February 14 2016 Daring To Commit

DARING TO COMMIT

Romans 6:13 (LB) "Give yourselves completely to God—every part of you—for you have been brought back to life, and you want to be tools in the hands of God, used for his good purposes."

FIVE COMMITMENTS

1. TO STRENGTHEN MY FAITH . . .

I MUST unite with others in worship

Isaiah 40:31 "Those who wait on the Lord will renew their strength; they will mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk and not faint."

Psalm 100:2 (NLT) "Worship the Lord with gladness! Come before him, singing with joy!"

2. TO DISCOVER MY IDENTITY & PURPOSE . . .

I MUST connect with others in fellowship

Romans 12:4­5 (Mes)"We are like the various parts of a human body. Each part gets its meaning from Christ’s Body as a whole, not the other way around. Each of us finds our meaning and function as a part of his body. But as a chopped­off finger or cut­off toe we wouldn’t amount to much, would we?"

Ephesians 2:16 (Mes) "Christ brought us together through his death on the Cross. The Cross got us to embrace, and that was the end of the hostility."

2 Corinthians 5:18­-19 (NIV) "Now God had reconciled us to himself through Christ and has given us the ministry of reconciliation...and the message of reconciliation."

3. TO DEVELOP MY POTENTIAL . . .

I MUST learn from others to grow

Ephesians 4:16 (NLT)"Christ’s Body is fitted TOGETHER perfectly. As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow . . ."

4. TO EXPERIENCE SIGNIFICANCE . . .

I MUST serve with others in ministry

1 Peter 4:10 (NCV) "Each of you has received a gift to use to serve others. Be good Servants of God’s various gifts of grace."

Mark 8:35 (NLT) "If you try to keep your life for yourself, you will lose it. But if you give your life for my sake and for the sake of the Good News, you will find true life."

Ecclesiastes 4:9­-12 (NCV & LB) "Two people are always better than one, because they get more done by working TOGETHER. If one falls down, the other can help him up. But it is bad for the person who is alone and falls, because no one is there to help. If two lie down TOGETHER, they can share the same blanket and stay warm, but a person alone will not be warm. An enemy might defeat one person, but two people TOGETHER can defend themselves. And a rope that is woven of three braids is hard to break."

WHEN WE WORK TOGETHER . . .

• WE maximize our impact (vs 9)
• WE minimize our failure (vs 10)
• WE mobilize our resources (vs 11)

Memory Verse: Matthew 25:40 (NIV) "I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these, you did for me."

5. TO MAKE AN ETERNAL DIFFERENCE . . .

I MUST join with others on mission

Matthew 28:19­-20 (NIV)"Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to do everything I have commanded you. And surely I will be with you . . ."

January 3 2016 Winning Through Encouragement

Winning Through Encouragement

Introduction:

• Assets make things possible.
• People make things happen.

It is important that people believe in their leader, but it is more important that the leader believes in the people.

Principles Jesus Models About Encouragement

1. Focus on the person’s potential not their past.

John 1:40-42 – The first thing Andrew did was to find his brother Simon and tell him “We have found the Messiah.”  Then he brought Simon to Jesus who looked at him and said, “You are Simon son of John.  You will be called Cephas.” (Which, being translated is Peter.)

2. Develop a relationship with people before you ask anything of them.

Matthew 4:18-20 – As Jesus was walking beside the sea He saw two brothers, Simon and Andrew.  They were casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen.  “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, and they left the boat and their father and followed him.

3. Be ready to help people when they stretch.

Matthew 14:28 – “Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.”  “Come,”  He said.

4. Give people recognition and responsibility.

Matthew 16:16 – Simon Peter answered, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.  On this Rock I will build my Church.”

5. Never give up on people.

Matthew 16:23 – The Lord tells Peter, “Out of my sight, Satan!  You are a stumbling block.”

Though you cannot go back and make a brand new start, my friend, you can start from now and make a brand new end!

6. Pray for others.

Luke 22:31-32 – “Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift you as wheat.  But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail.  And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.”

February 23 2014 How The Bible Changes Us

How The Bible Changes Us 

Psalm 33:6 “The Lord merely spoke and the heavens were created. He breathed the word and all the stars were born.”

John 6:63 “The words I have spoken to you are spirit and they are life.”

The Bible was not given to increase our knowledge; the Bible was given to change our lives. -D.L. Moody

SIX WAYS GOD WANTS TO CHANGE YOUR LIFE WITH IS WORD.

1. God’s Word recreates my life.

James 1:18 “He chose to give us birth through the word of truth…

1 Peter 1:23 “You have been born, again not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring Word of God.”

2. God’s Word eradicates my guilt.

1 John 1:9 “If we confess our sins to God he is faithful and just to forgive us and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

Romans 8:1 that says “There is now no condemnation no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.”

Ephesians 5:25-26 “Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the Word.”

3. God’s Word activates my faith.

Romans 10:17, “Faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the Word of Christ.” 2

Exodus 23:29-30

4. God’s Word stimulates my growth.

Acts 20:32 “I commit you to God and to the Word of his grace,which can build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified.”

2 Timothy 3:16-17“All Scripture is God-breathed, and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness, so that so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.”

5. God’s Word elevates my mood.

Romans 15:4 “Everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.”

6. God’s Word liberates my potential.

John 8:31-32 “If you continue in my Word, then you are truly disciples of Mine; and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free!”

HOW DO I GAIN THESE BENEFITS?

1. I’ve got to learn it.

Mark 12:24 “Your trouble is that you don’t know the Scriptures…”

Proverbs 14:12 “There’s a way that seems right to men but it always ends in death.”

2. I have to accept it.

1 Thessalonians 2:13 “When you received the Word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men, but as it actually is, – the Word of God, which is at work in you who believe.”

3. I have to act on it.

John 13:17 “Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.” 3

Memory Verse: Psalm 119:18. Open my eyes that I may see wonderful things in your law.”