Culture of Passion (sermon notes from last Sunday)

Queen Mary sent me this funny recently…
An elderly woman walked into the local country church. The friendly usher greeted her at the door and helped her up the flight of steps. "Where would you like to sit?" he asked politely. "The front row please," she answered. "You really don't want to do that," the usher said. "The pastor is really boring." "Do you happen to know who I am?" the woman inquired. "No," he said. "I'm the pastor's mother," she replied indignantly. "Do you know who I am?" he asked. "No," she said. "Good," he answered, "Let me show you to the front pew."

Today I’m continuing a new VISION sermon series…
Let’s Dream Again church!
Please visit the Vision Bulletin Board in the foyer…
The LORD stopped whispering and MEGAPHONED me some clear marching orders…

I truly believe God is giving us A NEW NAME!
Scripture is full of God changing names because of the power in a name…
No matter Where You’ve been
No Matter What You’ve done
You can begin again
NEW BEGINNINGS CHRISTIAN CENTER of the Assemblies of God is now our legal name on file with the sec. of state’s office…
I feel it is important to send a clear msg to our community and within these walls that the Assembly of God in Rogue River is a place of NEW BEGINNINGS in Jesus…
Really all we’re doing is giving ourselves an identity…
Before the name change we were simply identified by our denomination…
We’re choosing Christian Center because we want to communicate that we are Christian 1st and AG 2nd…
Methods change But the Message remains the same
Ministries Begin and End But The Church will Never die
Matthew 16:18…Jesus said… I will build my church, and the gates of Hell will not overcome it.
Philippians 3… 13Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, 14I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.
We’ve already talked about creating a culture of Mission and Love at NBCC

Today we get to continue creating a culture of PASSION
Proverbs 29:18 declares
Without a vision, People perish
The people of God must be focused, purposed and even a little passionate about Christ’s Church!

David says in Psalm 69:9…for the zeal of thine house hath eaten me up
I had to get a little “king James ey”
maybe even a little Pentecostal
for the zeal of thine house hath eaten me up
You may not know it…but today is Pentecost Sunday
It kinda snuck up on us
Do you still believe the Spirit of God is alive and active today in the Body of Christ?
Does God still baptize in the Holy Spirit?
Can the book of Acts become reality in 2009?
wake up church
are we his bride passionately seeking His Return or not?

It doesn’t matter how young you are
or how old you are
I remember George Hill grabbing a microphone and shedding tears over the gospel
It doesn’t matter how healthy or how sick you are
I remember Don Luker grabbing a microphone and shedding tears over His Jesus
Romans 12:11 says Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord.
If your feeler is broke
If your tractor never gets cranked
If your passion is dull
do something about it Christian!
Ask for a fresh infilling of the Spirit of God TODAY!

I never ever want my head to get bigger than my Heart
I never want the troubles of this world to steal my passion for Jesus
I think it was Swindoll that said…Life is 90% attitude and 10% circumstance…
Proverbs 4:23
Above all else guard your heart for it is the wellspring of life

There are 4 main passions at NBCC…
1. Powerful Word

Hebrews 4:12...For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.
When you open the Bible do you feel anything?
Don’t misunderstand me,
You can’t always trust feelings, sometimes you don’t feel anything and you have to act in faith…
But that’s sometimes, not ALL the time…
I still believe in the Power of the Bible
the Power of the Gospel
I believe that when you open and read the Word of God you can be changed
2Cor3 17&18
where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.
Romans 14:17
righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.

