2008-12-21 - Raising Awesome Kids - Power of Discipline (part 3) What does the Bible say about spanking? He who spares the rod hates his son - Proverbs 13:24 Message is clear - Spanking is vaild, employed with wisdom and love
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2009-01-17 - Jesus with People - Humility in Action Jesus and John the Baptizer were very different - ie one preached in the desert and one in the cities and villages John called the people not to focus on him but the one who was coming Jesus came to be baptized by John - Matthew 3:11 John responds - I need to be baptized by you John submits to Jesus' submission and baptizes Jesus Satan hated it - they kept humbling themselves before one another - the bond of unity grew tighter and tighter This humility continued through out their lives - John: He must become greater; I must become less - John 3:27-30 Jesus did not grasp his equality with God - Philippians 2:6 Humility kept them bonded together, even when Satan was working to divide Pride: Keeps people from being united Humility: Bring people together When unity does not exist among believers: People are not willing to pay the price Pride means too much to them What relationship do you have that would be greatly changed if you show humility and not pride? | ||||||
2009-02-03 - Jesus with People - Give or Take? World seem to be divided into givers and takers Usually we feel as though we are the givers and everyone else is a taker We can draw back and become cynical - before long we cling to possessions, our rights or our feelings At that point we have become takers We would never admit it - and many of us do not see it Jesus meet a man that was a taker - Matthew Matthew was no different than us - he probably had a family with mouths to feed As he left the office and crept closer toward the crowd surrounding Jesus He heard the words - You must deny yourself and take up your cross and follow me Jesus then walked up to Matthew and said "Follow me" His life changed forever - became a disciple of Jesus How did Jesus know? do it? Jesus knew that he was sick and need to get well - Mark 2:17 We need to see people as they ready are and what they can become Is there some in your life you can share with but haven't because you don't think they are open? | ||||||
2009-02-11 - Jesus with People - Heart Determined to Love Jesus' strongest and clearest denunciation of the Pharisees came in Matthew 23
His last and strongest words were spoken to wake them up He was trying to open their hearts and win them over to God | ||||||
2009-02-19 - Jesus with People - What is Truth? Upon hearing the charges made by his fellow Jews, Jesus did not even rely to a single charge - Matthew 27:14 Governor was amazed; Jesus' self-control stumped Pilate Ill-fated Jews were forcing Pilate to face "truth" head on All he wanted to do was avoid another political blunder; he responded - What is truth? Jesus stood before him as the truth For this reason I came into the world, to testify to the truth - John 18:37 Everyone on the side of truth listen to me - John 18:37 | ||||||
2009-05-19 - No one like him - Church the Kingdom? Luke 17:20-21 - Kingdom does not come through carefully observation Kingdom is a state of mind/heart Kingdom forcefully advancing from John the Baptist until now (Matthew 11:11-12) Preaching the good news of the kingdom (Matthew 4:23) Mark 9:1 - will not taste death before they see the kingdom of God Matthew 16:15-20 - only scripture with both kingdom and church How does this all fit? Kingdom can not be put in a box, mentioned:
All in the church PART of the kingdom? YES | ||||||
2009-06-01 - No one like him - Words from the Cross 1. Forgive them a. Choose to pray for other first2. Here is your mother a. He wanted to make sure other were taken care of before he left3. Be with me in paradise a. Show he was generous with the undeserving4. Why have you forsaken me? a. Felt his need for God and separation from him5. I am thirsty a. Jesus was aware of his limitation6. It is finished a. Foundation of his work was finished7. Into your hands I commit my spirit a. Conforms Jesus unswerving commitment | ||||||
2009-07-04 - A Life of Impact - Amazing Speech Amazing Speech Mark 6:1-6 Suspicions and fear can evaporate because of love and openness 1. Deep Conviction
