WHATEVER HAPPENED TO EDEN?

“What Kind of Father Will You Be?”

Rev. D. Johns sunday June 15 2008

Mark 1:19-20
Zebedee = owned a successful fishing business; he was the father of two significant disciples of Jesus, James & John; his wife, Salome, was also included in the Lord’s inner circle. It is clear that Salome had “dreams” for the success/honour of her boys (Matthew 20:20-24, Mark 10:35-41) so it is hard not to imagine that Zebedee had similar business dreams for his sons. Therefore we can imagine his reaction to the Rabbi Jesus who proceeded to ‘draft’ the boys from right under their protective Dad’s nose! Zebedee being left in the boat is almost a tragic, sad image! Goodbye James. Goodbye John. Goodbye Salome. Goodbye Jesus. I’m staying in my boat.

· Father’s are to be encouraging and proud of their children, their children’s calling and accomplishments.
· Dad’s, don’t be left in the boat! Lead!

Scriptures for fathers: Ephesians 6:4, Joshua 24:15, Acts 16:25-34

REV. D. JOHNS
Whatever happened to Eden?
Part #5 Surviving Family Conflict (Mary & Martha)

Introduction: While the conflict these sisters exhibit is rather subtle and tame compared to other Biblical examples (and compared to the real life 'wars' we often experience), nonetheless their interaction points us to the root of the trouble. We also see how the counsel of Christ can calm the rough waters of relationships.
Scene #1 A DINNER PARTY AT MARTHA'S HOUSE (Luke 10:38-42)
Five causes of conflict:
- who is in charge?
- under pressure?
- misdirected communication
- feeling unnoticed, going unnoticed
- manipulation


Scene #2 BIG STINK IN BETHANY (John 11:1-44)
It's all about expectations!


Scene #3 ANOTHER DINNER PARTY - GETTING IT RIGHT THIS TIME (John 12:1-8)
no complaining + the faithful discharge of devotion

Part #4: Living in Hope When You Belong to an Unhappy Family”
Rev. D. Johns
Sunday June 25, 2008
Genesis 25, 27 – 49
The Story of Jacob

· All families ‘stumble and fumble’
· Jacob had both a heart for gain and a heart for God
· Jacob was both a product and a producer of a troubled family

NOTE: His Birth, His Name, His Deceit, His Disappointment
NOTE: The Folly of Favoritism
NOTE: Family Sin, Family Grace

BIG IDEA: By seeing God’s grace to Jacob’s family, in spite of all the pain its members inflicted on each other, we can find hope for our own.

QUESTIONS:
1. Has God ever ‘thrown up a mirror ’ in order for you to really see the sins in your past through the troubles of the present?
2. What does it mean to wrestle with God? – Genesis 32
3. Does God sometimes bring us down before He raises us up? 1 Peter 5:5,6 = “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble. Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time.”

Doug recommends: Two books that have helped me prepare for this topic are – J. I Packer, Never Beyond Hope: How God Touches and Uses Imperfect People, Inter Varsity Press, 2000 and R. Paul Stevens, Down-to-Earth Spirituality: Encountering God in the Ordinary, boring Stuff of Life, Inter Varsity Press, 2003

Every city or household divided against itself will not stand. – Matthew 12:25
The whole family was filled with joy because they had come to believe in God. – Acts 16:34
Unless the Lord builds the house, its builders labour in vain. – Psalm 127:1


1. THE START: THE FORMULA - LEAVE – CLEAVE – WEAVE … Genesis 2:24

2. BE SMART: HOW TO BUILD YOUR HOUSE – WISDOM, UNDERSTANDING, KNOWLEDGE … Proverbs 24:3,4


3. IMPART: PASS ON THE FAITH - INSPIRE & INSTRUCT THE NEXT GENERATION … Ephesians 6:4; Deuteronomy 6:1-9


4. HAVE HEART: CREATE A CULTURE & CLIMATE OF CARE – HOW & WHAT WE COMMUNICATE … Ephesians 4:25,26,29

5. BE CAREFUL NOT TO TEAR APART : A CONTINUING COVENANT OF CAMPANIONSHIP – TAKING IT SERIOUSLY … Matthew 19:6; Psalm 68:6



Genesis 3
Life before “The Fall” ... Life after “The Fall”

1. What went wrong? The "Declaration of Independence created a "3-D disaster": deception, doubt, disobedience

2. Life Under the Curse afraid + ashamed + alienated + adversity

3. To Reverse the Curse
* silence the serpent
* avoid the blame game
* embrace the grace
* move from conflict to companionship

Remember: following Jesus is a journey back to Eden. It is all about "kingdom transfer" (see Colossians 1:13)




WHAT CAN BRING A FAMILY TOGETHER?

Sunday May 11, 2008
Ephesians 4:1-6
Ezekiel 37:1-14
Acts 2:1-12
Answers:
1. Holy Living (Ephesians 4:1,2) … humble, gentle, patient, peaceful, hopeful, tolerant … remember Galatians 5 (‘fruit of the Spirit’) & 1 Corinthians 13 (‘love is…’)
2. Holy Spirit (Ephesians 4:3-6) … KEEP the unity … note the emphasis on “ONE”: Body, Spirit, Hope, Lord, Faith, Baptism, God, Father
3. The “Ruach” of the Sovereign Lord (Ezekiel 37:1-14) notes: “ruach” is the Hebrew word for wind, breath, spirit. The “dry bones” represent death and an absence of hope, the result of being “cut off” from God. The skeletons come to life in two stages, after “hearing the word of the Lord”.
4. A Common Purpose (Acts 2:1-12 = Pentecost) … obediently waiting together with expectation … and because of the Holy Spirit, they are praising God … with a view to share the good news of Jesus … God specializes in breaking the walls that divide
Summary:
1. Eden was about community, healthy relationships, responsibility
2. Disobedience destroys all this, creating division & hostility
3. Jesus and His Spirit are all about returning to Eden, bringing the family together once again