Southpointe Community Church Sermons: Recent Episodes

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Sermons from Southpointe Community Church in Nolensville, TN

Easter sermon by Matt Ballard on April 17th.

Why is the cross the central symbol of Christianity? 1.The cross of Christ was central to the mission of Jesus 2.The cross is the center of Biblical history 3.The Cross is the Center of Christianity 4.The Effects of the Cross -justification= the pressure is off -adoption= a love that will not let me go -propitiation= God’s not angry -sanctification= power to live

7 If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. 8 By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples. 9 As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. 10 If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commandments and abide in his love. 11 These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.

Confession: Holy and gracious Father, we are gathered before you, the maker of heaven and earth, whose chosen dwelling place is with the broken and contrite, to confess that we have sinned in thought and word and deed. We have not loved you with all our hearts and souls, we have not loved you with all our minds and strength; we have not even loved our neighbors as ourselves. In your mercy, deepen our sorrow for the wrong we have done and for the good we have left undone, so that we may hate our sin with a holy hatred. But, please Father, do not leave us in sorrow. With you, O Lord, there is forgiveness. In your mercy, restore the joy of our salvation, so that we may love you with a holy love. Amen.

Assurance of Pardon: “Come, let us return to the Lord; for he has torn us, that he may heal us; he has struck us down, and he will bind us up; on the third day he will raise us up, that we may live before him. Let us know; let us press on to know the Lord; he will come to us as the showers, as the spring rains that water the earth.” From Hos. 6

It is in vain, O men, that you seek within yourself the cure for all your miseries” -Blaise Pascal

“I wonder what would happen to most churches and Christian work if we awoke tomorrow and everything concerning the reality and work of the Holy Spirit and everything concerning prayer were removed from the Bible.... actually cut out- disappeared. I wonder how much difference it would make? I honestly don’t think it would make much difference in many board meetings, decisions, activities, or even individual lives” Francis Schaeffer

My loved one had a vineyard on a fertile hillside. He dug it up and cleared it of stones and planted it with the choicest vines. He built a watchtower in it and cut out a winepress as well. Then he looked for a crop of good grapes, but it yielded only bad fruit. Isaiah 5

I asked God for strength, that I might achieve; I was made weak, that I might learn humbly to obey. I asked for health, that I might do greater things; I was given infirmity, that I might do better things. I asked for riches, that I might be happy; I was given poverty, that I might be wise. I asked for power, that I might have the praise of men; I was given weakness, that I might feel the need of God. I asked for all things, that I might enjoy life; I was given life, that I might enjoy all things. I got nothing that I asked for, but everything I hoped for. Almost despite myself, my unspoken prayers were answered. I am among all men most richly blessed. —Anonymous

1 John 1:5-2:2

Last week Christ’s heavenly PRIESTLY activity: INTERCESSION This week we consider another of Christ’s heavenly PRIESTLY activities: ADVOCACY

2 Dangers: - Complacency - Hopelessness

2 Warnings: -God is light and we are not - 1.5b that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. - 1.8 If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. - 1.9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Dangers Sin presents: - Deceptive - Minimize - Excuse

Rebellious: - Disobedience to God’s revealed law; anything condemned in the Bible - Disobeying the conscience - Governed by desires, not truth

Two Provisions: - Finished work of Christ: Taking (removing) the wrath - The present work of Christ - taking the case - yours

3 Voices: - John Piper - Dane Ortlund - John Bunyon

Hebrews 6:19-20; 7:23-25

3 major offices among the people of Israel in OT Prophet spoke God’s word to the people Priest offered sacrifices prayers and praises to God on behalf of the people King ruled over the people as God’s representative

All 3 foreshadowed Christ’s own work in different ways; he fulfills these offices: 1. As a PROPHET Jesus reveals God to us He speaks God’s words to us to you through faithful preaching "How are they to believe in him [of] whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching?" – Romans 10:14

As a KING: Jesus rules over the church Jesus rules over the universe. "[God] raised [Christ] from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion. . . . And he put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church." Ephesians 1:20-22
As a PRIEST The heavenly, priestly activity of Christ is FOREVER The heavenly, priestly activity of Christ is UNCEASING The heavenly, priestly activity of Christ is PRECISE

HOW DO YOU GET THIS IN YOUR LIFE? "Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him since he always lives to make intercession for us" - Hebrews 7:25 "Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you" – James 4:8 "Seek the LORD while he may be found; call upon him while he is near;" - Isaiah 55:6

RESULT : "We have this as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, a hope that enters into the inner place behind the curtain," - Hebrews 6:19

1 Chronicles 29:1-17

DAVID’S LEADERSHIP (v. 1-5) with his own giving and his challenge to the people.
THE PEOPLE’S RESPONSE (v. 6-9)
WHAT IT MEANS (v.10-17)
DAVID’S LEADERSHIP (v. 1-5) ”I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord (Phil 3:8). Vs. 2: "With all my resources I have provided for the temple of my God." Vs. 3: "Besides... I now give my personal treasures." Vs. 3: "Besides, in my devotion to the temple of my God." Vs. 5: "Now, who is willing to consecrate himself today to the Lord?"
THE PEOPLE’S RESPONSE (v. 6-9)
WHAT IT MEANS (v. 10-17) "Everything in heaven and on earth is yours" (11). "Wealth and honor come from you" (12). "Everything comes from you” (14). "It comes from your hand, and all of it belongs to you.” (16)

Confession: "O great and everlasting God, who searches and knows the thoughts and intentions of the heart; we confess that we have not loved you with all our heart, nor with all our soul, nor with all our mind, nor with all our strength; nor our neighbors as ourselves. We have loved what we ought not to have loved; we have coveted what is not ours; we have not been content with your provisions for us. We have complained in our hearts about our family, our friends, our health, our occupations, about your church, and about our trials. We have sought our security in things which perish, rather than in you. Cleanse, and forgive us, through Jesus Christ, who is able to save, since he is our righteousness and our cleansing, and not ourselves or our works. Therefore it is in His name we pray, Amen." (From Deut. 6 and Heb. 7)

Assurance of Pardon: "Yet God demonstrates his own love for us in this, while we were still sinners Christ died for us… There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus." Romans 5:8,1

Luke 18:18-30 MONEY: 1. How it’s dangerous 2. Why we want it 3. How to master it

How it’s dangerous “How difficult it is for the rich to enter kingdom of God. It is easier for camel to go through the eye of a needle then for rich man to enter the kingdom of God.” v. 25

Proverbs 11:4 “Wealth is worthless in the day of wrath, but righteousness delivers from death.”

Proverbs 30:8-9: "Give me neither poverty nor riches, but give me only my daily bread. Otherwise, I may have too much and disown you and say, Who is the LORD?"

Why we want it
How to master it v. 24 “How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of heaven.”

a. ASSUME you’re in denial b. Follow the "Rich Young Ruler" = Jesus "For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich." 2 Corinthians 8:9

c. Have a plan "You will very rarely meet a Christian family that gives faithfully that is not obviously being blessed for it: either in the wisdom with which they have been taught by God to handle their money, or in the pleasure they get from it, or in the love many others have for them for the good they have done, or in the satisfaction they receive from participating in the advancement of the kingdom of God, or in the heavenly-mindedness which is the fruit of their turning away from the love of money, or in a thousand other blessings not directly related to money, but which their Heavenly Father has rained on them because they have honored him."

“A generous man will prosper, he who refreshes others will himself be refreshed” Proverbs 11:25

Confession: "Almighty God, we acknowledge and confess that we have sinned against you in thought, word, and deed; we have not loved you with all of our heart, soul, mind, and strength; we have not loved our neighbor as ourselves. Deepen within us our sorrow for the wrong we have done, and the good we have left undone. Lord, you are full of compassion and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy; there is always forgiveness with you! Restore to us the joy of your salvation; bind up that which is broken, give light to our minds, strength to our wills, and rest to our souls. Speak to each of us, and let your word abide with us until it has wrought in us your holy will. Amen."

Assurance of Pardon: "But he was wounded for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his stripes we are healed." Isaiah 53:5

Generosity- Love compelling me to live sacrificially for the betterment of others.

