Great crowd in church today. I wish you could have been there! Good sermon. Following are the pastor's wife's notes (and following that is the sermon -- you can just click on it to listen as you go about your day): Mark 4:26-29. A seed just needs to be planted. It grows on its own. Don't fuss with it. Genesis 1:12. From the beginning God ordained the reproduction of plants to come through seeds. We don't need to worry about it after we plant. "the soil produces crops by itself." Mark 4:28a We don't need to micro-manage. Let God do His work. Wind makes trees stronger. Plant seed and plant the Word in ourselves. If we aren't growing we're dying. We need to be receptive. We need to plant true seeds. What you plant is what you'll get. You don't have to intentionally plant bad seed for it to sprout. Seeds get planted no matter what from our words and actions -- how about we make an effort to plant good stuff? Am I adding to the weed crop or the good crop? I must intentionally plant seeds of faith. Isaiah 5510-11 Our seed produces much. It produces a crop and more seed for the sower. The more you plant the more you'll be able to plant. 2 Timothy 3:16-17. Let the seeds grow in me so I am strong. 2 Corinthians 9:6-11. Give generously from my own seed store. Anybody who gets it should be spreading it. Seeds must be planted. Seeds will be planted continuously. What's the benefit to the sower? Multiplied it -- reward is more seeds, more tasks, more things to do for the King. The third servant allowed fear to stop him from trying. The master called him wicked and lazy. Seeds are falling off me constantly. Sow generously; reap generously. Just let the Spirit lead. Generously cast out the seed. Nothing but God can give peace. And He will give peace. |
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Somehow I forgot! I forgot the take the recorder this morning so I really tried to take good notes (except for the time I had to take Hawken out of the sanctuary and when I absolutely had to go get a cup of coffee). It was a great sermon, I mean really great. I wish you could have been there! But I hope you can find some inspiration in these notes. See below: Businesses will do inventory after the first of the y ear so they can make necessary changes. Today is one day closer to our death, one day closer to Jesus' return; one day closer to standing before God's judgment seat. Look back at what has happened this year and ask yourself these questions. 1. Have I gotten closer to God? We have to be seeking God. We have to read His word. 2. How was your prayer life in 2016? 3. What's your relationship with your brothers and sisters in Christ? Especially those in your local church body? 4. What's your relationship with with people who aren't part of the Church? Those who need Jesus Christ? Those who God brings into your life? "You are the salt of the earth" Matthew 5:13a We should be letting the light shine. When people need light, they should know where they can go to get some light. How can we be better, brighter bolder? Be honest. This is the time to examine ourselves (not condemn ourselves -- find the places where we can improve). Philippians 3:13-14 Evaluate. But don't beat yourself up. Be approachable. How long will I give it a try? Am I going to persevere? You're either growing or dying. Work hard. Work at it. If there's something we can't do we learn how. We work at it. Today is now. What can we do? What can we learn to do better? What we should do this year: 1. Grow in the Word. 2 Timothy 3:14-17 We need to be well-equipped workers. Ask God to show you something in the Word today. We must read our Bible daily. 2. Pray. Ask yourself, how would you teach someone to pray? Show them. Do it. To get better at prayer just do it. 3. We must try to get closer to our brothers and sisters in Christ. This takes us to be honest and vulnerable and humble. We need to be engaged. We need to open up to each other. Pray for those you see who are having a bad day. 4. Sharing the gospel with people. How do you share anything with anyone? I gotta open up and expose my heart? What does it take for you to share your heart? You gotta trust a person. They won't bear their need for Christ to you unless they trust you and believe you care about them. "I don't care what it looks like. I don't care what you think" (Jesus to those who criticized him) I know they need Jesus so I have to build relationships with people who don't know Jesus. It's not an accident who you live next to; who you see every day. It's God saying, "Here you go! Here's your opportunity." Ask yourself: Where do I need to grow? Who can I talk to? Who can I open up to? Let 2016 be a year of conquest! Great sermon! (I want to bring up a controversial point Shannon makes. Shannon mention's that Mary was not in the line of David. This is debated strongly in the church for the geneology in Luke is different, yet this belief is based in church tradition. You decide. Click here to read about it. Or do your own research.) Notes to follow: Matthew 1:18-25 is the text (Joseph's perspective) If Mary had been divorced she had two options: to be a servant or a prostitute. She would have been kicked out of the family. Joseph could have had her stoned. Kind of cool -- He gets a dream. Historical Joseph (from Old Testament) also heard from God through dreams. Joseph had a great reputation (back to Jesus' stepdad). Would never have had premarital sex. There were consequences for him too to accept the call of being Jesus' stepdad. He lost his good reputation. He very likely was shunned from the family. People assumed he was the father. He was on his own. He was kicked out and didn't take the tools -- rough start to a marriage. Distant relatives wouldn't have supported them either. The young couple was on their own. They stayed for a while in Bethlehem. Trying to get a business started. Might have lived off of Magis' gifts. Got another dream to flee. Joseph saved Mary and Joseph from death. He was their protector. Geneology -- fulfillment of prophecy (Jane's side note: I believe Jesus was adopted into the line of David. This shows how incredibly beautiful and real and permanent adoption is. God sees it as strong a bond as a biological claim -- also God didn't bring the Messiah as people assumed. We can never put Him in a box.) When Joseph names Jesus that is an official adoption. He was in the line of David. He then got all the rights of the heir. This is the Son of God. Joseph was obedient, faithful, trusting of God. No one ever forgot that Jesus was supposedly illegitimate. They returned to their hometown. They knew how they would be treated. Joseph taught Jesus his trade. Joseph must have been around long enough to father several children and to teach Jesus. We can look at Joseph's actions to know what kind of man he was. A simple man, not a rich man. A laborer, a man who worked with his hands; honest, righteous; a good man. He follows the will of God. He loved Mary. He persevered. He was strong. They lived in Egypt with the anticipation of returning to Israel. When Joseph was raising the Son of God imagine the pressure; the fears of messing up. It's a blessing to be chosen, but also a burden. Jesus is the Son of God. And Mary and Joseph knew this. Joseph didn't get to see Jesus's ministry, the miracles, the ending. Joseph lived in faith. God chose me. God chose you. What are we going to do with it? Joseph didn't live the life he thought he would. He had done all the right things to have a good reputation. And then it was destroyed when he said yes to God. God gives us turns in life we can't anticipate. God, what next? Ask God -- what next? Simple, true faith. He loved. He followed. May we do the same. Pastor Shannon speaks about the Mystery of God Sunday September 18, 2016 at the Dupree Baptist Church. I think maybe this post could be called a plog? Like a podcast/blog? Thoughts? Thanks for listening. J.H. |
Shannon HinrichsDupree Baptist Church Pastor If you would like to donate to this ministry, send your donation via check or money order to Dupree Baptist Church PO Box 372 Faith, SD 57626 Thank you!! All donations are tax deductible.
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