Moraine Valley Church

The Christmas Story

Dedication of Jesus
Luke 2:21-38 December 2 2018
I. Introduction:
A. This Christmas season we want to look at the story of Jesus’ birth in light of one of
the key people in this story, in fact outside of Jesus this person played the biggest
role in the Christmas Story that is His mother Mary.
1. We are going to see how Mary was a woman of faith, praise and depth even
at a very young age.
2. Then we will come back on Christmas Eve and take a quick look at how this
story of Mary fits into the larger story of what God was doing as His
fingerprints and His purposes are all over these stories.
B. We are going to do this by looking at the account of the story of Jesus’ birth in the
book of Luke. He wrote this book so an official named Theophilus and we, as well,
could know the exact truth of what happened with Jesus as he wrote an orderly
account of the events of Jesus life.
C. This morning, since it is child dedication Sunday, we are going to be looking at the
dedication of Jesus about 40 days after His birth.
1. While it is chronologically out of order in Jesus’ story, it does fit thematically
with our dedications this morning. We are actually beginning with the end
of the birth account rather than the beginning.
a) There is an advantage to that because the conclusion of the story really
helps us understand a bit more of why Jesus was born, which had been
becomes a bit clearer with every story.
2. So as we come to this story this morning remember that already a few things
have happened – the angel appeared to Mary to announce to her that she
would be the mother of Jesus, Mary responded with a strong statement of
praise that revealed her heart and God’s purposes for all that fear Him and
finally the actual birth of Jesus and what Mary had heard from the shepherds
who had a visit from an angel announcing the birth of Jesus to them.
• So here is the story on
II. Dedication Day for Jesus
A. Setting –
1. It was forty days after the birth of Jesus. Mary and Joseph went from
Bethlehem to Jerusalem, about six miles, to the temple to do two things that
the Mosaic Law had required – dedicate Jesus to God and also to offer the
sacrifices for the purification of Mary that was required of mothers who gave
birth.
2. The same day that Joseph and Mary were heading to the temple so was a man
from Jerusalem whose name was Simeon. As the story continues, we will see
that it was no coincidence that they both showed up on the same day, at the
same time. But rather a divine appointment from God.
a) Turn to Luke 2 and read v25-27
b) There are four things we learn about Simeon here
(1) Righteous and devout man
(2) Looking for the consolation of Israel – consolation means comfort,
that time when Israel would be comforted, especially by the
Messiah, the Christ. Listen to these OT passages (Is 49:13; 51:3;
52:9; 66:13)
(3) He was anointed by the Holy Spirit
(4) God had revealed to him that he would not die until he saw the
Messiah
B. Listen to what happened next as Simeon takes Jesus in his arms and blesses God!
1. Read v28-32
2. He basically says – God I can die now because I have seen the Messiah, the
one who will be Savior of all peoples – Jew and Gentiles
C. Listen to the response of Joseph and Mary. Read v33
1. Were amazed – they marveled and wondered at what they just heard
2. Not only about what Simeon said but I also believe everything they have
heard over the last ten months from the angels, shepherds and now from
Simeon. Read the second half of v33
D. Then Simeon directly addressed Mary, listen – read v34-35
1. He told her that Jesus had a special assignment from God that would result in
the rising and falling of many in Israel – the rising to salvation of those who
accept Him as Messiah and the downfall of those who reject Him
2. Also, that she herself will bear deep pain in her soul because of Jesus.
3. Maybe a little more information than the typical mom wants to hear at their
child’s dedication but of course, Jesus was not the typical child with a typical
calling on His life.
E. It appears that at the very moment that God sent another affirmation for Mary and
Joseph regarding everything they had been hearing.
1. Listen read v36-38
2. Anna gave thanks to God and began to speak about this baby Jesus to all of
those who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem!
• So what does this story mean for you and me? I think there are
III. Two Main Takeaways
A. The first has to do with the whole meaning of Christmas, or even more so the
ultimate purpose for Jesus coming to earth!
1. We see in this story that Jesus is the Messiah and as the Messiah He has
come to bring comfort to Israel and salvation to the entire world, both the
Jews and the Gentiles!
2. Jesus’ presence, the Messiah they have been waiting for, was not going to be
an easy ride either for Israel or for Mary as His mother. Many in Israel were
going to fall because of Him and Mary was going to experience deep pain
herself.
3. Bottom line we learn from this that the story of Jesus coming to earth was
about redemption, redemption for all mankind, both Jew and Gentile and the
redemption of the city Jerusalem – its waste places, wilderness and desert.
B. The second takeaway has to do with you and me! Simply we should all have the
same attitude of Simeon.
1. First, he spent his life looking forward to the comfort of Israel and God
blessed him by allowing to see the one who was going to do that – the
Messiah, the Christ – Jesus Christ
a) But what he did not see was the actual fulfilment of that time of comfort
as that is yet to come both in the kingdom here on earth for 1000 years
and in eternity!
b) But the attitude of looking forward to the return of the Messiah Jesus to
fulfill this consolation is something that God is seeking to work in each
one of us by His grace. Read Titus 2:11-13
2. Secondly, the response that naturally flowed out of Simeon was blessing God
and from Anna it was to thank God. That is what we are going to do now as
we start this Christmas Season.