The danger of not forgiving Luke 17:3-4 "So watch yourselves! If your brother sins, rebuke him, and if he repents, forgive him, and if he sins against you seven times in the day, and turns to you seven times, saying, ‘I repent,’ you must forgive him." Hebrews 12:15, “See to it no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many.”
The practice of forgiveness “Forgiveness is impossible when you exclude your enemy from the community of humans and exclude yourself from the community of sinners.” -Misoslav Volf “Forgiveness is to deal with our emotions by denying ourselves the dark pleasures of venting them or fondling them in our minds.” "There is such a big difference between forgiveness and reconciliation. It takes two to reconcile, so it is not always possible to be reconciled. But it takes only one to forgive. So if people do you wrong, forgive them, whether or not they ask for forgiveness. You cannot cancel their sin. Only God can do that, and He will only do it if they repent. But what you can do is set aside your own anger, bitterness, and resentment towards them." - Philip Graham Ryken
The power to forgive

Confession: "Almighty God, we are unworthy to come into your presence, because of our many sins. We do not deserve any grace or mercy from you, if you dealt with us as we deserve. We have sinned against you, O Lord, and we have offended you. And yet, O Lord, as we acknowledge our sins and offenses, so also do we acknowledge you to be a merciful God, a loving and favorable Father, to all who turn to you. And so we humbly ask you, for the sake of Christ your son, to show mercy to us, and forgive us all our offenses. Forgive the sins of our youth, and the sins of our old age. By your Spirit, O God, take possession of our hearts, so that, not only the actions of our life, but also the words of our mouths, and the smallest thought of our minds, may be guided and governed by you. Through Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom, with you and the Holy Spirit, be all honor and glory, now and forever. Amen."

Assurance of Pardon: "But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior." Titus 3:4-6

Luke 10:25-37 | The Good Samaritan

Generosity is Love compelling me to live sacrificially for the betterment of others.

1 The ways we try to limit loving our neighbor a.) We limit the WHO b.) We limit the WHEN Objection: "I don’t have to help when they have brought it on themselves." Edwards: "Christ loved you, pitied you, and greatly laid himself out to relieve you from all that want and misery you brought on yourself by your own folly. Should we not love others as Christ loved us? If Jesus had looked own from heaven and said: I only want to help deserving sinners with my blood he could have saved a trip. Because none of us deserve it and we’ve brought it on ourselves." c.) We limit the HOW MUCH Objections: “I can’t afford to help.” Edwards: Galatians 6:2 “Bear one another’s burdens.” "The Gospel obliges us to give to others when by doing so we suffer ourselves. How else is that rule of bearing one another’s burdens fulfilled? If we never are obliged to relieve other’s burdens except when we can do it without burdening ourselves, how do you bear your neighbor’s burdens if you only do it when you bear no burden at all?"

The motivation and power to love your neighbor

Confession: All knowing and still all loving Father, have mercy on us, for we have struggled with divided hearts. We love you and we love your ways, yet we have loved this world, too. O Lord, have mercy on us. We have put our hope in things, people, and circumstances instead of you. We have been more captivated with self indulgence than knowing your heart.We have fled your presence. We have known in our hearts what is right, and yet we did wrong anyway. We have been delighted with pleasing ourselves, satisfying our desires, and pampering ourselves with pleasures instead of gladly serving others. We ask you to forgive us in the name of Jesus, who is our Savior and our only credibility before you. Amen

Assurance of Pardon: But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. Jesus said to her, "neither then do I condemn you, go and sin no more". (from Rom. 5, 8; Jn. 8)

Jude 1 1) Jude disregarded his earthly identity 2) Jude understood his inheritance as a slave to Jesus Christ and that his authority came from his submission

William Barclay states, “The only title of honor which Jude would allow himself was the servant of Jesus Christ. The Greek is doulos, and it means more than servant - it means slave. That is to say, Jude regarded himself as having only one purpose and one distinction in life - to be forever at the disposal of Jesus for service in his cause. The greatest glory which any Christian can attain is to be of use to Jesus Christ.” (Barclay, 200-201)

“In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking on the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death - even death on a cross! Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” Philippians 2:5-11

Challenges for the week: 1) Commit to read your Bible each day this week 2) When you wake up each day this week, say out loud or in the quiet of your mind, I am a slave of Jesus Christ and ask God to give you the wisdom to see the opportunities to serve Him.

Confession: Forgive us, O Lord, for the sin that affects our home life: for the moodiness and irritability that make us hard to live with; for the insensitivity that makes us careless of the feelings of others, for the selfishness that makes life harder for others. Forgive us, O Lord, for everything that spoils our witness for you; when we deny with our lives what we say with our lips; when we do not stand for what is right and allow others to suffer; when we don’t forgive; for any example that makes it easier for people to criticize your church. Forgive us for the sins that we know, and the sins that we do not recognize. Grant that at the foot of the cross we may find our burdens rolled away. And strengthen us by your Spirit so that in the days to come we may live more nearly as we ought. Through Jesus Christ, our Lord, Amen

Jeremiah 33:8: "I will cleanse them from all their iniquity by which they have sinned against Me, and I will pardon all their iniquities by which they have sinned against Me and by which they have transgressed against Me."

2 Samuel 24:2-25

What’s the Big Deal in a Census?
Why did God Judge?
Why did God Give Grace?

5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; 6 in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight. Proverbs 3:5-6

"Violence thrives today secretly nourished by the idea that God is too loving to judge or to take the sword. If you have ever experienced violence yourself and have been wounded by it; if you are the victim you will do whatever it takes to get justice and if you don’t think you will it is only because your life has been too comfortable. My thesis that the practice of non-violence can only take place as the result of a deep conviction in divine vengeance will never go over well in the United States but it takes the quiet of the suburbs to birth the thesis that human non violence can result from belief in an all loving God who refuses to judge. If God were not angry at injustice and would not make a final end to violence that God would not be worthy of worship.” -Tim Keller

Confession Almighty God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, as those who have been delivered from the wrath to come through the blood of Jesus Christ, we come now to confess our sins, and to seek the grace and mercy that can only be found in you. You have called us to be people of faith, hope and love, but we are guilty of unbelief, hopelessness and hatred. When we should have delighted in Jesus Christ, we have sought refuge in created things. When we should have endured trials with patience and hope, we have grumbled against you. When we should have loved you with all of our heart, and our neighbor as ourselves, we have been self-absorbed. Have mercy on us, O God, and bear fruit in us by your Word. Turn our hearts upward to heaven, so that we will live as those who await the glorious appearing of our Savior, Jesus Christ the Lord, in whose name we pray. Amen.

Assurance of Pardon For this is what the high and lofty One says— he who lives forever, whose name is holy: “I live in a high and holy place, but also with the one who is contrite and lowly in spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly and to revive the heart of the contrite.” Isaiah 57:15

*Content Warning: This sermon contains content about abuse/sexual abuse.

2 Samuel 13:1-22

“If you are neutral in situations of injustice you have sided with the oppressor.” - Desmond Tutu

What is sexual abuse? Where an older or more powerful person uses a less powerful person for their sexual pleasure...

Book Referrals: "Studies in the Sermon on the Mount" by Martyn Lloyd-Jones "The Sermon on the Mount" by Sinclair Ferguson

Matthew 5:2-12 2 And he opened his mouth and taught them, saying: 3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 4 “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. 5 “Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth. 6 “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied. 7 “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy. 8 “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. 9 “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons[a] of God. 10 “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 11 “Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. 12 Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

Acts 11.19-26

“Encouragement = The act of inspiring others with renewed courage, a renewed spirit, or renewed hope”

Encouragement is celebrating others,
Encouragement is challenging others, and
Encouragement is clearing the way for others
Encouragement is Celebrating others (v. 23) When he came and saw the grace of God, he was glad,

(Hebrews 10.24-25) And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, 25 not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.

Encouragement is Challenging others (v. 23) and he exhorted them all to remain faithful to the Lord with steadfast purpose. (Hebrews 3.12-13) “See to it, brothers, that none of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God. But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin's deceitfulness.”

3.Encouragement is Clearing the way for Others (v 25) So Barnabas went to Tarsus to look for Saul, 26and when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. For a whole year they met with the church and taught a great many people.

Luke 2:39-52 Jesus Obeyed and Fulfilled the Law Jesus Grew as Fully Human Jesus Must be in the Things of His Father

And the child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom. And the favor of God was upon him. Luke 2:40

And Jesus increased in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and man. Luke 2:52

Are you seeking to grow spiritually, mentally and physically, like Jesus?
Are you being a diligent learner in God’s Word, like Jesus?
Is being with your Heavenly Father your number 1 priority, like Jesus?
Is following God’s purpose and will for your life above all other things, like Jesus?

