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Episodes
Monday Nov 25, 2019
Monday Nov 25, 2019
More Thankful
Count Your Blessings
Ephesians 4:1
Accumulation—living for more
Abundance—living in more
“All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing…” - Ephesians 1:3
“Praise the Lord, my soul, and forget not all his benefits—” - Psalm 103:2 (NIV)
“Therefore I, a prisoner for serving the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of your calling…” - Ephesians 4:1
worthy— Let God be reflected in all you do.
“And give thanks for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.” - Ephesians 5:20
How do you Count Your Blessings?
1. Note It
Psalm 100:5, “For the Lord is good. His unfailing love continues forever, and his faithfulness continues to each generation.”
Homework: Thanksgiving Inventory
2. Say It
Homework: Say Thank You
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3. Live it
Instead of merely counting the blessing that come your way, instead count the many ways your life is blessing others.
Homework: Step into the Tithe
Be Generous with your Time
Be Wise in Treasure management
Try the God-stash Test
Final Thought: The more you live all of life according to God’s economy; the more thankful you will be.
Monday Nov 18, 2019
Monday Nov 18, 2019
“More” thankful
Get Your Life
Ephesians 2 & 3
Additional Resource: The Money Challenge by Art Rainer
There is a direct relationship between thankfulness and generosity.
To grow in thankfulness as a believer:
1) Know who you are. (Ephesians 2:8-10)
a. You are a masterpiece in Christ.
b. Your life is a treasure.
2) Know God’s plan. (Ephesians 3:6-9)
a. God’s plan is to bring all things under the authority of Christ. (Ephesians 1:9-11)
3) Be the visible representation of God’s plan. (Ephesians 3:10-11)
a. How generous does God want you to be?
i.The biblical framework: Give generously, save wisely, and live appropriately.
b. How generous are you now?
i. Three barriers: Debt, keeping up with the Joneses, the absence of a plan.
c. What steps do you need to take to grow more in God’s plan?
Final thought: You will grow in Christ, become more thankful, and more generous when you bring your life under the authority of Christ.
Monday Nov 18, 2019
Monday Nov 18, 2019
“More Thankful”
Grow your Heart
2 Samuel 24:18-25 (see also 1 Chronicles 21)
“Father to the fatherless, defender of widows—this is God…” Psalms 68:5
“She extends her hand to the poor, and she stretches out her hands to the needy.” Proverbs 31:20
Two Generosity Postures:
- Generosity Posture #1: At the Feet
See v20, (also 1 Chronicles 21:16) - Generosity Posture #2: Outstretched Hand
Two Postures in one Story in the New Testament
Acts 4
- v30, “Stretch out your hand with healing power; may miraculous signs and wonders be done through the name of your holy servant Jesus.”
- v34-35. (ESV), “There was not a needy person among them, for as many as were owners of lands or houses sold them and brought the proceeds of what was sold and laid it at the apostles' feet, and it was distributed to each as any had need.”
CENTRAL TRUTH: There’s a relationship between God’s outstretched hand at work in miraculous ways—and our willingness to lay at his feet our lives, our offering, our all.
Generosity Ladder: (begin at the bottom and work your way up)
Eternal Generosity
Sacrifice Generosity
Sacrifice is giving up something you love; for something you love more.
Percent Generosity
Do Good Generosity
Safe Generosity
Self-Sooth Generosity
Self-Focus Generosity
Not So Generous
“Don’t store up treasures here on earth, where moths eat them and rust destroys them, and where thieves break in and steal. Store your treasures in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal. Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be.” Matthew 6:19-21
Final Thought: To climb the generosity ladder, you need to know, the higher you want to go; the lower you have to go into humility and surrender.
Monday Nov 18, 2019
Monday Nov 18, 2019
More Thankful
Break It’s Grip
Exodus 25-39
"No one can serve two masters. For you will hate one and love the other; you will be devoted to one and despise the other.
You cannot serve God and be enslaved to money.” Luke 16:13
Sermon in a word: Break it’s grip: GIVE
How to become MORE Generous:
You need a BIGGER vision…
v2, “Tell the people of Israel to bring me their sacred offerings. Accept the contributions from all whose hearts are moved to offer them.”
You need a BROADER vision…
v8, “Have the people of Israel build me a holy sanctuary so I can live among them.”
Exodus 12:38, “Many other people went up with them, and also large droves of livestock, both flocks and herds.”
2 Corinthians 9:10-11, “For God is the one who provides seed for the farmer and then bread to eat. In the same way, he will provide and increase your resources and then produce a great harvest of generosity in you. Yes, you will be enriched in every way so that you can always be generous. And when we take your gifts to those who need them, they will thank God.”
You need a BETTER vision…
See Exodus 35:21-24, 36:4-7, 39:42-43.
2 Corinthians 8:7, “But since you excel in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and in the love we have kindled in you—see that you also excel in this grace of giving.”
Final Thought: It is in the act of surrender and giving that we gain.
Monday Oct 28, 2019
Monday Oct 28, 2019
Grow: More and More
The Community
Hebrews 12:1-2; 14-15
The Church is a covenant community of believers committed to Jesus and one another.
