Moraine Valley Church

Is God Really Good?

Stewardship

Joel Brassfield is closing our short series on Stewardship.

Stewardship

We continue in our series, "Stewardship", hearing from Elder Dan Johnson.

No One Can Serve Two Masters

No One Can Serve Two Masters
Matthew 6

January 13, 2019

Introduction:
A. Just before Christmas, we completed a series on discipleship. We came up with a
definition of discipleship for MVC which is four words. Does anyone remember
that?
1. Following Jesus, Impacting Others!
2. Following Jesus has to do with a wholehearted walk of obedience with Jesus.
3. Impacting others has to do with bringing lost people to Jesus and helping
believers become more like Jesus!
B. I want to speak today about an area of discipleship which according to the
statistics they say for about 80% of the believers this would be a very crucial next
step that would accomplish four major things:
1. First, the focus of our hearts and our entire spiritual life in following Jesus
2. It is also a step that would position us to have a greater impact upon others
for Jesus!
3. It is also a step that would position us to experience greater spiritual riches!
4. Finally, and most importantly, it will break down a major spiritual wall,
actually break down the major competing idol for our love and devotion to
Jesus Christ
C. What is that area? It is the area of stewardship, particularly our relationship with
our money.
• We need to see these big claims in God’s Word so you know these are not just big
preaching words but truth! Turn in your Bibles to …
I. Matt 6:19-24
A. First, we see in v19-21 that the treasure we seek determines the focus of our heart.
1. Read v19-20
2. Simple, straightforward teaching about not stockpiling your treasures here on
earth but rather in heaven. On earth, they are vulnerable to deterioration or
being stolen but in heaven, they are totally safe.
3. But in v21, he gives the reason why he says this, read v21.
 Where our treasure is indicates to us where our heart is. “Also” = it is also
there, my heart is right there besides it.
(a) If my treasures are stockpiled on earth, my heart is right here
with it focusing upon temporal things;
(b) If my treasures are being stockpiled in heaven, my heart is right
there with it, focusing upon eternal things
4. When we stockpile our treasures for the future in heaven rather than now on
earth, our hearts will focus upon heaven, because our hearts always go where
our treasures go!
B. Secondly, we see our perception about money impacts our entire spiritual life.
1. In v22-23, the context for this section both before and after is money. Think
of these verses in relation to money as I read v22-23
a) He is using the physical here figuratively to illustrate the spiritual.
(1) The lamp is what gives light
(2) The eye is the organ of perception that receives light to allow one
to see.
(3) The “whole body” I believe is referring to our entire life!
b) The “eye” here is used as the “lamp” which gives light to the rest of the
body.
(1) So I think the eye is doing double duty here both receiving the
light and then taking the light it receives and giving it to the rest of
the inner life.
(2) Illustrate with hands from sky to eyes then into body
c) Ps 119:105 tells us that God’s Word is a light unto our path! Here I
believe Jesus is teaching us that God’s Word shines the light on the eyes
of our hearts and that light of God’s Word shines through the eyes of our
hearts (lamp) and shines upon our whole life so we can see clearly!
2. So in context He is saying:
a) If my perception about money is good (seeing it as God sees it = God’s
Word) then my entire spiritual life will be healthy
b) If my perception about money is bad (seeing it as the world sees it) then
my entire spiritual life will be unhealthy
3. Our outlook on money will impact our “entire” spiritual life.
C. Then Jesus summarizing the heart of He wants them and us to get about our
relationship with money and our relationship with God.
1. I will just read it now but will come back to it later.
2. Read v24
• But there is a second crucial impact this next step would accomplish and we see that
in
II. Luke 16:1-13
A. Luke 16 is the parable about the unrighteous steward who was unfaithful and
lacked integrity in managing his rich boss’s financial affairs.
1. The Story
a) His unfaithfulness was reported to the rich man and as a result, he was
going to be fired.
b) He was concerned about his future so listen – Read v3-4
c) He went to those who had accounts with his boss, took their bills, and
slashed what they owed him drastically.
2. Moreover, here is an amazing thing – his master praised what he did. Now as
I read this note he did not praise his lack of integrity but the fact that he was
wise enough to think about his future and using money to impact others.
a) Read 8-9
3. Jesus says here that His own children would be wise to use their money to
influence others in their relationship with Jesus and when they do, in the
future those same people will be there at the gates of heaven to welcome them
and thank them for the impact they had upon them for Jesus
D. Then Jesus says something very interesting as He indicates their faithfulness with
money will impact how much God can entrust to them the true eternal spiritual
riches
1. Read v 10
a) If you are faithful in little things then you will be faithful in big things and
if you handle little things with integrity then I know you will also handle
