Love God, Love Others - A Lynn Haven UMC Podcast

God didn’t just create us. He created us for a purpose (or purposes) which He “prepared in advance for us.” (Ephesians 2:10) God created you, not to just sit back and watch the show, but for a specific part in the greatest story ever told. In this podcast Heather and Terry discuss God's fifth purpose for our lives, that we are Called to Be Sent. Or as Pastor Rick Warren says, we were “Made for a Mission.” Learn more at mylhumc.net/purpose-driven. Connect with Pastor Terry: Terry@mylhumc.netConnect with Heather Howell: Heather@mylhumc.net

In this week's podcast Pastor Terry and Heather discuss Purpose #3 for our lives, our calling to become like Christ, and specifically they are talking about how to defeat temptation. Becoming like Jesus may seem like an impossible task. But it's important to understand that Jesus, who is both fully human and fully God, understands what we are going through, including temptation. Through relationship with Him we have power over sin!   The process of growing spiritually to become like Christ starts with you choosing to commit to becoming like Christ. Let your roots go deep down into Christ and draw nourishment from him. See that you go on growing in the Lord, and become strong and vigorous in the truth. (Colossians 2:7)Learn more at mylhumc.net/purpose-driven. Connect with Pastor Terry: Terry@mylhumc.netConnect with Heather Howell: Heather@mylhumc.net

In this week's podcast Pastor Terry and Heather discuss Purpose #2 for our lives, that we were formed for God's family. They specifically answer the question do I have to go to church to be a Christian? Hebrews 10:25 NLT: And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near.How are you living your calling to be part of God's family? Learn more at mylhumc.net/purpose-driven. Connect with Pastor Terry: Terry@mylhumc.netConnect with Heather Howell: Heather@mylhumc.net

Pastor Terry and Heather are currently reading Pastor Rick Warren's book, The Purpose Driven Life, with the entire Lynn Haven United Methodist Church. This week they are discussing the first of the five reasons that God made us, which was TO LOVE US! If you've never read The Purpose Driven Life you may be shocked to learn that God made you for His pleasure. He made you to love you! Listen and let it sink in that that the #1 purpose for your life is to be loved by God and to love Him in return. Learn more at mylhumc.net/purpose-driven. Connect with Pastor Terry: Terry@mylhumc.netConnect with Heather Howell: Heather@mylhumc.net

Pastor Terry is back this week! During the next six weeks of the podcast he and Heather will discuss the Rick Warren's book, The Purpose Driven Life, which is the basis of a current church-wide study and sermon series. Learn more at mylhumc.net/purpose-driven. Connect with Pastor Terry: Terry@mylhumc.netConnect with Heather Howell: Heather@mylhumc.net

It's important to know your worldview. Did you even know you have a worldview? Everyone has one, whether they know it or not! With Pastor Terry out sick, Heather has this podcast topic all to herself. Listen and learn about how understanding your worldview can bring internal stability and how, as Christians, we have  a responsibility to know and understand our own worldview and the worldview and beliefs of others.  So here’s what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life—your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life—and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him. Don’t become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. ( Romans 12:1-2, The Message translation)Want to chat more about this or other topics related to our podcast or church life? Email Heather@mylhumc.net. 

During this week's podcast Terry and Heather discuss what the Gospels say about Jesus's last night on Earth. His every act on the day before his death demonstrated His pure love. It's the same love that Jesus has for each and every one of us. This Holy Thursday, take time to truly let it sink in that the God of the universe loves you more than you can ever imagine. He want good things for you. And nothing will every separate you from His love. Need to be encouraged today that God loves you? Heather and Terry are available and would love to spend time helping you understand God's love and will for your life. Email Heather@mylhumc.net or Terry@mylhumc.net or call the church office at 850-265-5231. 

The instruction of the resurrected Jesus Christ to his disciples was to spread the gospel to all the nations of the world. Have you been SENT? Are you open to going? How do you know where God wants you to go? Are you listening to Him to discover where and who you are being sent to serve? It might be across the world or in your own home, but God IS calling you to serve. He is calling you to be sent. The most exciting step of faith you can take is to listen and GO!Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Matthew 28:19-20 NIV

Today Pastor Terry and Heather discuss several Psalms and the importance of remembering to sing praise to God whether you are in a time of Order, Disorder, or Re-Order. Consider what the Lord has done in your life and trust that the very best is yet to come!For more on this topic, check out Pastor Terry's recent blog post: https://mylhumc.net/sacred-4-letter-words-sing/ 

Heather Howell shares her personal testimony about the importance of rest.

