Thanks for your support in prayer and so many other ways this past year for our whole family: it’s been great having our second born be welcomed into the world by our Harvest family!

Byron

Harvest South Bay                January 4th, 2009
Becoming Character
Great Expectations: Mark 9:30-37

Background:
Jesus is introduced in the opening chapters as a Messiah with power. Now He is beginning to speak of being a messiah who is persecuted, dies and rises again

The Contrast:
The disciples illustrated aspirations toward power and  influence through conquering others, Jesus teaches the opposite: that greatness comes through serving the lowly and least able to reciprocate.
Application:
Three qualities that Christ would have us increase in 2009

1. INTENTIONALITY: having a plan to grow closer to God, be more Godly in character, and know God’s will.

2. SELF-SACRIFICE: not just charity, but giving to others at our own expense so that they can advance.

3. GRACE: receiving (serving) not just the young but what children represented in the near eastern culture of the day: the unworthy and unable to merit being served.

Weekly Application Exercises
1. Spend some time this week not only meditating on some New Year’s resolutions centered around the application points from this morning, write those resolutions down and make sure that they are measureable and substantial.

2. Partner with someone in your small group or your family who will keep you accountable with your spiritual goals for 2009: especially those goals which have to do with the refinement of your own character.

This is will ALL of our applications for this week since it is enough to focus on for the whole week!

1) A small gift valued at ~$10.00 AND
2) A White Elephant gift (something you - and perhaps no one - wants).

Hope to see you there!
Byron

Here are this week’s sermon notes. An announcement for our annual Christmas celebration will be following in the next email so it doesn’t get lost in all of the text!

Spend time with family and friends, reflecting on Christ and His salvation this season. Don’t get caught up in shopping or Christmas cards or decorating!

In Christ,
Byron

Harvest South Bay                December 14th, 2008

Complementing Christmas
Advent Season 2008
Matthew 2:1-23

The Christmas Story: After Jesus is Born
The Magi ascertain that the King of the Jews is going to be born so they come to Jerusalem- the capital of the Jews- to seek for Him. Herod catches wind of this and inquires of Jewish religious scholars as to where this King is to be born. He then secretly calls the Magi to himself and asks them to find the King in Bethlehem for him so that he can join them in worshiping Him.

The Magi follow the indications from the star and find Jesus. They worship Him and offer their gifts. After, being warned by angels that Herod’s intent is not pure, they sneak away without giving Herod the location of the Christ. Joseph also is informed by an angel about Herod’s plan to kill the Child and so he departs for Egypt. Enraged that the Magi have not fallen for his deception, Herod tries to insure that the prophesied King does not survive: He slaughters all of the male children under the age of two.

Joseph receives guidance again when Herod dies that it is safe to return to Israel. He settles in Nazareth.

When we think of Christmas:

1. Christ’s Birth Was Opposed by Sin. The narrative tells of the great opposition to the birth of Jesus: that Jesus’ Kingdom is opposed by the existing kingdom and will continue to face opposition because of the sinful nature of the world.

2. Christ’s Birth Brings Salvation. The Nativity story is fundamentally a story of salvation. Like Old Testament narratives which told of deliverance from opposition, this narrative tells of deliverance from Herod to underscore that God Himself is a saving God.  So, we are to turn our eyes not only on the birth of Christ when thinking of Christmas, but on the fulness of Salvation.

Weekly Application Exercises
1. During the season of Advent, when greeted with wishes of love or peace or hope, connect those well-wishes mentally with your salvation in Christ. Cultivate a meditation on not only the incarnation, but on God’s saving work as a whole during Christmastime.

2. Memorize 2 Tim 3:12. Especially during this week, spend some time determining how to be both full of grace and a representative of God’s truth in a sinful world. Purpose to speak to a friend, relative or co-worker about the gospel as the new year begins.

