Category Archives: Church

Unknown's avatar Dave Mattingly 8:39 am on October 18, 2016  

The Walking Dead

I’m a Christian, and sometimes a teacher/preacher.

This sermon uses zombies to relate the gospel of Christ.

The Walking Dead

Are you ready for the zombie apocalypse?Zombie

The dead will indeed rise.

Your dead shall live; their bodies shall rise. You who dwell in the dust, awake and sing for joy! The earth will give birth to the dead. (Isaiah 26:19)

Many who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake; some to everlasting life, and some to everlasting shame and contempt. (Daniel 12:2)

But many who rise will not be at all happy about it.

The Lord will smite Jerusalem’s enemies. Their flesh will rot while they still stand, their eyes will rot in their sockets, and their tongues will rot in their mouths. (Zechariah 14:12)

In those days people will seek death and will not find it. They will long to die, but death will flee from them. (Revelation 9:6)

Hell is where the worms that eat them do not die, and the fire is not quenched. (Mark 9:48)

God once gave Ezekiel a vision of a dead nation coming back to life, as a metaphor for the nation of Israel reawakening their spiritual lives.

There was a rattling noise across the valley. The bones joined to form skeletons. Muscles, flesh, and skin formed on their bodies. I spoke as the Lord commanded, and they came to life and stood on their feet; a great army. (Ezekiel 37:7-8,10)

When Jesus came back to life, he was not the only one. He brought some friends with him.

The tombs also were opened. And many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised. (Matthew 27:52)

Through the power of His resurrection, Jesus defeated death.Death

Christ, being raised from the dead, will never die again; death no longer has dominion over Him. (Romans 6:9)

He can extend that same benefit to us.

Jesus said, “I am the resurrection, and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live.” (John 11:25)

Whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has crossed over from death to life. (John 5:24)

In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus. (Romans 6:11)

But this is a limited time offer (we never know when our number will come up).

Today if you hear his voice, harden not your heart. (Psalm 95:8)

See AlsoJesus

  • John 17:14
  • Ephesians 2:1
  • Romans 6:11
  • Proverbs 21:16
  • Matthew 8:22
  • Luke 15:32
  • 2 Corinthians 5:14
  • Colossians 2:13
  • 1 Timothy 5:6
  • Romans 6:23

Discuss

  • What place makes you feel the most uncomfortable?
  • What people-group makes you feel the most uncomfortable?
  • What dead sin have you been walking with?
  • What dead people are you walking right by?
  • How can you lead the walking dead into life?

Download

You can download the PowerPoint slides here.

Unknown's avatar Dave Mattingly 5:21 pm on September 19, 2016  

Pirate Church

I’m a Christian, and sometimes a teacher/preacher.

This sermon uses pirates to relate the gospel of Christ. I preached it in 2014 as part of the Imaginarium creative writing convention. Since Talk Like a Pirate Day (September 19) was also that weekend, we held “Church Like a Pirate Day.”

Booty

What do pirates seek? Booty.

Jesus told a parable about a man who found a treasure more valuable than everything he owned, so he sold everything he owned to make it his own.

The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure that is hidden in a field. A crafty man found the treasure buried there and buried it again so no one would know where it was. Thrilled, he went off and sold everything he had, and then he came back and bought the field with the hidden treasure part of the bargain. Or the kingdom of heaven is like a jeweler on the lookout for the finest pearls. When he found a pearl more beautiful and valuable than any jewel he had ever seen, the jeweler sold all he had and bought that pearl, his pearl of great price. (Matthew 13:44-46)

Jesus also warned us to focus on eternal treasures, which have true everlasting value, instead of getting distracted by the temporary appeals of this life.

Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. (Matthew 6:19-21)

Like the man that sold all he had, we give our lives to Christ. The treasure we are given in return is worth far more than anything we’d given.

Blood

What do pirates thirst for? Blood.

But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin. (1 John 1:7)

Just think how much more the blood of Christ will purify our consciences from sinful deeds so that we can worship the living God. For by the power of the eternal Spirit, Christ offered himself to God as a perfect sacrifice for our sins. (Hebrews 9:14)

We owe a debt that we cannot pay.

All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God, and the wages of sin is death. There can be no forgiveness without the shedding of blood. (Romans 3:23, Romans 6:23, Leviticus 17:11)

But there is one who has already paid on our behalf.

