Colossians 3:16-17

16 Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God. 17 Whatever you do in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father.

“Let the Word of Christ—the Message—have the run of the house. Give it plenty of room in your lives. Instruct and direct one another using good common sense. And sing, sing your hearts out to God! Let every detail in your lives—words, actions, whatever—be done in the name of the Master, Jesus, thanking God the Father every step of the way.”

• The Word in us
  • Word of Christ refers to the word to Christs teachings
  • Dwell – to be at home. Like when someone says “make yourself at home”.
    • visitor vs family
  • Richly – abundance. more than you need to survive
  • Have the teachings of Christ in you.
  • When the teachings of Christ are missing – humanity feels a soul craving that it trys to fill with nonsense
• Share the Word
  • Teaching – sharing what you are getting – after service!
  • Admonishing – has to do with duty. we owe our brothers and sisters
• Praise God
  • And sing, sing your hearts out to God!
  • Taking in the teachings of Christ then sharing the teachings of Christ with each other – Praise should be the immediate result

Colossians 3:17

Let every detail in your lives—words, actions, whatever—be done in the name of the Master, Jesus, thanking God the Father every step of the way.

• Don’t act or speak unless you have the teachings of Jesus dwelling richly in your life.
• Your mouth and your actions can hurt more than help.

A diet will change how you look, but a fast will change how you see.

Matthew 9:27-31

27 As Jesus went on from there, two blind men followed him, calling out, “Have mercy on us, Son of David!”

28 When he had gone indoors, the blind men came to him, and he asked them, “Do you believe that I am able to do this?”

“Yes, Lord,” they replied.

29 Then he touched their eyes and said, “According to your faith let it be done to you”; 30 and their sight was restored. Jesus warned them sternly, “See that no one knows about this.” 31 But they went out and spread the news about him all over that region.

• blind from denial
  • things have changed but you have refused to adapt and follow Jesus into the new season.
  • covid has shaken up the world, and a chunk of believers have refused to move and follow Jesus.
• blind from selfishness
  • I don’t like that. Jesus didn’t ask about whether you liked it. He asked you to follow Him.
• blind from bitterness
  • someone or something hurt you, now your bitter.
• blind from isolation
  • the more alone we become the less community we have. we lose the vision of the kingdom of God
• blind from disobedience
  • Psalm 119:29 – Keep me from lying to myself; give me the privilege of knowing your instructions.

• Pursue Jesus
• Know the authority of Jesus
  • First time in New Testament the title of Jesus was called out. They knew the position Jesus held as Messiah.
• Have some Faith
  • It’s, “Because you have faith,” not “In proportion to your faith.” Jesus did not provide healing according to the amount of faith the blind men had.

Ever see a child open a present they “needed” at Christmas but not what they “wanted”? Thanks for the socks and underwear Grandma. As a society we have come to place greater value on what we want than what we need. But Jesus was the ultimate need gift and still is today. We are in our sermon series – Change Your City – it’s all about Jesus showing up on the scene of a city called Capernaum and the city was changed; which then changed the world. Capernaum means – village of comfort – your ability to change your city is linked to moving past your comfort. Today’s message is “All I Need For Christmas”…

There are no mentions of Christmas in Capernaum. But the Holy Spirit began to speak and prep my heart after I read a historians look at Capernaum. Josephus, who turned to be the best historian for this time, writes about the area of the sea of Galilee and Capernaum:

“The country also that lies over against this lake hath the same name of Gennesareth; its nature is wonderful as well as its beauty; its soil is so fruitful that all sorts of trees can grow upon it, and the inhabitants accordingly plant all sorts of trees there; for the temper of the air is so well mixed, that it agrees very well with those several sorts, particularly walnuts, which require the coldest air, flourish there in vast plenty; there are palm trees also, which grow best in hot air; fig trees also and olives grow near them, which yet require an air that is more temperate. One may call this place the ambition of nature, where it forces those plants that are naturally enemies to one another to agree together; it is a happy contention of the seasons, as if every one of them laid claim to this country; for it not only nourishes different sorts of autumnal fruit beyond men’s expectation, but preserves them a great while; it supplies men with the principal fruits, with grapes and figs continually, during ten months of the year  and the rest of the fruits as they become ripe together through the whole year; for besides the good temperature of the air, it is also watered from a most fertile fountain.”

