Church of the Nazarene

http://bible.com/events/624911 Pure Gospel: The Death of Jesus  HFCN Definition of the Gospel:The Gospel is the good news message that God sent His son, Jesus Christ, to die on the cross for our sins. He was raised to life, victorious over the power of death. In choosing to live for Him, we can be free from the power of sin and experience abundant life today and eternal life in Heaven.  Romans 5:1-5 In our series last month “More than Me: More Hope”  Romans 5:6-11  The Pure Gospel:  Week One: The Life of Jesus Week Two: The Death of Jesus   Who we were.... Ungodly (Romans 5:6)  Powerless (Romans 5:6) Sinners (Romans 5:8)  Guilty (Romans 5:8)  Enemies (Romans 5:10)  Who God is.... Just (Romans 5:9)  We all love justice, except for when it is applied to us.  When the Bible speaks about “the wrath of God”, it is referring to a God of justice (the presence of sin means a debt must be paid).   Loving (Romans 5:8 “God demonstrates His love for us”   If it is all about justice then we are doomed, but our God is just AND full of love. Romans‬ ‭5:8‬ ‭NIV‬‬ His love is willing to meet the demands of His justice. -Billy Graham  Who we are.... Justified (Romans 5:9)  Justice has been served on our behalf  Saved (Romans 5:9) “Jesus died so you could choose not to. He chose death so you could choose life.” Reconciled (Romans 5:10-11)  We were separated, but because of the cross, we are brought near. Closing Thought: What is your response to the cross of Jesus? 

http://bible.com/events/621039 Pure Gospel: The Life of JesusWord Study: The Greek word for Gospel is euaggelion– “Good message”  Mat 4:23 Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news (euaggelion) of the kingdom, and healing every disease and sickness among the people. Mat 9:35 Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news (euaggelion) of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness. Mat 24:14 And this gospel (euaggelion) of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come. Mat 26:13 Truly I tell you, wherever this gospel (euaggelion) is preached throughout the world, what she has done will also be told, in memory of her.”  HFCN Definition: The Gospel is the good news message that God sent His son, Jesus Christ, to die on the cross for our sins. He was raised to life, victorious over the power of death. In choosing to live for Him, we can be free from the power of sin and experience abundant life today and eternal life in Heaven.   John 5:19-20 Two reasons why the life of Jesus is critical to the Gospel... 1. Jesus was...The Plan   From the moment sin entered the world, Jesus became the plan for our redemption.  “The word became flesh and made his dwelling among us” John 1:14 Jesus has Complete confidence.... His confidence came from knowing that his future was in God’s hands. Jesus has complete fearlessness ... His fearlessness came from recognizing it was more important to be true to God than to please man.  2. Jesus was...The Example   “The Son can do nothing by himself”  “The son does what the Father does”  John 5:19 The example of who the Father is -The mind of Jesus...the mind of God -The words of Jesus...the words of God -The actions of Jesus...the actions of God The example of who we are to be The identity of Jesus was based on: -not power, but submission -not in his position but in his obedience These were the things that defined who Jesus was & they are the things that should define who we are. The Question: • What’s the greatest difference between the way Jesus lived and the way you live?

