September 20 2015 Game On: How To Activate My Gifts

How To Activate My Gifts

“Jesus prayed to the Father: ‘In the same way that you gave me a mission in the world, I give them a mission in the world.’” - John 17:18

Memory Verse: “A spiritual gift is given to each of us as a means of helping the entire church.” - 1 Corinthians 12:7

HOW TO ACTIVATE MY GIFTS:

1. BE THANKFUL THAT GOD HAS GIVEN ME GIFTS.

“God has made us what we are. In Christ Jesus, God made us to do good works, which God planned in advance for us to live our lives doing.” - Ephesians 2:10

2. BE PROACTIVE  IN DISCOVERING MY GIFTS.

“God has given each of you a gift from his great variety of spiritual gifts. Use them well to serve one another.” - 1 Peter 4:10

SPIRITUAL GIFTS SELECTION

• Administration (organizing) 
• Pioneering (new works)
• Discernment
• Evangelism
• Encouraging
• Faith (high trust in God)
• Giving (financial) 
• Hospitality
• Leadership
• Mercy
• Shepherding (care) 
• Serving / Helping
• Teaching
• Wisdom / Counseling

“Do not neglect the spiritual gift you received.” - 1 Timothy 4:14

3. BE QUICK TO USE MY GIFTS.

“Give to others, and God will give to you…The measure you use for others is the one that God will use for you.” - Luke 6:38

“So, my dear brothers and sisters, be strong and steady, always enthusiastic about the Lord's work, for you know that nothing you do for the Lord is ever wasted.” - 1 Corinthians 15:58

4. BE DILIGENT  IN USING MY GIFTS TO SERVE OTHERS.

“If your gift is that of serving others, serve them well. If you are a teacher, do a good job of teaching. If your gift is to encourage others, do it! If you have money, share it generously. If God has given you leadership ability, take the responsibility seriously. And if you have a gift for showing kindness to others, do it gladly.” - Romans 12:7-8

“Instead, give yourselves completely to God, for you were dead, but now you have new life. So use your whole body as an instrument to do what is right for the glory of God.” - Romans 6:1

July 27 2014 Finding My Significance Through Service

Finding My Significance Through Service 

God on Film Part 5

Memory Verse: Ephesians 2:10 (NIV)“We are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”

Job 10:8 (NIV) “Your hands shaped me and made me.”

Spiritual Gifts

• Heart
• Abilities
• Personality
• Experiences

1 Peter 4:10 (NIV) “Each one should use whatever gift he’s received to serve others.”

Matthew 20:28 (LB) Jesus: “Your attitude must be like My Own, for I did not come to be served, but to serve...”

LEARNING TO SERVE LIKE JESUS

1. SERVING LIKE JESUS MEANS BEING AVAILABLE.

Matthew 20:30-32 (NIV) “Two blind men... shouted, ‘Lord, have mercy on us!’ ... Jesus stopped and called them. ‘What do you want Me to do for you?’ He asked.”

Proverbs 3:28 (TEV) “Never tell your neighbors to wait until tomorrow if you can help them now.”

1st Barrier: SELF-CENTEREDNESS

Philippians 2:4 (MSG)“Forget yourselves long enough to lend a helping hand.”

2nd Barrier: PERFECTIONISM

Ecclesiastes 11:4 (NLT)“If you wait for perfect conditions, you’ll never get anything done.”

3rd Barrier: MATERIALISM

Luke 16:13 (NIV)“No servant can serve two masters... You cannot serve both God and money."

2. SERVING LIKE JESUS MEANS BEING THANKFUL

John 11:41-42 (NIV) “Jesus looked up and said, ‘Father, I thank you that you have heard Me. I knew that you always hear Me, but I said this for the benefit of the people standing here...’"

Psalms 100:2 (KJV) “Serve the Lord with gladness.”

2 Timothy 1:9 (LB) “It is He who saved us and chose us for His holy work not because we deserved it but because that was His plan...”

1st Barrier: COMPARING & CRITICIZING

Romans 14:4 (GW)“Who are you to criticize someone else's servant? The Lord will determine whether His servant has been successful.”

2nd Barrier: WRONG MOTIVATIONS

Matthew 6:1 (CEV) “When you do good deeds, don't try to show off. If you do, you won't get a reward from your Father in heaven.”

April 6 2014 God's Strategy For Reducing Stress

God's Strategy For Reducing Stress

Philippians 4:4-9

Vs 4: 4Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!

Philippians 4:6-9"Don't be anxious about anything but in everything by prayer and petition with thanksgiving, present your requests to God and the peace of God which transcends all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus." Then he says, "Finally whatever is true and noble and right and pure and lovely and admirable, think about such things 9Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.

1. STEP ONE: WORRY ABOUT NOTHING!

vs. 6a "Do not be anxious about anything..."

(Amp)"Do not fret or have any anxiety..."

The facts about worry:

• 40 % never happen
• 30 % concern the past
• 12 % needless health concerns
• 10 % insignificant/petty issues
• 8 % are legitimate concerns

Memory Verse: Matthew 6:34 "Therefore, do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough troubles of its own."

