April 9 2017 How Can We Partner To Share The Good News With Others

How Can We Partner To Share The Good News With Others

Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 NLT: Two people are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed. If one person falls, the other can reach out and help. But someone who falls alone is in real trouble.... A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer. Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken.

Memory Verse: Ph. 1:27b (LB)“... you are standing together side by side with one strong purpose – to tell the Good News.”

Ph. 1:5 (NLT)“You’ve been my partners in spreading the Good News about Christ.”

HOW CAN WE “PARTNER” TO SHARE THE GOOD NEWS WITH OTHERS?

Pray Together

Col. 4:3 (NCV)“Pray for us that God will give us an opportunity to tell people His message.”

-Make a prayer list.

Appeal to a common interests

1 Cor. 9:22-23 (LB) “Whatever a person is like, I try to find common ground with him so that he will let me tell him about Christ and let Christ save him. I do this to get the Gospel to them and also for the blessing I myself receive when I see them come to Christ.”

-Discover the common interests in your group.

Reach out in love

1 Th. 2:8 (NCV) “Because we loved you, we were happy to share not only God's Good News with you, but even our own lives.”

1 Cor. 5:12 (NCV) “It is not my business to judge those who are not part of the church.”

2 Cor. 5:14 (LB) “Whatever we do, it is certainly not for our own profit but because Christ's love controls us now.”

-Ask God to give you a deeper love for others.

Tell your stories

1 Peter 2:9 (Mes) “You are... God's instruments to do His work and speak out for Him, to tell others of the night-and-day difference He made for you.”

Ps. 66:16 (NCV) “Listen, and I’ll tell you what God has done for me.”

-Write out your story & share it with your group

Nurture friendships

Rom. 12:16 (CEV)“Be friendly with everyone. Don't be proud and feel that you are smarter than others.

-Make friends with ordinary people.”

Luke 5:29 (CEV) “In his home Levi (Matthew) gave a big dinner party for Jesus. Many fellow tax collectors and other guests were also there.”

2 Tim. 1:7 (LB) “The Holy Spirit does not want you to be afraid of people, but to be wise and strong, and to love them and enjoy being with them.”

-Bring a friend to church. Plan a party

Expect God to Act

Heb. 11:1 (NIV) “Faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.”

Luke 5:20 (NIV) “When Jesus saw their faith, He said, ‘Friend, your sins are forgiven.’”

-Never give up on anyone.

Represent Christ with your life.

Col. 3:17 (NLT) “Whatever you do or say, let it be as a representative of the Lord Jesus.”

1 Thes. 4:11-12a (NCV) “Do all you can to live a peaceful life. Take care of your own business, and do your own work. If you do, people who are not believers will respect you.”

March 26 2017 Faith And The Deeper Life

FAITH AND THE DEEPER LIFE

Mark 11:11-25

Verse 22 - Have Faith in God.

1. Life in the deeper life involves character.

Verse 11 - He looked around at everything.

Verse 15 - Jesus entered the Temple area and began driving out those who were buying and selling.

I Peter 2:5 - You also, like living stones, are being built into a Spiritual house.

2. Life in the deeper life shows concern.

Verse 13-14 - Seeing in the distance a fig tree in leaf, he went to find out if it had fruit. When he reached it, however, he found nothing but leaves because it was not the season for figs. Then he said to the tree, may no one ever eat fruit from you again.

Verse 15 - Jesus began driving out those who were buying and selling there.

Jude 1:12 - They are clouds without rain.

I Thess. 2:8 - We loved you so much that we were delighted to share with you not only the Gospel of God, but our lives as well.

3. Life in the deeper life eliminates confusion.

Verse 22 - Therefore I tell you whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you will receive it and it will be yours.

Verse 26 - And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive him so that your Father in heaven my forgive you your sins.

4. Life in the deeper life includes accountability.

Verse 13 - Seeing the fig tree in the distance, he went to find out if it had any fruit.

The Psalmist said: Where can I go from His presence?

August 14 2016 Prevailing To The Coming Of Christ

PREVAILING TO THE COMING OF CHRIST

1 Thessalonians

Timothy’s Report
• They were loyal in the persecution.
• They were Doctrinally pure.
• They were concerned.

Five views of Christ’s Second Coming

1. The view of the new Christian.

Chapter 1

Three things about the Church from verse 3

• Their work produced by faith.
• Their labor prompted by love.
• Their enduring hope in the Lord Jesus Christ.

Three things they did in light of His coming

Verse 9 They turned to God from idols.

Question:
• Does the coming of Christ’s second coming change your lifestyle?
• If He were to come today would it change your lifestyle at this very moment?

Verse 9 Began to serve the living God.

Question:
• Does the coming of Christ motivate us to begin to find a Ministry that we can do for Him?
• If Jesus were to come today, would He find us doing something profitable for His Kingdom?

