Church of the Nazarene

WELCOME- START OF PASSION WEEK BEGIN NEW SERIES ENCOUNTERS ENCOUNTERS JESUS HAD THIS SEASON SET THE SCENE- MATTHEW 21 ( ALL 4 WRITERS SAY) 21 As they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage on the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two disciples, 2 saying to them, “Go to the village ahead of you, and at once you will find a donkey tied there, with her colt by her. Untie them and bring them to me. 3 If anyone says anything to you, say that the Lord needs them, and he will send them right away. 10 day of Nisan     This was the day they selected the lamb to be sacrificed on the 14th day- the day when Jesus this lamb would ride. He then says to them and us- I will take on the entire sin nature of these dirty people The mud was cleaner than the souls of the people LIMO VEHICLE VLADIMIR PUTIN CAR  HELICOPTER FORMER BRITTISH PRIME MINISTER RISHI SUNAK TRAIN ARORMORED- FOOD SECURE- POWERED KIM JONG UN  DONKEY LAST YEAR PASTOR STEPHEN WILLIS DONKEY- THIS CROSS DESGN ON ITS BACK HORSE- A WAR HORSE                                 RODE DONKEY MEANS YOU “COME” IN PEACE WAR HORSE MEANS YOU COME TO … SIZE DIFFERNCES ARE BIG SCRIPTURE ZECHARIAH 9:9   9. “REJOICE, O PEOPLE OF ZION! SHOUT IN TRIUMPH, O PEOPLE OF JERUSALEM! SCRIPTURE ZECHARIAH 9:9   9. LOOK YOUR KING IS COMING TO YOU. HE IS RIGHTEOUS AND VICTORIOUS, YET HE IS HUMBLE, RIDING ON A DONKEY- RIDING ON A DONKEY’S FOAL. SCRIPTURE ZECHARIAH 9:10   10. I WILL REMOVE THE BATTLE CHARIOTS FROM ISRAEL AND THE WARHORSES FROM JERUSALEM.  SCRIPTURE ZECHARIAH 9:10   10. I WILL DESTROY ALL THE WEAPONS USED IN BATTLE, AND YOUR KING WILL BRING PEACE TO THE NATIONS. HOSANA-(SAVE NOW) PALM BRANCHES SCRIPTURE 9:10                                              10. HIS REALM WILL STRETCH FROM SEA TO SEA AND FROM THE EUPHRATES RIVER TO THE ENDS OF THE EARTH.”      THE VISUAL PICTURE DIFFERENCE       JESUS ARRIVES ON A COLT- PEACE-HUMILITY WASN’T THE FIRST KING TO ARRIVE DONKEY- SOLOMON RODE IN TO JERUSALEM SCRIPTURE LUKE 19:41   41. “AS HE APPROACHED JERUSALEM AND SAW THE CITY HE WEPT OVER IT.” WHY- WHY IS HE WEEPING? BECAUSE OF THE PAIN WILL SUFFER?  PASSION WEEK FOCUS     MATTHEW – 40 %- LAST WEEK OF JESUS LIFE     MARK- 60 %     LUKE 33 %     JOHN- ALMOST 50 % HOW MUCH TIME THIS WEEK IN REFLECTION? BE INTENTIONAL IN REPENTANCE- IN PRAISE SCRIPTURE MATTHEW 23:13                      13. “WOE TO YOU, TEACHERS OF THE LAW AND PHARISEES, YOU HYPOCRITES! (1)YOU SHUT THE DOOR OF THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN IN PEOPLES FACES. HYPOCRITE DEFINED    A PERSON WHO PRETENDS TO HAVE MORAL STANDARDS OR OPINIONS THAT THEY DO NOT ACTUALLY HAVE.     ACTOR Ain’t going to church- church is full of hypocrites- TRUE ON SOME LEVEL I also had some relatives and friends who loved Jesus and they were NOT hypocrites- do you know some real very real THE HYPOCRISY STARTED 6 DAYS BEFORE THIS JUDAS AND JESUS BEING ANOINTED- WOW WHAT A JOKE THIS WAS – JUDAS    WHEN YOU HEAR HYPCOCRITE- YOU THINK OF WHAT IT IS OR DO YOU PICTURE A FACE? LANCE ARMSTRONG/HOLLYWOOD NOT PICKING ON LANCE- BUT HE TALKED HOLLYWOOD- EVERYONE GETS UPSET THEM  SCRIPTURE MATTHEW 23:13   13. YOU YOURSELVES DO NOT ENTER, NOR WILL YOU LET THOSE WHO ARE TRYING TO.       SCRIPTURE MATTHEW 23:23   23. “WOE TO YOU, TEACHERS OF THE LAW AND PHARISEES, YOU HYPOCRITES! (2) YOU GIVE A TENTH OF YOUR SPICES-MINT, DILL, CUMIN. SCRIPTURE MATTHEW 23:23   23. BUT YOU HAVE NEGLECTED THE MORE IMPORTANT MATTER OF THE LAW-JUSTICE, MERCY, AND FAITHFULNESS. SCRIPTURE MATTHEW 23:23   23. YOU SHOULD HAVE PRACTICED THE LATTER, WITHOUT NEGELCTING THE FORMER. SCRIPTURE MATTHEW 23:24   24. YOU BLIND GUIDES! YOU STRAIN OUT A GNAT BUT SWALLOW A CAMEL.”  SCRIPTURE MATTHEW 23:25   25. “WOE TO YOU, TEACHERS OF THE LAW AND PHARISEES, YOU HYPOCRITES! (3) CLEAN THE OUTSIDE OF THE CUP AND DISH, BUT INSIDE THEY ARE FULL OF GREED AND SELF-INDULGENCE. SCRIPTURE MATTHEW 23:26   26. BLIND PHARISEE! FIRST CLEAN THE INSIDE OF THE CUP AND DISH, AND THEN THE OUTSIDE ALSO WILL BE CLEAN. SCRIPTURE MATTHEW 23:27   27. “WOE TO YOU, TEACHERS OF THE LAW AND PHARISEES, YOU HYPOCRITES! (4) YOU ARE LIKE WHITE WASHED TOMBS,  SCRIPTURE MATTHEW 23:27   27. WHICH LOOK BEAUTIFUL ON THE OUTSIDE BUT ON THE INSIDE ARE FULL OF BONES OF

https://www.bible.com/events/49585583 Church of the Nazarene - East Rockingham Campus  Encounters Part 1  The Pharisee's  Today we begin our Easter teaching series called Encounters. Throughout this series we will be looking at encounters that Jesus had with people to see how it changed their lives and what we can learn for our lives today.  Our series begins today with Jesus encountering the Pharisee's in Matthew 23. This particular encounter we are looking at today, happens on Tuesday of passion week.  Throughout the gospel accounts you will read of different encounters with the Pharisee’s and legal experts.  The Pharisee’s were a group of Jewish religious folks who had completely separated their lives from normal activity to dedicate themselves to the strict observing of the law of Moses. They were the best of the best as far as being religious goes.  The Legal experts or scribes (depending on your translation) that are also mentioned here in the text- They were professional religious intellectuals. They were highly trained in the law of Moses, they were often asked to teach and give rulings when there was a dispute.  After multiple failed attempts to trap Jesus in his words, Jesus turns his attention to the crowds of people in the temple and addresses them. That’s where we pick up in Matthew 23  ‭‭Matthew‬ ‭23‬:‭1‬-‭7‬‬  Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples: “The teachers of the law and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat. So you must be careful to do everything they tell you. But do not do what they do, for they do not practice what they preach. They tie up heavy, cumbersome loads and put them on other people’s shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to lift a finger to move them. “Everything they do is done for people to see: They make their phylacteries wide and the tassels on their garments long; they love the place of honor at banquets and the most important seats in the synagogues; they love to be greeted with respect in the marketplaces and to be called ‘Rabbi’ by others.  