The Cost of the Cross

Covenant Church
Shepherdstown, WV
Message by Pastor Terry Crawford
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Growing passionate followers of Jesus Christ by serving all people.
http://www.covenantexperience.com/ (link)

Atonement
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The Cross was a picture of Atonement.  ( at  one  ment)

Atonement of the Most Holy Place
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Leviticus 16:15-16 (NIV)
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“He shall then slaughter the goat for the sin offering for the people and take its blood behind the curtain and do with it as he did with the bull’s blood: He shall sprinkle it on the atonement cover and in front of it.
In this way he will make atonement for the Most Holy Place because of the uncleanness and rebellion of the Israelites, whatever their sins have been. He is to do the same for the tent of meeting, which is among them in the midst of their uncleanness.
Reconciled to God
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2 Corinthians 5:18-21 (NIV)
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All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation:
that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation.
We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God.
God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

What did the cross of Christ cost…God:
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His Son

Legion of angels
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Matthew 26:53-54 (NIV)
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Do you think I cannot call on my Father, and he will at once put at my disposal more than twelve legions of angels?
But how then would the Scriptures be fulfilled that say it must happen in this way?”

What did the cross of Christ cost…Jesus:
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His human will

Prayer on the Mount of Olives
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Luke 22:39-42 (NIV)
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Jesus went out as usual to the Mount of Olives, and his disciples followed him.
On reaching the place, he said to them, “Pray that you will not fall into temptation.”
He withdrew about a stone’s throw beyond them, knelt down and prayed,
“Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.”

What did the cross of Christ cost…Jesus:
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His public reputation

Right with God
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2 Corinthians 5:21 (NIV)
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God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

Reconciliation
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The Greek word for reconciliation in these verses, katallages, refers to “the exchange of hostility for a friendly relationship.”

State of hostility
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The state of hostility exists because of human sin against a holy God, which, according to the apostle Paul, was dealt with at the cross of Christ

Christ's Love
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2 Corinthians 5:14-15 (NIV)
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For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died.
And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again.

Relationship with God
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In view of this, the friendly relationship that Adam and Eve lost can now be restored through faith in Christ.

What did the cross of Christ cost…Jesus
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His earthly body in Excruciating physical pain

