Wednesday, December 5, 2012

A Spirit-Led Life


John 3:8, New International Version (NIV)


"The wind blows wherever it pleases.  You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going.  So it is with everyone born of the Spirit."




Dave Brubaker shared one of his favorite Bible verses, John 3:8, a description the Spirit-led life.  It's exciting to see how Newsong NOC is living this out; just look at the retreat this past year, when people waited in line for 3-4 hours to be prayed over by Pastor Dave Gibbons.



What does the Spirit-led life look like?  Two indicators are that we are "out of control, and falling in love." He referenced three Tom Hanks movies that model this kind of living:
(1) "Castaway", a picture of the out of control life.  "Out of control" sometimes sounds like a negative, but it brings us out of comfort and makes us nervous, which can help us grow.  When we are
desperate, we rely on prayer.  

(2) "Sleepless in Seattle", a picture of falling in love, and having eyes of love.  Are you walking around
the world looking with love, and constantly seeing beauty in people?

(3) "Forrest Gump", Forrest was the master of John 3:8.  Like the white feather in the movie, he lived the out of control life, as he went from one thing to another.  Do you have that level of trust when you are out of control?  Plus he showed us a life of falling in love, even when that love wasn't reciprocated.  Ultimately the goal is not just to imitate Tom Hanks, but God himself, who showed his out of control, falling in love heart in John 3:16, giving up everything to be with us.

by Arnold Wang

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Monday, October 15, 2012

Sermon Rewind 10/7/12 - The Last 10%


Luke 15:11-32
New International Version (NIV)
The Parable of the Lost Son
11 Jesus continued: “There was a man who had two sons. 12 The younger one said to his father, ‘Father, give me my share of the estate.’ So he divided his property between them.
13 “Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living. 14 After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need. 15So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs. 16 He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything.
17 “When he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! 18 I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. 19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired servants.’ 20 So he got up and went to his father.
“But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.
21 “The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’
22 “But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. 23 Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate. 24 For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ So they began to celebrate.
25 “Meanwhile, the older son was in the field. When he came near the house, he heard music and dancing. 26 So he called one of the servants and asked him what was going on. 27 ‘Your brother has come,’ he replied, ‘and your father has killed the fattened calf because he has him back safe and sound.’
28 “The older brother became angry and refused to go in. So his father went out and pleaded with him. 29 But he answered his father, ‘Look! All these years I’ve been slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders. Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends. 30 But when this son of yours who has squandered your property with prostitutes comes home, you kill the fattened calf for him!’
31 “‘My son,’ the father said, ‘you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. 32 But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’”

Cindy Park continued the Misfit series on the core value of conflict resolution, or "the last 10%," meaning we intentionally engage in conversation with someone who has hurt or offended us, with a posture of grace and seeking to understand the other person so that we can have real and authentic interactions. The parable of the prodigal son from Luke 15:11-32, exemplified how our heavenly Father is all about restoration, while we want restitution. Grace is never fair. The truth of God's grace is that it's unmerited and undeserved. Our relationships with one another need to fully reflect God's same grace for us. As a community of misfits, when we show grace to others and grace is extended to us when we sin, restoration takes place. Restored relationships bring freedom and joy. Then we can be an authentic church where people are drawn to us and ultimately to Jesus.

by Arnold Wang
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Tuesday, October 2, 2012

Sermon Rewind 9/30/12 - Costly Grace

Titus 2:1-11

What Must Be Taught to Various Groups

1 You must teach what is in accord with sound doctrine. 2 Teach the older men to be temperate,worthy of respect, self-controlled, and sound in faith, in love and in endurance. 3 Likewise, teach the older women to be reverent in the way they live, not to be slanderers or addicted to much wine, but to teach what is good. 4 Then they can train the younger women to love their husbands and children, 5 to be self-controlled and pure, to be busy at home, to be kind, and to be subject to their husbands, so that no one will malign the word of God. 6 Similarly, encourage the young mento be self-controlled. 7 In everything set them an example by doing what is good. In your teaching show integrity, seriousness 8 and soundness of speech that cannot be condemned, so that those who oppose you may be ashamed because they have nothing bad to say about us. 9 Teach slaves to be subject to their masters in everything, to try to please them, not to talk back to them,10 and not to steal from them, but to show that they can be fully trusted, so that in every way they will make the teaching about God our Savior attractive. 11 For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men.



