Michael Porter - God-Centered Worship: A Sermon on Matthew 6:1-8

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God-Centered Worship: A Sermon on Matthew 6:1-18
March 15, 2020
Pastor Michael Porter

Sermon Text: Matthew 6:1-18

1 “Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them, for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven.
2 “Thus, when you give to the needy, sound no trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may be praised by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. 3 But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, 4 so that your giving may be in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.

5 “And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites. For they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. 6 But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.
7 “And when you pray, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do, for they think that they will be heard for their many words. 8 Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him. 9 Pray then like this:

“Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name.
10 Your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
11 Give us this day our daily bread,
12 and forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven our debtors.
13 And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.

14 For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, 15 but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.
16 “And when you fast, do not look gloomy like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces that their fasting may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. 17 But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, 18 that your fasting may not be seen by others but by your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.


Main Idea: Righteous worship is God-centered worship, not self-centered.

Sermon Outline:

I. The Principle of God-Centered Worship (6:1)

II. Three Examples of God-Centered Worship (6:2-18)
a) God-Centered Giving
b) God-Centered Prayer
c) God-Centered Fasting

Spiritual Growth Questions for March 15, 2020


1. Read Matthew 6:1-18 as a group and discuss your initial impressions of the text as a
whole.


2. Briefly skim through Matthew 5. There, Jesus spoke about true righteousness with
respect to the way we live and relate to others. In Matthew 6:1-18, Jesus turns now to the
righteousness that his disciples are to display in their religious/worship practices. How
does righteous behavior go hand-in-hand with righteous worship?


3. The idea of “reward” comes up several times in this passage. What reward is gained from
people? How does that reward compare to the reward to be gained from God the Father?
Is this promise of a reward from the Father an unworthy or worthy motive for Christian
discipleship?


4. Look at vv. 2-4. What great danger does Jesus alert us to when giving to the needy as a
ministry endeavor? How does Jesus instruct his disciples to avoid this? How does this
apply to you/your group?


5. Look at vv. 5-6. Why does the hypocrite pray? How does Jesus instruct his disciples to
avoid falling into the same trap? How does this apply in your own private prayer life?


6. Look at vv. 7-15. The distinctive thing about Christian prayer is the nature of the God we
address. What does the Lord’s Prayer tell us about God? How are these aspects reflected
in your own prayers and do they have any impact on the way you worship?


7. Look at vv. 16-18. Fasting is not a popular pastime these days. And yet, the fact that
Jesus says “And when you fast” implies that he expects that his disciples will do so.
Discuss reasons for commending the practice.

John Lloyd - Transformation: Becoming More Like Jesus

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Strengthen Your Core Series

Transformation: Becoming More Like Jesus

March 8, 2020

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.  The journey of becoming like Jesus begins by thinking like Jesus. When we start thinking like Jesus, we are well on our way to becoming like Jesus.  Today, we will look at the transformation of moving the CORE beliefs, practices and virtues from head to heart in order to bless others and glorify God, as Jesus would desire for us to do.

 

2 Peter 1:3 His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence, 4 by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire. 5 For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, 6 and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, 7 and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. 8 For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 For whoever lacks these qualities is so nearsighted that he is blind, having forgotten that he was cleansed from his former sins. 10 Therefore, brothers, be all the more diligent to confirm your calling and election, for if you practice these qualities you will never fall. 11 For in this way there will be richly provided for you an entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

 

Memory Verse:  John 15:5 I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.

 

Key Question: How do we get a belief from the head to the heart?

 

Key Idea:  Jesus transforms us as we yield and remain vitally connected to Him. Inside belief produces outside fruit and service.



I.               Embrace the revelation by faith that you _____________ to God.

 

2 Peter 1:3 His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence,

2 Peter 1:4 by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire.

 

“Faith is a reasoning trust, a trust which reckons thoughtfully and confidently upon the trustworthiness of God.” John Stott

 

I belong to God!  I want to live and become more like Jesus.

 

II.  Active faith produces beautiful ________________.

 

2 Peter 1:5 For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, 6 and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, 7 and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love.  Galatians 4:19, 2 Peter 3:18

 

Read the following questions and ask God to show you one to work on during this season.

1. How would my life improve and my relationships be strengthened if I sacrificially and unconditionally loved and forgave others? (Love)

2. How would my life improve and my relationships be strengthened if I had inner contentment and purpose in spite of my circumstances? (Joy)

3. How would my life improve and my relationships be strengthened if I was free from anxiety because things are right with God, others, and myself? (Peace)

4. How would my life improve and my relationships be strengthened if I took a long time to overheat and endured patiently under life’s pressures? (Patience)

5. How would my life improve and my relationships be strengthened if I chose to do the right things in my relationships with others? (Kindness)

6. How would my life improve and my relationships be strengthened if I established a good name with God and others, based on my long-term loyalty in those relationships? (Faithfulness)

7. How would my life improve and my relationships relationships be strengthened if I was thoughtful, calm, and considerate in my dealings with others? (Gentleness)

8. How would my life improve and my relationships be strengthened if I had the power through Christ to control myself? (Self-Control)

9. How would my life improve and my relationships be strengthened if I coped with the hardships of life and faced with courage the prospect of death through the hope I have in Jesus Christ? (Hope)

10. How would my life improve and my relationships be strengthened if I chose to esteem others above myself? (Humility)      Frazee, Randy. 

 

Inside belief produces outside fruit!



III.  Active faith produces _____________ and _________________.

 

2 Peter 1:8 For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 For whoever lacks these qualities is so nearsighted that he is blind, having forgotten that he was cleansed from his former sins. 

 

John 15:5 I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.

 

·       Transformation continues by staying connected to Jesus.

 

John 15:16 You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you.

 

·       Transformation  grows us and impacts others.

 

Romans 12:1 I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. 2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

 

2 Corinthians 3:17 Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.18 And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.

 

·       Transformation grows exponentially by serving.

 

2 Peter 1:10 Therefore, brothers, be all the more diligent to confirm your calling and election, for if you practice these qualities you will never fall. 11 For in this way there will be richly provided for you an entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

 

When an entire community of believers is unified and takes on this mind-set of Christ, not only is an ideal place created where we belong, but a revolution is also created, drawing others to long to belong as well. The individual revolution of becoming creates the communal revolution of belonging within the church. Your personal Think, Act, Be Revolution begins when you “long” to “be” like Jesus, because you belong to Jesus. Frazee, Randy. Think, Act, Be Like Jesus.

 

Belong, Grow and Serve!  Think, Act and Be like Jesus!

Inside belief produces outside fruit and service.



Spiritual Growth Questions for March 8, 2020

(take one question each day and grow deeper in Bible study)

A.  Read through the following statements and ask God to show you one that he wants you to focus on?  Share your choice and why?

 

1. How would my life improve and my relationships be strengthened if I sacrificially and unconditionally loved and forgave others? (Love)

2. How would my life improve and my relationships be strengthened if I had inner contentment and purpose in spite of my circumstances? (Joy)

3. How would my life improve and my relationships be strengthened if I was free from anxiety because things are right with God, others, and myself? (Peace)

4. How would my life improve and my relationships be strengthened if I took a long time to overheat and endured patiently under life’s pressures? (Patience)

5. How would my life improve and my relationships be strengthened if I chose to do the right things in my relationships with others? (Kindness/Goodness)

6. How would my life improve and my relationships be strengthened if I established a good name with God and others, based on my long-term loyalty in those relationships? (Faithfulness)

7. How would my life improve and my relationships relationships be strengthened if I was thoughtful, calm, and considerate in my dealings with others? (Gentleness)

8. How would my life improve and my relationships be strengthened if I had the power through Christ to control myself? (Self-Control)

9. How would my life improve and my relationships be strengthened if I coped with the hardships of life and faced with courage the prospect of death through the hope I have in Jesus Christ? (Hope)

10. How would my life improve and my relationships be strengthened if I chose to esteem others above myself? (Humility)

Frazee, Randy. Think, Act, Be Like Jesus (p. 243). Zondervan. Kindle Edition.

