March 26 & April 2 2017 The Kind Of Work God Blesses

THE KIND OF WORK GOD BLESSES

Prov. 22:29 "When you see people skilled in their work, you know that they will end up standing before kings, not working for ordinary people."

SEVEN KEYS TO SUCCEEDING AT WORK

1. Start working enthusiastically wherever I am.

Memory Verse: Eccl. 9:10 (NIV)"Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might."

Three Things To Remember

1. This is a test from God.

Luke 16:10-12(NIV)"Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much... But if you have not been trustworthy with someone else’s property, who will give you property of your own?"

2. God is watching.

3. My attitude determines my joy.

Proverbs 12:24 (MSG) "The diligent find freedom in their work, while the lazy are oppressed by work"

Rom. 12:11 (NLT)"Never be lazy in your work, but serve the Lord enthusiastically."

2. Understand who I'm really working for.

Col. 3:23-24 (NLT)"Work hard and cheerfully at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people. Remember that the Lord will give you an inheritance as your reward, and the Master you are serving is Christ."

I Cor. 10:31 (NIV)"So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it allfor the glory of God."

3. Concentrate on building my character.

Rom. 5:3-4 (NLT)"We can rejoice when we run into problems and trials, because we know that they are good for us- they help us learn to endure. And endurance develops strength of character in us, and character strengthens our confident expectation of salvation."

Prov. 12:24 (CEV) Work hard, and you will be a leader; be lazy, and you will end up a slave.

4. Care about those I work with.

1 Cor. 16:14 (NLT)"Everything you do must be done with love."

Eph. 4:2 (TLB)"Be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other's ftiults because of your love. "

5. Exceed what is expected of me.

Col. 3:22 (MSG)"Servants, do what you're told by your earthly masters. And don't just do the minimum that will get you by. Do your best."

Matt. 5:41 (NIV)"If someone demands you to go one mile, go with him two miles."

6. Expand my skills with continual learning.

Eccl. 10:10 (NIV)"If the ax is dull and its edge unsharpened, more strength is needed but skill will bring success."

Prov.19:8 (TEV)"Do yourself a favor and learn all you can; then remember what you learn and you will prosper."

7. Dedicate my work to be used for God's purposes.

Eph. 1:3 (TEV)"We are Christ's ambassadors; and God is using us to speak to you. We urge you, as though Christ himself were here pleading with you, 'Be reconciled to God! "

2 Cor. 5:20 (NLT)"Let us give thanks to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! For in our union with Christ he has blessed us by giving us every spiritual blessing in the heavenly world."

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.

April 10 2016 The Cure For Your "I" Problem

THE CURE FOR YOUR "I" PROBLEM

James 4:6 "God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.

Good pride = Self-respect, dignity, satisfaction with a job well done. Joy in seeing others succeed. (Gal. 6:4, 2 Cor.7:4)

Bad pride = Conceit, egotism, selfishness. Attitude of superiority, (Prov. 16:5, 18, 29-33)

I. HOW PRIDE CAUSES PROBLEMS

1. IT PREVENTS ME FROM GROWING.

Proverbs 26:12"There is more hope for a fool than for a man who is wise in his own eyes, "

Proverbs 10:17 (LB)"Anyone willing to be corrected is on the pathway to life. Anyone refusing has lost his chance.

2. IT POISONS MY RELATIONSHIPS

Proverbs 13: 10"Pride only breeds quarrels."

Matthew 7:5"Take the log out of your own eye first, and then you will be able to see and take the speck out of your brother's eye. "

3. IT PRODUCES STRESS AND ANXIETY

Proverbs 29:25 (GN)"It is dangerous to be concerned with what others think of you

Proverbs 20:27 (GN) The Lord gave us a mind and conscience. We cannot hide from ourselves."

Matthew 5:5 (GN)"Happy are the humble! "

II HOW TO BE HUMBLE AND HAPPY

1. ADMIT MY WEAKNESSES HONESTLY

Proverbs 28: 1 3 (LB)"A man who refuses to admit his mistakes can never be successful. But if he confesses and forsakes them, he gets another chance. "

2. EVALUATE MY STRENGTHS REALISTICALLY

Romans 12:3 (Ph)"Don't cherish exaggerated ideas of yourself or your importance, but try to have a sane estimate of your capabilities. - - "

Galatians 6:4"Each man should test his own actions. Then he can take pride in himself without comparing himself to somebody else."

