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Watch Weekend Sermon - Entries written by Jon Miller
SunSundayFebFebruary5th2012
SG Curriculum for "Healthy Heart = Your Will Be Done!"
Don't just watch this weekend's sermon, dig deeper into this week and seek to be a "doer" of God's Word!
You can download a copy of the SG curriculum for Pastor Robbie's message, "Healthy Heart = Your Will Be Done!" by clicking HERE.
SunSundayJanJanuary22nd2012
This Week's SG Curriculum
Dig deeper this week into God's Word by working through the SG Curriculum for this weekend's message from Pastor Robbie called "Healthy Heart = Renewed Mind". You can download a copy HERE.
Or better yet, join a small group where you can dig into God's Word together and find some accountability on these things. For more information about how to get connected, click here.
SunSundayJanJanuary22nd2012
The Renewal of Your Mind
Here is the chart Pastor Robbie used this past weekend to illustrate for us how what we fill our minds with ultimately affects the fruit of our heart.
SunSundayJanJanuary15th2012
This Week's SG Curriculum
Dig deeper this week and seek to be a doer of God's Word. Click here to download a copy of this week's SG curriculum based on Pastor Robbie's message "Healthy Heart = Healthy Start".
MonMondayFebFebruary28th2011
THE ALL-IN LIFE...WATCH GOD WORK (Exodus 7-11)
This Past Weekend’s Message Summary:
Do I want to see God at work in my life? If so, then….
- I must love the sovereignty of God
- I must detest the counterfeits of Satan
- I must refuse the temptation to compromise
- I must recognize the futility of pride
- I must believe that God has so much more for me
Weekly Bible Reading Plan:
- Day 1: Exodus 25
- Day 2: Exodus 26
- Day 3: Exodus 27
- Day 4: Exodus 28
Weekly Devotional:
- Seeing
God work in your life begins with a love for God’s sovereignty in your
life. What does it mean that God is sovereign? How is God’s
sovereignty displayed throughout the various plagues in this story? If
you truly love God’s sovereignty , it will be shown in how you live.
Why is this doctrine so important for us to grasp as we face the
difficulties and unknowns of life? How is the sovereignty of God an
encouragement to you today to go after the all-in life?
- We
must be aware that as we seek to see God work in our lives, Satan will
be at the same time seeking to create counterfeit works to lead us
astray. What are some examples of Satan’s counterfeit work demonstrated
through the Egyptian magicians (see Exodus 7:10-12; 7:22; 8:6-7)?
What are some of the most common modern day counterfeits that the
Enemy uses? Read Hebrews 5:11-14. Because Satan’s work often look so
much like the real thing, we need discernment to know the difference.
In what ways do you need discernment this week? What steps will you
take to feed on the solid food of God’s Word and grow in discernment?
- Seeing
God work in your life also requires a resolve not to give into the
temptations of compromise that so often come our way. Look at Exodus
8:25, 8:28, 10:10, 10:24. What were some ways that Pharaoh tried to
tempt Moses to cut corners? What are some of the common “whispers of
compromise” that you experience? Why is full out obedience so
important in the eyes of the Lord? What will it look like for you to
refuse to give in to these “whispers of compromise” but instead pursue
the all-in life of obedience ?
- Nothing
destroys God’s work in our lives more quickly than the presence of
pride. How is this demonstrated in the life of Pharaoh? Why else is
pride such a futile pursuit? What are some of the manifestations of
pride that you see in your life right now? What does it look like to
kill your pride and instead pursue humility, that God might work more in
and through you?
- Moses’
life to this point reminds us that no matter where we’ve been or how
long it has taken, God isn’t finished with us yet, but still has so much
more for those who are willing to pursue the all-in life. Do you
believe that? Reflect on Philippians 1:6. What are the implications of this verse for you today?
