Church of the Nazarene

http://bible.com/events/48929963 Church of the Nazarene - Harrisonburg Kingdom The Kingdom is now, and it requires grace.‭‭ Matthew‬ ‭18:1‬‬ At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Who, then, is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?”‭‭ Matthew‬ ‭18:2-4 ‬‬ He called a little child to him and placed the child among them. And he said: “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever takes the lowly position of this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.‭‭ Matthew‬ ‭18:5‬‬ And whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me. The Kingdom of Heaven is now Greatness is found in receiving grace This grace extends beyond ourselves We can achieve greatness in the Kingdom of God today if we set aside our human accomplishments to receive and share God’s grace.

Church of the Nazarene East Rock Over The Walls: Failure There is no wall that can separate us from God when we seek Him, not even the wall of failure. Over the last few weeks, we have been looking at the life and ministry of Jesus to see more clearly His heart and His call for us to go beyond the 4 walls of our church to bring hope to our communities. Through Best Week Ever and Vacation bible school, we have done that! We have taken the tangible hope of Christ into our community, planting seeds in God’s Kingdom. We have been over the walls together. Through the life of Christ, we see that there is no wall that can separate a seeking heart from the healing, redeeming love of God. Not even the wall of failure. As we conclude our series today, we will see the heart of Jesus for those who have failed, even those who have failed big.‭‭Luke‬ ‭22:54-62‬‬Then seizing him, they led him away and took him into the house of the high priest. Peter followed at a distance. And when some there had kindled a fire in the middle of the courtyard and had sat down together, Peter sat down with them. A servant girl saw him seated there in the firelight. She looked closely at him and said, “This man was with him.” But he denied it. “Woman, I don’t know him,” he said. A little later someone else saw him and said, “You also are one of them.” “Man, I am not!” Peter replied. About an hour later another asserted, “Certainly this fellow was with him, for he is a Galilean.” Peter replied, “Man, I don’t know what you’re talking about!” Just as he was speaking, the rooster crowed. The Lord turned and looked straight at Peter. Then Peter remembered the word the Lord had spoken to him: “Before the rooster crows today, you will disown me three times.” And he went outside and wept bitterly. We begin to understand the wall of failure is complex, it’s multifaceted, and it has affected us all in different ways. What if today, Jesus is calling us to follow him over the wall of failure? If you are one that has failed, the call is to embrace his hand as he is reaching out to you, to go over that wall to restoration and redemption with Christ. Follow me Jesus says.‭‭Luke‬ ‭22:61-62‬‬The Lord turned and looked straight at Peter. Then Peter remembered the word the Lord had spoken to him: “Before the rooster crows today, you will disown me three times.” And he went outside and wept bitterly. I don’t know about you, but I can FEEL this text. We grieve with Peter because we have been there, we know what bitter tears are like. Like graffiti on a train car, your wall of failure might have many things painted on it. The question of the morning is: Is there a failure that haunts you? If not, that’s wonderful. But if you are staring at that wall of failure…you’re in the right place. The good news today friends is that because of God’s great grace, Peter’s story doesn’t end here at the wall of failure, and yours doesn’t have too either.‭‭Mark‬ ‭16:5-7‬‬As they entered the tomb, they saw a young man dressed in a white robe sitting on the right side, and they were alarmed. “Don’t be alarmed,” he said. “You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. He has risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid him. But go, tell his disciples and Peter, ‘He is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him, just as he told you.’ ” Over the wall of failure, came a voice, a voice calling Peters name. In the middle of the despair, playing over and over that moment in his mind, kicking himself, resolving that it was over, he was done. In that place- a voice calls out. Not with condemnation, but invitation. Peter had a choice in those moments. He could stay behind the wall of failure forever or he could take hold of the hand of grace that Jesus was extending over the wall. In that place of brokenness, shame, and guilt, Peter took the hand of Jesus, and went over the wall of failure to restoration and redemption. That choice to embrace grace, changed the trajectory of his life forever.‭‭John‬ ‭21:15-17‬‬When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?” “Yes, Lord,” he said, “you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Feed my lambs.” Again, Jesus said, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” He answered, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Take care of my sheep.” The third time he said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, “Do you love me?” He said, “Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Feed my sheep. The failure that could have been the end for Peter. That could have been the last chapter. But Jesus wasn’t intimated by Peter’s wall of failure. And He’s not intimidated by yours. Just as our Lord reached out His hand to rescue Peter…He’s doing the same, right now, to you. No wall. Just grace and mercy. Will you follow Jesus over the wall of failure? Will you embrace him? Jesus doesn’t stop at

The Way Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me. “ To experience the life of Jesus, we must adopt the lifestyle of Jesus”-Pastor John Mark Comer‭‭Luke‬ ‭9:18-25‬‬Once when Jesus was praying in private and his disciples were with him, he asked them, “Who do the crowds say I am?” They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, that one of the prophets of long ago has come back to life.” “But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?” Peter answered, “God’s Messiah.” Jesus strictly warned them not to tell this to anyone. And he said, “The Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, and he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life.” Then he said to them all: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will save it. What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit their very self? “Whoever wants to be my disciple MUST deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me." DENY TAKE UP FOLLOW‭‭ Luke‬ ‭9:57-62‬‬As they were walking along the road, a man said to him, “I will follow you wherever you go.” Jesus replied, “Foxes have dens and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head.” He said to another man, “Follow me.” But he replied, “Lord, first let me go and bury my father.” Jesus said to him, “Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and proclaim the kingdom of God.” Still another said, “I will follow you, Lord; but first let me go back and say goodbye to my family.” Jesus replied, “No one who puts a hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God.”‭‭Luke‬ ‭14:25-33‬‬Large crowds were traveling with Jesus and turning to them he said: “If anyone comes to me and does not hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters—yes, even their own life—such a person cannot be my disciple. And whoever does not carry their cross and follow me cannot be my disciple. “Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Won’t you first sit down and estimate the cost to see if you have enough money to complete it? For if you lay the foundation and are not able to finish it, everyone who sees it will ridicule you, saying, ‘This person began to build and wasn’t able to finish.’ “Or suppose a king is about to go to war against another king. Won’t he first sit down and consider whether he is able with ten thousand men to oppose the one coming against him with twenty thousand? If he is not able, he will send a delegation while the other is still a long way off and will ask for terms of peace. In the same way, those of you who do not give up everything you have cannot be my disciples.‭‭Luke‬ ‭18:18-23‬‬A certain ruler asked him, “Good teacher, 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 commit adultery, you shall not murder, you shall not steal, you shall not give false testimony, honor your father and mother.’” “All these I have kept since I was a boy,” he said. When Jesus heard this, he said to him, “You still lack one thing. Sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” When he heard this, he became very sad, because he was very wealthy. If you want to follow Jesus, then first you must die. Skye Jethani (in The Divine Commodity) “My secret is that I want to be relevant and popular. I want my desires fulfilled and pain minimized. I want a manageable relationship with an institution rather than messy relationships with real people. I want to be transformed into the image of Christ by showing up at entertaining events rather than through the hard work of discipline. I want to wear my faith on my sleeve and not look at the darkness in my heart. And above all, I want a controllable god. I want a divine commodity to do my will on earth as well as in heaven. "Are you following Jesus on His terms or yours today? HE IS ENOUGH

Over The Walls: The Outcast Matthew 9:9-13Throughout our summer emphasis on outreach into our communities, we are taking time on Sunday mornings to see the heart of Jesus for those who were "outside the walls". Today, we will see Jesus go over the walls of reputation to rescue a lost tax collector named Matthew.‭‭Matthew‬ ‭9:9-13‬‬ As Jesus went on from there, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax collector’s booth. “Follow me,” he told him, and Matthew got up and followed him. While Jesus was having dinner at Matthew’s house, many tax collectors and sinners came and ate with him and his disciples. When the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?” On hearing this, Jesus said, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners. "As we unpack our teaching text today, we will discover the heart of the Lord for the lost people who are often behind walls we ourselves have built. Perhaps outside of our comfort zones. Maybe even people we would deem as un-worthy Jesus goes after them, just like he came after us. The question of Jesus for us today could easily be “Will you follow me? "Will you go over the walls?‭‭Matthew‬ ‭9:9‬‬As Jesus went on from there, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax collector’s booth. “Follow me,” he told him, and Matthew got up and followed him. As Pastor Joe unpacked for us a little bit last week, it is hard to exactly understand the disdain that the Jews had for tax collectors. The closest parallel for us might be akin to the scammers who are calling, or email trying to get our information so they can extort money from us. They were viewed as traitors of their people because they were working for “The man” or the Roman government that was oppressing the Jews. They were charged with collecting taxes but were free to collect extra to line their own pockets. They were viewed as greedy and self-serving. That was Matthew-Yes, Jesus saw a tax collector that day, but he saw beyond that sin and shame, beyond the walls, to see a heart longing for something different. He knew Matthew’s heart was seeking forgiveness and redemption. An opportunity of new life. Matthew was so ready that he instantly left his entire life behind to follow Jesus.‭‭Matthew‬ ‭9:10-11‬‬While Jesus was having dinner at Matthew’s house, many tax collectors and sinners came and ate with him and his disciples. When the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners? "Matthew takes note of the guest list of this dinner party, making special note that it was MANY tax collectors like himself and other well-known sinners from the town. In the culture and time of Jesus, sharing a meal with someone was not just a common thing like it is today- it carried significant meaning in terms of relationship, of acceptance, and of belonging. In this scene Jesus has made space for people to be with him, to engage them right where they were, no pre-conditions required. This action on behalf of Jesus ran the religious folks right into a wall.‭‭Matthew‬ ‭9:12-13‬‬On hearing this, Jesus said, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners. "In his response, we see that Jesus’ heart is for the outcast, for the people outside the walls. His heart is for those who are down and out, desperate in the gutter. His heart is to extend them grace and an invitation to forgiveness and new life. It’s THEM he came for. It’s the sick who need a doctor. What wall is God calling you to go over? What have you allowed to block the Lord’s flow of mercy in your life? What are the walls? Perhaps the wall of racism or prejudice? Perhaps it’s the wall of politics? Maybe it’s even a big old religious wall? The truth is, if you had lived in the time of Jesus, Matthew may have been the worst of the worst to you- yet Jesus extended a hand to his. So, will you go over your walls today? Will you follow Jesus over that wall in your life? Allow him to lead you. Will you be like Matthew and go all in? As I was preparing this week, I picked up a William Barclay commentary on Matthew and it revealed a few other walls we should consider. The wall of self-preservation that I built to protect myself, to keep my experience safe and comfortable. The wall of selfishness that views my relationship with the Lord and involvement in the church as being all about me. The wall of criticism that helps to isolate me from being near the messiness in other people’s lives. Or perhaps it’s the wall of apathy. The wall that says they got themselves into this mess, let them get themselves out. Friends, walls can be built of many things, for many reasons, but the invitation of the Lord remains for you and for