Baptism Sunday

How to Walk in Christ
Colossians 2:6-7 Nov 25, 2018
Baptism/Membership/Thanksgiving Weekend
I. Introduction:
A. This weekend brings a few things together at MVC and the passage we will look
at brings all of these together. Our new life in Jesus is pictured by baptism, our
walk with God seen in membership and thanksgiving in today’s message
1. Turn to Colossians 2:6-7
B. Colossians was written to warn them about some false teaching that was seeking
to influence them away from Jesus being enough for their salvation and walk!
Instead, they said you need Jesus plus some special spiritual knowledge or Jesus
plus a legalistic walk.
1. We too today are threatened by false teaching that has well-constructed
arguments that sound very plausible and convincing that seek to pull us away
from Jesus being enough.
2. Watch for all of this as I read v1-10a
• This morning I want to focus upon verses 6-7 that teach us how to walk with Jesus in
spiritually dangerous times
II. Colossians 2:6-7
A. Let me start by laying out the structure of these two verses.
1. It is much like the great commission we recently learned – the command to
make disciples followed by three participles that tell us we do that by going,
baptizing and teaching.
2. This passage starts with a command in v6 – Walk with Jesus and is followed
by four participles in v7 that teach us how to walk with Jesus!
B. The command is in v6. Read
1. The command is based upon this salvation experience. Since you received
Jesus now walk in Him.
2. Simply - you started with Jesus do not let these well-formed, convincing and
plausible arguments turn you away from walking with Jesus. Keep locked in
on Jesus and do not turn to the right or to the left.
C. Well how do you do that? The four participles tell us how to do that.
1. A little Greek here will help
a) Let me tell you that the first three participles are in the passive voice
which means that we are acted upon, the recipients of some action.
“Bill is hitting me – I am the one being hit”
b) The last one is in the active voice, which means that I am the one doing
the action. “I am hitting Bill (bang)– I am doing the hitting”
2. Let’s look at the three passive ones. The first is having been (past tense)
rooted in Him – Read 7a
a) God has already placed believers in Jesus
b) Roots are that part of a plat or tree that absorbs the nutrition it needs to
grow and be healthy from the ground around it.
c) We have been firmly rooted in Jesus and we get our spiritual nutrition
from Him.
3. The second is in the (present tense) now you are being built up in Him –
Read v7b.
a) Remember Philippians 1:6 – He who began a good work in you will
complete it until the day of Christ Jesus.
b) God and His grace are at work in me building me up in Christ
4. The third means by which we walk in Jesus is being established in the faith.
Read v7c-d.
a) Simply he is saying here we grow firmer and stronger in our faith as the
Word of God instructs us.
b) God is using His word in your life to strengthen you and make you even
firmer in Christ
5. Since we are the recipients of these three means of walking in Jesus, does that
mean passivity on my part? – I think not.
a) I cannot create my own suntan.
b) But what I can do is go out where the sun is shining and expose myself
to it and the sun does the work of creating the tan on me. The sun
produces the rays and I am the recipient of them that impacts my skin.
c) So I believe my part is:
(1) Since I am already rooted in Jesus I need to depend upon Jesus for
everything I already have and need from Him.
(2) And I am built up in Jesus as I depend upon God and His grace to
be at work in my heart
(3) And I am established and made stronger as I avail myself to the
Word of God, which works in me to transform me. Thus the value
of church, devotions and small groups
• Now this fourth way we learn to walk with Jesus …
III. Gratitude
A. Listen as I read this. Read v7e gratitude! Not just gratitude but overflowing with
gratitude. Gratitude should exist in abundance, there is so much gratitude in you
that there is plenty of leftovers just like the meal from Thursday.
B. It refers to the an ongoing and habitual inner attitude of being thankful to God! It
is a heart that is constantly grateful to God
1. Thanksgiving is not just a day or a weekend but rather should be our daily
practice for the rest of our lives.
C. Why is practice of gratitude added to this list of major things God has done for
us? Simple – gratitude and thanksgiving are somethings you do to someone who
does something for you, you do not thank yourself for what you do! An attitude
of gratitude means that I am constantly depending upon and receiving everything
I need for life from God. I am locked in on Him
D. Remember I said that the final means by which we walk with Jesus is the one that
is in the active voice – that means we take action. Thus cultivating a grateful
heart is a spiritual practice and discipline that we should intentionally build into
our lives!
• Let me help jump start this practice for you
IV. Application
A. First, do an honest evaluation of your heart. If you are not constantly grateful
then you fall short of what God wants in your life and what you need to not be
drawn away from Jesus. You need to be honest with God and tell Him that is
where you are. Clean out the old dead ungrateful heart with confession.
B. Since you are rooted in Him and being build up in Him then depend upon Jesus to
send into your now clean and empty heart a spirit of gratitude (through that root
system)
C. Let Him establish you and transform you by His word by doing a study of God’s
Word regarding giving thanks and thankfulness!
D. Begin to practice thanksgiving in everything 1 Thessalonians 5:18
1. Not just the good things but the hard and bad things that touch your life with
the knowledge that God is using them in my life ultimately to produce good
things
2. Begin to list in a notebook the things God has done for you in your life.
Count your blessings, name them one by one, count your blessings and see
what God has done!
3. List on a daily basis the things He has done for you that day – all the way
from someone gave you a word of encouragement or wisdom to you woke up
this morning.
E. Meditate this week on this statement “Everything outside of hell is God’s grace”
When you realize how true this is you cannot help but be grateful to God for
everything!