The Holy Spirit revealed to me what was happening to the plant life in Capernaum and paralleled it to believers.

A plant needs 3 things to live –

1. soil,
2. environment,
3. water –

A believer finds all 3 of those in Jesus

All I need for Christmas…The Gift that is Jesus:

1 – Soil  – The success of a plant depends on it remaining planted in the soil that feeds it.

John 15:1-4 “I am the true grapevine, and my Father is the gardener. 2 He cuts off every branch of mine that doesn’t produce fruit, and he prunes the branches that do bear fruit so they will produce even more. 3 You have already been pruned and purified by the message I have given you. 4 Remain in me, and I will remain in you. For a branch cannot produce fruit if it is severed from the vine, and you cannot be fruitful unless you remain in me.

REMAIN* – stay planted. Stop hopping into a spot you think will be fruitful for you. All you need for Christmas is Jesus. Stop confusing your pruning for your relationship with Jesus.

Doing Life Together –

When we are planted where Jesus wants us planted we dont choose who or what  we are next to. Jesus chooses. I love the quote from Josephus. “it forces those plants that are naturally enemies to one another to agree together”. What does the verse John 15:1-4 on remaining planted mean to you? Are you working with or against the people or resources Jesus has given you?

2 – Environment – Plants live or die based on the environment.

Mark 4:37-40 37 But soon a fierce storm came up. High waves were breaking into the boat, and it began to fill with water. 38 Jesus was sleeping at the back of the boat with his head on a cushion. The disciples woke him up, shouting, “Teacher, don’t you care that we’re going to drown?” 39 When Jesus woke up, he rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Silence! Be still!” Suddenly the wind stopped, and there was a great calm. 40 Then he asked them, “Why are you afraid? Do you still have no faith?”

Winter is always before spring…. storms will try and take you out before you’re fruitful. Your faith in Jesus will keep you planted during the storms.

3 – Water – Plants can only live as long as they have  water

John 4:13-15 Jesus said to her, “Everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again. The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” The woman said to him, “Sir, give me this water, so that I will not be thirsty or have to come here to draw water.”

Your source of Life is Jesus. Don’t confuse your wants for your needs.

Next Steps – Your next step is more about what you are giving. “the inhabitants accordingly plant all sorts of trees there” – You inhabit the Kingdom of God – Are you planting all sorts of seeds there? the seed of hope, peace, kindness, love, joy?

Matthew 4:13

13 He went first to Nazareth, then left there and moved to Capernaum, beside the Sea of Galilee, in the region of Zebulun and Naphtali. And leaving Nazareth, He came and dwelt in Capernaum, which is by the sea, in the regions of Zebulun and Naphtali,

Nazareth – guarded one. – we can look at this definition 2 different ways.

• 1 – Step Up – we are the guarded one like Jesus. protected in our infancy of Christianity. At some point we need to realize through the authority of Jesus we have a mission. to bring the love of Jesus to those who can’t get it themselves. There can be an attitude of wanting to stay guarded.

Ephesians 3:11-12

11 This was according to the eternal purpose that he has realized in Christ Jesus our Lord, 12 in whom we have boldness and access with confidence through our faith in him.

• 2 – Let it Go – we have something we are guarding from our past. we haven’t let go of. It could be sin, it could be comfort, it could be anything that was in a past season that you are holding onto. It’s what is preventing you from changing your city with full effectivness.

Matthew 19:16-22

16 And someone came to Him and said, “Teacher, what good thing shall I do so that I may obtain eternal life?” 17 And He said to him, “Why are you asking Me about what is good? There is only One who is good; but if you want to enter life, keep the commandments.” 18 Then he *said to Him, “Which ones?” And Jesus said, “You shall not commit murder; You shall not commit adultery; You shall not steal; You shall not give false testimony; 19 Honor your father and mother; and You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” 20 The young man *said to Him, “All these I have kept; what am I still lacking?” 21 Jesus said to him, “If you want to be [a]complete, go and sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.” 22 But when the young man heard this statement, he went away grieving; for he was one who owned much property.