Jesus reveals that most of what these Pharisee’s were doing, was for show, was to impress other people- Jesus says “don’t do that”  After speaking to the crowds, he then turns his attention directly to the Pharisee’s and legal experts and begins to reveal what’s really behind all of their religious practices.  ‭‭Matthew‬ ‭23‬:‭13‬-‭14‬‬  “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You shut the door of the kingdom of heaven in people’s faces. You yourselves do not enter, nor will you let those enter who are trying to.  The word hypocrite here means to be a play actor, a pretender. A person who does right things for the wrong reasons. A person who says one thing and does another.  Jesus calls the Pharisee’s and legal experts hypocrites because all of their religious rules and activities actually prevent people from finding God- and they themselves don’t even have a relationship with him. They are pretending.  ‭‭Matthew‬ ‭23‬:‭15‬-‭22‬‬  “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You travel over land and sea to win a single convert, and when you have succeeded, you make them twice as much a child of hell as you are. “Woe to you, blind guides! You say, ‘If anyone swears by the temple, it means nothing; but anyone who swears by the gold of the temple is bound by that oath.’ You blind fools! Which is greater: the gold, or the temple that makes the gold sacred? You also say, ‘If anyone swears by the altar, it means nothing; but anyone who swears by the gift on the altar is bound by that oath.’ You blind men! Which is greater: the gift, or the altar that makes the gift sacred? Therefore, anyone who swears by the altar swears by it and by everything on it. And anyone who swears by the temple swears by it and by the one who dwells in it. And anyone who swears by heaven swears by God’s throne and by the one who sits on it.  Here Jesus seems to be calling out a convoluted system of swearing oaths- by the temple, by things inside of it- they had a whole system established for how serious something needed to be sworn in.  For Jesus, he says let your yes be yes and your no be no.  ‭‭Matthew‬ ‭23‬:‭23‬-‭24‬‬  “You’re hopeless, you religion scholars and Pharisees! Frauds! You keep meticulous account books, tithing on every nickel and dime you get, but on the meat of God’s Law, things like fairness and compassion and commitment—the absolute basics!—you carelessly take it or leave it. Careful bookkeeping is commendable, but the basics are required. Do you have any idea how silly you look, writing a life story that’s wrong from start to finish, nitpicking over commas and semicolons?  The Pharise

How can we live "strong in grace.”?  The answer is quite plain and simple:   We grow strong in grace when we understand God's unconditional forgiveness of us, then learn to unconditionally forgive others.  God calls us to grow strong in giving grace to others — growing in Christlikeness  Giving grace to another person is simply to forgive them, unconditionally, just as God forgave us through Christ  SO, WHAT IS FORGIVENESS?  Forgiveness = Deliberate release of anger, resentment, and other negative feelings toward someone who has wronged you  GRUDGE (Merriam-Webster)  A persistent, long-lasting feeling of deep-seated resentment, bitterness, or ill will toward someone, often stemming from a past insult, injury, or perceived wrongdoing. It involves holding onto anger rather than letting it go, sometimes leading to a desire for retaliation or a continued refusal to forgive. Not all negative emotions are the same. Healthy anger motivates action, sets boundaries, and seeks solutions. Grudges, however, act as long-lasting emotional weights with negative outcomes. It  negatively impacts your relationship with God.  It negatively impacts your other relationships.  It affects your health. — mentally and physically  It affects your soul  Hebrews 12:14-15 (tells us what happens when we fall short of grace):  Make every effort to live in peace with everyone and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord. See to it that no one falls short of the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many. Ephesians 4:30-32  30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 31 Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. 32 Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. DO YOU UNDERSTAND HOW MUCH GRACE YOU HAVE BEEN GIVEN?  Oswald Chambers.  We trample the blood of the Son of God if we think we are forgiven because we are sorry for our sins. The only explanation for the forgiveness of God and for the unfathomable depth of His forgetting is the death of Jesus Christ. Our repentance is merely the outcome of our personal realization of the atonement which He has worked out for us. It does not matter who or what we are; there is absolute reinstatement into God by the death of Jesus Christ and by no other way, not because Jesus Christ pleads, but because He died. It is not earned, but accepted. All the pleading which deliberately refuses to recognize the Cross is of no avail; it is battering at a door other than the one that Jesus has opened. Our Lord does not pretend we are all right when we are all wrong. The atonement is a propitiation whereby God, through the death of Jesus, makes an unholy man holy.  "The purpose of the cross," someone observed, "is to repair the irreparable.”  “If someone says, ‘I love God,’ and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother who he has seen, how can he love God who he has not seen?” (1 John 4:20-21 NKJV). If our relationship with God is so intricately connected with how we relate to others, it won’t be surprising then for us to read what Jesus said Matthew 6:14-15 (directly after teaching them how to pray ‘Lord’s Prayer’) 14 For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 15 But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins. Matthew 6:12 And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. Imagine that, before we get this warning from Jesus (14-15), Jesus told us to ask God for grace (forgiveness) but only at the same level and frequency as the forgiveness we extend to others. Whether we admit it or not, we often think we have the right to “punish” others because they have hurt us or offended us. We believe we are justified in withholding forgiveness from them. Unforgiveness is inherently contradictory to godliness  “Often it is the case that we judge others by their worst actions, and we judge ourselves by our best intentions.”  Just as we don't deserve God's forgiveness, someone you know may not deserve yours.   It doesn't matter We are still commanded to forgive them because we have been forgiven so much first. “The devil doesn’t care if you go to church or read your Bible as long as you don’t apply it to your life.”  THE LITMUS TEST FOR GRACE   Have you extended the grace of God, the grace of forgiveness, towards the person(s) who has hurt you the most and least deserves it?  Forgiveness is an action you must choose, rather than a feeling you must create  THE CHOICE IS CLEAR AND IT’S YOURS TODAY  Repent of unforgiveness & Release it so you no longer carry that anger/resentm

