Union Chapel Ministries

Psalm 90 I. Teach us to number our days. The three R’s of Sabbath: Rest, Renewal, Reverence. II. Rest as spiritual food. Sabbath is what balances the active parts of life with the holy parts, the spiritual parts, the most valuable parts.

Mark 3:1-6 The intent of the commandment – rest – is what is important. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. Matthew 11:29 I. Rest from being hurt. Rest gives our souls the time they need to heal. II. Rest from heavy labors. If we are to treat our bodies as temples, we must allow time for physical, mental, and spiritual recovery from the labors of the week. III. Rest from the pace of the world. Fast-paced lives leave less time for activities that build family and friendships. IV. Rest from the speed of change. V. Rest from the job. Resting is even more necessary in uncertain times. It helps us remember that God is in control and that our identity is not dependent on the work we do. VI. Rest from information. We need rest from the deluge of information in order to discern what information is important and how we should respond.

Exodus 20:1-17 I. The Sabbath is missing. Remember that you were once slaves in Egypt, but the Lord your God brought you out with his strong hand and powerful arm. That is why the Lord your God has commanded you to rest on the Sabbath day. Deuteronomy 5:15 II. The Sabbath has meaning. As we keep or break the Sabbath day, we nobly save or meanly lose the last best hope by which man rises. Abraham Lincoln A Sabbath Poem by John David Walt Breathe rest in Rest, holy Leisure--- airtight Time: Sabbath. hearing Ears, Creation slowing--- open Eyes: Sabbath. guiltless Feasting, sacred Rhythms--- Heaven hugging: Sabbath. Nothing-doing Nowhere-going--- Work unknowing: Sabbath.

1 Peter 2:9-10 – 9 But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. 10 Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. 1. You are acceptable – 1 Peter 2:9, “a chosen people” Titus 3:7 (Contemporary English Version) “Jesus treated us much better than we deserve. He made us acceptable to God and gave us the hope of eternal life.” 2. You are valuable – 1 Peter 2:9, “God’s special possession” 1 Corinthians 7:23 – “You were bought at a price; do not become slaves of human beings.” 3. You are capable – 1 Peter 2:9, “a royal priesthood” 1 Peter 2:9-10 (The Message Translation) But you are the ones chosen by God, chosen for the high calling of priestly work, chosen to be a holy people, God’s instruments to do his work and speak out for him, to tell others of the night-and-day difference he made

Luke 19:35-38 Psalm 24:7-10 Revelation 19:11-16 I. Jesus comes to Jerusalem as King. II. Jesus arrives in heaven as the King of Glory. III. Jesus returns to earth as King of Kings and Lord of Lords!

Psalm 92:12-14 Tell Archippus: See to it that you complete the ministry you have received in the Lord. Colossians 4:17 I. Stay focused till you’re finished. II. Stay resilient about retirement III. Stay connected to your calling The gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable. Romans 11:29 IV. Stay vigilant after your victories V. Stay ready for redeployment Now Joshua was old, advanced in years. And the Lord said to him: You are old, advanced in years, and there remains very much land yet to be possessed. Joshua 13:1 The righteous shall flourish like a palm tree, he shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon. Those who are planted in the house of the Lord shall flourish in the courts of our God. They shall still bear fruit in old age; they shall be fresh and flourishing. Psalm 92:12-14 Even to your old age, I am He, and even to gray hairs I will carry you! I have made, and I will bear; even I will carry, and will deliver you. Isaiah 46:4

John 19:30; Luke 23:43-47 I. It is finished! For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes… Romans 1:16 II. The Temple curtain is torn. III. Jesus’ dying prayer. In you, O Lord, I seek refuge; Do not let me ever be put to shame; In your righteousness deliver me. Incline your ear to me; rescue me speedily. Be a rock of refuge for me, a strong fortress to save me. Psalm 31:1-2 You are indeed my rock and my fortress; For your name’s sake lead me and guide me, Take me out of the net that is hidden for me, for you are my refuge. Into your hands I commit my spirit. Psalm 31:3-5 The primary purpose of Jesus’ words about his return are to encourage believers in the face of adversity and to invite his hearers to always be ready for the end.

