2009-06-14 - A Life of Impact - The Call The Call Mark 1:16-18 …To purpose
… To Imitate Him
… To a mutual Commitment
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2009-06-22 - A Life of Impact - Nonconformist Mark 2:15-17 Nonconformist
Protector
Challenger
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2009-07-16 - A Life of Impact - Scout Scout Mark 8:14-21
Rebuke
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2009-07-22 - A Life of Impact - Retreats Retreats Mark 9:30-32
Openness
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2009-08-27 - Wild at Heart - Question that haunts every man (part 1) Men look in their hearts but they don’t discover something valiant and dangerous Find fear, lust, and anger "All men die, few men really ever live" Women - Many have given up hope for a true man. Real life of the average man seems a universe away from the desire of his heart
Why are men addicted to sports? - biggest adventure many will ever taste Careers? Same reason Trading stock – taste of excitement and risk Guys have been told to be responsible |
2009-09-06 - Wild at Heart - Battle for a mans heart (part 2) Boys are in plentiful supply, but it seems fewer and fewer men Two reasons
They have lost heart Becoming a Christian is like being called to the front lines Wounds are far too consistent to be accidental Do you know why there’s been such an assault? |
2009-09-07 - Wild at Heart - The enemy fears you If you ever really got your heart back, lived from it with courage, you would be a huge problem to him Many men have not been shown how to fight from the heart. Failure of fathers and left men without direction If you want the wound healed and your strength restored and to find your true name, you re going to have to fight for it. Notice your reaction at these words. Does another come in and caution you to stop We need to know who we are and if we have what it takes A man’s core question does not go away We search for the answer of validation
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2009-09-23 - Wild at Heart - The Enemy (part 4) The world is a carnival of counterfeits, counterfeit battles. Counterfeit adventures, counterfeit beauties Men should think of it as a corruption of their strength Battle your way to the top says the world and you will be a man World give a false sense of security
Want to know how the world really feels about you – start living out your true strength Say what you think, stand for the underdog, challenge foolish polices Many of us have actually been afraid to let our strength show up because the world doesn’t have a place for it |
2009-09-24 - Wild at Heart - The Enemy (part 5) Not every thought that crosses your mind comes from you
Who caused the Chaldeans to steal Job’s herds – Satan Job 12,17 Anaias and Sapphira – Satan Heartache keeps us from praying Satan is behind that brutal assault on your on strength There is a whole lot more going on behind the scenes of our lives than most of us have been led to believe Behind the world and the flesh is an event more deadly enemy, one we rarely speak of and are even less ready to resist |
2009-10-13 - Wild at Heart - A Beauty to Rescue Evil power who holds her captive Only a champion may win her Every little girl knows the fable without ever being told Little boys rehearse their parts Sleeping Beauty, Cinderella, Romeo and Juliet and so on Strong man coming to rescue a beautiful women is universal and human nature Why is it ten years later I wondered if I even wanted to be married to her anymore? Why do most us get lost somewhere between “once upon a time” and “happily ever after”? Our culture has grown cynical about the fable We have not been poisoned by fairy tales Many guys think that the biggest battle was asking her out She is the special target of the Evil One He turns most vicious malice against her If he can destroy her or keep her captive, he can ruin the story |
2009-11-08 - Repentance - Transfigure Our Minds (part 1) We each have a worldview or mindset that functions as a life lens World has been squeezing us into its mold – more than we realize Peter’s mind
Prepare your minds for action – 1 Peter 1:13-14 Space shuttle takes 2,250,000 pounds of fuel to escape the earth’s gravity Only few pounds to remain in orbit – Christians are called more than just to orbit Most trials produce greater faith – hospitalized child, illness, death, ministry turmoil, financial pressures Ways to fight – devote time to prayer, read scripture, explore ways to encourage wife, get advice from elders, spend special time with the kids Ways to not to – laziness, frustrate wife, neglect kids, feeling overwhelmed and under underappreciated, escape to the TV |
2009-11-12 - Repentance - Worldly Sorrow (part 2) 3. Excuses
A repentant Christian embraces absolutions, even moral absolutes5. Repetition Repentance is no fragile state of mind that we barely notice entering and exitingQuestions
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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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2009-11-18 - Repentance - The Church Reorients Us (part 2) Bible says if your brother sins again you – go and point out his sin Must repentance as a whole Church repentance – 41 times Individual repentance – 11 times Not usual in the world Football team at half-time Company changes due to market conditions All churches sin; not all repent Some spin their shortcoming, craft reasonable explanations, minimize damage to reputation, issue statements Questions