What makes Christianity different from other religions? The central doctrine of Grace. Everything about Jesus is infused with it. But what kind of grace do we believe in? Some live as if it is a cheap grace where the account has been paid for with nothing required in return. Technically true, but this kind of thinking easily allows us to sin because in the end, nothing we do really matters. We must realize that God really gave us a costly grace - the sacrificing of his son on our behalf. We were bought at a price, and the anger and injustice of humanity’s sin was taken out on a single life. When we realize truly what grace cost us and God, and experience its truth, it should overwhelm us. It changes us, as we repent and strive to love and live our lives as a second chance.


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Thursday, September 27, 2012

Sermon Rewind 9/16/12 - Biblical Hospitality


Ruth 2:8-10

English Standard Version (ESV)

Then Boaz said to Ruth, “Now, listen, my daughter, do not go to glean in another field or leave this one, but keep close to my young women. Let your eyes be on the field that they are reaping, and go after them. Have I not charged the young men not to touch you? And when you are thirsty, go to the vessels and drink what the young men have drawn.” 10 Then she fell on her face, bowing to the ground, and said to him, “Why have I found favor in your eyes, that you should take notice of me, since I am a foreigner?”



Benjie Kim wrapped up the Image series, looking explicitly and specifically at Scripture of how present God's heart for the immigrant is from Ruth 2:8-10. Ruth clings on to Naomi and moves to Judah to become the immigrant/stranger/foreigner. Boaz bestowed a sense of hospitality on Ruth. Biblical hospitality is opening up our home to the stranger. Henri Nouwen defined, “Hospitality means primarily the creation of free space where the stranger can enter and become a friend instead of an enemy. Hospitality is not to change people, but to offer them space where change can take place. It is not to bring men and women over to our side, but to offer freedom not disturbed by dividing lines.” We have to know what it means to experience the vulnerability and weakness of the stranger. Chris Cheung, from our NOC family, shared how he found his life changed in his childhood when people poured their lives in him, and in response, Chris and his family opened up his home to a stranger. Chris was a stranger first before he could be blessing to a stranger. We are called to serve the stranger because we were all strangers. We experience the redemption of Christ by being the stranger.

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Sermon Rewind 9/9/12 - Reversing Elitist Perspective


Luke 10:33

New International Version (NIV)
33 But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him.


Bethany Anderson went deeper into the Image series uncovering a well-meaning form of prejudice: helping the needy out of a sense of elitism.  In the parable of the Good Samaritan, Jesus subtly points out that it is not the case that "we" must help/save "them."  Bethany took us on her own journey learning that GOD desires for us to engage the immigrant as an equal - a friend, a helper, or even a hero (like the hated Samaritan), rather than as a charity case.



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Sermon Rewind 9/2/12 - All Are In The Image Of God


Acts 10:9-48

New International Version (NIV)

Peter’s Vision

About noon the following day as they were on their journey and approaching the city, Peter went up on the roof to pray. 10 He became hungry and wanted something to eat, and while the meal was being prepared, he fell into a trance. 11 He saw heaven opened and something like a large sheet being let down to earth by its four corners. 12 It contained all kinds of four-footed animals, as well as reptiles and birds. 13 Then a voice told him, “Get up, Peter. Kill and eat.”
14 “Surely not, Lord!” Peter replied. “I have never eaten anything impure or unclean.”
15 The voice spoke to him a second time, “Do not call anything impure that God has made clean.”
16 This happened three times, and immediately the sheet was taken back to heaven.
17 While Peter was wondering about the meaning of the vision, the men sent by Corneliusfound out where Simon’s house was and stopped at the gate. 18 They called out, asking if Simon who was known as Peter was staying there.
19 While Peter was still thinking about the vision, the Spirit said to him, “Simon, three[a] men are looking for you. 20 So get up and go downstairs. Do not hesitate to go with them, for I have sent them.”
21 Peter went down and said to the men, “I’m the one you’re looking for. Why have you come?”
22 The men replied, “We have come from Cornelius the centurion. He is a righteous and God-fearing man, who is respected by all the Jewish people. A holy angel told him to ask you to come to his house so that he could hear what you have to say.” 23 Then Peter invited the men into the house to be his guests.

