Note: The colors didn’t convert well, but you will be able to see the concept for our new house. House plans will follow soon.
The Path of the Warrior
A warrior is a person experienced in or capable of engaging in combat or warfare, literally or figuratively. Most leaders are figurative warriors, those who show great vigor, courage, or aggressiveness in everyday challenges. Merely acting like a warrior is insufficient, a warrior leader must become one by consistently walking the path of:
1. Integrity – honest and sincere
2. Impeccability – faultless character
3. Outrageous – excessively bold
4. Personal Power – ability to act
The leader shows that style is not more important than substance, and that creating an impression is not more potent than acting from one’s center – Lao Tzu (500BC)
WordPress 3.0 Released
http://wordpress.org/development/2010/06/thelonious/
Your Finest Hour
To every man there comes in his lifetime that special moment when he is figuratively tapped on the shoulder and offered a choice to do a very special thing, unique to him and fitted to his talents; what a tragedy if that moment finds him unprepared or unqualified for the work which would be his finest hour
– Sir Winston Churchill
Sermon Audio: Nicodemus
Nicodemus
When: Sometime after he cleared the temple
Who: Ruler on the Jewish ruling council (71 members tasked the elite) V1
- “As under the Greek rulers the Jews were allowed a large measure of self-government, many points of civil and religious administration fell to the lot of the high priests and the gerousía to settle. http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/13444a.htm “
- “Teacher of Israel” v10 Only the most trained became teachers of the Law in general, the ruling council, and certainly “Teacher of Israel.
- the Jewish Encyclopedia and many Biblical historians have theorized that he is identical to Nicodemus ben Gurion, mentioned in the Talmud as a wealthy and popular holy man reputed to have had miraculous powers.
- Sanhedrin…put Jesus to death
Motivation:
- Sent by the ruling council “we know” to address the incident in the temple (Sadducees were the target)
- Possibly sent to recruit him
- Inspired by his message…a prodigy recognized by a Jewish master. ILLUSTRATION: The master musician and the hillbilly prodigy
[SEGUE NOTE: Regardless of the motivation Nicodemus becomes flustered with Jesus’ answer to a question he never asked.)
The Message:
v3-5 The kingdom is experienced by rebirth not reform ILLUSTRATION: The president of a college of theology
v5-8 Rebirth is spiritual not physical
- ILLUSTRATION: Jewish ceremonial rebirths.
- The Jews were fixated on the Messiah coming as a physical King of Israel (Triumphal entry)
- Pharisees were the experts in external
v13- 14Jesus is not from God he is God (Jesus finally answers implied question) Jesus must be lifted up on the cross (compare to Moses in Numbers 21)
Conclusion (The Cameos)
John 7:45-52 Nicodemus, knowing the law risks retribution to defend Jesus but was not yet willing to give up his status
John 19:38-42 Nicodemus gives Jesus the burial of a king
Call
John 3:16: The message to Nicodemus is clear Jesus isn’t just from God he is God. He was lifted on the cross so that whoever like Jews on the serpent gazes on it will be saved through a rebirth through the spiritual cleansing of baptism. Our rebirth isn’t just a new addition to our life or a way to reform it…we die to the old life. If Nicodemus can do it so can we.
A Daring Adventure or Nothing
Security is mostly a superstition. It does not exist in nature nor do the children of men as a whole experience it. Avoiding danger is no safer in the long run than outright exposure.
Life is either a daring adventure or nothing.
Helen Keller
Bible Class Audio: The Blessings of Jesus
Nicodemus
John 3:16: The message to Nicodemus is clear Jesus isn’t just from God he is God. He was lifted on the cross so that whoever like Jews on the serpent gazes on it will be saved through a rebirth through the spiritual cleansing of baptism. Our rebirth isn’t just a new addition to our life or a way to reform it…we die to the old life. If Nicodemus can do it so can we. Link to sermon notes
Sermon Audio: The Journey
When the Israelites stood at the far side of the Red Sea they had escaped certain death and were delivered to life by the hand of God, but their journey wasn’t over. The Israelites wandered through the wilderness before reaching their promise, and it wasn’t always pretty. At times God’s anger burned toward them but in the end both He and they looked back their wanderings with fondness.
The Israelite’s story is our story. When we stand at the banks of our salvation we have to know that our spiritual journey is not over, it’s only beginning. We will journey through the wilderness of our lives and like the Israelites, Christian wilderness travelers trust God, need each other, look for God’s glory, and never turn back.
Exodus 14, Exodus 33, Jeremiah 2:1-2, Psalms 103, Luke 9:23, Matthew 22:36-40, 1 John 1:7, Philippians 3:12-14
Deity Who Takes Attendance
“I don’t object to the concept of a deity but I’m baffled by the notion of one who takes attendance.” Amy Farah Fowler
“Then you might want to avoid east Texas” Sheldon Cooper
The Big Bang Theory episode 66 “The Lunar Excitation”