On the Cross
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John 19:1-37 (NIV)
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Then Pilate took Jesus and had him flogged.
The soldiers twisted together a crown of thorns and put it on his head. They clothed him in a purple robe
and went up to him again and again, saying, “Hail, king of the Jews!” And they slapped him in the face.
Once more Pilate came out and said to the Jews gathered there, “Look, I am bringing him out to you to let you know that I find no basis for a charge against him.”
When Jesus came out wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe, Pilate said to them, “Here is the man!”
As soon as the chief priests and their officials saw him, they shouted, “Crucify! Crucify!” But Pilate answered, “You take him and crucify him. As for me, I find no basis for a charge against him.”
The Jewish leaders insisted, “We have a law, and according to that law he must die, because he claimed to be the Son of God.”
When Pilate heard this, he was even more afraid,
and he went back inside the palace. “Where do you come from?” he asked Jesus, but Jesus gave him no answer.
“Do you refuse to speak to me?” Pilate said. “Don’t you realize I have power either to free you or to crucify you?”
Jesus answered, “You would have no power over me if it were not given to you from above. Therefore the one who handed me over to you is guilty of a greater sin.”
From then on, Pilate tried to set Jesus free, but the Jewish leaders kept shouting, “If you let this man go, you are no friend of Caesar. Anyone who claims to be a king opposes Caesar.”
When Pilate heard this, he brought Jesus out and sat down on the judge’s seat at a place known as the Stone Pavement (which in Aramaic is Gabbatha).
It was the day of Preparation of the Passover; it was about noon. “Here is your king,” Pilate said to the Jews.
But they shouted, “Take him away! Take him away! Crucify him!” “Shall I crucify your king?” Pilate asked. “We have no king but Caesar,” the chief priests answered.
Finally Pilate handed him over to them to be crucified. The Crucifixion of Jesus So the soldiers took charge of Jesus.
Carrying his own cross, he went out to the place of the Skull (which in Aramaic is called Golgotha).
There they crucified him, and with him two others—one on each side and Jesus in the middle.
Pilate had a notice prepared and fastened to the cross. It read: jesus of nazareth, the king of the jews.
Many of the Jews read this sign, for the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city, and the sign was written in Aramaic, Latin and Greek.
The chief priests of the Jews protested to Pilate, “Do not write ‘The King of the Jews,’ but that this man claimed to be king of the Jews.”
Pilate answered, “What I have written, I have written.”
When the soldiers crucified Jesus, they took his clothes, dividing them into four shares, one for each of them, with the undergarment remaining. This garment was seamless, woven in one piece from top to bottom.
“Let’s not tear it,” they said to one another. “Let’s decide by lot who will get it.” This happened that the scripture might be fulfilled that said, “They divided my clothes among them and cast lots for my garment.” So this is what the soldiers did.
Near the cross of Jesus stood his mother, his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene.
When Jesus saw his mother there, and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to her, “Woman, here is your son,”
and to the disciple, “Here is your mother.” From that time on, this disciple took her into his home. The Death of Jesus
Later, knowing that everything had now been finished, and so that Scripture would be fulfilled, Jesus said, “I am thirsty.”
A jar of wine vinegar was there, so they soaked a sponge in it, put the sponge on a stalk of the hyssop plant, and lifted it to Jesus’ lips.
When he had received the drink, Jesus said, “It is finished.” With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.
Now it was the day of Preparation, and the next day was to be a special Sabbath. Because the Jewish leaders did not want the bodies left on the crosses during the Sabbath, they asked Pilate to have the legs broken and the bodies taken down.
The soldiers therefore came and broke the legs of the first man who had been crucified with Jesus, and then those of the other.
But when they came to Jesus and found that he was already dead, they did not break his legs.
Instead, one of the soldiers pierced Jesus’ side with a spear, bringing a sudden flow of blood and water.
The man who saw it has given testimony, and his testimony is true. He knows that he tells the truth, and he testifies so that you also may believe.
These things happened so that the scripture would be fulfilled: “Not one of his bones will be broken,”
and, as another scripture says, “They will look on the one they have pierced.” The Burial of Jesus

What did the cross of Christ cost…Us
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Nothing!

Become the righteousness of God
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2 Corinthians 5:20-21 (NIV)
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We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God.
God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

Spiritual Debt
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What many people are unaware of, however, is their spiritual debt. God made each of us to honor Him by living in obedience to Him. Each time we fail in this obligation through sins of both omission and commission in our words, deeds, and motives, we accrue a spiritual debt to God.

Forgive us
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Matthew 6:12 (NIV)
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And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.

God's Requirements
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Forgiveness of our debts to God requires a mediator, redeemer, and a ransom

Rediscover the Cross

Shadows of the Cross - March 17, 2013

Covenant Church - Shepherdstown, WV

Message by Pastor Terry Crawford

The Cross
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The Cross is inseparable from the story of Jesus.

Know Jesus
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1 Corinthians 2:2 (NIV)
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For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified.

Question
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Where have you seen a cross?  (style, vampires, good luck, red cross, enemy, faith)

The serpents curse
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Genesis 3:14-15 (NIV)
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So the Lord God said to the serpent, “Because you have done this, “Cursed are you above all livestock and all wild animals! You will crawl on your belly and you will eat dust all the days of your life.
And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel.”

Learning
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Proto-evangelium = first gospel

He will enter Jerusalem riding a donkey (the colt of an ass)
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Zechariah 9:9 (NIV)
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Rejoice greatly, Daughter Zion! Shout, Daughter Jerusalem! See, your king comes to you, righteous and victorious, lowly and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.

He will be betrayed by a friend
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Psalm 41:9 (NIV)
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Even my close friend, someone I trusted, one who shared my bread, has turned against me.

The price of his betrayal will be thirty pieces of silver
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Zechariah 11:12 (NIV)
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I told them, “If you think it best, give me my pay; but if not, keep it.” So they paid me thirty pieces of silver.

