INTRODUCING OUR GUEST PREACHER – REV. LISLE KAUFFMAN
The Rev. Lisle Kauffman has been worshipping with us as a “Bird of Paradise/Snow Bird” since January 2009. Pastor Lisle is a United Presbyterian (USA) Pastor. He served his only full-time church, Calvary Presbyterian Church in Round Lake, IL for 41 years until he retired from full-time service there in 2010 to care for his wife who went to the Lord in 2013. On October 8, 2017, here at Waikoloa Community Church, Pastor Greg had the great honor of uniting Lisle and his beautiful bride Nancy in marriage. Nancy had lost her husband to cancer in 2011 and the Lord brought Lisle and Nancy together after many years of friendship. It is a beautiful story they love to share. Prior to entering the ministry Lisle served for three years in the US Army Armor Corps as a scout and served on the DMZ in Korea for sixteen months. He engaged in 273 missions into the DMZ and was honorably discharged in 1963 with the rank of Sergeant. Pastor Lisle continues to have an active and exciting ministry in Round Lake. He served 25 years as a volunteer firefighter and ambulance EMT, reaching the rank of Captain. He continues to serve the community as the Police and Fire Department Chaplain which he has done since 1978.
MESSAGE NOTES
When we cry, Abba! Father! It is that very Spirit bearing witness with our spirit that we are the children of God…~ Romans 8:15b-16
… for where two or three are gathered in my name, there I am in the midst of them. ~ Matthew 18:20
Remember the Sabbath day and keep it holy. ~ Exodus 20:8
For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven: a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted; a time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; a time to throw away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; a time to seek, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to throw away; a time to tear, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; a time to love, and a time to hate; a time for war, and a time for peace. ~ Ecclesiastes 3:1-8
Then Jesus told his disciples, “If any want to become My followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow Me.” ~ Matthew 16:24
μαθητής (mathétés) ~ Disciples, Students, Followers
δοῦλος (doulos ) ~ Servant, Slave, (Cross Bearer)
Paul, a servant ( δοῦλος) [slave] of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God. ~ Romans 1:1
We are NOT left to our own devices to determine what is right and good or what is not. Just as a parent teaches the child what is right and wrong so does our Lord.
All Christians will experience wonderful days and difficult days. The question is how we deal with those wonderful and difficult days as disciples and servants/slaves of Christ. And we are called to be disciples and servants!
THE TEN COMMANDMENTS (Exodus 20:3-17)
1) You shall have no other gods before Me.
2) You shall not make for yourself a graven image.
3) You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain.
4) Remember the Sabbath day and keep it holy.
5) Honor your father and mother.
6) You shall not murder.
7) You shall not commit adultery.
8) You shall not steal.
9) You shall not bear false witness.
10) You shall not covet.
You are the salt of the earth … ~ Matthew 5:13
You are the light of the world… ~ Matthew 5:14
You have heard that it was said, “You shall not murder …. but I say to you do not be angry with your brother or sister … do not insult them …
do not even say ‘you fool.’… ~ Matthew 5:21-22
You have heard that it was said, “You shall not commit adultery.” But I say to you do not even look at a woman with lust in your heart…. ~ Matthew 5:27-28
Therefore do not worry saying “What shall we eat?” or “What shall we wear?” … Your heavenly Father knows you need these things. But strive first for the kingdom of God and these things will be given to you as well. So do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring worries of its own. Today’s trouble is enough for today. ~ Matthew 6:31-34
Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable to You, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer. ~ Psalm 19:14
Father, into Thy hands I commend My spirit… ~ Luke 23:46a
Then came the day of Unleavened Bread, on which the Passover lamb had to be sacrificed. So Jesus sent Peter and John saying, “Go and prepare the Passover meal for us that we may eat it.” … So they went and found everything as He had told them; and they prepared the Passover meal.” ~ Luke 22:7-8,13
GO DEEPER
ALOHA GROUP DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
READ: Romans 8:14-17
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
1) Do you feel as though you are a “Child of God?” Why or why not? According to Scripture, how and why were we adopted by God? Paul describes a scene where we cry out “Abba! Father!” Abba is literally “daddy.” Do you daily experience a relationship with God where He feels like your daddy? Why does Paul say this is the Holy Spirit bearing witness with our spirit? How would you explain this to a person who had never studied the Bible before?
READ: Matthew 18:20
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
1) Why does Jesus say He is in our midst when two or three gather in His name? Does He mean He is not with us when we are alone? Why?
READ: Exodus 20:8
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
1) What does God mean when He commands us to “remember the Sabbath?” Given the original context of the Old Testament, this command to the Jews, using a Jewish calendar, when is the Sabbath? Is it Saturday or Sunday? Does it start at Sunrise or Sunset? What is the origin story of the Sabbath? Why is the seventh day of the week different from the other six?
2) God says to keep the Sabbath day holy. How do we do that?
READ: Ecclesiastes 3:1-8
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
1) How does this passage make you feel? Which of these seasons have you experienced? Which ones have you not experienced yet?
2) Are there any of these seasons that cause you to feel discomfort, worry or fear? What should your response be?
READ: Matthew 16:24
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
1) In Pastor Greg’s recent RESET series he challenged us to drop all of our preconceived notions, agendas, wants, likes, dislikes, preferences, possessions, relationships, plans and dreams, etc. at the foot of the cross and only pick back up what Jesus tells us to. How is that idea similar to what Jesus is saying here when He tells us to “deny ourselves?”
2) One of the things Jesus tells us to pick back up is “our cross.” Do you know what your cross is? How do you know? If you don’t know, how can you find out?
READ: Romans 1:1
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
1) Knowing that the Greek word doulos can refer to a slave or a servant to you, what is the difference between these two terms? How is a slave different than a servant?
2) When we read Paul’s words throughout the New Testament (C.I.E. Context Is Everything) he clearly seems to lean more toward the notion of being a slave of Jesus Christ. He is happiest when he dwells into that reality. How do you feel about the notion of being a slave of Jesus Christ?
READ: Matthew 5:13-14
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
1) In what ways are you, personally, being the salt of the earth in your life? Be specific.
2) In what ways are you, personally, being the light of the world in your life? Be specific.
READ: Matthew 5:21-28
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
1) If you were to summarize the “Big Idea” or the “Main Point” of what Jesus is talking about in this passage, what would you say? What life lesson is He trying to get across to us?
2)Jesus’ essentially equates being angry with a fellow Christian, insulting a fellow Christian and calling a fellow Christian a fool with the sin of murder. How do you feel about that comparison? How are they similar? How are they different? Where does your responsibility as a servant/slave of Christ come into play when you are convicted about this?
READ: Matthew 6:31-34, Psalm 19:14 and Luke 23:46
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
1) How are trusting God for our food and clothing, calling God our Rock and our Redeemer, and commending our spirit to God in our death related? Is there anything in your life that you are struggling to trust to God? What can you do to find that trust?