Our Guest speaker today is Pastor Mike Souder who has served 19 years at Grace Covenant Church and currently serves as the associate pastor there. Ears To Hear Overcoming 5 common Barriers to hearing from God I am the gate; Whoever enters though me will be saved. They will come in and go out and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life and have it to the full. John 10:9-10 Overcoming the 5 Barriers of Hearing God Asking Ask and it will be given to you, seek and you will find... If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him! Matthew 7:7,11Listening Conviction From the Spirit Clear and direct way out of the problem Forward thinking- hope filled Affirms our identity, positivity Condemnation From the Enemy Vague and unclear, no 'good' way out Backward thinking- hopeless Attacks our identityTruth RelationshipSin If I had not confessed the sin in my heart, the Lord would not have listened. Psalm 66:18 Is anyone among you in trouble? Let them pray. Is anyone happy? Let them sing songs of praise.  Is anyone among you sick? Let them call the elders of the church to pray over them and anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise them up. If they have sinned, they will be forgiven. Therefore, confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective. James 5:13-16 But when that servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred silver coins. He grabbed him and began to choke him. ‘Pay back what you owe me!’ he demanded. His fellow servant fell to his knees and begged him, ‘Be patient with me, and I will pay it back. Matthew 18:28-29

Over The Walls: The Broken All throughout Scripture, Jesus urges us to show compassion to the broken and was the perfect model of love during his ministry on earth. Join us as we learn what it means to love over boundaries and walls and more like Christ!‭‭Luke‬ ‭7:36-50 ‬‬When one of the Pharisees invited Jesus to have dinner with him, he went to the Pharisee’s house and reclined at the table. A woman in that town who lived a sinful life learned that Jesus was eating at the Pharisee’s house, so she came there with an alabaster jar of perfume. As she stood behind him at his feet weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears. Then she wiped them with her hair, kissed them and poured perfume on them. When the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet, he would know who is touching him and what kind of woman she is—that she is a sinner.” Jesus answered him, “Simon, I have something to tell you.” “Tell me, teacher,” he said. “Two people owed money to a certain moneylender. One owed him five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. Neither of them had the money to pay him back, so he forgave the debts of both. Now which of them will love him more?” Simon replied, “I suppose the one who had the bigger debt forgiven.” “You have judged correctly,” Jesus said. Then he turned toward the woman and said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I came into your house. You did not give me any water for my feet, but she wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. You did not give me a kiss, but this woman, from the time I entered, has not stopped kissing my feet. You did not put oil on my head, but she has poured perfume on my feet. Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven—as her great love has shown. But whoever has been forgiven little loves little.” Then Jesus said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.” The other guests began to say among themselves, “Who is this who even forgives sins?” Jesus said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”6 observations:1. There was a woman who was a sinner and she needed forgiveness.2. There was a religious Pharisee who was a sinner and needed forgiveness.3. Jesus came to seek and save all sinners.4. Sinners are closer to the kingdom than the self-righteous.5. Like Jesus, we should welcome sinners into our fellowship.6. There were 2 sinners, which one are (were) you?‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭2:4-10‬‬But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. 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. For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.3 ways we can respond: 1. Ask God to give you the same heart of compassion that Jesus had for those who are outside the wall. 2. Ask God to help you recognize those who are outside the wall. 3. Ask God to give you favor with those who are outside the wall.

http://bible.com/events/48921004 The Wanderers - The Promised LandThe Wanderers Part 5: "The Promised Land" Welcome to our summer teaching series “The Wanderers”Over the last few weeks we have traced the story of God’s people as they were brought up out of Egypt and began their journey through the wilderness on the way to the Promised Land.It’s a story full of God’s Grace, Mercy, and Faithfulness. It’s also a story of God’s patience with people. An idolatrous, unfaithful, and quick to complain group of people that God desired to enter covenant relationship with.Basic principle of the Mosaic Covenant:Obedience to the commandments of the Lord brings blessing and God’s favorDisobedience brings discipline and God’s judgement.‭‭Joshua‬ ‭1:1-3‬‬ After the death of Moses the servant of the Lord, the Lord said to Joshua son of Nun, Moses’ aide: “Moses my servant is dead. Now then, you and all these people, get ready to cross the Jordan River into the land I am about to give to them—to the Israelites. I will give you every place where you set your foot, as I promised Moses.‭‭Joshua‬ ‭3:9-17‬‬Joshua said to the Israelites, “Come here and listen to the words of the Lord your God. This is how you will know that the living God is among you and that he will certainly drive out before you the Canaanites, Hittites, Hivites, Perizzites, Girgashites, Amorites and Jebusites. See, the ark of the covenant of the Lord of all the earth will go into the Jordan ahead of you. Now then, choose twelve men from the tribes of Israel, one from each tribe. And as soon as the priests who carry the ark of the Lord—the Lord of all the earth—set foot in the Jordan, its waters flowing downstream will be cut off and stand up in a heap.” So when the people broke camp to cross the Jordan, the priests carrying the ark of the covenant went ahead of them. Now the Jordan is at flood stage all during harvest. Yet as soon as the priests who carried the ark reached the Jordan and their feet touched the water’s edge, the water from upstream stopped flowing. It piled up in a heap a great distance away, at a town called Adam in the vicinity of Zarethan, while the water flowing down to the Sea of the Arabah (that is, the Dead Sea) was completely cut off. So the people crossed over opposite Jericho. The priests who carried the ark of the covenant of the Lord stopped in the middle of the Jordan and stood on dry ground, while all Israel passed by until the whole nation had completed the crossing on dry ground.‭‭Joshua‬ ‭4:19-24‬‬ On the tenth day of the first month the people went up from the Jordan and camped at Gilgal on the eastern border of Jericho. And Joshua set up at Gilgal the twelve stones they had taken out of the Jordan. He said to the Israelites, “In the future when your descendants ask their parents, ‘What do these stones mean?’ tell them, ‘Israel crossed the Jordan on dry ground.’ For the Lord your God dried up the Jordan before you until you had crossed over. The Lord your God did to the Jordan what he had done to the Red Sea when he dried it up before us until we had crossed over. He did this so that all the peoples of the earth might know that the hand of the Lord is powerful and so that you might always fear the Lord your God.”10th day of the first month ate the Passover meal then was led out from Eqypt (slavery/bondage) and miraculously through the Red Sea on dry ground…40 years later they miraculously cross the Jordan river on dry ground and celebrate the Passover meal as they are led into the land of promise (God’s best).‭‭Joshua‬ ‭5:1-12‬‬ Now when all the Amorite kings west of the Jordan and all the Canaanite kings along the coast heard how the Lord had dried up the Jordan before the Israelites until they had crossed over, their hearts melted in fear and they no longer had the courage to face the Israelites. At that time the Lord said to Joshua, “Make flint knives and circumcise the Israelites again.” So Joshua made flint knives and circumcised the Israelites at Gibeath Haaraloth. Now this is why he did so: All those who came out of Egypt—all the men of military age—died in the wilderness on the way after leaving Egypt. All the people that came out had been circumcised, but all the people born in the wilderness during the journey from Egypt had not. The Israelites had moved about in the wilderness forty years until all the men who were of military age when they left Egypt had died, since they had not obeyed the Lord. For the Lord had sworn to them that they would not see the land he had solemnly promised their ancestors to give us, a land flowing with milk and honey. So, he raised up their sons in their place, and these were the ones Joshua circumcised. They were still uncircumcised because they had not been circumcised on the way. And after the whole nation had been circumcised, they remained where they were in camp until they were healed. Then the Lord said to Joshua, “Today I have rolled away the reproach of Egypt from you.” So the pl

