March 26 & April 2 2017 The Kind Of Work God Blesses

THE KIND OF WORK GOD BLESSES

Prov. 22:29 "When you see people skilled in their work, you know that they will end up standing before kings, not working for ordinary people."

SEVEN KEYS TO SUCCEEDING AT WORK

1. Start working enthusiastically wherever I am.

Memory Verse: Eccl. 9:10 (NIV)"Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might."

Three Things To Remember

1. This is a test from God.

Luke 16:10-12(NIV)"Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much... But if you have not been trustworthy with someone else’s property, who will give you property of your own?"

2. God is watching.

3. My attitude determines my joy.

Proverbs 12:24 (MSG) "The diligent find freedom in their work, while the lazy are oppressed by work"

Rom. 12:11 (NLT)"Never be lazy in your work, but serve the Lord enthusiastically."

2. Understand who I'm really working for.

Col. 3:23-24 (NLT)"Work hard and cheerfully at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people. Remember that the Lord will give you an inheritance as your reward, and the Master you are serving is Christ."

I Cor. 10:31 (NIV)"So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it allfor the glory of God."

3. Concentrate on building my character.

Rom. 5:3-4 (NLT)"We can rejoice when we run into problems and trials, because we know that they are good for us- they help us learn to endure. And endurance develops strength of character in us, and character strengthens our confident expectation of salvation."

Prov. 12:24 (CEV) Work hard, and you will be a leader; be lazy, and you will end up a slave.

4. Care about those I work with.

1 Cor. 16:14 (NLT)"Everything you do must be done with love."

Eph. 4:2 (TLB)"Be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other's ftiults because of your love. "

5. Exceed what is expected of me.

Col. 3:22 (MSG)"Servants, do what you're told by your earthly masters. And don't just do the minimum that will get you by. Do your best."

Matt. 5:41 (NIV)"If someone demands you to go one mile, go with him two miles."

6. Expand my skills with continual learning.

Eccl. 10:10 (NIV)"If the ax is dull and its edge unsharpened, more strength is needed but skill will bring success."

Prov.19:8 (TEV)"Do yourself a favor and learn all you can; then remember what you learn and you will prosper."

7. Dedicate my work to be used for God's purposes.

Eph. 1:3 (TEV)"We are Christ's ambassadors; and God is using us to speak to you. We urge you, as though Christ himself were here pleading with you, 'Be reconciled to God! "

2 Cor. 5:20 (NLT)"Let us give thanks to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! For in our union with Christ he has blessed us by giving us every spiritual blessing in the heavenly world."

March 6 2016 Daring To Wait On God

DARING TO WAIT ON GOD

Daring Faith: The Key To Miracles – Part 9

“God does everything just right and on time, but people can never completely understand what he is

WHAT TO REMEMBER WHILE WAITING ON GOD

1. REMEMBER THERE’S A NATURAL DELAY BETWEEN PLANTING & HARVESTING!

“There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven . . . A time to plant and a time to harvest . . . a time to scatter and a time to gather . . .” 

2. REMEMBER THERE’S AN UNSEEN BATTLE GOING ON.

“We are not struggling and fighting against human beings but against evil spiritual forces in the heavenly realm—the rulers, authorities, and powers of darkness.” 

3. REMEMBER GOD IS PREPARING ME FOR HIS BLESSING

“There is wonderful joy ahead, even though it is necessary for you to endure many trials for a while. These troubles test your faith, to show that it is strong and pure, just as fire tests and purifies gold—and your faith is far more precious to God than mere gold.” 

“Waiting does not diminish us any more than waiting diminishes a pregnant mother. We are enlarged in the waiting. We don’t see what is enlarging us, but the longer we wait, the larger we become, and the more joyful our expectancy. Meanwhile, when we get tired in the waiting, God’s Spirit is right alongside helping us along. If we don’t know how or what to pray, it doesn’t matter. He prays in us and for us . . .He knows us far better than we know ourselves, and knows our pregnant condition . . . That’s why we can be so sure that every detail in our lives of love for God is worked into something good.” Romans 8:24-28

4. REMEMBER I’M IN GOOD COMPANY WHEN WAITING ON GOD

 “People who lived in the past became famous because of their faith.”

