Focus: We can experience overflowing joy that spills out on others.
I. GUILT STEALS Joy
II. BITTERNESS SHOVES Aside Joy
III. FEAR STRANGLES Joy
IV. Jesus brings GREAT JOY
V. Great Joy is NOT SILENT
Sunday, December 20, 2015
Posted with Blogsy by Mark Luffman
Sunday, December 6, 2015
Christmas Experience - Experiencing God's Favor
Doug Freeman
Luke 1:26-38
Focus: There's no better place to be than in God's favor.
I. God's favor SURPRISING
II. God's favor POWERFUL
III. God's favor DEMANDINGLuke 1:38
Sunday, November 29, 2015
Christmas Experience - Experiencing God's Faithfulness
Jim Hammond
Focus: God always keeps His promises.
I. God's people WAIT.
Genesis 12:2-3 “I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name great and you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.”
2 Samuel 7:12-13 When your days are over and you rest with your ancestors, I will raise up your offspring to succeed you, your own flesh and blood, and I will establish his kingdom. He is the one who will build a house for my Name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever.
II. Waiting on God is NEVER EASY.
III. Waiting on God is ALWAYS WORTH IT.
Galatians 4:4 But when the set time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law...
Sunday, November 15, 2015
Changed
Matthew 11:28-30
2 Corinthians 5:17
Romans 12:1-2
Focus: It is possible to be CHANGED, to live an eternal kind of life!
I. It is possible to LIVE an "eternal kind of LIFE."
II. This KIND of life requires a DECISION.
III. This DECISION causes us to be CHANGED.
IV. What if l'm BROKEN or seem to be STUCK?
Sunday, November 1, 2015
The Two Sides of Love
Focus: Love has two sides, a tender side and a tough side.
I. Can God's WRATH and LOVE be integrated?
II. Nobody wants AN UNHOLY GOD.
III. HELL is a necessary extension of LOVE.
Sunday, October 18, 2015
What God Wants
Matthew 20:1-16; 2 Peter 3:9; 1 John 4:10-12
Focus: The most important thing about you is WHAT YOU THINK ABOUT GOD.
I. Jesus Streamed God's GENEROSITY.
II. God wants YOU to KNOW and LOVE HIM.
We love Him because He first loved us.
III. Bedrock Streaming: God LOVES you FIRST.
Sunday, October 11, 2015
God is Good and Beautiful
Apprentice of Jesus - Mark 14:36; Matthew 6:9-13
Focus: We can trust God because His goodness is better than we thought!
Have you ever been through a situation that made you doubt God's goodness?
I. Jesus streamed thoughts of ABBA.
Matthew 6:9-13 (Lord's Prayer)
II. What is your CUP?
III. Make PRAISE sa HABIT.
Sunday, September 27, 2015
Don't Do Life Alone
Focus: The life of a follower of Jesus is not meant to be lived alone.
I. Community CARRIES us
II. Community CHALLENGES us
Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.
III. Community MOVES us
Hebrews 10:19-25 - A Call to Persevere in Faith
19 Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, 20 by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, 21 and since we have a great priest over the house of God, 22 let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. 23 Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. 24 And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, 25 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.
Sunday, September 13, 2015
Every Member is a Minister
The Focus: Every Member is a Minister.
I. Every Christ-Follower is...
A. MADE For This
B. SAVED For This
C. CALLED For This
D. GIFTED For This
E. AUTHORIZED For This
F. PREPARED For This
G. NEEDED For This
II. What can I do?
A. Discover your GIFTS
B. Explore your OPPORTUNITIES
Sunday, August 30, 2015
Influencing
Focus: The church does not exist for us. We are the church and we exist for the world.
Matthew 25:31-40
I. Membership (World Style) is YOU - Focused
II. But membership in Jesus is focused on the YOU beside YOU.
Your devotion to God is illustrated, demonstrated, and authenticated by your love for others.
What does love require? Do the most loving things.
It is not complicated but it is demanding.
Sunday, August 23, 2015
Praying
1 Thessalonians 5:25, 1 Timothy 3:1-7, Luke 4:13, 2 Timothy 4:7, Hebrews12:-3, Acts 19:13-16
Focus: I will pray for my church leaders.
Question: Why should I Pray for our leaders.
-
It is GOD'S WILL that you do.
- All CHURCH LEADERS need Prayer
- Because of the DEVIL'S TRAPS
- Leaders experience MORE ...