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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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2009-11-27 - Master Plan - Foundation of Follow-up
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2009-12-12 - Master Plan - Supervision (part 1) He kept check on them
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2009-12-13 - Master Plan - Supervision (part 2)
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2009-12-27 - First the Kingdom - Ease of Meekness Generally, being meek is not appealing Meek is equated with weak - but this is not true Greek word for "meek" - used to describe a stallion once it had been broken and had become teachable We can be become meek if we confront our sin and experience godly sorrow In the Bible, meekness is associated with humility and gentleness This meekness has no relation to a timid or retiring character It is: I need God and am totally open to whatever Moses was said to be very meek - Numbers 12:3 Jesus himself was said to be meek - 2 Corinthians 10:1 |
2009-12-28 - First the Kingdom - At Ease Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth - Matthew 5:5 But the meek will inherit the land and enjoy great peace - Psalms 37:11 Meekness is strength under the control of God Being meek is being at ease before God and man One looks outside himself for the power of life Totally open with God, God will work in all things for his good To be meek is not to be afraid... 1. Is at ease with God Someone who worries and has anxiety reduces them to practical atheists A child is at ease with their father/mother (in most cases) I have stilled and quieted my soul; child with mother is my soul within me - Psalms 131:2 2. Is at ease with himself Jesus knew exactly what authority he had been he had been given by God - John 13:3 3. Is at ease with others Neither inferior nor superior No longer deceived by pride, he is free to learn from anyone At ease with God and himself - has nothing to prove and nothing to fear |
2010-01-05 - Kingdom First - Helping Others to Make Peace Highest calling as peacemakers is to help other make peace with God We have been fitted with the feet of readiness that comes from the gospel of peace - Ephesians 6:15 Are proclaim peace to others - Isaiah 52:7 Jesus shed his blood so we could have peace He calls to die to ourselves so others can be made right with God Not superficial "world peace" but true peace in the heart of each man and women |
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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2010-02-27 - One Another - One Another In Groups (part 1) Small groups were in the center of Jesus' ministry - spent much of his time with the 12 Principles of small groups Focus on belonging and being devoted - Romans 12:5 All belong to one another - members of one another These who have been united with Christ - this is your spiritual family Be a giver, not just a taker Always need great listeners (not just being quite) - ask questions, draw people out Do your part to make the group warm, loving, supportive, open, etc "I'm not getting much out from this group" - check your heart and actions Appreciate, affirm, and encourage the different gifts - 1 Corinthians 12 God has given our brothers and sisters for our enjoyment Give special focus to those who may feel marginalized by illness/disability |
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 |
2010-03-10 - To Live is Christ - Having the Same Love Paul wanted to remind the Philippians of the blessings of their relationship with Jesus - Philippians 2:1-4 By this all men will know we are Jesus' disciple by our love - John 13:35 "Sharing in the common life" ws his heartfelt vision for them He applealed to them to be one to initiate this kind of love It is not natural to love this way Will we trust the message he lived and taught? |
2010-03-14 - To Live is Christ - Fellow Worker and Soldier Epaphroditus was committed to Paul in the most difficult of circumstances - Philippians 2:25-30 Having a brother to encourage you and not be ashamed of you while in prision meant the world to Paul Great friends are fellow worker - To accomplish a common goal Great friends are fellow soldiers - a common enemy and a common plan to go make disciples Easy to get wrapped up in our own needs If we are selfless in our thinking and actions - do we think we will lose out in some way? Paul was eager to send Epaphroditus - not reluctantly Who we have been so generous? |
2010-04-14 - Life to the Full - Got to Pray (part 2) James 5:7-11 - Addresses patience in peace and in suffering Two examples of patience in suffering:
Jewish were very fond of oath-taking - Matthew 5:33-37 James may have been referring to rash oath-taking - Ecclesiastes 5:4-7 Rather than swearing (v12), we should pray (v13) No true disciple should need to take an oath since we must be men and women of our word Simply let our yes be yes and our no be no |
2010-04-25 - Heart of Friendship (part 1) Preached by John Lusk (2005-01-23) Ecclesiastes 4:9-10
Christ is the key to having true friendships Friendship with Christ John 15:14-15
Matthew 11:28-30 - Jesus yoke is easy and he will give you rest Hebrews 4:15-16 - Jesus understands and have been in your situation 2 Peter 1:3 - He given everything we need in life |
2010-04-28 - Heart of Maturity (Motivation of Maturing) Preached by John Lusk (2005-01-30) How passionate are you about maturing?
