Does God speak outside of the Bible?

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Frequently avoided questions of the Christian faith, “Does God speak outside of the Bible?”
Psalm 19:1-6, Romans 1:18-22

Intro…”God moments” for me… in our lives…
Text: Psalm 19:1-6
Big Pic: God has revealed himself to mankind since the beginning of time. If we have eyes to see and ears to hear, we can be surprised at the messages he has for us that can come in a variety of ways.

These verses speak of the majestic heavens and describe how features of the sky bear witness to their Maker.
• Through creation, there is a divine speech that goes out to all humanity.
• Part of that creation as includes mans creativity, movies, music, books, art etc.
• I do believe that God speak primarily through the Bible…

V. 1 “The heavens, the sky above…”
• The heavens show God’s creativity, power, majesty, wisdom etc.
• They also show God’s worthiness of honor and worship.
• Think of the last time you saw the stars away from the city lights, or witnessed and amazing sunset or sunrise…it’s truly awesome.

v. 2-3 “Day to day pours out speech”
• God is speaking to us with each new day…if we’re willing to listen.
• Every evening reveals God’s knowledge.
• God is speaking to us through His creation, and he’s saying, “Look for me, I’m here. I created all this for you.”

v. 4 All the world has received some kind of message from God.
• But what it comes down to is, “Are people willing to listen?”
• It’s important to distinguish between “general revelation” (what is known about God through the natural world) and “specific revelation” (the proclamation of the gospel).
• Ps. 19:4 refers to “general revelation.”
• Romans 10:14-18 is “specific revelation.”

Let me mess with your mind for a minute when it comes to the gospel going to the ends of the earth.
• Let’s look at Romans 1:18-22
• God’s power and divine nature are clearly revealed through the world he has made (so that men/they are without excuse).
• The wonder, beauty and majesty of all of creation points directly to God (not just a “higher power”).
• No one can complain that God has left insufficient evidence of his existence and character. The fault is on those who reject him.
• Usually it’s pride that gets in the way of believing that.
• When we get to heaven, we are going to be surprised at who is there and who isn’t.
• I believe that God can reveal himself even to someone “in the middle of nowhere” if they look up at the heavens, or at God’s creation and realize there is something bigger than themselves and that they have a need to connect with God.
• All cultures and people have a knowledge of right and wrong…
• People’s moral standards are always better than their behavior.
• Yet salvation does not come through “general revelation”
• People have an inner sense of what God desires…a need for forgiveness and redemption…

v. 5-6 Just consider the power of the sun, a specific way in which the voice of the heavens is revealed to all mankind.
• The sun is so powerful, we need protection from it.
• The sun comes out every day with the “excitement of a bridegroom.”
• The suns runs its course or does its job with joy (like a strong man).
• The sun is all-powerful shining on the entire earth, there is nothing hidden from it.
• Same with God, same with his relevations to us, through his creation and specifically through the scriptures. (As verses 7-11 show)

One of the key factors in determining if God is speaking through sources other than the Bible…is the Bible!
• The more we study the scriptures and God’s character throughout history, the more we’ll be able to detect a wrong message.
• Silly example, the movie “Hall Pass”….it doesn’t take a theological genius to know that it’s going to be a trashy movie…
• On the other hand, sometimes I’ve heard God speak clearly to me through the story told in a “non-Christian” movie.
• God can insert his messages into popular culture that tell us something about our world, our neighbors, ourselves and our relationship with God.
• God has used wicked rulers etc. throughout history…
• Again, the key is having the Christian maturity to be able to discern right from wrong.
• The bible never says that God would at some point limit himself to speaking exclusively through the written text and abandon any other form of communication with humans.
• To refuse to listen to God through whatever medium he chooses diminishes our experience and awareness of him.
• “God is larger and more bountiful than our intellectual boxes or theological constructs that we tend to put him in.”

Conclusion:
• There is no book we should love and treasure more than the Bible.
• Every time we read it we should approach it with a sense of wonder and awe, always ready to hear from God in a new way.
• When it comes to hearing from God, let’s see when we look, hear when we listen and understand with our hearts what God is saying to us everywhere and at all times.
• God can speak to us clearly everyday through his word.
• Let’s not limit what God has to say to us to only that time we spend in the Bible.
• However, when we do feel like we are getting a message from God, let’s always go back to the Bible as a comparison.
• Mark 8:14-21

Frequently avoided questions of the Christian faith, Can Christianity be reduced to simple steps or stages?

