Union Chapel Ministries

Saul to Paul: Acts 9 What excuses do you use to disqualify yourself from being used by God? What excuses do you use to disqualify others? The enemy doesn’t need to disqualify you if you have already disqualified yourself. The enemy doesn’t need to disqualify others if we do it for him. Paul and Silas in Prison: Acts 16:16-40 Following Jesus should be disruptive to our past life. -2 Corinthians 5:16-17 -Galatians 5:13-25 Jesus, help me be easily interrupted for you. What is one area you know you need to ask God to interrupt? We are not just saved people; we are sent people. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” Acts 1:8

I. The Church is supernatural in origin and function. The Church is a supernatural invention that runs on supernatural power. II. The Church is a community of authentic love. It is better to be loving than to be right. It is better to be merciful than to be mean-spirited and judgmental. The unresolved gap between what we say and how we live is the crevice into which people fall. You cannot make yourself loving any more than you can make yourself good. III. The Church expects the miraculous presence of Christ.

“My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” Matthew 27:46 How deep the Father's love for us,
 How vast beyond all measure
 That He should give His only Son 
To make a wretch His treasure 

How great the pain of searing loss, 
The Father turns His face away 
As wounds which mar the chosen One,
 Bring many sons to glory My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Psalm 22:1 Why are you so far from saving me,
 so far from my cries of anguish?
 My God, I cry out by day, but you do not answer, by night, but I find no rest. Psalm 22:1-2 PSALMIST: “All who see me mock me: they hurl insults, shaking their heads.” Psalm 22:7 GOSPEL: “Those who passed by hurled insults at him, shaking their heads.” Matthew 27:39 PSALMIST: “He trusts in the Lord,” they say, “let the Lord rescue him.” Psalm 22:8 GOSPEL: “He trusts in God. Let God rescue him now…” Matthew 27:43 PSALMIST: “My mouth is dried up like a potsherd…” Psalm 22:15 JESUS: “I am thirsty.” John 19:28 PSALMIST: “…they pierce my hands and feet.” Psalm 2

1. There is truth – truth that everyone should believe. “You are a king, then!” said Pilate. Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. In fact, the reason I was born and came into the world is to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me.” John 18:37 2. Jesus came to testify to that truth – he is the key witness. “You are a king, then!” said Pilate. Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. In fact, the reason I was born and came into the world is to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me.” John 18:37 Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father accept through me.” John 14:6 3. Everyone doesn’t listen to Jesus – everyone gets to choose what they believe. “You are a king, then!” said Pilate. Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. In fact, the reason I was born and came into the world is to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me.” John 18:37 Communicating the truth: Don’t have anyt

What is most important? Luke 10:38-42 If the enemy can’t destroy you, he will distract you. The American dream is about distraction, not security. You might retire from your earthly work but never retire from Kingdom work. Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken the love you had at first. Consider how far you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first. If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place. Revelation 2:4-5 Jesus brings dead things back to life. John 11:1-46 Despite her grief, Mary ran to Jesus. Raising Lazarus from the dead was Jesus' last recorded miracle before his death. Lazarus outlived Jesus and was a walking testimony of the resurrection for humanity and of Jesus as King. Turn what looks like death into a prayer.

Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him and said to him, “Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?” He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Quiet! Be still!” Then the wind died down and it was completely calm. He said to his disciples, “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?” Mark 4:38-40 | THE STORY Pg. 343 If Jesus is in your boat, you don’t need to be afraid of storms. But Jesus immediately said to them: “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.” “Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.” “Come,” he said. Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. Matthew 14:27-29 | THE STORY Pg. 348 If you want to walk on water, you have to get out of the boat. When Jesus heard what had happened, he withdrew by boat privately to a solitary place.  Matthew 14:13 | THE STORY Pg. 346 Give Jesus what you have and let him multiply it. After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to

4 Pictures of Jesus’ life and ministry: 1. The Baptism of Jesus Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to be baptized by John. But John tried to deter him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?” Jesus replied, “Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness.” Then John consented. As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him. And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.” Matthew 3:13-17 If you have not been baptized, then what are you waiting for? This is not something to be casual about. This is something to be intentional about. 2. The Temptation of Jesus Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. Matthew 4:1 Why did Jesus submit to this testing? For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one

