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.”

March 1 2015 Thirty Days To A No Regrets Life part 2

Thirty Days to a No-Regrets Life (Part 2)

Mark 12:30 (Msg)"So love the Lord God with all your passion and prayer and intelligence and energy."

Romans 12:11 (NIV)"Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord."

1. DO SOMETHING DRASTIC

Luke 5:18-20; 24-26 (NIV)"Some men came carrying a paralytic on a mat and tried to take him into the house to lay him before Jesus. When they could not find a way to do this because of the crowd, they went up on the roof and lowered him on his mat through the tiles into the middle of the crowd, right in front of Jesus. When Jesus saw their faith, He said, 'Friend, your sins are forgiven... But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins... He said to the paralyzed man, 'I tell you, get up, take your mat and go home. 'Immediately he stood up in front of them, took what he had been lying on and went home praising God. Everyone was amazed and gave praise to God. They were filled with awe and said, 'We have seen remarkable things today.'"

The Clarifying Question: "If you knew you had one month to live, how would you live your life?"

Realize what's important

Remove the obstacles

2. EXPECT THE UNEXPECTED

Luke 5:20 (NIV)"When Jesus saw their faith, He said, 'Friend, your sins are forgiven.

3. CREATE GOD SPACE

Luke 5:19b (NIV)"... into the middle of the crowd, right in front of Jesus."

Mark 1 :35-38a (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. Simon and his companions went to look for Him, and when they found Him, they exclaimed: 'Everyone is looking for You!' Jesus replied, 'Let us go somewhere else.

Proverbs 10:27 (LB)"Reverence for God adds hours to each day”

4. KEEP A CONSTANT REMINDER

Luke 5:24b (NIV)"... He said to the paralyzed man, 'I tell you, get up, take your mat and go home.'''

Luke 5:25 (NIV)"Immediately he stood up in front of them, took what he had been lying on and went home

Psalm 46:10 (NIV)"Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth."

January 4 2015 Getting Unstuck In My Faith

GETTING UNSTUCK IN MY FAITH

PETER’S STORY OF GETTING UNSTUCK
John 13:38; 18:25-27; 21:1-19

“And just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glorious power of the Father, now we also may live new lives.” – Romans 6:4

HOW TO GET UNSTUCK IN MY FAITH
( 3 LESSONS FROM PETER’S STORY )
JOHN 21:1-12

1.  Admit THAT I AM Stuck.

“Later, Jesus appeared again to the disciples beside the Sea of Galilee.  This is how it happened.  Several of the disciples were there - Simon Peter, Thomas. . . .  Simon Peter said, ‘I’m going fishing.’ ‘We’ll come, too,’ they all said.  So they went out in the boat, but they caught nothing all night.” – John 21:1-3

“When you bow down before the Lord and admit your dependence on him, he will lift you up and give you honor.” – James 4:10

2.  BE Open  TO God’s Voice.

“At dawn the disciples saw Jesus standing on the beach, but they couldn’t see who he was.  He called out, ‘Friends, have you caught any fish?’’  ‘No,’ they replied.  Then he said, ‘Throw out your net on the right-hand side of the boat, and you’ll get plenty of fish!’  So they did, and they couldn’t draw in the net because there were so many fish in it.” – John 21:4-6

“There is a path before each person that seems right, but it ends in death.”” – Proverbs 14:12

“‘My thoughts are completely different from yours,’’ says the LORD.  ‘And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine.’” – Isaiah 55:8

3.  Commit TO God’s Plan.

“Then the disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, ‘It is the Lord!’  When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his tunic (for he had stripped for work), jumped into the water, and swam ashore.  The others stayed with the boat. . . . When they  got there, they saw that a charcoal fire was burning and fish were frying over it, and there was bread. . . .  ‘Now come and have some breakfast!’ Jesus said.” – John 21:7-12

“‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ says the LORD. ‘They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.’” – Jeremiah 29:11

Definition of UNSTUCK: Moving forward in my life because I am willing to give God complete control.

Unstuck is simply moving forward in my life because I’m willing to give God

Memory Verse: “And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God.  Let them be a living and holy sacrifice - the kind he will accept. When you think of what he has done for you, is this too much to ask?  Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think.  Then you will know what God wants you to do, and you will know how good and pleasing and perfect his will really is.” – Romans 12:1-2

September 26 2010 The Magic Of Christ's Presence

The Magic of Christ's Presence

(Mark 1:29-31 & 35 - As soon as they left the synagogue, they went with James and John to the home of Simon and Andrew. Simon's mother-in-law was in bed with a fever, and they told Jesus about her. So he went to her, took her hand and helped her up. The fever left her and she began to wait on them. 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.)

When Christ was present, the impossible seemed to always happen.

1. His presence will bring serenity & calmness to your life

(Verse 31 - So he went to her, took her hand and helped her up. The fever left her and she began to wait on them.)

2. His presence will bring strength to your life

(Verse 31 - took her hand and helped her up)

(Philippians 3:10 - I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death)

(Philippians 4:13 - I can do everything through him who gives me strength.)

3. His presence gives us a heart for service

(Verse 31 - she began to wait on them)

4. His presence gives us good Christian friends

(Verse 31 - on them)

5. His presence is a life changing presence

(Verse 35 - 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.)