Verse 10 They are to wait for God’s Son.

Question:
• Are we at peace with ourselves in the midst of the storm that is around us?
• Are we holding steady?

2. The view of the worker in the Church.
Chapter 2

Verse 20 – Indeed you are our glory and joy.

Question:
When Jesus comes back, am I going to have any crowns?

3. The view of the Brother.

Chapter 3

Verse 12 – May the Lord make your love increase and overflow for each other and for everyone else, just as it does for you.

Two aspects of love

• We are to increase in love.
• We are to overflow in love to others.

1 John 4:20 – If anyone says, I love God, yet hates his brother, he is a liar.

Question:
• Are your relationships all cleared up?

4. The view of the one who is suffering.

Chapter 4

Verse 14 – We believe Jesus died and rose again and so believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in Him.

5. How the Christian is to conduct himself.

Chapter 5

Verse 1 Exact time not important.

Verse 2 Coming will be a surprise.

Verse 3 No escape from the event.
   
Verse 4 & 5 Don’t be surprised.

Verse 6-8 Be alert, sober, prepared.

Verse 9 Be our final salvation.

Verse 10 No Christian left behind.

Verse 11 Encourage one another.

Verse 12 & 13 Respect the Spiritual leaders.

Verse 14 Meet the needs of the body.

Final Instruction

November 15 2015 The Prayer Of Fulfillment

THE PRAYER OF FULFILLMENT

Matthew 6:13 – For thine is the Kingdom and the power, and the glory forever.

God’s Kingdom is His plan.

God’s Power is His program.

God’s Glory is His purpose.

Romans 11:36 – Everything comes from God alone.  Everything lives by His power, and everything is for His glory.

REAL FULFILLMENT COMES THROUGH

1. Living in God’s Kingdom.

1 Thessalonians 2:1 - You should live in a way that proves you belong to the God who calls you into His Kingdom and glory.

Matthew 6:33 – God will give you all you need from day to day if you live for Him and make the Kingdom of God your primary concern.

First in your finances.
Interest
Relationships
Schedule
Troubles

2. Live by God’s power.

1 Corinthians 4:20 – For the Kingdom of God is not just fancy talk; it is living by God’s power.

Ephesians 3:20 – By His mighty power at work within us, He is able to accomplish infinitely more than we would ever dare to ask or hope.

BY praying.

BY taking a risk.

BY not giving up.

3. Live for God’s glory.

Romans 6:10-11 – Jesus died to defeat sin and now He lives for the glory of God.  So you should consider yourselves dead to sin and able to live for the glory of God through Christ Jesus.

HOW:

• Show love to everybody.

Romans 15:7 – Warmly welcome each other into the Church, just as Christ has warmly welcome you; then God will be glorified. 

• Use your abilities to serve everybody.

1 Peter 4:10-11 – God has given each of you some special abilities; be sure to use them to help each other so that God will be glorified.

• Share the good news about Jesus with everyone.

2 Corinthians 4:15 – As God’s grace brings more and more people to Christ.  God will receive more and more glory!

• You should join the Church.

Ephesians 3:21 – To God be the glory in the Church and in Christ Jesus for all time, forever and ever! Amen

May 24 & 31 2015 Defending My Faith At Work

Defending My Faith at Work

"The harvest is so great, but the workers are so few. pray to the Lord who is in charge of the harvest; ask him to send out more workers for his fields." – Matthew 9:37-38

"You are the salt of the earth. But what good is salt if it has lost its flavor? Can you make it useful again? It will be thrown out and trampled underfoot as worthless. are the light of the world – like a city on a mountain, glowing in the night for all to see. 't hide your light under a basket! Instead, put it on a stand and let it shine for all. the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.” – Matthew 5:13-16

Defending my faith at work means...

1. BEING open about my faith.

“If a person is ashamed of me and my message, I, the Son of Man, will be ashamed of that person...” – Luke 9:26a

2. BEING Christlike in my actions.

• integrity

“In all the work you are doing, work the best you can. Work as if you were doing it for the Lord, not for people.” – Colossians 3:23

• love

“All people will know that you are my followers if you love each other.” – John 13:35

3. BEING  prepared to share.

Memory Verse: “Honor Christ and let him be the Lord of your life. Always be ready to give an answer when someone asks you about your hope. But you must do this in a gentle and respectful way.” – 1 Peter 3:15-16

• My story 
• How to become a believer
• An invitation to church.

4. BEING ready for divine moments.

“Live wisely among those who are not Christians, and make the most of every opportunity.” – Colossians 4:5

“Because we loved you, we were happy to share not only God's Good News with you, but even our own lives. You had become so dear to us!”– 1 Thessalonians. 2:8