Perry’s Scope: Christian sermons, lessons, and resources for teachers

In the next few weeks we will be in the process of selecting additional Elders – we know the importance of the task; and the seriousness

Exodus 18.12-23

Jethro – “What are you doing?” “This is not good.”

I.       The Burden on Leadership

[Number of People at SY – Members + Children + Regular Visitors = 885

A.     Primary Role to Equip Members for Ministry – Ephesians 4.11-13

Training/Caring For/Leading/Mentoring

[Barna Survey – 10% of church members are active in any kind of personal ministry (does not have to be official church ministries); 50% of all church members have NO interest in serving in ANY form of Ministry –

Reason we are uninvolved – Don’t see a need – saved by grace; waiting to die

B.     Danger – Burnout – Numbers 11.11

1.       Massive Numbers – 3 Million for Moses
2.       6 Elders for All of SY
3.       Can’t be done

C.     A Solution – More Leaders (18.21-23)

1.       Levels of Leaders (efficient at 1:10; early church 30 members)
2.       Qualified Leaders – CAPABLE – Ability; FEAR God – Spiritual; TRUSTWORTHY – Honest/Integrity; HATE A Bribe – No Dishonest Gain (Ezekiel 34)

Qualifications Continue: Deacons – Acts 6; Elders – 1 Timothy 3; Titus 1

II.    The Delegation of Leadership (Matthew 10.1 – power given by another; not inherent)

A.     Acknowledge Limitations

1.       Community/Body (1 Corinthians 12.1) is significant
2.       No one can do everything; all can do something

[T-Shirt – “I know 2 things – There IS a God; and You are NOT Him!”

B.     Determine Priorities Eastern Flight 401

1.       Moses was called to Lead/Represent God to the People; People to God
2.       NOT to be a Counselor (Even Jesus understood this – Luke 12.13-15 ¹³ Someone in the crowd said to him, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.” ¹⁴ But he said to him, “Man, who made me a judge or arbitrator over you?” ¹⁵ And he said to them, “Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.”)
3.       #1 Goal – get people to the Promised Land
4.       Examples

Apostles – Ministry of Word & Prayer

Elders – Ephesians 4.11-12 (People, not programs)

C.     Train Leaders

D.     Restrain Ego

1.       What do I give up to delegate?
2.       Is this about ME or Jesus?

E.     Accept Ultimate Responsibility

[Jethro did not tell Moses to take a vacation

1.       Be available
2.       Jimmy Carter – detail-oriented; scheduled use of White House tennis courts

III. Our Selection of Leadership – No Coin Toss

Methods:

A.     Casting Lots to Replace Judas (Acts 1) – Qualifications/Choices

B.     Deacons – Qualifications – select from the people (Acts 6)

C.     Elders – Qualifications – Timothy and Titus

D.     Hybrid Model – Qualifications – Preacher – PEOPLE

Remember, we are looking for Shepherds, not Administrators

1.       The process begins today
2.       Prayerfully consider anyone meeting the qualifications (1 Timothy 3; Titus 1) who are shepherding and could be shepherds within our congregation
3.       Remember, it is about ability; availability; and Spirituality
4.       It’s about SERVICE

In 1999, an insurance company rated the most dangerous intersections for accidents in the United States. The year’s winner (or better, loser) was the corner of Belt Line Road and Midway Road in Addison, Texas. There were 263 reported crashes at that intersection in the Dallas suburb.

Often when I come to an intersection, I think of the people who are meeting there. Some have come a long distance; some short. Yet, we have all arrived at the same time.

Arriving at the intersection, we all have decisions to make. Will we obey the laws or break them? Will we be courteous to other drivers or selfish?

As we travel on our journey through this world we often come to some serious intersections. We repeatedly come to intersections of the “broad” and “narrow” ways (Matthew 7:13-14). Each time we have an important decision to make. Do we choose the narrow way along with the “few” or do we choose the broad way with the “many”? Will we follow the instructions or refuse them? It is a serious choice that demands our attention and exercises our wisdom.