What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them? (James 2:14 NIV) In today’s podcast Heather and Terry discuss what the Bible says about Christian service. Can you work your way into Heaven? If that’s not how it works, then what are we supposed to do in response to our salvation? Link to referenced song, “Do Something” by Matthew West: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b_RjndG0IX8Interested in discovering your spiritual gifts? Contact Heather, Heather@mylhumc.net.  

In today’s episode, we are keeping it real. We are talking about God’s plan for sex. Pre-marital sex, living together, unhappiness in marriage - it is all on the table.

How does it feel to know that God will sometimes lead you into the wilderness, the desert place, instead of the way you think you are ready for? Pastor Terry and Heather discuss practical things you can do to better understand God's will and purpose for your life. 

This week Heather and Terry are discussing biblical mindfulness and meditation. Biblical mindfulness and meditation is not simply getting alone and emptying one’s mind.  It is an active process where through prayer and God’s Word we can actually converse with God and the consequence will be a mind that is set on the things of God and the result will be becoming more like Christ.

What is Christian Perfection? “Christian perfection is the name given to various teachings within Christianity that describe the process of achieving spiritual maturity or perfection. The ultimate goal of this process is union with God characterized by pure love of God and other people…”Becoming all that God wants you to be - Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect. (Matthew 5:48)Perfect in loveHow is the different form human perfection? IT DOES NOT = without fault or sin Perfect (Greek) = full, mature, complete Is it possible to achieve Christian Perfection? Because by one sacrifice he has made perfect forever those who are being made holy. (Hebrews 10:27)Jesus replied: “ ‘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) How do we achieve Christian Perfection?  LOVE GOD, LOVE OTHERS.

Today’s four-letter word is FULL.  We are called to be FULL of the Holy Spirit but how can we be full of something we don’t understand? In the book “Forgotten God” Francis Chan argues that most Christians never think about the Holy Spirit. What are your thoughts about his statement? Let’s look at this Forgotten part of God- Who is the Holy Spirit?Chan looks at 7 Characteristics of the Holy Spirit:  1.      The Holy Spirit is a person- Matthew 28:19- He has a name and works alongside God and Jesus2.      The Holy Spirit is God- Acts 5:3-4 The Spirit and God are interchangeable. So when we forget about the Holy Spirit, we forget about God. 3.      The Holy Spirit is eternal and holy John 14:16; Romans 1:4 - Our bodies are temples for the Holy Spirit4.      The Holy Spirit has His own mind and prays for us Romans 8:27 - Even when we don’t know how to pray the Holy Spirit prays for us. a.       Have you ever not been able to pray?  5.      The Holy Spirit has emotions: Ephesians 4:30 - Our sin causes Him pain.6.      The Holy Spirit has His own desires and will- 1 Corinthians 12:11 - He is the one who chooses the gifts that we need to accomplish His plans. 7.      The Holy Spirit is Omnipotent, omnipresent, and omniscient - We should be in awe of Him and worship Him That’s all great, but how do we know we are promised the Holy Spirit?Acts 1:8: But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”Acts 4:31: After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly.Romans 8:11: And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies because of his Spirit who lives in you.Scripture says we need to be FILLED with the Holy Spirit (not partly, not somewhat, etc.) but completely FULL. Galatians 5:16-23: So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever[a] you want.  But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.What keeps you from being full?What does the Holy Spirit want from you right now?  How can you cooperate with Him in His work? 

Today we consider the word self – self is an obstacle for us, something that we repeatedly stumble over, and keeps us from living a holy lifestyle.Pride and selfishness are at the root of all sin. We live in a world dominated by prideful ambition, fits of anger and impatience, jealousy, contention and it’s all because of human self-centeredness. We must find a way to overcome the sin of self-centeredness.This is how we can conquer the enemy of self:      And [Jesus] said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.” - Luke 9:23 ESV