 

B. Read 2 Peter 1:3-11 two times.  Go verse by verse and write down truths from each verse.  What stands out to you.

 

C.  Read John 15:1-17 two times.  Go verse by verse and write down truths from each verse.  What stands out to you.

 

D.  Read Romans 12:1-2, 2 Corinthians 3:17-18. Think of these three truths:   Belonging to a community of believers, Growing in our walk with God and others and Serving within that community and outside of it.  Discuss together how these three aspects truly bring transformation to our lives and build up the body of Christ. 

Memory Verse:  John 15:5 I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.

 

 

John Lloyd - Humility: What does it mean to value others before myself?

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Strengthen Your Core Series

Humility:  What does it mean to value others before myself?

March 1, 2020

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.  The journey of becoming like Jesus begins by thinking like Jesus. When we start thinking like Jesus, we are well on our way to becoming like Jesus.  Today, we will consider the crown virtue of humility.  Humility births and empowers all of the other virtues. Humility adds value to everything it touches.

 

Virtues covered so far:  Love, joy, peace, self-control, hope, patience, goodness/kindness, faithfulness, gentleness and today humility. 

 

Philippians 2:1 So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, 2 Complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. 3 Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. 4 Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. 5 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, 6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. 9 Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

 

Memory Verses: Philippians 2:2 Complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. 3 Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. 

 

Key Question: What does it mean to value others before myself?

Key Idea:  I choose to esteem others above myself.



More than any other single way the grace of humility is worked into our lives through the discipline of service.  Humility, as we all know, is one of those virtues that is never gained by seeking it.  The more we pursue it the more distant it becomes.  To think we have it is sure evidence that we don’t.  Therefore, most of us assume there is nothing we can do to gain this prized Christian virtue so we do nothing.  Of all the classic spiritual disciplines, service is the most conducive to the growth of humility.  Richard Foster

I.  Humility begins by surrendering to the greatest ________________.

 

Philippians 2:5 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, 6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 

 

As our world becomes more self-absorbed, humility will not only be one of the most attractive and refreshing virtues to a searching and hurting world, but also a great blessing to our own lives in offering our hearts daily to the Lord, as we exalt him and him alone.  Randy Frazee

 

Philippians 2:7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.

 

Matthew 20:28 even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

 

Matthew 18:3 and said, “Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. 4 Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.

 

Hebrews 9:14 how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, purify our conscience from dead works to serve the living God.

 

Humbly calling on Jesus births true humility in our soul.

 

II.  Humility sees and serves _____________.

 

I Samuel 12:24 Only fear the Lord and serve him faithfully with all your heart. For consider what great things he has done for you. Ps.100:2

 

A proud man is always looking down on things and people, and as long as you are looking down, you cannot see something that is above you. Lewis

 

Philippians 2:3 Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. 4 Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others

 

John 13:15 For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you.16 Truly, truly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. 17 If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them.

 

Jesus desires to make his followers servants.

 

III.  Humility is our greatest protection against the virus of ____________. 

 

Philippians 2:5 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ

 

Galatians 5:13 For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.

 

“Nothing sets a Christian out of the devil’s reach like humility” Jonathan Edwards

 

I Peter 5:5 Likewise, you who are younger, be subject to the elders. Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.  Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you. (I Pet. 5:8)

 

Think of humility as the modesty of the heart. For the Christian, humility means life is not “all about me” but rather all about God and others. Randy Frazee

 

·       Humility brings a secure knowledge of identity in Christ.

·       Humility brings a freedom to elevate and to esteem others.

·       Humility redirects our relationships to be about the well-being of others.

·       Humility brings a deep sense of caring for the people in our circles.

·       Humility brings a desire to reflect Christ in all things.

 

Philippians 2:9 Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

 

The ultimate humility is when we place our heart in the constant position of putting God’s glory first and seeking first his kingdom and his righteousness.

 

Matthew 6:33 But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

 

John 3:30 He must increase, but I must decrease.

 

One of the most amazing pieces of evidence that we are becoming more and more like Jesus is the virtue of humility. Believers do not lift others up because they think lowly of themselves. No, they are able to esteem others above themselves because they have accepted the high esteem they have found through faith in Christ. Because we are freed from the struggle to prove we are somebody special, we can humble ourselves and look instead to build up others. When we do, it signals God’s presence within us. Look to the supreme example of Jesus.  Randy Frazee

 

Walking in humility adds value and life to everything it touches!



Spiritual Growth Questions for March 1, 2020

(take one question each day and grow deeper in Bible study)

 

Use a scale of 1 – 6 to rate how fully your life demonstrates the statements below:  (1 = does not demonstrate at all, 6 = demonstrates fully).

 

____  As a child of God, I do not think too highly or too lowly of myself. ​

____ I am not known as a person who brags. ​

____ I am willing to make any of my faults known to Christians who care for

       me. ​

____ I am not upset when my achievements are not recognized.

 

1.     Read Matthew 5:1-12 two times.  What verse stands out to you? What is the difference between what Jesus calls “blessed” and what the world refers to as “success?”

 

2.     Read Luke 9:46-48 & Mark 10:35-45. In the kingdom of God, Jesus said the last shall be first and the first shall be last. What does this mean for people who desire positions of power and influence in the community of faith? In what ways does Christlike humility set us apart from the world?  Why is it so appealing in our self-absorbed world?

 

3.     Read John 13:1-17.   Servant leadership is what Jesus modeled while on earth. What stands out to you from this passage?  What is the difference from serving and identifying as a servant of God?    What other ways can we demonstrate this principle besides washing someone’s feet?

 

4.     Read Micah 6:6-8.   Micah tells us that God requires us to act justly, love mercy and walk humbly with him. How are these actions related?

 

5.      Read I Peter 5:1-6.  How does humility grow us?  How can it grow a church?  How can it impact a community? 

 

Work on your testimony: In one minute or less, tell about your life before you came to Christ. Share your circumstances, the struggles, and the questions you had. What path were you on before Jesus?

 

In one minute or less, tell how you came to faith in Christ. Who shared with you? What circumstances surrounded the decision? How did you know this was the right choice?

 

In one minute or less, tell how Christ has changed you. What differences has he made? How has life changed after crossing the line of faith?

 

Memory Verses:  Philippians 2:3 Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. 4 Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others

John Lloyd - Sharing My Faith

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Strengthen Your Core Series

Sharing My Faith

February 23, 2020

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.  The journey of becoming like Jesus begins by thinking like Jesus. When we start thinking like Jesus, we are well on our way to becoming like Jesus.  Last week we spoke about the reality of eternity.  As it did Jesus, the truth of eternity moves us to share our faith with others.  Most people received salvation because someone took the bold step to share the good news of the death, burial and resurrection of Christ.  The impact of sharing is exponential!

 

Practices covered so far:  Worship, Prayer, Bible study, Single-Mindedness, Total Surrender, Biblical Community, Spiritual Gifts,Offering my Time& Giving.

 

2 Corinthians 5:14 For the love of Christ controls us, because we have concluded this: that one has died for all, therefore all have died; 15 and he died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised. 16 From now on, therefore, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we once regarded Christ according to the flesh, we regard him thus no longer.17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. 18 All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; 19 that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. 20 Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. 21 For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

 

Memory Verses: Ephesians 6: 19 Pray also for me, that whenever I speak, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should.

 

Key Question: How do I share my faith with those who don’t know God?

Key Idea:  I share my faith with others to fulfill God’s purposes.

 

Year in and year out, decade after decade, statistics about how people come to faith in Jesus show a clear majority enter through a person who cares enough to share the gospel story. Relationships have always been, and still are, God’s primary path for bringing people into his kingdom. God has one plan for saving the world: his people — us.  Randy Frazee

I.  _______ and ____________ what God has done for you through Jesus.

 

2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. 18 All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation.

 

Romans 3:23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

 

2 Corinthians 5:19 that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation.

Romans 5:8 but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

 

2 Corinthians 5:21 For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

 

Romans 10:9 Because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.

 

Romans 10:13 For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”  John 10:10, John 17:3

 

Jesus desires for every person to receive his gift of eternal life.

 

II.  Know that God has us here to _____________________ others.

 

2 Corinthians 5:18 All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; 19 that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. 20 Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. 

