March 13 2016 Daring To Go In Faith

DARING TO GO IN FAITH

Daring Faith: The Key To Miracles – Part 9

Two of the words that summarize Jesus’ message are: come & go

Matthew 11:28-30 (CEV) Jesus: “If you are tired from carrying heavy burdens, COME TO ME and I will give you rest. Take the yoke I give you. Put it on your shoulders and learn from me. I am gentle and humble, and you will find rest. My yoke is easy to bear, and my burden is light.” 

Luke 7:50 Jesus said, “Your faith has saved you. NOW GO!”

Memory Verse: James 2:17 “Any faith that doesn’t lead us to GO INTO ACTON with good deeds is worthless, dead and useless!”

DARING FAITH IS ABOUT A PARTY THAT WILL LAST FOREVER:

Luke 14:16-20"A very powerful and generous man prepared a great banquet and invited many prominent guests. When it was ready he sent his servant to GO AND TELL those invited to ‘COME, for everything is now ready!’ But they all began to make excuses. The first said, ‘I’ve just bought a field, and I must go see it. Please excuse me.’ Another said, ‘I’ve just acquired five pair of oxen, and I’m on my way to try them out. Please excuse me.’ Still another said, ‘I just got married, so I can’t come.’ When the servant reported this, the Owner of the Estate became angry and told his servant, ‘GO QUICKLY into the streets and alleys of our city and BRING IN the poor, the crippled, the blind and the lame as my guests!’ The servant said, ‘Master, we’ve already done this, but there is STILL ROOM FOR MORE in your banquet!’ The Master said, ‘Then now GO OUT OF OUR CITY to the roads and country lane, GO EVERYWHERE and INVITE EVERYONE TO COME so that my house will be full! I promise you this: not one of those people who ignored my invitation will ever get to taste what I had prepared for them!’" 

I must GO. . .to obey GOd. . . to do GOod. . . to live the GOspel. . .to become GOdly. . . to reach my GOals . . . to share the GOod News!

WHERE ARE WE GOING?

1. WE ARE GOING TO  GO TO GOD FOR HELP

1 Chronicles 16:11 (TEV) “GO TO THE LORD for help, and worship him continually.” 

Psalm 34:10 (ICB) “Those who GO TO THE LORD for help will have every good thing.” 

Psalm 37:40 (TEV) “God helps them and rescues them and saves them from the wicked, because they

2. WE ARE GOING TO GO TOGETHER FOR SUPPORT

Acts 14:22“(Paul & Barnabas) strengthened the disciples and encouraged them to remain true to the faith, reminding them that we must GO THROUGH many hardships to enter the kingdom of God." 

Philippians 1:27 - 2:2 (NLT) “ . . . I want to hear that you are working together and that you are struggling side by side to get others to believe the good news . . . Don’t be intimidated by those who oppose you . . .You have been given not only the privilege of trusting in Christ but also the privilege of suffering for him. We are in this fight TOGETHER . . . (so keep on) loving one another, and working together with one

3. WE ARE GOING TO GO ON TO MATURITY

Hebrews 6:1 (NIV) “Let us leave the elementary teachings about Christ and GO ON TO MATURITY . . .”

2 Peter 1:8 (LB) “The more you GO ON in this way, the more you will GROW STRONG spiritually and become fruitful and useful to our Lord Jesus.”

2 Peter 1:9 (LB) “Anyone who fails to GO AFTER these additions to faith is blind, or very shortsighted and has forgotten that God delivered us from the old life of sin so that now we can live a strong, good life

4. WE ARE GOING TO TO GO TELL THE GOOD NEWS 

Romans 10:13-15 (ICB) "Anyone who asks the Lord for help will be saved. But before people can trust in the Lord, they must believe in him. And before they can believe in him, they must hear about him. And to hear about him someone must GO AND TELL them! And before someone can go and tell them, he must be sent. It is written, ‘How beautiful is the person who comes to bring good news.’ " 

Acts 1:8 “When the Holy Spirit comes upon you, you’ll be given my power, and you are to GO AND BE MY WITNESSES in Jerusalem, and in all of Judea and in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." 

Luke 9:60 Jesus said, "Let people who are dead bury the dead. Your job is to GO AND TELL OTHERS about God’s kingdom.”

MY DARING FAITH COVENANT

In gratitude for all that Christ has done for me, and out of a deep desire to grow in my faith, and in obedience to Christ’s command that I “store up treasure in Heaven,” I make a covenant today with my brothers and sisters of Great Plains Church to use the next 2 years growing, sowing, and going in daring faith. ...I commit to showing and sharing God’s love with those closest to me and serving God by serving others in our community. Also, because I want someone to be in Heaven because I cared, I am asking God to give me the privilege of bringing ONE person to Jesus in the next 2 years and see them be baptized and become a part of the fellowship of our church family. I know I cannot do this on my own power but I will trust God in daring faith to see it happen.

August 30 & September 6 2015 How Jesus Handles Stress

HOW JESUS HANDLED STRESS

The Jesus Model - Part 3

1. IDENTIFICATION: Know who you are

John 8:12, Mark 14:62, John 14:6, John 6:35 “I am ...the Light of the world... the Son of God...the Way, the Truth and the Life...the Bread of life...” 

