Sunday, December 29, 2013

How to Get Where You Want to Be

The Principle of the Path Series

Three things About Getting Lost

  1. We do not get lost on purpose
  2. We do not know when we are getting lost, we discover it later
  3. Whatever road or path that we are on determines where we end up

Direction Determines Destination

  1. Not Desires
  2. Not Intentions
  3. Not a Dreams
  4. Not Hopes

There is often a DISCONNECT between the DESIRED DESTINATION and the PATH people are on.

PROVERBS 7:6-27

The Soundtrack the wise onlooker hears

There is always something .....

 

Sunday, December 15, 2013

Christmas, When All is NOT Calm!

Jim, Hammond, Verde Valley Christian Church, Dec 16, 2013

Luke 1

Focus: The Christmas story is like our own story, filled with seemingly random or chaotic events, but God works out a beautiful plan for those who love and trust Him.

I. CHAOS and CERTAINTY collide in The Christmas Story.

II. So that in the CHAOS you may be CERTAIN.

III. What does a FAVORED life look like?

IV. To the chaos came IMMANUEL (GOD is WITH us)

Remarkable faith is not the faith that moves God.

Remarkable faith is the faith that moves us to trust God when He doesn't seem to be moving.

 

Sunday, December 8, 2013

God's Greater Grace

Doug Freeman
James 4:4-10

Focus: God's Grace is greater than the power of sin, the flesh, the world and Satan.

I. The Great Spiritual Battle
A. The WORLD
B. The FLESH
C. The DEVIL
II. God's GRACE is GREATER.

III. Pursuing Peace
A. SUBMIT To God
B. DRAW NEAR To God
C. HUMBLE Yourself before God
James 4:4-10
Easy-to-Read Version (ERV)
4 You people are not faithful to God! You should know that loving what the world has is the same as hating God. So anyone who wants to be friends with this evil world becomes God’s enemy. 5 Do you think the Scriptures mean nothing? The Scriptures say, “The Spirit God made to live in us wants us only for himself.”[a] 6 But the kindness God shows is greater. As the Scripture says, “God is against the proud, but he is kind to the humble.”[b]

7 So give yourselves to God. Stand against the devil, and he will run away from you. 8 Come near to God and he will come near to you. You are sinners, so clean sin out of your lives.[c] You are trying to follow God and the world at the same time. Make your thinking pure. 9 Be sad, be sorry, and cry! Change your laughter into crying. Change your joy into sadness. 10 Be humble before the Lord, and he will make you great.

Sunday, October 27, 2013

Set Free

Exodus 5-6

Focus: Things may get worse before they get better.

I. Why worse at first is better.

Would you rather have it worse at first then better, or better at first then worse?

II. So you SEE what HE can DO.

 

Sunday, October 13, 2013

Who Am I?

Set Free Series - Exodus 2

Focus: We must come home to God to Find out who we really are.

I. I am the THE REDEEMERS REPRESENTATIVE. (Matt 5:14 “You are the light that shines for the world to see. You are like a city built on a hill that cannot be hidden.)

II. I have been RESCUED TO RESCUE. Matt 10:8 NIV 1 Peter 2:5

III. I CONFESS and CELEBRATE my homecoming.

IV. I am not NOT FORGOTTEN.

 

Sunday, October 6, 2013

Stuck

Set Free Series Exodus 1

Focus: Faith in God includes faith in His timing.

I. God wants us to be UNSTUCK.

II. CRISIS precedes DELIVERY.

III. Deliverence begins with the FEAR OF GOD.

 

Sunday, September 22, 2013

God, Why Don't You Do Something?

Series: Set Free - Part 0 - Genesis 37-39

Focus: God IS doing something good even when we don't know what it is yet.

I. God does not MAKE all the MOVES.

Important Truths About Evil:

  1. God did not cause evil
  2. And yet God knew it beforehand
  3. God did not desire evil
  4. Other

II. God PLANS His MOVES far IN ADVANCE.

III. TRUST God and WIN!

 

Sunday, September 15, 2013

Safely Home

Not Ashamed Series 2 Timothy 4:6-22

Focus: Choose the right target for your life.