Peter at Cornelius’s House

The next day Peter started out with them, and some of the believers from Joppa went along.24 The following day he arrived in Caesarea. Cornelius was expecting them and had called together his relatives and close friends. 25 As Peter entered the house, Cornelius met him and fell at his feet in reverence. 26 But Peter made him get up. “Stand up,” he said, “I am only a man myself.”
27 While talking with him, Peter went inside and found a large gathering of people. 28 He said to them: “You are well aware that it is against our law for a Jew to associate with or visit a Gentile. But God has shown me that I should not call anyone impure or unclean. 29 So when I was sent for, I came without raising any objection. May I ask why you sent for me?”
30 Cornelius answered: “Three days ago I was in my house praying at this hour, at three in the afternoon. Suddenly a man in shining clothes stood before me 31 and said, ‘Cornelius, God has heard your prayer and remembered your gifts to the poor. 32 Send to Joppa for Simon who is called Peter. He is a guest in the home of Simon the tanner, who lives by the sea.’33 So I sent for you immediately, and it was good of you to come. Now we are all here in the presence of God to listen to everything the Lord has commanded you to tell us.”
34 Then Peter began to speak: “I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism35 but accepts from every nation the one who fears him and does what is right. 36 You know the message God sent to the people of Israel, announcing the good news of peace through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all. 37 You know what has happened throughout the province of Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism that John preached— 38 how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, and how he went around doing good and healingall who were under the power of the devil, because God was with him.
39 “We are witnesses of everything he did in the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem. They killed him by hanging him on a cross, 40 but God raised him from the dead on the third day and caused him to be seen. 41 He was not seen by all the people, but by witnesses whom God had already chosen—by us who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead. 42 He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one whom God appointed as judge of the living and the dead. 43 All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.”
44 While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit came on all who heard the message. 45 The circumcised believers who had come with Peter were astonished that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on Gentiles. 46 For they heard them speaking in tongues[b] and praising God.
Then Peter said, 47 “Surely no one can stand in the way of their being baptized with water.They have received the Holy Spirit just as we have.” 48 So he ordered that they be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked Peter to stay with them for a few days.


Romans 12:2

New International Version (NIV)
Do 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.



Tommy Nixon continued the Image series, recalling Peter’s vision in Acts 10:9 - 48. In the dream, Peter is told by God that he could eat any animal not to call ANYTHING that God has made clean, unpure. Later on, Peter, his heart converted, enters a Gentile’s home and is able to share the Gospel and convert Cornelius and his family. In the same way, we need to be careful how we treat and talk about others, who are all made in the image of God. How often do we harbor hatred and defame others who are different than us, whether it be illegal immigrants or homosexuals? Yet God’s true heart is for us to affirm all beings as wonderfully made in His image, and to treat them accordingly. Where in OUR hearts do we need to be converted and take our personal beliefs and bring them to the foot of the cross?

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Saturday, September 1, 2012

Sermon Rewind 8/26/12 - Least Of These

Matthew 25:31-46

New International Version (NIV)

The Sheep and the Goats

31 “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his glorious throne. 32 All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33 He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left.
34 “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. 35 For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36 I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’
37 “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38 When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39 When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’
40 “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’
41 “Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. 42 For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, 43 I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.’
44 “They also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?’
45 “He will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’
46 “Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.



Peter Park starts the Image series, with a passage from Matthew 25. The parable of the sheep and goats is about loving God and loving your neighbor as yourself, as Christ honors those who saw the "least of these" in their world, and looked after them. They are the ones who showed Christ in action.  One of the "least of these" in today's modern, politically charged times are immigrants, whether or not they are legal. It is a series where we are to trust God in understanding His heart in reaching out to the undocumented immigrants, and how to put His image of them first - above our prejudices.


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Sunday, August 19, 2012

Sermon Rewind 8/19/12 - The Road Less Traveled


Philippians 2:3-8

New International Version (NIV)
Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.
In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:
Who, being in very nature God, 
    did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage;
rather, he made himself nothing 
    by taking the very nature of a servant, 
    being made in human likeness. 
And being found in appearance as a man,
    he humbled himself
    by becoming obedient to death 
        even death on a cross!

Benjie Kim brought home the Soul Talk series by urging us to seek humility. He cited C.S. Lewis' Mere Christianity in clarifying our understanding of pride, which is not simply the desire for success, but the desire to be more successful than someone else. He talked of finding humility on "the road less traveled," which is seeking out our hidden pride in the areas that we least want to find it. He shared of finding humility on this road when he came to a point where he felt he had "nothing left but Jesus."  He also encouraged us to be willing to be "the first to the bottom of the pile" (listen to the sermon online for the story), a place of little dignity, but great desire.


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Saturday, July 14, 2012

Sermon Rewind 7/8/12 - Desperate For God


Genesis 45:1-2

New International Version (NIV)Joseph Makes Himself Known45 Then Joseph could no longer control himself before all his attendants, and he cried out, “Have everyone leave my presence!” So there was no one with Joseph when he made himself known to his brothers. And he wept so loudly that the Egyptians heard him, and Pharaoh’s household heard about it.

Philippians 4:4-9

New International Version (NIV)
Final Exhortations
Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God,which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.