"Frequently avoided questions of the Christian faith."
"Can Christianity be reduced to simple steps or stages?"
1 Corinthians 2:6-16, Mark 4:10-12, Eph. 3:1-6, 6:18-20
Intro…In Seminary I took a class on Spiritual formation…We used the Richard Foster book, “The celebration of discipline.”
• Yet over the years I’ve learned that just like it’s hard to systematize theology, it’s hard to pin down exactly how we mature spiritually.
• Messy Spirituality…is unstructured, unpredictable, unstable, like the real life most people know.
Text: 1 Cor. 2:6-16
Big Pic: How someone comes to Christ and then continues to grow in their faith includes many diverse events and encounters that in retrospect, are obviously the work of God’s spirit and not man’s engineering.

The theme of 1 Cor. is that Paul wants the church to put aside its differences and work together for the advancement of the gospel.
• Paul wants them to drop the one-upmanship, build the faith of those who are weak and witness effectively to unbelievers. This is a pastoral letter to a spiritually troubled church.
• Chapter 2 of 1 Cor. is all about proclaiming Christ crucified.
• V. 2 Paul wanted to keep the message simple.
• At the fundamental level, becoming a Christian is a simple step of humbly admitting your need for a savior, Jesus Christ.
• But that’s just the start of the journey and the rest of the Christian life.
• Growth, maturity, discipleship, living like Christ etc., takes time and a continual willingness to be stretched and learn new things.

In that sense, the Christian life is complicated and different for all of us.
• V. 3-5 …”that your faith may not rest in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.”
• Saving faith is produced by the heart-changing power of the Holy Spirit.
• The Christian life is beyond the wisdom of men. How someone grows deeper in their faith is a mysterious process that God engineers.
• V. 6-7, “secret and hidden wisdom of God, which God decreed before the ages for our glory.”
• The wisdom of God is centered in Christ and includes all of God’s plans for man’s salvation from before the foundation of this world.
• IOW, God knows what he’s doing as has known since before our world was even created.
• Even when Jesus walked the earth, the foolishness of men was evident. Most people didn’t understand who he was or what his mission was. V. 8
• V. 9 We can’t comprehend it
• God’s spirit bridges the gap between the deep things of God and the human heart, graciously enabling human beings to understand the message of the cross, which would otherwise be incomprehensible.
• V. 11 Only the spirit of God knows our thoughts, how we are progressing in our faith etc.
• Eph. 3:1-6

I think it’s tempting for us to want to put things in steps, stages or order.
• 5 steps to relationship happiness, 4 easy steps to shooting free throws, 7 steps to financial freedom, all the “Dummy” manuals…
• So, naturally it also seems like if we follow the logical steps in our spiritual life we can achieve maturity, humility, patience, the fruits of the spirit etc.
• It’s just not the same process for everyone.
• Christian faith “created in a lab” is a manageable faith rather than a scary and uncertain faith. Where there is no mystery, there is no reverence.
• Our Christian faith is constantly growing and changing.
• The Bible tells us to “continue to work out our salvation with fear and trembling.” Philippians 2:12-13
• We can’t be content with things we already learned but need to continue to demonstrate our faith day by day as we nurture our relationship with God.
• We know that we are incapable of saving ourselves so if there are definite steps that every Christian must take to accomplish spiritual goals, then we’ve reverted to a performance based religion that negates faith, grace and the hand of God.

Basically we want to be careful when we start thinking that we’ve matured enough or “already heard that Bible story a hundred times.”
• God will grow and change us throughout our lives if we are open to his leading.
• For me, just when I think I’ve got my faith nailed down and it all “makes sense”…that’s usually when I’m about to learn something new.
• Our coming to Christ and subsequent growth from there can’t be reduced to simple steps or stages. It is a complex process, beyond sorting.
• Now this doesn’t mean we study the Bible less, it actually means we need to study the Bible more.
• The more we study God’s word, the more we can learn as we come to it with a fresh perspective at different times in our lives.
• Instead of trying to manage our Christian lives, we need ask for God’s guidance as we observe and discover what emerges, then respond accordingly.
• Through this process we can be confident that God is always in control so that even unexpected and painful events somehow fit into God’s great design.
• Most often the unplanned events are the most crucial life-changing moments in our journey.
• “When God doesn’t make sense.” Book
• “In our Christian faith we need to look for mystery, beauty, passion, love and God. Not a totally comprehensible god, dissected into miniscule doctrines and from whom all mystery has been drained, but the unpredictable and consuming fire of a God whose presence engulfed Abraham in dread and made Moses tremble.” Chuck Smith Jr.

