Friday, July 22, 2016

A Revolution Story (from Lynze Dawes)

Happy Friday! The following was shared this week with Revolution Church and we wanted to share it with you. Thanks to our team who makes outreach possible in our community! Your giving and serving matters!

---

Happy Monday! I thought I'd share my story I shared with my friends last night on Facebook on how big of an impact you guys have been on my heart without even knowing. Thank you guys for the friendly environment and great worship. I can't wait to see you guys next Sunday.

As some of my friends may know I've been searching continuously for a church not only where the sermon would touch my soul but I felt a strong connection with. This story is long but it proves you should follow your heart and listen to the Holy Spirit from time to time. (Ok, all the time!)

I've lived in White House going on three years now. I've traveled 31W to Portland many times. I've also drove past a church sign this past year that has caught my eye. Their symbols reached out to me. Live. ➕ Love. ❤ Serve. ✋I didn't give it a chance to register that God was laying it on my heart thick with this church sign.

Fast forward to the Americana Celebration in White House earlier this month. I saw in a social media post that Revolution Church and Vanderbilt Childrens Clinic would be providing free jump for the kids. That's sweet of these people to donate their time in the sweltering Tennessee July heat for my child to play.

When I walked up to the table to sign a form for my daughter there were those three symbols again! Let me refresh your memory: ➕❤✋ I'm really proud of myself for not letting my jaw drop because there have been numerous times over the year I've gone past this sign and my heart has told me to stop in but I dismissed it over and over again.

The lady working the tent is the children's director for Rev Kids at Revolution Church. Even though we only talked for 2 minutes it was because of her and the fact I felt God smacked me with a 2 x 4 for a wake up call that HEY maybe I should try this church. These symbols speak more than just words to me, they are symbols I live by as a Christian. She doesn't realize the shirt and her sweet attitude (because let's be honest, Tennessee July heat can have anyone cranky working outdoors) is what drove me more to trying this church out.

Over the next week I Googled the church for a website hoping they posted sermons weekly. Score!! They do! So while at work I caught up on sermons that Pastor Kris had preached. (Ok, maybe I did a binge watch in three days of all the sermons) This pastor, I have no words to describe how real he is. He preaches without fear of offending the people of his church. Whether that's bringing up politics, race, religion, it doesn't matter when God is number one. He preaches what is on his heart! Do you know how amazing and rare that is to find?

Today, I finally went to Revolution Church and the sermon blew me away. It was everything I expected and needed to hear. I didn't want him to stop preaching. I could listen to Pastor Kris all day. When I walked out of church I felt God saying, "finally! you listened to me." He's right, I finally listened when I should have listened from the start.

If you ever feel a strong urge of peace and love come into your heart or soul when seeing or thinking something, know that is the Holy Spirit inside directing you to what may not seem like something big at the time but is something greater on the other end.

I encourage any of my friends to stop by Revolution Church off 31W in White House one Sunday. It doesn't matter if you're a member at another church, if you're looking for a church, or have never been to church. This church and pastor are worth checking out. I feel like I'm at home where I can truly Live. ➕ Love. ❤ Serve. ✋ Or if you want to go to liveloveserve.us to listen to some of his sermons that would be awesome too!

P.S. - there's free coffee! 😉

Lynze Dawes

Wednesday, April 27, 2016

04.24.16 Notes (GoodNews Week 16)

#GOODNEWS Week 16
The Gospel of John #4
“Gone Fishing”
Pastor Kris Freeman
Revolution Church

John 21:1-19 (NLT)
Epilogue: Jesus Appears to Seven Disciples
Later, Jesus appeared again to the disciples beside the Sea of Galilee.[a] This is how it happened. 2 Several of the disciples were there—Simon Peter, Thomas (nicknamed the Twin),[b] Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two other disciples.
3 Simon Peter said, “I’m going fishing.”
“We’ll come, too,” they all said. So they went out in the boat, but they caught nothing all night. 4 At dawn Jesus was standing on the beach, but the disciples couldn’t see who he was. 5 He called out, “Fellows,[c] have you caught any fish?” “No,” they replied.
6 Then he said, “Throw out your net on the right-hand side of the boat, and you’ll get some!” So they did, and they couldn’t haul in the net because there were so many fish in it.
7 Then the disciple Jesus loved said to Peter, “It’s the Lord!” When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his tunic (for he had stripped for work), jumped into the water, and headed to shore. 8 The others stayed with the boat and pulled the loaded net to the shore, for they were only about a hundred yards[d] from shore. 9 When they got there, they found breakfast waiting for them—fish cooking over a charcoal fire, and some bread.
10 “Bring some of the fish you’ve just caught,” Jesus said. 11 So Simon Peter went aboard and dragged the net to the shore. There were 153 large fish, and yet the net hadn’t torn.
12 “Now come and have some breakfast!” Jesus said. None of the disciples dared to ask him, “Who are you?” They knew it was the Lord. 13 Then Jesus served them the bread and the fish. 14 This was the third time Jesus had appeared to his disciples since he had been raised from the dead. 15 After breakfast Jesus asked Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?[e]” “Yes, Lord,” Peter replied, “you know I love you.”
“Then feed my lambs,” Jesus told him. 16 Jesus repeated the question: “Simon son of John, do you love me?” “Yes, Lord,” Peter said, “you know I love you.”
“Then take care of my sheep,” Jesus said. 17 A third time he asked him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” Peter was hurt that Jesus asked the question a third time. He said, “Lord, you know everything. You know that I love you.”
Jesus said, “Then feed my sheep.
18 “I tell you the truth, when you were young, you were able to do as you liked; you dressed yourself and went wherever you wanted to go. But when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and others[f] will dress you and take you where you don’t want to go.” 19 Jesus said this to let him know by what kind of death he would glorify God. Then Jesus told him, “Follow me.”