Jesus said to them, “This is my blood. The blood of the new covenant, which is poured out for many.” (Mark 14:24)

All the people answered, “May his blood be on us, and on our children!” (Matthew 27:25)

As Christians, we thirst for the blood of righteousness, the blood of Christ. That alone can save us, and wash away our sins.

Broken

With peglegs, hooks, and eyepatches, how are pirates’ bodies? Broken.

Living in our fallen world, our bodies are broken, as is all of creation.

“My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. For Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong. (2 Corinthians 12:9-10)

If your foot causes you to sin, cut it off. It’s better to enter eternal life with only one foot than to be thrown into hell with two feet. (Mark 9:45)

That brokenness encourages us to seek God, who will make us whole. By using our broken vessels, His strength and glory are made known to the world.

Bones

What is on a pirate flag? Bones.

When a ship raises its flag, its allegiance is known to all.

Everyone will know that you are my disciples by you love for one another. (John 13:35)

For a tree is recognized by its fruit. (Matthew 12:33)

The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit. (Proverbs 18:21)

Do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander. (1 Peter 3:16)

Every one of us also waves a flag, identifying our loyalty. A wedding ring waves our flag of marriage. A military uniform, a sports jersey, a lapel pin, a bumper sticker, and many other items can indicate who or what we are beholden to.

As Christians, our flag is our love. It’s not a church membership, a seminary degree, or anything of that sort. Only our actions — our love for one another — waves our flag for Christ.

Shanty 23

I found this “pirate-ese” translation of Psalm 23:

The Lord be me cap’n, oi shall not mutiny.
He steers me clear o’ land lubbers, and pilots me thru the doldrums.
He trayned me up roight or else.
E’entho I stagger thru seedy ports,
Oi feares no wun, fer ye be wif me;
yer pistol an yer cutlass hinspoire me;
the grog flows freely.
Surely the Kinge’s navy and ninjas
shall foller me all the dayes ov me loife,
an’ Oi be swabbin’ the Lord’s decks forever.

Discuss

  • What’s your favorite book or movie that involves pirates?
  • Would you rather go to a game with the Pittsburgh Pirates or Tampa Bay Buccaneers?
  • What do you treasure?
  • What do you thirst for?
  • What breaks you?
  • What are you known by?

Download

You can download the PowerPoint slides here.

Unknown's avatar Dave Mattingly 2:21 pm on July 31, 2016  

Pokemon Go

Pokemon GoI’m a Christian, and sometimes a teacher/preacher.

This sermon looks at Pokemon-Go.

Background

Pokemon Go is an augmented reality (AR) game. It’s played on phones, and mixes the real world with the digital world. In a way, it’s like a cross between geocaching and yelp, but with a scoring system.

Seek

To play Pokemon Go, first players must find Pokemon.Pokemon Go Map

Jesus came to seek and save the lost (us). When he sent out his disciples, he gave them instructions on where they should look for their audience.

Jesus called His twelve disciples to Him and gave them authority over unclean spirits, to drive them out and to heal every disease and sickness. He sent out the twelve apostles with these instructions: “Don’t go to the Gentiles or the Samaritans, Go rather to the lost sheep of Israel. Go and announce to them that the Kingdom of Heaven is near.” (Matthew 10:1-7)

Choose

After finding some Pokemon, players choose which ones to keep.

Jesus chose all of us, while we were not worthy.

You didn’t choose me, but I chose you, and appointed you, that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain; that whatever you will ask of the Father in my name, he may give it to you. If you were of the world, the world would love its own. But because you are not of the world, since I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. (John 15:16,19)

But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:8)

TrainTraining

To advance in the game, players train their Pokemon.

Spiritual training keeps us “in shape” as followers of Christ. Just like a physical muscle or skill, if we don’t exercise, we’ll lose strength.

The more frequently we’re kind to others, help those in need, study the scriptures, and pray, the better we’ll get at it. Then, in moments of stress, expressing the love of Christ will be second nature to us.

Physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things — for both the present life and the life to come. (1 Timothy 4:8)

Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. (1 Corinthians 9:25)

Bible books that sound like they could be Pokemon:
• Amaziah
• Baalam
• Basemath
• Dodo
• Jehoshaphat
• Nergalsharezar
• Zebedee

Evolve

In the Pokemon Go game, the creatures improve their abilities after enough training, and actually become a new creature.