The betrayal money will be cast onto the floor of the Temple
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Zechariah 11:13 (NIV)
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And the Lord said to me, “Throw it to the potter”—the handsome price at which they valued me! So I took the thirty pieces of silver and threw them to the potter at the house of the Lord.

The betrayal money will be used to buy a potter's field
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Zechariah 11:13 (NIV)
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And the Lord said to me, “Throw it to the potter”—the handsome price at which they valued me! So I took the thirty pieces of silver and threw them to the potter at the house of the Lord.

He will not open his mouth to defend himself
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Isaiah 53:7 (NIV)
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He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; he was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before its shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth.

He will be beaten and spat upon
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Isaiah 50:6 (NIV)
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I offered my back to those who beat me, my cheeks to those who pulled out my beard; I did not hide my face from mocking and spitting.

He will be "numbered with the transgressors"
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Isaiah 53:12 (NIV)
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Therefore I will give him a portion among the great, and he will divide the spoils with the strong, because he poured out his life unto death, and was numbered with the transgressors. For he bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.

He will be given vinegar and gall to drink
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Psalm 69:21 (NIV)
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They put gall in my food and gave me vinegar for my thirst.

He will say: "My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?"
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Psalm 22:1 (NIV)
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My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from saving me, so far from my cries of anguish?

He will be buried with the rich
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Isaiah 53:9 (NIV)
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He was assigned a grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death, though he had done no violence, nor was any deceit in his mouth.

He will be buried with the rich (Fulfillment)
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Matthew 27:57-60 (NIV)
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As evening approached, there came a rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph, who had himself become a disciple of Jesus.
Going to Pilate, he asked for Jesus’ body, and Pilate ordered that it be given to him.
Joseph took the body, wrapped it in a clean linen cloth,
and placed it in his own new tomb that he had cut out of the rock. He rolled a big stone in front of the entrance to the tomb and went away.

He will not decay
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Psalm 16:10 (NIV)
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because you will not abandon me to the realm of the dead, nor will you let your faithful one see decay.

He will not decay (Fulfillment)
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Acts 2:31 (NIV)
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Seeing what was to come, he spoke of the resurrection of the Messiah, that he was not abandoned to the realm of the dead, nor did his body see decay.

The age old Story
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Sin brings death

The plan
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God had a plan that involved a cross and a Savior

Look upon and Live
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Numbers 21:4-9 (NIV)
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They traveled from Mount Hor along the route to the Red Sea, to go around Edom. But the people grew impatient on the way;
they spoke against God and against Moses, and said, “Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? There is no bread! There is no water! And we detest this miserable food!”
Then the Lord sent venomous snakes among them; they bit the people and many Israelites died.
The people came to Moses and said, “We sinned when we spoke against the Lord and against you. Pray that the Lord will take the snakes away from us.” So Moses prayed for the people.
The Lord said to Moses, “Make a snake and put it up on a pole; anyone who is bitten can look at it and live.”
So Moses made a bronze snake and put it up on a pole. Then when anyone was bitten by a snake and looked at the bronze snake, they lived. The Journey to Moab

Talking to Nicodemus
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John 3:13-15 (NIV)
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No one has ever gone into heaven except the one who came from heaven—the Son of Man.
Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up,
that everyone who believes may have eternal life in him.”

Eternal
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The cross reminds us of the eternal.

Who is Jesus?
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Mark 8:29-35 (NIV)
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“But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?” Peter answered, “You are the Messiah.”
Jesus warned them not to tell anyone about him. Jesus Predicts His Death
He then began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and after three days rise again.
He spoke plainly about this, and Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him.
But when Jesus turned and looked at his disciples, he rebuked Peter. “Get behind me, Satan!” he said. “You do not have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns.”
Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.
For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me and for the gospel will save it.