The Wanderers, the story of God’s people brought out of Egypt followed by 40 years of wandering. One of the most important things we’ve learned as we close this series is that God wants a relationship with His people. He wants a relationship with me, with you! He wants to connect with us. He wants to speak with you. Sometimes He’s subtle. Sometimes He’s obvious. And one of the most important ways God speaks to us…God speaks to you. Is through His promises. The purpose of this last text in our series is for you to understand God, not only as being One who keeps His promises, but God who is diligent in making sure all His promises are fulfilled, even when we work against Him. The things that have resonated with me have been: God’s grace, God’s saving power, God’s redemption, God’s forgiveness and God’s faithfulness.  After the Israelites were in captivity for 430 years the Lord used Moses to lead the people out of Egypt. The LORD delivered Israel from the hands of the Egyptians through the plaques. The crossing of the Red Sea. The final point of deliverance was God’s powerful display of the parting of the Red Sea. We can trust the Lord when there seems to be no way. Bitter water at the Waters of Marah and Elim. After three days without water the people were at a point of desperation. God was inviting the people to trust Him no matter their circumstances. The Israelites arrived at the Desert of Sin and they were hungry. The Israelites were weeks away from their recent crossing of the Red Sea and God’s providence of the water, yet they quickly forgot. 2 Even though their complaining, God came through again. His grace is not dependent on our perfect behavior. The Israelites arrived at Mount Sinai and God spoke the Ten Commandments. God desired a covenant relationship with His people. Through this covenant, they would be His treasured possession of all creation. One loud-and-clear lesson from this series is that we tend to complain. Our natural self has a bent towards grumbling. And although we grumble, God is faithful. We can trust God for every area in our lives. Is there anyone here today that agrees that sometimes your tendency is to grumble when things are not going your way? Maybe something is off in your family, or at work, or in a relationship, or there is something that you want really badly and doesn’t seem as though God is answering your request. You’re frustrated; You find yourself grumbling about it. This series has reminded me of when I relocated here from Tampa after living there for 12 years. I accepted Jesus in Tampa. I was actively serving Christ. I had a good paying career job and a nice apartment. I loved living in Tampa! God moved in mysterious ways to make it absolutely clear to me that He wanted me to move home to Elkton. I moved home 23 years ago. The first job I worked after returning home was on the Skyline Drive as a Room’s Inspector. I learned quickly that if a housekeeper didn’t report to work then I was going to clean rooms for the day. It was a hard job. I remember sitting down on a bed, in one of the rooms that I was cleaning, crying, and asking God “Why did you move me back to the valley?” I had a bad attitude! I wanted to go back to Tampa, to my friends, good paying job and nice apartment. 3 I couldn’t see God’s plan for my life, so I grumbled. I doubted His call to move home. How long would it be before I saw God’s promises come to pass for me? Not until I surrendered to God’s will, that I didn’t understand, did I obtain peace. Immediately upon accepting God’s will, I landed a job at a local bank as a manager. Our last area of focus is God’s people FINALLY entering the promised land. But there was never any doubt. We can trust the LORD today and for all of our tomorrows. Once the Promised Land was promised by God to the Israelites, it was theirs. Today, I am sharing from Joshua Chapters 1-4. In the interest of time, I will not read the full text. Please make time to read these chapters in their entirety. The context of today’s message is that Moses has died. The people are grieving Moses death. The Israelites wandered for 40 years in the wilderness because they had refused to obey God. The disobedient generation wandered until they had all died. Moses was a great leader and he was a servant of God. Moses had been mentoring Joshua who was a young man born as a slave while the Israelites were in Egypt. Last week we learned that Moses had sent 12 spies into the Promised Land. There were two different reports. 10 said “the people are giants and we are as grasshoppers”. Joshua and Caleb gave the minority report to cross over to the Promised Land, “it is good”. Joshua knew what was waiting for the people in the Promised Land. Joshua trusted God’s promise. Today the Israelites are on the edge of the Promised Land for the second time. Let us pray for God’s blessings over the reading of His word and this message. Joshua Chapter 1: 1-9 1 After the death of Moses the servant of the LORD,

https://bible.com/events/48917098 Church of the Nazarene - Harrisonburg Campus Mental Health & The Christian - A Panel Discussion Mental Health & The Christian - A Panel Discussion This morning we're taking a break from our series, "The Wanderers" to focus on Mental Health & The Christian. Our panel will include Mark Sensabaugh, LPC, Ashlea Link and Pastor Margaret Michael. Mark is a Licensed Counselor for Journey Counseling Ministries in Harrisonburg. Ashlea is a School Social Worker for Rockingham County Schools and Margaret is Outreach Pastor for COTN. For more information on Journey Counseling Ministries, visit: https://www.journeycounselingministries.org And for more information about Mark, visit: https://www.journeycounselingministries.org/staff/ The American Medical Association recently concluded that the pandemic has triggered a 25% increase in prevalence of anxiety and depression worldwide. No single event has ever had that dramatic effect. One scholar writing in the National Library of Medicine recently wrote that, we are now in a ‘’tsunami of psychiatric illness.’’ Another doctor wrote that, despite all of the time at home, mental health concerns and burnout have skyrocketed in the workplace. Nearly six times as many employers report increased mental health issues among employees since the pandemic began—burnout being among the most common. And in the middle of that, those of us who are believers in Christ find we are not immune. So, what do we do about it? This panel is designed to take a practical approach toward addressing these issues.‭‭2 Timothy‬ ‭1:7‬‬For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.‭‭Romans‬ ‭12:2‬‬Do not conform to the pattern of this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭10:5‬‬We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.‭‭Romans‬ ‭8:5-6‬‬Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace. Mark referenced books in his comments this morning. Those are: Joyful Journey: Listening to Immanuel by E. James Wilder, Anna Kang, John Loppnow & Sungshim Loppnow The Other Half of Church: Brain Science and Overcoming Spiritual Stagnation by Jim Wilder & Michel Hendricks Journey Into the Divided Heart: Facing the Defense Mechanisms that Hinder True Emotional Healing by Steve Fair

The Wanderers Part 5 "The Spies"Welcome back to our summer teaching series "The Wanderers" We are taking several weeks to unpack the story of God’s Covenant people as they journeyed from an enslaved people in Egypt, to their inheritance in the promised land. Throughout this story the Lord had one primary desire and that was to be with his people. We saw that come clearly into view last week in Chapter 19 as God extended an invitation to Covenant relationship. Even with the invitation of Covenant, there remains the culmination of God’s promise to his people that is yet to be fulfilled in the story- their inheritance of the Promised Land. As we enter our teaching text today in Numbers 13, we pick up the story about a year after the Mt. Sinai experience of Exodus Chapter 19.‭‭Numbers‬ ‭13:25-30‬‬At the end of forty days they returned from exploring the land. They came back to Moses and Aaron and the whole Israelite community at Kadesh in the Desert of Paran. There they reported to them and to the whole assembly and showed them the fruit of the land. They gave Moses this account: “We went into the land to which you sent us, and it does flow with milk and honey! Here is its fruit. But the people who live there are powerful, and the cities are fortified and very large. We even saw descendants of Anak there. The Amalekites live in the Negev; the Hittites, Jebusites and Amorites live in the hill country; and the Canaanites live near the sea and along the Jordan.” Then Caleb silenced the people before Moses and said, “We should go up and take possession of the land, for we can certainly do it.” At this early report we already get the sense that the old nemesis of the children of Israel is back after them again- Doubt in the face of difficulty. All except Caleb and Joshua are starting to turn back in their hearts because of the challenge they see ahead in the promised land. On the doorstep of their inheritance, we discover a truth that transcends thousands of years of human experience. What we see, can poison what we believe. As we unpack the story of God’s Children on the threshold of their greatest moment, we will see the faith of an entire generation poisoned by unbelief.‭‭Numbers‬ ‭13:31-33‬‬But the men who had gone up with him said, “We can’t attack those people; they are stronger than we are.” And they spread among the Israelites a bad report about the land they had explored. They said, “The land we explored devours those living in it. All the people we saw there are of great size. We saw the Nephilim there (the descendants of Anak come from the Nephilim). We seemed like grasshoppers in our own eyes, and we looked the same to them.”The faith of the 10 men was so poisoned by what they witnessed in the land that they come back and begin to give an exaggerated report, starting rumors among the people.‭‭Numbers‬ ‭14:1-4‬‬That night all the members of the community raised their voices and wept aloud. All the Israelites grumbled against Moses and Aaron, and the whole assembly said to them, “If only we had died in Egypt! Or in this wilderness! Why is the Lord bringing us to this land only to let us fall by the sword? Our wives and children will be taken as plunder. Wouldn’t it be better for us to go back to Egypt?” And they said to each other, “We should choose a leader and go back to Egypt.” On the threshold of their inheritance, what they saw poisoned their faith in the Lord’s ability to provide. The people return to their classic response of grumbling and complaining against Moses, and ultimately the Lord. They thought it better to die there in the wilderness than to take the step of faith into the promised land. In this final statement, they decide they no longer want God’s plan, they no longer want God’s leaders, and they don’t want His land either. This was the pinnacle of their unbelief. As the story continues, the faithful leaders they wanted to abandon, begin to plead with them to trust the Lord- to turn back from their faithless ways, but they would have no part of it. Finally, the Lord appears at the tent of meeting and speaks to Moses declaring his judgement upon the people. There the Lord tells Moses that he will strike down this unbelieving people in response to their rebellion and contempt against him. God would give them what they desired, death in the desert. But Moses pleads on behalf of the people that the Lord would spare them, appealing to the Lord’s gracious and steadfast love.‭‭Numbers‬ ‭14:20-24‬‬The Lord replied, “I have forgiven them, as you asked. Nevertheless, as surely as I live and as surely as the glory of the Lord fills the whole earth, not one of those who saw my glory and the signs I performed in Egypt and in the wilderness but who disobeyed me and tested me ten times— not one of them will ever see the land I promised on oath to their ancestors. No one who has treated me with contempt will ever see it. But because my servant Caleb has a different spirit and follows me wholeheartedly,

