Sunday – February 5, 2012

Posted on by
Reply

February 5, 2012 – Read the Word on Worship

Cruise Ship or Battleship? from Sunrise Community Church on Vimeo.

Have you ever noticed many churches seem to base their model of how to “do church” on the cruise ship model? “Visit us and try our five different restaurants, 30 different stores, and we will put a folded towel rabbit on your seat before you arrive….” But has anybody considered if the cruise ship model was ever the biblical model for how church is to be done? Or does God’s plan for His church require more of a battleship model? Join us Sunday as we enter 2nd Thessalonians chapter 1 and consider the biblical model outlined by Paul for doing church right as we consider “Cruise Ship or Battleship?”

Word On Worship – February 5, 2012          Download / Print

2 Thessalonians 1:4-5
“Therefore, among God’s churches we boast about your perseverance and faith in all the persecutions and trials you are enduring. All this is evidence that God’s judgment is right, and as a result you will be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you are suffering.”

One major theme in our study of 2 Thessalonians will be the subject of eschatology — a fancy seminary word that means “things to come” or as many of us would see it, prophecy. When I came to Christ, eschatology was a huge fascination for me. How God has revealed the last days and how that affects believers was the type of thing that would get me to tune in and show up for the seminar. And then as I matured in my faith and started looking around at other good Bible teachers and the discussion people were engaging in, I was shocked to see that the subject was generally used as a target practice to throw stones at people that had a different biblical view than the one being presented.

But I have to say after my study of 1 and 2 Thessalonians, I have found that almost every topic Paul has addressed is related to the Second Coming of Jesus Christ. He relates persecution of the saints, sanctification and holy living to the return of Jesus Christ. The Second Coming is more than just prophetic speculation. Our study in these letters of Paul has reminded me to keep my eyes looking forward to the return of Christ. The writer of Hebrews speaks of the race that we run, and reminds us that we have many witnesses and we may be witnesses ourselves if the Lord tarries His return, because the finish line is the return of Jesus Christ.

The goal remains the same: being found faithful when Jesus returns. So prophecy and the return of Jesus Christ remains a vital issue in our spiritual lives. Not all the nit picking and petty arguments about minor details and nuance. The return of our Lord is the motivation we need to live holy lives today (1 John 3:3) and the disciple we need to run our race well (1 Corinthians 9:24). We need a prophetic mind set which allows us to evaluate every decision we make today in the light of what Jesus would say to us about our actions as well as our motives upon His return.

My prayer for us as a church is for the Lord to show us how everything we are going through, especially the struggles and hardships of this life, relate to the return of our Savior. Jesus never promised us clear and easy sailing if we decided to follow Him. In fact, He promised His disciples quite the opposite. Opposition and hardship does not mean God has forsaken us, but that He will use the oppression we face to prove His righteousness and confirm our worthiness to be counted as the children of God.

Sunday – January 29, 2012

Posted on by
Reply

January 29, 2012 – Read the Word on Worship

Introduction to 2nd Thessalonians from Sunrise Community Church on Vimeo.

Why write the book of 2nd Thessalonians? Didn’t Paul say everything he had to say to this young church the first time he wrote to them? Paul has much to say to these wonderful believers to encourage them in their faith, help them look forward to the second coming of Jesus Christ and help them and us be on guard in the last days. Join us this Sunday as we begin a new study in the Book of 2nd Thessalonians, Paul’s book about the last days.

Word On Worship – January 29, 2012      Download / Print

2 Thessalonians 1:3-4                                  
“We ought always to thank God for you, brothers, and rightly so, because your faith is growing more and more, and the love every one of you has for each other is increasing. Therefore, among God’s churches we boast about your perseverance and faith in all the persecutions and trials you are enduring.”

One of the greatest weaknesses in the Christian community is the failure to see what is going on in the lives of other brothers and sisters in the faith so we can encourage and rejoice with them. The word “ought” in verse 3 can also be translated  as “obligated,” literally a requirement because of what Paul could see happening in the lives of the saints in Thessalonica. It can be easy to say it was Paul’s job to know what was going on in the church; after all he is an apostle. But this is how Paul was with all the churches, not just the churches he founded. Paul is one who felt the obligation to know how the saints were doing in practical and caring ways everyday.

We have to guard our hearts and minds from becoming “isolationists.” Nowhere in Scripture are we taught fellow believers are to be isolated from other believers, whether they attend the same service or are separated by thousands of miles. We have an obligation to be aware of what others in our body are experiencing so we can pray effectively and we have an obligation to know what is going in the persecuted church around the world where many of our missionaries live and serve. We have an obligation to pray as Paul did for them and their spiritual growth and to praise God and rejoice for those who are standing fast.