Redefined: MVC

Redefined: MVC
Matt 28:18-20 November 18, 2018
I. Introduction:
A. When it comes to preaching you could say that today’s message is the end of the
series on discipleship and it’s time to move onto something else.
1. But I do not see today’s message as the conclusion to the series but rather as
the launching pad to a discipleship movement at MVC.
2. My prayer, my hope, my dream is that discipleship will become part of the
DNA at MVC, it will become part of the environment of MVC, it will
become part of the culture of MVC over the next five years.
B. I want to launch us today by reviewing what we have learned so far and then talk
about next steps from here in order to start building discipleship into the DNA of
MVC.
• Let’s start with our …
II. Review
A. My hope of this review on one hand is so that we can better crystalize in our
minds the things we have learned together about discipleship, but even more so to
stir up our hearts in being disciples.
B. We called this series Redefined! The reason for that is that we wanted to strip
away all the current day thinking in North America about what a disciple is and
go back to the Bible to allow the Word of God to once again define what a
disciple is. – Thus redefined!
C. So we learned in our introductory message two foundational things!
1. First the mission that Jesus gave to the church was to make disciples and we
do that by going, baptizing and teaching
a) Turn and read Mt 28:18-20
b) Going to the lost with the gospel message, baptizing those who respond
to the message of Jesus’ salvation by faith, then finally spending the rest
of our lives teaching and learning what it means to live by the word of
God
2. We also learned in that message that disciples are not a subclass of
Christians, superstar or all-star Christians, but rather that the word disciple is
synonymous with being a believer in Jesus Christ.
a) So the real question as a believer is not am I a disciple or not but rather
am I living like a disciple or not because that is who I really am.
D. So in light of the first week our next job was to redefine a disciple. That week we
also learned two major lessons.
1. First, the word disciple means learner or pupil.
a) In addition, we learned that when a pupil or disciple is fully trained he
will be like his teacher. Read Lk 6:40
b) Since we are disciples of Jesus the end goal of our growth is becoming
more like Jesus. – Thus the mission of MVC includes becoming like
Jesus!
2. The second thing we learned that morning was from the call of Jesus to the
disciples in Matt 4:19-20 Read
a) We ended up that day by saying the definition of a disciple summarized
in four words is, Following Jesus, impacting others!
E. Then we spent a week looking at the third way of making a disciple – this is
teaching
1. Read v20a
2. We learned that week that being a disciple is not just studying the Bible more
and learning more truth but actually, while it does require studying the Bible,
the end goal is not knowledge but obedience. Living our lives under the
direction of God’s word
3. Thus we have adapted in many different places here the importance of the
language “next step of obedience” and we have even created a ”next steps
table” where you could discuss this personally with someone.
F. Then we redefined growing as a disciple
1. We learned the valuable lesson that each one of us is at different places in our
journey with Jesus thus each one of us needs something different for us to
continue to grow as a disciple.
2. We learned one size does not fit all when it comes to Christian growth and
that some people need to get to keep growing and some people need to give
to keep growing
3. This Power Point summarized that morning.
G. Then we learned there is a cost to impacting others for Jesus.
1. We learned in 2 Timothy 2 about the self-imposed suffering or hardship in
order to impact others.
2. We learned that we are called to be like a
a) Soldier that sets aside his own agenda to carry out the agenda and
mission of our commanding officer Jesus.
b) Athlete who must follow the rules in order to win the prize – we must set
aside our ideas and ways and follow the way God says to do it
c) And like the farmer we must work hard
H. Then we redefine the method of discipleship.
1. We learned in this message that we must not only buy into the mission of
discipleship and the message of discipleship – which is the Bible, but also
into the method of discipleship which is not just adding disciples but
multiplying disciples – making disciples who make disciples.
2. We saw that Paul bought into Jesus’ method of making disciples, which was
to go deeply with a few and give priority time to those who would learn to
give it away to others!
I. Then we looked at obstacles that keep us back from following Jesus and
impacting others. We saw two primary ones
1. First, living for today rather than eternity. We are so caught up in the
problems and opportunities of this world, the two-second life, that we give no
thought to the part of our lives that will last forever – the big one!
2. The second obstacle is that people are in the driver’s seat of their own car
rather than letting Jesus take control and ownership of their lives.
J. Then we looked at the problem of inadequacy, that feeling that everyone of us has
that we are just not enough to be the disciple Jesus wants us to be and we do not
have enough to impact others.
1. Read Matt 28:20b
2. We learned that Jesus being with us is not just a matter of Him being in the
same room but also Him working along with us in what we are doing. He
puts his fingerprints all over our lives and work for him.
K. Then we learned from Pastor Mike Locke the importance of God’s word in this
journey of discipleship
1. We learned that God’s word it reliable and can be trusted
2. We learned the value of God’s word in that it leads our lives!