2. Passion - If the speaker isn’t moved by the message, how can he expect it to move anyone else? 3. Integrity - Speaker must take plank out of their own eye before one can challenge other on the same topic 4. Person to person
5. Inspirational
6. Practical
7. Meet the Need - Out of touch with the needs on the audience can actually make things worst then they are. | ||||||
2009-07-19 - A Life of Impact - Timing Timing Mark 8:31-33
Approachability
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2009-07-23 - A Life of Impact - Ambition Ambition Mark 9:33-35
Win/Lose/Win
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2009-07-28 - A Life of Impact - Tough love Tough love Mark 10:17-31
Reassurance - Leaders need to first overcome his own negative thoughts and feelings in order to help his followers avoid becoming discouraged. | ||||||
2009-08-26 - Wild at Heart - God loves wilderness (part 2) God’s relationship with us is risky We are unpredictable; there is the likelihood to get hurt (ultimate risk anyone ever takes is to love) God give love all the time (and gets hurt all the time) Music, wine, poetry, sunset – all his inventions God is romantic at heart Heart of man is drawn from God – strong and courageous love Have you noticed the most often word used with boys is 'don’t' –God’s design 'Yes' Sexes show different sides of God’s heart Heart of a woman – deep hearted, seductive more than fierce Wants to be loved Why don’t you choose Me? 'Seek and you will find me…with all of your heart' – Jeremiah 29:13 God wants to be wanted Why does God does not answer prayer right away? – he wants us to talk to him God has beauty to be unveiled Each stage of creation is better than before All Adam can say is “WOW” Women wants he beauty unveiled Do you delight in me? God wants to be worshiped | ||||||
2009-08-29 - Wild at Heart - Question that haunts every man (part 3) What is a man for? Why does God create Adam? Desire reveals design – our design reveal God command to Adam – rule, subdue, be fruitful and multiply Explore, build, and conquer – take risk and danger (the catch) Something hinders us from living to the level of risk God invites us to God has a enemy and so do we There are many, many battles to fight on many different battlefields Before Eve is drawn from Adam’s side and leaved that ache that never goes away until he is with her. God does not tell Adam what he has done. No warning or instructions – temptation of eve God believes in Adam – he does not need a play-by-play book – this is what Adam is for Hebrew word “with her” – means elbow to elbow Adam was watching the whole thing unravel What does he do? Nothing He won’t risk, he won’t fight, he won’t rescue Eve | ||||||
2009-10-08 - Wild at Heart - The Strategy (part 1) 1. I am not here Satan says, “ I am not here, it just you” You cannot fight a battle that you don’t think exists Satan prowls around like a roaring lion - 1 Peter 5:8-9 Assume you are under spiritual attack When you ignore the enemy, he wins He simply loves to put everything on us Get us to feel hurt, misunderstood, suspicious and resentful Before an effective military strike, must take our the lines of communication Marriage is a living example – Satan loves to divide and conquer Sends a message – you are blowing it – “I thought you were disappointed with me” They did not send this message Most of all the Enemy tries to jam communication with Headquarters Commit yourself to prayer every morning for two weeks and just watch what happens Satan tries to make our mind wonder and cause interferences | ||||||
2009-10-17 - Wild at Heart - Offering our Strength (part 3) She needs God more than she needs you You need him more than you need her You do not love her to get a good grade, you love her because that is what you are made to do Ruth: How does a good woman help her man to play the man? Arouse him to be a man Boaz offers her some protection and some food, but what Ruth really want was a ring Four options:
Will you fight for her? Stop being a nice guy and act like a warrior Pray for her like you never prayer for her before, OUT LOUD Step between her and the forces of darkness Not just once (some will do it 1,2, or 3 times) Man can only be justified by the measure of his sacrifice | ||||||