In Christ, we also become new creations, after being born the second time.

He will change our weak mortal bodies into glorious bodies like his own, using the same power he will use to bring everything under his control. (Philippians 3:21)

Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. (Romans 12:2)

Go

What makes Pokemon Go different from other games is that it overlays the real world. To travel in the game, you must travel in real life.Bible

For us to advance the gospel, we often must travel in real life. Christ’s last words to us before he ascended were:

Jesus said, “Go make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.” (Matthew 28:18-19)

It’s hard to make disciples of all nations when we’re sitting on the couch. Going out, meeting people, making friends, helping others, trying new things… all of that leads to us building relationships. By following Christ ourselves and spending time with others, we can share God’s love and fulfill our purpose.

Download

You can download the handout and a flyer for the sermon here.

Unknown's avatar Dave Mattingly 1:35 pm on July 17, 2016  

Philippians 2: Life of Joy

I’m a Christian, and sometimes a teacher/preacher.

This lesson is part of a series (that I’m co-teaching, this time picking up at the start of the second chapter).

Discuss

  • Have you ever received encouragement from an unexpected source?
  • Do you have an “irrational” fear or phobia? (spiders, heights, crowds, flying, germs, etc.)
  • What is something that frequently annoys you?

Philippians 1

Here’s a recap of the first chapter:

  • Philippians are a source of joy for Paul
  • They (and we) are partners in the gospel
  • Paul’s chains have advanced the gospel
  • Motives vary, but the gospel is pure
  • Paul urges them to live worthy of the gospel
  • We have those same tools: unity, courage, faith


Paul’s press agent encouraged him to come up with a subtitle for this sequel chapter.
Here are some ideas that they pitched around in the bullpen.
Philippians 2: Epistolic Boogaloo
• Phil Hard With a Vengeance
• The Roman Empire Strikes Back
• The Wrath of Khan
• Beyond Thunderdome
• Be Amused; Be Very Amused
• Dude, Where’s My Joy?
• 2 Fast 2 Humorous
• Paul and Timothy’s Excellent Epistle
I’ll admit that my research on the subtitle may not have been as thorough as I would have liked.

Life of Joy

Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. (Phil 2:1-4)

That’s a lot of positive language! Here are some of the terms that Paul uses in this paragraph to describe the life that we should live:

  • Encouragement
  • Love
  • Comfort
  • Tenderness
  • Compassion
  • Joy
  • One Spirit
  • One Mind
  • No Selfish Ambition
  • No Vain Conceit
  • Humility
  • Interests of Others

There’s an acronym for JOY that is often used to describe the priority on which we should focus our thoughts:

  • J – Jesus
  • O – Others
  • Y – You

Consider

  • What are ways that we can show encouragement, comfort, love, tenderness, compassion, joy, one spirit, one mind, selflessness, modesty, humility, and interest to those in need?
  • Who are people in need of all that? Where are they? How can we reach them?
  • How did Jesus reach them?

Life of Humility

In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death – even death on a cross! (Phil 2:5-8)

This is a deep passage, that could fuel en entire course on theology, but from a high level, let’s look at what that means in a few simple questions.

Consider

  • What did Jesus become to save us?
  • What did he give to do that?
  • What did he take to do that?
  • How can we “have the same mindset as Christ Jesus?”
  • What could we become, give, and take to do that?

Life of Eternal Glory

Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed – not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence – continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose. (Phil 2:9-13)

Consider

  • “Therefore God exalted him…”
    • It has been said that when you see the word “therefore” you should ask yourself what it’s “there for”.
    • This one is there to show that Jesus is exalted because of all those things he did in verses 5-8.
    • Could Jesus have chosen not to? He prayed for it in the garden, until blood came out of his head.
  • “Therefore… work out your salvation…”
    • Work out our salvation? Isn’t it already covered by grace?
    • Yes, the fact of our salvation is, but not the means.
    • We’re told to work out our salvation, not work for it.
  • “…with fear and trembling”
    • Fear of… God? his gift? our salvation?
  • “…for it is God who works in you”
    • God did not give us a spirit of fear, but a spirit of power.
    • God lives inside us. In that respect, we’re a vessel to carry around God, much like the Ark of the Covenant.