1) A covenant community of believers. (Hebrews 12:1)
a. The global (Philippians 2:10-11)
b. The local (Philippians 1:1-2)
2) Committed to Jesus. (Hebrews 12:2)
a. Committed to follow (Matthew 4:18-22)
b. Committed to obey (Matthew 8:18-22)
3) Committed to one another. (Hebrews 12:14-15)
a. The church is a family. (1 Peter 4:8-12)
b. The church is God’s grace and peace made visible. (1 Peter 1:1-2)
Final Thought: To be a part of the church is to be an active part of God’s plan to grow you more and more in Christ and to grow the Kingdom of God more and more.
Monday Oct 21, 2019
Monday Oct 21, 2019
Grow: More and More
The Relationship
Acts 9 & 22
1) The saving work of Christ is life-giving and life-altering. (Acts 9:1-5)
a.“Who are you Lord?”
b. “I am Jesus… now get up…”
2) A relationship with Christ is a life defined by Christ. (Acts 22:1-10)
a. Christ’s presence changes everything.
3) What does a relationship with Christ look like?
a. Listening for understanding. (Acts 9:5)
b. Living in the presence of Christ. (Matthew 28:20)
c. Pursuing God’s vision for your life. (Acts 9:10-16)
Final Thought: A life that is both biblically serious and spiritually alive is only found in a relationship with Christ.
Monday Oct 21, 2019
Monday Oct 21, 2019
Grow: More and More
The Trinity
1 Peter 1:2
1) Who is God? (1 Peter 1:2)
Key Truth: We do not define God. God defines us. We understand who God is through what He reveals to us through scripture.
The Trinity:
- Father: Generous initiator/creator. (Genesis 1:1)
- Son: Obedient Redeemer. (1 Corinthians 1:30)
- Holy Spirit: Indwelling presence. (1 Corinthians 6:19)
2) What has God revealed to us in the Trinity that can lead us to grow more and more?
- Unity in diversity. (John 17:20-23)
- Actions that reveal the heart of God. (1 Peter 1:16)
- Deep connection in community. (1 Peter 1:22)
The change you as a believer will make in this world is a direct result of your growth in Christ.
Monday Oct 07, 2019
Monday Oct 07, 2019
Imagine a Church
“Move”
Acts 5:12-42
Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.” Ephesians 3:20-21 (NIV)
Imagine a church that is more than a location but a movement of God, used by God to breathe fresh movements of God in the greater church all around us.
How to prepare for a movement of God?
(1) Pull Together
v12. “…all the believers used to meet together in Solomon’s Colonnade.”
(2) Ride the Ups and Downs
(see v 18, 19, 33, 41)
(3) Hear the Captain
v29, “We must obey God rather than human authority”
4:19, “Do you think God wants us to obey you rather than God?” (see John 10:23-27)
Final Prayer Thought: Here we are—together— have your way God in us. Move!
Monday Sep 30, 2019
Monday Sep 30, 2019
Imagine a Church
Life Transformation
Romans 12:1-2 Acts 4:32-35
In a Word: TRANSFORMATION.
Imagine a church in which family-lives revolve around the Kingdom of God; where people make career choices based upon church-connectedness, where marriages reflect Christ and the Church; where parents are the powerful spiritual influence in their children; and where children grow radically in grace and the likeness of Jesus Christ.
What does it Take? (Romans 12:1-2)
(1) I GIVE UP
“give your bodies to God”. “Let them be a living and holy sacrifice”…
(2) I GIVE IN
“This is truly the way to worship Him.” “This is your spiritual service.”
(3) I GIVE TO
2 Corinthians 6:17, “Therefore, Come out from them and be separate, says the Lord.”
1Peter 2:9, “But you are not like that, for you are a chosen people. You are royal priests, a holy nation, God’s very own possession. As a result, you can show others the goodness of God, for He called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light.”
Key Thought: Do not IMITATE; let God RECREATE.
What Does it Look Like? (Acts 4:32-35)
- They were united
- They shared
- They testified
- They sell/bring/give
- They were ALL IN
- They went ALL OUT
“He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain that which he cannot lose.” - Jim Elliot
Sacrifice—giving up something you love for something you love more.
Final Thought: God’s vision for the church is total life transformation and once that vision captures our hearts, He changes everything. And then people will see the goodness of God.
Monday Sep 23, 2019
Monday Sep 23, 2019
Imagine a Church
The Word and Prayer
Acts 2:42-47
Imagine a church in which the Word of God and prayer permeates every life, transforms every family and guides every activity of the church.
Devoted—constant, consistent, persisting obstinately, Stubborn.
When you are on a Journey:
#1 You need to be GROUNDED
Core Value: Biblically Serious
“We are rooted and grounded in scripture. God’s Word is the final authority of truth and defines life itself. It is THE authority for all of life.”
2 Timothy 3:16-17 (NIV), “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.”
#2 You Need to be GUIDED
Core Value: Spiritually Alive
“We embrace the mystery of the Holy Spirit to work within us and among us. We are intentionally joyful, celebratory, and lean into a radical faith that defies explanation. God is alive. God is here.”
Imagine a church in which the Word of God and prayer permeates every life, transforms every family and guides every activity of the church.
Final Thought: When you get into God’s Word and into God’s Presence, you can’t begin to imagine all that God will breathe into you.