May 10 2015 Freedom In Communication

FREEDOM IN COMMUNICATION

Proverbs 15:2 – When wise men speak, they make knowledge attractive.

SEVEN STEPS TO FREEDOM IN COMMUNICATION

I. Step One: Choose the right time.

Ecclesiastes 8:6 – There is a right time and right way to do everything.

II. Step Two: Plan the presentation.

Proverbs 16:23 – Intelligent people think before they speak.  What they say is then more persuasive.

TWO THINGS TO PLAN

1. Introduction.
2. Illustrations.

III. Step Three: Begin with their needs.

Ephesians 4:29 – Speak only what is helpful for building up others.

IV. Step Four: Learn to listen first.

Proverbs 18:63 – Listen before you answer.  If you don’t you’re being stupid and insulting.

James 1:19 – Be quick to listen, and slow to speak.

V. Step Five: Say things positively.

Proverbs 16:21 – A mature person is known for his understanding.  The more pleasant his words, the more persuasive he is.

VI. Step Six: Clarify your conclusions.

Philippians 4:2 – Agree with each other in the Lord.

VII. Step Seven: End with encouraging words.

Proverbs 12:25 – A word of encouragement does wonders.

REAFFIRM THREE THINGS

1. Your commitment.
2. Your love.
3. A sense of Optimism.

May 3 2015 Freedom From Our Hurts

FREEDOM FROM OUR HURTS

Isaiah 57:18 – I have seen how they acted, but I will lead them and help them and I will comfort them that mourn.

DENIAL BUSTERS 

1. Crises

2. Confrontation

3. Catastrophe 

Hebrews 11:6 – Anyone who comes to God must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him.

THREE STEPS TO GET HELP FOR OUR HURTS

1. Acknowledge God’s existence.

Romans 11:20 – Since the creation of the world, God’s invisible qualities, His eternal power and divine nature have been clearly seen.

Psalm 19:1 – The heavens declare the glory of God.

Psalm 14:1 – The fool says there is no God!

2. Understand God’s character.

Colossians 1:15 – Christ is the visible expression of the invisible God.

• God knows all about my situation.

Psalm 31:7 – You have seen the crisis in my soul.

Psalm 69:5 – You know how foolish I have been.

• God cares about my situation.

Psalm 103:13-14 – He is like a Father to us, tender and sympathetic, for He knows what we are made of, dust!

Jeremiah 31:3 – God says I have loved you with an everlasting love!

Romans 5:8 – God showed His great love for us by sending Christ to die for us.

• God can change me and my situation.

Ephesians 1:20 – I pray you will begin to understand how incredibly great His power is to help those who believe Him.  The same power that raised Christ from the dead.

Luke 18:27 – What is impossible for men is possible with God.

3. Accept God’s offer to help you.

Philippians 2:13 – For God is at work within you giving you the will and the power to achieve His purpose.

2 Timothy 1:7 – The Spirit that God gives us fills us with power, love and self-control.

HOW TO PLUG INTO GOD’S POWER

• Believe Christ died on the cross to save me and help.
• Believe that He cares and has power to help me.
• Surrender my all to Him

Isaiah 43:2-3 – When you go through deep waters and great troubles, I will be with you, you won’t drown!  When you walk through the fires of oppression, you won’t be burned up!

April 26 2014 When Life Doesn't Meet Your Expectations

WHEN LIFE DOESN’T MEET YOUR EXPECTATIONS

Luke 5:1-11

Luke 5:1-3 - One day as Jesus was standing by the Lake of Gennesaret, with the people crowding around him and listening to the Word of God, he saw at the water’s edge two boats, left there by the fishermen, who were washing their nets.  He got into one of the boats, the one belonging to Simon, and asked him to put out a little from shore.  Then He sat down and taught the people from the boat.

Luke 5:4-5 – When he had finished speaking, He said to Simon, ‘Now put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch.’ Simon answered, ‘Master, we’ve worked hard all night and haven’t caught anything.’

WHAT TO DO IN A DISCOURAGING SITUATION

1. Give Jesus complete access to your life.

Luke 5:3 – Jesus got into one of the boats, the one belonging to Simon, and asked him to put out a little from shore.  Then He sat down and taught the people from the boat.

2. Admit that my efforts aren’t working.

Luke 5:4-5a – When Jesus had finished speaking, He said to Simon, ‘Now put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch.’  Simon answered, ‘Master, we’ve worked hard all night and haven’t caught anything.’

3. Obey whatever Jesus tells us to do.

Luke 5:5 – Simon answered, ‘Master, we’ve worked hard all night and haven’t caught anything. BUT BECAUSE YOU SAY SO, I will let down the nets.

WHEN: “Now launch out”

WHAT: “Let down your nets”

WHERE: “Into deep water”

4. I expect Jesus to turn things around.

1 Thessalonians 5:24 – The One who calls you is completely dependable.  If He said it, He’ll do it!

Luke 5:6-7 – When they had done so, they caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to break!  So they signaled their partners in the other boat to come and help them, and they came and filled both boats so full that they began to sink!