big things with integrity.
b) But if you are unfaithful in little things then we can know you will also be
unfaithful when big things are given to you.
c) In other words, these “little” things become the testing ground of our
faithfulness and integrity for “big” things.
2. The next verse helps us understand what the little things are and what the big
things are. Read v11-12
a) The little things are mammon = money and possessions
b) The big things are the true spiritual eternal riches.
3. Jesus is teaching us here that God uses money (the ‘little’ thing) to test to see
if we can handle and train us regarding the “big” things - spiritual riches, the
things of God, the true, important and “big” things.
4. God is using the money and possessions He has entrusted to you and me to
test to see if we are ready and to prepare us to be able to handle
• And most importantly we see that our heart relationship with money and our
faithfulness in caring for the money God has entrusted to us
III. Break downs a major spiritual wall, actually breaks down the major, competing idol
for our love and devotion to Jesus Christ
A. Our choices regarding money impact our ability to serve God, to love Him and be
devoted to Him with all our hearts. Read v13
B. This is one of those either/or passages – no gray areas as a hard choice has to be
made as Jesus makes it clear either you are serving God or you are serving
mammon = money and possessions. You cannot, not may not, but cannot love
and serve both at the same time.
1. Serving God and serving money are polar opposites that are mutually
exclusive, that are impossible to do at the same time.
2. Illustrate with the fact they are polar opposites with trying to walk two
different paths at the same time.
3. We heard this before at the end of the last section we looked at as Jesus says
the same thing in another context to a different group of people to summarize
the heart of what He just said.
4. I think Jesus is summarizing the key He wants them and us to get about our
relationship with money and with God no matter what context of Scripture or
what context of life in which we find ourselves!
C. Reread v13
• The choice to serve, love and be devoted to Jesus with our money breaks a major
stronghold in our hearts So:
IV. What do we do with all of this?
A. The stakes are high – one of the biggest and most important decision in life that
will impact your Following Jesus and Impacting Others and MVC being a disciple
making church!
B. My goal is simply a win-win by 100% participation because
1. Every person at MVC wins when they know and experience the great
freedom, joy and fulfilment of being devoted to Jesus and not held back by
money. Everyone living out our God ordained mission of being and making
disciples. I deeply want you to have that!
2. MVC wins when every person does what is best for them and obeys God in
giving to their church because then MVC will have the resources to make a
greater impact for Jesus upon this world, thus being a disciple making church!
a) At the end of last year, I shared a sermon that did quickly highlighted the
many ways that MVC is making disciples and Impacting the Lost for
Jesus and Believers becoming more like Jesus here, everywhere you the
people of MVC go and around the world by our missionaries!
b) At the end of last year, there was also a meeting of the membership of
MVC where by faith they voted to accept a budget for this year, which is
a 5% increase over last year’s, so we can be the church we believe God
wants us to be.
(1) I say faith because bottom line to meet that budget will require our
weekly giving to go up around $3,000
C. Let me speak to the 80% that stats say either just throw in a few dollars or do not
give at all.
1. The stakes are very high for your spiritual life here on earth now and your
treasures in heaven in the future.
2. For a major spiritual win in your life and for the sake of your church make
that choice, that will break the stronghold of money in your life and begin to
give joyfully to your church.
3. While there is an abundance of teaching on this in the Scripture let me just
share one verse with you that shows God wants us giving to the church we are
a part of, the place that ministers to us spiritually: Read 2 Corinthians 9:11
4. While 10% is the goal many people shoot for, the place I began when I first
started to give, some give a greater percentage, which I do now, and some
give a lesser percentage.
5. The important thing is that you give joyfully what you believe the Lord would
have you give. Because God loves a joyful giver.
6. Take some time this week with the Lord and ask Him what He wants you to
do, then by faith do it with joy and watch what God does in your heart and
life!
7. A couple of resources have been given to you today to help you in that
process and at Welcome Center is brochure to help think through why, how
much to give and how you can give.
D. Let me speak to the 20% that stats say carry the bulk of the giving at a church
1. Someone said at the meeting – this is our budget, we are the church so each
one of us must make a decision to increase our giving.
2. I did that this week on line as I give digitally
3. I ask you to prayerfully and joyfully do the same this week regarding a
decision of faith and joy to increase your giving so MVC can make a greater
impact as a disciple making church!
4. Those resources may be help to you as well!
E. Pray