Matthew 4:13

And leaving Nazareth, He came and dwelt in Capernaum, which is by the sea, in the regions of Zebulun and Naphtali,

Eph 3:17

That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love,

Hebrews 6:19

We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain,

1. on the boat secure or
2. in the depths of the ocean grabbing on to what we cant fully see or comprehend.

You do not have hope connected to Jesus when you have a pessimistic attitude of “we’ll see what happens”

You aren’t dealing with change. You are waiting to see if the change is acceptable for you to move in.

• Connected to the God
• Connected to Community
• Connected to Calling

• Connected to the God
• Connected to Community
• Connected to Calling

Luke 4:1-2, 14-15.

Then Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan River. He was led by the Spirit in the wilderness,[a] 2 where he was tempted by the devil for forty days. Jesus ate nothing all that time and became very hungry.

14 Then Jesus returned to Galilee, filled with the Holy Spirit’s power. Reports about him spread quickly through the whole region. 15 He taught regularly in their synagogues and was praised by everyone.

Mark 6:30-32

30 The apostles returned to Jesus from their ministry tour and told him all they had done and taught. 31 Then Jesus said, “Let’s go off by ourselves to a quiet place and rest awhile.” He said this because there were so many people coming and going that Jesus and his apostles didn’t even have time to eat. 32 So they left by boat for a quiet place, where they could be alone.

Matthew 14:1-13

14 When Herod Antipas, the ruler of Galilee,[a] heard about Jesus, 2 he said to his advisers, “This must be John the Baptist raised from the dead! That is why he can do such miracles.” 3 For Herod had arrested and imprisoned John as a favor to his wife Herodias (the former wife of Herod’s brother Philip). 4 John had been telling Herod, “It is against God’s law for you to marry her.” 5 Herod wanted to kill John, but he was afraid of a riot, because all the people believed John was a prophet. 6 But at a birthday party for Herod, Herodias’s daughter performed a dance that greatly pleased him, 7 so he promised with a vow to give her anything she wanted. 8 At her mother’s urging, the girl said, “I want the head of John the Baptist on a tray!” 9 Then the king regretted what he had said; but because of the vow he had made in front of his guests, he issued the necessary orders. 10 So John was beheaded in the prison, 11 and his head was brought on a tray and given to the girl, who took it to her mother. 12 Later, John’s disciples came for his body and buried it. Then they went and told Jesus what had happened. 13 As soon as Jesus heard the news, he left in a boat to a remote area to be alone. But the crowds heard where he was headed and followed on foot from many towns.

Luke 6:12-13.

12 One day soon afterward Jesus went up on a mountain to pray, and he prayed to God all night. 13 At daybreak he called together all of his disciples and chose twelve of them to be apostles. Here are their names:

Luke 22:39-44

39 Then, accompanied by the disciples, Jesus left the upstairs room and went as usual to the Mount of Olives. 40 There he told them, “Pray that you will not give in to temptation.” 41 He walked away, about a stone’s throw, and knelt down and prayed, 42 “Father, if you are willing, please take this cup of suffering away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine.” 43 Then an angel from heaven appeared and strengthened him. 44 He prayed more fervently, and he was in such agony of spirit that his sweat fell to the ground like great drops of blood.

Luke 5:16

16 But Jesus often withdrew to the wilderness for prayer.

Ever get stuck in a storm without an umbrella? Wet, cold, miserable? As we continue our Change Your City series – todays message, “Under Authority” is about getting under the authority of God. Like an umbrella.

Matthew 8:5-13

5 When Jesus returned to Capernaum, a Roman officer[a] came and pleaded with him, 6 “Lord, my young servant[b] lies in bed, paralyzed and in terrible pain.”