PETER’S REACTION

Luke 5:8-9 –When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus’ knees and said ‘Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!’  For he and all his companions were astonished at the catch of fish they had taken, and so were James and John, the sons of Zebedee, Simon’s partners.

THE REAL LESSON

Luke 5:10-11 – Then Jesus said to Simon, ‘Don’t be afraid; from now on you will catch men.’  So they pulled their boats up on shore, left everything and followed Him.

April 19 2015 When You Feel Like You're Stuck

WHEN YOU FEEL LIKE YOU’RE STUCK

Psalm 145:14 – God gives a fresh start to those ready to quit.

Mark 10:46 – Sitting beside the road.

Mark 10:52 – Following Jesus on the road.

HOW DO I GET UNSTUCK

SEIZE the moment when it comes.

Mark 10:46 – As Jesus and His disciples left town, a great crowd was following.  A blind beggar named Bartimaeus was sitting beside the road as Jesus was going by.  When Bartimaeus heard that Jesus from Nazareth was nearby, he began to shout out, “Jesus Son of David, have mercy on me!”

Luke 9:62 – Jesus said, “No procrastination.  No backward looks.  You can’t put God’s Kingdom off till tomorrow.  Seize the day.”

TAME your fears.

Mark 10:48 – Many of the people scolded him and told him to be quiet.  But he shouted even more loudly, “Son of David, have mercy on me!”

John 6:37 – I will never turn away anyone who comes to Me.

Proverbs 29:25 – The rear of human opinion disables you, trusting in God protects you from that.

ANNOUNCE your faith.

Mark 10:51 – Jesus asked him “What do you want me to do for you?”  The blind man answered, “Teacher, I want to see.”

Galatians 3:27 – Your baptism in Christ was not just washing you up for a fresh start.  It also involved dressing you in an adult faith wardrobe, Christ’s life, the fulfillment of God’s original promise.

RECEIVE God’s grace.

Mark 10:52a – Jesus said to him, “Go your way, your faith has made you well.”  And immediately he gained his sight.

Ephesians 2:8 – For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God, not by works, so that no one can boast.  For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

TAKE the next step.

Mark 10 52b – He regained his sight and began following Jesus on the road.

James 2:14 – If people say they have faith, but do nothing, their faith is worth nothing.

1 Corinthians 1:30 – Everything that we have, right thinking and right living, a clean slate and a fresh start, comes from God by way of Jesus Christ

April 12 2015 When We Need 20-20 Vision

WHEN WE NEED 20-20 VISION

Matthew 6:22-23 – The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are good, your whole body will be full of light. But if your eyes are bad, your whole body will be full of darkness.

Mark 8:17-29

AN EMBARRASSING MISUNDERSTANDING

Mark 8:13-21 – Then Jesus got into the boat and crossed to the other side.  The disciples had forgotten to bring bread, except for one loaf they had in the boat. Be careful, Jesus warned. Watch out for the yeast of the Pharisees and that of Herod. The disciples discussed why Jesus had said this and they decided it was because they hadn’t brought bread with them. Aware of their discussion, Jesus asked, why are you talking about having no bread? Do you still not see or understand? Are your minds closed? You have eyes, but now don’t really see! You have ears, but you don’t really listen. Remember when I divided five loaves of bread for the five thousand? How many baskets did you fill with leftover pieces of food? They said, twelve. And when I divided seven loaves of bread for the four thousand, how many baskets did you fill with leftover pieces of food? They said, seven. Then Jesus said, and you still don’t understand yet?

WHAT KEEPS ME FROM 20-20 VISION?

1. Pride.

“Watch out for the yeast of the Pharisees.”

2. Short term thinking.

“The disciples discussed why Jesus had said this and they decided it was because they hadn’t brought bread with them!”

3. Short term memory.

“Remember the two miracles?”

A PROGRESSIVE MIRACLE

Mark 8:22 – They came to Bethsaida, and some people brought a blind man and begged Jesus to touch him. Jesus took the blind man by the hand and led him outside the village.

THREE CONDITIONS FOR A MIRACLE

1. When some body cares.

2. When we get close to Jesus.

3. When we trust Jesus to lead us.

Mark 8:23-26 – Then Jesus spit on the man’s eyes and put His hands on him, and then asked, do you see anything? The man looked up and said, I see people but they look like trees walking around. So Jesus put his hands on the man’s eyes a second time. Then his eyes were opened fully, his sight was restored completely, and he saw everything clearly. Jesus sent him home, saying, don’t go back into town.

THREE LESSONS ABOUT 20-20 VISION

1. My spiritual vision grows in stages.

2. The test of my vision is how I see other people.

3. Jesus heals my sight three ways:

• My focus gets sharper.
• My perspective gets larger.
• Makes my vision clearer.

Job 34:32 – Teach me what I cannot see; and if I’ve done wrong, I won’t do it again!

A CLARIFYING QUESTION

Mark 8:27-29 – Then Jesus asked them, who do people say I am? They replied, some say you are John the Baptist, others say Elijah, and still others you’re one of the other prophets. But what about you, Jesus asked, who do you say I am? Peter said, You are the Christ, the Messiah!

How I see Jesus determines how clearly I see everything else.