The Wanderers Part 4: "The Commandments" Welcome to our summer teaching series “The Wanderers” Over the next several weeks we will trace the story of God’s people as they were brought up out of Egypt and began their journey through the wilderness on the way to the Promised Land. It’s a story full of God’s Grace, Mercy, and Faithfulness. It’s also a story of God’s patience with people. An idolatrous, unfaithful, and quick to complain group of people that God desired to enter covenant relationship with. Where have you seen the Children of Israel in you? Perhaps in us? These are important to consider because if this is just a history lesson, we’ve been wasting our time. If all the grumbling stories and miracles are just data about the past, we are missing it. If we miss the story, they are telling we will miss the whole point of that long journey- God’s invitation to relationship.‭‭Exodus‬ ‭19:1-3‬‬On the first day of the third month after the Israelites left Egypt—on that very day—they came to the Desert of Sinai. After they set out from Rephidim, they entered the Desert of Sinai, and Israel camped there in the desert in front of the mountain. Then Moses went up to God, and the Lord called to him from the mountain and said, “This is what you are to say to the descendants of Jacob and what you are to tell the people of Israel: We are joining the Children of Israel about 2 weeks after the events in Chapter 16 with God’s miraculous provision of food in the wilderness. For about two weeks now the people have been literally eating at God’s faithfulness every day as they eat the Manna from heaven. In the time between chapter 16 with the giving of the manna and their arrival at Mount Sinai in Chapter 19, the people have done some more grumbling against the Lord, they have engaged in battle with the Amalekites where the Lord provided victory. The arrival and subsequent yearlong stay at Sinai mark a distinct turn in the story of God’s people. This is a pivotal moment for God’s people. As these events un-fold, it becomes clear that this is the point the Lord was leading his people too. Despite their grumbling, despite their desire to go back to Egypt, God has been desiring to be with his people. At Sinai, he will extend them an invitation to relationship.‭‭Exodus‬ ‭19:4‬‬‘You yourselves have seen what I did to Egypt, and how I carried you on eagles’ wings and brought you to myself. up to this point in our narrative the Children of Israel have been the recipients of God’s grace, his one-sided love for them, but the Lord is about to offer them an opportunity of response considering all he has done for them.‭‭Exodus‬ ‭19:5-6‬‬Now if you obey me fully and keep my covenant, then out of all nations you will be my treasured possession. Although the whole earth is mine, you will be for me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words you are to speak to the Israelites. ” The Lord offers his people a way of response in light of all he has done in advance for them. A response of obedience. Let’s pause for just a moment- What’s a covenant? First, a covenant is not a contract. The website Upcounsel.com says “A contract exchanges one good for another, while a covenant is giving oneself to the other." A contract then is a “if-then” type of agreement. A covenant on the other hand is a relational centered agreement. In our context, Marriage is perhaps the most accessible example. Tim Mackie of the Bible project puts it this way “Covenant means entering a formal, relational partnership to accomplish a goal” The Lord is inviting his people into a covenant relationship, where he will give them all of himself and in return, they would give all of themselves to him. The idea of treasured possession is like a crown jewel, a unique and one-of-a-kind work. “A kingdom of Priests” in a very basic sense, a priest is a person who represents God to other people. So, the invitation to covenant for the children of Israel is that they will be a part of God’s plan for redemption of the whole world. “ Holy Nation” They were to be a people representing God to the world, they were also to be a completely different kind of people, set apart from the world on display of God’s amazing love and transformation in his people. What God asked of the people in response, is what we know as the 10 commandments. The 10 commandments were like a “constitution” of sorts for God’s covenant people. The commandments laid out the kind of people they were to be. God’s giving of himself in covenant would display in his people being a treasured possession, a kingdom of priests and a holy nation. The peoples giving of themselves would display in their love for God and their love for their neighbors. For thousands of years the people of God would struggle to uphold their part of the covenant, to be a people wholly committed to God. No matter how hard they tried, despite their best intentions, the fallen nature of sin distorted their ability to live as God desired

https://my.bible.com/events/48912545 The Wanderers Part 4: "The Commandments" Welcome to our summer teaching series “The Wanderers” Over the last few weeks we have traced the story of God’s people as they were brought up out of Egypt and began their journey through the wilderness on the way to the Promised Land. It’s a story full of God’s Grace, Mercy, and Faithfulness. It’s also a story of God’s patience with people. An idolatrous, unfaithful, and quick to complain group of people that God desired to enter covenant relationship with.‭‭Exodus‬ ‭20:1-4‬‬And God spoke all these words: “I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery. “You shall have no other gods before me. “You shall not make for yourself an image in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below.‭‭Exodus‬ ‭20:7-8‬‬“You shall not misuse the name of the Lord your God, for the Lord will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses his name. “Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy.‭‭Exodus‬ ‭20:12-21‬‬“Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the Lord your God is giving you. “You shall not murder. “You shall not commit adultery. “You shall not steal. “You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor. “You shall not covet your neighbor’s house. You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or his male or female servant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor.” When the people saw the thunder and lightning and heard the trumpet and saw the mountain in smoke, they trembled with fear. They stayed at a distance and said to Moses, “Speak to us yourself and we will listen. But do not have God speak to us or we will die.” Moses said to the people, “Do not be afraid. God has come to test you, so that the fear of God will be with you to keep you from sinning.” The people remained at a distance, while Moses approached the thick darkness where God was. We are called to be a God-centric community. We are called to be an other-centric community.‭‭Matthew‬ ‭22:36-40‬‬“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.” We are saved by the One who fulfilled the law. Overview of Exodus This video gives a brief overview of the book of Exodus, helping us frame it within the biblical narrative. This link is for Part 1, make sure to watch Part 2!https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jH_aojNJM3E

http://bible.com/events/48910222 The Wanderers Part 3: "God Provides" Welcome to our summer teaching series “The Wanderers” Over the next several weeks we will trace the story of God’s people as they were brought up out of Egypt and began their journey through the wilderness on the way to the Promised Land. It’s a story full of God’s Grace, Mercy, and Faithfulness. It’s also a story of God’s patience with people. An idolatrous, unfaithful, and quick to complain group of people that God desired to enter covenant relationship with. Two important themes present throughout the Israelites' journey through the wilderness:1. God loves you2. God tests you‭‭Exodus‬ ‭16:1-15‬‬The whole Israelite community set out from Elim and came to the Desert of Sin, which is between Elim and Sinai, on the fifteenth day of the second month after they had come out of Egypt. In the desert the whole community grumbled against Moses and Aaron. The Israelites said to them, “If only we had died by the Lord’s hand in Egypt! There we sat around pots of meat and ate all the food we wanted, but you have brought us out into this desert to starve this entire assembly to death.” Then the Lord said to Moses, “I will rain down bread from heaven for you. The people are to go out each day and gather enough for that day. In this way I will test them and see whether they will follow my instructions. On the sixth day they are to prepare what they bring in, and that is to be twice as much as they gather on the other days.” So Moses and Aaron said to all the Israelites, “In the evening you will know that it was the Lord who brought you out of Egypt, and in the morning you will see the glory of the Lord, because he has heard your grumbling against him. Who are we, that you should grumble against us?” Moses also said, “You will know that it was the Lord when he gives you meat to eat in the evening and all the bread you want in the morning, because he has heard your grumbling against him. Who are we? You are not grumbling against us, but against the Lord.” Then Moses told Aaron, “Say to the entire Israelite community, ‘Come before the Lord, for he has heard your grumbling.’ ” While Aaron was speaking to the whole Israelite community, they looked toward the desert, and there was the glory of the Lord appearing in the cloud. The Lord said to Moses, “I have heard the grumbling of the Israelites. Tell them, ‘At twilight you will eat meat, and in the morning you will be filled with bread. Then you will know that I am the Lord your God.’ ” That evening quail came and covered the camp, and in the morning there was a layer of dew around the camp. When the dew was gone, thin flakes like frost on the ground appeared on the desert floor. When the Israelites saw it, they said to each other, “What is it?” For they did not know what it was. Moses said to them, “It is the bread the Lord has given you to eat.‭‭Exodus‬ ‭16:31-35‬‬The people of Israel called the bread manna. It was white like coriander seed and tasted like wafers made with honey. Moses said, “This is what the Lord has commanded: ‘Take an omer of manna and keep it for the generations to come, so they can see the bread I gave you to eat in the wilderness when I brought you out of Egypt.’ ” So Moses said to Aaron, “Take a jar and put an omer of manna in it. Then place it before the Lord to be kept for the generations to come.” As the Lord commanded Moses, Aaron put the manna with the tablets of the covenant law, so that it might be preserved. The Israelites ate manna forty years, until they came to a land that was settled; they ate manna until they reached the border of Canaan. One of the biggest questions from this story: Why? If God loves His people, why does He continue to test them in this way? The Lord provides the answer in verse 4:"Then the Lord said to Moses, 'I will rain down bread from heaven for you. The people are to go out each day and gather enough for that day. In this way I will test them and see whether they will follow my instructions.' " (Exodus 16:4)So what is God testing? Why is He testing them? He is teaching them what it's like to trust that He is their Heavenly Father. He is their ultimate provider. The bottom line: Can you think of anything you need God can’t provide?‭‭John‬ ‭6:35‬‬Then Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty. Overview of Exodus This video gives a brief overview of the book of Exodus, helping us frame it within the biblical narrative. This link is for Part 1, make sure to watch Part 2! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jH_aojNJM3E

