This week's message deals with the way we walk through our faith and salvation.  I hope these notes are helpful to you.  Drop me a quick line and let me know if you appreciate reading these (or if they make any sense).

Introduction: Our life is a walk of faith

Proposition or Thesis: Walk is a VERB - it is an ACTION

Interrogative: This means that as we walk out our faith, it takes action...

Transition: We have three specific locations that we walk to or from

I. First, we start in the "City of Sin"

1.  The biggest problem with the city of sin is that we don't recognize it as sin!
2. It is uniquely un-satisfying - despite momentary gratification 
3. The "City of Sin" has two exits - one that leads to death, and... (Romans 6:23 - Wages of sin is DEATH)

Transition: The Holy Spirit begins to bring conviction - which leads to the second road out of the "City of Sin"

II. The second road out of the "City of Sin" leads to the "State of Repentance"

1.  Repentance doesn't simply mean to say "I'm sorry" - it means to "turn away from"
2.  John offered baptism for "Repentance" (Matthew 3:11, Mark 1:4, Luke 3:3)
3. Jesus didn't die for the righteous, but for those in the "State of Repentance"
4. True repentance means not only a turning from sin, but a turning to God (Acts 20:17-21 - 17 - 17From Miletus, Paul sent to Ephesus for the elders of the church. 18When they arrived, he said to them: "You know how I lived the whole time I was with you, from the first day I came into the province of Asia. 19I served the Lord with great humility and with tears, although I was severely tested by the plots of the Jews. 20You know that I have not hesitated to preach anything that would be helpful to you but have taught you publicly and from house to house. 21I have declared to both Jews and Greeks that they must turn to God in repentance and have faith in our Lord Jesus.

Transition: Walking through repentance takes us to our final destination

III. Our goal is to walk in the "Land of Righteousness"

1.  Walking in the "Land of Righteousness" means to trust in God for all things. Matthew 6:30-34 - 31So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' 32For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.
2. Romans 1:16-17 tells us that we only get into the "Land of Righteousness" through faith: 16I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile. 17For in the gospel a righteousness from God is revealed, a righteousness that is by faith from first to last,[a] just as it is written: "The righteous will live by faith."[b]
3. Righteousness cannot be attained on our own. Philippians 3:7-10 - 7But whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. 8What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ 9and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God and is by faith. 10I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death,

Transition: Reaching righteousness is not a goal that is easily achieved - or maintained

III. Once we leave the "City of Sin", go through the "State of Repentance" and end up in the "Land of Righteousness", our flesh tries to get us to go back where we started from.

1. Proverbs 26:11 - As a dog returns to its vomit, so a fool repeats his folly.
2. This walk is a marathon - not a stroll through the park. Acts 20:24 Paul says "However, I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the gospel of God's grace. "
3. We allow the enemy to bring condemnation where the Holy Spirit bring conviction. Romans 8:1 - Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus
4. This is not a circular course - one to be repeated over and over though there will be times where God will show you another area in your life that needs to take this journey.

Conclusion:

1. Where are you walking today?
2. How many times have you "Made the loop?" 
3. Is it time for you to pick up the pace of your walk?

Stay tuned - more to come...

Sunday's service was GREAT!  We had a few new faces and saw the return of some "old" faces as well!  We're looking forward to GREAT things that the Lord will do through this little church!

Here are my preaching notes from Sunday.  Feel free to e-mail me with any questions (or if you want the details behind the "stories". :-)

Blessings in Christ,

Pastor Tom

Title: Where are you fishing today?

Text: Matthew 4:19

P R A Y E R

Introduction: Jesus tells us that if we follow him, he will make us fishers of men...

Proposition or Thesis: but many of us are casting our lines in the wrong pond!

Interrogative: You can't catch a marlin in a backyard pond

Transition: We have to remember to "fish" where we know we can catch what we're after!

I. If you want to catch "men" - you have to go where they are

1.  If we live our lives surrounded by nothing but Christians, we won't have many converts
2. This doesn't mean "run to the bars" - but find men where they are...
3. We don't need to go someplace "special" to find men - they're everywhere!
   1. In your workplace
   2. In the grocery store (Story from Abundant's men's group)
   3. In a restaurant (Shawn's story)

Transition: But in order to catch fish, you gotta have the right bait...

II. You can't catch the right fish without the right bait...

1. You wouldn't use a worm to catch a shark…
2. Your life must be reflection of what you represent
   1. Would people see things in your shopping cart that don't represent who you are in Christ? Would Jesus be ashamed of what he saw you buying?
   2. Do people see something in you that is different from them?

1. Live your life is such a way that they will recognize the difference in you
   1. Story about PNC Elevator - "...something about you…"
   2. Matthew 5:16 "In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven."

Transition: Sometimes we fish in the wrong place...

III. We spend our time fishing in the "Sea of Forgetfulness"

1. Micah 7:19 talks about God casting our sins into the sea (of Forgetfulness)
2. Once God has cast them into the sea, He doesn't see them any longer
   1. But we continue to keep "Fishing" in that sea
   2. If God can forgive us, why can’t WE forgive us?

1. "God put up a "No Fishing" sign, but we still drop a line there…
2. Why would Satan try to stop us if we never let ourselves start?

Conclusion:

1. Where are you fishing? 
2. How is your life "Baited"? 

Stay tuned - more to come...

This year for Easter, God impressed upon me to do something a little "non-traditional".  I presented the Gospel of Christ's resurrection through the eyes of Simon Peter.  My notes are below, but they likely won't make much sense! :-)

I pray that as you read this, the spirit of the Lord will come upon you and reveal to you all of the things that He spoke to me as I put this message together.  To God be the Glory!

