Deep Six Study November 23, 2014

Transcription

1 Deep Six Study November 23, 2014 About the Deep Six Cape Cod Church is committed to inspiring people to live fully for God. The centerpiece for this inspiration is what happens on Sunday mornings through worship and the preaching of God s Word. While this does much to inspire us to live fully for God, it is just a starting point. We believe all of us need ways to build on our Sunday morning experience. The Deep Six Study is a follow up to your Sunday morning experience that is designed to help with going deeper on the other six days of the week. While your interaction with the Deep Six Study is intended to be on a personal level initially it also provides an opportunity for you to interact with it in conjunction with others. The Deep Six Study has three sections: - Message Summary for assimilating the message from Sunday morning more fully - On Your Own for getting further into the word and responding to it - Discuss Together for use in meetings with others particularly our small groups Please Note: - We are adding devotional material for four days - Three days for Communion and one day for Thanksgiving -to this weeks's Deep Six Study. We are setting aside the "On Your Own" and "Discuss Together" sections for this week. The Communion and Thanksgiving devotional material is found below just after the Message Summary. - A weekly set of 6 Devotionals for daily quiet time use is in the works for later on. Message Summary - Great-Full - "Beyond Thank You" Message s Opening "Thank You" is a simple way to express appreciation. It is so commonly used that we have shortened it to thanks, thnx, tu, etc. Today we finish our series on gratitude, thankfulness, and appreciation by looking at the kind of habits that are true of grateful people. We will readily see this in David from the Old Testament as we examine an episode from his life. By way of background David's predecessor, King Saul, has died. Saul was the first king of Israel. Saul had been picked by God to be king and he was described as looking fabulous. Today it might be said of him, "most likely to be king after high school." Saul's first born Jonathan had

2 become close friends with David. David was the one who was going places, particularly after his victory over Goliath. But after this victory the path to succeed Saul as king becomes a tortuous one for David. We come to our passage for today with David having taken over as king. Today's passage presents us with a good opportunity to see the grateful habits of David. It is these habits that will help us to become truly grateful people as well. Message s First Point Stop to Reflect 2 Samuel 9:1A says, "One day David asked, Is anyone in Saul s family still alive." Normally when a king asks something like this, it is not good because it means they are going to clear the deck of opposition. 2 Samuel 9:1B-3 says, "(Is there) 'anyone to whom I can show kindness for Jonathan s sake?' 2 He summoned a man named Ziba, who had been one of Saul s servants. 'Are you Ziba?' the king asked. 'Yes sir, I am,' Ziba replied. 3 The king then asked him, 'Is anyone still alive from Saul s family? If so, I want to show God s kindness to them.' Ziba replied, 'Yes, one of Jonathan s sons is still alive. He is crippled in both feet.' There's one left (from Saul's family) and he's crippled. One left to show kindness to for the sake of Jonathan. Jonathan risked his life to protect David and he gave up on his natural right to the throne. What's interesting about what is happening here is that instead of looking at the present for whatever he needs to do to secure it and the future for whatever he needs to do to achieve it, David stops to reflect on the past (specifically, the kindness of Jonathan whose support and assistance has much to do with the good spot David is in presently and the brightnes of the future that lies ahead of him). We need to stop right where we are to reflect on the past in a similar manner. We need to give up our obsession with securing our present and achieving our future. Oh how we get so caught up in this instead of the other. David had the right focus. It is as if he was saying, "I wouldn't be here without Jonathan and so I will take care (benevolently not maleveolently) of anyone left of his father Saul's family. We have trouble with the right focus. We become focused on what is broken rather than what is fixed, on what we need rather than on what we have, on worrying about what needs to happen rather than on what is already done, on the fear of what is uncertain rather than on the security of what is certain, etc. Back to glass and the pitcher. If our focus is on the empty space in the glass, we will not be thankful for the stuff that is in the glass, that is, all the stuff God has done for us. David does the unusual (he stops and reflects) - he looks at everything in the past like when he was on the run, when he fought Goliath, when he was protected from Saul, etc. We get so caught up with how we are going to fill up the rest of the glass that we can't reflect.