The Wanderers The Wanderers Part 3: "God Provides" Welcome to our summer teaching series “The Wanderers” Over the next several weeks we will trace the story of God’s people as they were brought up out of Egypt and began their journey through the wilderness on the way to the Promised Land. It’s a story full of God’s Grace, Mercy, and Faithfulness. It’s also a story of God’s patience with people. An idolatrous, unfaithful, and quick to complain group of people that God desired to enter covenant relationship with. Today in Exodus 16, we are joining the Children of Israel once again in the desert, facing another opportunity to trust God as their Lord and provider. Already it seems like the story is building towards something. In fact, it’s not an overstatement to say that the story of The Wanderers is one of the most important accounts in world history. And we get to re-live it. Even if we didn’t know how it ends, we already see themes of God’s leading, of His provision and grace with his people, his miraculous power. We see God revealed as trustworthy and faithful. But we also sense the people haven’t completely gotten this idea in their heads or their hearts yet.Even after witnessing time and time again God’s faithfulness- at the next challenge- they grumble and complain against the Lord.‭‭Exodus‬ ‭16:1-3‬‬The whole Israelite community set out from Elim and came to the Desert of Sin, which is between Elim and Sinai, on the fifteenth day of the second month after they had come out of Egypt. In the desert the whole community grumbled against Moses and Aaron. The Israelites said to them, “If only we had died by the Lord’s hand in Egypt! There we sat around pots of meat and ate all the food we wanted, but you have brought us out into this desert to starve this entire assembly to death.” Having traveled for a while now, they were using up their food supplies and they could see that starvation was a very real possibility on the horizon. As they became hangry- they lost sight of the opportunity to call out to the Lord in his faithfulness In these difficult moments, they essentially turn their back on God’s plans for them-“This journey stinks, I want to go back.”“ It’s too hard, I don’t like it, and I’m done.” Those very real feelings were rising to the surface in their hearts and their actions. They were so done with it all in this moment that they even accuse the Lord of bringing them out to the desert just to die.“ If we could have just stayed in Egypt at least we would have had food to eat” From our vantage point, we can recognize the absurdity of these comments in light of the whole story- but they couldn’t. What should we take from that today?‭‭Exodus‬ ‭16:4-5‬‬Then the Lord said to Moses, “I will rain down bread from heaven for you. The people are to go out each day and gather enough for that day. In this way I will test them and see whether they will follow my instructions. On the sixth day they are to prepare what they bring in, and that is to be twice as much as they gather on the other days.” The Lord promises to rain down bread from heaven, the food they need will come to them in a miraculous way .Not only were they getting what they never expected, it was coming in a way they never imagined- directly from heaven. Contained within this provision of bread from heaven is a test, a daily opportunity, if you will, to trust God. The people are only to gather what they need for one day, except for the 6th day in anticipation of the sabbath day. They will need to trust God every day to supply their needs.This testing or training was not entirely all about their ability to follow instructions, but it was as much designed to reveal the leaning of their hearts.‭‭Exodus‬ ‭16:19-20‬‬Then Moses said to them, “No one is to keep any of it until morning.” However, some of them paid no attention to Moses; they kept part of it until morning, but it was full of maggots and began to smell. So Moses was angry with them.‭‭Exodus‬ ‭16:27-28‬‬Nevertheless, some of the people went out on the seventh day to gather it, but they found none. Then the Lord said to Moses, “How long will you refuse to keep my commands and my instructions?Within our own lives today we can face this same challenge- will we obey even when the rules or requests don’t make sense? Each time the Lord asks something of us that doesn’t seem like “That big of a deal”- our heart posture will reveal itself One of submission or one of selfish rebellion. Let’s conclude by zeroing in on what the Lord DIDN’T do in this story.- The people are disobedient- The people regularly complain – it seems like every time we check in on them they are grumbling about something.- They don’t trust the one most trustworthy. And when they complain about being hungry, God doesn’t give them what they deserve. He doesn’t punish them or scold them or turn His back on them. HE FEEDS THEM Now that same God is here today and He’s listening to you. What do you need? Do you imagine God will tur

http://bible.com/events/48907025 The Wanderers Part 2: Healed Waters Welcome to our summer teaching series “The Wanderers” Over the next several weeks we will trace the story of God’s people as they were brought up out of Egypt and began their journey through the wilderness on the way to the Promised Land. It’s a story full of God’s Grace, Mercy, and Faithfulness. It’s also a story of God’s patience with people. An idolatrous, unfaithful, and quick to complain group of people that God desired to enter covenant relationship with. The Children of Israel had been slaves in Egypt for hundreds of years, and the moment came at the Red Sea when he delivered his people from the bondage of Egypt. God literally parted the waters allowing his people to pass through on dry ground. Today we rejoin the children of Israel in Exodus chapter 15, just a few days after this event, facing yet another challenge. This time the enemy was not in the form of chariots, but in the form of dehydration. They had no water in the desert…‭‭Exodus‬ ‭15:22-27‬‬Then Moses led Israel from the Red Sea and they went into the Desert of Shur. For three days they traveled in the desert without finding water. When they came to Marah, they could not drink its water because it was bitter. (That is why the place is called Marah.) So the people grumbled against Moses, saying, “What are we to drink?” Then Moses cried out to the Lord, and the Lord showed him a piece of wood. He threw it into the water, and the water became fit to drink. There the Lord issued a ruling and instruction for them and put them to the test. He said, “If you listen carefully to the Lord your God and do what is right in his eyes, if you pay attention to his commands and keep all his decrees, I will not bring on you any of the diseases I brought on the Egyptians, for I am the Lord, who heals you.” Then they came to Elim, where there were twelve springs and seventy palm trees, and they camped there near the water.-Modern science says that the human body can go three days without water, no more. So, the people of God in this passage were desperate. They could not have gone on much longer. And they knew it.-Just as the Lord was their only hope when they were facing the Red Sea and the Egyptian army, so now, in different circumstances, God is their only hope yet again. A brief timeline of what happened:1. The people are desperate.2. They grumble and complain (again!).3. God meets their need, even though they are faithless.4. God makes a promise to them about His future protection.5. The promise is contingent on their obedience.6. Finally, God endorses this promise by bringing them to a paradise! As we read the story today, many of us can relate to the pain and frustration the Israelites are experiencing:-Of course, they are frustrated, they haven't had water in three days-Of course, they are complaining, what else are they supposed to do? All of us have been there at some point in our lives. Some of us are there right now: that desert season. There is a powerful metaphor here within the story:-They arrive desperate for water and it’s almost cruel. They do find water. But they can’t drink it. It's unsafe and certainly undesirable.-It’s so easy to make judgments about God in those situations…that He’s distant and uncaring, that He’s forgotten you.-But the truth is, God can make something sweet out of your bitter. Bottom line: Will you trust God when your life tastes bitter? Overview of Exodus This video gives a brief overview of the book of Exodus, helping us frame it within the biblical narrative. This link is for Part 1, make sure to watch Part 2!https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jH_aojNJM3E

