Category: Service

What is your superpower?

2/21/2021

Superheroes have back stories -- who they were before they became superheroes.

God has given us our own "superpowers."

Superhero qualities:

--sacrifices their life in a selfless way.
--Inspires people; gives them hope.
--Helps others expecting nothing in return.
--Is brave and courageous.
--they have something other people don't have.

A superhero is a servant:

"Sitting down, Jesus called the Twelve and said, “Anyone who wants to be first must be the very last, and the servant of all.” Mark 9:35

"Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, 44 and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all." Mark 10:43-44

We are to be servants all the time.

"For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”" Mark 10:45

Jesus passed on His "superpowers" -- His gifts.

We each have been given a superpower by grace, to help in the resistance of evil. He wants us to participate.

"We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your[a] faith; 7 if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; 8 if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead,[b] do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully." Romans 12:6-8

Find your superpower! In a way He wants us to be like the Justice League -- we each have our own job to do. Without one of us doing our job there will be something going undone.

More Superpowers:

"To one there is given through the Spirit a message of wisdom, to another a message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, 9 to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, 10 to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues,[a] and to still another the interpretation of tongues.[b] 11 All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he distributes them to each one, just as he determines." 1 Corinthians 12:8-11

Someone got us to where we are by the power of the Spirit. We need to run with it. Help others along the path.

We don't want to be Couch Potato Thor! Fat Thor!

Even more superpowers:

"So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, 12 to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up 13 until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ." Ephesians 4:11-13

Everyone has a role to play. Each of us has a role to play in the church. Talents have to be refined and polished. It takes a lot of work to refine and polish a talent. Work hard at it. Practice. Satan and the world can't steal your salvation but they can steal your ministry.

Common theme of Superheroes: they serve their communities.

"There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them. 5 There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. 6 There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work." 1 Corinthians 12:4-7

Be involved. We are meant to do our part. Our mission -- to fight the evil of the world. Become that new creature We were made into when we accepted Christ Jesus. When the superhero became the superhero the old person was gone. He/She became a totally different person/creature. 100% change.

Manifesting the gifts -- manifesting the Spirit:

"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 12:2

Using superpowers for personal gain is selfish -- this is the world's way.

As a church -- are we using our gifts?

Scientists have found out there are 26 lakes under the Sahara Desert! Yet people are dying of thirst there because they aren't accessing the water.

A lot of people want to serve God in an advisory role. God doesn't have or need advisors. If we has sa church disappeared tomorrow, would people miss us? We must be the salt and light.

"For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, 5 so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. 6 We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your[a] faith;" Romans 12:4-6

We've been given great gifts. With great power comes great responsibility. Spiderman stole that from the Bible!

"But the one who does not know and does things deserving punishment will be beaten with few blows. From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked." Luke 12:48

"Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father." John 14:12

Wow!! More than what Jesus did while on earth -- this is a promise! A truth!

"If I speak in the tongues[a] of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. 3 If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast,[b] but do not have love, I gain nothing." 1 Corinthians 13:1-3

Whatever we do, we must do with love -- loving God and people. If not done in love, if the gifts aren't used in love, what we do is useless. Less than useless!

Are we doing what God wants us to do?

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The Life and Mission of a Soldier for the Cross

5/26/2019

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Hesitation -- we see the door open and we hesitate. Hesitation in battle can be deadly.

The "forlorn hope." Someone has to charge up to the hole to secure the opening. There is a high casuality rate. You have to volunteer and if you survived it was guaranteed promotion.

"In any moment of decision, the best thing you can do is the right thing; the next best thing is the wrong thing; and the worst thing is to do nothing." Theodore Roosevelt.

"You then, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus." 2 Timothy 2:1

Be strong!

Without Him I am nothing. With Him, I am invincible!"

There is no such thing as an Army of one. God can overcome anything.

"I can do all this through him who gives me strength." Philippians 4:13

"Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power." Ephesians 6:10

"And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable people who will also be qualified to teach others." 2 Timothy 2:2

We need to share the Gospel and the work. Don't hoarde it. Share it.

