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FAMILY NEWSTIMBERS TODAY: We need you at Timbers nursing home at 1:45 P.M. this afternoon for a worship service that begins at 2:00. This is a 30-minute service, but we just need people to sing and talk to and help the residents. TONIGHT’S CLASS: Last Sunday we started talking about evolution and the biblical record by looking at examples of evolution in every day life and in the Bible. We spent quite a bit of time looking at fossils, and talking about the importance of the fossil record. Tonight we will continue that discussion with a detailed study of what the Bible actually says. SUNDAY MORNING CLASS is digging into the book of Acts. You are missing a lot if you are not a part of this class. It is different because we are not doing a verse by verse study, but rather getting an understanding of the book, its author and why it is in the Bible. This is not a lecture or a sermon; but a discussion based on a video series and a lot of good points are being made. Join us at 10:00 A.M. next Sunday. WEDNESDAY NIGHT SPECIAL: We are studying the history of the kings of Israel. Richard Hoyt is leading us through a detailed discussion of the good and the bad. Be here at 7:00 P.M. Wednesday as we study Kings and Chronicles. TODAY'S LESSON
INTRODUCTION — Did you watch the Winter Olympics?
(Before getting into the sermon John referred to the song "Sweet Hour of Prayer.")
A. Olympians devote their lives to their sport.
I. JESUS CALLS US TO BE SPIRITUAL OLYMPIANS.
1. Most start as a child with 6-10 hrs. per day.
B. All their work can be destroyed by one mistake.
2. Most have made a huge financial investment. 3. Olympians get put in the hands of professionals. Judges look at any trivial mistake — legalism.
A. Matthew 5:46-48 — Perfect = Complete
II. PAUL USES OLYMPICS TO DESCRIBE CHRISTIANS.
B. 2 Timothy 3:16-17 A. Greeks and Romans had massive sporting events.
III. THE ANALOGY BREAKS DOWN
B. Hebrews 12:1 — “Lay aside every weight and sin.” C. 2 Timothy 4:7 — Our judge does not look for “bad.” Matthew 25:34-42
D. Philippians 3:7-8 — Paul gave all to run the race.*
1. Philippians 3:9 — “Faith of Christ” not “Faith in Christ”
E. Philippians 3:12 — “Strain to win”. You cannot look back. 2. “Knowledge of Christ” — Philippians 3:8 A. In physical races there is only one winner.
IV. WHAT RACE ARE YOU RUNNING?
1. 1 Corinthians 9:24 — In our race ALL can win.
B. Our race is more important — it is eternal.
2. 1 Corinthians 9:25 — Discipline in ALL THINGS Cannot let distractions take us out of the race.
C. Commitment to the race is important.
1 Corinthians 9:26
D. In our race the Judge helps us.
1. Acts 2:38 — The gift of the Holy Spirit
E. 2 Timothy 4:8 — All participants are winners.2. Our Judge is infallible — Winter judges are not A. THE RAT RACE?
What will the rat race win for you?
B. God calls us to run the Spiritual Olympics.
All Christians will win!! Be a victorious Christian!
THE BACK PAGE“BUT I DON'T WANT TO RUN THE RACE!!”Do you ever get to the point where you just want to sit down and be left alone? All of us know that in the material world that is not an option. There were times as a public school teacher where I just wanted to lock myself in my office and leave my class of 32 adolescents to their own devices. That simply was not an option. Whatever your job is or was, you can say the same thing. I have great envy for a farmer who deals with weeds and dust and animals, but doesn't have to deal with humans. Unfortunately in today's world even my farmer friends find themselves in a rat race they would rather not be a part of thanks to government rules and overhead issues. The race that God calls us to is not like the material world races we are forced into. Jesus said “These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace” (John 16:33 NKJV). In Romans 5:1 we read “Being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” In Romans 3:10-17 we read a description of the rat race: “their throat is an open sepulcher; with their tongues they have used deceit; everything they say has in it the sting and poison of deadly snakes and their mouths are full of bitter curses. … Destruction and misery are in their ways: and the way of peace have they not known: there is no fear of God before their eyes.” Acts 10:36 finds Paul saying “God has sent his Message to his people by preaching peace through Jesus Christ, the Lord of all.” The Christian race is a race of peace and love and companionship. When you come to services there is no competition. When you clean up the highway, work in the food pantry, minister to the residents at Timbers, prepare blankets for children isolated by the acts of their parents, help transport someone, or help clean their house you are doing something that is relaxing and rewarding and totally non-competitive. The Olympics that Jesus calls us to is peaceful, full of love, service, full of blessings, and eternal in nature. Our sign by the street! Scripture links/references are from BibleGateway.com. Unhighlighted scriptures can be looked up at their website. www.dowagiaccoc.org |