After we receive Christ, we may each have different careers to make a living, but we all have the same job description.

 

Begin with prayer.

Listen with empathy.

Eat together.

Serve sacrificially.

Share our story.

 

Who has God put in your life to BLESS?  How is it going?

III.  Believe your salvation story is powerful when you _____________ it!

 

2 Corinthians 5:20 Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. 

 

Romans 10:14 How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? 15 And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!”  Colossians 4:5-6, Acts 1:8

 

Your Story/Faith/Testimony:  John 9:25 One thing I know, I was blind and now I see.

1. In one minute or less, tell about your life before you came to Christ. Share your circumstances, struggles and questions you had. What path were you on before Jesus?

 

 2. In one minute or less, tell how you came to faith in Christ. Who shared with you? What circumstances surrounded the decision? How did you know this was the right choice?

 

3. In one minute or less, tell how Christ has changed you. What differences has he made? How has life changed after crossing the line of faith?

 

Assignment:  Write out your testimony/faith/story and pray about who you can share it with this week or in the near future.

 

Ephesians 6: 19 Pray also for me, that whenever I speak, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should.

 

Acts 20:24 But I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.

 

All believers are called to share their faith with others. We have been given the “ministry of reconciliation”; we are God’s “ambassadors” in the world. We are called to share our faith through the way we live our lives. We are to be “salt and light” to the people God has placed in our sphere of influence. The mere beauty of how Christians treat each other is an aroma that draws outsiders to want to know God and be in a relationship with him. We are also called to share our faith through our words. He desires for all people to come into a saving relationship with him. Therefore, we will share our faith with our enemies, people of different races or religions or sometimes even people in our own family. Let’s pray, like Paul, that we “may declare it fearlessly.”

 

We have been blessed so much!  We must share with others!



Spiritual Growth Questions for February 23, 2020

(take one question each day and grow deeper in Bible study)

 

Use a scale of 1 – 6.  Rate how well you are living out the statements below (1 = not living out at all, 6 = living out completely).

 

_____I frequently share my faith with people who are not Christians. ​

 

____ I try to live so that others will see Christ in my life.

 

____ I know how to share my faith with non-Christians. ​

 

____I pray for non-Christians to trust Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior.

 

1.     Read Genesis 12:1-4 two times.  What stands out to you about this passage?  In what ways do you see the world being blessed through God’s people? In other words, how is the church positively affecting the world around it?

 

2.     Read 2 Corinthians 5:14-21 two times.  What stands out to you from this passage? Paul says we have been given a ministry of reconciliation. In your opinion, what does that mean?

 

3.     Read Colossians 4:5-6. As ambassadors of Christ, we (the church) represent his character and desires to the world around us. In what ways are we representing him well? In what areas must we improve? 

 

4.     Read Psalm 40 once together and once silently.  What stands out to you?  What was David’s testimony?  How did it motivate him to share his story?  How could this be helpful for us with our stories?

 

5.     Read Ephesians 6:18-20, Acts 1:8.  What stands out to you from Paul’s prayer? What is impeding your ability to openly share your faith in Christ? How can you overcome this obstacle?

Write out your Story/Faith/Testimony:  John 9:25 One thing I know, I was blind and now I see.

1.     In one minute or less, tell about your life before you came to Christ. Share your circumstances, struggles and questions you had. What path were you on before Jesus?  2. In one minute or less, tell how you came to faith in Christ. Who shared with you? What circumstances surrounded the decision? How did you know this was the right choice? 3. In one minute or less, tell how Christ has changed you. What differences has he made? How has life changed after crossing the line of faith?

Memory Verses:  Ephesians 6: 19 Pray also for me, that whenever I speak, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should.

John Lloyd - Eternity: What's Going to Happen in the Future?

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Strengthen Your Core Series

Eternity: What’s going to happen in the future?

February 16, 2020

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.  The journey of becoming like Jesus begins by thinking like Jesus. When we start thinking like Jesus, we are well on our way to becoming like Jesus.  In light of Christ’s forgiveness of us and his provision of all his resources and qualities to us in the present, what should we then believe about the days to come.  Today we will focus on eternity and the belief that every person will live somewhere after death.  This belief of eternity truly fuels all the other beliefs we have covered.

 

Beliefs covered so far: God, Personal God, Salvation, The Bible, Identity in Christ, Church, Humanity, Compassion and Stewardship

 

Key Question: What is going to happen in the future?

 

Memory Verses: John 14:1 “Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me.  2 In my Father's house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you?”

 

John 14:3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also. 4 And you know the way to where I am going.” 5 Thomas said to him, “Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?” 6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. 7 If you had known me, you would have known my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him.”

 

John 3:16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.

 

Key Idea:  There is a heaven and a hell.  Jesus will return to judge all people and establish his eternal kingdom.

Eternity- A duration of time that cannot be measured.  It is a belief that we live on beyond this life.

 

I.                God is ________________.

 

Isaiah 40:28 Have you not known? Have you not heard?  The Lord is

the everlasting God. the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary; his understanding is unsearchable.  (Genesis 21:33, Rev.1:8)

Genesis 1:27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.

Ecclesiastes 3:11 He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also, he has put eternity into man's heart, yet so that he cannot find out what God has done from the beginning to the end.

 

There have been times when I think we do not desire heaven, but more often I find myself wondering whether in our heart of hearts, we have ever desired anything else.… It is the secret signature of each soul, the incommunicable and unappeasable want, the thing we desired before we met our wives or made our friends or chose our work, and which we shall still desire on our deathbeds when the mind no longer knows wife or friend or work[1]  C.S. Lewis

 

Islam, Hinduism and Buddhism all believe in some form of afterlife. 

 

Why do we die? Death is not a punishment.  It is the final outcome of living in a fallen world. Wayne Grudem

 

Genesis 3:4 But the serpent said to the woman, “You will not surely die.

Romans 5:12. Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned— 

Death means separation.  (Isaiah 59:2)

 

John 3:16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.

Every person was made to live forever. Every person matters to God.

 

II.   ______________ and __________ are the only two options for eternity.

 

Hell is mentioned almost 3 times as much as heaven in the Bible.

Luke 16:23 and in Hades, being in torment, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham far off and Lazarus at his side. 24 And he called out, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus to dip the end of his finger in water and cool my tongue, for I am in anguish in this flame.’

 

(for further study:  Daniel 12:2-3, weeping-Mt. 8:12, wailing, Mt.13:42, 13:50 gnashing of teeth, darkness Mt. 25:30, everlasting punishment 25:46

All these verses make clear that there are two elements to the punishment of unbelievers.  It is a punishment without end, eternal.  It is severe.

 

Ezekiel 33:11 Say to them, As I live, declares the Lord God, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way and live; turn back, turn back from your evil ways, for why will you die, O house of Israel? 2 Peter 3:9, Ezekiel 18:23

God’s heart is grieved and broken for those who die without Him.



III. Jesus is preparing a place for those who _____________ Him for eternal life.

 

John 14:1 “Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God] believe also in me.  2 In my Father's house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also. 

 

John 14:6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.  John 14:23

 

2 Corinthians 5:7 for we walk by faith, not by sight. 8 Yes, we are of good courage, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord.

Philippians 1:23 I am hard pressed between the two. My desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better. (Hebrews 12:23, Luke 23:43, Rev.6:10)

 

If we truly believe God has prepared an eternal home for us-a house with many rooms, as Jesus explained in John 14—then we can and will.

 

·       Live with hope every day, regardless of the circumstances around us; life may or may not get better here, but we can know God’s home awaits us.

·       Love people with freedom and boldness because our future is secure in him.

·       Lead more people into a relationship with Christ, because we want to share this great hope with others.

 

I ask you to prayerfully take a moment to do an inventory of your relationships.  How many non- Christians are currently in your circle of influence?  And of these non-Christians in your circle, how many are you actively sharing God’s love with?  On the lines below, write their names. 

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

 

BLESS Principle:  Begin with prayer, Listen with empathy, Eat together, Serve sacrificially, Share your story. 

