September 14, 2008
Sermon Notes
September 14, 2008
Walking with God: TALKING with FRIENDS
PASSING OF THE PEACE - Who knows you best?
DOES ANYONE KNOW YOU SO WELL THAT:
A. Know your actions (v2)
B. Know your thoughts, even though they’re not around (v2)
C. Know you ways (to the point there are no surprises) (v3)
D. Know what you are going to say, before you speak (v4)
QUESTION: Does anyone know you that well?
SCRIPTURE: Psalm 139: 1 – 18
PS 139:1 O LORD, you have searched me and you KNOW ME.
PS 139:2 You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar.
PS 139:3 You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways.
PS 139:4 Before a word is on my tongue you know it completely, O LORD.
POINT: God Knows Us!
Question: Does anyone know you as well as God?
POINT: We are in a relationship with God.
TO KNOW SOMEONE (BETTER)
QUESTION: How does someone know you? (better)?
PUPPET MESSAGE
Friends talk to each other. That’s how they get to know each other.
LAST WEEK
PUPPET MESSAGE
Are you a better listener or talker?
During the Passing of the Peace
How often do you listen to God?
During the Sermon:
FOCUS: Relationship & Listening
POINT: Walking with God (& others) requires: LISTENING
TODAY: Walking with God (relationship) (& others) requires: TALKING
QUESTION: Are we made to talk with God?
Is God interested in hearing from us?
PRESUPPOSITION: God has created us for intimate FRIENDSHIP with God and others.
Thus we are called to TALK
SCRIPTURE (LAST WEEK): Genesis 2
God created us for relationship with God and others
CHALLENGE TO THE PRESUPPOSITION:
Question: Does God want to be intimate with us?
Many good responses throughout history:
A. Deist: Clockmaker
God winds up creation to tick and is not interested in what kind of time the clock keeps.
B. God is too busy to have time to spend with us and our trivia.
(unfair) QUESTIONS:
In the last 7 days how many times have you talked to God (& listened to God).
In the last 7 days how many people have you spoke to more often than you talked to God?
How many people do you know better than you know God?
Who do you have a better relationship with God or (fill in the blank)?
OLD TESTAMENT
Setting the scene: God is talking to Moses
SCRIPTURE: EXODUS 29:43 - 46
43 there also I will meet with the Israelites, and the place will be consecrated by my glory.
EX 29:44 "So I will consecrate the Tent of Meeting (portable temple, until Solomon: Temple) and the altar and will consecrate Aaron and his sons to serve me as priests. 45 Then I will dwell among the Israelites and be their God. 46 They will know that I am the LORD their God, who brought them out of Egypt so that I might dwell among them. I am the LORD their God.
NOTE: God is entering into a relationship more now than previously. This is not at the level of friendship, but at the level of relationship (God is worthy of worship).
Setting the Scene: This is speaking about relationship with God that is different
SCRIPTURE: Exodus 33: 11a
The LORD would speak to Moses face to face, as a man speaks with his friend.
Note: It is not the whole faith community, but just Moses who speaks to God as a FRIEND. In the Old Testament, the friendship of God is through a representative (priests & prophets)
NEW TESTAMENT
NOTE: In the New Testament, the friendship of God is transformed through the mediator Jesus and the veil of the temple (symbolic division) is torn down and we individually have access to God (Acts 2:3).
SCRIPTURE: Ephesians 2: 14 – 18
EPH 2:14 For he himself is our peace, who has made the two one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, 15 by abolishing in his flesh the law with its commandments and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one new man out of the two, thus making peace, 16 and in this one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility. 17 He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near. 18 For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit.
NOTE: we no longer require the priest to access God.
SCRIPTURE: Hebrews 10: 19 – 22
HEB 10:19 Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, 20 by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, 21 and since we have a great priest over the house of God, 22 let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water.
FOCUS: A new relationship with God (direct access)
POINT: Jesus as high priest death on the cross brings us closer to God
NOTE (v19): The only day the High Priest could enter the Holy of Holies, the presence of God, is on the Day of Atonement. As Christians, we enter the presence of God, not through the priest, but direct access to God through Jesus, Emmanuel (God is with us) through the priestly sacrifice of Jesus, his own death.