3. Jesus said in John 8:31
L. Mike also taught us as a disciple why we should follow Jesus! – Simply because
our call as disciples is higher than we can achieve but Jesus has reached down in
love to be what we need to live for Him!
• That is the heart of what we learned in this series. Now what are
III. The next steps in making discipleship part of the DNA of MVC
A. Let look at a simple chart.
1. PP
2. All four of these can in one way or another be considered discipleship but the
bottom two were the most intense and most effective ways Jesus discipled
people.
3. So those are the two we are going to try to strengthen over the next five years
at MVC.
B. First, let’s talk about the twelve –
1. The small group of men that Jesus selected.
a) This was an important decision for Jesus because they are the ones to
whom He was entrusting His life work!
b) It was so important that He spent an entire night away on the mountain
praying about it. And when morning came, He called those who were
following Him, probably the seventy, and out of them he choose twelve
that he called apostles.
c) These twelve are the people Jesus primarily invested in and took with
him everywhere teaching and modeling for them God’s way of life and
ministry. Simply how to follow Jesus and impact others!
2. To us at MVC the twelve is our small group ministry
a) This ministry has become very important to us as we seek to make small
groups part of the DNA of MVC that we have refocused part of Tami
Reyna’s responsibilities to include being our director of small groups so
we can give more intentionality and time to this important discipleship
structure.
b) Small groups are the perfect place to grow with others as disciples of
Jesus Christ as we deeply connect with God and with one another
through our small group ministry.
(1) Remember the means of discipleship is really all about people
rubbing off on people.
(2) And continuing in God’s Word
(3) And seeking our next step of obedience and helping each other
reach our next step of obedience as we grow as disciples
(4) So we need to be committed to some people to do this.
c) In addition, a proper view of small groups is not adding another thing to
our already busy schedules but rather putting something in busy
schedules where I can regain my bearings in Christ with other disciples
in the midst of our busy schedules!
d) Here are some details about small groups at MVC
(1) We are hoping for group sizes of around 10-12 people
(2) We are going to have two small group sessions a year, one in fall
and one in winter and spring where you will meet every other
week. We will be taking the summers off.
(3) So by signing up you are not signing up for a lifetime but rather at
least one semester but hopefully two to find out if that group is a
good fit for you or not.
(4) A new element to our groups as well will be that the staff will be
providing materials for the groups to go through that will be based
on the current series – thus allowing a greater oneness within the
church as we are all wrestling through, talking about, and praying
about the same things at the same time.
e) For many here today I would guess that this is probably your next step of
obedience to put yourself in a place where you can continue to grow as a
disciple!
(1) We are very excited to be kicking off some new small groups at
the beginning of the year!
(2) You can sign up for a small group starting today after the service
for the next 3 weeks, or sign up on line or by calling the office.
B. Next, let’s talk about the three.
1. The three were the ones that Jesus spent most of His time with.
a) Peter, James, and John were at everything else the seventy and twelve
were at, but these three had experiences and had discussions with Jesus
that no one else did.
b) In addition, these three became key leaders in the early church as we saw
in the book of Acts.
2. Here at MVC our desire is to begin a Spirit led movement which is more
about mystery than management when it comes to investing deeply in a few
at a time.
a) The key strategy of this movement is buying into the method that Jesus
used of it multiplication – giving priority to investing deeply in a few
who have the desire to give away to others!
b) I think you will remember from our sermon this is not just an exclusive
group of a few but also ultimately our attempt to touch many in a deep
way to be followers of Jesus who are impacting others.
3. We are going to be jump starting this in January as well as we have a core
team of six men and women who said they want to see this movement happen
at MVC.
a) This fall these six will be contacting individuals they sense God is
leading them to, to be part of a small group for six months where they
will be receiving a greater vision for discipleship the way Jesus did.
b) If you say, “Hey I really have a heart the beats for that and want to be a
part of this movement” please go to the next steps table and let them
know your desire for this and give them your contact info and someone
will reach out and talk to you about this.
C. Finally, discipleship being part of MVC’s DNA means that discipleship has
become a mindset of the people of MVC that naturally fills their hearts is part of
their natural conversations and their normal way of life. I actually saw glimpses
of this as I was in normal conversations with two different women during this
series.
1. One told me that she wants to walk better with Jesus and there was a woman
whom she admires for her passion for the Lord and said that she is going to
ask her to mentor her.
2. Another woman who is walking well with the Lord and she told me she is
praying regarding who she can invest her life in!
D. May God that multiply 500 fold here at MVC and if He does in five years we will
need three services to hold all the people who are following Jesus and impacting
others!

