SERMON NOTES

Hello Friends,  The sermon notes will no longer be located here.  There will be a link to click on the actual sermon page.  So from this past week on you can go directly to the sermon audio post scroll down and you will find a PDF file of the notes that I use in the pulpit. (mistakes and typos and all)  God Bless

Snapshot Series: "Rapture"

Snapshots40  Mark 13:28-37 "Live for the day"

Community Group Questions

1.  How would you evaluate your prayer life?

2.  Are you bold with telling others about Jesus?

3.  What areas in life do you struggle with being a hard worker?

4.  In the sermon notes I cited Thomas Brooks and how Christian's can do a better job loving one another, which one of those do you struggle with the most?

5.  If the end of tomorrow was your last day, what are some things you would do or say?  

We do not know what the outcome of each day will be.  We can plan Proverbs 16:9 states that "people plan their course but the Lord determines their steps"  In todays passage we find out a few things about Jesus' coming and what Jesus' counsel is for us as we wait. 

Jesus is Coming

-Take Notice

Vrs 28-29 by observing the forces of nature like the fig tree we can understand what season is coming.  Jesus is communicating that when you observe "these things" that He just spoke of you know that the time is near.  Remember the question was "when will these things take place" (v4) 

-Quick and Final

Vrs 30 "This generation" is a reference not to those He is speaking to but to the generation that will be alive during the End Times events.  So it is not prolonged it is quick and final. 

Vrs 31 Everything that you know and see as amazing or comfortable will pass away and what will last will be Him and His Word. 

-Sudden

Vrs 32 "No one knows the day or hour"  Not even the Son -  Jesus voluntarily set aside the information while He was earth. 

The next event that we are waiting for is the event called the “Rapture”

Comes from the word “Rapturo” the Latin translation of “caught up” in 1 Thess. 4:17

Go over Timeline

What is the Rapture?  The supernatural removal of the church out of this world.  The church in Thessalonica had some questions and problems understanding this so Paul explained some of the issues.

I Thess. 4:13-18

Vrs 13      “Fallen asleep” is a metaphor for death (they were concerned about their Christian friends that would miss this event.)

Vrs 14 Gospel all will take part

Vrs 15 Don’t worry they will be first (their soul is already there)

Vrs 16 “Dead in Christ” will receive their resurrected bodies 1^st

Vrs 17 “Caught up”  those who are alive and with the Lord always

Vrs 18 This brings us great comfort

        

Why do we believe Rapture is next? And before the Great Tribulation

-Kept from wrath.  Revelation 6-18 says God’s wrath 14 times and does not mention the church but church is mentioned 19x in rev 1-3 6x in 19-22 a return.  We are not meant for wrath

1 Thess 1:9-10, 1 Thess 5:9-11, Rev 3:10  Dan 12:

-Its Imminent -hanging over ones head- 1 Cor 15:51-52

"In the twinkling of an eye"

The stage being set but there are no specific signs given in the Bible.

Back to Mark

Vrs 33 Keep on guard. Keep awake

How do we keep guard and stay awake?

1. Be a person prayer

         -Pray against Satan and his demons

         -Pray for others salvation and situations

         -Pray that you don't fall to temptation

         -Pray for the Lord's will in your life

2. Don't be ashamed of the Gospel.

3. Work hard 1 Cor. 15:10

4. Be obedient.  Those who love Jesus are obedient

5. Love- Show others love, if we as Christians start to love one another and the outside world it would do a lot of good for the Kingdom.

Loving one another... 

Thomas Brookes the Puritan states that one of Satan's schemes is to have Christians biting and devouring one another.  Brookes gives some remedies...

-Dwell on one another’s strengths rather then weaknesses

-God commands us to love one another

-Talk about the things we agree on rather then the things we disagree on.

-Maintain your peace with God (obedience)

-Seek to reconcile

-Self judge rather then judge others

6. Live like it is the last day  Vrs 34-37 Surprise.  Lesson is we should live as each day is the last.   How does that change the way you look at your life in regards to Spiritual things?   How did you spend your time on this day? 

1 John 2:28 And now, little children, abide in him, so that when he appears we may have confidence and not shrink from him in shame at his coming.

