February 12 2017 Getting A Grip On Respect

GETTING A GRIP ON RESPECT

RESPECT WHO?

Parents (Ex. 20:8-9)

Spouses (Eph. 5:22, I Peter 3:1, 7)

Church Leaders (Heb.13:17)

Anyone in Authority (Rom. 13:1-7)

1 Peter 2:17 – Show proper respect to everyone.

I. WHY TREAT EVERYONE WITH RESPECT?

1. BECAUSE God made everyone.

Ps. 8:5 – You (God) made man inferior only to yourself; you crowned him with glory and honor.

2. BECAUSE Jesus died on the cross for everyone.

1 Pet. 1:18-19 – God paid a ransom to save you. He paid for you with the precious life-blood of Christ.

3. BECAUSE it shows I personally know God.

1 John 4:8 – If a person isn’t loving and kind, it shows that he doesn’t know God, for God is love.

4. BECAUSE I’ll get back what I give out.

Gal. 6:7 – A man’s harvest in life will depend entirely on what he sows.

II. HOW TO SHOW RESPECT TO OTHERS.

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.

1 Thess. 5:11 – Therefore, encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.

1 Cor. 13:7 – If you love someone you always believe in him and always expect the best of him.

4. Serve people cheerfully.

1 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. Demonstrate God’s love.

John 13:35 – By this shall all men know that you are my disciples, that you have love for one another.

2 Cor. 5:14 – For Christ’s love compels us.

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 20 2016 The Kind Of Work God Blesses

THE KIND OF WORK GOD BLESSES

Proverbs 27:29 – When you see people skilled in their work, you know that they will end up standing before Kings, not working for ordinary people.

Proverbs 16:3 – Commit your work to the Lord, and it will succeed.

FIVE WAYS GOD BLESSES OUR WORK

1. Seek God’s direction.

Proverbs 15:8 – The Lord is pleased when good men pray.

Proverbs 16:20 – He who plans a thing will be successful.

Proverbs 13:16 – A wise man thinks ahead, a fool doesn’t and even brags about it.

2. Sharpen our skills.

Ecclesiastes 10:10 – If your axe is dull, and it’s edge unsharpened, more strength is needed, but still will bring success.

Proverbs 15:22 – Get all the advice you can, and you will succeed, without it you will fail.

3. Share the profit.

Proverbs 3:9-10 – Honor the Lord by giving Him the first part of all your income, and He will fill your barns to overflow.

4. Stay with it.

Proverbs 12:24 – Diligence brings a man to power.

Proverbs 21:5 – Steady plodding brings prosperity.

Colossians 3:24 – Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men.  Remember that the Lord will reward you.  For Christ is the real master you serve.

Isaiah 40:31 – Those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength.

5. Always be thankful.

Ephesians 5:20 – Always giving thanks to God the Father for everything in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

September 4 2016 Affair-Proofing Your Marriage

Affair Proofing Your Marriage

Memory Verse: Exodus 20:14 "You shall not commit adultery."

How to Affair Proof Your Marriage

1. MAKE A COMMITMENT TO GOD'S STANDARDS

Psalm 119:9 "How can a (person) keep his way pure? By living according to your Word."

Proverbs 5:15 (GN) "Be faithful to your own wife and give your love to her alone."

2. MAGNIFY THE CONSEQUENCES

Proverbs 6:32 (GN)"The one who commits adultery is an utter fool, for he destroys his own soul."

3. MAINTAIN MY MARRIAGE

1 Corinthians 7:3 (GN)" A man should fulfill his duty as a husband and a woman should fulfill her duty as a wife, and each should satisfy the other's needs."

The top five needs of most men are:

1. Sexual fulfillment
2. Recreational companionship
3. An attractive spouse
4. Domestic support
5. Admiration

The top five needs of most women are:

1. Affection
2. Conversation
3. Honesty and openness
4. Financial support
5. Family commitment

1 Corinthians 7:5 (Ph)"Do not cheat each other of normal sexual intercourse ... or you will expose yourselves to the obvious temptation of Satan."