3 We can't look at what is in the glass because we are looking at the empty space. If we are not looking at what is already in our glass, how will we ever consider how it got there in the first place (David's reflections helped him remember the connection between Jonathan and his blessings and this led to his wanting to bless Jonathan's son). Message Second Point Stepping Down To Serve 2 Sam. 9:5-6A says, "So David sent for him and brought him from Makir s home. 6 His name was Mephibosheth; he was Jonathan s son and Saul s grandson. When he came to David, he bowed low to the ground in deep respect." Mephibosheth has been laying low because of what usually happens to those who are blood relatives of previous kings. 2 Sam. 9:6B says, David said, 'Greetings, Mephibosheth.' Mephibosheth replied, 'I am your servant.' Mephibosheth is essentially acknowledging to David, "You're it!" 2 Sam. 9:7A says, Don t be afraid! David really wants Mephibosheth to be assured he doesn't need to be afraid. They both know the reason there is only "one" left. David wants Mephibosheth to know it going to end better for him. 2 Sam. 9:7B says, "David said. 'I intend to show kindness to you because of my promise to your father, Jonathan.'" David is essentially saying to Mephibosheth, "I wouldn't be here if not for your Dad. I know who helped to get me to where I am today. Gratitude steps down from its throne and serves others. You might say you don't have a throne, but hold on. In some form or another you are king on the mountain and it's hard to come down to the valley and serve. We can't say thank you from our lofty perch. Leaving our comfort and safety gets harder and harder (DD drive through illustration). When we are comfortable we have to be intentional about stepping out of our comfort to serve others. John Ortberg in one of his bookes gives three examples that will help us with this. All three are simple (not giant) things we can do: One - Serve others by allowing ourselves to be interrupted; by being willing to set asside our schedule so we can bless others. Remembering our own gratitude for all who have done this for us. Two - Serve other by holding my tonque. Even if I know the answer and want my voice to be heard I keep quiet. Sometimes we serve by letting another person's voice be heard. I don't have to

4 win; come out on top; make a point. Three - Bear other's burdens. We can't bear everyone's burdens. Some are wired to want to bear all the burdens of others and some to bear none at all. All of us must find ways to step down and out of our comfort for someone else - giving a gift, our time, or supporting, lifting, encouraging. It not grand things but simple things. Message s Third Point - "Stepping Over Other's Faults" 2 Sam. 9:7b says, "I will give you all the property that once belonged to your grandfather Saul, and you will eat here with me at the king s table! David is saying to Mephiboseth, "All is yours. You are all set." 2 Sam. 9:8 says, "Mephibosheth bowed respectfully and exclaimed, 'Who is your servant, that you should show such kindness to a dead dog like me?' We see here that fear is still ringing in Mepheibseth's ears, so to speak. 2 Sam. 9:9, 13 says, "Then the king summoned Saul s servant Ziba and said, 'I have given your master s grandson everything that belonged to Saul and his family'... And Mephibosheth, who was crippled in both feet, lived in Jerusalem and ate regularly at the king s table." David assures Ziba that Mephiboseth will never have another worry. Ziba and Mephiboseth has been on the wrong side of history - with the wrong people. It would have been easy for David to stay on his side of things. But he doesn't. Instead he blesses those who are on the side who hurt him. Who does this? Here are the words from verse 9 again, "I have given your master s grandson everything that belonged to Saul and his family." David was stepping over other's faults. In order to bless them in the way he did, he had to get over who they were and where they were from (the other side). We are good at blessing those who bless us. We creat a pocket of people who we align with. Last week we got the idea of God pouring into us so we could pour out to others, but perhaps not those who are not a part of our select group. We make a divide between those we want to knock off and those we want to bless. When we have a life of gratitude we are so secure in what we have and who gave it to us, we don't have to divide between those who have been good to us and those who have crossed us. This is the time of the year of forced gatherings. There are those we avoid all year long but then the holidays come. We are forced to come into close proximity with these people. It may be someone in a cubicle at work; it may be someone at the Thanksgiving table; or it maybe a Christmas event and we end up near a brother, sister, uncle, mother, dad, son, daughter, etc. It's just sheer torture for us to be around these people. Here's what you are doing: you are trying to