Snapshot Series: Tribulaion

Community Group Questions

1.  How do you feel when you think about the events of the tribulation?
2.  Does knowing about the tribulation change your perspective on the way you live life?

3.  Does the tribulation inspire you to get right with God?

4.  Does the tribulation inspire you to tell others about the Lord?

Snapshots 39 Mark 13:14-27  "tribulation"

Today we are going to look a specific section of the end times events called "the tribulation" but before I go into detail about the tribulation I want to give all of you the basic biblical overview of the end times events.

Explain the timeline by looking at the slide.

vrs 14-23

Go into the passage and explain the sections of the tribulation in which the passage speaks.

"Let the reader understand" is a curious statement because they are hearing?  This is intended for the future generations.   And those who know the OT prophetic Scriptures such as Daniel.  who are hard toward the truth and will not believe the Lord based on His love shown through us in Jesus Christ.

Purposes of the Tribulation

1.  To save Israel or turn them to Jesus.  God made a covenant with Abraham in Genesis 12 and promised to bless him and his descendants.  This is last effort in God’s plan to bring Israel back to Him

2.  To judge unbelievers

Tribulation Slide

Key figures and events.

7 Year tribulation kicks off when a peace treaty is signed by the Anti-Christ and Israel

Dan 9:27 & Isa 28:14-22

So there is a strong possibility there is a gap between the Rapture and the start of the trib. Not long but could be a few weeks or months

Anti-Christ 1 John 2:18, Revelation 13 He is a man powered by Satan.  Smart, good leader, convincing & Powerful

Names

Ø Beast ,Man of Sin/Lawlessness, Willful King

Career- 

Phase 1 – Political leader that that comes out of the western world (Roman Empire)  he will be in the world before the Rapture occurs.  He is a powerful enough ruler to sign a covenant with Israel and guarantee safety.

Phase 2 – During first half of the Tribulation he will become the ruler of the restored Roman empire.  And of a 10/11 nation confederacy.   He will be killed and restored back to life again. Rev. 13:3, 12, 14

“Abomination of Desolation”  The Anti-Christ sets himself up in the Temple to be worshiped with sacrificial offerings

BKC Historically, the first fulfillment of Daniel’s prophetic use of the expression (Dan. 11:31-32) was the desecration of the temple in 167 b.c. by the Syrian ruler Antiochus Epiphanes. He erected an altar to the pagan Greek god Zeus over the altar of burnt offering and sacrificed a pig on it

The abomination of desolation (cf. Dan. 9:27; 11:31; 12:11) points to the Antichrist’s ultimate desecration of God’s temple (where he ought not to be, which some understand as a literal, rebuilt temple, and others understand as the people of God; see 2 Thess. 2:1–12; 1 John 2:18). This event was anticipated in the destruction of the temple in Jerusalem (see note on Matt. 24:15). flee to the mountains. See note on Matt. 24:16.

Phase 3 Rev 13:5-7 Dictator of the world

Apostate Church = man-made religion “Mystery Babylon”

Jewish Levitical System back in effect.

Satan Cast out of Heaven and the “Abomination of Desolation” happens.  Ushers in worship of Satan and the Mark “666”

                   

The False prophet

Anti-Christ is a human with power from Satan/ Desire is to mimic God

Counterfeit Trinity.  Anti-Christ=son ,  False Prophet=spirit, Father=Satan

Events that happening

Seal Judgments

1^st 4 seals are the four Horsemen ¼ population will die

5^th seal cry of the Martyr’s to avenge their blood.

This illustrates how God takes care of the wicked people. Comfort to know that God is just.

Cosmic Disturbances, shows that God is in control of nature.  Rev 6:15-17  it affects everyone and it shows that we need to come to a point in which we trust Him.

Trumpet Judgments  Vegetation, seas, water supply, heavens (stars, sun moon) Plague of Locusts

Bowl Judgments  Similar to the plagues that fell upon Egypt.

"Be on guard I told you beforehand" I will show you my love now and for 2000 plus years but when the tribulation occurs if will not be good. 

Vrs 24-27 The end of the tribulation and Jesus' second coming.

