Boulder Creek Community Church

Why Do You Call Me Lord And Do Not What I Say?

Do you want to get well ?Do you want to get well John 5 – Some time later, Jesus went up to Jerusalem for one of the Jewish festivals. 2 Now there is in Jerusalem near the Sheep Gate a pool, which in Aramaic is called Bethesda and which is surrounded by five covered colonnades. 3 Here a great number of disabled people used to lie—the blind, the lame, the paralyzed. 5 One who was there had been an invalid for thirty-eight years. 6 When Jesus saw him lying there and learned that he had been in this condition for a long time, he asked him, “Do you want to get well?” 7 “Sir,” the invalid replied, “I have no one to help me into the pool when the water is stirred. While I am trying to get in, someone else goes down ahead of me.” 8 Then Jesus said to him, “Get up! Pick up your mat and walk.” 9 At once the man was cured; he picked up his mat and walked.

Do you Also Want To Leave Me Now

A Demon's Guide to the ElectionHow C.S. Lewis Addressed National DivisionIn The Screwtape Letters, C.S. Lewis imagines how an experienced demonic operative might advise a younger, less experienced understudy in the intricacies of counter-Christian spiritual warfare. In one passage especially relevant right now, Lewis describes how politics could be used to tempt and thwart a Christ-follower. The setting is World War II Britain.“Uncle Screwtape” says it this way: 'Let [your patient] begin by treating … Patriotism or Pacifism as part of his religion. Then let him, under the influence of partisan spirit, come to regard it as the most important part. Then quietly and gradually nurse him on to the stage at which the religion becomes merely part of the ‘cause,’ in which Christianity is valued chiefly because of the excellent arguments it can produce in favour of the British war-effort or of Pacifism."Note the progression: first, politics is part of religion. Then, politics is the most important part of religion. Th

Seek to edify all!1. Seek to edify! 19 Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification. - Don’t make being right more important than the relationship! - What if sought to serve and encourage every person you ever met? Your greatest aim as a Christian… Is to impact and influence others! Not to be right! If you sacrifice the relationship for being right, then you are wrong… Seeking to edify people builds bridges… harshness… withdrawing burns bridges. And so… before you burn a bridge… or move to another neighborhood to get away from “those” people…. Build a bridge! Your greatest aim as a Christian… Is to impact and influence others! Not to be right! If you sacrifice the relationship for being right, then you are wrong… Seeking to edify people builds bridges… harshness… withdrawing burns bridges. And so… before you burn a bridge… or move to another neighborhood to get away from “those” people…. Build a bridge! 2. Be a learner! Learn to listen! If you don’t thin

Put people before politics

Stephen Mealing

Mark 12:13-1713 Later the leaders sent some Pharisees and supporters of Herod to trap Jesus into saying something for which he could be arrested.14 “Teacher,” they said, “we know how honest you are. You are impartial and don’t play favorites. You teach the way of God truthfully. Now tell us—is it right to pay taxes to Caesar or not? 15 Should we pay them, or shouldn’t we?” Jesus saw through their hypocrisy and said, “Why are you trying to trap me? Show me a Roman coin, and I’ll tell you.” 16 When they handed it to him, he asked, “Whose picture and title are stamped on it?” “Caesar’s,” they replied. 17 “Well, then,” Jesus said, “give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar, and give to God what belongs to God.” His reply completely amazed them.A Revolutionary Answer.His answer is absolutely remarkable! We know politicians! How they avoid answering questions! It’s infuriating! Were these people mad? They were amazed! He doesn’t over simplify things…. A lot of what Jesus teaches us is very simple, especially w

Mark 12:13-1713 Later the leaders sent some Pharisees and supporters of Herod to trap Jesus into saying something for which he could be arrested.14 “Teacher,” they said, “we know how honest you are. You are impartial and don’t play favorites. You teach the way of God truthfully. Now tell us—is it right to pay taxes to Caesar or not? 15 Should we pay them, or shouldn’t we?” Jesus saw through their hypocrisy and said, “Why are you trying to trap me? Show me a Roman coin, and I’ll tell you.” 16 When they handed it to him, he asked, “Whose picture and title are stamped on it?”“Caesar’s,” they replied. 17 “Well, then,” Jesus said, “give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar, and give to God what belongs to God.” His reply completely amazed them.

1 Timothy 2:1-2

The Serenity Prayer – God grant me the serenity… To accept the things I cannot change; Courage to change the things I can; And wisdom to know the difference…. Living one day at a time; Enjoying one moment at a time; Accepting hardships as the pathway to peace; Taking, as He did, this sinful worldAs it is, not as I would have it; Trusting that He will make all things right… If I surrender to His Will; So that I may be reasonably happy in this life… And supremely happy with Him… Forever and ever in the next.Amen.Declaration of Independence – We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness… Is it even attainable…? Henry David Thoreau: "Happiness is like a butterfly: the more you chase it, the more it will elude you, but if you turn your attention to other things, it will come and sit softly on your shoulder.” Apostle Paul – “Rejoice in the Lord al

Jesus is brought before Pilate... John 1833-19-16

We need to see politics and culture through the lens of faith... not the other way around.