5 survive without making a scene instead of being like David who decided to step over the faults of others. When we do the same we will find ourselves: allowing others to interrupt, holding our tongues, and bearing other's burdens, etc. Message s Closing Here's what I am saying: In forced gatherings and the conversations that go with them, we will have a chance to step over the faults of people who have crossed us, hurt us, or annoyed us and bless them. In some small way let's bless this "other" group of people as well. The life of gratitude leads us to bless not just those who have blessed us but those who have never blessed us. If you truly recognize that God has indeed been generous to you and filled your cup over and over again then you will be able to be one who stops and reflects, steps down and serves, and steps over the faults of others. And then you will be truly live gratefully. (Prayer) Thank you Lord for the places in our lives where we have experienced those who have blessed us and those who have crossed us. Father, we are grateful and so we step down to serve others, we step over the faults of others to serve them. Master of all, thank you for filling our cup over and over again. May your faithfulness remind us to be grateful so that generosity flows out of us to others over and over again. Devotionals for Communion and Thanksgiving The communion emphasis from the Scriptures will prompt us to a greater level of thankfulness and gratitude for what Jesus did for us. The communion bread represents Christ's body. Christ gave himself to the world that first Christmas when he took on human form. The communion cup represents Christ's blood. Christ gave himself for the world that first Easter when he shed his blood for the forgiveness of our sins. So, meditate on the communion Scriptures below for each of the three days below and come to the communion service with a greater awareness of the generosity of Christ and a greater level of thankfulness and gratitude. Then let that spill over into your celerations on Thanksgiving. Begin your Thanksgiving day by meditating on the Scriptures below for that day. Monday - Communion, The Elements Bread / Body He took some bread and gave thanks to God for it. Then he broke it in pieces and gave it to the disciples, saying, This is my body, which is given for you. Do this to remember me. Luke 22:19 For I pass on to you what I received from the Lord himself. On the night when he was betrayed,

6 the Lord Jesus took some bread and gave thanks to God for it. Then he broke it in pieces and said, This is my body, which is given for you. Do this to remember me. 1 Corinthians 11:23-24 So the Word became human and made his home among us. He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness. And we have seen his glory, the glory of the Father s one and only Son. John 1:14 You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had. Though he was God, he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to. Instead, he gave up his divine privileges; he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being. When he appeared in human form, he humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal s death on a cross. Philippians 2:5-8 Because God s children are human beings - made of flesh and blood - the Son also became flesh and blood. For only as a human being could he die, and only by dying could he break the power of the devil, who had the power of death. Only in this way could he set free all who have lived their lives as slaves to the fear of dying. Hebrews 2:14-15 That is why, when Christ came into the world, he said to God, You did not want animal sacrifices or sin offerings. But you have given me a body to offer"... Then I said, "Look, I have come to do your will, O God as is written about me in the Scriptures"... For God s will was for us to be made holy by the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ, once for all time. Hebrews 10:5, 7, 10 Cup (Wine/juice) / Blood After supper he took another cup of wine and said, This cup is the new covenant between God and his people an agreement confirmed with my blood, which is poured out as a sacrifice for you. Luke 22:20 In the same way, he took the cup of wine after supper, saying, This cup is the new covenant between God and his people an agreement confirmed with my blood. Do this to remember me as often as you drink it. 1 Corinthians 11:25 But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners. And since we have been made right in God s sight by the blood of Christ, he will certainly save us from God s condemnation. Romans 5:8-9 He is so rich in kindness and grace that he purchased our freedom with the blood of his Son and forgave our sins. Ephesians 1:7 In fact, according to the law of Moses, nearly everything was purified with blood. For without the shedding of blood, there is no forgiveness. Hebrews 9:22 For you know that God paid a ransom to save you from the empty life you inherited from your ancestors. And it was not paid with mere gold or silver, which lose their value. It was the precious blood of Christ, the sinless, spotless Lamb of God. 1 Peter 1:18-19 Tuesday - Communion, The Experience All the believers devoted themselves to the apostles teaching, and to fellowship, and to sharing

