January 24 2016 Stepping Into Commitment

Stepping Into Commitment

Matthew 9:35 - 10:5

Review

Sermon #1 - Winning Through Encouragement

It is important that the people believe in their leader, but it is more important that their leader believes in the people.

Sermon #2 - Jesus Looks For Disciples

People look at people and see them as:

1. What we once were

2. What we are now

God looks at people and sees them as:

1. Where we are

2. What we can be

The Place Of Commitment

1. It's the place where the heaviest battles are fought

2. It's the place where the winners are divided from the whiners

3. It's the place where God reveals Himself

The Process Of Commitment (Matthew 9:35 - 10:5)

1. Jesus gave the Disciples a challenge
(verse 37 - The He said to His Disciples, the harvest is plentiful but the workers are few.

"A congregation is either a field to work in or a force to work with."

2. Jesus gave the Disciples change
(verse 38 - Ask the Lord to send out workers into the harvest field.)

Twofold

1.  In prayer
2. Power for ministry

3. Jesus gave the Disciples a chance to get involved
(Matthew 10:2-5)

Which attitude is mine? 

• I'll do what I want, I don't care what God wants me to do.
• If God will give me what I want first, then I'll give Him what He wants.
• I'll give God what He wants first with faith so that He'll give me what I want.
• I'll give God what He wants regardless of what He gives me.

January 10 2016 Jesus Looks For Disciples

JESUS LOOKS FOR DISCIPLES

Matthew 4:18-22

The choice of Jesus. (V.18)

• He saw two brothers.

Three reasons why you are important to God:

1. Because of who we are.
2. Because of what we cost.
3. Because of what we can become.

Man surveys the crowd and values it by:

• We look at each other with the eyes of what they were.
• We see people for what they are today.
• The call of Jesus (V. 19)
  "Come follow me and I will make you fishers of men."

The significance of a call depends upon:

• It has to do with who calls.
• It has to do with what they say.
• Where I am at in my own life.
  Our life, once stretched, never regains its original dimension.

The challenge of Jesus (V. 19)
"I will make you..."

What made the challenge irresistible?

• Jesus took responsibility for their success.
• Jesus gave them hope.
• Jesus gave them vision.

The concerns of Jesus.

• Relationships.
• Growth.
• Fruitfulness.
• Obedience.
  (V. 20) Immediately they left their nets and followed Him.

LOOK THEM OVER
“Lord, as you “Look Me Over,” it’s unbelievable that you would choose me to help build your Kingdom.  I accept the challenge to follow you into the exciting journey of ministry.  I admit that I’m a little fearful and have areas in my life that you must change before you can use me.  Nevertheless, today I make myself available to you.”
Love, _____________________________________

Areas of my life that need to be changed:

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.” 

November 6 2011 Love As A Lifestyle

Love As A Lifestyle

Gal. 5:22 – The Fruit of the Spirit is Love.
Without love, nothing else matters. (I Cor. 13:1-2)
Love shows we really know God. (I John 4:7-21)
To love is our #1 responsibility. (Matthew 22:36-40)
I Cor. 13:5 -Love is not rude, love does not demand it’s own way, love is not irritable and love keeps no record of when it has be wronged. 

I. How to develop a loving lifestyle or mindset.

1. Accept others unconditionally.
Romans 15:7 – Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God.
Romans 12:18 – If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.

2. Commit yourself personally.
Romans 12:10 – Be devoted to one another in brotherly love.
Romans 12:5 – In Christ, we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. 

3. Encourage others continually.
I Thess. 5:11 – Therefore, encourage one another and build each other up just as in fact, you are doing.
I Cor. 13:7 – If you love someone, you always believe in him and always expect the best of him.

4. Serve people cheerfully.
I Peter 4:10 – Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others faithfully administering God's grace in its various forms.
Romans 12:13 – Share with God's people who are in need. Practice hospitality.

5. Forgive others freely.
Col 3:13 – Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.

6. Decide to expand the Kingdom.
Matthew 28:19 - Go and make disciples of all nations.
II Cor. 5:14 - For Christ’s love compels us.

II. The practical application for dealing with draining people.

1. Difficult people: I must be tactful, not just truthful.
I Cor. 13:5 - Love is not rude.
Prov. 16:21 A wise mature person is known for his understanding. The more pleasant his words the more persuasive he is.

2. Demanding people: I must be understand and not be demanding.
I Cor. 13:5 -Love does not demand it’s own way.
Titus 3:2 -Believers shouldn’t curse anyone or be quarrelsome, but they should be gentle and show courtesy to everyone.

3. Disappointing people: I must be gentle not judgmental.
I Cor. 13:5 -Love is not irritable.
Prov. 15:4 - Gentle words bring life and health.

4. Destructive people: Don’t repeat it, just delete it.
I Cor. 13:5 - And love keeps no record of when it has been wronged.
Prov. 19:11 - When someone wrongs you it is a great virtue to ignore it.

CONCLUSION: Eph. 3:17-18 – I pray that Christ will be more at home in your heart, living within you as you trust Him. May your roots go deep into the soil of God's Marvelous love, and may you be able to feel and understand how long, wide, deep and high His love really is, and experience this love for yourselves.

November 7 2010 Focusing On The Harvest

Focusing On The Harvest

Matthew 9:35-38 - Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness. 

Matthew 9:36 When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, "The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field."

How To Focus On The Harvest

1. Have a proper vision

Verse 36 - When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.

• Jesus had a vision for outsiders

2 Peter 2:8 - for that righteous man, living among them day after day, was tormented in his righteous soul by the lawless deeds he saw and heard

Acts 17:16 - While Paul was waiting for them in Athens, he was greatly distressed to see that the city was full of idols.

2. Have an understanding of the coming verdict

Verse 37 - Then he said to his disciples, "The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few.

Joel 3:13-14 - Swing the sickle, for the harvest is ripe. Come, trample the grapes, for the winepress is full and the vats overflow— so great is their wickedness!" 

Joel 3:14 Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision! For the day of the LORD is near in the valley of decision.

Matthew 13:30 - Let both grow together until the harvest. At that time I will tell the harvesters: First collect the weeds and tie them in bundles to be burned; then gather the wheat and bring it into my barn.

2 Corinthians 5:11 - Since, then, we know what it is to fear the Lord, we try to persuade men. What we are is plain to God, and I hope it is also plain to your conscience.

3. We need a correct view of the workers

Verse 37 - Then he said to his disciples, "The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few.

• Few consecrated to the work
• Few that are faithful

We Must Focus On The Harvest