Life of Gratitude

Do everything without grumbling or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation. Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky as you hold firmly to the word of life. Then I will be able to boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor in vain. But even if I am being poured out like a drink offering on the sacrifice and service coming from your faith, I am glad and rejoice with all of you. So you too should be glad and rejoice with me. (Phil 2:14-18)

You know what’s hard to do without complaining? Complaining! But still, if our food order is wrong, or our airplane seatmate takes the whole armrest, or whatever petty annoyance comes our way, we can react in a few ways. We can (A) complain, (B) accept the situation, (C) address the situation, or (D) improve the situation.

Consider

  • Do everything without grumbling or arguing
    • Everything? Isn’t that a bit extreme?
  • Drink offering (“Pour out the drink offering to the Lord at the sanctuary.” – Numbers 28:7)
    • Paul describes himself as being poured out as a drink offering, as described in the Passover meal.
  • 4 Passover cups (Sanctification, Proclamation, Blessing, Praise)
    • There are four cups in the Passover meal, including the Last Supper.
    • But at the Last Supper, Jesus did not pour out that final cup. Instead, he poured out his own lifeblood on the cross, completing the seder as he saved us all.

Discuss

  • Who can you encourage, that would not expect it?
  • How can we surpass our fears with God’s “spirit of power?”
  • How can you address an annoyance without complaining?

Download

You can download the PowerPoint slides here.

 

Unknown's avatar Dave Mattingly 8:57 am on July 11, 2016  

Philippians 1: Life of Purpose

I’m a Christian, and sometimes a teacher/preacher.

This sermon is part of a series (that I’m co-teaching, so I’m picking up in the middle of the first chapter).

Here’s a recap of the first half of the chapter, previously covered by my co-teacher:Happy

  • The Philippians are a source of joy for Paul
  • They (and we) are partners in the gospel
  • Paul’s chains have advanced the gospel
  • Motives vary, but the gospel is pure

Disambiguation

To help avoid confusion, here are some common misconceptions about who the Philippians were:

Knowing

Knowing is half the battle.

  • Philippians: People from Philippi
  • Fill-Uppians: Gas Pumpers
  • Filipinos: Philippine Islanders
  • Phillip II: King of Spain (1500S)
  • Fat Lippians: Inept Boxers
  • Flippians: Acrobats
  • Fallopians: Ovary Tubes

Life of Purpose

Yes, and I will continue to rejoice, for I know that through your prayers and God’s provision of the Spirit of Jesus Christ what has happened to me will turn out for my deliverance. I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death. (Phil 1:19-20)

  • Status: Chained, Doomed
  • Goals: Courage, Christ Exalted
  • Resources: Your Prayers, God’s Provision, Spirit of Jesus Christ
  • Results: Continued Rejoicing, Paul’s Deliverance, Life or Death

Life = Christ

Paul has two paths ahead of him, and they’re both good.

For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. If I am to go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labor for me. Yet what shall I choose? I do not know! I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far; but it is more necessary for you that I remain in the body. (Phil 1:21-24)

See if you can fill in the rest of these song titles about questions and decisions.

Okay, I guess maybe the Baha Men don’t really fit here…

  • The Clash: Should I Stay or ___?
  • The Lovin’ Spoonful: Did You Ever Have to ___?
  • Whitney Houston: How Will I ___?
  • Joan Osborne: What If God ___?
  • The Baha Men: Who Let the ___?

Worthy of the Gospel

Convinced of this, I know that I will remain, and I will continue with all of you for your progress and joy in the faith, so that through my being with you again your boasting in Christ Jesus will abound on account of me. Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. (Phil 1:25-27)

  • Life and Death: Gal 2:20, Rom 8:38, 2 Cor 5:8, Col 2:12
  • Worthy: 2 Cor 7:4, Gal 6:4, Eph 4:1, 2 Tim 4:7

One Spirit

Then, whether I come and see you or only hear about you in my absence, I will know that you stand firm in the one Spirit, striving together as one for the faith of the gospel without being frightened in any way by those who oppose you. This is a sign to them that they will be destroyed, but that you will be saved by God. For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe in him, but also to suffer for him, since you are going through the same struggle you saw I had, and now hear that I still have. (Phil 1:27-30)

Finish these famous quotes about unity.Unity

  • Aesop: United we stand, ___
  • Dumas: One for all, and ___
  • Donne: No man is an ___
  • Franklin: If we do not hang together, ___
  • Lincoln: A house divided against itself ___
  • Jesus: They shall know you are my disciples by ___

Here are some more references about what the Bible says about unity, courage, and perseverance.

