Weekly Sermon Notes from Verde Valley Christian Church. Soon to be a CCV Campus Christmas 2024, Cottonwood, Arizona.
Sunday, December 13, 2009
Designated Dance Diplomat
I. Jesus is the Best DIPLOMAT between God & Men Heb 5:1-6
A. He stands on BEHALF of BOTH
B. God's representative must be "SELECTED", "CALLED", "DESIGNATED." Heb 5:1,4,10
II. Jesus is our SOURCE of LIFE.
III. Jesus is our MODEL for LIFE.
A. You have been SELECTED for more than a SURVEY. HEB 5:1, 4, 10; John 20:21; Peter 2:9; 4:10
B. Make your DEVOTIONAL life your TOP PRIORITY.
1. PRAYER 5:7-14
2. BIBLE STUDY 5:7
3. REVERENT SUBMISSION 5:11-14
4. OBEDIENCE 5:7
C. TAKE up your CROSS and FELLOW Him. Heb 5:8, Luke 9:23-26
Sunday, December 6, 2009
Enter God's Rest TODAY
I. Don't FALL SHORT of God's rest
II. Enter God's rest by BELIEVING
III. Enter God's rest TODAY
A. Enter God's rest on the basis of God's COMPLETED WORK
B. God's WORD is the answer to a hard heart
1. INGEST It (hear it, take it in)
2. DIGEST It (believe it)
3. LIVE It (obey it)
C. CLING to Christ with CONFIDENCE
Sunday, November 29, 2009
Thick Skin and Soft Hearts
I. The danger of HARD HEARTS (3:8,13,15)
A. Hard HEARTS STRAY (3:10)
1. SPORADIC GLANCES
2. RATIONAL LIES
3. DISOBEDIENCE
4. OPEN REBELLION
B. Hard Hearts NEVER ENTER God's REST (3:11,18-19)
II. How to be TOUGH & TENDER
A. HOLD ON (3:6,14)
1. Grip with FIXED ATTENTION (3:1)
2. LISTEN (3:15)
3. BELIEVE (3:19)
4. SURRENDER (opposite of rebellion (3:8,15)
5. OBEY (3:18)
B. Hold on TOGETHER in COMMUNITY (3:12-13)
Sunday, November 15, 2009
Above All
Focus: A diluted, damaged, or diminished view of Jesus will cause you to drift away from God.
I. Who is Jesus, exactly? Hebrews 1:1-4
II. Where did the idea that JESUS IS GOD come from?
A. JESUS HIMSELF
1. Jesus taught with DEVINE authority
2. Jesus was aware of his UNIQUE relationship with God the Father
3. Jesus EMPHASISED His own identity
4. Jesus defined himself as the GLORIFIED Son of Man
5. Jesus received rather than rejected WORSHIP
6. Jesus EQUATED himself with the FATHER
B. The Old Testament Hebrews 1:5-14
III. What has Jesus done?
Sunday, November 1, 2009
Decisions, Decisions... Part 4
GIFTS 1 Peter 4:10; 2 Timothy 1:6
UNDERSTANDING Proverbs 15:21
IMPRESSIONS Psalms 16:7
DESIRES Psalms 37:4
ADVICE Proverbs 19:20
NECESSITY James 4:17
CIRCUMSTANCES Proverbs 16:9
ELIMINATION 1 Corinthians 10:23
Sunday, October 18, 2009
Decisions, Decisions - Part 3
Psalms 119:105; 37:4
Focus: Life is too short to make every decision based on trial and error, we must learn to test and approve God's will.
I. What Decisions are Pleasing to God?
II. TEST your decisions before making them.
A. Does your decision PASS the TEST of
1. God's MORAL WILL
2. INTEGRITY
3. Christian EXAMPLE or WITNESS
4. APPROVAL
5. PEACE with PRAYER
6. CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT
7. MOTIVE
8. WISDOM
B. Does your decision pass the test OF FAITH?
Sunday, October 11, 2009
Decisions, Decisions - Part 2
I. What is God's Will?
A. God's PERFECT Will.
B.God's PERMISSIVE Will.
