Speaker: James Cowan
Scriptures: Genesis 1:26–27; Genesis 2:7; Psalm 139:13–14; Acts 17:28; Genesis 11; Psalm 139:1–4; Genesis 1:28; John 1:14

Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9-Z9JSJvedk

Speaker: Pastor Don Dodge
Scriptures: 1 Thessalonians 4:3-6, 5:16-18, 1 Peter 2:15, John 6:40, 1 Timothy 2:4, Micah 6:8, Romans 12:1-2

Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EdnbvVA-RDI

Speaker: Pastor Don Dodge
Scriptures: Luke 7:19, Matthew 26:36-46, Hebrews 4:15-16, Revelation 21:3-5

Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DfOLntabttA

Speaker: Pastor Don Dodge
Scriptures: Luke 7:18-23

Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D-46Zyu6yZI

Speaker: Pastor Don Dodge
Scriptures: 1 Corinthians 15:3-8

Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A-A70XieKwY

Series: A Beautiful Mess,
Speaker: Pastor Don Dodge,
Scripture: 2 Peter 3:15-16, 1 Corinthians 2:6-9, 1 Corinthians 2:16, John 15:5, 1 Corinthians 2:9,
Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C72fhYn6y1E,
Webpage: https://podcast.avalonchurch.org/sermons/a-beautiful-mess-the-mystery-of-god-week-5/,
Discussion Questions: 2021-10-31_A-Beautiful-Mess_Week-5_DQ.pdf,

Notes:

 Title Slide
 ... This is what our beloved brother Paul also wrote to you with the wisdom God gave him—speaking of these things in all of his letters. Some of his comments are hard to understand, and those who are ignorant and unstable have twisted his letters to mean something quite different, just as they do with other parts of Scripture. – 2 Peter 3:15-16 (NLT)
 Translation Slide
 Yet when among mature believers, [we] do speak with words of wisdom, but not the kind of wisdom that belongs to this world or to the rulers of this world, who are soon forgotten. No, the wisdom we speak of is the mystery of God—his plan that was previously hidden, even though he made it for our ultimate glory before the world began. But the rulers of this world have not understood it; if they had, they would not have crucified our glorious Lord. That is what the Scriptures mean when they say, “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined what God has prepared for those who love him.” –1 Corinthians 2:6-9 (NLT)
“[It’s] the moment when the great melody of history has begun to be heard in a major key instead of a minor one.” –NT Wright, Paul for Everyone: 1 Corinthians
But we understand these things, for we have the mind of Christ. –1 Corinthians 2:16b (NLT)
I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing. –John 15:5 (NLT)
That is what the Scriptures mean when they say, “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined what God has prepared for those who love him.” –1 Corinthians 2:9 (NLT)
Baptism Slide
Communion Slide

 Title Slide
 Map
 Ways to Participate
 AvalonChurch.org/Commentary
 1 And so it was with me, brothers and sisters. When I came to you, I did not come with eloquence or human wisdom as I proclaimed to you the testimony about God. For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. I came to you in weakness with great fear and trembling. My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power, so that your faith might not rest on human wisdom, but on God’s power. My brothers and sisters, some from Chloe’s household have informed me that there are quarrels among you. – 1 Corinthians 2:1-5 (NIV)
 Vs. 1
 Vs. 3
 Vs. 2
 May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. –Galatians 6:14 (NIV)
 The Spirit of God whets our appetite by giving us a taste of what’s ahead. He puts a little of heaven in our hearts so that we’ll never settle for less. –2 Corinthians 5:5 (The Msg)
Vss. 4-5
But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, and self-control. –Galatians 5:22-23 (NLT)

 Title Slide
 New ways to Participate slide
 I appeal to you, brothers and sisters, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another in what you say and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly united in mind and thought. My brothers and sisters, some from Chloe’s household have informed me that there are quarrels among you. What I mean is this: One of you says, “I follow Paul”; another, “I follow Apollos”; another, “I follow Cephas”; still another, “I follow Christ.” Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Were you baptized in the name of Paul? I thank God that I did not baptize any of you except Crispus and Gaius, 15 so no one can say that you were baptized in my name. (Yes, I also baptized the household of Stephanas; beyond that, I don’t remember if I baptized anyone else.) For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel—not with wisdom and eloquence, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power. – 1 Cor. 1:10-17 (NIV)
 (repeat verses 10-12)
 Map
 When Apollos arrived [in Corinth in Achaia], he was a great help to those who by grace had believed. 28 For he vigorously refuted his Jewish opponents in public debate, proving from the Scriptures that Jesus was the Messiah. –Acts 18:27-28 (NIV)
 (repeat verses 13-17)
 Closing Prayer

Series: A Beautiful Mess,
Speaker: Pastor Don Dodge,
Scripture: 1 Corinthians 1:1, 1 Corinthians 1:2, 1 Corinthians 1:3,
Video: https://youtu.be/dHYSXsfEves,
Webpage: https://podcast.avalonchurch.org/sermons/a-beautiful-mess-intro-week-1/,
Discussion Questions: 2021-10-03_Beautiful-Mess_Week-1_DQ.pdf,

Notes:

 New Prayer Card slide
 “Ways to Participate” (1-2)
 Ways to Participate” (3) – Bible Project
 Ways to Participate (4) – NT Wright Commentary
 1 Paul, called to be an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and our brother Sosthenes, –1 Corinthians 1:1 (NIV)
2 To the church of God in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus and called to be his holy people, together with all those everywhere who call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ—their Lord and ours: –1 Corinthians 1:2 (NIV)
3 Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. –1 Corinthians 1:3 (NIV)
Map – overview
Map – Corinth up close
4 I always thank my God for you because of his grace given you in Christ Jesus.–1 Cor.1:4 (NIV)
5 For in him you have been enriched in every way—with all kinds of speech and with all knowledge— 1 Cor.1:4 (NIV)
6 God thus confirming our testimony about Christ among you. –1 Cor.1:4 (NIV)
7 Therefore you do not lack any spiritual gift as you eagerly wait for our Lord Jesus Christ to be revealed. –1 Cor.1:4 (NIV)
8 He will also keep you firm to the end, so that you will be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. –1 Cor.1:4 (NIV)
9 God is faithful, who has called you into fellowship with his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. –1 Cor.1:4 (NIV)
Ways to Participate (overview)

Series: Follow Me: Transformed Together,
Speaker: Pastor Don Dodge,
Scripture: John 13:34, Ephesians 4:11, Ephesians 4:12, Ephesians 4:13, Ephesians 4:16,
Video: https://youtu.be/dGRXD_qghx0,
Webpage: https://podcast.avalonchurch.org/sermons/follow-me-week-7/,
Discussion Questions: 2021-09-26_Follow-Me_Week-7_DQ.pdf,

Notes:

 ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ (Matt.22:37-39, NIV).
 “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. (Jn 13:34, NIV)
 Minimum Functions of a Church (slide from last week)
 11 Now these are the gifts Christ gave to the church: the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, and the pastors and teachers. –Ephesians 4:11 (NLT)
 12 Their responsibility is to equip God’s people to do his work and build up the church, the body of Christ. –Ephesians 4:12 (NLT)
 13 This will continue until we all come to such unity in our faith and knowledge of God’s Son that we will be mature in the Lord, measuring up to the full and complete standard of Christ. –Ephesians 4:13 (NLT)
 16 From Christ the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work. –Ephesians 4:16 (NLT)
 Jesus’ body was blessed to be broken and broken to be given.
 Joanna Han
 Jenny Chau
 Joe Chau

2. ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ (Matthew 22:37-39, NIV).

3. “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. (John 13:34, NIV)

4. “The Chosen” video clip

5.  When Jesus saw their faith, he said, “Friend, your sins are forgiven.” –Luke 5:20 (NIV)

6. Minimum Functions of a. Church slide

7. “Chinwendu and Chinazom Enyioha”

8. AvalonChurch.org/Groups

 ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ (Matt.22:37-39, NIV).
 “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. (Jn 13:34, NIV)
 Euangelion, disciple, ecclesia
 AvalonChurch.org/PrayerCard
 Zach and Meredith El Zahab
 In the beginning was the Word (Logos), and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. –John 1:1 (NIV)
 The Word became flesh [human] and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. –John 1:14 (NIV)
 Incarnation
 Church Sign 1: Hell-fire
 Church sign 2: Do you hear me now?
 Church sign 3: Do you know what hell is?
 Church sign 4: Don’t dishonor...
 A man with leprosy… said, “If you are willing, you can heal me.  Jesus reached out and touched him. “I am willing,”   (Matthew 8:2-3 NLT)
A Roman officer came and pleaded with him, 6 “Lord, my young servant lies in bed, paralyzed and in terrible pain.”  7 Jesus said, “I will come and heal him.” (Matthew 8:5-7 NLT)
While Jesus was having dinner at Matthew’s house, many tax collectors and sinners came and ate with him and his disciples. When the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?” (Matthew 9:10-11 NLT)
“Healthy people don’t need a doctor—sick people do.” Then he added, “Now go and learn the meaning of this Scripture: ‘I want you to show mercy, not offer sacrifices.’ For I have come to call not those who think they are righteous, but those who know they are sinners.” – Matthew 9:12-13 (NLT)
We loved you so much that we shared with you not only God’s Good News but our own lives, too.  1 Thessalonians 2:8 (NLT)

Series: Follow Me: Transformed Together,
Speaker: Pastor Don Dodge,
Scripture: Acts 2:42-47, John 13:34, Acts 2:43, Acts 2:44-45, Acts 2:46, Acts 2:47, John 17:21,
Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RIMJP_GDF44,
Webpage: https://podcast.avalonchurch.org/sermons/follow-me-week-3/,
Discussion Questions: 2021-08-29_Follow-Me_Week-3_DQ.pdf,

Notes:
1. ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ (Matt.22:37-39, NIV).