 

When we die our bodies go into the ground and our spirits go to be with the Lord as we await the return of Christ. When he comes to establish the new heaven and the new earth, our spirits will receive the tent of a new, imperishable, resurrected body just as Jesus did. In these bodies we will live forever in the new garden with God and all those who believed in Jesus. And it is with this exciting reality that we conclude our journey through the ten key beliefs of the Christian life. As followers of God we are invited to ponder and understand these profound concepts in our minds. Yet, to really think like Jesus and experience the full life Christ has given us, we must embrace these beliefs in our hearts — where real decisions are made.  Frazee, Randy

 

May God break our hearts with the things that break His heart!

Spiritual Growth Questions for February 16, 2020

(take one question each day and grow deeper in Bible study)

 

Use a scale of 1-6 to rate how strongly you believe the statements listed below: (1 = no belief , 6 = complete confidence)

 

___  I believe it is important to share the gospel with my neighbor because

       Christ has commanded me to do so.

___  I believe that who deliberately reject Jesus Christ will not inherit eternal

        life.

___  I believe that every person is subject to the judgment of God.

___  I I believe all people who place their trust in Jesus Christ will spend

        eternity in heaven.

 

1.     Read Luke 16:19-31.  Write down as many truths as you can from this passage.  Which truth stands out to you?  What applications could you make in your own life from these truths? 

 

2.     Read I Corinthians 15:1-11.  What stands out to you from this passage?  Why do you think Paul is sharing it with the Corinthians?

Consider Jesus words in Luke 16:30 if someone goes to them from the dead, they will repent.  Read Luke 16:31 again and discuss.

 

3.     Read I Corinthians 15:12-19 two times. What stands out to you from this passage?  Why did he share it with the Corinthians?  How can we apply it to our own lives?

4.     Read I Corinthians 15:20-28 two times.  What stands out to you from this passage?  What words are important?  Why did he share it with the Corinthians?  How is it helpful to us? 

5.     Read I Corinthians 15:35-58.     How will our resurrected bodies be different from our earthly bodies? How does what the Bible says compare with some of our culture’s popular notions of what we’ll be like in heaven?

6.     What if anything hinders you from believing in the afterlife?

 

7.     Describe the moment you became aware of your mortality and pondered what would happen after your death.

 

8.     Read and memorize John 14:1-2.  Write down what is helpful in this passage for you to remember. 

 

 

Memory Verses:  John 14:1 “Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God] believe also in me.  2 In my Father's house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you?

 

 

John Lloyd - Gentleness: Responding God's Way

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Strengthen Your Core Series

Gentleness: Responding God’s Way

February 9, 2020

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.  The journey of becoming like Jesus begins by thinking like Jesus. When we start thinking like Jesus, we are well on our way to becoming like Jesus.  Today, we will consider the virtue of gentleness.  We pray for love, purity and self-control.  Let us also consider praying for the fruit of gentleness.  The apostle Paul told Timothy to pursue gentleness, I Timothy 6:11.  May God bring this virtue to fruition in every follower of Jesus.    

 

Virtues covered so far:  Love, joy, peace, self-control, hope, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness and today gentleness.

 

Matthew 11:28 Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

 

Memory Verse: Philippians 4:5. Let your gentleness be evident to all.  The Lord is near. 

 

Key Question:  How do I demonstrate thoughtfulness and considerateness toward others? 

 

What is it about this particular virtue that gives us fits? As a society, and even in the church, why are we so uptight? Tense? Stressed out? Why is gentleness such a stranger to so many? A greater question to ask is this: If Christ is present in our lives, why aren’t Christians markedly gentler than those who do not follow the gentle Healer? As we open the Bible, we find insight into how we can become more like Jesus for the sake of those God has placed in our lives. Frazee, Randy. Think, Act, Be Like Jesus

 

Key Idea: I am thoughtful, considerate and calm in my dealings with others.  I am responsible for my response. 

 

I. Living on earth is rough; ___________________ is needed.

 

Matthew 11:28 Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. (John 16:33)

 

I Timothy 6:11 But as for you, O man of God, flee these things. Pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, gentleness.

Psalm 130:3 If you, O Lord, should mark iniquities, O Lord, who could stand?

 

Colossians 2:14 By canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross. 15 He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him.  Ephesians 2:16. Killing the hostility between us and God

 

I Peter 2:24 He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed.

 

Matthew 11:28 Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.  Matthew 12:20, Acts 4:12

 

Jesus, our Messiah is gentle to all who come to Him.  We turn to Jesus and confess our absolute need for salvation from Him.

 

Nothing kills a family, a friendship, a neighborhood or even a church like pride, arrogance, anger, closed ears and raised voices. Since God is all about community, he calls his followers to be gentle. The New Testament word for “gentleness” comes from a medical word and is associated with a mild medication. Essentially, we might say a gentle person is someone who is easy on our stomachs. The person who lacks gentleness causes our stomach to double up in knots. God wants us to be healing agents in the lives of those around us. So how do we learn how to demonstrate thoughtfulness and consideration to others? Frazee, Randy.

 

I am thoughtful, considerate and calm in my dealings with others.

I am responsible for my response. 

 

II. Gentleness is a fruit of remaining ___________________ to Jesus.

 

Matthew 11:29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 

 

John 15:5 I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.

 

Gentleness developers:  Prayer, Bible study, meditating and memorizing scripture, small group fellowship and accountability. 

 

Colossians 3:12 Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. (See Ephesians  4:1-3 4:26, 27 and 29)

 

For the follower of Jesus: Jesus lives in you and He is gentle!

 

 

III.  Displaying gentleness will strengthen my ________________  in my relationships.

 

Matthew 11:30 “For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

 

I Corinthians 4:21 What do you prefer? Shall I come to you with a rod of discipline, or shall I come in love and with a gentle spirit? 2 Cor. 10:1

 

Philippians 2:3 Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.  (Gentleness comes from valuing others better than ourselves by looking up not down)

 

James 3:17 But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere. 18 And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.

(Real wisdom is considerate of others.  It is gentle and sown in peace)

 

2 Timothy 2:24 And the Lord's servant must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil, 25 correcting his opponents with gentleness. God may perhaps grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth, 26 And they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, after being captured by him to do his will. Galatians 6:1

(Correction done with gentleness is powerful medicine to those who err)

 

Proverbs 15:1 A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.  (I am responsible for my response)

 

Philippians 4:5. Let your gentleness be evident to all.  The Lord is near. 

 

I Peter 3:15 But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. 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,

 

I Thessalonians 2:7 But we were gentle among you, like a nursing mother taking care of her own children.

 

Gentleness is rooted in our belief in humanity. When we see people the way God sees them, we are compelled to treat them well. A gentle person, according to God’s vision, is thoughtful. They think before they talk or act. A gentle person is considerate. They consistently put themselves in other people’s shoes and act accordingly. A gentle person is calm. They are known for their even temper and positive energy. Jesus modeled this for us in so many of his relationships in the Scriptures, John 4 woman at the well, John 8, 9 blind man, 21 with Peter.  Frazee, Randy.

 

I am thoughtful, considerate and calm in my dealings with others. 



Spiritual Growth Questions for February 9, 2020

(take one question each day and grow deeper in Bible study)

 

Use a scale of 1-6 to rate how your life fully demonstrates the statements listed below: (1 = does not demonstrate at all, 6 = demonstrates fully)

 

___  I consider my own shortcomings when faced with the failures of others.

___  I am known as a person who is sensitive to the needs of others.

___  I am known for not raising my voice.

___  I allow people to make mistakes.

 

1.     Read Isaiah 40:9-15.  What stands out to you about the greatness of God?  What verses also speak on the gentleness of our Savior?  Why were these words a comfort to the people in Isaiah’s time? 

 

2.     Read Matthew 7:1-5, Romans 2:1-4.  How does judgment cloud our ability to be calm, considerate and thoughtful?   How can it be helpful to recognize our own shortcomings when dealing with the shortcomings of others?

 

3.     Read I Timothy 3:1-4, Psalm 18:35. Why do you think the Bible instructs authority figures to be gentle with those under their care? What was David referring to when he said, “God’s gentleness made him great?”

 

4.     Read Philippians 4:1-5.  What does Paul tell Euodia and Syntyche to do?  Meditate on our memory verse Philippians 4:5. Read it 3 times.