When you are aimed at the right target...

I. Nothing is wasted

II. A crown awaits

III. You will get flak

IV. You are not alone

V. There's confident assurance and peace

 

Sunday, August 25, 2013

Equipped

Not Ashamed - 2 Timothy Series

2 Tim 3:15-17 New International Version (NIV)

15 and how from infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures,which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. 16 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness,17 so that the servant of God[a] may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.

Focus: The Bible fills your tool belt with all the essentials.

I. STUDY IT!

All scripture is God breathed and is useful.

II. USE IT!

1 Corinthians 10:13

New International Version (NIV)

13 No temptation[a] has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted[b] beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted,[c] he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.

Sunday, August 18, 2013

That Convinced

Not Ashamed - 2 Timothy Series 2 Tim 3:10-14

2 Timothy 3:10-14

Easy-to-Read Version (ERV)

Last Instructions

10 But you know all about me. You know what I teach and the way I live. You know my goal in life. You know my faith, my patience, and my love. You know that I never stop trying. 11 You know about my persecutions and my sufferings. You know all the things that happened to me in Antioch, Iconium, and Lystra—the persecution I suffered in those places. But the Lord saved me from all of it. 12 Everyone who wants to live showing true devotion to God in Christ Jesus will be persecuted. 13 People who are evil and cheat others will become worse and worse. They will fool others, but they will also be fooling themselves.

14 But you should continue following the teaching you learned. You know it is true, because you know you can trust those who taught you.

Focus: The truly convinced know the cost and are willing to pay the price.

What does it take to be THAT Convinced?

I. Compelling FACTS

II. Compelling FOOTPRINTS

III. Compelling FRIENDS

IV. Compelling FAITH

 

 

Sunday, August 11, 2013

Unshaken

"Not Ashamed" 2 Timothy Series 2 Tim 3:1-9

2 Timothy 3:1-9. Easy-to-Read Version (ERV) Many People Will Stop Loving God

3 Remember this: There are some terrible times coming in the last days. 2 People will love only themselves and money. They will be proud and boast about themselves. They will abuse others with insults. They will not obey their parents. They will be ungrateful and against all that is pleasing to God. 3 They will have no love for others and will refuse to forgive anyone. They will talk about others to hurt them and will have no self-control. They will be cruel and hate what is good. 4 People will turn against their friends. They will do foolish things without thinking and will be so proud of themselves. Instead of loving God, they will love pleasure. 5 They will go on pretending to be devoted to God, but they will refuse to let that “devotion” change the way they live. Stay away from these people!

6 Some of them go into homes and get control over weak women, whose lives are full of sin—women who are led into sin by all the things they want. 7 These women always want to learn something new, but they are never able to fully understand the truth. 8 Just as Jannes and Jambres[a] fought against Moses, these people fight against the truth. Their thinking has been confused. The faith they have and teach is worthless. 9 But they will not succeed in what they are trying to do. Everyone will see how foolish they are. That is what happened to Jannes and Jambres.

Focus: We may face terrible times, but there is no need for our faith to be shaken.

I. Don't be NAÏVE

II. When are the LAST DAYS

Acts 2:17, 2 Peter 3:3-4

III. Be FOREWARNED and FOREARMED

Sunday, August 4, 2013

Hidden Realities


Not Ashamed - 2 Timothy Series

2 Timothy 2:25-26 Easy-to-Read Version (ERV)

25 You must gently teach those who don’t agree with you. Maybe God will let them change their hearts so that they can accept the truth. 26 The devil has trapped them and now makes them do what he wants. But maybe they can wake up to see what is happening and free themselves from the devil’s trap.


Focus: Hidden realities affect how you live.
I. SATAN uses SUBTLE SNARES
II. SNARES destroy your SENSIBILITIES

III. REPENTANCE is a GIFT








Sunday, July 28, 2013

Useful

Focus: God will use for noble purposes those who are clean and ready.

