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If you’re looking for a forum to dialogue with Pastor Jerry Barber and others about the meaning and application of the biblical texts taught at Harvest Community Church of Huntersville, NC - you have found it!

You do not have to register on this blog to read and follow along, but we invite you to register so that you can also make comments and dialogue with others (registration is free and private--we do not share personal information with others; we have registration only to protect the integrity of the site).

This week you can listen to Sunday's message and see its outline and powerpoint presentation, plus find a daily devotional to inspire you and prayer guide to give you suggestions re: specific ways to pray.

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What is the greatest challenge you face in prayer?
 
Psalm 55--Sermon for September 7, 2008 PDF Print E-mail
Written by Jerry Barber   
Friday, 05 September 2008
Trouble.  Stress.  Betrayal.  What do you do when these uninvited guests stop by for a visit in your life? 

Most of us have the tendency to discuss, plan, complain, flee or fight.

But Psalm 55, "HeartCry for Relief," shows us another--and better way.
 
Psalm 32--Sermon for August 31, 2008 (HeartCry of Forgiveness) PDF Print E-mail
Written by Jerry Barber   
Wednesday, 03 September 2008
Follow the sequence:
(1) King David commits adultery and murder;
(2) The prophet Nathan confronts him with the phrase, "You are the man";
(3) David pens Psalm 51 as a HeartCry of Confession;
(4) After confessing his sin, David pens Psalm 32 as a HeartCry of Forgiveness.

After he confesses, he is full; he is rewarded--to use the biblical term, he is "blessed." Psalm 32 shows how that works. And it still works today.

Sermon SlidesSermon Outline
 
The Yield for August 24-30--Psalm 51 PDF Print E-mail
Written by Lisa Joyce   
Monday, 25 August 2008
Lisa Joyce hosts this forum, "The Yield," so you can engage in discussion about practical ways to apply the principles learned in the latest sermon. Please review the questions and share your thoughts in the comments section.

QUESTION FOR AUGUST 24 - AUGUST 30

1. What "A Ha's" did you experience about confession from Psalm 51?
 
Psalm 51--Sermon for August 24, 2008 (HeartCry of Confession) PDF Print E-mail
Written by Jerry Barber   
Friday, 22 August 2008
Psalm 51 is one of the most poignant psalms of all. David failed God royally, and this psalm is his heartcry of confession. In it we learn the difference between false guilt and true biblical confession--AND HOW FREEING IT IS!

Sermon SlidesSermon Outline
 
The Yield for August 10-16, 2008--Psalm 39 PDF Print E-mail
Written by Lisa Joyce   
Saturday, 09 August 2008
Lisa Joyce hosts this forum, "The Yield," so you can engage in discussion about practical ways to apply the principles learned in the latest sermon. Please review the questions and share your thoughts in the comments section.   

QUESTION FOR AUGUST 10 - AUGUST 16

1. Knowing that your days are fleeting, and numbered, how did Psalm 39 change or impact your perspective?
 
Psalm 39--Sermon for August 10, 2008 PDF Print E-mail
Written by Jerry Barber   
Saturday, 09 August 2008
The Psalms generally don't tell us to DO anything; they are inspired Hebrew poetry. We learn by observing real people in real situations--both joys and struggles--who connect with God as they cry out to them from their hearts. So on August 10, 2008, we start a new teaching series from the psalms, "HeartCry." The first message in this series is based on Psalm 39, "HeartCry for Meaning."

Sermon SlidesSermon Outline
 
The Yield for August 3-9, 2008--Malachi 4:4-6 PDF Print E-mail
Written by Lisa Joyce   
Monday, 04 August 2008
Lisa Joyce hosts this forum, "The Yield," so you can engage in discussion about practical ways to apply the principles learned in the latest sermon. Please review the questions and share your thoughts in the comments section.
 
QUESTION FOR AUGUST 3 - AUGUST 9

1. Jerry told us at the beginning of Malachi that it would be a series that had some challenging messages.  Now that we're finished, how do you feel about this book?   Are you encouraged, overwhelmed, elated? 
 