 
Abe Park shared the dramatic story of the birth of his daughter. drawing a parallel to joseph's confrontation with his brothers in egypt, he noted how it is easy to call out to God when times are desparate, but even easier to forget to be desparate for God when we are comfortable.  we do well to seek God when we experience pain, fear, uncertainty, or lostness, but even better to remember to lean on Him at all times.

by Chris Cheung

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Sermon Rewind 7/1/12 - Life As A Catalyst


Hebrews 11:13-16

New International Version (NIV)
13 All these people were still living by faith when they died. They did not receive the things promised; they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance, admitting that they were foreigners and strangers on earth. 14 People who say such things show that they are looking for a country of their own. 15 If they had been thinking of the country they had left, they would have had opportunity to return. 16 Instead, they were longing for a better country—a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them.




Charles Lee shared on what it means to live a catalytical life. Nobody wants to just live the status quo - we want our lives to be meaningful. In the Bible, David was such a man, and also surrounded by men that brought about change for the Israelites. What they all had in common was their origins as misfits - they were distressed, indebted, discontented people. But despite their circumstances, they had the same outlook - they wanted their actions to affect eternity. God often uses unlikely misfits to do his greatest works. As God’s misfits, we need to come to terms with who we are, embrace our lives and identity in Christ and choose to live forward. As we evaluate life through the lens of eternity, we learn to work not just as leaders but also under submission or duress.


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Sermon Rewind 6/24/12 - Praying For The Holy Spirit




Galatians 5:16-25

New International Version (NIV)
16 So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. 17 For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever[a] you want. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.
19 The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; 20 idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions21 and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. 24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.


Peter Park continued the Pneuma series with a message from Galatians 5:16-25, on what it means to be a Christian, and to struggle with sins. We repeat sins because "I am" doing it without relying on the Holy Spirit. We are not living with the full potential of the Holy Spirit because we do not fully understand. The Holy Spirit is not an "it" but the 3rd person of the Trinity who lives within us. Change nothing, nothing changes. Spiritual highs are supposed to be for showing us a glimpse. Without a daily relationship with the Holy Spirit, we revert back to the old self. By knowing God, the by products are the Fruit of the Spirit. The relationship with the Holy Spirit points us back to Jesus. He constantly reminds us. The Holy Spirit within me draws us to the Fruit of the Spirit. When the Holy Spirit points us to Jesus then we point others to Jesus.



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Monday, June 25, 2012

Sermon Rewind 6/15/12 - Father's Day

On Father's Day, Ed Salas came to speak about the need of fathers in today's society, where fathers are hard to find in a society that has pushed entertainment above responsibilities. Christ calls us to be spiritual fathers - those who will lead the boys to Christ. He will bring His dreams to you, affirmation and love to you. This is what a real father is about.


by Ed Chu

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Sunday, June 17, 2012

Sermon Rewind 6/10/2012 - Born of The Spirit

John 3:5-8
New International Version (NIV)
5 Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit. 6 Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit[a] gives birth to spirit. 7 You should not be surprised at my saying, ‘You[b] must be born again.’ 8 The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.”[c]


 
Benjie Kim continued the Pneuma series stressing the importance of being born of the Holy Spirit.  Nicodemus (much like us) came to Jesus knowing much in his head, but believing little in his heart.  The Holy Spirit tells us that we belong to God, shows us that He loves us without limits, and teaches us to find delight in recognizing God's voice.  The Spirit also gives us power have a life "flip turned upside down."

by Chris Cheung

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Sermon Rewind 6/3/2012 - The Holy Spirit

Ephesians 3:14-19

New International Version (NIV)

A Prayer for the Ephesians


14 For this reason I kneel before the Father, 15 from whom every family[a] in heaven and on earth derives its name. 16 I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, 18 may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, 19 and to know this love that surpasses knowledge —that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.


Cindy Park continued the Pneuma series with a message from Ephesians 3:14-19 about how the Holy Spirit helps us fully grasp God's love.  Paul's goal for us is to be filled with the fullness of God and it takes the power of the Holy Spirit to help us fully embrace God's love for us.  Being in deep intimate relationship with Jesus establishes a stability, security, and confidence to sustain us during life's pain and trials. We struggle with the idea of being loved, and look for affirmation of love from outside sources, but this will always lead to disappointment.  Through prayer for our hearts to be fully filled in the Holy Spirit, we can rest in the knowledge of God's love for us and this ultimately impacts the way we view ourselves, and helps us to live with an outward focus.  Instead of trying to earn love or prove we're worthy of love, we can live in the overflow of God's great love for us.  How could the full knowledge of God's wide and long and high and deep love for us impact the way we live?

by Arnold Wang

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