Jesus is FIRST

HAPPY NEW YEAR MVC! Let's make Jesus first and last in everything we do. 

How a Church Grows

How a Church Grows
Ephesians 4 December 30, 2018
Introduction:
A. I remember a number of years ago when I driving into church to pick up my
paycheck when one of my daughters said “This is pretty cool – you just work one
day a week and you get paid for that”
B. There are so many misconceptions about a church, for example who are the
ministers at MVC? How does a church growing? Is every person important?
Where is the church? When is the church working?
C. This morning I want to look at a passage that help us think more clearly about
some of these issues.
• Turn in your Bibles to
I. Ephesians 4
A. Paul wrote this letter to the church in Ephesus to remind them of the riches they
have in Christ, that in Christ they are now one community of both Jews and
Gentiles and then to instruct them how to walk in light of this!
1. Here is chapter four he focuses upon our unity in Christ, especially our walk
together as a church community carrying out the mission that Jesus gave to
us.
B. Let’s start by looking at the roles as seen in v11-12
1. Read
2. Note in v11 he talks about the fact that Jesus gave different ministers of His
Word to the church –
a) the apostles and prophets build the church with God’s Word,
b) the evangelists minster God’s Word to the lost
c) the pastors and teachers minister God’s Word to the believers
3. In v12 tells us the purpose of these ministers of God’s Word – It is to equip –
prepare and train the saints. Read v12
4. For what are they preparing the saints, believers, and lay people?
a) Read 12b
b) The work of service or literally the work of ministry.
5. My job or role in God’s program for his church is that I would prepare and
train you to do the ministry! When you do look what happens –
a) Read 12c
b) Equipped saints doing the ministry build up and strengthen the church.
C. Then in v13-15 he tells us what the church is being built up to, what we are
growing up into.
1. Listen as I read v13 “Until we all….” our job will not be done until we all
achieve what follows:
a) Unity of the faith – we all understand this book
b) Knowledge of the Son of God – We all have a living and real experience
of Jesus in our daily lives
c) Mature man – we all are established, developed and mature
d) The measure of the stature … fullness of Christ – we all become more
and more like Christ.
2. When we move in this direction listen to what it results in –
a) Read
b) That simply means we are able to stand strong and not be knocked
around by false teaching, men’s gimmicks and Satan’s schemes!
3. He summarizes it all in v15 – We are all becoming more and more like Jesus
in more and more areas of our life
D. Sounds like there is still a ways to go at MVC – our job is not done until we all
reach this place. How is that going to happen?
1. Listen to v16 “… every …. Each individual….”
2. Simply this verse teaches us that what causes the growth of the church is
when every person is fully engaged doing the part that Jesus has designed for
him or her to do.
II. Application
A. This passage answers many of our opening questions
1. Who are the ministers at MVC? According to this verse, every believer in
Christ is a minister not just the pastors or staff people!
2. How does a church grow? - The church grows when the believers take the
things they have learned in God’s Word, live it out and take it to others!
3. Is every person important? The church will not grow the way God intends
unless every person is fully engaged; doing the part that Jesus has designed
for them to do.
4. Where is the church? - Since the church is people and not a building - right
now the church is gathered at 6300 w 127th Street but this afternoon it will be
scattered through the southwest portion of Chicago. During the week we will
be scattered throughout Chicago and the country as we go to work, school,
play, travel with vacation and work, etc.