Conclusion:
• Trying to simplify our faith is like trying nail jello…
• We need to approach the bible to see what it actually says, not to find the key chain of life’s secrets to wealth, happiness and piety.
• We also need to realize the danger of twisting scripture to support a philosophy, theory or practice that contradicts the overall message of the Bible.
• Let’s let God steer the boat as he takes us on this unpredictable journey called the Christian life.
• the armor of God….Eph. 6:18-20

Frequently avoided questions of the Christian faith, "Do we need to sell God?"

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Frequently avoided questions of the Christian faith “Do we need to sell God?” Romans 12:9-21

Intro….”Power team” and other gimmicks to get people into church
• An Arkansas church builds a new children’s sanctuary complete with a baptistry that resembles a fire engine that shoots confetti at the audience.
• A Brazilian church starts a new men’s club: a fight club in the basement.
• A denominational leader rides into a seminary chapel in a Hummer, dressed as General Patton, with blank-firing machine guns blazing.
• Dove World Outreach Center, a church with a name that could not sound like more of a scam if it tried, is hosting the first ever “International Burn a Koran Day,” which again succeeds in making almost every other group of people, except cannibals seem more reasonable.

Text: Romans 12: 9-18
Big Pic: In contrast to “selling God” if we have the true marks of a Christian, the Christian faith will sell itself.

When it comes to sharing our faith, some Christians struggle with questions like:
• Am I supposed to evangelize every single person I come in contact with?
• Is evangelism most effective through the spoken word or through large events?
• Am I always supposed to be on an agenda to convert all my friends?
• Does the church need to try and be the “coolest thing in town”
• in order for people to come?
• Were the disciples saved when Jesus said “follow me” or was it a journey that they took with Jesus which ended in salvation?

Let’s take a look at some of the marks of a true Christian.
Genuine love, Abhor what is evil, hold fast to what is good., Brotherly affection, Honor each other, Serve the Lord with zeal. Be thankful for the hope God gives us each day, Patient during tribulation, Constant in prayer, Hospitality, Bless those who persecute you, Rejoice with those who rejoice, Weep with those who weep, Live in harmony, Not too full of pride/helping the lowly, never wise in your own sight, Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone, If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.
• Examples of how we do this?

This is such an amazing list, just reading through it, it is obvious that these are the marks of a true Christian.
• This is a description of a life that pleases God.
• What’s at the top of the list? Love
• And what I’m saying today is that if we live like this, we’ll never have to “sell God” or the church.
• If we are living like this every day of our lives, especially when we are around people who are not Christians, then the Christian faith will sell itself.
• That doesn’t mean we don’t participate in outreach events…I’ve asked you all to distribute these flyers, we’ll get a press release in the Coast News, we did the Skip Frye/Jay Adams deal back in November… we’ll do beach services this summer….
• I’ve tried lots of creative things over the years, but I do my best as a leader in the church not to go overboard.
• Yet, when people do actually come to church it’s important that they hear the truth, the gospel, the Bible, the words of God.
• Reader article…”vague spirituality” …which is worse!

