April 23 2017 God Can Use Anybody

GOD CAN USE ANYBODY!

The Miracle of Mercy – Part 2

Romans 6:13 (LB/TEV)“. . . Give yourselves completely to God – every part of you – because you’ve been brought from death to life, and now you want to be used by God for good, and for his righteous purposes.”

PAUL’S SECRETS OF STAYING USABLE

2 CORINTHIANS 4:1-18

1. Never forget it’s all because of God’s mercy!

2 Corinthians 4:1 “God IN HIS MERCY has given us this ministry and work to do. That’s why we do not become discouraged and never give up!”

MERCY: undeserved forgiveness & unearned kindness

Galatians 1:13+15 (NLT)“You know what I was like . . . how I violently persecuted Christians. I did my best to get rid of them! . . . But then something happened! For it pleased God in his kindness to choose me and all me, even before I was born! What UNDESERVED MERCY!”

Every saint has a past and very sinner has a future!

Ephesians 2:10 (LB) “It is God himself who has made us what we are and given us new lives from Christ Jesus; and long ages ago he planned that we should spend these lives in helping others.”

2. Be real.

2 Corinthians 4:2 (NLT/NCV) “We don’t try to trick anyone, and we don’t twist the word of God. Instead we teach the truth plainly, showing everyone WHO WE REALLY ARE. Then they can know in their hearts what kind of people we are in God’s sight.”

Romans 8:15 (NCV) “The Spirit we received does not make us slaves again to fear; it makes us children of God!”

3. Remember it’s not about me!

2 Corinthians 4:5 (GW) “Our message is not about ourselves. It is about Jesus Christ as the Lord. We are merely your servants for Jesus’ sake.”

2 Corinthians 4:7 (CEV) “We are like clay jars in which this treasure is stored. The real power comes from God and not from us.”

4. Use my pain to help others.

2 Corinthians 4:8-9 (CEV) “We often suffer, but we are never crushed. Even when we don’t know what to do, we never give up. In times of trouble, God is with us, and when we are knocked down, we get up again.”

2 Corinthians 4:15 (LB) “All of these sufferings of ours are for your benefit. And the more of you who are won to Christ, the more there are to thank Him for his great mercy, and the more God gets glory!”

2 Corinthians 4:16-17 (NLT) “This is why we never give up! Though our bodies are dying, our spirits are being renewed every day. For our present troubles are quite small and won’t last very long. Yet they produce for us an immeasurably great glory that will last forever!”

5. Stay focused on eternity.

Memory Verse: 2 Corinthians 4:17 (CEV) “These little troubles are getting us ready for an eternal glory that will make all our troubles seem like nothing.”

2 Corinthians 4:18 (NLT) “So we don’t look at the troubles we can see right now; rather, we look forward to what we have not yet seen. For the troubles we see will soon be over, but the joys to come will last forever.”

The Key to Staying Focused: Small Groups

Ecclesiastes 4:12 (NLT) “A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer. And three people are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken.”

Matthew 18:20 (NIV) Jesus: “For wherever two or three come together in my name, I will be there with them.” Do you want your life to be used by God? Are you ready to experience the Miracle of Mercy?

April 16 2017 Easter Means It's A New Day Of Mercy

EASTER MEANS IT’S A NEW DAY OF MERCY

Scandalous: The Miracle of Mercy – Part 1

Matthew 28:1-10 Early on Sunday morning, as the new day was dawning, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went out to visit the tomb. Suddenly there was a great earthquake! For an angel of the Lord came down from heaven, rolled aside the stone, and sat on it. His face shone like lightning, and his clothing was as white as snow. The guards shook with fear when they saw him, and they fell into a dead faint. Then the angel spoke to the women. “Don’t be afraid!” he said. “I know you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He isn’t here! He is risen from the dead, just as he said would happen. Come, see where his body was lying. And now, go quickly and tell his disciples that he has risen from the dead, and he is going ahead of you to Galilee. You will see him there. Remember what I have told you.” The women ran quickly from the tomb. They were very frightened but also filled with great joy, and they rushed to give the disciples the angel’s message. And as they went, Jesus met them and greeted them. And they ran to him, grasped his feet, and worshiped him. Then Jesus said to them, “Don’t be afraid! Go tell my brothers to leave for Galilee, and they will see me there.”

Luke 1:78 (GW)“A NEW DAY will dawn on US because our God is LOVING AND MERCIFUL.”

MERCY: undeserved forgiveness & unearned kindness

WHEN DO I NEED GOD’S MERCY?

WHAT HAPPENS WHEN I ACCEPT IT?

