Honk If You Love Jesus

Last night Pastor Brad finished up the series on Bumper Sticker Theology. The season of Lent and Easter reminds us of the great sacrifice Jesus made on our behalf, so that we might have a relationship with Him and eternal life after we die. Honk if you love Jesus is a kind of bumper sticker that helps us to feel a part of a greater community. It lets us know that we in fact do love Jesus and we want others to know that. But why do we love Jesus. 1 John 4:19 says, "We love Him because He first loved us." (KJV) That is an awesome thought. That the God of the universe would love us so much that he was create a plan to redeem us. That's why we love God. Once we have experience this great love, how do we respond. Usually in romantic relationships, once a person confesses their undying love for someone else, they want to make the other person happy, spend time with them, and get to know them on a "deeper level". Jesus actually tell us exactly how he wants us to respond to his love. "If you love me, you will keep my commandments." John 14:15 The Bible isn't about rules and laws just so that God can control us or manipulate us. We respond to God's love by keeping His commandments or doing what he says. As we go through this week, keep in mind that as you love God and your neighbor, you are responding to a God that loved you first.

Jeff

Setlist

Here for You - Chris Tomlin

Where The Spirit Of the Lord Is - Chris Tomlin

Salvation Is Here - Hillsong

Unfailing God - New Life Worship

The Stand - Hillsong

Christians aren't perfect, just forgiven

What a great time of praise and worship last night. We had lots of visitors and my hope is that you felt welcomed as we worshipped together. Pastor Brad shared from Romans 3 and referenced the bumper sticker, "Christians aren't perfect, just forgiven". I think the whole premise of this bumper sticker is just off. Do people, both believers and unbelievers expect us to be perfect? I don't believe this to be true. I believe that if you have a moral standard for your life, what is told to us in scripture, I believe that people expect you to live by it and not be a hypocrite. Personally, I extend a lot of grace to others because I know how much grace I need just to live day to day. "Just forgiven" is also a faulty premise. Are we "just forgiven"? When I receive junk mail and my wife asks me "Did we get anything in the mail?" I say, "No, just junk mail." Forgiveness is an amazing thing. It should be in the forefront of our minds and something we should thank God for daily. As we are in the midst of Holy Week, it is awesome to think that the God of the Universe would send His only Son to die on a cross for me and for you, so that we might be forgiven of our sins! Join us next week as we wrap up this series. Also, if you don't have plans for Easter, come and worship with us at Hillside! We have a traditional 9:00 service and a contemporary 11:00 service. Have a great week!

Jeff

Setlist

Hosanna - Paul Baloche

Great and Glorious - ALM:UK

Freedom Is Here - Hillsong

The Stand - Hillsong

Just To Be With You - Paul Baloche

My Boss Isn't Your Boss

Last night Pastor Bruce shared with us from 1 Corinthians 9:15-23 ¹⁵But I have made no use of any of these rights, nor am I writing these things to secure any such provision. For I would rather die than have anyone deprive me of my ground for boasting. ¹⁶For if I preach the gospel, that gives me no ground for boasting. For necessity is laid upon me. Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel! ¹⁷For if I do this of my own will, I have a reward, but if not of my own will, I am still entrusted with a stewardship. ¹⁸What then is my reward? That in my preaching I may present the gospel free of charge, so as not to make full use of my right in the gospel.

¹⁹For though I am free from all, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win more of them. ²⁰ To the Jews I became as a Jew, in order to win Jews. To those under the law I became as one under the law (though not being myself under the law) that I might win those under the law. ²¹To those outside the law I became as one outside the law (not being outside the law of God but under the law of Christ) that I might win those outside the law. ²² To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all people, that by all means I might save some. ²³I do it all for the sake of the gospel, that I may share with them in its blessings."

It is amazing how Paul intentionally witnesses to people through their context or worldview. Pastor Bruce shared how people place their own context on the bumper stickers we have on our cars, the words that we say, and the way we live our lives. A friend of Pastor Bruce mistook a bumper sticker "My boss is a Jewish carpenter" as being racist, even though he is a believer. He didn't make the connection....Jewish Carpenter......Jesus......

We need to live in a way that witnesses to Christ work in us, our unintended witness, but we also need to make sure we are looking for opportunities to intentionally share with others the hope that we have in Christ and "share with them in it's blessings". As you pray this week, ask God to open your eyes to the opportunities you have to share His love with the people around you.

See you all next week!!

Jeff

Setlist

1. Great and Glorious - ALM:UK
2. Happy Day - Tim Hughes
3. Here For You - Chris Tomlin
4. Revelation Song - Gateway Worship
5. Maker of Heaven - Desperation Band

Bumper Sticker Theology

Last night Pastor Brad shared from 1 Peter 3:15, "But in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect." Often times we like to play "gotcha" with people, when we argue or disagree. Is that the best way to share the gospel with those we know and care about? Is it about proving that we are right and they are wrong? I often think about bumper stickers as a drive by shooting. The van passes by, the shots are fired and the carnage is not really our responsibility, we have delivered our message. We truly do have good news and I believe we can deliver it in a better way. I am looking forward to the rest of this series and I hope that you will join us! I will also be posting the set list from the night from now on as well.

Setlist

Here For You - Chris Tomlin

My Savior Lives - New Life Worship

One Way - Hillsong

Your Grace Is Enough - Matt Maher

From The Inside Out - Hillsong

Jeff

New Series

Hey Everyone! We will be starting a new series this month at Lumen. Pastor Brad will be preaching most of the series entitled "Bumper Sticker Theology". Please come Tuesday nights in April to worship with us and learn from God's Word. I will be trying to update the blog more often so check back! Jeff