First Alliance Church ATL

04-10-20 Kevin Goins - Defeating the Status Quo, Part 2

“Defeating the Status Quo” (Part 2)

In the first century “life as usual” for the people of Israel included poverty, illiteracy, hunger, sickness, and being under the thumb of the Roman empire. “Life as usual” is what we mean by the status quo, and for Israel the status quo was depressing, to say the least. But then Jesus came, and through his teaching and healing and feeding the hungry he overcame many of the most negative elements of the status quo. Then he was put to death on the cross, but what followed his violent and humiliating death brought about the greatest reversal of the status quo the world has ever seen. In what ways did the resurrection of Jesus defeat the status quo?

I When we look at the Passion Story, we see, first, that Jesus said No to the status quo of lying to protect oneself.
II When we look at the Passion Story, we see, second, that Jesus said No to the status quo of h___________ those who h_________ us.
A. Good Friday is the time when we recall the s_____________ of Jesus. The Gospels tell us that there were m___________ aspects to that suffering:
1. We tend to emphasize the p_______________.
2. If we know our New Testament theology, we also recognize the s_______________ aspect of his suffering.
3. But we often forget the r__________________ aspect of his suffering.
a. Jesus didn’t suffer in p_____________.
b. The crowds around the cross did not praise Jesus for who he w_______, they cursed him for what they b__________ him to be in that moment. They saw him as:
1. a would-be p______________ leader
2. a m___________ unstable person
3. a f______________.
c. The crowd could not accept the necessity of the c_____________.

B. But Luke says that from the cross Jesus looked out at these h_______-filled people and said, “Father, f___________ them for they do not k__________ what they are doing.”
1. But that was not only the attitude of Jesus as he hung on the cross, refusing to hate the haters was his p______________ way of dealing with life.
2. And what is even more shocking is that he expects _______ to do the same.

04-09-20 Kevin Goins - Defeating the Status Quo Part 1

“Defeating the Status Quo”

In the first century “life as usual” for the people of Israel included poverty, illiteracy, hunger, sickness, and being under the thumb of the Roman empire. “Life as usual” is what we mean by the status quo, and for Israel the status quo was depressing, to say the least. But then Jesus came, and through his teaching and healing and feeding the hungry he overcame many of the most negative elements of the status quo. Then he was put to death on the cross, but what followed his violent and humiliating death brought about the greatest reversal of the status quo the world has ever seen. In what ways did the resurrection of Jesus defeat the status quo?

I When we look at the Passion Story we see first that Jesus said No to the status quo of lying to protect oneself.
A. The religious leaders wanted to kill Jesus because he claimed to be the long-awaited Messiah, but they knew the Romans would not allow them to execute Jesus for r________________ reasons.
1. So, they accused Jesus of p______________ wrongdoing by saying that he claimed to be the King of the Jews.
2. The Romans punished rebellion, or treason, as a c______________ crime. In other words, they e______________ anyone who claimed to be any kind of King.
3. That is why Pilate asked Jesus the question, “Are you a King?” That is the only thing that m______________ as far as Pilate was concerned.
B. In John 18:37 Jesus says to Pilate, “You are right in saying I am a King.” There are two things here that are very much u___________________:
1. First, Jesus got himself into a f___________ predicament by saying that he was indeed a king.
2. The second thing that is unexpected is that there seems to be a non sequitur here. A non sequitur is when a statement does not f__________ logically from a previous statement.
3. Jesus admits to being a king and then, in the middle of the sentence, he suddenly changes the subject to t___________.
4. I believe that what Jesus is doing here is to shine some light into the darkness of P_____________ life and career.
5. Jesus speaks as if being born a King and telling the truth are o_______ and the s_________ thing.
6. Jesus was not only speaking to Pilate, second, he was speaking to all the people who would read the G______________. He was letting us know that we can t___________ him.
7. Jesus understood that if anyone claiming to be the Savior sent by God ever spoke a lie, then we could never be c___________ of our salvation.
8. What Does all this mean to us? It means that lying to protect ourselves is a part of the status quo that we must learn to f________________.

 

04-06-20 Kevin Goins - The Church's Ministry of Healing, John 9:5 pt 3

“Anatomy of an Illness: The Church’s Ministry of Healing”

John 9:5 (Part 3)

I First, sickness gets our attention and it gets the attention of Jesus (9:1).
II Second, sickness makes us uncomfortable (9:2).
III Third, sickness is caused by alienation (9:2).
IV Fourth, oftentimes our best theological or commonsense explanations for sickness are not good enough (9:3a).
V Fifth, sometimes sickness happens for a good reason, so that God can be glorified in our life (9:3b).
VI Sixth, all believers in Jesus are called to help sick people find health (9:4).
VII Seventh, sickness is a work of the kingdom of darkness; healing is a work of the Kingdom of light (9:5).

