John 15:9-17
New International Version (NIV)
9 “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. 10 If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love. 11 I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. 12 My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. 13 Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. 14 You are my friends if you do what I command. 15 I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. 16 You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you. 17 This is my command: Love each other.
Last Sunday, Peter Park continued the WITH series, further expanding John 15:9-17. As previously learned, Jesus asks us to "abide in the vine" - to be in a deep relationship with Him and bear fruit of love. But we as humans love imperfectly and conditionally, so how do we learn to love? Jesus has shown us true love by laying down His life for us AND his enemies! He gives us the choice to receive and participate WITH this perfect love. Without His love, we cannot love others. But as we build our relationship and "abide" in Him, we learn to love as He does - unfailingly, patiently, and without pride. To end the message, Peter teaches a practical lesson to how to love: by dedicating to your work, your day, your friends, your coworkers, your family, and strangers - "in health and in sickness." Do everything in life WITH God, abiding in his love.
Listen to this sermon and others online!
http://noc.newsong.net/grow/resources/message-archives
Sunday, October 30, 2011
Monday, October 24, 2011
Sermon Rewind 10/16/11 - Trust & Obey (Abiding WITH God)
John 15: 1-4; 9-11
1 “I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. 2 He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes[a] so that it will be even more fruitful. 3 You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. 4 Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.
9 “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. 10 If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love. 11 I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.
In July, a short term missions (STM) team of seven went to China for two weeks to partner with two organizations, Compassion for Migrant Children and Starfish Project. In many ways, God used their time in China to redeem, restore, and affirm who they are in Christ. They each had moments where they were WITH God. For some of them, it was seeing a bigger picture of God through migrant workers, human trafficking and China; for others it was realizing they were dealing with the lies of unworthiness, value and identity. They all experienced God’s love through the love within their team in community. He affirmed their identity and worth in Christ.
We are worthy despite our past and pains because God chose us to be His sons and daughters. God wants to be in communion WITH us. Pure joy is from abiding WITH God’s will – as you are being fed by the vine. He sees you.
Watch a small glimpse of the STM team’s time in China on Vimeo! http://vimeo.com/30582582
Listen to this sermon and others online!
http://noc.newsong.net/grow/resources/message-archives
1 “I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. 2 He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes[a] so that it will be even more fruitful. 3 You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. 4 Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.
9 “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. 10 If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love. 11 I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.
In July, a short term missions (STM) team of seven went to China for two weeks to partner with two organizations, Compassion for Migrant Children and Starfish Project. In many ways, God used their time in China to redeem, restore, and affirm who they are in Christ. They each had moments where they were WITH God. For some of them, it was seeing a bigger picture of God through migrant workers, human trafficking and China; for others it was realizing they were dealing with the lies of unworthiness, value and identity. They all experienced God’s love through the love within their team in community. He affirmed their identity and worth in Christ.
We are worthy despite our past and pains because God chose us to be His sons and daughters. God wants to be in communion WITH us. Pure joy is from abiding WITH God’s will – as you are being fed by the vine. He sees you.
Watch a small glimpse of the STM team’s time in China on Vimeo! http://vimeo.com/30582582
Listen to this sermon and others online!
http://noc.newsong.net/grow/resources/message-archives
Tuesday, October 4, 2011
Sermon Rewind 10/4/11 - Guarding Your Heart
Proverbs 4:23
New International Version (NIV)
23 Above all else, guard your heart,
for everything you do flows from it.
Cindy Park continued the WITH series, reminding us that we’re called to be in relationship with Jesus, where we desire only Him, not to use Him as a means to an ends. In order to be in this type of relationship, we need to monitor and guard our hearts. Proverbs 4:23 states that we need to guard our hearts because it is the source of everything we do. Though we may be doing the “right” things and serving others, problems that may be deeply hidden within our hearts can manifest them in other parts of our lives – perhaps quickness to anger, or malaise being in a ministry. Therefore, it is imperative that we monitor our hearts and search our motives. The only way to truly guard our hearts and heal our souls is by spending time with God, and in real community. As Christ followers, we are not called to obey rules or to serve in ministry, but to be in a relationship with Him.