4. MANAGE MY MIND

How Affairs Develop

1. Accepting sinful thoughts in my mind
2. Emotional, non-physical involvement
3. Physical involvement
4. Rationalizing the affair

James 1:14-15 (LB) "Temptation is the pull of a person's own evil thoughts and wishes. These evil thoughts lead to evil actions and afterwards to death."

2 Timothy 2:22 (Ph)"Turn your back on lustful desires and give your positive attention to goodness, integrity, love, and peace..."

Romans 16:19 "I want you to be wise about what is good and innocent about evil."

5. MAINTAIN PROPER RELATIONSHIPS

Ephesians 5:3 "But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality."

6. MINIMIZE THE OPPORTUNITY

1 Corinthians 10:12 (LB)"So be careful! If you are thinking, `Oh, I would never behave like that - let this be a warning to you. For you too may fall into sin."

1 Corinthians 15:33 "Bad company corrupts good character."

Malachi 2:15 "Guard yourself in your spirit, and do not break faith with your wife."

THE PATHWAY BACK TO PURITY

1. Acknowledge the sin (Psalm 51:1-4)
2. End the relationship immediately
3. Avoid ALL contact with the person from now on. Do whatever it takes to do this!

July 24 2016 Strong Families (Part One)

Ten Values That Build Strong Families - Part 1

"Never forget these commands that I am giving you. Teach these to your children..." Deut. 6:6-7a (GN)

I. THE FOUNDATION FOR A STRONG FAMILY

"You shall have no other gods before me" Ex 20:2

The Principle: PUT GOD FIRST

The Promise: SUCCESS IN LIFE

"In everything you do, put God first, and He will direct you and crown your efforts with success." Prov. 3:6 (LB)

II. HOW DO I PUT GOD FIRST?

Give God priority in 5 areas

F - Finances

"Honor the Lord by giving him the first part of all your income, and he will fill your barns... to

overflow..." Prov 3:9-10 (LB)

"The purpose of tithing is to teach you to put God first in your lives." Deut. 14:23 (LB)

I - Interest

"Whatever you do, do it all for God's glory." I Cor. 10:31 (GN)

"Talk with each other much about the Lord." Eph. 5:19 (LB)

R - Relationships

"...what a man is really like is shown by the kind of friends he chooses." Prov. 27:19 (LB)

S - Schedule

"Make the best use of your time ... grasp firmly what you know to be the will of the Lord."Eph. 5:16-17 (Ph)

"Very early in the morning ... Jesus got up and went off to a solitary place where he prayed." Mark 1:35

T - Trouble

"Call upon Me in your day of trouble and I will deliver you and you will honor Me." Ps. 50:15

Joshua's Commitment: "As for me and my family, we will serve the Lord." Jos. 24:15 (LB)

January 31 2016 Daring To Give God My Best

DARING TO GIVE GOD MY BEST

Daring Faith: The Key To Miracles – Part 5

2 Peter 1:5­8 (CEV) "DO YOUR BEST to improve your faith. You can do this by adding goodness, understanding, self­control, patience, devotion to God, concern for others, and love. If you keep growing in this way, it will show that . . . Christ has made your lives useful and meaningful."

Proverbs 3:9-­10 "Honor God with everything you own; give him the first and the BEST part of everything. If you do this, your barns will fill with grain and your barrels will overflow with wine."

HOW DO I GIVE MY BEST TO GOD?

2 Timothy 2:3­7 – A Soldier, An Athlete, A Farmer

"Endure hardship with us like a GOOD SOLDIER of Christ Jesus. No one serving as a soldier gets tied up in civilian af airs—he wants to please his commanding of icer. Similarly, if anyone competes as AN ATHLETE, he does not receive the victor’s crown unless he competes according to the rules. And the HARDWORKING FARMER should be the first to receive a share of the crops. Think about these three illustrations, and the Lord will help you to understand how they apply to you." 2 Timothy 2:3­7 (NIV/LB)

LESSONS FROM THE MILITARY

LIKE AN EFFECTIVE SOLDIER, I MUST . . .