http://bible.com/events/617092 ‭‭Matthew‬ ‭11:28-30‬  Galatians 5:1 (NIV)  We were once slaves to sin, but we have experienced freedom in Christ. Because of Jesus there is  MORE LIFE,  MORE HOPE,  MORE PURPOSE & MORE FREEDOM Galatians 5:2-5  There is a group of believers (called “Judaizers”) teaching that the only way to receive God’s love and forgiveness was to become like a Jew and follow Jewish customs  While there is nothing wrong with the outward act of circumcision, in this context it represented adding something to the Gospel  MY FOCUS  Galatians 5:2- “Christ has no value to you at all”  When we add something to the Gospel, we make it about what we do When we make it about what we do, we diminish Christ’s value  MY DEBT  Galatians 5:3- “obligated to obey the whole law” When we attempt to pay back the debt that’s forgiven, we turn God’s free gift into a loan to be repaid or wages to be earned  MY WORK Galatians 5:4-  “justified by the law”  “you have fallen away from grace” When we make it about what we do, then it is no longer about God’s grace MY POWER Galatians 5:5- “through the Spirit” “by faith” We don’t need to rely on the “external” law to keep us in line  We have the “internal” work of the Holy Spirit  Those who claim to follow Jesus can still be chained... I keep the rules  I do enough good things  I am a spiritual person  I believe I have the strength to improve every day  I do what I’m told  I measure up to the standards set for me  I am making progress I don’t do some things that I used to do  I’m better off than some around me  I do good things and have a good reputation  I wish others were more like me If only other groups could be as spiritual as us When you choose the law over grace you lose every time  What has you chained today?

http://bible.com/events/612603 More Than Me: More Purpose “He must become greater; I must become less.”” John 3:30 NIV Acts 26:12-18NIV Philippians 3:7-11 (NIV) The Purpose of ME is often defined by....  -ACTIONS -REPUTATION  -SOCIAL STANDING -EFFORT -PASSION  Phil 3:9 If we aren’t careful, building my life on my own purpose leads to a righteousness of my own.   Some attributes of the ‘RIGHTEOUSNESS OF ME’  ...attends Church fairly regularly because it is expected. ...chooses what is popular over what is right. It desires to fit in both at church and outside church. ...does not want to be saved from sin, just the penalty of sin. ....does not really believe that the new life Jesus offers is better than the old life of sin. ...will serve God and others but there are limitations. ... does whatever is necessary to stay in its comfort zone. ... does not live by faith. Life is so structured that faith isn’t necessary  ...does not love Jesus as much as it loves self. It loves Him some but loves self more. HIS PURPOSE FOR ME Philippians 3:10-11  My purpose begins with ME  His Purpose for me begins at the cross  Luke 9:23-24 MY purpose is about MY POWER  HIS Purpose for me begins with HIS POWER IN ME  The power of God’s purpose changes us.... Instead of “What can I do?”  It becomes “What can you do in me?” Instead of “What can I accomplish?” It becomes “What can you accomplish through me?”   Instead of “My spotlight”  It becomes “His glory”  Instead of “I want to be famous”  It becomes “I want to be faithful”  The best purpose we find is not in our purpose but in God’s purpose for us. It is more than dreaming, more than your work, more than a collection of tasks, more than me.

http://bible.com/events/608342 April 28 More Than Me: More Hope John 10:10 (The Message)   We are living in between two tensions: The wonder of ME.... -I am a miracle of God -I am created with gifts, talents & abilities -I am created in the image of God The problem of ME... -Sin separates me from God -Sin prevents me from experiencing God’s best for my life today “You have made us for yourself, O Lord, and our heart is restless until it rests in you.” Augustine Romans 5:1-5 (NIV) Peace with God.... -The opposite of justification is condemnation -Condemnation is what we deserved because of sin -Justification means we are made righteous Access to God... -We used to depend on what we can do for ourselves -Now we depend on what God can do for us Hope of the glory of God.... -Things I place my hope in... Who I Am (My abilities) What I Do (My accomplishments) My People (My relationships) My Stuff (My finances, possessions, etc) -The reality: ME has no real capacity to hope Our hope is not founded in me Our hope is founded in God’s Glory Peace with God - takes care of the past Access to God - addresses the present Hope of the glory of God - speaks to the future Romans 5:3-4 Suffering -Suffering seems contradictory to hope, but suffering is actually a gateway to HOPE -“Hope itself is like a star – not to be seen in the sunshine of prosperity, and only to be discovered in the night of adversity.” -Charles Spurgeon Perseverance -When you are willing to endure, resistance builds strength Character -Through suffering something beautiful is produced -“Blessed are those who mourn for they will be comforted” Matthew 5:4 Hope -Hope is the product of something else – it doesn’t appear out of nowhere. Suffering Perseverance Character Hope Romans 5:5  The Hope of ME can fail The Hope of God cannot fail

