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.

May 29 2016 Leaving A Legacy Of Love

LEAVING A LEGACY OF LOVE

1 Corinthians. 14:1 - “Let love be your greatest aim.”

Mark 12:30-31 - “Love your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength, love your     neighbor as yourself.  There are no commands moreimportant than these.”

THE BASICS OF LOVE

• WE LOVE BECAUSE God loves us.

1 John 4:7-8 - “Love comes from God, for God is love.

1 John 4:19 - “We love because God first loved us.”

1 John 4:16a - “We know and rely on the love God has for us.

• LOVE IS A choice AND A commitment.

Deuteronomy 30:20 -   “Choose to love the Lord your God, andcommit yourself to Him.

• LOVE IS an action, not an emotion.

1 John 3:18 - “Let us not love with words or tongue, but with actions and in truth.”

• LOVE IS a skill.

1 John 4:7 - “Dear friends, let us practice loving each other, for love comes from God and those who are loving     and kind show that they are the children of God, and that they are getting to know Him better.”

1 Timothy 4:15 - “Practice these things and devote yourself to them, in order that your progress may be seen by all.”

• LOVE IS a habit.

Hebrews 13:1 – Continue to love each other with true Christian love.”

Luke 6:32 -  “If you only love those who love you, what credit is that to you?”
    
Jesus said: “By this shall all men know that you are my disciples, if you have love one to another.”  John 13:35

HOW TO BECOME GREAT AT RELATIONSHIPS

1.  I must commit to growing.

2.  I must learn how Jesus did it.

3.  I'm going to practice my skills.

4.  I'm going to develop the habit.

5. I'm going to trust God to help me.

Philippians 1:9 - “This is my prayer for you:  that your love willgrow more and more; that you will have knowledge andunderstanding with your love.”

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 13 2014 The Prayer Jesus Prayed

The Prayer Jesus Prayed 

John 17:1 (NCV)“He looked toward heaven and prayed…”

Jesus’ prayer shows HIS HEART

Jesus’ prayer shows OUR HOPE

John 17:20 (NLT)“I am praying not only for these disciples but also for all who will ever believe in Me because of their testimony.”

Romans 8:34 (CEV)“Christ died and was raised to life, and now He is at God's right side, speaking to Him for us.”

FOUR WAYS JESUS PRAYED (AND IS STILL PRAYING) FOR YOU:

I. GIVE THEM PROTECTION.

John 17:15 (NLT) “I'm not asking You to take them out of the world, but to keep them safe from the evil one.”

Matthew 6:13 (NIV) “And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.”

II. GIVE THEM UNITY.

John 17:21 (TLB) “My prayer for all of them is that they will be of one heart and mind, just as you and I are, Father.”

John 13:35 (Msg) “This is how everyone will recognize that you are My disciples—when they see the love you have for each other.”

Romans 15:5 (NIV)“May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you a spirit of unity among ourselves as you follow Christ Jesus.”

III. GIVE THEM PURITY.

John 17:17 (NLT)“Make them pure and holy by teaching them Your words of truth.”

John 17:19 (TEV) “And for their sake I dedicate Myself to You, in order that they, too, may be truly dedicated to You.”

Titus 1:15 (TLB) “A person who is pure of heart sees goodness and purity in everything; but a person whose own heart is evil and untrusting finds evil in everything, for his dirty mind and rebellious heart color all he sees and hears.”

IV. GIVE THEM A MISSION.

John 17:18 (Msg) “In the same way that You gave me a mission in the world, I give them a mission in the world.”

John 17:23 (NCV) “Then the world will know that You sent Me and that You loved them just as much as You loved me.”

John 17:24 (NCV) “Father, I want these people that You gave Me to be with Me where I am.”

John 17:3 (NLT) “And this is the way to have eternal life—to know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, the one You sent to earth.”

Establishing Faithfulness 

Galatians 5:22 – The fruit of the Spirit is faithfulness.

Proverbs 20:6 – Who can find a faithful man? Everyone talks about how loyal and faithful hi is, but just try to find someone who really is.

Three Reasons for Faithfulness:

1. Because God is Faithful.

Psalm 33:4 – He is faithful in all He does.

2. Makes life much easier.

Proverbs 25:19 – Like a bad tooth or a lame foot is reliance on the unfaithful in times of trouble.

3. God rewards it.

Seven Characteristics of Faithfulness:

1. Keep your promises.

Proverbs 25:14 – Like clouds and wind without rain is a man who boasts of gifts he does not give.

Proverbs 20:25 – It is a trap for a man to dedicate something rashly and only later to consider his vows.

2. Honor your marriage.

Hebrews 13:4 – Marriage should be honored by all.

3. Use your talents.

1 Peter 4:10 – Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in various forms.

4. Stand by your friends.

Proverbs 17:7 – A true friend is always loyal and a brother is born to help in time of need.

5. Learn to manage your money.

Luke 6:11 – If you have not been trustworthy in handling worldly wealth, who will trust you with true riches.

1 Corinthians 16:2 – On every Lord’s Day, each of you should put aside something from what you have earned during the week and use it for this offering.

Three Things About Faithfulness:

1. Give regularly.

2. Giving should be planned.

3. Giving is proportional.

6. Do your best at work.

Luke 16:10 – Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much.

Luke 16:12 – And if you have not been trustworthy with someone else’s property, who will give you property on your own.

Colossians 3:23 – Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart.

7. Commit yourself to your Church.

Romans 12:5 – So in Christ, we who are many form one body and each member belongs to all the others.

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