You must be holy because I, the Lord your God, am holy. - Leviticus 19:2 NLTYou were created to be like God, and so you must please him and be truly holy.  - Ephesians 4:24b CEVAs God’s people we are called and expected to be holy. We have complicated this subject, and often view it with cynicism and skepticism. Yet God actually expects us to be holy. Let’s consider what is holiness, why it is important, and how we become holy.What is holiness?             The original Hebrew and Greek words mean “division, separation, or set apart.”It means something or someone who is set apart from the world and set aside for God. It is more than a set of do’s and don’ts, it means to be separated so that God can use us.      Why is holiness so important?Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty, who was, and is, and is to come. - Revelation 4:8 NIVHoliness describes the character of God more than any other word. The Lord is completely set apart from all that is sinful and corrupt. In the same way, holiness is meant to be a core character trait of Christians – not just our outward behavior, but our inner hearts. Just as He who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.” - 1 Peter 1:15-16 NIV How do we become holy and fulfill our God-given destiny?Our own efforts to be holy always fall short, we cannot do this by our own willpower. The good news is that God helps us – we have to make an effort to set ourselves apart, but it is God who transforms our inner selves into something holy. Jesus’ work opened the way for our salvation and holiness, and now we are called to co-operate with the Holy Spirit in our lives. So set yourselves apart to be holy, for I am the Lord your God. Keep all my decrees by putting them into practice, for I am the Lord who makes you holy. - Leviticus 20:7-8 NLTYou were cleansed; you were made holy; you were made right with God by calling on the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God. - 1 Corinthians 6:11 NLTConclusionJesus said, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?” - John 11:25-26 NIV God has called you and I to be holy as He is holy.  - Do you believe this? Do you believe you are called to be holy and somehow God can do that work in your life? What are some obstacles that stand in the way of truly believing you can live a holy life?- Will you give yourself wholeheartedly to God and to the work of the Holy Spirit to do for you what you cannot do yourself? Ask the Lord to do this holy work in your heart and life.- Will you agree to do whatever is necessary to cooperate with God’s Spirit so that you can “be holy in all you do” and say? What is ONE THING you can do to live a holy life?    

Pastor Terry discusses what God can do with what happened in 2020.  Hint: He can bring good out of every situation! Get excited and be grateful. The best is yet to come.  

When you think of religious words associated with Christmas you likely think of joy, hope, or peace. But what about holy? Christmas is literally a “holy – day.” Holiness is a common theme in the gospel account of Jesus’ birth, and an important piece of our identity as Jesus followers. Today we consider what holiness is, and what it looks like in the life of a believer. “You must be holy because I, the Lord your God, am holy.” - Leviticus 19:2 NLTThe wasteland will rejoice and blossom. Yes, there will be an abundance of flowers and singing and joy! There the Lord will display his glory, the splendor of our God. He is coming to save. And when he comes, he will open the eyes of the blind and unplug the ears of the deaf. The lame will leap like deer, and those who cannot speak will sing for joy! Springs will gush forth in the wilderness…and will satisfy the thirsty land. And a great road will go through that once deserted land. It will be named the Highway of Holiness. It will be only for those who walk in God’s ways… (Isaiah 35 NLT excerpts)Jesus’ earthly ministry brought healing, restoration, renewal, reconciliation – and opened for us the way of holiness. During this time before Christ returns, we are called to travel the road of holiness. The way we get there is not by our own efforts. Holiness is primarily God’s work in us through the Holy Spirit, but we do have a role to play. These are specific ways we can pursue holiness, as seen in the characters in the Christmas story. 1) Complete Obedience  [Joseph] did as the angel of the Lord commanded and took Mary as his wife.  - Matthew 1:24 NLT While holiness is more than rigidly following a set of rules, it does involve some standards, since God’s expectations of our behavior are different than those of the world. Partial obedience is still disobedience.  2) Comprehensive FaithMary responded, “I am the Lord’s servant. May everything you have said about me come true.” - Luke 1:38 NLTScripture teaches that we are to “walk by faith, not by sight”, but most of us do not live this way in our daily lives. We tend to rely on ourselves and what we can accomplish rather than trusting God and what He can do. Real faith means depending on God completely, each and every day, for everything.  3) Concentrated Love “You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind…[and] love your neighbor as yourself.” - Matthew 22:37, 39 NLT Jesus made life relatively simple by giving us one command to follow. As author, Francis Frangipane, puts it, “A holy life is a life alive with love, compelled by love, filled with love.” Holiness means loving like God loves, not by giving an expensive gift, but by giving of ourselves.      Conclusion Þ Is there some area of partial obedience or even total disobedience in your life? What would total obedience look like for you?  Þ Where are you on the continuum of walking by faith or by sight? Is there any area where you need to trust God more completely? Þ What can you do, during this special time of the year, to demonstrate concentrated, pure love for God and for those around you?  Our Father in heaven, thank you for these days of Advent and this new year in Christ. Your holiness is filled with love and your love is filled with holiness. Come, Holy Spirit, fill our lives with complete obedience, comprehensive faith, and concentrated love so we can be holy as the Lord our God is holy. Transform this special season into true holy days so that we might become more like Christ – the one who came, is here, and is coming again. Amen.