Taste and See that the Lord is good

Taste and See that the Lord is good (Sacred Pathways 1) 1

Journey of Life (sometimes) • Work (even God’s work) can be very tough. • Life can deal us Major Disappointments. • Love (relationships) can be painful. • Our Body can fall ill. 2

Plenty of Rest People of God loved me Presence of God 3

Let us receive our healing from the love of God. We need to grow in increasing measure of knowing and loving God and experiencing His love. 4

We need to grow in increasing measure of knowing and loving God and experiencing His love. 1. God has allowed Himself to be known and experienced by us. 5

“As the Father has loved Me, so have I loved you. Now remain in My love. ” – John 15: 9 “Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in him. ” – Psalms 34: 8 “Come near to God and He will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you doubleminded. ” – James 4: 8 6

“As the Father has loved Me, so have I loved you. Now remain in My love. ” – John 15: 9 “Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in him. ” – Psalms 34: 8 “Come near to God and He will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. ” – James 4: 8 “I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know Him better. ” – Ephesians 1: 17 7

We need to grow in increasing measure of knowing and loving God and experiencing His love. 2. We are all uniquely made by Him, thus • We experience His love differently “For You created my inmost being; You knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise You because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Your works are wonderful, I know that full well. ” – Psalms 139: 13 -14 8

We need to grow in increasing measure of knowing and loving God and experiencing His love. 2. We are all uniquely made by Him, thus • We experience His love differently • We can love Him in different ways “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. ” – Mark 12: 30 9

At least 3 ways to plan a Pulpit curriculum 1. Bible Series Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, …, Ruth, 1 Samuel, …, Psalms, Proverbs, …, Isaiah, Jeremiah, …, Hosea, Joel, …, Nahum, Habakkuk, …, Zechariah, Malachi, …, Mark, Luke, …, Acts, Romans, …, Jude, Revelation. 66 books in total. 10

At least 3 ways to plan a Pulpit curriculum 1. Bible Series 2. Lectionary & Christian Calendar 11

At least 3 ways to plan a Pulpit curriculum 1. Bible Series 2. Lectionary & Christian Calendar 3. Themes / Topics: a) b) c) d) e) Fruit of the Holy Spirit The Cross of Jesus Christ The Holy Spirit It’s all about Grace End Times 12

At least 3 ways to plan a Pulpit curriculum 1. Bible Series 2. Lectionary & Christian Calendar 3. Themes / Topics: • “The Different ways where we can receive God’s love and to love Him”. 13

Sacred Pathways (Discover your soul’s path to God) By Gary Thomas 14

The 9 Sacred Pathways are observations from the Bible how different people were commanded to love God, or how they had loved God and the Lord approved of it. 15

Elevation of the Pulpit – the Word of God Mystery of Sacramental Rites 16

The Roman Catholic Church emphasized the sensuous aspects of faith and the mystery of the Gospel, while Martin Luther emphasized intellectual discourse in knowing, understanding and explaining God and His will. 17

John Calvin opted instead to express love for God by transforming society. 18

John Calvin opted instead to express love for God by transforming society. The Anabaptists expressed their love for God by stressing the inner reality of the gospel. 19

John Wesley went beyond a faith based on creeds and discipline to an inner faith that comes about from relating inwardly with God. 20

Wesley also took up the causes of civil and religious freedom and awakened the conscience of the nation to the evils of exploiting the poor. John Wesley went beyond a faith based on creeds and discipline to an inner faith that comes about from relating inwardly with God. 21

Naturalist – Loving God out of doors 22

Naturalist – Loving God out of doors The “naturalist” would uncover the mystery of the holy, transcendent God 23

Sensate – Loving God with the Senses 24

Sensate The 5 senses are God’s most effective inroad into their hearts. 25

Traditionalist – Loving God through Rituals & Symbols 26

Traditionalist To the traditionalists, the liturgies of the church carried a depth and historicity that added a new aesthetic to the traditionalists’ worship. 27

Ascetic – Loving God in Solitude and Simplicity 28

They would appreciate simplicity in architecture and lifestyle. Ascetic – Loving God in Solitude and Simplicity 29

Activist – Loving God through Confrontation 30

Activist The Christian must consciously act upon the right biblical view of life so as to influence society for the glory of God. 31

Caregiver – Loving God through Loving others. 32

Caregiver They see Christ in the poor and needy, and their faith is built up by interacting with other people. 33

Enthusiast – Loving God with Mystery and Celebration 34

Enthusiast – Loving God with Mystery and Celebration Inspired by Joyful Worship, but more than that, they expect the supernatural God to act supernaturally in our world today. 35

Contemplative – Loving God through Adoration 36

Contemplative They seek to love God with the purest, deepest and brightest love imaginable. 37

Intellectual – Loving God with the Mind 38

They may feel closest to God when they first understand something new about Him. Intellectual – Loving God with the Mind 39

1. Show examples from the Bible regarding the pathways, or at least characteristics related to them. 2. The blessings that these Pathways bring. 3. How to love God within a specific pathway? 4. Some cautions / temptations associated with each Pathway. 40

Examples from the Bible regarding the Naturalist pathway 1. Descriptions of God or His angels appearing to certain people in the wilderness. • Hagar in the desert [Genesis 16]. • Abraham on a mountain [Genesis 22] • Jacob at the river crossing [Genesis 32] • Moses at the burning bush [Exodus 3]

Examples from the Bible regarding the Naturalist pathway 1. Descriptions of God or His angels appearing to certain people in the wilderness. • • Our Lord Jesus moving to Capernaum (by the sea). Jesus’ ministry often took place in the countryside.

Examples from the Bible – Naturalist pathway 1. Descriptions of God or His angels appearing to certain people in the wilderness. 2. Many Old Testament and Gospel illustrations are based on nature. Psalms 23: 1 -4 a “The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures; 
He leads me beside still waters; He restores my soul. 
He leads me in right paths for his name’s sake. Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I fear no evil; for you are with me; …”

What is the Blessing of the Naturalist pathway? 1. It helps us to visualize Scriptural truths.

What is the Blessing of the Naturalist pathway? 1. It helps us to visualize Scriptural truths. Psalms 133 1 How very good and pleasant it is when kindred live together in unity! 2 It is like the precious oil on the head, running down upon the beard, on the beard of Aaron, running down over the collar of his robes. 3 It is like the dew of Hermon, which falls on the mountains of Zion. For there the Lord ordained his blessing, life forevermore.

What is the Blessing of the Naturalist pathway? 1. It helps us to visualize Scriptural truths. 2. Helps us to Learn to rest within the beauty of nature.

Memory verse Psalms 34: 8 “Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in Him. ”