Jesus said, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through me” (John 14:6). Today, with the rising of the sun, we have made it to yet another intersection. Which road will we take?

Keep The Light Burning!

Perry Greene

Open

Please share your response to one of the following with your Group:

• When are you the most happy? Do other people play into this happiness? Why or Why Not?
• How can people tell if you are angry? Is it usually easy or hard to tell?

Study

Please read Jeremiah 29:10-14 and share your responses to the following:

1. What seems to be the reason for the exile?
2. How do you think the goodness of God is attractive to people?
3. Do you think people are attracted to God to avoid his wrath?
4. What do you see as God’s primary purpose for us? What are some examples?
5. Why is it important that we do not procrastinate when it comes to following God? (James 4:13-14)
6. Why do you think God demands whole-hearted effort from us?

Apply

• Do you think God uses evil to accomplish good? Why? Why Not?
• When have you seen God bring good out of a bad situation?
• Is there an easy way to learn our lessons?
• Why do you think it takes 100% effort on our part to seek and find God?
• How do you KNOW God has your best in mind?
• What do you think it takes to find God?

1.      ILLUSTRATION: ON DESTINY

2.      There is something within us that says we are important; that we want to rise higher than our current position

3.      God agrees – EACH one of us is important to God – Galatians 2.20 (the life I now live)

a.       We each have shortcomings

b.      We each have things to overcome

4.      Jeremiah 29.10-14

a.       Captivity of Judah

b.      Based on sinfulness of the people (see Jeremiah – no converts)

I.       God’s Good Intentions

A.     God Attracts Us by His Goodness

1.      Physical Necessities – (Matthew )

2.      Spiritual Necessities – “Son’s Reign”

B.     God Wants the BEST, not the Worst

1. Sometimes God DOES get angry – Moses’ Call
2.  He is seeking our good

Too often good intentions stay INTENTIONS – not with God. . .

II.    God’s Good Intentions Lead to God’s Good Actions

A.     God’s Purpose is to Act for Our Good

God Does NOT Forget His Purpose!

1.       We Do Not Always See what God is Doing – Genesis 50.20
2.       Not all is “good” – Romans 8.28
3.       Not our timeline – Moses 80 years; Joseph 30 years; Jesus 30 years
4.       But God makes great things happen – Ephesians 3.20

“Never be afraid to trust an unknown future to a known God.” Corrie Ten Boom.

B.     God Delivered His People:

1.       From Egypt – he said he would
2.       From Babylon – He said he would
3.       From Sin and its consequences – he said he would

a.       Ultimate Sin Offering

b.      Ultimate Relationship (Note the New Covenant) – Jeremiah 31.31-34

III. God’s Good Actions Lead to Our Choices

A.     “Seek and Find” – Not “Hide and Seek”

1.       He Has Been Seeking Us and Wants Us to Find Him
2.       Turn Around – “Repent”
3.       No Procrastination – Proverbs 27.1 (James 4.13-14)

Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring.

B.     It IS Whole-Hearted Effort – Deuteronomy 6.4

1.       God is not our hobby/our convenience
2.       God is our life
3.       Jealous God – not second place

C.     To Be With His Whole People

1.       Gathering from Babylon
2.       Gathering in the world to come

Conclusion

1.       What does it take to find God? 1 Corinthians 13.13

a.       Faith – Hebrews 11.1; 11.6

b.      Hope – Assurance

c.       Love

2.      Things are not always as they seem –

a.       Judah was captive in Babylon (greatest country in the world) – coming home in 70 years;

b.      Joseph in Egypt – saved the nation; sent home via Moses

c.       Mordecai – Daniel – 3 Hebrew boys – Christ on the cross (stumbling block; foolishness)

d.      Effects of our sins

3.      Stop Running and start looking!

I was recently sitting in a restaurant and heard a bird chirping. Or, at least so I thought. It was actually a ringtone on someone’s cellphone. I could not help but think of all of the excellent tones people are using today (my phone is the sound of an old telephone – no imagination). These tones are an imitation of something or someone.

