Sunday, May 16, 2004
My sermon at the Homeless Church, Brantley Baptist Center, in New Orleans.
GOD’S HOLY PEOPLE COL. 1:1-12
Grace and peace to you
I. GOD CHOSE YOU
a. God so loved (JN 3:16)
b. Whosoever (Rom 10:13)
c. Gives you a choice
II. JESUS SAVES YOU
a. Died on the Cross
b. Seals your faith
c. Seeks you each day
III. HOLY SPIRIT EQUIPS YOU
a. Service
b. Sacrifice
c. Suffering
IV. HEAVEN BOUND
a. Real
b. Reward
c. Result
There has never been a time
When Christ turned away
Disgusted by man’s choices
Discouraged with the day
Loving Lord who cares
Lives in His children’s heart
Not by their strength
But by His love
What a savior
Coming to man
All are lost
Even the grand
And yet Christ’s love is real
Heals the hurting
Reaches the willing
Bringing each to God
There is a day appointed
When Christ will come again
Full of vengeance
To deal with the world’s sin
A day of cataclysm
A time of death and fear
Man who spurned the Lord
Will experience all His wrath
But now man is waiting
Choosing his own way
The love of Christ is available
His love will save you today
I know so little
Help me Lord
To see the battle lines
I want to know
What to do
So I’ll not disgrace You
I’m selfish and fearful
When things don’t work out
I just want to walk away
Merely a passing shadow
In the world for today
Help me learn to stay
Right where I’m planted
In the midst of my mess
Victorious on my quest
Options seem to broaden
Greener pastures over there
I need to stay right here
Winning is an illusion
It changes every day
But Jesus is forever
My life is hid in Christ
Today I will not waver
Even though failure comes
Life is worth living
As Jesus’ work gets done
Do you care?
Are you here?
What is the thing?
That brings you near
Is there anyone you love
If you do can you give
What is good and right for them
Give the thing that enables them
Christ is life
Whoever you are
Christ is light
For traveling far
In the Lord
We have love
In the Lord
We get strength from above
What can we do?
For all we meet
What can we give?
That will equip them to live
All I have
All I give
Jesus is Lord
He helps me live
What I am
What I can be
Is wound in Christ
He guides me
My life counts
My heart is strong
You are important
Don’t live alone
Life in Christ is victory
If I care for others
I will share God’s son
Christ in them and they have won
I abandon all to thee
My heart, my life complete
When you are more
Than the thing I fear
Success comes to my door
Christ is all and in all
He can reach the source
For victory over hidden things
That bedevils and disheartens
I walk a step
And try so hard
For a season I have success
But victory comes
When Christ has won
Every corner of my heart
When I want Jesus
More than it
I will march straight to Christ
And He will loose the bonds
That holds my will so tight
Standing close to Christ
To know Him more
And serve His way
Convictions and consistency
Take care of themselves
I will walk Christ’s way
I had a smile
It touched a heart
They hurt inside
I didn’t know
I lent a hand
It eased a burden
They prayed for help
I didn’t know
A person hurt
I listened
It helped
I didn’t know
I was a friend
It saved a life
They felt worth
I didn’t know
I carried peace
God in me
Christ shined through
I didn’t know
Actions count
The things I do
Impact people
Just like you
Kindness planted
Caring results
Peace in Christ
Bears results
Do what Christ says
It’s for your best
So that you won’t suffer
And life won’t be a mess
When life is unraveling
Stop in your sin
Get back with Jesus
Begin where sin ends
Obedience happens
When I change
And discipline my actions
In line with Christ’s refrain
Do what the Father
Says I should do
Quickly without quibbling
I will bend my knee to YOU
It identifies my heart
It says that God is true
Even though I can’t see Him
My actions say I do
Discipline comes so slowly
Obedience is its stairs
I walk each day with Jesus
So that life will no longer stare
One more time with feeling
I thank you Lord for life
Everyday with Jesus
I daily take His advice
I’m not alone now
Even though the journey is rough
My bags are getting lighter
As I rejoice in Christ’s love
Peace with the Father
Amidst the pain of life
Reminds me of my journey
Life doesn’t last
But Christ is my Savior
My journey belongs to Him
He calls me to worship
And spend time with Him
Everyday I’m searching
For this day’s joy
I find it in unlikely places
Christ is already there
My inner soul is joyous
Life cannot destroy
The peace I have in Jesus
His life provides my joy
I’m working on a trip to Greece and Rome for my students. Our trip will be in November 2005. There are two significant limitations, the first is cost and the second is time. We will be following the footsteps of the Apostle Paul and the westward movement of the development of the New Testament. Our group will be composed of graduate and undergraduate evangelical seminary students and a number of faculty and senior adults.
My first thought was to fly to Thessaloniki, travel to Philippi and Neapolis, then to Athens via Veria, Vergina, Delphi and Corinth. Two days in Athens then fly to Rome. Unfortunately I’ve not been able to find any inexpensive fares from Thess. to Athens and then Athens to Rome. The cost would have been over my limit of $2,000 per person.
What I think I am moving towards is to fly into Athens and upon arrival tour the Acropolis and overnight at the Jason Inn Hotel. Tour day 2 we would travel to Corinth, Delphi and overnight in Thessaloniki at the Minerva on Ignatia. Tour day 3 would be to Philippi and Neapolis and overnight in Thess. at the Minerva on Ignatia. Tour day 4 Veria, Vergina, Athens early in the day and overnight at the Jason Inn Hotel.
The Minerva is a bit above my budget but their accomodations, food and location is very good for our students. It is located on the Ignatian Way so there is a connection for Paul’s journey on to Athens. The Jason Inn Hotel is wonderfully located, within a block of the Plaka and metro. The hotel is clean, good food, nice staff and very comfortable for students and senior adults. I’ve stayed there several times and have enjoyed each stay. Back to the trip.
Tour day 5 we will have a half day in Athens and then depart for Patra and take the overnight ferry to Bari. Tour day 6 we will transfer to Rome, stopping at the Catacombs, then discover Imperial Rome and overnight at the Lancelot Hotel near the Colosseum. This is a popular hotel with excellent meals and a very friendly, caring staff. Tour day 7 we will visit the Vatican Museum, the Vatican, Trestevere and overnight at the Lancelot Hotel. Tour day 8 half-day tour of a couple of major churches, and important piazzas. The afternoon we will give directions and let everyone revel in the beauty of Rome. Return to the USA the next day. Total trip is 10 days and my target is to get the total cost per person under $2,000. If you have any suggestions I would love to hear them.
So much for the business side of the trip. We will have a faculty member do a daily Bible study through one of the New Testament books written in Greece or Rome. We will spend time on the bus in Greece discussing the development of the early Christian mission movement. In Rome we will look at the culture and the political climate during Paul’s time in Rome. This period of history is an amazing time. It is hard to imagine the pressure that Christians in that era went through.
Blessings
Clay
Jesus died for me
To set me free
I asked Him in
Christ forgave me
His great gift
Gives me life
Enables me
To sacrifice
Living life
With His strength
Go to Him
To deal with sin
Everyday I ask His way
So that I can become
More like Him
Showing others His way
The entire world
Is looking at me
Will I bend my knee?
Or refuse to serve
In my weakness
Christ gives strength
His strength is needed
For each day of life
Knowing Him
Provides me gain
My life is His
In Jesus name