I. Holy = SET APART.

II. Holy = Set Apart FOR A PURPOSE.

III. Holy = Set Apart for a purpose, PREPARED, CLEAN and READY.

 

Sunday, July 21, 2013

Stupid Arguments

Not Ashamed: 2 Timothy Series

2 Tim 2:2, 2:14-19, 23-24

Focus: Even though you are not ashamed, avoid stupid arguments.

I. With a confused brother

A. Keep REMINDING them God is FAITHFUL.

B. Don't quarrel over SEMANTICS.

C. Don't waste your time on IRRELEVANCIES.

D. Don't be DETERRED or DERAILED.

II. With a critic...

A. Avoid STUPID ARGUMENTS.

B. Always be KIND

C. GENTLY instruct and PRAY for REPENTANCE.

Sunday, July 14, 2013

As Approved

Series "Not Ashamed" 2 Timothy 2:15

2 Timothy 2:15

Easy-to-Read Version (ERV)

15 Do your best to be the kind of person God will accept, and give yourself to him. Be a worker who has no reason to be ashamed of his work, one who applies the true teaching in the right way.

Focus: Present yourself to God as approved

Wouldn't you like to know you have God's approval? Gal 3:27,

Wouldn't you like to know how to present yourself to God for approval?

I. Is the LORD Well - PLEASED?

II. Is the WORK Well - DONE?

III. Is the WORD Well - USED?

IV. Is the BOOK Well - WORN?


Sunday, July 7, 2013

Endure

Not Ashamed 2 Timothy Series, Part 7

2 Timothy 2:10-13

  1. Authentic Conversion
  2. Realistic Expectations
  3. A Sober Warning
  4. A Clarifying Encouragement

 

Sunday, June 23, 2013

Why Do We Need to Evangelize People from Other Religious Worldviews?

First Baptist Church - Dubois, PA - Pastor Mark Montgomery

John 14:6 "Jesus answered, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. The only way to the Father is through me."

Introduction

  • What is our communion?
  • Why didn't unbelievers understand the Gospel?
  • Second Reason: Worldview Noise
  • Why Do We Need to Evangelize People from Other Religious Worldviews?
  • Answer: Jesus is the only the way to heaven!

Evangelical Christainity

  • God
  • Man
  • Sin
  • Death
  • Christ
  • Cross
  • Faith
  • Life

Liberal Christainity

Roman Catholic

Eastern-Russian Orthodox

Christian Cults

  • Mormons
  • Jehovah's Witness
  • Other Cults

Muslim

Jewish

Eastern Based Religions

  • Hinduism
  • Buddhism
  • Shinto
  • New Age
  • Spiritism

What should we do based on what we know?

  1. We need to discover the religious worldview of the person to whom we witness.
  2. We need to start where the person is.
  3. Don't get discouraged if all people don't respond the same.

 

Sunday, June 16, 2013

What's it like to be a Dad?

2 Timothy 2:1-7

Focus: Being a Dad is being someone who mentors someone else.

You are meant to be a mentor. Jesus meant for those who are mentored to be mentors and change our demented world.

I. "What's it like being a mentor?"

A. It's like being A SOLDIER.

B. It's like being AN ATHLETE.

C. It's like being A FARMER.

II. How do you become a RELIABLE, QUALIFIED mentor?

A. BE STRONG in the Grace.

B. ENTRUST the Grace TO OTHERS.

C. ENDURE HARDSHIP like the three examples.

Sunday, May 26, 2013

Rekindle!

Not Ashamed 2 Timothy Series, Part 2

2 Tim 1:6-8

Focus: If you want to be fired up, rekindle!

I. Do not be ashamed - REKINDLE!

 

II. Do not be ashamed - INITIATE!


III. Do not be ashamed - FIRE UP those around you!

 

Sunday, May 19, 2013

Stuck in a Rut

Bill Bush - Pastor
1 Peter 3:7 In the same way, you husbands should live with your wives in an understanding way, since they are weaker than you. But show them respect, because God gives them the same blessing he gives you—the grace that gives true life. Do this so that nothing will stop your prayers. 