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 | ||||||
2009-11-15 - Repentance - Godly Sorrow (part 3) Zelos - Zeal Zeal reject the “whatever…” attitude as it determines to do “Whatever to takes!”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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2009-11-24 - 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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2009-11-25 - Master Plan - Association (part 1) He stayed with them
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2009-12-10 - Master Plan - Delegation (part 2)
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2009-12-13 - Master Plan - Supervision (part 2)
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2009-12-21 - First the Kingdom - Spiritual Beggars Two words for "poor" in Greek:
Only through confession and humility - only by owning up to our sin Spiritual Beggars can have everything in the Kingdom of God | ||||||
2009-12-23 - First the Kingdom - The Only Door (part 2) More examples of spiritual beggars: Mary
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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 | ||||||
2009-12-29 - First the Kingdom - Growing Meekness Cultivating meekness is not some thing you do but a character change Gentleness is a quality of meekness - Galatians 5:22 Meekness follows poverty of spirit and godly sorrow - there are no shortcuts To stay meek you must confront sin and work through it
Jesus was convicted about meekness | ||||||
2010-01-02 - First the Kingdom - Healthy Heart What is your spiritual diet? The Word is what purifies us It discerns the thoughts and attitudes of the heart It will diagnose and sanctify us Keep our hearts pure by living according to God's word - Psalms 119:9 David had a steady diet of the Word To keep a healthy heart: 1. Maintain a healthy diet - David "set before his eyes no vile thing" - Psalms 101:3 What do we need to cut out of our lives? 2. Need exercise to make our heart strong
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2010-01-07 - Kingdom First - Blessing of Persecution Matthew 5:10-12 - Describes 3 types of blessing that come from persecution: 1. Kingdom of Heaven Testing refines our faith and proves it to be genuine - 1 Peter 1:6-7 Faith, by definition, is all weather 2. Reward in Heaven Because of Christ blood, he keeps no records of wrong He is keeping a record of rights He will not forget your work and the love you have shown him - Hebrews 6:10 3. Prophets before you Persecution and suffering means pain but also means glory Glory - Comes from in realizing we walk in the company of the glorious They endured the exact same things We are surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses - Hebrews 12 | ||||||
2010-01-11 - Kingdom First - Rapid Resolution Reconcile your difference with your brother before offering a gift to God - Matthew 5:21-25 Similar to a verse in the OT - Leviticus 19:16-18 Jesus is basically telling us that we are responsible to be righteous in every relationship Whether or not it is our problem - we are responsible
Hatred is like murder - rejoices in the downfall of person you have a problem with Take the initiative; love speaks the truth Remember that relationship with others mirrors our true relationship with God We'll never be close to God if we're afraid to speak the truth to our fellowman | ||||||
2010-01-19 - Kingdom First - Handle Prayerfully (part 1) Jesus was a man of prayer - he knew how to do it and he did it all the time
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2010-01-21 - Kingdom First - Handle Prayerfully (part 3) Lord's Prayer: A brief overview:
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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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2010-02-03 - One Another - Confession Questions (part 4) How do we grow in our confession? a. Be open even at the temptation level We will get used to talking what we are thinking and going through We will nip many things in the bud before they progress to sin b. Start over-correcting Start confessing everything You can always tone it down so it does not become annoying :) c. Ask some else what they think of your confession: Do you find me to be a confessing person? What is my confession level?
