Access Church: Recent Episodes
Pastor Jason Burns
Listen to the weekly teachings of Access Church in Lakeland, Florida. Led by Pastor Jason Burns, Access Church is a church community designed for you and your family! To learn more, visit https://access.tv/
How do you live a Godly life when culture shifts?
Daniel 1:1-6 // In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came to Jerusalem and besieged it. 2 And the Lord delivered Jehoiakim king of Judah into his hand, along with some of the articles from the temple of God. These he carried off to the temple of his god in Babylonia and put in the treasure house of his god. 3 Then the king ordered Ashpenaz, chief of his court officials, to bring into the king’s service some of the Israelites from the royal family and the nobility— 4 young men without any physical defect, handsome, showing aptitude for every kind of learning, well informed, quick to understand, and qualified to serve in the king’s palace. He was to teach them the language and literature of the Babylonians. 5 The king assigned them a daily amount of food and wine from the king’s table. They were to be trained for three years, and after that they were to enter the king’s service. 6 Among those who were chosen were some from Judah: Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah.
Culture changes. God doesn’t.
Daniel 1:7 // The chief official (Ashpenaz) gave them new names: to Daniel, the name Belteshazzar; to Hananiah, Shadrach; to Mishael, Meshach; and to Azariah, Abednego.
WHEN CULTURE SHIFTS: 1. It will try to rename you. Daniel: God is my judge Belteshazzar: Lady, protect the king Hannah: Yahweh has been so gracious Shadrach: I am fearful of God Mishael: Who is what God is? Meshach: I am despised, contemptible, and humiliated Asariah: Yahweh has helped Abednego: Servant of Nebo WHEN CULTURE SHIFTS: 2. We must know who we are.
Daniel 1:8 // But Daniel resolved not to defile himself with the royal food and wine, and he asked the chief official for permission not to defile himself this way.
Culture will ask you to compromise your standards.
Daniel 1:9-14 // Now God had caused the official to show favor and compassion to Daniel, 10 but the official told Daniel, “I am afraid of my lord the king, who has assigned your food and drink. Why should he see you looking worse than the other young men your age? The king would then have my head because of you.” 11 Daniel then said to the guard whom the chief official had appointed over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah, 12 “Please test your servants for ten days: Give us nothing but vegetables to eat and water to drink. 13 Then compare our appearance with that of the young men who eat the royal food, and treat your servants in accordance with what you see.” 14 So he agreed to this and tested them for ten days.
Culture will always create a confrontation. When culture shifts, we must respond the right way. GRACE & TRUTH
John 1:14 // The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.
TRUTH: God’s standard GRACE: God’s favor
Ephesians 2:8-9 NLT // God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. 9 Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it.
Without truth, we are corrupt Without grace, we are condemned Grace invites us to be free. Truth sets us free. 51% Truth without grace is mean. Grace without truth is meaningless. Grace and truth is medicine.
John 8:1-11 NLT // Jesus returned to the Mount of Olives, 2 but early the next morning he was back again at the Temple. A crowd soon gathered, and he sat down and taught them. 3 As he was speaking, the teachers of religious law and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in the act of adultery. They put her in front of the crowd. 4 “Teacher,” they said to Jesus, “this woman was caught in the act of adultery. 5 The law of Moses says to stone her. What do you say?” 6 They were trying to trap him into saying something they could use against him, but Jesus stooped down and wrote in the dust with his finger. 7 They kept demanding an answer, so he stood up again and said, “All right, but let the one who has never sinned throw the first stone!” 8 Then he stooped down again and wrote in the dust. 9 When the accusers heard this, they slipped away one by one, beginning with the oldest, until only Jesus was left in the middle of the crowd with the woman. 10 Then Jesus stood up again and said to the woman, “Where are your accusers? Didn’t even one of them condemn you?”11 “No, Lord,” she said. And Jesus said, “Neither do I. Go and sin no more.”
Hold high God’s truth. Freely give God’s grace.
What would happen if I gave God ONE YEAR?
Matthew 28:19-20 // “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Mark 16:15 // He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation.” Luke 24:47 // “With my authority, take this message of repentance to all the nations, beginning in Jerusalem: There is forgiveness of sins for all who turn to me.” John 20:21 // “As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.” Acts 1:8 // “You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
Church is for more than our weekly GATHERING. It’s for our weekly GOING. We cannot REACH what we cannot SEE.
John 4:27-35 // Just then his disciples returned and were surprised to find him talking with a woman. But no one asked, “What do you want?” or “Why are you talking with her?” Then, leaving her water jar, the woman went back to the town and said to the people, “Come, see a man who told me everything I ever did. Could this be the Christ?” They came out of the town and made their way toward him. Meanwhile his disciples urged him, “Rabbi, eat something.” But he said to them, “I have food to eat that you know nothing about.” Then his disciples said to each other, “Could someone have brought him food?” “My food,” said Jesus, “is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work. Do you not say, ‘Four months more and then the harvest’? I tell you, open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest.”
Spiritual Nearsightedness If God answered all my prayers, would it change the world or just change me? 2,996 250,000 8 Billion 2.5 Billion 5.5 Billion 42 358,000 289,980
- Open our eyes to where they are. Psalm 37:23 // The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD. Proverbs 16:9 // In his heart a man plans his course, but the LORD determines his steps.
To change our world... We need to connect before we correct.
- Open our eyes to who they are. Matthew 9:36 // When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.
To change our world... We don’t have to be like them, but we do have to like them.
- Open our eyes to what they need.
To change our world... We need to show people the same kind of love God showed us: Unconditional love.
What would happen if I gave God one year? Money tells the story of our hearts. Money Talks
Matthew 6:21 // For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
If you’d like to change where your heart is, change where your money goes.
Matthew 6:24 // “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.”
How can you know if your love for money competes with your love for God?
- You think your money belongs to you. Psalm 24:1 // The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it.
- Giving is what you do with your leftovers.
Stingy Stealing
- You think this sermon is stupid. Deuteronomy 14:23 (TLB) // The purpose of tithing is to teach you always to put God first in your lives.
Me first living with a little giving
Luke 12:16-21 // And he told them this parable: “The ground of a certain rich man yielded an abundant harvest. 17 He thought to himself, ‘What shall I do? I have no place to store my crops.’ 18 “Then he said, ‘This is what I’ll do. I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and there I will store my surplus grain. 19 And I’ll say to myself, “You have plenty of grain laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry.”’ 20 “But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?’ 21 “This is how it will be with whoever stores up things for themselves but is not rich toward God.”
Consumption Assumption: The assumption that everything that comes my way is for my consumption. 5 Things You Can Do With Money: 1. Spend It - ME 2. Repay Debt - ME 3. Pay Taxes - ME 4. Save It - ME 5. Give It - GOD & OTHERS
Matthew 6:33 // But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness… Matthew 6:33 // But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.
Flip the Script 5 Things You Can Do With Money: 1. GOD & OTHERS 2. ME 3. ME 4. ME 5. ME Give Save Live
What would happen if I gave God one year? Grow you Grow the church Here’s where we’re going Here’s who we are
Jeremiah 29:11-13 (NLT) // For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. 12 In those days when you pray, I will listen. 13 If you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find me.
I’ll never get the best of what God has to offer until I give God my best. Country Club Christianity Together
Exodus 33:1-3 // Then the Lord said to Moses, “Leave this place, you and the people you brought up out of Egypt, and go up to the land I promised on oath to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, saying, ‘I will give it to your descendants.’ 2 I will send an angel before you and drive out the Canaanites, Amorites, Hittites, Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites. 3 Go up to the land flowing with milk and honey. But I will not go with you, because you are a stiff-necked people and I might destroy you on the way.” If God gave you everything you ever wanted, but He withheld Himself, would you take that deal? Exodus 33:4-18 // 4 When the people heard these distressing words, they began to mourn and no one put on any ornaments. 5 For the Lord had said to Moses, “Tell the Israelites, ‘You are a stiff-necked people. If I were to go with you even for a moment, I might destroy you. Now take off your ornaments and I will decide what to do with you.’” 6 So the Israelites stripped off their ornaments at Mount Horeb. 7 Now Moses used to take a tent and pitch it outside the camp some distance away, calling it the “tent of meeting.” Anyone inquiring of the Lord would go to the tent of meeting outside the camp. 8 And whenever Moses went out to the tent, all the people rose and stood at the entrances to their tents, watching Moses until he entered the tent. 9 As Moses went into the tent, the pillar of cloud would come down and stay at the entrance, while the Lord spoke with Moses. 10 Whenever the people saw the pillar of cloud standing at the entrance to the tent, they all stood and worshiped, each at the entrance to their tent. 11 The Lord would speak to Moses face to face, as one speaks to a friend. Then Moses would return to the camp, but his young aide Joshua son of Nun did not leave the tent. 12 Moses said to the Lord, “You have been telling me, ‘Lead these people,’ but you have not let me know whom you will send with me. You have said, ‘I know you by name and you have found favor with me.’ 13 If you are pleased with me, teach me your ways so I may know you and continue to find favor with you. Remember that this nation is your people.” 14 The Lord replied, “My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.” 15 Then Moses said to him, “If your Presence does not go with us, do not send us up from here. 16 How will anyone know that you are pleased with me and with your people unless you go with us? What else will distinguish me and your people from all the other people on the face of the earth?” 17 And the Lord said to Moses, “I will do the very thing you have asked, because I am pleased with you and I know you by name.” 18 Then Moses said, “Now show me your glory.”
What does it look like to be marked by God’s presence?
- We’re growing in our awareness of His nearness. Psalm 139:7-12 // 7 Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? 8 If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. 9 If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, 10 even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast. 11 If I say, “Surely the darkness will hide me and the light become night around me,” 12 even the darkness will not be dark to you; the night will shine like the day for darkness is as light to you.
- We are growing in our hunger for God
- We are transformed by His presence 2 Corinthians 3:16-18 (MSG) // Whenever, though, they turn to face God as Moses did, God removes the veil and there they are—face-to-face! They suddenly recognize that God is a living, personal presence, not a piece of chiseled stone. And when God is personally present, a living Spirit, that old, constricting legislation is recognized as obsolete. We’re free of it! All of us! Nothing between us and God, our faces shining with the brightness of his face. And so we are transfigured much like the Messiah, our lives gradually becoming brighter and more beautiful as God enters our lives and we become like him.
- We are people of power. Ephesians 3:12 (NLT) // Because of Christ and our faith in him, we can now come boldly and confidently into God’s presence.
"There are some things money can't buy; for everything else, there's Mastercard" PEACE The Absence of Trouble More Money Fame The Right Circumstances Shalom Eirene God offers us the promise of peace. Peace with God
Romans 5:1 (NIV) // “Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ…”
True peace with God is found in Jesus.
John 16:33 // “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”
My sins are forgiven My soul is content My song keeps playing Peace with Others
Matthew 5:9 (NIV) // Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.
True peace with others is the heart of God Love them Serve them Peace with Ourselves
Philippians 4:6-7 (GW) // Never worry about anything. But in every situation let God know what you need in prayers and requests while giving thanks. Then God’s peace, which goes beyond anything we can imagine, will guard your thoughts and emotions through Christ Jesus.
True peace with ourselves is possible through prayer.
Colossians 3:15 // Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.
God offers us the promise of peace.
God offers us the promise of direction.
Proverbs 3:5-6 (NKJV) // Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.
Trust in the Lord with all your heart Trust God Why don’t we trust Him? Fear Past Experiences Never let the mistakes of people stain the majesty of God’s character Who or what do we go to first? Hard Unknown Hurting
Psalm 34:18 // The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.
Lonely Lean not on your own understanding Why shouldn’t I lean to my own understanding?
My perspective is off We get things wrong There’s a difference between my understanding and God’s understanding
Limited Promises
Acts 1:4-5 (NIV) // “And while they were gathered together, He commanded them: “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift the Father promised, which you have heard Me discuss. 5 For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.”
General Promises Conditional
Malachi 3:10 (NIV) // “Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,” says the LORD Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it.
Unconditional
John 14:3 (NIV) // And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.
Promise of Security God offers us the promise of security. He Provides
Exodus 16:13 // That evening quail came and covered the camp, and in the morning there was a layer of dew around the camp. 14 When the dew was gone, thin flakes like frost on the ground appeared on the desert floor. 15 When the Israelites saw it, they said to each other, “What is it?” For they did not know what it was. Exodus 16:18 // And when they measured it by the omer, the one who gathered much did not have too much, and the one who gathered little did not have too little. Everyone had gathered just as much as they needed.
God’s provision is security to us.
Exodus 16:15 // For they did not know what it was.
“Great is Thy faithfulness! Morning by morning new mercies I see; all I have needed Thy hand hath provided: great is Thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me!”
Lamentations 3:22-23 // Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. 23 They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.
He is Present
Matthew 28:20 // “...and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
God’s presence is security to us.
Psalm 46:1 // God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.
He is Patient
Psalm 103:8-10 // The Lord is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love. 9 He will not always accuse, nor will he harbor his anger forever; 10 he does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities.
God’s patience is security to us. God offers us the promise of security.
No Condemnation
Romans 8:1 (NIV) // Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus
Condemnation is the opposite of justification What would change for you if you lived like there was no condemnation? Flesh vs. Spirit
Romans 8:5-6 (NIV) // Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace.
Just because we are saved does not mean we don’t struggle with sin
Galatians 5:24 (ESV) // “Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.” Galatians 2:20 (ESV) // “I have been crucified with Christ, it is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me; and the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God who loved me and gave himself for me.”
Flesh wants to satisfy itself with legalism Spirit takes surrender What would it look like for you to live dead to flesh and alive in God’s spirit? CHOSEN
Romans 8:14-17 (NIV) // For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God. The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.” The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.
You are not condemned, you are chosen What would look like if I lived like I believed I was chosen? FILLED
Romans 8:9-11 (NIV) // You, however, are not in the realm of the flesh but are in the realm of the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, they do not belong to Christ. 10 But if Christ is in you, then even though your body is subject to death because of sin, the Spirit gives life because of righteousness. 11 And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies because of his Spirit who lives in you.
Are you living like God’s spirit is in you? What would change for you if you lived every day like the spirit that raised Jesus from the dead was inside of you? ALL THINGS
Romans 8:28 (NIV) // And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose.
Good doesn’t always look good What would change for me if I lived like all the things were for my good?
Gospel 6,763 days Marriage should be: 1. Covenantal 2. Mutual 3. Total 4. Sacrificial 5. Fruitful Is marriage good or bad?
Romans 7:1-3 ESV // Or do you not know, brothers—for I am speaking to those who know the law—that the law is binding on a person only as long as he lives? 2 For a married woman is bound by law to her husband while he lives, but if her husband dies she is released from the law of marriage. 3 Accordingly, she will be called an adulteress if she lives with another man while her husband is alive. But if her husband dies, she is free from that law, and if she marries another man she is not an adulteress.
Are you married to the LAW or GRACE?
Romans 7:4-6 // Likewise, my brothers, you also have died to the law through the body of Christ, so that you may belong to another, to him who has been raised from the dead, in order that we may bear fruit for God. 5 For while we were living in the flesh, our sinful passions, aroused by the law, were at work in our members to bear fruit for death. 6 But now we are released from the law, having died to that which held us captive, so that we serve in the new way of the Spirit and not in the old way of the written code.
Marriage Language: 1. Holy moment 2. New legal status 3. New name and life together
Romans 7:7-13 // What then shall we say? That the law is sin? By no means! Yet if it had not been for the law, I would not have known sin. For I would not have known what it is to covet if the law had not said, “You shall not covet.” 8 But sin, seizing an opportunity through the commandment, produced in me all kinds of covetousness. For apart from the law, sin lies dead. 9 I was once alive apart from the law, but when the commandment came, sin came alive and I died. 10 The very commandment that promised life proved to be death to me. 11 For sin, seizing an opportunity through the commandment, deceived me and through it killed me. 12 So the law is holy, and the commandment is holy and righteous and good. 13 Did that which is good, then, bring death to me? By no means! It was sin, producing death in me through what is good, in order that sin might be shown to be sin, and through the commandment might become sinful beyond measure.
Purposes of the Law 1. Names our sin 2. Aggravates our rebellious, sinful nature TEN COMMANDMENTS
You shall have no other gods before Me. You shall not make idols. You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain. Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Honor your father and your mother. You shall not murder. You shall not commit adultery. You shall not steal. You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor. You shall not covet.
In Christ, I am dead to the LAW and alive in the SPIRIT.
What is the purpose? SPIRITUAL CLARITY What is the central message? THE GOSPEL OR GOOD NEWS SIN The goal of today is to move from sin MANAGEMENT to FREEDOM from sin.
Romans 6:1-2 // What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? 2 By no means! We are those who have died to sin; how can we live in it any longer? Romans 5:20 // The law was brought in so that the trespass might increase. But where sin increased, grace increased all the more.
So, let’s define sin:
1 John 3:4 // Everyone who sins breaks the law; in fact, sin is lawlessness.
SIN: Missing the mark Sin is missing the MARK, whether intentionally or unintentionally, of God’s moral STANDARD or law as described in His word.
Five effects of sin: 1. Sin Separates Isaiah 59:2 // But, your antiquities have separated you from your God. 2. Sin leads to death
“Sin always overpromises on fun and underdelivers on fulfillment”
James 1:14-15 // but each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed. 15 Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death 3. Sin keeps us from God’s best. Galatians 5:19-21 // 9 The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; 20 idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions 21 and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God. 4. Sin traps the sinner. John 8:34 // very truly I tell you, everyone who sins is a slave to sin. 5. Sin is a counterfeit.
Everything God has for you, the devil has a counterfeit.
Genesis 3:1 // Now the serpent was craftier than any of the wild animals. He said to the woman, “Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden’?”
How do we live a life free from sin?
- Count yourself DEAD to sin. Romans 1:1 // What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? 2 By no means! We are those who have died to sin; how can we live in it any longer? Romans 6:11 // In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ
Dead people have no:
Desires
Galatians 5:6 // But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.
Opinions Feelings
Jeremiah 17:9 // “The human heart is the most deceitful of all things, and desperately wicked.
Practical Atheism - acknowledges God by mouth, but denies him through action.
Romans 6:3-7 // don’t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 4 We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.
God doesn’t call us to an improved life, but rather a NEW ONE!
5 For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we will certainly also be united with him in a resurrection like his. 6 For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body ruled by sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin— 7 because anyone who has died has been set free from sin.
How do we live a life free from sin?
- You need a MAKEOVER.
Your identity changes when you become alive in Christ.
Romans 6:11 // In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ
IN SIN or IN CHRIST
Romans 5:12 // Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all people, because all sinned
My identity is no longer in sin, it is in Christ. How do we live a life free from sin?
- Understand FREEDOM is meant for you. Galatians 5:1 // It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.
Next steps to live free from sin:
Live in community Cut it out Repent often
What you feed grows, what you crave controls, but what starve dies. Don’t walk around with the noose of shame and guilt.
1 John 1:9 // If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. Romans 5:8 // But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
“Romans is the true masterpiece of the New Testament.” - Martin Luther We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. Rejoice Happiness is an inside job.
- Rejoice in God Romans 5:1-2 // 1 Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we boast in the hope of the glory of God.
Justified: Moving from unrighteous to righteous
- Rejoice in Hardship Romans 5:3-4 // 3 Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; 4 perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5 And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.
Character is forged through hardship You cannot decide what happens to you, but you can decide who you become.
- We rejoice IN our sufferings,
- knowing that suffering produces ENDURANCE
- endurance produces CHARACTER
- character produces HOPE,
- and hope does not put us to shame
Leadership is about increasing your pain threshold. The greater the pain, the greater the impact.
- Rejoice in Relationship
The most important stuff in your life isn’t stuff, it is relationships.
Romans 5:6-11 // 6 You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. 7 Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die. 8 But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. 9 Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath through him! 10 For if, while we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life! 11 Not only is this so, but we also boast in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation. 1.. Who you were 2. How you were saved 3. Who you are now
So what?
Real people can be in real right standing with a real God. Faith - firm persuasion, belief Justification - Acquittal and Acceptance Righteousness - Right standing with God Principles of Righteousness
Righteousness doesn’t come from good works
Romans 4:1-3 // What then shall we say that Abraham, our forefather according to the flesh, discovered in this matter? 2 If, in fact, Abraham was justified by works, he had something to boast about—but not before God. 3 What does Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.”
Righteousness doesn’t come from the right circumstances
Circumstance of Circumcision (v. 9-12) Circumstance of the Law (v. 13-17)
Righteousness comes by faith in God
Romans 4:18-25 // Against all hope, Abraham in hope believed and so became the father of many nations, just as it had been said to him, “So shall your offspring be.”[d] 19 Without weakening in his faith, he faced the fact that his body was as good as dead—since he was about a hundred years old—and that Sarah’s womb was also dead. 20 Yet he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, 21 being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised. 22 This is why “it was credited to him as righteousness.” 23 The words “it was credited to him” were written not for him alone, 24 but also for us, to whom God will credit righteousness—for us who believe in him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead. 25 He was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification.
God promised it. Abraham believed it. That settled it.
God is over fear for me!
Psalm 111:10 // The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; all who follow his precepts have good understanding. To him belongs eternal praise.
Good Fear Bad Fear Trust God’s Care
1 Peter 5:7 // “Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.”
God will take care of us.
"God cannot be less than Himself. And God is good. And active. And faithful. And He cares." ~ Anne Graham Lotz
Trust God’s Comfort
Isaiah 41:10 // So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
God will comfort us. Trust God’s Control
Psalm 115:3 // “Our God is in heaven; he does whatever pleases him.”
God is in control. I’m over fear because God cares for me. I’m over fear because God comforts me. I’m over fear because God is in control.
What causes division?
- Prolonged Stress
- Politicized Cultures
- Personal Attacks
- Pessimistic Outlooks John 17:20-23 // “My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, 21 that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. 22 I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one— 23 I in them and you in me—so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.
A divided world needs a unified church!
WHY PRAY FOR UNITY? 1. Because we desperately need EACH OTHER. Romans 12:4-5 NLT // Just as our bodies have many parts and each part has a special function, 5 so it is with Christ’s body. We are many parts of one body, and we all belong to each other.
Unity is not Uniformity.
- Because the world will see GOD'S LOVE. Romans 15:7 // Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God. John 13:34-35 // “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. 35 By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”
Disagreement is unavoidable. Division is a choice.
- Because we can do INFINITELY MORE together. Acts 4:32-34 // All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of their possessions was their own, but they shared everything they had. 33...And God’s grace was so powerfully at work in them all 34 that there were no needy persons among them...
Genesis 2 & John 19 "The Wounding of Adam"
Genesis 2:21-22 (ESV) // So the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall upon the man, and while he slept took one of his ribs and closed up its place with flesh. And the rib that the Lord God had taken from the man he made into a woman and brought her to the man.
Genesis 3 & Luke 24 "Verbs"
Genesis 3:6-7 (ESV) // she took of its fruit and ate, and she also gave some to her husband who was with her and he ate. Then the eyes of both were opened
Luke 2 & 23 "Corresponding Beginning and Ending" John 4 "A Wife at the Well"
John 4:12 (ESV) // Are you greater than our father Jacob?
Mark 4 "Who is in The Boat?"
Mark 4:41 (ESV) // "Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?"
Luke 2 "Mary Loses Jesus"
Luke 2:43 (ESV) // the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem. His parents did not know it
David and Goliath "Giants Defeated"
1 Samuel 17:54a // David took the Philistine's head and brought it to Jerusalem
What is the foundation on which I will build my life? You will build your life on the wisdom of this world or of the Word.
Genesis 3:1 // “Did God really say…”
When my opinion doesn’t align with Scripture, I assume that I am wrong.