How could gentleness and reasonableness be known to everyone?  What type of witness could this be to those around us?

 

5.    Read James 3:13-18.   If judgment leads to anger and quarreling, what does gentleness produce?  What type of harvest could come to those who sow peace and gentleness in their relationships?

 

6.     Read Galatians 6:1, 2 Timothy 2:24-25. What takeaways can we learn about confronting others?  When, or when not, should we confront?  How should we confront? 

 

Personal reflection: Are there certain circumstances in your life that make gentle conduct nearly impossible?  How could your relationship with God empower you to alter your reaction to this situation?

 

In what ways can Jesus’ life be a guiding example of gentleness as we face difficulties of our own? 

 

Memory Verse:  Philippians 4:5. Let your gentleness be evident to all.  The Lord is near. 

 

Michael Porter - The Greatness of Jesus, your High Priest

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"The Greatness of Jesus, your High Priest"



A Sermon on Hebrews 4:14-16


Pastor Michael Porter


Hebrews 4:14-16


14 Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. 15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. 16 Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.


The Book of Hebrews in a nutshell: 
Jesus is BETTER.



How is Jesus is BETTER according to Hebrews?


1. Heb. 1:1-4 states that Jesus is better because He is God’s ultimate Word of revelation.


2. Heb. 1:5-2:18 states that Jesus is better than the Angels.


3. Heb. 3:1-4:13 states that Jesus is better than Moses.


4. Heb. 4:14-10:39 states that Jesus is a better High Priest.


Why do the original readers (and ourselves!) need to hear so exhaustively that Jesus is better?


Why? Because knowledge of the supremacy of Jesus is the one thing that is going to help these wavering believers persevere in the faith.


The Big Idea of Hebrews 4:14-16:



"Persevere in the faith knowing the greatness of Jesus your High Priest."



Sermon Outline:


"Persevere in the faith knowing the greatness of Jesus your High Priest" because:



1. Jesus our Great High Priest is Exalted


2. Jesus our Great High Priest is Lowly


Point #1 - Jesus our Great High Priest is Exalted (v. 14)



14 Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. 


Point #2 - Jesus our Great High Priest is Lowly (vv. 15-16)



15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. 16 Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.



Persevere in the Faith Knowing the Greatness of Jesus your High Priest.

John Lloyd - Giving My Resources: All for Jesus

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Strengthen Your Core Series

Giving My Resources: All for Jesus

January 26, 2020

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.  The journey of becoming like Jesus begins by thinking like Jesus. When we start thinking like Jesus, we are well on our way to becoming like Jesus.  Today, we will consider the spiritual practice of giving our resources to God.  Jesus has been extremely generous to all who call on Him.  As an act of worship and thanksgiving, we recognize everything is a gift from our heavenly father to generously give back to God and His purposes. 

 

Practices covered so far:  Worship, Prayer, Bible study, Single-Mindedness, Total Surrender, Biblical Community, Spiritual Gifts, Offering my Time and Giving my Resources. 

 

I Timothy 1:12 I thank him who has given me strength, Christ Jesus our Lord, because he judged me faithful, appointing me to his service, 13 though formerly I was a blasphemer, persecutor, and insolent opponent. But I received mercy because I had acted ignorantly in unbelief, 14 and the grace of our Lord overflowed for me with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. 15 The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost. 16 But I received mercy for this reason, that in me, as the foremost, Jesus Christ might display his perfect patience as an example to those who were to believe in him for eternal life.

 

Memory Verse: 2 Corinthians 8:7 But as you excel in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in all earnestness, and in our love for you—see that you excel in this act of grace also.

 

Key Question: How do I best use my resources to serve God and others?

 

 Key Idea: I give my resources to fulfill God’s purposes as an act of worship.

I. Our God has generously poured out his ____________ and ____________ upon all who call upon Jesus.

 

I Timothy 1:12 I thank him who has given me strength, Christ Jesus our Lord, because he judged me faithful, appointing me to his service, 13 though formerly I was a blasphemer, persecutor, and insolent opponent. But I received mercy because I had acted ignorantly in unbelief.

 

Thank- a constant attitude of gratefulness

Given me strength- Nothing Paul is doing is being done in his own strength. He is constantly being infused with strength from God.

Faithful- faithful to the trust God has given to him.

But I received mercy- I was literally an object of God’s mercy. (Titus 3:5)

 

I Timothy 1:14 and the grace of our Lord overflowed for me with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. 15 The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost. 16 But I received mercy for this reason, that in me, as the foremost, Jesus Christ might display his perfect patience as an example to those who were to believe in him for eternal life.

 

Takeaway:  God has been extremely generous to us! 

I “get to” be a vessel for the generosity of God to flow through.

 

Of the thirty-eight parables of Jesus in the Bible, sixteen of them deal with how to handle possessions; all told, 288 verses in the Gospels- one out of every ten-refer to money.  Over two thousand Bible verses talk about our personal resources, compared with approximately five hundred on prayer and fewer than five hundred on faith.  We can’t conclude from these statistics that Jesus’ heart was focused on money, but rather that he knew ours would be.  His teaching continually directs us toward using all we have-including our money and our possessions-to love him and others.  Randy Frazee Think, Act and Be Like Jesus

 

II.  Giving my resources generously allows me to be a ______________ for God’s purposes and breaks the hold of a materialistic culture.

 

2 Corinthians 8:1 We want you to know, brothers, about the grace of God that has been given among the churches of Macedonia, 2 for in a severe test of affliction, their abundance of joy and their extreme poverty have overflowed in a wealth of generosity on their part. 3 For they gave according to their means, as I can testify, and beyond their means, of their own accord, 4 begging us earnestly for the favor of taking part in the relief of the saints— 5 and this, not as we expected, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and then by the will of God to us. I Cor.16:1-2

 

Proverbs 22:7b the borrower is the slave of the lender. I Timothy 6:9-10

 

Homework:  Walk through your spending for the past month:  What patterns do I see? What priorities are evident in spending? Where am I pleased in my money management?  Where am I disappointed with my findings?  What changes should I consider making? Pray about it!

 

Help me to be more generous towards your kingdom work!

I get to be a vessel for the generosity of God to flow through.

 

III.  God multiplies and blesses ______________________ resources.

 

2 Corinthians 8:7 But as you excel in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in all earnestness, and in our love for you—see that you excel in this act of grace also.

 

2 Corinthians 8:9 For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich.

 

Three kinds of giving:  Grudge giving, duty giving and thanksgiving.

 

Luke 6:38 Give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you.” 

 

2 Corinthians 9:10 He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness.

 

Acts 20:35  In all things I have shown you that by working hard in this way we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’”

 

Many people see giving as an obligation, but it is really an act of worship from someone who has embraced in their heart the key beliefs of the Christian faith. The one true God is good and has provided the way to eternal salvation.  When we accept this gift of life we are given a new identity and called to a new purpose to fulfill God’s mission on earth until he returns.  We give away our resources with that motivation and purpose in mind.  The people of the Old Testament gave the first ten percent to God as a declaration of their allegiance to him.  But they gave beyond the tithe out of willing heart because of God’s great love for them.  The words of the wisdom writers and the lives of the wise men who visited the baby Jesus illustrate the importance and benefits of being content and generous with our resources.  Jesus reminds us that we should strive to think bigger than our earthly lives and use our resources to strengthen God’s kingdom.  God is more concerned about the reasons we give than about the size of the gift. Randy Frazee

 

All to Jesus I surrender, All to Him I freely give; I will ever love and trust Him,

In his presence daily live.  I surrender all, I surrender all.

All to thee, my blessed Savior, I surrender all.

All to Jesus, I surrender, Lord I give myself to Thee; 

Fill me with thy love and power, Let thy blessing fall on me. 

 

God multiplies blessings to his generous followers!

I get to be a vessel for the generosity of God to flow through.



Spiritual Growth Questions for January 26, 2020

(take one question each day and grow deeper in Bible study)

 

Use a scale of 1-6 to rate how well you are living out the statements below:      (1 = not living out at all, 6 living out completely).

