http://bible.com/events/48934667

Church of the Nazarene Harrisonburg

Your Un-Churched Neighbor Part 1: Understanding“ People don’t care how much you know, until they know how much you care.”

Series Purpose: To inform, inspire, equip and challenge us as the people of God to embrace our unique calling to be a counter-narrative people, to do His will and serve others, and to speak the truth in love, to those who are lost/far from God, as we tell of what He has done in our lives and for the whole world.‭‭

Luke‬ ‭19:10‬‬For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”

The focus for today is: UNDERSTANDING

Only 21% of non-Christian people have a positive perception of the local church Half of non-Christian Americans don’t trust local pastors Millennials think the local church is detached from the real issues people are facing. The percentage of people who attend church 1 or two times per month decreased from 34% in 2019 to 28% in 2022In the same time frame, the percentage of people that never or seldom attend church grew from 50% to 57%There is an increasing % of people who are spiritually/biblically illiterate – especially in younger generations – but open to spiritual things Non-Christians are pretty sure we’re not interested in them for who they are. Non-Christians tend to think Christians are against more than they’re for. Non-Christians don’t see much difference between the way Christians live when compared with non-Christians.‭‭John‬ ‭4:1-30‬‬Now Jesus learned that the Pharisees had heard that he was gaining and baptizing more disciples than John— although in fact it was not Jesus who baptized, but his disciples. So he left Judea and went back once more to Galilee. Now he had to go through Samaria. So he came to a town in Samaria called Sychar, near the plot of ground Jacob had given to his son Joseph. Jacob’s well was there, and Jesus, tired as he was from the journey, sat down by the well. It was about noon. When a Samaritan woman came to draw water, Jesus said to her, “Will you give me a drink?” (His disciples had gone into the town to buy food.) The Samaritan woman said to him, “You are a Jew and I am a Samaritan woman. How can you ask me for a drink?” (For Jews do not associate with Samaritans.) Jesus answered her, “If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water.” “Sir,” the woman said, “you have nothing to draw with and the well is deep. Where can you get this living water? Are you greater than our father Jacob, who gave us the well and drank from it himself, as did also his sons and his livestock?” Jesus answered, “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” The woman said to him, “Sir, give me this water so that I won’t get thirsty and have to keep coming here to draw water.” He told her, “Go, call your husband and come back.” “I have no husband,” she replied. Jesus said to her, “You are right when you say you have no husband. The fact is, you have had five husbands, and the man you now have is not your husband. What you have just said is quite true.” “Sir,” the woman said, “I can see that you are a prophet. Our ancestors worshiped on this mountain, but you Jews claim that the place where we must worship is in Jerusalem.” “Woman,” Jesus replied, “believe me, a time is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem. You Samaritans worship what you do not know; we worship what we do know, for salvation is from the Jews. Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth.” The woman said, “I know that Messiah” (called Christ) “is coming. When he comes, he will explain everything to us.” Then Jesus declared, “I, the one speaking to you—I am he.” Just then his disciples returned and were surprised to find him talking with a woman. But no one asked, “What do you want?” or “Why are you talking with her?” Then, leaving her water jar, the woman went back to the town and said to the people, “Come, see a man who told me everything I ever did. Could this be the Messiah?” They came out of the town and made their way toward him. Dean Flemming“ Jesus’ love and restoring power intersect people at the point of their life circumstances.”WORK TO UNDERSTANDBEFORE WORKING TO BE UNDERSTOOD

As we continue in our series over the coming weeks, we will unpack other areas of focus for bridging the gap or being effective in sharing Jesus in our ever-changing world. We will see that no matter how much our world has changed, evangelism, or reaching the lost, is a supernatural pursuit that must begin in prayer. We will see that perhaps one of the greatest ways we can show people the love of Christ, is to serve them. We will be reminded that evangelism takes real work. And finally, we will understand that the ultimate expression of love is sharing the honest and compelling truth of the Cross of Christ

http://bible.com/events/48929963

Church of the Nazarene – Harrisonburg Kingdom

The Kingdom is now, and it requires grace.‭‭

Matthew‬ ‭18:1‬‬

At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Who, then, is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?”‭‭

Matthew‬ ‭18:2-4 ‬‬

He called a little child to him and placed the child among them. And he said: “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever takes the lowly position of this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.‭‭

Matthew‬ ‭18:5‬‬

And whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me.

The Kingdom of Heaven is now

Greatness is found in receiving grace

This grace extends beyond ourselves

We can achieve greatness in the Kingdom of God today if we set aside our human accomplishments to receive and share God’s grace.

