Meeting Minutes - March 2018

Hey Ladies!

Just a quick follow up on our meeting on March 18th:

We were able to pick some great closing songs for the month of May and through June 10th, so those are all posted. I also sent out an email and included anyone involved outside of our team. I'm waiting on a couple responses but over all, I think we're in good shape!

We also talked about putting our vocal team on hiatus for the summer months and then seeing where we're at. You have served so faithfully and I believe God is doing a 'new thing' as we press forward with our music ministry on the whole...so it's all good!

I shared about the idea of moving toward a 'worship choir' in the fall (we'll dig into that at our Sept.8th Worship Workshop) and I shared about the things I'll be putting my attention on over the summer months as it pertains to our band, tech team, and looking for God's leading in the team and how things will come together and shake out in His plans.

So, this break is a good thing and I believe we will all benefit from a break. I'll be in touch as far as what the fall months or planning special services will look like!

Enjoy your day and God bless!
Dana

Special Music - May and June - 2018

May 6 - "Out of Hiding" (Bethel) - Kara Ott/ Emily DiLorenzo
COMMUNION

May 13 - NONE (Mother's Day)

May 20 - Congregational Closing

May 27 - "Do It Again" (Elevation Worship) - VIDEO

June 3 - "Be Still" (Hillsong) - Worship Team


June 10 - "In Remembrance" (Hillsong) -
COMMUNION

Special Music - March & April 2018

Special Music – March & April 2018

March 4 – “One True God” (Steven Curtis Chapman) – Dana Ott

March 11 – NONE – Piano meditation / prayer

March 18 – “You Amaze Us” (Selah) – Dylan & Dustin Ott

March 25 – “So Will I” (Hillsong) – Dana Ott

March 30 – GOOD FRIDAY SERVICE:

                                “Mighty Is the Power of the Cross” (Chris Tomlin) – Dylan & Dustin Ott (guitar)

                                “Gethsemane” (Keith/Kristen Getty) – Becky Rochat (piano)

                                “How Deep the Father’s Love” (PCD) – Kathy Berry

                                “On My Cross” (FFH) – Dana Ott

                                “I Won’t Forget” (Hillsong) – Emily DiLorenzo (piano)

April 1 – EASTER – “Grace to Grace” (Hillsong) – Kara Ott

April 8 – “Your Love is Strong” (Jon Foreman) – Emily DiLorenzo

April 15 – “God Forbid" (Point of Grace) - Dana Ott

April 22 - "In Control" (Hillsong) - Kylie Austen

April 29 - "You Alone" (Kim Hill) - Kathy Berry

Message Descriptions - March - May 2018

Message Descriptions

March - May 2018

3/4 – Exclusive Faith (Psalm 16)

If you’re trying to invest in the stock market, one thing they tell beginners is that it is good to ‘diversify’.  Basically, that means you don’t want to do all of your investing in one fund or one realm in case something unforeseen causes that particular area to fall apart.  Having your investments spread out can help you be protected.  But with God, that same principle would bring you ruin. Many through history have tried to cover all their bases by worshipping many gods.  The thought was that if one god were to be false or weak, at least we were also serving other gods who could still help us.  But the true and living God is not one of many, and will not be served as part of some spiritual portfolio.  Instead, He demands exclusive faith.  Much like a marriage only works when the relationship is completely exclusive of other romantic connections, God is only truly ours when we worship Him alone. 

3,4 – the people I embrace vs those who chase other gods

Why?

1 – safety

9-11 – my confident hope

2 – anything good,

5 – you alone are my portion, my cup

6 boundary lines in pleasant places (what you give is perfect and enough)

7, 8 – guide

QUESTION: Do I honor those who reject my Lord, aspiring to their life in some way?  Is God enough for me?  Is He my hope and my trustworthy guide for this life?

3/11 – Whose Response Matters? (Psalm 17)

Do you remember the show “Who Wants To Be A Millionaire”? One of the rules of the game was that a contestant could make a phone call and get someone to help them answer a question.  But the contestant had to make the final call.  In other words, it didn’t matter if the phone-a-friend knew or even gave the right answer…. Only the contestant’s ‘final answer’ mattered.  We make choices all the time about whose ‘answer’ matters to us.  People give us ideas about our value, our actions, which direction we should choose, and many other areas of our lives.  But whose response matters to you?  David writes this song to declare his choice.

1.         Judge Me (v. 1-5)

2.         I Choose Your View (v. 6-12)

3.         You Deal With Them (v. 13-16)

QUESTION: Do you know that the Lord sees everything in your life?  Are you determined that His response is the only one that will ultimately matter to you?  Will you by faith entrust others (and their opinions of you) to the Lord?

3/18 - When God Answers (Psalm 18)

As Christians, we talk all the time about ‘praying’ for one another.  And when we face hard times or trouble, we go in prayer to the Lord, asking Him to help us or to give us answers. This ‘prayer’ stuff can be so common that we begin to just move from one prayer need to the next, keeping our eyes towards the problems and trouble.  And it often feels like a never-ending stream!  But maybe we have neglected to recognize when God answers.  Maybe our lives are heavier and darker in part because we never do what David does in this song. When God answers your prayers, what should you do?