 

___  I give away 10 percent or more of my income to God’s work.

___  I regularly give money to serve and help others.

___  My first priority in spending is to support God’s work.

___  My spending habits do not keep me from giving what I feel I should give

 to God.

 

1.     Read Proverbs 3:9-10, 11:24-25, 28 and Ecclesiastes 5:10-20.  What truths can be found in the Scripture you just read together?  Solomon was one of the wealthiest men to ever walk the earth.  In what ways, if any, are you surprised by his comments on wealth and money? 

2.     Read Genesis 28:10-22.  In the ancient world giving a tribute or tax of a tenth (tithe) to the king was customary.  This offering demonstrated allegiance to the monarch’s kingdom.  When we give the first tenth of our income to God’s purposes, we declare our allegiance to God and his kingdom.  What did God promise Jacob and his followers?  What was Jacob’s response?

3.     Read 2 Corinthians 8:1-9 two times.  What stands out to you from this passage?  What principles about giving is Paul teaching the Corinthian church?  How could they apply to us?

4.     Read Matthew 6:19-24 Luke 12:13-21 together and one time alone.  Jesus said more about money than the topics of heaven and hell combined.   What stands out to you from each passage?

5.     Read Luke 6:32-36.  What is Jesus teaching in this passage? If someone asked you to summarize what Jesus taught about money and giving, what would you say?

6.     Read 2 Corinthians 8:7-9 & 9:6-10. Work on the memory verse together.  What example does Jesus give us for grace giving?  What promises does Paul make to the Corinthian church about their generosity to God’s purposes?

7.     What is impeding your ability to incorporate this practice into your lifestyle?  How can you overcome this obstacle? 

 

Personal Exercise: Walk through your spending for the past month:  What patterns do I see? What priorities are evident in spending? Where am I pleased in my money management?  Where am I disappointed with my findings?  What changes should I consider making?  Pray about it!

 

Memory Verse: 2 Corinthians 8:7 But as you excel in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in all earnestness, and in our love for you—see that you excel in this act of grace also.

 

 

 

John Lloyd - Stewardship: All for Jesus

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Strengthen Your Core Series

Stewardship:  All for Jesus

January 19, 2020

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.  The journey of becoming like Jesus begins by thinking like Jesus. When we start thinking like Jesus, we are well on our way to becoming like Jesus.  Today, we will consider the spiritual belief of stewardship.  Jesus gave his all for us.  He asks us to give Him our undivided attention and recognize that everything we have is a gift from Him.  We are managers not owners.

 

Beliefs covered so far:  God, Personal God, Salvation, The Bible, Identity in Christ, Church, Humanity, Compassion and today Stewardship. 

 

John 21:15 When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Feed my lambs.” He said to him a second time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Tend my sheep.” He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” Peter was grieved because he said to him the third time, “Do you love me?” and he said to him, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep. Truly, truly, I say to you, when you were young, you used to dress yourself and walk wherever you wanted, but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will dress you and carry you where you do not want to go.” (This he said to show by what kind of death he was to glorify God.)  And after saying this he said to him, “Follow me.”

 

Memory Verses:  Psalm 24:1 The earth is the Lord's and the fullness thereof, the world and those who dwell therein, 2 for he has founded it upon the seas and established it upon the rivers.

 

Key Question: How much does God want of me?  Do you love Jesus more than these?Key Idea: I believe everything I am and everything I own belong to God.

 

I.                God has given His _________ to us.

 

Genesis 1:27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.

 

John 1:3 All things were made through him, and without him was not anything made that was made.

John 3:16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” Rom 5:8

 

Romans 8:32 He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?

 

I Corinthians 4:7 For who sees anything different in you? What do you have that you did not receive? If then you received it, why do you boast as if you did not receive it?

 

Psalm 24:1 The earth is the Lord's and the fullness thereof, the world and those who dwell therein, 2 for he has founded it upon the seas and established it upon the rivers.

 

Everything that I am and have is a gift from God!  It’s all a gift!

 

II.  Undivided love demands ___________________ love.

 

Matthew 22:37 And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.

 

Matt. 10:37 Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.

 

John 21:15 When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Feed my lambs.” (John 21:16-19) …. Follow Me!

 

“Nothing satisfies a heart that loves except love.” J. Oswald Smith

 

Reflective questions: How much does God want of me? 

Does God hold supreme place in my life?

 

Action:  I deed over to God ownership of all things external and internal.  Lord, I love you more than my these!

 

III.  I ______________ but I do not own.

 

2 Corinthians 9:7 Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. 8 And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work. 

 

I Corinthians 4:1 This is how one should regard us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. 2 Moreover, it is required of stewards that they be found faithful.

Stewardship isn't a subcategory of the Christian life. Stewardship is the Christian life. After all, what is stewardship except that God has entrusted to us life, time, talents, money, possessions, family, and his grace? In each case, he evaluates how we regard what he has entrusted to us and what we do with it. Randy Alcorn

 

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

 

I Peter 4:9 Show hospitality to one another without grumbling. (Steward of my home.)

 

I Corinthians 6:19 Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, 20 for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.  (Steward of my body)

 

I Peter 4:10 Use your God given gifts to serve one another. (spiritual gifts)

 

Philippians 3:13 Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

(Steward of my past, present and future)

 

Psalm 24:1 The earth is the Lord's and the fullness thereof, the world and those who dwell therein, 2 for he has founded it upon the seas and established it upon the rivers.

 

Stewardship can make a major difference in our lives when we move from simply understanding it in our heads to fully embracing it in our hearts.  God is the owner of everything we have and everything we are.  When we come to faith in Christ, we turn over the “deed” of everything—our children, our money, our homes, our bodies, our very breath—to him.  God then turns to us and invites us to manage all these things according to his purposes.  When we do, we are freed from the hassles of ownership and enter a life of reward and blessing.  Randy Frazee

 

The world asks what does a man own, God asks how does he use it?

 

I hear the Savior say, “Thy strength indeed is small;
Child of weakness, watch and pray, Find in Me thine all in all.”
Jesus paid it all, All to Him I owe;
Sin had left a crimson stain, He washed it white as snow.

And when before the throne I stand in him complete
Jesus died my soul to save. My lips shall still repeat

 

Have I deeded my life to God and then accepted stewardship of all he has given me?  Am I 100 percent His?

 

Spiritual Growth Questions for January 19, 2020

(take one question each day and grow deeper in Bible study)

 

Use a scale of 1-6 to rate how strongly you believe the statements below:      (1 = no belief at all, 6 complete confidence).

 

___  I believe that everything I am or own comes from God and belongs to

        God.

___  I believe that a Christian should live a sacrificial life, not driven by pursuit

        of material things.

___  I believe that Christians should give at least 10 percent of their income to

        God’s work.

___  I believe God will bless Christians now and in the life to come for their

        good works.

 

1.     Read Luke 16:1-15. What stood out to you from this passage?  Contrast the lifestyle of someone who loves money with that of someone who loves God. What lessons can these verses teach us about stewardship? 

2.     Read I Corinthians 6:12-20.  What is Paul teaching in regards of stewardship of our bodies?  What would be the motivation that Paul presents for sexual purity? 

3.     Read Deuteronomy 12:5-7 & Malachi 3:6-12.  In several places in the OT law, the Israelites were instructed to bring the first portion of the resources and other offerings that God provided back to him. If they did, they would be blessed.  What are the key identifiers of “good stewardship”? How does God reward good stewardship of his resources? 

4.     Romans 12:13, Hebrews 13:2, I Peter 4:9, 3 John 7-8.  Why are we encouraged to practice hospitality? Why is hospitality so important to God? 

5.     Read Mark 12:41-44.  What seems to be the most important to God when it comes to the act of giving?  Can the poor widow’s example be emulated by a person of wealth? If so, how?

Who in your life has the poor widow’s mentality toward their possessions?

6.     What, if anything, hinders you from practicing good stewardship?  What is something you can do this week to demonstrate this belief?

7.     List some of the things God has entrusted you to manage.  How are you doing in each of these areas? How can you improve your stewardship of them?

 

Memory Verses: Psalm 24:1 The earth is the Lord's and the fullness thereof, the world and those who dwell therein, 2 for he has founded it upon the seas
and established it upon the rivers.