Preparing to Love Others

Message by Rev. Bob Gerstmyer
Covenant Church Shepherdstown, WV

Four ingredients for self love
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Philippians 1:12-26 (NIV)
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Now I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that what has happened to me has actually served to advance the gospel. As a result, it has become clear throughout the whole palace guard and to everyone else that I am in chains for Christ. And because of my chains, most of the brothers and sisters have become confident in the Lord and dare all the more to proclaim the gospel without fear. 
It is true that some preach Christ out of envy and rivalry, but others out of goodwill. The latter do so out of love, knowing that I am put here for the defense of the gospel. The former preach Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely, supposing that they can stir up trouble for me while I am in chains. But what does it matter? The important thing is that in every way, whether from false motives or true, Christ is preached. And because of this I rejoice.
Yes, and I will continue to rejoice, for I know that through your prayers and God's provision of the Spirit of Jesus Christ what has happened to me will turn out for my deliverance. I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death. For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. If I am to go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labor for me. Yet what shall I choose? I do not know! I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far; but it is more necessary for you that I remain in the body. Convinced of this, I know that I will remain, and I will continue with all of you for your progress and joy in the faith, so that through my being with you again your boasting in Christ Jesus will abound on account of me.

Ingredient One
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Develop an attitude that focuses on solutions. vs. 12: Now I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that what has happened to me has actually served to advance the gospel.

All Things
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Romans 8:28 (NIV)
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And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.

Tip One
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Behind every problem is God & His purposes.

Ingredient Two
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Designate loving God as your First concern. vs. 18: But what does it matter? The important thing is that in every way, whether from false motives or true, Christ is preached. And because of this I rejoice. Yes, and I will continue to rejoice.

In Everything
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"In everything you do, put God First & he will direct you & crown your efforts with success." Proverbs 3:6 (Living Bible)

Tip Two
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Focus on what really counts.

Ingredient Three
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Discover your source of strength. vs 18b-20a Yes, and I will continue to rejoice, for I know that through your prayers and God’s provision of the Spirit of Jesus Christ what has happened to me will turn out for my deliverance. I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed.

Strength of Christ
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Philippians 4:13 (GNT)
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I have the strength to face all conditions by the power that Christ gives me.

Tip Three
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With Christ’s strength nothing can defeat me.

Ingredient Four
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Discern your reason for living. vs. 21: For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.

One thing I do
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Philippians 3:13-14 (NIV)
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Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.

Tip Four
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How would you fill in the blank:  For me to live is _________________.

ADVENT(ure) - Worship Fully

Sermon Notes from Sunday December 2, 2012
Message by Pastor Terry Crawford
Covenant Church, Shepherdstown, WV

Advent

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Advent (adventus) means arrival.


Mary and the Angel
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Luke 1:26-33 (NIV84)
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In the sixth month, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin's name was Mary. The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.” Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God. You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever; his kingdom will never end.”


Mary Worshipped
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Luke 1:46-55 (NIV84)
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And Mary said:
“My soul glorifies the Lord
and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
for he has been mindful
of the humble state of his servant.
From now on all generations will call me blessed,
for the Mighty One has done great things for me–
holy is his name.
His mercy extends to those who fear him,
from generation to generation.
He has performed mighty deeds with his arm;
he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts.
He has brought down rulers from their thrones
but has lifted up the humble.
He has filled the hungry with good things
but has sent the rich away empty.
He has helped his servant Israel,
remembering to be merciful
to Abraham and his descendants forever,
even as he said to our fathers.”



Celebrate
===============
The story of advent is worth celebrating.



Who is Jesus?
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Isaiah 9:6-7 (NIV84)
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For to us a child is born,
to us a son is given,
and the government will be on his shoulders.
And he will be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Of the increase of his government and peace
there will be no end.
He will reign on David's throne
and over his kingdom,
establishing and upholding it
with justice and righteousness
from that time on and forever.
The zeal of the Lord Almighty
will accomplish this.



Worshiping fully
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You can’t spend less, give more or love all until you are authentically worshiping fully.



Shachah
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To bow down and give reverence to one of nobility or authority.



A common struggle
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A common struggle, even at Christmas, is we worship things other than God.



Peter
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Acts 10:25-26 (NIV84)
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As Peter entered the house, Cornelius met him and fell at his feet in reverence. But Peter made him get up. “Stand up,” he said, “I am only a man myself.”



John
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Revelation 19:9-10 (NIV84)
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Then the angel said to me, “Write: ‘Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding supper of the Lamb!’ ” And he added, “These are the true words of God.” At this I fell at his feet to worship him. But he said to me, “Do not do it! I am a fellow servant with you and with your brothers who hold to the testimony of Jesus. Worship God! For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.”