(you make it known!)

Start with ‘intro’ to psalm – the situation that brings David to write this

v. 1 – I love you Lord – my strength

v. 2 – Rock, fortress, deliverer, refuge, shield, horn of salvation, stronghold

v. 3 – I called and He answered

Themes throughout the Psalm

QUESTION: What can you give thanks to God for?  How should you / will you give thanks?

How often does God answer and we react in silent or quiet gratitude? 

3/25 – Can Everyone Know God? (Psalm 19)

Palm Sunday

If you’ve ever wondered what happens to the guy on some deserted island who has never heard about Jesus, this is the psalm for you! David talks about many different ways that creation speaks about God. And as we listen to him discuss these realities, it helps us understand that every single person on earth has an invitation to know God.  How does it work?  What is God doing each day to show Himself to the world?  Let’s dig into this song and find out how David describes God’s self-revelation and look at His response.

1.         The Heavens / Creation (v. 1-6)
Universal declaration

2.         The Law / Bible (v. 7-11)

Specific information

Acts gives us at least two stories (there are more) about this process

Ethiopian Eunuch – Acts 8 and Cornelius Acts 10

Romans 1 includes the same theme

What David and Paul tell us is that God’s existence and nature are clearly shown to all the world by creation – and that God knows how to get the truth to open hearts – those who have received the truth

3.         God Examines Us All (v. 12-14)

You guide me – you decide what is good and what isn’t

Examine my heart – I don’t trust myself – see if there is anything unacceptable – help me to do what is right

How can we believe that each person has a chance to know God?  Can I make an excuse that it wasn’t clear enough?  Loopholes and semantics….

QUESTION: If God is making His presence and person known every day, can we join Him?  Do we treasure the specific revelation of God in His Word?  And do we respond in faith like David, asking God to lead our lives?

4/1 – No Mistake / Accident (Psalm 22)

EASTER

This Sunday is the most precious to all Christians.  It is the day we celebrate the resurrection of our Lord. The events of the weekend that we remember are the basis for our faith and the reason we have the hope of eternity in heaven.  But as the actual events unfolded thousands of years ago, the disciples and those around Jesus probably felt like this was a tragedy unfolding. As Jesus was arrested, beaten, and crucified, the experience of those who loved Him was undoubtedly that this was all some terrible mistake.  But Easter is an untragic tragedy.  A mistake that happened according to plan.  Since we’re looking at the Psalms, let’s look at a Psalm that shows us that Easter and the crucifixion were no accident.  And because of that, we can have complete trust in God’s promise of salvation and eternal life!

1.         Before It Happened

Messianic Psalm

Along with Isaiah 53, one of the most specific passages about Jesus’ death

v. 1

v. 6-8

v. 14-18

v. 24 – hint of resurrection

Psalm 16:10 – not suffer decay

Throughout His ministry, we find the gospel writers quoting Him over and over – I will be killed and rise again after 3 days – the chief priests and the leaders will take me and put me to death…

He chose this!

He chose to do it FOR YOU!

He didn’t have to – but He wanted to take your place

FIRST BIG POINT:  Jesus chose to die for you – it was no accident

He did this so that we could be God’s children

If you’ve received it, live like you’ve received the greatest gift you’ll ever know

And if you haven’t, receive that gift today – let Jesus take your place, let His choice to die for you for your sin wash you clean and bring forgiveness to you

The resurrection was always going to be the end – because when Jesus finished paying, He was going back to heaven to be with the Father
And He was going to be the One to bring NEW LIFE to all who believe

Easter is about more than JUST forgiveness… it is about NEW LIFE as well – your old life can be gone and you can have a new life for a higher purpose – a pure and honorable life that isn’t empty or pointless

2.         Since It Wasn’t Accidental

God is able to take the most wicked act ever done and use it to accomplish the most loving and gracious act ever done

With God, nothing is hopeless

Easter is a celebration of the resurrection – that death itself could not stop God

It is an invitation to every man to come and find salvation – to turn from your sin and your lost life and find new life and eternal hope through Jesus

SECOND BIG POINT:  You can trust Him with ANYTHING

Just like the cross, nothing is an accident or surprise to God

But just like the cross, nothing is too big or too bad for God to overcome

Chains? Broken
Guilt? Forgiven

Weakness? Strength

Darkness? Light

If your situation seems hopeless, is it as hopeless as death?  If so, remember, Jesus rose!

QUESTION: Does knowing that God planned Jesus’ death and resurrection bring you assurance that you can trust Him with anything?  Have you given your life to Jesus and put your trust in His plan for your life?

4/8 – My Shepherd (Psalm 23)

Do you have a movie that you can watch over and over and over?  Many blockbuster movies have been made over the last decade, but how many of them have that special something to allow you to watch more than just once?  Whether it is the nuance of story or some emotional power, a great movie that really resonates with you can be like an old friend that brings unique comfort whenever you spend time together.  The psalm we look at today is kind of like that old friend as well.  It is a very famous passage of Scripture that has been read and recited innumerable times.  But it has that special something that always works.  Let’s explore this song together and regrip the timeless truths it gives.