 

John Lloyd - Fathfulness to God and Others

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Strengthen Your Core Series

Faithfulness to God and Others

January 12, 2020

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.  The journey of becoming like Jesus begins by thinking like Jesus. When we start thinking like Jesus, we are well on our way to becoming like Jesus.  Today, we will consider the spiritual virtue of faithfulness.  God is faithful! Through His faithfulness, we can be loyal and faithful to Him and in our relationships.      We pray that we can grow in the virtue of faithfulness.

 

2 Timothy 2:8 Remember Jesus Christ, risen from the dead, the offspring of David, as preached in my gospel, 9 for which I am suffering, bound with chains as a criminal. But the word of God is not bound! 10 Therefore I endure everything for the sake of the elect, that they also may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory. 11 The saying is trustworthy, for: If we have died with him, we will also live with him;12 if we endure, we will also reign with him; if we deny him, he also will deny us; 13 if we are faithless, he remains faithful—for he cannot deny himself.

 

Memory Verses:  Proverbs 3:3 Let not steadfast love and faithfulness forsake you; bind them around your neck; write them on the tablet of your heart.
4 So you will find favor and good success in the sight of God and man.

 

Key Question: Why is it important to be loyal and committed to others?

 

Key Idea: I have established a good name with God and others based on my loyalty to those relationships.

 

I.  Remember the powerful __________ of God’s faithfulness!

 

2 Timothy 2:8 Remember Jesus Christ, risen from the dead, the offspring of David, as preached in my gospel.

 

Remember- remember and keep on remembering….

 

I Corinthians 15:1 Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand, 2 and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you—unless you believed in vain. 3 For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, 4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures.

Psalm 36:5 Your steadfast love, O Lord, extends to the heavens, your faithfulness to the clouds.

 

Psalm 89:1 I will sing of the steadfast love of the Lord, forever; with my mouth I will make known your faithfulness to all generations.

 

I remember your great faithfulness to me.

I remember your death, burial and resurrection!

 

II. Our faithfulness to God and others will face difficult ________________.

 

2 Timothy 2:9 for which I am suffering, bound with chains as a criminal. But the word of God is not bound! 10 Therefore I endure everything for the sake of the elect, that they also may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.  (see 2 Timothy 4:16-17, Philippians 1:12-14)

 

God’s work and word cannot be bound or stopped.  Kenneth Wuest

 

Endure- Paul endures precisely because of a certainty that through his ministry God will save some. ESV Study Bible. “Hold your ground”

 

“God has not promised skies always blue, flower strewn pathways all of our lives through; God has not promised sun without rain, joy without sorrow, and peace without pain. But God has promised strength for the day, rest for the labor, light for the way, grace for trials, help from above, unfailing sympathy and undying love.”  Annie Johnson Flint

 

Proverbs 3:3 Let not steadfast love and faithfulness forsake you; bind them around your neck; write them on the tablet of your heart. Psalm 119:90

 

Luke 2:52 And Jesus increased in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and man.  (Matthew 6:33, Hebrews 12:2)

 

“Let your heart be wholly devoted to the Lord our God.” I Kings 8:61

 

Remember to be faithful in your relationship with God.  I John 4:19

God will see it even if no one else does.  Genesis 31:50 NLT

Greatly value each person in your life.  Philippians 2:3

Ask God to help you share in their trials.  Ezekiel 3:15

 

Reflective questions: What can I do to develop a better willingness to be loyal and maintain a commitment to people?  What blocks loyalty from working and being exhibited in me.  How can I make loyalty function better, stronger and faster even in times of uncertainty?

 

Remember the great power of the Word of God cannot be stopped!

I choose to be loyal to God and others.

Psalm 36:5 Your steadfast love, O Lord, extends to the heavens, your faithfulness to the clouds.

 

Psalm 89:1 I will sing of the steadfast love of the Lord, forever; with my mouth I will make known your faithfulness to all generations.

 

I remember your great faithfulness to me.

I remember your death, burial and resurrection!

 

II. Our faithfulness to God and others will face difficult ________________.

 

2 Timothy 2:9 for which I am suffering, bound with chains as a criminal. But the word of God is not bound! 10 Therefore I endure everything for the sake of the elect, that they also may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.  (see 2 Timothy 4:16-17, Philippians 1:12-14)

 

God’s work and word cannot be bound or stopped.  Kenneth Wuest

 

Endure- Paul endures precisely because of a certainty that through his ministry God will save some. ESV Study Bible. “Hold your ground”

 

“God has not promised skies always blue, flower strewn pathways all of our lives through; God has not promised sun without rain, joy without sorrow, and peace without pain. But God has promised strength for the day, rest for the labor, light for the way, grace for trials, help from above, unfailing sympathy and undying love.”  Annie Johnson Flint

 

Proverbs 3:3 Let not steadfast love and faithfulness forsake you; bind them around your neck; write them on the tablet of your heart. Psalm 119:90

 

Luke 2:52 And Jesus increased in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and man.  (Matthew 6:33, Hebrews 12:2)

 

“Let your heart be wholly devoted to the Lord our God.” I Kings 8:61

 

Remember to be faithful in your relationship with God.  I John 4:19

God will see it even if no one else does.  Genesis 31:50 NLT

Greatly value each person in your life.  Philippians 2:3

Ask God to help you share in their trials.  Ezekiel 3:15

 

Reflective questions: What can I do to develop a better willingness to be loyal and maintain a commitment to people?  What blocks loyalty from working and being exhibited in me.  How can I make loyalty function better, stronger and faster even in times of uncertainty?

 

Remember the great power of the Word of God cannot be stopped!

I choose to be loyal to God and others.



III.  I can be faithful to God and others because of His great _________________ to me.

 

2 Timothy 2:11 The saying is trustworthy, for: If we have died with him, we will also live with him;12 if we endure, we will also reign with him; if we deny him, he also will deny us; 13 if we are faithless, he remains faithful—for he cannot deny himself.

 

I can hold my ground during the most difficult times because Christ held his ground for me. 

 

Those who endure will be his co-reigning viceroys and confidants. If we lapse into unfaithfulness, he remains faithful, as Jesus did during the temporary denial by Peter, (cf. John 21:15-19). Kent Hughes

 

God is faithful even when his children are not.  Max Lucado

 

Proverbs 3:3 Let not steadfast love and faithfulness forsake you; bind them around your neck; write them on the tablet of your heart. 4 So you will find favor and good success in the sight of God and man. (See Proverbs 3:5-6)

 

I Thessalonians 5:24 He who calls you is faithful; he will surely do it.

 

Lamentations 3:22 The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; 23 they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. 24 “The Lord is my portion,” says my soul, “therefore I will hope in him.”

 

Psalm 51:10 Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.

 

I John 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

 

It is important to understand that being faithful to God is never about meeting a requirement to keep our relationship with him, but rather it’s about responding to God out of love and devotion for what Christ has done for us. We choose to remain in him, not out of obligation, but out of desire. Faithfulness must be a priority, no matter who is watching us. When we are alone or in a crowd, we’re faithful; in good times or bad, we’re faithful; when confident or in doubt, we’re faithful. If we truly want to influence people for Christ, then being faithful has to be more than a desirable quality; it must become a lifestyle. Randy Frazee

Think, Act, Be Like Jesus

 

I choose to be faithful in my relationship with God.

I choose to be faithful in my relationships with others.



Spiritual Growth Questions for January 12, 2020

(take one question each day and grow deeper in Bible study)

 

Use a scale of 1-6 to rate how fully your life is demonstrating the statements below:   (1= does not demonstrate at all, 6 demonstrates fully)

 

___  I take unpopular stands when my faith dictates.

___  I discipline my thoughts based on my faith in Jesus Christ.

___  I will follow Christ even when it involves suffering.

___  I will follow through on commitments I have made to God.

 

1.     What do you think is the root or cause of unfaithfulness toward God and others? 

 

2.     Read Deuteronomy 32:1-4, Psalm 36:5-9, Lamentations 3:19-24. Read once with the group and once on your own.  What stands out to you about the faithfulness of God and man’s unfaithfulness?

