FOR THE SON OF MAN HAS COME TO SAVE THAT WHICH WAS LOST

Matthew 18:11
["For the Son of Man has come to save that which was lost.] NASB

Outline:
Based on Matthew 18:11 wherein it's theme is Jesus came to save the lost.

I. Those who have strayed because they are lost in their sin. (verses 12-14)

II. How to deal with those who have sinned because they are lost (verses 15-20)


Discipleship Group Discussion Questions

1. Read Matthew 18:12-14. (One of the most misinterpreted passage of scripture - it's about God, not pastors)
Based on this passage, we learn more about God's character and His love for us - that His love is Unconditional, Individual, and Emotional. How are you encouraged by learning more and more about God's character and who He truly is? What are the results of not knowing who God truly is, even if someone claims to be a Christian?

2. Read Matthew 18:15-17. (One of the most abused passage of scripture)
Various sins such as slander, gossip, and false accusations can be easily avoided by simply obeying what God said in Matthew 18:15-17. Why then is it difficult for many people to obey these clear instructions from Jesus? What are ways we can individually prevent this from happening? What will you do the next time someone unjustly whispers slander about someone else in your ear? How will you represent and glorify God in situations like this?

3. Read Matthew 18:18-20. (One of the most misquoted verses in the Bible - v.20)
Whether we like it or not, God does empower the Church Leadership with the unpopular responsibility of "Binding" and "Loosing." What happens when the church starts to disrespect the leadership and disregard their council, and in some cases, their correction and discipline? What are ways we can prevent this from happening? Why is it that some people will disregard correction and discipline?

THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING A MEMBER OF A LOCAL CHURCH

(preached on 9/11/11)

Have you ever heard the following statements before?

"Why should I go to and be a member of a Local Church?"

or,

“It really doesn’t matter whether I go to church. I have Christian friends, my Bible and Bible commentaries, and many church services on T.V. So why do I need a church?”

or,

"What is so wrong about Church Hopping? It gives me a chance to be a member of several churches!"

or,

"Yes, I'm still a member of that church.....even if I haven't been there for the last 4 months."


In my 16 years of pastoral ministry, I’ve heard these statements as well as various versions of these statements. The fact is, there are still many Christians who still don’t get it.

They think that they already have plenty of access to good Bible teaching, fellowship, and worship services through other means that involve occasional, little, or no human contact, with the conclusion that church membership is not required, or that it's just a nonessential option.

So what’s the big deal about the local church?

In the Bible, the Corinthian Church gives us great examples of why we should be a member of a local church and commit to it - no matter what trials may happen.

Well here are 12 reasons why we should go to and be members of a local Church based on the Corinthians letters.


1. Reminder of the Gospel
1 Corinthians 15:1-2

2. Baptism & the Lord’s Supper
1 Corinthians 15:3-4 (see Romans 6:3-4)
1 Corinthians 11:23-26

3. Corporate Worship
1 Corinthians 14

4. Demonstration of the Holy Spirit's Power
1 Corinthians 2:4

5. Teaching and Mentoring
(various teaching throughout 1 & 2 Corinthians)

6. Accountability
1 Corinthians 12:20-21, 26

7. Church Unity and a Sense of Belonging
1 Corinthians 12:12

8. Application of Spiritual Gifts
1 Corinthians 12:28-31

9. Family Life (marriage & singleness)
1 Corinthians 7

10. Tithing and Generosity
1 Corinthians 16:1-3
2 Corinthians 8:1-6

11. Correction, Discipline & Restoration
1 Corinthians 4:18-21
1 Corinthians 5:12-13
2 Corinthians 2:6-7

12. Shared Suffering and Encouragement
2 Corinthians 1:3-7


D Group Discussion Questions:

1. Please share your testimony of any of the twelve points above of how God blessed you in that area because of your commitment to a local church. (you can choose more than one).

2. What would you say to those who "Church Hop" without any real membership of any church, or to those who "occasionally" attend church?

