Sermon Leftovers

I'm still dragging a bit this morning as I cajole my body to join me back in the Eastern time zone. Marianne and I had a great time visiting with Liam this past weekend in Washington. A few days before our trip, we discovered we could change our flight and arrive in Seattle 12 hours earlier than our original flight. Excitedly, we began to make plans for our extra time in the Emerald City. More time meant more Seattle . More Pike Place Market More Coffee More Smoked Salmon More Views of the Puget Sound More Street Walking and Looking for Cool Shops More Time Together! In Philippians 1:21, Paul says that more time on earth meant more Jesus . I've always considered this verse to be a comforting verse, reminding us that death is not the end and is not to be feared as it is the pathway we take into eternity. As I read the familiar words this morning, the first half of the verse grabbed me. "For me to live is Christ." More Jesus means more time together with Him

1. Jesus came to earth to refresh people. 2. Jesus refreshes people by providing relief. 3. Jesus refreshes people by providing a new life. 4. People who have been refreshed by Jesus, seek opportunities to refresh others. 5. Jesus' disciples were so focused on physical needs and desires, they couldn't understand Jesus' deeper spiritual teaching. 6. When a farmer plants a seed, the harvest must wait. When God plants a seed, the harvest is immediate. 7. Jesus commissioned His followers to do for people what He was already doing for people. 8. Jesus desires His followers to refresh people by providing relief. 9. Jesus desires His followers to refresh people by pointing them to new life. 10. Jesus desires His followers to refresh the people they know, the people who are like them, the people who are not like them, and everyone else in the world.

PHILIPPIANS 1:6 --  And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ. I just dumped two pounds of meat and several other ingredients into a crockpot and set the timer for 9 hours. Once the meal is COMPLETED, we are going to enjoy a delicious dinner. This afternoon, the house will fill with the smell of our impending feast, and we may be tempted to sample the food early. However, we'll remind ourselves that it might smell good now, but it isn't ready. Give it time, and it will be even better. As I stirred all the contents in the crockpot this morning, I had no desire to eat any of the ingredients. On their own, before being cooked, they are not appetizing and they are not safe to eat. Time, heat, and pressure will form them into the perfect meal for tonight. God does the exact same thing with us. He puts us in the crockpot (or pressure cooker sometimes), and uses time, heat, and pressure to COMPLETE His w

“I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. (JOHN 15:1-5) The thing (or person) to which you are most connected is the thing (or person) from which you draw your life. The source from which you draw your life will either nurture you or poison you. A good source provides healthy life. An evil source provides certain death. Possible sources of life: Friends, family members, significant other, teacher, social media, Netflix (and other streaming sources), music, employment, hobbies, etc… Only

A few times each week I send out a short devotional email from my own study. We just finished up a short look at some "Bible Lists". Now I'm jumping into Philippians. If you would like to receive the email, you can sign up at this link: http://bit.ly/SermonLeftovers The character traits of God which we most love and appreciate are often the same ones we are most slow to emulate. I'm talking about GRACE and PEACE. Most of Paul's letters begin with him sending "Grace and peace" to the recipients. I think this is because Paul most associated these concepts with the person and work of God. At the same time, these two inter-related gifts should be traits which we embrace and pursue in our own lives. This morning, I've been mulling over the many ways grace and peace are made manifest by God as well as by God's people. 1. God extends GRACE to us while we are still sinners. 2. God made PEACE between us by sending Jesus to pay the price for ou