The Wanderers Part 2: Healed Waters Welcome to our summer teaching series “The Wanderers” Over the next several weeks we will trace the story of God’s people as they were brought up out of Egypt and began their journey through the wilderness on the way to the Promised Land. It’s a story full of God’s Grace, Mercy, and Faithfulness. It’s also a story of God’s patience with people. An idolatrous, unfaithful, and quick to complain group of people that God desired to enter covenant relationship with. The Children of Israel had been slaves in Egypt for hundreds of years, and the moment came at the Red Sea when he delivered his people from the bondage of Egypt. God literally parted the waters allowing his people to pass through on dry ground. Today we rejoin the children of Israel in Exodus chapter 15, just a few days after this event, facing yet another challenge. This time the enemy was not in the form of chariots, but in the form of dehydration. They had no water in the desert…‭‭Exodus‬ ‭15:22-27‬‬Then Moses led Israel from the Red Sea and they went into the Desert of Shur. For three days they traveled in the desert without finding water. When they came to Marah, they could not drink its water because it was bitter. (That is why the place is called Marah.) So the people grumbled against Moses, saying, “What are we to drink?” Then Moses cried out to the Lord, and the Lord showed him a piece of wood. He threw it into the water, and the water became fit to drink. There the Lord issued a ruling and instruction for them and put them to the test. He said, “If you listen carefully to the Lord your God and do what is right in his eyes, if you pay attention to his commands and keep all his decrees, I will not bring on you any of the diseases I brought on the Egyptians, for I am the Lord, who heals you.” Then they came to Elim, where there were twelve springs and seventy palm trees, and they camped there near the water. Three days from the red sea, from one of the greatest miracles in the history of mankind- you would anticipate them ready to face any battle, right? Confident that God can do ANYTHING for them after what they just saw right? They won’t forget that fast, will they? How could they? I don’t know about you, but it’s about right here in the story I sense the Holy Spirit asking me these same questions…You remember those battles I have fought and won for you, right? You’re not going to forget, are you? How could you after all I have done for you? In a moment of reflection, 3500 years of history are bridged by a common human experience of doubt in the face of difficulty. As we re-enter the story today, rather than finding the people of God triumphantly trusting, we see them returning to the already common motif of doubting and grumbling. How will the Lord find you today? Grumbling or trusting?‭‭Exodus‬ ‭15:24‬‬So the people grumbled against Moses, saying, “What are we to drink? ”This moment of frustration and disappointment serves to reveal what had already been taking root in their hearts. Their tendency to gripe and complain against Moses and the Lord, rises to the surface again. Somehow, they forget in the middle of these circumstances that it was in fact the Lord who had led them there. But that was lost in those moments. The question of what to drink was not the issue at hand, rather, their attitude of contempt for the circumstances they were facing. They did not have what they expected, and they failed to trust God to provide it. A recipe for sin. The truth is, every complaint we make against our circumstances, is really against the Lord.‭‭Exodus‬ ‭15:25‬‬Then Moses cried out to the Lord, and the Lord showed him a piece of wood. He threw it into the water, and the water became fit to drink. There the Lord issued a ruling and instruction for them and put them to the test. Rather than crying out against the Lord, Moses cried out to the Lord for help. The proper response in those times of trouble. Remember, Moses was thirsty too- he was experiencing the same hardship as everyone else in those moments, yet he didn’t allow bitterness to take root in his heart. Look at the sequence in this verse- Moses Cried out to the Lord- And the Lord showed him…A humble heart receives a gracious response from the Lord‭‭Exodus‬ ‭15:25-26‬‬Then Moses cried out to the Lord, and the Lord showed him a piece of wood. He threw it into the water, and the water became fit to drink. There the Lord issued a ruling and instruction for them and put them to the test. He said, “If you listen carefully to the Lord your God and do what is right in his eyes, if you pay attention to his commands and keep all his decrees, I will not bring on you any of the diseases I brought on the Egyptians, for I am the Lord, who heals you.” For the first time in our storyline, the Lord lays out his expectations of obedience upon his people In these moments the test has already happened, and it was revealed that their hearts were not committed. The Lord then

The Wanderers Part 1: The Crossing Today we begin our summer teaching series “The Wanderers”. Over the next several weeks we are going to journey through the story of God’s people as they were brought up out of Egypt and began their journey through the wilderness. Our Series begins today with the crossing of the Red Sea. The Red Sea crossing is the moment when God gave his people a seemingly impossible victory over the enslaving powers of Egypt. It's a defining moment of deliverance and grace for his people In this story, God saves His people from the pursuing Egyptian army by splitting the Red Sea, saving the Israelites, and destroying the pursuing army. ‭‭Exodus‬ ‭14:10-14‬‬ As Pharaoh approached, the Israelites looked up, and there were the Egyptians, marching after them. They were terrified and cried out to the Lord. They said to Moses, “Was it because there were no graves in Egypt that you brought us to the desert to die? What have you done to us by bringing us out of Egypt? Didn’t we say to you in Egypt, ‘Leave us alone; let us serve the Egyptians’? It would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the desert!” Moses answered the people, “Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the Lord will bring you today. The Egyptians you see today you will never see again. The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.” Already in our story we find a motif of mistrust and rebellion that we will see time and time again throughout their journey. We will say to ourselves “How can they doubt and complain after all they have seen God do?” And our Father will look us in the eye and smile knowingly ‭‭Exodus‬ ‭14:15-22‬‬ Then the Lord said to Moses, “Why are you crying out to me? Tell the Israelites to move on. Raise your staff and stretch out your hand over the sea to divide the water so that the Israelites can go through the sea on dry ground. I will harden the hearts of the Egyptians so that they will go in after them. And I will gain glory through Pharaoh and all his army, through his chariots and his horsemen. The Egyptians will know that I am the Lord when I gain glory through Pharaoh, his chariots and his horsemen.” Then the angel of God, who had been traveling in front of Israel’s army, withdrew and went behind them. The pillar of cloud also moved from in front and stood behind them, coming between the armies of Egypt and Israel. Throughout the night the cloud brought darkness to the one side and light to the other side; so neither went near the other all night long. Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and all that night the Lord drove the sea back with a strong east wind and turned it into dry land. The waters were divided, and the Israelites went through the sea on dry ground, with a wall of water on their right and on their left. In these moments of terror, the steadfast faith of Moses bears the weight of the un-believing people. In the eyes of the people, they were stuck. A sea before them and death behind them. There was no way. But God was about to display his power to make a way- literally, an unimaginable way for them to be saved, and for him to get the Glory. In this story we begin to understand that as we are backed up against the impossible- God is not limited by our imaginations. He’s not limited our plans, or our ability to see the way forward. He has a plan for redemption. A plan that will bring him glory for generations to come! Our call as His people is to trust and believe in Him. ‭‭Exodus‬ ‭14:23-31‬‬ The Egyptians pursued them, and all Pharaoh’s horses and chariots and horsemen followed them into the sea. During the last watch of the night the Lord looked down from the pillar of fire and cloud at the Egyptian army and threw it into confusion. He jammed the wheels of their chariots so that they had difficulty driving. And the Egyptians said, “Let’s get away from the Israelites! The Lord is fighting for them against Egypt.” Then the Lord said to Moses, “Stretch out your hand over the sea so that the waters may flow back over the Egyptians and their chariots and horsemen.” Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and at daybreak the sea went back to its place. The Egyptians were fleeing toward it, and the Lord swept them into the sea. The water flowed back and covered the chariots and horsemen—the entire army of Pharaoh that had followed the Israelites into the sea. Not one of them survived. But the Israelites went through the sea on dry ground, with a wall of water on their right and on their left. That day the Lord saved Israel from the hands of the Egyptians, and Israel saw the Egyptians lying dead on the shore. And when the Israelites saw the mighty hand of the Lord displayed against the Egyptians, the people feared the Lord and put their trust in him and in Moses his servant. The Lord went behind his people protecting them, and he went before them making the way for salvation. That’s not just what God did, it reveals who he was