SunSundayFebFebruary20th2011
THE ALL-IN LIFE...NOT EASIER, JUST BETTER (Exodus 5-6)
This Past Weekend’s Message Summary:
- The Lie: With Christ, my life will be easier (Exodus 5)
- The Truth: With Christ, my life will be way better! (Exodus 6)
Weekly Bible Reading Plan:
- Day 1: Exodus 21:1-32
- Day 2: Exodus 21:33-22:15
- Day 3: Exodus 22:16-23:19
- Day 4: Exodus 23:20-24:18
Weekly Devotional:
- One of the temptations people face is to believe in the false idea that if you follow Christ all your problems will be solved. Have you ever believed this lie? Why? What were some of the things that Moses encountered in Exodus 4:18-5:23 that destroy this lie? What does Jesus say about this in Matthew 7:14 and John 16:33? How does that change your expectations of what the all-in life actually looks like?
- Review the four principles to ponder: (1) Preparation comes through pain; (2) Humility comes through humiliation; (3) Fruitfulness comes through failure; (4) Sanctification comes through surrender. How do you see these things illustrated in the life of Moses so far? How have you experienced one or more of these things personally? Why do you think God chooses to work this way? In what ways are these principles an encouragement to you this week as you go after the all-in life?
- As the Israelites burdens increased under the hand of Pharaoh, Moses cried out to the Lord in 5:22-23 and questioned God’s plan. What is ironic about this part of the story for Moses? When have you found yourself lacking faith and living in the“white-out” conditions of trials, unable to clearly see that you are right in the center of God’s will? Knowing that God will always have the final word regardless of the chapter you find yourself in, how is this an encouragement to you?
- God responds to Moses in Exodus 6 by reminding Moses of who God is and what He will do. Look again at the “I will” statements in verses 2-8. What does God say He will do for the Israelites? What connections do you see between what God says here to Moses and what Christ has accomplished for us through the Cross? How does feeding on these statements build your faith today?
- Read Jude 24, Romans 16:25, Ephesians 3:20. According to these verses, what is God “able” to do? In light of these truths, what does it mean for you to seek heaven regardless of the circumstances in which you find yourself?
- Consider what it means to live all-in for Jesus Christ. Do you want easier or do you want better? How does that change how you must live this week?
SunSundayFebFebruary13th2011
ALL-IN...NO MORE EXCUSES! (Exodus 3:11-4:17)
This Past Weekend’s Message Summary:
When it comes to being called to be All in…
- I CAN’T, but God CAN! (3:11-12)
- I am NOT, but God IS! (3:13-14)
- I have no AUTHORITY, but God holds it ALL (4:1-9)
- I have no ABILITY, but God is ABLE (4:10-12)
- I am not the RIGHT person, but God DECIDES that (4:13-17)
Weekly Bible Reading Plan:
- Day 1: Exodus 17
- Day 2: Exodus 18
- Day 3: Exodus 19
- Day 4: Exodus 20
Weekly Devotional:
- As a review, summarize the key people and events in the first three chapters of Exodus.
- When God called Moses to be the one to lead the people out of Egypt, Moses doubted God, saying, “Who am I?” to Him. How did God respond? In what ways are you trying to live the all-in life apart from God’s active presence? Review Exodus 14:13-14, Joshua 1:9, John 14:25-27, Matthew 28:20b, Hebrews 13:6. What promise does God make in these verses to the one who is all-in for Him? How is His promise an encouragement to you today?
- Put into your words Moses’ second excuse to God found in Exodus 3:13. God responded to this excuse by saying “I AM WHO I AM”. What is the significance of this response? What was God revealing about Himself to Moses through this statement? As you pursue the all-in life, how does knowing that God is the “I AM” change your perspective?
- In Exodus 4:1, Moses was filled with insecurity, believing that he lacked the authority to speak to the people of Israel. How might have Moses’ past contributed to this insecurity (see Exodus 2:11-15)? How have you allowed your past to define your present and future? In what ways do you need to take your eyes off yourself and trust the Lord?
