Good morning church! I'm sharing my full personal notes with you! I love you and am praying for you. 

...seeing our Neighbors and the Next Generation changed by Jesus and His Word,

Pastor Chris

REconnect Week 1: Connect to Jesus | Matthew 14:12-21

Intro:

We’re all feeling disconnected, fearful, and depressed…

1. REconnect to the Master (Matthew 14:12-13a)
2. REconnect to the Masses (Matthew 14:14)
3. REconnect to the Mission (Matthew 14:21)
4. REconnect to the Miraculous (Matthew 14:32-33)

Have you ever had one of those days? I’m betting many of you have had one of those weeks…

Amid a variety of emotions that you might be feeling right now, in your home, you are probably experiencing one extreme or the other. You are likely either

• Suffocation: overwhelmed by kids and school and working from home and new schedules; connect to silence, meditation, and prayer
• Isolation: create connections for support and to show up for each other when we are needed

Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day ...

I thought, this is what teachers read to their kids. It’s got to be good. I wonder what kind of advice it gives to bring hope on a really bad day.

It’s a horrible book! It ends completely hopeless. The whole point of the book is to teach kids that some days are just bad!

Really?!? Do we really need a book to teach us that?

NO! We need a book to teach us what to do and where to turn when we’re having a terrible day! We need HOPE.

Can I tell you today that there is HOPE!

And for a lot of us, we probably bounce back and forth between those extremes. First, let me say, that’s NORMAL! It’s just part of the being human. And in some ways, it’s Godly. 

Matthew 14:12 - “Later, John’s disciples came for his body and buried it. Then they went and told Jesus what had happened.”

Notice what these disciples did…

1. The disciples did what was right. They came together. We don't have to carry our burdens alone. 

I know that we can’t all be in the same room together right now, but know that you have a church family that loves you. You all have a deacon assigned to your family. They should be calling you over the next week or so, even if you don’t know who it is. You can also text the word CHURCH to 662-709-6849. Join our text group. You can respond to that. It’s not as fast, but we’ll see it. Send the church a Facebook message. There are a handful of us that see those and we typically respond pretty fast.

Romans 12:15 - “Be happy with those who are happy, and weep with those who weep.”

2. The disciples did what was necessary. They took care of the details. They cared for their friend and buried his body.

This is a process that we all must go through. It is necessary to make preparations and take precautions. We’ve got to go to the store and buy supplies. Some of you can work from home. Some of you are still going to work. I carry paperwork in my car now in case there is a shutdown that says I’m essential. Now I need a letter that says I’m essential….

As you deal with the details, God is in the process with you.

Psalm 56:8 - You keep track of all my sorrows. You have collected all my tears in your bottle. You have recorded each one in your book.

3. Most importantly, the disciples did what was best. They went to Jesus. 

In tragedy, we have a savior we can go to, without barrier, restriction, or hesitation. 

It is his love and his power that defeated death and brings peace. 

In Matthew 11:28, Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.”

On your Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day, RECONNECT to the MASTER!

1. RECONNECT to the MASTER

Jesus wants us to come to him. His burden is light.

But we’re talking about Jesus here. He didn’t need to RECONNECT did he? I mean, his own cousin, the guy he called the GOAT just died. But this is Jesus. Surely it didn’t affect him….

In his humanity, Jesus needed to stay connected as well. Check out this next verse…

Matthew 14:13 - As soon as Jesus heard the news, he left in a boat to a remote area to be alone.

Jesus would get away by himself often so that he could pray to the father. Jesus, God the Son, communed with the Trinity to keep himself centered as a man, God in the flesh. If Jesus in his humanity felt the need to do that, you better believe we need it too!

It’s okay to not be okay. But God loves you too much to leave you that way.

If you are suffocating, it’s okay to lock yourself in your bathroom for 15 minutes and just breathe. If your kids are driving you crazy, get outside and take a hike. Enjoy nature. All the city parks are closed but the back 4 acres of the church property are still open. Take your family and go throw a frisbee or play kickball or somethin. Wear them out and then go home and take a nice long bath… Put some headphones on and just listen to some good worship music. 

If you are isolated, know that you are not alone. Lean into Jesus. And then lean into Jesus people. Pick up the phone and call somebody. If you’ve got a single relative, consider asking them to come live with you for a while. Just make sure everybody is aware of the house rules before you add anybody else to the house.

RECONNECT to the MASTER!

1. RECONNECT to the MASSES

Matthew 14:13-14 - 13 As soon as Jesus heard the news, he left in a boat to a remote area to be alone. But the crowds heard where he was headed and followed on foot from many towns. 14 Jesus saw the huge crowd as he stepped from the boat, and he had compassion on them and healed their sick.

Jesus got some alone time, but he REconnected with people. In fact, he went so far as to heal their sick. 

Yes, we REconnect for our benefit, but not our benefit only. We REconnect with others FOR others. We are FOR our neighbors and the next generation. In a time that we are all hiding away, get out and take a walk and yell at the people in your neightborhood. 

Our neighborhood is putting bears in windows so kids can go on a bear hunt.

Call your friends. Don’t just post on their Facebook wall. Let them hear your voice.

Listen, now’s a great opportunity to connect via Zoom, Facebook Live, Instagram Live, Youtube Live, Twitch if you’re into video games. Social media was literally designed for a time like this. 

But whatever you do,

Be a HOPE DEALER!!

Spread a Pandemic of Peace!!