5. REMEMBER GOD ALWAYS KEEPS HIS PROMISES!

God says, “At the time I have decided, my words will come true. You can trust what I say about the future. It may take a long time, but keep on waiting—it will happen!” Habakkuk 2:3 (CEV) 

WHAT TO DO WHILE WAITING ON God

1. WRITE DOWN THE LESSONS I’M LEARNING

“At the Lord’s direction, Moses kept a written record of their progress.” Numbers 33:2a (NLT)

“Remember what you have learned about the Lord through your experiences with him.” Deuteronomy 11:2a (TEV) 

2. ACT AS THOUGH I ALREADY HAVE IT

Jesus said, “I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.” Mark 11:24 (NIV) 

3. IMITATE THE HABITS THAT GROW STRONG FAITH

“We do not want you to become lazy, but to IMITATE those who through faith and patience inherit what has been promised.” Hebrews 6:12 (NIV) 

Paul: “KEEP ON putting into practice all you learned from me and heard from me and saw me doing.”  Philippians 4:9a (NLT) 

DON’T put my life on hold.

• KEEP ON  PRAYING

“Keep on asking, and you WILL be given what you ask for. Keep on looking, and you WILL find. Keep on knocking, and the door WILL be opened!” Matthew 7:7 (NLT) 

• KEEP ON SERVING

“Never be lazy in your work, but serve the Lord enthusiastically.”  Romans 12:11 (NLT)

• KEEP ON GOING TO CHURCH

“Don’t give up your habit of meeting with other believers. Instead keep on encouraging each other!” Hebrews 10:25 

• KEEP ON SOWING

“Keep on sowing your seed, for you never know which ones will grow—perhaps they all will!” Ecclesiastes 11:6 (LB)

• KEEP ON BELIEVING

“You must keep on believing the things you have been taught. You know they are true . . .” 2 Timothy 3:14 (LB)

TRUST GOD INSTEAD OF PANICKING

“Even when I am afraid, I keep on trusting you.” Psalm 56:3 (CEV)

February 21 2016 Daring To Grow A Deep Soul

DARING TO GROW A DEEP SOUL

Daring Faith: The Key to Miracles – Part 7

"Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind." Matthew 22:37 (NIV)

Spiritual growth is a process in which GOD AND I EACH HAVE A PART.

1. GOD’S PART: HE INVITES

MY PART: I RESPOND

Ephesians 1:4 (NLT) "Even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes."

James 1:21b (NJB) "Humbly welcome the Word which has been planted in you and can save your souls."

2. GOD’S PART: HE IS FOUND.

MY PART: I SEEK HIM.

Jeremiah 29:13­14a (NIV) "You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you, declares the Lord . .

Psalm 27:8 (NIV) "My heart says of you, ‘Seek his face!’ Your face, Lord, I will seek."

3. GOD’S PART: HE TEACHES ME.

MY PART: I LEARN.

John 16:13a (ESV) "When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth."

Hebrews 5:11­14 (NLT) There is much more we would like to say about this, but it is dif icult to explain, especially since you are spiritually dull and don’t seem to listen. You have been believers so long now that you ought to be teaching others. Instead, you need someone to teach you again the basic things about God’s word.[a] You are like babies who need milk and cannot eat solid food. For someone who lives on milk is still an infant and doesn’t know how to do what is right. Solid food is for those who are mature, who through training have the skill to recognize the dif erence between right and wrong

4. GOD’S PART: HE BRINGS GOOD OUT OF EVIL.

MY PART: TO ENDURE.

Romans 8:28 (NJB) "We are well aware that God works with those who love him, those who have been called in accordance with his purpose, and turns everything to their good."

Colossians 1:11 (Msg) "We pray that you’ll have the strength to stick it out over the long haul—not the grim strength of gritting your teeth but the glory­strength God gives. It is strength that endures the unendurable and spills over into joy."

Jeremiah 17:7­8 (NLT) "But blessed are those who trust in the Lord, and have made the Lord their hope and confidence. They are like trees planted along a riverbank, with roots that reach deep into the water. Such trees are not bothered by the heat or worried by long months of drought. Their leaves stay green, and they go right on producing

Philippians 1:11 (Msg) ". . . bountiful in fruits from the soul, making Jesus Christ attractive to all, getting everyone involved in the glory and

GOD’S GUARANTEE: GOD WILL FINISH WHAT HE HAS STARTED.