Let me share an unknown author’s love for God’s Word. The Bible is like a magnificent palace constructed of precious oriental stone, comprising 66 stately chambers. Each one of these chambers is different from the others, and is perfect in its individual beauty, while together they form an edifice incomparably majestic, glorious, and sublime. In the book of Genesis we enter the grand Vestibule where we’re immediately introduced to the records of the mighty work of God in creation. This Vestibule gives access to the Law Courts, passing through which we come to the Picture Gallery of the historical books. Here we find hung upon the walls scenes of battles, heroic deeds and portraits of valiant men of God. Beyond the Picture Gallery we find the Philosophers Chamber – the Book of Job – passing through which we enter the Music Room – the Book of Psalms – and here we linger, thrilled by the grandest harmonies that ever fell on human ears. Then we come to the Business Office – the book of Proverbs – in the very center of which stands the motto, “righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people.” Leaving the Business Office, we pass into the Research Department – the Book of Ecclesiastes – and thence into the Conservatory – the Song of Solomon – where greet us the fragrant aromas of choicest flowers, fruits, and the sweet singing of birds. We then reach the Observatory where the Prophets with their powerful telescopes are looking for the appearing of the “bright and morning star,” prior to the dawning of the “sun of righteousness.” Crossing the courtyard, we come to the Audience Chamber of the King – the gospels – where we find four life-like portraits of the King Himself, revealing the perfections of His infinite beauty. Next we enter the Workroom of the Holy Spirit – the Acts of the Apostles – and beyond that the Correspondence Room – the epistles – where we see Paul and Peter, James, John and Jude busy at their tables under the direction of the Spirit of Truth. Finally we enter the Throne Room – the Book of Revelation – where we are enrapt by the mighty volume of adoration and praise which is ever addressed to the enthroned King, and which fills the vast Chamber; while in the adjacent Galleries and Judgment Hall there are portrayed solemn scenes of judgment and wondrous scenes of glory associated with the coming and manifestation of the Son of God as King of Kings and Lord of Lords!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The #2 passion of NBCC is...Prayer

J.C. Ryle once preached a sermon on Christian Zeal…
He said if we make the Bible our rule of faith and practice, we cannot turn away from the subject of Zeal.
Titus 2:14 – Christ gave Himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are His very own, eager, zealous to do what is good.
Revelation 3:19 – The Lord Jesus said to the Church – Be earnest, be zealous, and repent!
To be zealous is to be wise, it is not some cooky experience, it is a burning desire to please God, to do His will, and to advance His glory in the world in every possible way. It is a desire that is not natural to man; it is the result of the Spirit placing such burning in the heart of the believer!

Do not fear the reproach of men. Do not faint because you are sometimes abused. Don’t let it bother you if you are sometimes called a bigot, a zealot, a fanatic, a crazy person, and a fool. There is nothing disgraceful in these titles. They have often been given to the best and wisest of men. If you are only zealous when you receive praise for it – if the wheels of your zeal must be oiled by the world’s commendation, your zeal will be short-lived. Do not care for the praise or the frown of man. There is only one thing worth caring for, and that is the praise of God. There is only one question worth asking about our actions: “How will they appear in the day of judgment?”

A zealous person in Christianity is preeminently a person of one thing. It is not enough to say that they are earnest, strong, uncompromising, meticulous, wholehearted, and fervent in spirit. They only see one thing, they care for one thing, they live for one thing, they are swallowed up in one thing; and that one thing is to please God. Whether they live, or whether they die – whether they are healthy, or whether they are sick – whether they are rich, or whether they are poor – whether they please man, or whether they give offense – whether they are thought wise, or whether they are thought foolish – whether they are accused, or whether they are praised – whether they get honor, or whether they get shame – for all this the zealous person cares nothing at all. They have a passion for one thing, and that one thing is to please God and to advance God’s glory. If they are consumed in the very burning of their passion for God, they don’t care – they are content. They feel that, like a candle, they were made to burn; and if they are consumed in the burning, then they have only done the work for which God has appointed them. Such a person will always find a sphere for their zeal. If they cannot work, or give money, or a man cannot preach, then they will cry out and sigh, and pray. Yes: if they are extremely poor, on a perpetual bed of sickness, they will make the activity of sin around him slow to a standstill, by continually interceding against it. If they cannot fight in the valley with Joshua, they will do the work of Moses, Aaron, and Hur, on the hill. (Exodus 17) If they are cut off from working themselves, they will give the Lord no rest until help is raised up from another quarter, and the work is done.

