COF Podcast: Recent Episodes
Community of Faith
Welcome to Relationship Reset, With Life Coach Dr. Mark Shook. In each podcast Mark will weave together the ancient truths of scripture with the latest cutting edge Neuroscience, in short, concise, effective, and doable principles and actions to reset your relationship dynamic.
Welcome to Relationship Reset, With Life Coach Dr. Mark Shook. In each podcast Mark will weave together the ancient truths of scripture with the latest cutting edge Neuroscience, in short, concise, effective, and doable principles and actions to reset your relationship dynamic.
Welcome to Relationship Reset, With Life Coach Dr. Mark Shook. In each podcast Mark will weave together the ancient truths of scripture with the latest cutting edge Neuroscience, in short, concise, effective, and doable principles and actions to reset your relationship dynamic.
Welcome to Relationship Reset, With Life Coach Dr. Mark Shook. In each podcast Mark will weave together the ancient truths of scripture with the latest cutting edge Neuroscience, in short, concise, effective, and doable principles and actions to reset your relationship dynamic.
Welcome to Relationship Reset, With Life Coach Dr. Mark Shook. In each podcast Mark will weave together the ancient truths of scripture with the latest cutting edge Neuroscience, in short, concise, effective, and doable principles and actions to reset your relationship dynamic.
Welcome to Relationship Reset, With Life Coach Dr. Mark Shook. In each podcast Mark will weave together the ancient truths of scripture with the latest cutting edge Neuroscience, in short, concise, effective, and doable principles and actions to reset your relationship dynamic.
Welcome to Relationship Reset, With Life Coach Dr. Mark Shook. In each podcast Mark will weave together the ancient truths of scripture with the latest cutting edge Neuroscience, in short, concise, effective, and doable principles and actions to reset your relationship dynamic.
Welcome to Relationship Reset, With Life Coach Dr. Mark Shook. In each podcast Mark will weave together the ancient truths of scripture with the latest cutting edge Neuroscience, in short, concise, effective, and doable principles and actions to reset your relationship dynamic.
Welcome to Relationship Reset, With Life Coach Dr. Mark Shook. In each podcast Mark will weave together the ancient truths of scripture with the latest cutting edge Neuroscience, in short, concise, effective, and doable principles and actions to reset your relationship dynamic.
Welcome to Relationship Reset, With Life Coach Dr. Mark Shook. In each podcast Mark will weave together the ancient truths of scripture with the latest cutting edge Neuroscience, in short, concise, effective, and doable principles and actions to reset your relationship dynamic.
Welcome to Relationship Reset, With Life Coach Dr. Mark Shook. In each podcast Mark will weave together the ancient truths of scripture with the latest cutting edge Neuroscience, in short, concise, effective, and doable principles and actions to reset your relationship dynamic.
Welcome to Relationship Reset, With Life Coach Dr. Mark Shook. In each podcast Mark will weave together the ancient truths of scripture with the latest cutting edge Neuroscience, in short, concise, effective, and doable principles and actions to reset your relationship dynamic.
Welcome to Relationship Reset, With Life Coach Dr. Mark Shook. In each podcast Mark will weave together the ancient truths of scripture with the latest cutting edge Neuroscience, in short, concise, effective, and doable principles and actions to reset your relationship dynamic.
Welcome to Relationship Reset, With Life Coach Dr. Mark Shook. In each podcast Mark will weave together the ancient truths of scripture with the latest cutting edge Neuroscience, in short, concise, effective, and doable principles and actions to reset your relationship dynamic.
Finding the Raw Spots: Understanding Emotional TriggersOnce couples Identify Destructive Patterns, the next step is to dig deeper and find the raw spotsDr. Sue Johnson, in EFT, explains that many of the conflicts couples experience are not really about the issue at hand—whether it’s money, chores, or spending time together—but about deeper emotional sensitivities, what she calls “raw spots.”
In this episode we explore further into how the Emotionally Focused Therapy model is based on seven transformative conversations that couples can have to break negative patterns, address vulnerabilities, and cultivate a deeper bond. These conversations help partners recognize and express their emotions, leading to healing and reconnection. Let’s dive deeper into each of these conversations and their impact on relationships.
In this Episode we delve deep into a fundamental concept in psychology that has shaped the way we understand relationships, a topic that lies at the heart of every human connection: Attachment.
Welcome to Relationship Reset, With Life Coach Dr. Mark Shook. In each podcast Mark will weave together the ancient truths of scripture with the latest cutting edge Neuroscience, in short, concise, effective, and doable principles and actions to reset your relationship dynamic.
Welcome to Relationship Reset, With Life Coach Dr. Mark Shook. In each podcast Mark will weave together the ancient truths of scripture with the latest cutting edge Neuroscience, in short, concise, effective, and doable principles and actions to reset your relationship dynamic.
This week we are joined by Sandy Spangler, a long-time COF member and Co-Founder of Kharis House in Zambia. Kharis House helps young women in Zambia by housing and educating them. In this episode, Sandy tells her story and lists some of the shocking statistics young women in Zambia deal with that called her and her husband to step into action.
One of our mission partners Heather Bland and Rose Ann Ababa join us to talk about My Refuge House, a nonprofit whose mission is to help girls and women who have been victims of human sex trafficking in the Philippines.
WHAT GOD IS DOING WHEN YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT GOD IS DOING, Mark Shook by Community of Faith
The Secret to Contentment James 4:1-3, Philippians 4:11-13 1 What is the source of quarrels and conflicts among you? Is not the source your pleasures that wage war in your members? 2 You lust and do not have; so you commit murder. You are envious and cannot obtain; so you fight and quarrel. You do not have because you do not ask. 3 You ask and do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, so that you may spend it on your pleasures. James 4:1-3 (NASB) 11 Not that I speak from want, for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am. 12 I know how to get along with humble means, and I also know how to live in prosperity; in any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of being filled and going hungry, both of having abundance and suffering need. 13 I can do all things through Him who strengthens me. Philippians 4:11-13 (NASB)
Contentment is not found in what I have, who is with me, or where I am. Contentment is found in the One who makes me who I am. Question for this week: 1. What, who, or where do you look to for security and satisfaction?
How's Your Heart This Christmas | Wes Jackson | Community Of Faith by Community of Faith
Christmas Is For God’s Favorites Mark & Laura Shook Community Of Faith by Community of Faith
Week 3 - Real Generosity 43 [a]Everyone kept feeling a sense of awe; and many wonders and [b]signs were taking place through the apostles. 44 And all those who had believed [c]were together and had all things in common; 45 and they began selling their property and possessions and were sharing them with all, as anyone might have need. Acts 2:43-45 NASB
19 “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust[a] destroy and where thieves break in and steal, 20 but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. Matthew 6:19-21 ESV
22 “The eye is the lamp of the body. So, if your eye is healthy, your whole body will be full of light, 23 but if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light in you is darkness, how great is the darkness! Matthew 6:22-23 ESV
21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. Matthew 6:21 ESV
24 “No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money. Matthew 6:24 ESV
6 The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully[a] will also reap bountifully. 7 Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. 2 Cor. 9:6-7 ESV
17 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.18 Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds,and to be generous and willing to share. 19 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. 1 Timothy 6:17-19 NIV
32 And the [a]congregation of those who believed were of one heart and soul; and not one of them [b]claimed that anything belonging to him was his own, but all things were common property to them. 33 And with great power the apostles were giving testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and abundant grace was upon them all.34 For there was not a needy person among them, for all who were owners of land or houses would sell them and bring the [c]proceeds of the sales 35 and lay them at the apostles’ feet, and they would be distributed to each as any had need. Acts 4:32-35 NASB
Real Church | Week 1 - It’s OK To Not Be OK
Acts 2:14-41 (NASB)
God ________________ you ________________. (vs. 14-15)
God tells you the ________________ about ________________.
You were ________________ about ________________. (vs 22-24) You are ________________ for His ________________. (vs. 23, 36)
God ________________ another ________________. (vs. 21, 31)
The ________________ – ________________ in my ________________.
Gospel ________________ leads to gospel ________________. (vs. 37-38, 41)
It’s OK to not be OK, but YOU don’t have to stay that way.
Prayer of Response: Dear God, I ask you to forgive me of all my sins. I admit, I’ve made mistakes. Today, I give you my heart. I give you my life. Give me the power to live for you. In Jesus name, amen.
CHASING LIONS A WHOLE DIFFERENT STORY LINE FOR YOUR LIFE
“And there was Benaiah (Jehoiada’s son), son of a great man from Kabzeel, who also did great deeds. He struck down two lionhearted heroes of Moab. Benaiah also killed a lion in a pit one snowy day, and he killed an Egyptian who was a powerful-looking man. The Egyptian was armed with a spear while Benaiah had only his staff, but he took the spear away from him and killed the Egyptian with his own weapon.” 2 Samuel 23:20-21
- Lion Chasers know that opportunity doesn’t knock, it __________!
The great irony about opportunities is that they come disguised as _______________ _______________.
- Lion Chasers ____________ their prayers.
Many of our prayer would ____________________ God’s plans.
Most prayers are aimed at problem reduction.
Prayer makes God __________ and problems __________.
A Lion Chaser’s prayer trusts __________ __________.
Why would God answer my prayers? He’s my ____________.
“Don’t worry about this Philistine,” David told Saul. “I’ll go fight him!” “Don’t be ridiculous!” Saul replied. “There’s no way you can fight this Philistine and possibly win! You’re only a boy, and he’s been a man of war since his youth.” But David persisted. “I have been taking care of my father’s sheep and goats,” he said. “When a lion or a bear comes to steal a lamb from the flock, I go after it with a club and rescue the lamb from its mouth. If the animal turns on me, I catch it by the jaw and club it to death. I have done this to both lions and bears, and I’ll do it to this pagan Philistine, too, for he has defied the armies of the living God! The Lord who rescued me from the claws of the lion and the bear will rescue me from this Philistine!” Saul finally consented. “All right, go ahead,” he said. “And may the Lord be with you!” 1 Samuel 17:32-37
- Lion Chasers know that life is infinitely ____________ and God is infinitely ____________.
Faith doesn’t ____________ uncertainty; it ____________ uncertainty.
“My intentions are not always yours, and I do not go about things as you do. My thoughts and My ways are above and beyond you, just as heaven is far from your reach here on earth. For as rain and snow can’t go back once they’ve fallen, but soak into the ground and nourish the plants that grow, providing seed to the farmer and bread for the hungry, so it is when I declare something. My word will go out and not return to Me empty, But it will do what I wanted; it will accomplish what I determined.” Isaiah 55:8-11
Sin ____________ my life in ways it shouldn’t be complicated. Faith ____________ my life, but in ways it should be complicated.
Jesus was and still is predictably ____________.
“There are secrets the Lord your God has not revealed to us, but these words that he has revealed are for us and our children to obey forever.” Deuteronomy 29:29
- Lion Chasers live life on ____________ not ____________.
Faith = __________!
“From the moment John stepped onto the scene until now, the realm of heaven’s kingdom is bursting forth, and passionate people have taken hold of its power.” Matthew11:12
“I will build my church and the gates of hell will not stand against it.” Matthew 16:18
Benaiah’s ___________ moments were also his ___________ moments.
__________Mode vs. __________Mode ____________ vs. ____________ Human ____________ vs. Divine ____________ __________ ideas vs. __________ ideas
- Lion Chasers have a ____________ trust in their Heavenly Father
“I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.” Matthew 18:13
“Don’t be drunk with wine, but be filled with the Spirit.” Ephesians 5:18
There are two kinds of regrets: Regrets of ____________ and Regrets of ____________.
What would you do for God’s Kingdom if you knew you could not fail?
Dr. Mark’s Spiritual/Physical Exam:
PRESENT ____________ "Meanwhile the people in Judah said, `The strength of the laborers is giving out...'" Nehemiah 4:10a "Fatigue makes cowards of all of us." Vince Lombardi
PAST ____________
"... and there is so much rubble..."
"... we cannot rebuild the wall..." Nehemiah 4:10b
FUTURE ____________
"Also our enemies said, ‘Before they know it or see us ... we will kill them and put an end to their work!'" Nehemiah 4:12
WHAT DO YOU DO WHEN LIFE GETS THIS HARD? 1. _______________ “Therefore I stationed some of the people behind the lowest point of the wall at the exposed places, posting them by families, with their swords, spears and bows.” Nehemiah 4:13 To Refamily at COF, join a Home Team! Admit your faults to one another and pray for each other so that you may be healed. James 5:16
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_______________ "I said to them ... `Don't be afraid of them. Remember the Lord, who is great and awesome…” Nehemiah 14:4a “This I recall to my mind, Therefore I have hope. The Lord’s lovingkindnesses indeed never cease, For His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness...” Lamentations 3:21-22
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____________ AND KEEP ON _______________ Remember the Lord who is great and awesome; fight for your friends, your families, and your homes!” Nehemiah 4:14
Compassion Wins Pandemonium, Week 4 Matthew 14:13-21 (NASB) 13 Now when Jesus heard about John, He withdrew from there in a boat to a secluded place by Himself; and when the people heard of this, they followed Him on foot from the cities. 14 When He went ashore, He saw a large crowd, and felt compassion for them and healed their sick. In crisis, compassion is the foundation for a miracle. 15 When it was evening, the disciples came to Him and said, “This place is desolate and the hour is already late; so send the crowds away, that they may go into the villages and buy food for themselves.” 16 But Jesus said to them, “They do not need to go away; you give them something to eat!” 17 They *said to Him, “We have here only five loaves and two fish.” 18 And He said, “Bring them here to Me.” 19 Ordering the people to sit down on the grass, He took the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up toward heaven, He blessed the food, and breaking the loaves He gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the crowds, 20 and they all ate and were satisfied. They picked up what was left over of the broken pieces, twelve full baskets. 21 There were about five thousand men who ate, besides women and children. Matthew 14:13-21
In Christ, when you lead with compassion, you set the foundation for a miracle.
Discussion Questions:
Describe a time recently where you were tired, sad or overwhelmed and someone was demanding your attention. How did you respond?
Describe a time in your life when you experienced compassion from someone else and the impact that it had in your life.
Identify an area of your life where criticism is more evident that compassion and determine on step you can take this week to begin to make a shift toward more compassion.
Finding Life in Suffering Pandemonium, Week 3 (Spanish Translation) by Community of Faith
Finding Life in Suffering Pandemonium, Week 3 1 Peter 1:13-25 (NASB) 13 Therefore, prepare your minds for action, keep sober in spirit, fix your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. 14 As obedient children, do not be conformed to the former lusts which were yours in your ignorance, 15 but like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves also in all your behavior; 16 because it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.” 17 If you address as Father the One who impartially judges according to each one’s work, conduct yourselves in fear during the time of your stay on earth; 18 knowing that you were not redeemed with perishable things like silver or gold from your futile way of life inherited from your forefathers, 19 but with precious blood, as of a lamb unblemished and spotless, the blood of Christ. 20 For He was foreknown before the foundation of the world, but has appeared in these last times for the sake of you 21 who through Him are believers in God, who raised Him from the dead and gave Him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God. 22 Since you have in obedience to the truth purified your souls for a sincere love of the brethren, fervently love one another from the heart, 23 for you have been born again not of seed which is perishable but imperishable, that is, through the living and enduring word of God. 24 For, “All flesh is like grass, and all its glory like the flower of grass. The grass withers, and the flower falls off, 25 But the word of the Lord endures forever.” And this is the word which was preached to you. 1 Peter 1:13-25
Three must-haves in order to find life in pandemonium:
A Focused Mindset. (vs. 13-16)
An Awe of God. (vs. 17-21)
An Extravagant Love for Others. (vs. 22-23)
Discussion Questions:
As Wes talked about being apathetic in our faith, what steps can you take in order to grow your faith or the faith of those around you?
Are there things in your life or lifestyle that don’t align with holiness?
As your reflect on loving others well ,what is one thing you could do this week that would communicate your love for them?
PANDEMONIUM: A PANDEMIC PARABLE, part 2 THE TRUTH ABOUT SUFFERING “For his Spirit joins with our spirit to affirm that we are God’s children. And since we are his children, we are his heirs. In fact, together with Christ we are heirs of God’s glory. But if we are to share his glory, we must also share his suffering. Yet what we suffer now is nothing compared to the glory he will reveal to us later. For all creation is waiting eagerly for that future day when God will reveal who his children really are. Against its will, all creation was subjected to God’s curse. But with eager hope, the creation looks forward to the day when it will join God’s children in glorious freedom from death and decay. For we know that all creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. And we believers also groan, even though we have the Holy Spirit within us as a foretaste of future glory, for we long for our bodies to be released from sin and suffering. We, too, wait with eager hope for the day when God will give us our full rights as his adopted children, including the new bodies he has promised us. We were given this hope when we were saved. (If we already have something, we don’t need to hope for it. But if we look forward to something we don’t yet have, we must wait patiently and confidently.) And the Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness. For example, we don’t know what God wants us to pray for. But the Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words. And the Father who knows all hearts knows what the Spirit is saying, for the Spirit pleads for us believers in harmony with God’s own will. And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.” Romans 8:16-28
Suffering unlocks something we don't understand The nature of suffering is emptiness, futility, frustration We have the Holy Spirit within us as a foretaste of future glory The word "glory" means the fulfillment of purpose The “glory of man” is the very purpose for which man was created, the meaning of life, the meaning of history. God has not revealed that purpose yet. Our suffering reveals our weakness.
Discussion Questions Is there something going on in the world that makes it hard for you to believe God is good? Did you learn anything new about suffering in this message? Do you think the Holy Spirit is praying something different for you than you are praying for yourself right now? What area of your life is suffering grinding on right now? What, in spite of circumstances and feelings, is your next right step?
“You aren’t good enough.” “The grass is greener on the other side.” “The world would be better without you.” The enemy fills our heads with lies like these every day. After a while, it can be hard to remember they’re just that - lies.
In “Is There An Enemy In Your Camp?” Pastor Wes Jackson reminds us that, even though those lies can be destructive, there is hope when we focus on Jesus.
Have you ever found yourself feeling defeated, wondering what God's plan is for your life?
In this message, Pastor Wes Jackson tells us the secret to hearing God and knowing more about Him. We don't have to stay stuck in defeat. There is victory in a relationship with Jesus!
Two Spies and a Shady Lady NEXT Week 5 Joshua 2:1-21 (NASB)
1 Then Joshua the son of Nun sent two men as spies secretly from Shittim, saying, “Go, view the land, especially Jericho.” So they went and came into the house of a harlot whose name was Rahab, and lodged there. 2 It was told the king of Jericho, saying, “Behold, men from the sons of Israel have come here tonight to search out the land.” 3 And the king of Jericho sent word to Rahab, saying, “Bring out the men who have come to you, who have entered your house, for they have come to search out all the land.” 4 But the woman had taken the two men and hidden them, and she said, “Yes, the men came to me, but I did not know where they were from. 5 It came about when it was time to shut the gate at dark, that the men went out; I do not know where the men went. Pursue them quickly, for you will overtake them.” 6 But she had brought them up to the roof and hidden them in the stalks of flax which she had laid in order on the roof. 7 So the men pursued them on the road to the Jordan to the fords; and as soon as those who were pursuing them had gone out, they shut the gate.
8 Now before they lay down, she came up to them on the roof, 9 and said to the men, “I know that the Lord has given you the land, and that the terror of you has fallen on us, and that all the inhabitants of the land have melted away before you. 10 For we have heard how the Lord dried up the water of the Red Sea before you when you came out of Egypt, and what you did to the two kings of the Amorites who were beyond the Jordan, to Sihon and Og, whom you utterly destroyed. 11 When we heard it, our hearts melted and no courage remained in any man any longer because of you; for the Lord your God, He is God in heaven above and on earth beneath. 12 Now therefore, please swear to me by the Lord, since I have dealt kindly with you, that you also will deal kindly with my father’s household, and give me a pledge of truth, 13 and spare my father and my mother and my brothers and my sisters, with all who belong to them, and deliver our lives from death.” 14 So the men said to her, “Our life for yours if you do not tell this business of ours; and it shall come about when the Lord gives us the land that we will deal kindly and faithfully with you.”
15 Then she let them down by a rope through the window, for her house was on the city wall, so that she was living on the wall. 16 She said to them, “Go to the hill country, so that the pursuers will not happen upon you, and hide yourselves there for three days until the pursuers return. Then afterward you may go on your way.” 17 The men said to her, “We shall be free from this oath to you which you have made us swear, 18 unless, when we come into the land, you tie this cord of scarlet thread in the window through which you let us down, and gather to yourself into the house your father and your mother and your brothers and all your father’s household. 19 It shall come about that anyone who goes out of the doors of your house into the street, his blood shall be on his own head, and we shall be free; but anyone who is with you in the house, his blood shall be on our head if a hand is laid on him. 20 But if you tell this business of ours, then we shall be free from the oath which you have made us swear.” 21 She said, “According to your words, so be it.” So she sent them away, and they departed; and she tied the scarlet cord in the window. Joshua 2:1-21
Rahab’s faith:
Rescued her.
Stood alone.
Was consistent
Forward Progress in the Uncertain Days NEXT Week 4 Joshua 1:9 (NASB)
1 Now it came about after the death of Moses the servant of the Lord, that the Lord spoke to Joshua the son of Nun, Moses’ servant, saying, 2 “Moses My servant is dead; now therefore arise, cross this Jordan, you and all this people, to the land which I am giving to them, to the sons of Israel. 3 Every place on which the sole of your foot treads, I have given it to you, just as I spoke to Moses. 4 From the wilderness and this Lebanon, even as far as the great river, the river Euphrates, all the land of the Hittites, and as far as the Great Sea toward the setting of the sun will be your territory. 5 No man will be able to stand before you all the days of your life. Just as I have been with Moses, I will be with you; I will not fail you or forsake you. 6 Be strong and courageous, for you shall give this people possession of the land which I swore to their fathers to give them. 7 Only be strong and very courageous; be careful to do according to all the law which Moses My servant commanded you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, so that you may have success wherever you go. 8 This book of the law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it; for then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have success. 9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous! Do not tremble or be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:1-9
Progress happens when I am:
Recognizing God’s purpose for my life. (vs. 1-2)
Trusting God’s promises. (vs. 2-5)
Strong and courageous in:
My roles and responsibilities. (vs. 6)
Obedience to God’s Word. (vs. 7-8)
Overcoming my fear and discouragement. (vs. 9)
My struggles are not proof that God doesn’t care or that He bailed on me, my struggles are proof that He’s still working in my life.
EXTRA: Want to take some specific steps toward spiritual growth this week? Text COFNEXT to 97000 and click the I want to be Strong and Courageous for a helpful guide in experiencing progress in your faith journey with Jesus.
STEPPING INTO TOMORROW BY FAITH “As we move forward, it’s going to feel like the world’s ending, and in some ways it will be. No the world isn’t literally ending, but a specific kind of world is ending, and it’ll be extremely difficult for many people to tell the difference as it’s happening. This will likely lead to many more episodes of mass insanity as professional manipulators take advantage of millions upon millions of disoriented people. Priority number one should be to stand guard at the gate of your mind during this time so as not to become a victim.” – MICHAEL KRIEGER Crucial Choice Points – Moments where time and eternity intersect that influence the rest of my future. My choice in that moment will alter my entire life. “So Joshua told the Israelites, “Come and listen to what the Lord your God says. Today you will know that the living God is among you.” Joshua 3:9-10 “The priests will carry the Ark of the Lord, the Lord of all the earth. As soon as their feet touch the water, the flow of water will be cut off upstream, and the river will stand up like a wall.” Joshua 3:13 Crossing the Jordan = aligning ourselves with God’s purpose The Christian life is not an experience or a formula or a certain way of behaving. It is a PERSON! “For in Him all the fullness of Deity dwells in bodily form, and in Him you have been made complete...” Colossians s 2:9,10 As a Christian, I am not following a set of ideals and principles; I am following the living reigning Lord of the universe! There is a crucial choice point when I must decide if I’m willing to participate in a miracle – to possess God’s dream of tomorrow. “ So the people left their camp to cross the Jordan, and the priests who were carrying the Ark of the Covenant went ahead of them. It was the harvest season, and the Jordan was overflowing its banks. But as soon as the feet of the priests who were carrying the Ark touched the water at the river’s edge, the water above that point began backing up a great distance away at a town called Adam, which is near Zarethan. And the water below that point flowed on to the Dead Sea until the riverbed was dry. Then all the people crossed over near the town of Jericho. Meanwhile, the priests who were carrying the Ark of the Lord’s Covenant stood on dry ground in the middle of the riverbed as the people passed by. They waited there until the whole nation of Israel had crossed the Jordan on dry ground.” Joshua 3:14-17 Faith is having fear, doubt, and belief mixed together, and still taking the next step into the promise. “For whatever is born of God overcomes the world; and this is the victory that has overcome the world— our faith.” 1 John 5:4 “Then the Lord said to me, “This vision is for a future time. It describes the end, and it will be fulfilled. If it seems slow in coming, wait patiently for it will surely take place. It will not be delayed. The evil nation is very proud of itself; it is not living as it should. I will take no pleasure in anyone who turns away. But the righteous person will live by My faith.” Habakkuk 2:3-4
NEXT - WEEK 1 “YOU’VE GOT TO PICK A SIDE” And it came to pass, when Joshua was by Jericho, that he lifted his eyes and looked, and behold, a Man stood opposite him with His sword drawn in His hand. And Joshua went to Him and said to Him, “Are You for us or for our adversaries?” So He said, “No, but as Commander of the army of the Lord I have now come.” And Joshua fell on his face to the earth and worshiped, and said to Him, “What does my Lord say to His servant?” Then the Commander of the Lord’s army said to Joshua, “Take your sandal off your foot, for the place where you stand is holy.” And Joshua did so. Joshua 5:13-15
Life Changes, God Doesn’t Hebrews 13:5-8
5 Make sure that your character is free from the love of money, being content with what you have; for He Himself has said, “I will never desert you, nor will I ever forsake you,” 6 so that we confidently say, “The Lord is my helper, I will not be afraid. What will man do to me?” 8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.
When we experience change in life, there’s power when we focus on two things about Jesus:
He will never leave you. He is my helper.
Homework:
Remember His truth. Remember His ways.
In the Shelter of the Most High God Psalms 91
(I am going to read the whole Psalm but it does not need to be in the program)
1 Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. 2 I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.” 3 Surely he will save you from the fowler’s snare and from the deadly pestilence. 4 He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart. 5 You will not fear the terror of night, nor the arrow that flies by day, 6 nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness, nor the plague that destroys at midday. 7 A thousand may fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand, but it will not come near you. 8 You will only observe with your eyes and see the punishment of the wicked. 9 If you say, “The Lord is my refuge,” and you make the Most High your dwelling, 10 no harm will overtake you, no disaster will come near your tent. 11 For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways; 12 they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone. 13 You will tread on the lion and the cobra; you will trample the great lion and the serpent. 14 “Because he loves me,” says the Lord, “I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name. 15 He will call on me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him. 16 With long life I will satisfy him and show him my salvation.” Psalms 91
Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. Psalms 91:1
Most High: El Elyon – God, the highest power in existence.
My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand. I and the Father are one.” John 10:27-30
Almighty: El Shaddai – God, All-powerful in generosity
I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.” Psalms 91:2
The Lord: YAHWEH – The God of Righteousness
In all their suffering He also suffered, and he personally rescued them. In his love and mercy he redeemed them. He lifted them up and carried them through all the years. Isaiah 63:9 (NLT)
When he sees all that is accomplished by his anguish, he will be satisfied. And because of his experience, my righteous servant will make it possible for many to be counted righteous, for he will bear all their sins. Isaiah 53:11 (NLT)
God: Elohim – The God of the Covenant.
“The days are coming,” declares the Lord, “when I will make a new covenant with the people of Israel and with the people of Judah. It will not be like the covenant I made with their ancestors when I took them by the hand to lead them out of Egypt,
because they broke my covenant, though I was a husband to them,” declares the Lord. Jeremiah 31:31-32
- What is the meaning of these promises?
The devil led him to Jerusalem and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. “If you are the Son of God,” he said, “throw yourself down from here. For it is written: “‘He will command his angels concerning you to guard you carefully; they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.’ Luke 4:9-11
You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives. Genesis 50:20
And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. Romans 8:28 (ESV)
I will protect you through all danger
HOW TO STICK TOGETHER WHEN YOU’RE STUCK TOGETHER God’s Way to Restore Your Relationship May 14/15, 2020
THE PROBLEM – WE ARE ALL BROKEN
“In his kindness God called you to share in his eternal glory by means of Christ Jesus. So after you have suffered a little while, he will restore, support, and strengthen you, and he will place you on a firm foundation.” 1 Peter 5:10
“Do everything possible on your part to live in peace with everybody.” Romans 12:18
“Your strong love for each other will prove to the world that you are my disciples.” John 13:35 THE SOLUTION – HUMBLY FOLLOW GOD’S WAY, NO MATTER WHAT CULTURE DICTATES Now that you have taken care to purify your souls through your submission to the truth, you can experience real love for each other. So love each other deeply from a pure heart. You have been reborn... 1 Peter 1:22-23a
GOD’S PRINCIPLES: “…male and female He created them.” Genesis 1:27 “Nevertheless, each individual among you also is to love his own wife even as himself, and the wife must see to it that she respects her husband.” Ephesians 5:33
“Husbands love your wives as Christ loved the church and gave Himself up for it.” Ephesians 5:25 “Guide older women into lives of reverence so they end up as neither gossips nor drunks, but models of goodness. By looking at them, the younger women will know how to love their husbands and children…” Titus 2:3-4 “Now that you have taken care to purify your souls through your submission to the truth, you can experience real love for each other. So love each other deeply from a pure heart. You have been reborn.” 1 Peter 1:22-23a AS WE SUBMIT TO THE TRUTH OF SCRIPTURE OVER THE DICTATES OF CULTURE, WE WILL EXPERIENCE GIVING AND RECEIVING OF DEEP LOVE!
GOD’S WAY TO SHOW YOUR MAN LOVE “The wife must see to it that she respects her husband.” Ephesians 5:33 “If then I do not grasp the meaning of what someone is saying, I am a foreigner to the speaker, and the speaker is a foreigner to me.” 1 Corinthians 14:11 Men are looking and listening for respect Give unconditional respect Carefully choose my words, tone of voice, and facial expressions GOD’S WAY TO SHOW YOUR WOMAN LOVE Husbands love your wives as Christ loved the church and gave Himself up for it.” Ephesians 5:25 “Live with your wives in an understanding way...”1 Peter 3:7 Don’t try to fix it, just listen Pay total attention Connect through conversation “The heart of the wise instructs his mouth.” Proverbs 16:23
Homework
Quarantine Quarrels James 4:1-8
James 4:1-7 1 What is the source of quarrels and conflicts among you? Is not the source your pleasures that wage war in your members?
2 You lust and do not have; so you commit murder. You are envious and cannot obtain; so you fight and quarrel. You do not have because you do not ask. 3 You ask and do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, so that you may spend it on your pleasures.
4 You adulteresses, do you not know that friendship with the world is hostility toward God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. 5 Or do you think that the Scripture speaks to no purpose: “He jealously desires the Spirit which He has made to dwell in us”?
6 But He gives a greater grace. Therefore it says, “God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” 7 Submit therefore to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. 8 Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.
A Posture of Humility:
Overlooks Often. A man’s discretion makes him slow to anger, and it is his glory to overlook a transgression. Proverbs 19:11
Shows Gentleness. Brethren, even if anyone is caught in any trespass, you who are spiritual, restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness. Galatians 6:1
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Listens First. This you know, my beloved brethren. But everyone must be quick to hear, slow to speak and slow to anger; 20 for the anger of man does not achieve the righteousness of God. James 1:19-20
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Takes Ownership. Admit Apologize Ask
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Forgives Always. Bear with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you. Colossians 3:13
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Focuses on Hope
Homework: Evaluate on a scale of 1 to 10 how well you practice each of the six results of humility in the relationships closest to you. Make an intentional effort to take this posture of humility this week and working on the six results in your life. At the end of the week, reevaluate each one and determine where progress has been made.
HOW TO STAY TOGETHER WHEN YOU’RE STUCK TOGETHER THE MYSTERY CALLED MARRIAGE May 2/3
“Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless. In this same way, husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. After all, no one ever hated their own body, but they feed and care for their body, just as Christ does the church — for we are members of his body. “For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.” This is a profound mystery—but I am talking about Christ and the church.” Ephesians 5:25-32
- THE MYSTERY OF MARRIAGE “For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.” This is a profound mystery—but I am talking about Christ and the church. Ephesians 5:31-32
“A man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.” Matthew 19:5 2. THE VISION OF MARRIAGE
“the two will become one flesh.” Mark 10:8 3. THE COST OF MARRIAGE “Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her...” Ephesians 5:25
Marriage is a trap Marriage is a knife
“As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.” Proverbs 27:17 It takes a grinding wheel to sharpen a blade, and so one person sharpens the character of another.” Proverbs. 27:17
“See, it is I who created the blacksmith who fans the coals into flame and forges a weapon fit for its work.” Isaiah 54:16
Marriage is a wound The foundation of marriage is not love, but vows. One Thing: Spend Time With God Daily “Oh Martha, Martha, you are so anxious and concerned about a million details, 42 but really, only one thing matters. Mary has chosen that one thing, and I won’t take it away from her.” Luke 10:41-42
GOD’S PLAN FOR MARITAL SUCCESS April 25/26, 2020 “Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose.” Philippians 2:12-13 “It’s by God’s grace that you’re saved, through faith--and even the faith is not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, so no one could boast.” Ephesians 2:8-9 WE WORK OUT WHAT GOD HAS ALREADY WORKED IN “…for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose.” Philippians 2:13 A lot of us believe IN God, but do we believe God? WHAT GOD DEMANDS, HE SUPPLIES “Stretch out your hand.” And the man stretched it out, and it was restored, healthy like the other.” Matthew 12:13 EQUALIZE THE PRESSURE
“So then do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. And do not get drunk with wine, for that is dissipation but be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody with your heart to the Lord; Always give thanks to Father God for every person he brings into your life in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.” Ephesians 5:17-20 “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control...” Galatians 5:22-23 CHOOSE TO CONTROL MY TONGUE
“Words kill, words give life; they’re either poison or fruit—you choose.” Proverbs 18:21 “So also the tongue is a small thing, but what enormous damage it can do. A great forest can be set on fire by one tiny spark. And the tongue is a flame of fire. It is full of wickedness, and poisons every part of the body. And the tongue is set on fire by hell itself and can turn our whole lives into a blazing flame of destruction and disaster.” James 3:4-11 “Don’t let even one rotten word seep out of your mouths. Instead, offer only fresh words that build others up when they need it most. That way your good words will communicate grace to those who hear them.” Ephesians 4:29-30 “Lay aside bitter words, temper tantrums, revenge, profanity, and insults. But instead be kind and affectionate toward one another…” Ephesians 4:31-32 “Do everything without grumbling or arguing, so that no one can speak a word of blame against you.” Philippians 2:14 REPLACE COMPLAINING WITH GRATITUDE “In everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” 1 Thessalonians 5:18 HOMEWORK: PRACTICE GRATITUDE Mark & Laura’s new habit 5 encouraging things
GOD’S PLAN FOR MARITAL SUCCESS April 25/26, 2020 “Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose.” Philippians 2:12-13 “It’s by God’s grace that you’re saved, through faith--and even the faith is not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, so no one could boast.” Ephesians 2:8-9 WE WORK OUT WHAT GOD HAS ALREADY WORKED IN “…for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose.” Philippians 2:13 A lot of us believe IN God, but do we believe God? WHAT GOD DEMANDS, HE SUPPLIES “Stretch out your hand.” And the man stretched it out, and it was restored, healthy like the other.” Matthew 12:13 EQUALIZE THE PRESSURE
“So then do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. And do not get drunk with wine, for that is dissipation but be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody with your heart to the Lord; Always give thanks to Father God for every person he brings into your life in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.” Ephesians 5:17-20 “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control...” Galatians 5:22-23 CHOOSE TO CONTROL MY TONGUE
“Words kill, words give life; they’re either poison or fruit—you choose.” Proverbs 18:21 “So also the tongue is a small thing, but what enormous damage it can do. A great forest can be set on fire by one tiny spark. And the tongue is a flame of fire. It is full of wickedness, and poisons every part of the body. And the tongue is set on fire by hell itself and can turn our whole lives into a blazing flame of destruction and disaster.” James 3:4-11 “Don’t let even one rotten word seep out of your mouths. Instead, offer only fresh words that build others up when they need it most. That way your good words will communicate grace to those who hear them.” Ephesians 4:29-30 “Lay aside bitter words, temper tantrums, revenge, profanity, and insults. But instead be kind and affectionate toward one another…” Ephesians 4:31-32 “Do everything without grumbling or arguing, so that no one can speak a word of blame against you.” Philippians 2:14 REPLACE COMPLAINING WITH GRATITUDE “In everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” 1 Thessalonians 5:18 HOMEWORK: PRACTICE GRATITUDE Mark & Laura’s new habit 5 encouraging things
IN SICKNESS AND IN HEALTH How to Stay Together When You’re Stuck Together The Joy of Marriage April 18/19, 2020 “…fix your eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross.” Hebrews 12:2
“I gave My back to those who strike Me, And My cheeks to those who pluck out the beard; I did not cover My face from humiliation and spitting. For the Lord God helps Me, Therefore, I am not disgraced; Therefore, I have set My face like flint, And I know that I will not be ashamed.” Isaiah 50:6-7 1. FOCUS ON JOY, NOT MY NEEDS.
The number one marriage destroyer is not adultery, not drifting apart slowly, but selfishness. “The Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.” Matthew 20:28 “If any man would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me…” Mark 10:43 “Catch for us the foxes, the little foxes that ruin the vineyards, our vineyards that are in bloom.” Song of Solomon 2:15 2. FOCUS ON JOY, NOT MY RIGHTS
Relationships matter more than rules and rights.
“This is my beloved, and this is my friend” Song of Solomon 5:15
- FOCUS ON JOY, NOT MY HAPPINESS Focusing on momentary happiness leads to dissatisfaction.
God’s goal for you is growth. “…but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.” 2 Peter 3:18
“…let us press on to maturity…” Hebrews 6:1
“…for he is using your sufferings to make you ready for his kingdom.” 2 Thessalonians 1:5
Focusing on growth leads to joy.
“But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:8 “To sum up, all of you be harmonious, sympathetic, brotherly, kindhearted, and humble in spirit, not returning evil for evil or insult for insult, but giving a blessing instead; for you were called for the very purpose that you might inherit a blessing.” 1 Peter 3:8-
- FOCUSING ON JESUS AND HIS WAY, LEADS TO JOY
“… and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” Hebrews 12:1-2
“I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may be with you forever.” John 14:16
When you hit the wall, fix your eyes on Jesus. Assignment: Practice Spiritual breathing.
EASTER 2020 RESURRECTION POWER IN THE MOMENT OF CRISIS That evening, the disciples gathered together. And because they were afraid of reprisals from the Jewish leaders, they had locked the doors to the place where they met. But suddenly Jesus appeared among them and said, “Peace to you!” Then he showed them the wounds of his hands and his side—they were overjoyed to see the Lord with their own eyes! Jesus repeated his greeting, “Peace to you!” And he told them, “Just as the Father has sent me, I’m now sending you.” Then, taking a deep breath, he blew on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit. I send you to preach the forgiveness of sins—and people’s sins will be forgiven. But if you don’t proclaim the forgiveness of their sins, they will remain guilty.” John 20:19-24
- THE CRISIS
"... the disciples were meeting behind locked doors because they were afraid of the Jewish leaders.” John 20:19
"It was late that Sunday evening..." John 20:19 "All the disciples deserted him and fled." Matthew 26:25 – Grief – Fear – Exhaustion – Trauma – Failure – Doubt –
In the midst of our messy lives, Jesus shows up! “That evening, the disciples gathered together. And because they were afraid of reprisals from the Jewish leaders, they had locked the doors to the place where they met. But suddenly Jesus appeared among them and said, “Peace to you!” John 20:19
- THE PEACE Suddenly, Jesus was standing there among them! …They were filled with joy when they saw the Lord. John 20:20 The lesson of Easter: Christ is already here! Christ’s presence bring peace.
“Then, taking a deep breath, he bled on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit. I send you to preach the forgiveness of sins — and people’s sins will be forgiven. But if you don’t proclaim the forgiveness of their sins, they will remain guilty.” John 20:22 “We love Him because He first loved us.” 1 John 4:19
- THE POWER Resurrection power doesn’t leave things undone.
“... How tremendous is the power available to us who believe in God. That power is the same divine energy which was demonstrated in Christ when he was raised from the dead..." Ephesians 1:20
“… we stopped relying on ourselves and learned to rely only on God, who raises the dead.” 2 Corinthians 1:9b We have to stop relying on ourselves and learn to rely on God. It is through death that the power of resurrection transforms.
“Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person…” Romans 12:1
God isn’t interested in your comfort, he’s interested in your character.
Resurrection power works best in a graveyard.
The next day he saw Jesus coming to him and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! John 1:29 For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many. Mark 10:45 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me. John 14:6 For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. John 3:16
Things I have learned in 80 years
I’m not saying that I have this all together, that I have it made. But I am well on my way, reaching out for Christ, who has so wondrously reached out for me. Friends, don’t get me wrong: By no means do I count myself an expert in all of this, but I’ve got my eye on the goal, where God is beckoning us onward—to Jesus. I’m off and running, and I’m not turning back. Philippians 3:12-14 The Message
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I have learned how much I __________________ so I must keep on learning. “But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.” 2 Peter 3:18 NIV
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I have learned that the Bible is ___________ and _______________. “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.” 2 Timothy 3:16-17 NIV
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I have learned that God is ___________________ even if I am not. “If we are unfaithful, he remains faithful, for he cannot deny who he is.” 2 Timothy 2:13 NLT
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I have learned the Christian life is not difficult but ____________________. “For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out.” Romans 7:18 NIV
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I have learned that our faith must __________________________ everyday. “But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.” Joshua 24:15 NIV
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I have learned that _____________________ and __________ have nothing to do with circumstances. “I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through him who gives me strength.” Philippians 4:11-13 NIV
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I have learned that _____________ and ______________________ are essential to a life of fullness. “give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” 1 Thessalonians 5:18 NIV
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I have learned that _________________________ is much better than living for self. “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” Mark 10:45 NIV
WHAT I'VE LEARNED IN MY 80 YEARS-DAMON SHOOK (SPANISH TRANSLATION) by Community of Faith
If It’s Not Good, God’s Not Done John 11
John 11 Now a man named Lazarus was sick. He was from Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha.
(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.)
So the sisters sent word to Jesus, “Lord, the one you love is sick.”
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.”
Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus.
So when he heard that Lazarus was sick, he stayed where he was two more days.
17 On his arrival, Jesus found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb for four days.
21 “Lord,” Martha said to Jesus, “if you had been here, my brother would not have died.
32 When Mary reached the place where Jesus was and saw him, she fell at his feet and said, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.” When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come along with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in spirit and troubled. 34 “Where have you laid him?” he asked. “Come and see, Lord,” they replied. 35 Jesus wept.
38 Jesus, once more deeply moved, came to the tomb. It was a cave with a stone laid across the entrance. 39 “Take away the stone,” he said. “But, Lord,” said Martha, the sister of the dead man, “by this time there is a bad odor, for he has been there four days.”
40 Then Jesus said, “Did I not tell you that if you believe, you will see the glory of God?”
41 So they took away the stone. Then Jesus looked up and said, “Father, I thank you that you have heard me.
42 I knew that you always hear me, but I said this for the benefit of the people standing here, that they may believe that you sent me.”43 When he had said this, Jesus called in a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!”
44 The dead man came out, his hands and feet wrapped with strips of linen, and a cloth around his face. Jesus said to them, “Take off the grave clothes and let him go.”
2 Chronicles 7:14 14 if my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land.
I NEED A MIRACLE: JESUS TEACHES US HOW TO RESPOND TO A CRISIS (SPANISH TRANSLATION) by Community of Faith
I NEED A MIRACLE: JESUS TEACHES US HOW TO RESPOND TO A CRISIS A CRISIS COMES TO _______________ – NO ONE IS _______________ “After Jesus returned from across the lake, a huge crowd of people quickly gathered around him on the shoreline. Just then, a man saw that it was Jesus, so he pushed through the crowd and threw himself down at his feet. His name was Jairus, a Jewish official who was in charge of the synagogue.” Mark 5:21-22
“Now, in the crowd that day was a woman who had suffered horribly from continual bleeding for twelve years. She had endured a great deal under the care of various doctors, yet in spite of spending all she had on their treatments, she was not getting better, but worse.” Mark 5:25-26
- A CRISIS CALLS FOR ______________ – GO TO JESUS OR _______________ “He pleaded with Jesus, saying over and over, “Please come with me! My little daughter is at the point of death, and she’s only twelve years old! Come and lay your hands on her and heal her and she will live!” Mark 5:23
“When she heard about Jesus’ healing power, she pushed through the crowd and came up from behind him and touched his prayer shawl. For she kept saying to herself, “If only I could touch his clothes, I know I will be healed.” As soon as her hand touched him, her bleeding immediately stopped! She knew it, for she could feel her body instantly being healed of her disease!” Mark 5:27-29
- A CRISIS DEMANDS A ____________ – ____________ OR ____________ “When the woman who experienced this miracle realized what had happened to her, she came before him, trembling with fear, and threw herself down at his feet, saying, “I was the one who touched you.” And she told him her story of what had just happened.” Mark 5:33
“And before he had finished speaking, people arrived from Jairus’ house and pushed through the crowd to give Jairus the news: “There’s no need to trouble the master any longer—your daughter has died.” But Jesus refused to listen to what they were told and said to the Jewish official, “Don’t yield to fear. All you need to do is to keep on believing.” Mark 5:35-36 WORRY, AT IT’S CORE, IS A _______________ ISSUE.
- A CRISIS REVEALS A VERY _______________ GOD – HE’S _______________ FOR YOUR _______________ RIGHT NOW “Jesus knew at once that someone had touched him, for he felt the power that always surged around him had passed through him for someone to be healed. He turned and spoke to the crowd, saying, “Who touched my clothes?” His disciples answered, “What do you mean, who touched you? Look at this huge crowd—they’re all pressing up against you.” But Jesus’ eyes swept across the crowd, looking for the one who had touched him for healing. Then Jesus said to her, “Daughter, because you dared to believe, your faith has healed you. Go with peace in your heart, and be free from your suffering!” Mark 5:30-34
“He tenderly clasped the child’s hand in his and said to her in Aramaic, “Talitha koum,” which means, “Little girl, wake up from the sleep of death.” Instantly the twelve-year-old girl sat up, stood to her feet, and started walking around the room! Everyone was overcome with astonishment in seeing this miracle! Jesus had them bring her something to eat. And he repeatedly cautioned them that they were to tell no one about what had happened.” Mark 5:41-43 Who wears the corona in your life? A _______________ or the Kind of Kings and Lord of Lords, who _____________ you and _____________ you?
“Little Lamb, wake up!”
I Need A Miracle - Week 2 Speaker: Mark Shook The next day He purposed to go into Galilee, and He found Philip. And Jesus said to him, “Follow Me.” Now Philip was from Bethsaida, of the city of Andrew and Peter. Philip found Nathanael and said to him, “We have found Him of whom Moses in the Law and also the Prophets wrote—Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.” Nathanael said to him, “Can any good thing come out of Nazareth?” Philip said to him, “Come and see.” Jesus saw Nathanael coming to Him, and said of him, “Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom there is no deceit!” Nathanael said to Him, “How do You know me?” Jesus answered and said to him, “Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you.” Nathanael answered Him, “Rabbi, You are the Son of God; You are the King of Israel.” Jesus answered and said to him, “Because I said to you that I saw you under the fig tree, do you believe? You will see greater things than these.” And He said to him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, you will see the heavens opened and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.” John 1:43-51 1. A MIRACLE STARTS NOT WITH OUR , BUT WITH ANSWERING AN . Philip found Nathanael and said to him, “We have found Him of whom Moses in the Law and also the Prophets wrote—Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.” Nathanael said to him, “Can any good thing come out of Nazareth?” Philip said to him, “Come and see.” 2. A MIRACLE IS NOT THWARTED BY OR OUR GENUINE , BUT BY . Nathanael said to him, “Can any good thing come out of Nazareth?"
3. A MIRACLE IS TO MISS IN THE . Nathanael* said to Him, “How do You know me?” Jesus answered and said to him, “Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you.” Nathanael answered Him, “Rabbi, You are the Son of God; You are the King of Israel.” Jesus answered and said to him, “Because I said to you that I saw you under the fig tree, do you believe? You will see greater things than these.” 4. THE GREATEST MIRACLE IS TO BE AND BY GOD “You know Me” “I saw you.”
I NEED A MIRACLE The Wedding On the third day there was a wedding in Cana of Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there; and both Jesus and His disciples were invited to the wedding. When the wine ran out, the mother of Jesus said to Him, “They have no wine.” And Jesus said to her, “Woman, what does that have to do with us? My hour has not yet come.” His mother said to the servants, “Whatever He says to you, do it.” Now there were six stone waterpots set there for the Jewish custom of purification, containing twenty or thirty gallons each. Jesus said to them, “Fill the waterpots with water.” So they filled them up to the brim. And He *said to them, “Draw some out now and take it to the headwaiter.” So they took it to him. When the headwaiter tasted the water which had become wine, and did not know where it came from (but the servants who had drawn the water knew), the headwaiter called the bridegroom, and said to him, “Every man serves the good wine first, and when the people have drunk freely, then he serves the poorer wine; but you have kept the good wine until now.” This beginning of His signs Jesus did in Cana of Galilee, and manifested His glory, and His disciples believed in Him. John 2:1-11
3 Actions
Decide who will ____________ your ____________.
____________ yourself, the way Jesus ____________ you.
Deal with the ____________, by looking to the __________. “Jesus sat amidst all the joy of the wedding feast sipping the coming sorrow so that today you and I who believe in Him can sit amidst all this world’s sorrow sipping the coming joy.” – Edmund Clowney
Series: For the Win Title: The Extraordinary Version of You Matthew 12:46-50; 28:18-20
Then God said, “Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.” Genesis 1:26
46 While Jesus was still talking to the crowd, his mother and brothers stood outside, wanting to speak to him. 47 Someone told him, “Your mother and brothers are standing outside, wanting to speak to you.” 48 He replied to him, “Who is my mother, and who are my brothers?” 49 Pointing to his disciples, he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers. 50 For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother.” Matthew 12:46-50
18 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 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. Matthew 28:18-19
Reinforcements for Life
4 groups of people I need in my life
I. I need models that inspire me.
I have given you an example to follow. Do as I have done to you. John 13:15 (NLT)
“Join together in following my example, brothers and sisters, and just as you have us as a model, keep your eyes on those who live as we do.” Philippians 3:17 (NIV)
• Nick Vujicic IMAGES II I need mentors that advise me
Listen to advice and accept discipline, and at the end you will be counted among the wise. Proverbs 19:20 (NIV)
“Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers they succeed.” Proverbs 15:22
HOW TO BENEFIT FROM A MENTOR
- Ask the right Questions
“Though good advice lies deep within the heart, a person with understanding will draw it out.” Pr. 20:5 (NLT)
- Be open to feedback
“Better to be criticized by a wise person than to be praised by a fool.” Ecclesiastes 7:5
III I need partners that assist me.
Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor: If either of them falls down, one can help the other up. But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up. Ecclesiastes 4:9-10
...so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. Romans 12:5
IV I need friends that support me.
- Emotional support
A friend loves at all times... Proverbs 17:17a
- Intellectual support
Walk with the wise and become wise…” Pr. 13:20
- Spiritual support
Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. Hebrews10:24
What harmony is there between Christ and the devil? Or what does a believer have in common with an unbeliever? 2 Corinthians 6:15 (NIV)
Do not be misled: “Bad company corrupts good character.” 1 Corinthians 15:33 N
If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. John 15:5b (NIV)
ANCHORED – WHEN EXPECTATIONS AND REALITY COLLIDE-PT.2
“Among men it is customary to swear by something greater than themselves. And if a statement is confirmed by an oath, that is the end of all quibbling. So in this matter, God, wishing to show beyond doubt that his plan was unchangeable, confirmed it with an oath. So that by two utterly immutable things, the word of God and the oath of God, who cannot lie, we who are refugees from this dying world might have a source of strength, and might grasp the hope that he holds out to us.” Hebrews 6:16-18
“I solemnly swear by my own name, decrees the Lord... I will indeed bless you, and I will greatly multiply your descendants so that they will be as countless as the stars in the sky or the grains of sand on the seashore. Your descendants will take possession of the strongholds of their enemies.” Genesis 22:15-17
“and from your descendants all the peoples of the earth will discover true blessing. All this is because you have obeyed My voice.” Genesis 22:18
“That hope is real and true, an anchor to steady our restless souls, a hope that leads us back behind the veil to where God is (as the high priests did in the days when reconciliation flowed from sacrifices in the temple) and back into the place where Jesus, who went ahead on our behalf, has entered since He has become a High Priest forever...” Hebrews 6:19-20
- GOD DOESN’T WANT US TO WASTE OUR SORROWS.
He longs for us to keep faith in life’s storms
He goes to great effort to show us his heart, that he is completely trustworthy.
“What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?” Romans 8:31-32
His good plan and purpose for you never changes.
He knows our souls are restless and can easily drift.
- GOD ANCHORS A LIFELINE TO US IN A DYING, RESTLESS, UNSTABLE WORLD.
The anchor is secure on the other side of the veil.
- I FIND STABILITY AS I HOLD ON TO THE LIFELINE THAT IS ALSO SECURELY CONNECTED TO ME.
...grasp the hope that he holds out to us.
- LIFE CHANGE HAPPENS AS I PULL FORWARD BY FAITH.
Faith = Kedging = grasping and pulling into God’s trustworthy Word.
Link by link. Bible promise by Bible promise.
“Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and will dine with him, and he with Me. He who overcomes, I will grant to him to sit down with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’” Revelation 3:20-22
WHEN REALITY AND EXPECTATIONS COLLIDE
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SET MY EXPECTATIONS ABOUT LIFE. LIFE IS DIFFICULT. “Our days may come to seventy years, or eighty, if our strength endures; yet the best of them are but trouble and sorrow, for they quickly pass, and we fly away.” Psalm 90:10
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SET MY EXPECTATIONS ABOUT GOD. INCOMPREHENSIBLE STORMS WILL COME. “Everyone who hears my words and does not ·obey [act on; practice] them is like a ·foolish [stupid] man who built his house on sand. It rained hard, the ·floods came [rivers rose], and the winds blew and ·hit [beat; slammed against] that house, and it ·fell [collapsed] with a big crash.” Matthew 7:26-27
“I don’t think the way you think. The way you work isn’t the way I work.” God’s Decree. “For as the sky soars high above earth, so the way I work surpasses the way you work, and the way I think is beyond the way you think.” Isaiah 55:8-9
GOD IS OTHER.
- BE ANCHORED IN REALITY.
“Among men it is customary to swear by something greater than themselves. And if a statement is confirmed by an oath, that is the end of all quibbling. So in this matter, God, wishing to show beyond doubt that his plan was unchangeable, confirmed it with an oath. So that by two utterly immutable things, the word of God and the oath of God, who cannot lie, we who are refugees from this dying world might have a source of strength, and might grasp the hope that he holds out to us.” Hebrews 6:16-18
That hope is real and true, an anchor to steady our restless souls, a hope that leads us back behind the curtain to where God is (as the high priests did in the days when reconciliation flowed from sacrifices in the temple) and back into the place where Jesus, who went ahead on our behalf, has entered since He has become a High Priest forever...” Hebrews 6:19-20
“For as the rain and snow come down from heaven, And do not return there without watering the earth, Making it bear and sprout, And providing seed to the sower and bread to the eater, so will My word be which goes out of My mouth; It will not return to Me void (useless, without result), Without accomplishing what I desire, And without succeeding in the matter for which I sent it.” Isaiah 55:10-11
“If racing against mere men makes you tired, how will you race against horses?” Jeremiah 12:5a
“Therefore we do not become discouraged (utterly spiritless, exhausted, and wearied out through fear). Though our outer man is [progressively] decaying and wasting away, yet our inner self is being [progressively] renewed day after day. For our light, momentary affliction (this slight distress of the passing hour) is ever more and more abundantly preparing and producing and achieving for us an everlasting weight of glory [beyond all measure, excessively surpassing all comparisons and all calculations, a vast and transcendent glory and blessedness never to cease!], Since we consider and look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen; for the things that are visible are temporal (brief and fleeting), but the things that are invisible are deathless and everlasting.” 2 Corinthians 4:16-18
Series: For the Win Title: Living My Best Life Hebrews 12:1-4; James 1:14-17 1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, 2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. 4 In your struggle against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood. Hebrews 12:1-4 14 But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. 15 Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death. 16 Do not be deceived, my beloved brothers. 17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change. James 1:14-17
FOR THE WIN - THE FOUNDATION IS FAITH Faith is belief in God’s promises plus unbelief and acting on the belief part, without regard to the consequences. Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. Hebrews 11:1
The fundamental fact of existence is that this trust in God, this faith, is the firm foundation under everything that makes life worth living. It’s our handle on what we can’t see. The act of faith is what distinguished our ancestors, set them above the crowd. Hebrews 11:1-2 message
Through faith’s power they conquered kingdoms and established true justice. Their faith fastened onto their promises and pulled them into reality! It was faith that shut the mouth of lions, put out the power of raging fire, and caused many to escape certain death by the sword. In their weakness their faith imparted power to make them strong! Faith sparked courage within them and they became mighty warriors in battle, pulling armies from another realm into battle array. Faith-filled women saw their dead children raised in resurrection power. Yet it was faith that enabled others to endure great atrocities. They were stretched out on the wheel and tortured, and didn’t deny their faith in order to be freed, because they longed for a more honorable and glorious resurrection! Others were mocked and experienced the most severe beating with whips; they were in chains and imprisoned. Some of these faith champions were brutally killed by stoning, being sawn in two or slaughtered by the sword. These lived in faith as they went about wearing goatskins and sheepskins for clothing. They lost everything they possessed, they endured great afflictions, and they were cruelly mistreated. They wandered the earth living in the desert wilderness, in caves, on barren mountains and in holes in the earth. Truly, the world was not even worthy of them, not realizing who they were. Hebrews 11:33-38 And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him. Hebrews 11:6
Trust is essential for close personal relationships. Truth is the basis for trust. Truth must be expressed in love. What is the reward? God Himself
Let us keep our eyes fixed on Jesus, who is the author of our faith and the one who brings it to its goal. In view of the joy set before him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame, and has taken his seat at the right hand of God’s throne. Carefully consider him who endured such hostility against himself from sinful people, so that you do not grow weary and lose heart. Hebrews 12:2-3
When we use Jesus to get the same things the world wants – (health, wealth, and prosperity), it is clear that we have the same treasure as the world does — and it is not Jesus. He’s just the ticket. And tickets are thrown away when the show begins. – John Piper And all these, having gained approval through their faith, did not receive what was promised, because God had provided something better for us, so that apart from us they would not be made perfect. Hebrews 11:39-40 NASB We are God's surprise ending.
Series: For the Win Title: A Winning Mindset Hebrews 12:1-6, 11 1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted. 4 In your struggle against sin you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood. 5 And have you forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as children? “My child, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord, nor be weary when reproved by him. 6 For the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and chastises every child whom he receives.” 7 It is for discipline that you have to endure. God is treating you as sons. For what son is there whom his father does not discipline? 11 For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.
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Consider the witnesses. (vs. 1)
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Fix your eyes on Jesus. (vs. 2-3)
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Trust Him as coach and father. (vs. 5-7, 11)
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Focus on the joy. (vs. 2)
Your ‘Great Work’
21 So we labored at the work, and half of them held the spears from break of dawn until the stars came out. 22 I also said to the people at that time, “Let every man and his servant pass the night inside Jerusalem, so that they may be a guard for us by night and may labor by day.” 23 So neither I nor my brothers nor my servants nor the men of the guard who followed me ever took off our clothes; each kept his weapon in his right hand. Nehemiah 4:21-23
Now when it was reported to Sanballat and Tobiah and to Geshem the Arab and to the rest of our enemies that I had built the wall and that there was no gap left in it (though up to that time I had not set up the doors in the gates), 2 Sanballat and Geshem sent to me, saying, “Come and let us meet together in one of the villages in the plain of Ono.” But they intended to do me harm. Nehemiah 6:1-2 (NRSV)
So I sent messengers to them, saying, “I am doing a great work and I cannot come down. Why should the work stop while I leave it to come down to you?” Nehemiah 6:3 (NRSV)
They sent to me four times in this way, and I answered them in the same manner. Nehemiah 6:4
- There are things in your life that, if you don´t deal with them, they have the potential to destroy it.
So the wall was finished on the twenty-fifth day of the month Elul, in fifty-two days. Nehemiah 6:15
And when all our enemies heard of it, all the nations around us were afraid and fell greatly in their own esteem; for they perceived that this work had been accomplished with the help of our God. Nehemiah 6:16 (NRSV)
What does it take to finish our Great Work?
They replied, “The survivors there in the province who escaped captivity are in great trouble and shame; the wall of Jerusalem is broken down, and its gates have been destroyed by fire.” Nehemiah 1:3
1) Acknowledge the situation.
6 let your ear be attentive and your eyes open to hear the prayer of your servant that I now pray before you day and night for your servants, the people of Israel, confessing the sins of the people of Israel, which we have sinned against you. Both I and my family have sinned. 7 We have offended you deeply, failing to keep the commandments, the statutes, and the ordinances that you commanded your servant Moses. Nehemiah 1:6-7 (NRSV)
2) Confess our rebellion.
O Lord, let your ear be attentive to the prayer of your servant, and to the prayer of your servants who delight in revering your name. Give success to your servant today, and grant him mercy in the sight of this man!” Nehemiah 1:11 (NRSV)
3) Put yourself in God´s hands.
3 “I am doing a great work and I cannot come down... 15 the wall was finished... in fifty-two days. Nehemiah 6:3a; 15 (NRSV)
4) Focus totally in Your Great Work.
HOME FOR CHRISTMAS Christmas Eve 2019
"Your Father in heaven does not want a single one of the tripped, waylaid, stumbling little ones to be lost.” Matthew 18:14
• A SPIRITUAL HOMECOMING
“But when she saw him (the angel), she was greatly troubled and disturbed and confused at what he said and kept revolving in her mind what such a greeting might mean.” Luke 1:29
“Mary (deciding in her heart): Here I am, the Lord’s humble servant. As you have said, let it be done to me. And the heavenly messenger was gone.” Luke 1:38
• A HUMBLE SERVANT IS ONE WHO COMMITS TO DO THE MASTER’S WILL
“They hurried off and found both Mary and Joseph, and the baby who was lying in the feeding trough. After seeing them, they reported the message they were told about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. But Mary was treasuring up all these things in her heart and meditating on them.” Luke 2:15-19
“If you are tired from carrying heavy burdens, come (home) to Me and I will give you rest... rest for your soul.” Matthew 11:28-30
• GOD WANTS US TO MOVE OUT OF OUR HEADS AND INTO OUR HEARTS
“For in him we live and move and have our being.” Acts 17:28
“He does our praying in and for us, making prayer out of our wordless sighs… the word that saves is right here, as near as the tongue in your mouth, as close as the heart in your chest.” Romans 8:28 & 10:8
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BREATH – YHWH
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I’M LISTENING. I’LL DO WHATEVER YOU SAY
“We throw open our doors to God and discover at the same moment that He has already thrown open His door to us!” Romans 5:1-2
Title: A Not-So-Perfect, Perfect Christmas
Matthew 1:18-25, Galatians 4:4-5 18 Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. 19 And her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly. 20 But as he considered these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. 21 She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” 22 All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet: 23 “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel” (which means, God with us). 24 When Joseph woke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him: he took his wife, 25 but knew her not until she had given birth to a son. And he called his name Jesus. Matthew 1:18-25
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Push back feelings with faith.
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Remember God’s promises.
15 I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel. Genesis 3:15
3 I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed. Genesis 12:3
14 Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel. Isaiah 7:14 1 In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. 2 This was the first registration when[a] Quirinius was governor of Syria. 3 And all went to be registered, each to his own town. 4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David. Luke 2:1-4 4 But when the right time came, God sent his Son, born of a woman, subject to the law. 5 God sent him to buy freedom for us who were slaves to the law, so that he could adopt us as his very own children. Galatians 4:4-5 3. Remember who you are.
THE CHRISTMAS GIFT FOR A GOD WHO HAS EVERYTHING
But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, who are little to be among the clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to be ruler in Israel, whose origin is from of old, from ancient days.. Micah 5:2
With what shall I come before the Lord and bow down before the exalted God? Shall I come before him with burnt offerings, with calves a year old? Will the Lord be pleased with thousands of rams, with ten thousand rivers of olive oil? Shall I offer my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul? He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly[a] with your God. Micah 6:6-8 (NIV)
-IF IT IS NOT THE QUALITY OF THE GIFT
-IF IT IS NOT THE QUANTITY OF THE GIFT
-IF IT IS NOT EVEN GIVING THE ULTIMATE SACRIFICE
THEN WHAT DOES GOD WANT?
-TO ACT JUSTLY
-TO LOVE MERCY
For I desire mercy and not sacrifice…Hosea 6:6a
-TO WALK HUMBLY WITH YOUR GOD
Now it happened, as Jesus sat at the table in the house, that behold, many tax collectors and sinners came and sat down with Him and His disciples. And when the Pharisees saw it, they said to His disciples, “Why does your Teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?” When Jesus heard that, He said to them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy and not sacrifice.’ For I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance.” Matthew 9:10–13
CHRISTMAS AND THE CIRCLE OF LIFE
Infinite Circles are built into God’s universe.
• LOVE
“We love because He has first loved us. If someone claims, “I love God,” but hates his brother or sister, then he is a liar. Anyone who does not love a brother or sister, whom he has seen, cannot possibly love God, whom he has never seen. He gave us a clear command, that all who love God must also love their brothers and sisters.” 1 John 4:19-21
• PRAYER
“And this is the boldness we have in God’s presence: that if we ask God for anything that agrees with what he wants, he hears us. If we know he hears us every time we ask him, we know we have what we ask from him.” 1 John 5:14-15
“Delight yourself in the Lord; And He will give you the desires of your heart.” Psalm 37:4
• JUDGEMENT AND FORGIVENESS
“Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.” Luke 6:37-38
THE INFINITE CIRCLE OF CHRISTMAS – GIVING
“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.” John 3:16
“The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’” Matthew 25:40
“Anyone who sets himself up as "religious" by talking a good game is self-deceived. This kind of religion is hot air and only hot air. Real religion, the kind that passes muster before God the Father, is this: Reach out to the homeless and loveless in their plight, and guard against corruption from the godless world.” James 1:26-27
“For I am the Lord—I do not change. That is why you are not already utterly destroyed, for my mercy endures forever. “Though you have scorned my laws from earliest time, yet you may still return to me,” says the Lord Almighty. “Come and I will forgive you. “But you say, ‘We have never even gone away!’ “Will a man rob God? Surely not! And yet you have robbed me. “‘What do you mean? When did we ever rob you?’” You have robbed me of the tithes and offerings due me. And so the awesome curse of God is cursing you, for your whole nation has been robbing me. Bring all the tithes into the storehouse so that there will be food enough in my Temple; if you do, I will open up the windows of heaven for you and pour out a blessing so great you won’t have room enough to take it in! “Try it! Let me prove it to you! Malachi 3:6-10
Teaching Series: Best Gift Title: Risky and Rich Matthew 25:14-29
14 “Again, the Kingdom of Heaven can be illustrated by the story of a man going on a long trip. He called together his servants and entrusted his money to them while he was gone. 15 He gave five bags of silver to one, two bags of silver to another, and one bag of silver to the last—dividing it in proportion to their abilities. He then left on his trip.
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Leverage God’s gifts.
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Live on purpose.
24 “Then the servant with the one bag of silver came and said, ‘Master, I knew you were a harsh man, harvesting crops you didn’t plant and gathering crops you didn’t cultivate. 25 I was afraid I would lose your money, so I hid it in the earth. Look, here is your money back.’ 29 To those who use well what they are given, even more will be given, and they will have an abundance. But from those who do nothing, even what little they have will be taken away.
- Reduce your excuse.
23 “The master said, ‘Well done, my good and faithful servant. You have been faithful in handling this small amount, so now I will give you many more responsibilities. Let’s celebrate together!
The Process of Transformation
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Crisis
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Your main struggle is with God.
“This left Jacob all alone in the camp, and a man came and wrestled with him until the dawn began to break. When the man saw that he would not win the match, he touched Jacob’s hip and wrenched it out of its socket.” Genesis 32:24-25 (NLT)
- Perseverance
“Then the man said, “Let me go, for the dawn is breaking!” But Jacob said, “I will not let you go unless you bless me.” Genesis 32:26 (NLT)
- When we commit to keep going in a crisis, it becomes possible to grow.
“So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up.” Galatians 6:9 (NLT)
- Confession
“The man asked him, "What is your name?" "Jacob," he answered.” Genesis 32:27
* I will never be able to change until I honestly admit my sin. * I am
- Transformation
“Then the man said, "Your name will no longer be Jacob, but Israel, because you have struggled with God and with men and have overcome." Jacob said, "Please tell me your name." But he replied, "Why do you ask my name?" Then he blessed him there. So Jacob called the place Peniel, saying, "It is because I saw God face to face, and yet my life was spared."” Genesis 32:28-30
a) God gives him a new identity b) God gives him His blessing c) God gives him a reminder of the experience
“The sun was rising as Jacob left Peniel, and he was limping because of the injury to his hip.” Genesis 32:31
10-10-80-Week Three The 80 %
“Those who love money will never have enough. How meaningless to think that wealth brings true happiness! The more you have, the more people come to help you spend it. So what good is wealth—except perhaps to watch it slip through your fingers!” Ecclesiastes 5:10-11
- SPEND LESS THAN YOU EARN
You can act rich, or you can be rich.
“One pretends he is wealthy but has nothing, while another seems to be poor but has great wealth.” Proverbs 13:7
- USE DEBT WISELY AND SPARINGLY
“The rich lord it over the poor, and the borrower is the slave to the lender.” Proverbs 22:7
- SPEND FOR REAL VALUE
“Even so, I have noticed one thing, at least, that is good. It is good for people to eat, drink, and enjoy their work under the sun during the short life God has given them, and to accept their lot in life. And it is a good thing to receive wealth from God and the good health to enjoy it. To enjoy your work and accept your lot in life—this is indeed a gift from God. God keeps such people so busy enjoying life that they take no time to brood over the past.” Ecclesiastes 5:18-20
“Heavenly Father, you are in charge of everything that is going to happen to me today–whether it be good or bad, positive or negative. Please make me thankful for everything that happens to me today. Amen.”
“You have planted a large crop, but your harvest is small. You have food to eat, but it is never enough to satisfy. You have something to drink, but you are never filled. You have clothes to wear, but they are not enough to keep you warm. You earn a salary, but the money runs out quickly, as if there are holes in your pocket.” Haggai 1:6
10-10-80 THE SECOND TEN
REVIEW: THE FIRST TEN
• If you want to master money, money can’t be your master. • The easiest way to determine if money is your master is whether or not you tithe. • What you do with money, or desire to do with it, can make or break your happiness forever.
THE SECOND TEN: PAY YOURSELF
“To them, a show of godliness is just a way to become wealthy. But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. Those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.” 1 Timothy 6:5-10
Wealth will not make you content, but contentment can make you wealthy.
58% of Americans do not have $1000 in savings.
1 in 3 Americans have nothing in savings.
PRINCIPLES:
-
REMEMBER GODLINESS WITH CONTENTMENT IS GREAT WEALTH
-
MAKE A PLAN, AND THEN WORK THE PLAN.
Hope without a plan is just hype.
“Good planning and hard work lead to prosperity, “Proverbs 21:5
Baby steps if you’re overwhelmed:
• Stash $1000 in an emergency fund. • Use the power of the “Debt Snowball” • Save 3-6 months expenses • Invest for the future
10 / 10 / 80 Week 1
“The one who manages the little he has been given with faithfulness and integrity will be promoted and trusted with greater responsibilities. But those who cheat with the little they have been given will not be considered trustworthy to receive more. If you have not handled the riches of this world with integrity, why should you be trusted with the eternal treasures of the spiritual world? And if you’ve not been proven faithful with what belongs to another, why should you be given wealth of your own? It is impossible for a person to serve two masters at the same time. You will be forced to love one and reject the other. One master will be despised and the other will have your loyal devotion. It is no different with God and the wealth of this world. You must enthusiastically love one and definitively reject the other.” Now, the Jewish religious leaders who were listening to Jesus were lovers of money. They laughed at what he said and mocked his teachings. Luke 16:10-14
- BRING THE FIRST 10% TO GOD
10: GOD
10: SAVE
80: LIVE
“Each year bring to the house of the Lord your God the first grain that you harvest.” Exodus 23:19
“Glorify God with all your wealth, honoring him with your very best with every increase that comes to you. Then every dimension of your life will overflow with blessings from an uncontainable source of inner joy!” Proverbs 3:9-10
- OVERCOME YOUR FEARS WITH FAITH
“The earth and everything on it belong to the Lord. The world and its people belong to him.” Psalm 24:1
“ ‘Bring your full tithe to the Temple treasury so there will be ample provisions in my Temple. Test me in this and see if I don’t open up heaven itself to you and pour out blessings beyond your wildest dreams. For my part, I will defend you against marauders, protect your wheat fields and vegetable gardens against plunderers.’ The message of God-of-the-Angel-Armies.” Malachi 3:10-11
“The whole congregation of believers was united as one—one heart, one mind! They didn’t even claim ownership of their own possessions. No one said, “That’s mine; you can’t have it.” They shared everything. The apostles gave powerful witness to the resurrection of the Master Jesus, and grace was on all of them. And so it turned out that not a person among them was needy. Those who owned fields or houses sold them and brought the price of the sale to the apostles and made an offering of it. The apostles then distributed it according to each person’s need.” Acts 4:32-35
Teaching Series: Fake News Title: Mirror, Mirror Luke 8:42-48
Fake News: I am defined by my decisions in the past, my present circumstances, and my potential in the future.
42As Jesus was on his way, the crowds almost crushed him. 43 And a woman was there who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years,[c] but no one could heal her. 44 She came up behind him and touched the edge of his cloak, and immediately her bleeding stopped. 45 “Who touched me?” Jesus asked. When they all denied it, Peter said, “Master, the people are crowding and pressing against you.” 46 But Jesus said, “Someone touched me; I know that power has gone out from me.” 47 Then the woman, seeing that she could not go unnoticed, came trembling and fell at his feet. In the presence of all the people, she told why she had touched him and how she had been instantly healed. 48 Then he said to her, “Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace.”
Truth: In Christ, I am who He says I am.
“Lord, teach us to pray”… Luke 11:1 “And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by others.
Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words.
Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him. This, then, is how you should pray:
“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. And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.” Matthew 6:5-13
Fake News: Prayer is mostly an exercise to make us feel better. Truth: Prayer is God’s only plan for world-change; it is on-the-job training for eternity.
“This, then, is how you should pray: “‘Our Father in heaven…” Matthew 6:9
Fake news: God is far away and uninterested. Truth: God is a Father.
“…hallowed be your name…” Matthew 6:9
“And this will be his name: The Lord Is Our Righteousness.” Jeremiah 23:6
“I am the Lord who makes you Holy.” Leviticus 20:8
“And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.” Philippians 1:6
“The Lord your Peace.” Judges 6:24
”The Lord is there.” Ezekiel 48:35
“My wayward children,” says the Lord, “come back to me, and I will heal your wayward hearts.” Jeremiah 3:22
“I will comfort those who mourn, bringing words of praise to their lips. May they have abundant peace, both near and far,” says the Lord, who heals them.” Isaiah 57:18-19
“The Lord will provide.” Genesis 22:14
Fake news: Praying for God’s will to be done is nice, but it probably won’t happen. Truth: God has given us the authority to go to war, spiritually, to accomplish His will on this prodigal planet.
“Your Kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” Matthew 6:10
Fake News: God must be convinced to provide for us. Truth: God loves you and desires to provide for you.
“ Give us today our daily bread.” Matthew 6:11
“Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.” Luke 6:38
“But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” Matthew 6:33
“And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.” Matthew 6:12 12
Fake News: God forgives us no matter what. Truth: Only one thing stops God’s forgiveness – our unforgiveness.
“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.” Matthew 6:14-15
Fake News: We win over temptation by standing and fighting. Truth: We win over temptation by fleeing.
“And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.” Matthew 6:13
“Run away from infantile indulgence. Run after mature righteousness—faith, love, peace…” 2 Timothy 2:22
FAKE NEWS – Week 4
Fake News: Prayer is our natural response to difficulty Truth: Worry is our natural response to difficulty
“Don’t be anxious about things; instead, pray. Pray about everything. He longs to hear your requests, so talk to God about your needs and be thankful for what has come. And know that the peace of God (a peace that is beyond any and all of our human understanding) will stand watch over your hearts and minds in Jesus, the Anointed One.” Philippians 4:6-7 Fake News: Prayer comes naturally Truth: Prayer must be learned and developed
“It happened that while Jesus was praying in a certain place, after He had finished, one of His disciples said to Him, “Lord, teach us to pray...” Luke 11:1
Fake News: Learning how to pray is the answer Truth: Actually praying is the answer
“Lord, teach us to pray...”Luke 11:1
Jesus’ model for prayer:
“And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him. This, then, is how you should pray: “‘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. And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.” Matthew 6:5-13
FAKE NEWS – Week 3 • Fake News: God doesn’t do miracles any more like he did in the Bible “Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do, he will do also; and greater works than these he will do; because I go to the Father.” John 14:12
“Some people brought to him a deaf man with a severe speech impediment. They pleaded with Jesus to place his hands on him and heal him. So Jesus led him away from the crowd to a private spot. Then he stuck his fingers into the man’s ears and placed some of his saliva on the man’s tongue. Then he gazed into heaven, sighed deeply and spoke to the man’s ears and tongue, “Ethpathakh,” which is Aramaic for “Open up, now!” At once the man’s ears opened and he could hear perfectly, and his tongue was untied and he began to speak normally. Jesus ordered everyone to keep this miracle a secret, but the more he told them not to, the more the news spread! Mark 7:32-36
“Jesus wept.” JOHN 11:35 “Good people pass away; the godly often die before their time. But no one seems to care or wonder why. No one seems to understand that God is protecting them from the evil to come.” Isaiah 57:1
• Good News (Gospel Truth): Jesus still heals today, but his focus is on “The Greater Works”
“The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, Because the Lord has anointed me To bring good news to the afflicted; He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to captives, Opening to those who are bound.” Isaiah 61:1
“Then at last, eyes that are ready to see will finally be opened! Ears that are ready to hear will finally be opened!” Isaiah 32:3
“But if our gospel is hid, it is hid to those that are lost, In whom the god of this age has blinded the understanding of those who do not believe, that the light of the gospel of the glory of the Christ, who is the image of God, should not shine in them.” 2 Corinthians 4:3-4
“Then Jesus opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures.” Luke 24:45
“A woman named Lydia, from the city of Thyatira, a seller of purple fabrics, a worshiper of God, was listening; and the Lord opened her heart to respond to the things spoken by Paul.” Acts 16:14
“So pay careful attention to your hearts as you hear my teaching, for to those who have open hearts, even more revelation will be given to them until it overflows. And for those who do not listen with open hearts, what little light they imagine to have will be taken away.” Luke 8:18
“Consider the kind of extravagant love the Father has lavished on us—He calls us children of God! It’s true; we are His beloved children. And in the same way the world didn’t recognize Him, the world does not recognize us either. My loved ones, we have been adopted into God’s family; and we are officially His children now. The full picture of our destiny is not yet clear, but we know this much: when Jesus appears, we will be like Him because we will see Him just as He is.” 1 John 3:1-2
The Spirit filled life Fake News – 2
- Fake News: Our God is a distant and uninterested God.
Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:9
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. Isaiah 41:10
Truth: God is always with you, and cares deeply about you.
Long ago God spoke many times and in many ways to our ancestors through the prophets. And now in these final days, he has spoken to us through his Son. Hebrews 1:1-2a
And the curtain of the temple was torn in two. Luke 23:45
“In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit” Ephesians 1:13 (ESV)
I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. Galatians 2:20
Truth: Christ lives inside of you through the Holy Spirit.
- Fake news from the world: Being spiritual means to be one with the universe.
“I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.” John 15:5
Truth: Being spiritual means to be one with Jesus
- Fake News from the Church: The spiritual life is revealed by the gifts of the Spirit.
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.” Galatians 5:22-23
Truth: The Spiritual life is revealed in your character.
- Fake News: If God loved me, my life would be easy.
Truth: We mature spiritually through a permanent process that is full of trials.
“I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful.” John 15:1-2
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.” Matthew 28:19-20
FAKE NEWS
Fake News: I will earn my way to heaven by my good deeds. “When you did amazing wonders we didn’t expect, you came down, and mountains shuddered in your presence! These amazing things had never been heard of before; you did things never dreamed of! No one perceived your greatness. No eye has ever seen a God like you, who intervenes for those who wait and long for you! We have all become contaminated with sin, and you see our self-righteousness as nothing better than a menstrual rag. We are all like fallen leaves, and our sins sweep us away like the wind.” Isaiah 64:3-4,6
“You see, all have sinned, and all their futile attempts to reach God in His glory fail.” Romans 3:23
Good News (Gospel truth): Eternal Life is a person. “Those who believe in the Son of God have the living testimony in their hearts. Those who don’t believe have made God out to be a liar by not believing the testimony God has confirmed about his Son. This is the true testimony: that God has given us eternal life, and this life has its source in his Son. Whoever has the Son has eternal life; whoever does not have the Son does not possess eternal life. I’ve written this letter to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you will be assured and know without a doubt that you have eternal life.” 1 John 5:20-13
Fake News: I found God. “God looks down from the heavens on the children of men, to see if anyone understands, who seeks after God. All have turned aside— together they have become corrupt. There is no one who does good— no, not even one!” Psalm 53:2-3
Good News (Gospel Truth): God found me. “No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up on the last day.” John 6:44
“But there are some of you who do not believe.” For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were who did not believe, and who it was that would betray Him. And He was saying, “For this reason I have said to you, that no one can come to Me unless it has been granted him from the Father.” As a result of this many of His disciples withdrew and were not walking with Him anymore. So Jesus said to the twelve, “You do not want to go away also, do you?” Simon Peter answered Him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have words of eternal life. We have believed and have come to know that You are the Holy One of God.” John 6:64-69 “Wouldn’t every single one of you, if you have 100 sheep and lose one, leave the 99 in their grazing lands and go out searching for the lost sheep until you find it? When you find the lost sheep, wouldn’t you hoist it up on your shoulders, feeling wonderful? And when you go home, wouldn’t you call together your friends and neighbors? Wouldn’t you say, “Come over and celebrate with me, because I’ve found my lost sheep”? This is how it is in heaven.” Luke 15:3-7a
This is Boring Mark 5:1-20; 7:31-37 (NASB) Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making an appeal through us; we beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. 2 Corinthians 5:20
1They came to the other side of the sea, into the country of the Gerasenes. 2 When He got out of the boat, immediately a man from the tombs with an unclean spirit met Him, 3 and he had his dwelling among the tombs. And no one was able to bind him anymore, even with a chain; 4 because he had often been bound with shackles and chains, and the chains had been torn apart by him and the shackles broken in pieces, and no one was strong enough to subdue him. 5 Constantly, night and day, he was screaming among the tombs and in the mountains, and gashing himself with stones.
15 They came to Jesus and observed the man who had been demon-possessed sitting down, clothed and in his right mind, the very man who had had the “legion”; and they became frightened.
18 As He was getting into the boat, the man who had been demon-possessed was imploring Him that he might accompany Him. 19 And He did not let him, but He *said to him, “Go home to your people and report to them what great things the Lord has done for you, and how He had mercy on you.” 20 And he went away and began to proclaim in Decapolis what great things Jesus had done for him; and everyone was amazed. Mark 5:1-20
Boredom evaporates as you:
- Share your story.
- Point to Jesus.
- Repeat.
Awestruck Isaiah 6:1-8 (NASB)
1 In the year of King Uzziah’s death I saw the Lord sitting on a throne, lofty and exalted, with the train of His robe filling the temple. 2 Seraphim stood above Him, each having six wings: with two he covered his face, and with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew. 3 And one called out to another and said, “Holy, Holy, Holy, is the Lord of hosts, The [a]whole earth is full of His glory.” 4 And the [b]foundations of the thresholds trembled at the voice of him who called out, while the [c]temple was filling with smoke. 5 Then I said, “Woe is me, for I am ruined! Because I am a man of unclean lips, And I live among a people of unclean lips; For my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts.” 6 Then one of the seraphim flew to me with a burning coal in his hand, which he had taken from the altar with tongs. 7 He touched my mouth with it and said, “Behold, this has touched your lips; and your iniquity is taken away and your sin is [d]forgiven.” 8 Then I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for Us?” Then I said, “Here am I. Send me!”
FACING THE FUTURE TOGETHER AS COMMUNITY OF FAITH GOD’S SURVIVAL KIT FOR WHATEVER THE FUTURE HOLDS
- AN ACCURATE REALITY MAP
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart. Never rely on what you think you know. Remember the Lord in everything you do, and He will show you the right way.” Proverbs 3:5-6
“Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain.” 1 Timothy 6:17
“The earth was rocked at the sound of his voice from the mountain, but now he has promised, “Once and for all I will not only shake the systems of the world, but also the unseen powers in the heavenly realm!” Now this phrase “once and for all” clearly indicates the final removal of things that are shaking, that is, the old order so only what is unshakeable will remain.” Hebrews 12:26-27
- A DIVINE GUIDE AND GUARD
“The Lord Himself will go before you. He will not leave you or forget you. So don’t be afraid and don’t worry.” Deuteronomy 31:8
“For the Lord will go before you, And the God of Israel will be your rear guard.” Isaiah 52:12b
“I tell you in solemn truth,” returned Jesus, “before there was an Abraham, I AM!” John 8:58
“I will provide for their needs before they ask, and I will help them while they are still asking for help.” Isaiah 65:24
“Don’t be troubled. You trust God, now trust in Me. There are many rooms in My Father’s home, and I am going to prepare a place for you.” John 14:1-2
- A FRIEND THAT STICKS CLOSER THAN A BROTHER
“There are “friends” who pretend to be friends, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.” Proverbs 18:24
“Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you." So we say with confidence, "The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?" Hebrews 13:5-6
“When you go through deep waters and great trouble, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown! When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up; the flames will not consume you.” Isaiah 43:2
“It is you, not I, who have been carried from before you were born. Indeed, when you were still in the womb, I was taking care of you. And when you are old, I will still be there, carrying you. When your limbs grow tired, your eyes are weak, and your hair a silvery gray, I will carry you as I always have. I will carry you and save you. Isaiah 46:3-5
- A TIGHT KNIT FAMILY I CAN DEPEND ON NO MATTER WHAT
“We know and, to some extent realize, the love of God for us because Christ expressed it in laying down his life for us. We must in turn express our love by laying down our lives for those who are our brothers. But as for the well-to-do man who sees his brothers in want but shuts his eyes—and his heart—how could anyone believe that the love of God lives in him? My children, let us not love merely in theory or in words—let us love in sincerity and in practice!” 1 John 3:16-18
“Carry each other’s burdens and so live out the law of Christ....” Galatians 6:2
“The whole congregation of believers was united as one—one heart, one mind! They didn't even claim ownership of their own possessions. No one said, "That's mine; you can't have it." They shared everything. The apostles gave powerful witness to the resurrection of the Master Jesus, and grace was on all of them. And so it turned out that not a person among them was needy. Those who owned fields or houses sold them and brought the price of the sale to the apostles and made an offering of it. The apostles then distributed it according to each person's need.” Acts 4:32-34
HE BIBLE IN A NUTSHELL OR WILL SERIAL KILLERS BE IN HEAVEN? How good do you have to be to go to heaven? A) Pretty good B) Really Good C) A lot better than a serial killer D) Perfect
If you are going to understand the Bible in a nutshell, you have to know something about God that you don’t know.
“They do not know God’s righteousness, and all the time they are going about trying to prove their own righteousness they have the wrong attitude to receive his.” Romans 10:3 God’s goodness demands perfection.
But, you are going to fail.
“When all these blessings and curses I have set before you come on you.” Deuteronomy 30:1
“For instance, some outsiders who are not required to follow the law often live quite naturally by its teachings. Even though the law wasn’t given to them, in themselves they have the law. Here’s the thing: their lives demonstrate that God has inscribed the law’s teachings on their hearts. On judgment day, their consciences will testify for them, and their thoughts will both accuse and defend them. This good news given to me declares that this affirmation and accusation will take place on that day when God, through Jesus, the Anointed One, judges every person’s life secrets.” Romans 2:14-16
There is a tension between a loving God that is Holy and Just, and a sinful, guilty human race.
“For Christ means the end of the struggle for righteousness-by-the-Law for everyone who believes in him.” Romans 10:4 It is only in this tension that the profound ugliness of the cross makes any sense. “Moses wrote that anyone who insists on using the law code to live right before God soon discovers it’s not so easy—every detail of life regulated by fine print! But trusting God to shape the right living in us is a different story—no precarious climb up to heaven to recruit the Messiah, no dangerous descent into hell to rescue the Messiah. So what exactly was Moses saying? The word that saves is right here, as near as the tongue in your mouth, as close as the heart in your chest.” Romans 10:5-6
“It’s the word of faith that welcomes God to go to work and set things right for us. This is the core of our preaching. Say the welcoming word to God—“Jesus is my Master”—embracing, body and soul, God’s work of doing in us what he did in raising Jesus from the dead. That’s it. You’re not “doing” anything; you’re simply calling out to God, trusting him to do it for you. That’s salvation. With your whole being you embrace God setting things right, and then you say it, right out loud: “God has set everything right between him and me!” Romans 10:7-10 “Scripture reassures us, “No one who trusts God like this—heart and soul—will ever regret it.” It’s exactly the same no matter what a person’s religious background may be: the same God for all of us, acting the same incredibly generous way to everyone who calls out for help. “Everyone who calls, ‘Help, God!’ gets help.” Romans 10:11-13
YOUR WATERSHED MOMENT 2 Now Abram was very rich in livestock, in silver and in gold. 3 He went on his journeys from the Negev as far as Bethel, to the place where his tent had been at the beginning, between Bethel and Ai, 4 to the place of the altar which he had made there formerly; and there Abram called on the name of the Lord. 5 Now Lot, who went with Abram, also had flocks and herds and tents. 6 And the land could not sustain them while dwelling together, for their possessions were so great that they were not able to remain together. 7 And there was strife between the herdsmen of Abram’s livestock and the herdsmen of Lot’s livestock. Now the Canaanite and the Perizzite were dwelling then in the land. 8 So Abram said to Lot, “Please let there be no strife between you and me, nor between my herdsmen and your herdsmen, for we are brothers. 9 Is not the whole land before you? Please separate from me; if to the left, then I will go to the right; or if to the right, then I will go to the left.” 10 Lot lifted up his eyes and saw all the valley of the Jordan, that it was well watered everywhere—this was before the Lord destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah—like the garden of the Lord, like the land of Egypt as you go to Zoar. 11 So Lot chose for himself all the valley of the Jordan, and Lot journeyed eastward. Thus they separated from each other. 12 Abram settled in the land of Canaan, while Lot settled in the cities of the valley, and moved his tents as far as Sodom. 13 Now the men of Sodom were wicked exceedingly and sinners against the Lord. 14 The Lord said to Abram, after Lot had separated from him, “Now lift up your eyes and look from the place where you are, northward and southward and eastward and westward; 15 for all the land which you see, I will give it to you and to your descendants forever. 16 I will make your descendants as the dust of the earth, so that if anyone can number the dust of the earth, then your descendants can also be numbered. 17 Arise, walk about the land through its length and breadth; for I will give it to you.” 18 Then Abram moved his tent and came and dwelt by the oaks of Mamre, which are in Hebron, and there he built an altar to the Lord. Genesis 13:6-18 (NASB)
Your destiny is determined at certain watershed choice points. These watershed choice points are the hinges upon which your life’s story is hung. A life that matters is simply a result of lining up these choice points with God’s principles.
THE PRINCIPLES FOR CHOOSING A LIFE THAT MATTERS 1. Choose relationships over rights.
“So Abram said to Lot, “Please let there be no strife between you and me, nor between my herdsmen and your herdsmen, for we are brothers.” Genesis 13:8 “So then we pursue the things which make for peace and the building up of one another.” Romans 14:19 2. Choose an abundance mindset over a scarcity mindset. Scarcity requires a loser. “Lot lifted up his eyes...” Genesis 13:10 “Lot chose for himself...” Genesis 13:11 “The Lord said to Abram, after Lot had separated from him, “Now lift up your eyes...” Genesis 13:14
- Choose time with God over time with culture.
“Then Abram moved his tent and came and dwelt by the oaks of Mamre, which are in Hebron, and there he built an altar to the Lord.” Genesis 13:18
- Choose to give yourself to God’s story and He will give Himself to your life’s story.
“For all the land which you see, I will give it to you and to your descendants forever. I will make your descendants as the dust of the earth, so that if anyone can number the dust of the earth, then your descendants can also be numbered. Arise, walk about the land through its length and breadth; for I will give it to you.” Genesis 13:15-17
“Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things will be added to you.” Matthew 6:33
PUSHING THE SELF DESTRUCT BUTTON
Whenever someone wrongs you there is a DEBT in your relationship. They owe you. “You OWE me an apology.”
“For this reason the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts with his slaves. When he had begun to settle them, one who owed him ten thousand talents was brought to him. But since he [c]did not have the means to repay, his lord commanded him to be sold, along with his wife and children and all that he had, and repayment to be made. So the slave fell to the ground and prostrated himself before him, saying, ‘Have patience with me and I will repay you everything.’ And the lord of that slave felt compassion and released him and forgave him the debt. But that slave went out and found one of his fellow slaves who owed him a hundred [denarii; and he seized him and began to choke him, saying, ‘Pay back what you owe.’ So his fellow slave fell to the ground and began to plead with him, saying, ‘Have patience with me and I will repay you.’ But he was unwilling [f]and went and threw him in prison until he should pay back what was owed. So when his fellow slaves saw what had happened, they were deeply grieved and came and reported to their lord all that had happened. Then summoning him, his lord *said to him, ‘You wicked slave, I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with me. Should you not also have had mercy on your fellow slave, in the same way that I had mercy on you?’ And his lord, moved with anger, handed him over to the torturers until he should repay all that was owed him. My heavenly Father will also do the same to you, if each of you does not forgive his brother from your heart.” Matthew 18:23-35
Refusing to forgive is to push the SELF DESTRUCT button in your life.
Depression can sometimes be just anger that has been STUFFED down.
Forgiveness is not for the benefit of the OFFENDER.
Do I want to get WELL or do I want to get EVEN?
God knows that to HOLD onto that debt no matter how deep and hurtful it is, is to CHAIN every RELATIONSHIP in your life to that debt going forward.
In the shadow of your HURT you are JUSTIFIED to hold on to that debt, but in the shadow of the CROSS, we lose our right to refuse to forgive.
God hasn’t asked you to DIE for somebody; He’s asked you to CANCEL the debt.
Don’t continue to allow the people who have HURT you the most to INFLUENCE your current and future relationships. Your story EXPLAINS your behavior; it doesn’t EXCUSE it. To forgive and forget is NOT possible.
“Their sins and their evildoing I will remember no more.” Hebrew 10:17
HOW DO I FORGIVE?
- Identify WHO hurt you
- Identify WHAT had been taken (what they owe you)
- Dismiss the case – Refuse to hold that debt against them anymore FORGIVENESS is simply a decision to cancel a debt. It is not a FEELING
- Remind yourself the case is dismissed as OFTEN as necessary
Remember: Emotion follows motion. Forgiveness is NOT for them, it is FOR you.
Are You In Good Hands? (Who covers you?)
9 To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everyone else, Jesus told this parable: 10 “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11 The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other people—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. 12 I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.’ 13 “But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner.’ 14 “I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.” Luke 18:9-14
9 To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everyone else, Jesus told this parable: 10 “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. Luke 18:9-10
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. Genesis 2:24-25
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. Genesis 3:6-7
11 The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other people—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. 12 I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.’ Luke 18:11-12
13 “But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner.’ Luke 18:13
“I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.” Luke 18:14
Freedom from Sexual Captivity John 8:2-11 (ESV)
2 Early in the morning he came again to the temple. All the people came to him, and he sat down and taught them. 3 The scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in adultery, and placing her in the midst 4 they said to him, “Teacher, this woman has been caught in the act of adultery.
5 Now in the Law, Moses commanded us to stone such women. So what do you say?” 6 This they said to test him, that they might have some charge to bring against him. Jesus bent down and wrote with his finger on the ground.
7 And as they continued to ask him, he stood up and said to them, “Let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone at her.” 8 And once more he bent down and wrote on the ground.
9 But when they heard it, they went away one by one, beginning with the older ones, and Jesus was left alone with the woman standing before him. 10 Jesus stood up and said to her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?” 11 She said, “No one, Lord.” And Jesus said, “Neither do I condemn you; go, and from now on sin no more.”
WHEN YOU FEEL LIKE GIVING UP
NEHEMIAH 4:6,10-14
WHY WE GIVE UP
FATIGUE (vs. 10a)"Meanwhile the people in Judah said, The strength of the laborers is giving out...'"
FRUSTRATION (vs. 10b)
"... and there is so much rubble..."
FAILURE (vs. 10c)"... we cannot rebuild the wall..."
FEAR (vs. 11)"Also our enemies said,Before they know it or see us ... we will kill them and put an end to their work!'" (vs. 12)THE CURE FOR GIVING UP
RESET YOUR PRIORITIES (vs. 13)
“Therefore I stationed some of the people behind the lowest point of the wall at the exposed places, posting them by families, with their swords, spears and bows.”VS13
RECALL TO MIND (vs. 14a)" I said to them ... `Don't be afraid of them. Remember the Lord, who is great and awesome… "
My soul has been rejected from peace; I have forgotten happiness.So I say, “My strength has perished, And so has my hope from the Lord.”
Remember my affliction and my wandering, the wormwood and bitterness.Surely my soul remembers, And is bowed down within me. This I recall to my mind, Therefore I have hope.The Lord’s lovingkindnesses indeed never cease,For His compassions never fail. They are new every morning;Great is Your faithfulness “The Lord is my portion,” says my soul,“Therefore I have hope in Him.”
LAMENTATIONS 3
GO ON OFFENSE(vs. 14b)"... and fight for your brothers, your sons, daughters, wives and homes!"
WHERE FUNCTION AND MISSION MEET- DON’T WAIT FOR FUNCTION TO DO MISSION We are dysfunctional- DYS-SATISFIED DYS-STRESSED DYS-APPOINTED DYS-COURAGED Don’t confuse simple with easy. ALL FUNCTION STARTS WITH THE TRUTH. 1.THE TRUTH ABOUT GOD. “You shall have no other gods before Me. EX. 20:3 PHILOSOPHER PETER KREEFT-The opposite of theism(belief in God) is not atheism, it is idolatry. “For My people have committed two evils: They have forsaken Me,The fountain of living waters, To hew for themselves cisterns,Broken cisterns that can hold no water. Jeremiah 2:13 Bible (NASB) 2.THE TRUTH ABOUT YOU “ Do not be shaped by this world; instead be changed within by a new way of thinking. Then you will be able to decide what God wants for you; you will know what is good and pleasing to him and what is perfect.” Romans 12: 2 [NCV] 3.THE TRUTH ABOUT THE BIBLE So this I say, and affirm together with the Lord, that you walk no longer just as the Gentiles also walk, in the futility of their mind…EPHESIANS 4:17 Your word is a doorway that lets in light,and it helps gullible people understand. Psalm 119:130(GW) 4.THE TRUTH ABOUT HARD TIMES He comes alongside us when we go through hard times, and before you know it, he brings us alongside someone else who is going through hard times so that we can be there for that person just as God was there for us.2 CORINTHIANS 1:4 5.THE TRUTH ABOUT THE CHURCH Make this your common practice: Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you can live together whole and healed. The prayer of a person living right with God is something powerful to be reckoned with. JAMES 5:16-18 SIN CERA- LATIN-without wax.
So let’s do it—full of belief, confident that we’re presentable inside and out. Let’s keep a firm grip on the promises that keep us going. He always keeps his word. Let’s see how inventive we can be in encouraging love and helping out, not avoiding worshiping together as some do but spurring each other on, especially as we see the big Day approaching. Hebrews 10:22- (MSG)
- REVOLUTIONIZE MY WORDS. “Simply let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes’ and your ‘No,’ ‘No.’” Matthew 5:37 “Here’s what I want you to do. Find a quiet, secluded place so you won’t be tempted to role-play before God. Just be there as simply and honestly as you can manage. The focus will shift from you to God, and you will begin to sense His grace.” Matthew 6:5
- REVOLUTIONIZE MY RELATIONSHIPS. “Here is a simple, rule-of-thumb guide for behavior: Ask yourself what you want people to do for you then grab the initiative and do for them.” Matthew 7:12 “Do you want to stand out? Then step down. Be a servant. If you puff yourself up you’ll get the wind knocked out of you. But if you are content to simply be yourself your life will count for plenty.” Matthew 23:11-12
- REVOLUTIONIZE MY PACE. “Then because 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 6:1 “Fix your thoughts on what is true and honorable and right. Think about things that are pure and lovely and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.” Philippians 4:8
- REVOLUTIONIZE MY FAITH. “At that time the followers came to Jesus and asked, ‘Who is greatest in the kingdom of heaven?’ Jesus called a little child to Him and stood the child before His followers. Then He said, ‘I tell you the truth, you must change and become like little children. Otherwise, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. The greatest person in the kingdom of heaven is the one who makes himself humble like this child.’” Matthew 18:1-4 “And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him.” Hebrews 11:6
WHAT AN AMAZING TIME TO BE ALIVE! Pastor Mark Shook
See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is. And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord, giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, submitting to one another in the fear of God. Ephesians 5:15-21(NKJV) • Evil days are not obstacles, but opportunities. Hinge points in history usually come when the days are evil. “Evil times, therefore, are not to be feared. They are times of unparalleled opportunity. That's why we must make the most of them.” —David H. Roper Redeem – To exchange for something, to buy up, to bargain hunt Circumspectly – To be awake to the moment, not careless or preoccupied If we don’t understand what God is doing, we will live foolishly. • Walking is a series of 2 steps repeated over and over again. The two repeated steps of the spiritual life: o Emptying out of our own selfish ways o Being filled with the Holy Spirit.
• To deal with the pressures of the evil days, you must use the Law of Equilibrium – Equalize the pressure.
“But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. On that day the heavens will pass away with a roar, and the elements will melt and disintegrate, and the earth and everything done on it shall be exposed. Since all these things are to be destroyed in this way, what kind of people should you be? Live your lives in holiness and godliness, looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God. In that day the heavens will be dissolved by fire, and the elements will melt in the intense heat. But in keeping with His promise, we look for new heavens and a new earth, where righteousness dwells. Therefore, loved ones, while you are looking for these things, make every effort to be found in shalom, spotless and blameless before Him...” 2 Peter 3:10-15 (TLV)
Title: A Father’s Reckless Love Scripture: Luke 15:11-32 ESV
11 And he said, “There was a man who had two sons. 12 And the younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of property that is coming to me.’ And he divided his property between them.
13 Not many days later, the younger son gathered all he had and took a journey into a far country, and there he squandered his property in reckless living. 14 And when he had spent everything, a severe famine arose in that country, and he began to be in need. 15 So he went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, who sent him into his fields to feed pigs. 16 And he was longing to be fed with the pods that the pigs ate, and no one gave him anything.
17 “But when he came to himself, he said, ‘How many of my father's hired servants have more than enough bread, but I perish here with hunger! 18 I will arise and go to my father, and I will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. 19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Treat me as one of your hired servants.”’20 And he arose and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him.
21 And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’22 But the father said to his servants,‘Bring quickly the best robe, and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet. 23 And bring the fattened calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate.24 For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.’ And they began to celebrate.
25 “Now his older son was in the field, and as he came and drew near to the house, he heard music and dancing. 26 And he called one of the servants and asked what these things meant. 27 And he said to him, ‘Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fattened calf, because he has received him back safe and sound.’ 28 But he was angry and refused to go in. His father came out and entreated him, 29 but he answered his father, ‘Look, these many years I have served you, and I never disobeyed your command, yet you never gave me a young goat, that I might celebrate with my friends.30 But when this son of yours came, who has devoured your property with prostitutes, you killed the fattened calf for him!’ 31 And he said to him, ‘Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours. 32 It was fitting to celebrate and be glad, for this your brother was dead, and is alive; he was lost, and is found.’”
Straight to the Heart
4 While a large crowd was gathering and people were coming to Jesus from town after town, he told this parable: 5 “A farmer went out to sow his seed. As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path; it was trampled on, and the birds ate it up. 6 Some fell on rocky ground, and when it came up, the plants withered because they had no moisture. 7 Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up with it and choked the plants. 8 Still other seed fell on good soil. It came up and yielded a crop, a hundred times more than was sown.” When he said this, he called out, “Whoever has ears to hear, let them hear.” 9 His disciples asked him what this parable meant. 10 He said, “The knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of God has been given to you, but to others I speak in parables, so that, “‘though seeing, they may not see; though hearing, they may not understand.’ 11 “This is the meaning of the parable: The seed is the word of God. 12 Those along the path are the ones who hear, and then the devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts, so that they may not believe and be saved. 13 Those on the rocky ground are the ones who receive the word with joy when they hear it, but they have no root. They believe for a while, but in the time of testing they fall away. 14 The seed that fell among thorns stands for those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by life’s worries, riches and pleasures, and they do not mature. 15 But the seed on good soil stands for those with a noble and good heart, who hear the word, retain it, and by persevering produce a crop. Luke 8:4-15
He said, “The knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of God has been given to you, but to others I speak in parables, so that, “‘though seeing, they may not see; though hearing, they may not understand.’ Luke 8:10
- Different states of the Heart.
“A farmer went out to sow his seed. As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path; it was trampled on, and the birds ate it up. Luke 8:5
- A Hardened heart
Those along the path are the ones who hear, and then the devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts, so that they may not believe and be saved. Luke 8:12
Loneliness
Some fell on rocky ground, and when it came up, the plants withered because they had no moisture. Luke 8:6
- A Shallow heart
Those on the rocky ground are the ones who receive the word with joy when they hear it, but they have no root. They believe for a while, but in the time of testing they fall away. Luke 8:13
Fear.
Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up with it and choked the plants. Luke 8:7
- A divided heart
The seed that fell among thorns stands for those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by life’s worries, riches and pleasures, and they do not mature. Lk. 8:14
Tiredness.
Still other seed fell on good soil. It came up and yielded a crop, a hundred times more than was sown. Luke 8:8
- A Humble heart.
But the seed on good soil stands for those with a noble and good heart, who hear the word, retain it, and by persevering produce a crop. Luke 8:4-15
Peace.
• You can’t keep doing what you’ve always done and expect different results.
“What a wee little part of a person’s life are his acts and his words! His real life is led in his head, and is known to none but himself. All day long, the mill of his brain is grinding, and his thoughts, not those other things, are his history.” MARK TWAIN
“Don't copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think.” Romans 12:2
• Don’t try to think positively, simply remember that you are the thinker.
50,000 thoughts today!
• Because you are the thinker, realize your thought don’t necessarily reflect reality.
• Because you are the thinker, you get to pick which thoughts you will dwell on.
“The weapons of the war we’re fighting are not of this world but are powered by God and effective at tearing down the strongholds erected against His truth. We are demolishing arguments and ideas, every high-and-mighty philosophy that pits itself against the knowledge of the one true God. We are taking prisoners of every thought, every emotion, and subduing them into obedience to the Anointed One.” 2 Corinthians 10:4-5
“We can demolish every deceptive fantasy that opposes God and break through every arrogant attitude that is raised up in defiance of the true knowledge of God. We capture, like prisoners of war, every thought and insist that it bow in obedience to the Anointed One.” 2 Corinthians10:5
“Strip yourselves of your former nature [put off and discard your old unrenewed self] which characterized your previous manner of life and becomes corrupt through lusts and desires that spring from delusion; And be constantly renewed in the spirit of your mind [having a fresh mental and spiritual attitude].” Ephesians 4:22-23
• Become aware of the thought this is a lie
Behind every self-defeating behavior in my life is a lie I’m believing. The biggest liar in your life is you.
• Replace it with the thought that is God’s truth
“Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things. The things you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.” Philippians 4:8-9
“Keep your gentle nature so that all people will know what it looks like to walk in His footsteps. The Lord is ever present with us. Don’t be anxious about things; instead, pray. Pray about everything. He longs to hear your requests, so talk to God about your needs and be thankful for what has come. And know that the peace of God (a peace that is beyond any and all of our human understanding) will stand watch over your hearts and minds in Jesus, the Anointed One.” Philippians 4:5-7 Lie – I am God. I can control this. Truth – God cares. He is here. He will answer me for my good. “But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from the glory to glory, just as from the Lord, the Spirit.” 2 Corinthians 3:18
KEY 1: PRACTICE PROPER BOUNDARIES – KNOW WHERE I END AND GOD BEGINS
I am not God
“So now, my beloved, obey as you have always done, not only when I am with you, but even more so when I can’t be. Continue to work out your salvation, with great fear and trembling, because God is energizing you so that you will desire and do what always pleases Him.” Philippians 2:12-13
God’s work: To give me what I need to fulfill His good purpose
The “WANT TO” comes from God The “POWER TO” comes from God The Gospel = What God demands, He SUPPLIES
My work: Obey
KEY 2: UNDERSTAND THAT WHAT I KNOW IS LIMITED, BUT WHO I TRUST IS NOT
“Do everything without murmuring and questioning the providence of God, so that you may prove yourselves to be blameless and guileless, innocent and uncontaminated, children of God without blemish in the midst of a morally crooked and spiritually perverted generation.” Philippians 2:14
“In everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” 1 Thessalonians 5:18
KEY 3: COOPERATE WITH GOD “TO BECOME” WHO I ALREADY AM
“…so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation.” Philippians 2:15
KEY 4: SHINE BRIGHTER AS THE WORLD GETS DARKER
“Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky as you hold firmly to the word of life....” Philippians 2:15c-16a
Hear + Read + study + Memorize + Meditate = Firm grip on Word of Life
Then shine by LIVING it!
- GIVE YOURSELF AWAY TO THE ONLY CAUSE THAT WILL LAST, NO MATTER HOW YOU FEEL
“And then I will be able to boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor in vain. But even if I am being poured out like a drink offering on the sacrifice and service coming from your faith, I am glad and rejoice with all of you. So you too should be glad and rejoice with me.” Philippians 2:16b-18
“But this precious treasure — this light and power that now shine within us — is held in a perishable container, that is, in our weak bodies. Everyone can see that the glorious power within must be from God and is not our own. We are pressed on every side by troubles, but not crushed and broken. We are perplexed because we don’t know why things happen as they do, but we don’t give up and quit. We are hunted down, but God never abandons us. We get knocked down, but we get up again and keep going. These bodies of ours are constantly facing death just as Jesus did; so it is clear to all that it is only the living Christ within who keeps us safe.” 2 Corinthians 4:7-10
MOODSWINGERS: Letting Go of the Past Johnie Jones
15 After breakfast Jesus asked Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?” “Yes, Lord,” Peter replied, “you know I love you.” “Then feed my lambs,” Jesus told him. 16 Jesus repeated the question: “Simon son of John, do you love me?” “Yes, Lord,” Peter said, “you know I love you.” “Then take care of my sheep,” Jesus said. 17 A third time he asked him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” Peter was hurt that Jesus asked the question a third time. He said, “Lord, you know everything. You know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Then feed my sheep. John 21:15-17 NLT
If we do not let go of our past we cannot fully embrace our future.
12 I don’t mean to say that I have already achieved these things or that I have already reached perfection. But I press on to possess that perfection for which Christ Jesus first possessed me. 13 No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it’d but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, 14 I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us. Philippians 3:12-14 NLT
How do we let go of our past? 1. Acknowledge what happened.
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Forgive ourselves or those who hurt us.
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Ask God to heal the pain or guilt of our past.
The next time you’re overwhelmed by the thoughts or emotions connected to your past simply: STOP, THINK, and PRAY
MOODSWINGERS The Truth About My Moods
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WE HAVE AN ENEMY • The enemy wants to steal, kill, and destroy you. “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” John 10:10 • The enemy is a liar. “He has always hated the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, it is consistent with his character; for he is a liar and the father of lies.” John 8:44 • The enemy is the accuser. “The one accusing our brothers and sisters, the one accusing them day and night… ” Revelation 12:10
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WE CAN OVERCOME THE ENEMY • We overcome the enemy by knowing the truth. “And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” John 8:32 • We overcome the enemy by applying the truth. “Everyone has sinned, everyone falls short of the beauty of God’s plan.” Romans 3:23 “And this is the secret: Christ lives in you.” Colossians 1:27 “By his divine power, God has given us everything we need for living a godly life. We have received all of this by coming to know him, the one who called us to himself by means of his marvelous glory and excellence.” 2 Peter 1:3
Moodswingers Anxiety Gone Wild Matthew 6:24-34
24 “No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth. 25 “For this reason I say to you, do not be worried about your life, as to what you will eat or what you will drink; nor for your body, as to what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? 26 Look at the birds of the air, that they do not sow, nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not worth much more than they? 27 And who of you by being worried can add a single hour to his life? 28 And why are you worried about clothing? Observe how the lilies of the field grow; they do not toil nor do they spin, 29 yet I say to you that not even Solomon in all his glory clothed himself like one of these. 30 But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, will He not much more clothe you? You of little faith! 31 Do not worry then, saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear for clothing?’ 32 For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. 33 But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. 34 “So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. Matthew 6:24-34 (NASB)
- Anxiety exposes my inadequate view of God.
- Anxiety exposes my inadequate view of me.
- Anxiety is a liar.
6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. 8 Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things. 9 The things you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you. Philippians 4:6-9 (NASB)
- Emotions are ____________________. “The boys grew up, and Esau became a skillful hunter, a man of the open country, while Jacob was a quiet man, staying among the tents. Isaac, who had a taste for wild game, loved Esau, but Rebekah loved Jacob. Once when Jacob was cooking some stew, Esau came in from the open country, famished. He said to Jacob, ‘Quick, let me have some of that red stew! I’m famished!’ (That is why he was also called Edom.) Jacob replied, ‘First sell me your birthright’ ‘Look, I am about to die.’ Esau said. ‘What good is the birthright to me?’ But Jacob said ‘Swear to me first.’ So he swore an oath to him, selling his birthright to Jacob. Then Jacob gave Esau some bread and some lentil stew. He ate and drank, then got up and left. So Esau despised his birthright” Genesis 25:27-34
Emotional Richter Scale
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_______________ can lie, but _______________ sets us free. “Jesus told the people who had faith in him, ‘If you keep on obeying what I have said, you truly are my disciples. You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” John 8:31-32
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We _______________ the truth in our lives by our __________ (chooser). “If anyone chooses to do God’s will, he will find out whether my teaching comes from God or whether I speak on my own.” John 7:17
How to handle our emotions God’s way: • _______________ the truth • _______________ the truth = Faith part 1 • _______________ to live (work out) the truth – Faith part
“Work out your salvation...” Philippians 2:12
“You can believe all you want that there is one true God, that’s wonderful! But even the demons know this and tremble with fear before him, yet they’re unchanged—they remain demons. O feeble sons of Adam, do you need further evidence that faith divorced from good works is phony?” James 2:19-20 Faith is not a feeling. Faith is an action. Faith is something you actively do, regardless of your feelings.
- _______________ follow faith (eventually).
I can’t feel my way into a new way of _______________; I must __________ my way into a new way of _______________.
HEART LANGUAGE Mark and Laura Shook
Mary arrived back at the tomb, broken and sobbing. She stooped to peer inside, and through her tears she saw two angels in dazzling white robes, sitting where Jesus’ body had been laid—one at the head and one at the feet! “Dear woman, why are you crying?” they asked. Mary answered, “They have taken away my Lord, and I don’t know where they’ve laid him.” Then she turned around to leave, and there was Jesus standing in front of her, but she didn’t realize that it was him! He said to her, “Dear woman, why are you crying? Who are you looking for?” Mary answered, thinking he was only the gardener, “Sir, if you have taken his body somewhere else, tell me, and I will go and . . .” “Mary,” Jesus interrupted her. Turning to face him, she said, “Rabboni!” John 20:11-16
He took hold of her hand, and said to her, ‘Talitha koum’, which means ‘Time to get up, little girl!’ Mark 5:41
Jesus said, “I am the one who brings people back to life, and I am life itself. Those who believe in me will live even if they die. And everyone who lives and believes in me will never die forever. Do you believe this?” John 11:25-26
Good Friday His Story, My Story Wes Jackson
5 But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed. Isaiah 53:5 (ESV)
20 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. 21 I do not nullify the grace of God, for if righteousness were through the law, then Christ died for no purpose. Galatians 2:20 (ESV)
22 The Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took bread, 24 and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, “This is my body, which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” 25 In the same way also he took the cup, after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.” 26 For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes. 1 Corinthians 11:23-26 (ESV)
WALKING WITH JESUS THROUGH LIFE’S STORMS Matthew 14:22-33
Immediately after this, Jesus insisted that his disciples get back into the boat and cross to the other side of the lake, while he sent the people home. After sending them home, he went up into the hills by himself to pray. Night fell while he was there alone. Meanwhile, the disciples were in trouble far away from land, for a strong wind had risen, and they were fighting heavy waves. About three o’clock in the morning Jesus came toward them, walking on the water. When the disciples saw him walking on the water, they were terrified. In their fear, they cried out, “It’s a ghost!” But Jesus spoke to them at once. “Don’t be afraid,” he said. “Take courage. I am here!” Then Peter called to him, “Lord, if it’s really you, tell me to come to you, walking on the water.” “Yes, come,” Jesus said. So Peter went over the side of the boat and walked on the water toward Jesus. But when he saw the strong wind and the waves, he was terrified and began to sink. “Save me, Lord!” he shouted. Jesus immediately reached out and grabbed him. “You have so little faith,” Jesus said. “Why did you doubt me?” When they climbed back into the boat, the wind stopped. Then the disciples worshiped him. “You really are the Son of God!” they exclaimed.
THE UPSIDE DOWN KINGDOM OF GOD
SPEAKER: Pastor Mark Shook
Mark 10:32-52 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. “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, who will mock him and spit on him, flog him and kill him. Three days later he will rise.” Then James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to him. “Teacher,” they said, “we want you to do for us whatever we ask.” “What do you want me to do for you?” he asked. They replied, “Let one of us sit at your right and the other at your left in your glory.” “You don’t know what you are asking,” Jesus said. “Can you drink the cup I drink or be baptized with the baptism I am baptized with?” “We can,” they answered. Jesus said to them, “You will drink the cup I drink and be baptized with the baptism I am baptized with, but to sit at my right or left is not for me to grant. These places belong to those for whom they have been prepared.” When the ten heard about this, they became indignant with James and John. Jesus called them together and said, “You know that those who are regarded as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all. For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
Then they came to Jericho. As Jesus and his disciples, together with a large crowd, were leaving the city, a blind man, Bartimaeus (which means “son of Timaeus”), was sitting by the roadside begging. When he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to shout, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” Many rebuked him and told him to be quiet, but he shouted all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!” Jesus stopped and said, “Call him.” So they called to the blind man, “Cheer up! On your feet! He’s calling you.” Throwing his cloak aside, he jumped to his feet and came to Jesus. “What do you want me to do for you?” Jesus asked him. The blind man said, “Rabbi, I want to see.” “Go,” said Jesus, “your faith has healed you.” Immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus along the road.
Speaker: Marco Monroy Title: From Darkness to Light Series: More Than A Name
Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. John 3:1
This man came to Jesus by night and said to him, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God, for no one can do these signs that you do unless God is with him.” John 3:2 ESV
• There is no way to become a ___________________ of Jesus
without Him ______________________ with your life.
Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.” John 3:3 ESV
• What you need the most is a whole _______________ from above.
Nicodemus said to him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother's womb and be born?” John 3:4 ESV
Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. John 3:5 ESV
• To relate rightly with God, we have to keep ____________________
and keep turning ____________.
• If you want to relate rightly with Jesus, it has to be by ___________ via The Holy Spirit.
Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.” John 3:7-8 ESV
John 3:9-14 ESV
• Jesus is more than a __________________; He is a _____________. “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16 ESV
Nicodemus, who had gone to him before, and who was one of them, said to them, “Does our law judge a man without first giving him a hearing and learning what he does?” They replied, “Are you from Galilee too? Search and see that no prophet arises from Galilee.” John 7:50-52
After these things Joseph of Arimathea, who was a disciple of Jesus, but secretly for fear of the Jews, asked Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus, and Pilate gave him permission. So he came and took away his body. Nicodemus also, who earlier had come to Jesus by night, came bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about seventy-five pounds in weight. So they took the body of Jesus and bound it in linen cloths with the spices, as is the burial custom of the Jews. John 19:38-40
• The Spirit __________ you to look for Jesus, but you must ________________ to His calling.
Speaker: Wes Jackson Title: Like A Boss! Series: More Than A Name
John 5:1-9; 12-14 NIV
1 Some time later, Jesus went up to Jerusalem for one of the Jewish festivals.
2 Now there is in Jerusalem near the Sheep Gate a pool, which in Aramaic is called Bethesda and which is surrounded by five covered colonnades. 3 Here a great number of disabled people used to lie—the blind, the lame, the paralyzed.
5One who was there had been an invalid for thirty-eight years.
6When Jesus saw him lying there and learned that he had been in this condition for a long time, he asked him, “Do you want to get well?”
7“Sir,” the invalid replied, “I have no one to help me into the pool when the water is stirred. While I am trying to get in, someone else goes down ahead of me.”
8Then Jesus said to him, “Get up! Pick up your mat and walk.”
9At once the man was cured; he picked up his mat and walked.
12So they asked him, “Who is this fellow who told you to pick it up and walk?” 13The man who was healed had no idea who it was, for Jesus had slipped away into the crowd that was there. 14Later Jesus found him at the temple and said to him, “See, you are well again. Stop sinning or something worse may happen to you."
Luke 7:36-50 (NLT)
One of the Pharisees asked Jesus to have dinner with him, so Jesus went to his home and sat down to eat. When a certain immoral woman from that city heard he was eating there, she brought a beautiful alabaster jar filled with expensive perfume. Then she knelt behind him at his feet, weeping. Her tears fell on his feet, and she wiped them off with her hair. Then she kept kissing his feet and putting perfume on them.
When the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet, he would know what kind of woman is touching him. She’s a sinner!”
Then Jesus answered his thoughts. “Simon,” he said to the Pharisee, “I have something to say to you.”
“Go ahead, Teacher,” Simon replied.
Then Jesus told him this story: “A man loaned money to two people—500 pieces of silver to one and 50 pieces to the other. But neither of them could repay him, so he kindly forgave them both, canceling their debts. Who do you suppose loved him more after that?”
Simon answered, “I suppose the one for whom he canceled the larger debt.”
“That’s right,” Jesus said. Then he turned to the woman and said to Simon, “Look at this woman kneeling here. When I entered your home, you didn’t offer me water to wash the dust from my feet, but she has washed them with her tears and wiped them with her hair. You didn’t greet me with a kiss, but from the time I first came in, she has not stopped kissing my feet. You neglected the courtesy of olive oil to anoint my head, but she has anointed my feet with rare perfume.
“I tell you, her sins—and they are many—have been forgiven, so she has shown me much love. But a person who is forgiven little shows only little love.” Then Jesus said to the woman, “Your sins are forgiven.”
The men at the table said among themselves, “Who is this man, that he goes around forgiving sins?”
And Jesus said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”
JESUS – MORE THAN A NAME Where do you go when God fails you?
The sixth chapter of John’s Gospel begins with ________ following Jesus. It ends with _____. Why? They felt God didn’t fulfill His end of their ________.
John 6:30-71
Coming to Christ so He will fix your earthly condition = _________________
“So Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in yourselves…” John 6:53
Why eat? • What you eat and drink becomes ________________. • Eating is _______________. “Jesus preached this sermon in the synagogue in Capernaum. Therefore many of His disciples, when they heard this said, “This is a difficult statement; who can listen to it?” But Jesus, conscious that His disciples grumbled at this, said to them, “Does this cause you to stumble? It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing; the words that I have spoken to you are spirit and are life. But there are some of you who do not believe.” He went on to say, “This is why I told you that no one embraces me unless the Father has given you to me.” And so from that time on many of the disciples turned their backs on Jesus and refused to be associated with him.” John 6:59-66 They were no longer willing to ____________ alongside Jesus and no longer _______________ to Him and His mission. At the first shadow of _______________, they left Him. “So Jesus said to his twelve, “And you—do you also want to leave?” John 6:67 “Simon Peter answered Him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have words of eternal life. We have believed and have come to know that You are the Holy One of God.” John 6:68
The best definition of a Believer is “someone who _______________”.
“No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up on the last day.” John 6:44
“Our work as God’s servants gets validated—or not—in the details. People are watching us as we stay at our post, alertly, unswervingly . . . in hard times, tough times, bad times; when we’re beaten up, jailed, and mobbed; working hard, working late, working without eating;” 2 Corinthians 6:4
Our understanding of God and life is shaped by one of two points of view: ______ or ______. “Then Jesus shocked them with these words: “I have hand-picked you to be my twelve, knowing that one of you is the devil.” Jesus was referring to Judas Iscariot, son of Simon, for he knew that Judas, one of his chosen disciples, was getting ready to betray him. For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were who did not believe, and who it was that would betray Him.” John 6:70-71 Our _______________ or His _______________
“No one kills me. I die only because I choose to die. I have power to die and I have power to live again. This is what my Father has told me to do.” John 10:18
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Speaker: Mark Shook Title: More Than A Name - Jesus - Radical Barrrier Breaker
- Jesus always breaks down _______________.
There is a triple surprise in these verses. First, that a Jew would
______________ a Samaritan. Second, that a ___________ would
speak to a ________________ he didn’t know in public. Third, that a
Jew would ____________ from a Samaritan’s cup.
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Jesus always arranges a divine _______________ with all of us. “And He “had” to pass through Samaria.” John 4:4
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Jesus always _______________ what I am going through. “... and Jacob’s well was there. So Jesus, being wearied from His journey, was sitting thus by the well.” John 4:6
Hebrews 4:14-16
- Jesus always answers our doubts by getting our eyes off
_______________ and continually bringing us back to
_______________.
John 4:10-14
“The woman said to Him, “I know that Messiah is coming (He who is called Christ); when that One comes, He will declare all things to us.” Jesus said to her, “I who speak to you am He.” John 4:25-26
- Jesus has always been the only one who can _____________
your deepest ______________. “The water that I will give him will become in him a well of water springing up to eternal life.” John 4:10-14
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Jesus always seeks to help us see the world ______________. “Do you not say, ‘There are yet four months, and then comes the harvest’? Behold, I say to you, lift up your eyes and look on the fields, that they are white for harvest.” John 4:35
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The invitation has always been so ____________ and hasn’t
____________.
“Come and see” John 4:29
Speaker: Marco Monroy Title: The Trinity and Our Prayers
Now all of us can come to the Father through the same Holy Spirit because of what Christ has done for us. Ephesians 2:18 NLT
- We pray _____ The Spirit.
For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!”
The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, Romans 8:15-16
And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the first fruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. Romans 8:23 ESV
Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought,...
But the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words.
And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. Romans 8:26-27 ESV
- We pray in the __________ of Jesus.
The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one, I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me. John 17:22-23 ESV
- We pray _____ the Father.
“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. Matthew 7:7-8 ESV
Or which one of you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a serpent? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him! Matthew 7:9-11 ESV
You do not have, because you do not ask. 4:2b ESV
You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions. James 4:3 ESV
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THIS IS US HOLD ME TIGHT February 2/3, 2019
“Oh, love me—and right now!—hold me tight! Just the way you promised. Now comfort me so I can live, really live; your revelation is the tune I dance to.” —Psalm 119:76–77
REVIEW: • Identify my ____________________ • Practice _____________________ • Remember the ____________________ • Recognize the ____________________ • ____________________
These first steps ____________________ tension in the relationship and prepare us for the next step:
_________________________
• What am I most _______________ of?
• What do I _______________ most from you?
God allows the pain so we will get _______________, so we will _______________.
THE NEUROSCIENCE OF CONNECTION – _______________ neurons
REALIGN MY ____________________
“…my people have committed a double wrong: they have rejected me, the fountain of life-giving water, and they have dug cisterns for themselves, cracked cisterns which cannot even hold water.” Jeremiah 2:13 (NET)
“My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.” Psalm 73:26
“The Lord’s lovingkindnesses indeed never cease, For His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness. ‘The Lord is my portion,” says my soul, Therefore I have hope in Him.’ ” Lamentations 3:22-24
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Speaker: Wes Jackson Title: This Is Us - Week 3
Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. “Honor your father and mother” (this is the first commandment with a promise), “that it may go well with you and that you may live long in the land.” Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord. Ephesians 6:1-4 ESV
Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it. Proverbs 22:6 ESV
Next Step: Take a __________ at the ___________.
The _____________ is a place of:
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____________________.
-
____________________.
-
____________________.
But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved—and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus. Ephesians 2:4-6 ESV
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Week 2 The Dance
“Comfort me so I can live, really live, your revelation is the tune I dance to.” Psalm 119:76-77 “You did it: You turned my deepest pains into joyful dancing;” Psalm 30:11a (VOICE)
“The real motives come from deep within a person—as from deep waters— but a discerning person is able to draw them up and expose them.” Proverbs 20:5
A.R.E.? A________________________ R________________________ E________________________
__________ Spots: Sensitivities that come from our _______________, our personal _______________ histories, and from relationship histories.
Three Deadly Dances: 1. The ________________ Boogie - Find the Bad Guy (Anxious – Anxious) 2. The ________________ Polka – Get a response (Anxious – Avoidant) 2. The ________________ Waltz – Freeze and Flee (Avoidant – Avoidant)
First Steps: • _________________________
• _________________________
“One day the Eternal God scooped dirt out of the ground, sculpted it into the shape we call human, breathed the breath that gives life into the nostrils of the human, and the human became a living soul.” Genesis 2:7 (VOICE)
“Be still, and know that I am God! Psalm 46:10 (NLT) “Surrender your anxiety! Be silent and stop your striving and you will see that I am God.” Psalm 46:10 (TPT)
Speaker: Marco Monroy Title: My New Year’s Prayer
But you, man of God, flee from these things and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, perseverance and gentleness. 1 Timothy 6:11 NASB If anyone advocates a different doctrine and does not agree with sound words, those of our Lord Jesus Christ, and with the doctrine conforming to godliness, he is conceited and understands nothing... out of which arise... men deprived of the truth, who suppose that godliness is a means of gain. But godliness actually is a means of great gain when accompanied by contentment. 1 Timothy 6:3-6
I Contentment
- Why is our contentment so important to God?
Because the opposite of contentment is to ______________.
Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature... and greed, which is idolatry. Colossians 3:5
John 10:10
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What should we be content with?
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The ________________ where we are. All who are under the yoke as slaves are to regard their own masters as worthy of all honor so that the name of God and our doctrine will not be spoken against. 1 Timothy 6:1
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The __________________ we have. “...who suppose that godliness is a means of gain.” v. 5c
For we have brought nothing into the world, so we cannot take anything out of it either. If we have food and covering, with these we shall be content. But those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a snare and many foolish and harmful desires which plunge men into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all sorts of evil, and some by longing for it have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs. 1 Timothy 6:7-10 NASB
II Discontentment “…deprived of the truth.” v. 5
- We most pursue above all a ______________________ with Christ.
Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ. Ephesians 4:15
- We must be discontent with our ____________________________.
___________________________________________________
___________________________________________________
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What You Need For The New Year
The Holy Spirit will be our __________________ of power.
This proposal pleased the whole group. They chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit; also Philip, Procorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas from Antioch, a convert to Judaism. Acts 6:5 NIV
“Do not be drunk with wine because that will ruin your life. Instead be filled with the Spirit.” Ephesians 5:18 NLT
The Holy Spirit will give us a message and the power to proclaim it.
Now Stephen, a man full of God’s grace and power, performed great wonders and signs among the people. Opposition arose, however, from members of the Synagogue of the Freedmen (as it was called)—Jews of Cyrene and Alexandria as well as the provinces of Cilicia and Asia—who began to argue with Stephen. But they could not stand up against the wisdom the Spirit gave him as he spoke. Acts 6:8-10 NIV
The Holy Spirit will give us power to stand strong against opposition.
a) So stand against pressure. But they could not stand up against the wisdom the Spirit gave him as he spoke. Then they secretly persuaded some men to say, “We have heard Stephen speak blasphemous words against Moses and against God.” So they stirred up the people and the elders and the teachers of the law. They seized Stephen and brought him before the Sanhedrin. They produced false witnesses, who testified, “This fellow never stops speaking against this holy place and against the law. For we have heard him say that this Jesus of Nazareth will destroy this place and change the customs Moses handed down to us.” Acts 6:10-14 NIV
b) So stand like Jesus did. All who were sitting in the Sanhedrin looked intently at Stephen, and they saw that his face was like the face of an angel.
All who were sitting in the Sanhedrin looked intently at Stephen, and they saw that his face was like the face of an angel. Acts 6:15 NIV
The Holy Spirit will give the power of a new vision of Jesus.
When the members of the Sanhedrin heard this, they were furious and gnashed their teeth at him. But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, looked up to heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. “Look,” he said, “I see heaven open and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.” Acts 7:54-56 NIV
The Holy Spirit will give us ________________ for our enemies.
At this they covered their ears and, yelling at the top of their voices, they all rushed at him, dragged him out of the city and began to stone him. Meanwhile, the witnesses laid their coats at the feet of a young man named Saul. While they were stoning him, Stephen prayed, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” Acts 7:57-59
The Holy Spirit will give us power and grace at the time of ___________________.
While they were stoning him, Stephen prayed, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” Acts 7:59 NIV
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My Christmas Prayer
- Help me to see with your eyes
“When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them because they were confused and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.” Matthew 9:37
“All praise to the God and Father of our Master, Jesus the Messiah! Father of all mercy! God of all healing counsel! He comes alongside us when we go through hard times, and before you know it, he brings us alongside someone else who is going through hard times so that we can be there for that person just as God was there for us.” 2 Corinthians 1:3-5 (MSG)
- Help me to speak with your words
“But the angel reassured them. “Don’t be afraid!” he said. “I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people. The Savior—yes, the Messiah, the Lord—has been born today in Bethlehem, the city of David!” Luke 2:10-11
“What you say can preserve life or destroy it; so you must accept the consequences of your words.” Proverbs 18:21 (GNT)
- Help me to love with your heart
“For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16 “But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners.” Romans 5:8 4. Help me to serve with your attitude
“Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too. You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had. Though he was God, he did not think of equality with Godas something to cling to. Instead, he gave up his divine privileges; he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being. When he appeared in human form, he humbled himself in obedience to Godand died a criminal’s death on a cross. Therefore, God elevated him to the place of highest honorand gave him the name above all other names, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue declare that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” Philippians 2:3-11
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I AM COMMUNITY OF FAITH
6 But I will say this to encourage your generosity: the one who plants little harvests little, and the one who plants plenty harvests plenty. 7 Giving grows out of the heart—otherwise, you’ve reluctantly grumbled “yes” because you felt you had to or because you couldn’t say “no,” but this isn’t the way God wants it. For we know that “God loves a cheerful giver.”[a] 8 God is ready to overwhelm you with more blessings than you could ever imagine so that you’ll always be taken care of in every way and you’ll have more than enough to share. 9 Remember what is written about the One who trusts in the Lord: He scattered abroad; He gave freely to the poor; His righteousness endures throughout the ages.[b] 10 The same One who has put seed into the hands of the sower and brought bread to fill our stomachs will provide and multiply the resources you invest and produce an abundant harvest from your righteous actions. 11 You will be made rich in everything so that your generosity will spill over in every direction. Through us your generosity is at work inspiring praise and thanksgiving to God. 12 For this mission will do more than bring food and water to fellow believers in need—it will overflow in a cascade of praises and thanksgivings for our God. 13 It is a proof of your faith. Many people will praise God because you obey the Good News of Christ—the gospel you say you believe—and because you freely share with them and with all others. 2 Corinthians 9:6-13
2 KINGS 5- Naaman
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Speaker: Wes Jackson Title: I AM ______________ (Pt. 1)
Ephesians 1:1-14
______________ ______________
I am ______________________.
1Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, to the saints who are in Ephesus, and are faithful in Christ Jesus: 2Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
3Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, 4even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love 5he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, 6to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved. 7In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, 8which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight 9making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ 10as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth.
11In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will, 12so that we who were the first to hope in Christ might be to the praise of his glory. 13In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, 14who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory. Ephesians 1:1-14 ESV
How do I know I am ______________ by God?
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He ___________ me.
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He ______________ me.
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He __________________ me.
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He ________________ His ___________.
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He _____________ me up.
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He gives me ______________.
___________________________________________________
___________________________________________________
___________________________________________________
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I AM CHANGED
"My passion is to enlighten every person to this divine mystery. It was hidden for ages past until now, and kept a secret in the heart of God, the Creator of all. The purpose of this was to unveil before every throne and rank of angelic orders in the heavenly realm God’s full and diverse wisdom revealed through the church. This perfectly wise plan was destined from eternal ages and fulfilled completely in our Lord Jesus Christ, so that now we have boldness through him, and free access as kings before the Father because of our complete confidence in Christ’s faithfulness.” Ephesians 3:9-12 (TPT)
“So please don’t lose heart because of my trials here. I am suffering for you, so you should feel honored.” Ephesians 3:13 (NLT)
“So I kneel humbly in awe before the Father of our Lord Jesus, the Messiah, he perfect Father of every father and child in heaven and on the earth. And I pray that he would unveil within you the unlimited riches of his glory and favor until supernatural strength floods your innermost being with his divine might and explosive power. Then, by constantly using your faith, the life of Christ will be released deep inside you, and the resting place of his love will become the very source and root of your life. Then you will be empowered to discover what every holy one experiences—the great magnitude of the astonishing love of Christ in all its dimensions. How deeply intimate and far-reaching is his love! How enduring and inclusive it is! Endless love beyond measurement that transcends our understanding—this extravagant love pours into you until you are filled to overflowing with the fullness of God! Never doubt God’s mighty power to work in you and accomplish all this. He will achieve infinitely more than your greatest request, your most unbelievable dream, and exceed your wildest imagination! He will outdo them all, for his miraculous power constantly energizes you. Now we offer up to God all the glorious praise that rises from every church in every generation through Jesus Christ—and all that will yet be manifest through time and eternity. Amen!” Ephesians 3:14-21 (TPT)
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Speaker: Marco Monroy Title: I AM United (Pt. 3)
Ephesians 2:11-22
Therefore, remember that formerly you who are Gentiles by birth... and called “uncircumcised” by those who call themselves “the circumcision” (which is done in the body by human hands)— v. 11
Romans 2:29
Remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world. v. 12
But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ. v. 13
For he himself is our peace, who has made the two groups one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, v. 14
By setting aside in his flesh the law with its commands and regulations. v. 15a
Jeremiah 31:31-33
Galatians 3:19
His purpose was to create in himself one new humanity out of the two, thus making peace, and in one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility. He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near. For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit. v. 15a-18
Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people and also members of his household, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. v. 19-20
In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit. v. 21-22
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Speaker: Mark Shook Title: I AM ______________ (Pt. 2)
And you were dead in your trespasses and sins,
2 in which you formerly walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, of the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience.
3 Among them we too all formerly lived in the lusts of our flesh, indulging the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, even as the rest.
4 But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us,
5 even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved),
6 and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus,
7 so that in the ages to come He might show the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.
8 For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God;
9 not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.
10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.
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Speaker: Wes Jackson Title: I AM ______________ (Pt. 1)
Ephesians 1:1-14
______________ ______________
I am ______________________.
1Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, to the saints who are in Ephesus, and are faithful in Christ Jesus: 2Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
3Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, 4even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love 5he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, 6to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved. 7In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, 8which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight 9making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ 10as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth.
11In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will, 12so that we who were the first to hope in Christ might be to the praise of his glory. 13In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, 14who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory. Ephesians 1:1-14 ESV
How do I know I am ______________ by God?
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He ___________ me.
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He ______________ me.
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He __________________ me.
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He ________________ His ___________.
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He _____________ me up.
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He gives me ______________.
___________________________________________________
___________________________________________________
___________________________________________________
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UNSHAKEABLE PRAYER: GOD’S TOOL FOR CHANGING MY WORLD DANIEL 9:1-23
- Prayer always starts with _______________
“It was the first year of the reign of Darius the Mede, the son of Ahasuerus, who became king of the Babylonians. During the first year of his reign, I, Daniel, learned from reading the word of the Lord, as revealed to Jeremiah the prophet, that Jerusalem must lie desolate for seventy years.” Daniel 9:1-2
“This is what the Lord says: “You will be in Babylon for seventy years. But then I will come and do for you all the good things I have promised, and I will bring you home again. 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. In those days when you pray, I will listen.” Jeremiah 29:10-12
- God _______________ in His great work
• We _______________ from God
• We learn to ____________________
“So I turned to the Lord God and pleaded with him in prayer and fasting. I also wore rough burlap and sprinkled myself with ashes.” Daniel 9:3
• We stand on ____________________
Daniel 9:4-6
“In those coming days,” says the Lord, “the people of Israel will return home together with the people of Judah. They will come weeping and seeking the Lord their God. They will ask the way to Jerusalem and will start back home again.” Jeremiah 50:4-5a
• We agree with ____________________
Daniel 9:7-19
• We keep fighting ____________________ for as long as it takes
“I went on praying and confessing my sin and the sin of my people, pleading with the Lord my God for Jerusalem, his holy mountain.” Daniel 9:20
- God’s will becomes our _______________ “As I was praying, Gabriel, whom I had seen in the earlier vision, came swiftly to me at the time of the evening sacrifice. He explained to me, “Daniel, I have come here to give you insight and understanding. The moment you began praying, a command was given. And now I am here to tell you what it was, for you are very precious to God.” Daniel 9:21-23
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UNSHAKEABLE 8
WHY STAND FOR GOD PUBLICLY? Daniel’s 8 th Test: Daniel 6:1-28
- I MOVE ____________________MY FEAR. “So never be ashamed to tell others about our Lord. And don’t be ashamed of me, either, even though I’m in prison for him. With the strength God gives you, be ready to suffer with me for the sake of the Good News.” 2 Timothy 1:8 (NLT) Fear is just a __________, and it cannot __________. Fear is _______________, but it won't __________me. Fear grows when I _____________ it, but it lessens when I ____________ it. We should base our lives on our _______________, not on our fears. Courage is not the _______________ of fear. Courage is ____________ the fear and _______________ anyway “Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness.” Acts 4:29 (NIV)
- I PUT MYSELF IN THE PLACE FOR A _______________TO HAPPEN Daniel 6:19-23
- I ____________________ OTHER BELIEVERS Paul: “Because I am in prison, most of the believers have become more bold in Christ and are not afraid to speak the word of God.” Philippians 1:14 (NCV)
- I DEMONSTRATE GOD’S _______________TO THOSE WHO DON’T BELIEVE “The members of the council were amazed when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, for they could see that they were ordinary men with no special training in the Scriptures. They also recognized them as men who had been with Jesus.” Acts 4:13 (NLT) The King becomes a believer! Daniel 6:24-28 18 generations later Matthew 2:1-2
- I WILL BE ____________________ BY GOD, HIMSELF. Jesus: “God will bless you when people insult you, mistreat you, and tell all kinds of evil lies about you because of me. Be happy and excited! You will have a great reward in heaven. People did these same things to the prophets who lived long ago.” Matthew 5:11-12 (CEV)
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Are You Learning From Those Who Came Before You? Life of Daniel: Thriving in the Tests of Life — Part 7 Birdie Netz October 20-21, 2018
GUIDE NOTES:
Daniel has exceptional ability and is filled with divine knowledge and understanding. He can interpret dreams, explain riddles, and solve difficult problems. Call for Daniel, and he will tell you what the writing means. . Daniel 5:12
• Maintain A _________________________________.
And he gives grace generously. As the Scriptures say, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” James 4:6
• Put Into Practice __________________________________.
You are his successor, O Belshazzar, and you knew all this, yet you have not humbled yourself. Daniel 5:22
• Learn The Lessons Of ________________________________.
Just ask the previous generation. Pay attention to the experience of our ancestors, for we were born but yesterday and know nothing. Our days on earth are as fleeting as a shadow. Job 8:8-9
If I don’t humbly learn from generations before me,
I will end up ____________________________________.
You Are Made ______________ And You Are Made _____________.
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DANIEL 4:1-37
WHAT WRECKS US
- We get ____________________ and ______________________. I, Nebuchadnezzar, was at home in my palace, contented and prosperous. 5 I had a dream that made me afraid. As I was lying in bed, the images and visions that passed through my mind terrified me. Daniel 4:4-5 NIV
King Nebuchadnezzar said, “Is not this the great Babylon I have built as the royal residence, by my mighty power and for the glory of my majesty?” Daniel 4:30 NIV
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We ignore the _______________________. Daniel 4:24-25 NIV
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We ____________________ doing what’s necessary. Daniel 4:28-33a NIV
HOW DO WE RECOVER
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__________________. At the end of that time, I, Nebuchadnezzar, raised my eyes toward heaven, and my sanity was restored. Daniel 4:34a NIV
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__________________. Then I praised the Most High; I honored and glorified him who lives forever. Daniel 4:34b NIV
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__________________. At the same time that my sanity was restored, my honor and splendor were returned to me for the glory of my kingdom. My advisers and nobles sought me out, and I was restored to my throne and became even greater than before. 37 Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and exalt and glorify the King of heaven, because everything he does is right and all his ways are just. And those who walk in pride he is able to humble. Daniel 4:36-37 NIV
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Speaker: Mark Shook Title: Unshakeable (Pt. 5) When The World Turns Up The Heat
Daniel 3
THREE SIMILARITIES TO US TODAY
- The world creates larger-than-life ______________ for me to
__________________.
- If I reject the world’s idols & images, people will try to
__________________.
- Doing the right thing always makes some people
_________________.
WHAT DO I DO WHEN THE WORLD TURNS UP THE HEAT?
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Don’t worry about ______________________ myself. “Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego replied, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you”. Daniel 3:16
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Choose _______________ to God’s way ________________________. “But even if he doesn’t, we want to make it clear to you, Your Majesty, that we will never serve your gods or worship the gold statue you have set up.” Daniel 3:18
Actually God saves, delivers, rescues in three different ways:
• Sometimes God saves us _______________ the crisis
• Sometimes God saves us _________________ the crisis
• Sometimes God saves us ___________ the crisis “...it may be necessary for you to be sad for a while because of the many trials you suffer. Their purpose is to prove that your faith is genuine. Even gold, which can be destroyed, is tested by fire; and so your faith, which is much more precious than gold, must also be tested, so that it may endure. Then you will receive praise and glory and honor on the Day when Jesus Christ is revealed.” 1 Peter 1:6-7 TEV
BENEFITS OF TRUSTING GOD IN THE FIRE
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God will ____________________________________! Isaiah 43:2-3
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God will ______________________________________________!
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God will ______________________________!
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God will ______________________________________! Daniel 3:28
“Then Nebuchadnezzar said, “Praise to the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego! He sent his angel to rescue his servants who trusted in him. They defied the king’s command and were willing to die rather than serve or worship any god except their own God.” Daniel 3:28
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STORY WE FIND OURSELVES IN
DANIEL 2
You’re life is either part of the _________________________ever told or a bad _________________________. Then Daniel praised the God of heaven and said: “Praise be to the name of God for ever and ever; wisdom and power are his. He changes times and seasons; he deposes kings and raises up others. He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to the discerning. He reveals deep and hidden things; he knows what lies in darkness, and light dwells with him. I thank and praise you, God of my ancestors: You have given me wisdom and power, you have made known to me what we asked of you, you have made known to us the dream of the king.” Daniel 2:19-23 Head Gold – Babylonian (612-539 BC) Chest Silver – Persian (539-331 BC) – 44% of world population Belly / Thighs Bronze – Greek (331-63 BC) – Alexander the Great Legs Iron – Roman and rise of western civilization (63 BC-present) 1. The story is not written by ____________________ but by the hand of God. 2. In the story, all empires ultimately serve God’s ____________________. 3. Everything else will ____________________ except the story. Even the mightiest empires are ____________________. 4. In this temporary world, God is writing an ____________________ story. When you die, you get a hole in the ground and a piece of granite above your head. On the granite they chisel your name, date of birth, date of death, and guess how they sum up your life? You get a little dash “—”. 5) In which story do you want to place your ____________________?
Do yourself a favor and learn all you can; then remember what you learn and you will prosper. Proverbs 19:8 (GNT)
Then the king ordered Ashpenaz, his chief of staff, to bring to the palace some of the young men… Train these young men in the language and literature of Babylon… They were to be trained for three years, and then they would enter the royal service. Daniel 1:3-5 (NLT)
When the training period ordered by the king was completed, the chief of staff brought all the young men to King Nebuchadnezzar. The king talked with them, and no one impressed him as much as Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah. So they entered the royal service. Whenever the king consulted them in any matter requiring wisdom and balanced judgment, he found them ten times more capable than any of the magicians and enchanters in his entire kingdom. Daniel 1:18-20 (NLT)
HOW TO EXCEL IN YOUR EDUCATION and not lose your faith.
- Decide in advance to stand for God. Daniel made up his mind not to defile himself… Daniel 1:8a (NLT)
- Never stop learning. Intelligent people are always ready to learn. Their ears are open for knowledge. Proverbs 18:15 (NLT)
- Meditate on God’s Word. Study this Book of Instruction continually. Meditate on it day and night so you will be sure to obey everything written in it. Only then will you prosper and succeed in all you do. Joshua 1:8 (NLT)
- Choose believers as best friends. Walk with the wise and become wise; associate with fools and get in trouble. Proverbs 13:20 (NLT) And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another. Hebrews 10:25 (NLT)
- Remember that God will reward me.
“God blesses you when people mock you and persecute you and lie about you and say all sorts of evil things against you because you are my followers. 12 Be happy about it! Be very glad! For a great reward awaits you in heaven. And remember, the ancient prophets were persecuted in the same way. Matthew 5:11-12 (NLT)
Therefore, God elevated him to the place of highest honor and gave him the name above all other names, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue declare that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Philippians 2:9 (NLT)
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WHEN YOU’RE PRESSURED TO CONFORM UNSHAKEABLE! (Pt. 2)
But Daniel made up his mind that he would not defile himself with the king’s choice food or with the wine which he drank; so he sought permission from the commander of the officials that he might not defile himself. Now God granted Daniel favor and compassion in the sight of the commander of the officials, and the commander of the officials said to Daniel, “I am afraid of my lord the king, who has appointed your food and your drink; for why should he see your faces looking more haggard than the youths who are your own age? Then you would make me forfeit my head to the king.” But Daniel said to the overseer whom the commander of the officials had appointed over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah, “Please test your servants for ten days, and let us be given some vegetables to eat and water to drink. Then let our appearance be observed in your presence and the appearance of the youths who are eating the king’s choice food; and deal with your servants according to what you see.” Daniel 1:8-13
MANY TIMES, BEFORE A ____________ THERE IS A ____________.
But we speak the Good News because God tested us and trusted us to do it. When we speak, we are not trying to please people, but God, who tests our hearts. 1 Thessalonians 2:4
HOW TO PASS THE TEST
1) ____________________ your mind
2) ____________________ Him on his promise
“Everything we could ever need for life and complete devotion to God has already been deposited in us by his divine power. For all this was lavished upon us through the rich experience of knowing him who has called us by name and invited us to come to him through a glorious manifestation of his goodness. As a result of this, he has given you magnificent promises that are beyond all price, so that through the power of these tremendous promises you can experience partnership with the divine nature, by which you have escaped the corrupt desires that are of the world.” 2 Peter 1:3-4
Speaker: Mark Shook Title: Unshakeable - When Your World is Shaken Up
“. . . all the foundations of society are being shaken to the core.” Psalm 82:5 LB
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_____________________________________________________ Jesus: “In this world you will experience difficulties! But take heart! I have conquered the world! I've told you this so that in trusting me, you will be unshakeable and deeply at peace.” John 16:33 Message
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_____________________________________________________ God says: “The plans I have for you are plans for good and not to harm you. They are plans to give you hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11
GOD SHAKES THINGS UP _________________________ “. . . God led you all the way in the desert these forty years, to humble you and to test you in order to know what was in your heart, whether or not you’d keep his commands.” Deuteronomy 8:2 NIV
GOD SHAKES THINGS UP _________________________ “When God spoke from Mount Sinai his voice shook the earth, but now he says, ‘I will not only shake the earth but the heavens too.’ By this he means that he will sift out everything without a solid foundation so that only the unshakeable things will be left.” Hebrews 12:26-27 LB
GOD SHAKES THINGS UP _________________________ “Sometimes it takes a painful experience to make us change our ways.” Proverbs 20:30 TEV
GOD SHAKES THINGS UP _________________________ “You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good . . .” Genesis 50:20 NIV
GOD SHAKES THINGS UP _________________________ “We can rejoice when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they are good for us — they help us learn to be patient. And patience develops strength of character in us and helps us trust God more each time we use it . . .” Romans 5:3-4 LB
- _____________________________________________________ “Trust the Lord with all your heart. Don't depend on your own understanding. Honor the Lord in everything you do and he will give you success.” Proverbs 3:5-6
Speaker: Marco Monroy Title: The Root Of Our Struggles
And God spoke all these words: “I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery. “You shall have no other gods before me. “You shall not make for yourself an image in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. You shall not bow down to them or worship them... Exodus 20:1-17
Idolatry: To _______________ something above God.
- Superficial Idols: Those that can be easily ____________.
a) ______________.
b) ____________.
c) ____________________.
d) _____________.
e) ________________.
f) ________________________.
g) ___________________.
h) ______________.
i) ______________________.
j) _______________.
- Source Idols: Where all superficial idols _______________ from.
A) _______________.
B) ________________.
C) _______________.
D) ______________.
Speaker: Marco Monroy Title: What Matters Most
Anyone whose name was not found written in the book of life was thrown into the lake of fire. Revelation 20:11-15
- The Great White Throne Judgment
The subject of the first test is your _______________.
... for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. Romans 3:23 For the wages of sin is death... Romans 6:23
For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. 2 Corinthians 5:21 NKJV
“It is finished.” With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit. John 19:30
If you have put your faith in Jesus, He _______________ the 1st test for you.
- The Judgment seat of Christ
For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each of us may receive what is due us for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad. 2 Corinthians 5:10
The subject of the second test is your _______________.
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 2:8-10
Once you were saved, your life has a divine and eternal
_______________.
But each one should build with care. For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. If anyone builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, their work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each person’s work. If what has been built survives, the builder will receive a reward. If it is burned up, the builder will suffer loss but yet will be saved—even though only as one escaping through the flames. 1 Corinthians 3:10-15
Speaker: Mark Shook Title: Overflowing Life From The Hand Of A Good God
2 WAYS TO APPROACH LIFE
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____________________ mindset.
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____________________ mindset.
“My cup overflows!” Psalm 23:5 NIV
“On the last and greatest day of the festival, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, “Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.” John 7:37-38 NIV
“I am the holy Lord God, the one who rescues you. For your own good, I teach you, and I lead you along the right path. How I wish that you had obeyed my commands! Your success and good fortune would then have overflowed like a flooding river.” Isaiah 48:17-18 CEV
OVERFLOWING LIFE = To be filled _______________ capacity with
an _______________ supply of God’s goodness.
HOW CAN I EXPERIENCE AN OVERFLOWING LIFE?
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Stay _______________ to _______________ every day. But if you stay in me and obey my commands, you may ask any request you like, and it will be granted! My true disciples produce bountiful harvests. This brings great glory to my Father. “I have loved you even as the Father has loved me. Live within my love. When you obey me you are living in my love, just as I obey my Father and live in his love. I have told you this so that you will be filled with my joy. Yes, your cup of joy will overflow!” John 15:7-11 TLB
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Stop ________________ and start being _________________. “Do everything without complaining and arguing.” Philippians 2:14 NLT
“No matter what happens, always be thankful, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.” 1 Thessalonians 5:18 TLB
- Stop ________________, and start being _________________. “It’s healthy to be content, but envy will eat you up.” Proverbs 14:30 CEV
“Better one handful with tranquility than two handfuls with toil and chasing after the wind.” Ecclesiastes 4:6 NCV
- Stop being _________________, and start being
_________________.
“The point is this: whoever sows sparingly shall also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully shall also reap bountifully. Let each one give as he has decided in his heart, not grudgingly or under compulsion—for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace overflow to you, so that by always having enough of everything, you may overflow in every good work.” 2 Corinthians 9:6-8 TLV
Speaker: Mark Shook Title: Anointed By A Loving God
“You anoint my head with oil” Psalm 23:5
WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BE ANOINTED?
Internal: When God’s Holy Spirit gives you insight, ability, stamina, authority or protection that you don’t normally have in order to do a job that He has chosen you to do!
External: When someone serving under God’s authority prayerfully applies some oil to your skin as an outward sign of what God has chosen to do with you.
FACTS ABOUT GOD’S ANOINTING
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God’s anointing _________________________. Then Samuel took oil and poured it on Saul's head and said, "God has anointed you to be the leader of his people... God’s Spirit will come on you in power, and you’ll speak like a prophet and you’ll be changed into a different person. After this happens, do whatever you think is best, because God will be with you!” 1 Samuel 10:1+6-7
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Gods’ anointing ______________________________! “From his unlimited resources God will give you mighty inner strength through his Holy Spirit.” Ephesians 3:16
“God's power at work within us is able to accomplish infinitely more than we could ever dare to ask for or even imagine.” Ephesians 3:20
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God anoints my life _________________________. “The Spirit of the Lord is on me and he’s anointed me to bring good news to the suffering and afflicted. He has sent me to comfort the brokenhearted, to announce freedom to captives, and to open the eyes of the blind. He has sent me to tell those who mourn that the time of God's favor to them has come ... To tell all who mourn that God will give beauty for ashes, joy instead of mourning, and praise instead of heaviness!” Isaiah 61:1-3
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For every new challenge _____________________________.
“The Lord generously gives us his favor and honor. No good thing will he withhold from those who live right.” Psalm 84:11
“The anointing you received from Christ lives in you.” 1 John 2:27
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Speaker: Mark Shook Title: God is Still Good in the Valleys of my Life
“The Lord is my Shepherd, I have everything I need. He makes me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul. He leads me in the right paths for his name’s sake. Even when I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me!” Psalm 23:1-4
God said, “Because the Syrians think that I am only the god of the hills and not that I am the God of the valleys, I’m going to give you victory over this huge army so everyone will know that I am the Lord!” 1 Kings 20:28
Valleys are _______________, _______________, and
_______________.
What kind of valleys to expect:
The Valley of Siddim (Genesis 14:1-11) –The Valley of
________________
The Valley of Eshcol (Numbers 13:23-33)–The Valley of
______________
The Valley of Elah (1 Samuel 17:1-58) –The Valley of
_________________
The Valley of Baca (Psalm 84:5-7) –The Valley of __________________
- REMEMBER _______________ IS WITH ME “Even when I walk through the Valley of the Shadow of Death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me.”Psalm 23:4
“When you go through deep waters and great trouble, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown! When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up — the flames will not consume you!”Isaiah 43:2
“As for me, God’s presence is all I need! I’ve made the sovereign Lord my shelter.”Psalm 73:28
- REMEMBER _________________ HE IS ALLOWING Romans 5:3-5
“I will transform the Valley of Trouble into a Gateway of Hope!” Hosea 2:15
- REMEMBER _______________ HE IS ALLOWING IT “For our present troubles are quite small and they won’t last very long. Yet they are producing in us an eternal glory that will last forever and is greater than anything we can imagine!” 2 Corinthians 4:17
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Speaker: Mark Shook Title: Led By God
“The Lord is MY Shepherd, I have everything I need. He makes me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul. He leads me in the right paths for his name’s sake” Psalm 23:1-3
“Only those people who are led by God’s Spirit are God’s children.” Romans 8:14 CEV
5 STOPS: I MUST STOP BEING LED . . .
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_________________________
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_________________________
Example from Paul: Acts 27:10,13-15
- _________________________
“You may feel you’re on the right road and still end up dead.” Proverbs 14:12 CEV
“We’ve all strayed away like sheep! We have left God’s paths to follow our own.” Isaiah 53:6 LB
5 STEPS TO GETTING GUIDANCE
- I must __________________ be led!
“My God, I want to do what you want. Your teachings are in my heart.” Psalm 40:8 NCV
- I must be willing to __________________ God says.
“Do what God wants and chooses it will know if what I teach comes from God.” John 7:17 TEV
- I must look to __________________. “Your Word is a lamp to guide me, and a light for my path. Psalm 119:105
“Guide my steps by your word, so I will not be overcome by any evil.” Psalm 119:133 NLT
God’s _____________ is found in God’s _________________.
God’s will _______________ God’s Word!
“God guides the humble in what is right and teaches them his way.” Psalm 25:9 NIV
“Your road led by a pathway through the sea — a pathway no one knew was there!” Psalm 77:19 NLT
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Speaker: Mark Shook Title: Because God Is Good, I Can Learn To Relax
“The Lord is my Shepherd so I have everything I need. He makes me lie down in green pastures, and he leads me beside quiet water.” Psalm 23:1-2
- Remember my ________________ to God. “God decided to give us life through the word of truth so that we might be the most important of everything God has created . . .” James 1:18
God says, “I have engraved you on the palms of my hands.” Isaiah 49:16a 2. Enjoy what I ____________________. “A little food eaten in peace is better than having twice as much earned from overwork and chasing the wind.” Ecclesiastes 4:6
“All of us should . . . enjoy what we have worked for. It is God’s gift.” Ecclesiastes 3:13
- Limit my work to _______________ a week. “You have six days in which to do your work, but the 7th day is to be a day of complete rest dedicated to Me.” Exodus 20:9-10a
“Sabbath” means: “____________________” “The Sabbath was made to benefit man . . .” Mark 2:27
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Adjust my _________________. “What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul?” Mark 8:36
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eXchange my _______________ for God's _____________. Jesus said, “Look at the birds in the air. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, but your heavenly Father feeds them. And you know that you are worth so much more than the birds. You cannot add any time to your life by worrying about it. And why do you worry about anything else? Look at the beauty of the wildflowers in the field... They don’t worry or overwork... but God takes care of them, so you can be sure that he will clothe you too!” Matthew 6:26-30
Jesus: “Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out? 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.” Matthew 11:28-39
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Speaker: Damon Shook Title: Today
“This is the day the Lord has made. We will rejoice and be glad in it.” Psalm 118:24 NLT
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Recognize today is a special _____________ from God.
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Refuse to miss today by focusing on the ____________ or
the _________________.
“I am focusing all my energies on this one thing: forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead.” Philippians 3:13
“Do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself.” Matthew 6:34 NLT
“Be very careful, then, how you live, not as unwise but be wise, making the most of your opportunity.” Ephesians 5:15-16
- Rejoice in today and make it ___________________. “Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the Lord will bring you today.” Exodus 14:13
“I have hope: because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.” Lamentations 3:21-22
“Today, if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts.” Hebrews 3:7-8
“I tell you, now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation.” 2 Corinthians 6:2
“Seek the Lord while he may be found; call on Him while He is near.” Isaiah 55:6
Speaker: Mark Shook Title: Am I Really A Christian?
“Examine yourselves to see if your faith is genuine. Test yourselves. Surely you know that Jesus Christ is among you; if not, you have failed the test of genuine faith.” 2 Corinthians 13:5
“Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it. For the gate is small and the way is narrow that leads to life, and there are few who find it.” Matthew 7:13-14
“And someone said to Him, “Lord, are there just a few who are being saved?” And He said to them, “Strive to enter through the narrow door; for many, I tell you, will seek to enter and will not be able.” Luke 13:23-25
“Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, He was asking His disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” And they said, “Some say John the Baptist; and others, Elijah; but still others, Jeremiah, or one of the prophets.” He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Simon Peter answered, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” And Jesus said to him, “Blessed are you, Simon Barjona, because flesh and blood did not reveal this to you, but My Father who is in heaven. I also say to you that you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build My church; and the gates of Hades will not overpower it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; and whatever you bind on earth shall have been bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall have been loosed in heaven.” Then He warned the disciples that they should tell no one that He was the Christ. From that time Jesus began to show His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem, and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised up on the third day. Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him, saying, “God forbid it, Lord! This shall never happen to You.” But He turned and said to Peter, “Get behind Me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to Me; for you are not setting your mind on God’s interests, but man’s.” Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it; but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?” Matthew 16:13-26 NASB
Speaker: Mark Shook Title: Father’s Day Blessings
“How blessed is everyone who fears the Lord, who walks in His ways. When you shall eat of the fruit of your hands, you will be happy and it will be well with you. Your wife shall be like a fruitful vine within your house, your children like olive plants around your table. Behold, for thus shall the man be blessed who fears the Lord. The Lord bless you from Zion, and may you see the prosperity of Jerusalem all the days of your life. Indeed, may you see your children’s children. Peace be upon Israel!” Psalm 128:1-6 NASB
Speaker: Mark Shook Title: I am Community of Faith
Two words for time in Scripture:
Chronos – ___________________ time or ____________ time.
Kairos – Where ___________ and _______________ intersect
determining the _____________. “…This is the rock on which I will put together my church, a church so expansive with energy that not even the gates of hell will be able to keep it out.”Matthew 16:18
“If I were hungry, do you think I would tell you? For all that I have created, the fullness of the earth, is mine. Am I fed by your sacrifices? Of course not! Why don’t you bring me the sacrifices I desire? Bring me your true and sincere thanks, and show your gratitude by keeping your promises to me, the Most High. Honor me by trusting in me in your day of trouble. Cry aloud to me, and I will be there to rescue you. Psalm 50:12-15
When Jesus talks about _________________ he is not after our
___________________, he is after our ____________________.
The question is not “How much does God ____________ and am I
able to __________________ it?”
The question is “What statement does my giving make to
____________ about his __________________ to me?” “This cup is my blood, my new covenant with you. Each time you drink this cup, remember me. What you must solemnly realize is that every time you eat this bread and every time you drink this cup, you reenact in your words and actions the death of the Master. You will be drawn back to this meal again and again until the Master returns. You must never let familiarity breed contempt.” 1 Corinthians 11:25-27
His blood opens the door for his most precious give to us –
____________________. Our most precious gift back? __________________ his heart.
“Your heart will be where your treasure is.” Matthew 6:21 EXB
“There was an intense sense of togetherness among all who believed; they shared all their material possessions in trust. ACTS 2:44
2 Corinthians 8:5 MSG
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• This world is _______________ because of our _______________.
• Because the world is ______________, we all _______________.
• But, if we are God’s children, our _______________ is never without _______________.
For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God. So 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.” For his Spirit joins with our spirit to affirm that we are God’s children. And since we are his children, we are his heirs. In fact, together with Christ we are heirs of God’s glory. But if we are to share his glory, we must also share his suffering. Yet what we suffer now is nothing compared to the glory he will reveal to us later. For all creation is waiting eagerly for that future day when God will reveal who his children really are. Against its will, all creation was subjected to God’s curse. But with eager hope, the creation looks forward to the day when it will join God’s children in glorious freedom from death and decay. For we know that all creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. And we believers also groan, even though we have the Holy Spirit within us as a foretaste of future glory, for we long for our bodies to be released from sin and suffering. We, too, wait with eager hope for the day when God will give us our full rights as his adopted children, including the new bodies he has promised us. We were given this hope when we were saved. (If we already have something, we don’t need to hope for it. But if we look forward to something we don’t yet have, we must wait patiently and confidently.) And the Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness. For example, we don’t know what God wants us to pray for. But the Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words. And the Father who knows all hearts knows what the Spirit is saying, for the Spirit pleads for us believers in harmony with God’s own will. And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.” Romans 8:14-28 NLT
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Daily Bible Reading SU: 1 Thessalonians 4 M: 1 Thessalonians 5 TU: 2 Thessalonians 1 WE: 2 Thessalonians 2 TH: 2 Thessalonians 3 F: Proverbs 1 SA: Proverbs 2
Speaker: Dr. Damon Shook Title: Breakthrough: From Problems to Praise
The Book of Habakkuk
Breakthrough begins when we bring our problems to _____________.
- The Problems
a. God’s ______________________. Habakkuk 1:2
b. _______________ in the world. Habakkuk 1:3
- The ___________________ problem. Habakkuk 1:6-7
Breakthrough continues when we _______________ to God speak.
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Get alone with God and give him ______________ to speak. Habakkuk 2:1
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Take _____________________ what God says.
a. God’s _____________________. “The righteous person will live by faith.” Habakkuk 2:4
b. God’s __________________. “ “For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord as the waters cover the sea.” Habakkuk 2:14
c. God’s ______________________. “The Lord is in his holy temple; let all the earth be silent before Him.” Habakkuk 2:20
Breakthrough culminates in _________________ based on faith in God.
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____________________ Habakkuk 3:2
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_____________________ Habakkuk 3:17-18
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_____________________ on God alone. Habakkuk 3:19
DAILY BIBLE READINGS: SU: 2 Corinthians 10 M: 2 Corinthians 11 TU: 2 Corinthians 12 WE: 2 Corinthians 13 TH: 1 Thessalonians 1 F: 1 Thessalonians 2 SA: 1 Thessalonians 3
Speaker: Mark Shook Title: Breakthrough: Three Things That Can Limit the Extent of Your Breakthrough
“Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.” Luke 6:38
YOU DECIDE THE ____________ OF YOUR BREAKTHROUGH.
- Mistaking who is God – ____________________ “In prayer there is a connection between what God does and what you do. You can’t get forgiveness from God, for instance, without also forgiving others. If you refuse to do your part, you cut yourself off from God’s part.” Matthew 6:15
“Again, my loved ones, do not seek revenge; instead, allow God’s wrath to make sure justice is served. Turn it over to Him. For the Scriptures say, ‘Revenge is Mine. I will settle all scores.’” Romans 12:19
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Confusing here for there – ____________________ “Jesus then gave them this illustration: “A wealthy land owner had a farm that produced bumper crops. In fact, it filled his barns to overflowing! He thought, ‘What should I do now that every barn is full and I have nowhere else to store more? I know what I’ll do! I’ll tear down the barns and build one massive barn that will hold all my grain and goods. Then I can just sit back, surrounded with comfort and ease. I’ll enjoy life with no worries at all.’ God said to him, ‘What a fool you are to trust in your riches and not in me. This very night the messengers of death are demanding to take your life. Then who will get all the wealth you have stored up for yourself?’ This is what will happen to all those who fill up their lives with everything but God.” Luke 12:16-21
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Forgetting what is whose – ____________________ “Whoever can be trusted with a little can also be trusted with a lot, and whoever is dishonest with a little is dishonest with a lot. If you cannot be trusted with worldly riches, then who will trust you with true riches? And if you cannot be trusted with things that belong to someone else, who will give you things of your own? No servant can serve two masters. The servant will hate one master and love the other, or will follow one master and refuse to follow the other. You cannot serve both God and worldly riches.” The Pharisees, who loved money, were listening to all these things and made fun of Jesus.” Luke 16:9-14
“... If you do,” says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, “I will open the windows of heaven for you. I will pour out a blessing so great you won’t have enough room to take it in! Try it! Put me to the test!” Malachi 3:10
“If you are given much, much will be required of you. If much is entrusted to you, much will be expected of you.” Luke 12:48
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“Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.” 1 Corinthians 13:7
1.The ______________ that we tell ourselves is more important
than the ___________________ we feel. “And taking with [him] Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, he began to be sorrowful and deeply depressed.” Matthew 26:37
2.The story we tell ourselves keeps us from going through
__________________________. “And taking with [him] Peter and the two sons of Zebedee…”
- The story we tell ourselves allows us to be
_____________________. “…and he said to them, “I am so sad that I feel as if I am dying…” Matthew 26:38a
- The story we tell ourselves allows us to _________ for what
we ____________. “Stay here and keep vigil with me.” Matthew 26:38b
- The story we tell ourselves gives us ____________ for others
when they ___________ us. “Keep actively watching and praying that you may not come into temptation; the spirit is willing, but the body is weak.” Matthew 26:41
- The story we tell ourselves helps us to trust God’s heart
_______________ by ________________, _________________ by
___________________. “Going a little ahead, he fell on his face, praying, “My Father, if there is any way, get me out of this.” Matthew 26:39a
“Get up! Let’s go. The one who will betray me is already here.” Matthew 26:46 “Jesus (shouting out loudly): Father, I entrust My spirit into Your hands! And with those words, He exhaled—and breathed no more.” Luke 23:46
- The story we tell ourselves allows us to _________________. “While they were nailing Jesus to the cross, he prayed over and over, “Father, forgive them, for they don’t know what they’re doing.” Luke 23:34
Breakthrough- From Comfort To Obedience Thus Says The Lord Of Hosts by Community of Faith
Don’t let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me. There is more than enough room in my Father’s home. If this were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am. And you know the way to where I am going.”
“No, we don’t know, Lord,” Thomas said. “We have no idea where you are going, so how can we know the way?”
Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.” John 14:1-6
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He is the ______________________. Case Study: Saul discovers the way. Instantly something like scales fell from Saul’s eyes, and he regained his sight. Then he got up and was baptized. Afterward he ate some food and regained his strength. Saul stayed with the believers in Damascus for a few days. And immediately he began preaching about Jesus in the synagogues, saying, “He is indeed the Son of God!” Acts 9:18-20
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He is the _______________________. Case Study: Nicodemus has questions. There was a man named Nicodemus, a Jewish religious leader who was a Pharisee. After dark one evening, he came to speak with Jesus. “Rabbi,” he said, “we all know that God has sent you to teach us. Your miraculous signs are evidence that God is with you.” Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, unless you are born again, you cannot see the Kingdom of God.” “What do you mean?” exclaimed Nicodemus. “How can an old man go back into his mother’s womb and be born again?” John 3: 1-9
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He is the _____________________ . Case Study: Jesus Himsel. For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through him.John 3:16-17
I tell you the truth, those who listen to my message and believe in God who sent me have eternal life. They will never be condemned for their sins, but they have already passed from death into life. John 5:24
I tell you the truth, anyone who believes in me has eternal life.”John 6:47
What is your response to Jesus? If you openly declare that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by openly declaring your faith that you are saved. Romans 10:9-10
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Nehemiah 4:6, 10-14
- THE CAUSES OF DISCOURAGEMENT
• ___________________ (vs. 10a) "Meanwhile the people in Judah said, `The strength of the laborers is giving out...'"
• ___________________ (vs. 10b) "... and there is so much rubble..."
• __________________ (vs. 10c) "... we cannot rebuild the wall..."
• ___________________ (vs. 11) "Also our enemies said, `Before they know it or see us ... we will kill them and put an end to their work!'" (vs. 12)
- THE CURE FOR DISCOURAGEMENT
• Restore __________________. "... God wants his loved ones to get their proper rest." Psalm 127:2 (LB) "You made my body Lord -- now give me sense to heed your laws." Psalm 119:73 (LB)
• _________________ your priorities. (vs. 13) "Therefore I stationed the people ... by families ... "
• _________________ the Lord. (vs. 14a) " I said to them ... `Don't be afraid of them. Remember the Lord, who is great and awesome… "
3 things to remember when discouraged:
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Remember God's _____________ to you in the ___________.
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Remember God's ____________ to you in the ____________.
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Remember God’s ______________ for your ______________. "I am completely discouraged, I lie in the dust -- Revive me by your Word." Psalm 119:25 (LB)
• Go on _______________. (vs. 14b) "... and fight for your brothers, your sons, daughters, wives and homes!"
“I don’t understand myself at all, for I really want to do what is right, but I don’t do it. Instead, I do the very thing I hate.” Romans 7:15
- _______________________ YOUR PATTERN OF TEMPTATION. “Plan carefully what you do… Avoid evil and walk straight ahead. Don’t go one step off the right way.” Proverbs 4:26-27
When, Where, Who, What, How
- _____________________ THE CONDITION OF YOUR HEART. “Above all else, guard your heart, for it affects everything you do.” Proverbs 4:23 “Do not give the devil a foothold.” Ephesians 4:27
Physically Exhausted 0 1 2 3 4 Energetic / In shape Discouraged / Pessimistic 0 1 2 3 4 Encouraged / Optimistic Bored / Discontented 0 1 2 3 4 Challenged / Contented Spiritually Dry / Empty 0 1 2 3 4 Spiritually Growing Geographically Distant/Alone 0 1 2 3 4 Near / Together Insecure / Unsure 0 1 2 3 4 Secure / Confident Deeply Wounded / Hurt 0 1 2 3 4 Loved / Understood Secretly Bitter / Angry 0 1 2 3 4 Have Forgiven Everyone Sad 0 1 2 3 4 Happy Alienated / Unsupported 0 1 2 3 4 Close / Supported Total:
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____________________ GOD INTO THE __________________. “(Jesus) understands our weaknesses, for He faced all of the same temptations we do, yet He did not sin. So let us come boldly to … our gracious God. There we will receive His mercy, and grace to help us when we need it.” Hebrews 4:15-16
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_______________ YOUR ATTENTION – GO TO ___________. “Temptation is the pull of your own evil thoughts and wishes. These evil thoughts lead to evil actions…” James 1:14-15
“We capture every thought… and make it obey Christ.” 2 Corinthians 10:5
“Don’t let evil conquer you, but conquer evil with good.” Romans 12:21
- _____________________ IN A BELIEVER YOU TRUST. “Admit your faults to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed.” James 5:16 1 Corinthians 10:13
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Ephesians 5:15-21
“Therefore be careful how you walk, not as unwise men but as wise, making the most of your time, because the days are evil.” Ephesians 5:15-16
• Time cannot be _____________; it must be ____________.
“Be” careful – an _____________term.
“Walk” pictures our way of _______________, worked out
______________, ______________-by-_______________.
“Making the most of your time” is literally, “______________ the time.” To redeem means to _____________. To redeem implies that
there is a ______________.
“So then do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.” Ephesians 5:17
• Recognize what’s _______________.
o I _____________do everything.
o I _____________ do everything.
• Understand that evil days create __________________.
_______________ something that won’t last for something eternal.
“And do not get drunk with wine, for that is dissipation, but be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody with your heart to the Lord; always giving thanks for all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God, even the Father; and be subject to one another in the fear of Christ.” Ephesians 5:18-21
_______________ the pressure.
Be Filled = Stay _______________ to.
Believer’s ___________ – living in _______ days and being
__________ for everything.
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Marriage is the union of two ________________ people in an
_____________ relationship ________________ is a given.
The Bible says we must ____________________ in ___________.
See how good and pleasant it is when brothers and sisters live together in harmony! Psalm 133:1
- Choose my _________________.
“Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus…” Philippians 2:5-8
“I said to myself, “I will watch what I do and not sin in what I say.” Psalm 39:1
- _________________ together.
“…prayer is essential in this ongoing warfare. Pray hard and long. Pray for your brothers and sisters. Keep your eyes open. Keep each other’s spirits up so that no one falls behind or drops out.” Ephesians 6:18
“Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results.” James 5:16
- Walk in _______________ of the Holy Spirit.
“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you.” Acts 1:8
“Don’t be drunk with wine, because that will ruin your life. Instead, be filled with the Holy Spirit…” Ephesians 5:18
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.” Galatians 5:22
Your woman’s deepest need is ____________________. “Husbands love your wives as Christ loved the church and gave Himself up for it.” Ephesians 5:25; Hebrews 12:2; Proverbs 16:25
The Crazy Cycle: She shows ______________ and __________…He reacts in ways that
seem ______________… escalates her ________________ and
__________…escalates ways that seems __________…to infinity and beyond. Galatians 5:15
God holds the __________ responsible to stop the crazy cycle!
- ____________ with her – move ____________ your wife,
not ____________ from her. “So a man will leave his father and mother and be united with his wife, and the two will become one body.” Genesis 2:24 Deuteronomy 24:5
- __________ your heart’s door to her. “The one I love was at the door, knocking and saying, ‘My darling, my very own, my flawless dove, open the door for me!’ ” Song of Solomon 5:2
“Husbands, love your wives and do not be embittered against them.” Colossians 3:19
- Be _______________ with her – notice I didn’t say
_______________ her. “Live with your wives in an understanding way…” 1 Peter 3:7
Do you need a __________ or a __________ ear?
- ____________________________ – she needs to know you
are _______________. Ephesians 5:25
2 Critical questions for husbands:
Is my wife coming across to me _______________ because she is
feeling __________?
Will what I say or do next come across as __________ or
_______________ to my wife?
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Speaker: Mark Shook Title: The Secret Of Christianity
Five factors that influence my identity:
“Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex!” Psalm 139:14
“A person who fears God deals responsibly with all of reality, not just a piece of it." Ecclesiastes 7:18
• MY____________________
• MY____________________
• MY____________________
• MY ____________________
• MY ____________________
What God ____________________, he ____________________.
“I can do everything God asks me to with the help of Christ who gives me the strength and power.” Philippians 4:13
A Christian has a new power _________________________.
Five choices that will shape 2018:
-
A Christian has the power to ____________________. Psalm 119:73
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A Christian has the power to ______________________. 1 John 4:18
-
A Christian has the power to _____________________. Romans 8:27-29
I’m a _______________ of my past but I’m not a
__________________ of it.
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A Christian has the power to _______________________. Romans 12:2
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A Christian has the power to _____________________. 2 Corinthians 5:17
Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. As it is written: “They have freely scattered their gifts to the poor; their righteousness endures forever. Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. You will be enriched in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God. 2 Corinthians 9:6-11 NIV
Truly, O God of Israel, our Savior, you work in mysterious ways. Isaiah 45:15 NLT
“My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts,” says the Lord. “And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine. For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so my ways are higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts.” Isaiah 55:8-9 NLT
Then, calling the crowd to join his disciples, he said, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must turn from your selfish ways, take up your cross, and follow me.” Mark 8:34 NLT
Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 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.” Matthew 28:18-20 NIV
When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” Peter replied, “Repent (TURN AROUND FROM YOUR WAYS OF TRYING TO DO LIFE, AND YOUR WAYS OF TRYING TO EARN GOD’S FAVOR) and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call.” With many other words he warned them; and he pleaded with them, “Save yourselves from this corrupt generation.” Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day. Acts 2:37-41 NIV
Speaker: Mark Shook Title: I’M IN: MAKING 2018 THE YEAR OF THE COMEBACK BACK TO BASICS
COF LOGO - WHERE _____________ AND ____________ MEET.
- THE TRUTH ABOUT ____________________ “You shall have no other gods before Me.” Exodus 20:3
The opposite of theism is not atheism, it is ____________________ “For My people have committed two evils: They have forsaken Me, the fountain of living waters, to hew for themselves cisterns, broken cisterns that can hold no water.” Jeremiah 2:13
- THE TRUTH ABOUT ____________________ "But the people’s minds were hardened…" 2 Corinthians 3:14
“And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.” Romans 12:2 NASB
“Do not be shaped by this world; instead be changed within by a new way of thinking. Then you will be able to decide what God wants for you; you will know what is good and pleasing to him and what is perfect.” Romans 12: 2 NCV
- THE TRUTH ABOUT ____________________
Ephesians 4:17
“Your word is a doorway that lets in light, and it helps gullible people understand.” Psalm 119:130
- THE TRUTH ABOUT ____________________ “He comes alongside us when we go through hard times, and before you know it, he brings us alongside someone else who is going through hard times so that we can be there for that person just as God was there for us.” 2 Corinthians 1:4
1 Peter 3:15
- THE TRUTH ABOUT ____________________ “Make this your common practice: Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you can live together whole and healed. The prayer of a person living right with God is something powerful to be reckoned with.” James 5:16-18
“So let’s do it—full of belief, confident that we’re presentable inside and out. Let’s keep a firm grip on the promises that keep us going. He always keeps his word. Let’s see how inventive we can be in encouraging love and helping out, not avoiding worshiping together as some do but spurring each other on, especially as we see the big Day approaching.” Hebrews 10:22-23
Loving A Broken World Vs Easing Our Conscience- Learning From The Batwa by Community of Faith