Applications: 1. Read and Study the Word 2. Get involved in a SP Group 3. Pursue time with mentors, asking questions 4. Read books about Biblical Truth 5. Pray

Confession: Eternal God, our judge and redeemer, we confess that we have tried to hide from you, for we have done wrong. We have lived for ourselves and apart from you. We have turned from our neighbors and refused to bear the burdens of others. We have ignored the pain of the world and passed by the hungry, the poor, and the oppressed. We have allowed good intentions and high sounding words to be substitutes for loving others in costly ways. In your great mercy, forgive our sins and free us from selfishness, that we may choose your will and love as you would love; through Jesus Christ our Savior.

Assurance of Pardoning Grace If you, O Lord, kept a record of sins, O Lord, who could stand? But with you there is forgiveness; therefore you are feared. O Israel, put your hope in the Lord, for with the Lord is unfailing love and with him is full redemption. He himself will redeem Israel from all their sins. Ps. 130.4-5, 7-8

Psalm 1: Blessed is the man[a] who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; 2 but his delight is in the law[b] of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night. 3 He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers. 4 The wicked are not so, but are like chaff that the wind drives away. 5 Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous; 6 for the Lord knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish.

Confession: Jesus our Savior, help us. We are slow to learn and prone to forget; we are pained by our graceless hearts, our prayerless days, our wasted hours, our unspent opportunities. We repent of holding onto your precious Gospel and not giving it away to others. We are blind while the light shines around us: take the scales from our eyes, grind to dust our hearts of unbelief. Make it our highest joy, Jesus, to study You, meditate on You, gaze on You, sit like Mary at Your feet, appeal like Peter to Your love, consider like Paul all things but rubbish for the sake of knowing You, and to count the cost of making and multiplying disciples. Amen.

Assurance of Pardon: As far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us. Psalm 103:12

Matthew 2:1-12 - Unlikely Converts: The story of the Three Magi

“Many times those who are nearest to the means of grace are furthest from the ends of grace”. -Matthew Henry

“He came to his own, but His own received Him not, but to all who did receive him. He gave the power to become children of God.” John 1:11-12.

Confession: Almighty and gracious Father in Heaven, You are a Holy God, and yet my life abounds with apologies not made, forgiveness not offered, appetites not restrained, parents not honored, spouses not cherished, children not trained, hungry not fed, envy unchecked, tongues unbridled, eyes unguarded, time wasted, talents wasted, treasure wasted. Lord Jesus, deliver me from these chains, from the rebellion of my old ways that still hang on, from the sugar of sin as well as its poison, so that I may come to you, cast myself on you, trust in you, and be delivered by you.

Assurance of Pardon: “Yet this I call to mind and therefore have hope: Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed for his compassions never fail; they are new every morning. Great is your faithfulness.” Lamentations 3:21-22

Psalm 51: The Message - Generous in love—God, give grace! Huge in mercy—blot out my bad record. Scrub away my guilt, soak out my sins in your laundry. I know how bad I’ve been; my sins are staring me down. - You’re the One I’ve violated, and you’ve seen it all, seen the full extent of my evil. You have all the facts before you; whatever you decide about me is fair. I’ve been out of step with you for a long time, in the wrong since before I was born. What you’re after is truth from the inside out. Enter me, then; conceive a new, true life. - The sacrifices acceptable to God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.

What is Gospel Brokenness?
What does God promise people who are broken over their sins?

For this is what the high and exalted One says— he who lives forever, whose name is holy: “I live in a high and holy place, but also with the one who is contrite and lowly in spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly and to revive the heart of the contrite. Isaiah 57:15

Confession: Father in Heaven we confess our willingness to be loved but also our reluctance to love. We confess our readiness to accept your forgiveness also our refusal to forgive. We confess our eagerness to receive your offer of redeeming love, but also our resistance to follow you without question. Father, forgive us for our failures, help us respond as we should. During this Advent season come to us anew, and by your grace, help us to open our hearts to receive you with joy, as the Shepherds did, with obedience as Mary did, with adoration as the Wise Men did, with love, even as you have loved us. Amen.

David and Bathsheba 1. The Compromise: 2 Sam 11 v. 1-5 2. Cover up: 2 Sam 11 v. 6-27 Cycle of sin: Deception, Desire, Deed, Dependence, Dominance, Deadness 3. Confrontation: 2 Sam 12 4. Confession: 2 Sam v. 13/ Psalm 51 5. Cleansing: 2 Sam v. 12 "Nathan replied, 'The LORD has taken away your sin. You are not going to die.'" 6. Christ

Confession: Lord, though you should guide us, we inform ourselves; though you should rule us, we control ourselves; though you should fulfill us, we console ourselves. We think your truth too high, your will too hard, your power too remote, your love too free. But they are not! And without them, we are of all people most miserable. Now heal our confused minds with your word, heal our divided wills with your law, heal our troubled consciences with your love, heal our anxious hearts with your presence, all for the sake of your Son, who loved us and gave himself for us. Amen.

Assurance of Pardon: "Come now, let us reason together, says the Lord: though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall become like wool." Isaiah 1:18

Luke 22:39-46

Jesus Loved while being tired, stressed and under pressure: 1. Jesus loves the 3 Apostles – Peter, James and John 2. Jesus loves his betrayer, Judas 3. Jesus loves all 11 of his Apostles 4. Jesus loves his enemy, Malchus

"This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you." John 15:12

Application: 1. We need to Repent of Our Unloving Hearts 2. We need to Run to and Rest in the love and power of Jesus.

"My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness. Therefore, I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me." 2 Corinthians 12:9

Call To Worship Speaker: Lift up your heads, O gates! And be lifted up, O ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in. Who is this King of glory? The LORD, strong and mighty, the LORD, mighty in battle! Lift up your heads, O gates! And lift them up, O ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in. Who is this King of glory? The LORD of hosts, he is the King of glory! Psalm 24:7-10

Confession: Almighty Father, God of gods and Lord of lords, Father to the fatherless, Husband to the widow, Defender of the helpless, Judge of all the earth, have mercy on us. We have not sought freedom for the oppressed, even though you freed us. We have not bound up the broken even though you healed us. We have not forgiven others even though you forgave us. We withhold kindness from the needy even though you freely gave us your own Son. We are without excuse, but not without hope. By your power and grace, account our sins to Jesus’ bloody death and amend our ways by the power of his glorious resurrection. Amen

GRACE = God’s Riches At Christ’s Expense

God gives you grace based on someone else’s performance.... not yours.
There is more grace in Christ than there is Sin in you.
Grace malfunctions if you use it for personal consumption only.... it is meant to undeservedly flow into your life and then flow through you to other undeserving people.
God’s grace radically re-narrates your story

What kind of giving moves Jesus’ heart?
What can move our hearts to give that way?

“They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything—all she had to live on.” v. 44

What can move us to live this way? “For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich” 2 Corinthians 8:9

Romans 8:32 “He who did not spare HIS OWN SON BUT GAVE HIM UP FOR US ALL, how will he not also with him GRACIOUSLY GIVE US EVERYTHING?”