Philippians 1:6 (Amp) "And I am convinced and sure of this very thing, that He Who began a good work in you will continue until the day of Jesus Christ (right up to the time of His return), developing that good work and perfecting and bringing it to full completion in you."

January 31 2016 Let's Get Going

LET’S GET GOING

Matthew 28:16-20

Five observations about ministry:

1. They needed to let God in before going.

Acts 1:4-14 – Ver. 5 – In a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.

2. Their ministry was beyond their abilities.

Zechariah 4:6-9

How we live beyond our means:
(a) Great works are always done by God’s Spirit.
(b) Through us.
(c) To glorify God.

3.  Ministry strengthened by unity and commitment.

Acts 2:42-47

Coming together is the beginning of Ministry.

Learning together is the progress of Ministry.

Ministering together is true success.

4. Their Ministry was not problem free.

Problems:

• They had chosen the wrong leader. Acts 1:23-26
• Accused of drunkenness. Acts 2:13-15
• Some credited the miracles to leaders. Acts 3:11-12
• Some hated the Gospel. Acts 4:1-4
• Some in the Church were deceitful. Acts 5:1-5
• Some were jealous of the Church’s success. Acts 5:17
• Some people felt neglected. Acts 6:1

5.Their Ministries expanded until others were needed.

LAY MINISTRY COMMISSION

Congregation unison:
And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ; until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ. (Ephesians 4)

Pastor Galen:

Realizing our responsibility to equip you for the ministry, I, as pastor of Great Plains Community Church commit myself to this task by standing:
    Before you as a Model of Ministry;
    Among you as a Teacher of Ministry;
    Behind you on Encouragement in Ministry.

Congregation unison:
Understanding our responsibility to use our gifts for the glory of God, we commit ourselves to this task by standing:
    Before God in consecration of these gifts;
    Among each other in the using of these gifts;
    Behind our Pastor in his oversight of these gifts.

Congregation unison:
Together Pastor and People, we commit ourselves to Great Plains Community Church proclaiming the Word of God and we purpose to make Disciples of Christ by:
    Exalting God
    Encouraging Christians
    Equipping Christians for Ministry
    Evangelizing the World for Christ

I Thessalonians 5:24 - “Faithful is He who calls you, He also will bring it to pass.”

April 15 2012 Six Ways To Grow A Healthy Family

Six Ways To Grow A Healthy Family

1. (F) Fun

Ecclesiastes 9:9 - Enjoy life with your wife.

Proverbs 5:13 - Be happy with your wife and find joy with the girl you married.

Psalm 127:3 - Children are a gift from God.

2. (A) Attention

Philippians 2:2-4 - When you do things, do not let selfishness or pride be your guide.  Be humble and give more honor to     others than yourselves. Do not be interested only in your own life, but be interested in the lives of others.

Philippians 2:5-7 - Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus…did not consider equality with God something to be grasped but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant.

Romans 12:10 - Love one another, out do one another in     showing honor.

3. (M) Ministry


1 Corinthians 16:15 - Stephanas and his family were the first to become Christians in Greece, and they are spending their lives helping and serving Christians everywhere.

Acts 16:33 - The whole family was filled with joy because they had come to believe God.

Romans 12:13 - When God’s children are in need, help them out.  Get into the habit of inviting guests home for dinner, of if they need lodging for the night.

4. (I) Insulate the members from the storms of life

Proverbs 14:26 - Reverencefor the Lord gives a man deep strength, his children have a place of refuge and security.

3 Kinds Of Storms

1. Change.

2. Failure.

Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 - Two are better than one, if one of them falls down the other can help him up, but if someone is alone and falls, it’s just too bad because there is no one to help him

3. Rejection

5. (L) Learning Center

Psalm 14:12 - May our sons, in their youth, be like plants that grow.

Ephesians 6:4 - Fathers, don’t exasperate your children, instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the     Lord.

Luke 2:52 - Jesus grew in wisdom and stature and in favor with God and with man.

Isaiah 38:19 - One generation makes known your faithfulness to the next.

Deuteronomy 6:6-7 - These commandments impress them upon your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.

6. (Y) Yield to God

Joshua 24:25 - Choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods of your forefathers or the gods of the Amorites, but as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.

Philippians 4:8 - Fix your thoughts on what is true and good and right. Think about things that are pure and lovely and dwell on the fine, good things in others.