“Understanding God’s Vehicle: THE DREAM TEAM”

Have you ever thought of what a “dream team” would look like?

The first ten players for the “Dream Team” were officially selected on September 21, 1991: Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen of the Chicago Bulls, John Stockton and Karl Malone of the Utah Jazz, Magic Johnson of the Los Angeles Lakers, Larry Bird of the Boston Celtics, Patrick Ewing of the New York Knicks, Chris Mullin of the Golden State Warriors, David Robinson of the San Antonio Spurs, and Charles Barkley of the Philadelphia 76ers (later traded to the Phoenix Suns). David Robinson had played with the 1988 Olympic team, and was especially eager to earn a gold medal at Barcelona. Clyde Drexler of the Portland Trail Blazers was added to the team on May 12, 1992, along with Christian Laettner of Duke University. Laettner was the only player selected for the national team without any professional experience, and beat out Louisiana State University's Shaquille O'Neal for the final spot on the roster.

The Dream Team made its debut on June 28, 1992, at the Tournament of the Americas, an Olympic qualifying event in Portland, Oregon. The team defeated Cuba 136–57, prompting Cuban coach Miguel Calderón Gómez to say, “You can't cover the sun with your finger.” The next five games were also easy victories for Team USA, who ended the tournament on July 5, 1992, with a 127–80 victory over Venezuela.

At the Olympics, opposing teams were overwhelmed by the talent of the American roster, losing by an average of 43.8 points per game. The closest of the eight matches was Team USA's 117–85 victory in the gold medal game against Croatia. Charles Barkley was the Dream Team's leading scorer during the Olympics, averaging 18.0 points per game. Fans in Barcelona greeted the Dream Team with great enthusiasm. Fans gathered outside the team's hotel, hoping to see their favorite players. “It was like Elvis and the Beatles put together,” remarked Chuck Daly. Opposing basketball players and athletes from other sports often asked to have photographs taken with the players.

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

As I have shared before I always have wanted to be a part of a winning team. It seems that all the sports teams that I have been a part of have gotten close to winning championships and titles but never have come out as number one until now. I have discovered through God’s word that the hope of this world lies in the hands of two entities: the church and the family. God has chosen these two to accomplish His dream. Let’s call them His “dream teams” and I get to be a part of both!

God has called us to be a part of His “dream team” for reaching, for reconciling His people back to Himself. (Matthew 28:19-20) “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

Often when I read this verse I am overwhelmed by it’s gargantuan mandate. Even though we have seen many people give their hearts to Christ through the ministry of Sierra Vista Community Church I realize that we haven’t made a dent on the work that needs to be done in our community. This grieves me since I have a deep passion to make a difference. I believe that God has allowed me to be born at this time, in the family I was born into, married the woman I did, placed me in the current ministry that I have and called me to not only pastor Sierra Vista Community Church but the entire community of Las Cruces.

Take a moment and read (Acts 18) so that you can get familiar with one of God’s dream teams. Their name was Priscilla and Aquila, two unlikely people who would make a huge difference in the Kingdom of God.

God cared for the apostle Paul in practical ways. He encouraged Paul in his ministry with a vision. He gave Paul good friends, such as Aquila and Priscilla, to encourage him in the faith. God even provided a way for Paul to support himself through tent making. Even though Paul had to face many obstacles and severe opposition to his preaching, God always provided enough resources so that Paul could serve him.

OPEN

1. When has an unexpected surprise brightened your day?

EXPLORE

2. How did Aquila and Priscilla help the apostle Paul? (17:2-3, 18)

3. How did the arrival of Silas and Timothy impact Paul’s ministry? (17:5)

4. What words of encouragement did God give to Paul in a vision? (17:9-10)

5. Why did Gallio throw Paul’s accusers out of his court? (17:12-16)

GET IT

6. When have the demands of ministry left you feeling drained?

7. How did God minister to you during that time?

8. How can friends within the church protect and support us?

9. In what circumstances do you tend to doubt God’s love and concern for you?

APPLY

10. How can you trust God to meet your needs today?

Question excerpted from Illumina Bible Program

Being born in 1956, I really got to see and experience a small part of the “hippie” movement of the 60’s as a very young child.

I was reflecting back on this time of my life and found myself being filled with images of my first real experiences with those who celebrated free drugs, free sex and free STD’s!

It was the summer of 1971 and I was just getting ready to start my sophomore year at Las Cruces High School when my dad took our family on our very first summer vacation. I remember piling into the back of my dad’s pickup along with my sisters. It was the first time we had actually taken a trip further than Alamogordo, Deming, El Paso or Hatch!

My dad decided that all of us needed to get to know our beautiful state better, so he planned this exciting trip to Northern New Mexico. We got to visit places like Taos, Espanola, the Rio Grand Gorge and of course, Albuquerque and Santa Fe, our state capital.

I found myself amused and intrigued with the people we encountered living on the Old Town Plazas in Albuquerque and Santa Fe. I studied them intently to see what they said and did, what they ate, how they dressed, even the music they played. And of course, I was even overtaken by the smell of their funny shaped cigarettes!

Little did I know that right in our backyard, not far from our house in San Pablo, was a cluster of these hippies living together in an old ranch house. I would often drive by their house as slow as I could, without tipping over on my motorcycle, just to get a glimpse of them. One day I began to count all the adults and kids who were just hanging out and I was taken back by how many people were living there. At least seventy people were living on the grounds of this old ranch house.

As I began to ask questions about these different folks I found out that they were living together in what was called a “commune”. I was told that the money they earned, the house they lived in, the food they brought home and anything else belonging to them, was ALL community property. (I’ll leave the rest to your imagination!)

Later, I heard from a friend of mine who happened to be involved in another commune in Radium Springs, who was their pastor. This commune was different though. Yes, they were still considered hippies, but they were also known as “Jesus Freaks”. However, they did not share “all things”. They were born again followers of Christ that came to know Him through this Jesus movement.

After seeing how these two communes were so different, yet similar in function, I have to tell you that I was (and STILL am) intrigued by the possibility of a people living together and sharing all things that they had in common. After all, these people functioned in much the same way that our extended family did. I guess that is why I have such a great love for Acts 2:42-47. Please take a moment to read this passage of scripture as it will help you understand where this story is going.

After reading that passage, here are two questions to ask about it:

What is unique to this community?

What are some things to be common of every community that follows Jesus?

Read the following scriptures and answer the questions:

1. Genesis 2:15-25. In what ways is marriage supposed to be an environment for experiencing community?
2. Matthew 18:15-20. What role does community play in church discipline?
3. Acts 20:17-38. What elements of community do you see demonstrated between Paul and Ephesian elders?
4. Philippians 2:1-5. How does Paul describe the bond of Christian community?
5. 1 Corinthians 13. There are two distinct lists here: what love does and what love does not do. How can you be more loving in your community?

Taking It Deeper:

Reflect on how these verses inform us as to what TRUE biblical community looks like:

·      Mark 9:50  Be at peace with one another.

·      John 13:14  Wash one another’s feet.

·      John 13:34-35; 15:12,17  Love one another

·      Romans 13:8  Owe no one anything, expect to love one another.

·      Romans 12:10  Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor.

·      Romans 12:16  Live in harmony with one another.

·      Romans 14:13 Let us not pass judgment on one another any longer.

·      Romans 15:7  Welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you.

·      Romans 16:16; 1 Corinthians 16:20, 2 Corithians 13:12; 1 Thessalonians 5:26 Greet one another with a holy kiss.

·      1 Corinthains 11:33 Wait for one another when you come together to eat.

·      1 Corinthians 12:25 Members may have the same care for one another.

·      Galatians 5:13 Through love, serve one another.

·      Galatians 6:2  Bear one another’s burdens.

·      Galatains 5:15  If you bite and devour one another, watch out that you’re not consumed by one another.