5. When is the Church working? No, it is not just one day a week on Sunday
morning and during not only official programs of the church but also
whenever a member of MVC church does anything in the name of Jesus at
any time of the day or day of the week any place they go. Then in essence,
MVC is always working wherever its people go!
B. Simply you are MVC, you are the ministers of MVC, and you are very important
to MVC, you are the key to MVC growing. Whenever and wherever you are
living for Jesus, MVC is at work!
C. Because of you MVC is working: (Start Slide show of Ministries)
1. On Monday night, 45 junior high students come to our House ministry and an
average of 65 high school students come to our Revolution ministry within a
week. They ministered to by 32 people who serve in these ministries with
approximately 35% of those kids who do not know Jesus.
2. On Tuesday morning, at Coffee Break, an average of 80 women of all ages,
from various churches, meet to hear God’s Word taught and to connect with
one another for support. There are 35 women involved in ministering there
3. On Wednesday night we have about 40 kids coming to Kidz club where 16
people minister to these children and about 60% of them do not know Jesus
and are from the local community
4. Thursday morning at Precepts about 55 women from various churches, of
varying ethnic and economic groups and various stages of spiritual growth
gather together to learn how to study God’s Word in depth.
5. Thursday afternoon there are teams of people who go to Roseland to the
Agape Center to prepare a meal for the students and staff. Here the exciting
part – this ministry is an outreach ministry of our Widows’ Connection group
at MVC. They have cooked for as few as 30 and as many as 90. Fourteen
people from here make that ministry possible
6. On Thursday night
a) Around 30 college age kids meet together and are ministered to by four
people as they seek to navigate this stage of life
b) We average about 25 addicts and codependents who are ministered to by
four people regarding their habits, hurts and hang-ups. About 20% of
them do not know the Lord
c) We also average about 23 men from surrounding communities, primarily
the hood, who come to play basketball and hear God’s Word presented
to them in a way that connects with them. One man runs this ministry
by himself and about 98% of them are lost
7. Friday night is
a) Grief Share where three people minster to an average of 4-7 people who
are grieving the loss of loved ones in their lives. Close to 80% of those
who come through do not know the Lord
b) Five people from MVC go to IIT to minister to about 55 Chinese
scholars studying at universities here in Chicago. The purpose of this
time is to examine the claims of Christ. 100% of those who have come
are lost with about 20% of them getting saved. We have been so blessed
to witness some of their baptisms here and having some of them
attending here every week!
8. Every other Saturday morning and throughout the week there are studies for
men with about 50 men ministered to by five men helping them connect with
God, His Word and other men.
9. On Sunday morning during the second hour Pastor Clem and about 12
volunteers minister to about 30 seniors as they drink deeply from the Word of
God.
10. And that only scratches the surface of what so many of you are doing every
day as you walk with Jesus ministering to those around you both saved and
lost, young and old, rich, poor and in between, family, friends, classmates,
coworkers, neighbors, etc.
D. Bottom line, MVC is alive and at work constantly because wherever you go and
whenever you are doing something in Jesus’ name MVC is at work!
• I want to close by acknowledging two of the people who have helped MVC make a
big impact.
III. Appreciation
A. I would like to ask Keith Buell and Diana Fernandez to come up here for just a
few minutes.
B. Gratitude from me
C. Gift from Mike Kubo
D. Diana or Keith like to say anything.
E. Reception afterwards.