7 Jesus said, “I will come and heal him.”

8 But the officer said, “Lord, I am not worthy to have you come into my home. Just say the word from where you are, and my servant will be healed. 9 I know this because I am under the authority of my superior officers, and I have authority over my soldiers. I only need to say, ‘Go,’ and they go, or ‘Come,’ and they come. And if I say to my slaves, ‘Do this,’ they do it.”

10 When Jesus heard this, he was amazed. Turning to those who were following him, he said, “I tell you the truth, I haven’t seen faith like this in all Israel! 11 And I tell you this, that many Gentiles will come from all over the world—from east and west—and sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob at the feast in the Kingdom of Heaven. 12 But many Israelites—those for whom the Kingdom was prepared—will be thrown into outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”

13 Then Jesus said to the Roman officer, “Go back home. Because you believed, it has happened.” And the young servant was healed that same hour.

The servant had palsy – we know this from Luke 7 and the research of theologians.

Palsy is when the head gives a command the body doesn’t listen to or act on. One symptom is the body has tremors – meaning that the body acts on its own accord outside of what the head speaks.

The reason this story is critical – 

1. It not only demonstrates that Jesus divinely heals…. but 
2. It shows the state of the Church. The head (Jesus) has been speaking but the Body (humanity) is not listening or acting on it.

The Church had or has an authority issue. 

Luke 7 gives additional background on the Centurion…

Luke 7:4-5

4 So they earnestly begged Jesus to help the man. “If anyone deserves your help, he does,” they said, 5 “for he loves the Jewish people and even built a synagogue for us.”

The body failed to build the church… the centurion saw the need of the body to be under authority of the head and begin restoring it.

Matthew 28:18

And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.

Acts 5:29

But Peter and the apostles answered, “We must obey God rather than men.

*Doing life together*

Have you gone beyond acknowledging Jesus is your authority? Are you taking action on all that the head is speaking? What area of your life do you need to come under the authority of Jesus? 

How to start getting under authority…

Mark 8:8

8 But the officer said, “Lord, I am not worthy to have you come into my home. Just say the word from where you are, and my servant will be healed.

• Centurion didn’t need Jesus to physically show up in his house…. he needed the Word of God to say it is so….
• The centurion knew wherever Jesus was, His word is the authority….
• Jesus is sitting alive in heaven on His throne – the head – in full authority.

Do you have the faith that His word has full authority? 

Picture the authority of Jesus as an umbrella….(the head, the covering)

Are you holding the authority above you? 

Like an umbrella it’s up to you to remain under that authority.

Jesus is speaking are you, as the body – acting, moving, participating in the kingdom of God??

You cannot change your city if you are outside of the authority of Jesus. 

When you leave the covering of Jesus:

• you will leave His favor, 
• you will leave His protection.

Insight: I believe Jesus allows failure or the taste of failure to linger in our lives at times, to know what it’s like being outside of the authority of Jesus.

10 When Jesus heard this, he was amazed. Turning to those who were following him, he said, “I tell you the truth, I haven’t seen faith like this in all Israel!

Jesus was amazed another time… remember

Mark 6:1-6

Jesus left that part of the country and returned with his disciples to Nazareth, his hometown. 2 The next Sabbath he began teaching in the synagogue, and many who heard him were amazed. They asked, “Where did he get all this wisdom and the power to perform such miracles?” 3 Then they scoffed, “He’s just a carpenter, the son of Mary and the brother of James, Joseph, Judas, and Simon. And his sisters live right here among us.” They were deeply offended and refused to believe in him.

4 Then Jesus told them, “A prophet is honored everywhere except in his own hometown and among his relatives and his own family.” 5 And because of their unbelief, he couldn’t do any miracles among them except to place his hands on a few sick people and heal them. 6 And he was amazed at their unbelief.

The people saw Jesus not as an authority, but as common everyday Jesus.

Have you allowed yourself to see Jesus as your authority or as ordinary? Your faith and the potential faith of others around you is dependent on you coming under authority.

NEXT STEPS – Take a good look at yourself and repent of any area you’re keeping outside of Jesus’ authority. Then purposefully submit to the fullness of Gods authority.

