Restoration Fellowship Sermon Notes

Does Jesus the Shepherd Satisfy Your Needs?
Pastor Terry Wilcox

Psalm 23:1-6, I Peter 1:2-3

“Pennsylvania Dutch” help wanted ad: $100 per month and “everything found”??

Deuteronomy 2:7
Nehemiah 9:19-21

We have been told that money is .
We have been told that is power.
We have been told that is power.

But when I have stood next to someone in a hospital bed facing death, never has anyone wanted to discuss any of those “powers.”

I do not need more because He is my shepherd – Psalm 23:1

I do not need rest, because He makes me lie down – Psalm 23:2

I do not need nourishment – He provides green pastures – Psalm 23:2

I do not need refreshment – He is the living water – Psalm 23:2

I shall not need restoration because He restores my soul – Psalm 23:3

I shall not need guidance because He guides me – Psalm 23:3

I shall not need righteousness because He is my righteousness – Psalm 23:3

I shall not need companionship because He is always with me – Psalm 23:4

I shall not need protection because His rod and staff protect me – Psalm 23:4

I shall not need comfort because He comforts me – Psalm 23:4

I shall not need fellowship because He dines with me – Psalm 23:5

I shall not need safety because He addresses my enemies – Psalm 23:5

I shall not need hospitality because He anoints me with the oil of gladness – Psalm 23:5

I shall not need satisfaction because He overflows my cup – Psalm 23:5

I shall not need goodness because He provides goodness and mercy – Psalm 23:6

I shall not need assurances because He is my Shepherd for all my days – Psalm 23:6

I shall not need security or a home because I will be in His house forever – Psalm 23:6

Hymn writer Isaac Watts:

The Lord my shepherd is,

I shall be well supplied,

Since He is mine and I am His,

What can I want beside?

Personal Notes

Wouldn’t You Rather Be a Bear?
Pastor Terry Wilcox

Psalm 23:1-6

Seeing the Lord as my shepherd positions me as a sheep. Bears are and more able to take themselves.

Are independence and self-reliance a or a ?

The Bible refers to “sheep” times.
Sheep information:

Psalm 23:1 “The LORD” = Jehovah, JAH, JAVEH.
To the Jew and Christian, Jehovah is the self-, ever-present, eternal

Jesus the Shepherd Has Three Titles in the New Testament

The Shepherd.
John 10:7-11
The Shepherd.
Hebrews 13:20-21
In the Middle East, most of the water comes from springs.
Revelation 21:6-7
The Shepherd.
I Peter 5:14
The number one predator of sheep is the . The of the shepherd keeps them at bay.
Revelation 5:8

So What? David Lived 3,000 Years Ago

We are still .
Our core challenges confront every .
Our Shepherd, Jesus, responds to our .
Hebrews 13:8

I Am the 23rd Psalm

If this Psalm could write its autobiography and would not be considered too conceited or egotistical for rehearsing its blessings to mankind, we might read many thrilling statements such as these:

   “I am as new and as fresh as if I had been written just yesterday; my hoary age of three thousand years has not changed my youthful appearance, nor diminished my vitality and exuberance of youth.

   I have penetrated through the thick layers of professionalism, superficiality and intellectualism into the very depths of millions of hearts.

   In fact, I work around the clock; not a minute passes without someone–some weary way-worn traveler on life’s dusty highway-knocking on my portals seeking help.

   I have been memorized by multiplied millions.

   I have been repeated over and over again by darling little children at their mothers’ knees.

   I have been the guiding star for innumerable youth.

   I have added stability to adulthood and comfort to old age.

   I have furnished the theme and background for countless sermons.

   I have given my literary gems to scholars who have expanded their choicest learning in producing the pages of wholesome literature.

   I have been lifted up into the heavens as the many-voiced choirs have sung their anthems of praise to their Saviour and Lord.

   I have connected man’s hearts and minds to the eternal God of the universe.

   I have cradled the babe with my sweet lullabies.

   I have led unerringly the uncertain steps of youth with my counsel.

   I have given protection with my rod and staff to noble manhood.

   I have accompanied old age through the valley of the shadow of death.

   I have brightened the homes of poverty and destitution.

   I have calmed the raging storms within the human breast.

   I have broken the galling fetters of the slave.

   I have visited the prisoner in his dungeon and made the stones in his cell wall to sparkle like diamonds in the crown royal.

   I have taken the heat out of the fevered brow, the pain out of parting and the sting out of death.

   I have poured healing balm into the ears and hearts of the sick.

   I have stood as an angel of light and mercy by the bed of sickness.

   I have smiled the warmth of love and compassion into the glassy eyes of the dying soldier on the field of battle.

   I have whispered hope to the hopeless, comfort to the sorrowing, peace to the storm tossed, joy to the downcast, rest to the weary, courage to the disappointed and salvation to the fallen.

   I have charmed more troubled hearts to rest than all the philosophies of the world.

   I have chased to their dark dungeons of despair more evil thoughts, more black-winged doubts and more devastating sorrows than there are sands by the seashore.