Church we gotta keep on Pushin! Remember P.U.S.H – Pray Until Something Happens! Prayer is more than a formula or a quaint chat with the big guy upstairs! It is Our Passion! It is our bread and water! It is our life!

The 3rd Passion of NBCC is…Ardent Worship

Miscommunication, Misunderstanding: what a plight!
Yet, this seems to be a reality when we talk about worship. Worship is not just singing songs on Sunday; worship is a lifestyle. When someone says “I didn’t get anything out of the worship service today” it is obvious that they do not understand that worship is unto God. Well, the worship service wasn’t for your entertainment, it’s not supposed to be about your taste/style/likes or dislikes! We’re getting together to perpetuate God’s design: loving Him and loving others.
I love what A.W. Tozer said….To really know Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord is to love and worship Him! As God’s people, we are so often confused that we could be know as God’s poor, stumbling, bumbling people, for we are most prone to think of worship as something we do when we go to church on Sunday! We call it God’s house. We have dedicated it to Him. So, we continue with the confused idea that it must be the only place where we can worship Him. We come to the Lord’s house, made of brick and stone and wood. We are used to hearing the call to worship: “The Lord is in His holy temple – let us kneel before Him!” This is on Sunday and in church-very nice! But on Monday, as we go about our different duties, are we aware of the continuing Presence of God? The Lord desires still to be in His holy temple, wherever we are; for each of us is a temple in whom dwells the Holy Spirit of God!

C. S. Lewis believed worship to be the cornerstone of a believer’s spiritual life. The fundamental command of scripture is that we are to love God with our whole being and to worship and serve only Him. The bedrock of the local church’s ministry is its worship service. The manner of worship reflects the depth of our relationship with God-both individually and corporately.
But what is the proper way to worship? Many changes in worship services have occurred in recent times. Synthesizers, guitars, and drum sets have often replaced pianos and organs. Upbeat repetitive praise choruses are replacing the traditional hymns and gospel songs. Drama, choreography, hand raising, and clapping are practices commonly associated with the more informal-contemporary “celebrations.” Changes and practices such as these can be very disturbing to many older Christians, who have been spiritually nurtured on a more meditative type of service. Yet according to Scripture (John 4:24), there are just two basic requirements for true worship: (1) in spirit and (2) in truth. Differences based on cultural change and age preferences alone should never divide the family of faith. Each of us must learn to differentiate between unchanging biblical principles and variable cultural practices.
Regardless of our preferred styles of music and forms of worship, let us reaffirm our purpose each time we gather in our Lord’s name to claim and to bask in His promised presence: Mathew 18:20 “for where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them”
To truly glorify and adore the Lord our God
To offer praise and gratitude for all of our spiritual provisions and material blessings
To hear, learn and respond to the inspired Scriptures
To petition for our own needs as well as the concerns of others
To ask and receive divine forgiveness for our sins
To gain a greater desire to represent our Lord worthily in this needy world
It is in the process of being worshipped that God communicates His presence to people.
again I declare that your pastor is committed to fighting to keep the generations together which means every service is designed to be somewhat of a smorgasbord, the old and the new

So NBCC’s Passions are
the Word, Prayer, Worship, and finally Relationships
Let me close with an acronymn I’ve shared before developed by Doug Fields
Relationships… R.E.L.A.T.I.O.N.S.H.I.P.S.

R stands for Relational Approach!
1 Thessalonians 2:8, the apostle Paul says we loved you so much that we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but our lives as well, because you had become so dear to us.
This doesn’t sound like the half-hearted approach many of us give to the church. This is a full-commitment, total resolve, even a reckless abandon!