What is the good news 

1.  More people then ever before will trust in Christ.

2.  This has not taken place, this will end when Christ comes again. 

In view of the Scriptures that help us to understand that we will not be here on the earth for the time of tribulation how do we respond?

How should Christians Respond?

-Pray

-Realize the urgency of the Gospel message for all people. As Church we need to embrace evangelism. 

Bruce Shelly said It is easy to determine when something is aflame. It ignites other material. Any fire that does not spread will eventually go out. A church without evangelism is a contradiction in terms, just as a fire that does not burn is a contradiction. 

-Communicate His love

One Sunday evening, William Booth was walking in London with his son, Bramwell, who was then 12 or 13 years old. The father surprised the son by taking him into a saloon! The place was crowded with men and women, many of them bearing on their faces the marks of vice and crime; some were drunk. The fumes of alcohol and tobacco were poisonous. "Willie," Booth said to his son, "These are our people; these are the people I want you to live for and bring to Christ." Years later, Bramwell Booth wrote, "The impression never left me." 

As non-Christians  

-Understand that if you don't respond to His love you will deal with wrath

-Realize His love is calling you.  The GOSPEL

End Times

Snapshots Series: "These Things"

Mark 13:1-13

Community Group Questions

1.  Have you ever been deceived by...wealth, power, works based religion or the wrong people?

2.  Have you ever been led astray by..cults, anxiety, economic problems or natural disasters?

3.  In this passage Jesus' counsel is...be on guard, preach the gospel, rely on the Holy Spirit and do not be discouraged when you are abandoned.  Which of these do you struggle with the most?

Today we are going to look at a passage in which Jesus starts answering the disciples questions about the end times.  Through this passage we will find out how we should respond when these things happen.

Vrs 1 Look at how great this building (world) is.

The Jerusalem temple (not fully completed until ca. a.d. 64) was built by the Herodian dynasty to win Jewish favor and to create a lasting Herodian monument. It was considered an architectural wonder of the ancient world. It was built with large white stones, polished and generously decorated with gold.

It covered about 1/6 of the land area of old Jerusalem. To the Jews nothing was as magnificent and formidable as their temple.

Herod the Great expanded the second temple to about double the size of the Solomonic temple.  ESV

Vrs 2 Jesus' reply is "this is nothing and I will show you that"  This is false security

This was prophetic of the The future destruction of the temple (and Jerusalem) would occur on account of its misuse by the leaders (12:9; Luke 19:41–44). (The sacrificial system of the temple cannot, in any case, make sufficient atonement for the sinfulness of mankind; Heb. 10:4.) not … one stone upon another. See note on Matt. 24:2. Titus, son of the emperor Vespasian, led the destruction of Jerusalem and the temple in a.d. 66–70. ESV

Do not be deceived by...

-Power and wealth- there is a false sense of security in these things.

We can fall into the trap of thinking because I have money or power I have security.  If you find too much security these things they will own you. 

“He does not posses wealth    that allows it to possess him.” ~ Benjamin Franklin

 

-Works based Religion:  The temple was a place of sacrificial worship and under the Herodian Dynasty it was misused.  When people are religious and believe they are working their way towards God it is inevitable that they will get off track and start to misuse and abuse.  Jesus hates fruitless religion because it spits in the face of grace. It is not what we do it is what he has done  GOSPEL

Many of you trust Jesus but a religious trap we fall into is not relying on that same grace as we serve Him, grow closer to Him and are obedient to Him. We start to believe it is all in our control and when we succeed we become prideful and when we fail we get discouraged. 

The Biblical way to look at our success is to give Jesus glory and realize He did it for us and when we fail realize that Jesus allowed that failure to come into our lives so that we can learn from it. 

So after Jesus warns them of this coming destruction the obvious response of the disciples is to ask when.

Vrs 3-4 Tell us when this will happen

-Asking the wrong people about life.

The disciples went to Jesus that is what we need to do.

There are many different authorities in life but the highest authority is Jesus.  If who you are asking to help you deal with life's problems and issues does not love Jesus and does not counsel you to follow Jesus there is a chance great or small that you many be led astray. 