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2010-03-06 - To Live is Christ - Christ is Preached Some men in Philippi conveted the importance of Paul's position, but not the painful consequences - Philippians 1:15-18 In the hearts of each of us, when distracted and self-reliant, is a demon of selfish ambition Paul was secure in his position before God - a saved servant of Jesus Christ He knew that these men would either become convicted of their sin or God would deal with them Bottom line: Christ was being preached More than anything he wanted people to come to know the Jesus he came to know | ||||||
2010-03-12 - To Live is Christ - Every Tongue Confess Jesus Christ is Lord Whoever disowns Jesus before men, he will disown him - Matthew 10:32-33 No one comes to the Father except through Jesus - John 14:6 Give up for God = Gain Bow when:
Each disciple must decide that he or she lives among other "for their sake" - 1 Thessalonians 1:5
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2010-03-16 - To Live is Christ - Profit to Loss If anyone want to talk about 'confidence in the flesh', Paul was ready to take them on - Philippians 3:4-7 Paul used the events in his life to show just how empty all human achievements in before God Heredity reasons (how Paul was more than others but counted them a loss)
If anyone had a right to glory in the flesh, Paul did, but he clearly saw that no one has that right | ||||||
2010-04-12 - Life to the Full - Macho Mist (part 2) Spiritual adultery - How easy it is to flirt with the world if we fail to guard our hearts - Proverbs 4:23 In Jewish law, adultery is grounds for divorce The Spirit cause to live within us envies intensely - James 3:5 The nature of God: He will tolerate no rivals for his love God is a jealous God - Exodus 34:14 One of the quoted OT verse in the the NT is about pride - Proverbs 3:34 Much of the pride mention in the NT is bad: Pride goes before the fall - Proverbs 16:18 Pride mentioned in the NT is usually good: I take great pride in you - 2 Corinthians 7:4 It depends on where the pride is rooted and the attitude behind it If you feel ineffective, frustrated, unproductive, opposed - it might be because God is opposing you because of your pride He is trying to get your attention so you will turn back to him | ||||||
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 | ||||||
2010-05-24 - Desire's Journey - Blessed are the Nice? The enemy wants us to have small passions and desires We are producing a generation whose greatest virtue is to not defend anyone The greatest enemy of holiness is not passion but apathy If deadness is next to godliness, then Jesus had to deadest person ever - it wasn't the case God is a consuming fire - Hebrews 10:31
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2010-06-14 - I need to pray (part 1) Preached on 2002-08-25 by Vince Hawkins Ephesians 3:14-21
God overwhelms the mindGenesis 41:40 - overwhelmed Joseph with the position that was given to him 1 Kings 10:7-8 - Sheba was overwhelmed by Solomon's wealth and wisdom 1 Corinthians 2:9 - He will overwhelm you by his love Ephesians 3:20 - more than we can ask or image
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2010-07-17 - Desire's Journey - Deeper Desire (part 4) What is it that we truly desire? The problems is we do not know Our unexamined desire rules you Most of our live far from from our hearts Those living in duty and obligation may need to give all that a rest - so their hearts can come to the surface Pharisees - their religious activities deadened them to the point that they could not recognize God when he stood before them Our deepest treasure becomes our most dutiful burden, it really kills our hearts Those living in indulging desire will need to give it a rest too Going cold turkey - just stay in your desire 15 minutes longer than you usually do When you feel the desire - let the desire just be; let your heart put some honest words to what you are feeling We must learn what is actually being roused The attuned we are to our desire, the less prone we'll be to imposters | ||||||
2010-07-22 - Desire's Journey - Orchestra like worship You may have heard an orchestra tuning up before a concert Then the violins plays a long C and all the instruments join in The the players become focused, centered, and ready to preform This is what happens with chaos of our desires when we turn our souls to God in worship All the other desires find their place as we give God his place Delight yourself int he Lord and he he will give you the desires of our hearts - Psalms 37:4 Our delighting in God, he heals our false desires as our souls come true in the light of the Maker Worship becomes the means by which we most deeply heal our desire | ||||||