3. What are some reasons why some people just can't stay in one church for very long? Pick out some reasons from the twelve points above that would cause this, and how is their spiritual growth stunted because of it?

IDENTIFYING SOURCES OF TEMPTATION

In the Christian life we encounter many temptations, but all come from one or more of three sources: the world, the flesh, and the Devil. Each has its own unique way of deceiving us in an attempt to impair our walk with the Lord. But if we can learn to identify and discern the characteristic traits of the things that threaten to ensnare us, then we can ready ourselves with the truth and stand firm against every temptation.

The World:
James 4:4. Competes with God for our loyalty and love.
1 John 2:16. Incites lusts and pride.
Luke 8:14. Chokes us with worries, riches, and pleasures of this life, making us spiritually unfruitful.
2 Timothy 4:10. Sidetracks us from faithful service to God.

The Flesh:
Romans 8:5-7. Infiltrates our minds with its ways and lusts.
Galatians 5:16-17. Sets its desires against the Spirit, urging us to satisfy ourselves.
Galatians 5:19-21. Produces the deeds of the flesh—immorality, idolatry, relational discord, and sinful self-indulgence.
Galatians 6:7-8. Promises pleasure but reaps a ruined life.

The Devil:
2 Corinthians 11:13-15. Masquerades as an angel of light.
John 8:44. Tries to fill our minds with his lies and get us to do what he wants.
Genesis 2:16-17; 3:1-5. Distorts truth by mixing it with deception.
Matthew 4:5-7. Misuses Scripture to delude us.
1 Thessalonians 3:5-8. Tempts us to doubt and give up.
2 Corinthians 2:10-11. Gets a foothold in our lives through sins like unforgiveness and anger. (See also Ephesians 4:26-27.)
1 Peter 5:8-9. Is always on the prowl looking for someone to devour.


Unfortunately, there are Christians who do not grow in their Christian walk and whose lives do not change simply because they don't take personal responsibility for their actions. Instead of taking responsibility, every sin is blamed on something or someone else. For example, "It's not my fault, it's Satan's fault!" "I'm not to blame, it's the world!" "Hey, I was born a sinner, so it's really not my fault!" "It's his fault!" "It's her fault!" "It's their fault!"
(Remember: Who did Adam and Eve blame? Genesis 3:12-13)

Question: Who should we blame whenever we fall into sin?
Read the following Scripture: Romans 7:18-19; James 1:14; 2 Peter 1:4

Answer: Ourselves!

When we begin to truly humble ourselves, stop blaming others and take personal responsibility for our sins and repent of it, only then can we start to grow in the image of Christ.


Discipleship Group Reflections:

1. The World: In what ways has the world taken God’s rightful place in your heart or choked you with its pleasures and distractions? How can you live in this world without letting it corrupt your soul?

2. The Flesh: When you’re facing temptation, do you allow your fleshly desires or the Holy Spirit to have control? Give examples.

3. The Devil: Can you discern any ways Satan has influenced your life? How can you protect yourself against his deceptions and schemes?

TESTING GROWTH IN OUR CHRISTIAN WALK

(The following message was preached on August 20, 2011 at Huntington Beach during CICF's Beach Day)

In various areas of our life, such as work, school, sports, cultural arts, etc., we are expected to show some kind of improvement in a reasonable amount of time. For example, if I were a long distance runner or a tennis player or a musician, I would do my very best to constantly practice and regularly train myself with the goal of improving.

The question is, How about your Christian walk? Is there noticeable improvement and growth since you've received Christ as your Lord and Savior?

When it comes to spiritual maturity, we cannot simply take for granted that we're growing. We are instructed in God's Word to constantly "examine" and "test" ourselves.

2 Corinthians 13:5 says,
Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you — unless, of course, you fail the test?