I am not saying that someone who does not love Jesus can't give good counsel at times and I am also not saying that someone who does love Jesus will always give good counsel. 

What I am saying is check their counsel or their answer to your question of life to make sure Jesus agrees.  

Often times when dealing with Life's issues we ask the people that tells us what we want to hear not what we need to hear

Someone once said... The trouble with good advice is that it usually interferes with our plans.

Vrs 5-8  Do not be led astray by...

-Cults v6 A cult is wrong teaching about Jesus...Mormon, Jehovah's Witness and any other group that tells us any other teaching then Biblical teaching of Jesus.

-Anxiety v7  Many times in life we become so worried about the way the world is going that we become anxious. 

The beginning of anxiety is the end of faith, and the beginning of true faith is the end of anxiety.  George Muller.

-Economic problems v8 Wars, bad economy, leaders that are Godless etc

-Natural disasters v8  earthquakes, famines.  Did you know that natural disasters are a result of sins curse on the world? 

All these things will shake us up but they serve as reminders that Jesus is right and this world is not our home.

Vrs 9-13 Now that everything around you is going crazy you faith in Jesus will be challenged. 

Take Jesus' Counsel

-Be on guard- the kings will go against you because of the King of Kings v9  Remember we as Christians don't fight for causes we fight for the Cause...Jesus.

-Preach the Gospel v10

A.B. Simpson is reported to have said that the gospel "Tells rebellious men that God is reconciled, that justice is satisfied, that sin has been atoned for, that the judgment of the guilty may be revoked, the condemnation of the sinner cancelled, the curse of the Law blotted out, the gates of hell closed, the portals of heaven opened wide, the power of sin subdued, the guilty conscience healed, the broken heart comforted, the sorrow and misery of the Fall undone.

-Rely on the Holy Spirit v11

CH Spurgeon said  "Go forth today, by the help of God's Spirit, vowing and declaring that in life - come poverty, come wealth, in death - come pain or come what may, you are and ever must be the Lord's. For this is written on your heart, 'We love Him because He first loved us.'

-Don't be discouraged when you are abandoned v12-13 Jesus was abandoned.

Jesus will still be with you.

When we see these things that Jesus described happening we should not be deceived or be led astray but we need to take Jesus' counsel.

                          

Snapshot Series: "Pride"

Snapshots37  Mark 12:35-40  "Pride

In todays passage we are going to look at three things that pride does in our lives and look at how we as Christians need to combat that. 

What is pride?  Pride - a high or inordinate opinion of one's own dignity, importance, merit, or superiority, whether as cherished in the mind or as displayed in conduct.

David Rhodes said "Pride is the dandelion of the soul. Its root goes deep; only a little left behind sprouts again. Its seeds lodge in the tiniest encouraging cracks. And it flourishes in good soil: The danger of pride is that it feeds on goodness." 

Verses 35-37 Pride blinds us to truth.  

Matthew Henry said Christ shows the people how weak and defective the scribes were in their preaching, and how unable to solve the difficulties that occurred in the scriptures of the Old Testament

To prove that the Messiah is David’s Lord, Jesus quoted what David himself speaking by the Holy Spirit declared in Psalm 110:1. This clearly argues for both the Davidic authorship and the divine inspiration of this psalm. BKC

The Messiah is David’s Son and David’s Lord at the same time. This strongly implies that the Messiah is both God (David’s Lord) and man.  He will restore the future Davidic kingdom on earth

The Scribes although they knew the Scriptures were blinded to the truth and it was most likely because of pride. They were blinded to the fact that Psalm 110 was prophetic of Jesus and that Jesus the Messiah would die to pay the price for the sins of the world on the cross, they were blinded to the fact that he would rise again and that all who believe would have eternal life.

Are you blinded to that?  are you so full of pride that you will not admit you are a sinner and need a savior? GOSPEL

 Orhan Pamuk said “There's a lot of pride involved in my refusal to believe in god.”

I heard a story from David Jeremiah about child and her school teacher about Jonah the whale.

Pride is not reserved only for those who do not believe, believers fall to it as well when it comes to the many truths of God.

