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| 12.31.2006: Preached at Grace Baptist |
| 31.12.06 |
My new choice for a Bible is my new ESV Bible. It was on sale at Books-A-Million for 30% off and an extra 10% for BAM Club Members. Original price was $29.99. It was a great deal and it has a great cover. I found it matched the NASB very well in my selected texts. The sermon outline is below.
“GOD KNOWS WHOM HE CALLS” (JEREMIAH 1.4-10)
Teenage Christians are the church of tomorrow, right? NO! Neither are any of us the future of the Church- we are to do something now, not the future. The work of the Church is not for pastors or other ministers. It is for all of us.
John 1.12: “But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God”
God has no grandchildren. Look at Jeremiah as an example:
THE CALL
4Now the word of the LORD came to me, saying, 5"Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you; I appointed you a prophet to the nations."
BEFORE BIRTH: Known, Consecrated, Appointed
• v.5a- God knows us before birth (a good argument against abortion)
• v.5b- He makes plans for His chosen from the foundation of the earth (“even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world” Ephesians 1.4)
*I was ordained at 35 by an SBC church, but if my ordination is true, God did it from “the foundation of the earth”
THE CORRECTION
6Then I said, "Ah, Lord GOD! Behold, I do not know how to speak, for I am only a youth." 7But the LORD said to me, "Do not say, 'I am only a youth'; for to all to whom I send you, you shall go, and whatever I command you, you shall speak. 8Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you to deliver you, declares the LORD."
EXCUSES OFFERED
• v.6- objection based on his age. We may say “too old,” “can’t speak well” (see Exodus 4.10: “But Moses said to the LORD, ‘Oh, my Lord, I am not eloquent, either in the past or since you have spoken to your servant, but I am slow of speech and of tongue.’”) Age here; Ours: fear, offense, busy, prohibited where we are
EXCUSES ANSWERED
• v.7, 8- God knows whom He has called and has sent us anyway. NO ROOM FOR EXCUSES, PUT THEM AWAY.
WE CANNOT SURPRISE GOD WITH OUR WEAKNESSES!
• “But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong” I Corinthians 1.27
THE COMMISSION
9Then the LORD put out his hand and touched my mouth. And the LORD said to me, "Behold, I have put my words in your mouth. 10See, I have set you this day over nations and over kingdoms, to pluck up and to break down, to destroy and to overthrow, to build and to plant."
THE LORD EQUIPS AND POSITIONS
• v.9- God places His Word inside of us
• v.10- He sets us up where He wants us: Like Esther: “And who knows whether you have not come to the kingdom for such a time as this?” (Esther 4.14b)
THE LORD PROVIDES RESOURCES
• It’s His Word we are to “go into all the world and proclaim…” (Mark 16.15) and “it shall not return… empty” (Isaiah 55.11). His Word is “living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword” (Hebrews 4.12)
• We have no excuse for not doing His will. This church should be growing as a result of the daily witnessing and preaching of the Gospel. Do the work; God will bring His harvest.
Conclusion: God has called us. He knows why we are not worthy or able to follow His call. He is not surprised and calls us despite our age or ability. Commit yourself to Him today and learn about His Word so you can share it with others.Labels: Bible, Sermon Outlines |
posted by pregador27 @ 13:13   |
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| Losing an Old Friend Thanks to New Friends |
| 25.12.06 |
Today I had to say good-bye to an old friend: my old Florida State University jacket. I have worn it since 1997 when I bought it on a colder day when I was team minister for the East Bay Buccaneers. I loved that old jacket, but this Christmas I was surprised at work when my friends gave me a present to open and demanded my ratty-old-friend. They tore up the old one when they gave me the new one.
The old one was special (like a friend), but this one is more special. The old one I bought for myself. This one was the gift from friends. I will treasure this one for years to come (Lord willing). I want to thank my wonderful friends (and co-workers): Sarah, Krista, Diana, Vicki and Herman. They are the best!
Labels: Friends, Holidays, Sports |
| posted by pregador27 @ 15:58 |
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| Little Know Facts About Canadia |
| 1.12.06 |
 
Did you know:
- That it's actually Canada, not Canadia?
- They DO NOT use igloos year-round in Canada?
- There are times they do not have snow in Canada- there really is a Summer!
- Not everyone plays hockey in Canada
- It is NOT one of the 50 states in the USA
- They do NOT drive on the left hand side of the road (That's England- and they say those of us who are Polish are backwards!)
- There are 10 provinces (akin to our states in the USA) and three territories (the territories have basically no people, don't really get that one, but that's how it is)
- That is a maple leaf on their flag, and Toronto has a hockey team names the Maple Leafs- don't quite get that either, shouldn't be Maple Leaves? I'm sure a Canadian will explain that to me
- Quebec is liberal and wants to secede- there is little chance that they will be forced into remaining through a civil war like the USA forced the Southern States back in the 1860's (The War of the Northern Aggression- the name true Southerners recognize)
- Canadians do play soccer (occasionally)
- Canadians typically use CFL rules when playing a pick-up game of football
- John Candy, William Shatner and Michael J. Fox are Canadians
- Canadians do not always say "eh" after every sentence
- Only some Canadians say "out" and "about" with that cool accent
That's all I have right now, but this is in honor of Rand and Twinkle Moose, whom I visited in West Palm Beach while they were down due to Rand's job. They are wonderful and we had a great time of fellowship. They are found on the net at A Form of Sound Words (Rand) and Teach Me to Pray (Twinkle Moose).
It was good to find that Rand is a human, and not just words on a blog. I found that we have more in common than I realized and it seemed that we were on the same page on many things, as were Twinkle Moose and I. They are a wonderful couple.
I look forward to traveling to Canada one day with my family and visiting with them in their hometown. Pics included are me by the tiny airplane I took back to beautiful Tampa, FL, West Palm Beach, FL, Rand and I and finally Rand and his wonderful wife Twinkle Moose!
Labels: Friends |
| posted by pregador27 @ 06:52 |
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