Category: Dependable

Dependable to Our Community –

the Vision of Edgewater

Sermon series: Dependable – Part 7 of 7

Pastor John Fanous

May 4, 2008

The Story We Find Ourselves In

1. God ________________ it.

We were created for _________________________ with God.

We were created for _________________________ with people.

We were created to _________________________ for the world.

2. We ______________ it. Result: ________________________________

3. God ________________ it.

Through Abraham: “I will make you into a great nation and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing.” Ge 12:2

Through Jesus: “For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.” Jn 3:17

4. Jesus invites you to _______________ Him.

“The time has come,” he said. “The kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe the good news!” Mk 1:15

Why does Edgewater exist?

1. We are God’s _________________ (the antidote to isolation from God)

“For we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field, God’s building.” 1 Co 3:9

“Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit lives in you?” 1 Co 3:16

“But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, ‘This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.'” Lk 15:2

Implication: You _________________ to God.

Our motto: “Loving _______________.”

2. We are God’s _______________ (the antidote to isolation from people)

“You belong to God’s family.” Eph 2:19b (NCV)

“Then, even if I am delayed, you will know how to live in the family of God. That family is the church of the living God, the support and foundation of the truth.” 1 Ti 3:15 (NCV)

Implication: You have a new __________________.

Our motto: “Loving _______________.”

3. We are Jesus’ ________________________ (the antidote to selfishness)

“Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.” 1 Co 12:27

“The Spirit has given each of us a special way of serving others.” 1 Co 12:7 (CEV)

Implication: God has a specific ____________________ for you.

Our motto: “Serving our _­­­­__________________.”

How do I prepare?

1. Re-_______________ your life to Jesus

“And so John came, baptizing in the desert region and preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.” Mk 1:4

2. Pray for, love, and invite ___________________________ to church

“For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost.” Lk 19:10

1.

2.

3. Get to know ________________ at Edgewater

4. Pray for ___________________________

Building Your Boss’ Confidence in You

Sermon series: Dependable – Part 6 of 7

Pastor John Fanous

Genesis 37,39-41

April 27, 2008

Potiphar: “So Potiphar gave Joseph complete administrative responsibility over everything he owned. With Joseph there, he didn’t worry about a thing-except what kind of food to eat!” Ge 39:6 (NLT)
Prison warden: “Before long, the warden put Joseph in charge of all the other prisoners and over everything that happened in the prison. The warden had no more worries, because Joseph took care of everything.” Ge 39:22-23a (NLT)

Pharaoh: “You will be in charge of my court, and all my people will take orders from you. Only I, sitting on my throne, will have a rank higher than yours.” Ge 41:40 (NLT)

3 Discoveries to Make

–> Discover God’s ____________­­_________ for the work you do.

When Joseph was taken to Egypt by the Ishmaelite traders, he was purchased by Potiphar, an Egyptian officer. Potiphar was captain of the guard for Pharaoh, the king of Egypt.” Ge 39:1 (NLT)

“[Potiphar] took Joseph and threw him into the prison where the king’s prisoners were held, and there he remained. But the Lord was with Joseph in the prison and showed him his faithful love. And the Lord made Joseph a favorite with the prison warden.” Ge 39:20-21 (NLT)

“When Joseph came to them the next morning, he saw they were worried. He asked the king’s officers who were with him, ‘Why do you look so unhappy today?'”

Ge 40:6-7 (NCV) “But you are not like that, for you are a chosen people. You are royal priests, a holy nation, God’s very own possession. As a result, you can show others the goodness of God, for he called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light.” 1 Pe 2:9 (NLT)

–> Discover ____________­­__________ to the problems you see.

“The next seven years will be a period of great prosperity throughout the land of Egypt. But afterward there will be seven years of famine so great that all the prosperity will be forgotten in Egypt. Famine will destroy the land.

“Therefore, Pharaoh should find an intelligent and wise man and put him in charge of the entire land of Egypt. Then Pharaoh should appoint supervisors over the land and let them collect one-fifth of all the crops during the seven good years. Have them gather all the food produced in the good years that are just ahead and bring it to Pharaoh’s storehouses. Store it away, and guard it so there will be food in the cities. That way there will be enough to eat when the seven years of famine come to the land of Egypt. Otherwise this famine will destroy the land.” Ge 41:29-30,33-36 (NLT)

“Having a lazy person on the job is like a mouth full of vinegar or smoke in your eyes.” Pr 10:26 (CEV) “Work hard and become a leader; be lazy and never succeed.” Pr 12:24 (The Living Bible)

“Then she told him her story. ‘That Hebrew slave you’ve brought into our house tried to come in and fool around with me,’ she said.” Ge 39:17 (NLT)

“The man of integrity walks securely, but he who takes crooked paths will be found out.” Pr 10:9 (NIV)

–> Discover _________________­­_________ for the help God provides.