What the three little words you hear right before someone does something crazy? “I got this” – is typically the attitude, mantra, or phrase uttered moments before something crazy or awesome happens. In changing your city, there will be obstacles – fear, nerves, distractions… we need to have an attitude of “I got this”  that takes us beyond our comfort and into our calling.

Mark 2:1-12 – 2 A few days later, when Jesus again entered Capernaum, the people heard that he had come home. 2 They gathered in such large numbers that there was no room left, not even outside the door, and he preached the word to them. 3 Some men came, bringing to him a paralyzed man, carried by four of them. 4 Since they could not get him to Jesus because of the crowd, they made an opening in the roof above Jesus by digging through it and then lowered the mat the man was lying on. 5 When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralyzed man, “Son, your sins are forgiven.” 6 Now some teachers of the law were sitting there, thinking to themselves, 7 “Why does this fellow talk like that? He’s blaspheming! Who can forgive sins but God alone?” 8 Immediately Jesus knew in his spirit that this was what they were thinking in their hearts, and he said to them, “Why are you thinking these things? 9 Which is easier: to say to this paralyzed man, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up, take your mat and walk’? 10 But I want you to know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins.” So he said to the man, 11 “I tell you, get up, take your mat and go home.” 12 He got up, took his mat and walked out in full view of them all. This amazed everyone and they praised God, saying, “We have never seen anything like this!”

Changing your city starts with going beyond your comfort..

Capernaum means village of comfort. Here, in the middle of comfort… was a group of 5 friends. And one of those friends was paralyzed.

Here we are back to those 3 groups of people around Jesus – 

1. The friends placing complete faith in Jesus above their own comfort, taking next steps.
2. The crowd listening and not doing anything – not taking next steps
3. The Pharisees – watching and judging and pushing back trying to stop any next steps.

We need to have the attitude of “I Got This”.

When you begin changing your city – you will face obstacles on the way. Here’s 4 we see in this passage:

CROWD – people will unknowingly or unconsciously block you or prevent you. Have you ever had someone say something like oh thats dumb. or why would you do that. They never give what they said a second thought, but for us its something we can dwell on. Wow, they don’t think I can do it, maybe I shouldn’t.

ROOF – every year had to be redone right before winter. It was something that was easily removed and replaced. I see the roof as our own self worth, or insecurities. Something that only blocks you and no one else. 

Jeremiah 17:7 “But blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in him.”

Doing Life Together –

What is your roof? How are you going to trust Jesus? How are you going to place confidence in Jesus? What does the verse Jeremiah 17:7 mean to you?

PHARISEES – judgement (first public confrontation with the teachers of the law). The enemy intentionally trying to block or prevent you.

BELIEF –  was an obstacle – belief that your sin, or pain, or situation is greater than Jesus.

9 Which is easier: to say to this paralyzed man, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up, take your mat and walk’? 10 But I want you to know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins.” So he said to the man, 11 “I tell you, get up, take your mat and go home.” 12 He got up, took his mat and walked out in full view of them all. This amazed everyone and they praised God, saying, “We have never seen anything like this!”

How do we overcome obstacles?

1. Jesus – He is in your corner. He is speaks on your behalf. What this looks like is proclaiming the word of God in front of the enemy, during healing, through salvation.

“But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” 1 Cor. 15:57

2. Doing life together – Friends. Interesting the friends faced obstacles before getting to Jesus. The obstacle of people. The obstacle of self worth. Jesus and doing life with other people will help you when you face mental and emotional obstacles.

Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 – 9 Two people are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed. 10 If one person falls, the other can reach out and help. But someone who falls alone is in real trouble. 11 Likewise, two people lying close together can keep each other warm. But how can one be warm alone? 12 A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer. Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken.

NEXT STEPS – Bring your city to Jesus. Is there someone like the man on the mat? Someone who doesn’t know Jesus, or needs Jesus? I challenge you to have the attitude of “I’ve got this!” and message them, mail them a card, call them, something to initiate the conversation this week.

Have you gotten too comfortable with being comfortable? Have you ever been so comfortable on the couch and the remote was too far away? Where you allowed the next episode or show to start playing? Like your comfort allowed the world chose what you would take in? This is the issue with most believers…. Their comfort has become more important than their calling.

