“Becoming a Family” sermon one of a sermon series, “Family Ties” by Pastor Richard Daughtridge 07/29/12 This Week Is Bluegrass Sunday

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“Becoming a Family” sermon one of a sermon series, “Family Ties”  by Pastor Richard Daughtridge  07/29/12

Adopted or still an orphans? Faith demands response?.  Today I’d like to address these two important family questions. Jesus seem to place more emphasis on the family of the church than on the organization.I think there was a reason for this.

 “When a church becomes a family it functions in it’s completed form and accomplishes the purposes behind it’s creation. Functioning outside this form it becomes just another religious organization.”

Ever hear these statements?

“You don’t have to go to church to be a Christian.”

“I believe in God and that’s what counts.”

“I don’t believe in organized religion.”

“We are all God’s children.”

“I’m better than most Christians I know.”

 Honestly these are some of the most dangerous statements I’ve ever heard.

A.    Born into the Family, Adoption, or Both.

 1.      Grace

1 Peter 1:20   Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you,

John 3: 15-17  That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.  [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. [17] For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.

2.      Choice

John 1:12  But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:

Acts 16:31  And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.

2 Peter 3:17  Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own stedfastness.

Ephes. 1:5   Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,

B.     Weekly Local Family Reunion  (Jacob’s Church)

 Hebrews 12:23  To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect,

Acts 20:7  And upon the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul preached unto them, ready to depart on the morrow; and continued his speech until midnight.

1 Cor. 16:2  Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him, that there be no gatherings when I come.

Hebrews 10:25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.

C.    Head of the family. (Christ)

 Ephes. 1:21-23   Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come: [22] And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, [23] Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.

D.    Disciple

 Romans 8:29  For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.

1 John 3:2  Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.

“Apple of His Eye” sermon notes 07/22/12 by Pastor Richard A. Daughtridge of Jacob’s Church, a historical civil war church near Gettysburg in Fairfield, near Waynesboro Pennsylvania near Frederick and Hagerstown, Maryland.

Pastor Richard Daughtridge

“Apple of His Eye”    sermon by Pastor Richard A. Daughtridge

Genesis 1:27  So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.

Deut. 32:10  He found him in a desert land, and in the waste howling wilderness; he led him about, he instructed him, he kept him as the apple of his eye.

Psalm 17:8    Keep me as the apple of the eye, hide me under the shadow of thy wings,

1. Eyes of Grace

Genesis 6:8 But Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord.

2. Eyes that Protect  Matthew 10:29-30  Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father. [30] But the very hairs of your head are all numbered.

Luke 12:6  Are not five sparrows sold for two farthings, and not one of them is forgotten before God?

3. Eyes that are Universal   2 Chronicles 16:9 For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to shew himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him.

 4. Eyes for the Righteous  Psalm 34:15      The eyes of the Lord are upon the righteous, and his ears are open unto their cry.

5.  Eyes of a Father    Proverbs 5:21  For the ways of man are before the eyes of the Lord, and he pondereth all his goings.

Mark 14:36  And he said, Abba, Father, all things are possible unto thee; take away this cup from me: nevertheless not what I will, but what thou wilt.

Romans 8:15  For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.

Galatians 4:6  And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.

6.  Eyes of Mercy  Psalm 33:18  Behold, the eye of the Lord is upon them that fear him, upon them that hope in his mercy;

“The Journey of Life” a sermon 07/15/12 by Pastor Richard Daughtridge of Jacob’s Church, a historical civil war church near Gettysburg in Fairfield, near Waynesboro Pennsylvania near Frederick and Hagerstown, Maryland.

Pastor Richard Daughtridge

“The Journey of Life” a sermon by Pastor Richard Daughtridge

For the last two weeks we’ve talked about the Marriage Supper and what Heaven will look like. Through the eyes and ears of Revelation in the Bible we experienced what John wrote. Today we come back down to earth to the grim reality that we are not there yet.

When the children were small we loved to go on long trips. I hold the world’s record of number of times hearing my children ask, “Are we there yet?, and “How much longer?”

We are in the journey of life where, we trip on sin, are hurt by others, cars break down, we have to pay our bills, fight off sickness, grieve in loss of loved ones. We can occasionally have a bad day.  How can we make drive smoother?

“Bliss and happy music.”    “Life is a journey enjoy the ride. ”, the Toyota commercial guy said.

 Proverbs 3:6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.

 Here’s a few one liners for your trip.

“Real men don’t ask for directions.”

“All roads lead to same place when your tank is empty.”

“If you get lost or if you break down call me.”

“When you get to the end of your rope tie a knot and hang on.”

“The fuel light should be called the idiot light.”

“Ever wonder why it’s called a check engine light?”

“No way could that check have bounced I just made a deposit”

“Never add your overdraft protection to your balance.”

 Enough, let’s get on the road. Enjoy the ride.  

 Four Essentials for the Journey

1.      Destination 
2.      Directions
3.      Fuel
4.      Provision

Hebrews 11:8-11

[8] By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went.

[9] By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise:

[10] For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.

[11] Through faith also Sara herself received strength to conceive seed, and was delivered of a child when she was past age, because she judged him faithful who had promised.

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.