  • Unity: Acts 4:32, 1 Cor 1:10, 1 Cor 16:13, Eph 4:3, 1 Peter 3:8
  • Courage: Matt 10:28, Luke 22:32, Heb 13:6, 2 Tim 1:7, Acts 5:29
  • Perseverance: Rev 2:10, Matt 5:11, 1 Thes 2:2, 2 Thes 1:5, 1 Peter 3:17

Discussion

  • What can we do with “sufficient courage to exalt Christ?”
  • How can we “conduct ourselves worthy of the gospel?”
  • How can we “stand firm in the one Spirit?”

Download

You can download the PowerPoint slides here.

Continued in Philippians 2.

Unknown's avatar Dave Mattingly 3:11 pm on July 2, 2016  

Game Master as Writer

The Christian Gamers Guild has reposted an article of mine about the similarities between running a roleplaying game and writing a story.

http://bit.ly/GMasWriter

The article was originally published in the guild’s ‘zine, The Way, the Truth & the Dice. The original article is much longer, and will be serialized into multiple posts.

 

Unknown's avatar Dave Mattingly 1:15 pm on May 23, 2016  

Things Unseen

“looks at” invisibility — I see what you did there
“I see what you did there” — hey, cut that out

I’m a Christian, and sometimes a teacher/preacher.

This sermon looks at invisibility.

Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things unseen. (Hebrews 11:1)

Unsearchable Things

Call to me and I will tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know. (Jeremiah 33:3)

As the evening twilight fades away, the sky is filled with stars, invisible by day. (Longfellow)

Oh, the deep riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable his judgments, his paths beyond tracing. (Romans 11:33)

He does great and unsearchable wonders without number. (Job 5:9)

Great is Yahweh, and greatly to be praised! His greatness is unsearchable. (Psalms 145:3)

Secrets

Yesterday upon the stair,
I met a man who wasn’t there.
He wasn’t there again today.
Oh, how I wish he’d go away.
(Hughes Mearns, Antigonish, 1899)

When you pray, enter into your inner chamber, shut your door and pray to your Father in secret. When you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, so your fasting will not be obvious to men, but only to your Father, who is unseen. Your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. (Matthew 6:6, 17-18)

Now You See Me

Suddenly, their eyes were opened, and they recognized Jesus. At that moment he disappeared! (Luke 24:31)

Jesus told him, “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” (John 20:29)

Dumb Invisibility Jokes
Why did the invisible man look in the mirror? To make sure he still wasn’t there.
The invisible man never had friends as a child, due to disappear pressure.
The invisible man wanted children, but he wasn’t apparent.
The invisible man and invisible woman married, but their children are nothing to look at.
The invisible man and woman divorced due to infidelity. They weren’t seeing someone else.
I invited the invisible man to my Halloween party, but he never showed up.
If God made us in his image, why aren’t we invisible?
I discovered a formula for invisibility. All I need to do now is find the paper I wrote it on.
They laughed when I told them I’d learn the secret of invisibility. If they could only see me now.
I spilled some spot remover on my dog. Now I can’t find him.
I bought an invisible fence so my invisible dog doesn’t run away.
Do biker ghosts get tattoos in invisible ink?
“Doctor, there is an invisible man in the waiting room.” “Tell him I can’t see him now.”
These invisibility jokes just keep getting cornea and cornea.
I should have seen that coming.

Now You Don’t

We fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. (2 Corinthians 4:18)

Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever. (1 Timothy 1:17)

Invisible Creation

The Son is the visible image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. In him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, things seen and unseen. (Colossians 1:15-16)

The universe was formed at God’s command; what is seen was made out of unseen. (Hebrews 11:3)

Since the creation of the world, God’s invisible qualities – his eternal power and divine nature – have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse. (Romans 1:20)

Unseen Wisdom

Through faith Noah, being divinely taught about things unseen, reverently obeyed and built an ark for the safety of his family. By this act he condemned the world, and became heir to the righteousness which depends on faith. (Hebrews 11:7)

By faith Moses left Egypt, not fearing the king’s anger; he persevered because he saw him who is invisible. (Hebrews 11:27)