- Few leaders FINISH WELL
ACTION STEP
Sunday, August 16, 2015
Sacrificing
Focus: Church membership is not about finding a church that matches all my personal preferences, but about being connected and equipped to make a difference for others.
Mark 9:33-35, 10:35-45
Question: What changes ME FIRST people into something else?
1: Jesus' WORDS
2: Jesus' EXAMPLE
3: Jesus' SACRIFICE
4: Jesus' LIFE INSIDE
Sunday, August 9, 2015
Unifying
Ephesians 4:1-16
Focus: Unity in the Church requires intentional effort.
1. We are URGED to live a LIFE worthy of our CALLING.
2. We are to be HUMBLE and GENTLE as we BEAR with one another in LOVE.
3. We are to make EVERY EFFORT for UNITY through PEACE.
4. We do this because it REFLECTS the very NATURE of GOD.
John 17:20-23
5. We do this so that the WORLD will KNOW who JESUS is.
6. And our NUMBER is ONE!
Sunday, August 2, 2015
I Am a Church Member - Functional
1 Cor 12:12-31
Focus: Why you might want to be a functional church member.
I. Membership is more than a METAPHOR.
II. I am a SIGNIFICANT member of the body.
III. I am a FUNCTIONAL member of the body.
IV. I am an IMPORTANT member of the body.
V. We are a COORDINATED TEAM.
Sunday, May 24, 2015
Not A Fan: Tough and Tender
Texts
- Matthew 23:27 "Woe to you, experts in the law31 and you Pharisees, hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs that look beautiful on the outside but inside are full of the bones of the dead and of everything unclean.
- John 8:1-11 But Jesus went to the Mount of Olives.2 [2] Early in the morning he came to the temple courts again. All the people came to him, and he sat down and began to teach3 them. [3] The experts in the law4 and the Pharisees5 brought a woman who had been caught committing adultery. They made her stand in front of them [4] and said to Jesus,6 "Teacher, this woman was caught in the very act of adultery. [5] In the law Moses commanded us to stone to death7 such women.8 What then do you say?" [6] (Now they were asking this in an attempt to trap him, so that they could bring charges against9 him.)10 Jesus bent down and wrote on the ground with his finger.11 [7] When they persisted in asking him, he stood up straight12 and replied,13 "Whoever among you is guiltless14 may be the first to throw a stone at her." [8] Then15 he bent over again and wrote on the ground. [9] Now when they heard this, they began to drift away one at a time, starting with the older ones,16 until Jesus was left alone with the woman standing before him. [10] Jesus stood up straight17 and said to her, "Woman,18 where are they? Did no one condemn you?" [11] She replied, "No one, Lord." And Jesus said, "I do not condemn you either. Go, and from now on do not sin any more."]]19
John 15:1-11 The Vine and the Branches [15:1] "I am the true vine1 and my Father is the gardener.2 [2] He takes away3 every branch that does not bear4 fruit in me. He5 prunes6 every branch that bears7 fruit so that it will bear more fruit. [3] You are clean already8 because of the word that I have spoken to you. [4] Remain9 in me, and I will remain in you.10 Just as the branch cannot bear fruit by itself,11 unless it remains12 in13 the vine, so neither can you unless you remain14 in me. [5] "I am the vine; you are the branches. The one who remains15 in me – and I in him – bears16 much fruit,17 because apart from me you can accomplish18 nothing. [6] If anyone does not remain19 in me, he is thrown out like a branch, and dries up; and such branches are gathered up and thrown into the fire,20 and are burned up.21 [7] If you remain22 in me and my words remain23 in you, ask whatever you want, and it will be done for you.24 [8] My Father is honored25 by this, that26 you bear27 much fruit and show that you are28 my disciples. [9] "Just as the Father has loved me, I have also loved you; remain29 in my love. [10] If you obey30 my commandments, you will remain31 in my love, just as I have obeyed32 my Father's commandments and remain33 in his love. [11] I have told you these things34 so that my joy may be in you, and your joy may be complete.
Focus: The call to follow is tough and tender.
I. Don't be an ACCIDENTAL PHARISEE
A. STOMPING ROTTEN FRUIT Makes a Mess.B. SNIPPING BAD FRUIT is fruitless.
II. Connect ROOT to FRUIT in a living joint venture.
Sunday, May 17, 2015
Not A Fan- Comfortable Cross
Focus: Are you a comfortable fan or an uncomfortable follower.
I. We were not asked to take up the symbol.
II. Fans and followers like the cross as comfort.
III. Only followers trade their comforts for the cause.
Luke 9:23New International Version (NIV)
23 Then he said to them all: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me.
Sunday, May 10, 2015
Not A Fan: What Must I Do?
Focus: Seek intimacy with God.
I. Which MAP are you FOLLOWING? Religion or Relationships
II. God KNOWS you.
III. God WANTS you to KNOW and DESIRE Him.
IV. Fans HOLD BACK, Followers SEEK INTIMACY.
Luke 9:23New International Version (NIV)
23 Then he said to them all: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me.
Luke 7 New International Version (NIV)
The Faith of the Centurion
7 When Jesus had finished saying all this to the people who were listening, he entered Capernaum. 2 There a centurion’s servant, whom his master valued highly, was sick and about to die. 3 The centurion heard of Jesus and sent some elders of the Jews to him, asking him to come and heal his servant. 4 When they came to Jesus, they pleaded earnestly with him, “This man deserves to have you do this, 5 because he loves our nation and has built our synagogue.” 6 So Jesus went with them.
He was not far from the house when the centurion sent friends to say to him: “Lord, don’t trouble yourself, for I do not deserve to have you come under my roof. 7 That is why I did not even consider myself worthy to come to you. But say the word, and my servant will be healed. 8 For I myself am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. I tell this one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and that one, ‘Come,’ and he comes. I say to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.”
9 When Jesus heard this, he was amazed at him, and turning to the crowd following him, he said, “I tell you, I have not found such great faith even in Israel.” 10 Then the men who had been sent returned to the house and found the servant well.
Jesus Raises a Widow’s Son
11 Soon afterward, Jesus went to a town called Nain, and his disciples and a large crowd went along with him. 12 As he approached the town gate, a dead person was being carried out—the only son of his mother, and she was a widow. And a large crowd from the town was with her. 13 When the Lord saw her, his heart went out to her and he said, “Don’t cry.”
14 Then he went up and touched the bier they were carrying him on, and the bearers stood still. He said, “Young man, I say to you, get up!” 15 The dead man sat up and began to talk, and Jesus gave him back to his mother.
16 They were all filled with awe and praised God. “A great prophet has appeared among us,” they said. “God has come to help his people.” 17 This news about Jesus spread throughout Judea and the surrounding country.
Jesus and John the Baptist
18 John’s disciples told him about all these things. Calling two of them, 19 he sent them to the Lord to ask, “Are you the one who is to come, or should we expect someone else?”
20 When the men came to Jesus, they said, “John the Baptist sent us to you to ask, ‘Are you the one who is to come, or should we expect someone else?’”
21 At that very time Jesus cured many who had diseases, sicknesses and evil spirits, and gave sight to many who were blind. 22 So he replied to the messengers, “Go back and report to John what you have seen and heard: The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy[a]are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is proclaimed to the poor.23 Blessed is anyone who does not stumble on account of me.”
24 After John’s messengers left, Jesus began to speak to the crowd about John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed swayed by the wind? 25 If not, what did you go out to see? A man dressed in fine clothes? No, those who wear expensive clothes and indulge in luxury are in palaces. 26 But what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet.27 This is the one about whom it is written:
“‘I will send my messenger ahead of you,
who will prepare your way before you.’[b]
28 I tell you, among those born of women there is no one greater than John; yet the one who is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he.”
29 (All the people, even the tax collectors, when they heard Jesus’ words, acknowledged that God’s way was right, because they had been baptized by John. 30 But the Pharisees and the experts in the law rejected God’s purpose for themselves, because they had not been baptized by John.)
31 Jesus went on to say, “To what, then, can I compare the people of this generation? What are they like? 32 They are like children sitting in the marketplace and calling out to each other:
“‘We played the pipe for you,
and you did not dance;
we sang a dirge,
and you did not cry.’
33 For John the Baptist came neither eating bread nor drinking wine, and you say, ‘He has a demon.’ 34 The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and you say, ‘Here is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners.’ 35 But wisdom is proved right by all her children.”
Jesus Anointed by a Sinful Woman
36 When one of the Pharisees invited Jesus to have dinner with him, he went to the Pharisee’s house and reclined at the table. 37 A woman in that town who lived a sinful life learned that Jesus was eating at the Pharisee’s house, so she came there with an alabaster jar of perfume. 38 As she stood behind him at his feet weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears. Then she wiped them with her hair, kissed them and poured perfume on them.