http://bible.com/events/605161 The wonder....ME I am miracle I am created by God and made in His Image The problem....ME There is something broken within us.  In our human-ness and in our frailty: There is a wrestling, there is an emptiness, & there is a brokenness within.  Ultimately this life is about more than ME....more than what I can accomplish on my own.   ‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭2:1-3  The problem of ME is really the problem of SIN. -acts of sin -nature of sin ‭‭John‬ ‭10:10‬ ‭‬‬ Jesus isn’t speaking of simply being alive, but what FILLS our life o Symptoms of a taste of death ▪ constant worry, fear, anxiety) ▪ we can’t be ourselves....we have to hide ▪ we lack true joy Ephesians 2:4-5 In His mercy, He does not give us what we do deserve, and in His grace He gives us what we do not deserve.   This life is possible when we recognize it’s beyond ME, it’s only found in Christ More Than Me begins with a prayer... 1. “I can’t do it” (It’s more than Me, more than what I can do on my own) 2. “God, you can do it” (God is capable...He CAN fill us with real life now and for eternity)  3. “I turn from DEATH” (the taste of death I am currently experiencing...the worry, shame, fear...I REPENT and turn from that life) 4. “God, fill me with your LIFE” (Only God can bring me true life)

http://bible.com/events/600832 Let's share the following for 'show notes' for this week. 1. This Friday night at 7:00pm, we're a having a Good Friday worship service. We hope you'll join us this week as we reflect on the ultimate sacrifice that Jesus made for us. 2. On Saturday at 2pm, our children's ministry is hosting an Easter Egg Hunt. We are still accepting candy donations for the eggs in the foyer or just outside of Kid's City. You can register online for the egg hunt and we recommend you do so. abeaconofhope.churchcenter.com/registrations 3. On Easter Sunday, we will have one additional worship service at 7:30am. All of our other service times will stay the same. If you have been thinking about serving at HFCN, Easter Sunday is about the best day we can think of to start. Let us know and we'll work with you to find the right spot for you. Thank you! cotnaz.org abeaconofhope.churchcenter.com/giving abeaconofhope.churchcenter.com/registrations [email protected]. 540.434.1092

The Uncomfortable Jesus: The Adulterous Woman John 8:1-11 Consider the woman.... She would be forever branded by the worst thing she ever did: “the adulterous woman” She was guilty and everyone, including her, knows it. And yet....Jesus loves her.   Consider the religious leaders... -An authority issue They saw their role as authorities in the law, standing watch, investigating, watching, ready to pounce with unforgiving punishment. Any authority which is solely concerned with punishment is a wrong authority.   -An attitude issue They didn’t see a person, but rather a thing. To them, the woman had no name, no story, no feelings. The love of Jesus compels us to see people first...In spite of their past, and no matter what they’ve done. A GOSPEL OF GRACE AND TRUTH  ‭‭John‬ ‭1:14‬ ‭ GOSPEL OF GRACE Jesus is not dismissing sin, He is withholding judgement.   Jesus is always interested NOT in what you have been, but in what you CAN BE. It’s not that the past doesn’t matter, but just as you have had a past, you HAVE a future. GOSPEL OF TRUTH Jesus didn’t pretend that what she did was okay.   Jesus simply said, “go and sin no more.” He is speaking a vision over her life that she didn’t even know was possible. ‭‭Psalm‬ ‭103:10-12‬ ‭ All are welcome to the table as Jesus says “Go and leave your life of sin”

This series continues to challenge us in a big way, as we look at some very difficult teaching by our Lord and Savior, Jesus.  Let's grow together. Thank you for joining us in the journey as we look more closely at our wee little friend, Zacchaeus. http://bible.com/events/591245