E stands for Encouragement!
1 Thessalonians 5:11 – Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.
Paul says don’t let any unwholesome talk come out of your face, but only what will build others up…
I want NBCC to be filled with Christians who are the very essence of exhortation, bubbly, sappy Jesus freaks.
Proverbs 18 our tongues have the power for life or death

L stands for Laughter and celebration!
John 10:10 Jesus said - the thief comes to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full or more abundantly!
Proverbs 17:22 – laughter does good like a medicine
Nobody wants to be in relationship with people who take themselves too seriously. My God has a wonderful sense of humor! You want a know how I know? He made skunks! Cmon why? Are they good for anything, and even if they do serve some purpose couldn’t there be another way? Truthfully, one of the best things you can do is laugh at your problems! He’s bigger and better than any situation, put it in his hands. I want this to be a church of laughter!

A is for Acceptance
James 2:1 – My brothers, as believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ, don’t show favoritism.
This is the basic need of all humanity.
To belong, To be accepted, To be loved unconditionally!
Get your nose out of the air; a bug might fly up there!
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again if we’re nothing more than a social club with a cross on our building, I want out!

T is for Transparency
1 Corinthians 2:3&4 – I came to you in weakness and fear, and with much trembling. My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power.
Transparency is the road to freedom!
Integrity…I am who I am not matter where I am and no matter who I am with…

I is for Involvement
1 Corinthians 12:14 – Now the body is not made up of one part but of many.
If your not engaged in God’s kingdom work, then we are one too many short of making a difference. What is God calling you to do?
Everyone is a minister…Everyone needs a ministry

O is Outreach Orientation
Matthew 28:19 – Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
What would happen if every one of us made the commitment to atleast offer an invitation to church every week!? …some are just waiting to be asked.

N is Numerical Growth
Acts 9:31 – 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.
YES LORD
I still believe and LOVE the church, the hope of the world!
Love believes in all things!
Let’s Dream Again Church
we serve a God who specializes in the impossible!

S is Spiritual Growth
Hebrews 6:1 – Therefore let us leave the elementary teachings about Christ and go on to maturity!
Family of God please don’t just rely on the preacher to feed you week to week! You’re responsible for your own spiritual growth, Real growth happens in your prayer closet!

H is Home-like
Ephesians 2:21 – in Him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord.
When we think of a holy temple many of us have visions of grandiose stone-chiseled cathedrals! But, we are the temple! Wherever there is a Christian, that is a temple! I desire the church to feel comfortable, not stuffy! I want to walk into NBCC and feel like I’m home, kick of my shoes and relax with God’s homies! One of the ways we could be better at this is when a member returns from being absent say “welcome back” rather than “where have you been?” Let’s go out of our way to let people know there missed, not try to shame them in the door! Guilt is not God’s tool; that’s the wiles of the enemy!

I is Intimate
James 5:16 – Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.
This is what I’m talking about when I say “one-anothering.” There is an intimacy in the church that can even surpass your natural family, because the blood of Jesus binds us together for all eternity!
If we can’t keep confidences; we can’t keep calling ourselves the church of Jesus! Intimacy is only fostered thru the utmost trust. Miracles happen when we begin to trust one another that’s what James 5 promises!

P is Professional
Proverbs 22:1 – a good name is more desirable than great riches; to be esteemed is better than silver or gold.
Why do it unless you do it with excellence?
Why do it unless you do your best?

And the last letter of our ever so long acronymn
S is Strategic Follow-up
Proverbs 27:23 – Be sure you know the condition of your flocks, give careful attention to your herds.
I truly have no idea how many people call us their church and almost every Sunday brings different people. I need your help keeping better track of people especially as we grow! And many of these honory southern Oregonians want to hide, but let’s get em!
If we all decide to be good greeters than no one will be missed… it’s not just up to the bozemans…
You never know how far a simple note in the mail will go or a phone call or any little thing God may use you to help people feel welcome…
It’s up to all of us…as a matter of fact, it means more coming from a member of the church than from the pastor…cause people tend to think… oh that’s his job…

Hear it again and for the first time…
No Matter Where you’ve been
No Matter what you’ve done
You can begin again
Come to Jesus