The Hurdle of Unforgiveness Recap – Pastor Jared has been sharing over the past few weeks about the hurdles to our faith sharing and asking to evaluate us where we are in these potential hurdles and how they are impeding us? Are we attempting to live a saved life without actually giving our life to Jesus, have we fully surrendered and received the gift of sanctification that frees us from a desire to live in the depths of sin, and then he reminded us the destruction that even a little bit of sin will bring to our lives (or our water!). This morning, we will look at another hurdle that often impedes our faith. This hurdle is one that will keep us bound, keep us stuck, cause physical illness, and even paralyze us in hopes to hurt another – the hurdle of unforgiveness. I don’t want you to stop listening before we even dive in this morning so I want to speak to those of you in the room that may have suffered deep betrayal, hurt, or abuse – whatever your story – forgiveness is essential BUT is not forgetting, it is not validating a persons poor choices.  Forgiveness is not an invitation to more hurt, it is an invitation in Christ for healing. It does not even require reconciliation it is an invitation to our release and restoration. And though it does not require reconciliation with those relationships that need boundaries or are no longer continued at all–  I will also remind you that all relationships this side of heaven at some point will require forgiveness – even the best ones. PRAY When I heard we were going to tackle hurdles to our faith – I chuckled as I remembered in middle school being asked by a friend if I would run track with her and be on her hurdle relay team – I think that is what its called.  We ran with our batons and passed it as we also ran and jumped over the hurdles. We even went home with a metal from a huge track and field event that we had the opportunity to participate in.  Wow! Cant you just see me jumping over hurdles with ease?  Me neither, not now. It is only a fond memory, and  I can only think of the physical pain that would result if I attempted anything remotely like that now.  For me it feels more like a wall than difficulty or an obstacle. Do we feel the same way about forgiving those in our lives that have wronged us.  It is more than a hurdle – it’s a wall, it feels impossible.  You may be thinking to yourself, You don’t know what I’ve been through, what they did, what they said – if I forgive I will give freedom to hurt me again, it will validate their behavior, or they don’t deserve it.  Forgiveness is a gift … a gift I just can’t give them. And for those moments you carry – I am truly sorry.  This is a tough message but one with deep hope on the other side. FORGIVENESS is a GIFT that we have all been given the opportunity to receive, and one we CERTAINLY don’t deserve. Isaiah 53:5  "But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed". We have all been given opportunity for forgiveness of our sins through his name -  through his wounds. All of us simply by believing, by receiving.  In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace. Ephesians 1:7 This is the foundation of our faith – the gift we are given through Christ. He bought our redemption by his blood, his sacrifice allows for the forgiveness of our sin according to the riches of His incredible, indescribable grace.  We have (present tense) redemption as we say yes to him and invite him in. If you have not received him as your Savior – that is the most important message of forgiveness that you should hear this morning. He died to provide forgiveness for our sins, to provide redemption when we do not deserve it, when we will never deserve it. That’s what makes it the greatest gift. Receiving this gift available to us is foundational to our Christian faith. As we walk out our journey, recipients of this grace, we will be faced with our own decisions to forgive. You may feel the nudge of the holy spirit in you saying okay it’s your turn!  You know the elbow nudge that parents give their kids when they want them to listen to what the Pastor is saying or want to spur them on to take a step of courage toward what is good? Let’s take a look at scripture. Join me in Matthew 18:21-35  – key verses will be on the screen Matthew 18:21-35 New International Version The Parable of the Unmerciful Servant 21 Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Up to seven times?” 22 Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.[a] 23 “Therefore, the kingdom of heaven is like a king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants. 24 A

WEEK 3 OF SERIES ON HURLDES   A TEMPORARY OBSTACLE OR DIFFICULTY, A BARRIER A WALL OF FENCE.  NOT A DEAD END WEEK 1 HURDLE- READ FIRE AIM                                              IS IT POSSIBLE SOMEONE IS TRYING TO LOOK LIKE A GRAPE- ACT LIKE A GRAPE- SMELL LKE A GRAPE TASTE LIKE A GRAPE – AND THEY ARE NOT SAVED WEEK 2- WHAT ARE POSSIBLE HURDLES FOR US AS CHRISTIAN PEOPLE RELATED TO CULTURE? WEEK 3.  … STEALTH BOMBER                                              February 23 2008, Spirit of Kansas, a B-2 STEALTH BOMBER Spirit crashed. aircraft destroyed, crew members EJECT The accident marked the first operational loss of a B‑2 bomber TINY SENSOR FROM UNDER WINDSHILED 1/100TH OF 1 % OF COST OF PLANE HUMIDITY SENSOR estimated loss of US$1.4 billion- NOW 2 BILLION. TODAY WE CONTINUE OUR SERIES ON HURDLES WHAT KEEPS US FROM EXPERIENCING FULLNESS OF LIFE WITH GOD? EVEN A TINY THING- A SMALL SIN IN OUR LIVES IS TOO MUCH IS YOUR LIFE FREE FROM THE CONTAMINATION OF SIN – HOW DID WE GET HERE? SCRIPTURE GENESIS 2:15     15. “THE LORD GOD TOOK THE MAN AND PUT HIM IN THE GARDEN OF EDEN TO WORK IT AND TAKE CARE OF IT” SCRIPTURE GENESIS 2:16   16. AND THE LORD GOD COMMANDED THE MAN, “YOU ARE FREE TO EAT FROM ANY TREE IN THE GARDEN; SCRIPTURE GENESIS 2:17   17. BUT YOU MUST NOT EAT FROM THE TREE OF THE KNOWLEDGE OF GOOD AND EVIL, FOR WHEN YOU EAT FROM IT YOU WILL CERTAINLY DIE.” PERFECT UNION- HARMONY WITH ONE ANOTHER NEED YOU TO KNOW ALL THIS IS YOURS JUST ONE SMALL THING- ALL OF IT- BUT … AN OUTSIDE VOICE- THE DEVIL ARRIVES  SCRIPTURE GENESIS 3:3                                       3. BUT DID GOD SAY, “YOU MUST NOT EAT FRUIT FROM THE TREE THAT IS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE GARDEN, AND YOU MUST NOT TOUCH IT, OR YOU WILL DIE.” SCRIPTURE GENESIS 3:4    4. “YOU WILL NOT CERTAINLY DIE,” THE SERPENT SAID TO THE WOMAN. SCRIPTURE GENESIS 3:5    5. FOR GOD KOWS THAT WHEN YOU EAT FROM IT YOUR EYES WILL BE OPENED, AND YOU WILL BE LIKE GOD, KNOWING GOOD AND EVIL. SCRIPTURE GENESIS 3:6    6. WHEN THE WOMAN SAW THAT THE FRUIT OF THE TREE WAS GOOD FOR FOOD AND PLEASING TO THE EYE, AND ALSO DESIRABLE FOR GAINING WISDOM SCRIPTURE GENESIS 3:6    6. SHE TOOK SOME AND ATE IT. SHE ALSO GAVE SOME TO HER HUSBAND, WHO WAS WITH HER, AND HE ATE IT. RELATIONSHIP FRACTURED- ONE BITE? THE INTENDED DESIGN NOW BROKEN SCRIPTURE GENESIS 3:8    8. “AND THEY HEARD THE VOICE OF THE LORD GOD WALKING IN THE GARDEN IN THE COOL OF THE DAY.” SCRIPTURE GENESIS 3:8    8. AND ADAM AND HIS WIFE HID THEMSELVES FROM THE PRESENCE OF THE LORD GOD AMONGST THE TREES OF THE GARDEN RELATIONSHIP BROKEN-YET GOD PURSUES THEM SIN IS … WE DON’T EVEN USE THE WORD SIN COULD BE SOMEONE ELSE SALVATION DO SOMETHING YOU KNOW IS WRONG DO IT ANYWAY. DANGEROUS/RISKY/UNFORGIVING SIN: WILLFUL VIOLATION TO THE KNOWN LAW OF GOD SLIDE 16: TEN COMMANDMENTS SERVE THE LORD ONLY DON’T TAKE LORDS NAME IN VAIN REMEMBER THE SABBATH (NOT AS SERIOUS) HONOR YOUR MOM AND DAD DON’T KILL- BIGGER ONE DON’T COMMIT ADULTERY DON’T STEAL DON’T BEAR FALSE WITNESS DON’T COVET NEIGHBORS WIFE OR GOODS SCRIPTURE 1 JOHN 1:5    5. THIS IS THE MESSAGE WE HAVE HEARD FROM HIM AND DECLARE TO YOU. GOD IS LIGHT; IN HIM THERE IS NO DARKNESS AT ALL. SCRIPTURE 1 JOHN 1:6     6. IF WE CLAIM TO HAVE FELLOWSHIP WITH HIM AND YET WALK IN DARKNESS, WE LIE AND DO NOT LIVE OUT THE TRUTH. SCRIPTURE 1 JOHN 1:7    7. BUT IF WE WALK IN THE LIGHT AS HE IS IN THE LIGHT, WE HAVE FELLOWSHIP WITH ONE ANOTHER, AND THE BLOOD OF JESUS, HIS SON, PURIFIES US FROM ALL SIN.  (YOU CANNOT MANAGE SIN)    THERE IS A FOUNTAIN FILLED WITH BLOOD.                    DRAWN FROM EMMANUELS VEINS`     AND SINNERS PLUNGE BENEATH THAT FLOOD     LOSE ALL THEIR GUILTY STAIN SCRIPTURE MARK 7:20   20. HE WENT ON: “WHAT COMES OUT OF A PERSON IS WHAT DEFILES THEM. SCRIPTURE MARK 7:21   21. FOR IT IS FROM WITHIN, OUT OF A PERSONS HEART, THAT EVIL THOUGHTS COME-SEXUAL IMMORALITY, THEFT, MURDER,  SCRIPTURE MARK 7:22   22. ADULTERY, GREED, MALICE, DECEIT, LEWDNESS, ENVY, SLANDER, ARROGANCE, AND FOLLY. SCRIPTURE MARK 7:23   23. ALL THESE COME FROM INSIDE A PERSON AND DEFILE A

https://www.bible.com/events/49578577 Church of the Nazarene - East Rockingham Campus  Hurdles Part 3  Control freak...  We are continuing in our 4-part teaching series called “Hurdles”.  Throughout this series we are going to face some of the key obstacles or hurdles that keep us from a full and abundant life in Christ.  Today we are talking about the hurdle of control.  The fact is, we love this level of control and in many ways have come to expect it in most areas of our lives…  Sometimes we expect control in our relationship with Jesus. And control will always be a hurdle for us in growing closer to Jesus.  ‭‭Matthew‬ ‭16‬:‭24‬‬  Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.  Jesus says that whoever really wants to experience life with him, you have to be all in.  You have to deny yourself- say no to your desires, your old ways of doing things, what feels good. Give up your right to do your own thing, yoru own way.  Take up your cross- Jesus is using the cross bearing idea that we would literally die to our old way of life and thinking- that it has no power over us anymore.  We deny ourselves, put a decisive end to life our way, and we follow after Jesus. We learn to do all of life, his way.  This is the picture Jesus paints for everyone who wants to know him in relationship.  ‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭3‬:‭5‬-‭6‬‬  Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.  This is one of the often quoted verses of the bible and it’s all about letting go of control. That we would trust the Lord completely, we wouldn’t depend on our perspective or our understanding- we would give that up and trust him.  In all your ways submit to him, that is a letting go of control. Surrender.  As long as we clinch on to what we will and wont do, what we will and wont surrender. Our hands and our heart are closed off from receiving more of God’s grace, more of his presence in our lives. We are closing ourselves off from the Lord.  ‭‭Galatians‬ ‭2‬:‭20‬‬  I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.  Paul is saying that he has put to death his old self, his desires, his self-determination, his rights, he has given all that over to the Lord- it’s as if he died. Complete and total surrender to Jesus himself.  You could say, Paul has waved the white flag of surrender.  ‭‭Romans‬ ‭12‬:‭1‬‬  So here’s what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life—your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life—and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him. Don’t become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You’ll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognize what he wants from you, and quickly respond to it. Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its level of immaturity, God brings the best out of you, develops well-formed maturity in you.  The normal Christian response to all of God’s mercy is that we would give ourselves 100% over to the Lord and whatever he wants and wills for our lives.  This is not just for pastors, or board members, or those who feel some sort of calling on their life- This is for everyone who wants to be a Christian, a follower of Jesus.  Because this is exactly what Jesus taught us…  On the other side of the hurdle of control is grace, peace, life, and freedom that far surpasses anything you are being asked to surrender.  When we waive the white flag of surrender over our lives, we open ourselves up to receive more of him, more of his grace and presence in our lives. And that’s our invitation this morning.  To waive the white flag of surrender over our lives. 