NOTE (v20): “NEW” because Jesus has created a completely new relationship for us with God.
NOTE: (v20): “CURTIN” (or “veil”) – was a three foot curtain separating the people from God’s presence in the Holy of Holies. This veil was torn when Jesus died on the cross (Matthew 27:51; Mark 15:38; and Luke 23:45).
NOTE (v21): “GREAT PRIEST” is a literal rendering of the Hebrew title “High Priest”
NOTE (v22) “LET US DRAW NEAR” is an exhortation that God wants us in a relationship "with a sincere heart." “sprinkled to cleanse” is imagery of the High Priest “sprinkling” within the Holy of Holies (Exodus 29:21 and Leviticus 8:30). “Bodies washed with pure water” is a reference to baptism. This cleansing is an outward sign of an inward cleansing.
OUR PURPOSE IS TO HAVE INTIMACY (RELATIONSHIP) WITH God (as seen last week).
SCRIPTURE (Last Week): John 10: 3 - 10
3 The watchman opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. 4 When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice. 5 But they will never follow a stranger; in fact, they will run away from him because they do not recognize a stranger's voice." 6 Jesus used this figure of speech, but they did not understand what he was telling them.
JN 10:7 Therefore Jesus said again, "I tell you the truth, I am the gate for the sheep. 8 All who ever came before me were thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. 9 I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. He will come in and go out, and find pasture. 10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.
JN 10:11 "I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheEP.
SCRIPTURE: John 15:13
Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.
SCRIPTURE: John 15:14
You are my friends if you do what I command….
QUESTION: What does Jesus command us to do?
SCRIPTURE: John 15: 17
This is my command, LOVE ONE ANOTHER.”
CONCLUSION: WHAT A FRIEND WE HAVE IN JESUS.
POINT: Jesus calls us friend.
Jesus calls us to love in our friendship
Point: We have a friend in God,
Like the Good Shepherd of last week,
The more we grow in our relationship with God, the more we will
Know the voice of God and follow after God;
POINT: Jesus laid down his life for us because we are his friend.
RECAP: Questions about “who knows you best”?
SCRIPTURE: Psalm 138: 1 – 8
PS 138:1 I will praise you, O LORD, with all my heart; before the "gods" I will sing your praise.
PS 138:2 I will bow down toward your holy temple and will praise your name
for your love and your faithfulness, for you have exalted above all things
your name and your word.
NOTICE: the relationship between humanity and God. It is not one where God is purely interested in us worshipping (reverence) and bowing down (respect), but also a relationship that includes love.
Think of those parent/child relationships where the child only respects the parent and does not love, because love was not given by the parent.
What’s the greatest commandment: Love God
God wants a relationship and not just homage
PS 138:3 When I called, you answered me; you made me bold and stouthearted.
PS 138:4 May all the kings of the earth praise you, O LORD, when they hear the words of your mouth.
PS 138:5 May they sing of the ways of the LORD, for the glory of the LORD is great.
PS 138:6 Though the LORD is on high, he looks upon the lowly, but the proud he knows from afar.
PS 138:7 Though I walk in the midst of trouble, you preserve my life;
you stretch out your hand against the anger of my foes, with your right hand you save me.
NOTICE: The two way street, God in this relationship is not passive, but active in our lives, active through love. Acts of love.
PS 138:8 The LORD will fulfill his purpose for me; your love, O LORD, endures forever--
do not abandon the works of your hands.
What “endures forever? Love
POINT: God loves you
I john
I Corinthians 13:13, and the greatest of these is love John 3:17 “KNOW” (GK WORD)
Psalm 139: Yahweh Knows Me!
QUESTIONS
In an ordinary week, how often do you ask God for guidance?
CHALLENGE
Journal
We’re all different
For some of us Journaling is a way to walk closer with God
If you have never tried Journaling, perhaps this is a time to begin.
IF Journaling is new to you are not your cup of tea, if you go to our website, there is an Amazon link of the book, and there is “A Personal Guide to Walking with God: Workbook for individual or Small Group Study.” Some of the questions we are using at
September 14, 2008
Walking with God: TALKING with FRIENDS
PASSING OF THE PEACE - Who knows you best?
DOES ANYONE KNOW YOU SO WELL THAT:
A. Know your actions (v2)
B. Know your thoughts, even though they’re not around (v2)
C. Know you ways (to the point there are no surprises) (v3)
D. Know what you are going to say, before you speak (v4)
QUESTION: Does anyone know you that well?
SCRIPTURE: Psalm 139: 1 – 18
PS 139:1 O LORD, you have searched me and you KNOW ME.
PS 139:2 You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar.
PS 139:3 You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways.
PS 139:4 Before a word is on my tongue you know it completely, O LORD.
POINT: God Knows Us!
Question: Does anyone know you as well as God?
POINT: We are in a relationship with God.
TO KNOW SOMEONE (BETTER)
QUESTION: How does someone know you? (better)?
PUPPET MESSAGE
Friends talk to each other. That’s how they get to know each other.
LAST WEEK
PUPPET MESSAGE
Are you a better listener or talker?
During the Passing of the Peace
How often do you listen to God?
During the Sermon:
FOCUS: Relationship & Listening
POINT: Walking with God (& others) requires: LISTENING
TODAY: Walking with God (relationship) (& others) requires: TALKING
QUESTION: Are we made to talk with God?
Is God interested in hearing from us?
PRESUPPOSITION: God has created us for intimate FRIENDSHIP with God and others.
Thus we are called to TALK
SCRIPTURE (LAST WEEK): Genesis 2
God created us for relationship with God and others
CHALLENGE TO THE PRESUPPOSITION:
Question: Does God want to be intimate with us?
Many good responses throughout history:
A. Deist: Clockmaker
God winds up creation to tick and is not interested in what kind of time the clock keeps.
B. God is too busy to have time to spend with us and our trivia.
(unfair) QUESTIONS:
In the last 7 days how many times have you talked to God (& listened to God).
In the last 7 days how many people have you spoke to more often than you talked to God?
How many people do you know better than you know God?
Who do you have a better relationship with God or (fill in the blank)?
OLD TESTAMENT
Setting the scene: God is talking to Moses
SCRIPTURE: EXODUS 29:43 - 46
43 there also I will meet with the Israelites, and the place will be consecrated by my glory.
EX 29:44 "So I will consecrate the Tent of Meeting (portable temple, until Solomon: Temple) and the altar and will consecrate Aaron and his sons to serve me as priests. 45 Then I will dwell among the Israelites and be their God. 46 They will know that I am the LORD their God, who brought them out of Egypt so that I might dwell among them. I am the LORD their God.
NOTE: God is entering into a relationship more now than previously. This is not at the level of friendship, but at the level of relationship (God is worthy of worship).
Setting the Scene: This is speaking about relationship with God that is different
SCRIPTURE: Exodus 33: 11a
The LORD would speak to Moses face to face, as a man speaks with his friend.
Note: It is not the whole faith community, but just Moses who speaks to God as a FRIEND. In the Old Testament, the friendship of God is through a representative (priests & prophets)
NEW TESTAMENT
NOTE: In the New Testament, the friendship of God is transformed through the mediator Jesus and the veil of the temple (symbolic division) is torn down and we individually have access to God (Acts 2:3).
SCRIPTURE: Ephesians 2: 14 – 18
EPH 2:14 For he himself is our peace, who has made the two one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, 15 by abolishing in his flesh the law with its commandments and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one new man out of the two, thus making peace, 16 and in this one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility. 17 He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near. 18 For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit.
NOTE: we no longer require the priest to access God.
SCRIPTURE: Hebrews 10: 19 – 22
HEB 10:19 Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, 20 by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, 21 and since we have a great priest over the house of God, 22 let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water.
FOCUS: A new relationship with God (direct access)
POINT: Jesus as high priest death on the cross brings us closer to God
NOTE (v19): The only day the High Priest could enter the Holy of Holies, the presence of God, is on the Day of Atonement. As Christians, we enter the presence of God, not through the priest, but direct access to God through Jesus, Emmanuel (God is with us) through the priestly sacrifice of Jesus, his own death.
