|
|
Sunday, March 21, 2010 - Northeast & Northwest Regions
Announcements – Bruno
Do one thing this week - press on towards heaven
Communion - Bill Scurry
John 19: 25-30
would we have answered Jesus' cry "I am thirsty"?
Matt 25: 42-45
whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me
We need to hear Jesus crying out when we see the poor & needy
Are we really grateful enough to answer the cry of Jesus?
Mike Dames -- Remember the Poor Video -- Hope Worldwide
http://www.hopeww.org/NetCommunity/Page.aspx?pid=1509
Scriptures in video (above): Matt 14:14; Matt 8:2-3; Matt 8:16-17; Luke 9:6; Matt 4:23; Matt 9:35; Matt 9:11-12; Gal 2:9-10
definition of compassion -- deep awareness of the suffering of another as well as a desire to alleviate the suffering
Mike read letters from the Red Cross, Rescue Mission and others for the work of HOPE Charlotte
Earthquake in Haiti -- Charlotte gave $8,800
Title: Jesus' Ministry
Isaiah 53:1-6
study guide this past week for Remember the Poor
God's heart for serving the poor vs. my own heart
Mike's heart is not where it needs to be in regards to the poor
He made some decisions regarding the poor
Is 53:1-6 captures the essence of Jesus -- tender, pierced, healed
Matt 8:16-17
to follow Jesus means to love and serve the poor as well as having him Lord of your life
need to love the poor as well as the lost
Luke 4:14-19
as we seek the lost, we need to be preaching, teaching and healing, that's what Jesus did
Jesus had reverence for the scripture, we need to also
Luke 4:18 Jesus was called & equipped, anointed by the Spirit
we are also equipped by God via the Holy Spirit
the messiah preached the Gospel - evangelize, a good news spreader
We are called to a royal priesthood
If you confessed Jesus as Lord, you also seek and save, not just the full-time ministry does this
Poor -- material possessions or spirit
deliverance -- salvation
prisoners of war - didn't know the redemptive powers of the Messiah
heal the broken-hearted, those crushed by grief, shattered, opposed, blemished by sin, injured and bankrupt
He gave sight to the blind - spiritually and physically blind
set free those who are bruised and disabled
preach the age of salvation, the messiah has come
The people thought the messiah was coming in the future, he came, he fulfilled the scriptures
What is our ministry supposed to look like?
Jesus achieved everything God asked him to
Matt 4:23-24
Jesus teaching, preaching and healing
teach -- open the Bible, share a meaning of scripture
preach -- share the good news of the gospel
heal -- helping people overcome obstacles in their lives
look at my individual ministry
Time is the most valuable resource we have, once we use it, we can't get it back
What do you want your legacy to be?
Day 7 - study guide - materialism
Mike looked in his closet, in his garage. He has so much.
Campus -- come get a coat
Teachers -- come get teaching supplies (he hasn't been in a classroom in 4 years)
He is like the man who wanted to build a bigger barn to store all his stuff
Jesus had the clothes he wore and shoes on his feet
Mike needs to simplify his life
We have poverty in Charlotte, too
Mike received a contract to train the Department of Social Services on poverty in Charlotte
Charlotte has all the symptoms of a city at risk -- manufacturing jobs are doing; banking industry plunged; real estate values declined; 52% of students on free and reduced lunch
It's a community problem
It takes six hours for the poor to even ask for help with DSS
Working with the Department of Social Services to change the way things are done
Mike needs representation from every small group, not just the regions
They selected 12 single mom's who have been living in generational poverty all their lives
He spends 15-16 weeks with them
They develop plans
they will work with his teaching them how to use resources available to them
How did Mike get out of poverty?
The grace of God, and relationships with people who know more then you do
Bridging Capital
He needs 24 women mentors -- 2 for each single mom - so they have relationships when they get out of the program
It's time for us to get unified
Working individually is not as powerful as rallying together
The Department of Social Services is the largest human service provider in Charlotte
Now the Department of Mental Health wants Mike to provide this same program
We should remember the poor because God has a heart for the poor; Jesus did; the first century church did. When you help the poor, you help yourselves. You see possessions are not important.