2010-08-24 - Waking Dead - Glory (part 1) Our destiny is to come fully alive To explain sin, some have gone to the point of saying "I am just a sinner, saved by grace" or "there sure isn't anything good in me" But this is unbibical They point to: "For I know that nothing good lives in me" - Romans 7:18 Notice he says " in my flesh" - there is a difference between the flesh (old heart) and the true you Yes, we battle sin and crucify the flesh but we choose to live from the new heart That sinful nature you battle is not who you are "it is no longer I myself who do it" X 2 - Romans 7:17-18; 20, 22 Paul opens the letter with "Paul, an apostle" not as a sinner You should shine like stars - Philippians 2:15-16 Let your light shine before men - Matthew 5:16 Shame says - "I am nothing to look at. I am not capable of goodness" Humility say - "I bear a glory for sure, but it is a reflected glory" | ||||||
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 | ||||||
2010-09-01 - Waking Dead - Our Story (part 2) The enemy is after us from the beginning Joseph stands out from his brothers Instead of celebrating his glory, his brothers want to destroy it The worst blows typically come from family David full of faith and courage when he sees that on one will take on Goliath His older cowardly brother is exposed by David's bravery Older brother - "I know how conceited you are and how wicked your heart is" - 1 Samuel 17:28 The worst blows come from those who know us well Even Jesus' brothers did not believe in him - John 7:5 His family came to bring him home because they think he has lost it - Luke 8:20 Sometimes the very thing that someone loves to do is the thing God has given them as a source of celebration We should check to see this is true before we turn it into shame How long will you turn my glory into shame - Psalms 4:2 What have you believed about your heart over the years? | ||||||
2010-10-19 - Planning and Budgeting
QUESTIONS
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2010-10-28 - Contagious Christian - Strength of Sacrifice (part III) Third major kind of sacrifice is a sustained, long term godly lifestyle Spiritual cynicism runs deep in some people - Christians need to watch their life and doctrine closely to win them over May times these are family member who have seen you go through phases before and think this is just another one Offer your bodies as living sacrifices by being transformed with the renewing of your mind - Romans 12:1-2 History has seen rush of the Christianity starting blocks only to be on the side lines after a couple of laps Time shows our faith to be genuine Like in a marathon, we have to finish the race We have to outlast other's objections Are you going to be God's helper that is going to wear down every cynic, scoffer, and doubter in your life? All three of the major sacrifices must be motivated by love Love has no one greater than this - that on lay down his life for his friends - John 15:13 | ||||||
2010-11-05 - Contagious Christian - The Paul Approach Paul certainly confronted people but his main approach was logical and reasonable presentation of the gospel Romans - best example of how Paul lays out a sound explanation of the central truths about God nature, sin, and Christ's solution Paul was a highly educated man and learned under one of the finest teachers of the time Was there a better person to philosophers in Athens in Acts 17? His presentation took them from their unknown God all the way to the one true living God Philosophers would have related to Peter's direct approach No "you will just have to accept it on faith" = "Leap before you look. Are you lucky?" Who in your life enjoys working with ideas and evidence? Many seekers need to hear the gospel not only declared but also defined and defended | ||||||
2010-11-16 - Contagious Christian - Making the Message Clear (part I) Before you can bring the message to others, need to make sure we clearly understand we understand the message ourselves Making the message clear will need us to be able to illustrate it for those we talk to God Three aspects of God we need to look at:
God made us without sin but we abused our freedom and became evil Sin requires God to pronounce upon us the death penalty - both physical and spiritual This is separation from God via hell We are helpless to change this Christ God had the power and authority to devise a plan for our salvation Christ died and suffered the death penalty debt for us and
You don't deserve it, we didn't pay for it, we can not earn it He paid a debt He did not owe I owned a debt I could not pay | ||||||
2010-11-29 - Trusting God - Samuel Preached by Rob Milner Read 1 Samuel 13 Following God's instruction is the key to our success 1 Samuel 10:8 - Go to Gilgal and wait for 7 days and then we will sacrifice Samuel was the judge before their were kings Saul waited for 7 days but did not wait to do the burnt offerings He did not follow God's instructions exactly How long before we stop waiting? Ever wanted to take matters into our own hands? There is nothing as good as trusting and then God fulfilling his promise There are two battles:
James 4:7-8 - God calls us to submit to him fully Trust in God and not your situation
Protect your blacksmiths or you will be found defenseless 1 Samuel 13:19-21 What are the blacksmiths of our lives?
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