Perris Valley Church

Simply Christmas: The Word became Flesh 12/2/18

This Christmas season, we are going to look at the story of the birth of Christ through the eyes of all the Gospel writers. Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John all wrote content to be delivered to others to tell them about the life of Jesus. And all four of them wrote their letters of Good News to different audiences, telling about Jesus to people all over the world.

 

This season, we are going to take the writings of these four men, lay them out, piece together one chronological event that tells the Christmas story from beginning to end, and read and study the story from beginning to end.

 

Point number 1 in your notes this morning:

The Christmas story actually starts from before time began.

 

Point number 2 in your notes this morning:

God the Father sent messages and messengers to announce the coming of the Son.

 

Point number 3 in your notes this morning:

The Child was born in the manger for one reason: To Die on the Cross.

Whom do you ask for Wisdom? 11/4/18

If we are to ask God for wisdom and he will give it to us when we ask, it would be fair to say but if you ask this world for wisdom it will give you it’s interpretation of wisdom when you ask.

 

Point number 1 in your notes this morning:

When God gives wisdom, there is an expected result.

 

 

Point number 2 in your notes this morning:

The world can give a dishonest form of wisdom.

 

 

Point number 3 in your notes this morning:

The Wisdom from our Lord is recognized in changed behavior.

 

Earthly wisdom is a result of being self-focused instead of God-focused!

 

If we are focused on ourselves, the world will be thankful

If we are focused on ourselves, we won’t stand out in culture

If we are focused on ourselves, Satan rejoices!!

 

But if we are God-focused – The world might hate us

If we are God-focused – our lives should bring peace

if we are God-focused – We are willing to put others first

if we are God-focused- we don’t play favorites

if we are God-focused – We care about pleasing God,

if we are God-focused – Our needs are second to all things

The Bible Doesn’t Say That: Obedience leads to Financial Blessing

This morning we are going to look at the worldly, and unbiblical teaching that:

“Obedience always leads to financial blessings.”

But, contrary to popular belief…

The Bible Doesn’t Say That.

 

God chooses the blessings He gives in return for obedience.

 

God is the gift giver, and he gets to give a gift based on our needs, not based on our wants and desires.

 

If God is the giver of the blessing, is not right for Him to be able to decide what his blessing actually will be for us? Would it not be fair for us to put faith in God knowing that He knows the blessing that each one of us needs… And that each one of us has need that is different from anyone else.

I know this is going to shock you… It’s going to shock many people… but not everyone needs a blessing of finance.

 

• Sometimes what people really need is a blessing of have a friend who will answer the phone and listen.

 

• Sometimes what people really need is a blessing of rest.

 

• Sometimes what people really need is a blessing of the sunset reminder that God is still there.

 

• Sometimes what people really need is a blessing have a coworker cool tell them about Jesus.

 

• Sometimes what people really need is a blessing the phone call from a relative that you haven’t talked to in 12 years.

The Bible Doesn’t Say That: Do Not Judge 10/7/18

We are going to look at one of the most used verses, and misinterpretation of a verse, from the secular world against the church. We are going to look at the first line of defense that the ungodly among us reach for in defense of their behavior. I truly believe that there are many people who never open up their Bible but cling to these words and use these words the throwback in the face of Christians, as if these worldly defenders of their ungodly behaviors are biblical scholars. There’s a very good chance that you may have heard somebody utter these words in a way that legitimizes their actions… I’m here to tell you the way the world presents these words – this representation is not the Bible.

The King James Version of the Bible has

783,137 words

But an amazingly large swath of the Western world simply only wants to read three words:

Do not judge.

The Bible Doesn’t Say That: More than you can Handle 9/30/18

This morning we’re going to focus on a very popular secular quote that is constantly attributed to the Bible that it’s simply not there.

• It’s a quote that does more harm than good.
• It’s a quote that encourages people lead themselves through whatever life gives them.
• It’s a quote that many people rely on in our times of trouble and tribulation,

But as Christians… We should know better.

It’s a quote that the world uses to try and remind us that:

• We are strong
• That we are empowered
• That we are unstoppable
• That Nothing is going to get in our way

There’re many amazing things the Bible does say… but one of the many that our culture thrives upon that the Bible absolutely does not say is:

“God won’t give you more than you can handle.”

