March 19 2017 Creating A Spiritual Legacy

Creating A Spiritual Legacy

Memory Verse: Matthew 25:21 (NIV)"Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness!"

Mark 10:45 (NIV) Jesus, "I did not come to be served, but to SERVE, and to GIVE my life as a ransom for many."

THE TWO WAYS TO CREATE A LEGACY

1. By living a life of service.

Eph. 2:10 (NCV)"God has made us what we are. In Christ Jesus, God made us to do good works, which God planned in advance for its to live our lives doing."

Rom. 6:13b (LB)"Give yourselves completely to God - every part of you you want to be tools in the hands of God, to be used for his good purposes."

Acts 20:24 (NLT)"My life is worth nothing unless I use it for doing the work assigned me by the Lord Jesus--the work of telling others the Good News about Gods wonderful kindness and love."

Mark 8:35 (LB)"Only those who give away their lives for my sake and for the sake of the Good News will ever know what it means to really live."

Matthew 10:42 (NLT) And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones who is my disciple, truly I tell you, that person will certainly not lose their reward.

2. By living a life of generosity.

Deut. 15:10 (MSG) Give freely and spontaneously. Don't have a stingy heart. The way you handle matters like this triggers God's blessing in eveiything you do, in all your work and ventures."

SIX KEY STATEMENTS

2 Corinthians 9:6-12

1. I NEED TO SEE MY GIVING AS AN INVESTMENT, NOT AN EXPENSE.

Verse 6 "Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously."

2. NEVER GIVE OUT OF PRESSURE OR GUILT.

Verse 7 "Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver."

3. I EXPECT GOD TO MEET ALL MY NEEDS

Verse 8 "And God is able to make ALL grace abound to you, so that in ALL things at ALL times, having ALL that you need, you will abound in EVERY good work

4.  I EXPECT GOD TO MULTIPLY THE SEED.

Verse 10 "He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness.

5. I EXPECT TO BE ABLE TO GIVE MORE THAN I THOUGHT.

Verse 11 "You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in THANKSGIVING to God!

6. LIVE WITH AN ATTITUDE OF GRATITUDE.

Verse 12 Cor. 9:6-12 (NIV)"This SERVICE that you perform will not only supply the needs of God's people but also cause the overflowing of many expressions of THANKSGIVING to God"

March 12 2017 Challenges Of The Deeper Life

Challenges Of The Deeper Life

Mark 10:32-52

Verse 32 - They were on their way up to Jerusalem, with Jesus leading the way and the disciples were astonished, while those who followed were afraid.

Challenges Of The Deeper Life

1. The place.

Verse 33 - Jesus said we are going up to Jerusalem.

Matthew 23:37 - How often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings.

Luke 24:49 - But stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.

Philippians 3:10 - I want to know Christ and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in His sufferings.

2. The position.

Verse 37 - James and John asked Jesus, let one of us sit on your right and the other on your left.

Verse 38 - Can you drink the cup I drink and be Baptized with the Baptism I am Baptized with?

2 Timothy 2:11-12 - For if we died with Him, we shall also live with Him.

3. The purpose.

Verse 43 - Whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant and whoever wants to be first must be a slave to all.

4. The pressure.

Verse 32 - They were on their way up to Jerusalem with Jesus leading the way.

Verse 52 - Immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus.

Three Action Steps

1. Accept the place.

Ephesians 4:11 - I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances.

2. Submit to Christ.

John 17:11 - So they may be one as we are one.

3. Begin to serve.

Verse 52 - Immediately he followed Jesus.

November 13 2016 Creating A Spiritual Legacy

CREATING A SPIRITUAL LEGACY

Matthew 25:21 – Well done good and faithful servant. You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things.  Come and share your Master’s happiness.

Mark 10:45 – I did not come to be served, but to serve and to give my life as a ransom for many.
    
1.  SPEAK with integrity.

Proverbs 17:7 - Respected people do not tell lies.

Proverbs 25:14 - People who promise things they never give are like clouds and wind that bring no rain.

Psalm 101:2 -  I will try to walk a blameless path, but how I need Your help, especially in my own home, where I long to act as I should.

2.  SERVE with intensity.

Proverbs 14:22 -  You will earn the trust and respect of others if you work for good.

Colossians 3:23 -  Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men.

John 6:27 -  Don’t work for food that spoils, instead, work for the food that lasts for eternal life.

Psalm 37:18 - Day by day the Lord observes the good deeds done by godly men, and gives them eternal rewards.

3.  GIVE with generosity.

2 Corinthians 9:9 -  Godly people give generously. Their good deeds will never be forgotten.

Psalm 112:9 -  He who gives generously to the needy and shows kindness will be powerful and respected.

Proverbs 11:25 - A generous man will prosper, he who refreshed others will himself be refreshed.

Proverbs 3:27-28 - Whenever you are able, do good to people who need help.  Don’t say “Come back later.  I’ll give it to you tomorrow.”