C.God's PREVAILING Will.
II. Common questions about God's Will
A. Has God already determined His will for me?
B. Can I actually know God's will for my life?
C. Will God reveal the whole blueprint of my life? Psalms 32:8
D. Is God's Perfect Will a BULLSEYE in a TARGET for EVERY decision?
E. What if God's will seems undesirable?
F. Why does God's will for me sometimes include sorrow and affliction?
III. What Decisions are Pleasing to God?
Sunday, October 4, 2009
Decisions, Decisions
Focus: God's revealed will helps us make good decisions.
I. Good Decisions are BLESSED by God.
A. DOERS are BLESSED
B. KEEPERS stay in LOVE with God.
C. ABIDERS have full JOY
II. How to make Good Decisions.
A. Good decisions flow from A NEW HEART.
B. Base your decisions on God's ALREADY REVEALED will.
1. Learn by STUDY.
2. Learn by PRACTICE.
III. Your decisions reveal the desires of your heart (what you REALLY BELIEVE will make you HAPPY.)
IV. Your decisions are ultimately determined by what you DESIRE the MOST.
Sunday, September 27, 2009
What About Sin?
Dear Abba, Is it sin if I didn't know? If I do sin, doI need to ask for forgiveness? What if I repete this sin again - would I go to hell?
Focus: My Dear Precious Child, I have given you a new nature, placed my holy spirit in you. You can discern sin, you are forgiven, you have victory!
Four reasons why a Christian cannot habitually "practice" sin.
1. Sin is Incompatibile
1 John 3:4, Romans 7:12, 22
2. Sin is Incompatibile
1 John 3:5-7
3. Sin is
1 John 3:8
4. Sin is Incompatibile
1 John 3:9-10
"A true believer is not sinless, but God expects His children to sin less!"
Sunday, September 20, 2009
"I'm Angry, What Do I Do Now?"
My Dear Precious Child, You are on the right track for taking the time to ask me. Now, I can help.
I. Find Out Why!
A. look Under the Hood.
B. God asks, "Why are you angry?" Genisis 4:6
1. C does not equal A
2. C + B = A
II. God's Help for Anger
A. Do Right Anyway Genisis 4:7
B. Slow Your Anger Down. James 1:19
C. Stop, Drop, and Repent Ephesians 4:26-28
D. Manage Your Mouth Psalm 141:3
E. Go to the CROSS So You Can Be Quick to Ephesians 4:32
Sunday, September 13, 2009
Truth on Trial - Part 5
Was it historical or fiction?
Prosecution: The Bible is not history, it is filled with myths.
Defense: Only an Anti-Supernatural Bias labels everything described as supernatural to be mythical. If God is real what would you expect.
1. Expect supernatural events.
2. Expect credible evidence.
3. Historical corroborated evidence.
II. Digging Up the Evidence.
III. More Wittneses
Sunday, September 6, 2009
Truth on Trial - Part 4
Focus: The Bible has survived in a purer form than any other book of antiquity.
I. The Bible is UNIQUE.
II. God's Word has not CHANGED over TIME.
Prosecution: "The Bible is not reliable; all we have are error ridden copies of copies of copies that are centuries removed from the events they describe."
Defense: The reliability of the text should be tested by the same criteria that all historical documents are tested.
Prosecution: "There are more differences in the manuscripts due to errors in copying than there are words in the New Testament."
Defense: The combined manuscript evidence substantiates such accuracy that not one doctrine is affected by any manuscript variance.
III. The Gospels ARE verified by:
Prosecution: "Not one sentence concerning Jesus is actually composed by anyone who had ever met Jesus, the unwilling
Defense: The Gospels were written too early for such fabrication as the prosecution alleges. Both friendly and hostile eyewitnesses were still alive.
Sunday, August 30, 2009
Truth on Trial
TRUTHS IN SCIENCE
REALITY OF PROPHECY
UNIVERSAL INFLUENCE
TEXTUAL PRESERVATION AND UNITY
HISTORICAL AUTHENTICITY - ARCHAEOLOGY
Focus: New is never better than True.