Since ancient times no ear has heard, no eye has seen any God besides you, who acts on behalf of those who wait for him. (Isaiah 64:4) 

Unseen Enemies

For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places. (Ephesians 6:12)

You used to live in sin, like the rest of the world, obeying the devil – the commander of the powers in the unseen world. He is the spirit at work in the hearts of those who refuse to obey God. (Ephesians 2:2)

Unseen Allies

Elisha’s servant went outside the next morning and saw troops, horses, and chariots everywhere.
“Oh, sir, what will we do now?” he cried to Elisha.
“Don’t be afraid, those who are with us are more than those who are with them,” the prophet answered.
Elisha prayed, “Open his eyes, Lord, so that he may see.”
Then the Lord opened the servant’s eyes, and he looked and saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha. (2 Kings 6:15-17)

Unknown's avatar Dave Mattingly 12:21 pm on May 18, 2016  

Body Shop

Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you. (Jer 1:5)

I’m a Christian, and sometimes a teacher/preacher.

This sermon looks at how Jesus matured, and how that can apply to us.

Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man. (Luke 2:52)

Widsom

Good decisions come from wisdom. Wisdom comes from bad decisions.

The first way that we see Jesus grow is in wisdom. This is not only brainpower, but good sense. It’s the combination of theory and practice. It’s knowing what to do, and knowing why to do it.

When Jesus had finished saying these things, the people were amazed at his teaching, because he taught them as one who had authority. (Mark 1:22)

If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all men generously. (James 1:5)

Stature

10,000,000 Americans are overweight. Of course, these are round figures.

The next way we see Jesus grow is in stature. This isn’t merely size and strength, but general health and fitness. Proper nutrition, activity, and rest are important.

You are not your own, you were bought with a price. Therefore honor God with your body. (1 Corinthians 6:20)

Whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do it all to the glory of God. (1 Cor 10:31)

Favor with God

God wants spiritual fruit, not religious nuts.

The next way we see Jesus grow is spiritually.

Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed. (Mark 1:35)

Rejoice always, pray continually, in everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. (1 Thess 5:18)

Favor with Man

The final way we see that Jesus grew is socially.

Some people grow up and spread cheer. Others grow up and just spread.

For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in. (Matthew 25:35-36)

“The Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve.” (Matt 20:28)

“Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” (Matt 7:12)

One Body

  • Wisdom
    • Head
    • What is in us

I’d like to leave my body to science, but science is contesting the will. (David Frost)

  • Stature
    • Arms
    • What we are in
  • Favor with God
    • Knees
    • Who is over us
  • Favor with Man
    • Feet
    • Who is with us

One Body

My hand is eleven inches long. Another inch and it would’ve been a foot.

In one Spirit we were baptized into one body. The body does not consist of one member but of many. The eye cannot say to the hand, “I don’t need you!” And the head cannot say to the feet, “I don’t need you!” (1 Cor 12:13-15,21)

In Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. (Romans 12:5)

There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called. (Eph 4:4)

If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together. (1 Cor 12:26)

Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it. (1 Cor 12:27)

Hands of God

At least I didn’t make a “Look ma, no hands” joke, right? Ya gotta hand it to me…

“Christ has no body now on earth but yours, no hands but yours, no feet but yours, yours are the eyes through which Christ’s compassion is to look out to the earth, yours are the feet by which He is to go about doing good and yours are the hands by which He is to bless us now.” (St Teresa of Avila)

Whatever is true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent, or praiseworthy—think about such things. (Phil 4:8)

Discussion

If a tree falls in the forest with no one around, do the other trees make fun of it?

  • If you could change one thing about your body, what would it be?
  • Who shaped you while growing up?
  • Where do you need more growing up?
  • How can you help others grow?
  • Does this body grow in wisdom and stature?
  • Does this body grow in favor with God and man?
  • How can we each use our own head, hands, knees, and feet to help this body grow?

Download

You can download the PowerPoint file here.

Unknown's avatar Dave Mattingly 10:31 pm on April 11, 2016  

Dungeons & Dragons

I’m a Christian, and sometimes a teacher/preacher.Players Handbook

At ConGlomeration 2016, I preached about dungeons and dragons (the ones in the Bible, not the roleplaying game itself).

