October Sermon Notes 2004

You are worthy, O Lord our God, to receive glory and honor and power. For you created everything, and it is for your pleasure that they exist and were created. Revelation 4:11 New Living Translation

Jesus replied: "'Love the Lord your God … This is the first and greatest commandment. Matthew 22:37-38

So then, my brothers, because of God's great mercy to us I appeal to you: Offer yourselves as a living sacrifice to God, dedicated to his service and pleasing to him. This is the true worship that you should offer. Romans 12:1 Today’s English Version

Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. Mark 12:30

Focusing on the self is the opposite of focusing on God. Anyone completely absorbed in self ignores God, ends up thinking more about self than God. Romans 8:7 The Message

Don't become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. Romans 12:2 The Message

Here's what I want you to do: Find a quiet, secluded place so you won't be tempted to role-play before God. Just be there as simply and honestly as you can manage. The focus will shift from you to God, and you will begin to sense his grace.
Matthew 6:6 The Message

I don't want your sacrifices-I want your love; I don't want your offerings-I want you to know me. Hosea 6:6 Living Bible

… he is a God who is passionate about his relationship with you.
Exodus 34:14 New Living Translation

Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men Colossians 3:23

So we make it our goal to please him, whether we are at home in the body or away from it. 2 Corinthians 5:9

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October 10, 2004
Formed For God’s Family

God is the one who made all things, and all things are for His glory. He wanted to have many children share His glory...” Hebrews 2:10 New Century Version
His unchanging plan has always been to adopt us into His own family by bringing us to Himself through Jesus Christ. And this gave him great pleasure
Ephesians 1:5 New Living Translation
Love your spiritual family! 1 Peter 2:17

The Message

My 2nd Purpose in Life is Fellowship

Fellowship is Loving God’s Family
… you will know how to live in the family of God. That family is the church...
1 Timothy 3:14-15 New Century Version

Choose to Belong
...You are members of God's very own family... you belong in God's household
Ephesians 2:19 The Living Bible
In Christ we who are many form one Body, and each member belongs to all the others. Romans 12:5
This is what we proclaimed in word and action when we were baptized. Each of us is now a part of His resurrection Body. 1 Corinthians 12:13 The Message

Learn to Share

All the believers were together and shared everything. Acts 2:44

· Our experiences

People learn from one another, just as iron sharpens iron.
Proverbs 27:17 Today’s English Version

· Our homes

Open your homes to each other.
1 Peter 4:9 Today’s English Version

· Our problems

Share each other's troubles and problems.
Galatians 6:2 New Living Translation
Let us not give up the habit of meeting together. Instead, let us encourage one another...
Hebrews 10:25 Today’s English Version

Do Your Part

We are partners working together for God.
1 Corinthians 3:9 Today’s English Version

The whole Body is fitted together perfectly. As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole Body is healthy and growing and full of love. Ephesians 4:16 New Living Translation

Love Believers

Love each other like brothers and sisters. Romans 12:10 NCV

We know what real love is because Christ gave up His life for us. And so we also ought to give up our lives for our Christian brothers and sisters.
1 John 3:16 New Living Translation

Your strong love for each other will prove to the world that you are My disciples. John 13:35 The Living Bible

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October 17, 2004
To Be Like Jesus

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. Romans 8:28-29

… we will hold to the truth in love, becoming more and more in every way like Christ Ephesians 4:15 NLT

Unexpected Tools

1. God uses trouble to teach us to trust Him

Mark 14:32-36

...troubles produce patience. And patience produces character, and character produces hope. Romans 5:3-4 NCV

· Keep a spiritual journal

At the Lord's command Moses recorded the stages in their journey. Numbers 33:2

· Remember the reward

Our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. 2 Corinthians 4:17

2. God uses temptation to teach us to obey

Matthew 4:1-11

· Keep focused on good thoughts

… whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable-if anything is excellent or praiseworthy-think about such things. Philippians 4:8

· Get a spiritual partner

Two are better than one … For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up! Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 ESV

3. God uses trespasses to teach us to forgive

Matthew 27:39-44

· Remember God has forgiven me

… forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. Ephesians 4:32

· Remember God is in control

You meant to hurt me, but God turned your evil into good to save the lives of many people, which is being done. Genesis 50:20 NCV

We go through exactly what Christ goes through. If we go through the hard times with Him, then we're certainly going to go through the good times with Him. Romans 8:17 The Message

Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus. Philippians 2:5

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October 24, 2004
Shaped for Serving God

Matthew 20

Your hands shaped me and made me. Job 10:8

Spiritual Gifts
Heart
Abilities
Personality
Experiences

Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others. I Peter 4:10

Ministry is serving God by serving others!
Learn to Serve Like Jesus By Being …

1. Available

Never tell your neighbors to wait until tomorrow if you can help them now. Proverbs 3:28 Today’s English Version

1st Barrier: Self-centeredness

Forget yourselves long enough to lend a helping hand.
Philippians 2:4 The Message

2nd Barrier: Perfectionism

If you wait for perfect conditions, you’ll never get anything
done. Ecclesiastes 11:4 New Living Translation
3rd Barrier: Materialism

No servant can serve two masters... You cannot serve both
God and Money. Luke 16:13

2. Grateful

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...’ John 11:41-42

1st Barrier: Comparing and Criticizing

You cannot judge another person's servant. The master decides if the servant is doing well or not.
Romans 14:4 New Century Version

2nd Barrier: Wrong Motivations

When you do good things, don't do them in front of people to be seen by them Matthew 6:1 New Century Version

3. Faithful

I have brought You glory on earth by completing the work You
gave me to do. John 17:4

He will not forget how hard you have worked for Him and how you have shown your love to Him by caring for other Christians. Hebrews 6:10 New Living Translation

'Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things so; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness! Matthew 25

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October 31, 2004
Completing My Mission

John 20:19-23

As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world. John 17:18

The most important thing is that I complete my mission, the work that the Lord Jesus gave me - to tell people the Good News about God's grace.
Acts 20:24 New Century Version

You will be My witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth. Acts 1:8

1. I Must Share With Those In My World

· Established Relationships

"Return home and tell how much God has done for you." So the man went away and told all over town how much Jesus had done for him. Luke 8:39

· Establishing a Spiritual Base

Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect… 1 Peter 3:15

He does not want anyone to be lost, but He wants all people to change their hearts and lives! 2 Peter 3:9 New Century Version

2. I Must Dare to Reach Beyond My World

· Build Bridges

Whatever a person is like, I try to find common ground with him so that he will let me tell him about Christ and let Christ save him. I Corinthians 9:22 The Living Bible

· Building Broken People

Stoop down and reach out to those who are oppressed. Share their burdens, and so complete Christ's law. Galatians 6:2 The Message

For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.
Matthew 25:35-36

" I tell you the truth," Jesus replied, "no one who has left home or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for me and the gospel will fail to receive a hundred times as much Mark 10:29-30

3. I Must Care About The Whole World

Jesus said to His followers, "Go everywhere in the world, and tell the Good News to everyone.” Mark 16:15 New Century Version

If you insist on saving your life, you will lose it. Only those who throw away their lives for My sake and for the sake of the Good News will ever know what it means to really live. Mark 8:35 The Living Bible

Send us around the world with the news of Your saving power and Your eternal plan for all mankind. Psalm 67:2 The Living Bible

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