New Work Fellowship Podcast

ChristMESS Words

"What Is Your Name?"

Luke 1:57-80

 

1.     The Obedience Of The Believer (Luke 1:57-66)

a.     Include others in giving praise to God.

b.    Sometimes the normal thing to do is not always the Godly thing to do.

c.     God is Gracious!

d.    Speak from God’s overflow in your life.

 

2.     A Father’s Praise (Luke 1:67-79)

a.     Praise to God for the Promised Messiah (Luke 1:68-75)

i.     Jesus is strong enough to save.

ii.     Jesus came to defeat the greatest enemy – sin and death.

iii.     Jesus is coming again.

b.    Praise for John that he will prepare the way for the Messiah (Luke 1:76-79)

i.     John gave the knowledge of salvation.

ii.     John gave light to darkness.

iii.     John gave the path to peace.

 

3.     A Name Lived out (Luke 1:80)

a.     Your spiritual development is important to God.

b.    What is your name?

ChristMESS Words

"When there are no words"

Luke 1:5-25

 

What words do you associate with Christmas? 

Words are powerful:

• "Then God said, …" (Genesis 1)

• "The tongue can bring death or life;" (Proverbs 18:21)

• "…blessing and cursing come pouring out of the same mouth." (James 3:10)

• "…and you will name him Jesus." (Luke 1:31)

 

What do we do when there is an absence of words? 

Fill in the blanks: (Luke 1:5-25)

1. By listening to the Lord and responding in faith. (vs. 11-18

   - Illus: Bakugon 

2. By blessing family and friends. (vs. 19-20)

   - Illus: Mad Libs

3. By sharing the Christ with the world. (vs. 21-22)

Generosity, who needs it?

"Promises to the Generous"

2 Corinthians 9:6-15

Jesus said, “Give and it will be given to you.”

 

Three Generosity Reminders:

1.    Reminder #1: Generosity is an expression of Faith

See 9:6.

2.    Reminder #2: Generosity is generosity only when given willingly.

See 9:7.

1 Timothy 6:17, "Command those who are rich not to put their hope in wealth, but to put their hope in God. Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share."

3.    Reminder #3: Generosity is characterized by Cheerfulness. See 9:7b.

Four Generosity Promises:  

• Promise One: God Provides when You Trust Him

  • See 9:8.

  • Deuteronomy 15:10 "Give generously to the poor, not grudgingly, for the Lord your God will bless you in everything you do.”

  • Proverbs 11:25, “A generous person will prosper; those who refresh others will themselves be refreshed.”

  • Luke 6:38, “Give and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”

• Promise Two: You cannot Out-Give God

  • See 9:9-10.

  • 1 Timothy 6:5-6, “…men of corrupt mind think that godliness is a means to financial gain. But godliness with contentment is great gain.”

• Promise Three: Generosity Equips you to Give Again.

  • See 9:11.

• Promise Four: Generosity creates a Positive Testimony

  • See 9:12-15.

  • Jesus said “Don’t lay up your treasures on earth…Instead lay-up treasures in heaven. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also."

  • “They did even more than we had hoped, for this first action was to give themselves to the Lord…”

Want to talk about a relationship with Jesus as Lord?

Text: NWFconnect to 940-90

Generosity, who needs it?

"Preparing for Generosity"

 2 Corinthians 8:10-9:8

 

“Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be.”
Matthew 6:21

v10, “Here is my advice: It would be good for you to finish what you started…”

Match both: Enthusiasm and Follow-through.

Ecclesiastes 5:10, “Those who love money will never have enough. How meaningless to think that wealth brings true happiness!”

 

So how do we Prepare for Generosity?

1.   Move Past FUZZY

v. 11b-12: “Give in proportion to what you have. Whatever you give is acceptable if you give it eagerly. And give accord to what you have, not what you don’t have.”

Malachi 3:10: “Bring all the tithes into the storehouse …. If you do, I will open the windows of heaven for you. I will pour out a blessing so great you won’t have enough room to take it in! Try it! Put me to the test!” 

2.   Learn New Math

v14: “Right now you have plenty and can help those who are in need.”

Proverbs 11:24-25: “Give freely and become more wealthy; be stingy and lose everything. The generous will prosper; those who refresh others will themselves be refreshed.”

9:6: “Remember this—a farmer who plants only a few seeds will get a small crop. But the one who plants generously will get a generous crop.”

3.   Get to the Hard Work

9:5: “…make sure the gift you promised is ready. But I want it to a willing gift…”

• Word #1:  Budget

• Word #2: Tithe

• Word #3: Debt

8:21: “For we are taking pains to do what is right, not only in the eyes of the Lord but also in the eyes of man.”

4.   Step into Trust

 

Want to talk more about a relationship with Jesus Christ?

Text: “NWFconnect” to 940-90.

Generosity, who needs it?

"Putting Generosity into Practice"

2 Corinthians 8:1-15

“An evil person borrows and never pays back; a good person is generous and never stops giving.”  Psalm 37:21 (CEV)

"Freely you have received, freely give." Matthew 10:8 (NIV)

Generous heart declaration:
Look at all the needs around you.
We can do something! I can do more!