2 Samuel 23:8-17 These are the names of David’s warriors:Josheb-Basshebeth, the Tahkemonite, was head of the Three. He killed eight hundred men at one time. Next was Eleazar son of Dodai the Ahohite. Eleazar was one of the three soldiers who were with David when they challenged the Philistines. The Philistines were gathered for battle, and the Israelites drew back. But Eleazar stayed where he was and fought the Philistines until he was so tired his hand stuck to his sword. The Lord gave a great victory for the Israelites that day. The troops came back after Eleazar had won the battle, but only to take weapons and armor from the enemy. Next there was Shammah son of Agee the Hararite. The Philistines came together to fight in a vegetable field. Israel’s troops ran away from the Philistines, but Shammah stood in the middle of the field and fought for it and killed the Philistines. And the Lord gave a great victory. Once, three of the Thirty, David’s chief soldiers, came down to him at the cave of Adullam during harvest. The Philistine army had camped in the Valley of Rephaim. At that time David was in the stronghold, and some of the Philistines were in Bethlehem. David had a strong desire for some water. He said, “Oh, I wish someone would get me water from the well near the city gate of Bethlehem!” So the three warriors broke through the Philistine army and took water from the well near the city gate of Bethlehem. Then they brought it to David, but he refused to drink it. He poured it out before the Lord, saying, “May the Lord keep me from drinking this water! It would be like drinking the blood of the men who risked their lives!” So David refused to drink it. These were the brave things that the three warriors did. 

Big Idea: God built men to build and to battle.

Do what is right even when the odds are against me.

I will not give up even when none stand with me.

I will stand in the gap for those around me.

I will devote my life to the One who is above me.

Sunday, May 5, 2013

Testify

John 9

Focus: When we share instances of God's faithfulness we encourage, uplift, and bring hope to one another and we praise him.

FIRST Testimony - Steve & Millie of Ninos de Baja

SECOND Testimony - Jessie - Pit Bull, Rehab

THIRD Testimony - Juan & Carla

FOURTH Testimony - Carlos, Jessie's Boss, prison & rehab ministry

FIFTH Testimony - Luke - Sortomudo - Deaf School in Mexico - Francis Chen, Author

MY Testimony -

 

Sunday, April 28, 2013

Text Message From God, Part 2

Focus: The Bible does more than record the miraculous; the Bible itself is miraculous.

BIBLE - Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth

I. "But it was written by humans"

1500 Years

66 Documents

40 Writers

3 Continents

3 Languages

2 Testaments

1 Story

II. Yet accepted as God's text message by Jesus...

Jesus

The apostles

The church

 

 

Sunday, March 31, 2013

A Moving Morning

Series Conclusion: Christ from Christmas to Easter

Matthew 28

Focus: God wants the resurrection to move us.

  1. Moves by DEVOTION and Shared PAIN
  2. Moves by SEISMIC TREMORS
  3. Moves by AN ANGEL
  4. A Moved STONE
  5. Moved by Jesus (The LITTLE COMISSION)
  6. A not so moving CONSPIRACY DEVELOPS
  7. Now MOVE IT! (The GREAT COMISSION)
 

 

Sunday, March 3, 2013

Upside-Down Kingdom

Focus: Many who are first will be last, and many who are last will be first.

Sunday, February 10, 2013

Public Secrets

Christ from Christmas to Easter
Matthew 13:1-23

Focus: Different people with completely different reactions and results hear the same truths.

I. Receptivity is determined BY READINESS

II. SOIL Conditions of the SOUL
A. HARDENED
B. SHALLOW
C. PRE-OCCUPIED
D. BROKEN and RESPONSIVE


Sunday, January 20, 2013

Peace in the Storm

Christ from Christmas to Easter

..Matthew 8:24 - 9:8

Focus: Storms challenge and strengthen our Faith.

I. Jesus CALMS storms. GAL 5:22

II. Jesus CAUSES storms.

III. Jesus COMFORTS the AFFLICTED.

IV. Jesus AFFLICTS the COMFORTABLE.