Church of the Nazarene East Rock

Over The Walls: Failure

There is no wall that can separate us from God when we seek Him, not even the wall of failure. Over the last few weeks, we have been looking at the life and ministry of Jesus to see more clearly His heart and His call for us to go beyond the 4 walls of our church to bring hope to our communities. Through Best Week Ever and Vacation bible school, we have done that! We have taken the tangible hope of Christ into our community, planting seeds in God’s Kingdom. We have been over the walls together. Through the life of Christ, we see that there is no wall that can separate a seeking heart from the healing, redeeming love of God. Not even the wall of failure. As we conclude our series today, we will see the heart of Jesus for those who have failed, even those who have failed big.‭‭Luke‬ ‭22:54-62‬‬Then seizing him, they led him away and took him into the house of the high priest. Peter followed at a distance. And when some there had kindled a fire in the middle of the courtyard and had sat down together, Peter sat down with them. A servant girl saw him seated there in the firelight. She looked closely at him and said, “This man was with him.” But he denied it. “Woman, I don’t know him,” he said. A little later someone else saw him and said, “You also are one of them.” “Man, I am not!” Peter replied. About an hour later another asserted, “Certainly this fellow was with him, for he is a Galilean.” Peter replied, “Man, I don’t know what you’re talking about!” Just as he was speaking, the rooster crowed. The Lord turned and looked straight at Peter. Then Peter remembered the word the Lord had spoken to him: “Before the rooster crows today, you will disown me three times.” And he went outside and wept bitterly. We begin to understand the wall of failure is complex, it’s multifaceted, and it has affected us all in different ways. What if today, Jesus is calling us to follow him over the wall of failure? If you are one that has failed, the call is to embrace his hand as he is reaching out to you, to go over that wall to restoration and redemption with Christ. Follow me Jesus says.‭‭Luke‬ ‭22:61-62‬‬The Lord turned and looked straight at Peter. Then Peter remembered the word the Lord had spoken to him: “Before the rooster crows today, you will disown me three times.” And he went outside and wept bitterly. I don’t know about you, but I can FEEL this text. We grieve with Peter because we have been there, we know what bitter tears are like. Like graffiti on a train car, your wall of failure might have many things painted on it. The question of the morning is: Is there a failure that haunts you? If not, that’s wonderful. But if you are staring at that wall of failure…you’re in the right place. The good news today friends is that because of God’s great grace, Peter’s story doesn’t end here at the wall of failure, and yours doesn’t have too either.‭‭Mark‬ ‭16:5-7‬‬As they entered the tomb, they saw a young man dressed in a white robe sitting on the right side, and they were alarmed. “Don’t be alarmed,” he said. “You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. He has risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid him. But go, tell his disciples and Peter, ‘He is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him, just as he told you.’ ” Over the wall of failure, came a voice, a voice calling Peters name. In the middle of the despair, playing over and over that moment in his mind, kicking himself, resolving that it was over, he was done. In that place- a voice calls out. Not with condemnation, but invitation. Peter had a choice in those moments. He could stay behind the wall of failure forever or he could take hold of the hand of grace that Jesus was extending over the wall. In that place of brokenness, shame, and guilt, Peter took the hand of Jesus, and went over the wall of failure to restoration and redemption. That choice to embrace grace, changed the trajectory of his life forever.‭‭John‬ ‭21:15-17‬‬When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?” “Yes, Lord,” he said, “you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Feed my lambs.” Again, Jesus said, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” He answered, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Take care of my sheep.” The third time he said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, “Do you love me?” He said, “Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Feed my sheep. The failure that could have been the end for Peter. That could have been the last chapter. But Jesus wasn’t intimated by Peter’s wall of failure. And He’s not intimidated by yours. Just as our Lord reached out His hand to rescue Peter…He’s doing the same, right now, to you. No wall. Just grace and mercy. Will you follow Jesus over the wall of failure? Will you embrace him? Jesus doesn’t stop at the wall of failure, so why should you?

The Way

Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me. “ To experience the life of Jesus, we must adopt the lifestyle of Jesus”-Pastor John Mark Comer‭‭Luke‬ ‭9:18-25‬‬Once when Jesus was praying in private and his disciples were with him, he asked them, “Who do the crowds say I am?” They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, that one of the prophets of long ago has come back to life.” “But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?” Peter answered, “God’s Messiah.” Jesus strictly warned them not to tell this to anyone. And he said, “The Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, and he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life.” Then he said to them all: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will save it. What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit their very self? “Whoever wants to be my disciple MUST deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me.” DENY TAKE UP FOLLOW‭‭ Luke‬ ‭9:57-62‬‬As they were walking along the road, a man said to him, “I will follow you wherever you go.” Jesus replied, “Foxes have dens and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head.” He said to another man, “Follow me.” But he replied, “Lord, first let me go and bury my father.” Jesus said to him, “Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and proclaim the kingdom of God.” Still another said, “I will follow you, Lord; but first let me go back and say goodbye to my family.” Jesus replied, “No one who puts a hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God.”‭‭Luke‬ ‭14:25-33‬‬Large crowds were traveling with Jesus and turning to them he said: “If anyone comes to me and does not hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters—yes, even their own life—such a person cannot be my disciple. And whoever does not carry their cross and follow me cannot be my disciple. “Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Won’t you first sit down and estimate the cost to see if you have enough money to complete it? For if you lay the foundation and are not able to finish it, everyone who sees it will ridicule you, saying, ‘This person began to build and wasn’t able to finish.’ “Or suppose a king is about to go to war against another king. Won’t he first sit down and consider whether he is able with ten thousand men to oppose the one coming against him with twenty thousand? If he is not able, he will send a delegation while the other is still a long way off and will ask for terms of peace. In the same way, those of you who do not give up everything you have cannot be my disciples.‭‭Luke‬ ‭18:18-23‬‬A certain ruler asked him, “Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” “Why do you call me good?” Jesus answered. “No one is good—except God alone. You know the commandments: ‘You shall not commit adultery, you shall not murder, you shall not steal, you shall not give false testimony, honor your father and mother.’” “All these I have kept since I was a boy,” he said. When Jesus heard this, he said to him, “You still lack one thing. Sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” When he heard this, he became very sad, because he was very wealthy. If you want to follow Jesus, then first you must die. Skye Jethani (in The Divine Commodity) “My secret is that I want to be relevant and popular. I want my desires fulfilled and pain minimized. I want a manageable relationship with an institution rather than messy relationships with real people. I want to be transformed into the image of Christ by showing up at entertaining events rather than through the hard work of discipline. I want to wear my faith on my sleeve and not look at the darkness in my heart. And above all, I want a controllable god. I want a divine commodity to do my will on earth as well as in heaven. “Are you following Jesus on His terms or yours today? HE IS ENOUGH