Panel Discussion on the hurdles of our culture ““Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” Jesus replied: “ ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.””‭‭Matthew‬ ‭22‬:‭36‬-‭40‬ ‭NIV‬‬

https://www.bible.com/events/49575323 Church of the Nazarene - East Rockingham Campus  Hurdles Part 2  A little dance with darkness...  We are continuing in our 4-part teaching series called “Hurdles”.  Throughout this series we are going to face some of the key obstacles or hurdles that keep us from a full and abundant life in Christ.  Today we are talking about the hurdle of "little sins".  It can be easy for us to think that the smaller consequences of some sin, means they are not that big of a deal. But that’s not a biblical view of sin. In fact, the bible knows nothing of "little sins". The bible says that all sin is serious and it is always a hurdle in our relationship with Jesus.  Sin shows up in the human story in chapter 3 of Genesis.  In Genesis 1 and 2, God has created all things. All of creation and the cosmos, the land, the sea, and everything in them. He has created Adam and Eve, male and female, in his image. God has given them an identity, a calling and purpose for their lives. They are his co-agents, in creation, they enjoy perfect intimacy together.  This is God’s vision for humanity- for your life and mine. That hasn’t changed.  In this relationship, God gives them a choice. For a relationship to be loving, for it to be real intimacy, there has to be choice. Without a choice, Adam and Eve would have been God’s Robots, not sons and daughters.  So God has given them unlimited freedom with only one rule, one choice to obey him.  The devil comes into the story as a snake, and he goes after Eve at the point of this choice. He convinces her that God is holding out on them, that he cant be trusted.  ‭‭Genesis‬ ‭3‬:‭6‬‬  When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it.  Sin enters our story.  Sin wasn’t just the eating of a forbidden fruit, the breaking of a rule. It was the failure to be fully human as God intended. It was a fracture of trust and relationship with God, it was outside of his planned design for their lives. Friends that’s sin.  In the Old Testament Hebrew Language, the word for sin is Khata (Ha-tah). In the New Testament Greek the word is Hamartia. Both words carry the same idea of missing the mark, or a failure to make the goal, or coming up short.  The bible pictures sin as a failure to live into our calling as image bearers of God, a coming up short of our truest calling as his sons and daughters.  ‭‭Genesis‬ ‭3‬:‭8‬-‭9‬‬  Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the Lord God as he was walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and they hid from the Lord God among the trees of the garden. But the Lord God called to the man, “Where are you?”  We choose sin, it continually separates us from relationship with God and distorts our lives. God in his mercy and grace continually comes after us, inviting us to turn away from our sin and into right relationship with him.  To be transformed, to be healed, and remade into the design he has for our lives and our flourishing.  And the healing and renewal is a critical part of God’s mercy because sin, according to the bible, is not just wrong actions, a list of rules broken. Sin has distorted our humanity- it’s a nature, a drive within us. Sin is part of our nature now as a result of Genesis 3.  ‭‭Romans‬ ‭8‬:‭7‬‬  The mind governed by the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so.  ‭‭1 John‬ ‭1‬:‭9‬‬  If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.  The Good news for us today, is that Jesus came to deal with both. The guilt of our wrong actions, and the corruption and impurity of our heart.  ‭‭1 Thessalonians‬ ‭5‬:‭23‬-‭24‬‬  May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. The one who calls you is faithful, and he will do it.  Dealing with sin on our own seems hopelessly impossible, and to be honest, it pretty much is. But God does not expect us to deal with it alone, he invites us to surrender out life to him, including our sin, and allow him to come into our lives and make us new.  To literally restore and renew his image witin us, that we wouldn’t even desire sin anymore.  That’s the hope today friends- that’s the invitation.  ‭‭1 John‬ ‭1‬:‭5‬-‭9‬‬  This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no

WELCOME STRUCK ME- HURDLERS RUN EFFORTLESS SOME SEEM TO STRUGGLE- OTHERS DON’T HURDLE DEFINED TEMPORARY OBSTACLE A BARRIER- WALL A FENCE HURDLES ARE NOT WALLS PER SAY THEY AREN’T DEAD ENDS   READY     FIRE        AIM PLANNING SERIES TOPICS CONVERSATION – SOME THINGS ARE HURLDES SOMETIMES WE GET THINGS OUT OF ORDER PUT YOUR BOAT IN WATER- NO PLUG IN IT HOSE IN YOUR GAS TANK GO PULL AWAY DON’T GET THIS SERIES RIGHT- WE RUN THE RISKS Putting sanctification before salvation (justification)-SPIN WHEELS only be frustrated if you want to act like Christ before you have CHRIST  SCRIPTURE ROMANS 3:22                                         22. THIS RIGHTEOUSNESS IS GIVEN THROUGH FAITH IN JESUS CHRIST TO ALL WHO BELIEVE. THERE IS NO DIFFERENCE BETWEEN JEW AND GENTILE. SCRIPTURE 3:23   23. FOR ALL HAVE SINNED AND FALL SHORT OF THE GLORY OF GOD.  SCRIPTURE ROMANS 3:24   24. AND ALL ARE JUSTIFIED FREELY BY HIS GRACE THROUGH THE REDEMPTION THAT CAME BY CHRIST JESUS.       (JUST AS IF I NEVER SINNED) SCRIPTURE ROMANS 3:25   25. GOD PRESENTED CHRIST AS A SACRIFICE OF ATONEMENT, THROUGH THE SHEDDING OF HIS BLOOD-TO BE RECEIVED BY FAITH  SCRIPTURE ROMANS 3:25   25. HE DID THIS TO DEMONSTRATE HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS, BECAUSE IN HIS FORBEARANCE HE HAD LEFT THE SINS COMMITTED BEFOREHAND UNPUNISHED. SCRIPTURE ROMANS 3:26   26. HE DID IT TO DEMONSTRATE HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS AT THE PRESENT TIME. SCRIPTURE ROMANS 3:26   26. SO AS TO BE JUST AND THE ONE WHO JUSTIFIES THOSE WHO HAVE FAITH IN JESUS. SLIDE 12: SIN                                                                         WORKING DEFINITION WILLFUL VIOLATION TO THE KNOWN LAW OF GOD I WONDER TODAY- HOW MANY ARE TRYING YOU ATTEND CHURCH - READ SOME SCRIPTURE KNOW SOME OF THE SONGS - TOOK COMMUNION NOT BECAUSE WE WERE BAPTIZED THINGS THAT SHOULD BE EVIDENCE OF OUR FAITH THERE ARE THINGS WE DO BECAUSE OF FAITH NOT THE SOURCE OF OUR FAITH HAVE YOU BEEN BORN AGAIN- ADOPTION HAVE YOU REPENTED OF YOUR SINS?    