When it comes to conversations with people about Christianity, we may be better off if we became skilled listeners, creating an atmosphere of dialogue.
• Yes it’s important to know what our faith is about, 1 Peter 3:13-17
• The average Christian lives, works, learns and plays among more non-believers than will be effected by church services.
• Evangelism is about so much more than just delivering a message. Conversation, dialog, interaction and listening as just as important as having a memorized speech about your faith.
• It’s not always our job to “close the deal” when it comes to sharing our faith. If it was, we’d be hucksters or telemarketers for Jesus.
• Movie, “Leap of faith.”
• As Christians we don’t need to live under a cloud of guilt if we don’t take every single opportunity to force the topic of salvation into every conversation and encounter with family, friends, coworkers, fellow students and strangers.
• As Matt. 22:36-39 reminds us, we need to “Love the Lord our God with all our heart, strength and mind, and to love our neighbor as ourselves.”
• It’s actually not our job to convert anyone. God does it, and we are blessed to be a part of that process.
• Let’s get a new image of evangelism in our minds. Instead of “mass evangelism” only, it’s more about “you.”
• If we are not transformed into the kind of people who reflect Jesus, then what is the point in talking other people into becoming Christians?

Paul goes on to say in Romans 12:19-21
• Revenge or vengeance is not our job…
• On the contrary: “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink.
• This goes way beyond just caring for the poor and needy…
• In doing this, you will “heap burning coals on his head.”
• (This is a quote from Prov. 25:21-22 and is likely an image for leading someone to repentance, suggesting that they will feel inward burning pangs of guilt for doing wrong.
• However, in the OT, “burning coals” represented punishment. Christians are to do good to wrong doers, leaving their punishment up to God…12:19
• V. 21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
• Again, the marks of a Christian…

Conclusion:
• What come to mind when you hear the word Ambassador?
• A diplomatic agent of the highest rank accredited to a foreign government/country as the resident representative of his or her own government/country.
• As Christians, that’s what we are here on earth…
• Some new Christians and even mature Christians just don’t want to ever tell others about Jesus. “It doesn’t fit my personality.”
• Promising to tell others about Jesus is not a requirement for being a Christian, but when we choose to accept Jesus, we become ambassadors for Christ.
• 2 Cor. 5:20, “We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors…”
• When God is doing great things in your life, it’s hard not to share it with others.
• Since we have been reconciled to God through Jesus, we now have the “ministry of reconciliation” according to 2 Cor. 5:18, “All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation…”
• Since we are His ambassadors, it is our job to represent Christ well.





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Why the Bible?

(to listen to a podcast of this sermon, please visit www.pacificviewbaptist.com and click on "sermons" from the menu on the left.)



Frequently avoided questions of the Christian faith
“Why the Bible?” 2 Timothy 3:14-17

Intro…The “bible” for tennis etc…
Big Pic: When we live the Bible instead of just speak the Bible, people will be able to see the transforming, life-changing power of this God inspired book.
• New Series based on the book, "Frequently avoide questions"

Text: 2 Timothy 3:14-17

The theme of chapter 3 in 2 Timothy is “Godlessness in the last days.”
• One of the things that makes people Godless is having no moral base to work from. vs. 1-5
• Paul addresses these problems with advice to follow his example,
v. 10-11
• Knowing, believing and living the Bible solves that problem.

Now, that all makes sense to those of us who are Christians and have read and studied the Bible for years.
• However, there are some people who have questions like:
• “What makes the Bible better than the Koran, the book of Mormon or “Conversations with God?” “You mean you actually believe the Bible?” “Do I have to read the whole thing…what is the really important stuff?” “What good does it do me to read the Bible?” “Wasn’t it just written by a bunch of men with a limited world view?”

From about 320 AD until the 17th and 18th centuries, the Bible was THE sacred book for the Western world.
• After the enlightenment, ( a philosophical movement of the 18th century, characterized by belief in the power of human reason and by innovations in political, religious, and educational doctrine.) the Bible still continued to influence culture, language, thought etc. throughout Europe and the New World.
• Here in America, among the founding fathers there were many aristocrats who rejected the deity of Jesus and denied the God-inspired Bible, yet continued to use Biblical language and images.
• Early on in the history of our nation, the Bible carried the weight of absolute authority.
• Most public communication in the original 13 colonies, written or spoken was influenced by the King James Bible.
• Over time there developed a more liberal view of the Bible and a more conservative view.
• There is actually some danger is both views of scripture.
• Liberals tend to dismiss some of the larger miracles and core doctrines of the faith.
• Conservatives sometimes go to the Bible as if it were an encyclopedia of religious and secular knowledge.
• They have a topic in mind, find a verse or verses that in some way refer to the topic and congratulate themselves on finding the truth. “God has spoken.”