Psalm 119:81 (GW) // My soul is weak from waiting for you to save me. My hope is based on your word. Matthew 7:24-25 // “Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock.” 3 Attitudes Toward the Word of God: 1. Gratitude James 1:16-18 // Don’t be deceived, my dear brothers and sisters. 17 Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. 18 He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of first fruits of all he created. Romans 10:17 (NKJV) // So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God 2. Humility James 1:19-20 // My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, 20 because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires. 21 Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you.
How do I make my life line up with what it says?
“If your god never disagrees with you, you might just be worshiping an idealized version of yourself.” - Timothy Keller 1 Thessalonians 2:13 // And we also thank God continually because, when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as a human word, but as it actually is, the word of God, which is indeed at work in you who believe. “The sign of a God-changed heart is that I like for God to tell me how to live.” - Pastor Chris Hodges 3. Hunger James 1:22-25 // 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 someone who looks at his face in a mirror 24 and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. 25 But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do.
“What comes into our minds when we think about God is the most important thing about us.” - A.W. Tozer “We tend by secret law of the soul to move toward our mental image of God.” - A.W. Tozer
If you have a flawed view of God, you will have a flawed life with God.
Matthew 3:16-17 // 16 As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him. 17 And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.” Matthew 17:5 // While he was still speaking, a bright cloud covered them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!”
Identity Affection Affirmation
“Everyone has 3 fundamental needs, according to science: to feel safe, to feel like we belong, and to feel like we matter.” - Inc. Magazine 6 Types of Fathers:
Absent Abusive Performance-based Passive Antagonist Empowering
Psalm 68:4-6 // Sing to God, sing in praise of his name, extol him who rides on the clouds; rejoice before him—his name is the Lord. 5 A father to the fatherless, a defender of widows, is God in his holy dwelling. 6 God sets the lonely in families, he leads out the prisoners with singing; but the rebellious live in a sun-scorched land. Matthew 7:7-11 // “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. 9 “Which of you, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone? 10 Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? 11 If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him! How does God see us? 1. I am loved. 1 John 3:1 // See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! “The greatest disease in the West today is not TB or leprosy; it is being unwanted, unloved, and uncared for.” - Mother Teresa 2. I am free Romans 8:14-15 // For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God. 15 The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.” 3. I am a child of God Romans 8:16-17 // The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. 17 Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.
Where did it all go wrong? Are you stuck? When did you get stuck? How do you get un-stuck?
What is my faith in? Is my faith in God’s character or His hand? Pain is not a sign that God isn’t real, it’s the chance for God to show you just how real He is Pain was PROMISED
John 16:33 NIV // “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”
We weren’t promised a PAIN-FREE life, but a grace-filled life! Faith is REQUIRED
Hebrews 11:6 NIV // And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.
If we only believed because life is always good, that’s not faith, that’s sight
2 Corinthians 5:7 // “For we live by faith, not by sight.”
God’s character is that He’s SOVEREIGN and He’s GOOD
Romans 8:28 NIV // “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose.”
Do you believe God is FOR you?
Isaiah 55:9 NIV // “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.”
I don’t always have to UNDERSTAND God, but I always have to TRUST God.
The greatest lessons in life are almost always taught in the classroom of suffering
2 Corinthians 12:7-10 (NIV) // To keep me from becoming conceited because of these surpassingly great revelations, there was given me a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. {8} Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. {9} But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. {10} That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
Where does pain come from?
2 Corinthians 12:7 (NIV) // …there was given me a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. John 10:10 (NIV) // “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.”
Where is the target?
2 Corinthians 12: 9 (NIV) // [The Lord} said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”
Our weakness
Hebrews 12:1 (NLT) // Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us.
Our pride
2 Corinthians 12:7 (NIV) // To keep me from becoming conceited because of these surpassingly great revelations, there was given me a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. James 4:6 (ESV) // “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” 1 John 1:9 (NIV) // If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. James 5:16 (NIV) // Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed.
Pain Happens
2 Corinthians 11:24-29 (NIV) // Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one. {25} Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked, I spent a night and a day in the open sea, {26} I have been constantly on the move. I have been in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from my own countrymen, in danger from Gentiles; in danger in the city, in danger in the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from false brothers. {27} I have labored and toiled and have often gone without sleep; I have known hunger and thirst and have often gone without food; I have been cold and naked. {28} Besides everything else, I face daily the pressure of my concern for all the churches. {29} Who is weak, and I do not feel weak?
The Purpose Of Pain
2 Corinthians 12:8-10 (NIV) // Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. {9} But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. {10} That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
Get Your Vision Back Dream Again Specific Will General Will
Matthew 28:19-20 // “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Mark 16:15 // He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation.” Luke 24:47 // “With my authority, take this message of repentance to all the nations, beginning in Jerusalem: There is forgiveness of sins for all who turn to me.” John 20:21 // “As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.” Acts 1:8 // “You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
We cannot REACH what we cannot SEE.
John 4:27-35 // Just then his disciples returned and were surprised to find him talking with a woman. But no one asked, “What do you want?” or “Why are you talking with her?” Then, leaving her water jar, the woman went back to the town and said to the people, “Come, see a man who told me everything I ever did. Could this be the Christ?” They came out of the town and made their way toward him. Meanwhile his disciples urged him, “Rabbi, eat something.” But he said to them, “I have food to eat that you know nothing about.” Then his disciples said to each other, “Could someone have brought him food?” “My food,” said Jesus, “is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work. Do you not say, ‘Four months more and then the harvest’? I tell you, open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest.”
Spiritual Nearsightedness If God answered all my prayers, would it CHANGE THE WORLD or just CHANGE ME?
2,996 250,000 7.97 Billion 2.5 Billion 5.5 Billion 42 358,000 289,980
- Open our eyes to WHERE they are. Psalm 37:23 // The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD. Proverbs 16:9 // In his heart a man plans his course, but the LORD determines his steps. To change our world...
We need to CONNECT before we CORRECT.
- Open our eyes to WHO they are. Matthew 9:36 // When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. To change our world...
We don’t have to be LIKE them, but we do have to LIKE them.
- Open our eyes to WHAT they need.
Truth without grace is MEAN. Grace without truth is MEANINGLESS. Together, they are MEDICINE.
John 1:14 // The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. To change our world...
We need to show people the same kind of love God showed us: UNCONDITIONAL LOVE.
A locked gate. View: God can’t be reached. A garbage can. View: God doesn’t want me. An endless ladder. View: God requires a lot from me. A free gift. The right view of God.
What do you do when the dream dies? 2 Kings 4:8-37 // 8 One day Elisha went to Shunem. And a well-to-do woman was there, who urged him to stay for a meal. So whenever he came by, he stopped there to eat. 9 She said to her husband, “I know that this man who often comes our way is a holy man of God. 10 Let’s make a small room on the roof and put in it a bed and a table, a chair and a lamp for him. Then he can stay there whenever he comes to us.” 11 One day when Elisha came, he went up to his room and lay down there. 12 He said to his servant Gehazi, “Call the Shunammite.” So he called her, and she stood before him. 13 Elisha said to him, “Tell her, ‘You have gone to all this trouble for us. Now what can be done for you? Can we speak on your behalf to the king or the commander of the army?’” She replied, “I have a home among my own people.” 14 “What can be done for her?” Elisha asked. Gehazi said, “She has no son, and her husband is old.” 15 Then Elisha said, “Call her.” So he called her, and she stood in the doorway. 16 “About this time next year,” Elisha said, “you will hold a son in your arms.” “No, my lord!” she objected. “Please, man of God, don’t mislead your servant!” 17 But the woman became pregnant, and the next year about that same time she gave birth to a son, just as Elisha had told her. 18 The child grew, and one day he went out to his father, who was with the reapers. 19 He said to his father, “My head! My head!” His father told a servant, “Carry him to his mother.” 20 After the servant had lifted him up and carried him to his mother, the boy sat on her lap until noon, and then he died. 20 After the servant had lifted him up and carried him to his mother, the boy sat on her lap until noon, and then he died. 21 She went up and laid him on the bed of the man of God, then shut the door and went out. 22 She called her husband and said, “Please send me one of the servants and a donkey so I can go to the man of God quickly and return.” 23 “Why go to him today?” he asked. “It’s not the New Moon or the Sabbath.” “That’s all right,” she said. 24 She saddled the donkey and said to her servant, “Lead on; don’t slow down for me unless I tell you.” 25 So she set out and came to the man of God at Mount Carmel. When he saw her in the distance, the man of God said to his servant Gehazi, “Look! There’s the Shunammite! 26 Run to meet her and ask her, ‘Are you all right? Is your husband all right? Is your child all right?’” “Everything is all right,” she said. 27 When she reached the man of God at the mountain, she took hold of his feet. Gehazi came over to push her away, but the man of God said, “Leave her alone! She is in bitter distress, but the Lord has hidden it from me and has not told me why.” 28 “Did I ask you for a son, my lord?” she said. “Didn’t I tell you, ‘Don’t raise my hopes’?” 29 Elisha said to Gehazi, “Tuck your cloak into your belt, take my staff in your hand and run. Don’t greet anyone you meet, and if anyone greets you, do not answer. Lay my staff on the boy’s face.” 30 But the child’s mother said, “As surely as the Lord lives and as you live, I will not leave you.” So he got up and followed her. 31 Gehazi went on ahead and laid the staff on the boy’s face, but there was no sound or response. So Gehazi went back to meet Elisha and told him, “The boy has not awakened.” 32 When Elisha reached the house, there was the boy lying dead on his couch. 33 He went in, shut the door on the two of them and prayed to the Lord. 34 Then he got on the bed and lay on the boy, mouth to mouth, eyes to eyes, hands to hands. As he stretched himself out on him, the boy’s body grew warm. 35 Elisha turned away and walked back and forth in the room and then got on the bed and stretched out on him once more. The boy sneezed seven times and opened his eyes. 36 Elisha summoned Gehazi and said, “Call the Shunammite.” And he did. When she came, he said, “Take your son.” 37 She came in, fell at his feet and bowed to the ground. Then she took her son and went out.
God has this way of OVERRULING our OBJECTIONS.
Hebrews 11:1 // Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.
Sabbatical Observations:
We get one shot at this life. So many people don’t go to church on Sundays. Pants are the worst. The church never missed a beat.
We’ll see you in January! “It came out of nowhere!”
Blindsided Blind Sighted Vision - A picture of God’s preferred future for our life
Proverbs 29:18 KJV // Where there is no vision, the people perish
Chazon
Proverbs 29:18 NIV // Where there is no revelation, people cast off restraint
You were created for significance, not just survival
Proverbs 29:18 MSG // If people can’t see what God is doing, they stumble all over themselves; But when they attend to what he reveals, they are most blessed. 2 Kings 6:15-17 // When the servant of the man of God got up and went out early the next morning, an army with horses and chariots had surrounded the city. “Oh no, my lord! What shall we do?” the servant asked. 16 “Don’t be afraid,” the prophet answered. “Those who are with us are more than those who are with them.” 17 And Elisha prayed, “Open his eyes, Lord, so that he may see.” Then the Lord opened the servant’s eyes, and he looked and saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.
There is a PROCESS to our healing.
Mark 8:22-26 // 22 They came to Bethsaida, and some people brought a blind man and begged Jesus to touch him. 23 He took the blind man by the hand and led him outside the village. When he had spit on the man’s eyes and put his hands on him, Jesus asked, “Do you see anything?” 24 He looked up and said, “I see people; they look like trees walking around.” 25 Once more Jesus put his hands on the man’s eyes. Then his eyes were opened, his sight was restored, and he saw everything clearly. 26 Jesus sent him home, saying, “Don’t even go into the village.”
God does miracles on HIS OWN TERMS, not OURS.
Matthew 18:1-4 // At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Who, then, is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” 2 He called a little child to him, and placed the child among them. 3 And he said: “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. 4 Therefore, whoever takes the lowly position of this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.” Matthew 18:1-4 (TPT) // At that time the disciples came to him to ask Jesus, “Who is considered to be the greatest in heaven’s kingdom realm?” Jesus called a little one to his side and said to them, “Learn this well: Unless you dramatically change your way of thinking and become teachable, and learn about heaven’s kingdom realm with the wide-eyed wonder of a child, you will never be able to enter in. Whoever continually humbles himself to become like this gentle child is the greatest one in heaven’s kingdom realm.
Be Teachable
Proverbs 18:2 // A fool takes no pleasure in understanding, but only in expressing his opinion.
Be Dependent
John 15:5 // I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.
Be Humble
Matthew 11:28-30 // “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
Live in awe
Psalm 19:1 // The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands.
Psalm 19:1 (TPT) // God’s splendor is a tale that is told, written in the stars. Space itself speaks his story through the marvels of the heavens. His truth is on tour in the starry vault of the sky, showing his skill in creation’s craftsmanship.
Attention is the beginning of devotion. Trade your cynicism for certainty in a good God. The secret to hope and joy is to keep seeking God where we doubt He is.
Matthew 5:14-16 (NIRV) // 14 “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill can’t be hidden. 15 Also, people do not light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead, they put it on its stand. Then it gives light to everyone in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine so others can see it. Then they will see the good things you do. And they will bring glory to your Father who is in heaven.
Philippians 2:12-16 (NIRV) // 12 My dear friends, you have always obeyed God. You obeyed while I was with you. And you have obeyed even more while I am not with you. So continue to work out your own salvation. Do it with fear and trembling. 13 God is working in you. He wants your plans and your acts to be in keeping with his good purpose. 14 Do everything without finding fault or arguing. 15 Then you will be pure and without blame. You will be children of God without fault in a sinful and evil world. Among the people of the world you shine like stars in the heavens. 16 You shine as you hold out to them the word of life. So I can brag about you on the day Christ returns. I can be happy that I didn't run or work for nothing. 1) Keep Your Own Life Calibrated to Jesus Philippians 2:12 (NIRV) // My dear friends, you have always obeyed God. You obeyed while I was with you. And you have obeyed even more while I am not with you. So continue to work out your own salvation. Do it with fear and trembling. Hebrews 12:2 (NIRV) // Let us keep looking to Jesus. He is the author of faith. He also makes it perfect. 2) Keep a Healthy Outlook on Life Philippians 2:13 (NIRV) // God is working in you. He wants your plans and your acts to be in keeping with his good purpose. Philippians 4:4-9 (NIRV) // 4 Always be joyful because you belong to the Lord. I will say it again. Be joyful. 5 Let everyone know how gentle you are. The Lord is coming soon. 6 Don't worry about anything. Instead, tell God about everything. Ask and pray. Give thanks to him. 7 Then God's peace will watch over your hearts and your minds because you belong to Christ Jesus. God's peace can never be completely understood. 8 Finally, my brothers and sisters, always think about what is true. Think about what is noble, right and pure. Think about what is lovely and worthy of respect. If anything is excellent or worthy of praise, think about those kinds of things. 3) Be the Change You Are Seeking Philippians 2:14-15 (NIRV) // Do everything without finding fault or arguing. 15 Then you will be pure and without blame. You will be children of God without fault in a sinful and evil world. Among the people of the world you shine like stars in the heavens. Philippians 2:1-2 (NIRV) // 1 Are you cheerful because you belong to Christ? Does his love comfort you? Is the Holy Spirit your companion? Has Christ been gentle and loving toward you? 2 Then make my joy complete by agreeing with each other. Have the same love. Be one in spirit and purpose. 4) Look For Opportunities to Serve Others Philippians 2:16 (NIRV) // You shine as you hold out to them the word of life. So I can brag about you on the day Christ returns. I can be happy that I didn't run or work for nothing. Philippians 2:3-4 (NIRV) // 3 Don't do anything only to get ahead. Don't do it because you are proud. Instead, be free of pride. Think of others as better than yourselves. 4 None of you should look out just for your own good. You should also look out for the good of others. Matthew 5:14-16 (ESV) // 14 "You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.
My comfort zone is a seemingly small detail that can make a big difference in my life.
Exodus 3:1-10 // Now Moses was tending the flock of Jethro his father-in-law, the priest of Midian, and he led the flock to the far side of the wilderness and came to Horeb, the mountain of God. 2 There the angel of the Lord appeared to him in flames of fire from within a bush. Moses saw that though the bush was on fire it did not burn up. 3 So Moses thought, “I will go over and see this strange sight—why the bush does not burn up.” 4 When the Lord saw that he had gone over to look, God called to him from within the bush, “Moses! Moses!” And Moses said, “Here I am.” 5 “Do not come any closer,” God said. “Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy ground.” 6 Then he said, “I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob.” At this, Moses hid his face, because he was afraid to look at God. 7 The Lord said, “I have indeed seen the misery of my people in Egypt. I have heard them crying out because of their slave drivers, and I am concerned about their suffering. 8 So I have come down to rescue them from the hand of the Egyptians and to bring them up out of that land into a good and spacious land, a land flowing with milk and honey—the home of the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites. 9 And now the cry of the Israelites has reached me, and I have seen the way the Egyptians are oppressing them. 10 So now, go. I am sending you to Pharaoh to bring my people the Israelites out of Egypt.” 3 Things that Happen When We Move Out Of Our Comfort Zone:
- You have a perspective shift.
When stepping out of your comfort zone, a perspective shift happens
- You get closer to God. Exodus 3:11-12a // But Moses said to God, “Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?” And God said, “I will be with you…”
Getting pushed out of our comfort zone will push us closer to God You realize it wasn’t just about you.
Exodus 14:21 // Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and all that night the Lord drove the sea back with a strong east wind and turned it into dry land. The waters were divided, and the Israelites went through the sea on dry ground, with a wall of water on their right and on their left.
Leaving your comfort zone isn’t just for you God will bother ONE PERSON to save MANY PEOPLE How could God use my comfortability in my lack of comfort? Remember God is with you.
Matthew 28:20b // And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
If you stepped out of your comfort zone today, who might you end up helping?
Moving forward is a seemingly small detail that can make a big difference in my life. We Won’t Heal We Won’t Be Ready For What’s To Come We Won’t Appreciate What’s to Come
Philippians 3:13 // “Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead…”
Forgetting
Philippians 3:3-7 // For it is we who are the circumcision, we who serve God by his Spirit, who boast in Christ Jesus, and who put no confidence in the flesh— though I myself have reasons for such confidence. If someone else thinks they have reasons to put confidence in the flesh, I have more: circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; in regard to the law, a Pharisee; as for zeal, persecuting the church; as for righteousness based on the law, faultless. But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ.
Forgetting what is behind means leaving both the good and the bad in the past. LEAVE IT! Straining
Philippians 3:14 // “I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.”
Straining towards what’s ahead means giving all we have to God’s plans. Enneagram 2, Wing 3 Reflect on what is hard to forget, make peace with it, so you can LEAVE IT. "If I hadn't looked back, I would’ve won!" Take a Step
EVERY DAY SHOULD HAVE MANDATORY NAP TIME I SPEND TOO MUCH $ ON AMAZON.COM I’M ADDICTED TO MY PHONE I STRUGGLE WITH PRIDE PRIDE is a seemingly small detail that can make a big difference in my life. Pride Is: An ATTITUDE of INDEPENDENCE from God UNGRATEFULNESS to God Considering OURSELVES better than OTHERS Pride Isn’t: A good self-image A job well done Check Your Ego
Isaiah 14:12-15 // How you have fallen from heaven, morning star, son of the dawn! You have been cast down to the earth, you who once laid low the nations! You said in your heart, “I will ascend to the heavens; I will raise my throne above the stars of God; I will sit enthroned on the mount of assembly, on the utmost heights of Mount Zaphon. I will ascend above the tops of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High.” But you are brought down to the realm of the dead, to the depths of the pit. Proverbs 16:5 // The Lord detests all the proud of heart. Be sure of this: They will not go unpunished.
Getting rid of pride means keeping my ego in check Know Your Limits
James 1:17 // Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. Psalm 103:13-14 // As a father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on those who fear him; for he knows how we are formed, he remembers that we are dust.
We as humans have limits Imitate Jesus
Matthew 9:10-12 // While Jesus was having dinner at Matthew’s house, many tax collectors and sinners came and ate with him and his disciples. When the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?” On hearing this, Jesus said, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick.
Jesus’ life is the best example of getting rid of pride If you’re too busy looking down on people and things, you can’t look up to God Ask God to forgive you
James 4:6 (MSG) // It’s common knowledge that “God goes against the willful proud; God gives grace to the willing humble.”
Be Watchful Live Different
Joy Details
Mark 5:25-34 (NIV) // 25 And a woman was there who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years. 26 She had suffered a great deal under the care of many doctors and had spent all she had, yet instead of getting better she grew worse. 27 When she heard about Jesus, she came up behind him in the crowd and touched his cloak, 28 because she thought, “If I just touch his clothes, I will be healed.” 29 Immediately her bleeding stopped and she felt in her body that she was freed from her suffering. 30 At once Jesus realized that power had gone out from him. He turned around in the crowd and asked, “Who touched my clothes?” 31 “You see the people crowding against you,” his disciples answered, “and yet you can ask, ‘Who touched me?’” 32 But Jesus kept looking around to see who had done it. 33 Then the woman, knowing what had happened to her, came and fell at his feet and, trembling with fear, told him the whole truth. 34 He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace and be freed from your suffering.”
My thoughts are a seemingly small detail that can make a big difference in my life. Your crowd will influence your thoughts
Mark 5:24b-25 // A large crowd followed and pressed around him. 25 And a woman was there who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years.
The crowd you keep, will influence the thoughts you think. Our thoughts may not be accurate, but they have power!
Mark 5:28 // "If I just touch his clothes..."
Your thoughts make way for God's best in your life
Mark 5:28-29 // because she thought, “If I just touch his clothes, I will be healed.” 29 Immediately her bleeding stopped and she felt in her body that she was freed from her suffering.
A single thought can change our life. Evaluate your crowd and make changes Think about what you think about Train your mind
To get the PRODUCT we want, we have to submit to the PROCESS we need.
Romans 5:1-5 // 1 Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we boast in the hope of the glory of God. 3 Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; 4 perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5 And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.
Restless - it isn’t more sleep that I need… its more rest Purposeless - it isn’t more work but valued work you need Hopeless - it isn’t happier now but a hope that things can get better
The Ingredients:
- Select Suffering Romans 1:3 // Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings Romans 8:28 // And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.
- Mix with Perseverance Romans 1:3 // because we know that suffering produces perseverance
- Complete your Character Romans 5:4 // perseverance, character Romans 5:3-5 // 3 Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; 4 perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.
Romans 8:28 // And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.
Ephesians 1:3-13 (CSB) // 3 Blessed is the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavens in Christ. 4 For he chose us in him, before the foundation of the world, to be holy and blameless in love before him. 5 He predestined us to be adopted as sons through Jesus Christ for himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, 6 to the praise of his glorious grace that he lavished on us in the Beloved One. 7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace 8 that he richly poured out on us with all wisdom and understanding. 9 He made known to us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure that he purposed in Christ10 as a plan for the right time—to bring everything together in Christ, both things in heaven and things on earth in him. 11 In him we have also received an inheritance, because we were predestined according to the plan of the one who works out everything in agreement with the purpose of his will, 12 so that we who had already put our hope in Christ might bring praise to his glory. 13 In him you also were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and when you believed.
Who you ARE determines what you DO!
Ephesians 2:10 (CSB) // 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared ahead of time for us to do.
IDENTITY is meant to lead directly into DESTINY. If your identity is off, you will get DISTRACTED from your DESTINY.
Matthew 5:14-16 (CSB) // 14 “You are the light of the world. A city situated on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 No one lights a lamp and puts it under a basket, but rather on a lampstand, and it gives light for all who are in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.
Jesus THROUGH YOU will draw people to Himself.