Shame – comes on the heals of guilt. ** Example of Guilt and Shame at work – you blow it… tell a lie! You feel bad about doing something wrong… but deeper than that… you feel ashamed! You did something you despise in others… you thought you were better than that! You thought you were more courageous than that! Opposite of guilt… innocence! Opposite of shame… Glory! (Significance… value… worth)Wrong being… Who am I…? What names me…? Whose approval really matters…? Have I tried to build my identity on the wrong things…? - being a mom - being the best employee- having someone’s approval- being successful Shame is accompanied by - strong feelings of inadequacy… - Uncertainty as to where you fit in…- a fear of failure… - inability or unwillingness to take risks… or - over shyness… Key: When we violate God’s standard…Out of love, He brings a deep sense of conviction… but never condemnation! Romans 8:1 – There is no condemnation for those who are IN Christ Jesus! 1 John 3:20 – 20 If our hearts condemn us, we

2) Phantom Guilt – Like a person who has had a limb amputated. Phantom guilt can persist in a Xian’s life for sometime if not dealt with… where does it come from…?- A hypersensitive/weak conscious… - Unhealthy spiritual upbringing… - Unhealthy upbringing…o Don’t feel what you feel… feel what we tell you to feel!o Don’t show emotion! ** Don’t ever get angry! o Emotions not validated… You shouldn’t feel like that! o Abuse… neglect… abandonment… Phantom Guilt unchecked…. Can lead to:- Perfectionism- Workaholic - Depression- Regular outburst of anger- An inability to have close relationships- Can lead to physical illnesses! - Can lead to addictions… from drugs to food to shopping! Feeling guilty…? Ask: Is my guilt true guilt or phantom guilt…?Have I violated God’s Word…? Or…Have I not lived up to my mom’s expectations…?Have I disappointed my dad…?Have I not lived up to some expectation that’s not from God…?

Two kinds of guilt:1) True Guilt – A good thing! Not a good thing when someone never experiences guilt! Psalm 51:4 – 4 Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight; so you are right in your verdict and justified when you judge. David has a straight edge… it’s God who sets the standard, and its God who determines sin and is 1st offended by our sin. To distinguish true and phantom guilt, we need to go to God’s Word… get good counsel… study, seek advice of scholars…etc…We can’t resist all guilt! Some of it is right! Don’t you wish Hitler felt guilt…? * WWII – US slow to believe reports about the slaughter of Jews… Not Germany! A Christian nation… maybe a less sophisticated people… After the war, US soldiers were horrified at what they found… in one city the US general forced the people of that town to clean up the mess… The Mayor and his wife committed suicide the next day! They knew that stuff was taking place, but they didn’t want to believe it could happen.How do you deal wi

Matthew 4 – 18 One day as Jesus was walking along the shore of the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers—Simon, also called Peter, and Andrew—throwing a net into the water, for they fished for a living. 19 Jesus called out to them, “Come, follow me, and I will show you how to fish for people!” (Not a cheesy play on words… but a 1st century idiom… follow me and you will become like me! You will become a wise and influential person… An invitation of a lifetime for these “uneducated fishermen – an invitation to walk in and sit in the Dust of the Rabbi!) 20 And they left their nets at once and followed him. ** Not like some of you might follow the Giants… Jesus isn’t inviting us to be his fans… he’s inviting us to put on a uniform and play the game! “Follow”… 79x’s!4:21 A little farther up the shore he saw two other brothers, James and John, sitting in a boat with their father, Zebedee, repairing their nets. And he called them to come, too. 22 They immediately followed him, leaving the boat and their father behind

Emotional Intelligence – EQ vs. IQ… EQ is The capacity to be aware of, control, and express one's emotions, and to handle interpersonal relationships judiciously and empathetically. ‘emotional intelligence is the key to both personal and professional success’According to the bible we are not only emotional beings, but we are also complex creatures made up of mind, conscience, spirit & emotions all wrapped up in a physical body! And it’s all connected! Our emotions are not isolated or separate from our conscious, mind or body! Psalm 32:3 When I kept silent, my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long. 4 For day and night your hand was heavy on me; my strength was sapped as in the heat of summer. When we come to faith in Christ… God has so much more for us than to just “be good”. He also desires to reform and transform our lives, which includes our emotions! A person may come to Christ with very damaged emotions… Either overly emotional… someone who is controlled and subject to their emoti