REDEFINED

REDEFINED

Pastor Mike Locke continues in our series, "Redefined"

Redefined: Obstacles

Redefined: Obstacles
Psalm 39:5-6; Romans 12:1 October 21, 2018
I. Introduction:
A. As I thought about a series on discipleship I asked myself what are the main
obstacles that keep a believer back from living for Jesus and His mission of
making disciples – people who are following Jesus, impacting others!
1. I thought of busyness and thought yes! I thought of wrong priorities and
thought yes! I thought of immaturity and thought yes! I thought of sin –
Absolutely! And the list of specifics could go on and on
2. Then I wondered are there any underlying foundational issues that tie all
these together that derail believers from living as faithful disciples who are
all in on Jesus and His mission!
B. I came up with two foundational obstacles!
1. I am sure they are not the only two but they are two key ones that believers
struggle with when it comes to following Jesus, impacting others!
• The first one has to do with this question
II. Is your life built for the big one?
A. Another way to say this is this, “Are you building your life around this life here
on earth or your eternal life in the future?”
1. Picture from paper
2. Story of picture in New York Times
B. Our perspective on our own lives – how long they last and in what to invest.
Think with me for a minute
1. According to the Bible, how long does the average person live? - Psalm
90:10 says seventy years or eighty if we have strength.
2. According to the Bible, how long does the average Christian live? – John
3:16 forever!
3. The reality is that our lives are made up of two parts – the one here on earth
in this body and the one that will be in eternity in a brand new body. Same
life in two different bodies in two different places!
C. Have you ever given any thought what your life here on earth looks like in
comparison to eternal life? I think Psalm 39 gives us a window into that! Turn
1. In this Psalm, the Psalmist asked the Eternal God to give him some
perspective on how long his life will last. Let me know just how transient,
temporary, how short my life really is!
2. Read v4-5 “nothing in your sight” “at his best”
3. Read Ps 144:4
4. Let me try to expand on this idea that our life at its best is like a mere breath
a) Take a breath and note how long it was.
(1) Average breath last about two seconds.
b) Average breaths per minute about 16; 23,040 breaths a day; 8,409,000
per year; live to be 80 years old – 672,768,000 in a lifetime.
c) So now let’s get some perspective –
(1) How long does a breath, two seconds ‘at best’, seem, in
comparison to your entire lifetime?
(2) How long does your life here on earth seem in comparison to the
one you will live in eternity?
d) As he said in the phrase right before – In the eyes of an eternal God our
life is like nothing!
D. So I need to ask you, which life is the big one? In addition, are you living your
life for the two-second life, or are you living your life for the big one–eternity?
1. Which life are you thinking about and basing your life off when you are
making plans, decisions, and living out the two-second life?
E. Do you recognize that while the two-second life is not very long in light of the
big one it is extremely important in determining what our eternity will look like?
1. First, not only do Christians live forever but also so do Non-Christians. – so
the location and environment of our forever life is based upon a decision we
make in the two-second life regarding Jesus
a) If I acknowledge my sin that separates me from God, and rely upon Jesus
and what He did for me at the cross for my sin as my only hope to be
right with God then I will live forever with Him in a real place called
heaven
b) If I do not acknowledge my sin that separates me from God, and do not
rely upon Jesus and what He did for me at the cross for my sin as my
only hope to be right with God then I will live forever apart from Him in
a real place called hell!
2. Let me speak to believers now - do you know as believers that you will be
held accountable for and rewarded for your life and service to Jesus here on
earth, as we will stand before Him in judgment.
a) 1 Corinthians 3:13-15 teaches us our works will be tested by fire
b) How would you like to see your entire life efforts go up in smoke right in
front of your eyes as you stand in front of Jesus?
3. Matthew 6 tells us that when we use our money for the glory of God we are
actually storing up riches for ourselves in heaven. Either you can be storing
up all your riches for the two-seconds or for eternity!
4. 2 Corinthians 4:17-18 tells us that our temporary light affliction that we
suffer here on earth for Jesus sake is producing for us an eternal weight of
glory far beyond all comparison.
5. Luke 19 teaches us the way we overseer the things that God has put in our
hands will have an impact upon the degree of our reign with Him in the
future kingdom
6. Paul teaches repeatedly about receiving crowns in eternity for the faithful
service to Jesus here on this earth in the two-second life
7. Even 1 Corinthians 4:5 says that in our service for Jesus we should not look
for praise from man but the praise that comes from God at the return for
Jesus.
F. I think you get the point, so many Christians are living their lives as if the two
seconds is all there is without taking any thought to the long, long, long, long,
long, long, long, long, long, long, long, long, long, long, long, long, long, big one
they have yet to live.
1. So many believers spend their lives here on earth seeking the experiences the
world can provide, the pleasures these two seconds can provide, the
possessions these two seconds can provide, the positions these two seconds
can provide.
2. All these things are going to pass away!
G. So, I believe that the first main obstacle that keeps a believer back from living for
Jesus and His mission is that we are not living with an eternal perspective – we
are living for and investing in the two seconds rather than using the two seconds
to prepare for the big one!
• While the first obstacle had to do with perspective the second has to do with …
III. Who is the boss in your life?
A. Simply, who is in charge in your life, whom are you taking your direction from,
who is the boss in your life? The world, you or Jesus?
1. I know we all know the right Biblical answer to this but this morning I want
you to take an honest look at your heart and life and say, is Jesus calling the
shots in my life, is Jesus calling the shots in every area, is Jesus calling the
shots in the decision of my life or am I calling the shots ?
B. Turn to Romans 12:1-2. After speaking of the great salvation we have received
this is what he says about the response of believers to this. Read
C. Note a few things about this passage
1. The presentation of our bodies to God, which represents our entire lives, is
the appropriate response to God’s mercies to us. V1
2. Connected with that is the daily renewing of our minds by God’s word so we
will be changed at the core of our being v2a-b
3. Finally, both of these are done in order to carry out the very good, acceptable
and perfect will of God for our lives! V2c
D. Simply we live our lives for God’s will! We do this by:
1. Presenting our entire life to Him to be lived for His will
2. We regularly take in life transforming doses of God’s word so we know what
God’s will is!
E. So each one of us needs to come to that place in our lives where we make the
crisis decision as to who are we living for, who will be in charge in my life, Jesus
or myself?
1. If we are the boss of our own lives and call our own shots then we have little
concern for following Jesus or impacting others, maybe a little guilt but not
one of the driving desires of my life!
2. If we have presented our lives to Jesus to live under his direction and control
then following Jesus, impacting others would be one of the highest priorities
of our lives!
F. Maybe this illustration will help us see where we are
1. Is Jesus is the driver’s seat of your car or is he in the front passenger seat?
a) Driver calls the shots and is control of the car
b) Passenger is the one who the driver turns to and asks for help with
something when needed. He is not in control of the car.
c) So are you in the driver’s seat of your car/life – calling your own shots
and controlling it or just turning to Jesus and asking him for help when
you need it or is Jesus in the driver’s seat?
2. Is Jesus is the driver’s seat or passenger’s seat or the back seat of your life?
a) The back seat is where people are normally out of the conversation and
decisions of the car and sometimes are even told to be quiet back there
because you are bothering us.
b) Is Jesus in the back seat, someone you rather not hear from so you can
just keep on driving your life where you want it?
IV. Conclusion
A. Actually, we need to take this a step further as to who is holding the title deed to
your life/car?
B. The reality is that Jesus has purchased the lives of believers with His own shed
blood – my life belongs to Him! He owns my life!
1. Read 1 Corinthians 6:19-20
C. So how are you living your life?
1. Temporal or eternal perspective? Living for the two-second life or the big
one?
2. He is in charge or you are?
3. You have given Him the title deed or are you holding onto it?
D. Opportunity to turn over title deed of your life to Jesus and along with it the right
for Him to do whatever He wants in your heart to make a person who wholeheartedly
follows Jesus and impacts others!
E. Time and songs of presentation/surrender