5 Movements in The Story: Creation (Eden, Fall, Flood, Tower of Babel) Israel (Abraham, Joseph, Moses, Judges, Kings, Prophets) Jesus The Church Paradise/Heaven In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind.  John 1:1-4 The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. John 1:14 I. Jesus came to show us truth. Listen, God is not playing any games of hide and go seek with us. He is absolutely transparent with us. We are allowed to see, full on, what God is like. He has revealed himself all along the way but now He makes a personal appearance in the person of His Son, Jesus Christ. God has come in the flesh and He is on mission. He has revealed a very distinct mission. He has come t

1. The Bible is the most powerful book. “Heaven and earth will pass away, but my Word will never pass away.” Matthew 24:35 2. The Bible is power for your life. The Bible is power for when you’ve been hurt. (Ephesians 4:31-32) The Bible is power for family relationships (Ephesians 6:1-4) The Bible is power over anxiety (Philippians 4:6-7) The Bible is power for your job/school (Colossians 3:23-24) 3. The Bible is alive. All Scripture is inspired and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. II Timothy 3:16-17 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. John 1:1-2 4. The Bible has the power of salvation. But what does it say? “The word is near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart,” that is, the message concerning faith that we proclaim: If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God rai

Recent headlines and statistics are not encouraging. There are more than 72 Million Millennials in America, almost one-quarter of our population. An increasingly large portion of the Millennials are walking away from a faith of any kind, choosing to identify themselves as religious ‘nones.’ Researchers in 2008 noted that one third of all Millennials describe themselves as religiously unaffiliated. Ten years later that number had grown to 42%. More trouble: Church numbers in America have suffered a decades-long decline. Gallop first measured church membership in America in 1937. It was 73%. In the 1980’s it was 70%. In 2000 65%. By 2010 it was 59%. Today, less than half of Americans 47% are part of a church. Falling away from the Church or falling away from the faith is serious but it is a deeper reflection of people falling away from Jesus. I. What does this mean? 2 Thessalonians 2:1-3 This is a prophecy about tomorrow that may have implications for today. This falling away Paul is referring is more

Jeremiah 1:4-9, 17-19 1. The Task is Too Demanding The word of the Lord came to me, saying, “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.” Jeremiah 1:4-5 2. My Talent is Inadequate “Alas, Sovereign Lord,” I said, “I do not know how to speak; I am too young.” Jeremiah 1:6 "Then the LORD reached out His hand, touched my mouth, and told me: I have now filled your mouth with My words" Jeremiah 1:9 Always let your inadequacy make you dependent on God's all-sufficiency! 3. It’s Not a Good Time "Then the LORD said to me: Do not say, ‘I am only a youth,' for you will go to everyone I send you to and speak whatever I tell you. Do not be afraid of anyone, for I will be with you to deliver you. This is the LORD's declaration" Jeremiah 1:7-8 “The Lord is my helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me?” Hebrews 13:5-6 "Do not be afraid of anyone, for I will be with you to deliver you. This is the LORD's declaration" Jeremiah 1

Matthew 28:18-20 OUR MISSION: (Why we exist) Know Jesus Grow in relationship with Jesus Go making Jesus known to others OUR VISION: (What we are going to do together) Win the lost Outreach to each unique generation Relevant worship Strategic missions Home groups Impacting the Church Practical ministry 1. The Gospel is to be shared. John 3:16; Mathew 28:18-20 2. Tell someone: Close the deal. Be prepared to lead a prayer of salvation. 3. Be ready to follow up after the conversation.

II Corinthians 11:24-29 “Faith ought not be a puny thing. If you believe, have faith like a giant. And may God not grant you peace, but glory.” Mary Bethune Jesus replied, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. Very truly I tell you, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds…Now my soul is troubled, and what shall I say? ‘Father, save me from this hour’? No, it was for this very reason I came to this hour. Father, glorify your name!” John 12:23-24; 27-28 Glory looks like sacrifice. It looks like paying a price. It looks like dying for something you believe in. It looks like being willing to suffer for the glory of God by bringing His grace into this world. How did the first century Church, this group of nobodies, no clout, no power, no status, no social or political connections…how did they overcome, conquer and transform their culture? They did it by living the way that Jesus lived, by loving and serving i

John 15:5-17 1. Complete your joy: remain in Jesus Something in us dies when we disconnect from Jesus. Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 2. Complete your joy: love like Jesus Jesus invites you to care about what He cares about. Expect His compassion for people who don’t know Him to grow in your heart. 3. Complete your joy: pray like Jesus Praying in Jesus’ name is praying what Jesus wants. Sign up for The Story Prayer Guide at the Welcome Center or send an email to info@unionchapel.com Participate in The Story 5/5/5 Prayer: pray for 5 people, 5 min/day, for 5 weeks, and invite them to experience The Story with you. The Story books are for sale in the lobby: $20 for a bundle of 4

