Monday, June 21, 2021

Theism vs. Deism










And God spoke all these words: 
    2 “I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery. 
    3 “You shall have no other gods before me. Exodus 20:1–3

What a powerful statement about God in verse 2. We read a statement about who God is: “I am the Lord.” 

If you turn back to Exodus 3 we read an account about God meeting with Moses in the desert. Moses is out tending some sheep in the desert. He sees a bush on fire but the fire doesn’t consume it. It proves to me that men of all ages love fire. Moses approaches the bush and out of the bush God speaks. He instructs Moses to free His people from captivity. He speaks about His power (Exodus 3:14). 

The words, ‘I am’ are packed with meaning. God is the creator, sustainer, provider, and director of life. God made the universe and is control of all things. This is a stark contrast to how life in Egypt was for God’s people. At that time Egypt was the world super-power. The Pharaoh was viewed as a god (think little g). He was seen as being the most powerful being. 

But then God comes along and says, “Let me show you power!” You don’t have to grow up in the church to know about the ten plagues in Egypt or the parting of the Red Sea. That is God displaying His power, the proof that He is the great I am! If you don’t have somewhere that you’re reading in your Bible right now, I invite you to read Exodus 1-15 this week. I think it will really help all of us understand the Ten Commandments more fully. 

God is not only powerful but He is personal. Listen to what he says again, “I am the Lord your God.” 

Underline that word ‘your.’ God is personal. He is for us. God loves us. He is my God. He is our God. 

Let’s have a quick theology lesson. There is a point in Theology we call: Theism. The short definition is that- God is a personal and loving God. It means that God is closer than we think. Psalm 34:18 teaches us that God is close to the broken-hearted. He is personal and loving. God knows our struggles and doesn’t leave us when times are tough. God is so personal and loving that He came to live among us (John 1:14). God is near to us today. God is in the place, anything can happen. 

On the other side. Some people think that God created the earth and walked away. They teach that God made mankind, gave us the breath of life, but has forgotten about us. It’s called Deism- God is impersonal creator God. The term was used chiefly in the intellectual movement of the 17th and 18th centuries. This came about because people thought God created the universe but they wanted to reject that God would interact and engage with His people. People felt abandoned by God and used this as a way to justify their feelings. 

One of the core values of the church I lead is: We put God first. 

We put God first because we believe He is a personal and loving God. We believe that He intercedes on behalf of His people. We think He loves us, cares for us, and likes us. 

If God had a fridge, your picture would be on it. If you would be so willing to read the Ten Commandments, I want you to notice that the first four commandments focus on our vertical relationship with God. The next six primarily deal with our horizontal relationship with others. 

We live in a time when people want to remove the first four commandments and keep the last six. We want people to be punished for adultery and murder but want remove the author of the commands. We can’t cut the author out of the book and maintain the integrity of the message. We choose put God first because He is personal and powerful. 

Monday, June 14, 2021

Focus | Small Group Questions




This last year served as a magnifying glass in so many areas. Think about your life and how it changed. Some people who’ve been thinking about moving to another state are gone! People started to think more about the time God had given them and how they were spending it. Marriages were either strengthened or broken. People with financial issues either rose to solve those or cracked under the pressure. Life changed happened for millions of people for the better. Let me share the thesis statement for this sermon: I’m convinced that if you show me your calendar, the apps on your phone, and your bank statement I can tell you what is important to you. It seemed like a waste to leave these small group questions in a file on my computer and not share them with everyone.

Small Group Questions | Stepping out of the blur | Matthew 6:19-24

Looking back, the last year helped many people to re-evaluate the focus of their life. This last year served as a magnifying glass in so many areas. In some areas it was also an accelerant for things already taking place in our lives. Think about your life and how it changed in certain areas. The last year helped many to really evaluate the focus of their lives. In some cases, relationships were restored, finances were taken under control and time management improved. In other cases it was just the opposite. Neal made this statement: I’m convinced that if you show me your calendar, the apps on your phone, and your bank statement I can tell you what is important to you. Let’s study these questions together and learn about our focus. 