"Let the prophet who has a dream recount the dream, but let the one who has my word speak it faithfully. For what has straw to do with grain?” declares the Lord." Jeremiah 23:28

"It is better to train ten people than to do the work of ten people. But it is harder." D.L. Moody

The rule of multiplication: if you disciple 2 people and both of them disciple 2 people, in ten steps it becomes 1024 people!

"Join with me in suffering, like a good soldier of Christ Jesus." 2 Timothy 2:3

Stay Faithful (even when the battle is hard).

If you are not currently experiencing spiritual warfare ask yourself if you are doing anything for God.

Seek the resistance and overcome it.

"Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of lifethat the Lord has promised to those who love him." James 1:12

By not quitting, we win.

If you fail, get up and push again. Persevere. We can't win if we stand still. Must go forward.

"No one serving as a soldier gets entangled in civilian affairs, but rather tries to please his commanding officer. 5 Similarly, anyone who competes as an athlete does not receive the victor’s crown except by competing according to the rules." 2 Timothy 2:4-5

Stay out of worldly junk. Just do your job. Look forward. Don't be distracted.

Do your eyes get taken off the battleground and go onto the playground?

If something overtakes you, it becomes sin.

"I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take your crown." Revelation 3:11

No one ever goes into battle expecting to lose.

"The hardworking farmer should be the first to receive a share of the crops." 2 Timothy 2:6

Do your share. Earn your pay. Do your part. Do the best you can with the part you've been given.

"I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God has been making it grow. 7 So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow. 8 The one who plants and the one who waters have one purpose, and they will each be rewarded according to their own labor. 9 For we are co-workers in God’s service; you are God’s field, God’s building." 1 Corinthians 3:6-9

"Reflect on what I am saying, for the Lord will give you insight into all this." 2 Timothy 2:7

Remember your training.

Remember the truth you've learned. Same foundational training for everyone. The elemental training is the same for all of us. Remember and build on the knowledge. You can read the Bible over and over and learn something new each time you read it.

"We know also that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know him who is true. And we are in him who is true by being in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life."
1 John 5:20

"Remember Jesus Christ, raised from the dead, descended from David. This is my gospel, 9 for which I am suffering even to the point of being chained like a criminal. But God’s word is not chained." 2 Timothy 2:8-9

Remember what your purpose is. Remember why you are here.

Just go!

Remember where you are going.

"fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.3 Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart." Hebrews 2:2-3

We can finish our races because Jesus finished His.

"Therefore I endure everything for the sake of the elect, that they too may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus, with eternal glory." 2 Timothy 2:10

Endure for your brothers and sisters.

I shall finish my race strong so it will give others courage to finish theirs. Sometimes we need to carry each other.

"Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy." 1 Peter 2:10

I do what I do to strengthen others.

If you hesitate and stand back, others may too. Cowardess begets cowardess. Courage can beget courage.

"Here is a trustworthy saying:
If we died with him,
    we will also live with him;
12 if we endure,
    we will also reign with him.
If we disown him,
    he will also disown us;
13 if we are faithless,
    he remains faithful,
    for he cannot disown himself." 2 Timothy 2:11-13

You are reborn for a purpose in God's kingdom.

Which do you want to hear?

"Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ 23 Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’" Matthew 7:22-23

OR

“His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’ Matthew 25:21

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Everyday Faith

7/8/2018

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Shannon shared a poem called I'd Rather see a Sermon by Edgar A. Guest:

I'd rather see a sermon
than hear one any day;
I'd rather one should walk with me
than merely tell the way.
The eye's a better pupil
and more willing than the ear,
Fine counsel is confusing,
but example's always clear;
And the best of all preachers
are the men who live their creeds,
For to see good put in action
is what everybody needs.
I soon can learn to do it
if you'll let me see it done;
I can watch your hands in action,
but your tongue too fast may run.
And the lecture you deliver
may be very wise and true,
But I'd rather get my lessons
by observing what you do;
For I might misunderstand you
and the high advice you give,
But there's no misunderstanding
how you act and how you live.

