November 23, 2008 ~ Total Body Worship 4 ~ A Revived Heart

Sermon Notes for Small Group Leaders
Total Body Worship – A Revived Heart / Sermon Series 4 of 4
Teaching Pastor, Jim Zippay
November 23, 2008
Scripture Passage: Mark 7:6; Ezekiel 11:19; Psalm 139:23; Joel 2:13; Isaiah 57:15

Outline
I. Here’s my heart…Search it (Psalm 139:23)
II. Here’s my heart…Receive it (Joel 2:13)
III. Here’s my heart…Revive it (Isaiah 57:15)

Content
1. Jesus says that if our actions and words in worship are not an expression of what’s in our hearts, then we’re being hypocrites. (Mark 7:6)
2. The worship that God desires is for us to give him our heart – to delight in him.
3. The promise of the gospel is that God gives us a new heart that frees us to feel and love out of our whole heart. (Ezek. 11:19)
4. What do you do when you don’t feel that way? Step one is to admit it.
5. John Calvin: “True religion consists of two things: knowing God and knowing yourself.”
6. The God of the Bible is not a silent, emotionless, stoic type – he has emotions (grieves and laughs…knows joy and sorrow…anger and disappointment…compassion and wrath…jealousy and passion)
7. God has given us emotions as well, and we should not hide or suppress them.
8. We should give our heart to God for him to search it out and bring to the surface what we’re feeling. (Psa. 139:23)
9. Once he shows us our heart, whether there is sin, unbelief, indifference, clutter, division, etc - we should return it to him for healing. (Joel 2:13)
10. Once we empty our hearts to God, then he will fill the void with himself (Isaiah 57:15)

Aim
True worship comes from a revived heart, which we get by presenting to God our real thoughts, feelings, and emotions for him to search out, cleanse, and revive.

Application Questions
I. Have you ever found yourself suppressing your true emotions in a situation? Why might there be a temptation for Christians to put up a façade around other Christians?
II. How open are you about your emotions to those around you? To yourself? To God in prayer?
III. Has God used this message to reveal something in your heart that needs to be expressed?

November 16, 2008 ~ Total Body Worship – 3 “A Regenerated Spirit”

Sermon Notes for Small Group Leaders
Total Body Worship – 3 “A Regenerated Spirit”
Teaching Pastor, Jim Zippay
November 16, 2008
Scripture Passages: John 4:23-24; John 3:3-8; 1 Corinthians 2:12-16; Philippians 3:3
1 Corinthians 14:26, 14:1, 14:5, 14:18, 14:39, 14:25

Outline
I. Born of the Spirit - John 3:3-8
II. Taught by the Spirit - 1 Corinthians 2:12-16
III. Worship in the Spirit - Philippians 3:3; 1 Corinthians 14:26, 14:1, 14:5, 14:18, 14:39, 14:25
Content
1. If we are going to have a spirit-filled relationship with God we must be born again.
2. Being born again requires a spiritual “rebirth” to both enter God’s kingdom as well as to be spirit led.
3. The spirit leads us like the wind. We do not know its direction nor its intensity until it is upon us.
4. We must first learn to know things because of divine revelation and not just human reason.
5. We must also learn to judge things based on spiritual discernment and not human opinion.
6. As spirit-filled Christians we should be expectant and be receptive.
7. Our objective as spirit filled Christians is to Worship in the Spirit.
8. To worship we should come prepared with a song or a hymn, a prophetic word, a tongue, or interpretation, a willingness to pray.
9. To be used by the Spirit we should come to participate, to give something to God or to something to some one else from God.

Aim
God wishes to find the lost, to save their souls, fill them with the Holy Spirit and lead them in spirit and in truth. We have the pleasure to worship the Lord through preparedness and obedience to the Holy Spirits leading.

Application Questions
I. Are you born again?
II. Have you ever experience the Holy Spirit leading you toward or away from something? Have you sensed His power?
III. In what ways has the Holy Spirit asked you to prepare to worship Him?

Notes on Main Heritage Page

We are hoping starting this weekend to post the notes directly to the Heritage Web Site under:Group Life:Weekend Notes.