 

The Bible Doesn’t Say That: God helps those who help themselves 9/23/18

There is an over-reaching attitude that everyone needs to:

• Take care of themselves, first.
• Look out for number one.
• Focus on your needs before anyone else’s.
• Be your own
• eBay tells us to - “Buy it, sell it, love it”
• Facebook tells us to - Be Connected. Be Discovered. Be on Facebook.
• McDonald’s reminds us 2 focus on self when - I’m Lovin’ It
• Nike tells us to - Just Do It

And even more, our world seems to place in process on the fact that if you are in a dire situation you first need to step out and help yourself before you reach out to other people for help.

 

Some people in our culture use this phrase to justify their behavior towards those who are less fortunate in our world. Have you ever heard someone talk about the person who’s at the street corner holding the sign and as they sit at the light in the air-conditioned car - and they say about that person holding the sign, “They need to go get themselves a job!”?

 

It’s about this world using a phrase to assign priorities to them selves into other people. It’s also an excuse to be selfish, and a demand selfishness from other people.

 

It’s as if culture will determine somebody else’s worth based on how much that person is willing and able to take care of themselves.

 

When we read, God helps those who help themselves, not only is it that The Bible Doesn’t say That, the Bible teaches quite the opposite.

Devoted: to Prayer Sept 16 2018

We see more than a half a dozen times in the first few chapters in Acts that the early church went to prayer

• regularly,
• fervently, 

Not only was prayer and important part of the life of the early church… It was a direct command of Jesus.

It’s a literally talking to God. It’s holding a conversation with the

• Lord of heaven and earth,
• the creator of all things,
• the Alpha and the Omega,
• the beginning in the end…
• The one who can move mountains.

Devoted: The Bread and the Cup - Sept 9, 2018

We have been studying the second chapter of the book of Acts, and specifically verse 42 which reads:

They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.

This verse shows attributes of Bible study, fellowship, prayer, and the breaking of bread that have been benchmarks of the church since the year 33 A.D. This morning we are going to focus on the devotion that became part of the early church and was taught by apostles and what has become what we referred to as “the Lord supper.”

Devoted: Trust and Obey - Sept 2, 2018

The Bible clearly gives a purpose, a plan, and a path to each person as we will walk this road together. And many of the Bibles teachings are very specific – And NOT open to interpretation by our modern culture. It demands that if you and I are going to grow closer to Christ, in order to experience the blessings of a Life lived for Jesus, we must be obedient to his Word!

We see throughout the Bible that obedience to God’s Word brings blessings and disobedience to the word of God it Brings disaster. We can clearly see that as a church we must have deep devotion to biblical obedience. And as individuals walking this road that Christ has led us on, WE MUST HAVE INDIVIDUAL AND PERSONAL DEVOTION TO BIBLICAL OBEDIENCE.

 

 

1) Devotion to obedience is the pledge that believers make when they come to Jesus.

 

2) If it is God’s plan, He will pave the way if we are obedient.

 

3) Being Devoted to Obedience will require sacrifice.

 

4) Obedience takes practice

Devoted: Now Serving #47 - August 26, 2018

Acts 6 1-7

6 Now in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplying, there arose a complaint against the Hebrews by the Hellenists, because their widows were neglected in the daily distribution. ² Then the twelve summoned the multitude of the disciples and said, “It is not desirable that we should leave the word of God and serve tables. ³ Therefore, brethren, seek out from among you seven men of good reputation, full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business; ⁴ but we will give ourselves continually to prayer and to the ministry of the word.”

⁵ And the saying pleased the whole multitude. And they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit, and Philip, Prock-er-us, Nick-a-nore, Tie-man,

Par-men-us, and Nicolas, a proselyte from Antioch, ⁶ whom they set before the apostles; and when they had prayed, they laid hands on them.

⁷ Then the word of God spread, and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests were obedient to the faith.

 

 

A Church devoted to reaching others for Christ, must be devoted to serving others for Christ.

 

Service comes in different forms to different people.

 

Service is always a sacrifice