The hardest issue is life is FORGIVENESS .

Before forgiveness, we carry a number of different emotions and experiences.

Those who have been hurt Those who have hurt others
Anger Regret
Vengeance/Revenge Shame
Brokenness Guilt
Bitterness Hopelessness
Betrayal Lack of self-esteem/confidence
Distrust Fear

We could continue – but the issue is FORGIVENESS will ELIMINATE all of them.

The song “Forgiveness” by Matthew West was written about a woman whose family members were killed by a drunk driver, and she chose to turn it into a ministry and fight to set him free!

Jesus had every good EARTHLY REASON to be upset at Peter.

1. He was a disciple – every leader in the Bible had a fatal flaw.
2. He was a denier – every moment Peter had to stand up, he backed down
3. He was a defender – of Jesus, except at the crucial moment

What forgiveness does is release the PURPOSE in the problem.

Forgiveness comes in these critical ways:

1. Admittance of the sin/problem/issue/failure (Romans 3:23, 6:23)
2. Belief in the power of Jesus Christ to save and forgive (John 3:16)
3. Confession of our sins to God (1 John 5:11-12)
4. Deliverance of that sin through REPENTANCE.

Repentance is to turn away from sin, turn toward God, and turn your mess into God’s mission for you!

Because of forgiveness, Peter became a leader of the early church and a man who witnessed thousands of people profess Jesus as Savior! His actions and words have inspired MILLIONS but JESUS is the reason for it all!

#FORGIVENESS

04.17.16 Notes (GoodNews Week 15)

#GOODNEWS Week 15
The Gospel of John #3
“Jesus Prayed For You”
Pastor Kris Freeman
Revolution Church

John 17:20-26 NLT
20 “I am praying not only for these disciples but also for all who will ever believe in me through their message. 21 I pray that they will all be one, just as you and I are one—as you are in me, Father, and I am in you. And may they be in us so that the world will believe you sent me.
22 “I have given them the glory you gave me, so they may be one as we are one. 23 I am in them and you are in me. May they experience such perfect unity that the world will know that you sent me and that you love them as much as you love me. 24 Father, I want these whom you have given me to be with me where I am. Then they can see all the glory you gave me because you loved me even before the world began!
25 “O righteous Father, the world doesn’t know you, but I do; and these disciples know you sent me. 26 I have revealed you to them, and I will continue to do so. Then your love for me will be in them, and I will be in them.”

The Lord’s Prayer was Jesus TEACHING how to pray.
The prayer of Jesus in John 17 is a prayer of INTERCESSION .

Four ways Jesus prayed in the “high priestly” prayer of John 17:

1. He prayed for God’s will in himself (John 17:1-8)
2. He prayed for his disciples/followers (John 17:9-19)
3. He prayed for YOU (John 17:20-26)

On the doorstep of the most important thing in Jesus earthly life, he PRAYED.

What should this teach us about prayer? PRAY about EVERYTHING .

Always be joyful, never stop praying, be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus. – 1 Thess. 5:16-18
Don’t worry about anything, instead pray about everything. Tell God what you need and thank him for all he has done. Then, you will experience God’s peace which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus. – Philippians 4:6-7
Devote yourselves to prayer with an alert mind and a thankful heart. – Colossians 4:2
And we are confident that he hears us whenever we ask for anything that pleases him. – 1 John 5:14
Ask me and I will tell you remarkable secrets you do not know about things to come. – Jeremiah 33:3
And the Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness. For example, we don’t know what God wants us to pray for, but the Holy Spirit prays for us with groaning that cannot be expressed in words. – Romans 8:26
In my distress I prayed to the Lord, and the Lord answered me and set me free. – Psalm 118:5
But I say, love your enemies, pray for those who persecute you. – Matthew 5:44
Hear my prayers, O Lord, listen to my plea. Answer me because you are faithful and righteous. – Psalm 143:1
So let us come boldly unto the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy and we will find grace to help us when we need it most. – Hebrews 4:16

Four levels (goals) to the prayer of Jesus:

1. That you might be HIS (kept 11-16)
2. That you might be SET APART (sanctified 17-19)
3. That you might be TOGETHER (united 20-23)
4. That you might be HOLY (glorified 24-26)

“All our communion with God, the reception of his love to us with our return of love to him again, passes through the hands of the Lord Jesus, and the comfort of it is owing purely to him.” – Matthew Henry (commentary, John 17)

This prayer had to end – but what happens through it lives forever!

#PRAY

04.10.16 Notes (GoodNews Week 14)

#GOODNEWS Week 14
The Gospel of John #2
“Get Up and Get Out”
Pastor Kris Freeman
Revolution Church

John 11:1-44 (NLT)
The Raising of Lazarus
11 A man named Lazarus was sick. He lived in Bethany with his sisters, Mary and Martha. 2 This is the Mary who later poured the expensive perfume on the Lord’s feet and wiped them with her hair.[a] Her brother, Lazarus, was sick. 3 So the two sisters sent a message to Jesus telling him, “Lord, your dear friend is very sick.”
4 But when Jesus heard about it he said, “Lazarus’s sickness will not end in death. No, it happened for the glory of God so that the Son of God will receive glory from this.” 5 So although Jesus loved Martha, Mary, and Lazarus, 6 he stayed where he was for the next two days. 7 Finally, he said to his disciples, “Let’s go back to Judea.”

