February 21 2016 The Word Of Comfort

THE WORD OF COMFORT

John 19:25-27

Verse 26 – Dear woman here is your Son and to the disciple here is your Mother.

Isaiah 40:1 – Comfort, comfort my people, says your God.

1. Comfort in suffering.

2 Corinthians 1:5 – For just as the sufferings of Christ flow over into our lives, so also through Christ our comfort over flows.

Romans 5:5 – God has poured His love into our hearts by The Holy Spirit Whom He has given to us.

Philippians 2:5 – Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus.

1 Peter 4:1 – Since Christ suffered and underwent pain, you must have the same attitude He did.  You must be ready to suffer too.

Exodus 20:12 – Honor thy Father and thy Mother.

2. Comfort in sorrow.

Verse 26 – Here is your Son.

2 Timothy 4:9-10 – Do your best to come to me quickly, for Demas, because he loved this world, has deserted me.

John 14:16 – I will give you another counselor. (Comforter)

Luke 1:38 – I am the Lord’s servant; may it be to me as you have said.

3. Comfort in service.

Verse 27 – Here is your Mother.

Matthew 28:20 – And surely I will be with you always.

Romans 15:3 – Each of us should please his neighbor, for it’s good to build him up.

REMEMBER IF YOU ARE IN PAIN

• Jesus cares about your pain.
• Don’t handle pain alone.
• Find someone to help.
• Look up to Jesus.

December 7 2014 The Christmas Tradition Of Celebration

“That night some shepherds were in the fields outside the village, guarding their flocks of sheep. , an angel of the Lord appeared among them, and the radiance of the Lord's glory surrounded them.   They were terribly frightened, but the angel reassured them. ‘Don't be afraid!’ he said. ‘I bring you good news of great joy for everyone!   Savior – yes, the Messiah, the Lord – has been born tonight in Bethlehem, the city of David! this is how you will recognize him: You will find a baby lying in a manger, wrapped snugly in strips of cloth!’ , the angel was joined by a vast host of others – the armies of heaven – praising God: ‘Glory to God in the highest heaven, and peace on earth to all whom God favors.’ the  angels had returned to heaven, the shepherds said to each other, ‘Come on, let's go to Bethlehem! Let's see this wonderful thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.’ ran to the village and found Mary and Joseph. And there was the baby, lying in the manger.  The shepherds told everyone what had happened and what the angel had said to them about this child. who heard the shepherds' story were astonished, but Mary quietly treasured these things in her heart and thought about them often. shepherds  went back to their fields and flocks, glorifying and praising God for  what the angels had told them, and because they had seen the child, just as the angel had said.” – Luke 2:8-20

"Look at my Servant, whom I have chosen. He is my Beloved, and I am very pleased with him. I will put my Spirit upon him, and he will proclaim justice to the nations. He will not fight or shout; he will not raise his voice in public. will not crush those who are weak, or quench the smallest hope, until he brings full justice with his final  victory. And his name will be the hope of all the world."   – Matthew 12:18-21

FOUR WAYS TO CELEBRATE MY HOPE THIS CHRISTMAS…

1. HAVE A TIME TO FOCUS ON JESUS

“They (the shepherds) ran to the village and found Mary and Joseph.  And there was the baby, lying in the manger.”  
– Luke 2:16

““He came into the very world he created, but the world didn’t recognize him.  He came to his own people, and even they rejected him.  But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God.  They are reborn—not with a physical birth resulting from human passion or plan, but a birth that comes from God.” – John 1:10-13

2. OPEN MY EYES TO THOSE HURTING AROUND ME

“Don't be selfish; don't live to make a good impression on others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourself. Don't think only about your own  affairs, but be interested in others, too, and what they are doing.  attitude should be the same that Christ Jesus had.”” – Philippians 2:3-5

“It's criminal to ignore a neighbor in need, but compassion for the poor - what a blessing!” – Proverbs 14:21

3. PUT TOGETHER A BROKEN RELATIONSHIP

“So if you are standing before the altar in the Temple, offering a sacrifice to God, and you suddenly remember that someone has something against you, leave your sacrifice there beside the altar. Go and be reconciled to that person. Then come and offer your sacrifice to God.” – Matthew 5:23-24
    
““Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must  clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.  Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others.”  – Colossians 3:12-13

4. ENJOY GOD’S BLESSINGS

Let the message about Christ, in all its richness, fill your lives. Teach and counsel each other with all the wisdom he gives. Sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs to God with thankful hearts.  And whatever you do or say, do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through him to God the Father.” – Colossians 3:16-17
 
Memory Verse: “No matter what happens, always be thankful, for this is God's will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.” – 1 Thessalonians 5:18

December 8 2013 Showing I Care For My Neighbors

Showing I Care For My Neighbors

(Open Before Christmas: Part 2)

(Jesus) “I assure you, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!” Matthew 25:40

“‘Teacher, of all the commandments, which is the most important?’ 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. All the other commandments and all the demands of the prophets are based on these two commandments.’” Matthew 22:36-40

“And who is my neighbor?” — Luke 10:29b

My Neighbor: SOMEONE WHO IS ON MY WAY.

FOUR STEPS TO LOVING MY NEIGHBOR

1. Ask GOD FOR A COMPASSIONATE HEART

“You must be compassionate, just as your Father is compassionate.” — Luke 6:36

“Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my thoughts.” — Psalm 139:23

2. Show GENUINE INTEREST.

“Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each other.” — Romans 12:10

3. Be ALERT TO NEEDS.

“Don't be misled: No one makes a fool of God. What a person plants, he will harvest. The person who plants selfishness, ignoring the needs of others - ignoring God - harvests a crop of weeds. All he'll have to show for his life is weeds! But the one who plants in response to God, letting God's Spirit do the growth work in him, harvests a crop of real life, eternal life.” — Galatians 6:7-8

“Don't worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done.” Philippians 4:6

4. Respond WITH COMPASSIONATE ACTION.

“Dear brothers and sisters, what's the use of saying you have faith if you don't prove it by your actions? That kind of faith can't save anyone. Suppose you see a brother or sister who needs food or clothing, and you say, ‘Well, good-bye and God bless you; stay warm and eat well’ – but then you don't give that person any food or clothing. What good does that do? So you see, it isn't enough just to have faith. Faith that doesn't show itself by good deeds is no faith at all – it is dead and useless.” James 2:14-17

"Do for others what you would like them to do for you. This is a summary of all that is taught in the law and the prophets." Matthew 7:12

Memory Verse: “Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples." — John 13:35

February 24 2013 How To Win The Respect Of Others

HOW TO WIN THE RESPECT OF OTHERS
Exodus 20:16

Verse 16 - You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor.
Prov. 17:7 - Respected people do not tell lies.

I.  First you win respect by not giving false testimony

TYPES OF FALSE TESTIMONY

1.  By gossip.
Definition:
Prov. 26:20 & 22 - Without wood a fire goes out, without gossip a quarrel dies.  The words of a gossip are like choice morsels, they go down to a man’s inmost parts.
Varieties:

2.  By slander.
Definition:
James 4:11 - Brothers do not slander one another.  Anyone who speaks against his brother or judges him speaks against the Law.  There is only one Lawgiver and Judge.

3. By flattery.
Definition:
Prov. 26:28 - Flattery is a form of hatred and wounds cruelly.
Prov. 29:5 - Whoever flatters his neighbor is spreading a net for his feet.

II.  The way to win the respect of others:

1.  Examine your heart.
Jer. 17:9 - The heart is deceitful above all things.

MOTIVES FOR DISHONESTY
* Fear                
* Anger
* Pride
* Selfishness

2.  Think about honest things.
Phil. 4:8 - Whatever is true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, if anything is excellent or praiseworthy, think about such things. 

3.  Refuse to give or receive gossip.
Prov. 11:13 - A gossip goes around spreading rumors, while a trustworthy man tries to quiet them.

4.  Keep your promises.
Psalm 15:4-5 - He who keeps his oath even when it hurts, shall never be shaken.

5.  Be an encourager.
Ephesians 4:29 - Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouth, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.

T Is it True
H Is it Helpful
I Is it Inspiring
N Is it Necessary
K Is it Kind

Psalm 34:11 & 12 - If you love life and desire to see many good days, then keep your tongue from evil and your lips from speaking lies.

March 20 2011 The Word Of Comfort

THE WORD OF COMFORT

(John 19:25-27 - Near the cross of Jesus stood his mother, his mother's sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus saw his mother there, and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to his mother, "Dear woman, here is your son," and to the disciple, "Here is your mother." From that time on, this disciple took her into his home.)

(Verse 26 – Dear woman here is your Son and to the disciple here is your Mother.)

(Isa. 40:1 – Comfort, comfort my people, says your God.)

1. Comfort in times of great suffering.

(II Cor. 1:5 – For just as the sufferings of Christ flow over into our lives, so also through Christ our comfort over flows.)

(Romans 5:5 – God has poured His love into our hearts byThe Holy Spirit whom He has given to us.)

(Phil. 2:5 – Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus.)

(I Peter 4:1 – Since Christ suffered and underwent pain, you must have the same attitude He did. You must be ready to suffer too.)

(Exodus 20:12 – Honor thy Father and thy Mother.)

2. Comfort in times of sorrow.

(Verse 26 – Here is your Son.)

(II Timothy 4:9-10 – Do your best to come to me quickly, for Demas, because he loved this world, has deserted me.)

(John 14:16 – I will give you another counselor (comforter.))

(Luke 1:38 – I am the Lord’s servant, may it be to me as you have said.)

3. Comfort in times of service.

(Verse 27 – Here is your Mother.)

(Matt. 28:20 – And surely I will be with you always.)

(Romans 15:3 – Each of us should please his neighbor, for its good to build him up.)

REMEMBER IF YOU ARE IN PAIN

• Jesus cares about your pain
• Don’t try to handle it alone
• Find someone else to help
• Look up to Jesus