This is the first message in our sermon series “Change Your City” – Christ Calls. This sermon series is focused around the city of Capernaum in the Bible. The city that Jesus ministered in. And it’s interesting to note that Capernaum means “village of comfort”.

This sermon series is all about changing your city.

Our city is different even if it has the same name. Our individual cities are the places/people we interact with all the time. Where our unique talents, gifts, and passions are known and live. But one thing we all need to understand before you start trying to change your city –

Is that the only way your city can be changed is BY Jesus THROUGH you.

Its starts with His calling of you.

Matthew 4:18-20

18 Now as Jesus was walking by the Sea of Galilee, He saw two brothers, Simon who was called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea; for they were fishermen. 19 And He *said to them, “Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.” 20 Immediately they left their nets and followed Him.

• Our responsibility – follow Jesus
• His responsibility – Jesus does the changing and transforming

We follow him: He makes us (He equips us)

Jesus is transforming you as you follow Him.

You do not make yourself. You do not become who Jesus calls you to be without Jesus…

1 Thessalonians 2:13 – Therefore, we never stop thanking God that when you received his message from us, you didn’t think of our words as mere human ideas. You accepted what we said as the very word of God—which, of course, it is. And this word continues to work in you who believe.

Doing Life together – 

What are you believing God to work on in your life as you follow and believe in Him? Have you been trying to fix or solve it yourself? How do you allow and believe Jesus will work on you?

We can’t change our city unless we understand Jesus has called us to; and in that calling He equips us and works on us.

In Capernaum there were 3 main groups of people that interacted with Jesus

1. those that followed. 
2. those that received but remained comfortable. 
3. those that came against what He was doing.

Let’s look at what happened to the people in groups 2 & 3…

Note: People fought to rebuke Jesus to remain comfortable. Will you fight against being a follower of Jesus to remain comfortable?

Matt. 11:23-24 – 23 And you, Capernaum, will not be exalted to heaven, will you? You will descend to Hades; for if the miracles had occurred in Sodom which occurred in you, it would have remained to this day. 24 Nevertheless I say to you that it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in the day of judgment, than for you.”

Jesus rejected and rebuked Capernaum because they witnessed and saw all the miracles but didn’t follow Him – their faith was nothing more than routines, rituals and rules.

Remember the couch example?

Group 1 – the people that followed Jesus we know what happened. That’s how we got the New Testament,

Jesus leads you out of comfort and into calling.

Have you ever noticed that when leaving comfort and entering calling… sometimes things go wrong, get hard, or act like a storm in our lives?

It happens today and it also happened back then.

Mark 4:35-41 – 35 That day when evening came, he said to his disciples, “Let us go over to the other side.” 36 Leaving the crowd behind, they took him along, just as he was, in the boat. There were also other boats with him. 37 A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped. 38 Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him and said to him, “Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?”

39 He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Quiet! Be still!” Then the wind died down and it was completely calm.

40 He said to his disciples, “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?”

Some of you will chose to follow Jesus this sermon series.

You will step out of comfort and into your calling – you will go after this season to reach your city.

You will leave your comfort and face a storm… which may cause you to panic.

All you need to remember is remain steady on your faith… re-listen to the Faith Check sermon series and set Jesus as your foundation.

In leaving Capernaum the first storm occurred.

In leaving your place of comfort a storm might happen.

Do you have the faith needed to keep moving forward?

NEXT STEPS: Begin praying and fasting that the Holy Spirit would reveal how to change YOUR city.

Who are we? Our Church logo is a lighthouse. It is purposefully the shape of the cross and embodies who we are as disciples of Jesus. We understand the shape of the cross and lighthouse from the 2 greatest commandments:

Mark 12:28-31

28 One of the teachers of religious law was standing there listening to the debate. He realized that Jesus had answered well, so he asked, “Of all the commandments, which is the most important?”

29 Jesus replied, “The most important commandment is this: ‘Listen, O Israel! The Lord our God is the one and only Lord. 30 And you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength.’ 31 The second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ No other commandment is greater than these.”