17 When Jesus arrived at Bethany, he was told that Lazarus had already been in his grave for four days. 18 Bethany was only a few miles[d] down the road from Jerusalem, 19 and many of the people had come to console Martha and Mary in their loss. 20 When Martha got word that Jesus was coming, she went to meet him. But Mary stayed in the house. 21 Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if only you had been here, my brother would not have died. 22 But even now I know that God will give you whatever you ask.”
23 Jesus told her, “Your brother will rise again.”
24 “Yes,” Martha said, “he will rise when everyone else rises, at the last day.”
25 Jesus told her, “I am the resurrection and the life.[e] Anyone who believes in me will live, even after dying. 26 Everyone who lives in me and believes in me will never ever die. Do you believe this, Martha?”

33 When Jesus saw her weeping and saw the other people wailing with her, a deep anger welled up within him,[f] and he was deeply troubled. 34 “Where have you put him?” he asked them.
They told him, “Lord, come and see.” 35 Then Jesus wept. 36 The people who were standing nearby said, “See how much he loved him!” 37 But some said, “This man healed a blind man. Couldn’t he have kept Lazarus from dying?”

38 Jesus was still angry as he arrived at the tomb, a cave with a stone rolled across its entrance. 39 “Roll the stone aside,” Jesus told them.
But Martha, the dead man’s sister, protested, “Lord, he has been dead for four days. The smell will be terrible.”
40 Jesus responded, “Didn’t I tell you that you would see God’s glory if you believe?” 41 So they rolled the stone aside. Then Jesus looked up to heaven and said, “Father, thank you for hearing me. 42 You always hear me, but I said it out loud for the sake of all these people standing here, so that they will believe you sent me.” 43 Then Jesus shouted, “Lazarus, come out!” 44 And the dead man came out, his hands and feet bound in graveclothes, his face wrapped in a headcloth. Jesus told them, “Unwrap him and let him go!”

What is something in your life SO BIG only God could do it?

The first thing Jesus did was say “This sickness is not unto death.” Yet he died. Jesus knew that what we think is the end, often is just the BEGINNING .

“Factum non dicitur quod non perseverat” - That is not said to be done which is not done for a perpetuity (Latin, Matthew Henry, commentary John 11)

Four things about God to consider in this story:

1. God’s TIMING/PLAN is at work.

“Promised salvations, though they always come surely, often come slowly.”

Tradition believed that grief was at its height on the third day, and the spirit hovered over the body for three days in chance that it should return. Jesus delay enhanced the miracle.

2. God’s CARE is evident.

Jesus was his friend. Jesus cared about those who mourned. Jesus felt the hurt of those around them. Jesus shares in our grief in terrible circumstances.

3. God’s MIRACLE is possible.

For when there is no way out, He makes a way that wasn’t there!

4. God’s POWER is present.

This miracle and its power initiated the conspiracy to crucify Jesus.

The miracle is not always for the moment, it is to display the power of God and the purpose of God in the KINGDOM of God.

The Good News is bigger than this moment! It is the power of God unto salvation!

Friday, April 8, 2016

04.03.16 Notes (GoodNews Week 13)

#GOODNEWS Week 13
The Gospel of John #1
“The Beginning of Everything”
Pastor Kris Freeman
Revolution Church

John 1:1-14 (NLT)
Prologue: Christ, the Eternal Word
1 In the beginning the Word already existed. The Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He existed in the beginning with God. 3 God created everything through him, and nothing was created except through him. 4 The Word gave life to everything that was created,[a] and his life brought light to everyone.
5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it.[b] 6 God sent a man, John the Baptist,[c] 7 to tell about the light so that everyone might believe because of his testimony. 8 John himself was not the light; he was simply a witness to tell about the light. 9 The one who is the true light, who gives light to everyone, was coming into the world. 10 He came into the very world he created, but the world didn’t recognize him. 11 He came to his own people, and even they rejected him. 12 But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God. 13 They are reborn—not with a physical birth resulting from human passion or plan, but a birth that comes from God.
14 So the Word became human[d] and made his home among us. He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness.[e] And we have seen his glory, the glory of the Father’s one and only Son.

The Gospel of John – READ THIS FIRST.
The purpose of the book was so that people could find eternal life:
20:31 But these are written so that you may continue to believe[a] that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing in him you will have life by the power of his name.

About John:
- Writer of five books of the New Testament (John, 1-2-3 John, Revelation)
- A disciple of Jesus “whom Jesus loved” John 21:20
- One of the Sons of Thunder (Mark 3:17)
- Pastor of the Church of Ephesus, exiled for his faith
- Wrote John Gospel as an old man in 90 A.D., Revelation in 95 A.D.

The real question of the Gospel of John is not “Who is John?” but Who is JESUS ?

The Seven “I Am” Statements of Jesus
1. I am the bread of life (6:35, 48)
2. I am the light of the world (8:12)
3. I am the door (10:7-9)
4. I am the good shepherd (10:11-14)
5. I am the resurrection and the life (11:25)
6. I am the way, the truth and the life (14:6)
7. I am the true vine (15:1)

“Most assuredly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I AM.” (8:58)

John focuses on the claim that Jesus is not just the Son of God, He IS GOD  .
Every singly chapter gives evidence for the divine nature of Jesus.

