November 4, 2007 Counting People … Because People Count
November 11, 2007 Masks We Wear
November 18, 2007 Spiritual Intimacy
November 25, 2007 What Happens in Church Services?

Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day. … And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved. Acts 2:41, 47

But many who heard the message believed, and the number of men grew to about five thousand. Acts 4:4

Nevertheless, more and more men and women believed in the Lord and were added to their number. Acts 5:14

So the word of God spread. The number of disciples in Jerusalem increased rapidly, and a large number of priests became obedient to the faith. Acts 6:7

Then the church throughout Judea, Galilee and Samaria enjoyed a time of peace. It was strengthened; and encouraged by the Holy Spirit, it grew in numbers, living in the fear of the Lord. Acts 9:31

So the churches were strengthened in the faith and grew daily in numbers. Acts 16:5

Old Testament Initiation

The alien living with you must be treated as one of your native-born. Love him as yourself, for you were aliens in Egypt. I am the LORD your God. Leviticus 19:34

1. An outward indication

"An alien living among you who wants to celebrate the LORD's Passover must have all the males in his household circumcised; then he may take part like one born in the land. No uncircumcised male may eat of it. Exodus 12:48

2. An inside change

"The days are coming," declares the LORD, "when I will punish all who are circumcised only in the flesh … even the whole house of Israel is uncircumcised in heart." Jeremiah 9:25-26

A man is not a Jew if he is only one outwardly, nor is circumcision merely outward and physical. No, a man is a Jew if he is one inwardly; and circumcision is circumcision of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the written code. Such a man's praise is not from men, but from God. Romans 2:28-29

In him you were also circumcised, in the putting off of the sinful nature, not with a circumcision done by the hands of men but with the circumcision done by Christ, Colossians 2:11

Christian Life Assimilation

1. Attend church

Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God - children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God. John 1:12 - 13

When he came to Jerusalem, he tried to join the disciples … Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles. Acts 9:26

2. Participate in a Life group

3. Serve in a ministry

November 11, 2007
Masks We Wear

And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ-to the glory and praise of God. Philippians 1:9-11

Part of our vision is to become a family authentically loving one another

The profusion of our love

… your love may abound more and more

Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, Matthew 24:12

I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power … to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge… Ephesians 3:17-19

The perception in our love

… in knowledge and depth of insight…

For I wrote you out of great distress and anguish of heart and with many tears, not to grieve you but to let you know the depth of my love for you.
II Corinthians 2:4

speaking the truth in love Ephesians 4:15

The perfection in our love
… so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless …

Now about food sacrificed to idols: We know that we all possess knowledge. Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up. The man who thinks he knows something does not yet know as he ought to know.
I Corinthians 8:1 - 2

Communion

your meetings do more harm than good. … I hear that when you come together as a church, there are divisions among you … as you eat, each of you goes ahead without waiting for anybody else. One remains hungry, another gets drunk. … you despise the church of God and humiliate those who have nothing I Corinthians 11:17 – 18, 21 - 22

For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread, 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." In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me." For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes. I Corinthians 11:23 - 26

A man ought to examine himself before he eats of the bread and drinks of the cup. For anyone who eats and drinks without recognizing the body of the Lord eats and drinks judgment on himself.
I Corinthians 11:28 - 29

The alliteration in this outline is from a sermon by the top
leader of our fellowship, Dr. George Wood

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November 18, 2007
Spiritual Intimacy

Intimacy with the Lord is the goal

1. Familiarity

But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you. John 14:17

I want to know Christ Philippians 3:10

2. Feeling

… I will … give them joy in my house of prayer … for my house will be called a house of prayer for all nations. Isaiah 56:6-7

Prayer is a means

1. There are many forms of prayer

… all kinds of prayers Ephesians 6:18

2. Prayer is an all-the-time experience

Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray Luke 18:1

They all joined together constantly in prayer Acts 1:14

They devoted themselves to … prayer Acts 2:42

Devote yourselves to prayer Colossians 4:2

… pray continually I Thessalonians 5:17

And pray in the Spirit on all occasions … Ephesians 6:18

I want men everywhere to lift up holy hands in prayer I Timothy 2:8

Forms of prayer that can be done all the time and that develop our connection with the Lord

1. Personal worship
2. Pouring out your soul

In bitterness of soul Hannah wept much and prayed to the LORD. And she made a vow, saying, "O LORD Almighty, if you will only look upon your servant's misery and remember me, and not forget your servant but give her a son, then I will give him to the LORD for all the days of his life, and no razor will ever be used on his head." As she kept on praying to the LORD, Eli observed her mouth. Hannah was praying in her heart, and her lips were moving but her voice was not heard. Eli thought she was drunk and said to her, "How long will you keep on getting drunk? Get rid of your wine." "Not so, my lord," Hannah replied, "I am a woman who is deeply troubled. I have not been drinking wine or beer; I was pouring out my soul to the LORD. Do not take your servant for a wicked woman; I have been praying here out of my great anguish and grief." I Samuel 1:10 - 16

3. Silence

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November 25, 2007
What Happens in Church Services?

Hebrews 10:19 – 25

We confidently meet with the Lord

Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. Hebrews 10:19-22

1. Cross the line of faith

2. Encounter the Holy Spirit

a. He may convict you

When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart Acts 2:37

Peter's words convicted them deeply
New Living Translation

When the people heard this, they felt guilty
New Century Version

b. He may fill you

While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit came on all who heard the message. The circumcised believers who had come with Peter were astonished that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on the Gentiles. For they heard them speaking in tongues and praising God. Acts 10:44-46

We help one another

Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another-and all the more as you see the Day approaching. Hebrews 10:23-25

1. Worship together

2. Pray for each other

3. Gain motivation

Personal Worship Evaluation

____ I prepared myself for worship before I arrived at church

____ I arrived on time for my appointment with the Lord

____ I expressed my adoration of God with enthusiastic singing

____ I gave joyfully and sacrificially to the work of advancing God’s kingdom

____ I head the announcements as invitations for growth and service

____ I humbled myself in reverence at the reading of God’s Word

____ I recognized the unique Word that God prepared for me in today’s sermon

____ I gave thanks for the ways I saw God working in me this past week

____ I shared my needs in faith that God heard and can handle them

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