39 When the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet,he would know who is touching him and what kind of woman she is—that she is a sinner.”
40 Jesus answered him, “Simon, I have something to tell you.”
“Tell me, teacher,” he said.
41 “Two people owed money to a certain moneylender. One owed him five hundred denarii,[c] and the other fifty. 42 Neither of them had the money to pay him back, so he forgave the debts of both. Now which of them will love him more?”
43 Simon replied, “I suppose the one who had the bigger debt forgiven.”
“You have judged correctly,” Jesus said.
44 Then he turned toward the woman and said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I came into your house. You did not give me any water for my feet, but she wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. 45 You did not give me a kiss, but this woman, from the time I entered, has not stopped kissing my feet. 46 You did not put oil on my head, but she has poured perfume on my feet. 47 Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven—as her great love has shown. But whoever has been forgiven little loves little.”
48 Then Jesus said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.”
49 The other guests began to say among themselves, “Who is this who even forgives sins?”
50 Jesus said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”
Genesis 4:1New International Version (NIV)
Cain and Abel
4 Adam[a] made love to his wife Eve, and she became pregnant and gave birth to Cain.[b] She said, “With the help of the Lord I have brought forth[c] a man.”
Sunday, May 3, 2015
Not a Fan: Follow Me
Not a Fan - Completely Committed to Christ
Focus: who can follow Jesus?
I. Anyone is WELCOME
II. Anyone means EVERYONE
III. No qualifications means NO EXCUSES
IV. It's anyone, but it's EVERYTHING
Luke 9:23-26New International Version (NIV)
23 Then he said to them all: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me. 24 For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will save it. 25 What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit their very self? 26 Whoever is ashamed of me and my words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of them when he comes in his glory and in the glory of the Father and of the holy angels.
Matthew 4:18-22New International Version (NIV)
Jesus Calls His First Disciples
18 As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon called Peter and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. 19 “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.” 20 At once they left their nets and followed him.
21 Going on from there, he saw two other brothers, James son of Zebedee and his brother John. They were in a boat with their father Zebedee, preparing their nets. Jesus called them, 22 and immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him.
Luke 5:27-32New International Version (NIV)
Jesus Calls Levi and Eats With Sinners
27 After this, Jesus went out and saw a tax collector by the name of Levi sitting at his tax booth. “Follow me,” Jesus said to him, 28 and Levi got up, left everything and followed him.
29 Then Levi held a great banquet for Jesus at his house, and a large crowd of tax collectors and others were eating with them. 30 But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law who belonged to their sect complained to his disciples, “Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?”
31 Jesus answered them, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. 32 I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.”
Sunday, April 26, 2015
Not a Fan: Completely Committed Follower
Focus: Jesus doesn't want fans, but completely, committed, followers.
DTR - Define the Relationship
I. Why are you here?
II. Are you All In?
III. Have you made it your own?
Luke 9:23New International Version (NIV)
23 Then he said to them all: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me.
John 6 New International Version (NIV) Jesus Feeds the Five Thousand
6 Some time after this, Jesus crossed to the far shore of the Sea of Galilee (that is, the Sea of Tiberias), 2 and a great crowd of people followed him because they saw the signs he had performed by healing the sick. 3 Then Jesus went up on a mountainside and sat down with his disciples. 4 The Jewish Passover Festival was near.
5 When Jesus looked up and saw a great crowd coming toward him, he said to Philip, “Where shall we buy bread for these people to eat?” 6 He asked this only to test him, for he already had in mind what he was going to do.
7 Philip answered him, “It would take more than half a year’s wages[a] to buy enough bread for each one to have a bite!”
8 Another of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, spoke up, 9 “Here is a boy with five small barley loaves and two small fish, but how far will they go among so many?”
10 Jesus said, “Have the people sit down.” There was plenty of grass in that place, and they sat down (about five thousand men were there). 11 Jesus then took the loaves, gave thanks, and distributed to those who were seated as much as they wanted. He did the same with the fish.
12 When they had all had enough to eat, he said to his disciples, “Gather the pieces that are left over. Let nothing be wasted.” 13 So they gathered them and filled twelve baskets with the pieces of the five barley loaves left over by those who had eaten.