Key: Live one day at a time

2. STEP TWO: PRAY ABOUT EVERYTHING.

Vs. 6b... but in everything, by prayer and petition with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.

"Petition": A specific, detailed, direct prayer

(Ph)"When you pray, tell God every detail of your needs."

1 Peter 5:7 (JB)"Unload all your worries on Him since He is looking after you!"

1 Peter 5:7 (Ph) You can throw the whole weight of your anxieties upon Him, for you are His personal concern!"

James 4:2 "... You do not have, because you do not ask God."

Insight: No problem is too big or too small to pray about

3. STEP THREE: THANK GOD IN ALL THINGS.

vs. 6b (GN)"... in everything (pray) ... with thanksgiving..."always asking Him with a thankful heart."

1 Thessalonians 5:18 "Give thanks in all circumstances for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus."

Insight: Even out of bad God can bring good.

4. STEP FOUR: I THINK ABOUT THE RIGHT THINGS.

v. 8"Finally, brothers, whatever is true ... noble... right... pure... lovely... admirable.... If anything is excellent or praise worthy -- think about such things."

(JB) "...fill your mind with those things..."

The root cause of stress:

Proverbs 23:7 (KJV) "As a man thinks in his heart, so is he."

The Result: Peace of mind

Vs. 7 (LB)"If you do this, you will experience, God's Peace, which is far more wonderful than the human mind can understand. His peace will keep your thoughts and your heart quiet and at rest as you trust in Christ Jesus."

October 13 2013 Building A Life Of Faith

BUILDING A LIFE OF FAITH

Heb. 11:6 – Without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to Him must believe He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him.

FAITH IS...

1.  Believing when I don't see it.
Heb. 11:1 – Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.

2.  Obeyingwhen I don't understand it.
Heb. 11:7 – It was by faith that Noah built an ark to save his family from the flood.  He obeyed God, who warned him about something that had never happened before.

Heb. 11-8 – It was faith that made Abraham obey when God called him and go out to a country God had promised to him.  He left his own country without knowing where he was going.

3.  Giving when I don't have it.
Heb. 11:4 – It was faith that made Abel's offering to God a better sacrifice than Cain's.  Through his faith God approved of his giving.

II Cor. 8:2-3 – Because of their great joy, they gave even more than they could afford.

II Cor. 4:6 & 8 – Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, but whoever sows generously will reap generously.  And God will generously provide all you need.  Then you will always have everything you need and plenty left over to share with others.

4.  Persisting when I don't feel like it.
Heb. 11:27 – It was by faith that Moses left Egypt and was not afraid of the King's anger.  He held to his purpose like a man who could see the invisible.

5. Thanking God before I receive it.
Heb. 11:30 – By faith the walls of Jericho fell, after the people had marched around them for seven days.

Mark 11:24 – When you pray and ask for something, believe that you have received it and you will be given what you ask for.

6. Trusting if I don't get it.
Heb. 11: 39-40 – They were all commended for their faith yet none of them received what had been promised.  God had planned something better.

HOW GOD BUILDS MY FAITH

Rom. 10:17 – Faith comes from hearing the Word of God.

I Peter 1:7 – These trials are only to test your faith, and your faith is far more precious to God than mere gold, it will bring you much praise and honor on the day of His return.

June 9 2013 How To Release Your Stress

HOW TO RELEASE YOUR STRESS
Philippians 4:4-8
Verse 4 - May you always be joyful in your life in the Lord.  I say it again, rejoice!!
FOUR STRESS RELIEVERS

I.  Step one:  Worry about nothing. 
1.  Verse 6 - Do not be anxious about anything.
Amp. - Do not fret or have any anxiety.

WORRY:  Assuming responsibility that God never intendedfor me to have.

Research on worry
40% never happens
30% concerns the past
12% needless about health
10% petty issues
8% legitimate concerns

2.  Matt. 6:34 - (Jesus) Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself.  Each day has enough troubles of its own.

Insight:  Live one day at a time.

II.  Step two:  Pray about everything.

1. Verse 6b - But in everything by prayer and petition with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.
Petition:  Make request specific or detailed.
Phillips translation says, When you pray, tell God every detail of your needs.




2.  I Peter 5:7 - Unload all your worries on Him since He is looking after you.

The Phillips translation says, You can throw the whole weight of your anxiety upon Him, for you are His personal concern.

Insight:  No problem that is too big for God’s power or to small for God’s concern.

III.  Step three:  Thank God for all things.

1.  Verse 6 b - In everything, with thanksgiving, again, always asking Him with a thankful heart.

2.  I Thess. 5:18 - Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

Insight:  There is always something to be grateful for regardless of our situation.

IV.  Step four:  Think about the right things.

1.  Verse 8 - Finally, brothers, whatever is true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, if anything is excellent or praiseworthy, think about such things.

The root cause of stress is the way you think.

Insight:  Whatever I think about is what I’m becoming.

THE RESULT

Verse 7 - If you do this you will experience God’s peace which is far more wonderful than the human mind can understand.  His peace will keep your thoughts and your heart quiet and at rest as you trust in Christ Jesus.