Sermons

Lets look at the life of Jesus Luke 5:16 – 28 Luke 5:16 - But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and . Passion #1 – Jesus had a passion to pray to his heavenly father Passion #2 – Jesus had a passion to minister to people Luke 5:17-26 17 One day Jesus was teaching, and Pharisees and teachers of the law were sitting there. They had come from every village of Galilee and from Judea and Jerusalem. And the of the Lord was with Jesus to heal the sick. 18 Some men came carrying a paralyzed man on a mat and tried to take him into the house to lay him before Jesus. 19 When they could not find a way to do this because of the crowd, they went up on the roof and lowered him on his mat through the tiles into the middle of the crowd, right in front of Jesus. 20 When Jesus saw their faith, he said, “Friend, your sins are forgiven.” 21 The Pharisees and the teachers of the law began thinking to themselves, “Who is this fellow who speaks blasphemy? Who can forgive sins but God alone?” 22 Jesus knew what they were thinking and asked, “Why are you thinking these things in your hearts? 23 Which is easier: to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up and ’? 24 But I want you to know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins.” So he said to the paralyzed man, “I tell you, get up, take your mat and go home.” 25 Immediately he stood up in front of them, took what he had been lying on and went home praising God. 26 Everyone was and gave praise to God. They were filled with awe and said, “We have seen remarkable things today.” Jesus touches lives both physically and spiritually Passion #3 – Jesus had a passion to make disciples Luke 5:27 After this, Jesus went out and saw a tax collector by the name of Levi sitting at his tax booth. “ me,” Jesus said to him, 28 and Levi got up, left everything and followed him. Matthew 28:19-20: 19 Therefore go and make of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” John 17:4 4 I have brought you on earth by finishing the work you gave me to do. Let’s look at the early church The Three Passions of the early church Acts 1:12-14 12 Then the apostles returned to Jerusalem from the hill called the Mount of Olives, a Sabbath day’s walk[a] from the city. 13 When they arrived, they went upstairs to the room where they were staying. Those present were Peter, John, James and Andrew; Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew; James son of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot, and Judas son of James. 14 They all joined together in prayer, along with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers. The early church had a passion to pray to the Father Acts 2:42 42 They themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. The early church had a passion to minister to people Acts 2:43-47 43 Everyone was filled with at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. 44 All the believers were together and had everything in common. 45 They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. 46 Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, 47 praising God and enjoying the of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved. The early church had a passion to make disciples II Timothy 2:1-2 1 You then, my , be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. 2 And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable people who will also be qualified to teach others. Let’s look at our church family 40 years ago Isaiah 46:9 9 the former things, those of long ago; I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me. The first DOVE church 40 years ago…we experienced these same three passions Let’s look at our lives and at the life of our church today Do our passions today line up with the 3 passions of Jesus and the 3 passions of the early church? Rev. 2:2-5 (The Church of Ephesus) 2 I know your deeds, your hard work and your . I know that you cannot tolerate wicked people, that you have tested those who claim to be apostles but are not, and have found them false. 3 You have persevered and have endured hardships for my name, and have not grown weary. 4 Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken the love you had at first. 5 Consider how far you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first. If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place.

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From Series: "Church Life"