Bulletins - Sunnyside First Baptist Church

Here I Am To Worship
Build My Life
I Speak Jesus
Trust In God
== Cyrus was Called by God to be His mouthpiece. To bring the people back from Babylon.
== God was in it, to continue His work redeeming humanity from the grip of satan.
== The people as they returned took several different paths
== rapid re-engagement in building
== wandered away never to be seen again
== stood on the side and watched
Question: If you were gone for a generation, would you know God? Would God know you?
== How committed and resilient are you?
== Are the “roots” of your faith strong enough to stay deeply connected with God?
== Is bible study, bible reading or devotion the first thing on your mind… Or is it an after thought?
== Well…
== In spite of ourselves we remain and will always be… God’s Kids!
== Now our command from Him is that we know Him better each and every day.
== Can you stand before him and tell him about your ongoing daily commitment to Him? I Hope so!!
== If you can’t answer those two questions with a resounding “YES” It’s time for you to do some thinking. And some changing
== Today we are going to look at Ezra 3.
== That is found on page 394 in bible in the rack in front of you
== in your own bible, or bible app
== Just some introduction
As the Jews RETURNED, They began to REBUILD…
== They went to work
== They relaid the foundations of their ministry.
== Who relaid the foundations… They all did! There is a opportunity for us ALL to rebuild what’s been lost.
== This is NOT a leadership only thing, although they WILL be involved, it is an ALL HANDS ON DECK!!!
== A part of that rebuilding is providing for the financial needs of the temple and it’s rebuilding
Ezra 2:68 ESV
68 Some of the heads of families, when they came to the house of the Lord that is in Jerusalem, made freewill offerings for the house of God, to erect it on its site.
== The work was great, there was much to do.
== We have much to do here at FBC…
== Yes, it will take ALL of us, the “whole assembly”
== Well, In our case it’s about 100 to Return and have a mind to Rebuild and Restore
== Our finances are an area the God cares deeply about.
== He is challenging each and every one of us to step up, and meet our calling, our obligation and our commitment, to REBUILD
== They were able to do this because… As the heads of the families made free will offerings to the house of God to erect on its site.
== We will need each and every person to take responsibility to Return (to be here, to participate, to be active, and engage in our Rebuilding.)
== To our passage this morning, Ezra 3
Ezra 3 - “Rebuild the Temple” A Foreshadowing of Christ
== This “foreshadowing” is the revealing of God’s work in bringing temple back to it’s granduer,
== For giving us a pattern to look at and see Jesus and Him as our Cornerstone
Our passage today continues in Ezra 3.8-13.
Ezra 3:8–12 (ESV)
8 Now in the second year after their coming to the house of God at Jerusalem, in the second month, Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel and Jeshua the son of Jozadak made a beginning, together with the rest of their kinsmen, the priests and the Levites and all who had come to Jerusalem from the captivity. They appointed the Levites, from twenty years old and upward, to supervise the work of the house of the Lord.
9 And Jeshua with his sons and his brothers, and Kadmiel and his sons, the sons of Judah, together supervised the workmen in the house of God, along with the sons of Henadad and the Levites, their sons and brothers.
10 And when the builders laid the foundation of the temple of the Lord, the priests in their vestments came forward with trumpets, and the Levites, the sons of Asaph, with cymbals, to praise the Lord, according to the directions of David king of Israel.
11 And they sang responsively, praising and giving thanks to the Lord, “For he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever toward Israel.” And all the people shouted with a great shout when they praised the Lord, because the foundation of the house of the Lord was laid.
12 But many of the priests and Levites and heads of fathers’ houses, old men who had seen the first house [The Temple], wept with a loud voice when they saw the foundation of this house being laid, though many shouted aloud for joy,
== In Verse 10…
Ezra 3:10 ESV
10 And when the builders laid the foundation of the temple of the Lord, the priests in their vestments came forward with trumpets, and the Levites, the sons of Asaph, with cymbals, to praise the Lord, according to the directions of David king of Israel.
POINT#1 - The laying of the Temple's foundation is a symbol of Christ as our cornerstone.