This month we have an opportunity to engage ourselves as a church in this very practice. For the month of February we are partnering with our missionaries to the Alevi people of Turkey and their associates who are seeking to reach this wonderful people group. This is more than just praying for their work or even being aware we support missionaries in Muslim countries. This is about taking an active stance to learn more about the Alevi people and their culture. We are to pray for an Alevis for Jesus Movement to begin, where the seed which has been sown in this people group begins to bear fruit. And we are to carry the obligation of praising God as we see their faith grow through their many trials and tribulations, bringing honor to the Lord for His work in their midst.

For the next 5 weeks, I encourage you to be in prayer for the Alevi people. We will bring more information to focus our time of prayer as a community and individually in our own homes. And as we see how they “do church” and examine the Scriptures to see how church was done by the apostles, may we learn the lesson we will need to learn for our own perseverance and endurance as we go through our own trials and tribulation waiting for the return of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

Word On Worship – January 22, 2012

Posted on by
Reply

January 22, 2012 – Read the Word on Worship

REACH Series: REACH OUT and Evangelize from Sunrise Community Church on Vimeo.

Why is the scariest thing any believer faces on a daily basis is to open our mouths and share our faith? We come up with gimmicks or hope that people so admire our lifestyle that they are are compelled to ask us about our faith. The command of Jesus is simple, GO! Join us Sunday for the final installment of our REACH series as we learn to REACH OUT and Evangelize.

Word On Worship – January 22, 2012         Download / Print

Matthew 28:18-20
“Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

Jesus taught His disciples that faith was required to follow Him. In the beginning of their travels with Jesus, the disciples saw many people come and follow Jesus. Some were following Jesus because He fed them, some because He was performing miracles, still others because where ever Jesus was, there was great attention. They agreed intellectually with Jesus and they got along to go along. But somewhere along the way they stopped following. To be a disciple is not a short-term program, but a way of life.

Discipleship means to learn from and to follow a particular teacher. As a Christian, our teacher and the One we follow is Jesus Christ.  As we grow and become more and more like the One we say we follow, then we are to bring other people to that same relationship. That is the heart of the command of Jesus- make disciples. Jesus could have left us with a restatement of the Great Commandment (Matt 22:37-40), with the need to be in prayer, but He didn’t. He told us to go and make disciples of all people- but somewhere along the way the Church confused discipleship with programs, with showmanship and with good works. As the fog of confusion grew in the Twentieth Century, the church began shrinking in size, influence and voice. The Church of Jesus Christ needs to get back to what Jesus wanted to be the heart and soul of His Church.

The problem is we want to reap the harvest of a disciple without paying any price. We all want humility and growth, without being humble or working to grow. William Law wrote, “Christianity is not a school for the teaching of moral virtue, or forming us to live a life of decency and gentility. It implies an entire change of life, a dedication of ourselves, our souls, our bodies unto God in the strictest and highest sense of the words.” (The Works of the Reverend William Law, Vol. 3, Pg. 263). Making disciples is not a matter of winning others to a philosophy, to make them nicer people who smile more often. The Great Commission begins as a rescue mission that leads to a marathon.

For us to reach out in evangelism, we need to understand the task God has called us to will require us to stretch ourselves out of our comfort zones, to humble ourselves to speak with people we may not have imagined and trust that God can use broken vessels such as ourselves to bring Him glory. All who believe in Jesus Christ receive marching orders with full authority from God to be able to carry out those orders. Discipleship involves saving people from themselves and from hell for all eternity.

Word On Worship – January 15, 2012

Posted on by
Reply

January 15, 2012 – Read the Word on Worship

REACH Series: REACH IN and Disciple from Sunrise Community Church on Vimeo.

The second in our REACH Series, REACH IN and Disciple. How do we as church look to equip other members of our church complete the work God has given each one of us to do? A practical look at how we can effectively disciple and be discipled in the Body of Christ.

Word On Worship – January 15, 2012        Download / Print

Colossians 1:28-29
“We proclaim him, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone perfect in Christ. To this end I labor, struggling with all his energy, which so powerfully works in me.”