3. ENJOY MY SUCCESSES GRATEFULLY

1 Corinthians 4:7 (LB)"What are you so puffed up about? What do you have that God hasn't given you? And if all you, have is from God, why act as though you have accomplished something on your own?"

4. SERVE OTHERS UNSELFISHLY.

Philippians 2:3-5"Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility, consider others better than yourselves... Look not only to your own interests, but also the interests of others. Your attitude should be the same as that of Jesus Christ."

5. HUMBLE MYSELF VOLUNTARILY

James 4:10 Humble yourselves before the Lord and He will lift -you up.

January 31 2016 Let's Get Going

LET’S GET GOING

Matthew 28:16-20

Five observations about ministry:

1. They needed to let God in before going.

Acts 1:4-14 – Ver. 5 – In a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.

2. Their ministry was beyond their abilities.

Zechariah 4:6-9

How we live beyond our means:
(a) Great works are always done by God’s Spirit.
(b) Through us.
(c) To glorify God.

3.  Ministry strengthened by unity and commitment.

Acts 2:42-47

Coming together is the beginning of Ministry.

Learning together is the progress of Ministry.

Ministering together is true success.

4. Their Ministry was not problem free.

Problems:

• They had chosen the wrong leader. Acts 1:23-26
• Accused of drunkenness. Acts 2:13-15
• Some credited the miracles to leaders. Acts 3:11-12
• Some hated the Gospel. Acts 4:1-4
• Some in the Church were deceitful. Acts 5:1-5
• Some were jealous of the Church’s success. Acts 5:17
• Some people felt neglected. Acts 6:1

5.Their Ministries expanded until others were needed.

LAY MINISTRY COMMISSION

Congregation unison:
And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ; until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ. (Ephesians 4)

Pastor Galen:

Realizing our responsibility to equip you for the ministry, I, as pastor of Great Plains Community Church commit myself to this task by standing:
    Before you as a Model of Ministry;
    Among you as a Teacher of Ministry;
    Behind you on Encouragement in Ministry.

Congregation unison:
Understanding our responsibility to use our gifts for the glory of God, we commit ourselves to this task by standing:
    Before God in consecration of these gifts;
    Among each other in the using of these gifts;
    Behind our Pastor in his oversight of these gifts.

Congregation unison:
Together Pastor and People, we commit ourselves to Great Plains Community Church proclaiming the Word of God and we purpose to make Disciples of Christ by:
    Exalting God
    Encouraging Christians
    Equipping Christians for Ministry
    Evangelizing the World for Christ

I Thessalonians 5:24 - “Faithful is He who calls you, He also will bring it to pass.”

December 6 2015 Succeeding At Work

Succeeding At Work

Proverbs 16:3 (LB) "Commit your work to the Lord, then it will succeed

1. Seek GOD’S DIRECTION

Proverbs 15:8 (GN) "The Lord is pleased when good men pray”

Proverbs 16:20 (NAB) "He who plans a thing will be successful.”

Proverbs 13:16 (LB) “A wise man thinks ahead,- a fool doesn't, and even brags about it. "

2. Sharpen YOUR SKILLS

Ecclesiastes 10:10 "If your axe is dull, and its edge unsharpened, more strength is needed, but skill will bring success

Proverbs 15:22 (GN) "Get all the advice you can, and you will succeed, without it you will fail."

3. Share THE PROFIT

Proverbs 3:9-10 (LB) "Honor the Lord by giving Him the first part of all your income, and he will fill your barns.. to overflow! "

4. Stay WITH IT

Proverbs 12:24 (NEB) "Diligence brings a man to power."

Proverbs 21:5 (LB) "Steady plodding brings prosperity."

Memory Verse: Colossians 3:24 (GN) "Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men ...Remember that the Lord will reward you. . . for Christ is the real master you serve.