“A proud person is always looking down on things and people; and, of course, as long as you are looking down, you cannot see something that is above you.” ― C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity

Maybe the truth about you is you are full of pride and you are severely blinded by it.  If you consistently have thoughts that you can do things better then others or are always critical of others but not yourself.  You think you don't need instruction, you can handle everything yourself.  Truth be told you are full of pride and blinded by it.

How do we combat being blinded by pride?

-Be teachable.  Look at life and relationships as learning experiences.  Ask an impartial party their opinion. Maybe you think you are right or know better then another person, a healthy thing to do is ask another persons opinion

-Pray that the Lord will reveal where you are being blinded by pride.

Verses 38-39 Pride allows a high position or achievement to go to our head. 

 MH said Their going in such clothing was not sinful, but their loving to go in it, priding themselves in it, valuing themselves on it, commanding respect by it,

The Temple scribes occupied themselves recording, teaching, and ruling on points of law. They had worked hard and had great achievements.  The Scribes were important and wanted everyone to know it and show it so they acted it and that is why Jesus continually rebuked them.

3 Time Boxing  Heavy Weight Champ Mohammad Ali knew he was great Here are some things that he said 

"When you're as great as I am, it's hard to be humble."  

"To be a great champion you must believe you are the best. If you're not, pretend you are." 

"I don't always know what I'm talking about, but I know I'm right."

Fifteen referees. I want fifteen referees to be at this fight because there ain't no one man who can keep up with the pace I'm gonna set.. except me. There's not a man alive who can whup me. I'm too fast. I'm too smart. I'm too pretty. I should be a postage stamp. That's the only way I'll ever get licked.

Do you think his high position went to his head?

How do you combat pride when you actually are good at something or have accomplished something great?

-Avoid false humility.  Graciously accept encouragement

-Have people around you that hold you accountable.  Jack Johnson famous singer song-writer says he loves being around his family (brothers in particular) because they remind him who he is.  Because being on the rode and playing sold out shows to screaming fans can really make you think you are more then you really are.

-Realize that it was given to you by Jesus.

Abe Lincoln, in the Proclamation of a day of National Humiliation, Fasting and Prayer. said...  "We have been the recipients of the choicest bounties of heaven; we have been preserved these many years in peace and prosperity; we have grown in numbers, wealth, and power as no other nation has ever grown. But we have forgotten God. We have forgotten the gracious hand which preserved us in peace and multiplied and enriched and strengthened us, and we have vainly imagined, in the deceitfulness of our hearts, that all these blessings were produced by some superior wisdom and virtue of our own. Intoxicated with unbroken success, we have become too self-sufficient to feel the necessity of redeeming and preserving grace, too proud to pray to the God that made us" 

Verses 40 Pride can cause us to abuse others because of our position.   When a person allows pride to take root in their life they abuse whatever position they have. 

Interestingly enough Scribes were highly esteemed but it was also forbidden that they were paid for the duties as a Scribe.  Therefore they would need to acquire money from other people to survive.  Jesus was rebuking the fact that some of them took advantage of poor widows.  William Lane says it this way "the sponged off people who had limited means"  Take care of me I am a man of God.  They offered long drawn out prayers and tried to entice widows to give over their belongings to them because they were "men of God". 

They were falling to what I am going to call positional abuse... rather the using their position for good they used it for self promotion and gain fueled by pride.

How do we combat pride causing positional abuse?

-Use your position to help others.

-Use your position to Give Glory to Jesus

Whatever skill, talent and ability the Lord has given you it was not given to you so you will fall to pride it was given to you so you will bring glory to Jesus with it.  

Snapshot Series: "Life"

Snapshot36  Mark 12:18-34  "Life"

Community Group Questions

1.  What areas do you struggle with obedience to the Lord?

2.  Do you find it hard to stick with people when they are going through a tough time?

3.  Do you find it hard to be happy for others when things go well for them?

4.  Do you have anyone in your life that is difficult to love?

5.  Have you ever experienced putting the needs of another before your own and it felt good?

6. Have you ever had to correct someone in love and it did not go the way you expected?

7.  Are the words that you use with the people closest to you words of death or life?

Today in the Gospel of Mark we are going to look at two things about life...There is eternal life and there is full life here on earth.

