John Lloyd - Strengthen Your CORE

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Strengthen Your Core Series

Introduction: Strengthen Your CORE

July 14, 2019

Pastor John Lloyd

 

Our physical bodies are made up of several core muscles.  If kept in shape through exercise, they will function properly.  God’s goal for followers is to make us more like Jesus. This happens when we think like Jesus, CORE beliefs, act like Jesus, CORE practices and be like Jesus, CORE virtues.   We need to exercise our CORE in order to glorify God. Today, we will continue to introduce what CORE is all about. 
 

Acts 14:21 When they had preached the gospel to that city and had made many disciples, they returned to Lystra and to Iconium and to Antioch, 22 strengthening the souls of the disciples, encouraging them to continue in the faith, and saying that through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God. 23 And when they had appointed elders for them in every church, with prayer and fasting they committed them to the Lord in whom they had believed.

4 Key Principles to Strengthen Our Spiritual CORE

  1. Christ  __________________.

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 3:8 What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ.

What are the key beliefs of Christianity that, when embraced in the mind and the heart, create true change in our individual lives, in the church, and in the world?  

We will study God, Personal God, Salvation, The Bible, Identity in Christ, Church, Humanity, Compassion, Stewardship, Eternity and Thinking and believing like Jesus did, through the following lenses:

Key Question:  What life question does the belief answer? Key Idea: What is the most unifying concept of this belief that most Christians embrace? 

Key Application:  What difference does it make in the way I live?


2 Corinthians 10:4For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. 5We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ,

Ephesians 6:16 In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one;

What I believe drives what I become.  The first resides in the head alone but the latter comes from the head and heart.

Think like Jesus

  1. Others ________________.  

The difference between believing something as the right answer and believing something as a way of life.  The first resides in the head alone; the latter camps out in the head and the heart. Randy Frazee

Engaging in Biblical Practices:  Worship, Prayer, Bible Study, Single-Mindedness, Total Surrender, Biblical Community, Spiritual Gifts, Offering My Time, Giving My Resources, Sharing My Faith. 

Philippians 2:4 Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.  Philippians 2:5

What I should do?  What practices should fill my life?  

Act like Jesus

  1.   Reaching ________________ deeply.

Thinking like Jesus causes us to be acting like Jesus, which then turns further to being like Jesus.  Who am I becoming? 

Ten Key Virtues of who am I becoming:  Love, joy, peace, self-control, hope, patience, kindness/goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and humility.

Galatians 4:19 My dear children, for whom I am again in the pains of childbirth until Christ is formed in you,

Galatians 2:20 I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. I Tim. 4:12, Proverbs 22:6.

1 Peter 4:2 As a result, he does not live the rest of his earthly life for evil human desires, but rather for the will of God.

Matthew 6:10 your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.

Be like Jesus

  1.   Every person a _________________.

1 Peter 4:10 Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God's grace in its various forms.  11 If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words of God. If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.

Galatians 5:6 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value. The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love.

1 Corinthians 12:27 Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.  Acts 17:11

1 Thessalonians 2:13 And we also thank God continually because, when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men, but as it actually is, the word of God, which is at work in you who believe.

Acts 14:22 strengthening the disciples and encouraging them to remain true to the faith. "We must go through many hardships to enter the kingdom of God," they said.

Live like Jesus


Spiritual Growth Questions for July 14, 2019

  1.  Read Ephesians 6:10-20.  Read two times.  What words and thoughts stand out to you?  What did Paul want the Ephesians to know and do?  Explain the value of believing/faith in our spiritual battle? (vs.16) How could you apply this to your walk right now?

  2. Read Acts 14:21-23. Observe what Paul is doing. What principles is he teaching these new disciples?  What is he doing that you could do with someone in your network? Who could you help in this manner?  How will you do it?   

  3. Read I Peter 4:10-11.   What is the Apostle Peter telling his readers?  How do these verses speak to you?   

  4. Where can I serve that will strengthen the Body of Christ and my spiritual CORE?  Lord who have you placed in my life to share the Gospel of Jesus with this summer?   Consider the BLESS approach.