July 29, 2012 Sermon: H.E.L.P Somebody!

Scripture: Scripture: 1 John 3: 1 See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him. ² Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when Christ appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. ³ All who have this hope in him purify themselves, just as he is pure.  ¹¹ For this is the message you heard from the beginning: We should love one another. ¹² Do not be like Cain, who belonged to the evil one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his own actions were evil and his brother’s were righteous. ¹³ Do not be surprised, my brothers and sisters, if the world hates you. ¹⁴ We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love each other. Anyone who does not love remains in death. ¹⁵ Anyone who hates a brother or sister is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life residing in him.¹⁶ This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters. ¹⁷ If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person? ¹⁸ Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.  

Quotes about Helping Others: “Everybody can be great. Because anybody can serve. You don't have to have a college degree to serve. You don't have to make your subject and your verb agree to serve.... You don't have to know the second theory of thermodynamics in physics to serve. You only need a heart full of grace. A soul generated by love. ” - Martin Luther King

“If I can stop one heart from breaking, I shall not live in vain; If I can ease one life the aching, Or cool one pain, Or help one fainting robin Up to his nest again, I shall not live in vain.” - Emily Dickinson

Objective:  We should take the time to show our love to others with our actions not just our words because we are commanded to Love one another. 

Helping Other People Everywhere
Encourage
Love
Pray always, Prepare to bless others, Practice what you Preach & Pray

July 22, 2012 Sermon: Working Together!

Scripture Reference: 2 Kings 4: 1Now the wife of one of the sons of the prophets cried to Elisha, “Your servant my husband is dead, and you know that your servant feared the Lord, but the creditor has come to take my two children to be his slaves.” ² And Elisha said to her, “What shall I do for you? Tell me; what have you in the house?” And she said, “Your servant has nothing in the house except a jar of oil.” ³ Then he said, “Go outside, borrow vessels from all your neighbors, empty vessels and not too few. ⁴ Then go in and shut the door behind yourself and your sons and pour into all these vessels. And when one is full, set it aside.” ⁵ So she went from him and shut the door behind herself and her sons. And as she poured they brought the vessels to her. ⁶ When the vessels were full, she said to her son, “Bring me another vessel.” And he said to her, “There is not another.” Then the oil stopped flowing. ⁷ She came and told the man of God, and he said, “Go, sell the oil and pay your debts, and you and your sons can live on the rest.”

Quotes About Working together:   

"Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much." -Helen Keller 

"Teamwork It is the fuel that allows common people to attain uncommon results." - Andrew Carnegie

Objective:  Christians should work together in life and ministry because we need one another and we can achieve more united than we can divided.  

Summary:  In the aforementioned scripture reading a widow came to Elisha and asked for assistance.  Elisha responded to her with a plan that required teamwork.  First he himself worked with the woman as she "cried to Elisha" and shared her story with the prophet.  Elisha took time to listen and respond to the woman.  The blessing of being united in the church universal is that we are able to cry to our brothers and sisters in the church when we go through whatever we go through.  Not only did Elisha talk to the woman but he willingly helped her to process how she could solve her problem.  Beloved its more than just being present with people when they struggle but he actually asked "What Shall I do for you?"  Some of us are so quick to dismiss people that we miss out on opportunities to minister and witness the work of the spirit.  Elisha helped the woman to understand that all was not lost.  How many times have we looked at our situation and quote the woman in this story by saying "I have nothing..."  It doesn't matter how broken we may be- we have something that we can use.  Once the woman informed Elisha that she had oil he told her to get her greater community involved in her victory by borrowing "empty vessels and not too few."  Too often many of us let our pride hinder us from the victory that God is trying to give us.  You must not allow pride to block your blessing; if God tells you to ask for help then ask for help.  Conversly, if you have the opportunity to loan or give something to a hurting brother or sister you must do it.  Remember, it is more blessed to give than it is to receive. After the woman prepared her business Elisha gave her a simple encouraging phrase- "Go Sell!"  Sometimes that's all someone needs is a few words to push them out of their comfort zone in order to follow the steps that God has before them.  Let us work well with one another.  Let us cry together, help one another process/plan our work, and let us encourage one another.  You can do it; we can help!  Be Blessed, Rev. Derek A. Terry 

Closing Mediation: 

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