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas, MVC!

Pastor Pat closes our Christmas series, The Christmas Story. 

The Christmas Story

Pastor Pat continues in our series, "The Christmas Story".

The Christmas Story - Magnificat

Magnificat
Luke 1:46-55 Dec 16, 2018 (1713)
I. Introduction:
A. Dan Bellamy will be here this Wednesday night, for our MV Kids Christmas
Party, from 6:30PM- 8:30PM! There will be hotdogs, chips, cupcakes and then
storyteller Dan Bellamy sharing the gospel in a unique way that will absolutely
impact your littles ones and how they see life with Christ. This night is for
everyone, young and old, kids or not, we want you to come out and enjoy the
night!
B. As we continue today to look at the Christmas story through the eyes of Mary, the
Mother of Jesus, we will see her response to the announcement from the Angel
Gabriel that she will be the mother of the Son of God, the Messiah, the Christ,
Jesus!
1. This section has been called the Magnificat, which comes from the first word
of the first line in the Latin version of the Bible, the vulgate of Mary’s
declaration of praise. (“Magnificat anima mea Dominum,” or “My soul
magnifies the Lord.”)
C. The setting of this praise was that after Gabriel told Mary the news of Jesus’ birth
through her that she went to visit her relative Elizabeth, the old barren woman
now six months pregnant with the forerunner of the King, John the Baptist.
1. When Mary arrived and the two greeted each other, Elizabeth was filled with
the Holy Spirit, listen to what she said.
a) And note as I read that two times she will call Mary blessed.
b) Read v42-45 Emphasize blessed in both places
D. And now we come to this morning’s passage, the response of Mary to what
Elizabeth said and what the Angel told her, the Magnificat!
E. Before I read it, let me tell you a bit about this section of Scripture.
1. In this section Mary tells us that she is exalting or magnifying, lifting up the
greatness of God and rejoicing in God who is her Savior!
2. It is loaded with OT allusions, which tells us that Mary, even at a young age ,
most likely in her teens between 15-17, knew her Bible well, the Old
Testament and the promises it had made especially about the coming King
and Savior, the Messiah!
3. Also this Psalm of praise is broken up into three sections:
a) What God has done for Mary
b) What He does for all who fear him and are humble
c) What He has and will do for Israel
4. Finally the driving theme of this passage is God’s mercy
a) Mercy is simply an inward concern for someone in serious need and
bringing the outward help that they need.
b) We see this idea as the word mercy is used two times and a third
reference to mercy in the word regard which means to take special notice
of someone with the implication of concerning oneself with the one you
are noticing.
c) I believe that the thrust of this praise is the fact that God is merciful to
the humble by doing great things for them and merciful to Israe. by
remembering His promises to them. Simply God is merciful to the
humble and to Israel!
5. Watch for all of this as I Read v46-55
• Let’s start by looking at the first section about
II. God is merciful to the humble by doing great things for them
A. Read 48a. God has taken notice of Mary who was not someone of high position
or importance in the community. She was just another one of the young girls, one
of humble state.
1. She recognized that from then on every generation would consider her as
blessed, just like Elizabeth just did for being the mother of the Lord and
believing His word!
2. Then she states that the Mighty One, the Holy One, has done great things for
her, the one who is of a humble state!
3. Listen as I read v48b-49 “for….”
B. Then Mary continues her praise of God’s mercy by extending beyond just herself
as a person of a humble state and expands it to God’s mercy to everyone who is
humble, those who fear Him. To them also the Mighty One has done mighty
deeds!
1. Basically she is saying it’s not just me that God is merciful to and does great
things for everyone who is humble, everyone who fears Him, He does great
things.
2. And here is the good news – that means what we read in the Magnificat
includes you and me who are humble before the Lord and fear Him!
3. Watch as I read v50-53 for how God shows His mercy to the humble by
exalting them and doing great things for them while he brings down the
proud.
C. The proud, the powerful and the wealthy she is referring to here are those who do
