all-church retreat january 4th, 2009 sunday morning talk 5: kingdom vision: maintaining &...
TRANSCRIPT
All-Church Retreat January 4th, 2009Sunday Morning
All-Church Retreat January 4th, 2009Sunday Morning
Talk 5:KINGDOM VISION:
Maintaining & Persevering
Talk 5:KINGDOM VISION:
Maintaining & Persevering
Outline of Talk 5 Quick Review Key Questions…
Foundation Point #1: The Spiritual Disciplines are the Means to Freedom
Foundation Point #2: The Gospel is for Christians Too Foundation Point #3: Appropriating the Gospel leads us
to present ourselves daily as a living sacrifice
3 Essentials for Maintaining & Persevering Essential Challenge #1: A Daily Time of Focused,
Personal Communion with God Essential Challenge #2: A Daily Appropriation of the
Gospel Essential Challenge #3: Daily Affirm the Sovereignty,
Wisdom & Love of God
RETREAT REVIEWTalk 1: KINGDOM VISION: KINGDOM VISION
Talk 2: KINGDOM OFFENSE: LOVETalks 3/4: KINGDOM DEFENSE: FIGHTING SIN
Talk 1: KINGDOM VISION: KINGDOM VISION
Talk 2: KINGDOM OFFENSE: LOVETalks 3/4: KINGDOM DEFENSE: FIGHTING SIN
Key Question #1: Are you free to have kingdom vision?
“We have not advanced very far in our spiritual lives if we have not encountered the basic paradox of freedom that we are most free when we are bound. But not just any way of being bound will suffice; what matters is the character of our binding. The one who would be an athlete, but who is unwilling to discipline his body by regular exercise and abstinence, is not free to excel on the field or the track. His failure to train rigorously DENIES him the freedom to run with desired speed and endurance. With one concerted voice, the giants of the devotional life apply the same principle to the whole of life; Discipline is the price of freedom.” Elton Trueblood
Key Question #2: What is the Freedom of Kingdom Vision?
• Surfing Story
Foundation Point #1:The spiritual disciplines are the
MEANS to spiritual liberty and a life of KINGDOM VISION
Foundation Point #1:The spiritual disciplines are the
MEANS to spiritual liberty and a life of KINGDOM VISION
Don Whitney’s Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life and Simplify your Spiritual Life
Delighting in the Disciplines is a Lifetime Pursuit…Jerry Bridges
Don Whitney’s Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life and Simplify your Spiritual Life
Delighting in the Disciplines is a Lifetime Pursuit…Jerry Bridges
Key Question #3: Why did I use the word PERSEVERING along with
MAINTAINING?
• Baby Boomers Perserve to the End…
• “Many false prophets will arise and lead many astray. And because lawlessness will be increased, the love of many will grow cold. But the one who endures to the end will be saved.” Matthew 24:11-13
2 Tim 4:6-10b2 Tim 4:6-10b6 For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come. 7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 8 Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that Day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing.9 Do your best to come to me soon. 10 For Demas, in love with this present world, has deserted me and gone to Thessalonica.
Thoughts on Demas
6 For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come. 7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 8 Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that Day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing.9 Do your best to come to me soon. 10 For Demas, in love with this present world, has deserted me and gone to Thessalonica.
Thoughts on Demas
Key Question #4: Why do you think you will wake up tomorrow believing
in Jesus?
• May we NEVER presume…• 3 Essentials are viewed from our
perspective• “Living in the Balance of Biblical
tension.”• Killer Quote: “Tis grace has brought me
safe thus far, and grace will lead me home.” John Newton
Essential Challenge #1:
A Daily Time of Focused, Personal Communion with
GodNasa’s Phoenix Mars Lander
Personal Communion with God
• “O God, you are my God; earnestly I seek you;my soul thirsts for you;my flesh faints for you,as in a dry and weary land where there is no water.” Psalm 63:1
• “One thing have I asked of the Lord,that will I seek after:that I may dwell in the house of the Lordall the days of my life,to gaze upon the beauty of the Lordand to inquire in his temple.” Psalm 27:4
Personal Communion with God
• Sample Prayer• Swim in it and Sip it• Psalms-The best models for
prayers to God
Essential Challenge#2:
A Daily Appropriation of the Gospel
Creepy Crawly Things…I don’t owe God 50 cents
A Daily Appropriation of the Gospel
• “For through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father..” Ephesians 2:18
• “Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith.” Hebrews 10:19-22
Foundation Point #2:The Gospel is for Christians too
Foundation Point #2:The Gospel is for Christians too
Story: “…clothed in the righteousness of Jesus Christ.”
Drift towards PERFORMANCE RELATIONSHIP- 2 directions
Killer Quote: B.B. Warfield Story: “In Jesus name…amen.”
Story: “…clothed in the righteousness of Jesus Christ.”
Drift towards PERFORMANCE RELATIONSHIP- 2 directions
Killer Quote: B.B. Warfield Story: “In Jesus name…amen.”
Foundation Point #3:Daily Appropriation of the Gospel leads us to present ourselves as a living sacrifice
Foundation Point #3:Daily Appropriation of the Gospel leads us to present ourselves as a living sacrifice
“I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.” Romans 12:1
Whole & Continual Burnt Offering in OT Read Ephesians 2 to see “mercies of God”
“I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.” Romans 12:1
Whole & Continual Burnt Offering in OT Read Ephesians 2 to see “mercies of God”
Essential Challenge #3:
Daily Affirm the Sovereignty, Wisdom & Love of God
Bedrock for this whole retreat
Lamentations 3:37-38
• “Who has spoken and it came to pass,unless the Lord has commanded it?Is it not from the mouth of the Most Highthat good and bad come?”
• Life is difficult and sometimes painful
• God is sovereign over the actions of other people
• God is sovereign over the good and the bad
Bad things…All things…
• “Give thanks in all circumstances. For this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.” 1 Thessalonians 5:18
• “God causes ALL THINGS…” Romans 8:28
Message & Retreat Summary
Pray
Please feel free to email us with questions, prayer requests or to just keep in touch:
[email protected]@gmail.com
Message & Retreat Summary
Pray
Please feel free to email us with questions, prayer requests or to just keep in touch:
[email protected]@gmail.com