·      Galatians 5:26 Let us not become conceited, provoking ... [and] envying one another.

·      Ephesians 4:32  Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another.

·      Ephesians 5:19  Addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart.

·      Ephesians 5:21  Submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ.

·      Colossians 3:9  Do not lie to one another.

·      Colossians 3:16  Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly ... admonishing one another.

·      1 Thessalonians 3:12  May the Lord make you increase and abound in love for one another.

·      1 Thessalonians 4:18; 5:11 Hebrews 10:25 Encourage one another.

Questions excerpted from Disciple-Getting Your Identity From Jesus by Bill Clem

“UNDERSTANDING GOD’S VENTURE - WORSHIP”

I always enjoy this time of the year. It’s cooling down, the mornings are just right, the sunsets and sunrises are beautiful, but that’s not why it is so special to me. What makes it special for me is the fact that twice a year I do a message or series of messages reminding us what God has called us, His church, to do around this time every year.
    
For the last three weeks we have been taking a closer look at Acts 2:42-47. We have already looked at “What Makes A Great Church”: it’s values, and last week- it’s vision and now this week- it’s venture. For the next few weeks we will break down the venture God has called us to, beginning this Sunday with God’s venture: worship.
    
We are told that in America we are living in a “post church” generation, which means that some children will NEVER shadow the doorway of a church in their entire life! That startles me and alarms me! With this in mind, when we begin to talk about worship our minds conjures up many different ideas.
    
Gayla and I have had the privilege of representing our Lord and Sierra Vista Community Church by being in many parts of our world. We have been in some of the most beautiful and ancient mosques in both Egypt and Palestine. We have attended mass in some of the most ancient, ornate gothic cathedrals in Spain, Palestine and Israel. We have also seen some of the oldest pujas (shrines/temples) in Nepal. But we have also sat in some of the simplest Evangelical Christian churches in Costa Rica, Nepal, Spain and Ramallah in the West Bank. Then you consider my own religious up bringing and it’s no wonder we all tend to struggle with an understanding what true worship is.
    
One of my favorite passages of scripture is (John 4:19-24) where a Samaritan woman encounters Jesus and initiates a spirited conversation about worship. The Bible tells us that she is a Samaritan. In today’s culture she would be known as mestiza (a mixed breed, specifically a person of European and American Indian ancestry.)  But, in this case, it was intermarriage of some, though not all, Jews and Gentiles.
    
This Samaritan woman obviously was speaking to Jesus from her racial, religious, cultural and regional perspective. Her main argument hinged on John 4:20:“Our fathers worshipped on this mountain, but you say that in Jerusalem is the place where people ought to worship.”
   
It’s interesting to me how this argument is still prevalent today! Well meaning people argue about the how, where, when, and what is the right way to worship. But in the midst of all this, we loose sight of what God has called us to do, which is to WORSHIP Him!
    
What comes to your mind when you hear the word “worship”?  Is it the image of Abraham taking his son Isaac up to the mountain in Moriah, (Genesis 22:5) “… I and the boy will go over there and worship …”?  Or is it an Old Testament priest slaughtering an atonement lamb? If you’re from the south, maybe it’s a backwoods snake handler. Or maybe if you were raised in a Pentecostal church, it’s a memory of someone running down the aisle hurdling over chairs. If you are from Northern New Mexico, perhaps it’s a Penitente fraternity where members carry heavy crosses during Holy Week, and have been known to submit to some form of crucifixion.
    
Let’s go back to John 4:20-24. The first thing we notice is Jesus saying, “Woman, believe me, the hour is coming when neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem will you worship the Father.”  Jesus was calling the woman to live her life as a worship service rather than calling her to go to one. Jesus is the “where” and the “how” we meet with God. Jesus was telling her that the Father is seeking those who will discover Him in the everyday occurrences of life, responding to him in ways that please and glorify Him.
    