Listen to this sermon and others online!
http://noc.newsong.net/grow/resources/message-archives
New International Version (NIV)
23 Above all else, guard your heart,
for everything you do flows from it.
Cindy Park continued the WITH series, reminding us that we’re called to be in relationship with Jesus, where we desire only Him, not to use Him as a means to an ends. In order to be in this type of relationship, we need to monitor and guard our hearts. Proverbs 4:23 states that we need to guard our hearts because it is the source of everything we do. Though we may be doing the “right” things and serving others, problems that may be deeply hidden within our hearts can manifest them in other parts of our lives – perhaps quickness to anger, or malaise being in a ministry. Therefore, it is imperative that we monitor our hearts and search our motives. The only way to truly guard our hearts and heal our souls is by spending time with God, and in real community. As Christ followers, we are not called to obey rules or to serve in ministry, but to be in a relationship with Him.
Listen to this sermon and others online!
http://noc.newsong.net/grow/resources/message-archives
Sunday, September 18, 2011
Sermon Rewind 9/18/11 – Abba, I Belong to You
Mark 14:32-36 New International Version (NIV)
Gethsemane
32 They went to a place called Gethsemane, and Jesus said to his disciples, “Sit here while I pray.” 33 He took Peter, James and John along with him, and he began to be deeply distressed and troubled. 34 “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death,” he said to them. “Stay here and keep watch.”
35 Going a little farther, he fell to the ground and prayed that if possible the hour might pass from him. 36 “Abba,[a] Father,” he said, “everything is possible for you. Take this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will.”
Benjie Kim continued the WITH series with a sermon on what it looks like to have an intimate relationship with God. He shared from Mark 14:32-36, when Jesus prayed in Gethsemane because he was deeply distressed and troubled, and his soul was overwhelmed with sorrow. God calls us to have two traits to overcoming the darkest times in our lives: (1) having an authentic relationship with proper community and practicing complete transparency is essential. We are called to share the depths of our souls to the people in our lives that can walk with us and guide us. (2) having a relationship with with God that reflects Abba (daddy, papa, my own dear father). Our relationship with God ought to reflect a very intimate relationship between father and son/daughter. Healthy solitude is the opposite of escape. Take time in your life to have our hands open to claim and pray, “Abba, I belong to you.”
Listen to this sermon and others online!
http://noc.newsong.net/grow/resources/message-archives
Tuesday, September 13, 2011
Sermon Rewind 9/11/11 - Abiding In Jesus
John 15:5
New International Version (NIV)
5 “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.
Pastor Peter began a new sermon series on what it means to be just “WITH” God. God is usually a priority in our lives, but how often is He THE priority? We often ask and receive things from God, or do things for God, but do we ever just BE with God? In John 15:5, Jesus warns that abiding in Him is a matter of life and death. We are dependent on Jesus for life, and can only grow as a result of being connected to Him. Growing is a result of simply being in communion with God, not something we must do. Do we have a yearning to be with God as an end in itself rather than just as a means for comfort and provision? In the coming weeks, NOC will explore ways to just be WITH God.
Listen to this sermon and others online!
http://noc.newsong.net/grow/resources/message-archives
New International Version (NIV)
5 “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.
Pastor Peter began a new sermon series on what it means to be just “WITH” God. God is usually a priority in our lives, but how often is He THE priority? We often ask and receive things from God, or do things for God, but do we ever just BE with God? In John 15:5, Jesus warns that abiding in Him is a matter of life and death. We are dependent on Jesus for life, and can only grow as a result of being connected to Him. Growing is a result of simply being in communion with God, not something we must do. Do we have a yearning to be with God as an end in itself rather than just as a means for comfort and provision? In the coming weeks, NOC will explore ways to just be WITH God.
Listen to this sermon and others online!
http://noc.newsong.net/grow/resources/message-archives
Saturday, September 10, 2011
Sermon Rewind 9/4/11 - Reliance on God
1 Chronicles 21:1 - 8
David Counts the Fighting Men
1 Satan rose up against Israel and incited David to take a census of Israel. 2 So David said to Joab and the commanders of the troops, “Go and count the Israelites from Beersheba to Dan. Then report back to me so that I may know how many there are.”
