“Life is a Journey, Enjoy the Ride” Sermon by Pastor Richard Daughtridge January 29, 2012

BlueGrass Sunday This Week

“Life is a Journey, Enjoy the Ride”   Sermon by Pastor Richard Daughtridge January 29, 2012

“Everyday has a dream.  Locked in the imaginations of man there are experiences waiting to unfold. Memories ready to be birthed. The Apostle Paul placed these experiences in three categories:  good, acceptable and perfect, will of God.”

Romans 12:2  And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

•  What does a good day look like for you?

• What does an acceptable day look like for you?

• What does a perfect day look like for you? 

Be not conformed to me says, don’t accept the norm. “Mediocrity takes little effort and always falls short of potential.”

 Believing on the other hand takes an asserted effort.

Believing demands answers to one word questions:

1.  What?               

2.  Why?           

3.  How?             

4.  Who?                   

Believe is a verb that has been placed in category of magical, mythical, supernatural, and fantasy.

Believing however is powerless without an object. It’s like electricity with no ground. We as humanity must decide whether the object of our belief is worthy of our trust.

Hebrews 11:6  But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

Who do we pray to?  Who do we place hope in?   Without an entity of trust beyond ourselves our imaginations, thoughts, dreams and prayers are powerless. We need God.  

I’ve underlined the entity in the verse below.

Romans 12:1    I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.

Romans 12:5  For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office: [5] So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another.

Statements from the cancer survivors that I talked to.

• “Every day belongs to God.”
• “Every day is a gift and every meal a banquet.”
• “God obviously has a reason for my being here.”
• “Richard, it was as though I could feel the church praying.”
• “I believe God heard all our prayers.”
• “I know I don’t walk alone.”

Romans 12:9-21  Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good. [10] Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another; [11] Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord; [12] Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer; [13] Distributing to the necessity of saints; given to hospitality. [14] Bless them which persecute you: bless, and curse not. [15] Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep. [16] Be of the same mind one toward another. Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate. Be not wise in your own conceits. [17] Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men. [18] If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men. [19] Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord. [20] Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head. [21] Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.

“Purpose Number Two, Thy Kingdom Come” Jan. 22nd 2011 sermon #2 of Purpose Series by Pastor Richard Daughtridge

Pastor Richard Daughtridge

“Purpose Number Two,  Thy Kingdom Come”  sermon 2 of Purpose Series by Pastor Richard Daughtridge

One of the most asked  questions of our era is: “What is the purpose of life?“ As we go through the Purpose Series I hope the picture becomes clearer that we are not just some accidental result of a cosmic big bang but  but very much a part of a well  planned populace of an eternal destiny.

“It’s not whether you win or lose but how you see the game.“

Let’s face it life is more than a game. It has eternal destiny, outcomes and consequences. It demands truth which is the foundation of our faith. Faith is not measured in wins and losses.  Faith is measured  not  by whether you fall but by the courage you show in getting up. The belief system that connects us to Heaven, “Thy Kingdom come.”

Life requires a calculated religious effort on our part. We are not only to find out the truth about eternity but also be governed in our lives by that truth.

NFL Play Offs

I’ll have to say I wanted Tebow to win. He represented  faith in the gospel  that I identified with.  He was a Christian. Having said that,  I think the better team won. The Broncos did not.

Tebow didn’t  have God in his pocket like a set of loaded dice in a crap game. He rather had God in his heart and regardless of the outcome he still honored Christ with the kneel  and the point.

Kingdom Principle #1 King

 Who?

  Isaiah 14:14

I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High.

Rev. 9:11    And they had a king over them, which is the angel of the bottomless pit, whose name in the Hebrew tongue is Abaddon, but in the Greek tongue hath his name Apollyon.

Rev. 19:16     And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.

 Why ?

Hosea 13:14   I will ransom them from the power of the grave; I will redeem them from death: O death, I will be thy plagues; O grave, I will be thy destruction: repentance shall be hid from mine eyes.

Titus 2:14     Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.

Where?

Matthew 6:9-10

After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. [10] Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.

Kingdom Principle #2 Citizens

 Who ?

 Phil 3:20 But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ

Ephes. 2:19-22

Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God; [20] And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; [21] In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: [22] In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.

Why?

John 3:16

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

Where?

Hebrews 11:13

These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.

Blue Grass Sunday Jan. 29, 2012 9:30 AM

Purpose of a Church, Reconciled Reconciler’s Responsibilities part one of Purpose Series, by Pastor Richard Daughtridge Jan. 8th 2012

Purpose of a Church, Reconciled Reconcilers Responsibilities part one of Purpose Series,  by Pastor Richard Daughtridge

2 Cor. 5:18-19

And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; [19] To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.

John 20:21-23

Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you. [22] And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost: [23] Whose soever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; and whose soever sins ye retain, they are retained.

Hebrews 2:17

Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people.

Acts 2:42-47

And they continued stedfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers. [43] And fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles. [44] And all that believed were together, and had all things common; [45] And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need. [46] And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart, [47] Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.

Matthew 28:16-20 (NIV)   Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. ¹⁷ When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. ¹⁸ Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. ¹⁹ Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, ²⁰ and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”