I. God's Word Will NEVER PASS AWAY.
Prosecution: "Old is old, and new is better."
Defense: "It is modern ARROGANCE to automaticlly assume that new is better than old."
Prosecution: "The Bible is outdated, and marginalized."
Defense: "The Bible is the number one BEST SELLER OF ALL TIME AND EVERY YEAR."
Prosecution: "Only those who are ignorant and backward in their thinking still believe the Bible."
Defense: "It is ARROGANCE to label all the BRILLIANT THINKERS who value the Bible as 'ignorant and backward.'"
II. God's Word is POWERFUL
Prosecution: "The Bible is irrelevant and powerful."
Defense: "The Bible has ___ to be ___ and ___."
III. The BEST Substitute is not BETTER.
Sunday, August 16, 2009
How Can I be Sure the Bible is True?
My Dear Precious Child - I've given you many reasons to believe the Bible is My Word, but if you really want to know, read it and obey the teachings of my greatest revelation, My Son Jesus, then you will know.
John 7:17
Counselor June Hunt
TRUTHS IN SCIENCE
REALITY OF PROPHECY
UNIVERSAL INFLUENCE
TEXTUAL PRESERVATION AND UNITY
HISTORICAL AUTHENTICITY - ARCHAEOLOGY
T - Truths in Science:
GEOPHYSICS Isaiah 40:22
PLANETOLOGY Job 26:7
ASTRONOMY Genesis 15:5, 22:17
EARTH SCIENCE 2 Samuel 22:16, Jonah 2:6
OCEANOGRAPHY Psalm 8:8; Genesis 7:11, 8:2; Proverbs 8:28
HYDROLOGY Job 26:8, 36:27-28, 38:25-27
GENETICS Genesis 1:21
HEMOTOLOGY Leviticus 17:14
UROLOGY Genesis 17:12
EPIDEMIOLOGY Deuteronomy 23:12-13
PUBLIC HEALTH Leviticus 7:24, 11:33, 15:12, 13:3&14, 45-54, 14:34-47, 15:11
Sunday, August 2, 2009
Does Prayer Change God's Mind?
I know that praying affects changes in me, but do my prayers ever actually cause you to respond by doing something in the couse of events that you would not have otherwise done had I not asked?
My Dear Precious Child,
Your prayers really do move me to respond, keep it up.
Exodus 32:9-14; Isaiah 38:1-9; Jonah 3 & 4
I. God allows FREE AGENCY and still works out His PREDESTIONED PURPOSES.
A. God has Predestioned MANY THINGS.
B. God has NOT Predestioned EVERYTHING.
II. Why the Question is Difficult
A. God knows EVERY MOVE in advance.
B. Then WHY does prayer work?
C. Then HOW does prayer work? (THEORIES)
III. Bottom line: You HAVE not BECAUSE You ASK not...
Sunday, July 26, 2009
What About the Red Suited Pitchfork Dude?
Dear Abba,
Focus: My Dear Precious Child,
Sunday, July 19, 2009
Why Don't You Do Something?
Dear Abba,
I believe you are all powerful and loving, so why do you allow the evil of so many horrible things to occur? Why don't you do something to stop these evils?
My Dear Precious Child,
Rebellion has caused this and I have done something about it to move heart strings not puppet strings.
I. Defining GOOD and ALMIGHTY
A. Defining God's SOVEREIGNTY
B. Defining God's GOODNESS
II. Why Doesn't God Do Something Now?
A. Because God is Good and Almighty, He allows FREE WILL
B. 6 Turths about "Evil"
1. God KNEW it BEFOREHAND
2. God ALLOWED it
3. God did not DESIRE it
4. God did not CAUSE it
5. FREE AGENTS were RESPONSIBLE for it
God is GOOD and POWERFUL enough to CAUSE it to be used for GOOD TO BRING HIM THE GLORY.
Sunday, July 5, 2009
Is It Always Wrong to Judge Others?