This verse makes 4 very important points:

A. First, Jesus came to this world to be our light.
B. Second, healing is a work of the Kingdom of light.

C. Third, sickness is a work of the kingdom of _________________.

1. We said that sickness is the end-product of _____________________.

a. Adam and Eve had _______ and un-______________ access to God.

b. Since God is the only one who has the power to give life and to heal, to be separated from God is to be confined to the land of ________________ and ____________.

2. Suddenly, there is something in the world of sickness that is a potential threat to ______________________.

a. If we have never been aware of it before, we should be able to see it now: something is ____________.

b. What is wrong is that there is _______________ in the first place.

c. We are sick today because there is _______________ in this world.

d. God did not send ______________ into this world; he did not send _______________ into this world; and he did not send ______________ into this world. By choosing __________ over ___________ we opened the door to all these things.
D. Fourth, we are to fight against the kingdom of darkness, and all its devices, including _________________.

1. While Jesus is in the world, he will minister the light of God’s healing ministry, but when he leaves this world that light will need to be kindled by his _________________.

2. While it is day, before the night comes, we must do the work that Jesus did, and one huge aspect of his work was the ministry of _____________.

3. Jesus has the power to heal, but he also has the power to see to it that __________ ___________ is done in our life.

a. Sometimes he causes God’s will to be done by ____________ us and sometimes he causes God’s will to be done by making us _________________ over a sickness which he does not remove.

b. Then, again, healing may be his ________ for you.

c. With Jesus all things are _______________, even if they ________________ impossible in the past.

4. There are victories to be won: s_________________ victories, e__________________ victories, m_________________ victories, f_____________________ victories, and there are victories of ________________ healing to be won.

5. How sad it would be to refuse to believe Jesus for the wonderful thing he ____________ to do for us!

04-04-20 Kevin Goins - The Church's Ministry of Healing, John 9:5 pt 2

“Anatomy of an Illness: The Church’s Ministry of Healing”

John 9:5 (Part 2)

I First, sickness gets our attention and it gets the attention of Jesus (9:1).
II Second, sickness makes us uncomfortable (9:2).
III Third, sickness is caused by alienation (9:2).
IV Fourth, oftentimes our best theological or commonsense explanations for sickness are not good enough (9:3a).
V Fifth, sometimes sickness happens for a good reason, so that God can be glorified in our life (9:3b).
VI Sixth, all believers in Jesus are called to help sick people find health (9:4).
VII Seventh, sickness is a work of the kingdom of darkness; healing is a work of the Kingdom of light (9:5).

This verse makes 4 very important points:

A. First, Jesus came to this world to be our light.

B. Second, healing is a work of the kingdom of _____________.

1. If we looked at all the occasions in the Gospels when Jesus healed the blind, we would be doing Bible study for ____________.

2. Some argue, not without reason, that Jesus actually spent _______ time _____________ than doing anything else.

3. If healing was a major component of the work of the Kingdom of Light 2,000 years ago, it must ___________ be a major component of the work of the Kingdom of Light ___________.

4. What we need to state clearly is how _______________ the work of “faith healers” is from what Jesus did.

For example:

a. Jesus healed ________________ individuals. There is a tremendous difference between “___________ healing” and _____________ healing.

1. Divine healing is healing that is carried out by __________ in accordance with his ________. “Faith healing” is healing instigated by a human being who claims to somehow be the _________ of God in healing people.

2. Divine healing depends on the power of _________, while “faith healing” is said to depend on ___________.

b. Jesus never asked a person to stand and give a testimony about a healing that had _______ _______ happened.

c. The people Jesus healed never had to worry about their sickness _____________________.

d. Jesus never attempted a healing which was __________________.

e. Jesus never ____________ or asked for ___________ to heal people.

5. There is a d________ s__________ to the ministry of healing. Or, there is a dark side to the _________________________ ministry of healing.

6. For everything that is real and genuine, there will always be the ______________________.

7. We should not put our hope in ______________; we should put our hope in __________.

04-01-20 Kevin Goins - The Church's Ministry of Healing, John 9:5 pt 1

“Anatomy of an Illness: The Church’s Ministry of Healing”

John 9:5 (Part 1)

I First, sickness gets our attention and it gets the attention of Jesus (9:1).
II Second, sickness makes us uncomfortable (9:2).
III Third, sickness is caused by alienation (9:2).
IV Fourth, oftentimes our best theological or commonsense explanations for sickness are not good enough (9:3a).
V Fifth, sometimes sickness happens for a good reason, so that God can be glorified in our life (9:3b).
VI Sixth, all believers in Jesus are called to help sick people find health (9:4).