Which brings me to the next way we need to RECONNECT

1. REconnect to the Mission

Matthew 14:15-21 - 15 That evening the disciples came to him and said, “This is a remote place, and it’s already getting late. Send the crowds away so they can go to the villages and buy food for themselves.”

16 But Jesus said, “That isn’t necessary—you feed them.”

17 “But we have only five loaves of bread and two fish!” they answered.

18 “Bring them here,” he said. 19 Then he told the people to sit down on the grass. Jesus took the five loaves and two fish, looked up toward heaven, and blessed them. Then, breaking the loaves into pieces, he gave the bread to the disciples, who distributed it to the people. 20 They all ate as much as they wanted, and afterward, the disciples picked up twelve baskets of leftovers. 21 About 5,000 men were fed that day, in addition to all the women and children!

Jesus didn’t let the events of the day sabotage his mission.

Jesus didn’t let the disciple’s hang-up become his hold-up.

The disciples are looking around trying to figure out where the closest store is that’s still open and looking in their wallets thinking “Man, do you know how expensive toilet paper is on the black market right now?!?”

But Jesus had a mission. It was to BLESS people. Yes, his primary mission was salvation. But God promised that he was going to BLESS the whole world through the work of one man - Jesus.

And God has invited us to join him on HIS mission. Even if you can’t go out to eat. Your favorite restaurant is closed down. You’re job might be threatened. The city, maybe even the state, might go on lockdown.

Don’t let the LOCKDOWN be your KNOCKDOWN!

The Church isn’t powerless just because we’re not sitting in rows. 

The magic doesn’t happen in the pews.

Church isn’t over when we stop this video because YOU ARE THE CHURCH!

Our MISSION, regardless of where we are, is to see our Neighbors and the Next Generation changed by Jesus and His Word.

Let me say that again…

Our MISSION, regardless of where we are or what is going on, is to see our Neighbors and the Next Generation changed by Jesus and His Word.

Take this time to REconnect, REalign, and REapply what you know to be true and share it with the MASSES!

Finally, 

Jesus RECONNECT us with the MASTER

Jesus RECONNECT us with the MASSES

Jesus RECONNECT us with the MISSION

And Jesus RECONNECT us with the MIRACULOUS

On your Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day,

1. RECONNECT with the MIRACULOUS

Matthew 14:22-32

22 Immediately after this, Jesus insisted that his disciples get back into the boat and cross to the other side of the lake, while he sent the people home. 23 After sending them home, he went up into the hills by himself to pray. Night fell while he was there alone.

24 Meanwhile, the disciples were in trouble far away from land, for a strong wind had risen, and they were fighting heavy waves. 25 About three o’clock in the morning Jesus came toward them, walking on the water. 26 When the disciples saw him walking on the water, they were terrified. In their fear, they cried out, “It’s a ghost!”

27 But Jesus spoke to them at once. “Don’t be afraid,” he said. “Take courage. I am here!

28 Then Peter called to him, “Lord, if it’s really you, tell me to come to you, walking on the water.”

29 “Yes, come,” Jesus said.

So Peter went over the side of the boat and walked on the water toward Jesus. 30 But when he saw the strong wind and the waves, he was terrified and began to sink. “Save me, Lord!” he shouted.

31 Jesus immediately reached out and grabbed him. “You have so little faith,” Jesus said. “Why did you doubt me?”

32 When they climbed back into the boat, the wind stopped. 33 Then the disciples worshiped him. “You really are the Son of God!” they exclaimed.

Just when his disciples thought it was all overJesus performed yet another miracle. Just when they thought there was no hope, Jesus provided hope! 

When we were first created, before the fall, I believe that the supernatural was natural. When Jesus comes back, I believe the supernatural will be natural again.

But in the meantime, you have a savior who loves you, who’s standing in the middle of the storm with his hand stretched out, saying “You have so little faith. Why do you doubt me? I’ve got you. RECONNECT to me. I’m your miracle.”

Somebody out there this morning needs a miracle. You feel like you need healing from a sickness. You feel like you need to save your job. You feel like you need protection from COVID-19. You feel isolated. You feel suffocated.

But that’s not the miracle. The miracle isn’t that you’ll never get sick or if you do, you’ll get better. The miracle happens when you trust in Jesus and follow God’s will, whatever comes. The miracle is that regardless of what may happen to you, the God of the Universe is right by your side, his Spirit strengthening your spirit, his grace covering your failures, his love filling your heart.

Christ alone is our Cornerstone. In our weakness, he makes us strong. If you’ve never trusted Jesus, today is the day. 

Pray this prayer with me.

Jesus, I need you. I can’t do this on my own. I trust you to forgive me. I trust you to save me. I believe that died and rose again to save me from my sins. And today, I receive your forgiveness, and ask for your spirit to fill my life.

If you prayed that prayer today, let us know it. Leave a comment or send us a message. Now, let’s stand together, wherever you are. Go ahead and stand up. Our worship team is going to lead us in one more song of praise to our savior!

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For next 2 weeks leading up to Easter, I’m going to do something called Connect4

We are going to Connect online at 4PM, for 4 minutes, 4 days a week.

We’re going to take a quick look at the Book of Colossians to help us RECONNECT to Christ. We’re going to pray. And We’re going to prepare our hearts for Easter.

Check out CHURCH@HOME for kids resources at http://tcalf.com and RightNow Media for Adults