There is eternal life.

Vrs 18 Sadducees believed there was no resurrection.  Only place in the Gospel of Mark the Sadducees are mentioned.

Though less numerous and popular than the Pharisees, the Sadducees occupied influential positions on the Sanhedrin, the Jewish supreme court and generally cooperated with the Roman authorities. They denied the truths of the resurrection, future judgment, and the existence of angels and spirits.  They accepted only the Books of Moses (the Pentateuch) BKC

Vrs 19-23 The content of the question

If a husband died without leaving a male heir his (unmarried) brother (or, if none, his nearest male relative) was to marry his widow. The first son of that union was given the name of the dead brother and was considered his child. This was to prevent extinction of a family line and thereby kept the family inheritance intact.  BKC

Vrs 24-27 Jesus answered their question and corrected their error about the resurrection.

V24 Marriage is necessary and suitable for the present world order, in which death prevails, in order to continue the human race. But angels, whose existence the Sadducees denied, are deathless and live in a different order of existence where they have no need for marital relations or reproduction of offspring. Their lives center totally around fellowship with God. So it will be in the afterlife for human beings rightly related to God. BKC

The Sadducees were religious people that believed the Scripture (Pentateuch) but did not believe what it taught about the afterlife and more importantly eternal life.

You may say...how can a person be so religious and yet be so off

The concerning thing is the state of Christianity

In a survey from Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life: 57 percent of evangelical church attenders said they believe many religions can lead to eternal life. 

This is a huge problem as a Christian there are core things we need to hold to...

-Jesus added humanity to Himself and came to this earth.

-Jesus lived a perfect life

-Jesus died to pay the price for our sins

-Jesus says we are sinners in need of a Savior

-Jesus rose again to prove that He is God

-Jesus says all who believe in Him will have eternal life in heaven

-Jesus said HE will implant the Holy Spirit in all who believe

-Jesus said he is the way, the truth and life and no one comes to the Father accept through Him.

-Jesus tells us that if we do not believe we are condemned to hell.

This is what every person who calls themselves a Christian needs to believe this...if you don't agree you are probably are not a Christian.

Vrs 27 "He is not the God of the dead but the living" 

So as Christian we know there is eternal life but the next thing the Gospel of Mark teaches us is how a Christian should live that life to have a full life.

There is full life  Vrs 28-34

Verse 28  Warren Weirsbe states The Pharisees tried one more question, one that the rabbis had been debating for a long time. Of the 613 commandments found in the Law (365 negative, 248 positive), which one is the most important?

Verses 29-31

Jesus replied with the traditional Jewish “statement of faith” (the Shema) found in Deut. 6:4. It was recited morning and evening by pious Jews. He then added Lev. 19:18; for if we love God, we will show it by loving our neighbor (Luke 10:25–37).

Verses 32-34  One of the scribes got the message clearly and boldly agreed with Jesus, but the others missed the point completely. They had a shallow view of the real meaning of the Law and failed to understand the importance of obeying from the heart.

If we want to have full life we will love God and love others.

How do we love God?  Obedience

How do we love others?

1.  Stick with them in tough times. Cry with them, fight for them, pull for them and make that time more bearable.

2.  Be happy for them in good times.  This seems strange but sometimes a good friend or family member may not celebrate with you but be envious of you when something good happens. Love for someone can be expressed by being happy for them.

3.  Be gracious and adjust to them.  Some people are difficult to love...Jesus loved the unlovable...It takes grace to adjust and love a person for who they are.

4.  Put their needs before your needs.  Be willing to go out of comfort zone for them. An amazing act of love is sacrifice.

TD Jakes says " Something happens when you sacrifice."

5  Be willing to rebuke. 

6.  Offer encouraging words.  Speak words of life into their lives, what is helpful and praiseworthy.

When we love God and Love others we will truly live.

Snapshot Series: "Money"

Snapshot35 Mark 12:13-17 & 41-44

Money is something we all realize is necessary for survival but can also be a huge issue for many of us.  because it takes a place of great importance. We work for money, we spend money, we feel that money helps our problems, we get upset when we don;t have the money, when we have the money we want more money.