   I have wiped more tears from weeping eyes than there are stars in the heavens.

   I have pillowed the aching head, kissed away the fear of death, pushed back the black curtain of separation, unbarred the door on the far side of the grave, and accompanied the child of God across the great divide to the shores of sweet deliverance.

   What I have done in the yesterdays and am doing today, I will do in the tomorrows. I will continue to sing to your children and to your children’s children throughout all the generations to come. I will never cease my task, nor stay my hand of blessing, nor fold my wings until the last saint has been escorted safely to that better land and time shall be no more. Then and only then shall I take my flight back to the bosom of God from whence I came; there I shall mingle my soft melodies with the celestial joys which will make heaven reverberate with music, song and praise while the ceaseless cycles of eternity roll on and on and on.” -Robert H. Heckart

Personal Notes

The Cause of Christ In One Word
Pastor Terry Wilcox

Luke 23:32-49

Matthew 22:36
Matthew 25:37-40
Luke 23:32-43

What was the crowd thinking?
Luke 23:47-49
When Holocaust survivor Elie Wiesel accepted the Nobel Peace Prize in 1986, he said, “We must always take sides. Neutrality helps the oppressor, never the victim.”
The focus of Jesus’ prayer is .
John Wesley’s writing on this verse: “How striking is this passage! While they are actually nailing him to the cross, he seems to feel the injury they did to their own souls more than the wounds they gave him; and as it were to forget his own anguish out of a concern for their own salvation.”
Jesus’ enemies recognized Jesus’ cause.
Luke 23:35
Your support of our ministry in Zambia is to love others.
Jesus speaks again and restores another. Luke 23:39-43
Truly, God’s grace is amazing!
He speaks again on behalf of someone else.
Luke 23:25-27
Focusing on others is the remedy for .

Everyone professing Jesus as Savior is invited to celebrate Communion.
I Corinthians 11:26

Personal Notes

Is Intimacy With God Possible?
Pastor Terry Wilcox

Psalm 63:1-8

From Oxford Languages: close familiarity or ; closeness

Psalm 23:1-3 – God shows me the way, so I can on God.

Psalm 27:1-3 – God gives me the courage, so I can for God.

Psalm 63:3-5 – God displays His power and His love for me, so I can in God.

Psalm 91:1-4 – God surrounds me and protects me, so I can in God.

Psalm 95:1-3 – God is the great King and Lord of all, so I can Him.

David’s intimacy is expressed throughout the Psalms. Let’s focus on Psalm 63:1-8. Does David’s passion for God sound like yours?

How to Increase Intimacy

Take for becoming intimate with God.
with God.
The difference between legalism and spiritual discipline:
a. Legalism attempts to with God by doing things.
b. Spiritual discipline attempts to on God by doing things.
Avoid whatever your spiritual sensitivity.
about what God is doing in your life.
Hang out with Christians who intimacy.
Practice at .
Jeremiah 9:23-24

Personal Notes

What’s a Blessed Attitude?
Pastor Terry Wilcox

Genesis 12:1-3

God gave Abraham incredible followed by an incredible .

The promise is two-fold:

would bless Abraham.
Abraham being a blessing to .
0.20% of the world’s population – 22.4% Nobel laureates
Luke 6:12-13

Then Jesus begins “the sermon on the mount” which connects blessings with attitudes.

JESUS-LIKE ATTITUDES TOWARD OTHERS

Realize not everyone will this truth. Luke 6:27
Answers why some are and others are not.
others the way you want to be . Luke 6:27-31
We can embrace the of the world and settle for the of the world, or we can embrace the of Christ and enjoy his .

When we decide to like them, we like them.
for the right . Luke 6:32-36
a. Not because somebody has to you. Luke 6:32
b. Not for the of people.
c. Because you are a of God.
d. Jesus expects his attitudes to become ours. Colossians 1:27
What we is what we will . Luke 6:37-38
“Giving with a glad and generous heart has a way of rooting out the tough old miser within us. Even the poor need to know that they can give. Just the very act of letting go of money, or some other treasure, does something within us. It destroys the demon of greed.” – Richard J Foster, Money, Sex and Power

Personal Notes

How Can I Know God’s Will?
Pastor Terry Wilcox

Proverbs 3:1-10

Two Basic Facts

God has plans for us.
Ephesians 2:10, 2 Chronicles 16:9, Jeremiah 29:11
He says he will us.
Psalm 32:8, Psalm 73:24

Two Facets of His Plan

The will of God.
The will of God.

Principles to Follow

Do the first.
God.
Be willing to accept it before you .
Romans 8:31-32, Proverbs 3:1-6
a. A life of . – Proverbs 3:2
b. The of God and others. – Proverbs 3:4
c. – Proverbs 3:6 LB – “In everything you do, put God first, and he will direct you and crown your efforts with success.”