2. “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. (Jn 13:34, NIV)

3. Prayer Card: AvalonChurch.org/PrayerCard, Facebook Group: facebook.com/groups/avalonchurchprayer

4. All the believers devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, and to fellowship, and to sharing in meals (including the Lord’s Supper), and to prayer. –Acts 2:42 (NLT)

5. A deep sense of awe came over them all, and the apostles performed many miraculous signs and wonders. –Acts 2:43 (NLT)

6.  And all the believers met together in one place and shared everything they had. They sold their property and possessions and shared the money with those in need. –Acts 2:44-45 (NLT)

7. They worshiped together at the Temple each day, met in homes for the Lord’s Supper, and shared their meals with great joy and generosity— Acts 2:46 (NLT)

8. all the while praising God and enjoying the goodwill of all the people. And each day the Lord added to their fellowship those who were being saved. –Acts 2:47 (NLT)

9. I pray that they will all be one, just as you and I are one—as you are in me, Father, and I am in you. And may they be in us so that the world will believe you sent me. –John 17:21 (NLT)

10. Ecclesia

11. Church is the gathered followers
 ...for worship (becoming like Jesus)
 ...in community (Loving one another)
 ...on mission (loving and blessing the world)

Prayer Card: AvalonChurch.org/PrayerCard

1. ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. 39  And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ (Matt.22:37-39, NIV).

2. “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. (Jn 13:34, NIV)

3. Disciple = student, apprentice

4. 40 Students (disciples) are not greater than their teacher. But the student who is fully trained
 will become like the teacher. –Luke 6:40 (NLT)

5. 29  For God knew his people in advance, and he chose them to become like his Son.
 –Romans 8:29 (NLT)

6. The extent to which we know Jesus is our limit to becoming like him.

7. 15  But despite Jesus’ instructions [to be quiet], the report of his power spread even faster,
 and vast crowds came to hear him preach and to be healed of their diseases. 16  But Jesus
 often withdrew to the wilderness for prayer. –Luke 5:15-16 (NLT)

8. You cannot give what you do not possess.

Series: Follow Me: Transformed Together,
Speaker: Pastor Don Dodge,
Scripture: Luke 4:14-21,
Video: https://youtu.be/Sj0XehMLBg4,
Webpage: https://podcast.avalonchurch.org/sermons/follow-me-week-1/,
Discussion Questions: 1-Good-News-DQ.pdf,
Notes:

Prayer Card: https://avalonchurch.org/PrayerCard

Series: The Upside Down Life,
Speaker: Pastor Don Dodge,
Scripture: Matthew 6:25-34, Philippians 4:6-7,
Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aYEiwwzh4vg,
Webpage: https://podcast.avalonchurch.org/sermons/the-upside-down-life-anxious-for-nothing-part-11/,
Discussion Questions: 2021-03-21-PART-10-DQ-Anxious-for-Nothing.pdf,
Notes:
25 “That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life—whether you have enough food and drink, or enough clothes to wear. Isn’t life more than food, and your body more than clothing? – Matthew 6 (NLT)26 Look at the birds. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them. And aren’t you far more valuable to him than they are? – Matthew 6 (NLT)27 Can all your worries add a single moment to your life? – Matthew 6 (NLT)28 “And why worry about your clothing? Look at the lilies of the field and how they grow. They don’t work or make their clothing, – Matthew 6 (NLT29 yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are. – Matthew 6 (NLT)30 And if God cares so wonderfully for wildflowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, he will certainly care for you. Why do you have so little faith? – Matthew 6 (NLT)China Flowers – YellowHolland Flowers – Tulips/WindmillNew Zealand – water/MountainCalifornia – Orange and YellowJapan – Blue flowers and tree31 “So don’t worry about these things, saying, ‘What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?’ – Matthew 6 (NLT32 These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. – Matthew 6 (NLT)33 Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need. – Matthew 6 (NLT)34 “So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today. – Matthew 6 (NLT)6 Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. 7 Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus. –Philippians 4:6-7 (NLT)Coral reef. N. LightsDesertIce CaveFrog on PennyRylie

Series: The Upside Down Life,
Speaker: Pastor Don Dodge,
Scripture: Matthew 6:7-14, Matthew 6:9, Matthew 6:10, Matthew 6:11, Matthew 6:12, Matthew 6:13, Matthew 6:8,
Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TjHNp9jFe7I,
Webpage: https://podcast.avalonchurch.org/sermons/the-upside-down-life-the-lords-prayer-part-9/,
Discussion Questions: 2021-03-07-PART-8-DQ-The-Lords-Prayer-update.pdf,
Notes:
Words describing what the Church is like?Words describing what the Church should be like?Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, –Matthew 6:9 (NIV)Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. –Matthew 6:10 (NIV)Give us today our daily bread. –Matthew 6:11 (NIV)And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. –Matthew 6:12 (NIV)And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.’ –Matthew 6:13 (NIV)For yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. –Matthew 6:7 (NIV)Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him. –Matthew 6:8 (NIV)Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, –Matthew 6:9 (NIV)Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, –Matthew 6:9 (NIV)Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. –Matthew 6:10 (NIV)Give us today our daily bread. –Matthew 6:11 (NIV)And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. –Matthew 6:12 (NIV)And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.’ –Matthew 6:13 (NIV)Action Steps1. Pray it daily2. Memorize it3. Write your own prayerOur Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, –Matthew 6:9 (NIV)Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. –Matthew 6:10 (NIV)Give us today our daily bread. –Matthew 6:11 (NIV)And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. –Matthew 6:12 (NIV)And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.’ –Matthew 6:13 (NIV)

Series: Midweek on a Mountain with Jesus,
Speaker: Pastor Don Dodge,
Scripture: Matthew 5:33-42,
Video: https://www.facebook.com/avalonchurch/videos/646847892666280,
Webpage: https://podcast.avalonchurch.org/sermons/midweek-on-a-mountain-with-jesus-oaths-matthew-533-42-part-6/

“Go and make disciples of all people” –Mt. 28:19-20.

