March 19 2017 Creating A Spiritual Legacy

Creating A Spiritual Legacy

Memory Verse: Matthew 25:21 (NIV)"Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness!"

Mark 10:45 (NIV) Jesus, "I did not come to be served, but to SERVE, and to GIVE my life as a ransom for many."

THE TWO WAYS TO CREATE A LEGACY

1. By living a life of service.

Eph. 2:10 (NCV)"God has made us what we are. In Christ Jesus, God made us to do good works, which God planned in advance for its to live our lives doing."

Rom. 6:13b (LB)"Give yourselves completely to God - every part of you you want to be tools in the hands of God, to be used for his good purposes."

Acts 20:24 (NLT)"My life is worth nothing unless I use it for doing the work assigned me by the Lord Jesus--the work of telling others the Good News about Gods wonderful kindness and love."

Mark 8:35 (LB)"Only those who give away their lives for my sake and for the sake of the Good News will ever know what it means to really live."

Matthew 10:42 (NLT) And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones who is my disciple, truly I tell you, that person will certainly not lose their reward.

2. By living a life of generosity.

Deut. 15:10 (MSG) Give freely and spontaneously. Don't have a stingy heart. The way you handle matters like this triggers God's blessing in eveiything you do, in all your work and ventures."

SIX KEY STATEMENTS

2 Corinthians 9:6-12

1. I NEED TO SEE MY GIVING AS AN INVESTMENT, NOT AN EXPENSE.

Verse 6 "Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously."

2. NEVER GIVE OUT OF PRESSURE OR GUILT.

Verse 7 "Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver."

3. I EXPECT GOD TO MEET ALL MY NEEDS

Verse 8 "And God is able to make ALL grace abound to you, so that in ALL things at ALL times, having ALL that you need, you will abound in EVERY good work

4.  I EXPECT GOD TO MULTIPLY THE SEED.

Verse 10 "He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness.

5. I EXPECT TO BE ABLE TO GIVE MORE THAN I THOUGHT.

Verse 11 "You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in THANKSGIVING to God!

6. LIVE WITH AN ATTITUDE OF GRATITUDE.

Verse 12 Cor. 9:6-12 (NIV)"This SERVICE that you perform will not only supply the needs of God's people but also cause the overflowing of many expressions of THANKSGIVING to God"

November 20 2011 The Art Of Gratefulness

The Art Of Gratefulness

Luke 17:11-19 “As Jesus continued on toward Jerusalem, he reached the border between Galilee and Samaria. As he entered a village there, ten lepers stood at a distance, crying out, ‘‘Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!’ He looked at them and said, ‘Go show yourselves to the priests.’ And as they went, their leprosy disappeared. One of them, when he saw that he was healed, came back to Jesus, shouting, ‘Praise God, I'm healed!’ fell face down on the ground at Jesus' feet, thanking him for what he had done. This man was a Samaritan. Jesus asked, ‘Didn't I heal ten men? Where are the other nine? Does only this foreigner return to give glory to God?’ And Jesus said to the man, ‘Stand up and go. Your faith has made you well.’”

Four Truths About Gratefulness From Luke 17

1. It’s easy to forget about God during the good times. (v. 17)

2. God blesses the grateful and the ungrateful alike. (v. 14)

3. It matters to Jesus whether or not I say Thank You. (vv.17-18)

4. Grateful words reflect greater faith. (v. 19)

Four Steps To Developing An Attitude of Gratitude

1. PRAISE God first thing in the morning
(Psalm 59:16 ““But as for me, I will sing about your power. I will shout with joy each morning because of your unfailing love.”) 

2. REMOVE all complaints from my life.

3. SAY thank you to those who bless me
(Luke 17:15-16““One of them, when he saw that he was healed, came back to Jesus, shouting, "Praise God, I'm healed!" fell face down on the ground at Jesus' feet, thanking him for what he had done.”) 

4. ENJOY today as if I were on vacation
(Ecclesiastes 3:22“There is nothing better for people than to be happy in their work. That is why they are here! No one will bring them back from death to enjoy life in the future.”)
(Psalm 100““(A Psalm of Thanksgiving) Shout with joy to the LORD, O earth! Worship the LORD with gladness. Come before him, singing with joy. that the LORD is God! He made us, and we are his. We are his people, the sheep of his pasture. his gates with thanksgiving; go into his courts with praise. Give thanks to him and bless his name. For the LORD is good. His unfailing love continues forever, and his faithfulness continues to each generation.”)