Bear In Mind

God doesn’t have a preference concerning our .
His will is .
Don’t take scripture out of .
Be circumspect of .
Rejoice in the .
Although we cannot go back and make a new start, we can start now and make a new end.
John 10:10

Personal Notes

How You Can Feel Secure
Pastor Terry Wilcox

Matthew 6:19-34

JESUS TALKS OF TWO TYPES OF TREASURES

Earthly treasures
They are endangered by:
a. Moths
b. Rust
c. Thieves
Heavenly treasure – I Timothy 6:17-19
a. in God
b. Doing
c. Sharing generously

JESUS SAYS OUR TREASURE IS CONNECTED TO OUR

– Matthew 6:21
– Matthew 6:22-23
– Matthew 6:24
Insecurity begins with a

JESUS SAYS DON’T WORRY – HOW?

Focus on what brings to life. – Matthew 6:25
Believe you are by God. – Matthew 6:26
Realize that worry is . – Matthew 6:27
Wealth is not the answer to . – Matthew 6:29
Insecurity reflects the of the unbeliever. – Matthew 6:32
Worry keeps us from making God . – Matthew 6:33
Worry will keep you from dealing with . – Matthew 6:34

RATHER THAN WORRY

on God.
Put God in .

God is too good to be unkind; He is too wise to be confused. If I cannot trace His hand, I can always trust His heart. – Charles Spurgeon

PERSONAL NOTES

The Key to Everything
Pastor Terry Wilcox

I Corinthians 13:1-7

Two Facts About Love

Love is a matter of .
Colossians 3:14
Would God tell us to “put on” something we could only ?
Love is a matter of .
I John 3:18

How Love Acts

Love is patient. I Corinthians 13:4
Ephesians 4:2
Love is kind. I Corinthians 13:4
Kindness is the ability to care for each other in the of life.
Ephesians 4:32
is at the core of relationship.
Love thrives on . I Corinthians 13:4
Envy, boasting, and pride are indicative of .
Love is a relationship.
John 3:16
C.S. Lewis said that to love at all is to be vulnerable. ‘Love anything, and your heart will certainly be wrung and possibly broken. If you want to be sure of keeping it intact, you must give your heart to no one. Lock it up safe in the casket or coffin of your selfishness, but in that casket, safe, dark, motionless, airless, it will change. It will not be broken, but it will become unbreakable, impenetrable, irredeemable. The only place outside of heaven where you can be safe from all dangers of love is hell.’

You can give loving, but you can’t love giving.
With love trumps .
I Corinthians 3:7
Mature people understand that determine feelings. Less mature people think determine actions.

Important Things to Know About Love

Don’t .
Love will make you .
Love is a force.
The law will tell you what to do, but love will give you the to do it.
Love is .
Romans 5:8
The spirit of love makes people and experiences special.
Henry Drummond, the Scottish evangelist, and writer said, “You will find as you look back upon your life that the moments when you have really lived, are the moments when you’ve done things in the spirit of love.”

A reputation for loving is not established by talking.

PERSONAL NOTES

USE IT OR LOSE IT
Pastor Terry Wilcox

Matthew 25:14-30

Talents = copper, silver, gold, abilities, or .

Main issue of this text is .

All we have is a from . – Matthew 25:14-15
Ashamed or boastful indicates the same .
Proverbs 22:4
Matthew 18:4
Fulfillment is related to how we rather than we have. – Matthew 25:21 & 23
These three men fit into two groups – or unfaithful.
If we don’t use our opportunities, they will be .
Built into sin is .
Built into neglect is .
God rewards .
Psalm 31:23
The sin is not in failing, but in
At the heart of confusion about God’s expectations of us is a of the Father.
God is us! Not us!
Opportunities are often to what God wants .
I Corinthians 1:26-29.
Faithful =

PERSONAL NOTES

WHAT DO WE DO WITH SUFFERING?
Pastor Terry Wilcox

Psalm 128:1-6

The Hebrews had a perspective from Job.
He was tested, continued to trust God, and was restored.

FOUR RELIGIOUS VIEWS

The stoical champion of personal .
Buddhism – more than million followers.
Nirvana – a transcendent state without suffering, desire, or sense of .
Hinduism – about followers.
The law of Karma says if you are suffering now, you have in this, or a previous life.
Islam – about followers.
is God’s will.
Islam means “ to the will of God.”

But what does a Christian do with suffering?

TWO OLD TESTAMENT VIEWS

The are spared unmerited suffering.
Psalm 91:8-12
Living righteously does spare us of self-inflicted pain.
Another Hebrew view is Habakkuk 3:17-19

TWO POINTS OF JESUS’ “UNIQUE” VIEW

Jesus did not explain suffering
John 9:1-5

Why? is an question. It is answered in Genesis 3.
The profitable questions are: and .
Jesus suffering by using it.
See Matthew 5:11-12; Romans 8:18; Philippians 1:29; 2 Timothy 3:12; James 5:13; 2 Corinthians 11:23-29

To launch planes, an aircraft carrier must .

Jesus turned the tragedy of the cross into the triumph over death!

Jesus was moving toward the cross with every step of his life. Where are your steps moving you?

PERSONAL NOTES