11 Don’t forget that you Gentiles used to be outsiders. You were called “uncircumcised heathens” by the Jews... –Ephesians 2 (NLT)

12 In those days you were living apart from Christ. You were excluded from citizenship among the people of Israel, and you did not know the covenant promises God had made to them. You lived in this world without God and without hope. –Ephesians 2 (NLT)

13 But now you have been united with Christ Jesus. Once you were far away from God, but now you have been brought near to him through the blood of Christ. –Ephesians 2 (NLT)

14 For Christ himself has brought peace to us. He united Jews and Gentiles into one people when, in his own body on the cross, he broke down the wall of hostility that separated us. –Ephesians 2 (NLT)

15  ...He made peace between Jews and Gentiles by creating in himself one new people from the two groups. –Ephesians 2 (NLT)

16 Together as one body, Christ reconciled both groups to God by means of his death on the cross, and our hostility toward each other was put to death. –Ephesians 2 (NLT)

17 [Christ] brought this Good News of peace to you Gentiles who were far away from him, and peace to the Jews who were near. –Ephesians 2 (NLT)

19 So now you Gentiles are no longer strangers and foreigners. You are citizens along with all of God’s holy people. You are members of God’s family. –Ephesians 2 (NLT)

20 Together, we are his house, built on the foundation of the apostles and the prophets. And the cornerstone is Christ Jesus himself. 21 We are carefully joined together in him, becoming a holy temple for the Lord. –Ephesians 2 (NLT)

22 Through [Jesus] you Gentiles are also being made part of this dwelling where God lives by his Spirit. –Ephesians 2 (NLT)

I was seven years old, barely keeping pace as my father strode purposefully through the woods, the dry brush crackling under our feet. August was rarely pleasant in the deep South, but this year had been especially hot; especially dry. Walking the densely forested stand of timber that day, young as I was, I was acutely aware of my father’s mood. The month-long drought our area was experiencing had him worried. I watched in silence as he broke dry twigs from seemingly lifeless trees and examined the wilting, dull color of the new growth under them. We hiked through the dust of the parched creek bed, following it to the beaver pond where our family often came for picnics. The pond was nearly empty and the beaver lodge, usually a site of frantic activity, stood abandoned on dry land. Without warning, the wind shifted. And with the change in direction came a rapid increase in velocity and a perceptible drop in the temperature. It became cool within a matter of seconds, as the wind, whistling above, threatened to send branches crashing down around us. Lightning and thunder worked the atmosphere almost simultaneously, creating explosions of light and sound that terrified me. My father, his arms wrapped around me tightly, was also afraid...and grateful. He was grateful for this violent performance of nature and the hope of water that came with it. As the trees bent with the wind and the thunder covered my cries, my father sat down, pulled me into his lap and said, “Don’t worry. You’ll be all right. Something good is going to come out of this. Be still. Be patient.” While he was comforting me, the rain came. Not with the gentle drops I had seen in the past, but in wild, silver sheets bursting all around us. It wound through the limbs and leaves, over rocks and deep into the tangled thickets leaving nothing untouched. And then, as suddenly as it had begun - it was over. The thunder and lightning and wind and rain were gone, their energy exhausted. It was still again, but even at my young age, I noticed a difference. The forest wasn’t just still...it was calm. With his hand, my father wiped the drops of water from my face. Only my deep sobs betrayed the presence of tears, not raindrops, on my cheeks. Then he smiled, wrung out the front of his shirt, and motioned toward the pond. “It’ll fill back up now,” he said, “and those beavers will be able to spend the winter here like they’d planned.” We turned in time to see a doe and her fawn drinking from the already flowing creek. The frogs had started their own chorus as we headed for home. “Ahh,” my father breathed deeply, “everything just smells clean, doesn’t it?” And it did. The very air, which only a short time ago had been hot and dirty, now seemed almost sweet. “Let’s sit down by this big oak, Son,” he said quietly, “I have something to tell you.” I snuggled in beside him, and in very nearly a whisper, he began. “You know,” he said, watching me from the corner of his eye, “you weren’t the only one scared a little while ago. Those deer were afraid, too. The squirrels squirrels huddled together as close as they could get and what with all the crashes and booms, well, I’m pretty sure the rabbits were worried. But now, something important has happened. The very event that frightened everyone in the forest turned out to be exactly what they needed.” Do you hear the birds?” I nodded. “Remember how quiet they were before the rain? Now they’re hopping around, chirping, drinking from puddles, and feasting on the worms that come out only when the ground is wet. The fish in the pond have more oxygen to breathe and cooler water to swim in. The dust that was on all the plants has been washed away so they are much cleaner for the rabbits and deer to eat. Nobody likes dirty food.” “In fact, Son, all of us are better off now than we were an hour ago. Just because of the storm. What looked like the worst – turned out to be the best. It was a storm of perfection.”
Sermon
Today is our last day in the “Never too late” series

We’re looking at the very last verses that were ever written
in the Jewish Scriptures.

They are recalling what most Jews considered the worst event in their history.

It was truly awful.
Yet it was also the event that totally changed the way they saw how God was working.