1. ASHAMED: I need God’s mercy when I’ve messed up.

A HUMILIATED WOMAN: JOHN 8:2-11

“One day Jesus was teaching a crowd outside the Temple, and some Pharisees brought a woman who was CAUGHT in adultery. They put her on display in front of the crowd, then said to Jesus. ‘This woman has been CAUGHT in the act of adultery. The law of Moses says to stone her. So what do YOU say?’ They were trying to TRAP Jesus into saying something they could use against him, but Jesus stooped down and started writing in the dirt with his finger. They kept badgering Jesus, demanding an answer. Finally, Jesus stood up and said, ‘Here’s my answer: If any one of you has never sinned, then you may throw the first stone.’ Then he stooped down again and continued writing in the dirt! When the accusers heard this, they began to slip away, one by one, beginning with the oldest, until it was just Jesus and the woman. At that point, Jesus stood back up and quietly said to her, ‘Where are your accusers? Is there no one left to condemn you?’ ‘No one, Lord,’ she said. Then Jesus said, ‘Neither do I condemn you! Now go on, and leave your sinful ways.’ ”

• GOD’S MERCY forgives me and frees me.

Isaiah 61:1 “I was sent to announce freedom to all held captive and forgiveness to all who’ve been imprisoned.”

John 12:47 (LB)(Jesus) “I have come to save the world and not to judge it.”

Psalm 86:5 (LB)“O Lord, you are so good and kind, so ready to forgive, so full of mercy for all who ask your aid.”

Hebrews 4:15-16 (CEV)“Jesus understands every weakness of ours, because he was tempted in every way that we are. But he did not sin. So whenever we are in need, we should come bravely before the throne of our merciful God. There we will receive mercy and find the grace to help us in our time of need.”

2. AFRAID: I need God’s mercy when facing death.

A DYING MAN: LUKE 23:39-43

“One of the criminals being executed on a cross beside Jesus ridiculed him saying, ‘If you’re supposed to be the Messiah, why don’t you save yourself . . . and us too!’ But the second criminal rebuked him, ‘Man, don’t you even fear God when you’re dying? We deserve to die for our evil deeds, but this man hasn’t done anything wrong!’ Then he said, ‘Jesus, remember me when you come into your Kingdom.’ And Jesus replied, ‘I guarantee you that today you will be with me in paradise.’ ”

• GOD’S MERCY will save me for eternity.

John 11:25(Jesus) "I am the resurrection and the life! Whoever believes in me, even though he dies, will live again!”

Acts 2:21 (LB)“Anyone who asks for mercy from the Lord shall have it and shall be saved.”

Isaiah 30:18 (CEV)“The Lord God is waiting to show you how kind he is and to have mercy on you. The Lord always does what’s right and he blesses those who trust him!”

April 16 2017 Easter - The Foundation For Happiness

EASTER, THE FOUNDATION FOR HAPPINESS

Col. 1:14 – Christ bought our freedom with His blood.

John 10:10 – Jesus said, “I come to give you life to the full.”

Matt. 28:5 - He is not here, He has risen.

Psalm 146:5 – Happy is he whose hope is in the Lord.

Happiness is Possible:

1. Because Christ can free you from guilt.

Eph. 1:7 – By the death of Christ we are set free, that is, our sins are forgiven.

Col.2.14 – He has cancelled every record of the debt

we owed. Christ has done away with it by nailing it to the cross.

Rom 8:1 – There is no condemnation awaiting those who belong to Christ.

2. Because Christ can free you from worry.

I Peter 1:2 – God’s Spirit has been at work in you heart through Jesus Christ. May God grant you increasing freedom from all anxiety and fear.

Ph. 4:13 – I am ready for anything through the strength of Christ who lives in me.

3. Because Christ can give you purpose.

Eph. 2:10 – We are God’s work of art, created in Christ Jesus to live the good life as He meant for us to live it.

Acts 20:24 – Life is worth nothing unless I use it for doing the work assigned me by the Lord Jesus.

4. Because Christ can give you a home in heaven.

Col. 2:20 – Christ has set you free from following the world’s ideas of how to be saved by doing good and obeying various rules.

Rom 4:4 – You don’t earn the right to heaven, no, for being saved is a free gift. If a person could earn it by being good, then it wouldn’t be free, but it is.

Rom. 6:23 – The free gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ.

A Prayer That Leads to Happiness: Dear God, I believe Jesus Christ was who He claimed to be, Your Son, and that He proved it by rising from death. Jesus Christ, thank You for dying for me on the cross. I want You to forgive my sins and I want to know You personally and experience the freedom You offer. As much as I know how, I ask You to come into my life and be my Lord and Savior. Amen.

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.”

April 9 2017 A Gift For The Deeper Life

A GIFT FOR THE DEEPER LIFE

Mark 15:33-47

1. The gift speaks of a penalty paid.

Mark 15:31 - He saved others, they said, but He can’t save Himself.

II Cor. 5:15 - He died for all.

2. The gift speaks of a way to God is opened.

Verse 38 - The curtain in the Temple was torn in two from top to bottom.

3. The gift speaks of a new motivation.

Verse 39 - And when the Centurion, who stood there in front of Jesus hear His cry and saw how He died, He said, “surely this Man was the Son of God.”

Verse 43 - Joseph of Arimathea, a prominent member of the Council, who was himself waiting for the Kingdom of God, went boldly to Pilate and asked for Jesus’ body.

Verse 40 - Some women were watching from a distance. Among them was Mary Magdalene, Mary the Mother of James the younger and of Joses, and Salome.

4. The gift speaks of our need for intention

Verse 34 – My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?