Confession: Lord God, eternal and almighty Father: We acknowledge before your holy majesty that we are poor sinners, conceived and born in guilt and in corruption, prone to do evil, unable of our own power to do good. Because of our sin, we endlessly violate your holy commandments. But, O Lord, with heartfelt sorrow we repent and turn away from all our offenses. We condemn ourselves and our evil ways, with true sorrow asking that your grace will relieve our distress. Have compassion on us, most gracious God, Father of mercies, for the sake of your son Jesus Christ our Lord. And in removing our guilt, also grant us daily increase of the grace of your Holy Spirit, and produce in us the fruits of holiness and of righteousness pleasing in your sight: Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Assurance of Pardon: And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross. Colossians 2:13-14

Confession: O God Most High, Mighty Warrior, Strength and Shield, King of kings, Lord of all - Hear my cry, for I am a helpless creature, held in bondage to my own sinful pride, imagining that I can be my own god. I confess to You a heart hardened by selfishness, an unruly tongue, a fretful disposition, a discontented spirit, an unwillingness to bear the burdens of others, and many neglected opportunities to give You the praise and thanksgiving You deserve. Forgive all my iniquities, O God, for the sake of Your dear Son, who died to bear my sin and set me free from guilt, so that I can heartily obey and serve You in the power of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

When God tells us no.. 1. Examine your motives 2. Examine your circumstances 3. Examine the heart of God

“Search me oh God and know my heart, test me and know my anxious thoughts, see if there be any offensive way in me and lead me in the way everlasting” Psalm 139:23-24

“My son, I had it in my heart to build a house for the Name of the LORD my God. But this word of the LORD came to me: You have shed much blood and have fought many wars. You are not to build a house for my Name, because you have shed much blood on the earth in my sight.” 1 Chronicles 22:7-8

“Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much. Luke 16:10

Confession: Most holy and merciful Father, We confess to you and to one another, that we have sinned against you by both what we have done and by what we have failed to do. We have not loved you with our whole heart and mind and strength. We have not fully loved our neighbors as ourselves. The words of our mouth and the thoughts of our hearts have not always been pleasing to you. You alone know how often we have grieved you by wasting your gifts, by wandering from your ways, by avoiding intimacy with you. Forgive us, we pray you, most merciful Father; and free us from our sin. Renew in us the grace and strength of your Holy Spirit, for the sake of Jesus Christ, your Son, our Savior. Amen.

Assurance of Pardoning Grace: If you, O Lord, kept a record of sins, O Lord, who could stand? But with you there is forgiveness; therefore you are feared. O Israel, put your hope in the Lord, for with the Lord is unfailing love and with him is full redemption. He himself will redeem Israel from all their sins. Psalm 130:4-5, 7-8

“Why do people in churches seem like cheerful, brainless tourists on a packaged tour of the absolute? Worship is dangerous. Does anyone have the foggiest idea of what sort of power we so blithely invoke? Or, as I suspect, does no one believe a word of it?” Annie Dillard

“I can't stand your religious meetings. I'm fed up with your conferences and conventions. I want nothing to do with your religion projects, your pretentious slogans and goals. I'm sick of your fund-raising schemes, your public relations and image making. I've had all I can take of your noisy ego-music. When was the last time you sang to me? Do you know what I want? I want justice—oceans of it. I want fairness—rivers of it. That's what I want. That's all I want.” God, Amos 5.21-24

“Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth.” Jesus, John 4

David and the whole house of Israel were celebrating with all their might before the LORD, with songs and with harps, lyres, tambourines, sistrums and cymbals. 2 Samuel 6:5

David, wearing a linen ephod, danced before the LORD with all his might, while he and the entire house of Israel brought up the ark of the LORD with shouts and the sound of trumpets. 2 Samuel 6:14

Confession: Almighty God, our heavenly Father, we acknowledge and confess that we have sinned against you in thought, word, and deed; we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves. Deepen within us our sorrow for the wrong we have done, and the good we have left undone. Lord, you are full of compassion, and gracious, slow to anger, and abundant in mercy; there is always forgiveness with you! Restore to us the joy of your salvation; bind up that which is broken, give light to our minds, strength to our wills, and rest to our souls. Speak to each of us, and let your word abide with us until it has worked in us your holy will. rough Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen

Assurance of Pardon: “He who conceals his sins will not prosper, but whoever confesses and renounces them finds mercy.” Prov. 28:13

"Politics are like alcohol. Drink toward health, in moderation. But some of us are so addicted that we shouldn’t enter the bar at all." - Scott Sauls

"Sin is not just the doing of bad things but the making of good things into ultimate things. It is seeking to establish a sense of self by making something else more central to your significance, purpose & happiness than your relationship to God." - Tim Keller

How Politics exposes us a. Through socially acceptable sins (v. 1-5) b. Politics exposes us By showing how self interest can erode away conviction and integrity. (v. 6-13) c. Dirty politics creates innocent victims (v. 14-15) d. Politics exposes our impulses of jealousy and revenge (v. 22-27)
How God Saves us (v. 28-39)

Confession: Holy and righteous God, we confess that like Isaiah, we are a people of unclean lips. But it is not only unclean lips we possess. We are people with unclean hands and unclean hearts. We have broken your law times without number, and are guilty of pride, unbelief, self-centeredness and idolatry. We have sought satisfaction in this world’s pleasures rather than in You. We have loved to praise our own glory more than yours. Affect our hearts with the severity of our sin and the glory of your righteousness, as we trust in your loving forgiveness, through Jesus Christ your Son.

Isaiah 54:1-8

"The Lord very frequently addresses us in the character of a husband; the union by which he connects us with himself, when he receives us into the bosom of the Church, having some resemblance to that of holy wedlock, because founded on mutual faith. As he performs all the offices of a true and faithful husband, so he stipulates for love and conjugal chastity from us; that is, that we do not prostitute our souls to Satan, to be defiled with foul carnal lusts. Hence, when he rebukes the Jews for their apostasy, he complains that they have cast off chastity, and polluted themselves with adultery. Therefore, as the purer and chaster the husband is, the more grievously is he offended when he sees his wife inclining to a rival." - John Calvin

Confession: Holy and gracious Father, we are gathered before you, the maker of heaven and earth, whose chosen dwelling place is with the broken and contrite, to confess that we have sinned in thought and word and deed. We have not loved you with all our hearts and souls, we have not loved you with all our minds and strength; we have not even loved our neighbors as ourselves. In your mercy, deepen our sorrow for the wrong we have done and for the good we have left undone, so that we may hate our sin with a holy hatred. But, please Father, do not leave us in sorrow. With you, O Lord, there is forgiveness. In your mercy, restore the joy of our salvation, so that we may love you with a holy love. Amen.

We grow as disciples by learning about (grasping) all that is ours in Christ. Paul prays for those who have come to know and experience the truth of the gospel.

What does he pray? verses 17-18 That the Father of glory would press deep the gospel by giving believers … The Spirit of wisdom The Spirit of revelation The knowledge of Jesus Christ Enlightened ‘heart eyes’
Why does he pray it? He wants to see them grow. He knows they deal with cluttered hearts. Spiritual hunger can lead to truth or error. Harshness of life’s trials. 2 Cor 11:24-28
What does it produce? verses 18-21 HOPE to which you are called Riches of God’s INHERITANCE Greatness of God’s POWER

APPLICATION: Make Paul’s curriculum your own. Make Paul’s prayer your own; first for yourself, then for others. Take Paul’s Redeemer as your own.

Confession: Righteous God, you have crowned Jesus Christ as Lord of all. We confess that we have not bowed before him and are slow to acknowledge his rule. We give allegiance to the powers and values of this world and fail to be governed by justice and love. We have failed to love others as you have loved us. In your mercy, forgive us. Give us the grace to crown Jesus as King of every part of our hearts, that we may be loyal ambassadors, obeying His commands and reflecting His love to a watching world.

The Kingdom of God starts small: "Do not despise the day of small beginnings, for the Lord rejoices to see the work begin. Zach. 4:10
The Kingdom of God grows gently but inevitably
The Kingdom of God uses and overcomes the forces of this world

Radical Generosity

Prayer of consecration Lord, make me an instrument of your peace. Where there is hatred, let me plant love. Where there is injury, healing. Where there is doubt, faith. Where there is despair, hope. Where there is darkness, light. Where there is sadness, joy. O Great King, grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled, as to console; to be understood, as to understand; to be loved, as to love. For it is in giving that we receive. It is in pardoning that we are pardoned. And it is in dying to self that we are born to Eternal Life. Amen.

1 Samuel 30:1-6 (and 7-25) 1 David and his men reached Ziklag on the third day. Now the Amalekites had raided the Negev and Ziklag. They had attacked Ziklag and burned it, 2 and had taken captive the women and all who were in it, both young and old. They killed none of them, but carried them off as they went on their way. 3 When David and his men came to Ziklag, they found it destroyed by fire and their wives and sons and daughters taken captive. 4 So David and his men wept aloud until they had no strength left to weep. 5 David’s two wives had been captured.... 6 David was greatly distressed because the men were talking of stoning him; each one was bitter in spirit because of his sons and daughters.