SAVED BY GRACE THROUGH FAITH- GRACE CALLS US TO REPENANCE, WHICH IS MORE THAN SIMPLY BEING SORRY FOR OUR SIN, BUT TURNING AWAY FROM OUR SIN. TURNING FROM OURSELVES TOWARD GOD. WHEN WE RESPOND TO GODS GRACE WE ARE ABLE TO REPENT AND BELIEVE.     ROY: FORMER CHURCH                                                  DIDN’T LIKE ME MUCH- I WORE JEANS- HE WORE TIE DIDN’T CARE FOR MUSIC- TELL WORSHIP LEADER DIDN’T LIKE THE CHURCH GROWING- HIS WIFE OTHERS DIDN’T WANNA EAT WITH HIM-WAITRESSES HED BEEN IN CHURCH FOR LONG TIME-SAME SEAT SOMETIMES TELL ME- SOMETIMES TALK BOUT ME NO ONE WAS SURPRISED AND EVEN EXPECTED IT PEOPLE JUST TOLERATED HIM I DIDN’T AND NO ONE ELSE SAW ANY CHANGE WE ARENT HIRED TO INSPECT SPIRITUAL FRUIT BUT NO ONE SAW ANY REAL CHANGE IN HIS LIFE NO ONE EXPECTED HIM TO BECOME LIKE JESUS SO WHAT DOES IT LOOK LIKE TO LIVE A LIFE LIKE JESUS I WONDERED- HAS ROY EVER BEEN SAVED? HAD HE GENUINELY REPENTED OF ANYTHING?    I ALSO WONDERED IF HE HAS BEEN SAVED- HAS HE EXPERIENCED ANY REAL LIFE CHANGE SCRIPTURE MATTHEW 4:17   17. “FROM THEN ON JESUS BEGAN TO PREACH, “REPENT OF YOUR SINS AND TURN TO GOD, FOR THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN IS NEAR.”    JAREDS STATEMENT ON REPENTANCE- DIDN’T MEAN IT SCRIPTURE 1 JOHN 1:9    “IF WE CONFESS OUR SINS HE IS FAITHFUL AND JUST AND WILL FORGIVE US OUR SINS AND PURIFY US FROM ALL UNRIGHTEOUSNES SCRIPTURE 2 CORINTHIANS 5:21   21. GOD MADE HIM WHO HAD NO SIN TO BE SIN FOR US, SO THAT IN HIM WE MIGHT BECOME THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF GOD. SCRIPTURE 2 CORINTHIANS 5:21.   21. FOR GOD TOOK THE SINLESS CHRIST AND POURED INTO HIM OUR SINS. THEN IN EXCHANGE, HE POURED GODS GOODNESS INTO US.” STATEMENT ON SALVATION    SALVATION IS A THRESHOLD SO LOW ANYONE CAN COME ACROSS IT STATEMENT ON SALVATION    BUT ITS SO HIGH NO ONE CAN CLIMB IT SALVATION IS A GIFT- SAVED BY GRACE- FAITH COACH BILL MCARTNEY FORMER COLORADO FOOTBALL COACH  JAMES RYLE FORMER PASTOR OF BILL MCARTNEY   PROMISE KEEPERS 1997 WASHINGTON DC PREACHED THAT NIGHT  MACHINE  &

https://www.bible.com/events/49571732 Church of the Nazarene - East Rockingham Campus  Hurdles Part 1  Ready. Fire. Aim  We are starting a new 4-part teaching series called “Hurdles”.  Over the next few weeks, we are going to face some of the key obstacles or hurdles that keep us from a full and abundant life in Christ.  Today we are talking about the hurdle of having things out of order in our approach to relationship with Jesus.  This can happen when we commit to trying to be a better person, to attending church, to doing all those good things, without ever first committing ourselves to Jesus Christ as our Lord and savior.  Certainly the bible teaches that we need to live a good and moral life, but that commitment to good works is not what saves us.  ‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭2‬:‭8‬-‭9‬‬  For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast.  The life and salvation that Jesus came to offer, does not come by our efforts, our attempts to be a good person and help other people or any other good work.  It comes by grace, through faith, believing in the person of Jesus Christ.  ‭‭Romans‬ ‭10‬:‭9‬-‭10‬‬  If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved.  When we believe good works are what saves us, we are trusting in what we can do.  Whereas when we place our faith in Jesus Christ, we are trusting what he has done.  When we believe in Him, in his life, death, and resurrection, we are what the bible calls justified. That means that every sin, every wrong thing we have ever done, said, or thought, is wiped clean.  ‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭5‬:‭17‬‬  Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!  When we place our faith in Jesus, turn away from our sin and place our faith in him. We are made new. The life of Christ is birthed within us by the Holy Spirit.  ‭‭1 John‬ ‭3‬:‭1‬‬  See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him.  We are justified, regenerated, and adopted into the family of God, all by grace through faith. Those are things that our good works simply can not earn us.  So let me ask you, is this what you are experiencing?  Can you identify a time and place in your life where something so dramatic changed that you would have to use words like “Born again” or “new creation” or “adoption into a new family” to describe it?  This is way beyond a question of do you go to church? Are you a nice person? Do you help other people? Or even if you pray and read the bible sometimes. All of those are great and even necessary things, in the right order.  But if we get the cart before the horse in thinking those things come first, or even if we think that’s all there is to being a Christian. We are going to live a pretty frustrating and unfulfilling life.  ‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭6‬:‭1‬-‭2‬‬  As God’s co-workers we urge you not to receive God’s grace in vain. For he says, “In the time of my favor I heard you, and in the day of salvation I helped you.” I tell you, now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation.  Today is the day of your salvation. Today is the day to get your spiritual life in order, to know that it is by faith in the person of Jesus that you are saved.  Today is the day to repent, to have a distinct and definite change in your life in regard to sin.  Today is the day to be made new! 