I’ve said it before, but the Bible does not have an answer to every specific issue in life. (sex outside of marriage…Heb. 13:4, 1 Thessalonians 4, 1 Corinthians 6:18-20)
• The Bible is one large book consisting of stories, laws, poems, prophetic warnings, letters to churches etc.
• The Bible tells the overarching story of God, the plight of mankind and our divine redemption secured through Jesus and revealed to his people.
• We also need to remember that every verse in the Bible is embedded in a context that affects it’s meaning within that chapter, book, Old or New Testament and finally the entire Bible.
• The Bible is the word of God, but we shouldn’t use it as a club to win arguments (beating someone over the head with a Bible).
• The Bible may be “logical” to those of us studied it for years, but to the average non-Bible believing person, telling them the Bible “makes sense” doesn’t always work.
• Anyone can search the internet and find endless arguments against the Bible. Or people may just dismiss logic with a shrug of the shoulders.
• We live in a world of chaos and our worldview doesn’t always make sense, at least not to us humans.
• I believe we need to allow room for mystery and wonder as we study the sacred texts of the Bible…and to admit that sometimes it doesn’t “make sense.”

The Bible is alive and powerful!
• We need to approach the Bible with a sense of wonder, expecting to hear from God, wanting to hear truth and have our lives transformed.
• As we learn to properly interpret the Bible, we will be able to discover its depth, beauty and power.

Yet we can’t equate spiritual maturity only with Biblical knowledge.
• The critical issue is what effect the Bible produces in the lives of those who read it.
• Since there is more to the Bible that what is found in other holy texts, the proof will be in the loving lifestyle of people who travel the world demonstrating the kindness and integrity of Jesus.
• The Bible is God’s word to us today, but it’s also one grand story of God’s redemption of the human race.
• We are part of that story, ideally we should be living the bible.
• Our lives should show why we choose the Bible over other holy books, rather than just telling people or resorting to religious language.
• The Bible is the word of God and it does offer hope and salvation.

So, if you get to the point where you are ready to view the Bible as the inspired word of God that has real meaning for your life today, then Paul’s advice in vs. 14-17 will help.
• Continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed…that’s called studying the Bible.
• As you read and study, God works in and through you, making you wise for salvation through faith in Jesus Christ.

But here is the key: (v. 16)
“God breathed”, or “breathed out by God”
• At the time Paul wrote this these words applied to the OT and some of the NT writings.
• “God-breathed” comes from the Greek word: theopneustos. It’s the first time this word is used.
• This term emphasizes the divine origin and authority of the Bible.
• God worked through the authors of the Bible to make the scriptures inspired. These are words spoken by God.
• All of scripture is profitable in a variety of ways, ultimately leading to righteousness.

• Useful or profitable for teaching, reproof, correction and training in righteousness. What a great place to be!
• Then we are competent and equipped for every good work…which is the balance to having only head knowledge.

Remember, the Bible takes place in the real world, our world, the world of our experience.
• Into this world order, justice and mercy must be imposed because those things are not here inherently.
• Our world needs to be fixed, rescued and redeemed.

The people in the Bible, like us, are sinful and broken and need to be rescued and redeemed.
• The Bible is an “R” rated book with people we can relate to.

The common theme throughout the Bible is God’s salvation of mankind.
• Unlike other sacred texts, the Biblical story includes a Redeemer/savior who, even though he is transcendent, steps into the human story, embraces it as his own and loves us to the point of self-sacrifice.

Conclusion:
A great response to someone who questions the validity of the Bible is: “What have you heard about the Bible?” “What would make you want to read it?” “What is your most pressing spiritual concern?”
• When the story of our lives is defined by the story of the Bible, people will see the power of the Word.
• When we as Christians live lives that are loving, generous, hospitable, and compassionate… and when we speak the truth in love, the Bible becomes a real, believable book.

(to listen to a podcast of this sermon, please visit www.pacificviewbaptist.com and click on "sermons" from the menu on the left.)

Service in the church, 2011

Intro… In the SuperBowl...it’s all about teamwork...

Big Picture: Today I am concluding our series, “Foundations of the faith.” I’m going to talk about being a servant, especially to our committed attenders, members and everyone who considers this their home church.