John 8:18 (TEV)“I testify on my own behalf.” 

2. MOTIVATION:  Know what you’re living for 

John 5:30 (TEV) “I am not trying to do what I want, but only what my Father who sent me wants.”

John 8:29 (NLT) “ I always do those things that are pleasing to Him.”  

Luke 16:13 (NIV) “No one can serve two masters...” 

3. CONCENTRATION: Focus on what matters most. 

Luke 9:51 (LB) “As the time drew near for his return to heaven, he moved steadily onward toward Jerusalem with an iron will.” 

Luke 9:62 (LB) “Anyone who lets himself be distracted from the work I plan for him is not fit for the Kingdom of God.” 

1 Corinthians 10:23 (Amplified) “We are free to do anything but not all things are helpful or profitable or wholesome or constructive to your character and spiritual life.”

4. MEDITATION: Listen to God

Mark 1:35 (NIV) “Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed.”  

Luke 5:15-16 (NCV) “News about Jesus spread even more. Crowds came to hear him and to be healed...but Jesus often slipped away to be alone so he could pray.” 

Colossians 2:7 (CEV) “Plant your roots in Christ and let him be the foundation for your life.” 

5. COLLABORATION: Join a small group

Mark 3:14 (NIV)“He appointed twelve – designating them apostles – that they might be with him…”

Matthew 26:38 (NIV) “Jesus said to them, ‘My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.” 

6. RECREATION: Take time to recharge

Mark 6:31 (NCV)“Crowds of people were coming and going so that they did not even have time to eat. He said to them, ‘Come away by yourselves, and we’ll go to a lonely place to get some rest.’”  

Matthew 11:19 (Ph) “Jesus came enjoying life...” 

7: SALVATION: Give It All to Jesus

Matthew 11:28-29 (NLT)  “Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle, and you will find rest for your souls.”

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 19 2015 When You Feel Like You're Stuck

WHEN YOU FEEL LIKE YOU’RE STUCK

Psalm 145:14 – God gives a fresh start to those ready to quit.

Mark 10:46 – Sitting beside the road.

Mark 10:52 – Following Jesus on the road.

HOW DO I GET UNSTUCK

SEIZE the moment when it comes.

Mark 10:46 – As Jesus and His disciples left town, a great crowd was following.  A blind beggar named Bartimaeus was sitting beside the road as Jesus was going by.  When Bartimaeus heard that Jesus from Nazareth was nearby, he began to shout out, “Jesus Son of David, have mercy on me!”

Luke 9:62 – Jesus said, “No procrastination.  No backward looks.  You can’t put God’s Kingdom off till tomorrow.  Seize the day.”

TAME your fears.

Mark 10:48 – Many of the people scolded him and told him to be quiet.  But he shouted even more loudly, “Son of David, have mercy on me!”

John 6:37 – I will never turn away anyone who comes to Me.

Proverbs 29:25 – The rear of human opinion disables you, trusting in God protects you from that.

ANNOUNCE your faith.

Mark 10:51 – Jesus asked him “What do you want me to do for you?”  The blind man answered, “Teacher, I want to see.”

Galatians 3:27 – Your baptism in Christ was not just washing you up for a fresh start.  It also involved dressing you in an adult faith wardrobe, Christ’s life, the fulfillment of God’s original promise.

RECEIVE God’s grace.

Mark 10:52a – Jesus said to him, “Go your way, your faith has made you well.”  And immediately he gained his sight.

Ephesians 2:8 – For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God, not by works, so that no one can boast.  For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

TAKE the next step.

Mark 10 52b – He regained his sight and began following Jesus on the road.

James 2:14 – If people say they have faith, but do nothing, their faith is worth nothing.

1 Corinthians 1:30 – Everything that we have, right thinking and right living, a clean slate and a fresh start, comes from God by way of Jesus Christ

March 15 2015 Thirty Days To A No Regrets Life (part 4)

Learn Humbly (Thirty days to a no-regrets life part 4)

2 Corinthians 12:9 (NLT) My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.' So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me."

1. LEARN FROM MY LOSSES

Luke 22:61-62 (NIV) "The Lord turned and looked straight at Peter. Then Peter remembered the word the Lord had spoken to him: 'Before the rooster crows today, you will disown Me three times.' And he went outside and wept bitterly. "

• Take Responsibility for My Failure

Provo 28:13 (LB)"A man who refuses to admit his mistakes can never be successful. But if he confesses and forsakes them, he gets another chance. "

• ŽLet Go of My Guilt

Mark 16:7 (NIV)"But go, tell his disciples and Peter, 'He is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see Him, just as He told you.'"

2. SURRENDER TO GOD'S STRENGTH

Memory Verse: Psalm 119:32 (NIV)"1 run in the path of Your commands, for You have set my heart free."

3. PURSUE GOD'S PATH

Luke 9:23 (NIV)"Then He said to them all: 'If anyone would come after me, He must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow Me.'"

• The Call
• The Wall
• The Fall

Psalm 20:7-8 (NIV)  "Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God. They are brought to their knees and fall, but we rise up and stand firm."