4.  SUCCEED with humility.

Proverbs 29:23 - Arrogance will bring your downfall, but if you are humble, you will be respected.

Proverbs 27:21 - Praise is the test of character.

Proverbs 13:18 - Someone who will not learn will be poor and disgraced.  Anyone who listens to correction is respected.

Proverbs 13:7 - A pretentious, showy life is an empty life, a plain and simple life is a full life.

Proverbs 15:33 - Humility and reverence for the Lord will     make you both wise and honored.

September 4 2016 When Only A Miracle Will Do

WHEN ONLY A MIRACLE WILL DO

A Time To Build

1. Admit we have a need.

Mark 6:34-37 - When Jesus saw a large crowd, He had compassion on them, so He began teaching them.  By this time it was late in the day, so His disciple came and said, ‘This is a remote place. Send the people away so they can go and buy something to eat.’  But Jesus answered, ‘You give them something to eat!’ They said, ‘That would take eight months of a man’s wages!’

2.  Assess our ability.

Mark 6:38 - How many loaves do you have? Jesus asked, ‘Go and see.’  When thy found out, they said, ‘Five small loaves of bread and two fish.’

John 6:6 - Jesus asked this only to test them, for He already had in mind what He was going to do.

3.  Give God the resources we have.

Mark 6:41 - Jesus took the five loaves and the two fish.  He blessed the food and broke the loaves and He kept giving them to the disciples to set before the people.

The boy gave what he had, willingly, cheerfully and immediately.

4.  Expect Him to expand it.

Mark 6:42-43 - Everyone ate and had enough.  Afterwards they collected 12 baskets full of leftovers!

Mark 10:27 - All things are possible with God.

EXPECT FOUR THINGS

1.  Expect us to grow spiritually.

2 Corinthians 8:7 - You are growing in faith, in speaking, in knowledge, in truly wanting to help, and in the love you learned from us.  In the same way, be strong also in the grace of giving.

2.  Expect greater fellowship.

1 Peter 3:8 - You should be like one big happy family.

Acts 2:47 – Enjoying the favor of all people.

3. Expect great worship and celebration.

Psalm 95:2 - Let us come before Him with thanksgiving.

4.  Expect a challenge to sell out to God.

2 Corinthians 8:5 - They first gave themselves unreservedly to God.  Then the other giving simply flowed out of the purposes of God working in their lives.

June 5 2016 Releasing The Passion Of Love

RELEASING THE PASSION OF LOVE

John 13:34 – A new commandment I give you, Love One Another, as I have loved you, so you must love one another.

John 13:15 – I have given you an example to follow, do as I have done to you.

1. Accept others like Jesus accepts me (acceptance.)

John 6:37 – All that the Father gives me will come to me and whoever comes to me I will never drive away.

Psalm 27:10 – Even if my Mother and Father forsake me, the Lord will receive me.

Romans 15:7 – Accept one another then, just as Christ accepted you.

Romans 12:2 – We must bear the burden of being considerate of the doubts and fears of others.

ACTION STEP: This week I will show acceptance to ??????????.

2. Value others like Jesus values me.

Luke 12:6-7 – Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? Yet not one of them is forgotten by God. Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Don't be afraid, you are worth more than many sparrows.

Value depends on who made it.

1 Timothy 4:4 – Everything God created is good and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving.

Ephesians 2:10 – For we are God's workmanship created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

Value depends on what people will pay for something.

1 Peter 1:19 – He paid for you with the precious life blood of Christ, the sinless, spotless lamb of God.

Isaiah 49:15-16 – Can a Mother forget the baby at her breast and have no compassion on the child she has borne? Though she may forget, I will not forget you.  See I have engraved you on the palms of my hand.
    
1 Peter 2:17 – Treat everyone you meet with dignity.

Mark 10:21 – Jesus looked at him and loved him.

Action Step: This week I will affirm the value of ??????????.

3. Forgive others like Jesus forgives me.

Isaiah 43:25 – I am the God who forgive your sins and I do this because of who I am.  I will not hold your sins against you.
    
Romans 8:1 – There is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.

2 Corinthians 2:7 – You ought to forgive and comfort him, so that he will not be overwhelmed with excessive sorrow.

Ephesians 4:32 – Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgives.

ACTION STEP: This week I will offer forgiveness to ??????????.

4. Believe in others like Jesus believes in me.

Mark 9:23 – Everything is possible for him who believes.

1 Corinthians 13:7 – If you love someone, you will be loyal to him no matter what the cost.  You will always believe in him, l always expect the best of him, and always stand your ground in defending him.

Romans 1:12 – I want us to help each other with the Faith we have.

Hebrews 10:24 – Let us consider how we may spur one another on towards love and good deeds.

ACTION STEP: This week I will demonstrate trust in ???????????.
    
Ephesians 3:18 – May you have the power to understand as all God's people should.  How wide, how long, how deep His love really is.