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Harvest North Indianapolis Sermon Archives - Entries written by Pastor Brian White
SunSundayMarMarch13th2011
Let's Serve Together
I Peter 4:7-11
Main idea -
When we serve faithfully in this church family, according to our spiritual
gifts, God will be glorified.
1) The Context for Service - Live purposefully
in the Family! (v7-9)
2) The Principles of Service - Steward God’s
Grace in the Family (v10)
3) The Illustration of Service - Identify faithful service
in the Family (v11a)
4) The Goal of Service - Give God glory in the
Family (v11b)
Reflection:
1) Has there been a time when you have served in the church
and you have been fulfilled and encouraged in the fruit of that work in your
own life?
2) Has there been a time that you have served in the church
and you have become disinterested or burned out? What do you think was the
cause?
Application:
1) Discover
your spiritual gifts of service. Take an online spiritual gifts test to
discover your gifting.
(www.churchgrowth.org/analysis/intro.php)
2) Choose to dive in and serve at Harvest
according to your gifting and passion. Seek out others who can help you
identify these items.
Audio
Sermon11-03-13.mp3
SunSundayMarMarch6th2011
Care for One Another
II Corinthians 1:3-7
Main Idea: This church family must become proficient at caring for one another!
1) A Theology of Care – What does Scripture say about it? (v3-5)
- God provides care for His children in the midst of affliction.
- God intends for that care to be extended to others.
2) An Application of Care – What should we do about it? (v6-7)
- I will extend care to you because it has been extended to me.
- I will have confidence knowing we are in this together.
Reflection: Think
back and remember a time here at Harvest or at another church when you
were shown care and comfort by your church family. Thank God for that
experience.
In
the last twelve months, have you had an opportunity to provide care for
another member of our church family? Have you seized those
opportunities?
Application:
Pray daily this week for five people that you know in the Harvest church family.
Send a note of encouragement or some other expression of care to two people this week.
Audio
Sermon2011-03-06.mp3
SunSundayFebFebruary27th2011
Truth #6 - The Church is my Family!
Truth #6 - The Church is my Family!
Sermon Text - Acts 2:37-47
Main Idea - My pursuit and reflection of the glory of God in Christ is best accomplished within thecontext of my faith family, the church.
1. What makes us a family? Characteristics of our togetherness: (v38-41)
•We are a redeemed family. (v38a)
•We are an identified family. (v38b)
•We are a spirit-filled family. (v38c)
•We are an expansive family. (v39)
•We are a challenged family. (v40)
2. What do we do as a family? Priorities of our togetherness: (v42-47)
•We are to be a community of growth.
•We are to be a community of care.
•We are to be a community of testimony.
Reflection/Application: How can I put this truth into practice?
Reflection:
1) When you think about your life and your commitment to the church, do you feel like a family member? Why or why not?
2) What do you think could be done to connect you more closely to this faith family at Harvest?
Application:
1) Pick one of Paul’s letters to a New Testament church and study the characteristics, challenges and applications of that faith family (Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, Thessalonians)
2) Pray daily for the upcoming series “I’m in the Family!”. Pray that God would use it to form us as a faith family in the weeks ahead.
Audio
Sermon2011-02-27.mp3
SunSundayFebFebruary20th2011
Truth #5, Pt.2 – Go After God's Glory
Psalm 96
Main Idea: The personal pursuit of God's glory readies us in mission and worship.
Be intentionally vocal about the glory of God.
- Lord, I want to declare Your glory to the nations.
- Let me speak of Your salvation.
- Let me tell of Your great works.
- Let me testify of Your position.
- Lord, I want to ascribe Your glory back to You.
- Let me worship You because of Your character.
- Let me worship You because of Your actions.
- Let me worship You because of Your returning.
How can I put this truth into practice?
Reflection:
- Do you long for a God-experience like Moses did in Exodus 33? When was the last time you asked God to illustrate His glory and character to you?
- Has there been a time in your life when you came to know God's ways or character in a specific situation?
Application:
- With a neighbor or friend this week, have a discussion about who God is and what He has done for you. (Declare His glory! Testify to it!)
- In your devotion and Bible study time this week, take a few minutes each day to "ascribe" glory to the Lord. (Write a worship letter to Him, sing a song of worship to Him)
Audio
Sermon2011-02-20.mp3
SunSundayFebFebruary13th2011
Truth #5, Pt.1 – Go After God's Glory
Exodus 33:12-23
Main Idea: The personal pursuit of God's glory readies us in mission and worship.
What does the Bible say about truth?
1. Be personally focused on the glory of God.
- Lord, I want to know Your glory.
- Let me know You personally.
- Let me know You deeply.
- Lord, I want to be affected by Your glory.
- Let me experience Your favor.
- Let me exhibit Your distinction.
Audio
Sermon2011-02-13.mp3
SunSundayFebFebruary6th2011
Truth #4 – My Story is Jesus
Acts 20:17-35
Main Idea: My life must be marked by the furthering of Christ’s Kingdom and the proclamation of His Gospel.
1) Serve Christ – Live His story and further the Kingdom
- Does my service exemplify Christ? (v18-19)
- Does my service embrace suffering? (v22-23)
- Does my service derive from conviction? (v24)
- Does my service transcend legacy? (v28-32)
- Does my service avoid distraction? (v33-35)
2)Proclaim Christ – Tell His story and preach the Gospel.
- Does my message boldly present His Gospel? (v20-21, 24)
- Does my message demonstrate Word faithfulness? (v25-27)
- Does my message correctly exhort to response? (v28-32)
Audio
Sermon2011-02-06.mp3
SunSundayJanJanuary30th2011
Truth #3 – Salvation is in Christ Alone!
John 3:1-21
Main Idea: Salvation is
granted to those who put their faith in the person and work of Jesus
Christ!
1)
The Necessity of Salvation –
It is the solution! (v1-8)
- Context: (v1-2)
- Content: (v3)
- Clarification: (v4-8)
2)
The Securing of Salvation –
Christ died for you! (v9-21)
- The Issue of Response (v10-12)
- Why you can respond (v13-16)
- How you can respond (v15-17)
- How to evaluate response (v18-21)
Reflection and Application:
Reflection –
- If you were talking with someone who is
skeptical about Christianity and salvation, based on this message, what would
be the important things you would tell them?
- Read Galatians 3:1-14 and write down all of the
arguments Paul uses to explain salvation is by faith and not by works.
Application:
- After reading Romans 3:21-24, respond to God
with gratitude for the work of Christ on your behalf.
- Prayerfully ask God to bring you one “Nicodemus”
this week and commit to share the essentials of the Gospel with them.
Audio
Sermon2011-01-30.mp3
SunSundayJanJanuary23rd2011
Through the Looking Glass - Truth #2 – Sin is the Problem
Genesis 3:1-24
Main Idea: Creation reveals the reality of relationship between God and Man.
1. Observe the Problem – Understand the Progression of Sin (v1-7)
- Sin’s Progression
- Truth is questioned. (v1-5)
- Authority is defied. (v6-7)
2. Identify the Damage – Examine the Results of Sin (v8-24)
- Sin’s Results
- Sin breaks down relationships. (v8-13)
- Sin brings lasting pain. (v14-19)
Audio
Sermon2011-01-23.mp3
SunSundayJanJanuary16th2011
Through the Looking Glass - Truth #1 – Creation Sets Reality
Main Idea: What truth are we studying today?
Creation reveals the reality of relationship between God and Man.
Sermon Outline: What does the Bible say about this truth?
1) The reality of a right view of God
- God is . . .
- Sovereign Authority
- Faithful Provider
- Purpose Giver
- Truth Definer
2) The reality of a right view of man
- Man is . . .
- Submissive Participant
- Entrusted Steward
- Purpose Fulfiller
- Truth Applier/Announcer
REFLECTION AND APPLICATION: How can I put this truth into practice?
Reflection:
Do you see relationship with God as a reality in your life? What are some evidences of this relationship?
When you consider your daily life, are the roles of relationship correctly in place? Why or why not?
Application:
Re-submit your role in this relationship daily . . . start now!
Thank God and worship Him for creating the reality of relationship . . . start now!
Audio
Sermon2011-01-16.mp3
SunSundayJanJanuary9th2011
Through the Looking Glass - Stronger Convictions - Why Worldview Matters
Jeremiah 17:5-8
Sermon
1) Our Worldview Defines our Life - There are
Two Divergent Paths
- The Path of a “Man-Centered” Worldview
- The Definition
- The Example
- The Path of a “Christ-Centered” Worldview
- The Definition
- The Example
2) Our Worldview Decides our Eternity - There
are Two Distinct Results!
- The Results of a “Man-Centered” Worldview
- The Temporal Results:
- The Eternal Result:
- The Results of a “Christ-Centered”
Worldview
- The Temporal Results
- The Eternal Result:
Audio
Sermon2011-01-09.mp3
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