Notes from October 25/26, 2008 - We Shall All Be Changed

Sermon Notes for Small Group Leaders
We Shall All Be Changed
Pastor Richard Johnson
October 26, 2008
Scripture Passage: 1 Samuel 8; 12:18-22

Outline
I. We shall all be changed when we limit our dependence on political solutions
II. We shall all be changed when we control our passion for national recognition
III. We shall all be changed when we turn our allegiance back to God

Content
1. As great and wise and spiritually mature as Samuel was, he was not able to pass on holy reverence, humble leadership or spiritual integrity to his sons.
2. We should pray to God for all of our leaders – our bosses and our politicians and our politicians need divine assistance.
3. When Israel saw a need, their response was not for more of God, but less of God and more of humanity and strategy
4. What the children of Israel saw in other nations was a political structure that brought about things they desired deep in their hearts
5. We were not meant to be like other nations, nor were we to be totally different either. Instead, we’re meant to be the holy other, a royal priesthood, ambassadors, or salt and light.
6. A human leader cannot bring the change that solves problem, only God can.
7. After coming to Christ, our identity cannot be found in a political party or ethnic group, but in Him alone.
8. We need to repent of our lack of prayer for leaders, of our lack of participation in the process, of our prejudice against race, age or gender, and of becoming more vocal and knowledgeable about politics than Jesus.
9. When you serve the Lord in ministry, care for the poor, look after orphans and widows, and seek justice for all then you are doing the name of God some good.

Aim
The only way to accomplish true change is by turning our allegiance to God, praying for our leaders, and actively doing good.

Application Questions
I. What are some problems at the community, state, national, and global levels that you’ve been made aware of that require real change to be solved? Take a moment to pray to God about those problems and for the leaders responsible for addressing them.
II. How does Israel’s approach to leadership and change compare with America’s approach today?
III. What are some things that we should do as individuals, small groups, and as a church to be “the holy other” in our community and city?

Restoring the Tent of David / I Chronicles 16 ~ October 18 & 19, 2008

Sermon Notes for Small Group Leaders
Restoring the Tent of David / I Chronicles 16
Teaching Pastor, Jim Zippay, Senior Pastor
Date of Teaching: October 18 & 19, 2008

Scripture Passages: I Chronicles 16, Acts 15:16-18, Matthew 13:52, Ps. 23, 1 Chronicles 23:5, 2 Chronicles 7:6, Ephesians 5:19, 1 Chronicles 16:4, Galatians 3:14, Proverbs 19:17, Isaiah 64:1, Galatians 3:14, Hebrews 13:15

Outline
I. New Songs, New Sounds and New Sacrifices – v. 1-12, Hebrews 13:15, Acts 15:16-18, Matthew 13:52, Ps. 23, 1 Chronicles 23:5, 2 Chronicles 7:6, Ephesians 5:19
II. Give thanks for what He’s done –v.12-22, Galatians 3:14
III. Sing Praise for who He is – v.23-33, Proverbs 19:17
IV. Make Petition for what He can do – v. 34-36, Isaiah 64:1

Content
1. The Tent of David was a place to sing, a place where new sounds and songs played out.
2. Thank God that He is a covenant keeper.
3. He is the Creator King worthy of praise from all people.
4. Faith in Christ will grow as you pray and worship expectantly for what He can do.

Aim
Worshipping and giving praise to God for all that He is, has done and will do brings pleasure to Him and as a bi-product, edifies our souls.

Application Questions
I. What covenant did God make with us that He kept that we should be thanking Him for?
II. Are you praying expectantly for God to work in a particular area in you life?
III. Can you praise Him now for who He is – in your own words, in your own way?

Notes from Oct 11/12

Sermon Notes for Small Group Leaders
“Return of the Ark” “Bringing it Back” series
Pastor Jim Zippay
Oct. 11/12, 2008
1 Chronicles 15

Outline
1. Preparing a place for the Ark
~ Establishing a sacred place
~ Understanding the correct approach
2. Preparing a people for the Ark
~ Prepare yourself by personal consecration
~ Prepare the congregation by musical instrumentation
3. Preparing for pushback about the Ark
~ Michal thought David was getting attention, but his attention was really on God.
~ Michal thought his actions were inappropriate; they were undignified and increasing.
~ Michal thought of herself as a princess; David knew he was a chosen, royal priest.

