Category Archives: Sermons

The Jesus Sweepstakes

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This is a quote by Pastor Rick Snow taken from his Jan 22nd sermon at CBC titled The Generosity Factor

“He (God) is literally looking, in the American Church especially, for people He can trust with thousands, millions, maybe even billions of dollars over the course of your lifetime”

I know this seems obvious so I probably don’t need to write anything, but come on; is this guy for real?

So let’s see…

God is out searching the nation for one lucky tither, and on this Superbowl Sunday he is going to show up on someone’s doorstep and surprise them with a check for $10,000.
This generous soul will then have the opportunity to turn that $10,000 into 1 million or possibly 1 billion dollars.

After receiving that check he will be asked these three questions.

1. How do you live a life that honors God?
2. What 3 things does God look for in people that He blesses?
3. What is a Triple Dog Dare?

If he gets them all right then that check will turn into 1 million dollars. (hint: The answer to every question is – Give to the church)

What he doesn’t know is that if he takes that million dollar check and signs it over to City Bible Church within 5 minutes of receiving it than he will be given 1 billion dollars.

Alright, alright, alright,

When did the ultimate goal of Christianity become parallel with the American Dream?

In listening to this sermon I was amazed with the double message. Rick has great things to say about generosity. He is absolutely right that God will bless those who give, but his message is all about what it takes to get rich. What happened to Jesus, the Cross, and Salvation.

1 Tim. 6:9 (NIV)
People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction.

1 Tim. 6:17-18 (NIV)
It’s clear that the Bible is calling us to be generous, but it doesn’t promise riches in return. God may bless you with “millions maybe even billions of dollars”, but he may also bless you with health, joy, or possibly seven children.

Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. [18] Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share.

Is it not enough that God has pulled us from the grasp of hell? He now has to give us the keys to His BMW?

I thank God for His gift of The Cross. Salvation is my reward.

Running Diary of Gen Church Sermon

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This is my running diary of last weeks Gen Church Sermon. The sermon is entitled,"Generation Church Culture Part 4". I missed the first three parts, but I've got a feeling I'll still be able to pick it up in the middle.

Pressing play and here we go:

8:20 – Pastor just asked audience how many people love the bible. You hear a faint "Woohoo" in the background. (I'm gonna see about getting him an audition for Saved Part 2).

8:22 – Mentions Willamette Week article. I'm getting excited. Will he read the Abercrombie section?

8:24 – Excitedly reads this quote from the WW article. "Portland's Christian soldiers may seem queer, but they're here. Get used to it." Did I hear that correctly? I think he just called himself a queer? And how did I miss that quote. I apologize to all my blogging fans for missing that one. (5 minutes into this sermon, and I know its gonna be great).

8: 25 – "This paper is so big its like an octopus, eight arms." – This must be some tithing humor. 8:30 – Of course he skips over the Abercrombie quote. I should've known.

8:35 – He just yelled out "Greater is he who is in" and then the audience yelled back "Me". Did it again. And, yes he did it again. Can't believe it, he did it again. Now he's doing it and screaming "Oh" after they say "Me". Just yelled, "Someone needs to get into the Bible." (Forget sequal to Saved, this guy could be the whole movie himself. He's also really supporting my hype theory.)

8:37 – Erik and Natalie are getting married. Natalie has huge wedding book she carries everywhere. Editors note – Erik needs to rethink the marriage. 8:40 – Just used a "talk to the hand" joke. Apparently pastor didn't get the "Its not 1995" memo.

8:42 – His jokes are bombing so bad, he's asking the audience if they're doing okay. One girl in the front row is giving him the only courtesy laugh, and she sounds like she's getting hoarse. Someone better pick up the slack.

8:50 – Starts talking about Pilgrims and their look. Mentions high school Pilgrims. Pulls random kid out of audience and says kid is high school pilgrim. Mentions that the Willamette Week article calls the youth group an Ambercrombie youth group. Says this is what makes the youth group so different. (Pastor must subscribe to the, "Any publicity is good publicity" motto, at least me mentioned the Abercrombie section, and Abercrombie & Fitch makes you different? Different from what? Gap, Banana Republic, Nordstrom?)

8:51 – "Pilgrims can even look different. Pilgrims can even be from a different country." Sounding incredulous, "Pilgrims can even be women." (Wow, he just offended everyone who isn't an American male. This is really quite impressive. And he has an odd obsession with Pilgrims.)

8:53 – Acknowledges that the rapture might not come for another 5,000 years. (First statement, I've actually agreed with. Good for him.)

8:55 – Acknowledges that he shouldn't have taken his wife to youth camp for their honeymoon. (Second thing I agreed with.)

8:58 – Tells story about his young daughter on vacation at Disneyland and how much she loves Winny the Pooh. The whole time at Disneyland she's carrying around a pen and paper looking for Pooh's autograph. Time comes to leave, she still hasn't found Pooh, and so she starts screaming, "Pooh, I love you." (This is actually a really cute story. But if you happend to walk in and missed him talking about his daughter, you would just hear the pastor screaming at the top of his lungs, "Poo, I love you. I love Poo.") I'm telling you, this stuff writes itself.

9:00 – Finishes up with a bunch of nice stories about martyrs. (I really liked his Pooh story, and after that, I kind of feel bad for making fun of him. I don't think he's the greatest speaker, but he sounds like a good father. I'm starting to become sentimental. I probably shouldn't have drank that fourth glass of wine.)

Seek First

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I wanted to start the day with something funny. Instead, I listened to Living to Honor God Pt 2 by Frank Damazio. This was his sermon from last Sunday which can be heard online @ http://www.citybiblechurch.org/

I have spent the morning tearing my clothes and pouring ashes on my head as I weep out side of my local Starbucks. These poor poor people. How has money become everything to them? According to Frank, "if you don't tithe at least 10% of every check you get, then you put a cap on God. God simply can not bless you. He is powerless to bless you."

Sure, God created the heavens and the earth. Sure, Jesus was born of a virgin. Sure, He sacrificed his Son to die on a cross. But, if you don't give to the local church, then despite the desires of God's heart, HE can not bless you. You have taken the power from God. (Let’s hope that Satan doesn't find out about this).

Now, I know that God will bless those that give, but it never says that He will bless you with more money. And why is the only way to give through tithe to the church? Let’s see what my friend the Bible says… Matthew 6:19-22 and 31-33 19 "Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust consume and where thieves break in and steal, 20 but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust consumes and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.31 Therefore do not be anxious, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' 32 For the Gentiles seek all these things; and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. 33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things shall be yours as well. Matthew 19:21 Jesus said to him, "If you would be perfect, go, sell what you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me."