More applications!
1. Take some time to meditate this season on a life without Christmas: not just the holiday and it’s associated celebrations but life without salvation. How would your life be different? Thank God that Christmas commemorates His work not only in the world, but also in each of our lives.

2. Christ is the ultimate gift, given to us. Think of someone who you know who you could be giving the gift of Christ to this year. Plan how you will wrap, present and prepare this gift for giving this year. It’s already been paid for!

Have a great week, sing carols in the car, and think on the greatness of God’s love!
Byron

Harvest South Bay                December 7th, 2008
Merry Christmyth
Advent Season 2008
Luke 2:1-20

The Traditional Christmas Story :
Joseph and Mary depart hastily to Bethlehem from Nazareth because of the census. They arrive on Mary’s due date at night, pleading from inn to inn for a place to stay. Turned away at every door, they finally find space on the floor of a stable because there is no room in any inns. Jesus is born a lonely birth with just his parents and farm animals, later attended to by shepherds who arrive after given insight from angels of the Savior’s birth.

The Likely Christmas Story
Joseph and Mary most likely arrive in Bethlehem well in advance of Mary’s due date. They probably catch a caravan coming from Nazareth and arrive in Bethlehem after a week or so. Staying in the home of relatives, Jesus’ birth is in a residence, surrounded by loved ones- however He and his parents must settle for accommodations which are outside of the normal guest room (a mistranslation of “inn”),instead probably sleeping downstairs in the host family’s quarters. Jesus, then, is laid in the manger- the feeding trough within a Palestinian home.  He is attended to later by the shepherds who feel welcomed seeking Him out because His sign is that He is laid in a manger, meaning that He is staying with a normal peasant family which will not take offense at the presence of shepherds.

When we think Christmas, we are meant to ponder

1. The Reality of Jesus
That Jesus is real- and that we need to return to the historical record of Jesus, not just our notions of who He is.

2.  The Identification of Jesus.
Jesus, in His incarnation, identified with the lowly, the contrite, and the poor.

Weekly Application Exercises
1. Spend a concentrated amount of time immersed in the Word of God this week: read a whole gospel or several epistles focusing on getting to know God’s true character and debunking any of your own personal imaginings of who He is.

2. Dedicate yourself to giving of yourself and your resources in such a way that will show Christ’s love and directly impact someone else’s life this advent season.

More Applications!
1. Do something this week that will turn your heart and mind toward the joy of Christmas: sing a Christmas carol at the top of your lungs in the car or at home, or give to someone in need when they least expect it, or take time to help people in the crush of doing too many things and do less yourself.

2. This financial downturn is an especially great time to show the charity of Christ because it highlights the fact that God gave to us His nearest and dearest. Go to WorldVision.org and browse their “gift catalog” or if you or your family don’t already, begin sponsoring a child or many children as a Christmas gift to yourself!

If you ever need to access the announcements page it is at www.harvestsb.org/announcements
Have a great rest of the week!
Byron
Harvest South Bay                November 30th, 2008
Perseverance of the Saints
Great Expectations: The Gospel of Mark Mark 9:14-29

Exposition:
Losing Faith
Both the disciples and the man with the demon possessed boy were discouraged because of the lack of results from the exorcism. Jesus’ instruction is that faith takes perseverance with God.

When Things Don’t Work
FAITH IS WAITING.

Two Warnings
1. Faith can’t be Fickle.
Faith that does not persevere is not faith- it is experimentation.

2. Faith is not a Formula
Faith is not getting a step by step guide for everything so that we are in control, it is putting God in control.

Weekly Application Exercises
1. Take some time to redouble your efforts in the discipline of prayer. Make a prayer calendar or chart or list so as to recall any items that you have left fallow for the lack of an immediate answer from God.
2. Reflect on the many answers to prayer that God has provided as you have waited on Him. Praise Him for the wisdom found in His timing and in His answers rather than your own.