Dungeons

There are several references to dungeons in the Bible. Here is one of the most famous:

Joseph’s master took him and put him in prison, the place where the king’s prisoners were confined. (Genesis 39:20)

Joseph (of “technicolor dreamcoat” fame) was sold into slavery by his own family, then wrongly accused by his owner’s wife. Despite his obvious integrity and quick rise through the ranks, he was thrown into prison (which might have been a dungeon, or a holding facility until he did go into the dungeon).

After a few years there, he tells another prisoner:Dreamcoat

“I was forcibly carried off from the land of the Hebrews, and even here I have done nothing to deserve being put in a dungeon.” (Genesis 40:12)

After once again showing his impeccable character, one of the prisoners that he helped get back to his old job remembered him when the Pharaoh had a troubling dream.

Pharaoh sent for Joseph, and he was quickly brought from the dungeon. When he had shaved and changed his clothes, he came before Pharaoh.
Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I had a dream, and no one can interpret it. But I have heard it said of you that when you hear a dream you can interpret it.”
“I cannot do it,” Joseph replied to Pharaoh, “but God will give Pharaoh the answer he desires.” (Genesis 41:14-16)Dungeon Map

Joseph finally got his first taste of freedom after years in the dungeon, and gives God the credit for his talent. What a guy.

After Joseph was promoted to the number two man in the empire, and reuniting with his family, they settled there in Egypt and grew in numbers.

Centuries later, the Israelites had been enslaved as a people until God had Moses lead them out. The last step in that process was this tenth plague:

At midnight the Lord struck down all the firstborn in Egypt, from the firstborn of Pharaoh, who sat on the throne, to the firstborn of the prisoner, who was in the dungeon, and the firstborn of all the livestock as well.  (Exodus 12:29)

What these passages say to me is that, like Joseph, there is no dungeon so deep, no situation so dire, where God cannot save us. Conversely, like the plagued firstborn, there is no throne so lofty and protected nor dungeon so remote and forgotten that God cannot discipline us.

DragonsDragon

Many of us face metaphorical dragons in our lives. Addiction. Poverty. Depression. Abandonment. Sometimes we slay these dragons, and sometimes the dragon wins.

Besides the dragons in our heads and hearts, there have been literal and figurative dragons mentioned in the Bible.

The most famous dragon in the Bible is the red dragon in Revelation (aka the Apocalypse).

Then another sign appeared in heaven: an enormous red dragon with seven heads and ten horns and seven crowns on its heads. Its tail swept a third of the stars out of the sky and flung them to the earth. The dragon stood in front of the woman who was about to give birth, so that it might devour her child the moment he was born. (Revelation 12:3-4)
And I saw an angel coming down out of heaven, having the key to the Abyss and holding in his hand a great chain. He seized the dragon, that ancient serpent, who is the devil, or Satan, and bound him for a thousand years. He threw him into the Abyss, and locked and sealed it over him, to keep him from deceiving the nations anymore until the thousand years were ended. After that, he must be set free for a short time. (Revelation 20:1-3)

The dragon is mentioned much more than this in that book, so investigate further if you’re interested.Timey Wimey

Revelation is a bit of a strange book. It is true on many levels at once. It is literal, figurative, general, specific, past, present, and/or future — all at once. As a famous doctor once sagely explained, it’s “timey wimey.”

There is a lot that can be learned from the passages above, like Satan’s fall from heaven, the third of angels that fell with him, Satan’s revenge plot against man and God, his coming punishment and following rampage, but let’s just keep it simple, and only look at Satan’s defeat.

The Apostle John wasn’t the only one that wrote about Satan’s defeat. Isaiah also spoke of the Lord slaying a dragon (plus, I’ve always thought “terrible, swift sword” was a cool phrase):

In that day the Lord will take his terrible, swift sword and punish the coiling, writhing serpent. He will kill the dragon of the sea. (Isaiah 27:1)800px-Book_of_Revelation_Chapter_19-2_(Bible_Illustrations_by_Sweet_Media)

This tells me that there is no dragon so big that God cannot defeat it. Even more than that, God has already defeated (and at the same time is defeating and will defeat) the biggest dragon of them all (more timey wimey going on here).

Download

This sermon did not have slides, but here is a flyer and the bulletin.

Unknown's avatar Dave Mattingly 11:47 am on March 22, 2016  

Bible’s Greatest Hits: Our Father

I’m a Christian, and sometimes a teacher/preacher.