When we were growing up we heard those familiar words from our mothers, “you are what you eat!” That saying is not only true for our physical bodies, but it is true of our spiritual bodies as well. Our generation is the consumer generation. We are always looking for bigger and better.  The consumer is always right has been the motto of business. Sadly, the Church has taken this to heart and has become experts at reproducing consumer Christians who appear sweet and nice, but have never been formed into the life of Christ.

Consumer discipleship really is an oxymoron, but it is a phrase that more than adequately describes the path of many in their spiritual life. We have become a people who choose to follow Jesus as long as it does not interfere with our ability to acquire. We go about the business of doing “right things” in the wrong way. For a generation, the Church has taught we can serve Christ and still have it our way. Sermons, worship services, children’s programs and even the length of services are designed around the demands of the consumer. The church has conformed to the idea the customer is right, and if we do not become relevant to people then they will go some where else.

The Bible calls us to be servants and followers of Jesus Christ. Because He gave us His all on the cross at Calvary, we respond by giving Him our all. We are to take up our cross and follow Him — and when we serve we submit to Him. Worship is not about us. Sermon’s are not about us. Music is not about us. The story is God’s story not ours. According to Scripture we are attached to God by prepositions: He is in us, with us, for us, doing things to us. We are not the subject or the verb; we are the object.

We need to return to a model of discipleship where disciples go to church to serve, to contribute to others and to build up the Body of Christ in unity and faith in the knowledge of the Son of God (Ephesians 4:13). The life of Christ should be lived in us daily to the glory of God. It is when we serve others that God meets our needs. It is a kingdom perspective which buries personal tastes, slights, oversights and the mistakes of others under the blanket of Christ’s love for His Church. Because it cost Him everything, we are willing to give everything for those the Lord came to save. When we become that kind of disciple, we become like our teacher, the Lord Jesus Christ.

Word On Worship – January 8, 2012

Posted on by
Reply

January 8, 2012 – Read the Word on Worship

REACH SERIES: REACH UP in Worship from Sunrise Community Church on Vimeo.

Why do you worship God? Is it because your denomination requires it or is just a facet of religion that you practice? Do you worship because God needs the attention to be more like God or because it makes you feel better? Or do you worship God because of who He is and what He has done? Join us Sunday, January 8th to begin our REACH SERIES: REACH UP and worship. REACH IN and disciple. REACH OUT and evangelize. This Sunday we will examine Isaiah 6 and learn how worship looks for a man who steps into the presence of God and sees the holiness of God and receives cleansing and mercy of God. Join us this Sunday for the first a three week study into our mission at Sunrise Community Church: We are called to WORSHIP God, EQUIP the saints, and PROCLAIM the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Word On Worship – January 8, 2012       Download / Print

Psalm 148:1-6
“Praise the LORD from the heavens, praise Him in the heights above. Praise Him, all His angels, praise Him, all His heavenly hosts. Praise Him, sun and moon, praise Him, all you shining stars. Praise Him, you highest heavens and you waters above the skies. Let them praise the name of the LORD, for He commanded and they were created. He set them in place for ever and ever; He gave a decree that will never pass away.”

Too often, worship on Sunday morning is considered a spectator sport. The congregation sits passively as the “professionals” up front perform for God in their singing, praying and preaching. The choir sings, the pastor preaches, the worship leaders play and the congregation may chime in for a hymn or two. But is that really a biblical model for worship? Is that how Israel worshipped in the Old Testament? Is that the worship experience of the first century church in the Book of Acts? I do not think so.

Throughout Scripture we see people standing and shouting praise to God with loud voices, singing songs of worship, playing musical instruments, sharing testimonies, lifting hands and giving tithes and offerings. Worship was not a dreary, passive experience but a dynamic encounter with the living God. It was congregational in its very essence. First Corinthians gives us a picture of a free and enthusiastic experience in the church, but with form and function. Any member was free to take part as the Spirit might prompt and the expectation was that God could use someone no one expected for the glory of God.

Praise can take many forms, from the reading of Scripture to singing of songs to individual testimony. Do not fall under the misconception that praise is just a song or that worship is the work of those who stand in the front. When you come into the House of God, come prepared to actively worship your God. Praise Him in the hymns you sing, proclaim His glory in the testimony you give, revere Him in your prayers. Consider His majesty in your silence, ponder the glory of His creation in your meditations, stand in awe at His holiness, and bow down as your heart recalls His great mercy and compassion He has shown to you.

We need to recapture the dynamic of scriptural, congregational worship. We will experience the blessing of God upon our church when we come together as the people of God understanding we are coming together in His presence to worship Him. I often hear of people talking about the need for revival in the church. Usually they are looking for people up front who are more poised in their performance or dynamic in their styling. The first sign to true revival is when the entire assembly of God’s people become  directly involved in the public worship of God.