Over The Walls:

The Outcast Matthew 9:9-13Throughout our summer emphasis on outreach into our communities, we are taking time on Sunday mornings to see the heart of Jesus for those who were “outside the walls”. Today, we will see Jesus go over the walls of reputation to rescue a lost tax collector named Matthew.‭‭Matthew‬ ‭9:9-13‬‬ As Jesus went on from there, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax collector’s booth. “Follow me,” he told him, and Matthew got up and followed him. While Jesus was having dinner at Matthew’s house, many tax collectors and sinners came and ate with him and his disciples. When the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?” On hearing this, Jesus said, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners. “As we unpack our teaching text today, we will discover the heart of the Lord for the lost people who are often behind walls we ourselves have built. Perhaps outside of our comfort zones. Maybe even people we would deem as un-worthy Jesus goes after them, just like he came after us. The question of Jesus for us today could easily be “Will you follow me? “Will you go over the walls?‭‭Matthew‬ ‭9:9‬‬As Jesus went on from there, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax collector’s booth. “Follow me,” he told him, and Matthew got up and followed him. As Pastor Joe unpacked for us a little bit last week, it is hard to exactly understand the disdain that the Jews had for tax collectors. The closest parallel for us might be akin to the scammers who are calling, or email trying to get our information so they can extort money from us. They were viewed as traitors of their people because they were working for “The man” or the Roman government that was oppressing the Jews. They were charged with collecting taxes but were free to collect extra to line their own pockets. They were viewed as greedy and self-serving. That was Matthew-Yes, Jesus saw a tax collector that day, but he saw beyond that sin and shame, beyond the walls, to see a heart longing for something different. He knew Matthew’s heart was seeking forgiveness and redemption. An opportunity of new life. Matthew was so ready that he instantly left his entire life behind to follow Jesus.‭‭Matthew‬ ‭9:10-11‬‬While Jesus was having dinner at Matthew’s house, many tax collectors and sinners came and ate with him and his disciples. When the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners? “Matthew takes note of the guest list of this dinner party, making special note that it was MANY tax collectors like himself and other well-known sinners from the town. In the culture and time of Jesus, sharing a meal with someone was not just a common thing like it is today- it carried significant meaning in terms of relationship, of acceptance, and of belonging. In this scene Jesus has made space for people to be with him, to engage them right where they were, no pre-conditions required. This action on behalf of Jesus ran the religious folks right into a wall.‭‭Matthew‬ ‭9:12-13‬‬On hearing this, Jesus said, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners. “In his response, we see that Jesus’ heart is for the outcast, for the people outside the walls. His heart is for those who are down and out, desperate in the gutter. His heart is to extend them grace and an invitation to forgiveness and new life. It’s THEM he came for. It’s the sick who need a doctor. What wall is God calling you to go over? What have you allowed to block the Lord’s flow of mercy in your life? What are the walls? Perhaps the wall of racism or prejudice? Perhaps it’s the wall of politics? Maybe it’s even a big old religious wall? The truth is, if you had lived in the time of Jesus, Matthew may have been the worst of the worst to you- yet Jesus extended a hand to his. So, will you go over your walls today? Will you follow Jesus over that wall in your life? Allow him to lead you. Will you be like Matthew and go all in? As I was preparing this week, I picked up a William Barclay commentary on Matthew and it revealed a few other walls we should consider. The wall of self-preservation that I built to protect myself, to keep my experience safe and comfortable. The wall of selfishness that views my relationship with the Lord and involvement in the church as being all about me. The wall of criticism that helps to isolate me from being near the messiness in other people’s lives. Or perhaps it’s the wall of apathy. The wall that says they got themselves into this mess, let them get themselves out. Friends, walls can be built of many things, for many reasons, but the invitation of the Lord remains for you and for me Follow me” Jesus says. Let’s go over the walls today friends. Let’s go together.