I’d like you to view our church in three ways today:
• 1. As a team where every member is vital.
• 2. As a body where all parts work together and need each other.
• 3. As a family where we all pitch in to get the job done.

Text: 1 Cor. 12:14-20

Our church as a team.
• Joshua 6:1-6 what a great story of teamwork
• God had a plan from the beginning. (vs. 2), same with this church.
• God set up leaders to guide the people in the defeat of this city. (vs. 4) We’ve got leaders in this church that head up our teams.
• They marched with the Ark of the Covenant as a constant reminder of God’s presence. (vs. 6)
• This was literally God’s presence.
• When you get on the team, it’s important to remember why we are doing all this...to the glory of God.
• It was a concerted effort. They had to work together to pull this off. (vs. 16, 20-21).
It’s the same way every week here. We need all the team members here each week to offer this service to the community.
• Just like they experienced a great victory (vs. 20-21) we do also. Every week just having church and being here gives people an opportunity to give their hearts and lives to Jesus. And when that happens, the wall of pride and selfishness comes down!
• It’s called teamwork. When we all work hard to have a great Sunday morning each week...what a great feeling to be part of that.

Our church as a body. (“Ok, I recognize some needs, but does the church really need me?”)
• Can you function without an arm? An ear? An eye? A foot?
• Yes, but it forces all the other parts to work extra hard to compensate. (Zach’s toe surgery. He was fine until the sedatives wore off, then he rest of his body reacted to the wounded area.)
• 1 Cor. 12:12. This is the church body.
Vs. 21-22 It’s obvious, we need each other!
Vs. 27-31 lists the different gifts God gives us. Now, these are specifically spiritual gifts listed here, but the principle is the same. Discover what you like to do and then do it.

You may not have specific “gifts” when it comes to our Sunday morning teams, but
what we really need is just a willingness to serve.
• Once a month!
• Rotate and substitute when needed!
• Specific needs: pass out the flyers…

Our church as a family. Mark 10:35-45
• Check out the selfish motives of James and John in vs. 35 & 37…
• Imagine if our kids came to us with this request...I know how I’d react…”What did you just say?”
• Jesus is so full of grace in this story. Look at his response in vs. 38.
• “Drink the cup” refers to the cup of suffering.
• Next Jesus deals directly with pride. These rulers were full of pride in their high positions of authority
• “Not so with you.” says Jesus. (Everyone else may be acting this way…)
• “Not so with you.” (may be the key phrase of our Christian life…)
• Instead…(vs. 43-45) even Jesus did not come to be served...that’s HUGE!
• Jesus came to serve and wash the disciples feet.
• By serving others we are following the example of Jesus.

(Back to the family analogy)...What were some of the chores or responsibilities you had growing up?…And were you expected to do them? Why would our parents require this of us? It’s called helping out…
• It’s actually selfish for you to come here on a regular basis and only take.
• Again, if you are a regular attender here and not doing anything on Sunday mornings to help out, check your motives.
• The call to greatness comes through service.

Frank Grubbs, World Vision

An out-of-towner drove his car into a ditch in a desolated area. Luckily, a local farmer came to help with his big strong horse, named Buddy. He hitched Buddy up to the car and yelled, "Pull, Nellie, pull!" Buddy didn't move.
Then the farmer hollered, "Pull, Buster, pull!" Buddy didn't respond.
Once more the farmer commanded, "Pull, Coco, pull!"
Nothing.
Then the farmer nonchalantly said, "Pull, Buddy, pull!" And the horse easily dragged the car out of the ditch.
The motorist was most appreciative and very curious. He asked the farmer why he called his horse by the wrong name three times. The farmer said, "Oh, Buddy is blind and if he thought he was the only one pulling, he wouldn't even try."

Foundations of the faith, giving back to God

(to listen to a podcast of this sermon, please visit www.pacificviewbaptist.com and click on "sermons" from the menu on the left.)

Giving back to God
Mark 12:41-44, 2 Corinthians 8:2-7, Malachi 3:7-12


Intro… A Monk giving everything to God…a bit extreme…that’s not going to be most of us…

Text: Mark 12:41-44

First of all, I think it’s important that we all think about the title of today’s sermon...giving back to God.
• We give out of gratitude, gratefulness, acknowledging that God allows us to even have anything in the first place.
• Think about when someone does something incredible generous for you. Most of us want to give something back. “That was so kind, what can I ever do to pay you back?”