In 1820, Charles Caleb Colton coined the phrase that states: “Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.” Those words are still true. It is especially true for the life of a disciple of Jesus.

The Christian journey is not just a life that doesn’t “cuss or smoke or drink or chew or go with girls who do.” It is a life given to the imitation of Jesus himself. A disciple of a rabbi would give all he had to become just like his rabbi. That is what we are called to do. Paul said it this way to his disciples, “Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ.” (1 Corinthians 11.1)

This is especially evident in the trials we encounter. I understand that a jeweler has a sure-fire test to establish a diamond’s authenticity. He places the jewel under water. A true diamond will always out-sparkle an imitation. In fact the imitation will lose its sparkle.

Tests come and go. What do they reveal? They may reveal the real image of Jesus in our lives or they may reveal a cheap imitation. Who am I trying to imitate? What am I trying to become?

Keep The Light Burning!

Perry Greene

“Moses spent his first forty years thinking he was somebody. He spend his second forty years learning he was a nobody. He spent his third forty years discovering what God can do with a nobody.” Dwight L. Moody

Acts 7.17-22

Moses was raised to deliver the nation – as was predicted in Genesis 15.13-14

¹³ Then the LORD said to Abram, “Know for certain that your offspring will be sojourners in a land that is not theirs and will be servants there, and they will be afflicted for four hundred years. ¹⁴ But I will bring judgment on the nation that they serve, and afterward they shall come out with great possessions.

I.       Moses Jumped the Gun

A.     Moses Was Esteemed

1.      He was Esteemed by God – 7.20

2.      He was Esteemed by his Parents (Exodus 2.2)

3.      He was Esteemed by Pharaoh’s Daughter

4.      He was Esteemed by Pharaoh (Acts 7.22)

• Mighty in Words and Deeds
• Groomed to be a leader in Egypt

5.      He Esteemed Himself

B.     Moses Expected a Following (7.23-25)

1.      Apparently Understood his destiny – a type of king to deliver Hebrews from affliction (7.18 cf. Exodus 1.7-8)

2.      Tried to right a wrong by doing wrong

• Did not see God at work and did not wait on him – Psalm 27.14
• [Do we ever deal with church issues in Moses’ manner?
• No one is trying to fix it – so I will; no one is looking and I assassinate a person’s character with a whisper campaign
• See Galatians 5.14-15
• What SHOULD we do?

3.      Rejected and Fled to Midian

4.      Good News – even when we make rash decisions God can still use us – in time; Moses needed more training – with the sheep

II.    Moses Tried to Dodge God’s Bullet

“Send Me a Sign” – Flaming Arrow, etc.

A.     An Enlightening Encounter – a Burning Bush

1.      Pattern for the Hebrews’ Menorah in Tabernacle/Temple

2.      God’s Lamp for Man’s Light

B.     Elaborate Excuses

It was Benjamin Franklin who said: “He that is good for making excuses is seldom good for anything else.”

1.      Excuse #1 – Who Am I? – Exodus 3.10-11

a.       Already tried and failed

b.      “I am with you” – Exodus 3.13

2.      Excuse #2 – I Don’t Know Enough – Exodus 3.13

a.       Who knows it all? The more I study, the less I know

b.      God’s Assurance – Exodus 3.14-22

1)      YHWH

2)      The People will listen

3)      Pharaoh will even listen – eventually

3.      Excuse #3 – They Won’t Listen – Exodus 4.1-9

1)   Signs of Power

2)   Staff to snake to staff/hand leprous and back

4.      Excuse #4 – I Don’t Have the Gift – Exodus 4.10

a.       “Mighty in his words and deeds” (Acts 7.22) = talent

b.      Sheep?

c.       God’s Presence – Exodus 4.11-12

d.      God is not looking for ability, he is looking for availability

Availability, not Ability

Moses was old and shepherd of sheep on the backside of the desert. He failed at age 40 with his talent, rank and money to deliver his people. He tried to do it in his own strength. God moved into his life at age 80; not in the palace but in a pasture.

God does not need out talents, rank and money, He need us. When God gets us He gets everything else.

5.      Excuse #5 – I Don’t Want to get Involved – Exodus 4.13

III. Moses Was “On Target” with God (Acts 7.35-36)

A.     Solutions from an Angry God – Exodus 4.14-17

B.     Success from a Acquiescent Moses

Easy to criticize Moses

Aristotle wrote: “It’s easy to avoid criticism: all you have to do is say nothing, do nothing, be nothing.”

Rabbi Zusya years ago said, “In the world to come I will not be asked (by God), ’Why were you not Moses?’ I will be asked, ’Why were you not Zusya?’” B. Larsen, Luke, p. 42.

Open

Please share your response to one of the following:

• What do you want to be remembered for?
• Are you comfortable going to dinner or a movie alone? How about a vacation? Why or why not?

Study

This study will come from Acts 7.17-44 and Exodus 3-4. Please refer to the appropriate texts as you discuss the following with your Group:

• How do you think Moses was viewed by others (Acts 7.20-22)? By God; His parents; etc.
• How do you envision his self-image before he left Egypt?
• What significance do you see with the burning bush? Why do you think it was represented in the Hebrews lamp (Menorah) in the tabernacle and temple?
• Which of Moses’ excuses (Exodus 3.10-4.13) seemed the lamest to you? The best?
• Why do you think God makes compromises for Moses and allows him to use Aaron (Exodus 4.14-17)?

Apply

• How might we imitate the bad example of Moses taking matters into his own hands?
• Do the ends ever justify the means?
• What typically happens when we do not do things God’s way?
• Why do you think God does not operate by a democratic process?
• In what ways does Moses effectively pursue God? How does this apply to us as a church? To you as a follower of Jesus?
• Since God does not ask you to be anything you are not, what do you need to do to be the person God made you?

Open

Please share your response to one of the following:

• What is the worst thing that can happen if you take a risk and fail? What is the best thing that could happen if you take a risk and succeed?
• What is the worst rejection you have experienced? How did you handle it?
• Do you think it is possible to live with no regrets? Explain.

Study

Please read Acts 7.9-16 and discuss the following:

1. What were some of the reasons Joseph’s brothers were jealous of him? (See Genesis 37)
2. How do you think Joseph felt when he rose in status in Potiphar’s house (Genesis 39)? When he went to prison? When he became “second in command” in Egypt (Genesis 41)?
3. How do you think Joseph was able to endure his circumstances?
4. What do you think were his greatest struggles?
5. How does Joseph gift of dream interpretation become a “gift and a curse”?
6. How do you think Joseph gained wisdom in his life?
7. How do you think Joseph is able to honor God and not blame him in Genesis 50.20?

Apply

• What do you wish others knew/understood about you that you think they usually do not? How does the account of Joseph apply to your situation? What can you do to improve others’ view of you? Your lack of understanding with others?
• How is the Joseph account a lesson on parenting? On faith?
• What responsibilities do you see in connection with the abilities God gives us? (As Joseph’s ability to interpret dreams; Genesis 40.8; 41.16, 25, 32)
• How have you gained wisdom through your trials?
• How do YOU know God is in control, even in the dark times?

Years ago there was a TV show called The Honeymooners. Art Carney played one of the characters on the show, Ed Norton – a kind of happy go lucky, but fairly slow thinking worker in the sewer systems of the city. Ed Norton once summed up his philosophy of life with these words:

When the tides of life turn against you

And the current upsets your boat

Don’t waste those tears on what might have been

Just lie on your back and float.