The faith of the mustard seed is enough.
5 The apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith!” 6 And the Lord said, “If you [a]had faith like a mustard seed, you would say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and be planted in the sea’; and it would [b]obey you.
7 “Which of you, having a slave plowing or tending sheep, will say to him when he has come in from the field, ‘Come immediately and [c]sit down to eat’? 8 But will he not say to him, ‘Prepare something for me to eat, and properly [d]clothe yourself and serve me while I eat and drink; and [e]afterward you [f]may eat and drink’? 9 He does not thank the slave because he did the things which were commanded, does he? 10 So you too, when you do all the things which are commanded you, say, ‘We are unworthy slaves; we have done only that which we ought to have done.’” Luke 17:5-10

You just need a little faith.

So many times we focus on big events. It's not the #s that count. It's the faith of the every day.

When did your faith affect your life this week?

What would my days be like without faith?

What we do because of our faith is that servant part of the above passage in Luke.

Your everyday faith must be a life of servanthood.

We cannot do more than what is expected of us.

God's grace is a gift.

We don't get extra praise for doiing what we'resupposed to do.

Salvation is assured. It is an act of God.

God's blessing and face is grace, not something earned.

So many times we want recognition for what we do.

The work itself should be enough.

27 "And he answered, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbor as yourself.” Luke 10:27

Am I fulfilling this daily?

Faith is service on display.

Sanctification is living and growing to be more like Christ.

The real challenge is that we strive to be disciples.

All you need is consistent faith -- that little bit that never goes away. Don't try to be a superhero.

Faith is like a muscle. When you use it it gets stronger. If you don't use it it will shrink.

When you take time off you have to work your way back to where you were.

The challenge is to constantly be trying. Be consistent.

Be the sermon for others to seee. Let them see you working towards living more and more in God's love. We are being watched all the time. Our everyday life is watched.

15 "but [a]speaking the truth in love, [b]we are to grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head, even Christ," Ephesians 4:15

We should be maturing.

He took care of things everyday.

It's not the things we do, but the things we leave undone that cause the greatest heartache.

How Do We Do That?
1. Spend time in the Word. It's not a visit. It's a lifestyle.
2. Spend time in Fellowship, listening and sharing your faith. Who/what you spend your time with you will reflect.
3. Live everyday immersed in the grace you have been given.
4. Live everyday as the servant we are meant to be.

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Bread

3/19/2017

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Ezekiel called bread the staff of life.

The U.S. population spent 23.6 billion dollars on bread in 2016.

50% of Americans eat a sandwich daily.

Genesis 3:19a "By the sweat of your brow you will eat bread."

That is the first time bread is mentioned in the Bible.

Jesus and the 40 days in the desert.

Bread and Water -- prison food.

Daily bread.

Parable about "even the dogs eat the crumbs off the children's table."

Tradition tells us they'd save the crust of the bread to wipe their fingers on and give these scraps to the dogs.

Offerings.

Wave Offering -- bread they made from the first grain from the harvest.

Abigail -- gave a huge offering of bread (and other things) to David to cover her husband's guilt.

Luke 9:10-17.

They had a little bit, but when it was broken and shared it fed everyone. And there were tons of leftovers.

The more you give away, the more comes back.

The more our gifts will expand.

Just do it. Don't worry -- just do it.

John 6:26-40. Jesus calls Himself the "bread of life."

You should be hungry for the Word of God.

Walk by faith means stepping out. Step off that ledge. The disciples delivered the bread and fish.

Matthew 26:26 Jesus is the bread.

breaking of bread means sharing.

Acts 2:46. Continued to break bread together.

1 Corinthians 10:17, "Since there is one bread, we who are many are one body; for we all partake of the one bread."

To put it together, we all need to be actively involved.