Godly Leadership: 1. Seeks God (v. 6-8) 2. Serves Even when Suffering (11-15) 3. Selfless in its Generosity (v. 16-25)

GRACE CREATED GRATITUDE AND DEFEATED GREED IN DAVID’S HEART

Our giving shows us what we are really trusting in. Matt. 6:19-21
Greed can never bring satisfaction... “he who loves money never has money enough” Ecc. 5:10
Grace frees from Greed and fuels Giving: “And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may about in every good work” 2 Cor. 9:8
You can’t lose what you’ve already given away: “He is no fool who gives up what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose” - Jim Elliot

Sermon Series: David Making God-Centered Decisions

Confession: Loving King, our thoughts and motives cannot be hidden from your sight. Our self-pity and pride, our idolatry and sloth, our anger and envy, are laid bare before your eyes and ours. Forgive us for remaining silent and for shrinking back in fear when we should be speaking up for righteousness and truth. We regret the times we have denied our Eternal Savior because we were afraid of men. We regret the times we have gone along with the crowd because we were afraid of what standing for Christ would cost us. We humble ourselves before you and ask that you cover us in the blood of Christ and grant us courage to proudly identify ourselves as followers of Jesus. Renew us in the grace and strength of your Holy Spirit, for the sake of Jesus Christ your Son, our Savior. Amen.

1 Samuel 24:1-22

Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord. Psalm 27:14

Humble yourself under God’s mighty hand that He may lift you up at the right time. 1 Peter 5:6

Sermon: David - Life in the Wilderness (1 Sam. 22:1-2)

Confession: Almighty God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, as those who have been delivered from the wrath to come through the blood of Jesus Christ, we come now to confess our sins, and to seek the grace and mercy that can only be found in you. You have called us to be people of faith, hope and love, but we are guilty of unbelief, hopelessness and hatred. When we should have delighted in Jesus Christ, we have sought refuge in created things. When we should have endured trials with patience and hope, we have grumbled against you. When we should have loved you with all of our heart, and our neighbor as ourselves, we have been self-absorbed. Have mercy on us, O God, and bear fruit in us by your Word. Turn our hearts upward to heaven, so that we will live as those who await the glorious appearing of our Savior, Jesus Christ the Lord, in whose name we pray. Amen.

The Assurance of Pardoning Grace: Micah 7:18-19 "Who is a God like you, who pardons sin and forgives the transgression of the remnant of his inheritance? You do not stay angry forever but delight to show mercy. You will again have compassion on us; you will tread our sins underfoot and hurl all our iniquities into the depths of the sea.'

Life in the Wilderness 1 Samuel 22:1-2 "David left Gath and escaped to the cave of Adullam. When his brothers and his father’s household heard about it, they went down to him there. 2 All those who were in distress or in debt or discontented gathered around him, and he became their commander. About four hundred men were with him."

Hosea 2:14 "Therefore, behold, I will allure her, and bring her into the wilderness, and there I will speak tenderly to her. And there I will give her her vineyards and make the Valley of trouble a door of hope."

Loneliness, Fear, Anger, Rejection

David lost: His status/ reputation His job His wife His safety His mentor His friend

Isaiah 41:10 Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

1 Samuel 17:1-51 | David and Goliath

Facing and Dealing with Fear: 1. No Courage (Saul) 2. Self-Courage (Goliath) "visualizing success", "dig deep in yourself" 3. True Courage (David) having something bigger than your fear

Don't just be "inspired"
Stop trying to be the Hero
Be Heroic IN CHRIST

1 Samuel 17:45-47 | Then David said to the Philistine, “You come to me with a sword and with a spear and with la javelin, but I come to you in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. This day the Lord will deliver you into my hand, and I will strike you down and cut off your head. And I will give the dead bodies of the host of the Philistines this day to the birds of the air and to the wild beasts of the earth, that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel, and that all this assembly may know that the Lord saves not with sword and spear. For the battle is the Lord’s, and he will give you into our hand.”

God does impossible things (v.1)
God uses improbable people
God prepares improbable people to do impossible things

1 Samuel 16:1-13 - "The Lord said to Samuel, “How long will you grieve over Saul, since I have rejected him from being king over Israel? Fill your horn with oil, and go. I will send you to Jesse the Bethlehemite, for I have provided for myself a king among his sons.” 2 And Samuel said, “How can I go? If Saul hears it, he will kill me.” And the Lord said, “Take a heifer with you and say, ‘I have come to sacrifice to the Lord.’ 3 And invite Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will show you what you shall do. And you shall anoint for me him whom I declare to you.”4 Samuel did what the Lord commanded and came to Bethlehem. The elders of the citycame to meet him trembling and said, “Do you come peaceably?” 5 And he said, “Peaceably; I have come to sacrifice to the Lord. Consecrate yourselves, and come with me to the sacrifice.” And he consecrated Jesse and his sons and invited them to the sacrifice. 6 When they came, he looked on Eliab and thought, “Surely the Lord's anointed is before him.” 7 But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.” 8 Then Jesse called Abinadab and made him pass before Samuel. And he said, “Neither has the Lord chosen this one.”9 Then Jesse made Shammah pass by. And he said, “Neither has the Lord chosen this one.” 10 And Jesse made seven of his sons pass before Samuel. And Samuel said to Jesse, “The Lord has not chosen these.” 11 Then Samuel said to Jesse, “Are all your sons here?” And he said, “There remains yet the youngest,[a] but behold, he is keeping the sheep.” And Samuel said to Jesse, “Send and get him, for we will not sit down till he comes here.” 12 And he sent and brought him in. Now he was ruddy and had beautiful eyes and was handsome. And the Lord said, “Arise, anoint him, for this is he.” 13 Then Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the midst of his brothers. And the Spirit of the Lord rushed upon David from that day forward. And Samuel rose up and went to Ramah."

Colossians 2:6-7 "As you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk 'in him,' rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving."

What does it mean to “receive” Christ... Jesus... the Lord? Thanking – There is NO greater form of spiritual warfare in our day thank to be abounding and overflowing with gratitude.

"Where are you coming from? Where are you going?" God asks these questions not because He doesn't know the answer, but He wants us to find out where we are. Three themes: 1. Sarai - a women ill at ease 2. Hagar - the girl who flees 3. God - the God who sees

Preach the Word
Proclaim the Gospel
Profess Your Faith Till the End

2 Timothy 4:1-8 "I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom: preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching. For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths. As for you, always be sober-minded, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry. For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing."

Follow Paul’s Example of Discipleship
Prepare for Persecution
Abide in the Inspired Scripture and Godly Examples

2 Timothy 3:10-17 "You, however, have followed my teaching, my conduct, my aim in life, my faith, my patience, my love, my steadfastness, my persecutions and sufferings that happened to me at Antioch, at Iconium, and at Lystra — which persecutions I endured; yet from them all the Lord rescued me. Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, while evil people and impostors will go on from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived. But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work."

False Loves that lead to an Unloving Heart
False Loves that lead to an Unloving Words and Deeds
False Loves that lead to an Unloving Quarrels

2 Timothy 3:1-9 "But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. 2 For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3 heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, 4 treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, 5 having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people. 6 For among them are those who creep into households and capture weak women, burdened with sins and led astray by various passions, 7 always learning and never able to arrive at a knowledge of the truth. 8 Just as Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses, so these men also oppose the truth, men corrupted in mind and disqualified regarding the faith. 9 But they will not get very far, for their folly will be plain to all, as was that of those two men."

"Looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith." Hebrews 12:2a

How to Look to Jesus, so Jesus can become bigger in our hearts and lives? 1. Pray - Ask Jesus Daily for Help with Everything 2. Bible – Study and Look for Jesus every single passage 3. Christian Family / Friends – Get Help to Look to Jesus when life is hard

A Heart of Repentance
A Heart of Christlike Character
A Heart of Gentle Teaching, to Win Hearts

2 Timothy 2:20-26 "Now in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver but also of wood and clay, some for honorable use, some for dishonorable. Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from what is dishonorable, he will be a vessel for honorable use, set apart as holy, useful to the master of the house, ready for every good work. So flee youthful passions and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart. Have nothing to do with foolish, ignorant controversies; you know that they breed quarrels. And the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil, correcting his opponents with gentleness. God may perhaps grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth, and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, after being captured by him to do his will."