1.         My Provider

My Shepherd – no lack / chosen viewpoint

Lie down in green pastures / quiet waters – provision

2.         My Protector

Refresh my soul / guide me

Dark valley – Fear no evil

Prepare a table before me – safe from enemies – anoint my head with oil

3.         My Promise

Goodness and love will follow me – SURELY

Eternal life

QUESTION: Is the Lord your shepherd?  Do you trust Him to provide for your needs so that you lack nothing?  Do you trust Him to protect you in the darkest moments?  Do you believe in His promise for your life?

4/15 – The King Of Glory (Psalm 24)

What makes someone a king?  In the most literal sense, it is the power they hold over the people they rule.  But we’ve attached the title ‘king’ to other realms too.  We called Michael Jackson the “King of Pop” and Aretha Franklin the “Queen of Soul”.  Elvis of course was the ‘King of Rock and Roll”.  In these terms, we use this title to talk about someone who is incomparable in their talent and ability.  And we honor that!  This psalm is about the incomparable nature of God Almighty.  In it, David talks about the way that God is so much more than we think, and calls us to consider His greatness.  Let’s do that today!

1.         Incomparable / no rival or equal (v. 1-2, 7-10)

Earth is the Lords / He made it and owns it

Who can ascend to him on the throne?

Almighty -

Glory

Temple filled with His glory – had to leave

Moses sees His glory – description of glory

2.         False / small god (v. 3-4)

3.         SEEK HIM (v. 5-6)

QUESTION: Have you had a ‘small’ view of God?  Are you willing to humbly acknowledge His greatness and glory?  Have you acted like something is comparable to Him, even though nothing is?

4/22 – Do We Trust God? (Psalm 25)

Do you have ‘trust issues’?  Maybe you grew up in a home where things were unstable or even unsafe.  Or maybe you have been through relationships where what was said turned out to be far from the truth.  For some of us, trust is difficult simply because fear has such a big voice in our lives.  But did you know that your ability to trust is KEY to a relationship with the Lord?  You cannot have a healthy, life-giving relationship with Him without trusting Him.  So those trust issues that you’ve been carrying all this time have a higher price tag than you might expect.  David writes about trusting the Lord.  He had plenty of reason to be scared of what God would do to him for the mistakes he made. And he could often find reasons to think that God’s plan for his life was a terrible plan.  But David writes this song to declare that he chooses to trust the Lord.  Do we?

Trust (v. 1-3, 19-22)

I put my trust – thoughtful, deliberate, chosen

Two areas where this proves out in real life:

For Guidance in Life (v. 4-5, 8-10, 12-14)

Is God’s way good and best?  Is it trustworthy?

Do is the path of your life, when entrusted to God, a place of rest, peace, and joy?

Are we content and satisfied with God’s way?

For Forgiveness of Sins (v. 6-7, 11, 15-18)

That God would be merciful

That God would save the unworthy

Will He?  Does He?  Has He?

The purest way of living by faith is by trusting God’s promises for your deepest problem and letting Him steer your life

QUESTION:  How complete is your trust in the Lord?  What else seems to offer security and good to you?

4/29 – Courage (Psalm 27)

In the famous movie, The Wizard of Oz, one of the characters is looking for courage. Ironically, that character is a lion!  He goes with the crew to ask the wizard to give him courage.  But in the end, he finds out that he had courage all along.  He mistakenly thought that since he was scared in the face of danger that he was lacking the ability to be courageous.  Being a Christian can be quite the same.  We are faced on many fronts with dangers and threats, both big and small.  And our world adds their voices of panic to our own internal ones on a daily basis.  So we can be scared – and often with good reason.  But that doesn’t mean we can’t be courageous.  In fact, our mission as children of God depends on us living with courage.  Let’s look at how David thought this issue through and see if we can learn from one who has walked this path before us!

1.         I Will Not Fear What I See (v. 1-3)

2.         What Confidence Looks Like (v. 4-13)

3.         Wait (v 14)

How often God stacks the odds – deliberately, visibly, obviously

Paul / Silas chained to a wall in prison – released

Elijah on Mt Carmel

Lazarus in a tomb (waiting for him to die!)

Israel at the Red Sea

QUESTION:  What seems most powerful to you… your challenges or your God?  What if God has chosen to stack the odds in your life so that you learn how to have courage and faith even when it looks hopeless?  What if that kind of courage is what it takes to fulfill your great purpose in this life?

5/6 – Repentance (Psalm 32)

COMMUNION

How many times do you keep going in a wrong direction simply because you don’t want to admit you’re wrong?  Men have this reputation in driving, but all of us tend to do it in life.  We are scared of unknown reactions or opinions of others.  We are dreading the drama that comes from the conversations that follow an admission of wrong.  Or we just don’t want to face the uncomfortable of the unknown, so we choose the uncomfortable of the known.  Spiritually, it is a life or death issue.  We call it repentance: the willingness to turn from godless ways and turn to the Lord.  It is coupled very often in the New Testament with the call to salvation.  In other words, if you want eternal life, you have to repent.  You have to choose to turn away from what is wrong and allow God to forgive you.  But there is a huge barrier in most people to this great gift.  David talks about repentance in this psalm, and describes the journey from hiding to confession and forgiveness!