Some Additional Application Questions.
1. How does the perspective that faith is waiting shed light and perspective on those who are no longer walking with Jesus? How does it harmonize with the greater Scriptural testimony?
2. What are some longstanding prayer requests which you have committed to pray for until your prayers are answered? How does the lesson this last week bolster your prayer efforts?
3. Recall an area of your life which you have taken under your own control instead of trusted God with. What does that look like? What does it mean to relinquish control to God and trust Him?

Byron

Harvest South Bay                November 23rd, 2008
Response Time
Great Expectations: The Gospel of Mark
Mark 9:1-13

Exposition:
“…there are some of those who are standing here who will not taste death until they see the kingdom of God after it has come with power…”

1. Interpretation 1: the kingdom of God after it has come with power = Jesus’ powerful death and resurrection.

2. Interpretation 2: the kingdom of God after it has come with power = the powerful coming of the Holy Spirit in Pentecost (Acts 2).

3. Interpretation 3: the kingdom of God after it has come with power =Jesus’ second coming (that there is some VERY old guy in a cave waiting for Jesus’ second coming.

4. Interpretation 4: the kingdom of God after it has come with power = The revelation of Jesus’ true nature in power during the transfiguration *

* the preferred interpretation because it is consistent with the context.

2 Correct Responses to Encountering God

1. AWE
2. LISTENING

Weekly Application Exercises
1. Responding to God presupposes that we are encountering Him: spend a set amount of time during your quiet times this week simply to be in God’s presence.

2. Spend time doing a systematic checkup of how well you are listening to God rather than presuming upon His will. Evaluate your goals and decisions in light of our tendency to project our wills upon our impression of who God is and what He wants.

More application questions/exercises
1. Spend a few minutes this week admiring the sky- either the stars at night or the expanse of the sky in the day. Scripture on many occasions uses the sky to inspire us concerning the dimensions of God. Meditate on God’s expanse and how His infinity impacts your life.
2. Read the book of Ephesians this week, quickly once through and then once more contemplatively. The book itself is meant to impact our daily living by raising the standards of our behavior through broadening our imaginings of who God is. Ask yourself as your read: how can I live a life congruent with the greatness of God and His will?

Here are the notes from this last week’s sermon and some discussion questions/exercises!

Harvest South Bay
November 16, 2008
Death Becomes Us
The Gospel of Mark: Mark 8:22-36
Having a Clear Vision of God: In order to see God fully we must be fully submitted to Him

Three Instructions to Clear our Vision
1. We need to change our values
2. We need to change our perspective
3. We need to change our plans

Weekly application exercises
1. Pray for those experiencing loss from the fires here in Southern California. Find one way that you can meet the need of someone in crisis that involves personal cost.
2. Ask a mature believer in Christ what steps you can take in order to stretch your faith and grow deeper in maturity in your faith.

Additional Questions/Exercises
1. Take an accounting of your expenses for the last month. How do you finances reflect your heart, your insecurities, and what you value? Evaluate if your values have been impacted by the recent financial crisis in our country.
2. Christianity Today ran an article several years ago on Saint Ned: Ned Flanders from the TV series “The Simpsons.” The magazine touted Ned Flanders as a great example of Christlikeness (minus some of the hijinks that he encounters later in the series): he is devout, he is extreme, and he reflects virtually every fruit of the Spirit to an uncomfortable degree. We observe many pious Christians in the same light: as objects of ridicule or people who are too extreme, yet Jesus calls us to have an extreme change of values and perspective. How can we be more extreme in the development of the fruit of the Spirit in our lives?
3. What plans for your life (and  your families’ lives) do  you hold onto tightly? How free is your soul to be steered by God in the direction that He would require?

2. Here’s the link to directions/labels for families packing shoe boxes at home and bringing them to church this Sunday:
http://www.samaritanspurse.org/pdf/PackABoxwithLabels.pdf

3. Here’s the link to the Donation Form for $7 and labels:
http://www.samaritanspurse.org/pdf/one_sheet.pdf

Byron