The Wanderers The Wanderers Part 1: The Crossing Today we begin our summer teaching series “The Wanderers”. Over the next several weeks we are going to journey through the story of God’s people as they were brought up out of Egypt and began their journey through the wilderness. Our Series begins today with the crossing of the Red Sea. The Red Sea crossing is the moment when God gave his people a seemingly impossible victory over the enslaving powers of Egypt. It's a defining moment of deliverance and grace for his people In this story, God saves His people from the pursuing Egyptian army by splitting the Red Sea, saving the Israelites, and destroying the pursuing army. ‭‭Exodus‬ ‭14:10-14‬‬ As Pharaoh approached, the Israelites looked up, and there were the Egyptians, marching after them. They were terrified and cried out to the Lord. They said to Moses, “Was it because there were no graves in Egypt that you brought us to the desert to die? What have you done to us by bringing us out of Egypt? Didn’t we say to you in Egypt, ‘Leave us alone; let us serve the Egyptians’? It would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the desert!” Moses answered the people, “Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the Lord will bring you today. The Egyptians you see today you will never see again. The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.” Already in our story we find a motif of mistrust and rebellion that we will see time and time again throughout their journey. We will say to ourselves “How can they doubt and complain after all they have seen God do?” And our Father will look us in the eye and smile knowingly ‭‭Exodus‬ ‭14:15-22‬‬ Then the Lord said to Moses, “Why are you crying out to me? Tell the Israelites to move on. Raise your staff and stretch out your hand over the sea to divide the water so that the Israelites can go through the sea on dry ground. I will harden the hearts of the Egyptians so that they will go in after them. And I will gain glory through Pharaoh and all his army, through his chariots and his horsemen. The Egyptians will know that I am the Lord when I gain glory through Pharaoh, his chariots and his horsemen.” Then the angel of God, who had been traveling in front of Israel’s army, withdrew and went behind them. The pillar of cloud also moved from in front and stood behind them, coming between the armies of Egypt and Israel. Throughout the night the cloud brought darkness to the one side and light to the other side; so neither went near the other all night long. Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and all that night the Lord drove the sea back with a strong east wind and turned it into dry land. The waters were divided, and the Israelites went through the sea on dry ground, with a wall of water on their right and on their left. In these moments of terror, the steadfast faith of Moses bears the weight of the un-believing people. In the eyes of the people, they were stuck. A sea before them and death behind them. There was no way. But God was about to display his power to make a way- literally, an unimaginable way for them to be saved, and for him to get the Glory. In this story we begin to understand that as we are backed up against the impossible- God is not limited by our imaginations. He’s not limited our plans, or our ability to see the way forward. He has a plan for redemption. A plan that will bring him glory for generations to come! Our call as His people is to trust and believe in Him. ‭‭Exodus‬ ‭14:23-31‬‬ The Egyptians pursued them, and all Pharaoh’s horses and chariots and horsemen followed them into the sea. During the last watch of the night the Lord looked down from the pillar of fire and cloud at the Egyptian army and threw it into confusion. He jammed the wheels of their chariots so that they had difficulty driving. And the Egyptians said, “Let’s get away from the Israelites! The Lord is fighting for them against Egypt.” Then the Lord said to Moses, “Stretch out your hand over the sea so that the waters may flow back over the Egyptians and their chariots and horsemen.” Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and at daybreak the sea went back to its place. The Egyptians were fleeing toward it, and the Lord swept them into the sea. The water flowed back and covered the chariots and horsemen—the entire army of Pharaoh that had followed the Israelites into the sea. Not one of them survived. But the Israelites went through the sea on dry ground, with a wall of water on their right and on their left. That day the Lord saved Israel from the hands of the Egyptians, and Israel saw the Egyptians lying dead on the shore. And when the Israelites saw the mighty hand of the Lord displayed against the Egyptians, the people feared the Lord and put their trust in him and in Moses his servant. The Lord went behind his people protecting them, and he went before them making the way for salvation. That’s not just what God did, it reve

http://bible.com/events/48899753 Church of the Nazarene  The Problem with Certainty The more control I feel like I have, the less I have to live by faith. What are you certain of today? The truth is, for most things in our lives, certainty is an illusion. The desire for control is the root of what’s wrong with us. Just as certainty is an illusion, control is too. When I feel in control, I don’t have to live by faith. ‭‭Exodus‬ ‭13:17-18‬‬ When Pharaoh let the people go, God did not lead them on the road through the Philistine country, though that was shorter. For God said, “If they face war, they might change their minds and return to Egypt.” So God led the people around by the desert road toward the Red Sea. The Israelites went up out of Egypt ready for battle. ‭‭Exodus‬ ‭13:20-22‬‬ After leaving Sukkoth they camped at Etham on the edge of the desert. By day the Lord went ahead of them in a pillar of cloud to guide them on their way and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, so that they could travel by day or night. Neither the pillar of cloud by day nor the pillar of fire by night left its place in front of the people. ‭‭Exodus‬ ‭16:4-5‬‬ Then the Lord said to Moses, “I will rain down bread from heaven for you. The people are to go out each day and gather enough for that day. In this way I will test them and see whether they will follow my instructions. On the sixth day they are to prepare what they bring in, and that is to be twice as much as they gather on the other days.” In your uncertainty, trust God's plan. In your uncertainty, trust God's presence. In your uncertainty, trust God's provision. In your uncertainty today, you have a choice. You can’t have control. But, the truth is, you don’t really want control. You can’t have certainty. But you can have the One who is certain. The question is, what are you trusting in today?

http://bible.com/events/48896033 Church of the Nazarene Harrisonburg Questions Jesus Asked: "Why Are You So Afraid?" Do you know Him? Do you obey Him? Do you need Him? Do you trust Him? Today we continue in our 4-part teaching series “Questions Jesus Asked” Often, we are quite content to ask questions of Jesus. Who are you? Where are you? Do you hear me? How could you let that happen? What do you want me to do? We often ask questions of Jesus, but do we pause to hear the questions he asks of us? Today we hear Jesus ask “Why are you so afraid?" ‭‭Mark‬ ‭4:35-40‬‬ That day when evening came, he said to his disciples, “Let us go over to the other side.” Leaving the crowd behind, they took him along, just as he was, in the boat. There were also other boats with him. A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped. Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him and said to him, “Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?” He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Quiet! Be still!” Then the wind died down and it was completely calm. He said to his disciples, “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?” -In the moment, Jesus' question seems ridiculous: "Why are the disciples afraid?! Because they almost drowned!" -Jesus asks a follow-up question, which helps us understand what He is really after: "Do you still have no faith?” -The disciples had seen Jesus do remarkable things: cast out demons, heal a paralyzed man. And still they do not have faith. -Jesus is challenging their lack of faith in His identity. -Jesus is challenging their lack of faith in His presence. Do you know Him? ("Who do you say that I am?" Do you obey Him? ("Why do you call me, Lord, Lord, and not do what I say?") Do you need Him? ("Do you want to get well?") Do you trust Him? ("Why are you so afraid?") Trust that He is who He says He is. -Trust that His promises are true (2 Corinthians 1:20). -Trust that He has already paid the price for your sin (Galatians 3:13-15). -Trust that the pain and brokenness you are experiencing matter to Him (Psalm 147:3). -He cares for you, and He demonstrated His love for you by dying on a cross for your sins (1 Peter 5:7) Trust that He is with you. -Just as we can trust that He keeps His promises, we can also trust that He is with us (Isaiah 41:10). -He gives us the gift of His Spirit, so we can experience His presence today no matter what (John 16:7). Other Verses for Study & Reflection: Isaiah 41:10 2 Timothy 1:7 1 John 4:18 Psalm 34:4 Joshua 1:9

Church of the Nazarene East Rock Questions Jesus Asked: "Why are you so afraid?" Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith? Today we conclude our our 4-part teaching series “Questions Jesus Asked” Often, we are quite content to ask questions of Jesus. Who are you? Where are you? Do you hear me? How could you let that happen? What do you want me to do? We often ask questions of Jesus, but do we pause to hear the questions he asks of us? Today we hear Jesus ask “Why are you so afraid?" ‭‭Mark‬ ‭4:35-41‬‬ That day when evening came, he said to his disciples, “Let us go over to the other side.” Leaving the crowd behind, they took him along, just as he was, in the boat. There were also other boats with him. A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped. Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him and said to him, “Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?” He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Quiet! Be still!” Then the wind died down and it was completely calm. He said to his disciples, “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?” They were terrified and asked each other, “Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!” Jesus notably doesn’t ask you “WHAT are you so afraid of?” You see the answer to what we are afraid of is easy. We can likely name those things all day long- but there is no healing in that question. The question Jesus ask’s is “WHY are you so afraid?” Jesus is asking about WHY we are afraid- Why we don’t trust him or why we don’t think he cares. He wants us to consider those things Today friends, Jesus already knows why you’re afraid…do you? After a long day’s teaching, Jesus gave instructions for them to hop in the boat, and head for the other side of the Lake. The geography around the sea of Galilee is very steep and mountainous, the surface of the lake being some 600 feet below sea level, strong sudden winds were a common phenomenon. But this was no ordinary storm. The waves are coming over the sides, the water is filling the boat faster than they can bail- they are going down if something doesn’t change. So, they holler for Jesus who exhausted from the day, is sleeping in the front of the boat… “Jesus! We are gonna die out here, don’t you even care?” Commentator Robert Guelich says: “The fear of the storm overwhelmed their commitment to Jesus and their confidence that he did care for them” In the moment- as the waves overwhelmed the boat, their fear overwhelmed their commitment to Jesus as their loving savior and protector. We see within their question, there is a subtle rebuke that he doesn’t even care. That’s what Jesus is really addressing in his response. They didn’t trust him What Jesus addresses in his question is their lack of faith, their lack of trust in him as their Lord. Their fear of the storm and death lead them to doubt God’s faithfulness, his care, and perhaps even his ability to do something about it. Pastor and author Jeff Stott says, “The Lord’s rebuke is not about their reaction to the storm, but their reaction to Jesus in the storm.” Jesus knew the reason they were so afraid. He knew the reason they were rebuking him as if he didn’t care was because their fear had replaced their faith in him. That’s what fear does… Jesus is calling to us today, trying to get us to see the places where our fear has replaced our faith and trust in him. The places where doubt has crept into our relationship. If you were to be honest today, what questions are you asking the Lord in the middle of your storm? Do you find yourself asking like the disciples if Jesus even cares? Can I trust you with my future? Can you really heal me? Is this the best you can do? We may not verbalize these questions or ever put thought to them, but our fear shows they are there. What would it look like for you today to replace your fear with Faith? That’s the invitation Jesus begin his journey with the disciples saying "let's go over to the other side." Today, let's replace our fear with faith and go with Jesus to the other side. He is faithful. He is Trustworthy. He is Good.