So where did Jesus come from?

MYTHS about Jesus:
1. He did not exist until he was a baby
2. He had a beginning or was created.
3. He is only 33 years old.
4. He wears gold-fleece diapers and sits on the front row of a concert with a tuxedo T-shirt (be careful not to let POP CULTURE define your Savior!)
5. He knows when he is coming back to earth. (How is it possible he doesn’t?)

TRUTHS about Jesus:
1. He was present at CREATION .
2. He and His Father are one, but also three.
3. He is the head of the church.
4. He is the heir; and has rights to give to God’s children
5. He was INCARNATE.
6. The Word of God is the living embodiment of Jesus in written form.
a. THEOS EN HO LOGOS (The Word was God)

Incarnate: To embody or represent a deity in human form.

The Word is a living representation of Jesus:
Logos was associated with wisdom and beginnings – the world began through the origination and instrumentality of The Word (Genesis 1:3).

He is the image of the invisible God (Col. 1:15) and the express image of God’s substance (Heb. 1:3).

To you, he is Savior, he is King, he is head, he is LIFE (John 10:10).

John 10:10
10 The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life (life, and have it more abundantly).

03.27.16 Notes (GoodNews Week 12)

#GOODNEWS Week 12
The Gospel of Luke #4
“I Think I’ll Go For A Walk Outside”
Pastor Kris Freeman
Revolution Church

Luke 24: 13-34 (NLT)

The Walk to Emmaus
13 That same day two of Jesus’ followers were walking to the village of Emmaus, seven miles[c] from Jerusalem. 14 As they walked along they were talking about everything that had happened. 15 As they talked and discussed these things, Jesus himself suddenly came and began walking with them. 16 But God kept them from recognizing him.
17 He asked them, “What are you discussing so intently as you walk along?”
They stopped short, sadness written across their faces. 18 Then one of them, Cleopas, replied, “You must be the only person in Jerusalem who hasn’t heard about all the things that have happened there the last few days.”
19 “What things?” Jesus asked.
“The things that happened to Jesus, the man from Nazareth,” they said. “He was a prophet who did powerful miracles, and he was a mighty teacher in the eyes of God and all the people. 20 But our leading priests and other religious leaders handed him over to be condemned to death, and they crucified him. 21 We had hoped he was the Messiah who had come to rescue Israel. This all happened three days ago.
22 “Then some women from our group of his followers were at his tomb early this morning, and they came back with an amazing report. 23 They said his body was missing, and they had seen angels who told them Jesus is alive! 24 Some of our men ran out to see, and sure enough, his body was gone, just as the women had said.”
25 Then Jesus said to them, “You foolish people! You find it so hard to believe all that the prophets wrote in the Scriptures. 26 Wasn’t it clearly predicted that the Messiah would have to suffer all these things before entering his glory?” 27 Then Jesus took them through the writings of Moses and all the prophets, explaining from all the Scriptures the things concerning himself.
28 By this time they were nearing Emmaus and the end of their journey. Jesus acted as if he were going on, 29 but they begged him, “Stay the night with us, since it is getting late.” So he went home with them. 30 As they sat down to eat,[d] he took the bread and blessed it. Then he broke it and gave it to them. 31 Suddenly, their eyes were opened, and they recognized him. And at that moment he disappeared!
32 They said to each other, “Didn’t our hearts burn within us as he talked with us on the road and explained the Scriptures to us?” 33 And within the hour they were on their way back to Jerusalem. There they found the eleven disciples and the others who had gathered with them, 34 who said, “The Lord has really risen! He appeared to Peter.[e]”

This story happened on the same day as the RESURRECTION .

You can learn a lot about a person how they enter conversation, engage conversation and exit conversation.

This walk was a CONVERSATION about their EXPERIENCE.

1. It was a HEARTBREAKING EXPERIENCE.

“Human hope is a fragile thing, and when it withers, it is difficult to revive. Hopelessness as a disease of the human spirit is desperately hard to cure.”

Imagine being a follower of Jesus – even casually – and hearing he was gone. I’m sure their hearts were broken. But then…

2. It was a HEART SEARCHING EXPERIENCE.
Cleopas – what a name, right? – wonders why this stranger is the ONLY ONE who hasn’t heard about what happened to Jesus!

Judah Smith: “The Gospel works best when we let the Gospel do the work.” It is GOOD NEWS! But how was it this man had not heard of what happened with Jesus? They were AMAZED!

3. It was a HEART BURNING EXPERIENCE.

The two-hour journey must have seemed like five minutes. But Jesus acted as if he were going further, before they invited him in.
- Jesus is a gentleman
- He will not force himself in

"... Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me" (Revelation 3:19,20)

Then Jesus disappeared as he was recognized!

Why?
1. The Gospel LIVES because of Jesus
2. The Gospel SPREADS because of you.
3. The Gospel WORKS because of both together.

The greatest failure of the church would be for the church to survive without the Gospel story being the center of it! We should pray the church fail is Jesus NOT IN IT! Because the church is ALIVE when it is the BODY OF CHRIST not just the FAIRY TALE about him!

“If Christ does not draw near, the church of Jesus Christ is doomed. But God throughout all generations continues to draw near to a church full of His people with the good news of all creation!”