Acts 11:19-30 A “faith promise” offering is simply faith in God to provide an amount of money followed by a promise to give it.  A “faith promise” offering is a commitment to give what we will trust God to provide. -It was an offering over and above local church support. -Rather than being a cash offering, it was a faith offering, promising in faith to contribute a certain amount over a one-year period. -It was given in faith.  (The reward in ability to give during the year was seen as being directly proportional to the commitment made in faith.) The grace of new opportunity:  The grace of discipline:  The grace of the unusual:

Matthew 6:19-21 “The real measure of our wealth is how much we would be worth if we lost all our money.” Anonymous I. Invest in God’s Word Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away. Matthew 24:35 A. Study His Word B. Spread His Word II. Invest in God’s Work A. Develop a Personal Ministry B. Devote Yourself to a Local Church III. Invest in God’s Wealth Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. Matthew 6:19-20 The great use of life is to spend it for something that will outlast it. William James

Joshua 14:6-9 God will never choose safety for us at the risk of service and significance. I. Risk-Takers Stay Exuberant About Their Lives “Exuberance carries us places we would not otherwise go – across the savannah, to the moon, into the imagination…By its pleasures, exuberance lures us from our common places and quieter moods; and – after the victory, the harvest, the discovery of a new idea or an unfamiliar place – it gives ascendant reason to venture forth all over again.” Psychologist Kay Redfield Jamison II. Risk-Takers Stay Excited About Their Futures The most important thing about us is our future. III. Risk-Takers Stay Enthusiastic About Their Mission IV. Risk-Takers Stay Energized About Their God

Philippians 3:12-14 “Luciano, if you try to sit on two chairs, you will fall between them. For life, you must choose one chair.” Father of Luciano Pavarotti “I was blessed with a good voice by God. I think it pleased Him that I decided to devote myself to it. And now I think whether it’s laying bricks, driving a straight nail, writing a book, whatever we choose we should give ourselves to it. Commitment, that’s the key. Choose one chair.” Luciano Pavarotti Now when David had served God’s purpose in his own generation, he fell asleep; he was buried with his ancestors… Acts 13:36 I. Focus on God’s Purpose. Vs. 12: I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son. Romans 8:29 Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete

Philippians 3:13-14 Again, to our text…I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us. Philippians 3:13-14 “It is a mistake to be always turning back to recover the past. The law for Christian living is not backward, but forward; not for experiences that lie behind, but for doing the will of God, which is always ahead and beckoning us to follow.” F. B. Meyer “The only thing worse than being blind is having sight but no vision.” Hellen Keller Where there is not vision, the people perish. Proverbs 19:18 I. Root your dream in history. II. Reproduce your dream in a picture. See now, I dwell in a house of cedar, but the ark of God dwells inside tent curtains. 2 Samuel 7:2 III. Reinforce your dream with determination. You shall not build a house for My name, because you have been a man of war and have shed blood. 1 Chronicles 28:3 IV. Reconcile

Acts 13:36 1. Your purpose is for God 2. You don’t find your purpose, you serve God’s purpose 3. You serve God’s purpose by serving people We have opportunities for you! You can click the link above that says "Sign Up To Serve"

Luke 22:31-34 Sometimes God’s preparation comes packaged as pain Verse 31: “Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift all of you … See your pain through the perspective of purpose And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. Romans 8:28 Jesus is with you in your pain The greater the pain, the bigger the potential Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. James 1: 2

1. God Gave Two Greatest Gifts. Jesus and The Holy Spirit. 2. Life In the Spirit provides a life of Gettas. 3. Life has a few Gottas. 4. The apostle Paul felt that he had to go back to Jerusalem. 5. The Greatest Gotta became the Biggest Getta for us. 6. We can face our biggest Gotta because of the Holy Spirit.

Matthew 6:19-21 I. Sorting our fears. II. When time expires. Jesus said, “The man who loves his life will lose it, while the man who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life” John 12:25 What is given away cannot be taken away. Whatever you sacrifice to gain for God’s Kingdom you can never lose. Store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. Matthew 6:20 III. For the joy of it! For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. Matthew 6:21

2 Corinthians 9:6-11 I. The law of the harvest “…whoever sows generously will also reap generously…” II. Alignment with God’s agenda "…He has scattered abroad his gifts to the poor; his righteousness endures forever…” III. Strengthen your faith through giving “…You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion…” And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. 2 Corinthians 9:8 Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God. 2 Corinthians 9:10-11

Hebrews 11:1-6 In order for faith to work it must be practiced. Faith without works is useless. James 2:14 Faith is entrusting your life to God... not that He can do it but entrusting Him to do it. 1. Don't let circumstances deter you. 2. Don't let doubt deter you. 3. Don't let people deter you. 4. Don't let fear deter you.

Ecclesiastes 11:1-6 I. The principle of faith "Now faith is being sure (assurance) of what we hope for and certain of (conviction) what we do not see." Principle: The tangible means of reaching into the unseen and bringing it into the seen. II. The power of faith * The power of Faith is not your ability to have faith but in the power of God to move mountains! * When we don't have enough faith, it is always because we don't have a big enough God! The Power of faith is the greatness of God! III. The priority of faith * God is saying, "If I can't trust you to steward the time, talents and treasure I place in your hands, then don't expect me to bless you with the things that are really valuable...true riches." * Priority: If you give to God what is rightfully His and use the rest properly, then He is free to trust you with more.

II Timothy 4:1-8 I. Endure hardship gladly. II. Prepare well. III. Keep your eye on the goal. IV. Finish well.