The money we give to God should come right off the top, the first check we write after getting paid.
• Why? God deserves our best, not the leftovers. I know that’s a huge step of faith, but that’s when God can really show you some crazy stuff.
• Proverbs 3:9-10
• Don’t just tithe when you’re rolling in dough….Mark 12:41b
• “I can tithe now, I’m covered, here’s a little for you God.” God wants/deserves our best.

Give with a cheerful heart, right attitude.
• How many of you have ever volunteered for something? If you show up with a bad attitude, it’s no fun for anyone.
• How could God be pleased if you are giving spitefully?
• 2 Cor. 9:7-8

Support your local church.
• “Think globally, act locally.”
• Pacific View is part of something bigger than ourselves. We support missionaries and our denomination is HUGE!

How much to give?
• Lev. 27:30 “Tithe” literally means 10%.
• 10%...a good place to start, but be careful!
• If you’re too concerned about the “gross/net” thing, then you are already heading in the wrong direction.

Does anyone want to share today on how God has blessed you because of tithing?
• God has all of us here today for a purpose…
• BTW, today’s message is really for our regulars...

God wants all of us, not just our money.
• Besides your money, what else can you give to God?
• 2 Corinthians 8:1-7

Still doubting? Check out Malachi 3:7-12
• Yes, God is asking you to actually test him in this area. Makes no sense, but go ahead and start tithing on what little you may have now.
• We have a tendency to be so tight with all our stuff...especially our money.
• In Matthew, Mark, and Luke 1 out of every 6 verses deals with money. Of the 29 parables Christ told, 16 deal with a person and his money.

Conclusion:
• An employee in the bill-collection dept. of a large store gives us important insight into the human nature:
• An oft repeated response from people who are delinquent in paying their bills: “I know you must have others who owe a lot more than I do. Stop bugging me!”
• Problem is, these people are missing the point entirely. Yes, there are others who owe more, however, what they owe isn’t the issue. Our records show that YOUR account is overdue!
• When it come to money issues, our tendency is to shift attention from ourselves by pointing the finger at others.
• “Yeah, well, I might not be tithing, but I’m sure everyone else is, and the church seems to be doing OK, they never have to beg and plead for money…”
• Thank God, we are doing fine in finance dept. year after year...but that’s only because people have taken it upon themselves to make sure they are tithing.
• Or you could be saying, “Hey at least I’m giving something and it’s better than those “pagans” who don’t go to church and never give anything.
• Well, guess what, the “pagans” are pointing at us and figure we’re just hypocrites anyways, cause they see us mess up…
• God isn’t fooled by any of us finger pointers. He’s seeing right into our hearts and minds.

God doesn’t need our money, just our heart, because God doesn’t operate on a money scale anyways.
• And once he has our hearts, we won’t have a problem giving back to him.

“The sooner we realize that no one owes more to God than we do, the more likely we are to receive his free forgiveness. He extends pardon only to those who humbly acknowledge that they are hopelessly in debt.

Remember today’s sermon title...Giving back to God.
• Psalm 50:7-12 He owns everything…
• I know this is a huge area of faith for all of us. I want God’s best for you and this is an important step in the right direction.

Feedback?
Any tithing/blessing stories?

Foundations of the faith, personal time with God.

(to listen to a podcast of this sermon, please visit www.pacificviewbaptist.com and click on "sermons" from the menu on the left.)

Foundations of the faith, personal time with God.
(Bible reading and prayer) Psalm 119:97-112

Intro… My dad and I getting very lost in the rainy woods…hot tomato soup when we got home.
• It could’ve all been prevented had we taken a compass reading from the start.
• Setting the moral compass…

Big Pic: In this world of craziness, we need personal time with God.
• This is a time to listen to God through the reading of his word and talk to God through prayer.

Text: Psalm 119:97-105

• How many of you have heard the phrase “quiet time?” It’s actually a good name…I want to talk to you this morning about being still and quiet before God
• Psalm 46:10 "Be still and know that I am God."

Good communication involves two things, what are they?
• Talking and listening.
• We usually have no problem talking to God.
• We need to learn how to listen to him better.
• One of the ways that happens best is through time in the Bible.