Malachi 4:4-6--Sermon for August 3, 2008 PDF Print E-mail
Written by Jerry Barber   
Monday, 04 August 2008
The unity and arrangement of the Bible is amazing to me--66 books written over thousands of years--and with great interconnectedness. As the prophet Malachi concludes his book by calling people to remember the law of Moses, the sermon on Malachi 4:4-6 shows how Malachi's message was rooted in the Old Testament law AND confirmed later in the New Testament.

Sermon SlidesSermon Outline
 
The Yield for July 27-August 2, 2008--Malachi 4:1-3 PDF Print E-mail
Written by Lisa Joyce   
Monday, 28 July 2008
Lisa Joyce hosts this forum, "The Yield," so you can engage in discussion about practical ways to apply the principles learned in the latest sermon. Please review the questions and share your thoughts in the comments section.
 
QUESTIONS FOR JULY 27 - AUGUST 2

1. Knowing there is uncertainty about when the "Day of the Lord" will occur, what keeps you in "preparation mode"?  

2. What truth impacted you from Jerry's sermon?
 
Malachi 4:1-3--Sermon for July 27, 2008 PDF Print E-mail
Written by Jerry Barber   
Monday, 28 July 2008
In the final speech of Malachi, the prophet reveals that God is a "God of both thunder and sunshine." Listen to the sermon to see what that means.

Sermon SlidesSermon Outline
 
The Yield for July 20-26, 2008 -- Luke 18:9-14 PDF Print E-mail
Written by Lisa Joyce   
Friday, 18 July 2008
Lisa Joyce hosts this forum, "The Yield," so you can engage in discussion about practical ways to apply the principles learned in the latest sermon. Please review the questions and share your thoughts in the comments section.
 
QUESTIONS FOR JULY 20 - 26

1. How do you ensure that your faith is focused on the "relationship" versus "religion?" What pitfalls have you experienced -- and how have you overcome them?

2. In Jerry's sermon we heard about the importance of humility. How do you keep your ego in check, both in faith and in life?
 
Sermon for July 20, 2008--Luke 18:9-14 PDF Print E-mail
Written by Jerry Barber   
Friday, 18 July 2008
July 20, 2008 was "VBS Outreach Sunday" at Harvest, a day which is marked by music, Bible verses and DVD of the prior week's activiities, followed by a sermon that presents the gospel of Jesus Christ. So I diverted from the series in which I was teaching through Malachi and based the sermon on Luke 18:9-14, "Why We Didn't Teach Your Children About Religion This Week."

Prayer GuidesSermon SlidesSermon Outline
 
The Yield for July 13-19, 2008--Ephesians 6:10-20 PDF Print E-mail
Written by Lisa Joyce   
Monday, 14 July 2008
Lisa Joyce hosts this forum, "The Yield," so you can engage in discussion about practical ways to apply the principles learned in the latest sermon. Please review the questions and share your thoughts in the comments section.
 
QUESTIONS FOR JULY 13 - 19

1. What practical things do you do to gain victory over the enemy?   

2.  What truth(s) from Jerry's message impacted you? 
 
Sermon for July 13, 2008--Ephesians 6:10-20 PDF Print E-mail
Written by Jerry Barber   
Monday, 14 July 2008
On Sunday, July 13, 2008, I changed the sermon passage and topic from the previously-scheduled text (Malachi 4:1-6) to a new one, Ephesians 6:10-20. I sensed that a sermon on spiritual warfare would help individuals, families and our church at this time. Be blessed as you interact with God's Word.

 
The Yield for June 29-July 5, 2008--Malachi 3:13-18 PDF Print E-mail
Written by Lisa Joyce   
Monday, 30 June 2008
Lisa Joyce hosts this forum, "The Yield," so you can engage in discussion about practical ways to apply the principles learned in the latest sermon. Please review the questions and share your thoughts in the comments section.
 
QUESTION FOR JUNE 29 - July 5

1. What motivates you to serve God when you don't see an immediate reward, and/or you continue to see the unrighteous prosper?  
 