1 Blessed (v. 1-2)

2. Hiding (v. 3-5)

3. Lesson (v. 6-11)

QUESTION: What approach have you taken to your sin?  Is the heaviness convincing you to stop covering and hiding and come clean with the Lord? How much does God’s forgiveness mean to you?

5/13 - Eve’s Value (Genesis 1:27-28; 2:20-23; 3:20)

Mother’s Day

On this day, we honor and celebrate our mothers and the role of being a mother.  God designed this role to be an example of His care and love for each of us.  And He made us helplessly dependent on our moms when we were born.  Yet the world has taken to treating women like property or trash.  We objectify them and use them in media and around the world as sex objects.  This affront to God’s heart and design for women matters to God’s people.  We’re going to take a look at the value that women and moms have.  And then we’re going to have a chance to join the fight to stand up for women who are helplessly trapped by those who would use and abuse them.  In honor of our mothers, let’s stand with millions of mothers around the world who don’t know where their daughters are today.  And let’s do something about it.

Genesis 1:27-28, In God’s Image

Genesis 2:20-23 – bone of my bones, flesh of my flesh – interdependent and intertwined male and female – cannot devalue one without wrecking the other

Genesis 3:20 - Role – Mother of all living

Connection to mothers….

There are children whose mothers have failed them – and kids who don’t even know their mother

There are mothers who can’t sleep at night and agonize every day because they don’t know where their daughter is

Our world has devalued life, honor, and especially women

As believers, some of what we know is that MAN and WOMEN have value before God

And we want to stand for that

Children matter – and women matter

But today, we’ve grown as a society to a place where we overlook the abuse of children worldwide – not even aware of what is happening

And we’ve been educated as a society in the ways that men have treated an entire gender as object and servants who are here for the pleasure of men

Does this have an effect on the way mothers operate today?  Do the scars and the cumulative effect of this society do anything to the way kids are mothered today?

What does a teenage girl thing being a woman means?  Will she pass that on to her daughters someday?

What does a Christian think? How should we live?

Many mixed messages given to us – through mainstream movies like 50 shades, through cable shows and series, through straight up porn

Does no mean no – does being a man mean that we don’t take no for an answer?

How do we know how to live – how do we have any framework to pass on (as moms AND dads) a viewpoint that will honor God and people?

Men – when will we see the cause of honor here and engage?  When will we step up to teach our sons?  Where will we step into the work that needs to be done!

The Dignity and Value of Women in a world that trashes them

MeToo – TimesUP

So much damage, wreckage – but we have a Redeemer and Healer

Psalm 34:18 – the Lord is close to the broken hearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit

What can we do – we are praying that God would unleash His healing power at Hope through relationships, worship, the Word, and any other way

Hope For Justice – Hope Sunday – response

2 children sold into slavery in the world EVERY MINUTE

But let’s attack the root – let’s get to the very lowest fallout of this reality

Human trafficking

This is how we do our part to join with the church rising up to change the world

Slavery must end – traffickers must be put out of business and made to answer

5/20 – Sing! (Psalm 33)

Elizabeth Barrett Browning wrote a short sonnet titled “How Do I Love Thee” which has been famously quoted many times.  She is trying to capture the heart that overflows with love for someone.  The words that she finds don’t seem to be quite enough, no matter how big they are.  And the love she’s expressing is all-encompassing: from youth to old age, from joys to sorrows.  While we can understand this concept in romantic love or infatuation, we often do not associate it with our worship. Yet David gushes about God in this psalm.  His love and praise seem to search for descriptions big enough to capture what he is thinking and feeling.  But if you had to sum up his point, it could probably be done with one word: sing.  We are invited to sing and make music to our Lord for more reasons than we can count.  This song is destined to be one of joy and gratitude.  But before we find our way to hearts that are full, we have to be ready to use music with everything we have to express our love for our Lord!

1.         Ways To Praise Musically (v. 1-3)

Sing – joyfully TO the Lord

God’s people should sing

Praise Him

With musical instruments

Sing a NEW song –

A new song –

Even ‘old’ songs are new each week

But not just a dusty old history of songs – music coming from the response of the soul TODAY and NOW

Play skillfully

Shout

2.         Reasons to Sing! (v. 4-19)

3.         The Choice to Sing (v. 20-22)

Close: 34:1-3 – let this be our choice!  Our decision… our determination

Extol the Lord at ALL TIMES – always be on my lips

Glorify the lord WITH ME – exalt His name TOGETHER

5/27 – Taste and See (Psalm 34:4-17)

A money back guarantee is a very useful marketing tool. It suggests that the seller is so confident in the quality of the product and in your satisfaction with it, that they will undo the sale if you are dissatisfied for any reason. They are inviting you to basically do a ‘taste-test’ on their product because they are convinced you’ll want to keep it. David found himself in a moment of life when he was unsure of what the future held.  And in response, he wrote a song that invites his soul (and ours) to simply taste and see that the Lord is good.  Basically, he says that every time he takes a step of faith in the Lord, God always proves His goodness. And so in dark moments or times when we are lost, we are invited to come and taste again by faith.  The guarantee is much stronger than the advertisements we see because this one is based in the very character of God.