To evaluate our personal progress, the following seven points are areas we can honestly test ourselves to see if we are truly growing as Christians. Remember, this short list is just a place to start because many more things could be added to the list, but here are seven to consider:

1. You become more aware of God's presence, and who He is.

2. You become increasingly aware of your sinfulness and weaknesses.

3. You respond to sin and conviction with quick repentance.

4. You grow in humility with a teachable spirit.

5. You view trials and temptations as opportunities for growth that God has allowed to happen.

6. You read God's Word with the goal of transforming YOUR heart, and NOT just to finish the task of reading or to puff up your head with knowledge.

7. You have the desire to tell others about Christ and the Christian faith you live.


So how's your Christian walk? Are you growing?

THE LONE CYPRESS

Last July 31, I took my family to see the famous 250 plus years old "Lone Cypress" as it sits on its strong rock foundation looking out into the Pacific Ocean in Monterey, California. When we arrived there we had just missed the last rays of the sun, but were still on time to see the beautiful reds, oranges, and yellows of the setting sun's afterglow.

To me, the tree's symbolism is very profound: a solitary tree on the edge of the huge North American continent, constantly fighting against the wind, the rain, the waves, and the slow and steady erosion of the California coastline which endangers this trees own foundation and existence - one individual against the ravages of the world.

When you stop and think about it, we as people are kind of like that Lone Cypress, constantly fighting against the ravages of this world, namely, its worldliness, temptations, hostilities, and injustices.

As I see it, there are three choices we can make in regards to dealing with the worldliness of this world: First we can take the easy way out and just fall into the convenience of conforming with the world. Secondly, we can live a life of hypocrisy with one foot in the world and the other "supposedly" with the things of God (in the hopes of offsetting our worldliness).

And lastly, we can make the conscious decision to choose God and to live for Him. Not that we will perfectly live a life of obedience because God knows we're not perfect, but to strive to live for Him in faith and obedience to His commands, to recognize our sin and repent of it, to love what He loves, to hate what He hates, and to willingly allow God to change us, correct us, and transform us every day.

Remember, God is not looking at your programs or numbers, or your statistics of success to measure you - that's how the world measures you. What God does look at is your heart to see if you are faithful as you live in the midst of the ravages of this world.

The good news is this: Jesus has overcome the world, and He gives us that same victory through faith in Him.

Jesus said in John 16:33,
"I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world."

As we drove along the scenic "17 mile drive" back to our hotel room that night, I left with a sense of sadness and encouragement. Sadness because the day would eventually come when that Lone Cypress would be no more. Encouraged because that little cypress tree stands as a living testament to the qualities of endurance, perseverance, and the will to survive and not give up in spite of its exposure to hostile elements, qualities that you and I can also have as we put our trust in our God.

Yes, that Lone Cypress has a strong rock as it's foundation which has allowed it to last for over two centuries, but we have a much stronger, unshakable, and solid rock when our foundation is Christ Himself.

Technical Info: Canon 5D; Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L; 0.5 sec @ f/18; 0.9 Lee ND Grad.

Recommendation: Make the time to bring your family to see The Lone Cypress. Although various organizations are doing their very best to preserve this tree, it's still one of those beautiful wonders that may no longer be around in years to come.

HOW MUCH MONEY IS ENOUGH?

SERMON NOTES/D GROUP QUESTIONS 7/10/11

HOW MUCH MONEY IS ENOUGH?

I. WHAT WE HOPE WEALTH WILL BRING;
AND WHAT WEALTH REALLY BRINGS ACCORDING TO THE BIBLE

1. MORE SATISFACTION? ("I will be content with lots of money!")
Ecclesiastes 5:10

2. MORE SIGNIFICANCE? ("People will respect me more if I'm rich!")
Luke 12:15

3. MORE SECURITY? ("I will be secure!")
Proverbs 23:5

4. MORE PEACE OF MIND? ("I can relax more and have peace of mind!")
Ecclesiastes 5:12

5. MORE MONEY TO GIVE AWAY? ("I can help others in need if I win the Lotto!")
Ecclesiastes 5:13; Matthew 19:23-24


II. WHAT GOD WANTS ME TO DO WITH MY MONEY

1. BE GRATEFUL (Eccl. 5:19; Deut. 8:18)

2. BE GENEROUS (Luke 12:20-21, 1 Timothy 6:17-19, Matthew 6:19-20)

3. BE WISE TO PUT GOD FIRST (Luke 16:13, Matthew 6:20-21)


So then....HOW MUCH MONEY IS ENOUGH?
Philippians 4:10-13; Matthew 6:33

The key: Being CONTENT with what God has already given you, and truly seeking God first instead of material wealth.


D Group Discussion Questions:
1. What were some things you hoped wealth would bring to you?

2. Being honest with God and yourself, by your present actions,
at this very moment, who is your master? God, or Money?

3. What can you say about the contrast between the world's perspective of money,
and God's perspective? How has God changed your perspective?

4. In the areas of being grateful, being generous, and being wise to put God first, what area(s) do I need to honestly improve on?

REMOVING SELF FROM SELF-RIGHTEOUSNESS

CHURCH-WIDE BIBLE STUDY 7/2/11

REMOVING SELF FROM SELF-RIGHTEOUSNESS
Unmasking the Invisible Sin

Self-righteousness is one of the most difficult sins to recognize within ourselves, because it disguises itself as obedience to Scripture and firm convictions about the truth. That’s why Christians are prone to its deceptive lure; after all, we know right from wrong and have a genuine desire to obey the Lord. This “invisible sin” is overcome only through exposure and repentance.

The Pharisees were examples of self-righteousness. By examining their lives, we can understand the inner workings of this manifestation of pride that still traps many believers today. Let’s strip off our blinders, humble our hearts, and allow God’s Word to reveal any false righteousness in us (Heb. 4:12-13).

Characteristics of the self-righteous person:
1. The self-righteous are quick to point out the sins of others but can’t see their own (Luke 6:39-42). (Pharisee Theology: "I thank God we're not like all those other people!" Luke 18:11)
2. Their focus is on good behavior, not on a pure heart. They appear outwardly righteous but are inwardly full of hypocrisy (Matt. 23:25-28).
3. They cannot be corrected (Matthew 12:14 - see context)
4. In the area of Prayer: They pray so people can see them (Matthew 6:5).
5. In the area of God's Word: They miss the point! They don't live it. (Matt. 23).
6. In the area of Worship: They don't! (Matt. 15:7-9)
7. In the area of Faith: Faith is replaced with legalism (Matt. 23:23-24; Phil. 3:6)

Dangers:
1. They reject God’s purpose for their lives by refusing to repent (Matt. 3:1-11).
2. Their hearts are far from the Lord (Matt. 15:1-9).
3. They will be judged by their own standard (Luke 6:38).

Remedy:
1. Ask the Lord to search your heart and reveal any hidden self-righteousness (Ps. 139:23-24).
2. Confess your arrogance (1 Cor. 8:1-3).
3. In repentance, humble yourself (James 4:6-10).
4. Pursue an intimate relationship with Christ, not your own righteousness (Phil. 3:3-11; Acts 4:13).
5. Extend grace, not condemnation, to others (Rom. 8:1).

Questions for Reflection in your Discipleship Groups:
1. Does your knowledge of Scripture or success in obeying God lead you to compare yourself with others who are less knowledgeable or who struggle with certain sins? If so, why do you think you do this?

2. Do you find yourself being defensive and saying things like "Well how about you?!" whenever you are corrected or confronted with sin? Why is this so? What is the difference between correction (as shown by Jesus, the Apostle Paul, etc.) versus condemnation (as shown by the Pharisees).

3. What do you tend to do more: find fault with others, or extend mercy and grace? What does Christ mean when He says that you will be judged by the same measure that you use for others (Luke 6:38)?

4. Are you hesitant to ask the Lord to examine your heart? What do you fear He may find? What are the benefits of bringing hidden areas of your life into the light?