Be Diligent and Zealous for the Gospel
Avoid Empty Arguments and Ungodliness
Stand on God’s Foundation, the Church

Remind them of these things, and charge them before God not to quarrel about words, which does no good, but only ruins the hearers. Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth. But avoid irreverent babble, for it will lead people into more and more ungodliness, and their talk will spread like gangrene. Among them are Hymenaeus and Philetus, who have swerved from the truth, saying that the resurrection has already happened. They are upsetting the faith of some. But God’s firm foundation stands, bearing this seal: “The Lord knows those who are his,” and, “Let everyone who names the name of the Lord depart from iniquity.” 2 Timothy 2:14-19

God wants us to Remember Him – Who He is and What He has done for us

"And the people of Israel did not remember the LORD their God, who had delivered them from the hand of all their enemies on every side." Judges 8:34

Remember the Work of Jesus Christ
Remember the Church of Jesus Christ
Remember the Faithfulness of Jesus Christ

"But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ — by grace you have been saved — and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus." Ephesians 2:4-6

"Remember Jesus Christ, risen from the dead, the offspring of David, as preached in my gospel, for which I am suffering, bound with chains as a criminal. But the word of God is not bound! Therefore I endure everything for the sake of the elect, that they also may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory. The saying is trustworthy, for: If we have died with him, we will also live with him; if we endure, we will also reign with him; if we deny him, he also will deny us; if we are faithless, he remains faithful — for he cannot deny himself." 2 Timothy 2:8-13

Be Strengthened by the Gospel of Grace
Disciple Others for the Gospel of Grace
Endure Hardship with the Gospel of Grace

"You then, my child, be strengthened by the grace that is in Christ Jesus, and what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men, who will be able to teach others also. Share in suffering as a good soldier of Christ Jesus. No soldier gets entangled in civilian pursuits, since his aim is to please the one who enlisted him. An athlete is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules. It is the hard-working farmer who ought to have the first share of the crops. Think over what I say, for the Lord will give you understanding in everything." 2 Timothy 2:1-7

How do we know we are abiding in Christ? 1. Abiding in Christ is fruit bearing (Vs. 6) 2. Abiding in Christ means pruning (vs. 2) 3. Abiding in Christ is ultimately about our joy (Vs. 11)

“To abide in Christ means to keep up a habit of constant close communion with Him through His Word and prayer–to be always leaning on Him, resting on Him, pouring out our hearts to Him, and using Him as our Fountain of life and strength, as our chief Companion and best Friend. To have His words abiding in us, is to keep His sayings and precepts continually before our memories and minds, and to make them the guide of our actions and the rule of our daily conduct and behavior.” JC Ryle

Suffer for the Gospel, Not Shame (vs. 8-11)
Guard the Gospel, Not Shame (vs. 12-14)
Share the Gospel, Not Shame (vs. 15-18)

A Christian from Zimbabwe: "I’m part of the fellowship of the unashamed. I have the Holy Spirit‘s power. The die has been cast. I have stepped over the line. The decision has been made; I’m a disciple of His! I won’t look back, let up, slow down, back away, or be still….. I won’t give up, shut up, let up, until I have stayed up, stored up, prayed up, paid up, and preached up for the cause of Christ. I am a disciple of Jesus."

Gospel Promise (vs. 1-2)
Gospel Relationships (vs. 3-5)
Gospel Power (vs. 6-7)

2 Timothy 1:1-7 "Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God according to the promise of the life that is in Christ Jesus, To Timothy, my beloved child: Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord. I thank God whom I serve, as did my ancestors, with a clear conscience, as I remember you constantly in my prayers night and day. As I remember your tears, I long to see you, that I may be filled with joy. I am reminded of your sincere faith, a faith that dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice and now, I am sure, dwells in you as well. For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands, for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control."

"All through history God has chosen and used nobodies, because their unusual dependence on him made possible the unique display of his power and grace. He chose and used somebodies only when they renounced dependence on their natural abilities and resources." - Oswald Chambers

Isaiah 6:1-9

Our Mission: To bring the Southpointe area and all places we serve into a life-changing encounter with the Kingdom of God.

Make Jesus the Unavoidable issue: Hope Being a perfect place for imperfect people: Help Making the invisible Kingdom of God visible wherever we live, work, and play: Healing

“Here I am! Send me.” Isaiah 6:8

What transformed Isaiah’s prayer life and, by extension, his life purpose? 1, He Saw God: Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory. (v. 3) 2. He was redemptively broken by God: And I said, “Woe is me! I am undone; for I am a man of unclean lips and I dwell among a people of unclean lips and my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts” (v.5) 3. He was cleansed by God: Then one of the seraphim flew to me, having in his hand a burning coal that he had taken with tongs from the altar. And he touched my mouth and said: “Behold, this has touched your lips; your guilt is taken away and your sin atoned for.” (v. 6-7)

Psalm 34:1-3 I will bless the Lord at all times; his praise shall continually be in my mouth. 2 My soul makes its boast in the Lord; let the humble hear and be glad. 3 Oh, magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt his name together

Romans 5:3 “Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings”

Psalm 34:8 “Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good! Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him!”

Psalm 34:18 “The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.”

2 Chronicles 5:1-14 (slightly edited) Thus all the work that Solomon did for the house of the Lord was finished. 2 Then Solomon assembled the elders of Israel and all the heads of the tribes, the leaders of the fathers' houses of the people of Israel, in Jerusalem, to bring up the ark of the covenant of the Lord out of the city of David, which is Zion. 3 And all the men of Israel assembled before the king… 4 And all the elders of Israel came, and the Levites took up the ark. 5 And they brought up the ark, the tent of meeting, and all the holy vessels that were in the tent;.… 6 And King Solomon and all the congregation of Israel, who had assembled before him, were before the ark, sacrificing so many sheep and oxen that they could not be counted or numbered. 7 Then the priests brought the ark of the covenant of the Lord to its place, in the inner sanctuary of the house, in the Most Holy Place, underneath the wings of the cherubim. 8 The cherubim spread out their wings over the place of the ark, so that the cherubim made a covering above the ark and its poles. 9 And the poles were so long that the ends of the poles were seen from the Holy Place before the inner sanctuary, but they could not be seen from outside. ... 11 And when the priests came out of the Holy Place (for all the priests who were present had consecrated themselves, without regard to their divisions, 12 and all the Levitical singers, Asaph, Heman, and Jeduthun, their sons and kinsmen, arrayed in fine linen, with cymbals, harps, and lyres, stood east of the altar with 120 priests who were trumpeters; 13 and it was the duty of the trumpeters and singers to make themselves heard in unison in praise and thanksgiving to the Lord), and when the song was raised, with trumpets and cymbals and other musical instruments, in praise to the Lord, “For he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever,” the house, the house of the Lord, was filled with a cloud, 14 so that the priests could not stand to minister because of the cloud, for the glory of the Lord filled the house of God.

How worship starts
How worship spreads. …and when the song was raised… 2 Chronicles 5:13 a. Worship Spreads when it is Passionate b. Worship spreads when it is United c. Worship spreads when it is Truthful
What God adds to our worship. “Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised” Psalm 48:1

Luke 11:1-4 "Now Jesus was praying in a certain place, and when he finished, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray, as John taught his disciples.” And he said to them, “When you pray, say: “Father, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come. Give us each day our daily bread, and forgive us our sins, for we ourselves forgive everyone who is indebted to us. And lead us not into temptation.”

Luke 9:23-24 “If anyone will come after me he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it.”

John 20:1 -30 Now on the first day of the week Mary Magdalene came to the tomb early, while it was still dark, and saw that the stone had been taken away from the tomb. 2 So she ran and went to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved, and said to them, “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid him.” 3 So Peter went out with the other disciple, and they were going toward the tomb. 4 Both of them were running together, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. 5 And stooping to look in, he saw the linen cloths lying there, but he did not go in. 6 Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb. He saw the linen cloths lying there, 7 and the face cloth, which had been on Jesus'[a] head, not lying with the linen cloths but folded up in a place by itself. 8 Then the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went in, and he saw and believed; 9 for as yet they did not understand the Scripture, that he must rise from the dead. 10 Then the disciples went back to their homes. 19 On the evening of that day, the first day of the week, the doors being locked where the disciples were for fear of the Jews,[c] Jesus came and stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.” 20 When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord. 21 Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.”

“24 Now Thomas (also known as Didymus), one of the Twelve, was not with the disciples when Jesus came. 25 So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord!” But he said to them, “Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.” 26 A week later his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” 27 Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.” 28 Thomas said to him, “My Lord and my God!” 29 Then Jesus told him, “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” 30 Jesus performed many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book. But these are written that you may believe[b] that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.”