A few things consistent time in the bible will do for you:
V. 97 Teaches you to love the laws of God.
• “Love your law” It takes time to get to that place, but it’s key.
• As you mature in your faith, you learn that God’s laws are for our good, our protection.

v. 98-100 & 104a Makes you wiser/gain understanding.
• Talking the other day with a friend about college costs/our kids careers etc...that’ll all come later, but for now…
• Nothing thrills me more than to see my children developing a love for God. (Elijah’s quote, “New years resolution, read a book of the bible.)
• 3 John 4 We all need a child’s eagerness for the Bible.


v. 101-102, 104b & 110 Teaches you to hate what is wrong.
• May sound harsh, but that’s actually what happens.
• As someone matures in their faith, it’s great to hear them say, “You know I don’t even have a desire to do ____________ anymore.”

v. 103 Gives you a taste of the sweet things.
• Learn to crave the meat of the word and not just the milk…
1 Cor. 3:1-3, Heb. 5:11-14
• We’re all excited about Mo and Arielle’s baby…Babies are cute and all… but we need to grow past that stage.

v. 105 Guides and directs your life.
• The bible is our roadmap/direction for life.
• I can’t tell you that the bible addresses every single issue we face, but the more time you spend in God’s word, the more wisdom you’ll have when it come to making decisions that are not “black and white” spelled out directly in the bible.
• ...living together/sex before getting married… ”But the bible doesn’t say…” Yeah, but you should know better.

“The bible does not expressly condemn many things, including racial discrimination against certain races, killing abortion doctors as a means of fighting abortion, or smoking crack, yet few people would argue that these acts are morally justified.”
• When it comes to these “unspoken” issues in the Bible, we all need to pray about them and search the scriptures.
• If you do make a change, it needs to be because God is telling you to do this, not me.
• THAT’S THE KEY! Time in the word will do that for you. We need to hear from God!

v. 107-108 Gives us perspective when suffering.
• We’ll learn to praise God through it all.
• We all know that suffering is a part of life and that it’s going to happen.
• We need to seek God’s perspective when it does.

v. 109 Keeps us focused when we continually try to make a go of it on our own.
• We need to be able to get to the point where we can say, “I’ve prayed about it, read the scriptures etc. and Lord it’s in your hands from here. “
• Prayer Always pray about everything and trust God for the outcome. Don’t be surprised is God changes you through your time of prayer…
• Ideally you have the time to spend with God in the morning before things get crazy. A nice peaceful hour with God, no interruptions...right parents?
• Or maybe it’s more chaotic...
• Somehow, somewhere, we need to carve out quiet space for God. Your personal time with God may come in shorts bursts, or later in the day.
• There will be times when it’s long and uninterrupted and time where you have to squeeze it in. Yes, you want to give God your day from the start, but don’t forget to check in with him throughout the day.

v. 111 Gives you a rich heritage and joy in your heart.
• That’s something that only God can give you, real, lasting joy.
• Not only personal time with God, but also setting the example to your families, dad and mom….family prayer time, devotions, etc.

v. 112 Gives you a heart after God.
• God only wants our hearts...fully devoted to him. Once that happens, the choices we make will be obvious.
GOSPEL

Where, how to start?
• Get a translation you can understand. Take a free bible here...
• Psalms and Proverbs…NT
• Read entire books, follow the story, resist the temptation to “salad bar” your theology…
• Start small, 5-10 min. a day before you venture in to a BSF or Beth Moore study.
• Why not embark on your own quest to read through the bible this year?

Conclusion:
Ever wonder what would happen if we treated our Bible like we
treat our cell phone?
What if we carried it around in our purses or pockets?
What if we flipped through it several times a day?
What if we turned back to go get it if we forgot it?
What if we used it to receive messages from the text?
What if we treated it like we couldn't live without it?
What if we gave it to Kids as gifts?
What if we used it when we traveled?
What if we used it in case of emergency?
This is something to make you go....hmm...where is my Bible?
Oh, and one more thing.
Unlike our cell phone, we don't have to worry about our Bible being
disconnected because Jesus already paid the bill.
Makes you stop and think 'where are my priorities? And no dropped calls!


Discussion/questions/thoughts etc.