I want to break down the vertical and horizontal from the lighthouse which is the cross :

Vertical –

• We are built on the foundation of the rock that is Jesus.
• We are powered by the Holy Spirit from within, like the power that courses through the lighthouse allowing the light to shine;
• We always are focused up towards the Father and our future home in heaven.

*  Foundation in Jesus

Psalm 119:105

105 Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.

*  Power source of Holy Spirit

Psalm 18:28

28 You, LORD, keep my lamp burning; my God turns my darkness into light.

*  Always pointing towards the Father and future home in heaven

*We act out that “Vertical” alignment by taking “Next Steps” to:

•  Grow and build on our foundation of Jesus. 
•  Keep our power source like the lighthouse going, and focused on the Father in heaven, our destination.

Matthew 7:24-27

24 “Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. 26 But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. 27 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.”

Horizontal –

A burnt out lighthouse will allow and tolerate tragedy in its appointed location.

Lighthouses were built to help guide people home. To prevent death and tragedy. Too many believers stop at “Love God” and forget that Jesus also said “Love Your Neighbor”.

• You are appointed in your city.
• You are a lighthouse.

On the arms of the cross what was nailed? 

The arms of Jesus. Wide open to love an accept everyone. As we continue growing in our relationship with Jesus our arms need to be reaching out to our city, our loved ones, our community…His arms and the light of the lighthouse are what we need to remember. It’s reaching out to change our city.

Matthew 5:16

16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.

John 9:5

5 While I am in the world, I am the light of the world.”

****DOING LIFE TOGETHER****

Jesus is in the world through you. What does this verse mean to you?

* We live out this “horizontal” alignment by “Doing Life Together”:

The single greatest way to save a life, offer a future, show what home really is, shed light, repeal the darkness.?… Keep your light shining into peoples lives you connect with.

We need to be lighthouses in our communities. Like tiny fires.

Mark 3:13–14

13 Jesus went up on a mountainside and called to him those he wanted, and they came to him. 14 He appointed twelve that they might be with him and that he might send them out to preach

God has been speaking to me relentlessly to study Pastor Paul of the Bible.

I want to unpack the vision of Lighthouse 805 Church in a practical sense through what the Holy Spirit has revealed through Pastor Paul.

I want to shed light on where we are headed, because I need us all to start grasping the direction of Lighthouse. If you don’t fully understand it in this 10-15 min that’s ok, I just need you to have joy and an open heart to begin receiving from the Holy Spirit.

– We need joy and listening to the Holy Spirit.

– What we don’t need is complaining, grumbling and gossip.

Paul – Pastor Paul of the Bible  – he reached 3 groups of people – local, distant, future

• Paul discipled his people locally – in jail, 1 on 1, and groups.
• Paul discipled people at a distance through his letters. These groups received the letters and did next steps to grow, disciple, and do life together.
• Paul discipled the future because the letters stood the test of time for groups to receive and take next steps and do life together even now.

I heard a warning from the Holy spirit. Our Church is called to creatively place His word into communities. That’s where life will happen. It’s not about having content online that will change lives. 

Where we are headed is doing community in Ventura, while raising up and discipling  communities across the nation. So as we meet Sunday morning and have the word we will do life together and take next steps in Jesus. There will be living rooms with friends and families and coworkers watching the message and doing life together and taking next steps together.

There was a Word spoken over us a long time ago. We are called to pastor a dual church. I know it is the Holy Spirit birthing something in us… as we pastor in Ventura – doing life together and taking next steps…. we pastor and disciple these other Lighthouse communities.

We will have failed if all we do is put sermons online and hope someone watches it.

If you are watching this message online and are interested in being a Lighthouse community – wether it’s opening your home up or even leading a community regardless of location, where you want to do life together and take next steps in Jesus, email us at info@lighthouse805.com.

One of the clearest images of vision we’ve had was the necessity of making the stage inside the church into a living room; because we are going to be an extension of your living room.

Next Sunday some of you are joining us in person on the lawn for live service.