This event was what made them never again be tempted by idols.
This event is what made them a people of the Scriptures.
This event is what opened their eyes to the hope of a future Messiah.

This event paved the way for that Messiah, Jesus,
To come and bring not just Jews, but Gentiles in every nation and language to be unified with their Creator God.

In many ways,
This awful event became a Storm of Perfection.
Background
After all the evil of the previous generations,

God finally removed his protection
and forced Judah to stand on their own.

Look at 2 Chronicles 36, vs. 17.

17 So the Lord brought the king of Babylon against them. The Babylonians killed Judah’s young men, even chasing after them into the Temple. They had no pity on the people, killing both young men and young women, the old and the infirm. God handed all of them over to Nebuchadnezzar. –2 Chronicles 36:17 (NLT)

God was like,

I invited you and your ancestors to be my people.
I never forced you, you freely said yes.

I promised to protect you and sustain you.
And I did.

But over and over, you rejected me.
You continually chose to do life on your own terms,

And so now, you will face the consequences
Faced by every other nation.

And immediately Judah realized that on their own,
They were no match for the superpowers surrounding them.

The nation of Babylon was on a mission of conquest.
And Judah was just one nation in its crosshairs.

But then, the Babylonian King Nebuchadnezzar,
Wounded Judah to its core.

Going where even Jews were forbidden to go,
Nebuchadnezzar entered the Holy of Holies.

18 The king took home to Babylon all the articles, large and small, used in the Temple of God, and the treasures from both the Lord’s Temple and from the palace of the king and his officials. –2 Chronicles 36:18 (NLT)

19 Then his army burned the Temple o...

As long as you have breath,

It’s never too late
to find life and purpose and hope in Jesus.

Story – Palace pizza employee who said the walls would cave in.
When he visited, they didn’t.
And he found hope and life.

This is a series looking at stories in the book of Chronicles

Where people’s lives turned around
When they submitted their lives to God.

Before jumping into today’s Scripture,
I’d like to share the story of a man in our church family, Ron Culibao.
Ron Culibao’s story
I was born in the Philippines to a devout Catholic family where my father worked for the Jesuit priests for the 35 years of his working life. He and my mother were very active with our parochial church. Attending and serving in church was a big part of our family life.

I always believed in God, but that didn’t translate to anything in my life. For me, God was just a higher being you prayed to, requesting his blessings. You tried to earn his favor by performing ceremonies and reciting prayers. The concept of a holy or personal God was not something that I understood.

I considered myself a good and moral person. I had my smoking habit and occasional drinking, but I thought I was a good guy. I lived life carefree and the way I wanted.

It was in my first year of college that I felt God’s sovereign hands working.

It was one of the top engineering schools in Manila, but my grades were bad. So, they kicked me out. I remember spending the entire semester break applying to different schools hoping they would accept me. For a long time, none of them did. It was only my first year of college and I was already desperate, feeling worthless and helpless.

The coming semester was about to start when I was finally accepted by a school. I barely made it in. I changed my major from Engineering to Architecture, and looking back now, I truly believe that God was orchestrating those events in my life.

It was in Architecture School where I met Ron, who became my best friend. Ron is a very friendly guy and there was something very different about him.

He invited me to attend a small group gathering called “student fellowship” where I met people who loved studying the Bible and worshipping Jesus. I met people who were full of love and joy, and who were very sincere and bold in their faith. They were different than anyone I had me before.

I liked hanging out with these people. Through them, God slowly started to work in my heart. I started to read the Bible and join in worship services. I had not yet fully committed my life to God, but there were changes happening in me and the way I thought about God.

Then, at a student summer camp in 1986, I put my faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. That’s also when I met Norma, my wife-to-be.

It was that week at camp where I recognized my sinfulness. I felt so broken. Romans 3:23 says – “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”

The Lord showed how holy he is, and how my sins were an offense to his holiness. I needed His forgiveness and His grace. I needed to humble myself and pray and ask for His forgiveness.

All these years later, I cannot imagine how my life would have been if I didn’t have God in my life. God’s love and forgiveness have given me purpose and direction.

God found me and saved me in His perfect time. He revealed His great love and forgiveness for me even when I wasn’t looking for Him.

He used one person to reach me just by being there as a friend. It wasn’t any deep theological revelations that touched me, it was that sincere and patient love of a friend.

I know that my story is not unique. God can touch a person no matter what stage or situation in life they are in. God immeasurable love can reach any person’s heart.

Now I live my life with my beautiful family under God’s amazing love and grace.
To God be the glory!

Ron Culibao
Response
God is constantly drawing us to himself.

But we want to be in control.
We want life on our terms.

We want to be God.

And we face the consequences of our brokenness.
We are born sinful and self-centered.

But sometimes, our eyes are opened.

When we realize how selfish we can be,
Or we face the awful consequences of our decisions,
Or we see the emptiness of always getting what we want.

It’s in those moments we are faced with a choice.

...Do we submit to a higher authority?
...Do we accept God’s desire and purpose over own?

...Do we die to self,
trusting that it will truly bring life?

What do we do when we’re shown who we really are?
That’s what today’s story is about.