7 in meals (including the Lord s Supper), and to prayer... All the believers were united in heart and mind. Acts 2:42, 4:32A When we bless the cup at the Lord s Table, aren t we sharing in the blood of Christ? And when we break the bread, aren t we sharing in the body of Christ? And though we are many, we all eat from one loaf of bread, showing that we are one body. 1 Corinthians 10:16-17 Is there any encouragement from belonging to Christ? Any comfort from his love? Any fellowship together in the Spirit? Are your hearts tender and compassionate? Then make me truly happy by agreeing wholeheartedly with each other, loving one another, and working together with one mind and purpose. Philippians 2:1-2 And so, dear brothers and sisters, we can boldly enter heaven s Most Holy Place because of the blood of Jesus. By his death, Jesus opened a new and life-giving way through the curtain into the Most Holy Place. And since we have a great High Priest who rules over God s house, let us go right into the presence of God with sincere hearts fully trusting him. For our guilty consciences have been sprinkled with Christ s blood to make us clean, and our bodies have been washed with pure water. Hebrews 10:19-22 Since we are receiving a Kingdom that is unshakable, let us be thankful and please God by worshiping him with holy fear and awe. Hebrews 12:28 Therefore, let us offer through Jesus a continual sacrifice of praise to God, proclaiming our allegiance to his name. Hebrews 13:15 Wednesday - Communion, The Preparation Your boasting is not good. Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump of dough? Clean out the old leaven so that you may be a new lump, just as you are in fact unleavened. For Christ our Passover also has been sacrificed. Therefore let us celebrate the feast, not with old leaven, nor with the leaven of malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth. 1 Corinthians 5:6-8 That is why you should examine yourself before eating the bread and drinking the cup. 1 Corinthians 11:28 Create in me a clean heart, O God. Renew a loyal spirit within me. Do not banish me from your presence, and don t take your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and make me willing to obey you. Psalm 51:10-12 Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. Point out anything in me that offends you, and lead me along the path of everlasting life. Psalm 139:23-24 Thursday - Thanksgiving Give thanks to the Lord and proclaim his greatness. Let the whole world know what he has done. Sing to him; yes, sing his praises. Tell everyone about his wonderful deeds. Exult in his holy name; rejoice, you who worship the Lord. Search for the Lord and for his strength; continually seek him. Remember the wonders he has performed, his miracles, and the rulings he has given. 1

8 Chronicles 16:8-12 The Lord is my strength and shield. I trust him with all my heart. He helps me, and my heart is filled with joy. I burst out in songs of thanksgiving. Psalm 28:7 It is good to give thanks to the Lord, to sing praises to the Most High. It is good to proclaim your unfailing love in the morning, your faithfulness in the evening. Psalm 92:1-2 Come, let us sing to the Lord! Let us shout joyfully to the Rock of our salvation. Let us come to him with thanksgiving. Let us sing psalms of praise to him. For the Lord is a great God, a great King above all gods. Psalm 95:1-3 And give thanks for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Ephesians 5:20 And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. For as members of one body you are called to live in peace. And always be thankful. Let the message about Christ, in all its richness, fill your lives. Teach and counsel each other with all the wisdom he gives. Sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs to God with thankful hearts. And whatever you do or say, do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through him to God the Father. Colossians 3:15-17 Always be joyful. Never stop praying. Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 /passage/?search=colossians%203&version=nlt /passage/?search=colossians%202&version=nlt