3 But Joab replied, “May the LORD multiply his troops a hundred times over. My lord the king, are they not all my lord’s subjects? Why does my lord want to do this? Why should he bring guilt on Israel?”
4 The king’s word, however, overruled Joab; so Joab left and went throughout Israel and then came back to Jerusalem. 5 Joab reported the number of the fighting men to David: In all Israel there were one million one hundred thousand men who could handle a sword, including four hundred and seventy thousand in Judah.
6 But Joab did not include Levi and Benjamin in the numbering, because the king’s command was repulsive to him. 7 This command was also evil in the sight of God; so he punished Israel.
8 Then David said to God, “I have sinned greatly by doing this. Now, I beg you, take away the guilt of your servant. I have done a very foolish thing.”
Cindy Park wrapped up Soul Talk, with her message from 1 Chronicles 21:1-8 about King David's prideful self reliance. When David took a census of soldiers in Israel, he did so to find security in that number rather than in God. He gave in to the enemy's lies, and found his confidence apart from God. Do we truly rely on God, trusting He can carry our burdens or do we deceive ourselves into thinking WE are the ones in control, foolishly carrying our burdens alone?
Listen to this sermon and others online!
http://noc.newsong.net/grow/resourcecs/message-archives
David Counts the Fighting Men
1 Satan rose up against Israel and incited David to take a census of Israel. 2 So David said to Joab and the commanders of the troops, “Go and count the Israelites from Beersheba to Dan. Then report back to me so that I may know how many there are.”
3 But Joab replied, “May the LORD multiply his troops a hundred times over. My lord the king, are they not all my lord’s subjects? Why does my lord want to do this? Why should he bring guilt on Israel?”
4 The king’s word, however, overruled Joab; so Joab left and went throughout Israel and then came back to Jerusalem. 5 Joab reported the number of the fighting men to David: In all Israel there were one million one hundred thousand men who could handle a sword, including four hundred and seventy thousand in Judah.
6 But Joab did not include Levi and Benjamin in the numbering, because the king’s command was repulsive to him. 7 This command was also evil in the sight of God; so he punished Israel.
8 Then David said to God, “I have sinned greatly by doing this. Now, I beg you, take away the guilt of your servant. I have done a very foolish thing.”
Cindy Park wrapped up Soul Talk, with her message from 1 Chronicles 21:1-8 about King David's prideful self reliance. When David took a census of soldiers in Israel, he did so to find security in that number rather than in God. He gave in to the enemy's lies, and found his confidence apart from God. Do we truly rely on God, trusting He can carry our burdens or do we deceive ourselves into thinking WE are the ones in control, foolishly carrying our burdens alone?
Listen to this sermon and others online!
http://noc.newsong.net/grow/resourcecs/message-archives
Monday, August 29, 2011
Sermon Rewind 8/21/11 - Spiritual Zeroes
John 21:15-18 - New International Version (NIV)
When 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.
Very truly I tell you, when you were younger you dressed yourself and went where you wanted; but when you are old you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go.”
Benjie Kim's message last Sunday was from John 21:15-18, where Jesus asked Peter three times if he loved Him. Three times Peter says he loves Jesus. Jesus then tells Peter to care His sheep - to lead His church. He had disappointed Him many times - even denying that he knew Him three times, and being admonished for preventing His crucifixion. He had the faith of a "spiritual zero" - yet, like the faith of a child, he knew Jesus was the Christ, the son of God.
Only when we have this kind of faith are we able to have His undying love and affirmation. His undeserved grace allows us to worship.
When 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.
Very truly I tell you, when you were younger you dressed yourself and went where you wanted; but when you are old you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go.”
Benjie Kim's message last Sunday was from John 21:15-18, where Jesus asked Peter three times if he loved Him. Three times Peter says he loves Jesus. Jesus then tells Peter to care His sheep - to lead His church. He had disappointed Him many times - even denying that he knew Him three times, and being admonished for preventing His crucifixion. He had the faith of a "spiritual zero" - yet, like the faith of a child, he knew Jesus was the Christ, the son of God.
Only when we have this kind of faith are we able to have His undying love and affirmation. His undeserved grace allows us to worship.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