VII Seventh, sickness is a work of the kingdom of ______________; healing is a work of the Kingdom of ___________ (9:5).

This verse makes _________ very important points:

A. First, Jesus came to this world to be our ____________.

-This is a truth which John has already made clear in several passages:

1. First, John ____:______. At the Feast of Tabernacles Jesus used a dramatic o__________ l___________ to declare the truth that he came to this world to bring light.

2. Second, John ___:___-___. John says it was the life of Jesus, the way he lived with ________ and the way he lived with ________, that brought light to us.

3. Third, John ___:___-___. John begins his Gospel thinking about the light of the world, but that is not his only concern. Beginning in verse 9 John describes what we call the i_______________, or the Son of God coming to this earth as a ___________ __________.

4. In the beginning of John the evangelist is concerned primarily about two things:

a. First, how Jesus, who is the Word of God, is our _________.

b. Second, how Jesus ________ to this world, born as a man so that he could bring his light into the world.

5. But notice this: in the account of the healing of the blind man, Jesus himself make the __________ two points that John did in the beginning of the Gospel.
6. This means that what Jesus is doing in John chapter nine is not superfluous or un_______________.

7. Jesus healed because that _____ who _______ is and that is what he came to this earth to ______.

Beautiful One - Jen and Megan

Beautiful One

Verse 1
Wonderful so wonderful is Your unfailing love
Your cross has spoken mercy over me
No eye has seen no ear has heard
No heart could fully know
How glorious how beautiful You are

Chorus
Beautiful One I love You
Beautiful One I adore
Beautiful One my soul must sing

Verse 2
Powerful so powerful Your glory fills the skies
Your mighty works displayed for all to see
The beauty of Your majesty awakes my heart to sing
How marvelous how wonderful You are

Bridge
You opened my eyes to Your wonders anew
You captured my heart with this love
'Cause nothing on earth is as beautiful as You

Tim Hughes
© 2002 Thankyou Music (Admin. by Capitol CMG Publishing)
For use solely with the SongSelect®. Terms of Use. All rights reserved. www.ccli.com
CCLI License # 1631159

03-29-20 Kevin Goins - The Church's Ministry of Healing, Part 3

“Anatomy of an Illness: The Church’s Ministry of Healing”

John 9:4 (Part 3)

I First, sickness gets our attention and it gets the attention of Jesus (9:1).
II Second, sickness makes us uncomfortable (9:2).
III Third, sickness is caused by alienation (9:2).
IV Fourth, oftentimes our best theological or commonsense explanations for sickness are not good enough (9:3a).
V Fifth, sometimes sickness happens for a good reason, so that God can be glorified in our life (9:3b).
VI Sixth, all believers in Jesus are called to help sick people find health (9:4).
A. The first thing this verse tells us is that we are living in the day.
B. Second, this verse says that we are workers with Jesus.

C. Third, ministering healing to the sick is a responsibility of the ______________.

1. Many see the church’s calling as solely and totally the work of _______________ proclamation.

2. The church is called, not just to tell people about Jesus, but to _______ what Jesus did, and here we see him ______________.

a. I say that for two reasons – the first reason is _______________.

1. Jesus didn’t only say that we would repeat his m_______________, but he said that we would repeat his a_______________.

2. In fact, Jesus said we would do _________ than he did.

3. We also know that the ministry of healing did not stop when Jesus _______ the earth – It continued after he returned to heaven.

4. Then, in 1 Corinthians 12, Paul describes the gifts of the Spirit and he identifies one of those gifts in verse 9 as “gifts of _____________.”

b. The second reason I say healing belongs to the ministry of the church is ________________.

1. There was a time in history when the only place to find health care for the body was the _____________.

2. Many Christians, without realizing it, are better defenders of __________ than we are defenders of the __________.

3. We believe that the ___________ is what is crucial to life and the __________ is only a throw-away item.

4. Why did Jesus spend as much time healing people as he did preaching the Gospel? Because Jesus knew the creation account, and he knew God saw the physical body as something “_______ _________.”

5. It is amazing how so many Christians have completely d_______________ the care of our physical bodies from the care of our soul.

-This accounts for two things:

a. First, it explains why many “conservative Christians” seem to have so little interest in the issue of __________ _________.

b. Second, this explains why “liberal Christians” seem to have so little interest in _____________ healing.