Our God saves (v. 4-7)

The Lord is Good (v. 8-10)

I Will Teach You (v. 11-17)

QUESTION:  Has God proven Himself to you yet?  Have you given Him a chance to (recently or ever)? Will you take a step of faith let God show you His goodness and faithfulness?

6/3 – The Desires Of Your Heart (Psalm 37)

How many times have you thought you knew what you wanted, only to find out later that you were mistaken? Desire can be a tricky thing.  We want what we THINK we see and we imagine what it will be like when we have it.  But reality is a stubborn thing, and our fantasy idea of what it will feel like or be like when we have what we want can dissolve in the face of what actually is.  So is desire wrong?  Absolutely not!  In fact, one of the promises of God is found in this psalm, and it says that God will give us the desires of our heart. But it isn’t just some magic formula where God becomes our genie and gives us whatever we wish for.  This promise is based on some simple choices about where we set our heart.

1.         Three Steps (v. 3-5)

Trust

Delight

Commit

2.         Ignore the Evil (v. 1-2; 9-11)

3.         Wait Patiently (v. 7-8)

QUESTION: Will you trust in the Lord, delight in Him, and commit your way to Him?  Do those who do wrong distract you and make you discontent?  Can you let God teach you to wait patiently before Him?

6/10 - Communion

6/17 – Father’s Day

Special Music - January - February 2018

January 7 - "The Stars in the Sky" (Kari Jobe) - Kylie Austen (piano accompaniment)

January 14 - "No Longer I" (Matt Redman) - Dylan & Kara Ott (guitar accompaniment)

January 21 - "Waiting in the Wings" (Point of Grace) - Kathy Berry

January 28 - NONE (Job Fair)


February 4 - NONE (Teen Service)

February 11 - "Anchor" (Hillsong) - Kelli Russell (piano/guitar accompaniment)

February 18 - "Hope for the Broken World" (Casting Crowns) - Melissa McGinness

February 25 - "Forgive Me" (Tenth Avenue North) - Matt Russell (guitar accompaniment w/ Kara)

Message Descriptions - January - February 2018

1/7 – Looking for God’s Glory (Psalm 8)

More and more people are taking up the conversation about the existence of God.  The theme of this age is, where is He?  They ask, “If God exists, why doesn’t He show Himself?”  This psalm from David is the answer to that question.  God is indeed NOT hidden.  Evidence of Him is visible throughout the earth.  And David tells us that this evidence expresses the glory and majesty of God. But the central point of this song is not about God’s greatness; instead, David uses the majesty of God as the setup to his amazement at how good God is to mankind.  And from this psalm we learn that God is most clearly seen in His kindness and care for people.

God’s Majesty is through all the earth (v. 1, 9)

You can see evidence of God’s greatness everywhere you look – from biology to astrophysics, from the simple gift of life to the joy of being alive

Seen in the heavens (1, 3)

We don’t look up like men have throughout history – but when we do, it gives us a sense of HOW GREAT God is

And how small we are

The beauty of creation can take our breath away – and fill our hearts with wonder

Using the small to show His strength (2)

God is so great that He even uses the very small to display his power

God Is SO Good To Us (v. 4-8)

This is the big point of the psalm – God loves mankind

He doesn’t have to – and no one makes Him care about us

But it is beyond dispute that He does care about us – and that He has given us amazing gifts

We are crowned with glory and honor – beyond the angels who live in heaven itself

He cares for us beyond His love for the angels – He died to rescue us, not them!

It is not OUR beauty that drives this love – it is His love – and we are amazed

QUESTION: Have you marveled at how great God is?  Has your heart been filled up with the thought that He loves you, even though you are so small compared to Him? Will we open our eyes to see the glory of God?

1/14 – Giving God Credit (Psalm 9)

COMMUNION

Let’s say you have a moment of brilliance.  An amazing idea springs into your mind and you just know that it is one of your greatest.  Then pretend you share it with someone in your excitement, and you just know they are going to be excited with you.  But instead, they steal your idea and claim it for their own.  They get all the credit and everyone thinks they came up with it themselves.  That would really be deflating!  To have someone take the credit for something you did.  Our song from Psalm 9 for today reminds us that we should be careful not to do this exact thing to God.  How often do we take credit for what God actually provides and does?  David challenges us to give thanks with all our hearts and to recognize the incomparable power of God that is at work in our lives and in our world.

1.         Giving Thanks with All Your Heart (v. 1-2, 13-14)

What does this look like?

What should come from hard times?

2.         The Lord Always Wins (v. 3-12, 15-17, 19-20)

God never loses – and never will

Do we act like this is true? Do we feel it and speak it and live it?

There is no power or plan that can overcome the Lord - NONE

3.         God’s Remembers the Needy (v. 18)

The undefeated almighty God CHOOSES to direct His power towards those who need help

He will NEVER forget…..