Friday, March 18, 2016

03.20.16 Notes (GoodNews Week 11)

#GOODNEWS Week 11
The Gospel of Luke #3
“Where Are You Going?”
Pastor Kris Freeman
Revolution Church

Luke 16:19-31 (NLT)

Parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus
19 Jesus said, “There was a certain rich man who was splendidly clothed in purple and fine linen and who lived each day in luxury. 20 At his gate lay a poor man named Lazarus who was covered with sores. 21 As Lazarus lay there longing for scraps from the rich man’s table, the dogs would come and lick his open sores.
22 “Finally, the poor man died and was carried by the angels to sit beside Abraham at the heavenly banquet.[e] The rich man also died and was buried, 23 and he went to the place of the dead.[f] There, in torment, he saw Abraham in the far distance with Lazarus at his side.
24 “The rich man shouted, ‘Father Abraham, have some pity! Send Lazarus over here to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue. I am in anguish in these flames.’
25 “But Abraham said to him, ‘Son, remember that during your lifetime you had everything you wanted, and Lazarus had nothing. So now he is here being comforted, and you are in anguish. 26 And besides, there is a great chasm separating us. No one can cross over to you from here, and no one can cross over to us from there.’
27 “Then the rich man said, ‘Please, Father Abraham, at least send him to my father’s home. 28 For I have five brothers, and I want him to warn them so they don’t end up in this place of torment.’
29 “But Abraham said, ‘Moses and the prophets have warned them. Your brothers can read what they wrote.’
30 “The rich man replied, ‘No, Father Abraham! But if someone is sent to them from the dead, then they will repent of their sins and turn to God.’
31 “But Abraham said, ‘If they won’t listen to Moses and the prophets, they won’t be persuaded even if someone rises from the dead.’”

Here is a child of wrath and an heir of hell sitting in the house, fairing sumptuously, and a child of love and an heir of heaven lying at the gate, perishing for hunger. – Matthew Henry

In ancient religious traditions, prosperity had inclinations of BLESSING .

The Rich Man:
1. Dressed in purple – his adorning was pleasant, clean and royal, a prince
2. Fared sumptuously – food, servants, quality and abundance
3. Lived in luxury – he had no need of want, the upper one percent of his community
There is no sin in being rich; it is the attitude of the one who obtains it, and the manner in which they build it.

In ancient religious traditions, poverty had inclinations of SIN .

The Poor Man:
1. Poor man covered in sores – he was in poverty, unable to receive care
2. Lay at the gate – possibly so sick it affected his mobility (Acts 3)
3. Longed for scraps – rejected by the elite, thought to be less
There is no extra righteousness in being poor, but there is no indication this man was being punished but rather a victim of life.

The biggest difference in this story is the NAME .

We are not defined by our circumstances our possessions, our identity is in Christ and our inclusion is His kingdom is confirmed by how God knows us.

Definitions of Torment (Hades) – Place of the Dead
1. Torment – he was in agony
2. Sight lines – he was in envy
3. Memory – he was in regret
4. Pain – he was in agony
5. Hopelessness – he was in eternity
The greatest torment of Hell may not be the physical pain, but the spiritual SHAME .

Definitions of Paradise (Abraham’s Bosom) – Place of the Presence
1. Transportation – he was carried by angels
2. Sight lines – he looked forward and not back
3. Memory – it seems to be erased
4. Healing – the earthly disease, pain was gone
5. Heaven – he was in the eternal presence of God
The greatest blessing of Heaven is not physical blessing, but the spiritual PRESENCE .

What you HAVE will not determine where you GO, but WHERE you go will always determine WHAT you have.

03.13.16 Notes (GoodNews Week 10)

#GOODNEWS Week 10
The Gospel of Luke #2
“So the Party Began”
Pastor Kris Freeman
Revolution Church

Luke 15:11-24

Parable of the Lost Son
11 To illustrate the point further, Jesus told them this story: “A man had two sons. 12 The younger son told his father, ‘I want my share of your estate now before you die.’ So his father agreed to divide his wealth between his sons.
13 “A few days later this younger son packed all his belongings and moved to a distant land, and there he wasted all his money in wild living. 14 About the time his money ran out, a great famine swept over the land, and he began to starve. 15 He persuaded a local farmer to hire him, and the man sent him into his fields to feed the pigs. 16 The young man became so hungry that even the pods he was feeding the pigs looked good to him. But no one gave him anything.
17 “When he finally came to his senses, he said to himself, ‘At home even the hired servants have food enough to spare, and here I am dying of hunger! 18 I will go home to my father and say, “Father, I have sinned against both heaven and you, 19 and I am no longer worthy of being called your son. Please take me on as a hired servant.”’
20 “So he returned home to his father. And while he was still a long way off, his father saw him coming. Filled with love and compassion, he ran to his son, embraced him, and kissed him. 21 His son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against both heaven and you, and I am no longer worthy of being called your son.[b]’
22 “But his father said to the servants, ‘Quick! Bring the finest robe in the house and put it on him. Get a ring for his finger and sandals for his feet. 23 And kill the calf we have been fattening. We must celebrate with a feast, 24 for this son of mine was dead and has now returned to life. He was lost, but now he is found.’ So the party began.

The parable of the Prodigal Son has so many scriptural parallels to the Gospel story:
1. God is represented as the FATHER of all mankind.
2. People are represented as CHILDREN , but subject to sin.
3. Mistakes are overcome by redemption and GRACE .