14 After the people saw the sign Jesus performed, they began to say, “Surely this is the Prophet who is to come into the world.” 15 Jesus, knowing that they intended to come and make him kingby force, withdrew again to a mountain by himself.
Jesus Walks on the Water
16 When evening came, his disciples went down to the lake, 17 where they got into a boat and set off across the lake for Capernaum. By now it was dark, and Jesus had not yet joined them. 18 A strong wind was blowing and the waters grew rough. 19 When they had rowed about three or four miles,[b] they saw Jesus approaching the boat, walking on the water; and they were frightened.20 But he said to them, “It is I; don’t be afraid.” 21 Then they were willing to take him into the boat, and immediately the boat reached the shore where they were heading.
22 The next day the crowd that had stayed on the opposite shore of the lake realized that only one boat had been there, and that Jesus had not entered it with his disciples, but that they had gone away alone. 23 Then some boats from Tiberias landed near the place where the people had eaten the bread after the Lord had given thanks. 24 Once the crowd realized that neither Jesus nor his disciples were there, they got into the boats and went to Capernaum in search of Jesus.
Jesus the Bread of Life
25 When they found him on the other side of the lake, they asked him, “Rabbi, when did you get here?”
26 Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, you are looking for me, not because you saw the signs I performed but because you ate the loaves and had your fill. 27 Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. For on him God the Father has placed his seal of approval.”
28 Then they asked him, “What must we do to do the works God requires?”
29 Jesus answered, “The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent.”
30 So they asked him, “What sign then will you give that we may see it and believe you? What will you do? 31 Our ancestors ate the manna in the wilderness; as it is written: ‘He gave them bread from heaven to eat.’[c]”
32 Jesus said to them, “Very truly I tell you, it is not Moses who has given you the bread from heaven, but it is my Father who gives you the true bread from heaven. 33 For the bread of God is the bread that comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.”
34 “Sir,” they said, “always give us this bread.”
35 Then Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty. 36 But as I told you, you have seen me and still you do not believe. 37 All those the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never drive away. 38 For I have come down from heaven not to do my will but to do the will of him who sent me. 39 And this is the will of him who sent me, that I shall lose none of all those he has given me, but raise them up at the last day. 40 For my Father’s will is that everyone who looks to the Sonand believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day.”
41 At this the Jews there began to grumble about him because he said, “I am the bread that came down from heaven.” 42 They said, “Is this not Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? How can he now say, ‘I came down from heaven’?”
43 “Stop grumbling among yourselves,” Jesus answered. 44 “No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws them, and I will raise them up at the last day. 45 It is written in the Prophets: ‘They will all be taught by God.’[d] Everyone who has heard the Father and learned from him comes to me. 46 No one has seen the Father except the one who is from God; only he has seen the Father. 47 Very truly I tell you, the one who believes has eternal life. 48 I am the bread of life. 49 Your ancestors ate the manna in the wilderness, yet they died. 50 But here is the bread that comes down from heaven, which anyone may eat and not die. 51 I am the living bread that came down from heaven. Whoever eats this bread will live forever. This bread is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.”
52 Then the Jews began to argue sharply among themselves, “How can this man give us his flesh to eat?”
53 Jesus said to them, “Very truly I tell you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. 54 Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day. 55 For my flesh is real food and my blood is real drink. 56 Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me, and I in them. 57 Just as the living Father sent me and I live because of the Father, so the one who feeds on me will live because of me. 58 This is the bread that came down from heaven. Your ancestors ate manna and died, but whoever feeds on this bread will live forever.” 59 He said this while teaching in the synagogue in Capernaum.
Many Disciples Desert Jesus
60 On hearing it, many of his disciples said, “This is a hard teaching. Who can accept it?”
61 Aware that his disciples were grumbling about this, Jesus said to them, “Does this offend you?62 Then what if you see the Son of Man ascend to where he was before! 63 The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing. The words I have spoken to you—they are full of the Spirit[e] and life. 64 Yet there are some of you who do not believe.” For Jesus had known from the beginning which of them did not believe and who would betray him. 65 He went on to say, “This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless the Father has enabled them.”
66 From this time many of his disciples turned back and no longer followed him.
67 “You do not want to leave too, do you?” Jesus asked the Twelve.
68 Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.69 We have come to believe and to know that you are the Holy One of God.”
70 Then Jesus replied, “Have I not chosen you, the Twelve? Yet one of you is a devil!” 71 (He meant Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot, who, though one of the Twelve, was later to betray him.)
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