Luke 6:20-22; 36-38“MAKARIOS” = Happy, fortunate, to be enviedTrue happiness happens when I realize that God is more concerned with my holiness, than my happiness.Take the focus off yourself.Listen to the Holy Spirit.True happiness happens when I live an open-handed and generous life.Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.Luke 6:38True happiness happens when understand the measure of God’s love for me.And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.Ephesians 3:18-19

Nehemiah 8:1-12 1. The joy of the Lord is your strength / Happy isn’t enough Happy is something that happens to you. Joy is something that comes out of you. 2. The joy of the Lord is your strength / Force your focus on God 3. The joy of the Lord is your strength / Your passion determines your power The purpose of spiritual disciplines (prayer, Bible reading, meditation, fasting, fellowship, service, generosity) are to strengthen your joy in the Lord. What do you want? What do you really want?

John 15:26-John 16:11 Work of the Holy Spirit 1. Conviction: The “Convictor” of sin in ourselves and others. a. Small voice that says, “Go this way.” (John 14:25-27) b. We can “speak the truth in love” but we can’t ultimately do the work of changing someone’s heart and mind. (Ephesians 4:11-17) 2. Righteousness Revealed: Making clear God’s Way of Salvation and Life. a. Jesus’ death and coming resurrection. (2 Corinthians 5:21) b. The old self being put to death and made new. (2 Corinthians 5:14-20) c. Empowered by the Holy Spirit to live Holy (separate) (Titus 2:11-14, Ephesians 4:20-5:20) i. Whisper (Promptings) of God’s Voice, Gut feeling, Audible Guidance ii. Hunger for God’s Way (Psalm 34:8-9) 3. Judgement Pardoned: Through the completed work of Jesus our sins are forgiven and through the empowerment of the Holy Spirit we live “pardoned” lives. Jesus’ work is complete (Romans 3:22-24) Faith in Christ gives pardon from eternal death (Romans 3:25-26) Grace from the Holy Spirit to live Holy. (Ephesians

John 14-15 Three types of Obedience Empower by the Holy Spirit: 1. Fear of the Lord a. Pharoah after the plagues and repeated requests to let God’s people God. (Exodus 12:31) b. Babylonian King Nebuchadnezzar after the fiery furnace with Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. (Daniel 3:26-29) c. Ezra after returning from Babylon and teaching the Torah. (Ezra 7-10) d. Proverbs 1: Fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge. (Proverbs 1:1-7) 2. Duty to the Lord a. Temple Worship in the Old Testament (Exodus 25-27) b. Zerubbabel rebuilding the temple after exile in Babylon (Ezra 1-6) Weak love is still genuine love. Our love isn’t just real love when it is mature. Our love is real when it begins. -Mike Bickel 3. Love of the Lord a. Four times in John 14 Jesus says, “If you love me, you will obey me.” (John 14:1-24) Obedience Rooted in Love of the Lord 1. Empowered by the Holy Spirit (John 14:25-27) a. God Promises to Empower us for Loving Him (John 14:25-31) 2. Submit to the pruning of the Holy Spirit a

Zerubbabel: Rebuild the Temple (Ezra 1-6) Ezra: Teach the Torah (Ezra 7-10) Nehemiah: Rebuild the Walls (Nehemiah 1-3) Nehemiah was more concerned with his relationship with God, than the plan for his endeavor. Nehemiah asked for favor before provision. 
Nehemiah: Faces Opposition (Nehemiah 4-7) I want to be right with God so I can do the right things with God. 24“ ‘For I will take you out of the nations; I will gather you from all the countries and bring you back into your own land. 25I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean; I will cleanse you from all your impurities and from all your idols. 26I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. 27And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws. 28Then you will live in the land I gave your ancestors; you will be my people, and I will be your God.

Then the family heads of Judah and Benjamin, and the priests and Levites – everyone whose heart God had moved – prepared to go up and build the house of the Lord in Jerusalem. Pg. 263; Ezra 1:5 “All the king’s officials and the people of the royal provinces know that for any man or woman who approaches the king in the inner court without being summoned the king has but one law: that they be put to death unless the king extends the gold scepter to them and spares their lives. But thirty days have passed since I was called to go to the king.” Pg. 281; Esther 4:11 “Do not think that because you are in the king’s house you alone of all the Jews will escape. For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father’s family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?” Pg. 282; Esther 4:13-14 “Go, gather together all the Jews who are in Susa, and fast for me. Do not eat or drink for th