- In Exodus 4:10, Moses’ excuse for not obeying was that he felt he lacked the ability to speak eloquently. How did God respond? What is God calling you to do that you believe you lack the ability to do? Read Ephesians 3:20-21. What do these verses teach about who God is? Believing that when God calls, He also provides, how do you need to step out in faith even in light of your own apparent inabilities and weaknesses?
- Moses’ final excuse was that he simply didn’t want to obey, and that God should send someone else. Have you ever been flat out unwilling to listen to God’s call? Based on God’s response in 4:14-17, why is this always a bad plan? What is God asking you to be willing to do for Him today? No more excuses…it’s time to be all-in!
SunSundayFebFebruary6th2011
THE CALL TO BE “ALL IN” (Exodus 3:1-10)
This Past Weekend’s Message Summary:
-
I am called from the ordinary (v.1)
-
I am called when God has my attention (v.2-4)
-
I am called to holiness (v.5-6)
- I am called to care (v.7-9)
-
I am called to action (v.10)
Weekly Bible Reading Plan:
-
Day 1: Exodus 13
-
Day 2: Exodus 14
-
Day 3: Exodus 15
-
Day 4: Exodus 16
Weekly Devotional:
Read Exodus 3:1-10
-
When
Moses received his call, he had been living an ordinary life as a
shepherd for 40 years. How is this encouraging to you? What does
it mean for you to be faithful in the “ordinary” this week?
-
What
was it about the burning bush that first attracted Moses’ attention?
How would you have felt if you were in Moses’ shoes? It was only when
Moses “turned aside to see” (v.4) that God called him. In your
experience, what are some different ways God seeks to get our attention?
How will you give God your full attention in a greater way this week?
-
For
the true Christ-follower, the pursuit of holiness is not optional. How
did Moses react when he realized he was in the presence of God? Why
did he react this way? Are you living in reverent fear and embracing
the call to holiness in your life? Why is it that we so often treat
this call so lightly? What is the next step for you to take in turning
from sin and pursuing a life of holiness more fully?
-
What
was it that motivated God to act on behalf of His people? What plan
did He have in mind? What are the people and situations around you that
require care and compassion? Do you truly care, or are you more prone
to apathy and indifference? Why is that the case? What will you do
this week to turn from that apathy and indifference, and instead embrace
the call to care?
-
God
calls us to use us. Yet, while many of us will never have a “burning
bush” experience like Moses, God’s call to us has been made very clear
(see Matt 28.19-20, Acts 26:16-18). In light of this, what will you do
this week to take action and be more all-in about living out God’s call?
SunSundayJanJanuary30th2011
“ALL IN”, EVEN WHEN I FAIL (Exodus 2:11-25)
This Past Weekend’s Message Summary:
Bad news about failure:
1. I can expect to fail when I move ahead of God (v.11-12)
2. I can guarantee consequences to my sin/failure (v.13-15)
Good news about failure:
3. God does not give up on failures (v.16-22)
4. God will use me despite my failures (v.22-25)
Weekly Bible Reading Plan:
- Day 1: Exodus 9
- Day 2: Exodus 10
- Day 3: Exodus 11
- Day 4: Exodus 12
Weekly Devotional:
Read Exodus 2:11-25
- Put
yourself in Moses’ place. How would you have felt knowing that the
Egyptians were oppressing your family? What did Moses do in an attempt
to demonstrate his commitment to his family, the people of Israel? Why
was his reaction ultimately moving ahead of God?
- How
do you react to provocation, injustice or being treated unfairly?
Why? How can you avoid letting your emotions draw you into unwise
actions?
- What
were the consequences Moses faced for his sin? Read Galatians 6:6-10.
What do these verses teach us about the consequences of sin? How have
you seen this illustrated in your own life? Why do we sometimes fail to
believe this important truth about consequences?
- Moses
fled to the wilderness of Midian where he would spend 40 years in
preparation for what would be his life-defining moment. As you consider
your own life, do you embrace the “wildernesses” of your life, or do
you try to escape them? How can you better maximize and embrace your
wilderness experiences and allow God to teach and prepare you?