Mark 7:31-37 (ESV)

The WAYS of God are sometimes curious. (v. 31) “Then he returned from the region of Tyre and went through Sidon to the Sea of Galilee, in the region of the Decapolis.”
The HEART of God is moved by our misery. (v 32) "And they brought to him a man who was deaf and had a speech impediment, and they begged him to lay his hand on him."
The HANDS of God reveal his heart and power. (vv. 33-35) “And taking him aside from the crowd privately, he put his fingers into his ears, and after spitting touched his tongue. And looking up to heaven, he sighed and said to him, “Ephphatha,” that is, “Be opened.” And his ears were opened, his tongue was released, and he spoke plainly. “
The PURPOSE of God is unfolding and certain. (vv. 36-37) "And Jesus charged them to tell no one. But the more he charged them, the more zealously they proclaimed it. And they were astonished beyond measure, saying, “He has done all things well. He even makes the deaf hear and the mute speak.”

Habakkuk 1:5 "Look among the nations and see; wonder and be astounded. For I am doing a work in your days that you would not believe if told."

The importance of truth
The importance of love
How we keep the two together

“But I have this against you, that you have abandoned the love you had at first.” Revelations 2:4

Revelations 2:1-7 “To the angel of the church in Ephesus write: ‘The words of him who holds the seven stars in his right hand, who walks among the seven golden lampstands. 2 “‘I know your works, your toil and your patient endurance, and how you cannot bear with those who are evil, but have tested those who call themselves apostles and are not, and found them to be false. 3 I know you are enduring patiently and bearing up for my name's sake, and you have not grown weary. 4 But I have this against you, that you have abandoned the love you had at first. 5 Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent, and do the works you did at first. If not, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place, unless you repent. 6 Yet this you have: you hate the works of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate. 7 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who conquers I will grant to eat of the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.’"

Mark 3:13-21

Mark 3:14 “And He appointed twelve (whom he also named apostles) so that they might be with him and he might send them out to preach.”

John 14:16–17. “And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you.”

WITH -> SENT Trinity: WITH each other, then the Son and Spirit were SENT Adam: God walked WITH, then be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth (SENT) Noah: walked WITH God, then be fruitful and multiply (SENT) Abraham: I (God) will be WITH you, then go and bless the nations (SENT) Moses: I (God) will be WITH you, then go and free my people (SENT) Moses and Joshua: WITH, then SENT Elijah and Elisha: WITH, then SENT Name of Jesus: Immanuel – “God WITH us”. Father SENT His Son. Apostles/Disciples: “Follow me, and I will make you Fishers of Men” / Great Commission Timothy: Paul WITH him, then entrust to faithful men (SENT)

Applications: - Be WITH Jesus in Prayer and in the Word, Daily - Be in a Discipleship Group or a Small Group - Go, be SENT: o Volunteer at Church o Go serve with one of our church partners o Share the Gospel with others

1 Timothy 6:3-9, 17-19 3 If anyone teaches a different doctrine and does not agree with the sound words of our Lord Jesus Christ and the teaching that accords with godliness, 4 he is puffed up with conceit and understands nothing. He has an unhealthy craving for controversy and for quarrels about words, which produce envy, dissension, slander, evil suspicions, 5 and constant friction among people who are depraved in mind and deprived of the truth, imagining that godliness is a means of gain. 6 But godliness with contentment is great gain, 7 for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world. 8 But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content. 9 But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. 10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs. ... 17 As for the rich in this present age, charge them not to be haughty, nor to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly provides us with everything to enjoy. 18 They are to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share, 19 thus storing up treasure for themselves as a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is truly life.

“If we consider the unblushing promises of reward and the staggering nature of the rewards promised in the gospels it would seem that tour Lord finds our desires not too strong but too weak. We are half-hearted creatures fooling around with drink and sex and ambition when infinite joy is offered us, like an ignorant child who wants to go on making mud pies in a slum because he cannot imagine what is meant by an offer of a holiday at the sea. We are far too easily pleased." CS Lewis

"For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sake He became poor, so that you by His poverty might become rich." 2 Corinthians 8:9

Our budgets ARE ALWAYS telling Jesus how we feel about Him.

“All things were created by Him FOR Him.” Colossians 1:16

2 Timothy 2:1-7

The strategy for mission (v. 2) “And what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men who will be Able to teach others also”

a.) The strategy for mission is that 1st, you get discipled b.) The strategy for the mission is that You disciple others “entrust to reliable men who will also be qualified to teach others”

Our Mission: “To glorify God by bringing the Southpointe Area and all places we serve into a life-changing encounter with the Kingdom of God”

There are only two things that you can do on Earth that you cannot do in Heaven: sin and to share God's grace with non-believers.

Our Roles as believers We are to…. - Magnify God’s Name - Model God’s character - Member of God’s family - Messenger of God’s love - Maker of Disciples

Psalm 39:4-5 Show me, Lord, my life’s end and the number of my days; let me know how fleeting my life is. You have made my days a mere handbreadth; the span of my years is as nothing before you. Everyone is but a breath, even those who seem secure

Ephesians 5:15-17 Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is.

God has blessed Southpointe with an opportunity - an opportunity He has entrusted us with to "bring the Southpointe area and all places we serve into a life changing encounter with the Kingdom of God."

a. Enjoy the moment. b. Consider how God would have you play a key role in getting us started in the campaign. c. PRAY and Commit to LISTENING TO what God wants you to do in this season.

The Riches of Grace – Saving, “Sane-ing,” Sufficient 2 Corinthians 8:1, "And now, brothers and sisters, we want you to know about the grace that God has given the Macedonian churches."
The Power of Grace - Hilarity instead of Hoarding 2 Corinthians 8:2-3, "In the midst of a very severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity. 3 For I testify that they gave as much as they were able, and even beyond their ability. Entirely on their own, 4 they urgently pleaded with us for the privilege of sharing in this service to the Lord’s people."
The Privilege of Grace – Investing in the only lasting Kingdom 2 Corinthians 8:4-7, “the privilege of sharing in this service to the Lord’s people. 5 And they exceeded our expectations: They gave themselves first of all to the Lord, and then by the will of God also to us. 6 So we urged Titus, just as he had earlier made a beginning, to bring also to completion this act of grace on your part. 7 But since you excel in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and in the love we have kindled in you—see that you also excel in this grace of giving."
The Person of Grace – Jesus Himself 2 Corinthians 8:8-9, "I am not commanding you, but I want to test the sincerity of your love by comparing it with the earnestness of others. 9 nFor you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich."

"Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap. For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith." Galatians 6:7-10

Three Principles of sowing and reaping a.). You Reap WHAT you sow b.) You Reap LATER than you Sow c.) You Reap GREATER than you sow
Two areas each of us need to apply this truth. a) You sow and reap in yourself: “The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from that Spirit will reap eternal life.” v. 8 b) Second place you sow and reap is in the lives of other people: “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.” v. 9-10

Five Pillars of Spiritual Development: 1. Hear the Word 2. Read the Word 3. Study the Word 4. Memorize the Word 5. Meditate on the Word

3 Reasons the Gospels can't be Legends: 1. Counter Productive Content 2. They were written way to soon after the events happened 3. The literary style makes it impossible for them to be legends

"I have been reading poems, romances, vision literature, legends, and myths all my life. i know what they are like. I know none of them are like this. Of this gospel there are only two possible views. Either this is reportage... or else, some unknown ancient writer without known predecessors or successors suddenly anticipated the whole technique of modern novelistic realistic narrative” CS Lewis

“I believe in Christianity as I believe that the sun has risen: not only because I see it, but because by it I see everything else.” -CS Lewis

“Spend your time and energy in training yourself for spiritual fitness.” 1 Timothy 4:7

a. Are you hungrier for God than ever before? Psalm 42:1 "As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, O God.

b. Are you governed more and more by God's Word? 2 Timothy 3:16–17: "All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work."

c. Am I becoming more and more loving?

d. Are you more and more aware of your sin? 1 Timothy 1:15

e. Are you more and more willing to forgive others? Ephesians 4:32

Colossians 2:13-15: "And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with Him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This He set aside, nailing it to the cross. He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in Him."

Romans 8:38-39: "For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord."

When God Speaks He tells us two things: - What our purpose is. - What His plans are.