It starts...
God (Background)
1Josiah was eight years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem thirty-one years. –2Chron 34:1 (NLT)

2 He did what was pleasing in the Lord’s sight and followed the example of his ancestor David. He did not turn away from doing what was right. – 2 Chron. 34:2 (NLT)

Remember, 2 Chronicles was one of the last books
written in the Old Testament.

The writers had perspective.
They were looking hopefully to God’s future rescue.

The days of Abraham and Moses were ancient history for them,
Like a thousand years earlier.

King David was <...

Maresea Blackwell – The grace of Jesus Christ and Maresea’s compassionate concern, persistent prayer, obedient outreach

Today we continue our series, Never Too Late (changes of heart in the book of Chronicles) as we learn together from the life of King Hezekiah.

Please go ahead and find 2 Chronicles 29 in your Bible.
As you are doing so, let me invite you to share your story at avalonchurch.org/stories

 

 
(Note the cities of Beersheba and Dan – important later in the story)
 
Saul – David – Solomon – Rehoboam/Jeroboam – Judah/Israel

The division of the kingdom into Judah and Israel was an act of grace by God to all mankind – to you and me – to protect the dynasty of David -- the lineage from which Jesus would come – from the horrendous idolatry in Israel.

Hoshea was the last ruler of the northern kingdom of Israel, for in his day (722 BC), the Assyrians invaded the land, deported many of the citizens, and repopulated Israel with Gentile peoples, usually prisoners, from the lands Assyria had conquered.

The kingdom of Israel became Samaria, named after the capital city, and it was a nation whose citizens were not pure Jews but a comingling of many ethnic strains.

We hear about “the ten lost tribes of Israel,” but the Bible never uses that phrase.

But they definitely lost their identity as they were deported and dispersed or assimilated with the peoples brought into the land by the Assyrians to become the hated Samaritans of Jesus’ day.

Sadly, the manmade religion of Israel had infected Judah and it was only by the grace of God that a faithful remnant remained after their own exile to keep the bloodline to Jesus the Messiah intact. But that’s a different story.

Last Sunday, Don told us about Manasseh, whose gross sins likely led to the eventual invasion and exile of Judah.

Manasseh’s grandfather was Ahaz who imitated the wicked kings of Israel and the pagan practices of Assyria.
He, too, adopted the horrible worship practices of the pagans and sacrificed his sons to Baal.

Sandwiched in between these two is Hezekiah, a man glad to have made it past the sacrifice of his brothers.

He was a teenager or young adult when the Assyrians invaded the northern kingdom in 722.
He witnessed many of the same practices in his father’s reign as were done in Israel.
So, he was very familiar with all the wrong ways to lead a nation.

But Hezekiah was one of the good guys. When he became king, good and right things started happening right away.  29:1-5

The Levites consecrated themselves and set about to purify the temple. 29:16-17
 
 

Once done, they told King Hezekiah who gathers the city’s officials together and made some serious sin offering for the kingdom, the sanctuary and for Judah. 29:21

Who thinks of interceding for their rebellious, sinful, disrespectful “brother?”

Hezekiah values the sinful Israelites of the north because they are still part of the nation (family)
Once the temple is restored to service, he offers sacrifices on their behalf (even though they don’t know it and haven’t asked for it)

And then they humbly worshiped. 29:29

And then the assembly brought sacrifices and thank offerings – which almost overwhelmed them. 29:33-34

In the end “the service of the temple of the Lord was reestablished.”  29:35-36
 
 

Three times each year, the Jewish men were required to go to Jerusalem to celebrate the feasts of Passover, Pentecost and Tabernacles – and Hezekiah intended to celebrate Passover.

Unfortunately, the prescribed time for Passover had occurred while the temple – and the priests, for that matter -- were still being cleansed.
Neither the temple nor the priests and Levites had been ready in the first month.
However, the Law of Moses, specifically Numbers 9:6-13, made provision for celebrating the Passover in the second month and Hezekiah took advantage of this provision.

Passover commemorated the release of the Jewish people from Egyptian bondage, so it was a national celebration.

For this reason, Hezekiah invites the Jews from both Judah and Israel (now Samaria) to come to Jerusalem for the feast. He goes out of his way to extend the invitation to come get right with God. 30:1, 5

Here is the proclamation. Hear the heart of Hezekiah as he appeals to remnant of Israel to come repent with Judah.

He is obviously aware of their sin but tries to communicate that their sin is not bigger than God’s grace. Note the words about God’s grace. 30:6-9

Sadly, the remnant in bondage to Assyria were just as stiff-necked as their ancestors. 30:10

Here was an opportunity to make a new beginning and glorify the Lord by seeking and accepting his compassion, grace and mercy

But most of the people outside of Judah rejected the invitation.
They mocked and belittled Hezekiah and his messengers – but in so doing, they rejected the blessing the Lord had for them.

However, there were some people who had the courage to disagree with their families and friends – and the courage to face their own rebellion and sin –  and go to Jerusalem for the feast. 30:11

Stories of the heart change that led to a huge impact
in their lives and the lives of generations after.

Intro Rian.

Elder
Scariest interviewer that I ever had the privilege of being interviewed by.
Great sense of humor.

Rian’s story is intriguing
and it’s a good intro to the scripture today.
Story: Rian Seipler
Rian shares his stories.
Overview of Chronicles
Last book of OT
With so many promises that were fulfilled,
With their exile to Babylon reversed.

