09/11/2022 Church service

周日礼拜

视频

 扫码加美国牧师麦克的微信 Pastor Mike's WeChat：

欢迎扫码或者点击原文详情进入教堂网址了解详情

加入中美Bible Study与我们一起学习圣经（中英文）

视频脚本 Script

Come Home

Titus 2:11-15
Podcast – Damon West

A man who had every advantage and opportunity – but squandered it on drugs – which led to crimes – which led to a life sentence in a maximum security prison in Texas

By God’s grace and him turning his life around, he was paroled after seven years.
He now travels and speaks and serves others through his message of hope and restoration

“The addict gives up their goals to meet their behavior”

Damon was addicted to meth (which is awful) – but people are addicted to all kinds of things

Addiction causes people to give up their goals and serve their addiction instead

Addiction takes on many forms: Drugs, alcohol, food, pornography, approval…
it can even be as simple as an addiction to your smart phone

The constant need for approval and “likes”

Addiction is more than liking something. It's more than seeking it out. A review of studies on addiction set out to define what addiction is. It describes five components that define addiction:
1. Engaging in the behavior to satisfy an appetite
2. Being preoccupied with the behavior
3. Being only temporarily sated after engaging in the behavior
4. Losing control over the behavior
5. Continuing the behavior despite negative consequences (financial concerns, strained relationships with family members, etc.)

Dopamine is a chemical in our brain—also known as a neurotransmitter—that transmits nerve cell signals in our brain.

One of dopamine’s key functions in the brain neurotransmitter makeup is to provide the sensations of pleasure that our brain associates with certain behaviors.

If we live in a state of addiction that causes us to neglect the key areas of our lives (even denying our own potential and destiny) it is a form of selfishness.
(whether intentional or un-intentional)

Psalm 90:12 - Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.

Dopamine fasting is a form of digital detox, involving temporarily abstaining from addictive technologies such as social media, listening to music on technological platforms, and Internet gaming (my own experience)
Titus 2:11,12 – For the grace of God has been revealed, bringing salvation to all people. And we are instructed to turn from godless living and sinful pleasures. We should live in this evil world with wisdom, righteousness, and devotion to God

We need this Grace to get beyond our own selfishness that makes us useless.
To die to self so we can become useful for the Kingdom of God

Phil 3:10 - I want to know Christ and experience the mighty power that raised him from the dead. I want to suffer with him, sharing in his death,

Leaving the old man behind is really a way for us to Come Home

“Ye who are weary, come home.”


Charles Wesley: He breaks the power of cancelled sign, He sets the prisoners free. His blood can make the foulest clean; His blood availed for me.

Coming home is the opposite of self-sufficiency
Coming home means we come home to the end of ourselves and the beginning of God’s grace and mercy

As a young adult, did you ever find yourself coming home because your own resources were depleted?

Maybe you just needed a hug – or a home-cooked meal?

When would NOW be a good time to surrender to God’s love & just come home?

Jonah ran from God and God’s plan until he found himself in a real bad situation

Sometimes running away just makes it all worse

vs 11: For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people.

God’s grace has appeared to us through Jesus Christ
He offers us salvation. Salvation is only through Jesus Christ.

v 12 goes on to tell us this grace is: “teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age”

are we living soberly in 2022?

1 Peter 1:13: Therefore prepare your minds for action. Be sober, and set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ

If your mind is being programmed with the propaganda of the mainstream media, you are not living soberly

you are being programmed and guided to live exactly as the world does -, to think as the world does – and to pursue the things that only satisfy the flesh – and that, only temporarily

James 1:14,15: “ … each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.”

To become sober minded and choose to come home is like being the prodigal son, who ”came to himself,” and said, “I will arise and go to my father.”

1 Peter 4:7 - The end of all things is near. Therefore be alert and of sober mind so that you may pray.
“ practice self-control, and keep your minds clear”
“be self-controlled and sober-minded”
“You must be the boss over your mind. Keep awake so you can pray.”

If you are sober-minded in 2022, you know what the world has planned for you, for your life, for your family, for your future

Is that what you really want?
Do we want to be dopamine-driven – living for the next “likes” – the next drink – the next fix – the next distraction?

1 Peter 5:8 - Be sober-minded! Be alert! Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion seeking someone to devour.

Today’s lesson: Vs 14: He (Jesus) gave his life to free us from every kind of sin, to cleanse us, and to make us his very own people, totally committed to doing good deeds.

Jesus came to rescue us out of this world system – even out of our own self-created mess
“He gave himself for us. By doing that, he set us free from all evil. He wanted to make us pure. He wanted us to be his very own people. He wanted us to desire to do what is good.”

Phil 2:13: For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to
do what pleases him. (2x)

“For the grace of God which carries with it salvation for all men has appeared…”

vs 14 tells us that Jesus gave His life
- to free us
- to cleanse us
- to make us His very own people

Jesus’ victory on the cross is our victory over our old sinful nature

This grace has been revealed to us
We can accept it – claim it and receive it

So, what will you allow to define you today?
your past – your weakness – your struggle?

…or the victory of the cross
God’s grace revealed to mankind

Where will you direct your focus?
It is dangerous tom try tio drive using your rearview mirror

“Drive On”
Yes – it is human nature to feel discouraged – which leads to feeling disempowered

Some mornings I feel like a robot – so much to do – going from one thing to the next

…but I can choose to take each step – each piece of the puzzle – and do each task mindfully and being present in the moment

It’s time for us to live our Christian lives like that.

be sober-minded. focus on what lies in front of us

Leave the past behind and Come Home

Ultimately, the Gospel Message boils to how Jesus can do for us all of the things that we could never do for ourselves.

It is His Power at work in and through us. Surrender. Come Home

 

02/27/2022  03/06/2022 03/13/2022  03/20/2022  03/27/2022  04/03/2022 

 04/10/2022 04/17/2022 04/24/2022 05/01/2022  05/08/2022  05/15/2022

05/22/2022 05/29/2022 06/05/2022 06/12/2022 06/19/2022  06/26/2022

07/03/2022 07/10/2022 07/17/2022 07/24/2022 07/31/2022  08/07/2022

08/14/2022  08/21/2022  08/28/2022  09/04/2022  09/11/2022

Hillside United Methodist Church
3739 US 80
Phenix City  AL  36870
United States
Pastor: Mike J Koger

How to get here 教堂位置
点击这里进入谷歌地图：谷歌GPS导航
You can use the church's neighboring shop address for your Google GPS navigation 你如果直接在谷歌地图上直接输入教堂地址找不到我们，建议你输入教堂旁的餐厅地址: T-Bones Steakhouse, 3747 US-80 W, Phenix City, AL 36870
You're giving to our  ministry， you can send those gifts to:
(奉献发送地址:)
PO Box 8513
Columbus, Georgia 31908