Content
1. If God is in control, what He does is what’s important. Worship shows we trust Him.
2. We need to restore God to a place of prominence in our worship and in our lives.
3. There are right and wrong ways to approach God and often we want to do it our way.
4. We prepare ourselves for worship by working out grudges we have against people before going to worship.
5. We also need to check our morals, relationships, values, priorities, promises and financial dealings.
6. We want to “let everything that has breath praise the Lord.”
7. The ark is a visible demonstration of the truth that God came to earth and desires to meet with us.
8. We all have a divided heart at some point when it comes to worship (with expressing emotion to God).
9. Worship should be a total body experience, renewed mind, re-dedicated body, re-generated spirit, and revived heart.
10. God calls us to learn to worship in heart.
11. Michal was critical – observed, evaluated and judged – and cynical.

Aim
When we worship, we should make much of God and less of us by worshipping God with our whole heart, focusing on Him and not ourselves.

Application Questions
1. What are some things that have kept you away from God?
2. What are some right and wrong ways to approach God?
3. In what ways have you sometimes not been prepared for worship, and how did that affect your worship experience?
4. Describe a time when you experienced pushback when your relationship with God was especially good.
5. When you worship, is God the prominent focus? What are some things that take our minds off Him?

Notes from October 4/5, 2008

The Tabernacle: Learning to Meet with God/Bringing It Back
Pastor Jim Zippay
Exodus 25:1-9, Exodus 33:12-17

Outline

1. The Tabernacle, or Tent of Meeting, was a place to meet with God.
2. The Most Holy Place, inside the Tabernacle, resembled the Garden of Eden.
3. The Tabernacle was built to look like something eternal, heaven (Hebrews 8:5).
4. The Tabernacle provided a pattern for meeting with God
5. The Outer Court – spoke to our need for forgiveness and cleansing (1 John 1:9)
   i. The altar of burnt offering
   ii. The bronze laver
6. The Holy Place
   i. The lampstand – symbolizes the tree of life (it displayed the stages of life through almond buds, blossoms and almonds)
   ii. The bread of presence – is like food for the soul
   iii. The altar of incense – reflects the prayers of God’s people (Revelations 5:8)
7. The Most Holy Place
   i. The ark of the covenant
8. The Tabernacle was not just a place to meet with God or just a pattern for meeting with God; it was for a people to know how to meet with God.
9. Priests:
   a. Come dressed for worship
   b. Come to the Outer Court and Holy Place
   c. Come to meet with God

Content

1. Meeting and dwelling with His people has been God’s desire since the beginning of time. The Tabernacle was intended to help us get back to what we lost in the garden.
2. The Tabernacle was a shadow, a copy, of heaven (Hebrews 8:5).
3. The Tabernacle, and everything in it, was designed to bring us into God’s presence both spiritually (that we would be acceptable before God) and symbolically (with all the sights, sounds and smells).
4. The Outer Court spoke to our need for forgiveness and cleansing. Ever since the Garden we learned that without the shedding of blood (alter of burn offering) there could be no reconciliation or restoration of our relationship with God.
5. The lampstand depicts spiritual light, discernment, wisdom and insight. It is a depiction of the ministry of the Holy Spirit who explains and reveals the hidden things of God.
6. The Most Holy Place depicts the throne room of God, our presence can only happen through another presenting us, mediating on our behalf, Christ. (Hebrews 9:11-12)
7. God wants us in the priesthood, he wants us to not only meet with him but bring others to him, like the priests of the Tabernacle.
   

Aim
The Tabernacle provided a place and way for God’s people to meet with Him. Jesus Christ provides a way for us to meet with God today.

Application Questions

1. What is the significance of the Tabernacle resembling the Garden of Eden? Resembling heaven?
2. How do the different places within the Tabernacle speak to how we should meet with God? What acts/behavior can we do today that are similar to those in the tabernacle? (Pray, share our faith, seek forgiveness, read the Word, etc.)
3. God has called us to be his priests. Share a time when you were able to be a priest on God’s behalf.
4. Pastor Jim explained that as God’s priest we should be:
   a. Lampstands – share the word, bring the lost to the “food” that they need
   b. Bread of Presence – pray for others, bringing others to the Lord in prayer
   c. Altar of incense – corporate prayer
   
   How can we put these things into practice? What areas are easy/hard for you? What can you do this week to strengthen these areas in your life?