They were still oppressed by other nations.
Jerusalem was still a mess,
The Temple still just a shadow of the past.

It was like they were still in exile.
...still waiting for God to do something big.

Though Chronicles ends the OT story looking for a conclusion,

...It is a story that was intended to offer hope.
That God was going to finish what he started.

...That he would send the Messiah,
...The King from the line of David,

...Who would be better than David!
...Who would come and restore
Everything that was broken.

So today we’re going to look at the story
of a King named Manasseh.

Probably the worst king
the S. kingdom of Judah had ever known.

The story takes place in 2 Chron.33.
How bad he was
1Manasseh was twelve years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem fifty-five years. 2 He did what was evil in the Lord’s sight, following the detestable practices of the pagan nations that the Lord had driven from the land ahead of the Israelites. – 2 Chron. 33:1-2 (NLT)
 
For 55 years, he led the nation away from God.
55 years of corruption.

There was no Congress to slow him down.
No other branches of government to stop him.

There were no protestors who could do anything about it.
He was King.

Where he went, the country went.

The only one who could stop him,
...Was another king.

3 He rebuilt the pagan shrines his father, Hezekiah, had broken down. He constructed altars for the images of Baal and set up Asherah poles. He also bowed before all the powers of the heavens and worshiped them. – 2 Chron. 33:3 (NLT)

These included the sex gods and temple prostitution.
These included infanticide.

There was some awful things people did
To appease the gods.

So for 55 years,
King Manasseh hedged his bets.
He worshiped all the gods of the ancient world,

...just in case.

In doing so,
he forgot what got him there in the first place.

He forgot God’s promise to Abraham,

...Bringing a child to a couple that could not have kids,
...Promising a nation by which the world would be blessed.

He forgot the slavery in Egypt,

...And how God raised up Moses,
...He forgot Passover and the parting of the Red Sea,

...And witnessing God’s power
to lead the people to the Promised Land
 
He forgot the prediction that was given to Moses
Right before he died;

16 ...these people will soon prostitute themselves to the foreign gods of the land they are entering. They will forsake me and break the covenant I made with them. 17 And in that day I will become angry with them and forsake them; I will hide my face from them, and they will be destroyed. –  Deut 31:16-17

Manasseh forgot how he got there,

That his great, great, great grandfather David,
Was chosen to lead these people differently than the other nations.

...That YHWH God was the ultimate ruler,
...And his temple was just down the road from Manasseh’s palace.

Instead,

4 [Manasseh] built pagan altars in the Temple of the Lord, the place where the Lord had said, “My name will remain in Jerusalem forever.” 5 He built these altars for all the powers of the heavens in both courtyards of the Lord’s Temple. – 2 Chron. 33:4-5 (NLT)

6 Manasseh also sacrificed his own sons in the fire in the valley of Ben-Hinnom. He practiced sorcery, divination, and witchcraft, and he consulted with mediums and psychics. He did much that was evil in the Lord’s sight, arousing his anger. – 2 Chron. 33:6 (NLT)

Manasseh’s Father was Hezekiah
a very good King who we’ll talk about next week.

Manasseh completely rejected his family... his heritage.

...till eventually he sacrificed some of his own children
to appease the gods of the surrounding nations.

He practiced sorcery and witchcraft
...Knowing that this is why King Saul’s family was not king.

Sometimes, we keep taking one bad step after another

Her and her husband Rich have done so much
to help us communicate to you during this COVID pandemic.

Audrey’s story is powerful,
And common throughout the world.
Audrey’s Story
I was born in a small city in China. Most were Buddhist. There were no Christians around me. Though my family was not Buddhist, we had Buddha statues at home. Sometimes we would pray to them. When I was 9 or 10 years old, I liked going out on our balcony and looking at the sky and other buildings and I would talk to God. I didn’t know how I knew there was a God at that time, but when I had troubles, I prayed to him... or at least made a wish.

During this time, my dad also had a friend who claimed to have supernatural power. He called it a “third eye” on his forehead, and said he could see and do supernatural things. This man’s daughter and I played together and pretended to have “third eye” power.

When I was around 13, my mom began practicing a new cult religion emphasizing the supernatural. I was innocent and naïve and would join my mom and practice this for fun.

However, when I was around 15 years old, I began hearing a voice and had destructive, evil, even suicidal thoughts. I tried to resist, but the voice and the thoughts tortured me. I felt so helpless. I couldn’t sleep at night because my heart beat so fast. I read lots of psychology and philosophy books. I didn’t know what was wrong with me. I thought it was a battle of my will... and I was losing. It was much later I learned that this was a spiritual battle between good and evil.

When I went to college, I chose English as my major. Part of learning western culture was reading the Bible. I was even invited to a bible study, and that’s where I decided to become a Christian.

That summer I was invited to stay with an American friend, Hannah, who was living in China. One night I shared with her my experiences of hearing that voice and fighting against those evil thoughts; how I felt this spiritual oppression and was scared. She noted that “I couldn’t even look her in the eyes.” We prayed in Jesus name that God would free me.