God does not redeem sin. He redeems PEOPLE .
God DEFEATED sin.

The Prodigal Son joined himself to the “state of sin” (a citizen)
1. Sin is a departed state and DISTANT from God.
2. Sin is a spending state. It is wasteful of what is good.
3. Sin is a wanting state.
a. His pride led to greed. His greed led to waste. His waste led to destruction. His destruction led to hunger. His hunger led to desperation. His desperation led HOME .
4. Sin is a state of madness, frenzy and perpetual dissatisfaction. And nothing can conquer this desire except to return to the Father.

When the Prodigal Son decided enough was enough, he didn’t try to redeem the pigs or clean the pen. He decided in his filth and shame to return home.

God isn’t going to clean up Satan. He is going to defeat him.

“For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is through Jesus Christ our Lord.”

The state of sin is conquered by the place of grace. His trip home:
1. He was received in love and affection
2. He submitted to a father who was already broken for him.
3. He was the recipient of provision that he had forfeited

Forgiveness is a powerful tool.

It doesn’t make sense to get a second chance. It doesn’t make right to get a second chance. It doesn’t make fair to get a second chance. 

Don’t miss the moment when God redeems people because you’re trying to fix sin. You can’t ELIMINATE SIN. Leave it alone and come home!

The Father’s response – Quick! Hurry! Don’t miss this!
- Finest robe (comfort)
- Ring for his finger (blessing)
- Sandals (peace)
- Fatted calf (nourishment)
- Feast (celebration)

“For this son of mine was dead and has now returned to life. He was lost, but now he is found.’ SO THE PARTY BEGAN.”

Friday, March 4, 2016

03.06.16 Notes (GoodNews Week 9)

#GOODNEWS Week Nine
The Gospel of Luke
Pastor Kris Freeman
Revolution Church

Luke 10:25-37 (NLT)
The Most Important Commandment
25 One day an expert in religious law stood up to test Jesus by asking him this question: “Teacher, what should I do to inherit eternal life?”
26 Jesus replied, “What does the law of Moses say? How do you read it?”
27 The man answered, “‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your strength, and all your mind.’ And, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’”[a] 28 “Right!” Jesus told him. “Do this and you will live!” 29 The man wanted to justify his actions, so he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”

Parable of the Good Samaritan
30 Jesus replied with a story: “A Jewish man was traveling from Jerusalem down to Jericho, and he was attacked by bandits. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him up, and left him half dead beside the road.
31 “By chance a priest came along. But when he saw the man lying there, he crossed to the other side of the road and passed him by. 32 A Temple assistant[b] walked over and looked at him lying there, but he also passed by on the other side.
33 “Then a despised Samaritan came along, and when he saw the man, he felt compassion for him. 34 Going over to him, the Samaritan soothed his wounds with olive oil and wine and bandaged them. Then he put the man on his own donkey and took him to an inn, where he took care of him. 35 The next day he handed the innkeeper two silver coins,[c] telling him, ‘Take care of this man. If his bill runs higher than this, I’ll pay you the next time I’m here.’
36 “Now which of these three would you say was a neighbor to the man who was attacked by bandits?” Jesus asked.
37 The man replied, “The one who showed him mercy.”
Then Jesus said, “Yes, now go and do the same.”

“We just decided to try kindness as a strategy.”
- Danielle Strickland, The Salvation Army

The Gospel of Luke:

  • Written by a Gentile (non-Jew) physician who also wrote Acts, written around 65 A.D. approximate
  • Luke learned all he could and shared with us
  • Detailed, longest Gospel in words, one-third of the book is full of unique stories found nowhere else
  • Tells the Great Commission AND the Ascension, and seems to continue in the Book of Acts (a sequel)
  • Jesus is: The Promised Messiah, Son of God, a Servant, God’s grace revealed, and the Lord at God's right hand


The Good Samaritan is a Parable that began with a legitimate question from a lawyer challenging Jesus.

“Who then is my neighbor?” - Limited obedience vs. Absolute trust - This is not a question of “who” but WHY .

The story:

  • Jews and Samaritans were enemies, prejudiced, hatred
  • Road from Jerusalem to Jericho was 17 miles south to avoid going directly through Samaria, called “The Bloody Trail” - often thieves hid in caves and attack victims
  • Man left for dead, a Priest and a Levite (Jewish religious authority) looked but passed by. The Samaritan helped.
  • Doctored, transported, paid for his room and extras


Jesus: “Who then was neighbor to this man?”

“You cannot build a reputation on what you are going to do.” - Henry Ford

FOUR TRUTHS

1. You best neighbor is your own ATTITUDE .
2. Your attitude will determine who/how you SERVE .
The lawyer couldn’t even say “Samaritan” - this story wasn’t about the victim, it was really about the servant!
3. How you serve may determine WHERE YOU GO .
4. Your failure/enemy is your greatest OPPORTUNITY.

“You might be the professional, but I was their neighbor.”

Leadership is the servant step of taking what is the best of God and working it out on a daily level in the lives of others.



Thursday, March 3, 2016

Stay on the Script...

By Kris Freeman
Revolution Church

The P.A. script for Vanderbilt vs. Troy
"Just stick to the script, son, and let the rest take care of itself. When the team does well, just be a fan and tell people how you feel." - A mentor and friend

I sat down at Memorial Gym the day before Halloween, 2015, to audition for the job of public address announcer for the Vanderbilt Commodores.