Malachi 3:13-18--Sermon for June 29, 2008 PDF Print E-mail
Written by Jerry Barber   
Friday, 27 June 2008
DELAAAAAAYED Gratification. Not something most of us are very good at, or happy with. See what that has to do with God's desires for us in this sermon on Malachi 3:13-18.

Prayer GuidesSermon SlidesSermon Outline
 
The Yield for June 22-28, 2008 (Malachi 3:6-12) PDF Print E-mail
Written by Lisa Joyce   
Monday, 23 June 2008
Lisa Joyce hosts this forum, "The Yield," so you can engage in discussion about practical ways to apply the principles learned in the latest sermon. Please review the questions and share your thoughts in the comments section.
 
QUESTION FOR JUNE 22-28

1. At a time when there is so much uncertainty in the economy, how were you impacted by the truths preached in Jerry's message?
 
Malachi 3:6-12--Sermon for June 22, 2008 PDF Print E-mail
Written by Jerry Barber   
Monday, 23 June 2008

Americans typically donate 2% of their income to charitable causes. In Malachi 3:6-12, God required his people to donate a tithe annually (10%), plus a tithe for the poor every third year (3%), plus festival tithes occasionally, as well as freewill offerings. How do all these match up? Is a believer living in today's world expected to do the same, more or less? And what about the "prosperity preachers" who promise great individual financial reward to givers? God's people today can benefit from understanding what He teaches on the subject, which is the design of this sermon from Malachi--and it also includes some New Testament considerations.

Prayer GuidesSermon SlidesSermon Outline

 
The Yield for June 15-21, 2008 (Malachi 2:17-3:5) PDF Print E-mail
Written by Lisa Joyce   
Monday, 16 June 2008
Lisa Joyce hosts this forum, "The Yield," so you can engage in discussion about practical ways to apply the principles learned in the latest sermon. Please review the questions and share your thoughts in the comments section.
  
QUESTIONS FOR JUNE 15-21

1.  What incorrect biblical thoughts are influencing your understanding of God's true character?  

2.  What truth impacted you from Jerry's sermon? 
 
Malachi 2:17-3:5--Sermon for June 15, 2008 PDF Print E-mail
Written by Jerry Barber   
Friday, 13 June 2008
Is God indifferent to the evil that humans bring upon each other? Is He unjust for allowing such things to happen? It is questions like these that the prophet Malachi addressed in Malachi 2:17-3:5. I invite you to hear the sermon, follow along the outline and powerpoint, and share your thoughts here or in "The Yield."

Prayer GuidesSermon SlidesSermon Outline
 
The Yield for June 8-14, 2008 (Malachi 2:10-16) PDF Print E-mail
Written by Jerry Barber   
Wednesday, 11 June 2008
Lisa Joyce hosts this forum, "The Yield," so you can engage in discussion about practical ways to apply the principles learned in the latest sermon. Please review the questions and share your thoughts in the comments section.
 
 
 
QUESTIONS FOR JUNE 8-14

1. Knowing that God views us as “One Body” and when we’re unfaithful to others we do harm to the Body, what do you do (or will you do) to keep faithfulness a priority in your life? 

2.  What truth (about marriage commitment or anything else) impacted you from Jerry's sermon? 
 
Malachi 2:10-16--Sermon for June 8, 2008 PDF Print E-mail
Written by Jerry Barber   
Monday, 09 June 2008
A survey last year conducted by the U.S. Census Bureau revealed that a couple's odds of reaching their 25th wedding anniversary are less than 50%. In 2007, only 54% of American men and 58% of American women had married only once.

Malachi 2:10-16 addresses the important issue of commitment to the covenant relationship of marriage. It stresses that faithfulness to each other is a crucial component of faithfulness to God.

Prayer GuidesSermon SlidesSermon Outline
 

Tea Time (let it soak in)

If you would like to meditate on the Psalms through the week, here is a suggested schedule:
  • 8/18-8/24 - Psalm 51
  • 8/25-8/31 - Psalm 32
  • 9/1-9/7 - Psalm 55