OUR GODLY HERITAGE- A More Perfect Union

/

Sunday — July 5, 2020 

Our Godly Heritage - A More Perfect Union

 

  As the safety and prosperity of nations ultimately and essentially depend on the protection and blessing of almighty God; and the national acknowledgment of this truth is not only an indispensable duty which the people owe to Him, but a duty whose natural influence is favorable to the promotion of that morality and piety without which  social happiness cannot exist, nor the blessings of a free government enjoyed…  especially in seasons of difficulty of danger.      ~ John Adams

Exodus 18: 21 (ESV) Moreover, look for able men from all the people, men who fear God, who are trustworthy and hate a bribe, and place such men over the people as chiefs of thousands, of hundreds, of fifties, and of tens.

Where did these ideas come from?

John Locke

Two Treatises of Government

Rev John Wise:

·  Consent of the governed

·  Taxation without representation

1926 President Calvin Coolidge @ Independence Hall for 150th Anniversary of the Declaration

The Origins of the American Constitution:

1.   Charles Montesquieu  = Political Philosopher    8.3%

2.   William Blackstone  =  Legal Scholar     7.9%

3.    John Locke      2.9%

4.  The Bible           34%

Three Branches of Government:

For the Lord is our judge, Judicial
The Lord is our lawgiver,  Legislative
The Lord is our king;        Executive
He will save us—                  Isaiah 33: 22 (NASB)

Separation of Powers:

The heart is more deceitful than all else and is desperately sick; Who can understand it?    Jeremiah 17: 9 (NASB)

Tax Exemption of Churches:

We also inform you that it is not allowed to impose tax, tribute or toll on any of the priests, Levites, singers, doorkeepers, Nethinim or servants of this house of God.     Ezra 7: 24 (NASB)

   It is a great mistake to suppose that the paper we are to propose will govern the United States. It is the men it will bring into government and interest (they have) in maintaining it that are to govern them. The paper will only mark out the mode and the form.  Men are the substance and must do the business.

~ John Francis Mercer

YOUR MISSION TRIP // Sunday, June 28, 2020

/

Sunday, June 28, 2020

Your Mission Trip

1. Your life is a Mission Trip!

John 20: 21 (NLT) …he said, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I am sending you.”

How should we respond to this? 

Send me

Isaiah 6: 8 (NLT) I heard the Lord asking, “Whom should I send as a messenger to this people? Who will go for us?” I said, “Here I am. Send me.”

2. Your life should look different.

Philippians 2: 14 & 15 (ESV)  Do all things without grumbling or disputing, 15 that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world.

How should we respond?

a.  Without grumbling.

Philippians 2: 14 (ESV) Do all things without grumbling or disputing…

1 John 4: 16 & 17 (NLT) We know how much God loves us, and we have put our trust in his love. God is love, and all who live in love live in God, and God lives in them. 17 And as we live in God, our love grows more perfect. So we will not be afraid on the day of judgment, but we can face him with confidence because we live like Jesus here in this world.

b.  Stand out!

Philippians 2: 15 (ESV) 15 that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world.

Romans 12: 2 (NLT)  Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.

c. Hold firm.

Philippians 2: 16 (NLT) Hold firmly to the word of life…

Philippians 1: 27 (NLT)  Above all, you must live as citizens of heaven, conducting yourselves in a manner worthy of the Good News about Christ. Then, whether I come and see you again or only hear about you, I will know that you are standing together with one spirit and one purpose, fighting together for the faith, which is the Good News.

3. Your life is an ambassadorship.

2 Corinthians 5: 20 (NLT) So we are Christ’s ambassadors; God is making his appeal through us. We speak for Christ when we plead, “Come back to God!”

FATHER'S DAY // Sunday, June 21, 2020

/

Sunday, June 21, 2020

The Significance of Fatherhood

Psalm 16: 3 (NLT) The godly people in the land are my true heroes! I take pleasure in them!

Dad, do you want to accomplish something that’s significant?

 1.      Stand alone for what is right! 

2 Samuel 23: 8 - 12 (ESV) These are the names of the mighty men whom David had:  Josheb-basshebeth...Eleazar the son of Dodo…And…Shammah… The Philistines gathered together at Lehi, where there was a plot of ground full of lentils, and the men fled from the Philistines. 12 But he took his stand in the midst of the plot and defended it and struck down the Philistines, and the Lord worked a great victory.    

Exodus 23: 2 (NLT) You must not follow the crowd in doing wrong…  

Romans 12: 2 (ESV)  Do not be conformed to this world…  

2.     Make sacrifices for others! 

Matthew 20: 26 (ESV) ...whoever would be great among you must be your servant.

Proverbs 31: 8 & 9 (ESV) Open your mouth for the mute, for the rights of all who are destitute. 9 Open your mouth, judge righteously, defend the rights of the poor and needy.

Dad, do you want to accomplish something that’s significant?

3.   Take risks for God!