Sermon Rewind 11/24/2013 - Oceans: True Conviction

Revelation 3:14-20

New International Version (NIV)

To the Church in Laodicea

14 “To the angel of the church in Laodicea write:

These are the words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the ruler of God’s creation.15 I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! 16 So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth. 17 You say, ‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.’ But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked. 18 I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see.

19 Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest and repent. 20 Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come inand eat with that person, and they with me.

Benjie Kim concluded the Oceans series by teaching from Revelation 3, 14-20 on the theme of self-sufficiency.  Revelation 3:14 - 20 says "So because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I am going to vomit you out of my mouth!"  Many people take this to mean that it is better to be either a strong Christian, or a non-believer, than to be a lukewarm Christian.  Benjie described the background of the passage - it was written to the city of Laodicea, which was a prosperous city that did not need God.  But God's intention is never to guilt or shame us into taking action, true conviction comes from a life/spirit transformation.  Laodicea may have been rich, but the true riches come from gold refined by fire, true riches come from God who convicts us with love.  We may think we are self sufficient, but all blessings really come from God.

by Kenny Yamada

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Sermon Rewind 11/17/2013 - Oceans: A Relationship That Transforms

Psalm 42:1-2

New International Version (NIV)
For the director of music. A maskil[c] of the Sons of Korah.

1 As the deer pants for streams of water,
    so my soul pants for you, my God.
2 My soul thirsts for God, for the living God.
    When can I go and meet with God?

Tommy Nixon continued the Oceans series by showing us how our desire to simplify GOD into a one-dimensional being is often expressed in unbiblical statements such as "everything happens for a [good] reason," "GOD will never give me more than I can handle," and "GOD is testing me."  While GOD is too much for us to completely understand, even a grasp of His multi-faceted nature requires a relationship with Him.  And He loves us too much to settle for a transactional relationship.  He wants to have a transformational relationship with us.

Tommy offered three keys to a transformational relationship as demonstrated by (probably) David in Psalms 42 and 43:
1.  Talk with GOD - have an honest conversation, one that is two-way and allows for real emotions like anger and disappointment.
2.  Ask for two things:
    a.  GOD to right wrongs, and
    b.  GOD to restore things to their proper place.
3.  Speak words of Life, not Death (negativity, hatred)
    a.  command your soul, and
    b.  speak into the future in faith.

By Chris Cheung

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Sermon Rewind 11/10/13 - Oceans: Entering The Presence of God

Exodus 4:10-17

New International Version (NIV)

10 Moses said to the Lord, “Pardon your servant, Lord. I have never been eloquent, neither in the past nor since you have spoken to your servant. I am slow of speech and tongue.”
11 The Lord said to him, “Who gave human beings their mouths? Who makes them deaf or mute? Who gives them sight or makes them blind? Is it not I, the Lord? 12 Now go; I will help you speak and will teach you what to say.”
13 But Moses said, “Pardon your servant, Lord. Please send someone else.”
14 Then the Lord’s anger burned against Moses and he said, “What about your brother, Aaron the Levite? I know he can speak well. He is already on his way to meet you, and he will be glad to see you. 15 You shall speak to him and put words in his mouth; I will help both of you speak and will teach you what to do. 16 He will speak to the people for you, and it will be as if he were your mouth and as if you were God to him. 17 But take this staff in your hand so you can perform the signs with it.”

Benjie Kim continued the Oceans series, recounting the story of Moses. It can be hard to believe in a God we can’t see. We often think to ourselves that if God tangibly manifested Himself in front of us, we would believe. However, we forget that throughout the Bible, entering the presence of God was difficult, and cause for fear and cowering. 

God calls us instead to pursue the journey in the present. This life is a test and preparation for the next life. The reward is not the promise of things, it is the promise of God. Can we take risks and pursue God-sized dreams, learning to trust in God no matter what the outcome? When we do and trust in Jesus in the deepest parts of our souls, we will be changed, becoming readied to experience His full glory.

Moses’ story was not just a story about miracles - it was about God being faithful for a broken people, reminding them of the promise of His presence always.

by Sonny Luong-si

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Sermon Rewind 11/3/2013 - Oceans: Rocking The Boat

Luke 5:1-11

New International Version (NIV)

Jesus Calls His First Disciples

5 One day as Jesus was standing by the Lake of Gennesaret,[a] the people were crowding around him and listening to the word of God. 2 He saw at the water’s edge two boats, left there by the fishermen, who were washing their nets. 3 He got into one of the boats, the one belonging to Simon, and asked him to put out a little from shore. Then he sat down and taught the people from the boat.

4 When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch.”
5 Simon answered, “Master, we’ve worked hard all night and haven’t caught anything. But because you say so, I will let down the nets.”
6 When they had done so, they caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to break. 7 So they signaled their partners in the other boat to come and help them, and they came and filled both boats so full that they began to sink.
8 When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus’ knees and said, “Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!” 9 For he and all his companions were astonished at the catch of fish they had taken, 10 and so were James and John, the sons of Zebedee, Simon’s partners.
Then Jesus said to Simon, “Don’t be afraid; from now on you will fish for people.” 11 So they pulled their boats up on shore, left everything and followed him.

When Peter stepped into the ocean, he stepped into the chaos of rolling seas, thundering skies, and uncertainty. Dave Brubaker began the Oceans series asking: How do we react when our lives are in the midst of chaos? We are called to take a stand and not be moved, even in changing and troubling times. Reading from Luke 5, Dave posits these truths about following Jesus.

1) It is inconvenient, just as when He told to Peter to fish again despite a long night of work. Can we accept when he comes into our lives and disrupts things?

2) It means relinquishing control - He wants to commandeer all aspects of our lives, just as He used the fishermen’s boats as a pulpit.

3) It is unconventional - He will often ask us to do something completely different. Will we, like Peter, agree simply because He says so?

4) It takes the willingness to leave everything - our money and our independence - instead, banking on Jesus to make us the person that He wants us to be.

By Ed Chu

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