“The Lord was with Joseph, so he succeeded in everything he did as he served in the home of his Egyptian master.” Ge 39:2 (NLT)

“But the Lord was with Joseph in the prison and showed him his faithful love. And the Lord made Joseph a favorite with the prison warden.” Ge 39:21 (NLT)

“It is beyond my power to do this,” Joseph replied. “But God can tell you what it means and set you at ease.” Ge 41:16 (NLT)

*Next week, we conclude our Dependable series with “Dependable to our Community – the Vision of Edgewater.”

Surviving a Spiritual Mismatch in Marriage

Sermon series: Dependable – Part 5 of 7

Pastor John Fanous

1 Peter 3:1-6

April 20, 2008

What Isn’t Effective:

______________________

______________________

______________________

______________________

“Help your relatives and they will protect you like a strong city wall, but if you quarrel with them, they will close their doors to you.” Pr 18:19 (GNT)

What Is Effective:

How I _______________.

“If some husbands do not obey God’s teaching, they will be persuaded to believe without anyone’s saying a word to them. They will be persuaded by the way their wives live. Your husbands will see the pure lives you live with your respect for God.” 1 Pe 3:1-2 (NCV)

4 Commitments to Make to Your Husband

1. I will ___________________ you.

“Wives, in the same way, accept the authority of your husband…” 1 Pe 3:1a

“They will be won by your respectful, pure behavior.” 1 Pe 3:2 (The Living Bible)

2. I will live without ___________________.

“You are her daughters if you do what is right and do not give way to fear.” 1 Pe 3:6

“The almost universal testimony of those who believe is that they found God not at the conclusion of a logical process but because of the One who took the initiative and made himself known.” (Donald C. Frisk, Covenant Affirmations: This We Believe, 34)

3. I will look for a _________________.

“It was in this way long ago that the holy women who hoped in God used to adorn themselves by accepting the authority of their husbands. Thus Sarah obeyed Abraham and called him lord.” 1 Pe 3:5-6a (NRSV)

4. I will grow internally _______________________.

“Don’t be concerned about the outward beauty of fancy hairstyles, expensive jewelry, or beautiful clothes. You should clothe yourselves instead with the beauty that comes from within, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is so precious to God.” 1 Pe 3:3-4 (NLT)

“A wife of noble character who can find? She is worth far more than rubies.” Pr 31:10

“People who do not believe are living all around you and might say that you are doing wrong. Live such good lives that they will see the good things you do and will give glory to God…” 1 Pe 2:12 (NCV)

Developing an Attitude of Servanthood

Sermon series: Dependable – Part 4 of 7

Pastor John Fanous

April 13, 2008

John 13:1-5,12-17

¹ It was just before the Passover Feast. Jesus knew that the time had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he now showed them the full extent of his love.

² The evening meal was being served, and the devil had already prompted Judas Iscariot, son of Simon, to betray Jesus. ³ Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God; ⁴ so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. ⁵ After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him…

¹² When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. “Do you understand what I have done for you?” he asked them. ¹³ “You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am. ¹⁴ Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. ¹⁵ I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. ¹⁶ I tell you the truth, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. ¹⁷ Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.

How “Big” is Jesus?

“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.” John 1:1-3

“After this I looked and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and in front of the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands. And they cried out in a loud voice: ‘Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb.’ All the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures. They fell down on their faces before the throne and worshiped God.” Revelation 7:9-11

Washing feet was done by ___________________!

Developing Jesus’ Attitude of Servanthood

1. Believe that God gives you _______________ when you serve others.

“For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me and for the gospel will save it.” Mark 8:35

2. Ask, “How can I be a ________________?” and act on it.

“Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves…Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.” Philippians 2:3,5-7

3. Get your _________________ from God.

“Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.” Matt. 6:4

4. Allow Jesus to _____________ you.

He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?” Jesus replied, “You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand.” “No,” said Peter, “you shall never wash my feet.” Jesus answered, “Unless I wash you, you have no part with me.” John 13:6-8

“For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” Mark 10:45

(Unfortunately, the audio of this sermon cut out early. The fill-in’s have been provided below.)

