Pastor Tony Ashmore continues the series "Reel Life" with the movie "Mr. Smith Goes to Washington" in this Sunday service.
Reel Life Part 3
Pastor Tony Ashmore
Sunday, July 18, 2010
www.churchatmirrorlake.com
Sermon Notes:
Mr. Smith Goes to Washington
Movie was made in 1939, nominated for numerous Oscars and won Best Original Story. It is very relevant today and illustrates well the point made in Ecclesiastes 1:9
“History merely repeats itself. It has all been done before. Nothing under the sun is truly new.”
Our enemy has no new tricks in his bag. Men just keep falling for the same ones. The Good News is our Father never lets go and never gives up. His Word is true, our foundation secure, and His love unconditional.
Psalm 119: 140-144 “140 Your promises have been thoroughly tested; that is why I love them so much. 141 I am insignificant and despised, but I don’t forget your commandments. 142 Your justice is eternal, and your instructions are perfectly true. 143 As pressure and stress bear down on me, I find joy in your commands. 144 Your laws are always right; help me to understand them so I may live.”
Big Idea:
“When you do things fair and square, good things will happen to you sooner or later.” Rhiann Ashmore
Takeaways from the Movie:
Clip 1: Taylor Wants Smith in His Pocket
We have an enemy. Control is the goal. We were created to rule over creation and all the works of God’s hands. But we were not created to rule over (manipulate and control each other). When we try to do that we pervert creation and open the door to destruction.
1 Peter 5:8 “Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour.”
James 4:17 “Remember, it is sin to know what you ought to do and then not do it.”
Genesis 4:7 (God to Cain) “… if you refuse to do what is right, then watch out! Sin is crouching at the door, eager to control you. But you must subdue it and be its master.”
1 John 5:19 “We know that we are children of God and that the world around us is under the control of the evil one.”
2 Peter 2:19 “For you are a slave to whatever controls you.”
Clip 2: The Lincoln Memorial
Our connections and our mentors will take us higher or drag us down. Divine mentors point the way to Real Life!
1 Corinthians 4:15 “For though you might have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet you do not have many fathers…” There are lots of folks that want to tell you what to do, but not many are doing for your good. Most are doing it for their own reasons. Find the mentors who are for you and with you
James 5:10 (Message) “Take the old prophets as your mentors. They put up with anything, went through everything, and never once quit, all the time honoring God. What a gift life is to those who stay the course! You've heard, of course, of Job's staying power, and you know how God brought it all together for him at the end. That's because God cares, cares right down to the last detail.”
Clip 3: Someone will Hear Me
Does the good guy always win? Leo Durocher: “Nice guys finish last.” Depends on your reality. If this world and its system is your reality then sometimes the good guys don’t look like they are winning. If Heaven and eternity are your reality, then yes the good guys always win.
John 16:32 “But the time is coming—indeed it’s here now—when you will be scattered, each one going his own way, leaving me alone. Yet I am not alone because the Father is with me.” and
Romans 8:31 “If God is with us, who can ever be against us?
A Life-Giving Church for People Just Like You!
Whether you are full of questions or ready to jump right in, there is a place for you at The Church at Mirror Lake. Our church is a place where you can build relationships with others, experience God in worship, be empowered by practical, life-giving teaching from God's Word, and have fun doing it.
Together, we are living the Winner's Life as we learn to love, serve, reach, grow and connect. So whether you're a spiritual seeker starting to ask questions about God, or a committed Christian looking to sink your faith roots even deeper, you'll feel at home at The Church at Mirror Lake.
If you believe Jesus really meant it when He said, "I came so people can have real and eternal life, more and better life than they ever dreamed of," (John 10:10 Message Translation) then join us this weekend at one of our Jesus Celebrations. Until then, browse our website (a link is on the right of this page) where you'll find lots of helpful info and feel free to download one of our service messages or subscribe to our weekly podcast where you will receive the fresh, life-giving Word of God.
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