Title: A Second Chance

Text: The Life of Peter - a first hand account

P R A Y E R

Name: Simon BarJonah - AKA Peter

Occupation: Fisherman

First story: Fishing
Washing the nets at the end of a long day
Tired - done for the day. No fish…
Crowd shows up following some guy
Asks me to take him out in the boat
Starts teaching
Tells me to go to deep water and throw net
Been there, done that
Fills to overflowing
Recognize this isn't some ordinary teacher

Follower of Jesus

First Miracle (loaves / Fishes)
On the sea (Walking)
On the sea of Galilee (Calm the storm)
Revelation of Jesus as the Christ - Upon this rock (his revelation)
Other miracles
At the dinner (foot washing)
The betrayer
The denial prediction
The betrayal
Watching the crucifixion

Second Chance

At the grave site - Also tell Peter!
Peter's reinstatement (Feed my lambs)
Jesus - in His resurrection, provided a second chance for me - and also for you.
Jesus used me:
To address the crowd on the day of Pentecost
To heal the crippled beggar outside the temple
To bring the message to the Gentiles (Acts chapter 10)

You…

Many of us have done all of the things that I have done

Lived our lives the way we saw fit (fisherman)
Saw God's interaction (in various ways)Maybe even experienced a first-hand visit from God (dinner, miracles, revelation)
But then comes the betrayal
Even if we don't want to
All have betrayed his love

When Jesus returned, he called us by NAME!
He wants to reinstate us

He gives us a Second Chance...

God wants to use YOU too.
Even if you've denied him
No matter what has happened in your life

Stay tuned – more to come…

Beginning this week, I will start posting my preaching notes from last Sunday's sermon to my blog.  You can catch them here since I don't have the ability (yet) to allow you to stream or download my messages.

I may amplify them by inserting some clarifying statements in BOLD Italics if time allows...

Of course, you can always come see us on Sunday morning - and get the full version! :-)

Let me know what you think - not only of the message, but of the concept of posting my notes this way!  It would be great to hear if they are useful in any way...

Sunday, April 1st, 2007 - "Promises"

Text: Matthew 21:1-11
Mark 11:1-11
Luke 19:28-44
John 12:12-19

Introduction: God is a God of Promises

Proposition or Thesis: But God's promises don't always come to pass the way we think they will or should

Interrogative: Today is Palm Sunday - a day that God revealed the completion of His promise to mankind.

Transition: God's promises to us WILL be fulfilled

I. Jesus coming into the city was seen in different ways:

1. The people thought that Jesus was the new King - in a political sense.
2. The disciples were looking to the start of a new phase of ministry.
3. Jesus saw it as the beginning of the end.
4. God saw it as His son's day of recognition

Transition: Many times we misinterpret how God is going to bring a promise to pass

II. Everyone involved with Palm Sunday had different expectations

1. The people quickly became disenchanted with Jesus - and demanded that he be crucified!
2. The disciples became angry and scared (Peter)
3. Jesus prepared for what was coming (Clearing the temple on Monday, Teaching on Tuesday, Passover Supper (Last Supper) on Thursday)
4. God stirred the hearts of those who would condemn and crucify him

Transition: Sometimes our expectations of how God is going to bring something to pass are different from His

III. Faith Chapel is a promise that God made to me 15 years ago

1. Called to full time ministry in 1992
2. Couldn't find any way to get to college
3. Tried correspondence schools
4. Finally graduated from UBTC / Started ministry
5. Moved to Washington 7 years ago
6. Not yet…Get ready…It's time...

Conclusion: God DOES keep his promises - but not always the way we think He will

1. God has a promise for each one of us - but often we give up on them because they don't come to pass the way we feel they should 
2. (Rom 11:29 - for God's gifts and his call are irrevocable.)
   1. Call = "klay'-sis - an invitation (figuratively): - calling.
   2. From a shorter form of kal-eh'-o which means to “call” ; bid, call forth.

Invitation: Have you received a Call from God today?

1. Salvation - many delay / turn away
2. Return to the Lord - didn't work out the way you thought - back to your own ways
3. Call to ministry - scared / unqualified
   1. God doesn't call the qualified, He qualifies the called!

Stay tuned - more to come...

 After what at times either seemed like an eternity or the blink of an eye, Faith Chapel held it's first service on April 1st.  What better way to counter April Fool's day that with a good dose of the truth!

We had more than just a couple rough spots, but they'll all get worked out in time.  Overall, it  seemed to go quite well!  There was a nice response to an altar call although we forgot to count (remember those rough spots I was mentioning?) we're estimating between 60 and 80 people.

I was blessed to have my friends from the Destiny Riders chapter of the CMA attend!  All told, they made up nearly a quarter of the congregation!  My only regret was not being able to ride to lunch with them.

After the service, the prayer team went to lunch and discussed how things went.  The resounding answer was good - even though we have some things to smooth out.  After lunch, Rachel, Jen and I took Rebecca back to school at Pullman.  We were blessed that God arranged for her to have a crew race in Seattle the same weekend!  She was able to come home with us on Saturday (although we were a little late and didn't get to see her race) and spend Sunday with us in church!

Check back in a day or so for some expanded sermon notes.  Since I don't yet have the ability to stream or allow you to download copies of the sermons, this will have to do. :-)

Here are some of the pictures from the service:

Rebecca and Rachel

Cleave leading worship with Josh (on Bass), Jen and Alea singing backup (I was on drums, behind the ladies)

Preaching the word...

Ministering after the message...

Stay tuned - more to come...