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James 1:27
Why does OUR church do this, and why should EVERY church do this?
Everybody in America thinks something when they hear the word, CHURCH.
God’s extravagant generosity towards US compels us to be extravagantly generous towards OTHERS.
“If you DO GOOD to those who are good to YOU, what CREDIT is that to you? Even SINNERS do that.” - Luke 6:33
A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have LOVED YOU, so you are to LOVE one ANOTHER. By this EVERYONE will know that you are my DISCIPLES.” -John 13:34-35
James 1:27 (pg. 1,881)
v.27 “RELIGION that God our Father ACCEPTS as PURE and FAULTLESS is this:
To look after ORPHANS and WIDOWS in their DISTRESS and to keep ONESELF from being POLLUTED by the world.”
If religion for you is about ATTENDANCE and some sort of ROUTINE.
Eventually you’ll become CYNICAL and you’ll become CRITICAL.
Church is more than SERMONS and SONGS.
God honoring religion ALLEVIATES distress and AVOIDS the behaviors that create it.
God honoring religion requires two things, SELFLESSNESS and SELF-CONTROL.
At the center of the Gospel is not the fact that God BELIEVED something, but that God DID something.
CHURCH.
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John 1:14, 14:8-9, 17:4, Acts 6:2-4
God BECAME one of us, and DWELT among us.
“The Word BECAME flesh and made His DWELLING among us.” - John 1:14
“Father, I have GLORIFIED You on the earth; HAVING ACCOMPLISHED the WORK You gave Me to do.” - John 17:4 NASB
Jesus came to take the GUESS WORK out of God.
Jesus came to demonstrate WHAT God was like, and more importantly, WHO God liked.
“Phillip said, Lord show us the Father...Don’t you know ME, Philip, even after I have dwelt among you, for such a long time?” John 14:8-9
If you’ve ever heard the ideas that:
- God is LOVE.
- God loves EVERYBODY.
- EVERYBODY matters to God.
All three of these ideas are UNIQUE to the teaching of JESUS.
First century culture was a SLAVE culture. In a slave culture EVERYONE is devalued.
In a culture defined by slavery the idea of COMPASSION was completely UNNECESSARY, because people got what they DESERVED.
What Jesus TAUGHT was nothing compared to what He DID.
This is why no strings attached COMPASSION and GENEROSITY became the HALLMARK of the first century Church.
“God is Love” - 1 John 4:8
So, What does Love REQUIRE of ME?
The teachings of Jesus have shaped the CONSCIENCE of our nation.
The CHURCH’s role in our community is to REMIND the world through our BEHAVIOR that red, yellow, black and white, EVERYBODY is PRECIOUS in the sight of our Heavenly FATHER.
Everybody in America thinks something when they hear the word, CHURCH.
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“You are the __________ ____________”
Matthew 16:13-17
“Who do ________ say I am?”
“You are the _________, the Son of the Living _____.”
Christ fulfilled ______________.
John 5:39
“Why do I believe in __________________?”
“Inspired Evidence”
Romans 1:20
John 1:1-3; 14
How can you and I...living in a ___________ _____________ world...have a growing vision of Jesus’ true ________________?
“_______ them by the truth; your ____________ is truth.”
John 17:17
Romans 1:16-17
Jesus ___________ based upon His identity.
Matthew 16:24-26>
You are invited to walk in the ____________ of Jesus.
John 14:12
Three Prayers:
- May the Spirit of the Living God open our hearts to see Jesus’ true identity...daily...as our Lord - the Holy One of Israel.
- May God’s Spirit open our hearts to His invitation to walk in Jesus’ steps—to be a blessing in this fallen world.
- May God’s Spirit use our lives to leave an inheritance that impacts the lives of those we leave behind when we are welcomed it into the Kingdom He has prepared for us.
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Practices in Relationships:
- Patience. Trust is built over TIME.
- Play. When people play, they CONNECT easier.
- OTHER-CENTEREDNESS. When we move away from control and focus on love.
- PRESENCE. We show up.
Ephesians 4:1-6
v.1 - It’s a calling that you have already RECEIVED. Live like it.
Be HUMBLE and gentle
Be PATIENT
BEAR with one another in love.
Galatians 6:2
Jesus carries our burdens so that we have the STRENGTH to carry each other’s burdens.
What burdens are too hard for you to carry alone?
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1 John 4:7-12
“Dear friends...”
“This is how God showed his love among us.” - INCARNATION
“SINCE God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.”
You can’t SEE God, but you can see PEOPLE who love God.
FIRST places are the places we LIVE.
SECOND places are the places we do our WORK.
Jeremiah 29:5-7 - PROSPER the city.
THIRD places are the places we PLAY and hang out.
A decrease in the participation in third places will increase LONELINESS and ISOLATION.
Should we be creating FOURTH places?
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Romans 12:9-16
OTHERING is putting a barrier up between yourself and another.
Othering not only puts DISTANCE, it DEVALUES.
Community that devalues another doesn’t wait long to DEVALUE you.
Jesus turns “others” into NEIGHBORS.
“Be devoted to one another”
PHILEO + STORGE
The Church should not be SELECTIVE or SECRETIVE.
The Church should not HURT.
Three practices:
- CONTACT
- READING
- EMOTION spotting (Map your emotions throughout the week using the following Energy/Pleasantness graph:
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Disciples Who Make Disciples
“It's Not Complicated”
John 3:16-17
“Come follow Me and I will MAKE you FISHERS of MEN.” - Mark 1:17
DISCIPLES who make DISCIPLES.
We’ve confused PERSONAL with PRIVATE.
The Gospel isn’t COMPLICATED.
The SIMPLICITY of the GOSPEL is one of the things that makes it so REMARKABLE.
The message of Jesus is the same for EVERYBODY.
As it relates to becoming a disciple of Jesus:
What does a person need to KNOW and What does a person need to DO?
John 3:16-170 pg. 1,650
Becoming a follower of Jesus is NOT about:
- ATTENDING CHURCH.
- GETTING YOUR LIFE TOGETHER.
- PRAYING A PRAYER.
- COMMITTING YOURELF TO GOD.
v.16 “For GOD so LOVED the world that He GAVE His one and only SON, that whoever BELIEVES IN Him shall not perish but HAVE eternal LIFE.”
Becoming a follower of Jesus isn’t about MAKING a COMMITMENT to God, it’s about the COMMITMENT God made to YOU.
ETERNAL life is NOT the promise of LIVING FOREVER.
EVERYBODY lives forever SOMEWHERE.
We were each MADE in the IMAGE of God.
God LOVED, so God GAVE. We BELIEVE, We RECEIVE.
v.17 “For GOD did NOT send His Son into the world to CONDEMN the world, but to SAVE the world, through HIM.”
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Disciples Who Make Disciples
“The Most Influence”
John 13:35, Matthew 22:37-40, 1 Corinthians 6:19-20
“Come follow Me and I will MAKE you FISHERS of MEN.” - Mark 1:17
DISCIPLES who make DISCIPLES.
The Church is the BODY of CHRIST. Consequently, what was true of JESUS PERSONALLY, should also be true of US COLLECTIVELY.
“By THIS everyone will know that you are my DISCIPLES, if you LOVE one another.” - John 13:35
Matthew 22:36-40 (pg. 1,535)
v.36 “Teacher, which is the GREATEST commandment in the law?”
v.37 “LOVE the Lord your GOD with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment.
v.39 “And the SECOND is LIKE it. LOVE your NEIGHBOR as yourself.”
v.40 “ALL the Law and the Prophets HANG on these TWO commandments.”
What does LOVE require of me?
This is Maturity, as JESUS defines MATURITY.
There are TWO CATEGORIES of people that have INFLUENCED your life profoundly.
These two categories of people did NOT influence you deeply because of what they BELIEVED.
Those who HURT you and those who LOVED you.
Jesus always INTERACTS with people, based on their STORY.
“Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore, HONOR GOD with your BODIES.” - 1 Corinthians 6:19-20
- Don’t do anything that will HURT YOU.
- Don’t do anything that will hurt SOMEONE ELSE.
- Don’t be MASTERED BY ANYTHING.
When Jesus’ DISCIPLES leverage anything OTHER than Jesus’ LOVE we ultimately LOSE our leverage.
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Disciples Who Make Disciples
“Like Father, Like Son”
Luke 15:1-31
“Come follow Me and I will MAKE you FISHERS of MEN.” - Mark 1:17
DISCIPLES who make DISCIPLES.
Everyone lives forever SOMEWHERE.
The Church is the BODY of CHRIST. Consequently, what was true of JESUS PERSONALLY, should also be true of US COLLECTIVELY.
Luke 15:1-31 (pg. 1,623)
v.1 “Now the TAX COLLECTORS and SINNERS were gathering AROUND to hear JESUS.”
v.4 “Suppose one of you has a HUNDRED sheep and loses ONE of them. Does he not LEAVE the ninety-nine in the open country and GO AFTER the lost sheep until he finds it?”
When we lose something of value, we FOCUS on what’s been LOST, even MORE than what’s UN-LOST.
v.8 “Or suppose a woman has TEN silver coins and loses ONE.”
When you LOSE something of great VALUE, you to great LENGTHS to FIND it.
Jesus isn’t talking about being lost PHYSICALLY, He’s talking about being disconnected, relationally.
v.11 “Jesus continued, There was a man who had two sons. The younger one said to his father, father give me MY SHARE of the estate. So he DIVIDED his property between them.”
The Father loved the son MORE than his REPUTATION. In this culture that meant the father was a FOOL.
v.20 “So he got up and went to his father. But while he was still a long way off. his father saw him and was filled with COMPASSION for him.”
The Father desired a RELATIONSHIP with the son, not a LOCATION.
v.24 For this son of mine was DEAD and is ALIVE again; he was LOST and is FOUND.
People RECONNECTING with their Father in heaven, is what lights up the HEART, of our Father in Heaven.
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Disciples Who Make Disciples
“Opportunities”
Acts 4:23-29
“Come follow Me and I will MAKE you FISHERS of MEN.”Mark 1:17
DISCIPLES who make DISCIPLES.
We’re glad somebody told US about Jesus...Don’t expect ME to tell somebody else about Jesus.
Why? We’re AFRAID
As Jesus’ disciples who make disciples, even in the face of genuine FEAR there is reason not to be AFRAID.
“As for us, we cannot help speaking about what we have SEEN and HEARD.”Acts 4:20
“SALVATION is found in no one else for there is no other NAME under heaven GIVEN to humanity by which we must be SAVED.”Acts 4:12
The message of salvation is NOT an INTUITIVE message.
Acts 4:23-29 - pg. 1,697
v.24 “When they heard this, they RASIED their VOICES together in PRAYER to God.”
v.24 “SOVEREIGN Lord, You made the heaven and the earth and the sea and EVERYTHING in them.”
v.28 “They did what your POWER and WILL had decided beforehand should happen.”
v.29 “Now Lord, CONSIDER their threats and ENABLE your servants to SPEAK your word with great BOLDNESS.”
They were beginning to understand that SOVEREIGN God is always at work, to ACCOMPLISH what He’s PROMISED. And He’s invited US into the process.
Boldness isn’t LOUDNESS and it isn’t WEIRDNESS.
Boldness is simply SPEAKING up when the OPPORTUNITY comes up.
Listen for the ‘three nots’: Not in CHURCH… Not going WELL... Not PREPARED.
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Disciples Who Make Disciples
“Invitation”
Mark 1:14-19, Luke 5:1-11
“Come follow Me and I will MAKE you...” Mark 1:17
Mark 1:14-19 pg. 1,552
v.15 “The TIME has come, the kingdom of God is NEAR. REPENT and BELIEVE the GOOD news!”
Repent = ‘Go in a DIFFERENT DIRECTION’
What has the ATTENTION of my HEART?
LOOKING for it doesn’t put it there, looking for it ENSURES when it’s there, you’ll SEE it.
v.17 “Come follow Me and I will MAKE you FISHERS of MEN.”
DISCIPLES who make DISCIPLES.
Jesus ACCOMPLISHED in their lives exactly WHAT He PROMISED them He was going to accomplish.
You read the Gospels and you realize, this wasn’t NATURAL for any of them.
Jesus’ goal for you is to FOLLOW and DO in the lives of OTHERS what some one has done in YOUR life.
You became a follower of Jesus because you needed God to DO something, FIX something or HEAL something.
Luke 5:1-11 pg. 1,598
v.5 “Peter answered, Master (Jesus) we’ve worked hard all night and haven’t caught anything. But because YOU SAY so, I will let down the nets.”
v.6 “When they had DONE so, they caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to break.”
They followed Jesus because of what He did for them. That’s where EVERYBODY starts.
The call to be a disciple who makes more disciples, is the call to MEANING, the call to SIGNIFICANCE and the call to PURPOSE.
There is someone who will listen to YOU, who won’t listen to ME.
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Here As In Heaven
“Teachers”
Teachers are men and women who guide us into the DISCOVERY of wisdom, truth, and application.
What is the gift of teaching?
VENTRILIQUISTS vs. TEACHING
Questions we should be asking…
Colossians 3:16
Luke 6:45 - “For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of.”
It all begins with what is inside of you.
One of the primary ways we see JESUS run the Scriptures is as teacher.
It’s not teach them to KNOW, it’s teach them to OBEY.
Matthew 28:18-20 - “as you are going...”
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Here As In Heaven
“Pastors”
Ephesians 4:11-13
The word PASTOR literally means “SHEPHERD”
Pastors are men and women who intentionally CARE for another person or group of people.
Community-Builders, Protectors, Healers, Includers
Any role where there is INTENTIONAL knowing, seeing, and caring for another person is an opportunity to utilize a pastoral gifting.
What do pastors do?
Moms, Coaches, Ministry Leaders, Teachers
John 10
Jesus is the good shepherd. We imitate Jesus.
Let’s be a church with a shepherd mentality that fiercely PURSUES our flock.
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Here As In Heaven
“Evangelists”
Ephesians 4:11-13, Acts 4:1-20
This ISN’T heaven.
“Jesus himself GAVE the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and the teachers, to equip His people for WORKS of SERVICE, so that the BODY of CHRIST may be built up until we reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fulness of Christ.”Ephesians 4:11-13
Acts 4:1-13 pg. 1,696
v.2 “They were greatly DISTURBED because the apostles were teaching the people and proclaiming in JESUS and the RESURrECTION of the DEAD.”
v.7 “They had Peter and John brought before them and began to question them: By what POWER or NAME did you do this?”
v.18 “Then they called them back in again and commanded them NOT to speak or teach at all in the name of JESUS.”
v.19 “But Peter and John replied, Judge for yourselves whether is it right in God’s sight to OBEY YOU, RATHER than GOD.”
v.20 “As for us, we cannot help speaking about what we BELIEVE.”
v.20 “As for us, we cannot help speaking about what we have SEEN and HEARD.”
Evangelist: To be an ENTHUSIASTIC ADVOCATE
v10 “Then know this, you and all the people of Israel: It is by the name of JESUS CHRIST of NAZARETH, whom you CRUCIFIED, but whom GOD RASIED from the DEAD that this man stands before you, HEALED..”
v.12 “Salvation IS found in NO ONE ELSE, for there is no other NAME under heaven GIVEN to humanity by which we must be SAVED.”
The message of salvation is NOT an INTUITIVE message.
In order for God’s Kingdom to GROW on earth, the name of JESUS must be SPOKEN.
GOOD people don’t go to heaven, FORGIVEN people go to heaven.
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Here As In Heaven
“Prophets”
Ephesians 4:11-13
What is a prophet?
A prophet is a TRUTH-TELLER.
Men and women who have been gifted to be God’s MOUTHPIECE.
Questioners, Challengers, and Observers
Examples: Jeremiah 22:1-3, 2 Samuel 12:7-19
Prophets go to the places of INJUSTICE.
Prophets say the HARD thing.
Prophets bring HOPE.
VERTICAL = God and Humans
HORIZONTAL = Humans and other Humans
1 Corinthians 14:3
Is what I am saying in AGREEMENT with Scripture?
Is it strengthening, encouraging, or comforting?
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Here As In Heaven
“Apostles”
On EARTH as it is in HEAVEN
The Kingdom:
God’s PEOPLE doing God’s WORK by God’s POWER.
Ephesians 4:11-13
Jesus gifts the church in UNIQUE ways.
Jesus EQUIPS the church for the work of ministry.
“So Christ himself gave the apostles…”
What’s an APOSTLE?
The word “apostle” means “SENT ONE”
Pioneers, Entrepreneurs, Innovators, Designers, Organizational Leaders, Visionaries
Matthew 25:14-26
Jesus CELEBRATES when you use the gifts that you’ve been entrusted with creatively.
Acts 16:13-15
Acts celebrates the way Lydia’s business-minded gifting impacted the local church.
What if?!?!
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It's Not Too Late
The VOICES we LISTEN to INFLUENCE what we DO.
It’s too LATE for me….
An incorrect way of thinking: GOD thinks about ME, what I think about ME.
We LIVE as if God takes His cue ABOUT us FROM us.
Your Heavenly Father has a FUTURE for you, regardless of what you’ve DONE.
1 Samuel 16:6-13
v.7 “The Lord does not look at the things PEOPLE look at.”
The very thing you think is an OBSTACLE to God working through you, may be the very thing God wants to USE in you.
v.7 “Man, looks at the OUTWARD appearance, but the Lord looks at the HEART.”
What you DID YESTERDAY is of far LESS concern to God than where your HEART is TODAY.
God’s main activity in our world is to REDEEM and RESTORE.
One of your enemy’s greatest WEAPONS is to get you to BELIEVE that your PAST is filled with OBSTACLES that prevent God from working in your FUTURE.
The only thing YOUR PAST is full of are places to SEE your Heavenly Father at work, REDEEMING and RESTORING your FUTURE, through your Savior, Jesus.
v13 “So Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the presence of his brothers, and form that day on the SPIRIT of the LORD came on David in POWER.”
In the moment that JESUS DIED on the cross for your SIN; your sin became far less of an issue to God than the condition of your HEART.
Because in that moment, the condition of YOUR HEART was CHANGED by the LOVE in HIS.
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Voices: “A new voice”
2 Chronicles 34
The VOICES we LISTEN to INFLUENCE what we DO.
If you don’t BREAK it, you’ll PASS it.
Josiah’s story reminds us how GOD WORKDS in SITUATIONS and FAMILIES that look HOPELESS to us.
Four specific CHANGES that Josiah made in his life:
2 Chronicles 34
v.1 “Josiah was eight years old when he become king, and he reigned in Jerusalem thirty-one years. He did what was right in the eyes of the lord and walked in the ways of his FATHER DAVID.”
First, Josiah very intentionally finds a NEW ROLE MODEL.
Jesus really can CREATE something NEW in your life and family that HASN’T EXISTED before.
One of the greatest ministries that you may ever have is simply BEING AVAILABLE, and allowing someone to get on the INSIDE of your life.
This is where DISCIPLESHIP happens.
v.3 “In his twelfth year he began to PURGE Judah and Jerusalem of high places, Ashram poles and cast images.”
Second, the next thing we see Josiah doing is PURGING the land.
Just as you want to start listening to a NEW voice, there are also some voices you need to STOP listening to.
Third, Josiah SURROUNDED HIMSELF with other PEOPLE who also had a RELATIONSHIP with God and who were ALSO FOLLOWING GOD with their life.
Finally, Josiah decided that the SCRIPTURES would be the STANDARD for his life.
Find a passage of Scripture that deal SPECIFICALLY with whatever the old voice is, and then commit that specific Scripture to MEMORY.
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Voices: “The voice in all of us.”
Daniel 4
The VOICES we LISTEN to INFLUENCE what we DO.
Anytime you are in an ALLIANCE with someone, they gain LEVERAGE in your life.
Are the PEOPLE CLOSEST to me people who will speak the WORDS of my HEAVENLY FATHER to me?
This is the voice that both ‘Keeps you FROM…’ and also ‘Causes you TO…’
This voice DIMINISHES our capacity to LOVE.
This voice has the greatest potential to crowd out the PRESENCE of GOD in our lives.
Daniel 4:4-37 pg. 1,376
v.1 “I Nebuchadnezzar, was at home in my place, contented and prosperous, and I had a DREAM that made me AFRAID.”
v.17 “The MOST HIGH is SOVEREIGN over ALL KINGDOMS on earth and GIVES them to ANYONE HE WISHES and HE sets them over the lowliest of people.”
v.25 “Seven times will pass by for you until you acknowledge that the MOST HIGH is SOVEREIGN over ALL kingdoms on earth and GIVES them to ANYONE HE wishes.”
v.26 “The command to leave the stump of the tree with its roots means that your kingdom will be restored when you ACKNOWLEDGE that HEAVEN rules.”
v.31 “Even as the words were on his lips a voice came from heaven….Your royal authority has been TAKEN from you.
v.34 “At the end of that time, I Nebuchadnezzar, raised my eyes toward heaven and my sanity was restored. Then I PRAISED the MOST HIGH. I honored and glorified Him who lives forever. His dominion is an eternal dominion; HIS KINGDOM ENDURES from GENERATION to GENERATION.
v.37 “Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and exalt and glorify the KING HEAVEN….those who walk in PRIDE He is able to HUMBLE.”
More than any other voice, its the voice of PRIDE that SHUTS OUT the voice of GOD in our lives.
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Voices: “Noise Reduction”
2 Chronicles 18
Isn’t it true that at some point in life you got advice you wish you HADN’T heard?
The VOICES we LISTEN to INFLUENCE what we DO.
2 Chronicles 18:1-27 pg. 697
v.1 “Jehoshaphat had great wealth and honor and he ALLIED himself with Ahab by marriage.”
Anytime you are in an alliance with someone, they gain LEVERAGE in your life.
v.4 “But Jehoshaphat also said to the king of Israel, ‘First SEEK the COUNCIL of the Lord.”
Have you PRAYED about this?
v.6 “But Jehoshaphat asked, Is there no longer a PROPHET of the LORD here whom we can inquire of?”
v.13 “But Micaiah said, As surely as the Lord lives, I can tell him ONLY what my God SAYS.”
We already know the voice of the CROWD is not the voice to LISTEN to.
WHOSE voice are you listening too?
Are they people who the Scriptures would call WISE?
This is another reason we want to help get you into a SMALL GROUP.
“Anyone who has ears to hear, let them hear.” -Jesus
Questions for Discussion:
1. What is the worst piece of advice that you ever received and acted on?
2. What is the best piece of advice that you received and you regret not acting on?
3. What are the different voices that are trying to get your attention right now?
4. What voice do you need to turn down? What voice do you need to turn up?
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Finding Living Water
John 4:9-26
Genesis 2:5-6
No WATER means no LIFE
The Story of Humanity
Humanity THIRSTS for more and turns to something that can’t satisfy.
Jeremiah 2:13
We RUN from God.
John 7:37-38
What are you SEARCHING for?
We often dig our OWN cisterns.
Revelation 21:6, Revelation 7:16-17
She left the jar BEHIND.
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“Father Wounds”
v. 5 “So he came to a town in Samaria called Sychar, near the plot of ground Jacob had given to his son Joseph.”
What else happened in SYCHAR?
Sychar is also known as Shechem.
Genesis 34
“Jacob did NOTHING about it until they got home.”
“The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.” - author unknown
“Dinah became a discarded widow, and we never hear about her again in the Scriptures except when she’s mentioned as one of Leah’s daughters (Genesis 46:15).”
Kat Armstrong
Are you greater than our father JACOB?
Are you greater than….
Jesus is GREATER.
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The Women at the Well
“He Didn’t Have To Go There”
v.4 “Now he had to go through Samaria”
Jesus HAD to go there.
“Where is the first mention of this?”
Genesis 16 - the first woman at a well
v. 7 “The angel of the Lord found Hagar near a spring in the desert.”
God doesn’t AVOID the place of pain, he meets her in it.
v. 13 “She gave this name to the Lord who spoke to her: “You are the God who sees me,” for she said, “I have now seen the One who sees me.”
Hagar names God, the God who SEES.
The Samaritan Woman’s story parallels Hagar’s story at the well.
The well of the LIVING ONE who sees me.
The well of the LIVING WATER.
Questions to Pray about:
What are you running from?
Does God see?
What name will you give God?
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Not GOODBYE… See You Soon
“Peace to the brothers and sisters, and love with faith from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Grace to all who love our Lord Jesus Christ with an undying love.”
Ephesians 6:23-24… 32 farewell words from Paul to his beloved church in Ephesus
Faith, Troy Church… You are truly my beloved faith family!!
1. Brothers and Sisters in Christ
2. The first blessing Paul desires for the Ephesians is PEACE.
· true peace with God, peace with others and peace inside you
3. The next blessing he desires for them is LOVE WITH FAITH
· being secure in God’s love for you
· actively loving others
4. Another blessing Paul desires for his beloved church is GRACE.
· God’s Riches At Christ’s Expense / unmerited favor
· the list of His riches goes on and on!
5. “all those who love Jesus with an undying love”
· the Ephesian Christians didn’t always live up to that title (neither do we) but God kept them close to Him and loved them faithfully
I pray Paul’s blessing upon you, my beloved church
Today is not “Goodbye”, it’s “see you soon”!
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A Place to Belong: We are meant to do life together
For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.
Ephesians 6:12
Things we all know are true
If you don’t want to have money problems spend less than you make.
To be healthy eat good foods, not too much and move your body.
To have good relationships with friends and your kids check in on them and do things together that fun and meaningful.
God does not intend for anyone one to follow Him in isoilation.
Encourage one another in our faith and how we treat others.
Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.
Hebrews 10:23-25
Carry each others burdens.
Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ
Galatians 6:2
Speak truth in love.
Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ
Ephesians 4:15
Rows and Circles
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A Place to Belong: “Face to Face Church”
Ecclesiastes 4:9-12, Luke 17:1
My prayer for our church isn’t that people would ATTEND, it’s that people have a RELATIONSHIP with Jesus.
A community of people who are IN COMMUNITY with one another and who are CREATING COMMUNITY for one another.
GROWTH and MATURITY always happen in the context of RELATIONSHIP.
As a church, what we’re asking our Heavenly Father to do at Faith is:
Create ENTRY POINTS for people EXPLORING and COMING BACK to their faith.Helping people who are FOLLOWERS of Jesus to CONTINUE to GROW in their faith by DISCIPLING other followers of Jesus.
Ecclesiastes 4:9-12
v.10 “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!
v.12 “Though one may be OVERWHELMED, two can DEFEND themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly BROKEN.
At some point in our lives, we all need some, SOMEBODIES.
“Jesus said to his disciples, It is INEVITABLE that STUMBLING BLOCKS will come into your life.”
Luke 17:1
Jesus is saying, it’s impossible to go through life in this world without there being things YOU don’t see coming. But, that does’t mean NOBODY saw it coming. Somebody can see IT coming.
Life in community is PREVENTATIVE.
There are things you will never have to FACE, things you may never have to FEEL, and PROBLEMS you’ll be BETTER EQUIPPED to face, simply being in a GROUP of people who open and apply God’s Word TOGETHER.
Community is like RETIREMENT SAVINGS; if you WAIT you WON’T HAVE it when you NEED it.
When you NEED relationships the most, thats always the WORST time to try and develop them.
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Beautifully, Fearfully & Wonderfully Made
Psalm 139:13-17, Colossians 1:13-18
Movies and literature borrow truths from the greatest story ever told, God’s story - the BIBLE.
Life’s big questions:
Who AM I?
What was I MADE for?
Where do I BELONG?
Lacking social CONNECTION is as dangerous to your health as smoking 15 cigarettes a day.
Who are we looking to in order to help us answer our biggest questions of BELONGING, PURPOSE, and IDENTITY?
“For you CREATED my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb… I PRAISE you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made.”
Psalm 139:13-17
When we focus on who made us and how He made us, His CHARACTER.
We find EVERYTHING else.
The problem with moralist, therapeutic, deism is that it is not the FAITH of the Bible and it does nothing to help us answer the question what was I MADE for.
Jesus says “I am the way, the TRUTH, and the life.”
John 14:6
We were made for RELATIONSHIP with our creator.
Colossians 1:13-14
We were made to bring Him GLORY, to IMAGE Him to the world.
To the extent we FIND our Creator we will find our design and our purpose.
Abigail, Deborah, Huldah, Esther, Lois, Priscilla, Mary Magdalene
The Bible presents us with the stories of many different WOMEN who serve God in many different ways. None were PERFECT but all allowed God to work through them.
“…this is what I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to gaze upon the BEAUTY of the LORD and to seek him in his temple.” (Psalm 27:4 NIV)
Read your BIBLE, It is not what you think!
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A Place to Belong: “The Family of Jesus”
Matthew 12:46-50
v.47 “Someone told Jesus, “Your mother and brothers are standing outside wanting to speak to you. Jesus replied, WHO is my MOTHER and who are my BROTHERS?
v.49 “Pointing to His disciples He said, here are my mother and my brothers. For WHOEVER does the WILL of my FATHER in heaven is my BROTHER and SISTER and MOTHER.”
In the world Jesus grew up in, there was no greater sin than DISLOYALTY to BLOOD RELATIVES.
“Another disciple said to Him, Lord first let me go and bury my father. But Jesus told him, FOLLOW ME and let the dead burry their own dead.”
Matthew 8:21-22
“…We have LEFT EVERYTHING to follow you! Jesus replied, No one who has LEFT home or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for ME and the GOSPEL will fail to RECEIVE a HUNDRED TIMES as much in this PRESENT age: homes, brothers, sisters, mothers children and fields—along with PERSECUTIONS—AND in the age to come, ETERNAL life.”
Mark 10
“Anyone who LOVES their father or mother MORE then me is NOT WORTHY of me; anyone who LOVES their son bro daughter MORE than me is NOT WORTHY of me.”
Matthew 10:37-38
What are the LOYALTIES that we hold to, and that we try to drag with us from the kingdoms of THIS WORLD into JESUS’ KINGDOM?
Jesus most basic VISION of CHURCH is that of FAMILY.
“God said, let US make humanity in OUR image, in OUR likeness…”
Genesis 1:26
God is a FAMILY who MAKES family. God is LOVE, and love cannot exist without RELATIONSHIP.
v.50 “WHOEVER does the WILL of my FATHER in heaven is my BROTHER and SISTER AND MOTHER.”
“Jesus answered, The WORK of God is this: to BELIEVE in the ONE HE has SENT.”
John 6:29
Salvation is a new BIRTH into a new FAMILY.
God does BIG things in SMALL groups.
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A Place to Belong: “Living out our Faith”
Matthew 5:17-8:5, Galatians 5:25
Jesus brought with Him an entirely different way of LIVING, a way of living that was never meant to be done ALONE.
Matthew 5:17
v.17 “Do not think that I have come to ABOLISH the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them, but to FULFILL them.”
Jesus was introducing them to a better way; not of BELIEVING, a better way of LIVING.
v.22 “Anyone who is ANGRY with a brother or sister will be subject to JUDGEMENT. Anyone who says to a brother or sister ‘RACA’ is answerable to the COURT. And anyone who says YOU FOOL! will be in danger of the fire of HELL.”
v.23 “Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, LEAVE your gift there, in front of the ALTAR. FIRST, go and be reconciled to THEM; THEN come and OFFER your gift.”
v.29 “If your right EYE causes you to stumble, GOUGE it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell.”
v.43 “You have heard it said, Love your neighbor and hate your enemy. But I TELL YOU, LOVE your ENEMIES and PRAY for those who PERSECUTE you.”
“Father, FORGIVE THEM, for they do not know what they are doing.”
Luke 23:34
7v.12 “In EVERYTHING, DO to OTHERS what you would have them do to YOU. For this SUMS UP the Law and the Prophets.”
v.24 “Everyone who HEARS these words of mine and PUTS THEM INTO PRACTICE is like a wise man who BUILT his house on the ROCK.”
v.26 “ But everyone who hears these words of mine and DOES NOT put them into practice is like a FOOLISH person who built their house on sand.”
That was Jesus’ WAY, it was the way of His KINGDOM.
Real PEOPLE. Real FRIENDS. Real CHANGE.
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No Other King: “No Other Power”
1 Corinthians 1:18-20, Galatians 5:22-25
God was doing something NEW in the world, FOR the WORLD.
A Kingdom that would showcase an entirely different way of LIVING.
The apostle Paul realized, Jesus WASN’T an ADD-ON.
1 Corinthians 1:18-20
v.18 “For the MESSAGE of the CROSS is FOOLISHNESS to those who are PERISHING, but to us who are BEING SAVED it is the POWER of GOD.”
“Peter replied, REPENT and be baptized, everyone of you, in the name of JESUS Christ for the FORGIVENESS of your SINS.”
Acts 2:38
The ‘Fruit of the HOLY SPIRIT.’
The Holy Spirt is the one who gives us FAITH and The Holy Spirit also begins to inform our CONSCIENCE.
Galatians 5:22-25
v.22 “But the fruit of the Spirit is LOVE, joy PEACE, PATIENCE, KINDNESS, goodness, FAITHFULNESS, gentleness and self-control.”
These are all RESPONSES.
v.25 “Since we LIVE BY the SPIRIT, let us KEEP in STEP with the Spirit.”
“Where is the WISE person? Has not God made FOOLISH the WISDOM of the WORLD?”
1 Corinthians 1:20
This is not a statement about the value of a group of PEOPLE, this is a statement about the value of an ETHIC.
The Church has always said, ‘It’s NOT that God made US better. Our ethic, our WAY OF LFE is superior because it comes from the SPIRIT of God and that RESULTS in a BETTER life.
No other King, only Jesus and only Jesus’ Church, has the message of ETERNAL LIFE and the message of a BETTER LIFE for EVERYONE!
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No Other King
Do you know anyone with dual citizenship?There are only two spiritual kingdoms- Satan’s & God’sYour spiritual citizenship is ALL that really matters.
We all start out in Satan’s kingdom.
Colossians 1
Jesus is the only One Who can rescue us and give us citizenship in His kingdom.
How can we be active citizens in the spiritual kingdom of King Jesus?
a) Pray
b) Act
c) Speak
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No Other King: “No Other Kingdom”
John 20:2-21, Acts 1:6-2:41John 20:2-21 pg. 1,687
v.21 “Again Jesus said, Peace be with you! As the FATHER has SENT ME, I am SENDING YOU.”
God was doing something NEW in the world, FOR the WORLD.
Acts 1:6 pg. 1,690
v.6 “So when THEY met together, they asked Jesus, Lord are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?”
v.8 “YOU will receive POWER, when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my WITNESSES in JERUSALEM, and in JUDEA and SAMARIA, and to the ENDS OF THE EARTH.”
v. 14 “THEY all joined TOGETHER constantly in PRAYER along WITH the WOMEN and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his BROTHERS.”
“The angel said to them.…I bring you GOOD news that will cause GREAT JOY for ALL people. Today in the Town of David, a Savior has been born to you; He is the Messiah, the Lord.” Luke 2:10-11
2v.7 “Utterly amazed, they asked: Are not all these people who are speaking GALILEANS?
How is it that each of us hears them in our NATIVE language?”
v.12 “Amazed and PERPLEXED, they asked one another, What does this MEAN?”
v.24 “God RAISED Jesus from the dead, freeing Him from the agony of death, because it was IMPOSSIBLE for DEATH to keep its HOLD on Him.”
v.32 “God has raised this Jesus to life, and we are all WITNESSES of the fact.”
v.37 “When the people heard this, they were CUT to the HEART and they said ….what shall we DO?”
v.38 “Peter replied, REPENT and be BAPTIZED, everyone of you, in the NAME of Jesus Christ for the FORGIVENESS of your sins. And you will RECEIVE the gift of the HOLY SPIRIT.”
v.39 “This promise is for YOU and your CHILDREN and for ALL who are FAR OFF; for all who the Lord our God will call.”
Since Pentecost, the one thing that has united all followers of Jesus, we all believe:
Jesus is the CHRIST, the SON of the living GOD.
Jesus ROSE from the dead, and His death PAID for the SINS of the entire WORLD.
God no longer inhabits a BUILDING. Now the God of the universe lives in YOU.
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Easter: “No Other King”
Matthew 14, Mark 14, Luke 24, John 3, 6, 13, 20
Easter is the best Sunday of the year to start FOLLOWING Jesus.
We believe that Jesus really did, literally, physically RISE from the dead!
Go back to the moment when Jesus has just been CRUCIFIED.
In this moment the only people at the cross are:
CONFUSED Citizens FRIGHTENED Ex-Disciples
BROKEN HEARTED Women GRIEVING Mother
The center piece of Jesus’ ministry was NOT His TEACHING.
It wasn’t Jesus’ IDEAS that got Him crucified, it was WHO and WHAT He claimed to be.
Matthew 14:1-23 pg. 1,519
v.14 “When Jesus landed and saw the large crowd, He had COMPASSION on them and HEALED their sick.”
“Jesus, knowing that they intended to come and make Him king by FORCE.” John 6:15
v.22 “IMMEDIATELY Jesus MADE the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of Him to the other side, while He dismissed the crowd.”
Everything Jesus said and did would’ve been POINTLESS, if it wasn’t for what happened NEXT:
“Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene went to the tomb and saw that the stone had been ROLLED AWAY from the entrance.” John 20:1
“Finally the other disciple (John) who reached the tomb first also when inside. He SAW and BELIEVED.” John 20:8
The resurrection of Jesus answers the questions:
How does God SEE you? What does God THINK about you? How does God FEEL about you?
“God so LOVED the WORLD that He GAVE His one and only Son, that WHOEVER BE-LIEVES in HIM shall not PERISH but HAVE eternal LIFE.” John 3:16
“Because God did not send His Son (Jesus) into the world to CONDEMN the world, but to SAVE the world through Him) John 3:17
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Palm Sunday - John 12
1. What day do you consider the 1st day of the week?
2. The day before Palm Sunday was a busy one!
3. The crowds in Jerusalem were thinking different things about Jesus
4. Several Old Testament prophecies were fulfilled on Palm Sunday:
Zechariah 9 – the king is coming on a donkey
Psalm 118 - blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord…….& join in a festal procession
Psalm 24 - Lift up your heads, you gates; that the King of glory may come in & Who may ascend the mountain of the LORD?
5. As He entered Jerusalem, Jesus knew He would take the punishment for sin and be the sacrifice.
6. May the Lord bless us this Holy Week!
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Sermon on The Mount: "Do Not Judge"Matthew 7:1-6
"Do not judge, or you too will be judged."PLANK in the eye.The problem isn't that we can't discern right or wrong, but that we do it without AWARENESS of our own problems.Love the sinner, hate the sin.Vs.Love the sinner, hate your OWN sin.Jesus doesn't condemn, there's no need for you to.Dogs & the Sacred, Pigs & PearlsEveryone is WORTHY, not EVERYTHING is helpful.We are tempted to PUSH onto someone something they weren't ready for.We turn people into PROJECTS.When people are projects, they are only VALUABLE when they become what we want.When we push our own agenda, it's more about US than them.Putting it into practice:DON'T do what Jesus didn't do.DO what Jesus did.John 15:5
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Sermon on The Mount: “Turn the other cheek”
When you are treated like LESS THAN
Matthew 5:38-48
“Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth” put a limit to extreme PUNISHMENTS and VIGILANTE mindsets.
Three commands:
Turn the other CHEEK
Give the shirt off your BACK
Go the extra MILE
“If anyone slaps you on the RIGHT cheek….”
When you refuse to retaliate, you change how you see YOURSELF and you change how you see THEM.
You are worth MORE.
We RESIST evil, we don’t retaliate evil.
Being loved is DISARMING.
Isaiah 2:4
Isaiah 50:6
Jesus’ love DISARMS us.
Two practices:
Pray for the person that HURT you
Go above and BEYOND in one of your relationships.
Am I BECOMING the kind of person who would respond how Jesus teaches us to respond?
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Sermon on The Mount: “Kingdom Righteousness”
Matthew 6:1-4
I’m guessing I’m not the only person who’s ever found themselves doing something GOOD with an ULTERIOR motivation.
The GOSPEL of Jesus gives us BLESSING for TODAY and HOPE for TOMORROW.
In Jesus’ Kingdom, the condition of our HEARTS is what our Heavens Father values most.
Matthew 6:1-4
Jesus’ teaching in this section of his sermon isn’t really about GIVING, it’s about RELATIONSHIPS.
In a personal relationship if something is made PUBLIC that is meant to be PRIVATE the relationship is DAMAGED.
v.1 “Be CAREFUL not to do your ACTS OF RIGHTEOUSNESS in front of others to be SEEN by THEM…”
v.1 “Be CAREFUL not to do your GOOD WORKS in front of others to be SEEN by THEM, if you do you will have no REWARD from your FATHER in heaven.”
“In the same way, let your light SHINE before others, that they may see your GOOD WORKS and glorify your FATHER in heaven.”
Matthew 5:16
This Jesus addressing our MOTIVATIONS.
Jesus is very interested in our BEHAVIOR. But, for Jesus right behavior is never enough.
Jesus is always more concerned with the MOTIVATION of the HEART behind our behavior.
v.2 “So WHEN you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets to be HONORED BY OTHERS. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full.”
v.3 “But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. Then YOUR FATHER who sees what is done in secret, WILL REWARD YOU.”
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Sermon on the Mount
Fake News & Fact Checkers
Jesus in His Sermon on the Mount was voicing the same concern over Fake News!
Matthew 5:21-33
“you have heard that it was said”
“but I tell you…”
1) Jesus Fact Checks the anti-murder commandment.
angry outbursts for no good reason, the verbal act of
murdering by bullying, and cruel attitudes = killing someone physically
2) Jesus corrects the corrupted understanding by the
religious leaders on God’s commandment regarding adultery.
3) Our world is full of Fake News concerning divorce but again Jesus is our ultimate Fact Checker.
God is more concerned about the intent of the heart and the roots of actions -not just outward actions that go against His best way of living.
If we feel regret, pain, and guilt, God’s law has done its job. Our heart-felt guilt drives us into the arms of Jesus, our only possible Savior.
Put away the Fake News and live in the real Good News!
Following Jesus in His kingdom means acknowledging He did
everything right as our Savior. We then live in response to what He did for us!
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Sermon on The Mount:
Following Jesus in His Kingdom– Salt and Light
Lent
Matthew 5
The importance of salt and light
-Utilized daily by all people on earth
-Enjoyed
-Our world is better with them both in it
Salt
-Valuable & useful
-Doesn’t exist merely for itself
-How can we be salt to those around us?
Light
-Valuable & useful
-We don’t actually provide any light of our own. We’re simply reflecting the light of the Jesus
-How can we be light to those around us?
A few cautions from Jesus on unsaltiness and hiding our light
An example of salt & light … Elli’s House
Jesus is counting on us to be the salt of the earth and the light of the world, following Him in His kingdom!
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Sermon on The Mount: “Life in the Kingdom of Jesus”
Matthew 4:12-17, 5:1-12
v.12 “When Jesus heard that John had been put in prison, He withdrew to Galilee.
Leaving Nazareth, He went and lived in CAPERNAUM, which was by the lake in the area of ZEBULUN and NAPHTALI, to fulfill what was said through the prophet Isaiah.”
v.25 “LARGE CROWDS came to Him from Galilee, the Decapolis, Jerusalem, Judea, and the region across the Jordan, and they followed Him.”
WHAT have you heard?
v.17 “REPENT, for the KINGDOM of HEAVEN has come NEAR.”
The most incredible thing about this brand new Kingdom is that EVERYBODY is invited to participate in it.
What does it actually look like to LIVE under King Jesus’ REIGN?
“BLESSED are….Literally: ‘HAPPY’ ‘FORTUNATE’ ‘CONGRATULATIONS’
Not a list of VIRTUES.
v.3 “Blessed are the POOR IN SPIRIT for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven.”
v.4 “Blessed are those who MOURN for they will be comforted.”
v.5 “Blessed are the MEEK for they will inherit the earth.”
Not a list of COMMANDS.
Not a list of TIMELESS TRUTHS
The Beatitudes are a picture of what the GOSPEL does as it moves through our world.
Jesus Kingdom is both a PRESENT reality as well as a FUTURE hope.
We live with BLESSING for TODAY and HOPE for TOMORROW.
In Scripture, ashes are used as a symbol and reminder of two things:
1. REPENTING from a life of SIN.
2. The MORTALITY of life in this WORLD.
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A Guide to Practicing Prayer | Being With Jesus
What if prayer is BORING?
Mark 4v35-41
There are moments when our faith experience feels DRY.
Sometimes we can CHANGE the setting, sometimes we can’t CONTROL it.
When they were overwhelmed by the storm, Jesus was still PRESENT.
The question… “Don’t you CARE?”
Do we appreciate the ORDINARY moments or only the profound ones?
Silence precedes the SILENCING.
God’s silence doesn’t mean God’s ABSENCE.
““In a place of God’s presence will be a myriad of uncomfortable and unpleasant emotions: anger, fear, loneliness, restlessness, frustration, doubt and, most of all, boredom. I will be bored out of my mind.” - Mark Thibodeaux
Bottom Line: A boring life isn’t a bad prayer life.
Jesus says:
“I will never leave you or forsake you.”
“…and surely I will be with you always…”
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Worry, Anxiety, and a Life of Prayer
Anxiety = Loss x AVOIDANCE
Philippians 4:6-9
Paul’s Context:REJECTIONRESISTANCERECESSIONRELATIONSHIP
Paul ASSUMES anxiety.
“BUT in everything, by prayer and petition…” - v. 6
If you know how to WORRY, you know how to PRAY.
Paul invites us to RE-TRAIN what we do with our worries.
v. 8-9
Anxieties are reduced when our fears are brought into God’s PRESENCE.
“And the PEACE of God, which transcends all understanding…”
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Practicing Prayer: “Listening to God”Two common struggles in prayer:
We are UNSURE what we think.We see prayer as a ONE-SIDED conversation.
Prayer is a two-way CONVERSATION.
If there was a God who calls me friend, how would we talk?
John 10
Jesus can’t claim to be the good shepherd if He isn’t LORD.
v. 11, Psalm 23
The sheep recognize His VOICE.
How do we learn to LISTEN and recognize the voice of God?
You will most recognize the voices you are most FAMILIAR with.
But… what does it “sound” like
Listening is paying attention to the THOUGHTS or IMAGES that enter my mind when my mind is focused on Jesus.
My two primary questions:Was it just me? - - - a question that ENDS the conversation.Is it true? - - - a question that INVITES us to trust.
John 15:15 - Jesus calls you FRIEND.
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Practicing Prayer: “Talking with God”Matthew 6:11-13. Hebrews 4:15-16January 21, 2024
’your Father KNOWS what you need BEFORE you ask Him.’ Matthew 6:8
TALKING TO God = Saying a PREMADE Prayer
Jesus NEVER intended that pre-made prayers be the ONLY way we pray.
A big part of ‘talking WITH’ God is ASKING
Matthew 6:1-13
PROVISION: v.11 “GIVE us this day our DAILY bread.”PARDON: v.12 “FORGIVE us OUR sins as we also forgive EVERYONE who sins against us.”PROTECTION: v.13 “And lead us not into TEMPTATION but DELIVER us from EVIL.”
v.13 “And lead ME not into TEMPTATION but DELIVER ME from EVIL.”
LAMENT- Talk with God about what is EVIL in your life and world.
PETITION and INTERCEDE - Asking God to fulfill His promises to OVERCOME EVIL with good.
Do we AGREE with Jesus about what is evil in our world?
Or do we play the ‘I’m going to just SIN NOW because I can always get FORGIVENESS LATER' game?
There is nothing ‘HALLOWED’ about a god who is so easily manipulated.
Why is TEMPTATION, so tempting?
SELF-protection and SELF-gratification
Embracing SURRENDER is the ALTERNATIVE to being led into temptation.
Saying yes to temptation always results in a LACK of something.
Following Jesus is the threshold to LIFE.
Ways to grow in prayer for other people:
1. Keep a 3x5 card with first names, and a simple description of each person’s need in a place you will see throughout your day, and when you see it pray for them.2. When praying for yourself or someone else, try to be as specific as possible. Generic prayers can make it more difficult for us to recognize God’s work in our lives.
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Practicing Prayer: “Talking to God”Matthew 6:9-13, Luke 11:2-4
When is comes to prayer, Jesus said:
Don’t pray to IMPRESS other people and don’t keep REPEATING yourself endlessly.
Because…’your Father KNOWS what you need BEFORE you ask Him.’ Matthew 6:8
As disciples of Jesus we want to pay close attention to both WHAT Jesus teaches his disciples to pray and HOW Jesus teaches his disciples to pray.
Matthew 6:9-13
v.9 “Our FATHER in HEAVEN, HALLOWED be your name.”
v.10 “YOUR KINGDOM come, YOUR WILL be done ON EARTH as it is in Heaven.”
Next, Jesus tells us to ask God for three things in particular:
PROVISION, PARDON, PROTECTION
v.11 “GIVE us this day our daily bread.”
Jesus wants us to tell God what we NEED.
v.12 “FORGIVE us OUR sins as we also forgive EVERYONE who sins against us.”
Heavenly Father forgive me in the SAME WAY that I have forgiven the people who have wronged me.
"By this everyone will know that you are My DISCIPLES if you LOVE (forgive) one another.” John 13:35
v.13 “And lead us not into TEMPTATION but deliver us from THE EVIL ONE.”
“This then is HOW you should pray: Matthew 6:9
“When you pray, SAY: Luke 11:2
Talking TO God = Praying PRE-MADE prayers.
Pre-made prayers were NEVER intended to be the ONLY way we pray.
Great situations to use pre-made prayers:1. In Distress: Psalms 57, 60, 862. Scared: Psalm 273. When you want to experience more of God in your life: Psalm 63, 84
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Practicing Prayer: “Getting Started with Prayer”Matthew 6:5-8
WHEN do you pray and WHY do you pray?Jesus expects us to be disciples who MAKE more disciples.Becoming more like Jesus means the PRACTICE of PRAYER is also critical for us to EXPERIENCE CLOSENESS with God in our daily lives.Matthew 6:5-8 pg. 1,504v.5 “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. I tell you the truth, they have received their REWARD in full.”v.6 “But when YOU pray go into your ROOM and CLOSE the door and pray to your FATHER who is UNSEEN. Then your Father who SEES what is done in SECRET will REWARD you.”v.7 “And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like the pagans, for they think they will be HEARD because of their MANY words.”v.8 “ Do not be like THEM, for your Father KNOWS what you need BEFORE you ask Him.”Then WHY ask? WHY pray?Your Heavenly Father has invited you into a relationship with Him that is to be characterized by INTIMACY and CONNECTION.There is a word of difference between feeling GUILTY about SOMETHING and LOVING SOMEONE.Guilt can change BEHAVIOR, but I can’t change a HEART.v.9 “This then is HOW you should pray.”Exercises to help you practice prayer:1. This week practice praying this way, alone, un-distracted, addressing God as Father.2. Don’t get focused on the length of time.3. Don’t let an unanswered prayer from the past stop you from praying now.
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The First ChristianLuke 1A Moment of Doubtv.30 “Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be.”v.34“How will this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?”A Moment of ReassuranceAnother miracleAnother personReassurance comes through the voice of another personA Moment of Surrenderv.38 “I am the Lord’s servant… may your word to me be fulfilled.”Surrender is your “yes” to Jesus.Surrender comes before the struggle.A Moment of Responsev.46 From now on all generations will call me blessed, for the Mighty One has done great things for me - holy is his name.His mercy extends to those who fear him, from generation to generation. He has performed mighty deeds with his arm”“’Til he appeared and the soul felt his worth.”
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The First ChristianLuke 1:26-38One of the lies we can believe about the Christmas story is that MARY is nothing like you.Mary is an ORDINARY, unwed peasant teenager.The Promise to Maryv. 28, 30Mary BELIEVES she’s favored by God.The PROMISE to Mary is the promise to you.Ephesians 2:8-9“Grace is love that seeks you out when you have nothing to give in return.” - Paul ZahlFavor vs. EntitlementMary was favored by God not ENTITLED to her role in the story.The shadow-side to entitlement is the FEAR of not being good enough.Exodus 34:5-7Jesus reveals the God Mary always KNEW.“I have revealed your name to those whom you gave me from the world.” - John 17:6
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For: Week 3FOR 2023: “Everybody is Important”
1 Corinthians 12:12-27
All the experts say, the church in America is DYING. Who determines if this is true?
All of us who are followers of Jesus have been invited into something so much BIGGER than just OURSELVES.
1 Corinthians 12:12-2
v.27 “Now YOU are the BODY of Christ, and EACH ONE of you is a PART of it.”
“Where two or more are gathered TOGETHER in My name, I am there in their MIDST.”
Matthew 18:20
v.12 “The body is a UNIT, though it is made up of MANY PARTS; and though all its parts are MANY they form ONE body. So it is with CHRIST.”
v.13 “For we were ALL baptized by ONE SPIRIT into ONE BODY.”
v.14 “Now the body is not made up of one, but of MANY.”
v.15 “If the FOOT should say, because I am not a HAND, I do not belong to the body. It would not for that reason CEASE to be part of the body.”
It takes EVERY part for even the GREATEST part to be SIGNIFICANT.
v.18 “GOD has ARRANGED the parts of the body, EVERY ONE of them, just as He wanted them to be.”
How can I work in CONNECTION with other followers of Jesus to ACCOMPLISH our Heavenly Father’s WORK in this world?
v.21 “The eye cannot say to the hand, I DON’T NEED you!”
v.22 “On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem weaker are INDISPENSABLE”
v.27 “Now YOU are the BODY of Christ, and EACH ONE of you is a PART of it.”
Three questions you’ll never find answers too, until you find your place in the body:
1. Why don’t I FEEL CLOSE to God?
2. Why am I NOT GROWING?
3. What is my PURPOSE?
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FOR 2023: “Everybody is Included”
John 1:14, 13:34-35, Acts 2:22-24,15:1-31
“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have LOVED you, so you are to love one another. By this EVERYONE will know that you are my disciples.” John 13:34-35
As followers of Jesus, their is a very subtle temptation all of us face: To substitute DEVOTION for ACTION.
FOLLOWING Jesus is different than simply BELIEVING Jesus. Because from the very beginning the Church began as a MOVEMENT.
Who should be ALLOWED to be part of the Church?
It’s undeniable that there’s a MORAL imperative that is part of following Jesus, and at the same time, there is this incredible message of GRACE.
“Jesus was full of GRACE and TRUTH.” John 1:14
Acts 15:1-31
v.1 “Some men came down from Judea….and they were teaching…unless you are circumcised according to the custom taught by Moses, you CANNOT be saved.”
v.2 “This brought Paul and Barnabas into sharp DISPUTE and DEBATE with them..”
v.8 “Peter got up and said, God who knows the HEART, showed that HE ACCEPTED THEM by giving the Holy Spirit to them, just as He did to US.”
v.9 “He made no distinction between us and them for He purified their HEARTS by FAITH.”
v.10 “Now then, why do you want to TEST GOD, by putting on the necks of the DISCIPLES a yoke that neither WE, nor our FATHERS have been able to bear?”
God can purify your HEART, BEFORE you can purify your life.
If He can do that for ME, He can do that for the people AROUND me.
v.19 “It is my JUDGEMENT therefore that we SHOULD NOT make it DIFFICULT for the Gentiles who are TURNING TO God.
TRUTH or GRACE?
Since the very beginning, in every generation, there has always been a REMNANT. All WORKING TOGETHER FOR the Gospel of Jesus in our world!
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This weekend was the first week of our annual FOR Campaign!Every year you've made such a huge difference in the lives of people in our community, and I am so thankful that the heart of our church reflects the heart of Jesus.FOR 2023: “A Message for Everybody” Romans 3:21-25There is another message that is even more POWERFUL and more life CHANGING.We believe this message is FOR EVERYBODY!Romans 3:21-25 (p. 1,750)v.21 “But now a RIGHTEOUSNESS from GOD apart from the LAW has been made known, to which the LAW and the PROPHETS testify.”v.22 “This righteousness from God comes THROUGH FAITH in JESUS Christ to ALL who believe, there is no DISTINCTION.”v.23 “Because all have SINNED, and fall short of the GLORY of God,”There is a PERFECT that NOBODY, is.v.24 “ and all are JUSTIFIED FREELY, by His GRACE though the redemption that came by CHRIST JESUS.”v.25 “God received Him as a SACRIFICE of ATONEMENT, through faith in Jesus’ blood.”Our FOR Campaign is our annual celebration of generosity, where each year we come together to do corporately for our community, what our Heavenly Father has done for each of us individually, through Jesus!We do this by helping to fund non-profits in our community that focus on: hunger, medical care, housing, human trafficking, education, family stabilization and community health.There are 3 Parts to our annual FOR Campaign:Give | Every person give $19.95Sponsor | Sponsor a child for Christmas with Gifts For All God's ChildrenServe Serve | Attend One. Serve One. Sunday November 26 at both services 100% of money that is donated to our FOR Campaign is given away to our community! |
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The Way of Freedom
“You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” - John 8:32
What is freedom?
DON’T tell me what to do.
“No right, no wrong, no rules for me.” Elsa
We have shifted from EXTERNAL authority to INTERNAL authenticity.
Galatians 5:13-25
Jesus’ way is better than freedom from external authorities, he offers freedom from INTERNAL masters.
The MODERN world says desire is the important thing about you.
You ARE free.
You are BECOMING free.
Suggested Practice: Say NO to something good.
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Justice and the Way of Jesus
What is justice?
Micah 6:8 - Act justly, love mercy, and walk humbly
“God’s power to make RIGHT what has been WRONG.” - Fleming Rutledge
Thy KINGDOM come
In TROY as it in heaven
Two aspects of justice: PUNISHMENT and ADVOCACY
Quartet of the VULNERABLE
No one gets OVERLOOKED in the Kingdom of God.
Luke 18:1-8
If you want to see what’s wrong in the world made right, it begins in PRAYER.
Acts 2:42-47
In the world, there tends to be a desire to WAKE people up to injustices they see.
In the church, there tends to be a desire to have justice without taking personal RESPONSIBILITY.
Both… often desire the kingdom apart from the KING.
“They enjoyed the favor of all the people.” - v. 47
Suggested Practice: practicing the presence of PEOPLE
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The Human Condition
“That saved a wretch like me.”
We are in denial of how WRETCHED we really are.
Luke 18:9-14
There is a HUMAN propensity to screw things up.
You can live in DENIAL or you can be set FREE by honesty.
Being true to YOURSELF can be a DENIAL of wretchedness.
Obsessing with wretchedness can be a denial of DIGNITY.
“God, have mercy on me, a sinner.” - v. 13
A proper view of wretchedness also means a proper view of our POTENTIAL.
Matthew 5:48
Suggested Practice: Confession
Jesus responds to our wretchedness not with a LECTURE but with LOVE.
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Looking for a Sign: “It doesn’t get more practical than this.”
Matthew 10:16-31, Mark 4:38-41
How do you AMAZE Jesus?
Why is your FAITH so important to Jesus?
Disciples: BELIEVED Jesus was who He CLAIMED to be. Put into PRACTICE what Jesus was TEACHING.
v.18 “On my account you will be brought before governors and kings as WITNESSES to them and to the gentiles.”
v.19 “But WHEN they ARREST you, DO NOT WORRY about what to say or how to say it. At that time you will be GIVEN what to say.”
v.20 “For it will not be YOU speaking, but the SPIRIT of your Father SPEAKING THROUGH you.”
v.22 “You will be HATED by everyone, because of ME…”
v.28 “Do not be AFRAID of those who kill the BODY but cannot kill the SOUL. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell.”
v.30 “…even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So don’t be AFRAID; you are worth more than many sparrows.”
‘Fear not, for I am WITH you’ Isaiah 41:10
Faith: Confidence the God who can protect my SOUL in spite of what someone might do to my BODY is with me.
“Teacher, don’t you CARE if we DROWN?”Mark 4:38
“Jesus said to the disciples, why are you so AFRAID? Do you still have no FAITH?
Mark 4:40
I can be in TERRIFYING fearful CIRCUMSTANCES and still not FEAR.
Jesus knows, in this life uncertainty is UNAVOIDABLE. But faith is what allows fearful to be OPTIONAL.
Questions:
1. How do you typically respond to uncertainty? Do you try to control your circumstances, or do you get overwhelmed and shut down?
2. Read Matthew 10:28-31. What are some reasons it can be difficult for us to live as though God values us so much that He’s numbered the hairs on our heads?
3. What are some circumstances you’re facing right now that you need to entrust to your Heavenly Father? Who can support you in that?
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Ephesians 2:8 & 9… it’s impact on me, Tony Boos, and it’s similarity to the 1950’s Disney movie Sleeping Beauty
The Curse
The rescue plan
1. God saves us by grace through faith in Christ (v. 8)
Grace is unmerited favor. Grace is what we’re saved by.
Faith is the instrument of salvation. Faith is like the channel that grace goes through.
By Grace, Through Faith … It is God’s Gift
2. God saves us by Jesus' work, not ours (v. 9)
We ARE saved by works, but not our own! By Jesus’ work ONLY. We can’t boast in ourselves for something another accomplished.
Sleeping Beauty is a fairy tale with a happy ending. Christianity is the true tale of God reversing sin’s curse and gifting a happy ending by grace through faith in Jesus.
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Looking for a Sign: “Great Faith”
Looking for a Sign: “Great Faith”
John 5:30, 6:38-40, 12:49-50, 14:10-14
CIRCUMSTANTIAL Faith: Trusting in God and believing in God based on my ability to FIND God in my CIRCUMSTANCES.
The foundation of our faith is something that happened in our HISTORY and not in our LIFETIME.
FAITH is CONFIDENCE that God IS who He says He is, and that He will DO what He PROMISED to do.
The BRIDGE between Hope and Faith is always the PROMISE of God.
JESUS was also called to live His life by FAITH.
Real faith can be a bit SCARY for us.
Great FAITH is great SURRENDER.
“By myself I can do NOTHING, I judge only as I HEAR and my judgement is just for I seek NOT to please MYSELF but HIM who sent me. “ John 5:30
“I did not SPEAK on my OWN but the FATHER who sent me COMMANDED me what to say and HOW to say it.” John 12:49
“I know that HIS command LEADS to eternal LIFE. So, whatever I say is just what the FATHER told me to say.” John 12:50
“For I have come down from heaven NOT to do MY will, but to do THE WILL of HIM who SENT me.” John 6:38
“My FATHER’S WILL is that EVERYONE who looks to the Son and believes in Him shall HAVE eternal LIFE and I will raise them up at the last day.” John 6:40
“The WORDS I say to you are not just my own. Rather, it is the Father living in me, who is doing HIS WORK.” John 14:10
Broken people call Jesus’ name and He ANSWERS.
Questions:
1. What do you think: Are we all victims of fate? Or do we determine our own futures?
2. Re-read John 12:49-50. If we believe this is true, how does this impact us surrendering control to our Heavenly Father?
3. No matter how long you’ve been following Jesus all of us have parts of our life we struggle to give up control over. What types of things do you struggle to do this with the most.
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Looking for a Sign: “Perfect Faith”
Genesis 12:2-3, Hebrews 11:1-13, Luke 5:12-13, Romans 5:8
CIRCUMSTANTIAL Faith: Trusting in God and believing in God based on my ability to FIND God in my CIRCUMSTANCES.
Circumstantial faith is very FRAGILE.
Faith is not a force, or a POWER.
Faith is NOT the REASON we follow Jesus.
Hebrews 11:1-13 pg. 1,874
v.1 “Now FAITH is CONFIDENCE in what we HOPE for, and ASSURANCE about what we DO NOT SEE.”
Faith is CONFIDENCE that God IS who He says He is, and that He will DO what He PROMISED to do.
v.2 “This is what the ANCIENTS were COMMENDED for.
The ancients were commended for responding to God’s PROMISE to them PERSONALLY, but all of them also believed in God’s promise for the WORLD.
v.13 “All these people were still LIVING by FAITH when they DIED. They did not receive the things PROMISED; they only saw them and welcomed them from a DISTANCE.”
The BRIDGE between Hope and Faith is always the PROMISE of God.
Faith without a promise is simply PRESUMPTION.
“While Jesus was in one of the towns, a man came along who was covered in leprosy. If you are WILLING you CAN make me clean. Jesus reached out His hand and TOUCHED the man. I AM WILLING, He said.” Luke 5:12-13
“But God DEMONSTRATES His own love for us in this: While we were still SINNERS, Christ died FOR US.” Romans 5:8
Questions:
1. Based on Hebrews 11, what is the difference between Hope and Faith?
2. If the bridge between Hope and Faith is the promise of God, how do you know what promises God has made to you and to the world?
3. What are some of God’s promises that are especially meaningful to you?
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Looking for a Sign: “What is Faith?”
Genesis 37-50, Hebrews 4
What’s the difference between HOPING for something to happen, and being able to say, God, I am TRUSTING You to do this?
EVERYONE has faith.
In every type of faith other than what Jesus and the New Testament describes, there is something that is MISSING.
When the thing you lean your faith against MOVES, then your faith begins to fall, and eventually, FAIL.
Patterns of BEHAVIOR
Unexplainable EVENTS
Circumstantial Faith: Trusting in God and believing in God based on my ability to FIND God in my CIRCUMSTANCES.
We’re not very good at interpreting the EVENTS of life.
There are some events in life that we experience that have absolutely NOTHING to do with God at all.
Our time frame isn’t LONG enough.
“But while Joseph was there in prison, the Lord was with him; he showed him kindness and granted him favor in the eyes of the prison warden.” Genesis 39:20-21
Many times we don’t interpret the VOICE of God well.
Hebrews 4:14 pg. 1,866
v.14 “Therefore, since we HAVE a great high PRIEST who has GONE THROUGH THE HEAVENS, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold FIRMLY to the FAITH we profess.”
Questions:
1. When people say they have walked away from their faith or lost faith, what exactly does that mean? Have you ever lost faith?
2. In your experience which is more likely, that our behavior changes our beliefs or that our beliefs change our behavior?
3. Read Hebrews 12:2-3. How is faith that leans on Jesus different from faith that leans on what’s going on around us?
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Revelation- Hope for Heaven
Revelation is not literal. It is a prophetic, apocalyptic book with high level symbolism.
Why did God give us the book of Revelation? To give us HOPE.
Revelation 21 teaches us about heaven
· Heaven is God’s perfect residence where we will live forever
· He will be making a new heaven and a new earth
· God will dwell with His people eternally
· Heaven will be perfect, lack sin, complete
· It will be a blessed reunion
God gives HOPE for the fantastic future we have! Revelation is full of that hope.
Hope in Jesus is certain and sure!
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“Hope through Battles” – Revelation 12 Biblical hope is a well-grounded expectation of what God has promised. Overall guidance for reading chapters 4-22: John is given visions that depict our present age from different vantage points. He uses symbolic language while portraying parallel visions. “recapitulation” Chapter 12 clearly shows the ongoing spiritual and unseen war […]
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Revelation—Hope for the Church
The difference between common hope and Christian hope
Our hope in Him is the well-grounded expectation of what He promised.
The words from Revelation gave Jesus’ first followers, living in the 1st century, hope.
The word “revelation” means to reveal, disclose or to uncover. Revelation gives us some details about Jesus’ second coming to earth and some peeks into eternity in heaven, but also describes in symbolic detail what will happen in the time in between.
Overall important characteristics to know about the book of Revelation:
· It is prophecy.
· It is apocalyptic.
· It was written to the first generation of Christians who were suffering.
· It is Scripture- saturated.
· It can’t be read literally or as a sequential timeline.
Chapter 1, verses 10-11… John says, “On the Lord’s Day, I was in the Spirit and I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet, which said: “Write on a scroll what you see and send it to the seven churches: to Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia and Laodicea.” These major Christian churches in Asia were each told of their strengths and weaknesses and they were given hope-filled promises.Read chapters 4-12 of Revelation this week– to prepare you for next week’s sermon.
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Make Space: Margin in Your Money Psalm 90:1-2,12, Galatians 5:16, 22-23, Matthew 6:24-33 You can’t borrow TIME, but you can borrow MONEY. Jesus makes our life, BECOME more like His life as we follow Him. There is a huge difference between: STANDARD of living & QUALITY of life. Galatians 5:16 v.16 “So I say, WALK […]
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Make Space: “Number Your Days” Psalm 90 Margin is the space between our CURRENT PACE and our LIMITS. Two very unique laws God gave His people: Law of SABBATH & Law of GLEANING. “When you are harvesting your field and you overlook a SHEAF, don’t go back and get it. Leave it for the FOREIGNER, […]
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Make Space: “What’s Driving Me?” Exodus 16:1-29, 20:8, Leviticus 19:9-10, Deuteronomy 24:19, Matthew 6:31-34 Margin is the space between our CURRENT PACE and our LIMITS. Our happiness in life is most often measured by the health of our RELATIONSHIPS not our PROSPERITY and not our ACCOMPLISHMENTS. We FEAR something: MISSING out. FALLING behind. Not being […]
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Untangle the Mess There is no PART that Jesus doesn’t love. Managers work to PREVENT pain. Firefighters work to EXTINGUISH pain. Exiles are parts that are STUCK in a painful experience. 1 Peter 5:6-10 Give your BURDENS to Jesus. Matthew 11:28, Psalm 55:22 Burdens of belief, feelings, and physical burdens NAME your burdens and understand […]
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Untangle the Mess – Week 1 No Bad Parts When there’s a mess we tend to IGNORE the mess. Romans 7 Psalm 139 There is no PART of you that Jesus doesn’t know. There is no thought you have that Jesus doesn’t KNOW first. Try HARDER doesn’t clean up the mess. Step 1: Focus on […]
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Joy in Giving Philippians 4 Verse 1 Paul’s tenderness toward the Philippian Christians Verse 2 Paul in the peacemaker role Verse 3 He asks believers to help Verse 4 “Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!” Verses 5-7 practical, specific instructions Verse 8 focus on the good, instead of worrying Verse […]
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Joy in Faith Joy is: a cheerful state of being (not the same as happiness) Philippians 3 (pg. 1,828) verse 1 Rejoice in the Lord! verse 2 Paul is angry about a situation happening in the Philippian church. verses 3-6 None of the religious benefits the Jews had should cause them to be boastful or […]
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Philippians 2 – Joy in serving Joy is = a cheerful state of being Philippians 2 verses 1 & 2 be like-minded with each other and be loving Paul’s joy increases verses 3-5 how to show love verses 6-11 we are to bear a resemblance to Jesus’ humility verses 12 & 13 God started the […]
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“Unstoppable Joy” Philippians 1 Philippians is sometimes nicknamed “the epistle of joy” The words ‘joy’ or ‘rejoice’ were written by Paul ______ times in this book Joy is a cheerful state of being. Joy is not the same as happiness. Happiness depends on what happens to you, on your current circumstances. Joy is found in […]
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Love Like Jesus: “Letting Go of Anger” Ephesians 4:26-32 v.26 “In your ANGER do not SIN.” v.26 “Be ANGRY. Do not SIN.” What do you DO with what you feel? v.26 “Be ANGRY. Do not SIN. Do not let the sun go down WHILE you are still angry.” Eventually, UNRESOLVED anger is going to cause […]
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Love Like Jesus: “Inheritance vs. Legacy” Deuteronomy 6:6-7, Ephesians 6:4 Often it is the presence or absence of FORGIVENESS that defines our experience of relationship with our dads. What can I do right now to help grow my kid’s RELATIONSHIP with GOD? What can I do right now to help grow my kid’s RELATIONSHIP with […]
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Love Like Jesus: “Cancel the Debt” Matthew 18:1-3, 21-34 v.1 “Who is the GREATEST in the Kingdom HEAVEN?” v.2 “Jesus called a little CHILD to himself and placed the child among them.” v.3 “I tell you the truth, unless you CHANGE and BECOME like little children, you will never ENTER the Kingdom of Heaven.” v.21 […]
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Fear, Power, and the God Who Fights Guilt-punishment: We emphasize the CROSS and Jesus as the SUBSTITUTE. Fear-power: We emphasize the RESURRECTION and Jesus as VICTOR. In the moments where you are the most hurt by evil, you need a God who FIGHTS back against evil. Ephesians 6:12 Romans 8:31-39 If death can’t DEFEAT Jesus, […]
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Salvation: A Healing Metaphor
Matthew 1:18-21
80% of the global population is an honor-SHAME culture.
Salvation = “sozo”
Salvation is a HEALING metaphor.
Salvation is the physical, emotional, and spiritual healing of what robs our WORTH.
Guilt=punishment pattern vs. Shame-honor pattern
Guilt = I MADE a mistake | Shame = I AM a mistake
Shame separates us from where we feel LOVED.
For someone within a shame-honor culture, salvation is not “a PERSONAL relationship with Jesus.”
Salvation is INVITATION into the status of God’s family.
Jesus HEALS the sick.
Jesus enters into the shame in order to invite you to the FAMILY.
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More Than WordsWe can’t understand the Bible without knowing the context of the WORDS.
In order to know what the words mean, we have to know what they MEANT.
1 Peter 1:18-19
“God paid a RANSOM” (NLT)
“You were REDEEMED” (NIV)
Three Primary Categories of Gospel Metaphors:
GUILT/Punishment
SHAME/Honor
FEAR/Rescue
Redemption refers to freeing somebody from what holds them CAPTIVE.
Ransom refers to the PRICE paid.
Romans 6:23
Hebrews 9:12
Jesus sets you free from what owns you.
Colossians 2:13-14
FORGIVENESS is a debt metaphor.
What do you OWE God?
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Mother’s Day: “Overcomers!”
Matthew 12:48-50, Ephesians 6:10-20, Romans 12:21, 1 John 4:4
Are we fighting the WRONG BATTLES and the wrong people, with the WRONG WEAPONS?
Ephesians 6:10-20
v.10 “Finally, be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your STAND against the devil’s schemes.
v.12 “For our struggle is NOT against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the SPIRITUAL FORCES of evil in the Heavenly realms.”
v.13 “Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the DAY of EVIL comes, you may be able to STAND your ground, and after you have done everything to STAND.”
v.14 “STAND FIRM then, with the belt of TRUTH buckled around your waist, and the breastplate of RIGHTEOUSNESS in place,
v.15 “and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the GOSPEL of PEACE.
v.16 “In addition to all this, take up the shield of FAITH, with which you can EXTINGUISH all the flaming arrows of the evil one.”
v.17 “Take the helmet of SALVATION, and the sword of the SPIRIT, which is the WORD of God.”
v.18 “And pray in the SPIRIT on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be ALERT and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s PEOPLE.”
v.19 Pray also for me, that whenever I SPEAK, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the GOSPEL…Pray that I may declare it fearlessly as I should.”
The best WORRIERS can become the best WARRIORS!
You, dear children and mothers, are from God and have overcome evil, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world. - 1 John 4:4
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2 Peter 1:16, Luke 1:1-4, 1 Corinthians 15:3-6
It’s easy to MISUNDERSTAND the BIBLE if you don’t understand The STORY in the Bible.
It’s the story of REDEMPTION and you are the REDEEMED.
It’s also easy to misunderstand the Bible, if you don’t understand the HISTORY of the Bible
After Jesus rose from the dead, suddenly there was interest in DOCUMENTING the life, the words, and the activity of Jesus.
“We did not follow CLEVERLY INVENTED stories when we told you about the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were EYEWITNESSES of his majesty.”
2 Peter 1:16
People began DOCUMENTING the LIFE of Jesus because the STORY of Jesus didn’t END on a Roman cross.
Luke 1:1-4 pg. 1,587
v.1 “MANY have undertaken to draw up an ACCOUNT of the THINGS that have been FULFILLED among us.
v.2 “Just as they were HANDED DOWN to us by those who from the first, were EYEWITNESSES and servants of the word.
v.3 “Therefore since I myself have CAREFULLY INVESTIGATED everything from the beginning, it seemed good also to me to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus, so that you may know the CERTAINTY of the things you have been taught.
From the very beginning followers of Jesus have always considered Matthew, Mark, Luke and John to be accurate and reliable, because of WHO wrote them and WHEN they were written.
We have a RELIABLE collection of historical documents, written down by eyewitnesses during the lifetime of other eyewitnesses, that are not only RELIABLE but also ACCURATE.
In August of 70 A.D. ancient Judaism CEASED to exist.
CHRISTIANITY was born the day that Jesus, the Christ, walked out of a tomb, ALIVE after he’d been DEAD.
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Through-line
How do you discover what’s really the truth?
snopes.com?
Thankfully, God wants us to know the truth.
Especially the truth that God is at work in the world through
Jesus- that’s the Through-line of the Bible!
2 Timothy 3… the Word of God CAN be trusted.
It is “God-breathed”.
It is “verbally inspired” by God.
Isaiah 59:21, “My Spirit who is on you and my words that
I have put in your mouth, will not depart from your mouth.”
1 Corinthians 2:13, “This is what we speak,
not in words taught by human wisdom,
but in words taught by the Spirit.”
1 Thessalonians 2:13 “...when you received the word of God,
which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word
of men, but as it actually is, the word of God.”
2 Peter 1… authors of the Bible were eyewitnesses
of what Jesus did, what He said, how He lived;
and they reported the truth for us.
There will always be rumors, myths,
and false teachings by false prophets about Jesus.
How good it is that God’s Truths spoken by
His Words in the Bible are unchanging!
The Word of God can be trusted.
There is only 1 source of absolute Truth = the Bible.
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Through Line: “The Law & Prophets”
Leviticus 18:6, Isaiah 53:3-11, Galatians 4:4-5
Once upon a time, you had to READ the Bible to know what was IN the Bible.
It’s easy to MISUNDERSTAND the BIBLE if you don’t understand The STORY IN the Bible.
It’s the story of REDEMPTION and you are the REDEEMED.
As non-Jewish people became interested in JESUS, they also became very interested in the DOCUMENTS that PREDICTED, Jesus arrival.
The LAW and The PROPHETS.
The Old Testament chronicles God’s REDEMPTIVE and SEQUENTIAL activity in the world.
Under God’s covenant with Israel, women, servants foreigners and children all fared BETTER than their counterparts in the surrounding nations.
Isaiah 53:3-11 pg. 1,145
v.3 “HE was despised and rejected by MANKIND, a man of SUFFERING and familiar with pain.
v.5 “But he was PIERCED for our TRANSGRESSIONS, he was crushed for our INIQUITIES; the PUNISHMENT that brought us PEACE was on him, and by HIS WOUNDS we are HEALED.
v.6 “…the Lord has laid on HIM the INIQUITY of us ALL.
v.8 “…for he was CUT OFF from the land of the LIVING for the transgression of my people he was punished.
v.9 “He was assigned a GRAVE with the wicked, and with the rich in his death…
v.11 “After HE suffered, he will SEE the LIGHT of LIFE and be satisfied; by his knowledge my righteous servant will justify many, and he will bear their iniquities.”
Who is the ‘he’ that Isaiah is talking about?
“But when the set TIME had FULLY come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the LAW, to REDEEM those under the law so that WE might receive the full rights as CHILDREN.”
Galatians 4:4-5
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Through Line: “The Story in The Bible”
Genesis 1:1,26-27, 12:1-3, John 1:6-14, Revelation 21:1-5
It is easy to MISUNDERSTAND the BIBLE if you don’t understand THE STORY in the Bible.
The Bible is the story of REDEMPTION and you are the REDEEMED.
Eight words that give you the ‘Through Line’ of the Story in the Bible.
CREATION“In the BEGINNING GOD created,” Genesis 1:1
The Bible tells us WHY, our world came into existence.
BROKENNESS
When Adam and Eve broke THEIR RELATIONSHIP with God, everything under THEIR AUTHORITY broke.
PROMISE“All peoples on earth will be blessed THROUGH you.” Genesis 12:3
LAW
In the law God PROVIDES PROVISION for those who BREAK the law.
REBELLION
Israel lived in an almost constant state of war and invasion, because of their rebellion and their belief that they know better than God. But God always KEEPS His promises.
GRACE“The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us. We have seen His glory, the glory of the One and Only who came from the father full of GRACE and TRUTH.” John 1:14
SPIRIT
The Holy Spirit has been filling people who place their faith in Jesus so that we can live in this world that’s STILL BROKEN, but live lives and have relationships that are NO LONGER DEFINED by our brokenness.
ETERNITY“He who was seated on the throne said, I am making EVERYTHING NEW. Then He said write this down for these words are TRUSTWORTHY and TRUE.” Revelation 21:5
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Palm Sunday
Darkness cannot OUTSHINE the light.
Two powerful WOMEN have faith in the power of Jesus.
People don’t always SEE what we see.
John 12:12-19
There are RELIGIOUS expectations.
“Hosanna!”
There are CULTURAL expectations.
Triumphal entries were not unusual.
There are PERSONAL expectations.
Mary and Martha and the disciples see things DIFFERENTLY.
John 11:27
When many were distracted by cultural, religious, or personal expectations, Martha SAW the light.
What are your own EXPECTATIONS of Jesus that might need to change?
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Mary’s New Story
“For the rest of my life, I want to reflect on what light is.” - Albert Einstein
Without LIGHT, there is no LIFE.
What if there darkness was just the moment BEFORE the dawn?
Hebrews 12:2-3
When Jesus is the author, the prologue to your STORY doesn’t predict the FUTURE of it.
John 12:1-7
Jesus gives Mary a NEW story.
There is no past beyond REDEMPTION.
There is no death beyond RESURRECTION.
There is no sin beyond FORGIVENESS.
There is no hurt beyond HEALING.
John 20:1-10, 11-16
Jesus loves to do NEW things.
What new thing does Jesus want to do in you?
Does Jesus want you to simply be WITH him?
Does Jesus want you to share your TESTIMONY?
Is Jesus doing something you haven’t even NOTICED?
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If / Then statements According to John
Spiritual If / Then statements in 1 John 1:5-8
The message John gave that came straight from Jesus:
God is light; in Him there is no darkness at all.
IF we walk in the light…
verse 7 #1 Then we have fellowship one with another
#2 Then Jesus’ blood / His death on the cross is applied to us
IF we confess our sins…
verse 9 Then He will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.
IF we claim to have fellowship with Him yet walk in darkness…
verse 6 Then we lie and do not live out the truth
Someone might say they have fellowship with God, but the truth is their life is a lie.
IF we claim to be without sin…
verse 8 Then we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us
verse 10 Then we make Him out to be a liar and His word is not in us
We have God’s light in us.
Stay in the light of God’s Word, take seriously God’s encouragement to watch our life and faith closely, then the darkness of sin won’t overwhelm us.
Church, keep walking in the light and be the light
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“Let There Be Light” | Invincible Light
John 1:1–5
What is “invincible”?
John chapter 1
Verse 5… light is invincible over darkness
In Genesis 1, verses 3-5 God created physical light
What about light and darkness from a spiritual perspective?
“darkness” = sin, this sinful world, Satan and demons
“light” = Jesus
Jesus became a human being and came to shine into the dark
world as a light. Jesus came to rescue us from darkness
(like an invincible superhero)
Why is light invincible?
Verse 4: The Light that shines in the darkness / Jesus is also life.
Life depends on light. Light is alive and the power behind all life.
Verse 3: the Light / Jesus is The Creator of all.
Verses 2 & 1: The light is God Almighty / invincible Lord. He
cannot be overcome or over powered by anything or anyone.
The Nicene Creed speaks the truth of Jesus being invincible light
The end of history will bring the ultimate victory of The Invincible Light
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Let There Be Light: What is Spiritual Sight?“Anyone who has SEEN ME has SEEN the FATEHR” -Jesus, John 14:9 We will never get closer to UNDERSTANDING God, then KNOWING Jesus.John 9:1-4v.1 “As Jesus went along, He saw a MAN BLIND from birth. His disciples asked Him, Rabbi, WHO SINNED this man or his parents that he was born blind?” “I tell you no, but unless you REPENT, you too will PERISH.” Luke 13:5v.3 “Neither, this man nor his parents sinned, said Jesus, this happened so that the WORKS of GOD might be displayed in him.” Sin in general causes suffering in GENERAL. But, SIN in particular does not necessarily cause suffering in PARTICULAR. v.4 “As long as it is day, WE must do the works of him who sent me. Night is coming, when no one can work. ” v.5 “While I am IN the world, I am the LIGHT of the world.” v.16 “Some of the Pharisees said, This man is NOT from God, for he does not keep the SABBATH.” Blindness is DARKNESS, but spiritual blindness is DEADNESS.‘I didn’t see…I didn’t REALIZE’Reality of SIN Reality of GRACE v.25 “…One thing I do know. I was BLIND but now I SEE.”One of the most powerful things about the ministry of Jesus is that He chose to heal ONE person at a time.v.35 “Jesus heard that they had thrown him out, and when Jesus FOUND him, Jesus asked him, Do you BELIEVE in the SON of Man? v.37 “Jesus said you have now SEEN Him; in fact He is the one speaking with you.” v.38 “Then the man said, “Lord I believe, and he WORSHIPED Him.”
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Let There Be Light: “What’s so Amazing about Forgiveness?”
“I am the LIGHT of the world” John 8:12
Jesus is saying: I can show you the way FORWARD. I will lead you OUT of the darkness.
Mark 2:1-12
v.3 “Some men came, bringing to Jesus a PARALYTIC, carried by four of them. Since they could not get him to Jesus because of the crowd, they made an opening in the roof above Jesus and after digging through it, LOWERED the mat the paralyzed man was lying on.”
v.5 “When Jesus SAW THEIR FAITH, He said to the paralyzed man, son YOUR SINS are forgiven.”
Jesus appears to be breaking a rule, which is:
When it comes to God, there is no FORGIVENESS without REPENTANCE.
v.8 “Immediately, Jesus knew in His SPIRIT that this is what they were THINKING in their hearts, and He said to them, Why are you THINKING these things?”
Jesus knows there’s an INARTICULATE desire for mercy and grace in this man’s heart.
The Father does’t love the son BECAUSE he repents. The son CAN repent because he’s loved. (The Parable of the Lost Son, Luke 15:11-32)
What is is about FORGIVENESS that we don’t understand?
v.9 “Which is easier to say to this paralyzed man, your sins are FORGIVEN, or to say get up, take your mat and WALK?”
What is Forgiveness? For everything that stands BETWEEN you and God to be REMOVED so that you can CONNECT with Him, not simply in this life, but FOREVER.
v.10 “So that you KNOW that the Son of Man has AUTHORITY on earth to forgive sins, Jesus said to the man, I tell you GET UP, take your mat and go home.”
v.12 “He got up, took his mat and walked out in FULL VIEW of them all. This AMAZED everyone, and they praised God saying, we have never seen anything like this!”
My real issue is: Where am I spending ETERNITY?
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Today's WorshipYou Hold It All TogetherSuch a Awesome GodJesus We Love YouBy the Blood of Jesus & You Came
When God Goes Dark: “The Reason We Hope”
Why wouldn’t ‘a GOOD God do something about…?
At the center of the GOSPEL, we discover that the WORST possible THING happened to the BEST possible PERSON.
John 11:1-45
v.1 “Now a man named Lazarus was SICK.…”
v.4 “When He heard this Jesus said, This sickness will not end in DEATH. No, it is for God’s GLORY so that, God’s SON may be glorified through IT.”
v.5 “John tells us, Jesus LOVED Martha and her sister and Lazarus.”
v.6 “So when Jesus heard that Lazarus was sick, he STAYED where He was for TWO more days.
v.9 “Jesus answered, Are there not twelve hours of DAYLIGHT…?
Jesus is talking about OPPORTUNITY.
v.15 “And for YOUR SAKE, I’m GLAD I was not there SO THAT, you may BELIEVE.”
Our belief in Jesus is so important to Jesus He CREATED this MOMENT so that 2,000 years later you and I could carry HOPE into our futures.
v.22 “But I KNOW that even now, God will give YOU whatever You ASK.”
v.25 “Jesus said to her, I AM the RESURRECTION and the LIFE. Anyone who believes in Me will LIVE, even though they DIE; and whoever lives and BELIEVES IN me will never die. Do YOU believe this?”
v. 33 “When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come along with her also weeping, He was DEEPLY MOVED in spirit and TROUBLED.
Even though Jesus knew exactly how this event would end, we see something in Jesus so that we can understand the HEART of our Heavenly Father:
v.38 “Jesus, once more DEEPLY MOVED, came to the tomb”…Jesus is ANGRY.
v.40 “Then Jesus said, Did I not tell you that if you BELIEVED you would SEE the GLORY of God?”
v.45 “Therefore, many of the Jews who had come to visit Mary, and had seen what Jesus did, put their FAITH in JESUS.”
“If you BELIEVE, you will SEE the GLORY of God.” John 11:40
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Darkness can either drive you TO God or send you running AWAY from God.The problem of evilDarkness + SOVEREIGNTY = A mean, unjust, and dangerous GodGod doesn’t CREATE darkness.Sometimes in the dark, you just need to know you’re not ALONE.Other times in the dark, you need someone who fights against the DARKNESS.Darkness exists because an ENEMY exists.Acts 10:38If you want to defy the darkness, take AIM at the enemy.Ephesians 6:10-19Where we see darkness is an opportunity to bring LIGHT.\What would it look like to bring light into the dark places?
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Waiting
We often ask, “how long?!”
What does LAMENT mean? & What causes it?
Lamenting is healthy for our faith!
God wants to hear us express how we are feeling & what we are thinking.
It is healthy to acknowledge the suffering, the sin, the problems of this world and the pain the devil causes!
Psalm 13
“Lament is a prayer of pain that leads to trust.” Mark Vroegop
As followers of Jesus, in this place and time in history, we really don’t lament. Here are 3 possible reasons why: American activism, Modern Cynicism & Fear.
Lamenting to God isn’t a sign of weakness, it is an act of faith.
If you don’t lament to Him, your faith, your trust & your relationship with Him won’t grow.
Practical steps on how to lament
1. Direct your conversation of sorrow to God.
2. Describe your suffering and your pain.
3. Speak words of faith in Him.
In times when life is dark, when circumstances are dark, when it seems even God is dark… when we are waiting… we need to pour out our lament to God and remember that our eternal hope is secure.
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When God Goes Dark: “When God says No”
God, why are you ALLOWING this?.
God, am I going too make it THROUGH this?
In these seasons we experience a number of feelings:
1. We get MAD.
2. We’re tempted to LEAVE.
3. We COMPARE ourselves.
“Jesus Christ is the SAME yesterday, today and forever.” Hebrews 13:8
The presence of ADVERSITY does not equate to the ABSENCE of God.
The experiences of the Apostle Paul’s life and writings give us a TRUTH and a PROMISE.
2 Corinthians 12:7-10
v.7 “To keep ME from becoming CONCEITED, because of these surpassingly great revelations, there was given to me a THORN in my flesh, a messenger from SATAN to TORMENT me.”
v.8 “THREE times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me.”
The PROBLEM with the idea of problem-free Christianity is that it’s NOT Christianity at all.
v.9 “But, He said to me, My GRACE is SUFFICIENT for you, for my POWER is made PERFECT in weakness. Therefore I will BOAST all the more GLADLY about my WEAKNESSES, so that CHRIST'S POWER may rest on me.”
“So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive His MERCY and we will find GRACE to help us when we need it most.” Hebrews 4:16
v.10 “That is why for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions in difficulties. For when I am WEAK, then I am STRONG.”
Guidance for your conversations with Jesus when it feels like God has gone dark:
1. Your Heavenly Father absolutely cares about your CIRCUMSTANCES.
2. If God says ‘no’ that does not mean He does not CARE about you.
3. It’s in our trials and our WEAKNESS that Jesus is most clearly visible in our life.
4. Never forget, your Savior faced a SIMILAR SITUATION in His own life.
Jesus' SUSTAINING GRACE in our lives always begins, not with my will, but THY will, be done.
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Hello Darkness My Old Friend
Psalm 88:1-18The dark NIGHT of the soul“Darkness is my closest FRIEND”When darkness is the only thing you can COUNT ONWhen darkness is the only thing you can SEEWhen darkness is the only thing you can EXPLAINDarkness is a NORMAL part of the journey of faith.Mother TeresaHow do we continue to move forward when we can’t see a way FORWARD?BRINGING to light what you are experiencing in the dark.You don’t walk ALONE in the dark.Me too.When you walk in darkness, you are never ALONE.
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When God Goes Dark: “Doubts”
Questions in life often come FASTER than answers.What do you do with your DOUBT?God’s silence does not equate to His ABSENCE. It does not mean He does not CARE. It does not mean He is angry with you.When it feels like God has gone dark, one of the first things I do is look to the Scripture to see if there is ANYONE whose circumstance is similar to MINE.“Jesus Christ is the SAME yesterday, today and forever.” Hebrews 13:8 When it feels like God has gone dark we wonder:God, WHERE are you? Do you KNOW my name?Do you LOVE me? Do you CARE about what’s happening to me? Mark 6:19-20v.19 “Herodias nursed a grudge against John and wanted to KILL him.” v.20 “But she was not able to because Herod feared John and protected him, knowing him to be a RIGHTEOUS and HOLY man.” John begins to have what we have, when things are bad, times goes by and nothing changes. He begins to have DOUBTS.Matthew 11:2-6 v.2 “When John hear in prison what Jesus was doing, he sent his disciples to ask Jesus, Are YOU the one who was to come, or should we expect SOMEONE ELSE?” When YOU go through a hard time, I PRAY. But when I go through a hard time, I DOUBT. Why is that?In a season of life that is very traumatic, we tend to shrink down to the size of ME. v.4 “Jesus replied, Go back and report to John what YOU HEAR and what YOU SEE.” v.6 “Blessed is the PEROSN who does not FALL AWAY on account of ME.” Your personal CIRCUMSTANCES are not the way you determine how God FEELS about you. The proof of how God feels about you is what happened on the CROSS.Your UNANSWERED prayer doesn’t mean God is UNINTERESTED.Look back and REMEMBER. Look outside your circumstances and REFLECT.
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When God Goes Dark: “Hope in the Dark”
In their way of thinking, much like our way of thinking: If God is with you then things get BETTER.
Mark 14:18-29
v.18 “I tell you the truth, one of you will BETRAY me, one who is EATING with me.”
v.21 “The Son of Man WILL GO just as it is WRITTEN about Him, but woe to that man who betrays the Son of Man! It would be better for him if he had not been born.”
At some point all of us ask these questions:
Why is God ALLOWING this?
Will I make it THROUGH this?
v.22 “While they were eating, Jesus took BREAD gave thanks, and broke it and gave it to his disciples saying, this is my BODY.
v.23 “Then Jesus took the cup, gave thanks and offered it to them and they all drank from it. Then Jesus said, This is my BLOOD of the COVENANT, which is poured out for many.”
v.27 You will ALL fall away, for it is written; “I will strike the Shepard and the sheep will be scattered.” But after I have RISEN, I will go ahead of you in to Galilee.”
Can you TRUST God, even when God goes dark?
Can you hold on to faith in God, when you can’t see any EVIDENCE of His activity in your life?
It was those SAME hours when we thought He was MISSING that God was doing his GREATEST work.
That is our story as people who place their HOPE and their FAITH in Jesus as their Savior.
Will we hold on to faith in Jesus when it’s too dark to see His HAND?
It allows us to embrace the UNKNOWN, knowing God is still God; and although LIFE is uncertain, God is not UNCERTAIN.
The proof of God’s presence with you in the midst of the darkness isn’t your CIRCUMSTANCES, it’s the CROSS of Jesus.
“And we know that in all things God WORKS FOR THE GOOD of those who love HIM, and who have been called according to his purpose.”
Romans 8:28
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“Reconciled”
Colossians 1:19-22, Matthew 5:23-24, Luke 2:1-14 Reconciliation is not comfortable, and not intuitive, but often it is necessary:For OUR sake.For THEIR sake.For CONSCIENCE’S sake.For JESUS sake.We know we should, but:We just DON’T WANT to.We just haven’t gotten AROUND to it.It’s just way to EMOTIONAL.They don’t really seem INTERESTED.“Peace on Earth and mercy mild, God and sinners RECONCILED.” Hark the Herald Angles Sing, Charles WesleyColossians 1:19-22 pg. 1,832v.19 “For God was pleased to have all His fullness dwell in Jesus, and through Him to RECONCILE to HIMSELF all things…by making PEACE through Jesus’ blood, shed on the CROSS.” v.21 “Once you were ALIENATED from God and were enemies in your minds because of your EVIL BEHAVIOR.”v.22 “But now, God has RECONCILED you, by Jesus’ physical body through DEATH, to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from ACCUSATION.” Reconciled: God removed everything that has made us INCOMPATIBLE with Him. Why is it that it’s so easy to resist DEMONSTRATING what at Christmas we’re CELEBRATING?Make visible in the life of SOMEONE ELSE what your Heavenly Father through Jesus, at Christmas, made visible for YOU.God did not RESCIND His offer simply because we would not RECEVE it.“Glory to God in the highest, and on earth PEACE to those on whom His favor RESTS. Luke 2:14If God and sinner can be RECONCILED, who are we to withhold the offer of RECONCILIATION?The way to start is to understand, you never start with reconciliation, you start with forgiveness because: FORGIVENESS + Trust = Reconciliation.Attempts at reconciliation ALWAYS work in SOMEONE
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Seeds That Disrupt Power
Are we experiencing what the Bible calls PEACE?Shalomv. 17 - Jesus holds all things together.The enemy disrupts PEACE by pulling things apart.Deception, Blame, DivisionWhat was once HELD together got pulled apart.v. 20 - Jesus brings things back together.Casting BLAME is easier than finding shalom.We are DISTRACTED from seeing the image of God.Jesus makes peace through his BLOOD.Matthew 17:20Seeds of FAITH are more powerful any other offers of peace.Faith produces OWNERSHIP.Ownership produces LOVE.
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“It’s Me, Hi” What’s wrong with our world? Genesis 1 Human beings are made in the IMAGE of God. To diagnose what’s wrong we have to first know what’s not RIGHT. Genesis 3:1-5 The enemy gives us DISTORTED views that produce DISORDERED desires. Two predominant distorted views: The SINFUL self and the AUTHENTIC self We […]
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THANKSgiving 2022 What’s the key ingredient in a Thanksgiving meal? Question for you: How’s your thankfulness level? Colossians 3 shows us three ways we can cultivate thankfulness. 1. We are thankful […]
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This weekend was the final week of our annual FOR Campaign! Every year you’ve made such a huge difference in the lives of people in our community, and I am so thankful that the heart of our church reflects the heart of Jesus. If you haven’t gotten involved in our FOR campaign by giving, serving, or […]
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This weekend we continue our annual FOR Campaign. What we do during this season is absolutely at the heart of what Christianity is all about the idea that God became one of us and dwelt among us. That God’s no strings attached generosity towards us, compels us to be extravagantly generous towards others. If you’ve been […]
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This weekend we get to kick off our annual FOR Campaign. What we do during this season is absolutely at the heart of what Christianity is all about the idea that God became one of us and dwelt among us. That God’s no strings attached generosity towards us, compels us to be extravagantly generous towards others. […]
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Throughout the series, we’ve discovered that we cannot be fully devoted followers of Jesus until we surrender how we use and handle our money to Him. Not because Jesus wants your money, but because he wants your heart. And He knows that our hearts and our money are linked. This weekend I want to give […]
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Money is a spiritual issue and purchases are spiritual decisions. Now, I get it… Most of us don’t feel like we have more than we need. In fact, we often feel the exact opposite. But I think if we stop and think about it for a moment, we know that we have more than most people in the […]
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In our second week of our series Following Jesus with Your Money, we talked about how to see our money the way that God sees our money: As a tool, test, and trademark. Go Deeper Questions for your small group discussion or personal reflection: 1. Read Luke 16:1-8. Why does the owner commend the money manager? 2. […]
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On Sunday, we began our new series Following Jesus with Your Money. Have you ever thought about what it means to follow Jesus with your money? When it comes to following Jesus: Our goal is simply to be with Jesus, live like Jesus, and do the things that Jesus did. Jesus said, “Where your treasure is, there your heart […]
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One of the big lessons I’ve learned as a parent and watching other parents over the years is this: Great parents set rules for their kid. And then when appropriate, great parents break their own rules. In the gospels we see Jesus get in trouble with the religious leaders all the time for breaking rules […]
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There’s a really common idea that you’ll find in most religions, sometimes even christianity, that says that somewhere there is a God and he is good, but the only way to get to him is by doing good. But where did that idea even come from? This weekend, as we continue our sermon series, Seeing Jesus, […]
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Have you ever heard someone, or maybe you have said this: “Why does it seem like the God described in the Old Testament is full of wrath and law and Jesus in the New Testament is all about love and grace?” How would you respond? Learn more about how to answer that question. I want you to also […]
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This weekend we’re finishing our series Finding Vs. Becoming with a message on three myths about sex. Go Deeper Questions for your small group discussion or personal study. 1. If someone younger than you asked you for one piece of advice about sex, what would you say? 2. What does it look like in todays culture […]
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This weekend we’re continuing our series Finding Vs. Becoming with a message on how to prepare for commitment. I’m so excited about this message because I think it will be super practical for anyone who wants to be married one day! Of course, if you’re already married, don’t worry… this will be helpful for you as […]
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Parents please note the message is geared for people who are teenagers and older. I’m going to be discussing topics and using vocabulary that you probably aren’t ready to discuss with your elementary age kids. Obviously, it’s your decision, I just don’t want to catch you by surprise! Go Deeper Questions for your small group discussion or […]
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We began our new series this weekend, Finding vs Becoming: The Best Way To Find The One. We talked about how instead of focusing on finding “the one”, we may be better off putting our focus on becoming “the one” that somebody else is looking for. We also looked into how 1 Corinthians 13 helps […]
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Fads and trends influence us Realizing how much of our lives are controlled by outside forces can cause inner grief or sorrow of the soul. King Solomon’s inner grief led him to the conclusion: “Everything is meaningless” (Ecclesiastes 12:8) Do you ever question what you have been doing with your life and where your life is […]
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The reality is that there are few guarantees in life! But Jesus does promise two things in life for those who follow Him! If you missed the service yesterday click below and find out more about how these guarantees from Jesus will help you live a regret free life! Here are some questions for your personal time […]
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Looking for something a bit shorter? Our sermon recaps are perfect for sharing with friends and family who may not watch a full service (or even if you’re just low on time). Click here to watch this week’s sermon recap.
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Looking for something a bit shorter? Our sermon recaps are perfect for sharing with friends and family who may not watch a full service (or even if you’re just low on time). Click here to watch this week’s sermon recap.
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Looking for something a bit shorter? Our sermon recaps are perfect for sharing with friends and family who may not watch a full service (or even if you’re just low on time). Click here to watch this week’s sermon recap.
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Looking for something a bit shorter? Our sermon recaps are perfect for sharing with friends and family who may not watch a full service (or even if you’re just low on time). Click here to watch this week’s sermon recap. Sermon Notes “Give us this day our daily bread.” – Matthew 4:4 “We have the mind […]
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Have you started any new hobby during Covid lockdown? For my wife and I, it’s: Bananagrams How many words do you think there are in the Bible? A. 100,000 B. 500,000 C. 750,000 D. 1,000,000 How many words are in an average “Pastor Tony” message? Answer: 3600 John 20:30-31 “So that you may continue to believe” […]
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- Can you remember a time you were stuck, and you weren’t sure you would get out? 2. What is it about our way of thinking about God that makes us want to use him like AAA, and just show up and get us out of that has us stuck? 3. Do you have a […]
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- When you see someone else who is stuck, what reaction is most natural for you; to be a student and listen, or a critic and judge? 2. Can you remember a time where you were conscious of falling short of your own standards? Do you remember how this made you feel? 3. Who, or what group is most easy for you […]
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Bottom Line: Who does Jesus say you are? What are the areas of life that you are stuck at the threshing floor (living in fear and lies) instead of being who God made you to be? Why is it so difficult to believe that you are who Jesus says you are? What lies do you […]
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Discussion Questions: Bottom Line: We confront the illusions with the truth. 1. What are the illusions (or lies) that you believe about yourself? Where do you think these lies have come from? 2. Why can it be so challenging for you to believe the truth about who Jesus says you are? 3. What are some […]
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Discussion Questions: 1. If you are a follower of Jesus, think about a time when a person or a group of people impacted or influenced you by being salt and light. 2. Sometimes religious people will use this section of Scripture to defend rude or offensive behavior. Read Mark 10:45. Why does that kind of […]
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Reflection Questions: 1. What is something little that has grown in your life? 2. Where do you see God working, in quiet and inconspicuous ways? 3. How can you pray “Thy Kingdom Come” for God’s rulership to increase in your life or in our country or in the world?
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Discussion Questions: 1. Think about a time when someone at work, in your family, or at church held you accountable. How did it help you grow? 2. Have you ever tried to talk to someone about something you saw in their life that you believed was going to hurt them? What made that hard? 3. […]
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Discussion Questions: 1. How would you explain that God’s interaction with people in the Old Testament is the same as He interacts with people in the New Testament regarding His law and grace? 2. What difference does it make knowing that God always chooses first and seeks after us first and forgives first before we […]
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Discussion Questions: In what areas of your life do you see yourself being prideful? What would happen before any interaction with someone you disagree with, you would say “God, be merciful to me, a sinner.”? How would that change the way you relate with that person? How much does Jesus’ humbleness and obedience to God […]
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Discussion Questions: 1. Can you remember a time when your first impression of someone was wrong? How did what you learned later change your relationship with that person? 2. Is there a group or type of person that is most easy for you to judge? What is it that makes it easy for you to […]
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1.Most of us are familiar with at least one of these three stories, is there anything that jumped out at you today when you heard it? 2. What are the adjectives that you often use to describe people? 3. Do you worry that when the church welcome sinners, it may appear to be condoning sin? […]
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– What have you enjoyed most about the last three months or so of not having to rush around from one thing to the next like maybe you normally have to? – What are some of your favorite activities you’ve done over the years that have involved serving God through your community? – When you […]
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- Think about a time you were treated unfairly, either in a large or small way. How did you respond? What happened? 2. Have you ever seen someone who was suffering extraordinarily but demonstrated extraordinary confidence in God? If so, how did it change the way you think about suffering and faith? 3. Read Luke […]
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- What do you feel like God gave you as your “talents”? Knowledge, skills, gifts, acquired or natural God-given abilities? 2. In these pandemic times, how have you been exercising them in your family, with your friends or in the community? 3. Do you feel God calling you to use them in a greater way […]
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What are some ways it’s clear that information doesn’t change people? Describe a time in your life when you experienced transformation. What are some pathways in your mind that you tend to jump to? What truth can combat those? What spiritual practices are you learning to renew your mind and have the mind of Christ?
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- When you hear the word faith, do think ‘belief’ to do you think ‘trust’? 2. What do you think is more important in a relationship, trust or obedience? What is the connection between the two? 3. How does your trust in someone effect your confidence in that person when they don’t act the way […]
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Read: Ephesians 3:14-21, Ephesians 5:1-21, Galatians 5:22-26 What does Paul pray for the Ephesians? How does this relate to what we want for our children and the people we love? What do you think it means to be established in and rooted in Jesus’ love? What does it mean to be filled to the fullness […]
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Read Matthew 6:25-34 1. Do you normally consider yourself a person who worries? What do you often worry about? 2. In the message Joe said that the issue of worry ultimately comes down to trust. Can we trust our Heavenly Father or not. Do you agree with this? 3. What do you struggle with the […]
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Read: Matthew 8:23-27, 10:28-31, 14:22-27 The word fear has such a negative connotation in our world that for many people the idea of fearing God may be difficult to properly understand. What may make the situation even worse, is that some of us may have even been part of a church in our past which […]
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This week we’re starting a new series called, Set Free. Bottom Line: Jesus silences the lies with truth. What are the lies that you have been hearing recently? What makes you believe them? Why do you think the primary strategy of the enemy is lies instead of something else? Re-read John 8: 31-47. What is […]
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*Please note that we are following Stay-at-Home and social distancing orders and will continue to do so. The worship sets from this service were recorded prior to the implementation of the Stay-at-Home orders put out by our local government. This week we’re finishing our Holy Week experience with an Easter message. Big Idea: Why are […]
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*Please note that we are following Stay-at-Home and social distancing orders and will continue to do so. The worship sets from this service were recorded prior to the implementation of the Stay-at-Home orders put out by our local government. This week we’re continuing our Holy Week experience with a Good Friday message. Big Idea: Jesus […]
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*Please note that we are following Stay-at-Home and social distancing orders and will continue to do so. The worship sets from this service were recorded prior to the implementation of the Stay-at-Home orders put out by our local government. This week we’re continuing our way through Holy Week with a Maundy Thursday message. Bottom line: […]
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This is the fourth week of our Faith Troy at Home experience (April 5) *Please note that we are following Stay-at-Home and social distancing orders and will continue to do so. The worship sets from this service were recorded prior to the implementation of the Stay-at-Home orders put out by our local government. This week […]
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This is the third week of our Faith Troy at Home experience (March 28) *Please note that we are following Stay-at-Home and social distancing orders and will continue to do so. The worship sets from this service were recorded prior to the implementation of the Stay-at-Home orders put out by our local government. This week […]
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This week we’re resuming our Signs + Wonders sermon series with a message on John 9 Discussion Questions: Why do you think that people often want proof before believing in God? Were you taught to believe that there is always a direct connection between suffering and sin? Do you think Jesus broke the Sabbath by […]