Redefined: Method

Redefined: Method
2 Timothy 2:2 October 14, 2018
I. Introduction:
A. Recently Kim and I had a missionary couple from Ecuador spend the night with
us and he asked us a very good question. “Why do you think that the gospel
traveled from Jerusalem all the way to Rome in just twenty five years considering
the fact that when Jesus died he only had eleven faithful followers who did not
have all the advanced tools, technology and materials as well as seminars and
workshops we have today to do it? On top of that, “why do we see the church
today who has all these advanced tools, technology and materials, workshops and
seminars making such a small impact in advancing the Gospel not only around the
world but even in our own communities?”
1. I said “Great questions and I have no idea”
2. He said simply because while the church has bought into Jesus’ mission to
make disciples and His message from the Bible, we have not bought into
following His method and means.
3. As we talked, it seems that the North American church thinks that we have
better ideas than Jesus had and more resources than Jesus did to make more
disciples quickly. It seems we are trusting in our ideas and resources rather
than the method that Jesus used to make disciples!
B. I want to share with you two quotes that have deeply impacted me as to how Jesus
made disciples, quotes regarding his method:
1. “The painstaking education of the disciples secured that the Teacher’s
influence on the world should be permanent; that His kingdom should be
founded on the rock of deep and indestructible convictions in the minds of
the few, not on the shifting sands of superficial fleeting impressions on the
minds of the many! A.B. Bruce The Training of the Twelve
a) So we see here that Jesus was more concerned with going deep with a
few rather than drawing big crowds with superficial teaching.
b) And when we see Jesus’ ministry we see that the smaller the group the
more time that Jesus spent with them and I believe it was for the reasons
A.B. Bruce mentioned
2. The second quote builds on this truth but adds another dynamic to Jesus’
method of making disciples that is very important.
a) “Jesus’ life would teach us that finding and training people to reach
people must have priority… Better to give a year or so to one or two
people who learn what it means to conquer for Christ than spend a
lifetime with a congregation just keeping the program going. Nor does it
matter how small or inauspicious the beginning may be; what counts is
that those to whom we do give priority in our life learn to give it away!
Robert Coleman The Master Plan Of Evangelism
b) Jesus’ method was not only going deep with a few but it also included
going deep with people who will reach other people, people who would
give it away!
C. It seems to see the kind of results the early church had we must buy into not only
Jesus’ mission and message but also His method and means!
1. Mission – Make disciples (Following Jesus, Impacting Others)
2. Message – Bible (especially about Jesus)
3. Method – Multiplying Disciples (Disciples who make disciples)
4. Means – People not Programs (Life on Life not just materials)
• These four key aspects of discipleship were not only what Jesus was committed to but
also Paul. Turn to
II. 2 Timothy 2:2
A. We saw this passage last week Paul is calling Timothy to join in with him in
suffering self-imposed hardship for the work of making disciples! And to do this
it will require the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ.
B. As I read v1-2 watch for the four key aspects of making disciples (Mission,
Message, Method, Means)
C. This whole verse is about the mission – making disciples. People, who follow
Jesus, impact others.
1. But this verse has a special emphasis on impacting others and is a great
illustration of what AB Bruce said about Jesus’ method of making disciples –
it takes the “painstaking education, the rock of deep and indestructible
convictions in the minds of the few.”
2. This whole verse is about that very thing. Watch as read
D. The message of discipleship is here as well – the Bible, especially about Jesus
1. Read v2a – things you heard from me
2. Turn to 1 Timothy 1:11
a) Read
b) God had entrusted to Paul the glorious gospel and message about Jesus
Christ who He is and what He has done for us
3. Turn to 2 Timothy 1
a) In v10-11, we see that Paul was appointed a preacher, apostle and
teacher of the glorious gospel of Jesus Christ. Read
b) In v13 Paul tells Timothy to hang onto, retain, do not let go the standard,
the bar that Paul set for the sound, healthy word of God that you learned
from me.
(1) Illustrate with bar – do not lower the bar, no grading on the curve
when it comes to God’s word
(2) Read
c) In v14 Paul tells Timothy to guard by means of the Holy Spirit this
treasure of God’s words that has been entrusted to him
4. So in 2 Tim 2: 2 we see the message of discipleship – the sound words that he
had heard from Paul, the words that God had entrusted to Paul and now Paul
was entrusting to Timothy.
E. Then we go on in this passage and we see Jesus’ method of discipleship –
multiplying disciples. I want to show that to you in two ways in this passage
1. Read v2a-c
2. First, the very nature of the word entrust shows us that multiplication should
be going on with the message of discipleship. The word entrust has two
aspects to it
a) First, it is taking something that is yours and giving it to someone else.
b) Second, the person you give it to now becomes responsible for the care
of what was given to them.
c) So the very nature of entrusting means that the one who received the
goods now has responsibility to watch over, care for, and manage it for
the sake of the owner.
(1) Like making a deposit in a bank or giving our retirement money
over to a financial planner to care for, manage and grow it.
d) And here God made a deposit into Paul, God entrusted to Paul His truth
which now Paul was responsible to hold onto to its high and healthy
standard and pass it on to others.
(1) And Paul entrusted it to Timothy so now Timothy was responsible
to hold onto to its high and healthy standard and pass it on to
others
(2) And Timothy entrusted it to faithful men who can teach others so
now they were responsible to hold onto to its high and healthy
standard and pass it on to others
3. Secondly note specifically the kind of people Timothy was to entrust this
precious treasure of God’s word –
a) Read. v2b-c
b) Not only are they to be faithful but also people who can teach others.
People who can pass it on to others!
4. This verse teaches us that God’s word should be passed on to four
generations of people – Paul - Timothy - Faithful men who can teach -
others!
5. So Paul was committed to Jesus’ method of multiplying disciples
F. And we see in this verse that Paul also used Jesus’ means of discipleship. His
commitment was people up close to other people and investing in them God’s
truth and their lives, not programs that tried to mass-produce disciples by means
of material! Read v2 one more time
• So why would this man say it is Jesus’ method that caused the gospel to spread deep
and wide in the book of Acts and should today
III. Application
A. The reason is as simple as math. It is all the difference between multiplication
and addition. Let me illustrate
1. (Addition) If you were to establish five people this year in their walk with
Christ, then there would be five more disciples/servants at the end of the year.
If you picked up five new men and worked with them next year then there
would be 1ten disciples/servants after two years. Fifteen after three years.
Twenty after four years. Twenty five after five years. Fifty after ten years,
one hundred after twenty years and one hundred twenty five after twenty five
years
2. (Multiplication) If you were to equip one person this year with the tools to
minister to someone else, then there would be one other disciple maker at the
end of the year. If you picked up one new man and worked with him next
year and the person you equipped last year also did the same, then there
would be four disciple makers after two years. If each of the four disciple
makers took on one person and equipped them for one year, then there would
be eight disciple makers after three years. Sixteen after four years. Thirty
four after five years. One thousand twenty four after ten years and one
million thirty eight thousand three hundred thirty six after twenty years.
Thirty three million five hundred fifty four thousand four hundred thirty two
after twenty five years (the time it took the gospel to get from Jerusalem to
Rome)
B. Now we know that in the real world there are many ways this multiplication can
break down through not everyone being faithful in carrying it on, backsliding,
health etc.
1. But the point is still true. Making disciples who make disciples is much more
effective and is Jesus’ model rather than just making disciples!
2. Repeat
C. So the question for each one of us who feels we are a faithful follower of Jesus is,
“Are we making disciples who make disciples or at least am I being discipled by
someone so I can learn how to make disciples who makes disciples?”
1. If not, why?
2. And remember that Jesus’ means is people not programs, materials, or just
reading a book. Who is rubbing off on my life in a life on life relationship
and whom am I rubbing off on?
D. Finally, there may be some here today who feel they have not grown to that place
yet to be able to teach others who can teach others or wondering if you are ready
to disciple others.
1. As we learned earlier in the series asking if I am ready to impact others is the
wrong question, the right question is have I received something from Jesus?
a) Have you received salvation – then you have something to pass onto to
those who do not know Jesus – your story and start learning the Gospel
so you can tell them that too.
b) Have you received God’s comfort or wisdom in a hard time? Pass it on
c) God speaks to you about a life transforming truth – pass it on
2. Turn to Matthew 10
a) Read v1 – Jesus gave his disciples authority to heal and cast out demons.
b) In v7 He charged them to preach the gospel message
c) Now listen to v8. Read.
d) Jesus freely gave them that authority to heal and cast out demons now
He says “Freely you received, freely give”
E. Disciples follow Jesus and impact others by passing on to others what Jesus has
given them. God’s blessings are not only for us to be blessed but to bless others
with them!

