sermon notes

sermon series: simply irresistible
todays message: your freedom is simply irresistible - sharing what it feels like to be guilt free

the new tyranny of america
celebrity: it gives us expectations that we can't meet.
* we used to have heroes, now we have celebrities.
* heroes were famous for great integrity, great strength, great love
* celebrities are famous for being famous, for great looks, and great acting

materialism: it makes us promises we can't keep.
* if you're unhappy, buy something
* the more we have, the better off we are

self-help: it tells us to do what we know we can't.
* the world tells us to be thin, be pretty, be smart, be rich
* the world says "there is something wrong with the way you are"
* we buy books written by celebrities to "fix" our own problems
* the world says "if you can't fix it, numb it." so we turn to drugs, sex, alcohol

Christ gives freedom from...
being something you're not
(1 tim. 1:13-16)
even though i was once a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent man, i was shown mercy because i acted in ignorance and unbelief. the grace of our Lord was poured out on me abundantly, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners - of whom i am the worst. but for that very reason i was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his unlimited patience as an example for those who would believe in him and receive eternal life.
* God has a plan for my life (jer. 29:11)
* women, if you want to be beautiful, live a sold out life for Christ
* jason version...a woman who fears the Lord is HOT!
* guys, if you want to be strong, live your lives so others see Christ
* the strongest men are those that lead their family on their knees

buying something you don't need.
(mark 8:36) what good is it for a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul?
* the world offers us comfort in material things
* God offers us comfort in eternal things
* the world says "have comfort." God says "have peace."

building something you can't keep
(eccl. 2:20-21) so my heart begain to despair over all my toilsome labor under the sun. for a man may do his work with wisdom, knowledge and skill, and then he must leave all he ownes to someone who has not worked for it. this too is meaningless and a great misfortune.
* we think working overtime to earn more money is beneficial to the family
* we want our kids to have more than we had...they want more time with their parents
* those kids who were always given everything growing up, grow up untrained in how to handle what they've been given because they never had to


in Christ you are free...
to be the person God made you to be.
(rom. 8:37) no, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. for i am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
* we try to fight issues we can't win...even if we're winning now, unless Jesus is fighting along side of us, we probably won't be for long.
* God made us to be victorious in him

to invest in the true treasures of life.
(1 tim. 6:17-19) command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. in this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life.
* a good life come by what you give - not what you get
* the united states has a minority of the earth's people, but a majority or the earth's resources

to build a life that is GOOD!
(matt. 7:17-21) likewise every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit...not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only those who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.
* our "good" is always tainted with sin, but God always gives us his grace
* are we trying to make our "bad tree" produce "good fruit" - impossible
* half-way and kind-of don't work

so, live in freedom and share the freedom!
(rom. 6 22-23) but now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life. for the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Jesus Christ our Lord.

hopefully you can make sense of this...it's just a simple outline with my own notes added in. i thought it was pretty convicting. i could have sat in that pew for another hour or so. jason's a lot more captivating than it would be to read it off my blog.