Word On Worship – December 25, 2011

Posted on by
Reply

December 25, 2011
Pastor Andrew Kikkert of Sunrise Church, presented a wonderful Christmas morning sermon “What is the True Meaning of Christmas” to the combined congregations of Sunrise Church and Westminster. The sermon was prefaced with a poignant youtube video, “If Joseph and Mary had Facebook”, by Igniter Media.

Pastor Andrew Kikkert “What is the True Meaning of Christmas” from TC-Presbyterian.org on Vimeo.

Word On Worship – December 25, 2011

Luke 2:4-7
“So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son.”

Only a few verses describe the events surrounding the birth of Christ while several chapters of each of the gospels are devoted to the arrest, trial, crucifixion, burial, and resurrection of our Lord. An excellent principle to follow in our own study of Scripture is the principle of proportion. God devotes the more time and space to what is more important for His people to understand. Based on this simple principle we can reason the death of Christ is more important to the writers of the gospels than His birth. Yes Christ had to take on human flesh, but it is His atoning work on the cross of Calvary that saves us.

So why is the Christmas story so important to us today? Even those who do not believe in Christ for salvation acknowledge the wonder of Christmas. My sense is that the babe in the manger is far less threatening than the Christ who interprets and applies the Law, who condemns sin and speaks of faith in His blood. The babe in the manger is controllable. The baby in the manger is sweet, someone we can comfortably approach. The baby in the manger is “God in a box” and God on our terms is a God we can worship.

The Christ who hangs on a cross is not a pretty picture, is not a God we are drawn to — and certainly is not about warm and fuzzy feelings. It is easy to make much of a baby in the manger because for many the God who is a baby is a “god” we can serve. A weak and helpless “god” who seems to need us more than we need Him gives us a sense of control and even authority because who has to submit to an infant. But the God who is sovereign over everything, including us, has the right to demand our obedience, our worship and our all.

According to the Bible, the Jesus who came the first time as a baby in the manger is coming again. And when He returns it will be as an avenger and a righteous judge to punish the wicked and reward the righteous. This may not be the Jesus you would serve, but it is the same Jesus who was born in Bethlehem. Are you ready to meet this Jesus and worship Him? His second appearance will be very different than His first, but it is the same Jesus of the manger. He is the coming King I implore you to accept as He came the first time, as your Savior. When He returns it will be to set up His Kingdom, to make things right and to rule over all creation. May we all learn from Luke’s account that the babe in the manger is the Savior of the world! Make room in your heart for the real Jesus Christ to reign in your life this Christmas.

Word On Worship – December 11, 2011

Posted on by
Reply

1 Thessalonians 5:12-13
“Now we ask you, brothers, to respect those who work hard among you, who are over you in the Lord and who admonish you. Hold them in the highest regard in love because of their work. Live in peace with each other.”

There are many scholars who believe formal leaders have not yet been installed in this young church in Thessalonica at the time of Paul’s letter. That very well could be the case as Paul’s abrupt departure from the city would have made the selection of church leaders a very difficult challenge. Can you imagine being thrown into the deep end of the pool and being told to start swimming?

Even today, the greatest need for any church is for godly men to rise to the challenge of leadership. Leadership in the church is more than “what the Pastor says goes.” Spiritual leaders are not created by executive order or dictator’s decree. I believe there is no better model to develop leaders than the New Testament church. The selection of Elders and Deacons are done not on the basis of education, wealth or popularity, but rather on proven character and the ability to teach.

Church leaders are to be of proven character before being selected to positions of authority. In Titus 1:7 Paul requires a high standard for those who lead the church. “Since an overseer is entrusted with God’s work, he must be blameless.” This does not mean church leaders are without sin or fault, as I can well attest in my own life, but blameless or without accusation about his life and ministry. Elders in a church must be men in their homes and their communities who are above reproach in how they minister and serve before they are to be considered for serving God’s people in that capacity.

Paul gave this standard for teaching in his Epistle to Titus 1:9 “He must hold firmly to the trustworthy message as it has been taught, so that he can encourage others by sound doctrine and refute those who oppose it.” This does not mean they have advanced degrees or can speak before large groups of people. But it does mean they know the truth of Scripture from personally handling the Word of God. They can discern truth from error and can instruct people in the ways of God with gentleness and admonish with respect.