Redefined: Cost

Redefined: Cost
2 Timothy 2:3-7 October 7, 2018
I. Introduction:
A. In Luke 14 Jesus says to count the cost of following Him.
1. He says as a disciple, a follower of Jesus, Jesus has priority in our lives over
our most intimate relationships with mates, children, parents and siblings,
over our own self and desires, and even over our possessions!
2. Jesus is saying if any of these relationships, our possessions or even our own
desires come in conflict with what Jesus wants, a disciple always choses
Jesus.
3. Yes, eternal life, salvation the abundant life comes to us with the warning
label that there is a cost to following Jesus, pain, suffering and sacrifice are
part of the package!
B. We learned this in Philippians 3:10 after Paul spoke about being saved by the
righteousness which comes from God on the basis of faith in Jesus, he then spoke
of the purpose of that salvation
1. Phil 3:10
2. Salvation is a complete package of knowing Jesus and His power as well as
the pain of suffering and the laying down of my life for him and others!
C. I have to admit when I consider the cost I have paid in following Jesus, the small
little sufferings of being mocked or people discontinuing their relationship with
me because of following Jesus, it makes me feel like I have been at a constant
church picnic in comparison to others throughout history and the world who have
experienced extreme suffering, persecutions, imprisonments and even dying for
Jesus.
• Today I want to talk about a different kind of cost in following Jesus, a self-imposed
suffering of hardship in order to do the work of a disciple! Turn in your Bibles to
II. 2 Timothy 2 (overview of 1-7)
A. Context – Paul was in a Roman prison when he wrote this letter to encourage
Timothy join with him in suffering for the gospel and to remain faithful to his
ministry in the face of hardships.
1. Here in chapter 2 Paul was commanding Timothy to pass on to others the
message that he taught to him. We will talk more about this next week.
2. But right after this command, he calls Timothy to suffer hardship with him in
this ministry of making disciples who can make disciples!
3. Paul uses three common illustrations from their world to emphasize how they
can suffer hardship in making disciples. Illustrations are that of soldiers,
athletes and farmers.
B. Watch for this as I read but also note that all of this suffering does not come from
others from the outside but is all self-imposed suffering for the sake of making
disciples! Read 2:1-7
• Let’s take a closer look at the...
III. Three ways to suffer in making disciples
A. First, we learn from the soldier that we are to give our focus and energy to the
service of the Lord. Watch for this as I read v4.
1. Simply he is saying that a good soldier does not get himself all entangled, all
knotted up, ensnared by his personal concerns, pleasures, positions and
possessions.
2. Instead a solider is single-minded on his purpose, rigorously disciplined, and
obedient to the mission that his commanding officer gives him.
3. This will require a personal, intentional and sacrificial choice to make the call
to make disciples the priority of your life!
4. He is a person who does not just add to his life in light of the call to be a
disciple but he actually prunes some of these personal pleasures out in order
to fulfill the call of Jesus on His life!
B. Second, we learn from the athlete that a good solider follows God’s rules for
God’s work as revealed in God’s blueprints, the Bible. Watch for this as I read
v5.
1. Every athletic event has its own boundaries, rules and score keeping!
2. While the solider talked about personal sacrifices the athlete talks about
submission to rules of the one who set up the event!
3. God has given us the guidelines in this book how to make disciples, who to
make disciples of, what to teach them, how a disciple maker lives and the
qualities of their life!
4. Simply I believe he is saying here that it will take submission to God’s Word
on how to follow Jesus and impact others! God is not interested in my best
ideas or best practices apart from His word.
5. As a disciple maker, we know the book and we live by the book. He
sacrifices his own will and ideas to carry out the will and word of God, even
if it will be harder, more painful or uncomfortable to do it that way!
C. Third, we learn from the farmer that a disciple maker works hard at his task.
Watch for this as I read v6
1. Rather than being lazy, idle, giving little effort or constantly putting things
off Paul calls Timothy to suffer hardship by working hard.
2. A hard working farmer normally has two aspects to what he does – he uses a
lot of time and a lot of energy/effort to do his work.
3. Yes, to make disciples is going to cost us time and energy and will require us
to make time in our schedules to do it. It is not just a matter of fitting it in if
I have time, but rather making the time necessary or taking even extra time if
needed to make disciples.
D. But true to God’s grace, He rewards those who do so!
1. The soldier pleases the one who enlisted him and gave him his mission. Read
v4
2. The athlete wins the prize Read v5
3. The farmer gets to be the first one to enjoy the fruits of his work! Read v6
• If we truly want to be a disciple making church we need to be willing to suffer
hardship, self-imposed suffering of our own agendas like a solider, our own ways like
an athlete and even our own time and energy like a farmer! And to do this we need to
look to …
IV. Jesus
A. Read 2 Timothy 2:1 – grace and strength from Him
B. Turn to and read Hebrews 12:1-3
C. As we go to communion, turn to Jesus and consider your life and sacrifices for
Him as a follower of His.
1. Remember Him, fix your eyes on Him, consider both His self-imposed
suffering and His suffering at the hands of sinners so that you will not grow
weary or lose heart!
2. Time to reflect as communion is passed!

Redefined: Growth

Pastor Pat Peglow continues in our series, "Redefined".