1. I MUST DEFINE WHAT I’D DIE FOR

John 15:13 (LB) "The greatest love is shown when a person lays down his life

2. I MUST SACRIFICE MY COMFORT

2 Timothy 2:3 "Endure hardship with us like a good soldier of Christ Jesus."

Ephesians 5:2 "Live a life of sacrificial love just like Christ loved us and gave himself as an of ering and sacrifice for us."

3. I MUST ELIMINATE DISTRACTIONS

2 Timothy 2:4 (NIV/NLT)"As Christ’s soldier, do not let yourself become entangled in the af airs of this life, wasting time, for then you can’t please your commanding of icer who enlisted you in his army."

LESSONS FROM SPORTS

1 Corinthians 9:24-­27 (LB/NCV) "In a race everyone runs, but only one person wins the prize. So run your race to win. TO WIN the contest YOU MUST DENY YOURSELVES many things that would keep you from DOING YOUR BEST.

An athlete goes to all this trouble just to win a ribbon or medal that won’t last, but we do it for an eternal reward that will last forever! So I run straight to the goal with purpose in every step. I fight to win. I’m not just shadow­boxing or playing around. Like an athlete I discipline myself, making sacrifices and training my body to do what it should, not what it wants to do. Otherwise I fear I might be disqualified from the race."

TO WIN THE PRIZE, I MUST . . .

1. I MUST INTEND TO WIN

1 Corinthians 9:24 (LB) "In a race everyone runs, but only one person wins the prize. So run your race to win!"

1 Timothy 6:12 (TEV)"Run YOUR BEST in the RACE OF FAITH, and win eternal life for yourself; for this is the life that God called you to when you professed your faith before many witnesses."

2. I MUST DISCIPLINE MYSELF

Hebrews 12:2 (Mes)"Keep your eyes on Jesus, who both began and finished this race we're in. Study how he did it. Because he never lost sight of where he was headed—that joyful finish with God in heaven —he could put up with anything along the way: cross, shame, whatever. And now he's there, in the place of honor, right alongside God."

2 Timothy 2:5 (NAS) "If anyone competes as an athlete, he cannot receive the victor’s crown unless he competes according to the rules."

1 Corinthians 9:25+27 (LB/NLT)"To win the contest you must deny yourself many things that would keep you from DOING YOUR BEST. An athlete goes into strict training just to win a ribbon or medal that won’t last, but we do it for an eternal reward that will last forever! . . . So I discipline my body like an athlete, training it to do what it should."

3. I MUST STAY FOCUSED ON THE REWARD

1 Corinthians 9:26 (LB )"I run straight to the goal with purpose in every step! I fight to win. I’m not just shadow­boxing or playing around."

Matthew 13:24 (NLT) Jesus: "The Kingdom of Heaven is like a farmer who planted good seed in his field."

LESSONS FROM FARMING

2 Corinthians 9:6­-13 (NLT) "Remember this—a farmer who plants only a few seeds will get a small crop. But the one who plants generously will get a generous crop. You must each make up your own mind as to how much you should give. Don’t give reluctantly or in response to pressure. For God loves the person who gives cheerfully. Then God will generously provide all you need, and you will always have everything you need and plenty left over to share with others . . . For God is the one who gives seed to the farmer and then bread to eat. In the same way, he will give you many opportunities to do good, and he will produce a great harvest of generosity in you! Yes, you will be enriched SO THAT you can give even more generously! . . . You will be glorifying God through your generous gifts, AND your generosity will prove you are obedient to the Good News of Christ!"

TO REAP A GREAT HARVEST, I MUST . . .PLANT GENEROUSLY IN FAITH

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2 PROMISES OF JESUS

Luke 6:38 (ICB) "Give, and it will be given back to you. You will be given much. It will be poured into your hands—more than you can hold. You will be given so much that it will spill into your lap. The way you give to others is the way God will give to you."

Mark 10:29-­30 Jesus said, "I guarantee you this: Anyone who gives up anything for my sake and the Good News—whether a home or a family member or property—will get MORE THAN THAT BACK, multiplied a HUNDREDFOLD, and in the world to come they will be given life forever!"