Ephesians 4:1 (NLT) // 1Therefore I, a prisoner for serving the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of your calling, for you have been called by God.
Your identity in Christ should IMPACT how you live your life.
Calling us to a new life What does it mean to be MADE and to LIVE new?
2 Corinthians 5:16-20 // 16 From now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view. Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer. 17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, they are a new creation. The old has gone, the new is here! 18 All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: 19 that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. 20 We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God.
In Christ - POSITIONAL Why are you trying so hard?
Galatians 3:3 // Are you so foolish? After beginning by means of the Spirit, are you now trying to finish by means of the flesh?
DECONSTRUCTION without RECONSTRUCTION is spiritual death God doesn’t want to make a better version of yourself, he wants to make a NEW version. Improve the OLD or become the NEW
Hebrews 10:16-17 // I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them
You can change from the OUTSIDE in or the INSIDE out. The old is gone! Reconcile: to bring 2 estranged parties together. What does it mean to be MADE and to LIVE new? FALL and STAY DEEPLY in love with Jesus.
Colossians 3:1-4 NIV // Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. 3 For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.
My earthly life should match my spiritual life. Jesus + Philosophy Jesus + Clever Thinking Jesus + Doing/Not Doing JESUS!
How Do I Become Physically, What I Already Am Spiritually?
Adjust My Altitude
Colossians 3:1-2 NIV // Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.
Some of the problems we experience are due to the altitude we live at. Heavenly truths shape our human behavior. Declare My Death
Colossians 3:3 NIV // For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God.
Regularly, remind yourself that you are dead to the old, but alive to Christ! We regret that we cannot attend because we recently died Live for My Life
Colossians 3:4 NIV // When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.
When you’re a believer, you’re life is Jesus, so live for Him What’s Your Altitude? Have You Declared Yourself Dead? Who Are You Living For?
What does it mean to follow Jesus? To know Him is to LOVE HIM
Ephesians 3:17-19 NIV // so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, 18 may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, 19 and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.
To Know Him is to LOVE LIKE HIM
Matthew 5:43, 44 NIV // You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you
To Know Him is to KNOW HIS POWER
Philippians 3:10 NIV // I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death Romans 8:11a NLT // The Spirit of God, who raised Jesus from the dead, lives in you.
To Know Him is to KNOW HIS SUFFERING Discomfort is uncomfortable
Instead of leaning into suffering we:
Distract Numb Rebuke the devil
We can’t fully KNOW God if we don’t KNOW suffering Stop asking WHY and start asking WHAT
Matthew 26:39 NIV // Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.”
Matthew 16:24 NLT // Then Jesus said to his disciples, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow me. Matthew 7:24-25 // Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock.
What is the FOUNDATION of my life?
How God Speaks: 1. Prayer 1 Kings 19:11-12 // The Lord said, “Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the Lord, for the Lord is about to pass by.” Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. After the earthquake came a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper. 2. Circumstances Proverbs 3:5-6 // Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight. 3. The Church Acts 2:46 // Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts.
Large Group Small Group Quiet Time Mentors
- The Bible
God’s voice will never contradict His Word.
Psalm 119:105 // Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path. Psalm 119:10-11 // I seek you with all my heart; do not let me stray from your commands. I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.
God’s Word is my AUTHORITY.
2 Timothy 3:16-17 // All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. How the Bible Helps Us:
Teaching Rebuking Correcting Training
James 1:19-26 // My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires. Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you. Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do.
Action > Hearing Most Christians are more EDUCATED than they are OBEDIENT. Deep is about ACTION, not INFORMATION.
Matthew 11:28-30 MSG // “Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.”
Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out? God’s plan for supernatural rest is sabbath. Sabbath means to cease.
Exodus 16:23-30 NIV // 23 He said to them, “This is what the Lord commanded: ‘Tomorrow is to be a day of sabbath rest, a holy sabbath to the Lord. So bake what you want to bake and boil what you want to boil. Save whatever is left and keep it until morning.’” 24 So they saved it until morning, as Moses commanded, and it did not stink or get maggots in it. 25 “Eat it today,” Moses said, “because today is a sabbath to the Lord. You will not find any of it on the ground today. 26 Six days you are to gather it, but on the seventh day, the Sabbath, there will not be any.” 27 Nevertheless, some of the people went out on the seventh day to gather it, but they found none. 28 Then the Lord said to Moses, “How long will you refuse to keep my commands and my instructions? 29 Bear in mind that the Lord has given you the Sabbath; that is why on the sixth day he gives you bread for two days. Everyone is to stay where they are on the seventh day; no one is to go out.” 30 So the people rested on the seventh day.
Sabbath is a commandment.
Exodus 20:8-11 // “Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. 9 Six days you shall labor and do all your work, 10 but the seventh day is a sabbath to the Lord your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your male or female servant, nor your animals, nor any foreigner residing in your towns. 11 For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but he rested on the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.”
We don’t obey the commandments to be saved, we obey them to be blessed. Sabbath is a witness.
Exodus 31:14-17 NIV // 14 “‘Observe the Sabbath, because it is holy to you. Anyone who desecrates it is to be put to death; those who do any work on that day must be cut off from their people. 15 For six days work is to be done, but the seventh day is a day of sabbath rest, holy to the Lord. Whoever does any work on the Sabbath day is to be put to death. 16 The Israelites are to observe the Sabbath, celebrating it for the generations to come as a lasting covenant. 17 It will be a sign between me and the Israelites forever, for in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, and on the seventh day he rested and was refreshed.’”
Sabbath is a blessing.
Mark 2:23-28 NIV // 23 Now it happened that He went through the grainfields on the Sabbath; and as they went His disciples began to pluck the heads of grain. 24 And the Pharisees said to Him, “Look, why do they do what is not lawful on the Sabbath?” 25 But He said to them, “Have you never read what David did when he was in need and hungry, he and those with him: 26 how he went into the house of God in the days of Abiathar the high priest, and ate the showbread, which is not lawful to eat except for the priests, and also gave some to those who were with him?” 27 And He said to them, “The Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath. 28 Therefore the Son of Man is also Lord of the Sabbath.”
Sabbath is a gift for you, not another rule to follow. Sabbath is a blessing, not a burden.
Matthew 16:24 NLT // Then Jesus said to his disciples, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow me.
You can’t carry your cross and your opinion at the same time.
Proverbs 11:24 MSG // The world of the generous gets larger and larger; the world of the stingy gets smaller and smaller.
We GIVE to WORSHIP, not GIVE to GET
Forgiveness Luke 17:1, 3-5 // Jesus said to his disciples: “Things that cause people to stumble are bound to come… So watch yourselves. “If your brother or sister sins against you, rebuke them; and if they repent, forgive them. Even if they sin against you seven times in a day and seven times come back to you saying ‘I repent,’ you must forgive them.” The apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith!”
What do you do when you’re really hurt?
FORGIVENESS IS NOT:
Minimizing the seriousness of the offense. Reconciliation. Forgetting what happened.
Forgiveness is a one player game
Why don’t we forgive?
We don’t think it’s fair.
Matthew 18:21-35 // Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother when he sins against me? Up to seven times?” Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times. Therefore, the kingdom of heaven is like a king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants... This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother from your heart.” “Unforgiveness is like drinking poison and hoping the other person dies.” - Anne Lamont
We don’t think we can do it.
Philippians 4:13 // I can do everything through him who gives me strength.
We don’t feel like it. Choices lead, feelings follow. Forgiveness is a choice.
How do I respond? 1. Pray for them. Matthew 5:43-44 // “You have heard that it was said, 'Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.” 2. Bless them. Luke 6:27-28 // But I tell you who hear me: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. Romans 12:14 // Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. 3. Do good to them. Romans 12:17-21 // Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God's wrath, for it is written: "It is mine to avenge; I will repay," says the Lord. On the contrary: "If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head." Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. Ephesians 4:31-32 // Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.
Forgiven people forgive people.
Matthew 16:24 NLT // Then Jesus said to his disciples, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow me.
Give up. Take up. Follow.
We’ve settled for a comfortable faith. We need to trade our comfortable faith for a functional faith.
Matthew 4:18-22 NLT // One day as Jesus was walking along the shore of the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers—Simon, also called Peter, and Andrew—throwing a net into the water, for they fished for a living. Jesus called out to them, “Come, follow me, and I will show you how to fish for people!” And they left their nets at once and followed him. A little farther up the shore he saw two other brothers, James and John, sitting in a boat with their father, Zebedee, repairing their nets. And he called them to come, too. They immediately followed him, leaving the boat and their father behind. 1. Listen to Jesus
Jesus called, they listened.
- Follow Jesus wherever He leads Matthew 4:19 // Jesus called out to them, “Come, follow me, and I will show you how to fish for people!”
You have to learn before you lead. You attract who you are.
- Release the things that keep us from Jesus Matthew 4:22 NLT // They immediately followed him, leaving the boat and their father behind.
What are you holding onto that is holding you back from all that God has for you?
Matthew 16:24 NLT // Then Jesus said to his disciples, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow me.
You can’t carry your cross and your opinion at the same time.
- Receive the authority of Jesus Matthew 10:1-8 NLT // Jesus called his twelve disciples together and gave them authority to cast out evil spirits and to heal every kind of disease and illness. Here are the names of the twelve apostles: first, Simon (also called Peter), then Andrew (Peter’s brother), James (son of Zebedee), John (James’s brother), Philip, Bartholomew, Thomas, Matthew (the tax collector), James (son of Alphaeus), Thaddaeus, Simon (the zealot), Judas Iscariot (who later betrayed him). Jesus sent out the twelve apostles with these instructions: “Don’t go to the Gentiles or the Samaritans, but only to the people of Israel—God’s lost sheep. Go and announce to them that the Kingdom of Heaven is near. Heal the sick, raise the dead, cure those with leprosy, and cast out demons. Give as freely as you have received!
Your mission is collaborative and collective in the church. Your gifting is unique.
Matthew 16:24 NLT // Then Jesus said to his disciples, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow me.
Give up. Take up. Follow.
We’ve settled for a comfortable faith. We need to trade our comfortable faith for a functional faith.
Matthew 4:18-22 NLT // One day as Jesus was walking along the shore of the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers—Simon, also called Peter, and Andrew—throwing a net into the water, for they fished for a living. Jesus called out to them, “Come, follow me, and I will show you how to fish for people!” And they left their nets at once and followed him. A little farther up the shore he saw two other brothers, James and John, sitting in a boat with their father, Zebedee, repairing their nets. And he called them to come, too. They immediately followed him, leaving the boat and their father behind. 1. Listen to Jesus
Jesus called, they listened.
- Follow Jesus wherever He leads Matthew 4:19 // Jesus called out to them, “Come, follow me, and I will show you how to fish for people!”
You have to learn before you lead. You attract who you are.
- Release the things that keep us from Jesus Matthew 4:22 NLT // They immediately followed him, leaving the boat and their father behind.
What are you holding onto that is holding you back from all that God has for you?
Matthew 16:24 NLT // Then Jesus said to his disciples, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow me.
You can’t carry your cross and your opinion at the same time.
- Receive the authority of Jesus Matthew 10:1-8 NLT // Jesus called his twelve disciples together and gave them authority to cast out evil spirits and to heal every kind of disease and illness. Here are the names of the twelve apostles: first, Simon (also called Peter), then Andrew (Peter’s brother), James (son of Zebedee), John (James’s brother), Philip, Bartholomew, Thomas, Matthew (the tax collector), James (son of Alphaeus), Thaddaeus, Simon (the zealot), Judas Iscariot (who later betrayed him). Jesus sent out the twelve apostles with these instructions: “Don’t go to the Gentiles or the Samaritans, but only to the people of Israel—God’s lost sheep. Go and announce to them that the Kingdom of Heaven is near. Heal the sick, raise the dead, cure those with leprosy, and cast out demons. Give as freely as you have received!
Your mission is collaborative and collective in the church. Your gifting is unique.
What do you do when your faith no longer fits?
Borrowed Faith Hurt & Loss You just don’t believe
Luke 24:1-8 // On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, the women took the spices they had prepared and went to the tomb. They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. While they were wondering about this, suddenly two men in clothes that gleamed like lightning stood beside them. In their fright the women bowed down with their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, “Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here; he has risen! Remember how he told you, while he was still with you in Galilee: ‘The Son of Man must be delivered over to the hands of sinners, be crucified and on the third day be raised again.’ ” Then they remembered his words. “Nineteen wide centuries have come and gone and today He is the centerpiece of the human race and the leader of the column of progress. I am far within the mark when I say that all the armies that ever marched, and all the navies that ever were built, and all the parliaments that ever sat, all the kings that ever reigned, put together have not affected the life of man upon this earth as powerfully as has that One Solitary Life.” - James Allan Francis
He broke the curse of sin He broke the grip of fear He broke the power of death He broke down the gates of Hell He broke death
Luke 24:5 // “Why do you look for the living among the dead? Genesis 2:7 // Then the Lord God formed a man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being. Deuteronomy 30:19 // This day I call the heavens and the earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live Romans 8:11 ESV // And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies because of his Spirit who lives in you.
Jesus didn’t come to make bad people good. He came to make dead people alive. Easter is meant to be EXPERIENCED, not just CELEBRATED.
What do you do when your faith no longer fits?
Borrowed Faith Hurt & Loss You just don’t believe
Luke 24:1-8 // On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, the women took the spices they had prepared and went to the tomb. They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. While they were wondering about this, suddenly two men in clothes that gleamed like lightning stood beside them. In their fright the women bowed down with their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, “Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here; he has risen! Remember how he told you, while he was still with you in Galilee: ‘The Son of Man must be delivered over to the hands of sinners, be crucified and on the third day be raised again.’ ” Then they remembered his words. “Nineteen wide centuries have come and gone and today He is the centerpiece of the human race and the leader of the column of progress. I am far within the mark when I say that all the armies that ever marched, and all the navies that ever were built, and all the parliaments that ever sat, all the kings that ever reigned, put together have not affected the life of man upon this earth as powerfully as has that One Solitary Life.” - James Allan Francis
He broke the curse of sin He broke the grip of fear He broke the power of death He broke down the gates of Hell He broke death
Luke 24:5 // “Why do you look for the living among the dead? Genesis 2:7 // Then the Lord God formed a man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being. Deuteronomy 30:19 // This day I call the heavens and the earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live Romans 8:11 ESV // And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies because of his Spirit who lives in you.
Jesus didn’t come to make bad people good. He came to make dead people alive. Easter is meant to be EXPERIENCED, not just CELEBRATED.
John 12:12-20 // The next day the great crowd that had come for the festival heard that Jesus was on his way to Jerusalem. They took palm branches and went out to meet him, shouting, “Hosanna!” “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!” “Blessed is the king of Israel!” Jesus found a young donkey and sat on it, as it is written: “Do not be afraid, Daughter Zion; see, your king is coming, seated on a donkey’s colt.” At first his disciples did not understand all this Only after Jesus was glorified did they realize that these things had been written about him and that these things had been done to him. Now the crowd that was with him when he called Lazarus from the tomb and raised him from the dead continued to spread the word. Many people, because they had heard that he had performed this sign, went out to meet him. So the Pharisees said to one another, “See, this is getting us nowhere. Look how the whole world has gone after him!” What Happens When Jesus Shows Up:
- The Excited CELEBRATED John 12:13 // They took palm branches and went out to meet him, shouting, “Hosanna!” “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!” “Blessed is the king of Israel!”
- The Curious CONTEMPLATED John 12:16 // At first his disciples did not understand all this. Only after Jesus was glorified did they realize that these things had been written about him and that these things had been done to him.
- The Shook Up SPREAD HOPE John 12:17 // Now the crowd that was with him when he called Lazarus from the tomb and raised him from the dead continued to spread the word.
- The Prideful PLOTTED John 12:19 // So the Pharisees said to one another, “See, this is getting us nowhere. Look how the whole world has gone after him!” John 11:48 // If we let him go on like this, everyone will believe in him, and then the Romans will come and take away both our temple and our nation.”
John 12:12-20 // The next day the great crowd that had come for the festival heard that Jesus was on his way to Jerusalem. They took palm branches and went out to meet him, shouting, “Hosanna!” “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!” “Blessed is the king of Israel!” Jesus found a young donkey and sat on it, as it is written: “Do not be afraid, Daughter Zion; see, your king is coming, seated on a donkey’s colt.” At first his disciples did not understand all this Only after Jesus was glorified did they realize that these things had been written about him and that these things had been done to him. Now the crowd that was with him when he called Lazarus from the tomb and raised him from the dead continued to spread the word. Many people, because they had heard that he had performed this sign, went out to meet him. So the Pharisees said to one another, “See, this is getting us nowhere. Look how the whole world has gone after him!” What Happens When Jesus Shows Up:
- The Excited CELEBRATED John 12:13 // They took palm branches and went out to meet him, shouting, “Hosanna!” “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!” “Blessed is the king of Israel!”
- The Curious CONTEMPLATED John 12:16 // At first his disciples did not understand all this. Only after Jesus was glorified did they realize that these things had been written about him and that these things had been done to him.
- The Shook Up SPREAD HOPE John 12:17 // Now the crowd that was with him when he called Lazarus from the tomb and raised him from the dead continued to spread the word.
- The Prideful PLOTTED John 12:19 // So the Pharisees said to one another, “See, this is getting us nowhere. Look how the whole world has gone after him!” John 11:48 // If we let him go on like this, everyone will believe in him, and then the Romans will come and take away both our temple and our nation.”
It’s hard to keep GOOD NEWS to yourself
Evangelism Stereotypes:
The bad tipper The street corner shouter The “holier than thou” The “only acknowledges God at award shows”
Acts 16:22-24 (NIV) // The crowd joined in the attack against Paul and Silas, and the magistrates ordered them to be stripped and beaten with rods. After they had been severely flogged, they were thrown into prison, and the jailer was commanded to guard them carefully. When he received these orders, he put them in the inner cell and fastened their feet in the stocks. Acts 16:25-33 (NIV) // About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them. Suddenly there was such a violent earthquake that the foundations of the prison were shaken. At once all the prison doors flew open, and everyone’s chains came loose. The jailer woke up, and when he saw the prison doors open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself because he thought the prisoners had escaped. But Paul shouted, “Don’t harm yourself! We are all here!” The jailer called for lights, rushed in and fell trembling before Paul and Silas. He then brought them out and asked, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” They replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved—you and your household.” Then they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all the others in his house. At that hour of the night the jailer took them and washed their wounds; then immediately he and all his household were baptized.
God’s calling on our lives isn’t circumstantial
Mark 16:15 NIV // He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.
Wherever you are, preach the word Evangelism should be natural
2 Timothy 4:1-2 // In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I give you this charge: Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction.
Preach the Word
It’s hard to keep GOOD NEWS to yourself
Evangelism Stereotypes:
The bad tipper The street corner shouter The “holier than thou” The “only acknowledges God at award shows”
Acts 16:22-24 (NIV) // The crowd joined in the attack against Paul and Silas, and the magistrates ordered them to be stripped and beaten with rods. After they had been severely flogged, they were thrown into prison, and the jailer was commanded to guard them carefully. When he received these orders, he put them in the inner cell and fastened their feet in the stocks. Acts 16:25-33 (NIV) // About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them. Suddenly there was such a violent earthquake that the foundations of the prison were shaken. At once all the prison doors flew open, and everyone’s chains came loose. The jailer woke up, and when he saw the prison doors open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself because he thought the prisoners had escaped. But Paul shouted, “Don’t harm yourself! We are all here!” The jailer called for lights, rushed in and fell trembling before Paul and Silas. He then brought them out and asked, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” They replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved—you and your household.” Then they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all the others in his house. At that hour of the night the jailer took them and washed their wounds; then immediately he and all his household were baptized.
God’s calling on our lives isn’t circumstantial
Mark 16:15 NIV // He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.
Wherever you are, preach the word Evangelism should be natural
2 Timothy 4:1-2 // In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I give you this charge: Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction.
Preach the Word
Mark 16:15 // He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.”
Why did Access grow? Someone invited you. Invest and Invite.
John 1:29 // The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! John 1:35-42 // The next day John was there again with two of his disciples. When he saw Jesus passing by, he said, “Look, the Lamb of God!” When the two disciples heard him say this, they followed Jesus. Turning around, Jesus saw them following and asked, “What do you want?” They said, “Rabbi” (which means “Teacher”), “where are you staying?” “Come,” he replied, “and you will see.” So they went and saw where he was staying, and they spent that day with him. It was about four in the afternoon. Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, was one of the two who heard what John had said and who had followed Jesus. The first thing Andrew did was to find his brother Simon and tell him, “We have found the Messiah” (that is, the Christ). And he brought him to Jesus. The next day Jesus decided to leave for Galilee. Finding Philip, he said to him, “Follow me.” Philip, like Andrew and Peter, was from the town of Bethsaida. Philip found Nathanael and told him, “We have found the one Moses wrote about in the Law, and about whom the prophets also wrote—Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.” “Nazareth! Can anything good come from there?” Nathanael asked. “Come and see,” said Philip.
Evangelism: Just means spreading good news. Evangelism: An enthusiastic advocate.
Jesus needs to be experienced, not explained.
275,000+ People in 338_ _ 220 - 250 churches @ 200 each is 50,000 in church 19.7% of our city goes to church. Over 200,000 are not going to church in our city. County is 660,000+ 530,000 people in our county do not go to church.
Do you care?
Mark 16:15 // He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.”
Why did Access grow? Someone invited you. Invest and Invite.
John 1:29 // The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! John 1:35-42 // The next day John was there again with two of his disciples. When he saw Jesus passing by, he said, “Look, the Lamb of God!” When the two disciples heard him say this, they followed Jesus. Turning around, Jesus saw them following and asked, “What do you want?” They said, “Rabbi” (which means “Teacher”), “where are you staying?” “Come,” he replied, “and you will see.” So they went and saw where he was staying, and they spent that day with him. It was about four in the afternoon. Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, was one of the two who heard what John had said and who had followed Jesus. The first thing Andrew did was to find his brother Simon and tell him, “We have found the Messiah” (that is, the Christ). And he brought him to Jesus. The next day Jesus decided to leave for Galilee. Finding Philip, he said to him, “Follow me.” Philip, like Andrew and Peter, was from the town of Bethsaida. Philip found Nathanael and told him, “We have found the one Moses wrote about in the Law, and about whom the prophets also wrote—Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.” “Nazareth! Can anything good come from there?” Nathanael asked. “Come and see,” said Philip.
Evangelism: Just means spreading good news. Evangelism: An enthusiastic advocate.
Jesus needs to be experienced, not explained.
275,000+ People in 338_ _ 220 - 250 churches @ 200 each is 50,000 in church 19.7% of our city goes to church. Over 200,000 are not going to church in our city. County is 660,000+ 530,000 people in our county do not go to church.
Do you care?
I was born for this!
Ephesians 2:8-10 // For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. Ephesians 2:8 // For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith
Grace: God’s power in you to do what you can’t do on your own.
Ephesians 2:9 // not by works, so that no one can boast.
Grace is opposed to earning, but not to effort. We are not saved BY works, but we are saved FOR works.
Ephesians 2:10 // For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
Poiema We > Me
You don’t think we have any needs. You did it before and hated it. You don’t see yourself the way God sees you.
God wants you to serve
- Every Christian is a MINISTER 1 Peter 2:9 // But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.
- Every task is IMPORTANT
"Just"
1 Corinthians 12:27 // Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it. 3. Every person is UNIQUE and NEEDED 1 Corinthians 12:4-8 (MSG) // God’s various gifts are handed out everywhere; but they all originate in God’s Spirit. God’s various ministries are carried out everywhere; but they all originate in God’s Spirit. God’s various expressions of power are in action everywhere; but God himself is behind it all. Each person is given something to do that shows who God is: Everyone gets in on it, everyone benefits. All kinds of things are handed out by the Spirit, and to all kinds of people! The variety is wonderful.