Redefined: Teaching

Redefined: Teaching
Matthew 28:19-20 //  September 23, 2018
I. Introduction:
A. Someone coined a saying a number of years ago that still holds true today for
much of the North American Church: “The great omission of the Great
Commission is obedience!”
1. The great oversight of the Great Commission, the great exclusion from the
Great Commission that Jesus gave us, that which is neglected the most in the
Great Commission is obedience!
• Turn in your Bibles to
II. Matt 28:18
A. Review the structure of this passage
1. One main verb which is a command – make disciples
2. Three participles that tell us how to do it – go, baptizing, teaching
B. Read
C. Note at the start of v20 is the third of these ways by which we make disciples –
teaching them.
1. This is the instruction to those who have already become disciples or
believers in Jesus Christ
2. An ongoing process that will really last the rest of our lives of teaching and
learning depending which end of the discipleship process you are on.
D. Now what is omitted so often is what we are to teach them.
1. As I read commentaries on this verse I was amazed at how many of them
emphasized the importance of teaching to fulfil the Great Commission and
how the church needs to be built around teaching.
2. But the passage says more than that.
a) Read 20a-b.
b) Teaching them to observe, obey, keep, and act upon what they are
taught.
3. Read one more time and watch for what we are to teach them to obey.
a) Read leaving out “all that” and instead put in “what.” Is that what it
says?
b) Now read it as the text is
c) We are to teach them to obey, observe, keep, and act upon all that Jesus
commanded us.
(1) Everything, not just the select few things that seem to be practical
to my life today!
(2) He speaks to our beliefs, our thought lives, our values, our morals,
our affections, our attitudes, our decisions, our words, our hurts,
our habits, our money, our time, our attention, our sexuality, etc.
E. Remember we learned last week that the very definition of the word disciple
demands obedience
1. Vines Dictionary said - “a disciple was not only a pupil, but an adherent,
someone who binds themselves to observing or obeying what they learn!
2. That means learning from Jesus and obeying His teachings about how to live
life
F. The great omission of the Great Commission is obedience
1. Not just teaching them
2. Not just teaching them to obey Jesus’ teachings
3. But teaching them to obey all of Jesus’ teachings/commands
G. Now let me do a quick side bar here so no one is confused at this point. I am not
down talking or minimalizing the importance of teaching and studying God’s
word.
1. There are many passages in this book that tell us the benefits and life changes
that come to us when we read, study, memorize and meditate on this book.
a) But disciples take it one-step further and apply it to their lives!
2. And let me add this also – before you can obey what Jesus taught you have to
read and study what He taught us!
a) And it is not just the red letter words of Jesus but He also said in John 16
that He had many more things to say to them, but they could not bear
them at that time, so He promised them that the Holy Spirit would come
guide them into all truth
b) That was a promise for the inspiration of the entire New Testament that
completes the teachings of Jesus for us.
c) And by the way the New Testament teaches us of the value of the Old
Testament in our current days as followers of Jesus
3. So to be able to obey Jesus it is important for us to spend time in this book, so
we can rightly divide just what God, Jesus, is saying to us and what He is
expecting of us and what we need to obey to be a properly functioning
disciple.
• So as a disciple the key question we need to constantly be asking ourselves as we
study God’s word and need to be asking one another as we seek to grow as disciples
is:
III. What is my next step of obedience?
A. This is probably the most important question we need to constantly wrestle with if
we want to be growing disciples. “What is my next step of obedience?”
B. As I prayed about this sermon, I was wondering after teaching the truth how I
would exhort MVC regarding this truth. There are many ways I could go with
“obedience to God’s word” so I was not sure.
1. What I did was start to consider how MVC is doing regarding obedience.
What do we need right now regarding this passage?
2. I realized that so many of us are at different places in our walk of obedience
to all of God’s word, so many of us need something different to keep us
excelling in our obedience to Christ.
a) Some are doing well – no one is perfect in their obedience but some are
doing pretty good in ordering their life according to God’s word
b) Some want to obey Him in everything but they are caught by some
stronghold of sin or the devil that has them enslaved to it
c) Some are fearful to obey God because they are not sure what He would
do if they really gave Him control of their money, relationships, habits or
hurts
d) Some lack in faith to obey Him because they tried that before and it did
not turn out the way they hoped it would.
e) Some struggle with obeying God because they are angry with God
feeling like He let them down in the past by not giving them what they
had hoped for.
f) Some never have realized just how important it is to obey God; they
thought they were doing well just by being saved and going to church a
few times a month.
g) Some even see obedience as legalism, rather than knowing it is a loving
response to God and the path to the best possible life we can have.
C. The list can go on but one common theme came to me as I was considering the
different places we are at. That is no matter where you are at “obedience is
achievable for you.” You do not have to be stuck or have to be plateaued, but
rather your next step of obedience is possible because of Jesus and His grace!
1. Yes, I did say because of His grace – grace is not the freedom to do whatever
you want because you are no longer under the law but rather grace is the
power to do what Jesus wants you to do!
2. I do not know where you are stuck or plateaued, but even in the Great
Commission itself, Jesus promised His presence with you to carry out
everything He asks of us. Read v20b
D. Obedience is possible not because you can do this if you try hard enough but
rather because of what Jesus has done for you and is doing in you.
1. Ezekiel 36:26
a) This is the New Covenant that Jesus ratified with His blood when He
died at the cross
b) He not only promised to forgive sins and He not only promised to
remove that old stubborn self-willed heart and put in a brand new heart,
one that is tender, responsive and God-willed heart
c) Then He says this: Read Ezek 36:27
(1) It is now possible to obey God because His Spirit lives inside of us
to cause us to walk in His ways
(2) And the Spirit within us creates within in us a carefulness, a
cautiousness, an attentiveness to observe, and obey God’s words.
2. Phil 2:13 – speaking in the context of obedience listen to what God says:
a) Read v13
b) God is at work inside of you and me as believers to do two things
regarding obedience:
(1) First, giving us the desire to obey Him and the will to obey Him
(2) Second, God is working in us by His spirit to give us the ability to
obey Him
3. Hebrews 13:21
a) Listen to this great promise. I call it the New Testament anointing.
Anointing is simply God equipping His servants to do his will.
b) Read
4. Your next step of obedience is possible because of Jesus’ work for you at the
cross and in His resurrection and Jesus’ work in you now by means of His
Spirit!
5. So whatever your next step of obedience is, Jesus is your need.
a) Whether that is for Him to show you what He wants from you because
you really do not know or to remove some obstacle in your life that is
holding you back from obeying Him, or even the desire to want to do
what God wants you to do rather than what you want to do, or the
enablement to do what you could never do apart from Him
So in closing we want to remove the Great Omission of the Great Commission in our
lives and at MVC. We do not just want to be black belts in studying and understanding
God’s word but we also want to be black belts in obeying, applying, doing, keeping, and
acting upon God’s Word
6. So what is your next step of obedience?
7. Turn to Jesus to know what that is! Turn to Jesus to remove any obstacles
that would be holding you back, turn to Jesus to enable you to carry it out!
8. Trust and obey for there is no other way to be happy in Jesus but to trust and
obey!
IV. Give two minutes of silence to consider before the Lord!