Close Close Watch Close ” type=”audio/mpeg”> Your browser does not support the audio element. Close Go to our giving website Note: You will be taken to another browser tab to give online. If on phone/tablet, simply click the back button to go back to this notes page. Give Watch Listen Interact × Bible Questions & Surveys Events Important: You will NOT lose your data entered or the tab location you are in when you close this panel. Imporant Items of Note Week of September 12, 2021 Volunteer ExpoCalling all willing hearts and helping hands. Visit our Volunteer Expo after service on Sunday, March 26th, to see where you can get connected in serving. There are a variety of places that are a fit with your gifts and talents. Your professional and spiritual background can serve in a needed volunteer opportunity. We […] Read more »Source: Zoe Center Sermons | Published: March 26, 2023 - 7:07 amPalm SundayJoin us for Palm Sunday as we celebrate Jesus’s triumphal entry into Jerusalem with a special Musical Celebration featuring our children and adult choirs. We will also celebrate our Youth who completed their first Discipleship Class. Invite friends and family to the celebration and hear a special message from Dr. Joshua. If you would […] Read more »Source: Zoe Center Sermons | Published: March 26, 2023 - 7:07 amEaster SundayOn Easter Sunday, we invite you to join us in worship and In the Text as we hear biblical insights on “The Power of the Resurrection” and how we celebrate the resurrection with our daily lives. Invite friends and family to join you for our Easter Service. Read more »Source: Zoe Center Sermons | Published: March 26, 2023 - 7:07 am“In the Text” Video Podcast on the BibleTune in online on Wednesdays for our new video podcast! “In The Text” is a contemporary conversation about the Bible focused on helping people relate to God through scripture. Take your bible reading experience to a whole new level in an engaging and creative way! Purchase an “In the Text” T-Shirt Read more »Source: Zoe Center Sermons | Published: March 26, 2023 - 7:07 amSynergy Youth MinistryThis month, we’ve got big plans for helping teenagers grow closer to God like they never knew they could before. Here’s what’s coming up in our ministry: · Volunteer Expo on March 26th · We will have Synergy on March 12th, 19th, 26th at 10:30am · Movie Night March 24th at 6pm at Zoe […] Read more »Source: Zoe Center Sermons | Published: March 26, 2023 - 7:07 amBaptism SundayHow important is baptism? It is your personal identification with the greatest act of human history, the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Water baptism is a step of obedience to the Word of God and an important expression of faith for a believer. Sign up to publicly acknowledge that you have made […] Read more »Source: Zoe Center Sermons | Published: March 26, 2023 - 7:07 amDiscoverAre you interested in becoming a member or just curious about our church? Have you joined Zoe within the past year? If so, you are invited to join Dr. Joshua for our Virtual Discover Gathering on Thursday, April 6! During Discover, you will learn more about our ministry, beliefs, and will have an opportunity to […] Read more »Source: Zoe Center Sermons | Published: March 26, 2023 - 7:07 amPrayer CallsWe invite you to pray on our 30-minute weekly Prayer Conference Calls. The calls are empowering, life-changing, and a dynamic way to start or end your day. Connect to a Prayer Call (562) 999-7729 Mondays • 6am • 7pm on Zoom only Connect at 7pm Tuesdays • 6am • 7pm Thursday • 6am • […] Read more »Source: Zoe Center Sermons | Published: March 26, 2023 - 7:07 amDrive-Thru Food GiveawayThe Zoe Center Drive-Thru Food Giveaway is a caring community of volunteers who serve our church families and community with free nutritious food. We are committed to providing food at no cost on the first Saturday of the month. If you would like to volunteer, arrive at the church at 9am. Read more »Source: Zoe Center Sermons | Published: March 26, 2023 - 7:07 amBaby DedicationDo you want to dedicate your child to the Lord? Invite your family to witness and share this moment with you on Sunday, May 7. The Baby Dedication Class will be held on Thursday, May 4 at 7:30pm on Zoom. Sign Up Read more »Source: Zoe Center Sermons | Published: March 26, 2023 - 7:07 am Add Sermon Notes This note will be displayed at bottom of your sermon note when you save to pdf or email them Questions Click to open/close Full NameEmailIn case we need to write back to you, please leave us your email address. This is a:CommentQuestionYour messageHidden Email IDNameThis field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. Δ Guest Survey Click to open/close We would love to hear your thoughts about your first time visit to our church, so if you are a current or recent guest, we ask you to fill out the survey below. Please use the comment field at the bottom of the form to further explain an answer or if you have comments on an area not covered by this survey. All fields are optional First NameLast NamePhoneEmail* Date of Your Visit Date Format: MM slash DD slash YYYY Age range of adults living in the home? 18-28 29-38 39-48 49-57 58+ Married or Single (with or without children)?Married with NO ChildrenSingle with NO ChildrenMarried with ChildrenSingle with ChildrenChurch ExperienceLots of church experienceOnly on holidaysRarely, if ever have been to churchLooking for a new churchNever been to churchWill you join us again this Sunday or an upcoming Sunday?YesNoStill thinking about itI would recommend this church to family and friendSelect ValueStrongly AgreeAgreeNeutralDisagreeStrongly DisagreePlease evaluate your experience (HONESTLY)Were you greeted at the front door?YesNoN/ADid you feel welcomed upon entering the sanctuary?YesNoN/AIf you had children with you, were you told about our Nursery and Children’s Church?YesNoN/AIf you had children, were the Nursery and Children’s Church workers friendly and helpful?YesNoN/AHow did you hear about us?FriendRelativeOther Word of mouthSignageSocial MediaAdvertisementIs there anything you would like our church to pray about?Comments (Please share your comments here – they are greatly appreciated!Hidden Email ID Δ Interact Zoe Center The Lord Is My Shepherd – Part 2 Archived – September 12, 2021 View This Weeks Note View All Past Notes View This Note w/o Blanks The Lord Is My Shepherd – Part 2 September 12, 2021 Review Those of you who were with us last week know that we just started a new series. We are now in week 2 of The Lord is My Shepherd: Knowing, understanding and receiving God as your pastor. Shepherding is an ancient practice. Shepherding is an ancient metaphor for leadership, specifically rulership—as in the rulership of a king. Reviewing Key Terms The ancient world has roots in monarchy and the contemporary world has roots in democracy. Monarchy is associated with values that today either create deep suspicion or that we simply reject outright: Hierarchy – “a system or organization in which people or groups are ranked one above the other according to status or authority” (dictionary.com) [hierarchy also situates people in roles, which from a 21st century perspective, is anti-equality.] Slavery – “a condition in which one person owns another.” (britannica.com) Democracy is associated with values we now associate with the highest form of morality: Freedom – the power or right to act, speak, or think as one wants without hindrance or restraint (dictionary.com) Equality – the state of being equal, especially in status, rights, and opportunities (dictionary.com) Reviewing Key Concepts Freedom, Equality and Democracy have become our new definition of . They are a new holy trinity. We now judge the Bible by these values instead of evaluating these values by the Bible. When good is elevated above , it becomes bad. Let’s Be Clear I am not saying that we should reject the of democracy and its corresponding values. I am saying that we should reject the democracy holds about morality. Democracy’s Assumption: Human beings have the power within themselves to determine the difference between right and wrong. Proverbs 3:7 Judges 17:6 Let’s Be Practical In the 21st Century, how does God rule a country in practice? Because of the legacy of the age of reason, we see God’s rulership as impractical and only see His rulership in sentimental or symbolic terms. We want God to be our shepherd symbolically, but we don’t want to be his . We want God’s wisdom, but we reject His leadership. We want truth, but we don’t like where God hid it: in ancient world with values foreign to our own. It is only when we embrace all the implications of the Lord as our shepherd that we will receive the benefits of Psalm 23. Proverbs 3:5–6 Jeremiah 3:14–15 When we seek God for righteousness leadership, He will give us leaders who will guide us . The assumption we make here is that we go must to God for righteousness because we are not qualified to make that call. Democracy Is an Old Concept Genesis 3:3–5 Genesis 3:22 The Perils of Democracy From a biblical perspective, democracy has always been consequential (Genesis 6:5–7) The impulse in humans led to the destruction of humankind. The flood was not the result of an impulsive God easily angered (Joel 2:13) The flood was an intervention by a just God whose gave them time to repent. The rainbow is both a promise and a warning: Genesis 9:11–13 2 Peter 3:1–7 Matthew 24:37–39 Matthew 24:42–46 © Joshua D. 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