For those who are not in the 805, here’s a challenge –  meet on the lawn with someone where you are. Invite someone to Church in your home, outside your home, in your backyard. .. Whatever you feel comfortable with in covid times. And make sure you give us a shout out in the comments and chat… take some pictures and post!

YOUR NEXT STEP is into the next season – This week pray how you can be a lighthouse and THEN DO what the Holy Spirit reveals.

Some of you started having visions of people on your lawn, of a small community that does life together…. Begin praying for the Holy Spirit to strengthen you and message us to begin equipping you.

This sermon marks the end of a season AND  the start of a season. I believe not only for our church but for you watching or listening to this now.

Wondering how to develop strong faith? Faith in the face of attacks, turmoil, …life? In this latest message of our Faith Check series “Strong Faith” – we’ll look at Jeremiah’s strong faith and how it got there.

Jeremiah 1:17-19

17 “Get up and prepare for action.

Go out and tell them everything I tell you to say.

Do not be afraid of them,

or I will make you look foolish in front of them.

18 For see, today I have made you strong

like a fortified city that cannot be captured,

like an iron pillar or a bronze wall.

You will stand against the whole land—

the kings, officials, priests, and people of Judah.

19 They will fight you, but they will fail.

For I am with you, and I will take care of you.

I, the Lord, have spoken!”

Jeremiahs responsibility was to prepare and proclaim…. that’s our responsibility also.

That is how we gain a strong faith.

Get up – prepare for action

Some translations say gird your loins – meaning tuck your robe into your belt cause you are about to run. The more we develop our faith the more we need to be ready to listen and act on the Word of the Lord.

Tell them everything I tell you to say. – say what the Holy Spirit speaks to you about. 

Tell everything the Lord says. Don’t add to it. Don’t take away.

Do not be afraid of them – or God will make you look foolish

Jeremiah 1:18-19

18 For see, today I have made you strong

like a fortified city that cannot be captured,

like an iron pillar or a bronze wall.

You will stand against the whole land—

the kings, officials, priests, and people of Judah.

19 They will fight you, but they will fail.

For I am with you, and I will take care of you.

I, the Lord, have spoken!”

Jeremiahs responsibility was preparation and proclamation.

Gods responsibility is preservation…

Doing life together in the comments:

How does Jesus preserve you?

Today I have made you strong….. foundation in Jesus. Strength comes from God making us strong….. and when does he make us strong?

Today!!!! He makes us strong.

When a city was fortified the enemy couldn’t overtake it. It was a waiting game. Either the enemy went somewhere else or the people in the city starved and let the enemy in…. Too many believers get surrounded by the enemy and allow themselves to starve and eventually cave….

Your nourishment comes from the Lord strengthening you daily. Preserving you with His word.

Eternally: He preserves your soul.

In turmoil: He preserves your mind, heart, life.

He preserves us through the enemy, through life situations…. because He is with us.

Your faith is strong because Jesus preserves you through preparing and proclaiming His Word.

There is this imagery in Jeremiah 20:11-13 of what it looks like when Jesus preserves us through our preparation and proclamation of His word.

11 But the Lord stands beside me like a great warrior.

Before him my persecutors will stumble.

They cannot defeat me.

They will fail and be thoroughly humiliated.

Their dishonor will never be forgotten.

12 O Lord of Heaven’s Armies,

you test those who are righteous,

and you examine the deepest thoughts and secrets.

Let me see your vengeance against them,

for I have committed my cause to you.

13 Sing to the Lord!

Praise the Lord!

For though I was poor and needy,

he rescued me from my oppressors.

YOUR NEXT STEP: Make sure your faith is strong: Prepare and proclaim His word.

Get a verse this week for your life to meditate on and start proclaiming it.

Double down on next steps – I want you to start preparing this verse in your spirit and begin proclaiming it…

Matthew 5:14-16

14 “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.

Our next season and sermon series is “Change Your City.”  The sermon series will be hyper-focused on everything happening in and around Capernaum in the Bible. And Matthew 5:14-16 happens just outside of Capernaum.

Would you begin proclaiming the word of God over our next season with me?