Ephesians
===============
Ephesians 3:14-21 (NIV84)
---------------
For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom his whole family in heaven and on earth derives its name. I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge–that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.

Notes provided by Cliff Boyles

Names and Descriptions of God part 3

Banner to the people (Isaiah 11:10) - On that day the root of Jesse will stand as a banner for the peoples. The nations will seek Him, and His resting place will be glorious. (HCSB)



The Beginning of creation of God (Revelation 3:14) - "And to the angel of the church in Laodicea write: 'The words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of God's creation.


The Beginning (Revelation 21:6) - And he said to me, "It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. To the thirsty I will give from the spring of the water of life without payment.


My Beloved (Matthew 12:18) - "Behold, my servant whom I have chosen, my beloved with whom my soul is well pleased. I will put my Spirit upon him, and he will proclaim justice to the Gentiles.


The Branch of the LORD (Isaiah 4:2) - In that day the branch of the Lord shall be beautiful and glorious, and the fruit of the land shall be the pride and honor of the survivors of Israel.


A Branch (Isaiah 11:1) - There shall come forth a shoot from the stump of Jesse, and a branch from his roots shall bear fruit.


A righteous Branch (Jeremiah 23:5) - "Behold, the days are coming, declares the Lord, when I will raise up for David a righteous Branch, and he shall reign as king and deal wisely, and shall execute justice and righteousness in the land.


The Branch (Zechariah 6:12) - And say to him, 'Thus says the Lord of hosts, "Behold, the man whose name is the Branch: for he shall branch out from his place, and he shall build the temple of the Lord.



Unless otherwise noted all Scripture is taken from the Holy Bible, English Standard Version (ESV), copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers



HCSB Scripture is taken from the Holy Bible, Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB), copyright © 2004 by Holman Bible Publishers, a division of Lifeway Christian Resources.

Names and Descriptions of God Part 2

The Amen (Revelation 3:14) - “And to the angel of the church in Laodicea write: ‘The words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of God's creation.



The Ancient of Days (Daniel 7:22) - until the Ancient of Days came, and judgment was given for the saints of the Most High, and the time came when the saints possessed the kingdom.


Anointed (Psalm 2:2) - The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD and against his Anointed, saying,

Anointed (Acts 4:27) - for truly in this city there were gathered together against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, along with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel,


Apostle and High Priest of our confession (Hebrews 3:1) - Therefore, holy brothers, you who share in a heavenly calling, consider Jesus, the apostle and high priest of our confession,


Author and finisher of our faith (Hebrews 12:2) - looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.


Author of eternal salvation (Hebrews 5:9) - And being made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation to all who obey him,



Unless otherwise noted all Scripture is taken from the Holy Bible, English Standard Version (ESV), copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers

Names of God Part 1

The next couple months as my small group studies the Experiencing God study, I will will post on the names of God found throughout the Bible. I will be doing these in alphabetical order in hope that it will be easier to search through them.

Abounding in goodness and truth (Exodus 34:6) - The LORD passed before him and proclaimed, "The LORD, the LORD, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness,

Acquainted with grief (Isaiah 53:3) - He was despised and rejected by men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief; and as one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not.

Adam, the last (1 Corinthians 15:45) - Thus it is written, "The first man Adam became a living being"; the last Adam became a life-giving spirit.

Advocate with the Father (1 John 2:1) - My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.

All (Colossians 3:11) - Here there is not Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave, free; but Christ is all, and in all.

Almighty (Job 5:17, Revelation 1:8) -  "Behold, blessed is the one whom God reproves; therefore despise not the discipline of the Almighty.

"I am the Alpha and the Omega," says the Lord God, "who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty."

Alpha (Revelation 1:8, 21:6) - "I am the Alpha and the Omega," says the Lord God, "who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty."

And he said to me, "It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. To the thirsty I will give from the spring of the water of life without payment.

Unless otherwise noted all Scripture is taken from the Holy Bible, English Standard Version (ESV), copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers