessean, "I just cried. Now all of my family believes. And all of my family, when we die, we're going to see other again.” I told dad, “I would go through all of this again, if that meant one person came to Christ because of it. The fact that my daddy did, ‘Dad, I would do it all over. I'm so proud of you. When I die, I'm going to be looking for you. And I want you to know, that after you hug my brother (Justin, who died in a car accident in 1994), I'm going to be next in line.’" Joey passed in March of 2016 and was reunited with her family.
CHALLENGE
Write down 7 things you are thankful for right now even in the midst of COVID-19. Share 3 of those reasons for thanksgiving with someone outside of your immediate family. Share the greatest reason you have for being thankful with a family member or dear friend.
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. Possibly, if you have already responded to God’s call in these ways, you would like to become a member of Kenwood Church. 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.
Wednesday, November 18, 2020
Sunday, November 15, 2020
Video: 11-15-20 Elders Update
Good morning,
The elders have reached a decision about
our near term worship service options.
The elders feel that we must make
decisions out of concern, love and an abundance of caution for our church
family.
We remain very concerned with the
current spike in COVID-19 cases including in our community and surrounding
communities.
Additionally, we are very concerned
about the upcoming Thanksgiving and Christmas holiday and the potential spread
that may happen with families and friends gathering to celebrate.
At this time we believe the best option
is to remain in the parking lot through December. We will also continue to offer our online
worship alternatives.
We have been blessed for the most part
with good weather for our parking lot services.
If we have a very cold or snowy/icy Sunday we will send an email on that
Sunday morning sharing that we will be “Online Only” – the same as we would
have for a stormy day in the warmer months.
We will continue to review the pandemic
situation and look to re-evaluate our worship service options as we enter
January. It is our hope, like everyone,
to return to a more “normal” life as quickly as possible while taking into
account what is acceptable risk for as many of our church family members as
possible.
Thank you again for your support and
prayers.
VIDEO: 11-15-20 Sermon "CHRISTIAN CHARACTER IN THE AGE OF COVID-19: The Crucified Life"
VIDEO: 11-15-20 Sermon "CHRISTIAN CHARACTER IN THE AGE OF COVID-19: The Crucified Life"
As we worship together "from house to house," we look to the cross for our hope. In the cross, we see our forgiveness. We find our worth. We discover our model for overcoming sin. As we live for Christ, we live crucified lives.
WORSHIP
PRAYER
“You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free.
But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love. For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” If you bite and devour each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other. So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.
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. Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.”
Galatians 5:13-26 NIV
CHRISTIAN CHARACTER IN THE AGE OF COVID-19: The Crucified Life (Galatians 5:13-26) Sermon Outline (a blog post for a video sermon for Kenwood Church in Livonia, MI, on November 15, 2020)
CHRISTIAN CHARACTER IN THE AGE OF COVID-19: The Crucified Life - November 15, 2020
INTRODUCTION
The Crucified Life
“The only life we can offer God that has any value is the crucified life.”
You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free.
But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love. For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” If you bite and devour each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other.
So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.
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. Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.”
Galatians 5:13-26 NIV
Love - pleasure
Joy - happiness
Peace - satisfaction
Patience - passivity
Kindness - nice
Goodness - self-righteousness
Faithfulness - knowledge
Gentleness - timidity
Self-control - self-control
I. THE CRUCIFIED LIFE
A. The flesh
Strong's Concordance
sarx: flesh
Original Word: σάρξ, σαρκός, ἡ
Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine
Transliteration: sarx
Phonetic Spelling: (sarx)
Short Definition: flesh, body
Definition: flesh, body, human nature, materiality; kindred.
HELPS Word-studies
4561 sarks properly, flesh ("carnal"), merely of human origin or empowerment.
[4561 /sárks ("flesh") is not always evil in Scripture. Indeed, it is used positively in relation to sexual intercourse in marriage (Eph 5:31) – as well as for the sinless human body of Jesus (Jn 1:14; 1 Jn 4:2,3). Indeed, flesh (what is physical) is necessary for the body to live out the faith the Lord works in (Gal 2:20).]
4561 (sarks) is generally negative, referring to making decisions (actions) according to self – i.e. done apart from faith (independent from God’s inworking). Thus what is "of the flesh(carnal)" is by definition displeasing to the Lord – even things that seem "respectable!" In short, flesh generally relates to unaided human effort, i.e. decisions (actions) that originate from self or are empowered by self. This is carnal ("of the flesh") and proceeds out of the untouched (unchanged) part of us – i.e. what is not transformed by God.
B. Its passions - passive
1. That which befalls someone
2. Suffering
3. Passion
C. Its desires - active
1. Desire
2. Passionate longing
3. Lust
II. OUR LIFE AND THE SPIRIT
A. Live by the Spirit
Cognate: 2198 záō – to live, experience God's gift of life. See 2222 (zōē)
B. Keep in step with the Spirit
1. Stay in rows
2. Walk by rule
“We know that we have come to know him if we keep his commands. Whoever says, “I know him,” but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in that person. But if anyone obeys his word, love for God is truly made complete in them. This is how we know we are in him: Whoever claims to live in him must live as Jesus did.”
1 John 2:3-6 NIV
III. OUR LIFE AND ONE ANOTHER
A. Not becoming conceited - conceit
2755 kenódoksos (from 2756 /kenós, "empty" and 1391 /dóksa, "glory") – properly, empty glory, i.e. self-deluded conceit driven by personal "delusions of grandeur"; "groundless conceit" (A-S); boasting "where there is nothing to boast about; . . . empty pride or conceit, mere pretentiousness" (F. F. Bruce, Commentary on Galatians, 257). It is only used in Gal 5:26.
2755 (kenodoksos) refers to "foolish fancy" (vain, "empty opinion"). This is based on nothing, and comes to nothing.
B. Not provoking - combat/challenge
1. Challenging
προκαλέω, προκάλω: present middle participle προκαλούμενος; to call forth (cf. πρό, d. α.); middle to call forth to oneself, especially to challenge to a combat or contest with one; often so from Homer down; hence, to provoke, to irritate: Galatians 5:26 ((εἰς ὠμότητα καί ὀργήν, Herodian, 7, 1, 11, 4 edition, Bekker)).
C. Not envying - compare
Cognate: 5354 phthonéō (from 5355 /phthónos) – to envy, becoming bitter (sour) because of another person's success. 5354 /phthonéō is used only in Gal 5:26. See 5355 (phthonos).
Paul’s warning in Romans 12
“Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.”
Romans 12:1-2 NIV
CHALLENGE
Spend time on your knees this week searching your heart. If there is any part of you left “uncrucified," nail it to the cross. There is no room for holdouts. The victory of Jesus is either total or not at all. Share one of your struggles with someone who will pray for you. Live the life of the Spirit.
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. Possibly, if you have already responded to God’s call in these ways, you would like to become a member of Kenwood Church. 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.