Sunday Sermon Review - Team Zambia

Sunday Sermon Review - November 25, 2012
( from my home church I attend regularly )
Topic - Mission Team Zambia Reports
Habakkuk 3:17 - 18  Although the fig tree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be in the vines; the labour of the olive shall fail, and the fields shall yield no meat; the flock shall be cut off from the fold, and there shall be no herd in the stalls:  Yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my salvation

The service started with the singing of several songs including " You are Amazing God!"

A team of people from our church recently went on a short term missions trip to Zambia to visit the Seeds of Hope homes there. They shared their experiences in today's service.
The general theme throughout their testimonies was that God has changed their perspective on life through their experiences with the orphans in Zambia.

Darcy shared Mattew 22:37 Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. He said this trip has given him a new perspective on life through the love of the children. Though they have so little, they are passionate about life, and have a passion for God and to love other people.
Shanya shared how the team prepared Christmas dinner for the orphans in the group home there - providing  turkey, mashed potatoes, and stuffing for the meal. They did a Christmas program and gave gifts to the children. The whole trip made her aware of how we take things for granted everyday.
Liz shared her experience visiting the hospital and described the pain of seeing all the sick infants and also that she shared in the grief of a woman whose baby had just died.
Larry shared about meeting a thirteen year old boy named Davy who weighed only 40 pounds. He was in need of help due to being ill with cancer. Larry was able to build a friendship with him and bring hope to his situation by providing sponsorship for him.
Reily visited the childrens hospital and was overwhelmed with sadness for the starving children and the fact that there is no one there to love them. He reported that the ratio of patients to caregiver was 36 children per caregiver. The children are in desperate need of people to love them and to care for their physical needs. Reily reminded us that 97% of the world's wealth belongs to 3% of the world population. He suggested there must be a way for world leaders to bring more aid to the starving population of our world. If every Christian would do their part - wouldn't it bring hope to many a starving and sickly child?
Despite all the poverty the Christians in Zambia are praising God. God sees their suffering. Through this visit from our Zambia team, they have been assured that they are not alone.

Our church will now begin the Advent season and so to help us begin to turn our thoughts toward Christmas, there was a presentation from Isaiah 9.
Isaiah 9:6 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.

Sunday Sermon Review "Good Samaritan"

June 24, 2012 - Sunday Sermon Review  "Good Samaritan"
 (from my home church that I attend regularly)


Today we had a guest speaker at our church. His name was John Chalkis, the director of  'Seeds of Hope'.  Seeds of Hope is a ministry to Orphans in Africa. You can check out their website at www.seedsofhopecm.com  


The service began with singing and the reading of Scripture from Psalm 139
Verses 23 and 24 reads:  Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting


John Chalkis chose to speak on the topic of the "Good Samaritan". Please take the time to read Luke 10:25-36 which I have posted entirely at the end of this post.

Mr Chalkis gave an update of the projects in Zambia that Seeds of Hope is involved with. He informed us that they have 120 children in the orphanages. The children receive 3 meals a day as well as medical care. Many of the children are HIV positive but with treatment can expect to live a good life. He shared that many parents have died due to the HIV infections and now Seeds of Hope is also helping to feed the grandmothers who are now left to take care of the children.
Mr Chalkis shared the testimony of a young man named Tyson Chalkis who had come through the Seeds of Hope ministry program and is now working to give back to the needy. Mr Chalkis encouraged us to participate in child sponsorship with an organization of our choosing so orphans and poor children can be taken care of and also hear the gospel.

He then went on to ask "In the story of the good Samaritan, who are you?" Who would you be? - the priest, the Levite or the Samaritan who then helps the man who has been beaten by thieves??

Mr Chalkis told the story of a group of seminary students who were required to preach a sermon on the story of the good Samaritan. The Professor gave each student a 20 minute time alotment to speak. Each student got a grade of 0% in the assignment. Why?  As a test to his students the professor had a friend dress up as a beggar and posted him just outside the church. Not one of the students gave the "beggar" any help whatsoever and that is why each one failed the preaching test. Though they could speak about the topic, none of them actually did anything they were saying.

The speaker continued on with the topic of missed opportunities. Mr Chalkis shared a story from his own life where he had not immediately taken care of a "beggar" as he should have, but had done many other things that seemed more important to him in his day. He challenged us to look for opportunities that God may be placing in our path each day where we could help someone. We need to be listening to hear God speak and be willing to walk in His way! God is to be #1 in our lives.


One of the Pastors of our church continued the service with the serving of Communion. We celebrate Jesus death and resurrection and remember Him until He comes again. The night of His betrayal, Jesus took part in the Passover meal and instituted the new covenant that though faith in Him we can be saved.  Ephesians 2:8-9 -  For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.

The Bread of Communion was passed out first, which was followed by the wine ( I believe our church uses grape juice).


Text
Luke 10:25-36
²⁵ And, behold, a certain lawyer stood up, and tempted him, saying, Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?

²⁶ He said unto him, What is written in the law? how readest thou?

²⁷ And he answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself.

²⁸ And he said unto him, Thou hast answered right: this do, and thou shalt live.

²⁹ But he, willing to justify himself, said unto Jesus, And who is my neighbour?

³⁰ And Jesus answering said, A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, which stripped him of his raiment, and wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead.

³¹ And by chance there came down a certain priest that way: and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side.

³² And likewise a Levite, when he was at the place, came and looked on him, and passed by on the other side.

³³ But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was: and when he saw him, he had compassion on him,

³⁴ And went to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine, and set him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him.

³⁵ And on the morrow when he departed, he took out two pence, and gave them to the host, and said unto him, Take care of him; and whatsoever thou spendest more, when I come again, I will repay thee.

³⁶ Which now of these three, thinkest thou, was neighbour unto him that fell among the thieves?