God’s Word is what nourishes us. Isaiah 55:10-11 “For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven and do not return there but water the earth, making it bring forth and sprout, giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater, so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it.”

God did something astounding Now the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows: After His mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Spirit.
In the birth of Jesus God did something life changing v. 21-23 And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.” So all this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying: “Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,” which is translated, “God with us.”

"Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God." John 3:3

Verse 5: "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God." Verse 7: "You must be born again."

Conversion is more than Bible knowledge. Conversion is essential. Conversion is a miracle from God. Conversion makes a nice person into a new person.

Micah 5:2-5 “2 But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be RULER over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times.” 3 Therefore Israel will be abandoned until the time when she who is in labor bears a son, and the rest of his brothers return to join the Israelites. 4 He will stand and SHEPHERD His flock in the strength of the LORD, in the majesty of the name of the LORD His God. And they will live securely, for then His greatness will reach to the ends of the earth. 5 And He will be our PEACE”

Mark Chapter 2 - 5

“Every Christian here is either a missionary or an impostor. Recollect that you are either trying to spread abroad the kingdom of Christ, or else you do not love him at all. It cannot be that there is a high appreciation of Jesus, and a totally silent tongue about him. Of course I do not mean, by that, that those who use the pen for Christ are silent; they are not. And those who help others to use the tongue, or spread that which others have written, are doing their part well; but I mean this,—that man who says, ‘I believe in Jesus,’ but does not think enough of Jesus ever to tell another about him, by mouth, or pen, or tract, is an impostor.” – Charles Spurgeon

Mark 4:35 “On that day, when evening had come, he said to them, “Let us go across to the other side.”

Mark 5: 7-13 “What have you to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I adjure you by God, do not torment me. 8 For he was saying to him, “Come out of the man, you unclean spirit!” 9 And Jesus asked him, “What is your name?” He replied, “My name is Legion, for we are many.” 10 And he begged him earnestly not to send them out of the country. 11 Now a great herd of pigs was feeding there on the hillside, 12 and they begged him, saying, “Send us to the pigs; let us enter them.” 13 So he gave them permission. And the unclean spirits came out and entered the pigs; and the herd, numbering about two thousand, rushed down the steep bank into the sea and drowned in the sea.”

"Since ancient times no one has heard, no ear has perceived, no eye has seen any God besides you, who acts on behalf of those who wait for Him." Isaiah 64:4

The source of our Authority. “Yes, Lord, walking in the way of your laws”
The Basis of our Acceptance. “We wait for you”
The object of your Affections, “Your name and your renown are the desire of our hearts”

"You can safely assume that you've created God in your own image when it turns out that God hates all the same people you do." Anne Lamott

"Yes LORD, walking in the way of your laws, we wait for you. Your name and your renown are the desire of our hearts" Isaiah 26:8

Calling: What is it? a. Primary Calling b. Personal Calling
The History of Calling
Distortions of Calling a.) The Sacred/ Secular Divide b.) The only thing that matters is souls

"I have brought you glory on earth by finishing the work you gave me to do." John 17:4

"In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven." Matthew 5:16

“Now when David had served God’s purpose in his own generation, he fell asleep; he was buried with his ancestors." Acts 13:36

Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life. Proverbs 4:23

22 Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. 23 Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror 24 and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. James 1.22-23

How drifting happens: a. Make small moral compromises. b. Start hanging out with people who have negative lifestyle c. Stop hanging out with other strong Christians d. Start to doubt what it is I believe

Our words matter: Morally
Our words matter: Emotionally
Our words matter: But there are Limits

Lying lips are an abomination to the Lord. Proverbs 12:22

An evildoer listens to wicked lips, and a liar gives ear to a mischievous tongue. Proverbs 17:4

Death and life are in the power of the tongue. Proverbs 18:21

In all toil there is profit, but mere talk tends only to poverty. Proverbs 14:23

If you say, “Behold, we did not know this,” does not he who weighs the heart perceive it? Proverbs 24:12

Whoever guards his mouth preserves his life; he who opens wide his lips comes to ruin. Proverbs 13:3

Pray like a Child - with Honest, Humbling and Trusting Faith
“ASK” like a Child
Come Messy, as Forgiven Children

“And when you pray, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do, for they think that they will be heard for their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.” Matthew 6:7-8

“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. Or which one of you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a serpent? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him! Matthew 7:7-11

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.” Philippians 4:6

"If God were your Father, you would love me, for I proceeded and came forth from God . . . You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father's desires." John 8:41, 44

An immeasurable love For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us. Ps. 103
Compassionate Love As a father shows compassion to his children, so the LORD shows compassion to those who fear him. For he knows our frame; he remembers that we are dust. Ps. 103:13-14
A Correcting love The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. He will not always chide, nor will he keep his anger forever. Ps. 103:8-9
A completing love (it will bring you home) As for man, his days are like grass, he flourishes like a flower of the field; the wind blows over it and it is gone, and its place remembers it no more. BUT from everlasting to everlasting the LORD's love is with those who fear him, and his righteousness with their children's children- with those who keep his covenant and remember to obey his precepts. Ps. 103:15-18

For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him. John 3:16-17

“Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God’s wrath remains on them.” John 3:36

Generously forgives—- Who/ What do you need to forgive? Generously serves—- Where do you need to serve? Generously pursues—- Who do you need to pursue? Generously gives— What would it mean for you to give sacrificially? Generously loves— How do you need to show someone the Gospel this week?

Matthew 6:19-34

“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are healthy, your whole body will be full of light. But if your eyes are unhealthy, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness! No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money."

Ezekiel 16 - God is our Enamored/Devastated/Redeemed Lover

Hosea 2.14, 16 14 "Therefore I am now going to allure her; I will lead her into the desert and speak tenderly to her." 16 "In that day," declares the LORD, you will no longer call me 'my master' you will call me 'my husband';

Isa. 54:5 "For your Maker is your husband— the LORD Almighty is his name— the Holy One of Israel is your Redeemer; he is called the God of all the earth."

Isa. 62:5 "as a bridegroom rejoices over his bride, so will your God rejoice over you."

The Faithfulness of God “God will always do what He has said and fulfill what He has promised” - Wayne Grudem

Lamentations 3:1-23 "21 But this I call to mind, and therefore I have hope: 22 The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; His mercies never come to an end; 23 they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.”

Deuteronomy 7:9 ”Know therefore that the Lord your God is God, the faithful God who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love Him and keep his commandments, to a thousand generations,”

Colossians 2:6-10 "Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving. See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ. For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily, and you have been filled in him, who is the head of all rule and authority."

"God’s Wisdom is the power to see and the inclination to choose the best and highest goal together with the surest means of attaining it." Dr. JJ Davis

Psalm 147:5 ‘Great is OUR Lord, and abundant in power; His understanding is beyond measure.’ Daniel 2:20-21: ‘Praise be to the name of God forever and ever; wisdom and power are His. He changes times and seasons, He sets up kings and deposes them. He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to the discerning’ Isaiah 55:8-9, ‘For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways', declares the LORD. 'For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.’

God is omni-potent: the ability and strength whereby He can bring to pass whatever He pleases, whatever His infinite wisdom directs..

‘Oh Sovereign LORD, you have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and your outstretched arm, nothing is too hard for you. Jeremiah 32:17

Discussing the holiness of God: Isaiah 6:1-8

3 And one cried to another and said: “Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of hosts; The whole earth is full of His glory!” 4 And the posts of the door were shaken by the voice of him who cried out, and the house was filled with smoke.

God created us to know and enjoy Him: ‘All things were created by him and for Him.’ Col. 1:16
What you worship determines everything about you: “if a man ceases to worship God he doesn’t worship nothing, he worships everything” G.K. Chesterton
Knowing God is the fundamental key to transformation: Whatever rules your heart will exercise influence over your life and behavior

“...and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. But we, with unveiled faces, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another..” 2 Cor. 3:17-19

"Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good."

Pastor Scotty Smith preaches about John's visions in Revelations about Heaven, and how these visions can help us to focus our attention towards God's affirmations: redeeming abundantly, reigning sovereignly, and loving lavishly.

Genesis 5: 24 Micah 6: 8 Hebrews 11: 5-6; 24-27 Philippians 1: 21 / 3: 8 Isaiah 40: 31 Isaiah 43: 25 Matthew 13: 44 Joel 2: 12-13

Ephesians 2: 1-10 (ESV)