This sermon series looks at the parts of the Bible that are the best known passages by those outside of church.

Forgive us our trash baskets, as we forgive those who put trash in our baskets.

This time, we’ll take a look at the Lord’s Prayer, or The Our Father.

Discussion Questions

  • Is there a song that you misheard the lyrics, but the wrong lyrics are stuck in your head even after learning the correct ones?
  • Is there a time when you had to change your mind so drastically that you had to make a public statement or otherwise announce the change to everyone?

The Lord’s Prayer

Before we look at the Lord’s Prayer itself, let’s see what Jesus was saying right before he prayed it.

Basically, he’s saying, “Don’t be a jerk.”

When you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by others. I tell you, they have received their reward in full. Instead, go into your room and close the door, and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. When you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, who think they will be heard because of their many words.

This is how you should pray… (Matthew 6:5-8)

The Lord’s Prayer

Does your translation include the line about kingdom, power, and glory? KJV and NASB do; NIV, NLT, and ESV don’t.

This is how you should pray:
Our Father who is in heaven,
hallowed be your name.
Your kingdom come, your will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
Forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.
Do not lead us into temptation,
but deliver us from the evil one. (Matthew 6:9-13)
Yours is the kingdom, power, and glory forever. Amen. (Matthew 6:13½)

TL;DR

Luke gave us a shorter version. (TL;DR is internet shorthand for “too long; didn’t read”)

When you pray, say:Lord's Prayer
Father, hallowed be your name.
Your kingdom come.
Give us each day our daily bread.
And forgive us our sins,
for we also forgive everyone who sins against us.
And lead us not into temptation. (Luke 11:2-4)

Notice what’s missing:

  • our
  • in heaven
  • your will be done
  • deliver us from evil

Did Luke miss some details? Did he cut to the chase? Did Matthew make stuff up? Did he tailor it to his audience? Did Jesus teach this prayer multiple times?

Our Father

Let’s take a look around the bible for other places where each of the phrases appears, to see what else we can learn about them.

Matt 23:9  – one Father, in heaven
Matt 26:42  – my Father
Luke 15:21  – prodigal son’s father
Acts 17:28  – we are his offspring
Matt 5:16  – glorify your Father

According to John Ortberg, the phrase “kingdom come” doesn’t mean “get me out of here and up there”; it means “make up there come down here.”

Kingdom Come

Psa 103:20  – angels do God’s will
Luke 22:42  – your will be done
2 Thess 3:1  – rapidly

Daily Bread

Prov 30:8  – give me daily bread
Isa 33:16  – bread will be supplied
Rev 2:17  – hidden manna
Matt 4:4  – not on bread alone
Eph 6:18  – pray for others saints

God hates figs

Forgive

Matt 18:33  – unmerciful servant
Psa 66:18  – without confessing, God doesn’t answer
Mark 11:26  – we must forgive

Temptation

James 1:13  – God cannot temptJesus Teaching
Psa 19:13  – guard against willful sin
Luke 22:40  – pray that we do not fall
1Cor 10:13  – common to man
2 Pet 2:9  – rescue from trials

Evil

John 17:5  – ask God to protect from evil one
2 Thess 3:3  – God will protect from evil one
1 Jn 5:18  – evil one cannot harm

Here’s a doxology that you’ve probably heard before: Praise God from whom all blessings flow; Praise Him, all creatures here below; Praise Him above, ye heav’nly host; Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost

Kingdom, Power, Glory

“Doxology” (exalting verse)
Not in the earliest writings
Similar to many traditional Jewish doxologies
1 Chron 29:11 (greatness, power, glory)
Didache (teaching of the Twelve)
Henry the VIII added kingdom power and glory (1525)
Henry the VIII changed his mind and removed it (1541)
Protestant: kingdom, power, glory forever
Catholic: detached
Orthodox: …to Father, Son, and Spirit forever

A. C. T. S.

Adoration – in heaven, hallowed name, kingdom comeJesus Cooking
Confession – our debts
Thanksgiving – father, kingdom power and glory
Supplication – daily bread, lead us, deliver us

Discussion Questions

  • Do your prayers follow too much of a “recipe?”
  • Are your prayers balanced among adoration, confession, thanksgiving, and supplication?
  • James 1:13 tells us that God does not tempt us to sin. Is there anything that you blame God for?

Download

You can download the PowerPoint file here.