August 23 2015 Helping Others Like Jesus

HELPING OTHERS LIKE JESUS

The Jesus Model – Part 1

Luke 4:18-19 (NKJV) “The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me To preach good news to the poor; He has sent me to heal the brokenhearted, To proclaim freedom for the prisoners, To recover the sight of the blind, To release the oppressed and proclaim the year of the Lord's favor.”

THE FOCUS OF A CHRIST-LIKE MINISTRY

Who Jesus came to help:

“THE POOR” The Have Nots

Types of poverty:

• material poverty
• moral poverty
• spiritual poverty

“THE BROKENHEARTED”The Let Down.

“THE IMPRISONED” the Locked Up.

Types of prisons:

• addictions
• secrets
• ignorance
• fear.

“THE BLIND” the Shut Out.

Types of blindness:

• night blindness
• relational blindness
• spiritual blindness.

“THE OPPRESSED” the Kicked Around

Types:

• political oppression.
• Cultural oppression
• Spiritual oppression

“The year of JUBILEE”

John 13:15 (NLT) “I have given you an example to follow. Now do as I have done to you.”

THE FEATURES OF A CHRISTLIKE MINISTRY

What Jesus came to do

• “Preach good news” 
• “Heal the brokenhearted” 
• “Proclaim freedom”
• “Provide recovery of sight” 
• “Release the oppressed”

1 Corinthians 9:19-23 (NLT) “… I have become a servant of everyone so that I can bring them to Christ… When I am with those who follow Jewish laws, I do the same, even though I am not subject to the law, so that I can bring them to Christ. When I am with Gentiles… I fit in with them as much as I can… so I can bring them to Christ. But I do not discard the law of God; I obey the law of Christ. When I am with those who are oppressed, I share their oppression so that I might bring them to Christ. I try to find common ground with everyone so that I might bring them to Christ. I do all this for the sake of the Good News, and in doing so I enjoy its blessings.” 

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

April 21 2013 How To Manage Conflict With Others

HOW TO MANAGE CONFLICT WITH OTHERS
Philippians 2:1-8

Verse 2 - Make my joy complete by being likeminded, having the same love, being one in Spirit and purpose.

Five Ways To Manage Conflict

I. Defuse competition

Vs. 3 - Do nothing out of selfish ambition.

James 4:1-2 - What causes fights and quarrels? Don’t they come from your desires that battle within you? You want something but you don’t get it.

First Cause Of Conflict: Competing desires

II. Delete conceit

Vs. 3b - Do nothing out of vain conceit

Proverbs 13:10 - Pride only breeds quarrels.

Second Cause Of Conflict: Pride

III. Decrease criticism

Vs. 3c - In humility consider others better than yourselves.

Def. Humility is not thinking less of yourself, but rather not thinking of yourself at all.

James 4:11-12 - Anyone who speaks against his brother or judges him, speaks against the law and judges it. There is only one lawgiver and judge. Who are you to judge your neighbor?

Third Cause of Conflict: Criticism

IV. Demonstrate consideration

Vs. 4 - Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.

1 Peter 3:7 - Husbands in the same way be considerate as you live with your wives so that nothing will hinder your prayers.

Forth Cause Of Conflict: Only paying attention to myself

V. Develop more Christ-likeness

Vs. 5 - Your attitude should be the same as that of Jesus Christ.

Vs. 6 - Jesus did not demand His rights.

Vs. 7 - Jesus was a servant.

Vs. 8 - Jesus sacrificed for the benefit of others.

Fifth Cause Of Conflict: Living without Christ

Ephesians 4:3 - Do your best to preserve the unity which the Spirit gives, by the peace that binds you together.