not know God, or in our day we could say they are lost people who do not know
Jesus.
1. While God is always down on pride, there is a big difference between a lost
person who is so proud they have no need for Jesus and can do it all
themselves versus a believer who may struggle with pride.
2. Also the Bible shows us many examples of wealthy and powerful people who
love God are Humble and have had His blessing.
D. And we also know many lost people who are proud, have high positions and
many possessions who are not empty handed, and at the same time many
Christians whose lives do not seem so exalted and filled.
1. Even the Psalmist was very troubled when he considered the prosperity and
ease of the wicked while he was being stricken all day long. But all that
changed when he went into the presence of God and perceived their end!
2. I think that Ps 107:8-9 gives us some perspective here.
a) The wonders, the mighty deeds God does for the humble are things in
the spirit and soul and in the future. Things that are a part of the unseen
internal world and future world rather than the things we see right now!
(1) We need to get our eyes off the two second life here and put them
upon the big one!
b) God scatters the lost proud and brings them down and sends them away
empty handed regarding the things that really matter, the things that
money cannot buy, the things that are eternal, the things of the soul and
spirit!
c) Makes me think of the picture I saw around Thanksgiving of a homeless
man on his knees in the middle of the street thanking God.
(1) Listen to what He said when he was asked why a homeless man
with nothing would be thanking God?
(2) He replied: “God will never forsake me and though I might not
have much in material things, I have the greatest gift of all –
salvation… thanks to Jesus Christ”! He said, “My riches don’t
come from man and money, but from our heavenly Father”!
• So we learn in the first two-thirds of this psalm of praise that God is merciful to the
humble by doing great things for them! In the last third of this psalm of praise we see
III. God is Merciful to Israel by remembering His promises to them
A. Watch for this as I read v54-55
B. God in His covenant with Abraham promised him many things which they had
been looking forward to the fulfilment of these for centuries! God promised He
would:
1. Bless Abraham and his descendants,
2. That God would be their God,
3. Save them from their enemies,
4. Give them a land forever,
5. Through Abraham’s seed all the nations of the earth would be blessed.
C. This is all part of the larger story of redemption we will look at on Christmas Eve,
but by the way we are in on these blessings and promises as well because those
promises were spoken to Abraham and His seed Jesus, and because of our
relationship with Jesus we are in on all these promises and blessings!
IV. So what can we take away from all of this?
V. Final Application
A. First “God is attracted to and blesses the humble!”
1. Listen to what 1 Pet 5:5 says
a) There is a greater experience of God’s grace when a believer is humble
because we see throughout Scripture that God blesses the humble!
2. The Pharisees were a great picture of pride.
a) They did deeds to be noticed and admired by men,
b) They loved to be seated at the place of honor at banquets and religious
gatherings,
c) They loved the respectful greetings they got in the market place
d) And loved being called teacher,
e) Basically they wanted to be seen by others as impressive, important and
successful.
3. Listen to what Jesus said to them after confronting them about these things.
Read Mt 23:12
4. Even believers struggle with wanting to be around people who are
impressive, important and successful so we can feel significant and look
significant to others.
5. If this is the case for your own benefit and the blessing of others and the
glory of God, you need to confess your sin of pride, seek God to build into
you a spirit of humility like Mary’s.
B. Secondly, do you need mercy today? Prayer is one of the greatest forms of
humility as we put everything else aside and turn to God to do for us what we
cannot do for ourselves – Heb 4:16
C. Finally when we consider worship, John Piper says, “The only people whose soul
can truly magnify the Lord are people like Elizabeth and Mary—people who
acknowledge their lowly estate and are overwhelmed by the condescension of the
merciful God.

The Christmas Story

Pastor Pat continues in our Christmas series, The Christmas Story.