Hope will NEVER perish

COMMUNION – Romans 4:18ff – Abrahams hope and ours

QUESTION: What does ‘giving thanks with all your heart’ look like for you? Is your confidence in the Lord Almighty alone?  Can you connect that to His heart of compassion for the needy?

1/21 – Is God Hiding? (Psalm 10)

Little kids love to hide.  Unfortunately, many of them are not very good at it.  Maybe that’s a good thing!  They think if they hide their face or close their eyes, no one can see them.  If you’re playing hide and seek with a little one, you may have to pretend you don’t see their legs sticking out from under the bed or whatever hiding place they’ve chosen.  Generally, it is pretty easy to find them.  But sometimes, we feel like God is hiding from us and we can’t seem to find Him.  David wrote a song about a moment like this.  In this case, wicked folks were acting like God would never call them into account, and David was wondering where God was as they boasted and planned their selfish lives. But David turns His complaint into a prayer of faith. And we can take His example when it seems like God is hiding from us!

1.         The Question (v. 1)

Sometimes – YES!

Why?

2.         The Boasts and Plans of the Wicked (v. 2-11)

The wicked show themselves – God’s justice becomes more evident

3.         The Hope We Have (v. 12-18)

But God will not stay hidden – He will show Himself at the right time

QUESTION:  How do you work through the times when it feels like God stands far off? Do you think (like they do) that the wicked are escaping God’s judgment? Or is your faith sure that God will set all wrong things right?

1/28 – More Than A Feeling (Philippians 2:3-4; Matt 14:13-21)

Job Fair

When Dorothy says “There’s no place like home” in the Wizard of Oz, it is her way of summing up her longing to finally get home.  There is something about the way a true home “feels”.  It’s more than a location or just a place to sleep and eat.  You feel relaxed and at ease. You are comfortable with the others around you in the house and feel like you belong.  When we talk about our church being a family, we’re talking about the same kind of thing.  Since we’re a spiritual family, we are connected by the Holy Spirit and welcomed into the family no matter what. But it isn’t just an accident or something over which we have no control.  That feeling actually holds firm and grows as we embrace certain behaviors with passion and faithfulness. Today, we’re going to talk about how serving is central to being a Christian and to any healthy church family.

Our church ‘feels’ a certain way

It isn’t magic or accidental

Some key elements of how God works – and how He’s called us to work and grow

People matter – Jesus is the answer – we want people to see Him and not us – faith is the way we are connected to our Lord

All of these are big deals – all of them

Serve the Lord with gladness

Share Jesus/ the way truth and life

Philippians 2:3-4

1.         The antidote for self centered

Most of the problems we struggle with in life originate in our natural human self-focus

Relationship problems, temptation, anger, worry, pride, greed, sexual sin,

2.         The answer to a power worshipping world

Big church, small feel – serving together

Done it for the least of these

3.         Little Becomes Much

One of the only stories of Jesus’ life that is told in all 4 gospels

What do we learn from this?

Little acts of service in the hands of a mighty God turn into powerful miracles that turn people to Jesus  and bring glory to His name

Big calling / God takes our little and makes it profoundly large (5 loaves, 2 fish)

 (Bowling)

Videos / testimonials / the WHY

QUESTION: Where can you commit to serve?  Where can you explore serving?  Can you see how the Lord will use these opportunities to help you get your eyes off yourself?

2/4 – Teen Service

We love our teens.  They are some of our most valuable people at Hope. On this Sunday, we get to enjoy them as they share their faith with us.  Come and be blessed as young people lead our service with our team of youth workers. 

(Dave should have a message description for this as the day approaches)

2/11 – God Our Refuge (Psalm 11, 12, 13)

We’ve seen so many disastrous storms over the past few years and the damage they cause is truly unbelievable.  Whether you’re looking at the loss of life or the devastation to property, it is hard to imagine the overwhelming power of hurricanes.  Lump in other natural disasters like tornadoes, earthquakes, and wildfires, and we start to realize that we are quite fragile and relatively powerless.  Does that mean we are doomed to live scared and running?  David often uses the picture of God as a hiding place – a place of refuge and safety.  When we are up against forces that threaten to overwhelm us, do we know what David knew: that God is a place we can go to be safe?

1.         Where do you hide? (11)

Helpless bird

Targeted and vulnerable

In the Lord I take refuge

2.         Trustworthy Words (12)

3.         Until I Trust (13)

How long?

Rejoice in salvation

Sing the Lord’s praise

He has been good to me

QUESTION:  Do you know firsthand what it feels like to have God as your refuge?  When so much of what we hear is untrustworthy, are you still capable of trusting the Lord?  Is He your first and only hiding place?

2/18 – The Fool (Psalm 14)

COMMUNION

Mark Twain once said, “It ain’t what you don’t know that gets you into trouble. It’s what you know for sure that just ain’t so.” Surely, we can all relate to the idea of being so certain of something only to find out we were absolutely wrong. This same idea plays out in people spiritually.  People are so sure that there is no God, or that all roads lead to Him.  However, David writes that we would be fools to act, think, or speak like God does not exist. And the stakes are incredibly high.  People all tend to reject God in some way, and a day comes for each person when they will be filled with dread.  If we recognize that we answer to God Almighty, our dread in this life can lead us to His saving grace.  Otherwise, He is only our judge and we will not fare well before Him!

1          Lost People (v. 1-4)

2.         Filled with Dread (v. 5)

Now or later!

3.         Our God Saves (v. 6-7)

Longing for the promise to be realized – confident in God’s heart for the poor and endangered

The largest danger any person faces is eternity apart from God

COMMUNION – Romans 3 – quotes this psalm – then v. 21-26

QUESTION: Do you live like we have a living, all-powerful God?  Is He your salvation and your refuge?

2/25 – The Behavior Of God’s People (Psalm 15)

Different groups of people have different patterns of living.  If you travel to Eastern Asia, you’ll notice a different take on how to live honorably from the Chinese and Japanese. If you were to go to Europe, you’d definitely notice a different standard of morality.  Even in America, we differ in noticeable ways.  If you’re from the Northeast, try going down to the South and dealing with a different mentality on driving.  Worse still, watch a Southerner try to deal with our traffic pace and patterns!  Similarly, God’s people should have patterns of living that are generally true.  In Psalm 15, David talks about the kinds of behaviors that should be typical of those who have given their lives to the Lord.

LIFESTYLE

Blameless / righteous – does what is right

WORDS

Speaks – truth, no slander, casts no slur

Keeps an oath, does not change their mind

ACTIONS

Does no wrong to neighbor, lends money to poor without interest, does not accept a bribe against the innocent

VALUES

Despises a vile person, honors those who fear the Lord

QUESTION: Do we live like we belong to God? Where do our words or actions need to be submitted to the Lord and reflect His character?  In what way does belonging to God practically affect our life choices and direction?

3/4 – Exclusive Faith (Psalm 16)

If you’re trying to invest in the stock market, one thing they tell beginners is that it is good to ‘diversify’.  Basically, that means you don’t want to do all of your investing in one fund or one realm in case something unforeseen causes that particular area to fall apart.  Having your investments spread out can help you be protected.  But with God, that same principle would bring you ruin. Many through history have tried to cover all their bases by worshipping many gods.  The thought was that if one god were to be false or weak, at least we were also serving other gods who could still help us.  But the true and living God is not one of many, and will not be served as part of some spiritual portfolio.  Instead, He demands exclusive faith.  Much like a marriage only works when the relationship is completely exclusive of other romantic connections, God is only truly ours when we worship Him alone. 

3,4 – the people I embrace vs those who chase other gods

Why?

1 – safety

9-11 – my confident hope

2 – anything good,

5 – you alone are my portion, my cup

6 boundary lines in pleasant places (what you give is perfect and enough)

7, 8 – guide

QUESTION: Do I honor those who reject my Lord, aspiring to their life in some way?  Is God enough for me?  Is He my hope and my trustworthy guide for this life?

Message Descriptions - 12/17 - 1/7/18

12/3 – An Unanswered Prayer (Psalm 4)

Have you ever felt like you prayed for something over and over, but God just didn’t answer? All of us understand that we may have to wait a little for God to address our situation, but there are times when it feels like He just hasn’t heard at all.  In those moments, we have to figure out what we’re going to believe and how we’re going to respond.  This song from David is about that very spot in life.  David cries out to God for an answer.  It is as though he has been asking about something over and over, but God has not answered.  How does David process this and what does this song teach us about a situation like this?

1.         I Need An Answer (v. 1-2)

Seems that this has been a prayer for a while – and no answer has come

Relief from my distress

Mercy on me – HEAR my prayer

Possible that v. 2 is David’s original complaint – people aren’t taking God seriously – they are turning to worship other gods

Ultimately, the content of David’s request isn’t as important to us today as David’s way of dealing with God’s lack of answer

2.         What Do You Believe? (v. 3-5)

Know

The Lord has set apart His faithful servant for himself – I am the Lords, even when He doesn’t answer

The Lord hears – v. 1, please hear me… now, I know he hears me

Do not sin – still worthwhile to obey – do right, and stop doing wrong – listen to Him, even when it feels like He isn’t listening to us

Offer sacrifices – still worth sacrificing, honoring, worshipping God

Trust in the Lord – what do I believe?

3.         I Know You’ll Answer (v. 6-8)

Who will bring us prosperity – who will meet our needs – we have lack now, we need supplies now, but God isn’t answering

David’s answer…. God loves us and is just about to let the light of His face shine on us

WHEN their grain and new wine abound, I will be filled with joy – it’s coming, and I’m already envisioning the answer that seems like it will never come

I will be at peace – I will sleep

You make me live in safety – you alone

QUESTION: Are there prayers in your life that seem unanswered?  Do you believe that God still hears, that He still holds you, that it’s still worth living for Him?  Can we put our faith in Him even when He hasn’t answered yet?

12/10 – What A Beautiful Name (Eph 5:19-20; Matt 1:21; 16:15-16; Acts 10:36; Acts 4:12)

Christmas Cantata

The Christmas story is precious for many reasons, but one of them is that it is a story of a baby.  Any parent understands how overwhelming it is to experience the birth of your child.  They are unspeakably valuable and irreplaceably necessary in your life.  When it is your first child, you suddenly go from just being a regular person to being a parent!  And then you get to name this tiny infant.  The story of Jesus’ birth includes the details of giving Him a name.  And as our choir sings this musical entitled “What A Beautiful Name” we are reminded that the name of Jesus is more than just something we call Him.  It stands for WHO HE IS.  So we’ll close our service by taking a few minutes to look at the beautiful, wonderful, powerful name of Jesus!

The name of Jesus

Jesus – Matt 1 - Savior

Christ – Peter confession – promised one, Son of the Living God

Lord – leader – the one who leads us

His name is who He is

His name is what He promised – that God Himself would come and save us – then show us the way to live

Taking us from death to life, from darkness to light, and from bondage to freedom

QUESTION: Do you know Jesus like this?  Is He your Savior, God, and Leader?

12/17 – Jesus Isn’t Seasonal (Matthew 6:9-13)

Kids Christmas Program

Christmas is a time of year when our thoughts turn to music and lights.  Some of the greatest enjoyment we get on Christmas is connecting with the wonder and excitement of children. So this day is a special one each year as our kids present their Christmas songs.  And we will love having them on stage and sharing their voices and smiles with us.  But Christmas is more than warm feelings and sweet memories.  The true message of Christmas is one that goes beyond Christmas season.  And we’ll take a few moments at the end of the service to look at some of the most famous words that Jesus ever said, and what they mean for us.

Daily Bread – Lord’s prayer….

Every day – we need Him every day

Manna – only for today

What Christmas brings, you need – and not just during Christmas season or on Christmas eve – every day

Life doesn’t wait until it is convenient to get hard and heavy – pain shows up without warning, and struggle arrives uninvited

You need Jesus all the time

We meet EVERY week – and we give our lives to Jesus every day

QUESTION: Will you consider expanding what Christmas means to you beyond just this coming week?  Does your life need more than just one week’s worth of spiritual help or hope?

12/24 – Christmas Eve Service

This is the night each year that we gather to anticipate the celebration of Christmas Day.  It is steeped in tradition and family, but there is only ONE reason that we hold it so precious: Jesus Christ our Savior was born.  The Bible tells us that He is God’s Son, sent to rescue each person from death and sin, and to offer restoration of our relationship with our Creator. The hope and peace that are available to each person is the greatest gift ever given, and the story of our Savior begins with the events of Christmas.

12/31 – When I Can’t Go On (Psalms 5 & 6)

Human beings have limits. Sometimes, we give up too easily. But many times, we feel our exhausted bodies or hearts giving way.  Whether it is a physical, emotional, relational, or spiritual struggle, we all find ourselves in dark moments when it feels like we can’t go on.  David felt this way too, and the two Psalms we’ll look at today capture his thoughts and prayers during a moment like this. Our faith doesn’t wipe away how difficult and painful life can be. And it can feel like God is abandoning us or ignoring us.  But this song reminds us that we can have a conversation with ourselves in our faith and it can make a miraculous difference, allowing us to endure in hope.

A Groaning Heart (5:1-3)

My Case (5:4-12)

An Exhausting Journey (6:1-10)

QUESTION: Can you relate to David’s experience?  Will you walk this pathway the way He did, holding onto faith when it seems like there is no response from God?  Will you believe that He has ‘heard your cry’?

1/7 – Looking for God’s Glory (Psalm 8)

More and more people are taking up the conversation about the existence of God.  The theme of this age is, where is He?  They ask, “If God exists, why doesn’t He show Himself?”  This psalm from David is the answer to that question.  God is indeed NOT hidden.  Evidence of Him is visible throughout the earth.  And David tells us that this evidence expresses the glory and majesty of God. But the central point of this song is not about God’s greatness; instead, David uses the majesty of God as the setup to his amazement at how good God is to mankind.  And from this psalm we learn that God is most clearly seen in His kindness and care for people.

God’s Majesty is through all the earth (v. 1, 9)

You can see evidence of God’s greatness everywhere you look – from biology to astrophysics, from the simple gift of life to the joy of being alive

Seen in the heavens (1, 3)

We don’t look up like men have throughout history – but when we do, it gives us a sense of HOW GREAT God is

And how small we are

The beauty of creation can take our breath away – and fill our hearts with wonder

Using the small to show His strength (2)

God is so great that He even uses the very small to display his power

God Is SO Good To Us (v. 4-8)

This is the big point of the psalm – God loves mankind

He doesn’t have to – and no one makes Him care about us

But it is beyond dispute that He does care about us – and that He has given us amazing gifts

We are crowned with glory and honor – beyond the angels who live in heaven itself

He cares for us beyond His love for the angels – He died to rescue us, not them!

It is not OUR beauty that drives this love – it is His love – and we are amazed

QUESTION: Have you marveled at how great God is?  Has your heart been filled up with the thought that He loves you, even though you are so small compared to Him? Will we open our eyes to see the glory of God?