Key Verse: “Since you excel in so many ways—in your faith, your gifted speakers, your knowledge, your enthusiasm, and your love from us—I want you to excel also in this gracious act of giving.” 2 Corinthians 8:7

 How do you put Generosity into Practice?

1.   REMEMBER what Generosity Looks Like

Four Generosity Principles:

Unconditional

See v1-2.

Matthew 6:21, “Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be.”

Bountiful

See v3.

Luke 6:38, “Give, and you will receive. Your gift will return to you in full—pressed down, shaken together to make room for more, running over, and poured into your lap. The amount you give will determine the amount you get back.”

Joyful

See v2.

2 Corinthians 9:7, “God loves a person who gives cheerfully.”

Voluntary

See v8. 

2.   RESOLVE to follow a Generous Example

See v8-9.

Final Thought: You are blessed to be a blessing.

Be sure to pick up your copy of The Treasure Principle and if you have children, get your Financial Peace Jr. kit.

"Gratitude Sunday"

Luke 17:11-19

 

 

 

When I remember the troubles and hardships of the last year, I find joy in knowing that God has _______________.

 

 

As I inventory my present circumstances, I see that God is ___________________________________________________.

 

 

As I look forward to tomorrow-in spite of whatever besets me today; yet-I will thank God for _____________________________.

Built on the Rock

A Godly Marriage

Ephesians 5:21-33

 

“And further, submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.”  - Ephesians 5:21

Biblical submission – a voluntary decision to honor another in a particular way.

 FIRST BIG ROCK – Spiritual

 Three Things That Worked for Us:

1)   Church involvement

2)   Individual “Chair Time”

3)   Iron Sharpeners

 

SECOND BIG ROCK – Emotional

Men don’t think like women; and women don’t think like men.

 Three Suggestions:

1)   Listen with your face

2)   You don’t have to tell him EVERYTHING

3)   How and when you communicate matters

 

THIRD BIG ROCK – Financial

Tithing is a “big rock” (within a “big rock”).  If you don’t get it in first, you won’t get it in at all.

Four Suggestions:

1)   Don’t spend more than you make

2)   General Rule:  Debt is not good

3)   Joint Effort

4)   Budget

 

FOURTH BIG ROCK – Physical

Don’t __________ another woman (man) in a way that you would not want someone else to __________ your wife (husband).

 

Final Thought:  Press on!

Built on the Rock

A Godly Marriage

Ephesians 5:21-33

 

The Ideal

• Marriage is an institution established and ordained by God.

• “Submission” – a voluntary decision to honor another in a particular way.

• The goal is mutual submission – for each spouse to voluntarily choose to honor the other out of reverence for Christ.

 

Final Thought:  Biblical submission has nothing to do with power and authority.  It has everything to do with humility.

1st Peter

Lead with Humility

1 Peter 5

“Leadership is Influence. Nothing More. Nothing Less”.

“Too often we view leadership as purely outward, thinking only of how we will climb the next mountain, or overcome the next obstacle, without considering who we will be when we do. But true leadership, great leadership starts within.”

Proverbs 11:2, “Pride leads to disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom.”

Proverbs 29:23, “Pride ends in humiliation, while humility brings honor.”

 

How do you Lead with Humility?

1) Follow the Leader

“And now, a word to you who are elders in the churches. I, too, am an elder and a witness to the sufferings of Christ. And I, too, will share in his glory when he is revealed to the whole world. As a fellow elder, I appeal to you: Care for the flock that God has entrusted to you. Watch over it willingly, not grudgingly—not for what you will get out of it, but because you are eager to serve God. Don’t lord it over the people assigned to your care, but lead them by your own good example. And when the Great Shepherd appears, you will receive a crown of never-ending glory and honor.”

 

2) Tie a Knot in It

“In the same way, you who are younger must accept the authority of the elders. And all of you, dress yourselves in humility as you relate to one another, for “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” So humble yourselves under the mighty power of God, and at the right time he will lift you up in honor.”

 (See John 13:4-5)

 

“The more we look, act, love, and lead like Jesus, 
the more impactful our leadership will be to the world around us.”

 

Final thought: Either I humble myself or I can be sure that my sin, or my circumstances will certainly humble me. 

 

Want to talk about a relationship with Jesus?

Text: “NWFconnect” to 940-90.

1st Peter

Live Life for God

1 Peter 4:1-19

 

How do you bring glory to God in the midst of the life-suffering?

1) Be ready to suffer. (vs. 1)

a. Suffering is a part of following Christ. (Philippians 3:10-11)

 2) Turn from the former life and toward the things of God. (vs. 2)

a. Former Life = Internal pull (woundedness) & external push (performance).

b. Things of God = Internal push (Holy Spirit) & external pull (Christ’s example).

c. Show deep love for one another… serve one another. (vs. 8 & 10)

3) Suffer for the right things. (vs. 15)

a. What kind of suffering do you want to experience, wise or foolish?

4) Keep on doing what is right. (vs. 19)

a. In Christ, suffering leads to hope.

Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we boast in the hope of the glory of God. 3 Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; 4 perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5 And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us. 

- Romans 5:1-5, NIV

Final thought: Trust your lives to God, he will never fail you.