• Joseph was a man who repeatedly who saw the tides of life turn against him. His boat was upset more than once. His difficulties would have crippled the faith of a lesser man. BUT, he didn’t sink and he didn’t even float. He overcame AND he rose above the waves of adversity. He overcame these difficulties because of his “philosophy of life” – a philosophy of life was nobler and wiser than that of Ed Norton.
•         There is more space devoted to Joseph in the book of Genesis than Abraham, Isaac, or Jacob
•         God does not speak against him at any point – even though he was imperfect (great encouragement in our Quest for God; we do not have to be perfect, just pursuing Him)

Acts 7.9-16

1. I.       Joseph Found Favor
   1. A.     With Jacob – Genesis 37.3

Now Israel loved Joseph more than any other of his sons, because he was the son of his old age. And he made him a robe of many colors [or long coat].

1.       Death of Rachel; Death of Isaac (Genesis 35)
2.       Comforted himself with Joseph

  B.     With God –

1.       Ability to Interpret Dreams –

a.       Attributes ability to God (40.8; 41.16, 25, 32)

b.      Remember where we get abilities

2.      Providential Protection

C.     With Egyptians

1.       Potiphar (39.1-6)a.       Young – 17

   b.      Good Character/work ethic

2. c.       God’s Favor Brings Potiphar Benefit – Genesis 39.5

2.      Prison Warden (39.21-23)

a.       In Charge of Prisoners

b.      Trustee

3.      Pharaoh (41.38-46)

a.       At age 30 Treated as a Prince in Egypt

b.      Second in command over the land

II.    Joseph Endured Fighting

A.     Joseph Started Off with (Over) Confidence

B.     He Had Some Serious Struggles

1.       His Brothers

2.      Mr. & Mrs. Potiphar/His Own Temptation (39.6b-8a)

•          The Hebrew people represented a DIFFERENT morality
•          Until the Hebrews people tended to be Amoral

 III. Joseph was Given Foresight

A.     The Dreams

1.      Right about His Family bowing before him

2.      Right about Baker and Butler

3.      Right about 7 years of plenty and 7 years of famine

B.     His Wisdom –

1.      In the Years of Plenty – stockpiling

2.      In the Famine (gathering riches for Egypt)

3.      In Dealing with his brothers

a.       Saves his family and the lineage of Yeshua (Jesus)

[Satan has always tried to destroy the people of God

 b.      Honors God – Genesis 50.20

[God’s ways are not always comfortable but they always ensure his success

4.      Wisdom Demonstrated by Joseph (and others) is from God – Proverbs 2.6

Yogi Bera, the famous catcher for the New York Yankees once said: “If you don’t know where you’re going, you’re likely to end up someplace else.”

Joseph was a man who knew where he was going.

He may not have known HOW he would get there, but he knew WHERE he was headed. At the age of 17, God had given him a vision. He had a vision that he would be man of great importance.

“Man’s Quest for God” depends on faith, not knowledge.

Years ago, a famous actress named, Billie Burke was on a cruise when she noticed that a gentleman at the next table was suffering from a bad head cold.  She asked him, “Are you uncomfortable?” The man nodded. 

She said, “Go back to your room and drink lots of orange juice, take two aspirins, cover yourself with all the blankets you can find and sweat the cold out. I know what I’m talking about; I’m Billie Burke from Hollywood.” 

The man smiled and said, “Thanks.” Then he added, “By the way, I’m Dr. Mayo from the Mayo Clinic.”

When it comes to medical matters, I would prefer to take the advice of an esteemed doctor over that of a famous actress.

Likewise, when it comes to spiritual matters, we have choices. We can look to celebrities. We can look to those we regard as “wise”. We can look to the stars (astrology). We can even look to the angels. Or we can look to Jesus Christ. It should not be a difficult choice.

Jesus Christ is superior in every way (Hebrews 1.4; 3.56-6). He is the Son of God, the Lord of lords and King of kings.  He is God. He creates, sustains, governs, redeems and cleanses us of sin. He is the one to be worshiped by the angels. He is omniscient, omnipotent, unchanging and eternal. Why would you look anywhere else?

“Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.’” (John 14:6)

Keep The Light Burning!

Perry Greene