Dear Abba,
I am confused about judging others. In Matthew 7.1-3, Jesus tells Us not to judge, yet the Bible advises Us in other places to correct the behavior of our brothers and sisters. Isn't This correction a by-product of judging?
Dear Precious Child,
There is a right and wrong way to help your brothers and sisters; being judgmental is a Dangerous habit forming tendency of the heart to look down on others. There is a better way, Imitate Jesus!!
I. Don't Judge (Don't be Judgmental) John 8: 15-16. Matthew 7.1-4, Romans 2:1, James 4.11-12; Romans 4:34; Luke 18:9: John 8:7
II. Judge (With Humility, help others)
A. Make Correct JUDGMENTS John 7:24
B. Jesus Doesn't Say IGNORE the SPECK Matthew 75
C. Help the WAY you WANT to be HELPED Matthew 7:1-2
D. Judge INSIDERS I Corinthians 5:12; 6:7-5
E. Jesus EXPECTS Us to JUDGE Matthew 7.6, 15-23; 18:15-17; Galations 6:1-5
Sunday, June 28, 2009
Rocky's Advice Before the Last Round
1 Peter 5:6-14
Focus: A dark storm rages; the rounds of battle are not over; but we have been given everything we need to gain victory, and enjoy glory forever.
I. SUBMIT to God. 1 Peter 5:6
II. WAIT for God's good TIME 1 Peter 5:6
III. CAST off your FEARS 1 Peter 5:7
IV. Fight off the DEVIL'S SCHEMES 1 Peter 5:8-14
A. Be self controlled and ALERT 1 Peter 5:8
B. Stand firm and RESIST the DEVIL 1 Peter 5:9
C. Gain STRENGTH through SOLIDARITY! 1 Peter 5:9
D. Be encouraged by GRACE 1 Peter 5:10-12
Sunday, June 21, 2009
Being a Dad in Tough Times
Focus: "Therefore whoever hears these sayings of mine and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house upon the rock."
I. God's Design for the Family Gen 3; Eph 5:21-24, 33; 6:1-2; Exodus 20:12
A. SIN disrupted GOD'S Ordained Relationship Roles.
B.FAMILY Roles are not merit based.
II. God's call to Fathers. Deut 11:18-21; Eph 5:23, 25; 6:4
A. Positional Stewardship
1.BUILDING Your house upon the ROCK
2. HEARING God Speak
3. OBEYING His Commandments
III. God's Reward to Father's
A. BLESSED is the man Psalm 1
B. "Make your way PROSPEROUS, and then you will have good SUCCESS." Joshua 1:8
C. BLESSED is the man James 1:12 ESV
Sunday, June 14, 2009
We Need Good Flaggers
Focus: A healthy church is filled with caring leaders who are willing to serve the needs of others.
l.Good Flaggers are QUICK to CARE. 5:1-4
THREE CIRCLES
1. CHURCH - “... in the temple courts” Acts 2:42 & 46, Hebrews 10:25
2. CARE GROUP - “...house to house” Acts 2:46
3. COMRADE - “...making disciples” Matthew 28:19; Acts 2:38
II. Good Flaggers Untangle the NOTS.
THREE NOTS
1. Not BEGRUDGINGLY BUT WILLINGLY 1 Peter 5:2
2. Not GREEDILY 1 Peter 5:2
3. Not DOMINEERINGLY 1 Peter 5:3
III. Good Flaggers do not SWAGGER
THREE LAYER PIE
1. SUBMISSIVE TO YOUR LEADERS 1 Peter 5:5
2. HUMBLE TOWARD ONE ANOTHER 1 Peter 5:5
3. HUMBLE TOWARD GOD 1 Peter 5:6
Charlie & Agnes were homeless in NYC. While attending Handel's Messiah their friends noticed a plaque on dash of their car: "God always gives what's best to those who leave the choice with Him."
Sunday, June 7, 2009
How to Endure Bone Jarring Waves
Focus: Christains can endure difficulty because we have faith.
The Secrets of Endurance
I. You EXPECT it.
II. You AIM BEYOND it.
III. You SEE the GOOD in it.
Sunday, May 24, 2009
How to Finish Well Without Crashing
1 Peter 4:1-11
Focus: When you are jolted by the Waves of storm, don't Let go, hang on tight!
I. Don't let go just because IT HURTS (4:1-2)
II. Don't go back to the OLD PARTY BOAT (4:36)
III. You are ALMOST THERE (4.7-11)
IV. Keep the END/GOAL always before you (4:11)
Sunday, May 17, 2009
The Reason for My Hope
1 Peter 3:15
Focus: The Christian Faith is reasonable and rational; you do not have to kiss your brain goodbye to believe it.
I. General REVELATION (SCIENCE)
II. Special REVELATION (THE BIBLE)
III. HISTORY (THE RESURECTION)
IV. EVIDENCE (My )
Sunday, May 3, 2009
Al Hammond - Stories from Japan
Luke 12:13-23
Al Hammond
Stories from Japan
Sunday, April 19, 2009
North America Indigenous Ministries
NAIM North America Indigenous Ministries
Tucker & Grace Gross
VISION
NAIM is committed to covenant relationships with First Nations churches, creating vibrant ministry in their communities and beyond.
MISSION
NAIM is a multicultural team that exists to glorify God through building the Church by making disciples among North American Indigenous peoples, to reach the world for Christ.
Sunday, April 12, 2009
The Resurection, An Urgent Death and Life Message
The Resurection, An Urgent Death and Life Message
Focus: Some people will be shocked to find out that they will be excluded from God's heavenly kingdom even though they believed in Jesus and His resurection. Matthew 7:21-23
I. What is the level if your faith?
A. UNBELIEF
B. LITTLE FAITH
C. GREAT FAITH
II. How healty is your faith?
A. DEFICIENT FAITH John 21:23-24
B. DEAD FAITH
James 2:18-26
Revelation 3:15-16
Proverbs 14:12
I Corinthians 6:9-11
C. LIVING FAITH
III. ARISE there's a NEW way to LIVE. Isaiah 42:3
Sunday, April 5, 2009
Footprints on the Waves
Focus: In life's storms, follow in his steps.
How to Handle Your Hurt
I. Remind yourself WHEN you are TRYING to PLEASE. 2:19
A. Set your heart on God's COMMENDATION. 2:19-20
B. Don't FAINT. 2:19
II. Remember your CALLING. 2:21
A. God's calling has PURPOSE and HOPE.
B. "Living Hope" is Faith in God's GOOD PLANS for your FUTURE. 1:3
C. Hope helps you put a guard over your MOUTH. 2:22-23
D. Hope helps you resist RETALIATION. 2:23
III. Fully ENTRUST yourself to the one who will pull you through. 2:23-25
Sunday, March 29, 2009
We Aren't Just Going in Circles
1 Peter Series: Wakeboarding in the Storms of Life Text: 1 Peter 2:1-18
Focus: The Ana Genesis (Re-Generation) empowers our lives with meaning and purpose.
I. REPLACE and REPLENISH on purpose. 2:1-3
A. Don't SPOIL your APPETITE.
B. Dump the TRASH, and fill yourself with TREASURES.
II. Our lives have a PURPOSE 2:4-12
A. God BUILDS us into a PLACE He calls HOME.
B. God makes us PRIESTS with a PURPOSE.
1. To WORSHIP Him.
2. To DECLARE His WORTH to others.
3. To DEMONSTRATE His Virtues.
III. Use your FREEDOM to achieve His purpose! 2:13-18
Sunday, March 22, 2009
Finishing the Great Comission
Revelation 7:9-12
Sermon Notes - Sunday, March 22, 2009
1. My goal life is to...
Glorify and enjoy God forever.
2. Why did God create the human race?
To glorify and enjoy God forever.
The answer to both is:
Who will glorify God?
3. I am going to...
Sunday, March 15, 2009
Get Your Grip on a Great Future!
Focus: ...set your hope completely on the blessing which will be given you... -- 1 Peter 1:13 (TEV)
When Faced with Difficult Problems...