Secondly, Jesus says to the woman, “You worship what you do not know, we worship what we know ...” (v. 22) If you are having trouble worshiping God, this just may be the key! Maybe your trying to worship someone who you do not know. Since I know God and we have an ongoing relationship, worship comes easier for me now.
    
Let me encourage you, if you have never placed your faith and trust in Jesus Christ, why don’t you consider doing so today?
    
The Bible explains how you can have a personal relationship with Him in Romans 10:9-10 “... if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.” Would you confess your faith to the Lord by praying this simple prayer? “God, today I ask that you save me and set me free from sin.  I thank you for the gift of forgiveness and enternal life through your Son, Jesus Christ. And by your Holy Spirit, I ask you to be my Lord and Savior.”
   
If this is the first time you have prayed this prayer giving your heart and life to Jesus; welcome to the family of God!
    
Jesus makes the following confident statement, “... we worship what we know.”
    
Now you go and worship what/who you have come to know. See you Sunday!

Questions/assignments:

• Read Psalms 27, 73 & 84, and record your observations about worship.
• Read Exodus 20:1-11. What is the correspondence between obedience and worship?
• Read Psalm 103. What do you think it means to “bless the Lord”?
• Read Isaiah 40 and record the awe-inspiriting aspects of God.
• Read 1 John 4:7-21. What do you observe about God’s love? How does it enhance your worship?

Questions excerpted from Disciple-Getting Your Identity From Jesus by Bill Clem

“SEEING THE WORLD AS JESUS DOES”

Ice Breaker: When you’re really thirsty, what quenches your thirst the best?       

        This week we will be looking specifically at John 4:35-39 and Matthew 9:35-38. Please take a moment to read both passages before you begin this study. In fact it would be to your benefit to read John 4:7-42.

        This particular passage is one of my favorite. I hope it speaks to you and challenges you as it has me. Enjoy the study!
       
        Here are some comments taken from my Life Application Bible that will aid you in understanding the passage better.

        (4:34) The “food” about which Jesus was speaking was His spiritual nourishment. It includes more than Bible study, prayer and attending church. Spiritual nourishment also comes from doing God’s will and helping to bring His work of salvation to completion. We are nourished not only by what we take in, but also what we give out for God. In 17:4, Jesus refers to completing God’s work on earth.

        (4:35) Sometimes Christians excuse themselves from witnessing by saying that their family or friends aren’t ready to believe. Jesus however, makes it clear that around us a continual harvest waits to be reaped. Don’t let Jesus find you making excuses. Look around. You will find people ready to hear God’s word.

        (4:36-38) The wages Jesus offers are the joy of working for Him and seeing the harvest of believers. These wages come to sower and reaper alike because both find joy in seeing new believers come into Christ’s kingdom. The phrase “others have done the hard work” (4:38) may refer to the Old Testament prophets and to John the Baptist, who paved the way for the gospel.

         (4:39) The Samaritan woman immediately shared her experience with others. Despite her reputation, many took her invitation and came out to meet Jesus. Perhaps there are sins in our past of which we are ashamed. But Christ changes us. As people see these changes, they become curious. Use these opportunities to introduce them to Christ.

        Instead of avoiding Samaria as Jews often did, Jesus passed through this area that Jews considered inhabited by spiritual and ethnic half-breeds (mestizos). Not only that, but Jesus stopped to talk to a woman of questionable reputation.


Personal  And Group Questions:

• How would you describe this woman’s response for most of her conversation with Jesus? Why?
• What most influenced the woman to consider that the man she was talking to was the Messiah?
• Jesus offered this woman “living water” for what she was thirsting for in life. What do you think she really wanted?
• Jesus overcame social and cultural differences to reach this woman. How can you overcome those same barriers?
• What are you thirsting for most in life right now?
• What do you need to do to relieve your spiritual thirst?
• Considering your interest in “spiritual thing,” are you more like the disciples or the woman? Why?
• What have you learned from the woman about telling others about Jesus?
• How would you like this group to pray for you?

Some questions excerpted from Serendipity Bible & Small Group Questions