December 27 2015 Missions Is Giving

MISSIONS IS GIVING

John 3:16 – For God so love the world that He gave His one and only Son.

• Missions requires giving yourself in Christian living.

Matthew 5:16 – Let your light shine before men that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.

Matthew 5:13 – You are the salt of the earth.

Ephesians 5:18 – Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery, instead be filled with the Holy Spirit.

• Missions is giving a personal witness.

Mark 1:17 – Come, follow me, Jesus said, and I will make you fishers of men.

• Missions is giving our life.

Matthew 16:24 – If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow Me.

Luke 10:41 – Mary has chosen what is better.

Matthew 28:19 – Therefore go and make disciples of all nations.

The Benefit Of Giving

Luke 6:38 – Jesus said, give and it will be given to you, for with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you.

• Giving makes us more like God.
• Giving draws us closer to God.

Matthew 6:21 – For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

• Giving gives me victory over materialism.
• Giving strengthens my faith.

Proverbs 3:5-9 – Trust in the Lord with all your heart, honor the Lord by giving Him the first part of all your income and He will fill your barns to over-flowing.

• Giving is an investment for eternity.

Jesus said, store up your treasures in heaven.

2 Corinthians 8:5 – They first gave themselves to the Lord.

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 12 2015 Determining My Life's Work

Determining My Life's Work

“If you need wisdom—if you want to know what God wants you to do—ask him, and he will gladly tell you. He will not resent your asking.” — James 1:5

Four Questions To Determine My Life’s Work

WHAT does God want?

“Now listen, you who say, ‘Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.’ Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. . . Instead, you ought to say, ‘If it is the Lord's will, we will live and do this or that.’” — James 4:13-15

WHAT am I good at?

“I (God) have given him the skill, ability, and knowledge to do all kinds of work.”— Exodus 31:3

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

WHAT is in front of me?

“Whatever presents itself for you to do, do it with all your might.” — Ecclesiastes 9:10

“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

“His master replied, ‘Good job! You're a good and faithful servant! You proved that you could be trusted with a small amount. I will put you in charge of a large amount. Come and share your master's happiness.’” — Matthew 25:23

WHAT is my life’s ministry?

Memory Verse: ““Jesus replied, ‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. A second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’” — Matthew 22:37-39

“You are the salt of the earth. . .You are the light of the world—like a city on a mountain, glowing in the night for all to see.” — Matthew 5:13-14

“It is not that we think we can do anything of lasting value by ourselves. Our only power and success come from God.” — 2 Corinthians 3:5

January 19 2014 The Great Influence

The Great Influence 

Matthew 5:13
4 Pillars of Truth

1. Christian influence is a positive force.
Verse 13 – You are the salt of the earth.

• Salt preserves
• Salt makes people thirsty

Matthew 23:4 – (Jesus) They crush people with impossible religious commands and never lift a finger to ease the burden.

2. Christian influence is permanent.
Verse 13 – But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again?

John 17:15-16 – My prayer is not that you take them out of the world, but that you protect them from the evil one. They are not of the world.

3. Christian influence is precious.
1 Corinthians 1:27-28 – But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise, God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. He chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things and the things that are not to nullify the things that are.

Genesis 2:7 – And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life.

1 Samuel 17:40 – He took a staff in his hand; choose five smooth stones from the stream.

Luke 2:7 – She gave birth to her first-born, a Son, she wrapped in clothes and laid Him in a manger.

4. Christian influence must be planned.
Romans 12:1 – Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, Holy and pleasing to God.

Prayer:
Lord take my life and make it wholly thine,
Fill my poor heart with Thy great Love Divine,
Take all my will, my passion, self and pride,
I now surrender, Lord in me abide.

October 17 2010 The Power Of Christian Influence

The Power Of Christian Influence

(Matthew 5:13-14 - "You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men. You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden.")

Four Pillars of Truth

1. Christian influence is a positive force

(Verse 13 - You are the salt of the earth.)

• Salt preserves
• Salt makes people thirsty

(Matthew 23:4 - They tie up heavy loads and put them on men's shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to lift a finger to move them.)

2. Christian influence is a permanent force

(Verse 13 - But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again?)

(John 17:15-16 - My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. They are not of the world, even as I am not of it.)

3. Christian influence has a precious influence

(1 Corinthians 1:27-28 - But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. He chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are)

(Genesis 2:7 - the LORD God formed the man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being.)

(1 Samuel 17:40 - Then he took his staff in his hand, chose five smooth stones from the stream)

(Luke 2:7 - and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger)

4. Christian influence must be planned

(Romans 12:1 - Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God)