Access Kids Access Youth & Young Adults Access Groups Host & Hospitality Next Steps Worship & Production
I was born for this!
Ephesians 2:8-10 // For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. Ephesians 2:8 // For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith
Grace: God’s power in you to do what you can’t do on your own.
Ephesians 2:9 // not by works, so that no one can boast.
Grace is opposed to earning, but not to effort. We are not saved BY works, but we are saved FOR works.
Ephesians 2:10 // For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
Poiema We > Me
You don’t think we have any needs. You did it before and hated it. You don’t see yourself the way God sees you.
God wants you to serve
- Every Christian is a MINISTER 1 Peter 2:9 // But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.
- Every task is IMPORTANT
"Just"
1 Corinthians 12:27 // Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it. 3. Every person is UNIQUE and NEEDED 1 Corinthians 12:4-8 (MSG) // God’s various gifts are handed out everywhere; but they all originate in God’s Spirit. God’s various ministries are carried out everywhere; but they all originate in God’s Spirit. God’s various expressions of power are in action everywhere; but God himself is behind it all. Each person is given something to do that shows who God is: Everyone gets in on it, everyone benefits. All kinds of things are handed out by the Spirit, and to all kinds of people! The variety is wonderful.
Access Kids Access Youth & Young Adults Access Groups Host & Hospitality Next Steps Worship & Production
Joshua 4:1 // When all the people had crossed the Jordan, the Lord said to Joshua, “Now choose twelve men, one from each tribe. Tell them, ‘Take twelve stones from the very place where the priests are standing in the middle of the Jordan. Carry them out and pile them up at the place where you will camp tonight.’” Joshua 4:19 // The people crossed the Jordan on the tenth day of the first month. Then they camped at Gilgal, just east of Jericho. It was there at Gilgal that Joshua piled up the twelve stones taken from the Jordan River. Then Joshua said to the Israelites, “In the future your children will ask, ‘What do these stones mean?’ Then you can tell them, ‘This is where the Israelites crossed the Jordan on dry ground.’ For the Lord your God dried up the river right before your eyes, and he kept it dry until you were all across, just as he did at the Red Sea when he dried it up until we had all crossed over. He did this so all the nations of the earth might know that the Lord’s hand is powerful, and so you might fear the Lord your God forever.”
Altars remind us that the God who did it before can do it again. If we do little things like they’re big things, God will do big things like they’re little things. We can live with a holy confidence. The greatest indicator of what God will do is what He has always done. Our faith is in the faithfulness of God.
Joshua 4:1 // When all the people had crossed the Jordan, the Lord said to Joshua, “Now choose twelve men, one from each tribe. Tell them, ‘Take twelve stones from the very place where the priests are standing in the middle of the Jordan. Carry them out and pile them up at the place where you will camp tonight.’” Joshua 4:19 // The people crossed the Jordan on the tenth day of the first month. Then they camped at Gilgal, just east of Jericho. It was there at Gilgal that Joshua piled up the twelve stones taken from the Jordan River. Then Joshua said to the Israelites, “In the future your children will ask, ‘What do these stones mean?’ Then you can tell them, ‘This is where the Israelites crossed the Jordan on dry ground.’ For the Lord your God dried up the river right before your eyes, and he kept it dry until you were all across, just as he did at the Red Sea when he dried it up until we had all crossed over. He did this so all the nations of the earth might know that the Lord’s hand is powerful, and so you might fear the Lord your God forever.”
Altars remind us that the God who did it before can do it again. If we do little things like they’re big things, God will do big things like they’re little things. We can live with a holy confidence. The greatest indicator of what God will do is what He has always done. Our faith is in the faithfulness of God.
When we lose our why, we lose our way. There is a pull toward making church all about the church people. Good things can replace the great things God has for us.
Family on Mission
If the message of Jesus is for EVERYONE, the church should be for EVERYONE. The church does not exist only for the sake of the people who are inside, but for those who are not inside yet.
Acts 2:46-47 // Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, 47 praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved. Mark 2:1-13 // A few days later, when Jesus again entered Capernaum, the people heard that he had come home. They gathered in such large numbers that there was no room left, not even outside the door, and he preached the word to them. Some men came, bringing to him a paralyzed man, carried by four of them. Since they could not get him to Jesus because of the crowd, they made an opening in the roof above Jesus by digging through it and then lowered the mat the man was lying on. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralyzed man, “Son, your sins are forgiven.” Now some teachers of the law were sitting there, thinking to themselves, “Why does this fellow talk like that? He’s blaspheming! Who can forgive sins but God alone?” Immediately Jesus knew in his spirit that this was what they were thinking in their hearts, and he said to them, “Why are you thinking these things? Which is easier: to say to this paralyzed man, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up, take your mat and walk’? But I want you to know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins.” So he said to the man, “I tell you, get up, take your mat and go home.” He got up, took his mat and walked out in full view of them all. This amazed everyone and they praised God, saying, “We have never seen anything like this!” We are Access and we are: Chosen
“Let there be a law that no deformed child shall be raised.” - Aristotle Son: Hapax Legomena
We are Access and we are: Forgiven “Son, your sins are forgiven…” “I tell you, get up, take your mat and go home.” We are Access and we are: Healed
We are Access and we are: Roof Crashers
We will do anything short of sin to reach people for Jesus.
When we lose our why, we lose our way. There is a pull toward making church all about the church people. Good things can replace the great things God has for us.
Family on Mission
If the message of Jesus is for EVERYONE, the church should be for EVERYONE. The church does not exist only for the sake of the people who are inside, but for those who are not inside yet.
Acts 2:46-47 // Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, 47 praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved. Mark 2:1-13 // A few days later, when Jesus again entered Capernaum, the people heard that he had come home. They gathered in such large numbers that there was no room left, not even outside the door, and he preached the word to them. Some men came, bringing to him a paralyzed man, carried by four of them. Since they could not get him to Jesus because of the crowd, they made an opening in the roof above Jesus by digging through it and then lowered the mat the man was lying on. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralyzed man, “Son, your sins are forgiven.” Now some teachers of the law were sitting there, thinking to themselves, “Why does this fellow talk like that? He’s blaspheming! Who can forgive sins but God alone?” Immediately Jesus knew in his spirit that this was what they were thinking in their hearts, and he said to them, “Why are you thinking these things? Which is easier: to say to this paralyzed man, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up, take your mat and walk’? But I want you to know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins.” So he said to the man, “I tell you, get up, take your mat and go home.” He got up, took his mat and walked out in full view of them all. This amazed everyone and they praised God, saying, “We have never seen anything like this!” We are Access and we are: Chosen
“Let there be a law that no deformed child shall be raised.” - Aristotle Son: Hapax Legomena
We are Access and we are: Forgiven “Son, your sins are forgiven…” “I tell you, get up, take your mat and go home.” We are Access and we are: Healed
We are Access and we are: Roof Crashers
We will do anything short of sin to reach people for Jesus.
People typically view sex as:
Gross God Gift
Eden: Pleasure and delight Intimacy: Inner closeness and depth of relationship
Genesis 1:28 // God blessed them and said to them, “Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Genesis 2:20-25 // So the man gave names to all the livestock, the birds in the sky and all the wild animals. But for Adam no suitable helper was found. So the Lord God caused the man to fall into a deep sleep; and while he was sleeping, he took one of the man’s ribs and then closed up the place with flesh. Then the Lord God made a woman from the rib he had taken out of the man, and he brought her to the man. The man said, “This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called ‘woman,’ for she was taken out of man.” That is why a man leaves his father and mother and is united to his wife, and they become one flesh. Adam and his wife were both naked, and they felt no shame. 4 Elements of Intimacy
- Value …leaves his father and mother
Do your words validate and add value?
Proverbs 18:21 // The tongue has the power of life and death… 2. Energy …and is united Ephesians 5:21 // Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ. 3. Sacrifice …the two become one flesh
- Trust …naked and not ashamed
People typically view sex as:
Gross God Gift
Eden: Pleasure and delight Intimacy: Inner closeness and depth of relationship
Genesis 1:28 // God blessed them and said to them, “Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Genesis 2:20-25 // So the man gave names to all the livestock, the birds in the sky and all the wild animals. But for Adam no suitable helper was found. So the Lord God caused the man to fall into a deep sleep; and while he was sleeping, he took one of the man’s ribs and then closed up the place with flesh. Then the Lord God made a woman from the rib he had taken out of the man, and he brought her to the man. The man said, “This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called ‘woman,’ for she was taken out of man.” That is why a man leaves his father and mother and is united to his wife, and they become one flesh. Adam and his wife were both naked, and they felt no shame. 4 Elements of Intimacy
- Value …leaves his father and mother
Do your words validate and add value?
Proverbs 18:21 // The tongue has the power of life and death… 2. Energy …and is united Ephesians 5:21 // Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ. 3. Sacrifice …the two become one flesh
- Trust …naked and not ashamed
In Jesus, I find security in my singleness. Self-control is the manner in which we should live our lives.
Titus 2:2-6, 11-12 // “Teach the older men to be temperate, worthy of respect, self-controlled, and sound in faith, in love and in endurance. Likewise, teach the older women to be reverent in the way they live, not to be slanderers or addicted to much wine, but to teach what is good. Then they can urge the younger women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled and pure, to be busy at home, to be kind, and to be subject to their husbands, so that no one will malign the word of God. Similarly, encourage the young men to be self-controlled...For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age…”
Single or not, self-control is the manner in which I should live my life. How does a lack of self-control show up? Be careful using your body as bait to fish for a relationship, you might not like what you catch! Gratefulness for the gift is the right perspective.
1 Corinthians 7:7-9 // I wish that all of you were as I am. But each of you has your own gift from God; one has this gift, another has that. Now to the unmarried and the widows I say: It is good for them to stay unmarried, as I do. 9 But if they cannot control themselves, they should marry, for it is better to marry than to burn with passion.
Whether single or not, gratefulness for the gift God has given me, should be the perspective of my life. Close proximity to Jesus is the goal
John 3:16 // 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.
Single or not, my ultimate goal is to be as close to Jesus as possible.
In Jesus, I find security in my singleness. Self-control is the manner in which we should live our lives.
Titus 2:2-6, 11-12 // “Teach the older men to be temperate, worthy of respect, self-controlled, and sound in faith, in love and in endurance. Likewise, teach the older women to be reverent in the way they live, not to be slanderers or addicted to much wine, but to teach what is good. Then they can urge the younger women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled and pure, to be busy at home, to be kind, and to be subject to their husbands, so that no one will malign the word of God. Similarly, encourage the young men to be self-controlled...For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age…”
Single or not, self-control is the manner in which I should live my life. How does a lack of self-control show up? Be careful using your body as bait to fish for a relationship, you might not like what you catch! Gratefulness for the gift is the right perspective.
1 Corinthians 7:7-9 // I wish that all of you were as I am. But each of you has your own gift from God; one has this gift, another has that. Now to the unmarried and the widows I say: It is good for them to stay unmarried, as I do. 9 But if they cannot control themselves, they should marry, for it is better to marry than to burn with passion.
Whether single or not, gratefulness for the gift God has given me, should be the perspective of my life. Close proximity to Jesus is the goal
John 3:16 // 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.
Single or not, my ultimate goal is to be as close to Jesus as possible.
Questions answered in today's service:
Everyone in my life is divorced (or heading toward divorce). How do I make my marriage last? I'm struggling with the verses about wives submitting. How does that work in your marriage? I know my spouse's love language and try to love in that way. What do I do if they don't reciprocate? How do you know that you know? How do you put yourself out there? What are good boundaries in a dating relationship? How do you keep the fire alive when it seems like your life is wrapped up around your kids or a busy job?
Questions answered in today's service:
Everyone in my life is divorced (or heading toward divorce). How do I make my marriage last? I'm struggling with the verses about wives submitting. How does that work in your marriage? I know my spouse's love language and try to love in that way. What do I do if they don't reciprocate? How do you know that you know? How do you put yourself out there? What are good boundaries in a dating relationship? How do you keep the fire alive when it seems like your life is wrapped up around your kids or a busy job?
77% of men said they’d remarry the same woman 51% of women said the same
How far would you go to keep a promise?
Love - What I’m supposed to do. Cherish - Focuses on the wonder of my spouse.
Love is about being gracious and selfless.
1 Corinthians 13:4 // Love is patient, love is kind.
Cherish is about being enthusiastic and enthralled.
Song of Songs 4:10 // How delightful is your love, my sister, my bride!
Love tends to be quiet and understated.
1 Corinthians 13:4 // It [love] does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.
Cherish boasts boldy and loudly.
Song of Songs 5:10 // My beloved is radiant and ruddy, distinguished among ten thousand.
Love thinks about others with selflessness.
1 Corinthians 13:4-5 // it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way.
Cherish thinks about its beloved with praise.
Song of Songs 2:14 // Your voice is sweet and your face is lovely.
Love doesn’t want the worst for someone.
1 Corinthians 13:6 // Love does not delight in evil.
Cherish celebrates the best in someone.
Song of Songs 1:15 // Behold, you are beautiful, my love; behold, you are beautiful.
Love puts up with a lot.
1 Corinthians 13:7 // Love always hopes; always perseveres.
Cherish enjoys a lot.
Song of Songs 5:16 // His mouth is sweetness itself; he is altogether lovely.
Love is about commitment.
1 Corinthians 13:7-8 // Love endures all things. Love never fails.
Cherish is about delight and passion.
Song of Songs 1:3 // Your name is like perfume poured out.
The goal of cherishing is to develop a mindset, attitude, and actions that make me hold my spouse in the highest regard.
The Commitments of Cherish:
- Remember my promise Song of Songs 4:9 // You have captivated my heart, my sister, my bride; you have captivated my heart with one glance of your eyes,
- Have a cherishing mindset
Stop comparison
Song of Songs 6:9 // My dove, my perfect one, is the only one. 3. Showcase their beauty.
77% of men said they’d remarry the same woman 51% of women said the same
How far would you go to keep a promise?
Love - What I’m supposed to do. Cherish - Focuses on the wonder of my spouse.
Love is about being gracious and selfless.
1 Corinthians 13:4 // Love is patient, love is kind.
Cherish is about being enthusiastic and enthralled.
Song of Songs 4:10 // How delightful is your love, my sister, my bride!
Love tends to be quiet and understated.
1 Corinthians 13:4 // It [love] does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.
Cherish boasts boldy and loudly.
Song of Songs 5:10 // My beloved is radiant and ruddy, distinguished among ten thousand.
Love thinks about others with selflessness.
1 Corinthians 13:4-5 // it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way.
Cherish thinks about its beloved with praise.
Song of Songs 2:14 // Your voice is sweet and your face is lovely.
Love doesn’t want the worst for someone.
1 Corinthians 13:6 // Love does not delight in evil.
Cherish celebrates the best in someone.
Song of Songs 1:15 // Behold, you are beautiful, my love; behold, you are beautiful.
Love puts up with a lot.
1 Corinthians 13:7 // Love always hopes; always perseveres.
Cherish enjoys a lot.
Song of Songs 5:16 // His mouth is sweetness itself; he is altogether lovely.
Love is about commitment.
1 Corinthians 13:7-8 // Love endures all things. Love never fails.
Cherish is about delight and passion.
Song of Songs 1:3 // Your name is like perfume poured out.
The goal of cherishing is to develop a mindset, attitude, and actions that make me hold my spouse in the highest regard.
The Commitments of Cherish:
- Remember my promise Song of Songs 4:9 // You have captivated my heart, my sister, my bride; you have captivated my heart with one glance of your eyes,
- Have a cherishing mindset
Stop comparison
Song of Songs 6:9 // My dove, my perfect one, is the only one. 3. Showcase their beauty.
The Word of God is essential to my closeness with God.
2 Timothy 3:16-17 // “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.”
Lack of Understanding Optional Thinking Sin Fear
Mark God’s Word Hebrews 4:12 // For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.
God’s Word is to be marked in the highest regard.
Memorize God’s Word Psalm 119:11 // I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.
God’s Word is to be memorized in our head, but hidden in our heart.
Meditate on God’s Word Psalm 1:1-2 // Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers, but whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and who meditates on his law day and night.
God’s Word is to be meditated on day and night. Read God’s Word Memorize One Scripture This Week Let God’s Word Be In Your Everyday
The Word of God is essential to my closeness with God.
2 Timothy 3:16-17 // “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.”
Lack of Understanding Optional Thinking Sin Fear
Mark God’s Word Hebrews 4:12 // For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.
God’s Word is to be marked in the highest regard.
Memorize God’s Word Psalm 119:11 // I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.
God’s Word is to be memorized in our head, but hidden in our heart.
Meditate on God’s Word Psalm 1:1-2 // Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers, but whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and who meditates on his law day and night.
God’s Word is to be meditated on day and night. Read God’s Word Memorize One Scripture This Week Let God’s Word Be In Your Everyday
Three Named Angels in the Bible:
Lucifer: Worship (Narcissistic – self worship) Gabriel: Word Michael: Prayer
Prayer doesn’t move God toward us. Prayer moves us toward God.
Exodus 25:8-9 NLT // Have the people of Israel build me a holy sanctuary so I can live among them. You must build this Tabernacle and its furnishings exactly according to the pattern I will show you. Exodus 33:11 NLT // Inside the Tent of Meeting, the LORD would speak to Moses face to face, as one speaks to a friend. Matthew 5:17 // Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. Seven steps, 6 pieces of furniture.
The Outer Court: Give God thanks.
Psalm 100:4 // Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name.
Thanks for what He’s done. Praise for who He is.
Psalm 103:1-5 // Praise the Lord, my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name. Praise the Lord, my soul, and forget not all his benefits—who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion, who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.
The Brazen Altar: Focus on the Cross.
Romans 5:6 NLT // When we were utterly helpless, Christ came at just the right time and died for us sinners. Isaiah 53:5 // But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed.
Nails: Freedom from my past. Spear: Freedom in my heart. Crown: Freedom in my mind. Whip: Freedom in my body.
The Laver: Offer every part of my life to God.
Romans 12:1 // Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God–this is your spiritual act of worship.
The Candlestick: Invite the work of the Holy Spirit in my life.
Zechariah 4:6 // ‘Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,’ says the Lord Almighty. Isaiah 11:2 // The Spirit of the Lord will rest on him— the Spirit of wisdom and of understanding, the Spirit of counsel and of might, the Spirit of the knowledge and fear of the Lord. Galatians 5:22-23 // But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.
The Table of Shewbread: Claim the promises in God’s Word.
Matthew 4:4 // Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’” Ephesians 6:10-18 // Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes… (Take) the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. And pray…
The Altar of Incense: Worship His Name.
Psalm 29:2 // Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name; worship the Lord in the splendor of his holiness. Psalm 95:6-7 // Come, let us bow down in worship, let us kneel before the LORD our Maker; for he is our God and we are the people of his pasture, the flock under his care. Proverbs 18:10 // The name of the LORD is a strong tower; the righteous run to it and are safe.
- The Ark of the Covenant: Intercede for others.
1 Timothy 2:1-2 // I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people—for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness.
Prayer should be our first response, not our last resort.
Three Named Angels in the Bible:
Lucifer: Worship (Narcissistic – self worship) Gabriel: Word Michael: Prayer
Prayer doesn’t move God toward us. Prayer moves us toward God.
Exodus 25:8-9 NLT // Have the people of Israel build me a holy sanctuary so I can live among them. You must build this Tabernacle and its furnishings exactly according to the pattern I will show you. Exodus 33:11 NLT // Inside the Tent of Meeting, the LORD would speak to Moses face to face, as one speaks to a friend. Matthew 5:17 // Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. Seven steps, 6 pieces of furniture.
The Outer Court: Give God thanks.
Psalm 100:4 // Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name.
Thanks for what He’s done. Praise for who He is.
Psalm 103:1-5 // Praise the Lord, my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name. Praise the Lord, my soul, and forget not all his benefits—who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion, who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.
The Brazen Altar: Focus on the Cross.
Romans 5:6 NLT // When we were utterly helpless, Christ came at just the right time and died for us sinners. Isaiah 53:5 // But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed.
Nails: Freedom from my past. Spear: Freedom in my heart. Crown: Freedom in my mind. Whip: Freedom in my body.
The Laver: Offer every part of my life to God.
Romans 12:1 // Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God–this is your spiritual act of worship.
The Candlestick: Invite the work of the Holy Spirit in my life.
Zechariah 4:6 // ‘Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,’ says the Lord Almighty. Isaiah 11:2 // The Spirit of the Lord will rest on him— the Spirit of wisdom and of understanding, the Spirit of counsel and of might, the Spirit of the knowledge and fear of the Lord. Galatians 5:22-23 // But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.
The Table of Shewbread: Claim the promises in God’s Word.
Matthew 4:4 // Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’” Ephesians 6:10-18 // Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes… (Take) the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. And pray…
The Altar of Incense: Worship His Name.
Psalm 29:2 // Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name; worship the Lord in the splendor of his holiness. Psalm 95:6-7 // Come, let us bow down in worship, let us kneel before the LORD our Maker; for he is our God and we are the people of his pasture, the flock under his care. Proverbs 18:10 // The name of the LORD is a strong tower; the righteous run to it and are safe.
- The Ark of the Covenant: Intercede for others.
1 Timothy 2:1-2 // I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people—for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness.
Prayer should be our first response, not our last resort.
“Your number one desire as a follower of Jesus should be to hear the voice of God.” – John Bevere
Expectation is the breeding ground for miracles. What does God want? Worship is love expressed.
We all worship something. Worship is our response to what we value most.
Romans 1:21-23 // For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened. Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like a mortal human being and birds and animals and reptiles.
A Not-So-Great Exchange
-
Substitutes Deuteronomy 6:14-15 // Do not follow other gods, the gods of the peoples around you; for the LORD your God, who is among you, is a jealous God.
-
Pride
John 12:42-43 // Yet at the same time many even among the leaders believed in him. But because of the Pharisees they would not confess their faith for fear they would be put out of the synagogue; for they loved praise from men more than praise from God. 3. Pleasure Hebrews 13:15 // Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise—the fruit of lips that openly profess his name.
- Spectatorism
James 4:8 NLT // Come close to God, and God will come close to you. Hebrews 10:22 // Let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith…
What Does God Really Want?
Psalm 50:8-15 NLT // I have no complaint about your sacrifices or the burnt offerings you constantly offer. But I do not need the bulls from your barns or the goats from your pens. For all the animals of the forest are mine, and I own the cattle on a thousand hills. I know every bird on the mountains, and all the animals of the field are mine. If I were hungry, I would not tell you, for all the world is mine and everything in it. Do I eat the meat of bulls? Do I drink the blood of goats? Make thankfulness your sacrifice to God, and keep the vows you made to the Most High. Then call on me when you are in trouble, and I will rescue you, and you will give me glory. 1. Thank Him with my sincere affection. 2 Chronicles 16:9 // For the eyes of the LORD range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him. 2. Offer Him the control of my life. Romans 12:1 // Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. 3. Include Him in my everyday life. Deuteronomy 6:14-15 // Do not follow other gods, the gods of the peoples around you; for the LORD your God, who is among you, is a jealous God.
What God really wants is relationship with me.
“Your number one desire as a follower of Jesus should be to hear the voice of God.” – John Bevere
Expectation is the breeding ground for miracles. What does God want? Worship is love expressed.
We all worship something. Worship is our response to what we value most.
Romans 1:21-23 // For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened. Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like a mortal human being and birds and animals and reptiles.
A Not-So-Great Exchange
-
Substitutes Deuteronomy 6:14-15 // Do not follow other gods, the gods of the peoples around you; for the LORD your God, who is among you, is a jealous God.
-
Pride
John 12:42-43 // Yet at the same time many even among the leaders believed in him. But because of the Pharisees they would not confess their faith for fear they would be put out of the synagogue; for they loved praise from men more than praise from God. 3. Pleasure Hebrews 13:15 // Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise—the fruit of lips that openly profess his name.
- Spectatorism
James 4:8 NLT // Come close to God, and God will come close to you. Hebrews 10:22 // Let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith…
What Does God Really Want?
Psalm 50:8-15 NLT // I have no complaint about your sacrifices or the burnt offerings you constantly offer. But I do not need the bulls from your barns or the goats from your pens. For all the animals of the forest are mine, and I own the cattle on a thousand hills. I know every bird on the mountains, and all the animals of the field are mine. If I were hungry, I would not tell you, for all the world is mine and everything in it. Do I eat the meat of bulls? Do I drink the blood of goats? Make thankfulness your sacrifice to God, and keep the vows you made to the Most High. Then call on me when you are in trouble, and I will rescue you, and you will give me glory. 1. Thank Him with my sincere affection. 2 Chronicles 16:9 // For the eyes of the LORD range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him. 2. Offer Him the control of my life. Romans 12:1 // Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. 3. Include Him in my everyday life. Deuteronomy 6:14-15 // Do not follow other gods, the gods of the peoples around you; for the LORD your God, who is among you, is a jealous God.
What God really wants is relationship with me.
“We are as close to God as we choose to be.” - Oswald Sanders
How close are you to Jesus? How close do you want to be?
John 15:12-13 // My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. 13 Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.
How Close Can We Come to Jesus?
James 4:8 // Come near to God and he will come near to you. Jeremiah 29:13 // “You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.” Jesus’ 6 Circles of Relationship:
The Crowds – the place of “watching & listening” from a distance; The 5000 – the place of “feeding & healing”; The 70 – the place of “working & serving”; The 12 – the place of “leaving all & following”; The 3 – the place of “joys & sufferings”; and, The One – the place of “sacrificial love.”
Matthew 16:24 // Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.
THE CLOSER CALL is … A Call to INTIMACY. THE CLOSER CALL is … A Call to SURRENDER. THE CLOSER CALL is … A Call to LOYALTY.
How Far Have You Followed Him?
John 15:14-15 // You are my friends if you do what I command. 15 I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you.
How close can you come to Jesus? How close do you want to come?
The experience of knowing Christ is more of a lifelong journey than a momentary experience.
“We are as close to God as we choose to be.” - Oswald Sanders
How close are you to Jesus? How close do you want to be?
John 15:12-13 // My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. 13 Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.
How Close Can We Come to Jesus?
James 4:8 // Come near to God and he will come near to you. Jeremiah 29:13 // “You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.” Jesus’ 6 Circles of Relationship:
The Crowds – the place of “watching & listening” from a distance; The 5000 – the place of “feeding & healing”; The 70 – the place of “working & serving”; The 12 – the place of “leaving all & following”; The 3 – the place of “joys & sufferings”; and, The One – the place of “sacrificial love.”
Matthew 16:24 // Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.
THE CLOSER CALL is … A Call to INTIMACY. THE CLOSER CALL is … A Call to SURRENDER. THE CLOSER CALL is … A Call to LOYALTY.
How Far Have You Followed Him?
John 15:14-15 // You are my friends if you do what I command. 15 I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you.
How close can you come to Jesus? How close do you want to come?
The experience of knowing Christ is more of a lifelong journey than a momentary experience.
Joy to the World
Luke 2:8-14 NKJV // Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. 10 Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. 11 For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12 And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger.” 13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying: 14 “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men!”
Good tidings of great joy
Matthew 2:1-2; 8-10 NKJV // “Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, saying, “Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the East and have come to worship Him.”And he sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search carefully for the young Child, and when you have found Him, bring back word to me, that I may come and worship Him also.” When they heard the king, they departed; and behold, the star which they had seen in the East went before them, till it came and stood over where the young Child was. When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceedingly great joy.”
Exceedingly great joy
To understand what JOY really is, we need to understand the depth of LIGHT vs DARKNESS
IMMANUEL – God with us Jesus IS JOY God’s JOY is not CIRCUMSTANTIAL it’s PERSONAL – it’s about HIM
Worship the WHO not the WHAT
Who God is will always be worthy of praise because that is simply His nature.
Change my joy focus Remember the darkness
When we remember the darkness, the light shines even brighter
Joy to the World
Luke 2:8-14 NKJV // Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. 10 Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. 11 For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12 And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger.” 13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying: 14 “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men!”
Good tidings of great joy
Matthew 2:1-2; 8-10 NKJV // “Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, saying, “Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the East and have come to worship Him.”And he sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search carefully for the young Child, and when you have found Him, bring back word to me, that I may come and worship Him also.” When they heard the king, they departed; and behold, the star which they had seen in the East went before them, till it came and stood over where the young Child was. When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceedingly great joy.”
Exceedingly great joy
To understand what JOY really is, we need to understand the depth of LIGHT vs DARKNESS
IMMANUEL – God with us Jesus IS JOY God’s JOY is not CIRCUMSTANTIAL it’s PERSONAL – it’s about HIM
Worship the WHO not the WHAT
Who God is will always be worthy of praise because that is simply His nature.
Change my joy focus Remember the darkness
When we remember the darkness, the light shines even brighter
Our freedom plans aren’t what they’re cracked up to be.
Luke 15:20 // So he got up and went to his father. “But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.
Prodigal Son Wildcard
Luke 15:1-2 // Now the tax collectors and sinners were all gathering around to hear Jesus. 2 But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.”
The Prodigal Son Extravagant The Prodigal Father
Luke 15:7 // “When he came to his senses…
The Father was always waiting. If you’ve been watching the road, keep watching. There is an invitation to all of us to come home.
Our freedom plans aren’t what they’re cracked up to be.
Luke 15:20 // So he got up and went to his father. “But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.
Prodigal Son Wildcard
Luke 15:1-2 // Now the tax collectors and sinners were all gathering around to hear Jesus. 2 But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.”
The Prodigal Son Extravagant The Prodigal Father
Luke 15:7 // “When he came to his senses…
The Father was always waiting. If you’ve been watching the road, keep watching. There is an invitation to all of us to come home.
What are we really searching for?
Psalm 68:6 // God sets the lonely in families… John 14:2-3 // My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.
Where do we really live?
Broken home. Divided home. Empty home. Home alone.
Why do I feel these things?
John 4:9-15 // The Samaritan woman said to him, “You are a Jew and I am a Samaritan woman. How can you ask me for a drink?” (For Jews do not associate with Samaritans.) 10 Jesus answered her, “If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water.” 11 “Sir,” the woman said, “you have nothing to draw with and the well is deep. Where can you get this living water? 12 Are you greater than our father Jacob, who gave us the well and drank from it himself, as did also his sons and his livestock?” 13 Jesus answered, “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, 14 but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” 15 The woman said to him, “Sir, give me this water so that I won’t get thirsty and have to keep coming here to draw water.”
Jesus meets us at the place of our brokenness, but doesn’t leave us there.
John 4:42 // They said to the woman, “We no longer believe just because of what you said; now we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this man really is the Savior of the world.” Four questions to ask before we come home:
Does anyone want me to be there? What if I don’t feel fulfilled? Have I done enough good things? What if nothing has changed?
Free Trial Romans 10:13 // “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”
What are we really searching for?
Psalm 68:6 // God sets the lonely in families… John 14:2-3 // My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.
Where do we really live?
Broken home. Divided home. Empty home. Home alone.
Why do I feel these things?
John 4:9-15 // The Samaritan woman said to him, “You are a Jew and I am a Samaritan woman. How can you ask me for a drink?” (For Jews do not associate with Samaritans.) 10 Jesus answered her, “If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water.” 11 “Sir,” the woman said, “you have nothing to draw with and the well is deep. Where can you get this living water? 12 Are you greater than our father Jacob, who gave us the well and drank from it himself, as did also his sons and his livestock?” 13 Jesus answered, “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, 14 but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” 15 The woman said to him, “Sir, give me this water so that I won’t get thirsty and have to keep coming here to draw water.”
Jesus meets us at the place of our brokenness, but doesn’t leave us there.
John 4:42 // They said to the woman, “We no longer believe just because of what you said; now we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this man really is the Savior of the world.” Four questions to ask before we come home:
Does anyone want me to be there? What if I don’t feel fulfilled? Have I done enough good things? What if nothing has changed?
Free Trial Romans 10:13 // “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”
Luke 8:41-44 NIV // Then a man named Jairus, a synagogue leader, came and fell at Jesus’ feet, pleading with him to come to his house because his only daughter, a girl of about twelve, was dying. As Jesus was on his way, the crowds almost crushed him. And a woman was there who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years, but no one could heal her. She came up behind him and touched the edge of his cloak, and immediately her bleeding stopped. Spiritual Disappointment Can Create:
Confusion through delayed expectations
Mark 5:25-26 NIV // And a woman was there who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years. She had suffered a great deal under the care of many doctors and had spent all she had, yet instead of getting better she grew worse.
Apathy through perceived anonymity
Luke 8:42 NIV // As Jesus was on his way, the crowds almost crushed him.
Anger through perceived inconsistence
Luke 8:48-49 NIV // Then he said to her, “Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace.” While Jesus was still speaking, someone came from the house of Jairus, the synagogue leader. “Your daughter is dead,” he said. “Don’t bother the teacher anymore.”
Disconnection and a loss of hope
Luke 8:49 NIV // … “Don’t bother the teacher anymore.” Dealing With Disappointment: Our Way Forward
Start with the power of God
Philippians 1:6 NRSV // I am confident of this, that the one who began a good work among you will bring it to completion by the day of Jesus Christ.
Remember God’s faithfulness through His character
2 Timothy 2:13 NIV // … “if we are faithless, he remains faithful—for he cannot deny himself.”
God’s unpredictability creates opportunity for our faith
James 1: 2-4 NIV // Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.
Hope in Jesus Christ is found in redemption regardless of circumstance
Hebrews 6:19-20 NRSV // We have this hope, a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, a hope that enters the inner shrine behind the curtain, where Jesus, a forerunner on our behalf, has entered, having become a high priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.
Luke 8:41-44 NIV // Then a man named Jairus, a synagogue leader, came and fell at Jesus’ feet, pleading with him to come to his house because his only daughter, a girl of about twelve, was dying. As Jesus was on his way, the crowds almost crushed him. And a woman was there who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years, but no one could heal her. She came up behind him and touched the edge of his cloak, and immediately her bleeding stopped. Spiritual Disappointment Can Create:
Confusion through delayed expectations
Mark 5:25-26 NIV // And a woman was there who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years. She had suffered a great deal under the care of many doctors and had spent all she had, yet instead of getting better she grew worse.
Apathy through perceived anonymity
Luke 8:42 NIV // As Jesus was on his way, the crowds almost crushed him.
Anger through perceived inconsistence
Luke 8:48-49 NIV // Then he said to her, “Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace.” While Jesus was still speaking, someone came from the house of Jairus, the synagogue leader. “Your daughter is dead,” he said. “Don’t bother the teacher anymore.”
Disconnection and a loss of hope
Luke 8:49 NIV // … “Don’t bother the teacher anymore.” Dealing With Disappointment: Our Way Forward
Start with the power of God
Philippians 1:6 NRSV // I am confident of this, that the one who began a good work among you will bring it to completion by the day of Jesus Christ.
Remember God’s faithfulness through His character
2 Timothy 2:13 NIV // … “if we are faithless, he remains faithful—for he cannot deny himself.”
God’s unpredictability creates opportunity for our faith
James 1: 2-4 NIV // Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.
Hope in Jesus Christ is found in redemption regardless of circumstance
Hebrews 6:19-20 NRSV // We have this hope, a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, a hope that enters the inner shrine behind the curtain, where Jesus, a forerunner on our behalf, has entered, having become a high priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.
Psalm 112:5-6 // Good will come to him who is generous and lends freely, who conducts his affairs with justice. Surely he will never be shaken; 6 a righteous man will be remembered forever.
Legacy: Where my life lives on. What will you do that will outlive you? Giving to something that will outlive me. Living so my life outlives me.
Mark 14:9 // Truly I tell you, wherever the gospel is preached throughout the world, what she has done will also be told, in memory of her.
Am I generous?
John 12:1-8 // Six days before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany, where Lazarus lived, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. 2 Here a dinner was given in Jesus’ honor. Martha served, while Lazarus was among those reclining at the table with him. 3 Then Mary took about a pint of pure nard, an expensive perfume; she poured it on Jesus’ feet and wiped his feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume. 4 But one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, who was later to betray him, objected, 5 “Why wasn’t this perfume sold and the money given to the poor? It was worth a year’s wages.” 6 He did not say this because he cared about the poor but because he was a thief; as keeper of the money bag, he used to help himself to what was put into it. 7 “Leave her alone,” Jesus replied. “It was intended that she should save this perfume for the day of my burial. 8 You will always have the poor among you, but you will not always have me.”
Intentional Sacrificial Extravagant
The enemy of generosity is selfishness.
Extravagant - More than you have.
Intentional Sacrificial Extravagant
300 Denarii
Levels of Giving:
Intentional - Tithes Sacrificial - Offerings Extravagant - Extravagant Giving
Hebrews 11:6 // And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.
Extravagant - More than you have. Extravagant - all that I have.
Mark 14:9 // Truly I tell you, wherever the gospel is preached throughout the world, what she has done will also be told, in memory of her.
Psalm 112:5-6 // Good will come to him who is generous and lends freely, who conducts his affairs with justice. Surely he will never be shaken; 6 a righteous man will be remembered forever.
Legacy: Where my life lives on. What will you do that will outlive you? Giving to something that will outlive me. Living so my life outlives me.
Mark 14:9 // Truly I tell you, wherever the gospel is preached throughout the world, what she has done will also be told, in memory of her.
Am I generous?
John 12:1-8 // Six days before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany, where Lazarus lived, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. 2 Here a dinner was given in Jesus’ honor. Martha served, while Lazarus was among those reclining at the table with him. 3 Then Mary took about a pint of pure nard, an expensive perfume; she poured it on Jesus’ feet and wiped his feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume. 4 But one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, who was later to betray him, objected, 5 “Why wasn’t this perfume sold and the money given to the poor? It was worth a year’s wages.” 6 He did not say this because he cared about the poor but because he was a thief; as keeper of the money bag, he used to help himself to what was put into it. 7 “Leave her alone,” Jesus replied. “It was intended that she should save this perfume for the day of my burial. 8 You will always have the poor among you, but you will not always have me.”
Intentional Sacrificial Extravagant
The enemy of generosity is selfishness.
Extravagant - More than you have.
Intentional Sacrificial Extravagant
300 Denarii
Levels of Giving:
Intentional - Tithes Sacrificial - Offerings Extravagant - Extravagant Giving
Hebrews 11:6 // And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.
Extravagant - More than you have. Extravagant - all that I have.
Mark 14:9 // Truly I tell you, wherever the gospel is preached throughout the world, what she has done will also be told, in memory of her.
Psalm 112:5-6 // Good will come to him who is generous and lends freely, who conducts his affairs with justice. Surely he will never be shaken; 6 a righteous man will be remembered forever.
Legacy: Where my life lives on. What will you do that will outlive you? Giving to something that will outlive me. Giving to something that will outlive me. Living so my life outlives me.
Romans 14:10-12 // You, then, why do you judge your brother or sister? Or why do you treat them with contempt? For we will all stand before God’s judgment seat. It is written: “ ‘As surely as I live,’ says the Lord, ‘every knee will bow before me; every tongue will acknowledge God.’ ” So then, each of us will give an account of ourselves to God.
What did you do with Jesus?
Revelation 20:11-12 // Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. The earth and the heavens fled from his presence, and there was no place for them. And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Another book was opened, which is the book of life. The dead were judged according to what they had done as recorded in the books. Matthew 7:21-23 // “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’
The right answer: I knew Him personally. What did you do with what God gave you?
2 Corinthians 5:10 // For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is due him for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad. 1 Corinthians 3:14 // If the work that anyone has built on the foundation survives, he will receive a reward. Matthew 16:27 // For the Son of Man is going to come in his Father’s glory with his angels, and then he will reward each person according to what he has done.
The right answer: I gave my life away.
I will intentionally give what I have.
2 Corinthians 9:11 // You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God.
Become a Percentage Giver.
I will intentionally serve others.
Matthew 20:26-28 // Whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave—just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
I will intentionally share Christ.
2 Corinthians 5:20 NLT // We are Christ’s ambassadors; God is making his appeal through us. Luke 14:23 LB // Go out into the country…and urge anyone you find to come in, so that My house will be full. Mark 16:15 NCV // Jesus said to His followers, “Go everywhere in the world, and tell the Good News to everyone.” 1 Timothy 6:17-19 // Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life.
There is more to this life than this life. What will you do that will outlive you?
Psalm 112:5-6 // Good will come to him who is generous and lends freely, who conducts his affairs with justice. Surely he will never be shaken; 6 a righteous man will be remembered forever.
Legacy: Where my life lives on. What will you do that will outlive you? Giving to something that will outlive me. Giving to something that will outlive me. Living so my life outlives me.
Romans 14:10-12 // You, then, why do you judge your brother or sister? Or why do you treat them with contempt? For we will all stand before God’s judgment seat. It is written: “ ‘As surely as I live,’ says the Lord, ‘every knee will bow before me; every tongue will acknowledge God.’ ” So then, each of us will give an account of ourselves to God.
What did you do with Jesus?
Revelation 20:11-12 // Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. The earth and the heavens fled from his presence, and there was no place for them. And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Another book was opened, which is the book of life. The dead were judged according to what they had done as recorded in the books. Matthew 7:21-23 // “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’
The right answer: I knew Him personally. What did you do with what God gave you?
2 Corinthians 5:10 // For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is due him for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad. 1 Corinthians 3:14 // If the work that anyone has built on the foundation survives, he will receive a reward. Matthew 16:27 // For the Son of Man is going to come in his Father’s glory with his angels, and then he will reward each person according to what he has done.
The right answer: I gave my life away.
I will intentionally give what I have.
2 Corinthians 9:11 // You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God.
Become a Percentage Giver.
I will intentionally serve others.
Matthew 20:26-28 // Whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave—just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
I will intentionally share Christ.
2 Corinthians 5:20 NLT // We are Christ’s ambassadors; God is making his appeal through us. Luke 14:23 LB // Go out into the country…and urge anyone you find to come in, so that My house will be full. Mark 16:15 NCV // Jesus said to His followers, “Go everywhere in the world, and tell the Good News to everyone.” 1 Timothy 6:17-19 // Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life.
There is more to this life than this life. What will you do that will outlive you?
Why do we care about mental health?
It is Biblical
Jesus cared about the body, mind, and spirit.
Matthew 9:35 KJV // And Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people. Matthew 22:37 // Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’
It is Historical It is Personal
1 in 5 adults are currently experiencing mental health challenges. 1 in 5 kids experience mental health issues in childhood. 11% of teenagers are currently battling depression. In June, 40% of US Adults reported struggling with Mental Health or Substance Abuse. It doesn’t mean that you are not deeply connected to God. It just means you’re human.
1 Kings 19 // Now Ahab told Jezebel everything Elijah had done and how he had killed all the prophets with the sword. 2 So Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah to say, “May the gods deal with me, be it ever so severely, if by this time tomorrow I do not make your life like that of one of them.” 3 Elijah was afraid and ran for his life…
A struggle doesn’t mean that you are not deeply connected to God. It just means you’re human. Worship creates a shift of responsibility.
3 Elijah was afraid and ran for his life. When he came to Beersheba in Judah, he left his servant there, 4 while he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness. He came to a broom bush, sat down under it and prayed… that he might die. “I have had enough, Lord,” he said. “Take my life; I am no better than my ancestors.” 5 Then he lay down under the bush and fell asleep. All at once an angel touched him and said… “Get up and eat.” 6 He looked around, and there by his head was some bread baked over hot coals, and a jar of water. He ate and drank and then lay down again. 7 The angel of the Lord came back a second time and touched him and said, “Get up and eat, for the journey is too much for you.”
8 So he got up and ate and drank. Strengthened by that food, he traveled forty days and forty nights until he reached Horeb, the mountain of God.
What replenishes you? If you can accomplish the dream of God for your life alone, it’s not the dream of God.
9 There he went into a cave and spent the night. And the word of the Lord came to him: “What are you doing here, Elijah?” 10 He replied, “I have been very zealous for the Lord God Almighty. The Israelites have rejected your covenant, torn down your altars, and put your prophets to death with the sword. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me too.” 11 The Lord said, “Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the Lord, for the Lord is about to pass by.” Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. 12 After the earthquake came a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper. 13 When Elijah heard it, he pulled his cloak over his face and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave. Then a voice said to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”
God whispers because He is near.
Why do we care about mental health?
It is Biblical
Jesus cared about the body, mind, and spirit.
Matthew 9:35 KJV // And Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people. Matthew 22:37 // Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’
It is Historical It is Personal
1 in 5 adults are currently experiencing mental health challenges. 1 in 5 kids experience mental health issues in childhood. 11% of teenagers are currently battling depression. In June, 40% of US Adults reported struggling with Mental Health or Substance Abuse. It doesn’t mean that you are not deeply connected to God. It just means you’re human.
1 Kings 19 // Now Ahab told Jezebel everything Elijah had done and how he had killed all the prophets with the sword. 2 So Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah to say, “May the gods deal with me, be it ever so severely, if by this time tomorrow I do not make your life like that of one of them.” 3 Elijah was afraid and ran for his life…
A struggle doesn’t mean that you are not deeply connected to God. It just means you’re human. Worship creates a shift of responsibility.
3 Elijah was afraid and ran for his life. When he came to Beersheba in Judah, he left his servant there, 4 while he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness. He came to a broom bush, sat down under it and prayed… that he might die. “I have had enough, Lord,” he said. “Take my life; I am no better than my ancestors.” 5 Then he lay down under the bush and fell asleep. All at once an angel touched him and said… “Get up and eat.” 6 He looked around, and there by his head was some bread baked over hot coals, and a jar of water. He ate and drank and then lay down again. 7 The angel of the Lord came back a second time and touched him and said, “Get up and eat, for the journey is too much for you.”
8 So he got up and ate and drank. Strengthened by that food, he traveled forty days and forty nights until he reached Horeb, the mountain of God.
What replenishes you? If you can accomplish the dream of God for your life alone, it’s not the dream of God.
9 There he went into a cave and spent the night. And the word of the Lord came to him: “What are you doing here, Elijah?” 10 He replied, “I have been very zealous for the Lord God Almighty. The Israelites have rejected your covenant, torn down your altars, and put your prophets to death with the sword. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me too.” 11 The Lord said, “Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the Lord, for the Lord is about to pass by.” Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. 12 After the earthquake came a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper. 13 When Elijah heard it, he pulled his cloak over his face and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave. Then a voice said to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”
God whispers because He is near.
The life you have is often a reflection of the thoughts you think. What comes into your mind comes out in your life. You cannot have a positive life with a negative mind.
2 Corinthians 10:3-5 // For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. 4 The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. 5 We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.
Neural Pathways The more you think a thought, the easier is to think.
Cognitive Bias Mistake in reasoning based on personal experiences or preferences.
It’s not that the facts are different, it’s the filter.
Reframing Creating a different way of looking at a situation or relationship by changing its meaning.
You cannot control what happens to you, but you can control how you frame it.
Philippians 1:12-13 NWV // Now I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that what has happened to me really stinks. As a result of the hell I’ve been through, I’m quitting my Access Group and never going back to church. Philippians 1:12-14 NIV // Now I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that what has happened to me has actually served to advance the gospel. 13 As a result, it has become clear throughout the whole palace guard and to everyone else that I am in chains for Christ. 14 And because of my chains, most of the brothers and sisters have become confident in the Lord and dare all the more to proclaim the gospel without fear. REFRAMING YOUR STORY AND RELATIONSHIPS:
Thank God for what didn’t happen. Practice Pre-Framing. Look for God’s goodness.
I am not interpreting God through my circumstances. I am interpreting my circumstances through the goodness of God.
The life you have is often a reflection of the thoughts you think. What comes into your mind comes out in your life. You cannot have a positive life with a negative mind.
2 Corinthians 10:3-5 // For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. 4 The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. 5 We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.
Neural Pathways The more you think a thought, the easier is to think.
Cognitive Bias Mistake in reasoning based on personal experiences or preferences.
It’s not that the facts are different, it’s the filter.
Reframing Creating a different way of looking at a situation or relationship by changing its meaning.
You cannot control what happens to you, but you can control how you frame it.
Philippians 1:12-13 NWV // Now I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that what has happened to me really stinks. As a result of the hell I’ve been through, I’m quitting my Access Group and never going back to church. Philippians 1:12-14 NIV // Now I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that what has happened to me has actually served to advance the gospel. 13 As a result, it has become clear throughout the whole palace guard and to everyone else that I am in chains for Christ. 14 And because of my chains, most of the brothers and sisters have become confident in the Lord and dare all the more to proclaim the gospel without fear. REFRAMING YOUR STORY AND RELATIONSHIPS:
Thank God for what didn’t happen. Practice Pre-Framing. Look for God’s goodness.
I am not interpreting God through my circumstances. I am interpreting my circumstances through the goodness of God.
Ephesians 4:11-13 NIV // So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, 12 to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up 13 until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.
To be more like Jesus
Proverbs 11:24 NIV // One person gives freely, yet gains even more; another withholds unduly, but comes to poverty.
A person who gives freely A person who withholds unduly
Proverbs 11:24-25 NIV // One person gives freely, yet gains even more; another withholds unduly, but comes to poverty. A generous person will prosper; whoever refreshes others will be refreshed.
Our Tithes & Offerings
Malachi 3:6-12 NIV // “I the Lord do not change. So you, the descendants of Jacob, are not destroyed. 7 Ever since the time of your ancestors you have turned away from my decrees and have not kept them. Return to me, and I will return to you,” says the Lord Almighty. “But you ask, ‘How are we to return?’ 8 “Will a mere mortal rob God? Yet you rob me. “But you ask, ‘How are we robbing you?’ “In tithes and offerings. 9 You are under a curse—your whole nation—because you are robbing me. 10 Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,” says the Lord Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it. 11 I will prevent pests from devouring your crops, and the vines in your fields will not drop their fruit before it is ripe,” says the Lord Almighty. 12 “Then all the nations will call you blessed, for yours will be a delightful land,” says the Lord Almighty.
What is the tithe? A tenth The tithe is Holy
What is the offering? Anything over and above the tithe
4 steps to becoming a G
Ask God for the faith to obey His word Go home and move God to the top of your budget Take the 90-day tithing challenge Pray about taking a step to the right
Ephesians 4:11-13 NIV // So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, 12 to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up 13 until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.
To be more like Jesus
Proverbs 11:24 NIV // One person gives freely, yet gains even more; another withholds unduly, but comes to poverty.
A person who gives freely A person who withholds unduly
Proverbs 11:24-25 NIV // One person gives freely, yet gains even more; another withholds unduly, but comes to poverty. A generous person will prosper; whoever refreshes others will be refreshed.
Our Tithes & Offerings
Malachi 3:6-12 NIV // “I the Lord do not change. So you, the descendants of Jacob, are not destroyed. 7 Ever since the time of your ancestors you have turned away from my decrees and have not kept them. Return to me, and I will return to you,” says the Lord Almighty. “But you ask, ‘How are we to return?’ 8 “Will a mere mortal rob God? Yet you rob me. “But you ask, ‘How are we robbing you?’ “In tithes and offerings. 9 You are under a curse—your whole nation—because you are robbing me. 10 Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,” says the Lord Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it. 11 I will prevent pests from devouring your crops, and the vines in your fields will not drop their fruit before it is ripe,” says the Lord Almighty. 12 “Then all the nations will call you blessed, for yours will be a delightful land,” says the Lord Almighty.
What is the tithe? A tenth The tithe is Holy
What is the offering? Anything over and above the tithe
4 steps to becoming a G
Ask God for the faith to obey His word Go home and move God to the top of your budget Take the 90-day tithing challenge Pray about taking a step to the right
Romans 12:2 // Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.
Most of life’s battles are won or lost in your mind.
2 Corinthians 10:3-5 // 3 For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. 4 The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. 5 We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.
Our lives are always moving in the direction of our strongest thoughts. We have to TRAIN our minds.
Philippians 4:8 NLT // And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. Philippians 4:8 NKJV // … if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.
Meditate — To engage in mental exercise; to focus one’s thoughts.
Psalm 119:15 // I meditate on your precepts and consider your ways. Psalm 143:5 // …I meditate on all your works and consider what your hands have done.
The only way to tear down a stronghold is to replace false information with truth.
2 Peter 1:3 NLT // By his divine power, God has given us everything we need for living a godly life.
What stronghold is holding you back? What truth demolishes that stronghold?
Write it Think it Confess it Believe it.
Struggling to Know God’s Will:
My life belongs God. Daily I seek Him and daily He directs my steps. I know His voice and He leads me to His perfect will.
Lacking Confidence:
My confidence is in Christ and Christ alone. Because his spirit lives within me. I can do everything He calls me to do.
Fighting Lustful Thoughts:
I am not a slave to lustful thoughts because God has purified my mind. I will honor Him with my eyes and thoughts. My God is faithful. Even if I am tempted, He will always give me a way out.
Battling Worry:
Because of Christ, I’m not anxious about anything. I cast my cares on God because He cares for me. I have the peace of God dwelling in my heart and ruling my mind.
Romans 12:2 // Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.
Most of life’s battles are won or lost in your mind.
2 Corinthians 10:3-5 // 3 For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. 4 The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. 5 We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.
Our lives are always moving in the direction of our strongest thoughts. We have to TRAIN our minds.
Philippians 4:8 NLT // And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. Philippians 4:8 NKJV // … if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.
Meditate — To engage in mental exercise; to focus one’s thoughts.
Psalm 119:15 // I meditate on your precepts and consider your ways. Psalm 143:5 // …I meditate on all your works and consider what your hands have done.
The only way to tear down a stronghold is to replace false information with truth.
2 Peter 1:3 NLT // By his divine power, God has given us everything we need for living a godly life.
What stronghold is holding you back? What truth demolishes that stronghold?
Write it Think it Confess it Believe it.
Struggling to Know God’s Will:
My life belongs God. Daily I seek Him and daily He directs my steps. I know His voice and He leads me to His perfect will.
Lacking Confidence:
My confidence is in Christ and Christ alone. Because his spirit lives within me. I can do everything He calls me to do.
Fighting Lustful Thoughts:
I am not a slave to lustful thoughts because God has purified my mind. I will honor Him with my eyes and thoughts. My God is faithful. Even if I am tempted, He will always give me a way out.
Battling Worry:
Because of Christ, I’m not anxious about anything. I cast my cares on God because He cares for me. I have the peace of God dwelling in my heart and ruling my mind.
The life we have is a reflection of what we think
Proverbs 23:7 NKJV // “For as he thinks in his heart, so is he.” Thought Audit:
God Anger God’s plan for me Anxiety Helping Others Lust Worry Pride Self
2 Timothy 1:7 NKJV // “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.”
If you repeat a lie often enough it becomes true
John 8:44 NIV // “…for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies.”
Remove the lie Replace it with truth
Philippians 4:8-9 NIV // “Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. 9 Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.”
TRUE – LIES NOBLE – DISHONORABLE RIGHT – WRONG PURE – FLESHLY LOVELY – UGLY ADMIRABLE – CRITICAL EXCELLENT – WORST-CASE SCENARIOS PRAISEWORTHY – UNWORTHY
You cannot change what you cannot confront
Romans 12:1-2 NIV // Therefore, I urge you brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God – this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is – His good, pleasing and perfect will.”
Transformed – Greek metamorphoō – to be changed from one thing into another.
You cannot defeat what you cannot define What lie have you believed? What does God say? What will God do?
The life we have is a reflection of what we think
Proverbs 23:7 NKJV // “For as he thinks in his heart, so is he.” Thought Audit:
God Anger God’s plan for me Anxiety Helping Others Lust Worry Pride Self
2 Timothy 1:7 NKJV // “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.”
If you repeat a lie often enough it becomes true
John 8:44 NIV // “…for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies.”
Remove the lie Replace it with truth
Philippians 4:8-9 NIV // “Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. 9 Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.”
TRUE – LIES NOBLE – DISHONORABLE RIGHT – WRONG PURE – FLESHLY LOVELY – UGLY ADMIRABLE – CRITICAL EXCELLENT – WORST-CASE SCENARIOS PRAISEWORTHY – UNWORTHY
You cannot change what you cannot confront
Romans 12:1-2 NIV // Therefore, I urge you brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God – this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is – His good, pleasing and perfect will.”
Transformed – Greek metamorphoō – to be changed from one thing into another.
You cannot defeat what you cannot define What lie have you believed? What does God say? What will God do?
Baptism is a public declaration of a personal decision.
2 Corinthians 5:17 TLB // When someone becomes a Christian, he becomes a brand new person inside. He is not the same anymore. A new life has begun!
Party Theology
Luke 15 // 5 And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders 6 and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.’ 7 I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent. 9 And when she finds it, she calls her friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost coin.’ 10 In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.” 17 “When he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! 18 I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. 19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired servants.’ 20 So he got up and went to his father. “But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him. 21 “The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ 22 “But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. 23 Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate. 24 For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ So they began to celebrate. 25 “Meanwhile, the older son was in the field. When he came near the house, he heard music and dancing. 26 So he called one of the servants and asked him what was going on. 27 ‘Your brother has come,’ he replied, ‘and your father has killed the fattened calf because he has him back safe and sound.’ 28 “The older brother became angry and refused to go in. So his father went out and pleaded with him. 29 But he answered his father, ‘Look! All these years I’ve been slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders. Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends. 30 But when this son of yours who has squandered your property with prostitutes comes home, you kill the fattened calf for him!’ 31 “‘My son,’ the father said, ‘you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. 32 But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’”
Prodigal - Wastefully extravagant
Have you made your faith your own? Have you been baptized since you believed?
Acts 22:16 // And now what are you waiting for? Get up, be baptized and wash your sins away, calling on his name.’
Do you still celebrate?
Baptism is a public declaration of a personal decision.
2 Corinthians 5:17 TLB // When someone becomes a Christian, he becomes a brand new person inside. He is not the same anymore. A new life has begun!
Party Theology
Luke 15 // 5 And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders 6 and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.’ 7 I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent. 9 And when she finds it, she calls her friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost coin.’ 10 In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.” 17 “When he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! 18 I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. 19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired servants.’ 20 So he got up and went to his father. “But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him. 21 “The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ 22 “But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. 23 Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate. 24 For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ So they began to celebrate. 25 “Meanwhile, the older son was in the field. When he came near the house, he heard music and dancing. 26 So he called one of the servants and asked him what was going on. 27 ‘Your brother has come,’ he replied, ‘and your father has killed the fattened calf because he has him back safe and sound.’ 28 “The older brother became angry and refused to go in. So his father went out and pleaded with him. 29 But he answered his father, ‘Look! All these years I’ve been slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders. Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends. 30 But when this son of yours who has squandered your property with prostitutes comes home, you kill the fattened calf for him!’ 31 “‘My son,’ the father said, ‘you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. 32 But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’”
Prodigal - Wastefully extravagant
Have you made your faith your own? Have you been baptized since you believed?
Acts 22:16 // And now what are you waiting for? Get up, be baptized and wash your sins away, calling on his name.’
Do you still celebrate?
Baptism is a public declaration of a personal decision.
Joshua 24:15 // But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.” Revelation 3:15-16 // I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! 16 So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth. Revelation 21:4-5 // ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!” 2 Corinthians 5:17 // Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! 2 Corinthians 5:17 TLB // When someone becomes a Christian, he becomes a brand new person inside. He is not the same anymore. A new life has begun!
HOW DO WE CHANGE? Outside in or Inside Out. Do SOMETHING DIFFERENT or become SOMEONE DIFFERENT. Improve the OLD YOU or become a NEW YOU. New leaf vs. new life
Romans 6:4 // We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.
Baptism is a public declaration of a personal decision.
Joshua 24:15 // But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.” Revelation 3:15-16 // I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! 16 So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth. Revelation 21:4-5 // ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!” 2 Corinthians 5:17 // Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! 2 Corinthians 5:17 TLB // When someone becomes a Christian, he becomes a brand new person inside. He is not the same anymore. A new life has begun!
HOW DO WE CHANGE? Outside in or Inside Out. Do SOMETHING DIFFERENT or become SOMEONE DIFFERENT. Improve the OLD YOU or become a NEW YOU. New leaf vs. new life
Romans 6:4 // We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.
John 10:10 NIV // The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. Romans 8:31 NIV // …If God is for us, who can be against us?
In the midst of four kinds of difficult experiences, God declares He is for you.
In the midst of our FEARS…God is our SHEPHERD!
Psalms 23:1-4 NIV // The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he refreshes my soul. He guides me along the right paths for his name sake. Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.
In the midst of our FAILURES…God is our ADVOCATE!
1 John 2:1-2 NIV // My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have an advocate with the Father-Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.
In the midst of our STRUGGLES…God is our DELIVERER!
Psalm 56:9 NIV // Then my enemies will turn back when I call for help. By this I will know that God is for me. Psalm 56:13 NIV // For you have delivered me from death and my feet from stumbling, that I may walk before God in the light of life.
In the midst of our WORRIES…God is NEAR!
Matthew 6:25-27 NIV // Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life? Philippians 4:5-7 NIV // …The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanks giving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
John 10:10 NIV // The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. Romans 8:31 NIV // …If God is for us, who can be against us?
In the midst of four kinds of difficult experiences, God declares He is for you.
In the midst of our FEARS…God is our SHEPHERD!
Psalms 23:1-4 NIV // The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he refreshes my soul. He guides me along the right paths for his name sake. Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.
In the midst of our FAILURES…God is our ADVOCATE!
1 John 2:1-2 NIV // My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have an advocate with the Father-Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.
In the midst of our STRUGGLES…God is our DELIVERER!
Psalm 56:9 NIV // Then my enemies will turn back when I call for help. By this I will know that God is for me. Psalm 56:13 NIV // For you have delivered me from death and my feet from stumbling, that I may walk before God in the light of life.
In the midst of our WORRIES…God is NEAR!
Matthew 6:25-27 NIV // Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life? Philippians 4:5-7 NIV // …The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanks giving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Karoshi Guolaosi Gwarosa
Matthew 11:28-30 MSG // “Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.”
Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out?
God’s plan for supernatural rest is sabbath. Sabbath means to cease.
Exodus 16:23-30 NIV // 23 He said to them, “This is what the Lord commanded: ‘Tomorrow is to be a day of sabbath rest, a holy sabbath to the Lord. So bake what you want to bake and boil what you want to boil. Save whatever is left and keep it until morning.’” 24 So they saved it until morning, as Moses commanded, and it did not stink or get maggots in it. 25 “Eat it today,” Moses said, “because today is a sabbath to the Lord. You will not find any of it on the ground today. 26 Six days you are to gather it, but on the seventh day, the Sabbath, there will not be any.” 27 Nevertheless, some of the people went out on the seventh day to gather it, but they found none. 28 Then the Lord said to Moses, “How long will you refuse to keep my commands and my instructions? 29 Bear in mind that the Lord has given you the Sabbath; that is why on the sixth day he gives you bread for two days. Everyone is to stay where they are on the seventh day; no one is to go out.” 30 So the people rested on the seventh day.
Sabbath is a commandment.
Exodus 20:8-11 // “Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. 9 Six days you shall labor and do all your work, 10 but the seventh day is a sabbath to the Lord your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your male or female servant, nor your animals, nor any foreigner residing in your towns. 11 For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but he rested on the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.”
We don’t obey the commandments to be saved, we obey them to be blessed.
Sabbath is a witness.
Exodus 31:14-17 NIV // 14 “‘Observe the Sabbath, because it is holy to you. Anyone who desecrates it is to be put to death; those who do any work on that day must be cut off from their people. 15 For six days work is to be done, but the seventh day is a day of sabbath rest, holy to the Lord. Whoever does any work on the Sabbath day is to be put to death. 16 The Israelites are to observe the Sabbath, celebrating it for the generations to come as a lasting covenant. 17 It will be a sign between me and the Israelites forever, for in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, and on the seventh day he rested and was refreshed.’”
Sabbath is a blessing.
Mark 2:23-28 NIV // 23 Now it happened that He went through the grainfields on the Sabbath; and as they went His disciples began to pluck the heads of grain. 24 And the Pharisees said to Him, “Look, why do they do what is not lawful on the Sabbath?” 25 But He said to them, “Have you never read what David did when he was in need and hungry, he and those with him: 26 how he went into the house of God in the days of Abiathar the high priest, and ate the showbread, which is not lawful to eat except for the priests, and also gave some to those who were with him?” 27 And He said to them, “The Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath. 28 Therefore the Son of Man is also Lord of the Sabbath.”
Sabbath is a gift for you, not another rule to follow. Sabbath is a blessing, not a burden.
Karoshi Guolaosi Gwarosa
Matthew 11:28-30 MSG // “Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.”
Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out?
God’s plan for supernatural rest is sabbath. Sabbath means to cease.
Exodus 16:23-30 NIV // 23 He said to them, “This is what the Lord commanded: ‘Tomorrow is to be a day of sabbath rest, a holy sabbath to the Lord. So bake what you want to bake and boil what you want to boil. Save whatever is left and keep it until morning.’” 24 So they saved it until morning, as Moses commanded, and it did not stink or get maggots in it. 25 “Eat it today,” Moses said, “because today is a sabbath to the Lord. You will not find any of it on the ground today. 26 Six days you are to gather it, but on the seventh day, the Sabbath, there will not be any.” 27 Nevertheless, some of the people went out on the seventh day to gather it, but they found none. 28 Then the Lord said to Moses, “How long will you refuse to keep my commands and my instructions? 29 Bear in mind that the Lord has given you the Sabbath; that is why on the sixth day he gives you bread for two days. Everyone is to stay where they are on the seventh day; no one is to go out.” 30 So the people rested on the seventh day.
Sabbath is a commandment.
Exodus 20:8-11 // “Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. 9 Six days you shall labor and do all your work, 10 but the seventh day is a sabbath to the Lord your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your male or female servant, nor your animals, nor any foreigner residing in your towns. 11 For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but he rested on the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.”
We don’t obey the commandments to be saved, we obey them to be blessed.
Sabbath is a witness.
Exodus 31:14-17 NIV // 14 “‘Observe the Sabbath, because it is holy to you. Anyone who desecrates it is to be put to death; those who do any work on that day must be cut off from their people. 15 For six days work is to be done, but the seventh day is a day of sabbath rest, holy to the Lord. Whoever does any work on the Sabbath day is to be put to death. 16 The Israelites are to observe the Sabbath, celebrating it for the generations to come as a lasting covenant. 17 It will be a sign between me and the Israelites forever, for in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, and on the seventh day he rested and was refreshed.’”
Sabbath is a blessing.
Mark 2:23-28 NIV // 23 Now it happened that He went through the grainfields on the Sabbath; and as they went His disciples began to pluck the heads of grain. 24 And the Pharisees said to Him, “Look, why do they do what is not lawful on the Sabbath?” 25 But He said to them, “Have you never read what David did when he was in need and hungry, he and those with him: 26 how he went into the house of God in the days of Abiathar the high priest, and ate the showbread, which is not lawful to eat except for the priests, and also gave some to those who were with him?” 27 And He said to them, “The Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath. 28 Therefore the Son of Man is also Lord of the Sabbath.”
Sabbath is a gift for you, not another rule to follow. Sabbath is a blessing, not a burden.
John 5:1-17 ESV // After this there was a feast of the Jews, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. 2 Now there is in Jerusalem by the Sheep Gate a pool, in Aramaic called Bethesda, which has five roofed colonnades. 3 In these lay a multitude of invalids—blind, lame, and paralyzed. 5 One man was there who had been an invalid for thirty-eight years. 6 When Jesus saw him lying there and knew that he had already been there a long time, he said to him, “Do you want to be healed?” 7 The sick man answered him, “Sir, I have no one to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up, and while I am going another steps down before me.” 8 Jesus said to him, “Get up, take up your bed, and walk.” 9 And at once the man was healed, and he took up his bed and walked. Now that day was the Sabbath. 10 So the Jews said to the man who had been healed, “It is the Sabbath, and it is not lawful for you to take up your bed.” 11 But he answered them, “The man who healed me, that man said to me, ‘Take up your bed, and walk.’” 12 They asked him, “Who is the man who said to you, ‘Take up your bed and walk’?” 13 Now the man who had been healed did not know who it was, for Jesus had withdrawn, as there was a crowd in the place. 14 Afterward Jesus found him in the temple and said to him, “See, you are well! Sin no more, that nothing worse may happen to you.” 15 The man went away and told the Jews that it was Jesus who had healed him. 16 And this was why the Jews were persecuting Jesus, because he was doing these things on the Sabbath. 17 But Jesus answered them, “My Father is working until now, and I am working.”
Do you want to be healed? I am not labeled by my issues, but by who God says I am. What Jesus did FOR you is greater than what has happened TO you. On the other side of your obedience is fruitfulness. There is a cost to picking up your mat.
John 15:8 // This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.
John 5:1-17 ESV // After this there was a feast of the Jews, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. 2 Now there is in Jerusalem by the Sheep Gate a pool, in Aramaic called Bethesda, which has five roofed colonnades. 3 In these lay a multitude of invalids—blind, lame, and paralyzed. 5 One man was there who had been an invalid for thirty-eight years. 6 When Jesus saw him lying there and knew that he had already been there a long time, he said to him, “Do you want to be healed?” 7 The sick man answered him, “Sir, I have no one to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up, and while I am going another steps down before me.” 8 Jesus said to him, “Get up, take up your bed, and walk.” 9 And at once the man was healed, and he took up his bed and walked. Now that day was the Sabbath. 10 So the Jews said to the man who had been healed, “It is the Sabbath, and it is not lawful for you to take up your bed.” 11 But he answered them, “The man who healed me, that man said to me, ‘Take up your bed, and walk.’” 12 They asked him, “Who is the man who said to you, ‘Take up your bed and walk’?” 13 Now the man who had been healed did not know who it was, for Jesus had withdrawn, as there was a crowd in the place. 14 Afterward Jesus found him in the temple and said to him, “See, you are well! Sin no more, that nothing worse may happen to you.” 15 The man went away and told the Jews that it was Jesus who had healed him. 16 And this was why the Jews were persecuting Jesus, because he was doing these things on the Sabbath. 17 But Jesus answered them, “My Father is working until now, and I am working.”
Do you want to be healed? I am not labeled by my issues, but by who God says I am. What Jesus did FOR you is greater than what has happened TO you. On the other side of your obedience is fruitfulness. There is a cost to picking up your mat.
John 15:8 // This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.
Genesis 2:25 // Adam and his wife were both naked, and they felt no shame.
Shame never comes from God.
Guilt says, I deserve to be PUNISHED. Shame says, I am WORTHLESS.
Guilt says I DID bad. Shame says I AM bad.
Which of these feelings do you seek to avoid most? Guilt and Shame Fear and Anxiety
Genesis 3:1-13 // Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden’?” 2 The woman said to the serpent, “We may eat fruit from the trees in the garden, 3 but God did say, ‘You must not eat fruit from the tree that is in the middle of the garden, and you must not touch it, or you will die.’” 4 “You will not certainly die,” the serpent said to the woman. 5 “For God knows that when you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” 6 When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it. 7 Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they realized they were naked; so they sewed fig leaves together and made coverings for themselves. 8 Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the Lord God as he was walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and they hid from the Lord God among the trees of the garden. 9 But the Lord God called to the man, “Where are you?” 10 He answered, “I heard you in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; so I hid.” 11 And he said, “Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree that I commanded you not to eat from?” 12 The man said, “The woman you put here with me—she gave me some fruit from the tree, and I ate it.” 13 Then the Lord God said to the woman, “What is this you have done?” The woman said, “The serpent deceived me, and I ate.” Three Questions of Shame:
Did God really say that?
Shame Based Thinking:
We are vulnerable to perfectionism. We are critical of ourselves, making us critical of others We use self-defeating thoughts as a form of protection and escape.
Three Questions of Shame:
Where are you?
Isaiah 54:4 NLT // “Fear not; you will no longer live in shame. Don’t be afraid; there is no more disgrace for you. You will no longer remember the shame of your youth…” Three Questions of Shame:
Who told you that you were naked?
The only way to heal from shame is to move the FOCUS from what I’m not to who CHRIST is.
1 John 1:9 // If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.
Genesis 2:25 // Adam and his wife were both naked, and they felt no shame.
Shame never comes from God.
Guilt says, I deserve to be PUNISHED. Shame says, I am WORTHLESS.
Guilt says I DID bad. Shame says I AM bad.
Which of these feelings do you seek to avoid most? Guilt and Shame Fear and Anxiety
Genesis 3:1-13 // Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden’?” 2 The woman said to the serpent, “We may eat fruit from the trees in the garden, 3 but God did say, ‘You must not eat fruit from the tree that is in the middle of the garden, and you must not touch it, or you will die.’” 4 “You will not certainly die,” the serpent said to the woman. 5 “For God knows that when you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” 6 When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it. 7 Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they realized they were naked; so they sewed fig leaves together and made coverings for themselves. 8 Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the Lord God as he was walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and they hid from the Lord God among the trees of the garden. 9 But the Lord God called to the man, “Where are you?” 10 He answered, “I heard you in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; so I hid.” 11 And he said, “Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree that I commanded you not to eat from?” 12 The man said, “The woman you put here with me—she gave me some fruit from the tree, and I ate it.” 13 Then the Lord God said to the woman, “What is this you have done?” The woman said, “The serpent deceived me, and I ate.” Three Questions of Shame:
Did God really say that?
Shame Based Thinking:
We are vulnerable to perfectionism. We are critical of ourselves, making us critical of others We use self-defeating thoughts as a form of protection and escape.
Three Questions of Shame:
Where are you?
Isaiah 54:4 NLT // “Fear not; you will no longer live in shame. Don’t be afraid; there is no more disgrace for you. You will no longer remember the shame of your youth…” Three Questions of Shame:
Who told you that you were naked?
The only way to heal from shame is to move the FOCUS from what I’m not to who CHRIST is.
1 John 1:9 // If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.
Church is a family on mission. We gather to scatter.
John 4:27-35 // Just then his disciples returned and were surprised to find him talking with a woman. But no one asked, “What do you want?” or “Why are you talking with her?” 28 Then, leaving her water jar, the woman went back to the town and said to the people, 29 “Come, see a man who told me everything I ever did. Could this be the Messiah?” 30 They came out of the town and made their way toward him. 31 Meanwhile his disciples urged him, “Rabbi, eat something.” 32 But he said to them, “I have food to eat that you know nothing about.” 33 Then his disciples said to each other, “Could someone have brought him food?” 34 “My food,” said Jesus, “is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work. 35 Don’t you have a saying, ‘It’s still four months until harvest’? I tell you, open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest.
You can tell that you’re spiritually nearsighted by what you pray for.
Pray
Break my heart for what breaks yours.
Matthew 6:10 NIV // your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Matthew 6:10 JIV // your kingdom come, your will be done, in Lakeland as it is in heaven.
Share
Accept the personal RESPONSIBILITY. Build a personal RELATIONSHIP. Share your personal STORY. Give a personal INVITATION .
Luke 19:10 // For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost. “People don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care” – Theodore Roosevelt
Serve
Matthew 20:26 // …whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant. 90 Day Serve Challenge access.tv/serve
Church is a family on mission. We gather to scatter.
John 4:27-35 // Just then his disciples returned and were surprised to find him talking with a woman. But no one asked, “What do you want?” or “Why are you talking with her?” 28 Then, leaving her water jar, the woman went back to the town and said to the people, 29 “Come, see a man who told me everything I ever did. Could this be the Messiah?” 30 They came out of the town and made their way toward him. 31 Meanwhile his disciples urged him, “Rabbi, eat something.” 32 But he said to them, “I have food to eat that you know nothing about.” 33 Then his disciples said to each other, “Could someone have brought him food?” 34 “My food,” said Jesus, “is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work. 35 Don’t you have a saying, ‘It’s still four months until harvest’? I tell you, open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest.
You can tell that you’re spiritually nearsighted by what you pray for.
Pray
Break my heart for what breaks yours.
Matthew 6:10 NIV // your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Matthew 6:10 JIV // your kingdom come, your will be done, in Lakeland as it is in heaven.
Share
Accept the personal RESPONSIBILITY. Build a personal RELATIONSHIP. Share your personal STORY. Give a personal INVITATION .
Luke 19:10 // For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost. “People don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care” – Theodore Roosevelt
Serve
Matthew 20:26 // …whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant. 90 Day Serve Challenge access.tv/serve
True HAPPINESS is not contingent upon what you have and what you do not have.
Philippians 4:4-7 NLT // Always be full of joy [rejoice] in the Lord. I say it again—rejoice! 5 Let everyone see that you are considerate in all you do. Remember, the Lord is coming soon. 6 Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. 7 Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus. How can we be always full of joy in the Lord?
Don’t WORRY about anything. PRAY about everything. Tell God what you NEED. THANK him for all things.
“guard” | phroureō: To protect by a military guard in order to prevent hostile invasion. That which TRANSCENDS your mind, will GUARD your mind.
Philippians 4:11-13 NLT // …for I have learned how to be content with whatever I have. 12 I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little. For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.
When we get a clear vision of who God truly is: His beauty, His wonder, His grace, His majesty, His love, His goodness… Suddenly, we no longer want to USE God… we simply WANT God, and that is where the treasure is found! If you are pursuing happiness, you will not find it. If you pursue Jesus, you get happiness with joy, peace, and contentment thrown in. If you have found Jesus, you have found IT!
True HAPPINESS is not contingent upon what you have and what you do not have.
Philippians 4:4-7 NLT // Always be full of joy [rejoice] in the Lord. I say it again—rejoice! 5 Let everyone see that you are considerate in all you do. Remember, the Lord is coming soon. 6 Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. 7 Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus. How can we be always full of joy in the Lord?
Don’t WORRY about anything. PRAY about everything. Tell God what you NEED. THANK him for all things.
“guard” | phroureō: To protect by a military guard in order to prevent hostile invasion. That which TRANSCENDS your mind, will GUARD your mind.
Philippians 4:11-13 NLT // …for I have learned how to be content with whatever I have. 12 I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little. For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.
When we get a clear vision of who God truly is: His beauty, His wonder, His grace, His majesty, His love, His goodness… Suddenly, we no longer want to USE God… we simply WANT God, and that is where the treasure is found! If you are pursuing happiness, you will not find it. If you pursue Jesus, you get happiness with joy, peace, and contentment thrown in. If you have found Jesus, you have found IT!
The power of our why.
Philippians 1:21-25 // For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. If I am to go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labor for me. Yet what shall I choose? I do not know! I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far; but it is more necessary for you that I remain in the body. Convinced of this, I know that I will remain, and I will continue with all of you for your progress and joy in the faith.
Don’t let your feelings control you
Choose your why above your feelings
Don’t let the facts sway you from God’s truth
Choose your why above the facts
Don’t let being fallible stop you
Choose your why over your fallibility
The power of our why.
Philippians 1:21-25 // For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. If I am to go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labor for me. Yet what shall I choose? I do not know! I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far; but it is more necessary for you that I remain in the body. Convinced of this, I know that I will remain, and I will continue with all of you for your progress and joy in the faith.
Don’t let your feelings control you
Choose your why above your feelings
Don’t let the facts sway you from God’s truth
Choose your why above the facts
Don’t let being fallible stop you
Choose your why over your fallibility
John 2:1-11 ESV // 1 On the third day there was a wedding at Cana in Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there. 2 Jesus also was invited to the wedding with his disciples. 3 When the wine ran out, the mother of Jesus said to him, “They have no wine.” 4 And Jesus said to her, “Woman, what does this have to do with me? My hour has not yet come.” 5 His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.” 6 Now there were six stone water jars there for the Jewish rites of purification, each holding twenty or thirty gallons. 7 Jesus said to the servants, “Fill the jars with water.” And they filled them up to the brim. 8 And he said to them, “Now draw some out and take it to the master of the feast.” So they took it. 9 When the master of the feast tasted the water now become wine, and did not know where it came from (though the servants who had drawn the water knew), the master of the feast called the bridegroom 10 and said to him, “Everyone serves the good wine first, and when people have drunk freely, then the poor wine. But you have kept the good wine until now.” 11 This, the first of his signs, Jesus did at Cana in Galilee, and manifested his glory. And his disciples believed in him.
Jesus replaces shame with joy. Jesus uses the available and the obedient.
Matthew 5:3 MSG // You’re blessed when you’re at the end of your rope. With less of you there is more of God and his rule.
Jesus meets our lack with His abundance.
John 10:10 ESV // The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.
Jesus often invites us to participate in our own transformation.
John 2:1-11 ESV // 1 On the third day there was a wedding at Cana in Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there. 2 Jesus also was invited to the wedding with his disciples. 3 When the wine ran out, the mother of Jesus said to him, “They have no wine.” 4 And Jesus said to her, “Woman, what does this have to do with me? My hour has not yet come.” 5 His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.” 6 Now there were six stone water jars there for the Jewish rites of purification, each holding twenty or thirty gallons. 7 Jesus said to the servants, “Fill the jars with water.” And they filled them up to the brim. 8 And he said to them, “Now draw some out and take it to the master of the feast.” So they took it. 9 When the master of the feast tasted the water now become wine, and did not know where it came from (though the servants who had drawn the water knew), the master of the feast called the bridegroom 10 and said to him, “Everyone serves the good wine first, and when people have drunk freely, then the poor wine. But you have kept the good wine until now.” 11 This, the first of his signs, Jesus did at Cana in Galilee, and manifested his glory. And his disciples believed in him.
Jesus replaces shame with joy. Jesus uses the available and the obedient.
Matthew 5:3 MSG // You’re blessed when you’re at the end of your rope. With less of you there is more of God and his rule.
Jesus meets our lack with His abundance.
John 10:10 ESV // The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.
Jesus often invites us to participate in our own transformation.
One of the toughest journeys we take is the one from our head to our heart. “We can only be said to be alive in those moments when our hearts are conscious of our treasures.” – Thornton Wilder
Psalm 34:8 ESV // Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good!
Receiving and experiencing God’s love involves both head and heart. We experience God’s love through the power of the Holy Spirit. This experience is available to every one of us.
Romans 5:1-8 ESV // Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. 2 Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. 3 Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, 4 and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, 5 and hope does not put us to shame (hope does not disappoint in the NLT), because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us. 6 For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. 7 For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die— 8 but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
A vibrant Christian life is filled with knowledge and experience. What we think about God is HUGELY important. Perfection is not a requirement to receive God’s love. You cannot EARN acceptance!
2 Thessalonians 3:5 // May the Lord direct your hearts to the love of God and to the steadfastness of Christ.
One of the toughest journeys we take is the one from our head to our heart. “We can only be said to be alive in those moments when our hearts are conscious of our treasures.” – Thornton Wilder
Psalm 34:8 ESV // Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good!
Receiving and experiencing God’s love involves both head and heart. We experience God’s love through the power of the Holy Spirit. This experience is available to every one of us.
Romans 5:1-8 ESV // Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. 2 Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. 3 Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, 4 and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, 5 and hope does not put us to shame (hope does not disappoint in the NLT), because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us. 6 For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. 7 For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die— 8 but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
A vibrant Christian life is filled with knowledge and experience. What we think about God is HUGELY important. Perfection is not a requirement to receive God’s love. You cannot EARN acceptance!
2 Thessalonians 3:5 // May the Lord direct your hearts to the love of God and to the steadfastness of Christ.
It’s not too bad when God is on your side.
Psalm 3 NIV // Lord, how many are my foes! How many rise up against me! 2 Many are saying of me, “God will not deliver him.” 3 But you, Lord, are a shield around me, my glory, the One who lifts my head high. 4 I call out to the Lord, and he answers me from his holy mountain. 5 I lie down and sleep; I wake again, because the Lord sustains me. 6 I will not fear though tens of thousands assail me on every side. 7 Arise, Lord! Deliver me, my God! Strike all my enemies on the jaw; break the teeth of the wicked. 8 From the Lord comes deliverance. May your blessing be on your people.
Take your complaints to God.
When we are in a rough place, it is ultimately God that can help us.
Place your confidence in God.
God deserves our confidence because of who He is and what He’s done.
Give your confrontation to God.
As we give God our confrontation, He will fight for us.
Psalm 3:7-8 // Arise, Lord! Deliver me, my God! Strike all my enemies on the jaw; break the teeth of the wicked. From the Lord comes deliverance. May your blessing be on your people. Action Steps:
Make God the first person you talk to about life Keep a record of all God has done for you Learn to let God fight for you!
It’s not too bad when God is on your side.
Psalm 3 NIV // Lord, how many are my foes! How many rise up against me! 2 Many are saying of me, “God will not deliver him.” 3 But you, Lord, are a shield around me, my glory, the One who lifts my head high. 4 I call out to the Lord, and he answers me from his holy mountain. 5 I lie down and sleep; I wake again, because the Lord sustains me. 6 I will not fear though tens of thousands assail me on every side. 7 Arise, Lord! Deliver me, my God! Strike all my enemies on the jaw; break the teeth of the wicked. 8 From the Lord comes deliverance. May your blessing be on your people.
Take your complaints to God.
When we are in a rough place, it is ultimately God that can help us.
Place your confidence in God.
God deserves our confidence because of who He is and what He’s done.
Give your confrontation to God.
As we give God our confrontation, He will fight for us.
Psalm 3:7-8 // Arise, Lord! Deliver me, my God! Strike all my enemies on the jaw; break the teeth of the wicked. From the Lord comes deliverance. May your blessing be on your people. Action Steps:
Make God the first person you talk to about life Keep a record of all God has done for you Learn to let God fight for you!
If you were guaranteed not to fail, what would you do with your life?
Genesis 37:5-8, 18-20 NLT // 5 One night Joseph had a dream, and when he told his brothers about it, they hated him more than ever. 6 “Listen to this dream,” he said. 7 “We were out in the field, tying up bundles of grain. Suddenly my bundle stood up, and your bundles all gathered around and bowed low before mine!” 8 His brothers responded, “So you think you will be our king, do you? Do you actually think you will reign over us?” And they hated him all the more because of his dreams and the way he talked about them. 18 When Joseph’s brothers saw him coming, they recognized him in the distance. As he approached, they made plans to kill him. 19 “Here comes the dreamer!” they said. 20 “Come on, let’s kill him and throw him into one of these cisterns. We can tell our father, ‘A wild animal has eaten him.’ Then we’ll see what becomes of his dreams!” 3 Types of People:
In the Game
Genesis 37:19 // “Here comes the dreamer!” they said.
Hate the Game
Genesis 37:20 // “Come on, let’s kill him and throw him into one of these cisterns. … Then we’ll see what becomes of his dreams!”
People dissatisfied with their life will try to get you to hate yours.
Watching the Game
How Do I Chase My Dream?
Find the right dream
Psalm 37:4 // Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.
Find the right friends
Proverbs 27:17 // As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.
If you were guaranteed not to fail, what would you do with your life?
Genesis 37:5-8, 18-20 NLT // 5 One night Joseph had a dream, and when he told his brothers about it, they hated him more than ever. 6 “Listen to this dream,” he said. 7 “We were out in the field, tying up bundles of grain. Suddenly my bundle stood up, and your bundles all gathered around and bowed low before mine!” 8 His brothers responded, “So you think you will be our king, do you? Do you actually think you will reign over us?” And they hated him all the more because of his dreams and the way he talked about them. 18 When Joseph’s brothers saw him coming, they recognized him in the distance. As he approached, they made plans to kill him. 19 “Here comes the dreamer!” they said. 20 “Come on, let’s kill him and throw him into one of these cisterns. We can tell our father, ‘A wild animal has eaten him.’ Then we’ll see what becomes of his dreams!” 3 Types of People:
In the Game
Genesis 37:19 // “Here comes the dreamer!” they said.
Hate the Game
Genesis 37:20 // “Come on, let’s kill him and throw him into one of these cisterns. … Then we’ll see what becomes of his dreams!”
People dissatisfied with their life will try to get you to hate yours.
Watching the Game
How Do I Chase My Dream?
Find the right dream
Psalm 37:4 // Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.
Find the right friends
Proverbs 27:17 // As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.
Mission - The purpose and direction of our lives. Shadow Mission - Allowing our lives to center around something unworthy, dark, or selfish.
King Xerxes Esther Mordecai Haman
Susa, Capital of Persia 470 BC Israel is in Exile
Esther 1:1 NLT // These events happened in the days of King Xerxes, who reigned over 127 provinces stretching from India to Ethiopia. Esther 1:22 NLT // He sent letters to all parts of the empire, to each province in its own script and language, proclaiming that every man should be the ruler of his own home and should say whatever he pleases. Esther 2:1-5 NLT // But after Xerxes’ anger had subsided, he began thinking about Vashti and what she had done and the decree he had made. 2 So his personal attendants suggested, “Let us search the empire to find beautiful young virgins for the king. 3 Let the king appoint agents in each province to bring these beautiful young women into the royal harem at the fortress of Susa. Hegai, the king’s eunuch in charge of the harem, will see that they are all given beauty treatments. 4 After that, the young woman who most pleases the king will be made queen instead of Vashti.” This advice was very appealing to the king, so he put the plan into effect. Esther 2:12 NIV // Before a young woman’s turn came to go in to King Xerxes, she had to complete twelve months of beauty treatments prescribed for the women, six months with oil of myrrh and six with perfumes and cosmetics. Esther 2:17 NLT // And the king loved Esther more than any of the other young women. He was so delighted with her that he set the royal crown on her head and declared her queen instead of Vashti. 18 To celebrate the occasion, he gave a great banquet in Esther’s honor for all his nobles and officials, declaring a public holiday for the provinces and giving generous gifts to everyone. Esther 3:15 NIV // The couriers went out, spurred on by the king’s command, and the edict was issued in the citadel of Susa. The king and Haman sat down to drink, but the city of Susa was bewildered. Esther 4:11-14 NIV // “All the king’s officials and the people of the royal provinces know that for any man or woman who approaches the king in the inner court without being summoned the king has but one law: that they be put to death unless the king extends the gold scepter to them and spares their lives. But thirty days have passed since I was called to go to the king.” 12 When Esther’s words were reported to Mordecai, 13 he sent back this answer: “Do not think that because you are in the king’s house you alone of all the Jews will escape. 14 For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father’s family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?”
Career - advancing yourself Calling - serving God
4 Key Questions:
Who plays the role of Mordecai in your life? What is the position God has called you to? What resources do you have? What is the spiritual need you see?
It’s not your fault. It’s not your fault. It is your time.
Esther 4:15-16 NIV // 15 Then Esther sent this reply to Mordecai: 16 “Go, gather together all the Jews who are in Susa, and fast for me. Do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my attendants will fast as you do. When this is done, I will go to the king, even though it is against the law. And if I perish, I perish.”
Mission - The purpose and direction of our lives. Shadow Mission - Allowing our lives to center around something unworthy, dark, or selfish.
King Xerxes Esther Mordecai Haman
Susa, Capital of Persia 470 BC Israel is in Exile
Esther 1:1 NLT // These events happened in the days of King Xerxes, who reigned over 127 provinces stretching from India to Ethiopia. Esther 1:22 NLT // He sent letters to all parts of the empire, to each province in its own script and language, proclaiming that every man should be the ruler of his own home and should say whatever he pleases. Esther 2:1-5 NLT // But after Xerxes’ anger had subsided, he began thinking about Vashti and what she had done and the decree he had made. 2 So his personal attendants suggested, “Let us search the empire to find beautiful young virgins for the king. 3 Let the king appoint agents in each province to bring these beautiful young women into the royal harem at the fortress of Susa. Hegai, the king’s eunuch in charge of the harem, will see that they are all given beauty treatments. 4 After that, the young woman who most pleases the king will be made queen instead of Vashti.” This advice was very appealing to the king, so he put the plan into effect. Esther 2:12 NIV // Before a young woman’s turn came to go in to King Xerxes, she had to complete twelve months of beauty treatments prescribed for the women, six months with oil of myrrh and six with perfumes and cosmetics. Esther 2:17 NLT // And the king loved Esther more than any of the other young women. He was so delighted with her that he set the royal crown on her head and declared her queen instead of Vashti. 18 To celebrate the occasion, he gave a great banquet in Esther’s honor for all his nobles and officials, declaring a public holiday for the provinces and giving generous gifts to everyone. Esther 3:15 NIV // The couriers went out, spurred on by the king’s command, and the edict was issued in the citadel of Susa. The king and Haman sat down to drink, but the city of Susa was bewildered. Esther 4:11-14 NIV // “All the king’s officials and the people of the royal provinces know that for any man or woman who approaches the king in the inner court without being summoned the king has but one law: that they be put to death unless the king extends the gold scepter to them and spares their lives. But thirty days have passed since I was called to go to the king.” 12 When Esther’s words were reported to Mordecai, 13 he sent back this answer: “Do not think that because you are in the king’s house you alone of all the Jews will escape. 14 For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father’s family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?”
Career - advancing yourself Calling - serving God
4 Key Questions:
Who plays the role of Mordecai in your life? What is the position God has called you to? What resources do you have? What is the spiritual need you see?
It’s not your fault. It’s not your fault. It is your time.
Esther 4:15-16 NIV // 15 Then Esther sent this reply to Mordecai: 16 “Go, gather together all the Jews who are in Susa, and fast for me. Do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my attendants will fast as you do. When this is done, I will go to the king, even though it is against the law. And if I perish, I perish.”
God wants me to live life with nothing to lose, nothing to prove, and nothing to hide.
Nothing to Lose John 5:19 // Jesus gave them this answer: "Very truly I tell you, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does.
I have nothing to lose in life when I am surrendered and submitted to God. Surrender and Submission
Nothing to Prove Matthew 28:18 // Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.
I have nothing to prove in life when I am secure in my identity.
Nothing to Hide Matthew 14:23 // After dismissing the crowds, he went up on the mountain by himself to pray. Well into the night, he was there alone. John 10:14-15 // “I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me — just as the Father knows me and I know the Father — and I lay down my life for the sheep.
I have nothing to hide when I have a true connection to my Heavenly Father.