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Sowing Seeds

2/5/2017

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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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The Harvest: Help Wanted

11/13/2016

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Following are the notes I (Jane, pastor's wife) took today at church:

Today Shannon talked about The Harvest. In Matthew 9:36 -38. Jesus says the "harvest is plentiful."

We aren't the lords of the harvest. Father God is the Lord of the Harvest. It is the Father's harvest.

Sheep can't see what's right and wrong. They get confused and lost. They need a shepherd.

We need to ask for harvesters. Pray that the Lord sends workers to the harvst. We can't do it alone.

The affect one person can have is incredible.

John 4:36-38

Look out and see the harvest waiting to be harvested. "Look up and see the harvest."

Stop looking at yourself. Look up and see the harvest.

A farmer who doesn't harvest or who doesn't know what he's/she's doing will fail.

Are we a hobby church?

Go Get Em!

Drop everything to get the one who is lost.

Don't be content where we are.

We're supposed to be working.

Six million people were asked what it would take for them to go to church. The number one reason was "If I was invited."

The harvest is meant to be done on God's time. It isn't our time. Time we have in life is a gift. it is from God -- seek Him on how to use it.

Luke 10:1-4

It's not about .....NO EXCUSES.

Take no excuses and just go. He did not say think about it. We are not supposed to reject Jesus for them. When the opportunity is gone it's gone.

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God's creation

11/8/2016

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Well folks, we heard that some people prefer the notes to the podcast. So, we will furnish both on this blog (or should it be a plog or a Blogplog). Below I will type out my notes and then share the video from this 11/6/2016. I recommend you look up the scriptures too. I'll put a link to Biblegateway so you can read them right online. Thanks for visiting:

God's creation is perfect in that God created it exactly as He intended to. Think about this -- all the things we create (we humans that is) have purpose. Even art that hangs on a wall has purpose.

Genesis 1:1-2

Genesis 1:26

God created us for a purpose. He created us to be good stewards (managers) of His creation. God created us to be His vessels. We carry the Spirit of God within us. We can have compassion for everything (no other animal can do this). He created us to be stewards like He is in regard to us.

Romans 1:20

No one is immune to seeing God's handiwork. DNA -- God's signature! We are surrounded by God's creation, His very fingerprints. God doesn't have a reject pile.

Randall Factory story -- if the knives aren't perfect the Randall staff don't allow them out of the factory.

Again, God doesn't have a reject pile!

Psalm 139:13-14 -- I am fearfully and wonderfully made. God made me the way He wanted me to be. I ought to respect this. God's fingerprints are on me. On everything I've done, experienced, seen; my gifts -- they are all over me (His fingerprints). We will see the whole picture of our lives when we get to heaven. We will see that God was always there. God never let's go of us. We should acknowledge God's handiwork in us.

Romans 8:19-21

God created us for life. The whole earth fell when the stewards fell (If a rancher would suddenly leave his ranch and cattle unattended for months on end, that ranch and the cattle would suffer. If a business manager/owner left the business and didn't take care of it, it would suffer or be closed up).

The creation waits to be reborn. We have a glimpse of that. We got a special peek of life -- God showed us eternity through His Son.

2 Corinthians 5:17

Part of the reason I accept where I am is because I know where I am going.

James 1:18 We have a new job. We were created spotless through Christ as God's first fruits!

We are all that special. We are each a custom creation. We are intended for great things. God made you specifically for a specific job.

Ephesians 2:10: "For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them."

God created the work when He created the tool.

When we are reborn we have a job to do. We are meant to be doing something in our lives. When we accept that salvation we have a job to do. We won't be truly happy until we are doing the work God has called us to do. You will be most content when you are God's instrument. We have to be about our Father's business.

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Our Service

10/25/2016

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What is your superpower?

The Life and Mission of a Soldier for the Cross

Everyday Faith

Bread

Sowing Seeds

The Harvest: Help Wanted

God's creation

Our Service

Shannon Hinrichs

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