== The builders laid the foundation… or the cornerstone.
== This cornerstone, is the starting spot, it’s where everything begins. The Cornerstone is a “Firm Foundation.”
== It’s that foundation that brings us all together. Across the centuries and across our community as we engage them where they are at.
Ephesians 2:19–22 ESV
19 So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, 20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, 21 in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. 22 In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit.
== When God and Jesus are in the midst of it we cannot go wrong.
Application: We must stay connected to God and listen as we Return, Rebuild and Restore, First Baptist Church, our church.
== Your Elder Team is committed to praying, and serving, creating opportunities, for fellowship and discipleship as a Cornerstone of our ministry here.
== Your Trustee Team is committed to stretch every dollar that you give and manage the budget, our building and grounds that serve as the place of our Cornerstone.
== We hope that you see that the Leadership of First Baptist is in this Return, Rebuild and Restore project with everything we have!!
== Leadership cannot do this alone, this church will NOT survive unless we are ALL in it.
== We NEED to connect, listen, return, rebuild and restore what has been lost
God was the Cornerstone of the Temple, Christ is the Cornerstone of the Church.
== This is how the Temple was rebuilt, this is how FBC will be rebuilt.
== Embracing God and His ways and learning from them
== And using the the power of the Holy Spirit, delivered by the power of Christ, we will re-establish Him as the Cornerstone of FBC.
POINT #2 - The offering of sacrifices and joyous celebrations will keep us moving forward
== As we move on the with the “re-claiming” of the ground that we have given up
== Your sacrifices… We get and keep God involved in our project.
== Your sacrifice of Praise,
== Your sacrifice of giving maybe 1%, 5%, 10% or more regularly. Is a real sacrifice.
== Your sacrifice of service
== Our sacrifice of Praise connects us with other believers, God and Jesus.
Psalm 145:18 ESV
18 The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth.
== And “Yes” we need to celebrate. We need to celebrate the small things.
== A Sunday Adult Learning time (i.e. Sunday School) with 6 in attendance.
== A soup potluck in which there was lots of great fellowship going on.
== A baptism or when people join the church
== Thank God when you see a new face, greet them warmly.
Application: Our warmth with others, our commitment to prayer, our commitment to discipleship, fellowship and worshipping God will keep us moving forward.
POINT #3 Recognizing Jesus as the Tabernacle, In our lives brings us into laser focus on Him.
== Jesus so desired to be a part of our lives that he inserted himself into the life of man
== He demonstrated that He could live a sinless life and that by the power of the Holy Spirit we too can live that life.
== Jesus wanted/needed to not be distant but to be as close as your next breath
John 1:14 ESV
14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.
== That focus, that intimacy that we share with Christ is vital in rebuilding what we have here.
== Remember that Jesus is and will be along side us as we Return, Rebuild and Restore our ministry here at First Baptist.
== He desires to Tabernacle with us. He wants to live among us… His people
== A consistent emphasis on prayer and the work of the Holy Spirit in all our lives will bring the laser focus that is needed in our ministry.
== When we are ALL on the same page, When we are all starting from the same spot, when all of our energies are focused on God and the ministry that he desires here… Christ will be pleased!
Application: Recognizing Jesus as the true Temple and sacrifice. Brings Jesus into our lives, to dwell, to lead, guide and direct us!
== Let’s do some review and application
== Here are the three points I spoke from today.
Our Message Today… In three points and applications.
#1 - The laying of the Temple's foundation is a symbol of Christ as our Cornerstone
#2 - The offering of sacrifices and joyous celebrations will keep us moving forward
#3 - Recognizing Jesus as the Tabernacle, In our lives brings us into laser focus on Him.
Application (What do we do now?)
#1 - We must stay connected to God and listen as we Return, Rebuild and Restore, First Baptist Church, our church.
#2 - Our warmth with others, our commitment to prayer, our commitment to discipleship, fellowship and worshipping God will keep us moving forward.
#3 - Recognizing Jesus as the true Temple and sacrifice. Brings Jesus into our lives, to dwell, to lead, guide and direct us!