- How
did the Israelites’ condition affect God? What four words do verses
24-25 use to describe God’s response to His people? Do you believe that
God hears, remembers, sees and knows YOU? As you reflect on this, how is it a blessing or encouragement to you today?
- Knowing that we all fail, in what ways are you greatly encouraged to not give up knowing that God will never give up on you?
SunSundayJanJanuary23rd2011
ALL IN PARENTS (Exodus 2:1-10)
This Past Weekend’s Message Summary:
- All in parents have faith (v.1-2)
- All in parents have vision (v.2)
- All in parents have a plan (v.3-8)
- All in parents get paid (v.9)
- All in parents are...all in! (v.10)
Weekly Bible Reading Plan:
- Day 1: Read Exodus 5
-
Day 2: Read Exodus 6
-
Day 3: Read Exodus 7
-
Day 4: Read Exodus 8
Weekly Devotional:
Reflection/Discussion Questions (for families, couples or individuals):
1. How
did God plan for the infant Moses to survive Pharoah’s murderous plot?
What surprised you about how God chose to deliver Moses?
2. What did Moses’ survival cost his mother and sister? What has been the most costly thing you’ve had to do for God?
3. Why
do you think Pharoah’s daughter defied her father’s orders? In what
circumstances is it appropriate for children to do this?
4. What
vision does God have for your life/family? Have you taken the time to
ask Him? What is the next step to take in seeing God’s vision fulfilled
in your life/family?
5. Moses’ parents had a plan for their son. Do you have a plan for how you and your family can be more All In
for God? What are some things you might plan to do this week to be
more intentional in your life/marriage/family? (see some suggestions
below)
7 Ways to Be More Intentional at Being All In with your Family this Week:
- Read a story or chapter from the Bible and discuss it together
- Pray for and with one another
- Memorize a verse together as a family/couple
- Seek out an opportunity to boldly share the gospel of Jesus Christ with someone you know
- Crank up loud some songs of worship on your stereo
- Find a way to minister to someone who needs to be loved in a special way this week
- Spend
time just being together (i.e. eat dinner as a family, play a board
game, do a puzzle, go for a walk, build a snowman, etc)
6. Like in the case of Moses’ parents, God will bless and reward those who are truly All In
for Him. What reward are you living for? Are you more about this
world or about eternity, in how you are living as an individual or
family? How can you tell?
7. Reflect together on the following verse:
“He considered the reproach of Christ greater wealth than the
treasures of Egypt, for he was looking to the reward” (Hebrews
11:26, ESV)
SatSaturdayJanJanuary15th2011
ALL IN: THE STAGE IS SET (Exodus 1:1-22)
As we begin our new series on the life of Moses, we want to provide some resources to you to help you go after the “All In”,
fully devoted life for Jesus Christ. Each week we will provide a
summary of the key points from the previous weekend’s sermon, as well as
a weekly devotion with reflection questions that you can do either
individually, as a couple, or as a family. We will also provide four
days of reading in the book of Exodus that will have you to the end of
Exodus when this series is completed. We pray that this will be a
helpful and fruitful resource for you as you seek to be “All In”!
This Past Weekend’s Message Summary:
- We see blessing by the hand of God (v.1-7)
- We see growth in the midst of affliction (v.8-14)
- We see the fear of the Lord in the face of pressure (v.15-21)
Weekly Devotional:
Reflection Questions (for families, couples or individuals):
- Even
under great affliction from the Egyptians, the people of Israel
continued to grow and be fruitful. What does this say about how God
works in our lives and the promises that He makes to us in the midst of
our trials? How is that an encouragement to you today?
- The
midwives faced great pressure to give in to the commands of the king of
Egypt. What pressures are you facing to compromise or do wrong? What
does it look like to fear the Lord above all else in these
circumstances?
Weekly Bible Reading Plan:
- Day 1: Read Exodus 1
-
Day 2: Read Exodus 2
-
Day 3: Read Exodus 3
-
Day 4: Read Exodus 4
ThuThursdayJanJanuary6th2011
God’s Faithfulness in My Pursuit of Holiness
I was reading recently the story of Abraham’s encounter with Abimelech in Genesis 20. If you need a quick refresher, the story goes that Abraham and Sarah misled Abimelech, the king of Gerar, by pretending that Sarah was Abraham’s sister. Abimelech, ignorant of the truth, proceeded to take Sarah as his own. But God confronted him on this in a dream, warning Abimelech that if he did not return Sarah, God would strike him down dead. Abimelech pleaded with God, making the case that he was ignorant of the situation and had acted with a clear conscience.
God responded by saying this:
Then God said to him in the dream, "Yes, I know that you have done this in the integrity of your heart, and it was I who kept you from sinning against me. Therefore I did not let you touch her." (Genesis 20:6, ESV)
Since reading that account, one of the things that I’ve been reflecting on is how it is that you and I actually pursue holiness and seek to be free from sin in our lives. The fact is that temptations to sin are sure to come, whether we walk into them ourselves in our flesh, or we encounter them in other ways. And as Christ-followers, we cannot ignore the clear commands by God from Scripture to flee sin and to pursue what is holy, right and pure. You and I have a responsibility before God to take holiness seriously and to go after it with all that we have.
Yet, without minimizing our responsibility for holiness, God’s response to Abimelech indicates an encouraging truth for us as we endeavor to keep ourselves from sin, that God is also active in our pursuit of holiness. He, in His unlimited power, has the ability to keep us from sinning against Him.
Consider this familiar promise:
No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it. (1 Corinthians 10:13, ESV)
Because God loves us, and because He desires to see holiness in our lives even more than we do, He wants to come alongside us in our pursuit of holiness if we allow Him. In His faithfulness, God will always make the way for holiness for us. But we simply need to choose to walk that path in His strength.
So as you begin this year, reflecting on God’s faithfulness as you seek to pursue greater holiness in the days ahead, here are some ways you might respond:
- Express your gratitude today for the gospel, that our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ has already taken upon himself what we truly deserve for our sin.
- Confess your sin to the Lord and receive His forgiveness and cleansing through the shed blood of Jesus Christ.
- Acknowledge to God your need today for His help in your pursuit of holiness. (You can’t do this alone!)
- Choose the way of holiness in the face of the temptations that will surely come.
- Praise God for His faithfulness toward you in this pursuit.
SatSaturdayNovNovember13th2010
Perfect Love Casts Out Fear
It’s safe to say that all of us struggle to
some degree with the presence of fear in our lives. To be honest, I’m afraid at times to fail, to
make a bad decision, or to disappoint others to the point that these fears can
often grip me in an unhealthy way. Why
is that? What is at the root of these
fears?
A few months back, while listening to someone
give a devotional, I was struck by the connection between the presence of fear
in my life and God’s perfect love for me.
The individual who was speaking made the comment: “Fear and doubt is a
symptom that [God’s] love is yet to be perfected in me”.
As I’ve chewed on that statement since then,
ultimately I believe that my fears are often rooted in a lack of understanding of
or faith in God’s love for me. I fail to
believe that because God loves me, He will always take care of me and therefore
I have nothing to fear.
Check out the following three passages from
God’s Word:
“There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear.” 1
John 4:18
“What shall we say to these things? If
God is for us, who can be against us? He
who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with
him graciously give us all things?” Romans 8:31-32
“…nor anything else in all creation will be able to separate us from the love
of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 8:39
Because I’m in Christ, God is for me, and
therefore has my everlasting welfare at heart.
He desires the highest good in my life because He loves me, and is
willing to do whatever it takes to achieve it.
What more proof do I need of this than the Cross of His only Son Jesus
Christ who was humiliated for my sake, and who suffered immensely on my
behalf? If God in His sovereign power
and steadfast love was willing to go that far for me, will He not continue in
His faithfulness to take care of me in all things? I have nothing to fear!
A.W. Tozer puts it this way:
“To know that
love is of God and to enter into the secret place leaning upon the arm of the
Beloved – this and only this can cast out fear.