Motivation of Maturing 1. To regain your identify Genesis 1:26-27
2. To remian in Jesus 1 John 2:3-4 - This is a expectation from God 3. To be effective and productive 2 Peter 1:4-8
4. Secure salvation 2 Peter 1:8-11 - We have been given a new start Wrong motivation - Pleasing people, selfish ambition |
2010-05-01 - I am Innocent of the Blood of all Men (part 2) Acts 22:6-21
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2010-05-08 - Men are without excuse (part 2)
2 Thessalonians 2:5-12
What excuses have you been making? Only the righteous will be saved! |
2010-05-13 - Desire's Journey - Same Old Thing Something worse than the fall of man (losing paradise) = getting used to it
We have not solved the riddle of our existence Everyone else seems to be getting on with things. What is wrong with me? It is possible to run away from the desire for years but we are desire - essence of the human soul Our desire, if we listen, will save us from committing soul-suicide Same old thing would not be enough Life as usual us not the life we truly want It is not the life we were made for "All good things come to an end" is a lie We abandon the most important journey of our lives when we abandon desire Whatever we might gain, it is not worth it - Matthew 16:26 |
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 |
2010-06-11 - Jesus - the Zealot (part 2)Cause with fighting forAre you fighting for what is right?John 18:36
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2010-06-18 - All or Nothing (part 1) Preached by Curt Simmons on 2002-08-28 Old Testament1 Samuel 15:1-35
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2010-06-21 - Building the temple (part 2)Consencate yourself1 Chronicles 29:5
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2010-06-29 - Our worst, His best Preached on 2003-03-16 Bad day? Being at your worse, need someone at their best |
2010-07-02 - Desire's Journey - Great Restoration (part 3) The kingdom of God brings restoration Eden was exactly as God meant for it to be Jesus called himself the Son of man to state clearly that he was what man was suppose to be
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2010-07-04 - Desire's Journey - The Grand Affair (part 1) To know and to be known. It is our deepest ache. Love makes us to crazy things for love. No union on earth like the consummation of love between a man and woman Becoming one - this is what God is seeking with us Bible is the greatest romance ever written |
2010-07-18 - Desire's Journey - Deeper Desire (part 5) We can learn many things about the journey of desire in the story of Jesus' wilderness trial 1. He was hungry - Matthew 4:1-4
Satan: You don't have to stay hungry, you have options The lie is that the options will bring us what we most deeply want and need Evey idol is an impostor - not true life When on a marathon - and are given a beer It is cold (we desire cold) but we know we really need cold water for our thirst Junk food does not have the nutrition we need When we have been working out, working hard in the field, we know what we want Knowing full well what our heart's real thirst is, we will have looked the imposer in the face and laughed as Jesus did |
2010-07-26 - Desire's Journey - Letting Go (part 3) Pleasure is often more about drugging ourselves that it is about enjoying ourselves Avoiding the ache is always worse in the end than the ache itself We want to predict what the Lord is going to do so that it does not hurt so bad when it happens Whole creation has been groaning right up til the present time yet if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently - Romans 8:22-25 We live in hope and he says hoping is waiting and groaning Ask yourself: What am I waiting for? Is there anything I desire that I am doing nothing to secure? To wait is to learn the spiritual grace of detachment - the freedom of desire Not the absence of desire but desire at rest I have still and quieted my soul - Psalms 131:2 |
2010-08-06 - Waking Dead - At War (part 1) The thief comes to only steal, kill, and destroy our life - John 10:10 God intends for you to have life but right now that life is opposed The offer from God is life, but you are going to have to fight for it The enemy in your life has a different agenda We are a war The sooner we come to terms with it, the better hope we have of making it through We live in a combat zone - a violent clash between kingdoms Where did you think all this opposition was coming from? We are in the image of God - Genesis 1:27 God crowd us with glory and honor - Psalms 8:3-5 We were once more than we are now Glory has been the object of a long and brutal was Lurking in the Garden is the enemy Unable to overthrow the Mighty One, he turned his sights on those who bore his image David: You turn my glory into shame - Psalms 4:2 War is a central theme in the Old Testament The Lord is a warrior - Exodus 15:2 OT Battle examples:
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2010-08-13 - Waking Dead - Heart of All Things Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life - Proverbs 4:23 Tin man had once been a real man
After a series of blows, his humanity was reduced to efficiency If we can disable or deaden your heart, then we have effectively foiled the plan of God |
2010-08-19 - Waking Dead - Restored The deepest and most wonderful of all mythic truths reveiled in the Beauty and the Beast The transformation: a creature that no one could bear the sight of is transformed into a handsome prince
It is the secret of Christianity You must be born again - John 3:7 Not about keeping laws or rules Counts whether we have really have been changed into new and different people - Galatians 6:15 Is this not the message of the gospel?
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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 |
2010-08-25 - Waking Dead - Glory (part 2) Your story does not begin with sin but with glory Bible does not start in Genesis 3 but Genesis 1 God is glorious You are his offspring, his child You bear his image When he made all His creation before man he said "it was good" Only after did he make humans did he say "it is very good" - Genesis 1:31 Your glory is greater than everything else made - oceans, mountains, stars, the universe Saints in the land are the glorious ones in whom is all my delight - Psalms 16:3 Those he justified, he also glorified - Romans 8:30 The fact that you don't see your good heart and glory is proof has effective the assault has been Lion King example It is time for the true king to come back and take over But Simba does not believe who he is His father was murdered and the enemy blamed it on him After years of loosing heart, Simba's father appears to him in a vision: you are more than what you have become The one who is in you is greater than the one in the world - 1 John 4:4 |
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 |
2010-08-29 - Waking Dead - Listening to His Voice God is still speaking to us today I have much more to say to you. The Spirit will guide you in all truth - John 16:12-13 There is much more than Jesus wants to say to you Since the Spirit resides in you heart - the conversation can continue Many good people never hear God because they have never been told that he does He who belongs to God hears what God says - John 8:47 His sheep follow him because they hear his voice. I am the good shpherd - John 10:4 He wants to speak to you and want to lead you to good pasture When we ask, we need to hear what the true answer is - not what we want to hear |
2010-08-30 - Waking Dead - Pay Attention to our Heart Most of us have not been trained to pay attention to our heart It will take a little practice to tune in to it Many understand how to play the beautiful instrument of the heart
The enemy to distress you by throwing all sorts of thoughts your way and blaming you for it We must proceed with the assumption that your heart is good - Romans 7 Over time you will grow familiar with the movements of your heart Just like if any counsel or word that presents itself as being from God - must be checked against his word The flesh will try to use your freedom to get you to do things you shouldn't do Any discouragement, condemnation (Romans 8:1), accusation, confusion is not from God His conviction brings desire for repentance - 2 Corinthians 7:10 |
2010-08-31 - Waking Dead - Our Story (part 1) Our life is a story We need someone to walk with us God has given us the Counselor - the Spirit of truth - John 14:16-17 We need someone that makes thing clear and true Not just an annual checkup but all the time The purpose of the Christian life is that our hearts might be restored and set free That is what Jesus came to do All sorts of damage has been done to your heart
Even our laughter is out of heartache - Proverbs 14:13 We are told to trust in the Lord (Proverb 3:5) - it is second nature to worry We are told to love one another deeply (1 Peter 1:22) - that is very rare The answers lie deeply in our heart The heart of a man is deep waters, but a man of understanding draws him out - Proverbs 20:5 |