The question was asked, "how do you do following a script and reading what is prepared for you?" I chuckled, knowing that as a P.A. announcer for high school for many years, there are no scripts, producers and programs. Most of the timing, music and words are done by our own preparation. It's truly an ad-lib job with personal production, many times choosing my own music, writing my own sponsor announcements and typing my own script.

My answer was simple: "So you mean, I just have to show up and talk? That's easy."

I've spent my life talking -- too much. But it is the gift God has awarded me, and I am thankful that at times I have been able to use it for the purpose of telling about Jesus. So is the power of the tongue, though, our greatest mistakes can also happen with the same tools of our greatest strengths. For out of the mouth comes blessing and cursing, and all of us have experienced the joy and failure of each.

Why? Because we go off script.

What is the script? For a follower of Christ, it is the Bible, the written, breathed, inspired Word of God. For an announcer, the script is the paid advertisements, special recognitions and timed production set for a specific purpose to be used throughout the course of the event.

I just completed my first season as the public address announcer for Vanderbilt Men's and Women's Basketball with 35 home games between both teams. All but two of those games involved the home team, plus two games in a holiday tournament round robin with Ohio, Indiana and Austin Peay. I am proud to say that in 35 games, we stayed on the script. I was able to perform with excellence because of the preparation of our team, many times working long hours before the production ever goes live in the gym.

There were moments of tension. The men's game versus Austin Peay featured four head sets and three microphones. The women's game with Mississippi State had no producer in my ears until 20 seconds before the national anthem. I almost missed the women's game versus Presbyterian with a wonderful traffic jam in downtown Nashville on Monday morning at Demonbreun Street. Senior night for the women was done without any contact with producers and cameras.

I once hit the wrong button and talked to my producer over the air into the gym during live action. I left my headset one halftime versus Georgia and missed my cue for the video board highlights.

But each time there was an issue, revert back to the script. That is the fallback. If "man-made" moments fail, go back to the preparation. Stick to the script and that is the most fool-proof way to be successful.

The steps of being prepared are: 1. Review the script. 2. Check your input. 3. Check your output (sound check). 4. Mark your timing. 5. Adjust to the game. 6. Be sharp and on point during ad-lib situations. 7. Finish well. 8. Say thank you for a job well done.

Let's apply this to our daily lives. Before you use your voice, stay on the script.


  1. Review the Script - have a daily quiet time to read God's word.
  2. Check your Input - check the voices coming into your head and eliminate noises which should not be there like negative influences, chatter, unnecessary elements.
  3. Check your Output - let your voice be heard at the proper time, the proper way and be sure to push the right buttons at the right time. Check your volume, adjust the controls and be professional.
  4. Mark your Timing - Always know when the right time to say the right thing exists and do more listening than talking to others.
  5. Adjust to the Game - In live action, always play by the rules. Don't say things which don't belong and never put yourself above the action. Let God shine in YOUR story, not YOU shine in God's story.
  6. Be Sharp and On-Point - Elevate your game when the pressure is on and blend into God's glory with the team and the purpose as the primary point.
  7. Finish Well - Don't slack off when the game gets long. When life throws curveballs, stay on point. Let your frustration point you to success, not slack you into failure.
  8. Say Thank You - Spend time daily thanking God for living in your story and blessing you above what you deserve.

To the men and women who work production for a basketball game all the time, being there might have seemed like a job to do, but for a kid turned man who sat in the rafters as a fan, this was a dream come true and I pray for an opportunity to come back next year.

This was not just a job, I saw it as more. I was a complement to a bigger story. The bigger story was the team.

And signing off each game, we all told each other "Good job," and "thank you" even when the night might not have been the best.

My prayer life sometimes has to be like that too. I have to approach God on days when I know I did not live up to his production. But because of the preparation He has made for me, I can end the story with a job well done, even by His grace that is greater than my failures.

So to my colleagues - Aimee, Stephen, Katie, Jay, Rick, Dean, Travis, Doug, Brady, Warren, Milton and more - thank you for a job well done. You prepared a great script and a great table, I am thankful to get to be the voice.

Even if I never deserved to shine, may the people who did the hard work get the glory.

Just like God, who wrote the script, deserves all our praise. When you mess up in life, use your voice for repentance, and go back and read what He has written.

It's amazing how the script is always on time, always on point, and always on the mark.

AnchorDown. Live.Love.Serve.

---

I love you, and these are my thoughts.

Pastor K

Monday, February 29, 2016

The Road to Forgiveness...

By Kris Freeman
Revolution Church

Have you ever messed up? Good, keep reading. If you're perfect, it's ok if you stop.

I think I know where the majority of us fall, and I pray you have just a few minutes to share this story too. The road to forgiveness is also the road to unfaithfulness. How you pave it with grace determines how you will ride on top of the story for the rest of your life.

Image: Cars (Pixar)
Lightning McQueen emerged from his trailer from deep sleep into the land of the unknown. A champion race car, he landed in the small forgotten town of Radiator Springs on Route 66 while on his way to the next stop in the Piston Cup Championship.

Pixar is brilliant. An animated movie is not only one of my favorites, but has a pure Gospel story of restoration and forgiveness wrapped in the middle that until just a few weeks ago, I had never noticed? Can I share it with you? I think it will help both of us.