Let a man become convinced that nothing can harm him and instantly for
him all fear goes out of the universe.
The nervous reflex, the natural revulsion to physical pain may be felt
sometimes, but the deep torment of fear is gone forever. God is love and God is sovereign. His love disposes Him to desire our
everlasting welfare and His sovereignty enables Him to secure it. Nothing can hurt a good man.”
The
Knowledge of the Holy, p.99
So when you find yourself battling fear,
the answer is to look up and be captured again with the beauty of the awesome
love that God has for you. If you are in
Christ, you have nothing to fear.
Perfect love casts out fear!
FriFridayOctOctober15th2010
Praying for ONE THING for my Children
My greatest desire as a parent is to see my three children pursuing the "ONE THING" in their lives. I'm convinced that one of the best ways that Adrienne and I can help see that happen is through intentional prayer that is guided by God's Word.
Here is a resource I found on a website that has been helpful to me in guiding my times of prayer for my children before the Lord. Each day focuses on a fruit of the Spirit, character quality, or biblical truth that God wants to build into the hearts of our children. If you're looking for a way to ramp up and bring greater focus to your prayers for your children, perhaps this will be helpful to you.
Jon
FriFridaySepSeptember17th2010
DESTROYING THE IDOLS OF MY HEART
I’ve been thinking a lot this week about idolatry. God’s Word is very clear in both the Old
and New Testaments with prohibitions from idolatry. In Exodus 20:3-4 God tells us, “You
shall have no other gods before me. You shall not make for yourself a carved image, or
any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that in the earth beneath, or that is in
the water under the earth”. And in 1 Corinthians 10:7 we’re told to “flee from idolatry”.
The problem is that, if you’re anything like me, when you hear the word ‘idol’, your mind
goes one of two directions. You think either about a popular reality television show, or you
think about an image or figure from some indigenous tribe in another corner of the world.
And since I don’t watch that TV show, and since I live in southern Ontario, my tendency is to
start thinking that these verses don’t really apply to me. Or do they?
Tim Keller in his book Counterfeit Gods gives an interesting definition of what an idol
actually is. He writes, “[An idol] is anything more important to you than God, anything that
absorbs your heart and imagination more than God, anything you seek to give you what
only God can give”. In light of that, it sounds like we can’t really skirt around the issue of
idolatry, can we? This truly is important to us here and now.
So what are the “idols” that might exist in your life and in mine? What are the things that
can quickly become more important to us that God, the things that absorb our hearts and
minds more than Him, the things we might seek to give us only that which God can provide?
Here are just a few off the top of my head…my children, my spouse, my job, fitness,
sports, money, technology (Smart Phones, television, social networking), sexual pleasure,
food, home improvement, the pursuit of position and power, seeking the approval
of others…I could go on and on. And let’s be honest, even our ministry to Christ can
quickly become an idol, when it starts to become more important than even God Himself.
So what do we do about all this then? How do we go about dealing with the idols of our
heart? Here are four steps to take:
1. Believe that idols exist in your life. Perhaps you’re reading this and you still don’t believe
that the issue of idolatry applies to you. It does. Believe it. And if you don’t, pray and
ask God to give you the faith to believe that so you can take the next step….
2. Ask God to reveal them to you. Maybe one of the things I mentioned stood out to you
in your own life. Or maybe there is something else that is functioning as an idol in
your life. Ask God to reveal that to you. I’m certain He’s going to answer that prayer!
3. Repent and start destroying the idols in your life. Repentance is about change. It’s about
changing our minds and then changing our behaviour. So if technology has become an
idol to you, get rid of your television, or take a break from Facebook. If money functions
as a god, then start giving a lot more of it away to others. Destroy the idols in your life.
4. Pray for a greater love for Jesus Christ. This is really the ONE THING that we’re talking
about this year, a passionate pursuit of an awesome God. So get on your knees and start
praying fervently that Jesus Christ would be your one consuming passion, the One who
absorbs your heart and mind above all else.
Jon
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