I. Grip a great future by FAITH! 1 Peter 1:10-12
II. Have a READY Grip. 1 Peter 1:13
A. DROP everything else that HAS A GRIP on you.
B. Grip your FUTURE GRACE now by faith.
III. Be a 1 Peter 1:14-17
A. Live like you don't BELONG HERE.
B.Holy means SET-APART.
IV. Make a DIFFERENCE for someone else. 1 Peter 1:18-25
Sunday, March 8, 2009
Invincible! The Attitude of a Wakeboarder
Focus: Storms challenge the foundation of our lives. Embracing spiritual truths (invincible foundations) will help you build an invincible attitude and invincible life.
1 Peter 1:3-9
I. My problems are not PERMANENT!
A. I have an INVINCIBLE INHERITANCE!
B. I am by SHIELDED God's Power!
II. I am getting STRONGER!
A. I CAN rejoice NOW!
B. Storms make my FAITH GROW!
C. WAVES help my faith LEAP HIGHER!
III. I live for His GLORY!
A. I keep my eyes on the GOAL!
B. I feel His PULL!
Sunday, February 22, 2009
Wakewalker
Focus: We need to learn how trust Jesus in the middle of life's storms!
I. The BREWING Storm (62-64 AD)
II. PETER the Wakewalker 1 Peter 1:1
A. Peter tells (MARK) Secrets learned in the Storm Mark 6:44-52
B. MATTHEW alone tells about the FLOATING ROCK Matthew 14:22-33
III. Wakeboarding in the Storms Overview.
Sunday, February 8, 2009
Supplication
Focus: CAST your prayer requests for a catch.
I. Ask (James 4:2)
II. Ask RIGHTLY (James 4:3)
A. Check your LIFE
B. Check your REQUEST
C. Check your MOTIVE
III. Ask EXPECANTLY (Mark 11:22-24)
IV. Ask REPEATEDLY (James 5:16-17, 1 Kings 17:1, 18:1, 41-46, Daniel 10)
Sunday, February 1, 2009
Adoration
How to CAST Your Prayer.
Psalm 145
Focus: Our Role in the CAST is as worshippers, and there's only one in the CAST that is worthy of worship.I. What is Adoration?
II. Adoration is a SKILL that can be LEARNED.
III. Use your HEAD to lead your HEART.
Sunday, January 25, 2009
Confession
CONFESSION
ADORATION
SUPPLICATION
THANKSGIVING
Focus: Confession is the CAST that helps mend what is broken.
I. You can't have your KATE and EDITH too.
II. Don't be a MULE.
A. Sin is only COVERED when it is UNCOVERED!
B. Don't force God to be HEAVY HANDED with you.
C. God's HAND is HEAVY on sin.
D. The best HIDING place is in the OPEN.
III. Choose to COME CLEAN rather than COME OFF clean.
1 John 1:5-10
Psalm 32
Sunday, January 18, 2009
Need a Lift?
How to CAST Your Prayer
Focus: Cast all your anxiety onboard him because he cares for you.
1 Peter 5:5-11 (English Standard Version)
5Likewise, you who are younger, be subject to the elders.(A) Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for(B) "God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble."
6(C) Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, 7(D) casting all your anxieties on him, because(E) he cares for you. 8(F) Be sober-minded;(G) be watchful. Your(H) adversary the devil(I) prowls around(J) like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. 9(K) Resist him,(L) firm in your faith, knowing that(M) the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world. 10And(N) after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace,(O) who has called you to his(P) eternal glory in Christ, will himself(Q) restore,(R) confirm, strengthen, and establish you. 11(S) To him be the dominion forever and ever. Amen.
Need a lift?God's Part • Our Part
God gives GRACE • HUMBLE Ourselves
God will EXALT you • Get UNDER His HAND
God will TAKE CARE OF you • cast all our ANXIETIES on Him
God will RESTORE you • Don't let SIN PUSH us around, RESIST the DEVIL
Christ RULES! • We say YES!