D. Fourth, this verse teaches us that the ministry of healing is _________________.

1. There are two indications of urgency in this verse:

a. First, Jesus says “we _________ do the work.”

b. Second, Jesus says n________ is coming and when this happens all work will s___________.

2. Sick people need for the church to be ___________ as they face the darkness of disease and disability.

03-25-20 Kevin Goins - The Church's Ministry of Healing, Part 2

“Anatomy of an Illness: The Church’s Ministry of Healing”

John 9:4 (Part 2)

I First, sickness gets our attention and it gets the attention of Jesus (9:1).
II Second, sickness makes us uncomfortable (9:2).
III Third, sickness is caused by alienation (9:2).
IV Fourth, oftentimes our best theological or commonsense explanations for sickness are not good enough (9:3a).
V Fifth, sometimes sickness happens for a good reason, so that God can be glorified in our life (9:3b).
VI Sixth, all believers in Jesus are called to help sick people find health (9:4).
A. The first thing this verse tells us is that we are living in the day.

B. Second, this verse says that we are ____________ with Jesus.

1. We would expect Jesus to say, “______ must do the work of him who sent me.”

a. At first glance we might expect that the “we” is Jesus, the ______ and ______, the Father.

b. That makes ______ sense because “him who sent me” is clearly God the Father and so Jesus would be saying, “God the Father and I must do the work which God the Father sent us to do.”

2. If the “we” isn’t Jesus and God, who is it? The “we” is Jesus and his ______________. Why do I say that?

a. It is to his followers that Jesus is ____________.

b. It was the followers of Jesus who _________ his attention to the blind man’s situation in the first place.

c. Jesus knew his followers were ________________ him into the blind man’s circumstances, and it is to them that Jesus says, “We must do the work of him who sent me.”

3. The disciples followed Jesus as ___________ following a ___________. They learned from him how to minister to _______ ___________.

4. Like the disciples we ________ _______ needy people to Jesus by bringing them to him in ___________.

5. We, _______ and ______, are the “we” who join Jesus in his work.

6. The truth is, all of our life is _____________. God has directions for us _________ day of our life.

7. When we encounter the sick, we have a calling to be agents of ______________ to them.

8. When believers tell us about their illnesses, not only can we pray for them, we can also encourage them to follow the instructions found in ______________ _____:_____-_____.

03-22-20 Kevin Goins - The Church's Ministry of Healing, part 1

“Anatomy of an Illness: The Church’s Ministry of Healing”  John 9:1-38

What does John 9 teach us about sickness?

I First, sickness gets our a____________ and it gets the a______________ of Jesus (9:1).

II Second, sickness makes us un_________________ (9:2).

III Third, sickness is caused by a__________________ (9:2).

IV Fourth, oftentimes our best t________________ or c__________________ explanations for sickness are not good enough (9:3a).

V Fifth, sometimes sickness happens for a g_________ r_____________, so that God can be g______________ in our life (9:3b).

VI Sixth, all believers in Jesus are called to help _______ people find _____________ (9:4).

A. Jesus’ answer stopped the disciples from b____________ anyone for the man’s blindness, but Jesus has much m________ to say about the subject of sickness.

1. The disciples wondered who was to blame for the man’s blindness, but Jesus expands the discussion to what should be done for those who are s___________ and d________________.

2. Jesus begins, “As long as it is d_________....”

B. The first thing this verse tells us is that we are living in the __________. How can we say we are living in the day?

1. First, in verse 4 Jesus says while night is coming, it is ______ here yet.

a. Yes, there is darkness around us, but we can c___________ to look to the light.

b. We are not to be focused on the ___________ darkness – we are to be s____________________ focused on the light that is all around us now.

2. Second, we know we are living in the day because Jesus defines “night” as the time when “no one can work,” but this is a time when we, believers in Jesus, ________ working.

a. The church is at work today d______________ the good news of the Gospel.
b. And, the church is ministering God’s grace to those who are burdened by s___________, f_________________ needs, and f_________.

3. Third, in 2 Corinthians chapter 6 Paul shows us that it is day because people can _____________ to believe in Jesus.

a. This is day because a person can h_____ the Gospel and can d___________ to believe in and follow Jesus.

b. Because this is day, and because the light is now shining, _______ are invited by Jesus himself to trust in him and to become his c_______________.

4. Finally, this is day, not only because Jesus is now i___________ people to him, but because his children are now r_____________ his glory.

a. By reflecting Jesus, you and I make it _______ for the people around us.

b. We do that, not by b___________ light, but by r______________ the light of Jesus.

 

 

03-14-20 Kevin Goins - Message to the Congregation

Pastor Kevin's message to the congregation re: closing due to COVID-19