NOTE (v20): “NEW” because Jesus has created a completely new relationship for us with God.
NOTE: (v20): “CURTIN” (or “veil”) – was a three foot curtain separating the people from God’s presence in the Holy of Holies. This veil was torn when Jesus died on the cross (Matthew 27:51; Mark 15:38; and Luke 23:45).
NOTE (v21): “GREAT PRIEST” is a literal rendering of the Hebrew title “High Priest”
NOTE (v22) “LET US DRAW NEAR” is an exhortation that God wants us in a relationship "with a sincere heart." “sprinkled to cleanse” is imagery of the High Priest “sprinkling” within the Holy of Holies (Exodus 29:21 and Leviticus 8:30). “Bodies washed with pure water” is a reference to baptism. This cleansing is an outward sign of an inward cleansing.
OUR PURPOSE IS TO HAVE INTIMACY (RELATIONSHIP) WITH God (as seen last week).
SCRIPTURE (Last Week): John 10: 3 - 10
3 The watchman opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. 4 When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice. 5 But they will never follow a stranger; in fact, they will run away from him because they do not recognize a stranger's voice." 6 Jesus used this figure of speech, but they did not understand what he was telling them.
JN 10:7 Therefore Jesus said again, "I tell you the truth, I am the gate for the sheep. 8 All who ever came before me were thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. 9 I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. He will come in and go out, and find pasture. 10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.
JN 10:11 "I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheEP.
SCRIPTURE: John 15:13
Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.
SCRIPTURE: John 15:14
You are my friends if you do what I command….
QUESTION: What does Jesus command us to do?
SCRIPTURE: John 15: 17
This is my command, LOVE ONE ANOTHER.”
CONCLUSION: WHAT A FRIEND WE HAVE IN JESUS.
POINT: Jesus calls us friend.
Jesus calls us to love in our friendship
Point: We have a friend in God,
Like the Good Shepherd of last week,
The more we grow in our relationship with God, the more we will
Know the voice of God and follow after God;
POINT: Jesus laid down his life for us because we are his friend.
RECAP: Questions about “who knows you best”?
SCRIPTURE: Psalm 138: 1 – 8
PS 138:1 I will praise you, O LORD, with all my heart; before the "gods" I will sing your praise.
PS 138:2 I will bow down toward your holy temple and will praise your name
for your love and your faithfulness, for you have exalted above all things
your name and your word.
NOTICE: the relationship between humanity and God. It is not one where God is purely interested in us worshipping (reverence) and bowing down (respect), but also a relationship that includes love.
Think of those parent/child relationships where the child only respects the parent and does not love, because love was not given by the parent.
What’s the greatest commandment: Love God
God wants a relationship and not just homage
PS 138:3 When I called, you answered me; you made me bold and stouthearted.
PS 138:4 May all the kings of the earth praise you, O LORD, when they hear the words of your mouth.
PS 138:5 May they sing of the ways of the LORD, for the glory of the LORD is great.
PS 138:6 Though the LORD is on high, he looks upon the lowly, but the proud he knows from afar.
PS 138:7 Though I walk in the midst of trouble, you preserve my life;
you stretch out your hand against the anger of my foes, with your right hand you save me.
NOTICE: The two way street, God in this relationship is not passive, but active in our lives, active through love. Acts of love.
PS 138:8 The LORD will fulfill his purpose for me; your love, O LORD, endures forever--
do not abandon the works of your hands.
What “endures forever? Love
POINT: God loves you
I john
I Corinthians 13:13, and the greatest of these is love John 3:17 “KNOW” (GK WORD)
Psalm 139: Yahweh Knows Me!
QUESTIONS
In an ordinary week, how often do you ask God for guidance?
CHALLENGE
Journal
We’re all different
For some of us Journaling is a way to walk closer with God
If you have never tried Journaling, perhaps this is a time to begin.
IF Journaling is new to you are not your cup of tea, if you go to our website, there is an Amazon link of the book, and there is “A Personal Guide to Walking with God: Workbook for individual or Small Group Study.” Some of the questions we are using at
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