1) This last year served as a magnifying glass in so many areas. Think about your life and how it changed. Share one area of your life that changed for the better because the pandemic required you to slow down and adjust your focus. 

2) Read Ecclesiastes 3:1-8. Solomon shares a variety of ways that we spend our time here on earth. Looking at this list, what is one area you need to focus your time on right now? Read Matthew 5:23-24 to talk about rebuilding relationships. 

3) Solomon teaches us about eternity and the beauty in life (read Ecclesiastes 3:9-14). How will you use your time to best honor God in this world? Think about how you can adjust your schedule to focus on spiritual growth. 

4) Read Leviticus 11:45 and 1 Peter 1:16. God instructs us to be holy because He is holy. What is a good definition of holiness? Think about how you can use the apps in your life to live a holy life.  

5) Read Joel 2:12, Proverbs 3:5-6, and Galatians 5:19-23. Open your phone and check your screen time. Go around the group and share how much you’ve been on your phone today and this week. Does your screen time honor the Lord?

6) In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus taught us about our relationship to money (read Matthew 6:19-24). We have to ask ourselves this question: Do I value my bank account more than God? How are you doing at loving God more than money? 

7) Our relationship to money is an important relationship to keep an eye on. How has this sermon, and these questions, helped you to think about money in a new light? Take some time to review your spending and see where your money is going.  

Close your time in prayer

Saturday, June 12, 2021

Philippians Prayer Prompts




Last week our staff prayer was led by Becky Shipe. She brought this for our team to pray through as we just had finished preaching the book of Philippians so this was a creative idea. I'm grateful for Becky letting me post this on here because it was an engaging prayer time for our staff. 

STAFF PRAYER | PHILIPPIANS PRAYER PROMPTS

1. Philippians 3:1 – “Rejoice in the Lord!”
Tell God how good He is and how much you love Him. Take time to rejoice in who God is, what He’s done for us, and what He is presently doing in our life, our ministry, and at Coastline.

2. Philippians 1:4-5 – “I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel…”
Pray with joy for our partners in ministry: those on our ministry teams, our outreach partners, other churches in Ventura, Transformation Ministries. 

3. Philippians 1:9-11 – “And this is my prayer…”
Pray specifically for someone you know that
their love would abound more in the knowledge of Christ
they would be able to discern what’s best
they would be pure and blameless
they would be filled with the fruit of righteousness

4. Philippians 4:6 – “...in everything by prayer and petition, present your requests to God.” 
Surrender your anxieties to God and ask Him to intervene in whatever personal or ministry situation you are anxious about. 
Thank Him in advance (and in faith) for how He is going to answer your prayer.

Monday, June 07, 2021

Philippians | Week 8 | Small Group Questions




Coastline Bible Church is doing an eight-week sermon series called: "Defined by Joy." The Apostle Paul helped plant the church in Philippi (see Acts 16) but never forget about them. They played a key role in supporting him as God called him to plant other churches. From this series we want to learn how to have our lives defined by joy and not circumstances. Paul modeled this well to the early church. For this series I volunteered to write the small group questions that go along with each sermon. It seemed like a waste to leave them in a file on my computer and not share them with everyone.

Small Group Questions | The Church God Uses | Philippians 4:10-23

The letter to the church in Philippi has strengthened believers for centuries. It has been a source of encouragement for Godly people living in crooked times. The letter has encouraged the church to find contentment in Christ in all areas of our lives. That means leaving jealousy, covetousness, and greed. It sets a model for us to be generous with our resources and focus on Kingdom advancement. The church in Philippi modeled being generous. As Paul concludes the letter we are drawn back to the introduction about being a people full of grace. Grace is a natural effect of the goodness God has shown to us and what we can show to others. 