 

3.     Read Proverbs 3:1-6, 20:6, 28:20.  Why is a faithful person richly blessed and one who is eager, to be rich punished? 

 

4.     Read II Timothy 2:1-13. Paul is writing from prison to Timothy his young disciple.  What illustrations does Paul use to encourage faithfulness? What stands out to you as something that would help Timothy remain faithful to God and his calling during trials? 

 

5.     Read Psalm 98:1-3.  How has God made known to you His faithfulness?   Share with the group, or a friend how, he has been faithful to you this past year? 

 

6.     In a world filled with unfaithfulness, how can we find inspirational examples of faithfulness?  In your opinion what motivates genuine faithfulness to God?  Write a prayer for your life and faithfulness to God and to those relationships God has brought into your life.  Share with a friend.

 

Great is Thy faithfulness, O God my Father! There is no shadow of turning with Thee; Thou changest not; Thy compassions, they fail not: As Thou hast been Thou forever wilt be.

Great is Thy faithfulness! Great is Thy faithfulness!

Morning by morning new mercies I see;

All I have needed Thy hand hath provided—

Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me. Thomas Chisholm

Memory Verses: Proverbs 3:3 Let not steadfast love and faithfulness forsake you; bind them around your neck; write them on the tablet of your heart. 4 So you will find favor and good success in the sight of God and man.

John Lloyd - Offering My Time to God

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Strengthen Your Core Series

Offering My Time to God

January 5, 2020

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.  The journey of becoming like Jesus begins by thinking like Jesus. When we start thinking like Jesus, we are well on our way to becoming like Jesus.  Today, we will consider the spiritual practice of offering our time to God.  Offering the gift of time brings glory to God.

 

Psalm 39:4 “O Lord, make me know my end and what is the measure of my days; let me know how fleeting I am!  5 Behold, you have made my days a few handbreadths, and my lifetime is as nothing before you.
Surely all mankind stands as a mere breath! Selah 6 Surely a man goes about as a shadow! Surely for nothing they are in turmoil; man heaps up wealth and does not know who will gather!

7 “And now, O Lord, for what do I wait? My hope is in you.

 

Memory Verse:  Colossians 3:17 Whatever you do in word or deed, do it all in the name of Jesus, giving thanks to God through Him.

 

 Key Question: How do I best use my time to serve God and others?

 

Jesus’ new life in us should change our priorities in how we view the gift of time. Simply put, our calendars should be redeemed not long after our souls are redeemed. It’s not our time but God’s. His great love now motivates us to devote our schedule to serving his priorities.  Randy Frazee. Think, Act, and Be Like Jesus.

 

Key Idea: I offer my time to fulfill God’s purposes.

 

I.  The gift of time, when offered, is a __________ back to God.

 

Ecclesiastes 3:1. For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven.

 

Psalm 89:47 Remember how short my time is! For what vanity you have created all the children of man!

 

We master our minutes or we become slaves to them, we use time or time uses us.  William Ward

Psalm 39:4 “O Lord, make me know my end and what is the measure of my days; let me know how fleeting I am!  5 Behold, you have made my days a few handbreadths, and my lifetime is as nothing before you.
Surely all mankind stands as a mere breath! Selah 6 Surely a man goes about as a shadow! Surely for nothing they are in turmoil; man heaps up wealth and does not know who will gather!  7 “And now, O Lord, for what do I wait? My hope is in you. 

 

At birth we are given two teachers. One is called Life and the other is called time.  Life teaches us the value of time, while time teaches us the productive purpose of life.  Paul Adefarasin

 

Galatians 2:20 I have been crucified with Christ.  It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me.  And the life I now live in the flesh I live by the faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. 

 

Time is a gift given to me by God.

I want to offer my time for God’s purposes.

 

II.  Look for small blocks of time to ______________.

 

Psalm 90:12 Teach us to number our days that we may gain a heart of wisdom.  Oh, how precious is time, and how it pains me to see it slide away, while I do so little to any good purpose.  David Brainerd.  

 

We must recognize how the evil one is working in this world and take a firm stance against him.  It means we take careful thought concerning what we put in our minds- what we listen to, what we watch, and how we use our time.  Chip Ingram

 

Ephesians 5:16 Making the best use of the time, because the days are evil.

 

Does my schedule reflect how God wants me to use my time?

 

What adjustments should I make?

Where am I allowing room for temptation or sin?

Is there an activity God is calling me to stop or delay?

Is there an activity God is calling me to add to my schedule?

Where can I make more room for the use of my spiritual gift?

 

Colossians 4:5. Walk in wisdom toward outsiders, making the best use of the time.

·       Plan lunch hour to serve others.

·       Use travel/commute time to contact those in need.

·       Ask God to multiply your time.

·       Carve out time for reading the Scriptures.

·       Make prayer a habit in undefined spaces.

 

Prayer:  Father, my time is yours.  Show me, lead me, speak to me about what you want me to do, about how to use this precious gift wisely.  And then you listened, trusted and obeyed.

 

Proverbs 9:11 Wisdom will multiply your days and add years to your life.

 

Time surrendered to Jesus is made to count for all eternity.

 

III.  Remember the _________________ of offering our time.

 

Haggai 1:5 Now, therefore, thus says the Lord of hosts: Consider your ways. 

 

Time spent in prayer is never wasted.  Francois Fenelon

 

Matthew 10:42 And whoever gives one of these little ones even a cup of cold water because he is a disciple, truly, I say to you, he will by no means lose his reward.”

 

Those who lose their lives will find them. And, at the end, we have the remarkable chain reaction of those who serve their fellow human beings out of love for Jesus. Give a cup of cold water to one of Jesus’ least significant followers, and you’re giving it to Jesus himself; whatever you do for Jesus, you do, not just for Jesus, but for God (‘the one who sent me’). NT Wright

 

Matthew 25:21 His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’  He used what God gave him for His Master’s intentions.

 

Matthew 25:40 And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’

 

Galatians 6:9 And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. 

 

Colossians 3:17 Whatever you do in word or deed, do it all in the name of Jesus, giving thanks to God through Him.

 

Consider the key practice of offering my time to God.         

In 2020, in addition to prayer and Scripture reading, endeavor to implement some ways to volunteer and serve others as a gift to God.

 

Believe is an action verb. Whatever we believe in our hearts will be expressed in the way we live. Beliefs such as the church, compassion and stewardship naturally lead to the practice of offering our time to God to accomplish his purposes. Every time we act on this key spiritual practice, even if our hearts are not totally committed, it helps to drive these beliefs from our heads to our hearts. So we act out our beliefs in faith. Randy Frazee

Spiritual Growth Questions for January 5, 2020

(take one question each day and grow deeper in Bible study)

 

Use a scale of 1-6 to rate how strongly you are living out the statements below     (1= not living out at all, 6 living out completely)

 

___  I invest my time in others by praying for them.

___  I spend a great deal of time helping others with physical, emotional and

        other kind of needs.

___  I give my time to serve and help others in my community.

___  I regularly volunteer at my church.

 

 Read Memory Verse two times:  Colossians 3:17 Whatever you do in word or deed, do it all in the name of Jesus, giving thanks to God through Him.

 

1.     Make a diverse list of how time could be used for God’s purposes.

 

2.     Read Psalm 39:4-7, Psalm 90:12 two times.  What lesson/s about time can we learn from the psalmist?

 

3.     Read Galatians 2:20, Ephesians 5:16-17, I Corinthians 6:19.  What applications could be made about time from these verses? 

 

4.     Read Matthew 25:31-46.  Based on what you read, what activities seem to be the most important to Jesus?  What do you think Jesus’ main point is in this passage?

 

5.     Read Colossians 3:17 and 3:23-24.  What stands out to you from these verses?  How could you apply them to your daily life?

 

6.     What challenges make it hard for you to invest your time in God’s purposes?  As a group, or with a friend, discuss ways to overcome them.

 

7.     In most churches a small group of people do a majority of the work. Discuss different needs and opportunities in our congregation where you or your group could volunteer and help. 

 

Galatians 6:9 And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. 

 

Consider the key practice of offering my time to God.         

In 2020, in addition to prayer and Scripture reading, endeavor to implement some ways to volunteer and serve others as a gift to God.