The movie Cars is the story of this young, arrogant champion who found humility and grace at the most incredible of times.

McQueen panics when he realizes he is away from the security of his trailer. He tries to run, but finds himself hopeless. Captured by a local sheriff, he is entrapped and later faces the judge. After trying to escape, he had torn up the only road through the town for the few residents who remained. This once flourishing place was now destroyed because of the remnants of his bad decision. McQueen is ordered to repave the road, hooking up to a machine named Bessie until the work is complete.

Covering his mistakes and making right what was wrong is torture. And several times, he has opportunities to run again, with an open road in front of him. But the most important thing he learns is patience and perseverance to complete the task, and ultimately befriends some of the people he wronged. In the end, he finds the judge that sentenced him is a former Piston Cup Champion. The end of the story is even more brilliant as McQueen is found, takes his new friends to be his crew, and surrenders a shot at the championship to save another car.

He later sacrifices the sponsorship he always dreamed of to remain with his former team and returns to Radiator Springs to unite with his new girlfriend, rebuild the town, and change the course of his career.

Redeeming, yes. But not without pain, was this journey from arrogance and mistake to redemption and forgiveness.

Image: Cars (Pixar)
All of us have been there, hanging from the gripping reality of our mistakes, knowing we have torn up the road. The potholes we create could be everything from gripping consequences, broken relationships, hurtful feelings, terrible mistakes, and it may take a long time to repave what we have destroyed. Sometimes, the road can never be fixed, we only patch what we can and learn that driving over the past will always create bumps in our future, Those consequences are hard.

But it's worth it.

We are scared of transparency. We are scared of people who are willing to see the enemy's weapon and seize it with their own admissions of and transparently work toward a new day.

The Bible says if we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to cleanse us of our sins and heal us from all unrighteousness. This is God, and his grace is incredible.

Three lessons from the story of Lightning McQueen that may help you:

1. Confession is the road to Construction

Standing before the judge, he realizes his only hope is to fess up, tell the truth and move forward. But even after doing this, McQueen battles the temptation to bail on the plan and run. But while repaving the road, he learns the value of hard work and his entitled spirit diminishes. He builds the trust of his friends and eventually finds redemption. They don't yet know he is a champion race car, but by the time they find out, he has built enough relational capital to prove to them he is legitimate.

Do what is right to mend what is wrong. IF that is impossible because of the circumstances, then continue paving the road - first in your relationship with God, and second with those that are closest to you. The Prodigal Son (in the Gospel of Luke) didn't run back to the pig pen to fix the pigs. He went HOME to his father. The first step is with God and much of the other may take time to repair, but that first road to forgiveness is with God.

2. Paving reveals the Plan

Pave your mistakes with grace. Here's what is great about the story. Even though Lightning McQueen had to repair the road, the judge of the town and the townspeople paid for the asphalt and the machine. Get that? It's grace. While you are rebuilding the road, God is paying the price. Why does He do this? Because God has a bigger plan than your brokenness.

What McQueen did not know is that when the road was paved, it would boost the morale of the town cars and residents to finally recoup the energy of their once bustling little town. They had lost hope, but through the story of a rebel, they first found the joy of driving on a smooth road again.

When he first tore up the road, imagine their gut wrenching feeling when an already beaten and torn down road was now worse for wear. But they watched as the judge issued the order and the responsible party rebuilt their hopes, all with the tools of the JUDGE. The Great Judge has the ability to press your decisions down on you, but He used His own tools and His own Son to pay the penalty - now the responsibility is to accept the salvation and forgiveness that comes from Him, and then choose to repent as this champion race car did and drive smooth going forward.

3. Challenges change your Cause

When your story becomes the story of Jesus, your future will change. Lightning McQueen decided to abandon his pursuit of the one thing he wanted when an evil counterpart caused destruction, and at the moment of decision, all his previous training in the disciplines of doing what was right took over.

During his recovery, Lightning McQueen learned to value others. He learned respect of his elders. He learned the possibilities that come through forgiveness. He learned who the enemy really was, and it was himself.

When he overcame himself, he revealed a great purpose. He revitalized a town. He found a family. He put a forgotten city, forgotten people and forgotten hero back on the map.

He found grace. And grace repaved the road and taught him a lesson.

Check out this lyric from Unspoken: (watch the video here)

There was a light that found me in darkness
Failing and hopeless barely alive
And for the first time I saw your perfection
In my reflection there in your eyes

My feet are on the ground
My heart is beating now
Your love has showed me how to live

You're my recovery
Changing who I was
To who I'm meant to be
Healing all that's broken
As you wash me clean
Oh you set me free
You're my recovery

This is the day that I'm starting over
I'm taking is slower one step at a time
And the're all the way
But you're here to guide me
Your spirit's inside me and it's changing my mind

My feet are on the ground
My heart is beating now
Your love has showed me how to live


A friend asked me two weeks ago how to fix what they have broken.

Without thinking, praying or even stopping, I responded (with the help of the Holy Spirit) that "the road to forgiveness is the same as the road from unfaithfulness. It all depends on how you pave it."

Everyone needs a fresh start, and there may be much yet to fix.

But let's make it simple.

1. Make it right with God.
2. Put your marriage, family, kids and loved ones first after God.
3. Forgive (and ask for forgiveness from) others.
4. Pave what you can fix, and learn and drive on from what you can't.

There's still a champion inside of you.

I love you, and these are my thoughts.

Pastor K