Developing Compassion in an Angry World

Sermon series: Dependable – Part 3 of 7

Pastor John Fanous

April 6, 2008

“Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” – Jesus, nailed to a cross, praying for those who tortured him (Luke 23:34)

Matthew 5:21-22

²¹ “You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘Do not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.’ ²² But I tell you that anyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to his brother, ‘Raca,’ is answerable to the Sanhedrin. But anyone who says, ‘You fool!’ will be in danger of the fire of hell.

2 Facts about Anger

1. Anger always comes from FRUSTRATED expectations.

2. Anger at INJUSTICE is good.

“He looked around at them in anger and, deeply distressed at their stubborn hearts, said to the man, ‘Stretch out your hand.’ He stretched it out, and his hand was completely restored.” Mk 3:5

Testing for Sinful Anger

Who do I talk about NEGATIVELY in front of others?

Who do I ENJOY hearing negative comments about?

Sinful anger hurts ME more than THE OTHER PERSON!

The key to dealing with your anger…

PRAY for those who make you angry.

“But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.” Mt 5:44

Restoring a Relationship with a Christian

1. Start the CONVERSATION.

“Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to your brother; then come and offer your gift.” Mt 5:23-24

“If another member of the church sins against you, go and point out the fault when the two of you are alone.” Mt 18:15a (NRSV)

2. Describe the person’s BEHAVIOR and how it affected you.

3. Listen and CLARIFY.

4. Exchange FORGIVENESS.

“Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.” Eph 4:32

Keeping a Commitment

Sermon series: Dependable – Part 2 of 7

Pastor John Fanous

March 30, 2008

“I, the Messiah, am going to be betrayed and killed and three days later

I will return to life again.” Mk 9:31 (The Living Bible)

Why Promises are Important

1. Broken promises ____________________ others.

“Then the chief officer who served wine to the king said to him, ‘Now I remember something I promised to do, but I forgot about it.'” Ge 41:9 (NCV)

2. Broken promise mean people won’t ______________ you in the future.

“‘This man began to build but can’t finish the job!’ they will say.” Lk 14:28-30 (GNT)

What Do We Know About God’s Promises?

“The One who called you is completely dependable. If he said it, he’ll do it! “

1 Th 5:24 (The Message)

“If we are not faithful, he will still be faithful. Christ cannot deny who he is.”

2 Ti 2:13 (CEV)

“Every word of God proves true. He is a shield to all who come to him for protection.” Pr 30:5 (NLT)

How Important to God are Your Promises? ______________

“God delights in those who keep their promises and abhors those who don’t.” Pr 12:22 (The Living Bible)

“But I tell you that men will have to give account on the day of judgment for every careless word they have spoken.” Matthew 12:36 (NIV)

5 Keys to Building People’s Trust in Your Commitments

1. P______________________ slowly.

“It’s better not to make a promise at all than to make one and not keep it.”

Ec 5:5 (CEV)

“If one of you is planning to build a tower, you sit down first and work out what it will cost, to see if you have enough money to finish the job.” Lk 14:28 (GNT)

2. R______________________ responsibly.

“Tie them to your hands and wear them on your forehead as reminders. Write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.” Dt 6:8-9 (NLT)

3. F______________________ generously.

“Whatever your task, put yourselves into it…” Col 3:23a (NRSV)

4. N______________________ early.

“You may have trapped yourself by your agreement. Quick! Get out of it if you possibly can! Swallow your pride; don’t let embarrassment stand in the way. Go and beg to have your name erased. Don’t put it off. Do it now. Don’t rest until you do.” Pr 6:2-4 (The Living Bible)

5. B______________________ simply.

“Whoever can be trusted with a little can also be trusted with a lot.” Lk 16:10a

“Say just a simple ‘Yes, I will’ or ‘No, I won’t.’ Your word is enough.” Mt 5:37

“Ruth bowed down to the ground and said, ‘You know I come from another country. Why are you so good to me?’ Boaz answered, ‘I’ve heard how you’ve helped your mother-in-law ever since your husband died. You even left your own father and mother to come and live in a foreign land among people you don’t know.'” Ru 2:10-11 (CEV)

This week, I want to practice follow-through in this area of my life: