2008-09-17 - Teach Us To Pray - The Harvest Is Plentiful Jesus promises a great harvest but the worker are few (Matthew 9:35-38):
Fruitfulness limited primarily by one thing - God himself Gratitude control the harvest Luke 9 - The charge was to preach the kingdom and heal the sick They gave to everyone who had need - Acts 2:43-47 Salvation wasn't just a doctrine rather a reality in their lives Jesus spent much of his time meeting physical needs, feeding, comforting, healing, serving As a result, people spread the word even more Reflects the power of meeting needs and our heart as a worker To acquire this heart, we need to pray:
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2008-09-21 - Teach Us To Pray - Friends and Loved Ones To intercede or pray on someone else's behalf is a privilege Our prayers are sacrifices which are pleasing to him - Hebrews 13:15 Paul: I want you to know how much I am struggling for you - Colossians 2:1 Who do you struggle for? How about people you have never meet? Far be it that I should sin against the Lord by failing to pray to you - Samuel to King Saul - 1 Samuel 12:23 Jesus intercedes for us - Romans 8:34 Like a good friend, he adds or subtracts from what you are missing or need Jesus makes us complete in God's sight |
2008-09-22 - Teach Us To Pray - Enemies and Opposition Whoever the enemies may be, the words of Jesus are still the same: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you - Matthew 5:44 It our enemies who afford us the opportunity to glory God by shining like stars - Philippians 2:15 Must forgive and love our enemies to be permitted to be sons of God - Matthew 5:44 When praying for our enemies, we should focus on:
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2008-09-30 - Man of Prayer - Father (part 1) Dads should constantly aware of how how their character impacts their child God is the perfect Father |
2008-10-18 - Man of Prayer - Praying for our personal lives Jesus has given us permissions to seek divine intervention He delights in our desire to experience His intervention Part our our prayer time should be devoted to our needs: What do you want? Sometimes we do not have because we do not ask - James 4:2 OR because our motivation is not proper Asking for God's favor can not be self-centered because God is infinite: David asked to be the apple of God's eye - Psalms 17:8 He was a man after his own heart - Acts 13:22 Spiritual needs may include:
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2008-12-05 - Raising Awesome Kids - Love with your touch Jesus took the children in his arms, put his hands on them and blessed them - Mark 10:15-16 Jesus could have blessed the children from afar Unaffectionate families are cool, aloof and distant Examples: Prodigal son - Luke 15:20
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2009-01-09 - Raising Awesome Kids - Childrens Quiet Times Having their own quiet times is the best way for them to know God and enjoy him personally - develops their own faith Younger years (preschool and early elementary) - sit down with them a couple of mornings a week Later elementary - they can begin to have them on their own - 10 minutes a session Create a structure for them Write down what they learn ACTS like prayers Older - direct them toward Proverbs, Psalms, and the Gospels - always keep up with how it is going Pushing them too quickly = overwhelmed kids Not challenging them enough = leave a vacuum for them to be filled by the world Pray for wisdom, get wise counsel, and trust God will guide you |
2009-01-22 - Jesus with People - Finding Faith Jesus was in ahuge crowd and suddenly a Roman centurion walks up to Jesus - Matthew 8:5-10 NT centurions are often mentioned with honor:
Lord, my servant lays paralyzed and in terrible suffering - Matthew 8:5-6 Jesus was moved by the man's heart - I will go and heal him Lord, I don't deserve to have you under my roof - Matthew 8:8 Say the word and he will be healed - Matthew 8:8 Jesus did not find anyone in Israel with such faith |
2009-03-05 - Promises of God - Forgiving Ourselves When we accept God's forgiveness, we are compelled to forgive others including ourselves Some people spend years trying to figure out how to forgive themselves God has promised to forgive - let us experience forgiveness, rejoice in his forgiveness and express his forgiveness in all our relationships
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2009-03-09 - Promises of God - The Problem is Me Deuteronomy 4:29 - Find God when we seek him with all of our heart Repentance must be proven by our deeds - Acts 26:20 Praise God for his faithful correction - Proverbs 3:11-12 God hates sin, takes sin of idolatry, personally - Deuteronomy 6:15 Sin comes when we lower the standard of commitment in our lives and allow ourselves to become lazy, selfish and self-indulgent Being idolatrous and lukewarm is a serious sin against God - Revelation 3:16 Against God, his church, and the souls that are not saved as a result |
2009-04-21 - Why We Need God - He is The Provider GOD IS THE PROVIDER...
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2009-04-24 - Why We Need The Bible - Help Keep One Saved Paul emphasized this value of the Scriptures
The saving value of the Word of God is for both young and old
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2009-05-26 - No one like him - Kingdom Lifestyle (part 2) Different Righteousness – Matthew 5:17-6:18 Righteousness for the Pharisee had became having the correct facts and outward performanceDifferent priority – Matthew 6:19-34 The pursuit of God’s will should be the overriding passion of our lives |
2009-06-02 - No one like him - The Empty Tomb (part 1) Disciples were confused with ups and downs of the week (Joyous entrance into Jerusalem then the cross) Without the resurrection there would be no church or New Testament; disciples would have disbanded and movement would have ended The resurrection gave them courage to preach the resurrection: Acts 1:22; 2:24,32; 3:15; 4:2,10, 33; 5:30 Must be together – cross and resurrection Cross only – a tragedy; Resurrection only – just another miracle Changed the disciples lives forever |
2009-10-05 - One Another - Admonishing One Another "noutheteo" meaning to or counsel, translated admonish:
Not uncommon to pay to have a life couch We should have a # of relationships with people who know us and can help We must also realize that we can give others couching as well |
2009-10-24 - Repentance - What It Is (part 1) What is repentance? Repentance is the first word of the gospel Na,,ham = most often used of God’s repentance Shu, b = a physical turning or returning of an object epostrepho = a Greek work similar to Shu, b metanoia = used as the first word in the gospel (change in mind and attitude)
“he came to his senses” – Luke 15:17 “he opened their minds” – Luke 24:45 “open their eyes” – Acts 26:18 “set their minds on things above” – Romans 8:5 |
2009-10-31 - Repentance - The Prophets (part 2) Prophets
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2009-11-16 - Repentance - Holy Spirit Convicts Us Exposure is a gift from God Women at the well – John 4:10 Elegcho – The gate of repentance Means to show someone his sin and to summon him to repentance; bring light, expose set forthThe truth demands repentance Purpose of Elegcho? It’s a loving summons to godly sorrow Is repentance a gift or a command? We often confront the idea of repentance in the form if a command or an activity As a gift…
Questions
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2009-11-20 - Repentance - Its Time To Go Home (part 2) Where are you on this path? Are you part of “all people, everywhere”? Good, you quality for the command to repent – Acts 17:26-27; 30-31 Ignorance of Jesus perpetuates a self-focused paradigm Jesus is Lord – changes our heart, mind-set, allegiances, purpose, and agenda Subsequent repentance has lesser fan fare (like 2nd to the moon or Mt. Everest Satan doesn’t want you to know that he created your dilemma His scheme:
Shame is the greatest obstacle to post-baptismal repentance How to escape? You already have – Trust god’s grace Light is not a place of condemnation |
2009-11-21 - Repentance - Its Time To Go Home (part 3) There is no perfect repentance, but wholehearted repentance David – search me (Psalms 139) Spirit’s conviction Good – overcome blinding pride Bad – Satan will try to stop you Sometimes easier to see our sin than think about loved ones salvation (passed away) What would they want you to do? Questions
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2009-11-24 - Master Plan - Selection (part 3) Few were converted in His lifetime.
Everything that is done with the few is for the salvation of the multitudes. Modern Practicals
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2009-11-30 - Master Plan - He Required Obedience
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2009-12-09 - Master Plan - Delegation (part 1) He assigned them work
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2010-01-23 - Kingdom First - Hungry and Humility (part 2) Men and women have fasted at various times for variety of ways
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2010-02-07 - First the Kingdom - One-Lane Road (part 2) When have been given a second chance to walk the narrow road Finding the narrow does not guarantee we will go through the final gate Must make daily decisions:
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2010-02-16 - One Another - Encouraging One Another (part 1) The Greek word for encourage is "Parakaleo"
Greek Lexicon
Old French word encoragier = to put courage in
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2010-02-20 - One Another - Spurring One Another (part 2) Because of our great blessings with Christ, we can not take this fellowship lightly Must pursue it with greater vigor - Hebrews 10:24-31 There is great seriousness in this matter paroxusmos - Greek word, translates word:
Must be done with thought and with their needs in mind - not one size fits all Must be done with end result to result being love and good deeds
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2010-03-02 - To Live is Christ - Partners in the Gospel Philippians 1:16 Philippi was named for Philip of Macedon It was a roman colony - not actually a place one would expect the message of Jesus to take hold A roman jail is where you would expect Paul and Silas to be Paul made a career of being with other and influencing their lives - reduced to visits from the guards Through many hard times he had learned to overcome the most challenging of circumstances Five lines into the letter, Paul remembers his relationship with God and other disciples:
Only when we have been in the trenches with others will we have relationships that are full of life |
2010-03-09 - To Live is Christ - Whatever Happens Paul set an example for them by facing frustration with faith - lesson for us as well It is not just a good moral life; is is united with each other - standing firm in one spirit Jesus died to bring us together Staying in the fellowship means:
The world needs to see men, women, singles, marrieds, teens, all races, rich and poor brought together as "one man".
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2010-03-17 - To Live is Christ - Considered Rubbish Not only did Paul give up his religious past and performance, he gladly counted everything else a loss too He would give up any claim of such things so he could gain justification by grace He considered them rubbish - Philippians 3:8-9 skubala = human waste or dung (KJV) He was saying the same thing as Isaiah - all righteousness acts are like filthy rags - Isaiah 64:6 The good we do is not rubbish but it is if those works are seen as the source and trusted in Our obedience, which is imperfect, does not make us right with God Christ's righteousness saves by faith The message of the cross calls us to sacrifice everything to Christ, who sacrificed everything for us Without his sacrifice, our sacrifice would be worthless to God and to man |
2010-03-18 - To Live is Christ - Know Christ Paul wanted to know Christ - Philippians 3:10-11 Did he not know him yet?
Paul knew about Jesus He was will aware that simply doing the right thing did not give him intimacy Do we really know Christ? To become like him in his death is become like him in life:
The spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you - Romans 8:11 |
2010-04-16 - Life to the Full - Personal Life of Peter (part 1) Before calling him, Peter's character was more rash than rational The Bad He gave into bad habits, swearing - Matthew 26:74 He lacked a mission in his life - Luke 5:10 The Good He spoke his mind plainly - Matthew 16:22 Responded quickly - Galatians 2:11 Always ready to learn from his mistakes - Luke 22:23 Peter was totally transformed by the Lord; he became bold and confident - Acts 4:12-13 |
2010-04-17 - Life to the Full - Personal Life of Peter (part 2) Peter steady increased in his faith:
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2010-04-30 - I am Innocent of the Blood of all Men (part 1) Preached (2007-03-18) Paul - Innocent of the blood of all men Acts 20:17-27
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2010-05-01 - I am Innocent of the Blood of all Men (part 2) Acts 22:6-21
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2010-05-06 - Top Ten of Giving Preached by unknown - 2004-03-21 1. Gave his one and only - John 3:16 2. He became poor for us - 2 Corinthians 8:9 3. Many thanks to God - 2 Corinthians 9:11 4. God loves a cheerful giver- 2 Corinthians 9:7 5. More than enough - Exodus 35:1-36:7 6. Burnt offering worth nothing - 2 Samuel 24:18 7. Rich generosity - 2 Corinthians 8:1-4 8. All she had to live on - Mark 12:41-44 9. It is more blessed to give than receive - Acts 20:35 10. Test me in this - Malachi 3:6-12 |
2010-05-21 - Desire's Journey - Good News? The promise of life has been lost in the focus of knowledge and performance Pharisee knew more about the Bible than we ever will - and it hardened their hearts There were two trees in the garden of Eden:
Each church has its unspoken list of what you should and should not do We are told this is the good news We don't need more facts We don't need more things to do We need life You have made know to me the path of life - Psalms 16:11 My soul pants for you - Psalms 42:1-2 My soul thirsts for you - Psalms 63:1 Why did Jesus appeal to desire? Because it was essential for life He who has the Son has life - 1 John 5:12 |
2010-06-22 - Amazing Grace - how fearful the sound Preached on 2003-11-13 There is nothing we can do or not do to change it Psalms 103:8 - Grace is not a new concept for God Luke 9:51-56 - the disciples struggled with grace What fears do we have about grace? 1. Grace - produces lazy Christians We cannot control the freedom of others Acts 4:33 - much grace given and produced committed disciples 2. Grace - produces sinful Christians Grace exposes our hearts and gives us the responsibility to respond Romans 5:15-19 - Regulations is not grace - Grace is a mature concept What has grace produced in you? 3. Grace - produces weak convictions John 6:28-29 - Must believe - Belief is a work you must do Luke 13:2-9 - Repent or perish - Level of repentance and faith may be different for each person but baptism is the same for all. |
2010-06-26 - Life of Jesus (part 2) John 6:60-69
John 21:25 - Could go on and on about what Jesus did Acts 1:6-9 - Jesus went to heaven |
2010-07-01 - Desire's Journey - Great Restoration (part 2) Restoration of the world is play out each spring and summer He annouced the coming of the kingdom of God
God's kingdom - his will is done "on earth as it is in heaven" Jesus healed every disease and sickness among the people - Matthew 4:23 |
2010-07-29 - Desire's Journey - Letting Go (part 6) With beauty, we need not fear indulging here Beauty is the closest thing we have to fullness without possessing on this side of eternity Two kinds of losses in life:
Spiritual surrender is not resignation It is surrender with desire |
2010-08-02 - Desire's Journey - Keeping Heart (part 3) Not all the truths help us descend with the mind into the heart We have dissected God, man, and gospel thousands of times - all facts It is not that these insights aren't true, but knowing facts will not help feel closer to God How do you get to know a person? Through stories We should stop approaching the Bible looking just for tips and techniques We are bombarded by thousands of messages each day, every on of them urgent Must reduce the constant noise - turn off the TV Even the news is a problem because of its artificial importance Every night there is an urgent story (to sell more news) but nothing is |
2010-08-04 - Waking Dead - Arm Yourselves (part 1) What are God's intentions toward me? What is it I've come to believe? Heard that God cares and has some glowing promises given to us in Scripture The glory of God is man fully alive Jesus says he came to give life I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full - John 10:10 Whoever believes in me - streams of living water will flow from within him - John 7:38 Life is all over the scriptures: You have made known to me the path of life - Psalms 16:11 In him was life and that life was the light of men - John 1:4 Come to me to have life - John 5:40 Tell the people the full message of this new life - Acts 5:20 |
2010-08-22 - Waking Dead - New Heart Most people assume the Cross is the total work of Christ The Resurrection is the epilogue of the real story If Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith - 1 Corinthians 15:14 WWJD? Not wearing a cross necklace Church did not even began using the cross in a minor role symbol until 400 years after Christ Must become a witness with us of his resurrection - Acts 1:22 Proclaim in Jesus the resurrection of the dead - Acts 4:2 Apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus - Acts 4:33 Paul preached the good news about Jesus and the resurrection - Acts 17:18 |
2010-08-28 - Waking Dead - Wisdom and Heart Our heart has been made good by work of Christ but we haven't learned how to live from it Launching out with an untrained heart can bring disaster We can easily be shamed into sin management and think our heart is bad The church choose those who had both wisdom and the Spirit - Acts 6:3 We need both Wisdom is crying out
Solomon was so sharp because he had a wise and discerning heart - 1 Kings 3:9 But wisdom is not enough
The common sense life can be the enemy of the supernatural life |
2010-09-21 - Waking Dead - Fellowship of the Heart The first Christians were called "followers of the Way" - Acts 9:2 They found the Way of Life and had given themselves over to it:
A fellowship must protect you:
A family bound together in a single fate Each one has a role |
2010-09-22 - Waking Dead - It Must Be Small Jesus did not march around backed by hundreds of followers He had a band of brothers - the Twelve Through we are part of a great company, we are meant to live a little platoons Groups small enough for each of the members to know one another as friends and allies Who's heart will you fight for? Who will fight for your heart? He spoke to the masses but lived with his closest twelve His followers took his example and lived this way too
Anytime an army goes to war or expedition, they break down into platoons and squads You can not be devoted to a mass of people Devotion takes place in small units like a family |
2010-09-23 - Waking Dead - It Must Be Intimate Most churches offer small group activities but they are usually short lived for two reasons: 1. Can't just throw a random group together and then it instantly become allies Closeness takes time - playing, working, helping, living together develops relationships All the believers were one in heart - Acts 4:32
You can study til you are blue in the face but it will not heal a broken heart A small fellowship needs to be a redemptive community and one that protects Idea: In a group - write down 5 words or phrases that captures your life right now Then find what stories or scenes or characters help you interpret those words |
2010-10-12 - Dealing With Your Heart (Part I)
QUESTIONS
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2010-10-15 - Giving (Part I)
QUESTIONS
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