Surrender and Submit to God Remind ourselves of our identity in God Invite God into all areas of my life
God wants me to live life with nothing to lose, nothing to prove, and nothing to hide.
Nothing to Lose John 5:19 // Jesus gave them this answer: "Very truly I tell you, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does.
I have nothing to lose in life when I am surrendered and submitted to God. Surrender and Submission
Nothing to Prove Matthew 28:18 // Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.
I have nothing to prove in life when I am secure in my identity.
Nothing to Hide Matthew 14:23 // After dismissing the crowds, he went up on the mountain by himself to pray. Well into the night, he was there alone. John 10:14-15 // “I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me — just as the Father knows me and I know the Father — and I lay down my life for the sheep.
I have nothing to hide when I have a true connection to my Heavenly Father.
Surrender and Submit to God Remind ourselves of our identity in God Invite God into all areas of my life
John 10:10 // The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. Matthew 6:34 // Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
MERIS – A part or division. To be here and somewhere else at the same time.
James 4:13-15 // Now listen, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.” 14 Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. 15 Instead, you ought to say, “If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that.”
Our goal: Be FULLY PRESENT.
Exodus 24:12 // The Lord said to Moses, “Come up to me on the mountain and stay here, and I will give you the tablets of stone with the law and commandments I have written for their instruction.”
HAYA - To Be, To Exist “Hurry is the great enemy of spiritual life in our day” - Dallas Willard “If the devil cannot make us bad, he will make us busy.” - Corrie Ten Boom
Luke 5:16 // But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed. Mark 6:30-31 // The apostles gathered around Jesus and reported to him all they had done and taught. 31 Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, he said to them, “Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.” Mark 6:45-46 // Immediately Jesus made his disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to Bethsaida, while he dismissed the crowd. 46 After leaving them, he went up on a mountainside to pray. John 11:1-6 // Now a man named Lazarus was sick. He was from Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha. 2 (This Mary, whose brother Lazarus now lay sick, was the same one who poured perfume on the Lord and wiped his feet with her hair.) 3 So the sisters sent word to Jesus, “Lord, the one you love is sick.” 4 When he heard this, Jesus said, “This sickness will not end in death. No, it is for God’s glory so that God’s Son may be glorified through it.” 5 Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. 6 So when he heard that Lazarus was sick, he stayed where he was two more days. Luke 19:5 // “Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today.” Mark 10:32-34 // They were on their way up to Jerusalem, with Jesus leading the way, and the disciples were astonished, while those who followed were afraid. Again he took the Twelve aside and told them what was going to happen to him. 33 “We are going up to Jerusalem,” he said, “and the Son of Man will be delivered over to the chief priests and the teachers of the law. They will condemn him to death and will hand him over to the Gentiles, 34 who will mock him and spit on him, flog him and kill him. Three days later he will rise.”
John 10:10 // The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. Matthew 6:34 // Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
MERIS – A part or division. To be here and somewhere else at the same time.
James 4:13-15 // Now listen, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.” 14 Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. 15 Instead, you ought to say, “If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that.”
Our goal: Be FULLY PRESENT.
Exodus 24:12 // The Lord said to Moses, “Come up to me on the mountain and stay here, and I will give you the tablets of stone with the law and commandments I have written for their instruction.”
HAYA - To Be, To Exist “Hurry is the great enemy of spiritual life in our day” - Dallas Willard “If the devil cannot make us bad, he will make us busy.” - Corrie Ten Boom
Luke 5:16 // But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed. Mark 6:30-31 // The apostles gathered around Jesus and reported to him all they had done and taught. 31 Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, he said to them, “Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.” Mark 6:45-46 // Immediately Jesus made his disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to Bethsaida, while he dismissed the crowd. 46 After leaving them, he went up on a mountainside to pray. John 11:1-6 // Now a man named Lazarus was sick. He was from Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha. 2 (This Mary, whose brother Lazarus now lay sick, was the same one who poured perfume on the Lord and wiped his feet with her hair.) 3 So the sisters sent word to Jesus, “Lord, the one you love is sick.” 4 When he heard this, Jesus said, “This sickness will not end in death. No, it is for God’s glory so that God’s Son may be glorified through it.” 5 Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. 6 So when he heard that Lazarus was sick, he stayed where he was two more days. Luke 19:5 // “Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today.” Mark 10:32-34 // They were on their way up to Jerusalem, with Jesus leading the way, and the disciples were astonished, while those who followed were afraid. Again he took the Twelve aside and told them what was going to happen to him. 33 “We are going up to Jerusalem,” he said, “and the Son of Man will be delivered over to the chief priests and the teachers of the law. They will condemn him to death and will hand him over to the Gentiles, 34 who will mock him and spit on him, flog him and kill him. Three days later he will rise.”
Matthew 6:23-34 NIV // 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. “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life? “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
Why do we worry? Control. One way to show our faith in God is by not worrying.
Matthew 26:36-39 NIV // Then Jesus went with his disciples to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to them, “Sit here while I go over there and pray.” He took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee along with him, and he began to be sorrowful and troubled. Then he said to them, “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.” Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.” Matthew 26:42,44 // He went away a second time and prayed, “My Father, if it is not possible for this cup to be taken away unless I drink it, may your will be done.” … So he left them and went away once more and prayed the third time, saying the same thing.
Jesus feels what we feel but He always trusts. God has given us the gift of peace and we can have it today.
John 16:33 // “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”
We take God’s gift of peace and trade it for the supposed control through our worry. Jesus was tempted to worry but He didn’t let worry take control.
Matthew 6:23-34 NIV // 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. “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life? “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
Why do we worry? Control. One way to show our faith in God is by not worrying.
Matthew 26:36-39 NIV // Then Jesus went with his disciples to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to them, “Sit here while I go over there and pray.” He took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee along with him, and he began to be sorrowful and troubled. Then he said to them, “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.” Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.” Matthew 26:42,44 // He went away a second time and prayed, “My Father, if it is not possible for this cup to be taken away unless I drink it, may your will be done.” … So he left them and went away once more and prayed the third time, saying the same thing.
Jesus feels what we feel but He always trusts. God has given us the gift of peace and we can have it today.
John 16:33 // “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”
We take God’s gift of peace and trade it for the supposed control through our worry. Jesus was tempted to worry but He didn’t let worry take control.
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 // Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.
Prayer should be our first response, not our last resort.
2 Chronicles 7:14 // If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land. Luke 11:1 // One day Jesus was praying in a certain place. When He finished, one of his disciples said to him, ’Lord, teach us to pray...’ Matthew 6:9-13 // “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one, for yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever.”
Connect with God relationally.
“Our Father in heaven”
Romans 8:15 NLT // You have not received a spirit that makes you fearful slaves. Instead, you received God’s Spirit when he adopted you as his own children. Now we call him, “Abba, Father.”
Worship His Name.
“Hallowed be Your Name”
Proverbs 18:10 MSG // God’s name is a place of protection—the righteous can run there and be safe.
Pray His agenda first.
“Your Kingdom come Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven”
Matthew 6:33 // But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.
Depend on Him for everything.
“Give us this day our daily bread”
Psalm 121:1-2 NLT // I look up to the mountains—does my help come from there? My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth!
Get your heart right with God and people.
“Forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors”
1 John 1:9 // If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.
Win the war in the spiritual
“And do not lead us into temptation but deliver us from the evil one”
Ephesians 6:12 // For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.
Express faith in God’s ability.
“For yours is the Kingdom and the Power and the Glory forever.”
Jeremiah 32:17 // “Ah, Sovereign LORD, you have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and outstretched arm. Nothing is too hard for you.”
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 // Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.
Prayer should be our first response, not our last resort.
2 Chronicles 7:14 // If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land. Luke 11:1 // One day Jesus was praying in a certain place. When He finished, one of his disciples said to him, ’Lord, teach us to pray...’ Matthew 6:9-13 // “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one, for yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever.”
Connect with God relationally.
“Our Father in heaven”
Romans 8:15 NLT // You have not received a spirit that makes you fearful slaves. Instead, you received God’s Spirit when he adopted you as his own children. Now we call him, “Abba, Father.”
Worship His Name.
“Hallowed be Your Name”
Proverbs 18:10 MSG // God’s name is a place of protection—the righteous can run there and be safe.
Pray His agenda first.
“Your Kingdom come Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven”
Matthew 6:33 // But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.
Depend on Him for everything.
“Give us this day our daily bread”
Psalm 121:1-2 NLT // I look up to the mountains—does my help come from there? My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth!
Get your heart right with God and people.
“Forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors”
1 John 1:9 // If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.
Win the war in the spiritual
“And do not lead us into temptation but deliver us from the evil one”
Ephesians 6:12 // For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.
Express faith in God’s ability.
“For yours is the Kingdom and the Power and the Glory forever.”
Jeremiah 32:17 // “Ah, Sovereign LORD, you have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and outstretched arm. Nothing is too hard for you.”
Matthew 6:9-12 // This, then, is how you should pray: ’Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, 10 your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. 11 Give us today our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.” Matthew 6:14-15 // For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 15 But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.
“Everyone says forgiveness is a lovely idea, until they have something to forgive.“ – C.S. Lewis
Matthew 6:9 // This, then, is how you should pray: “Our Father in heaven...” Matthew 5:23-24 // “Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother or sister has something against you, 24 leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to them; then come and offer your gift. Matthew 5:43-44 // You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,
Your prayer may or may not change others, but it always changes you.
Colossians 3:13 // Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.
“In the shadow of my hurt, forgiveness feels like a decision to reward my enemy. But in the shadow of the cross, forgiveness is merely a gift from one undeserving soul to another.” – Andy Stanley
Holding a grudge doesn’t make you strong. It makes you bitter. Forgiving doesn’t make you weak. It sets you free.
Luke 23:32-34 // 32 Two other men, both criminals, were also led out with him to be executed. 33 When they came to the place called the Skull, they crucified him there, along with the criminals—one on his right, the other on his left. 34 Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.”
Forgiveness is not an occasional act, it is a constant attitude. – Martin Luther King
Matthew 6:9-12 // This, then, is how you should pray: ’Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, 10 your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. 11 Give us today our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.” Matthew 6:14-15 // For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 15 But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.
“Everyone says forgiveness is a lovely idea, until they have something to forgive.“ – C.S. Lewis
Matthew 6:9 // This, then, is how you should pray: “Our Father in heaven...” Matthew 5:23-24 // “Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother or sister has something against you, 24 leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to them; then come and offer your gift. Matthew 5:43-44 // You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,
Your prayer may or may not change others, but it always changes you.
Colossians 3:13 // Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.
“In the shadow of my hurt, forgiveness feels like a decision to reward my enemy. But in the shadow of the cross, forgiveness is merely a gift from one undeserving soul to another.” – Andy Stanley
Holding a grudge doesn’t make you strong. It makes you bitter. Forgiving doesn’t make you weak. It sets you free.
Luke 23:32-34 // 32 Two other men, both criminals, were also led out with him to be executed. 33 When they came to the place called the Skull, they crucified him there, along with the criminals—one on his right, the other on his left. 34 Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.”
Forgiveness is not an occasional act, it is a constant attitude. – Martin Luther King
Relationship with God.
Without a relationship with God, all other relationships will fail. God is the creator of all relationships.
Genesis 2:15-18 NIV // The Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it. And the Lord God commanded the man, “You are free to eat from any tree in the garden; but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat from it you will certainly die.”The Lord God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him.”
Community was God's plan from the start.
Genesis 3:8-11 NIV // Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the Lord God as he was walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and they hid from the Lord God among the trees of the garden. But the Lord God called to the man, “Where are you?” He answered, “I heard you in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; so I hid.” And he said, “Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree that I commanded you not to eat from?”
Where are you? Separation causes shame. God isn't a part of my life, he is my life.
Relationship with others.
Friendship keeps us human because it leads us to a life outside of ourselves.
Genesis 2:7 NIV // Then the Lord God formed a man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being.
We are the breath of God.
1 Samuel 18:1 NIV // Now when he had finished speaking to Saul, the soul of Jonathan was knit to the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul.
Qashar – Hebrew – to bind, to tie together Some of you are looking for fans and not friends. Love is not telling someone only good things, it’s telling all things in love.
John 14:2-3 NIV // My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.
Acts 1:4-5, 8 // 4 On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. 5 For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.” 8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
Dunamis
Acts 17:6 NKJV // These who have turned the world upside down have come here too…
Practical Cessationists We reject things we don’t understand. He is not an it. Pneuma He’s not weird. He is my inner voice.
John 16:8 // “When he comes, he will convict the world of guilt in regard to sin and righteousness and judgment.” 1 Corinthians 12:3 // No one can say, “Jesus is Lord,” except by the Holy Spirit.
He is my teacher.
John 14:26 // “But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.” 1 John 2:27 NLT // But you have received the Holy Spirit, and he lives within you, so you don’t need anyone to teach you what is true. For the Spirit teaches you everything you need to know...
He is my guide.
John 16:13 // “But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come.” Isaiah 30:21 // Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, “This is the way; walk in it.”
He is my friend.
John 14:16 // “And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever.”
Parakletos
2 Corinthians 13:14 MSG // “The amazing grace of the Master, Jesus Christ, the extravagant love of God, the intimate friendship of the Holy Spirit, be with all of you.”
What do we do with the Holy Spirit?
Ephesians 4:30 MSG // Don’t grieve God. Don’t break his heart. His Holy Spirit, moving and breathing in you, is the most intimate part of your life, making you fit for himself. Don’t take such a gift for granted.
“Holy Spirit show me.”
Ezekiel 36:26-27 // I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws. Psalm 139:23-24 // “Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.”
“Holy Spirit change me.”
2 Corinthians 3:17-18 NLT // For the Lord is the Spirit, and wherever the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom... And the Lord—who is the Spirit—makes us more and more like him as we are changed into his glorious image.
“Holy Spirit fill me.”
Ephesians 5:18 // “Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit.” Acts 13:52 NASB // And the disciples were continually filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit.
Luke 12:34 // For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
The difference between acting generous and being generous is intentionality.
God must be FIRST.
Proverbs 3:9-10 // Honor the Lord with your possessions, and with the firstfruits of all your increase; so your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will overflow with new wine.
The TITHE must be first.
Exodus 23:19 // The first of the firstfruits of your land you shall bring into the house of the Lord your God. Genesis 4:3-5 // And in the process of time it came to pass that Cain brought an offering of the fruit of the ground to the Lord. 4 Abel also brought of the firstborn of his flock and of their fat. And the Lord respected Abel and his offering, 5 but He did not respect Cain and his offering. 4 LEVELS OF GENEROSITY:
Giving Tithing Offerings Extravagant Generosity
It Must Be Blessed to Multiply.
Malachi 3:10 // Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,” says the Lord Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it.
We don’t GIVE to GET.
We’re a worshipping church. We all worship something. Worship is our response to what we value most. We were made to worship.
Luke 19:37-40 // When he came near the place where the road goes down the Mount of Olives, the whole crowd of disciples began joyfully to praise God in loud voices for all the miracles they had seen: “Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord!” “Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!” Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to Jesus, “Teacher, rebuke your disciples!” “I tell you,” he replied, “If they keep quiet, the stones will cry out.”
What is God’s style of worship?
Halel – to rave, boast, celebrate, to be clamorously foolish.
Psalm 35:18 NLT // I will thank you in front of the great assembly. I will praise you before all the people.
Yadah – to acknowledge in public with extended hands.
Psalm 138:1 // I will praise you, O LORD, with all my heart.
Barak – to bless by kneeling or bowing.
Psalm 103:1 // Praise the LORD, O my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name.
Zamar – making music to God with strings.
Psalm 92:1 // It is good to praise the LORD and make music to your name, O Most High. Psalm 150:3-5 // Praise him with the sounding of the trumpet, praise him with the harp and lyre, praise him with timbrel and dancing, praise him with the strings and pipe, praise him with the clash of cymbals, praise him with resounding cymbals.
Shabach – to address in a loud tone, to shout.
Psalm 63:3-4 // Because your love is better than life, my lips will glorify you. I will praise you as long as I live, and in your name I will lift up my hands.
Towdah – to lift hands in adoration.
Psalm 50:23 // He who offers praise glorifies me: and to him that orders his conversation aright will I show the salvation of God.
Tehilah – exuberant singing.
Psalm 34:1 // I will extol the LORD at all times; his praise will always be on my lips. Psalm 108:1,3 // O God, my heart is fixed, I will sing and give praise (zamar), even with my glory... I will praise (yadah) Thee, O Lord among the people. And I will sing praises (tehillah) unto Thee among the nations.
Worship is love expressed.
Mark 12:30 // Love the Lord your God with all your heart and all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength.
All your heart and soul
Expressing my affection to God.
All your mind
Focus my attention on God.
All your strength
Use my abilities for God.
1 Corinthians 12:1 // Now about the gifts of the Spirit, brothers and sisters, I do not want you to be uninformed.
God created you to serve.
Ephesians 2:10 NLT // For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.
Poiema
1 Peter 2:9 MSG // But you are the ones chosen by God, chosen for the high calling of priestly work, chosen to be a holy people, God’s instruments to do his work. 1 Peter 2:5 // You also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.
God gifted you to serve. God changes you when you serve.
Philippians 2:3-4 // Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, 4 not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.
“Leave your crown in the garage”
God uses you when you serve. God rewards your serving.
Galatians 6:9-10 // 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. Matthew 27:24 // When Pilate saw that he was getting nowhere, but that instead an uproar was starting, he took water and washed his hands in front of the crowd. "I am innocent of this man's blood," he said. "It is your responsibility!" John 13:3-5 // Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God; so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him.
You can wash your hands of the responsibility or you can pick up the responsibility.
Matthew 20:26 // Whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant.
“But not in a good way.”
Mark 16:9-13 // 9 When Jesus rose early on the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom he had driven seven demons. 10 She went and told those who had been with him and who were mourning and weeping. 11 When they heard that Jesus was alive and that she had seen him, they did not believe it. 12 Afterward Jesus appeared in a different form to two of them while they were walking in the country. 13 These returned and reported it to the rest; but they did not believe them either.
Easter must move from history to personal.
Luke 24:17-21 // 17 He asked them, “What are you discussing together as you walk along?” They stood still, their faces downcast. 18 One of them, named Cleopas, asked him, “Are you the only one visiting Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in these days?” 19 “What things?” he asked. “About Jesus of Nazareth,” they replied. “He was a prophet, powerful in word and deed before God and all the people. 20 The chief priests and our rulers handed him over to be sentenced to death, and they crucified him;
Friday is a day of PAIN.
Jesus understands your pain. Jesus died on a Friday so you wouldn’t have to stay stuck in a Friday.
Luke 24:21 // 21 but we had hoped that he was the one who was going to redeem Israel. And what is more, it is the third day since all this took place.
Saturday is a day without HOPE.
Luke 24:30-35 // 30 When he was at the table with them, he took bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them. 31 Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him, and he disappeared from their sight. 32 They asked each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?” 33 They got up and returned at once to Jerusalem. There they found the Eleven and those with them, assembled together 34 and saying, “It is true! The Lord has risen and has appeared to Simon.”
Sunday is a day of FREEDOM.
Isaiah 53:5 // But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed.
Grace paid the bill.
Vision - The ability to see clearly. God speaks in dreams and visions.
Proverbs 29:18 KJV // Where there is novision, the people perish
Chazown
Proverbs 29:18 NIV // Where there is no revelation, people cast off restraint.
You were created for significance, not just survival
Proverbs 29:18 MSG // If people can’t see what God is doing, they stumble all over themselves; But when they attend to what he reveals, they are most blessed.
Blessed - Happy in your soul
Ephesians 1:17-18 NIV // I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. 18 I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people. 1. Know God 1 Timothy 6:21 TLB // Some of these people have missed the most important thing in life—they don’t know God... 2. Find Freedom James 5:16 NIV // Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. 3. Discover Purpose Romans 12:6 NIV // We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. 4. Make a Difference John 15:8, 11 NIV // “This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.” 11 “I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.”
Transcendence
Mark 8:22-26 // 22 They came to Bethsaida, and some people brought a blind man and begged Jesus to touch him. 23 He took the blind man by the hand and led him outside the village. When he had spit on the man’s eyes and put his hands on him, Jesus asked, “Do you see anything?” 24 He looked up and said, “I see people; they look like trees walking around.” 25 Once more Jesus put his hands on the man’s eyes. Then his eyes were opened, his sight was restored, and he saw everything clearly. 26 Jesus sent him home, saying, “Don’t even go into the village.”
1 Corinthians 13:13 // And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love. 1 John 4:7-11 // Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. 8 Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. 9 This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. 10 This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. 11 Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. “This is the lesson of Beauty and the Beast; that a thing must be loved before it is loveable.” - G.K. Chesterton John 13:23 // The disciple whom Jesus loved…
Agape - to will the good for another person Bestowed Worth
1 John 4:10 // This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.
To love is to give. You can give without loving, but you cannot love without giving. To love is to serve.
Matthew 20:26 // …whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant.
To love is to care.
Luke 19:10 // For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.” John 15:13 // Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.
1 Corinthians 13:12-13 // For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known. 13 And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love. 1 Corinthians 13:12-13 MSG // 12 We don’t yet see things clearly. We’re squinting in a fog, peering through a mist. But it won’t be long before the weather clears and the sun shines bright! We’ll see it all then, see it all as clearly as God sees us, knowing him directly just as he knows us! 13 But for right now, until that completeness, we have three things to do to lead us toward that consummation: Trust steadily in God, hope unswervingly, love extravagantly. And the best of the three is love.
You have no idea what God may produce through a single seed planted in faith.
Hebrews 11:1 // Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.
Faith is full confidence that God is who he says he is and will do what he said he will do.
Faith is…
Believing when I don’t see. Obeying when I don’t understand. Worshipping when I don’t feel like it. Trusting when I don’t get it.
Genesis 15:1-2 NLT // Some time later, the LORD spoke to Abram in a vision and said to him, “Do not be afraid, Abram, for I will protect you, and your reward will be great.” 2 But Abram replied, “O Sovereign LORD, what good are all your blessings when I don’t even have a son?”
We think ADDITION. God thinks MULTIPLICATION.
Genesis 15:5 NLT // Then the LORD took Abram outside and said to him, “Look up into the sky and count the stars if you can. That’s how many descendants you will have!” Galatians 3:29 // If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed… Hebrews 11:6 // And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.
Seeing isn’t believing. Believing is seeing.
Faith is like a radar that sees through the fog. – Corrie Ten Boom
How do I forgive? Matthew 6:14-15 // For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins. Luke 22:32-33 // Two other men, both criminals, were also led out with [Jesus] to be executed. Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” How do I forgive like Jesus?
Pray for those who hurt you. Forgive as you have been forgiven.
Luke 6:28 NLT // Bless those who curse you. Pray for those who hurt you. Matthew 5:43-44 // You have heard that it was said, “Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.” But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.
Your prayers may not change them, but it will always change you.
Colossians 3:13 // ...Forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.
Forgiveness will not change the past, but it can change the future. “Unforgiveness is like drinking poison and hoping the other person dies.” – Anne Lamont
For better or for worse, all of our ideas about marriage were influenced by something.
Marriage Myths:
If you wish it, it will get better.
Marriage takes work.
Perfect people exist.
No one is perfect.
Your love can make someone better.
People have to want to be better.
Physical affection can sustain us.
Physical affection should be a benefit of a solid relationship, not the reason for one.
1 John 3:18 // Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.
Love is not a feeling, it’s an action. It’s not enough to say it, you have to show it, too.
John 15:12 // My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.
Love is not a feeling, it’s a choice. Even when I don’t feel love, I choose love.
John 15:13 // Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. Ephesians 5:25 // Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her.
Love is not a feeling, it’s a sacrifice. True love will always require a sacrifice.