Hannah called a friend of ours, Pauline, an American who was a Christian psychologist. Pauline invited me to kneel and confess my sins; to forgive those in my life who hurt me. I prayed and invited the Holy Spirit to come and occupy every area of my heart. We prayed for 2 hours. I was shaking and felt this battle inside me. Pauline asked for the demon’s name and I heard a voice inside say an English name that none of us recognized. We looked it up in the dictionary and the word meant “the third eye,” that supernatural power I practiced as a child. It was then when that power left me.

It was an immediate change. I looked at the mirror and saw the light in my eyes return. And I could look straight to my friends’ eyes. I felt so free. God set me free and broke the chains on me. I had been tortured by evil for 7 years. I had no hope, but now God had saved me. He had a great plan for me and I could now live for him and tell his story so others would know God could change their life, too.

INTRO
We’re starting a new series called “Never Too Late”

For the next 5 weeks, we’re going to look at some stories
from the book of 2 Chronicles

...where God unexpectedly got a hold of someone’s heart,
And their life was changed forever.

My hope is that some of your stories will be shared, too.

...We have some great stories in our church-family.

Whether you write them out or record a video,

I think it would be encouraging for all of us
to hear each others stories

...of how God has transformed,
...and is continuing to transform people’s lives.

We’ve set up a webpage for you to share your story.
AvalonChurch.org/Stories
You can write it out,
You can share a video.

Whatever you want.
That way we can all read what God has done,

...and I’d like to share a story each week
As we look at various stories in 2 Chronicles.
God
Background
Before jumping in,
I need to frame the book of Chronicles,

...Because every story leads to a singular purpose,
...Hope.

You may be aware that in our OT,
1-2 Chronicles follows the books of Samuel and Kings,

...and to the frustration of many readers,

...And after 9 chapters of genealogies,
It repeats a lot content from both of those books.

So often, when people realize they’ve already read
some of these stories before,

...they just skip these books.
Which is a shame.

Because Chronicles is doing something very different than
The books of Samuel and Kings.

Which is much more obvious to Jewish readers.

...Because the books in our OT
Are in a different order than the Hebrew Bible of the Jews.

In our Bible, Chronicles is right in the middle of all the historical books.

But in the Hebrew Bible,
Chronicles is the very last book.

The reason is that Chronicles is one of the
last of the OT books that were written.

The books of 1...

He couldn’t wash his car.
He couldn’t play video games.

Nothing.

Why?
His mom said that there was no work on the Sabbath.
I was kinda glad my parents didn’t read that part of the Bible. :)
We (tension)
But so it has been for the Jews for 3000 years!

Even today in Israel,
Friday afternoons are a madhouse

...of last minute shopping
and hurrying to make preparations for Shabat,
 
...the Hebrew word for Sabbath which begins at sunset.

Families come from wherever they are
to gather around the dinner table
 
...for prayers and reading the Scriptures
if they’re religious,

...followed by a good meal, laughing, talking.

It’s a beautiful tradition.

The next morning, many wake and go to synagogue,
Then spend the rest of the day with family and neighbors.

Sabbath often ends with a celebratory meal

...Welcoming the 8th day,
The first day of the new week.
God
Story
I want to tell a story that most of you already know.

...not just “A” bible story,
...but “THE” Bible story.

...how things begin.
...and how they end.

But I’m going to share the story through a very different lens,
...a Jewish lens

...that may just reveal why
...You feel that your faith may be missing something.

The story begins in Genesis 1.

In the beginning,
God began to create;
 
...Bringing light and order
out of darkness and disorder.

...For 6 days.
Each ending with the statement

“And there was evening and morning.”

Finally, on the 7th day,
God was finished and he rested.

He Shabat, the Hebrew word for stop or cease.

2 By the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing; so on the seventh day he rested [Shabbat] from all his work. – Gen 2 (NIV)

It never says there was evening and morning.
The 7th day was to be a day with no end.

The work was done.
Life was now full and complete.

God’s presence now filled his creation.
Every need taken care of;

As God appointed people to join him
In take care of the creation.

God dwelling with humanity, forever.

This is God’s kingdom on earth as it is in heaven.

...When all is right between God and people,
...And people with each other.

In the Jewish mind, this is what the # 7 represented.
The 7th day of God’s fullness and completion and rest.

But human beings were deceived by a dark power
and ended up forfeiting the 7th day of rest.

We call this the Fall.

...When Adam and Eve decided
they no longer wanted to submit.

They wanted to rule under their own authority
They wanted to be God.

And this story is perpetuated every time we put ourselves first.
Every time we choose our story as the main story.

That’s what sin is.
I’m more important than you... or even God.

And as a result of their sin,
The 7th day came to a close.

...they were exiled into the wilderness.
...Condemned to work as slaves to the land.

Separated from God
and alienated from each other.

That was never God’s design.

Yet, in the midst of their rebellion,
 
...God continued to love people and dwell with them.

...And always intended to restore humanity
...back to the 7th day rest.

And you see, that’s the story from Genesis chapter 4
Repeated over and over through the end in Revelation.

God chooses a people, the family of Israel,

...offering an opportunity to walk with God
into 7th day rest,

...so they can share it with others.

God rescues them from the darkness of slavery in Egypt,

...And walks the long journey with them,
Through the wilderness.

Every journey on this side of Eden
is the hard journey through the wilderness.

And like all of us,
they continually chose their own way.

And God never stopped inviting them
and re-inviti...