1) Neal opened the sermon and talked about how the church has stepped up to help people out in difficult times. Share about how the church has helped you out or how God has used you to help others. 

2) Read Philippians 4:10-13. Paul has learned how to be content in all situations. Read Proverbs 19:23, Luke 3:14, and 1 Timothy 6:6. Are you content in your current life situation? Share the reasons for why or why not you feel how you currently do. 

3) Paul and Joseph learned to be content because their past experiences shaped them (read Genesis 37:26-27, 39:19-23, and 2 Corinthians 2:21-30). How has your past taught you to be content in your current situation? 

4) The church in Philippi shared in Paul’s troubles (read Philippians 4:14). What are practical ways we can share in the troubles with each other? What does it look like to support each other in trouble? (Psalm 68:19, Matthew 11:28-30, Galatians 6:2). 

5) Generosity was a primary characteristic of the church (read Philippians 4:15-20). Do you enjoying giving of your time, talent, and resources to the advancement of the Kingdom? (see Luke 6:38) 

6) Paul understood that God would meet all our needs when we give generously. How can we got about living a generous life while continuing to take care of our personal needs? (see Matthew 6:2-4, 19-24, 17:27, and Mark 12:41-44) 

7) Read Philippians 4:20-23. The last year has made some people hesitant to greet others. How can we excel at being a church body who knows each other while maintaining respect for everyone’s personal space needs? 

Close your time in prayer by praying for: The Martinez Family in San Francisco. 

Thursday, June 03, 2021

Philippians | Week 7 | Small Group Questions




Coastline Bible Church is doing an eight-week sermon series called: "Defined by Joy." The Apostle Paul helped plant the church in Philippi (see Acts 16) but never forget about them. They played a key role in supporting him as God called him to plant other churches. From this series we want to learn how to have our lives defined by joy and not circumstances. Paul modeled this well to the early church. For this sermon Joey Ross preached and wrote the questions below. It seemed like a waste to leave them in a file on my computer and not share them with everyone.

Small Group Questions | Peace in an Age of Rage and Anxiety | Philippians 4:1-9

Paul begins to close his letter to the Philippians with some very practical exhortations. He encourages them those who are at odds to iron out their difference and make up and encourages those may be fretting and worried (anxious) to give up their anxiety. Both of these calls to live at peace with others and to have inner peace are rooted in one things. Taking an unchanging grip on the unchanging life of Jesus Christ within us. It is only in his presence that true peace is made possible. Discuss in your group the following questions, in order that we might encourage one another to be peacemakers and non anxious presence in culture defined by rage and anxiety.

1) Read Philippians 4:1, Paul says in light of everything that he has said in the book of Philippians that he wants the best for us and the best for us is to hold tight/ stand firm in the Lord.  When has it been difficult for you to hold on to Jesus? What circumstance tempt you most to let go?

2) Read Philippians 4:2-5 and John 13:35. How does Jesus say others will know we are his disciples?  Do you think Christians are good at loving each other and resolving conflict? Why/ Why not?

3) When talking with the women in conflict in Philippi, he tells them the key to resolving their conflict is to agree in the Lord and to rejoice in the Lord. What do you think it means to agree in the Lord?  Why is that so important to Paul?

4) Read Philippians 4:6-9. Have you ever experienced severe anxiety or sleepless night?  If you would be so vulnerable would you be willing to share what the source of it was.

5) Read James 1:2-4.  The peace of God is an inner calm found in the presence of God. Similar to joy, peace does not seem to be built on our circumstances. Why do you think that is? Why might it be more important that it is not?

6) Paul encourages us to think, pray w/thanksgiving, and love God as remedies for anxiety.  Giving thanks even when we don’t feel like it can be a powerful exercise in priming the pump and giving us a heart of gratitude. What are you thankful for today? And why is giving God thanks even before he answers our request so important.

7) Close your time in prayer by praying for: Ukrainian Missionaries with International Partnerships