Leadership in action is more than just understanding biblical teachings on the subject. It is putting God’s truth to work in our lives. It is not an easy job, nor is it a job that often brings open appreciation. But God said it is a position of honor and respect. Love your leaders, for they need your prayers and your encouragement. As we saw in our study of Hebrews 13:17, “Obey your leaders and submit to their authority. They keep watch over you as men who must give an account. Obey them so that their work will be a joy, not a burden, for that would be of no advantage to you.”

Word On Worship May 15, 2011

Posted on by
Reply

Hebrews 11:8-10

“By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going. By faith he made his home in the promised land like a stranger in a foreign country; he lived in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise. For he was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God.”

How would you and I live today if we absolutely believed that God existed? Would it change our lives if we believed in an eternal destination so marvelous that the entire world pales in comparison to one square foot of its turf? Would that effect how you live today? How would we live if we believed God cared about our every action and desired to reward His children for their faith? How would you and I live in the face of persecution, truly believing our whole lives depended on Him?

But we say, “Of course I believe! I believe with all my heart these things are true!” Then, let’s ask the opposite question- how would you live if you did not believe? The difference in how we answer the question is the issue of faith- faith in what is hoped for actually changes how we live and who we are. If all we are looks remarkably like the world is it any wonder we question if we are truly God’s children? Sadly, many in churches on Sunday morning have embraced the world and its values and then fool themselves by saying they live for kingdom values. We excuse ourselves saying those people in Hebrews 11 lived in a different time, so of course they could respond nobly to the Unseen God. If this is our perspective we have missed the whole point of the author that the life of faith is normal for the people of God.

When we live “by faith” we bear the witness of God in such a way to stimulate others to be stimulated to faith. When we live our life as an active demonstration that faith works we are the true heroes of faith, in the best sense of the word. It is a life that helps others and honors God. This is not just for super saints. As followers of Jesus we are extraordinary because of what God has done in our midst, and in spite of our own spiritual dullness. The Church has been gathers for nearly 2000 years, and still we have not fixed the flaws. That is the miracle we witness every week- God, for reasons we may never understand, refrains from blowing our sideshow act up into a million pieces, and tells us it is ok to be people. God makes the most beautiful music with amateur musicians, even if it will take all eternity to reveal just how beautiful it really is.

Word On Worship February 6, 2011

Posted on by
Reply

Hebrews 7:1-2

This Melchizedek was king of Salem and priest of God Most High. He met Abraham returning from the defeat of the kings and blessed him, and Abraham gave him a tenth of everything. First, his name means “king of righteousness”; then also, “king of Salem” means “king of peace.”

What do you think of the Old Testament? What impact has it had on your thoughts about the Christian life? For Jesus and the Apostles what we call the “Old Testament” was their written Scripture. When Paul entered a synagogue, the attendant would pull out a scroll of Genesis or Jeremiah, for example, and hand it to the teacher of the day who would then expound on the passage that was read. The Old Testament was the powerful word of God, “sharper than any two-edged sword.” That may be a hard thing for us in the Church Age who may be jaded into thinking the Old Testament has been outdated by the coming of the New Testament.

The Old Testament is foundational to our understanding for who Jesus Christ is, based on the covenants and promises of God expressed to the Hebrews. It is in the Old Testament that we are told the Messiah would be greater than the priesthood of Aaron. It is the Old Testament that we read David’s prophecy in Ps 110:4 “The LORD has sworn and will not change his mind: “You are a priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek.” And not just a priest, but a king as well! David wrote in Psalm 110:1 “The LORD says to my Lord: “Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet.”

The author of Hebrews uses Psalm 110 to interpret and apply Genesis 14 in a way to show us there is much more going on in the Old Testament than we ever realized. We have already seen how Hebrews used Psalm 95 to interpret the reason why the Hebrews could not enter Canaan to find rest in chapters 3 and 4. The Scriptures are the best tool we have to interpret any passage of Scripture. Allow this to encourage us to study our Bibles much more thoroughly because we can see time after time that the pages of Scripture contain much more than meets the eye at a casual reading.

It is the Book of Hebrews which demonstrates Melchizedek and Messiah are both kings and priests. While this was specifically prohibited by the Law of Moses, this can and does happen under the New Covenant, with Christ as our Great High Priest — just as we see in Psalm 110. But you and I need to keep in mind that we, the church, are a “kingdom of priests” and will reign with Him. A part of our daily walk with Christ needs to be careful consideration of how we should exercise our role as a “kingdom of priests” now and for all eternity.