“As Jesus started on his way, a man ran up to him and fell on his knees before him. “Good teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?” “Why do you call me good?” Jesus answered. “No one is good—except God alone. You know the commandments: ‘You shall not murder, you shall not commit adultery, you shall not steal, you shall not give false testimony, you shall not defraud, honor your father and mother.’” “Teacher,” he declared, “all these I have kept since I was a boy.” Jesus looked at him and loved him. “One thing you lack,” he said. “Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” At this the man’s face fell. He went away sad, because he had great wealth. Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, “How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God!””  ‭‭Mark‬ ‭10‬:‭17‬-‭23‬ ‭  “For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven. “You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘You shall not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.’ But I tell you that anyone who is angry with a brother or sister will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to a brother or sister, ‘Raca,’ is answerable to the court. And anyone who says, ‘You fool!’ will be in danger of the fire of hell. “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart.”  ‭‭Matthew‬ ‭5‬:‭20‬-‭22‬, ‭27‬-‭28‬  “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,”  ‭‭Romans‬ ‭3‬:‭23‬ ‭ 

Today we are completing our four-week series called Relationships Righted. You can access our messages at COTNAZ.org, WATCH/LISTEN ONLINE. Over the last three weeks we have focused on relationships and focusing on “putting God first in our lives” so that our life is a living testimony to the LORD. Today we are going to focus on relationships in the workplace. Can we truly worship God in the workplace and build and nurture relationships with our co-workers and bosses so that we point them to Christ? Let us pray. “Dear Lord, I stand before You and Your people, acknowledging that every breath and every hour of labor is a gift from Your hand.  As we discuss the 90,000 hours we spend at work and in service, convict and encourage everyone here.  Let us be faithful stewards of this message. Father, we bring our work-weeks—the exhaustion, the ambitions, and the anxieties—into this sanctuary. Perform a deep work within us today. Transform our Hearts to see coworkers and neighbors not as obstacles, but as people to be loved in Your name. Transform our Minds to stop seeing work as 'secular' and start seeing it as 'sacred'—an offering of excellence to You. Transform our Souls to find our identity not in titles or paychecks, but in our status as Your beloved children. Lord please commission us. Move us beyond being 'Sunday Christians.' Equip us to represent Christ in the workplace and the neighborhood. May we leave here seeing our labor not as a burden, but as a mission field. May the words of my mouth and the meditations of our hearts be pleasing in Your sight, O Lord, our Rock and our Redeemer. In Jesus Name we pray, Amen.” We just prayed for God to transform our hearts, our minds, and our souls. And friends, we need that transformation because of one staggering, inescapable number: 90,000. (Say NINETY THOUSAND slowly!) That is the number of hours the average person will spend working and volunteering over their lifetime. If our faith is only active during the one hour we spend here on Sunday, we are leaving 90,000 (Say NINETY THOUSAND slowly) hours of our lives—nearly one-third of our existence—untouched by the Gospel. We often think of 'mission trips' as something we do for a week or two in a far-off place. But the greatest mission field you will ever enter is the one you walk into every Monday morning. There are 90,000 opportunities to represent Jesus Christ to a world that watches us more closely at the office than they ever will in the pews. Today, we’re going to look at how the Holy Spirit reclaims those hours for the Kingdom of God. If we are going to spend 90,000 hours in the marketplace, we need more than a career strategy; we need a divine mandate. The Apostle Paul addressed this directly in two different letters—one to the church in Colossae and one to the church in Ephesus. At the very moment Paul wrote these words, he was sitting in a prison cell. He wasn't writing from a position of power or comfort; he was writing under the weight of chains. In the following passages from Colossians and Ephesians, you’ll hear Paul use the language of his time—the language of "slaves" and "masters." "Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving." (Colossians 3:23-24) So, I have to ask you: Who is your "Real Boss"? When we look at Colossians 3, we see that even if your supervisor is difficult or your workplace is chaotic, your ultimate accountability is to Jesus. Paul reminds us that the ultimate "reward" doesn't come from a weekly paycheck or a commission check; it comes as an "inheritance" from the Lord. This single shift in perspective transforms 90,000 hours of drudgery into 90,000 hours of devotion. Let’s pause here for a moment of honest reflection. (Pause) Have you ever worked alongside a Christian whose attitude or work ethic made you want anything but Jesus? How about…Have you ever seen someone carry a Bible into the breakroom but leave their integrity at the time clock? Now, let’s make this personal. Let’s turn the mirror around: If your coworkers’ only exposure to the Gospel was your performance this past week, what version of Jesus would they believe in? But Paul doesn't stop at redefining who we serve; he expands the scope of what we do. He doesn't say "whatever you do in the church" or "whatever you do on the mission field." Instead, he uses the Greek word pas. In the original text, pas means "all, every, or whatsoever." It is an all-encompassing word that leaves nothing out. This includes: The emails you send The floors you mop The meetings you lead The cars you repair If it is worth doing, it is worth doing for God. ...In the life of a believer, there is no hierarchy of holiness in the 90,000 hours of a career. If it is worth doing, it is worth doing for God. Look at the card that was given to you this morning when you entered. If