http://bible.com/events/48890499 Church of the Nazarene Harrisonburg Questions Jesus Asked: "Do you want to get well?" Do you want to get well? Today we continue in our 4-part teaching series “Questions Jesus Asked” Often, we are quite content to ask questions of Jesus. Who are you? Where are you? Do you hear me? How could you let that happen? What do you want me to do? We often ask questions of Jesus, but do we pause to hear the questions he asks of us? Today we hear Jesus ask “Do you want to get well?" ‭‭John‬ ‭5:1-9‬‬ Some time later, Jesus went up to Jerusalem for one of the Jewish festivals. Now there is in Jerusalem near the Sheep Gate a pool, which in Aramaic is called Bethesda and which is surrounded by five covered colonnades. Here a great number of disabled people used to lie—the blind, the lame, the paralyzed. One who was there had been an invalid for thirty-eight years. When Jesus saw him lying there and learned that he had been in this condition for a long time, he asked him, “Do you want to get well?” “Sir,” the invalid replied, “I have no one to help me into the pool when the water is stirred. While I am trying to get in, someone else goes down ahead of me.” Then Jesus said to him, “Get up! Pick up your mat and walk.” At once the man was cured; he picked up his mat and walked. The day on which this took place was a Sabbath, What begins as perhaps an oddly framed question, ends in life changing transformation. We see Jesus joining the man in the middle of his pain, in the middle of his hopelessness, and bringing him new life. When Jesus asks this question- he has a greater healing in view. We know what healing He has in mind for the man by the pool. What is His intent for you, in this room today? Jesus makes his way to the pool of Bethesda, where the text says a great number of people who had physical disabilities were lying. Depending on your translation, you may have noticed that verse 4 is missing in the text. The tail end of verse 3 and all of verse 4 are not found in the earliest manuscripts, meaning they wouldn’t have been Johns original words, but a later author may have inserted them. So, if we included the text it would read: Here a great number of disabled people used to lie- the blind, the lame, the paralyzed -“waiting for the moving of the water, 4 because an angel would go down into the pool from time to time and stir up the water. Then the first one who got in after the water was stirred up recovered from whatever ailment he had. The omitted text contains an explanation of sorts, of why people were at this specific pool. I think sometimes when we hear things like this in scripture, of people looking to a bubbling spring for healing, we are quick to assume a place of superiority over the people of the bible. While most of us are not running past the hospital to get over to Lake Shenandoah for healing, we do look to many things for healing or reprieve from the brokenness, pain, and pressure of life, don’t we? We sit beside the pool of perfection, don’t we? How often do we sit broken and longing beside the pool of relationships? The pool of a few beers to take the edge off or to forget our problems. The pool of approval through followers or likes on social media. What pool are you sitting beside today? Within the man’s response we begin to understand that he was fixated on this pool for healing. His response is so true to our experience it’s easy to imagine right? “I can’t do it on my own…I can’t get there… I’ve been so close so many times, but I just can’t seem to make it” “And Nobody will help me… they are all out for themselves… they don’t even see me struggling…they don’t care…” Having been there 38 years he had given his life to this cure. But he had nothing to show for it, and no hope for a future without it. And that loss of hope is at the heart of it right? That’s where Jesus enters his Story. That’s the place Jesus wants to bring life. So, he asks him “Do you want to be healed?” So, what’s your pool today? Can you imagine your life differently? Just like the man in our text today, you may have been searching for healing for so long in other places that you can’t imagine a different future anymore. The thought that you could live with hope- seems impossible The idea of life free from addiction, seems unattainable The reality of forgiveness and a new start- seems like it’s for everyone else. Jesus asks "Do you want to be healed?" Will you take the step of faith and embrace Jesus and the life he offers you today? Will you leave the pool behind?

Church of the Nazarene East Rock Questions Jesus Asked - Do You Want to Get Well? When you’re ready, He is. Today we continue in our 4-part teaching series “Questions Jesus Asked” Often, we are quite content to ask questions of Jesus. Who are you? Where are you? Do you hear me? How could you let that happen? What do you want me to do? We often ask questions of Jesus, but do we pause to hear the questions he asks of us? Today we hear Jesus ask “Do You Want to Get Well?" ‭‭John‬ ‭5:1-8‬‬ Some time later, Jesus went up to Jerusalem for one of the Jewish festivals. Now there is in Jerusalem near the Sheep Gate a pool, which in Aramaic is called Bethesda and which is surrounded by five covered colonnades. Here a great number of disabled people used to lie—the blind, the lame, the paralyzed. One who was there had been an invalid for thirty-eight years. When Jesus saw him lying there and learned that he had been in this condition for a long time, he asked him, “Do you want to get well?” “Sir,” the invalid replied, “I have no one to help me into the pool when the water is stirred. While I am trying to get in, someone else goes down ahead of me.” Then Jesus said to him, “Get up! Pick up your mat and walk.” Why did Jesus ask this question? In asking this question, Jesus is really asking a much deeper question: -Jesus is asking if he is ready to give up his own methods and depend only on Jesus? -Is he ready to be free or has his illness become part of his identity? -Is he willing to reach out his hand for help from the only one who can help him? "Some, perhaps, may not have yet reached the place this man had reached. They are not helpless enough yet. They are not ready to give up on human efforts to solve their problems. They are not ready to admit they cannot make it on their own. They are still determined to get into the water when it is troubled. Jesus can do nothing for them." Ray Stedman Week 1 Question: "Who do you say that I am?" Do you know Him? Week 2 Question: "Why do you call me Lord, Lord and not do what I say?" Do you obey Him? Week 3 Question: "Do you want to get well?" Do you need Him? Bottom Line When you’re ready, He is.

http://bible.com/events/48889034 Church of the Nazarene - Harrisonburg Questions Jesus Asked: Why Do You Call Me ‘Lord Lord’ and Not Do What I Say? Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say? Some context for Luke 6: -Jesus is teaching about the ways of the kingdom of God, and some powerful truths about who God is and how we are to live in response. -“But to you who are listening I say: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you." Luke 6:27-28 -"Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful." Luke 6:36 -"Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven." Luke 6:37 ‭‭Luke‬ ‭6:46-49‬‬ “Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say? As for everyone who comes to me and hears my words and puts them into practice, I will show you what they are like. They are like a man building a house, who dug down deep and laid the foundation on rock. When a flood came, the torrent struck that house but could not shake it, because it was well built. But the one who hears my words and does not put them into practice is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. The moment the torrent struck that house, it collapsed and its destruction was complete.” Jesus gives the very specific visual here of two different kinds of people: -The first is deliberate. This person plans and prepares for the future. Thought and care is given to 'the foundation'. -The second person is not bad, but careless. This person doesn't want to spend the time digging a foundation. First, Jesus is speaking to believers. -"Why do you call me Lord?" Lord means master. Lord means 'you are in control, and I am not'. -Jesus is not just providing a generic example, but a specific one to those who would claim Him as Lord. Second, Jesus is speaking about obedience. -Jesus speaks powerfully: when times get tough, when circumstances get challenging, it is not faith in and of itself that matters most, but rather faith in action. The question for last week was really this: Do you know Him? And the question for this week is really this: Do you obey Him? Verses for further study/reflection: Matthew 7:21-27 John 14:15 Luke 11:28 Acts 5:29 John 3:36

Church of the Nazarene East Rock Questions Jesus Asked Why do you call me Lord, Lord and not do what i say? Today we continue in our 4-part teaching series “Questions Jesus Asked” Often, we are quite content to ask questions of Jesus. Who are you? Where are you? Do you hear me? How could you let that happen? What do you want me to do? We often ask questions of Jesus, but do we pause to hear the questions he asks of us? Today we hear Jesus ask “Why Do You Call Me ‘Lord Lord’ and Not Do What I Say?" ‭‭Luke‬ ‭6:46-49‬‬ “Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say? As for everyone who comes to me and hears my words and puts them into practice, I will show you what they are like. They are like a man building a house, who dug down deep and laid the foundation on rock. When a flood came, the torrent struck that house but could not shake it, because it was well built. But the one who hears my words and does not put them into practice is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. The moment the torrent struck that house, it collapsed and its destruction was complete.” The Christian life is essentially composed of two fundamental responses – proclaiming and acting. Part 1 is about our declaration – proclaiming Jesus rightly. Part 2 is about our resulting action – obedience. Both are required in a life of faith. Imagine Jesus sitting down beside you this morning and asking you a question like this: Why do you call me Lord, then lash out in anger at those who have crossed you or those who voted differently than you? Why do you call me Lord here in this place, but you don’t ever call me Lord out there- at work or at school? Why? Why do you call me Lord, but yet you continue to choose sin? Why? Why do you call me Lord of our life, but you yet we always do what you want, and never what I say, or what I desire? Why do you call me Lord, but don’t do what I say? Am I really Lord of your life? How would you answer him? Would that encounter make you nervous today? Does a knot come in your stomach at the thought of it? Perhaps today Jesus is calling you to live differently, to live obediently to his word. Within this story we can see two key perspectives on the necessity of obedience. Jesus shows within this parable that obedience to his teaching is the only sure foundation that we can build our lives on. He also shows that it is obedience to His word that will withstand God’s final judgement. How will you respond to Jesus' question today? Independence- a decision to continue to do things our way OR Dependance on Grace- a decision to obey and follow Christ.