Red Door Church (RDC)
CONVERSATION FOR JULY 2017: INTERRUPTED
Interruptions change the flow of life, requiring energy and time. It’s difficult, if, not impossible to balance interruptions. Sometimes interruptions are so stinking big that nothing on the list compares or seems to matter. The thing is . . . some interruptions are deeply disturbing . . . while others are AMAZING. There’s an element of insanity to the way interruptions abruptly change everything. The pressure of it all worsens when the guilt of not completing the list comes knocking on the door.
So here’s the thing . . .
Interruptions require grace as much for ourselves as others. Most interruptions require us to simplify and take something off the list. Some interruptions require an overhaul of life. Because. Life is not about doing it all. It’s beyond unreasonable to think and do otherwise.
While there’s a long list of ways to respond rather than to react when interruptions enter in, remember this today: Be confident God will use the interruption in the most creative ways to bring good from it. This truth is not just a greeting-card-good-luck-charm–this is to be underlined deep in the soul:
We are confident that God is able to orchestrate everything to work toward something good and beautiful when we love Him and accept His invitation to live according to His plan (Romans 8:28, Voice).
Sunday Service @ 10:30am @ 1219 3rd St Salem 97304
(notes are also available @ https://redletterword.com/)
INTERRUPTED
God is the ONE that brings all things together for good, which seems impossible in the limitations of our humanity, using what we see as interruptions as an i_____________________..
Key:
1. U_____________________.
2. M_____________________.
3. B_____________________.
Key-thought:
Martin Luther King Jr. said it simply and powerfully:
KEY GOD-WORD for the INTERRUPTED series:
We are confident that God is able to orchestrate everything to work toward something good and beautiful when we love Him and accept His invitation to live according to His plan (Romans 8:28, Voice).
Ist Reading: I Chronicles 28 (Voice):
David (rising to his feet): 2 Listen to me, my brothers and my people. As you know, I had intended to build a permanent home for the covenant chest of the Eternal and for the footstool of our God just as He prepared my kingdom and my palace for me. So I had prepared to build it, collecting fine materials from all over the region. 3 But God did not want me to build His temple. He told me, “You have shed much blood and waged great wars, My wars. But because of your conquests and the amount of blood you spilled on My behalf, you will not build a house honoring My reputation. The blood on your hands makes you ritually impure.”
4 The Eternal One, God of Israel, decided the tribe of Judah would lead His nation. Then He chose and was pleased with me, from among all of my brothers in my father’s house, to be the king over Israel and establish an eternal monarchy. 5 From among all my sons (for the Eternal has blessed me with many sons), He has chosen my son Solomon to sit on the throne of the kingdom of the Eternal One over Israel.
6 He said to me, “Your son Solomon, though younger, is the one who will execute your plans to build My house and My courts; for I shall be his Father and he will be My son. 7 I shall settle him and his descendants as My representatives in My temple and in My kingdom forever if he follows your lead and resolutely performs My commandments and My ordinances.”
David: 8 To you, my officials, follow the laws of the Eternal One your God as a witness to your neighbors (all Israel who are the assembly of the Eternal) and in the sight of our God so that you will retain this land and be able to pass it to your descendants forever.
9 To you, my son Solomon, maintain a relationship with the God of your father and serve Him with a complete heart in all your thoughts and actions. The Eternal searches all hearts for their desires and understands the intentions of every thought. If you search for Him as He searches you, then He will let you find Him. But if you abandon Him, then He will reject you forever. 10 Realize that the Eternal has chosen you to build a temple as a sanctuary. You must be resolute and do it!
11 After instructing Solomon, David gave him blueprints of the temple porch, its buildings, its storehouses, its upper rooms, its inner rooms, and the holy of holies for the covenant chest. 12 And David also gave Solomon the plans he had in mind for the courts of the temple of the Eternal, all the surrounding rooms, the storehouses of the temple of God, and the storehouses of the dedicated gifts.
. . . David (to the assembly): 19 All of these instructions and details were written for me by the Eternal, who was guiding me.
(to Solomon) 20 Be strong, courageous, and effective. Do not fear or be dismayed. I know that the Eternal God, who is my God, is with you. He will not abandon you or forsake you until you have finished all the work for the temple of the Eternal. 21 You will be helped in finishing this service by the divisions of the priests and the Levites and by every willing man of any skill. The officials and all the people will be at your disposal for the completion of the temple.
2nd Reading: I Chronicles 29 (Voice)
. . . David: You are blessed, O Eternal One,
God of Israel, our father, forever and ever.
11 All that is great and powerful and glorious and victorious and majestic
is Yours, O Eternal One.
Indeed everything that is in the heavens and the earth belongs to You.
The kingdom belongs to You, O Eternal One, and You are the head of it all.
12 Wealth and glory come from You,
and You rule over them all.
In Your hand is power and strength,
and You use them to make great and strengthen everyone.
13 Because of your greatness, our God,
we testify about Your greatness and praise Your glorious name.
. . . But who am I and who are my people
that we can offer up anything to You so willingly?
All our offerings come from You,
so we can give You nothing that isn’t already Yours.
15 For we are strangers before You, sojourners, as all our fathers were.
Our days on the earth are dark and temporary.
. . . O Eternal One our God, we realize that all this abundance,
all that will build Your temple for Your holy name,
Is from Your hand already.
Everything is Yours.
17 O my God, You test the heart and delight when it is proven faithful,
so I, with an honest heart, have willingly offered all these things.
And now I have joyfully witnessed Your people, who are present here,
make their offerings willingly and joyously to You.
O Eternal One, the God of our fathers Abraham, Isaac, and Israel,
sustain this purpose and thought
In the hearts of Your people forever
and guide their hearts to You.
19 Especially give to my son Solomon a perfect heart,
one that keeps Your commandments, Your testimonies, and Your laws,
One that will do them all, and one that will build the temple,
for which I have made provisions.
20 (to the assembly) Now bless the Eternal One your God.
Key:
1. C_____________________.
2. R_____________________.
3. R_____________________.
Every INTERRUPTION has an i_____________________, which is the c_____________________ of life, the place you're invited to pull up a chair to experience m_____________________.
At the end of the day, your choice in this matter will either lead to r_____________________ or c_____________________.
RDC's keys:
The key to the meaning of life is living in a relationship with God and one another.
The key to living the best life is to be equipped to respond.
The key to living with purpose is to reach out to others, doing what matters, and making a difference.
It’s THE RED DOOR COMMUNITY CHURCH mission:
UNITE, EQUIP, and UNLEASH in Christ.
UNITE with God and one another. (Relationship)
EQUIP each person to live the best life. (Response)
UNLEASH the church to impact the world. (Reach)
Connect with Pastor Kerrie:
mail: kpalmer@rdcsalem.com
https://kerrielpalmer.com/
https://redletterword.com/
https://www.instagram.com/kerrielpalmer/
https://twitter.com/KerrieLPalmer
https://www.facebook.com/kerrie.c.palmer
More details at rdcsalem.com