East Rock Celebration   Last week East Rock Celebrated 5 years since they launched their Campus in Elkton. Over 100 people stayed to fellowship and celebrate. What a great team they have there with Pastor Jarod Link, Beth Suhr, Pastor Terry, Steph Higgs their children's Director and Karen Good with works with the teens I have the privilege of sitting in Monday Meetings with Pastor Jared and Beth and wow, God is doing some amazing things not just on their campus, but in their community because of the faithfulness and obedience of the people at COTN.  So lets take a moment and celebrate them and all that God is doing and moving within the Elkton Community.   Now If only we can get moving on bringing summer back to VA.  You all fooled this Easterner from PA.  My first 2 winters in VA were easy. Hardly any snow, mild temps. Then BAMM you hit us Alaskan like weather.    I am done with this winter weather. I know this is an unpopular opinion but, I not only love the beach,I also love the heat, the sun....I just love summer.     Olaf on the beach.     About 8 years ago, my parents moved from PA  to Ormond Beach Florida, for this exact reason.  They couldn't stand the cold anymore.  Which is good news for me, because visiting them means trips to the beach for us.  However, the beach, although wonderful, comes with its own troubles.      Beach water waves.   My girls loved getting in the water, which as a mom of course, freaked me out.  I was constantly watching them, making sure that they were not too far out and safe from the current and waves.  But without fail, after a few minutes of them swimming in the ocean, I would have to start waving them down.  The waves, little by little, would drift them out too far from where I was.     They didn’t try to drift.   They didn’t plan to drift.   But the current slowly pulled them too far away.   And once they realized it, they would start making the anxious effort and intention to swim back. Most of you have been there. Your umbrella was over there…and now it’s WAY over there.   Spiritual drifting works the same way.   Nobody wakes up and says, “Today, I think I’ll drift away from God.” I’m going to disconnect from my faith – or in current terminology – I’m going to DECONSTRUCT my faith today.  It happens slowly.     There was an old song by casting Crowns that said, "It's a slow fade, when you give yourself away. It's a slow fade, when black and white, turn to gray"    No big waves, no storm, just slow quiet movement, small waves that cause someone to drift from where they started. It’s usually slow… and it’s always very dangerous.   Signs Someone is Drifting   They’re slowly pulling back from church, small groups, serving, worship, and Bible reading. Faith stops being the center of life and other things start taking priority. They start isolating themselves from Christian friends and accountability. Their beliefs begin to shift quietly, leaning more on culture than Scripture, and small compromises start to feel okay. And suddenly they are not where they used to be spiritually speaking.     Often the first sign isn’t behavior, it’s disconnection.   Drifting doesn’t always look like running away. Sometimes it looks like slowly letting go.   We included this topic in our relationship series because some of the most heartbreaking relationship struggles aren’t about conflict,  they’re about distance. Not just emotional distance, but spiritual distance.    Many of us carry quiet burdens for people we love who aren’t walking with God anymore. And the Bible actually speaks to how we love people in that space.   Right now…this morning, you may know and love someone in exactly this situation.   So, here’s the question today:   What do we do, when someone we love and care for starts to drift? Someone who perhaps at one time in their life, called themselves a follower of Jesus, but now, their relationship with Jesus seems distant. James 5:19-20 (NLT) – Bring That  Person Back    19 My brothers and sisters, if one of you should wander from the truth and someone should bring that person back, 20 remember this: Whoever turns a sinner from the error of their way will save them from death and cover over a multitude of sin

https://www.bible.com/events/49564669 Church of the Nazarene - East Rockingham Campus  Relationships Righted Part 3  The wanderer...  We are continuing our teaching series called Relationships Righted. Over the next few weeks we will seek to apply biblical relationship building skills to a variety of our everyday relationships.  In the Gospel of Matthew, a religious expert approached Jesus and wanted to know what the most important commandment was, what’s the number one thing we should do.  Jesus Answers in Matthew 22:37 “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’  Jesus answers with two relationships  Love God with your all, and love your neighbor. The most important things according to Jesus, are found in relationship.  Today we are going to talk about our relationship with the wanderer in our lives.  ‭‭James‬ ‭5‬:‭19‬-‭20‬‬  My brothers and sisters, if one of you should wander from the truth and someone should bring that person back, remember this: Whoever turns a sinner from the error of their way will save them from death and cover over a multitude of sins.  The word “wander” in the original language carries the idea of being led astray. Of drifting away from truth. It speaks of any movement away from righteousness. And it’s not entirely innocent.  James is writing to an early group of Christians and speaking to them directly, says that "if one of you should wander."  That helps us to understand the context of a wonderer is someone who is, or at least was, a part of the church at one time.  Brothers and sisters, if one of you should wander from the truth…  A wanderer is someone who is pulling away or moving away from the truth.  Jesus said of himself “I am the way, the truth, and the life, and no one comes to the Father but by me” so at the very basic level, a wanderer is someone who whether by belief or by action is moving away from the person of Jesus.  We should see truth here in two different ways:  First, the truth of what we believe about what the bible says, who it says God is, and how it calls us to live.  Secondly, we need to understand that a wonderer might move away from truth by their actions.  ‭‭James‬ ‭5‬:‭19‬-‭20‬‬  My brothers and sisters, if one of you should wander from the truth and someone should bring that person back, remember this: Whoever turns a sinner from the error of their way will save them from death and cover over a multitude of sins.  According to James, why being a wonderer is such a big deal is that wandering can lead to death.  It’s not a matter of preference or opinion. Convenience or comfort- it’s a matter of life and death.  That's why our relationship with wanderers is so critical- We are called to go after them!  In relationship with a wanderer, remember to PRAY.  P-Pray for them.  R- Relationship first  A-Action  Y- Yield the outcome  Lord, You are gracious and Your lovingkindness leads to repentance. As I pray for the wanderer, I pray that you would make my heart match yours. I am available to you Lord. Let my mouth speak truth in love and my hands be put to care, so they would know that mercy awaits them in the embrace of their heavenly Father. In Jesus Name.