Jesus talks about money actually more then he talks about heaven not because it is more important but it is because we have tendencies at act like it is more important.

Today we are going to look at Three issues in dealing with money from Mark 12:13-17 & 41-44

Vrs 13-15

Trying to corner Jesus

“Taxes” was a Latin loanword meaning “census.” It referred to the annual poll tax (head tax) demanded by the Roman emperor from all Jews since A.D. 6, when Judea became a Roman province.  The money went directly into the emperor’s treasury. This tax was unpopular because it typified the Jews’ subjugation to Rome (cf. Acts 5:37). BKC

They were concerned about the political implications of their question. Obviously the question was designed to place Jesus in a religious and political dilemma. A yes answer would antagonize the people and discredit Him as God’s Spokesman. No messianic claimant could sanction willing submission to pagan rulers. A no answer would invite retaliation from Rome.  BKC

A good Jewish person would not participate in pagan Rome but by carrying the coin, Jesus’ opponents show that they already participate in the Roman social order. ESV Study Notes

Vrs 16-17a

Jesus knew they were trying to trap him so He pulled a Jesus on them and did the unexpected.  Said because the coin had Caesar and his inscription on it...give it to him.

Issue 1 Integrity

Integrity issue, the quality of being honest

The were testing Jesus and Jesus has integrity, Jesus wants us to have integrity especially when it comes to money.

Integrity test:

1.  Are you honest with your money? Tax time, with your employer or employees, in business?

2.  Do you pray about what you spend money on? God I really care about what you want for my life and finances

3   Are you practicing good stewardship?  That means you are responsible with what you have, make good decisions, try not to waste, talk to others that have more experience then you when making financial decisions. Faithful with little. 

4.  Do you have a healthy view of the importance of money?  It is important but it is not the ultimate

Some people act as though money will end their problems but they don't realize they are actually the problem.  A few months ago when the mega-millions was at some crazy high a women said "if I won the jackpot my daughter would take a limo to daycare" does anyway else find a problem with that statement??? 

The next thing we see Jesus bring up is who owns the money?

There is some truth in was the auditor for the IRS said..

“The trick is to stop thinking of it as ‘your’ money.”

Vrs 17b Give to God what is God's which brings us to issue 2

Issue 2 Theology-the study of the nature of God.  

So what actually is God's

Theology test:

1.  Who made you?

2.  Who keeps you alive?

3.  Who gave you everything you have?

4.  Who can take everything away?

5.  Who do we owe everything to?

6.  Who owns everything?

Now that you have good theology Orthodoxy (right belief) we have to have orthopraxy (right practice)

Issue 3 Generosity

Vrs 41-44

Proportionally she had given the most—all she had to live on. In giving to God sacrificially she completely entrusted herself to Him to provide her needs.

Jesus used her example to teach His disciples the value God places on wholehearted commitment. Their own commitment to Jesus would soon be severely tested (cf. 14:27-31). This incident also illustrates Jesus’ total self-giving in death.  GOSPEL

Generosity test:

1.  Do you give to the Lord's work?

2   Do you understand NT giving?

The NT does not mandate a specific percentage, some suggest it is 10 percent because tithe means 10th but the NT the OT tithe is actually teaches the tithe was 23 & 1/3 percent.  In Malachi 3 it directs the people to bring their tithe to the storehouse because then they distributed t the widow and the orphan and took care of the needs of the people.

The NT teaches giving by grace, that means the more God gives you the more you give.  That may mean for some of you giving 10% is not tough at all and you need to consider more and for others 10% is an enormous sacrifice which leads to the next question. 

3.  Do you feel like it is a true sacrifice? (we could use this money for something else)  The Lord sacrificed for us, we should sacrifice for Him. 

2 Cor 9:7 give us our next two questions  

Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.

4.  Is your giving planned?  out of the first fruits, Pro 3:9-10 you plan giving first. Husband and wife should be praying about this  

5.  Are you a cheerful giver? I hope this message inspires a cheerful heart to give to the amazing things that Lord is doing. 

When we use our money with integrity, realize it is from the Lord and are generous with it He is pleased.