Part 1 "...Because Grace Still Matters"

SERMON NOTES:  

What happened 500 years ago and why does it still matter?

Romans 1  17 For in the gospel the righteousness of God is revealed—a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: “The righteous will live by faith.”

 Our view of God matters!

Romans 5 Therefore, since we have been justified(declared righteous) 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

Ephesians 2 8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast.  

A “GRACE” view of God FREES me to:

·         live “reconciled” to God by faith!  Life is a gift in a world at war!
 

·         Obey Him because He loves me not so He will love me!
 

Love others with all the energy I use to burn filling my own holey heart!

DAILY SCRIPTURE READINGS:

Monday:  Romans 1:16-17
Tuesday:  Romans 5:1-5
Wednesday:  2 Corinthians 5:17-21
Thursday:  Romans 5:6-10
Friday:  Luke 15:11-24
Saturday:  John 14:15-27

Beginnings, Part 5 "Begin Content!"

SERMON NOTES:  

What have we learned about “Beginning” anything?

·         Beginning “IN CHRIST” means more Joy and Hope with less Fear and Anxiety!

·         THE SECRET SAUCE: Convert your anxieties into prayers, add thanksgiving, and then receive Peace!”

·         MY MIND is led by what it’s fed ……. So feed it well!

Philippians 4  For I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. 12 I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. 13 I can do all this through him who gives me strength. 

The Secret of Being Content?           (…….. in any and every situation!)

“through HIM” -

“who gives me strength” -

“I can do all this” –

Our “through HIM” living is relentlessly dependent on God’s Word, my Prayers and His Spirit!

DAILY SCRIPTURE READINGS:

Monday:  Philippians 4:10-13
Tuesday:  John 15:5-10
Wednesday:  Matthew 6:31-34
Thursday:  Romans 5:1-5
Friday:  Isaiah 26:1-4
Saturday:  Psalm 118:19-29

Beginnings, Part 4 "What's IN My Mind?"

SERMON NOTES:  

Philippians 4:6-7 “6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

The “Secret Sauce” – “Convert your anxieties into prayers, add thanksgiving, and then receive Peace!”

Next?

8 Finally, brothers and sisters,
whatever is true,
whatever is noble,
whatever is right,
whatever is pure,
whatever is lovely,
whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—
think about such things. 

9 Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. 
And the God of peace will be with you.
 

My mind is led by what it’s fed! 

Romans 8 6 The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace. 

 DAILY SCRIPTURE READINGS:

Monday:  Philippians 4:8-9
Tuesday:  John 8:31-32
Wednesday:  Romans 8:5-9
Thursday:  Ephesians 4:17-24
Friday:  Romans 12:1-2
Saturday:  Ephesians 6:13-18

Beginnings, Part 3 "The Secret Sauce"

SERMON NOTES:  

Beginning Well – Is there a secret?

“… the divorce rate in America is at a minimum one out of two marriages.  But the reported divorce rate among couples that pray together is about one in ten thousand!”     -     Dr. Phillip McGraw, “Relationship Rescue” pg. 292

Philippians 4:4-7
 4 Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! 5 Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near.
 

6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation,

 by prayer and petition,

with thanksgiving,

present your requests to God. 
 

7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, 

will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

The Secret Sauce – “Convert your anxieties into prayers, add thanksgiving, and then receive Peace!”
 

DAILY SCRIPTURE READINGS:

Monday:  Philippians 4:4-7
Tuesday:  John 14:25-27
Wednesday:  Jeremiah 29:11-14a
Thursday:  Matthew 11:28-30
Friday:  1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
Saturday:  Psalm 23

Beginnings, Part 2 "Salt and Light and Cocaine"

SERMON NOTES:  

Matthew 5 13 “You are the salt of the earth… You are the light of the world…  In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.

Interview Notes:
 

Philippians 3 … many live as enemies of the cross of Christ. 19 Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is set on earthly things. 20 But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ…

Philippians 3 7 But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. 8 What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ9 and be found in him … … I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings,

Takeaways:  (What is God saying to me?)

Awareness –                      What is God making me aware of today about my broken world as well as how the Kingdom of God is breaking through?

Encouragement –            How did God encourage me in my faith walk as I listened today?

      
Challenge –                        How is God challenging me in my faith today?

DAILY SCRIPTURE READINGS:

Monday:  Philippians 3:17-21
Tuesday:  Philippians 2:1-11
Wednesday:  Philippians 3:7-16
Thursday:  Matthew 5:13-16
Friday:  Philippians 2:12-18
Saturday:  Psalm 67

Beginnings, Part 1

SERMON NOTES: 

We are always beginning…….again!

How well do we do “Beginnings”? 

Some help from Pastor Paul in Philippians!

Philippians 1:12-26

BEGINNING “in Christ” means more JOY and HOPE with less Fear and Anxiety!

Philippians 3:7-14 7 But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. 8 What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ9 and be found in him…

With my “In Christ” perspective I get to:

-          admit the reality of the past  

-          but totally trust Jesus in the present for the future!     That’s how I BEGIN!
      

What do I believe about Jesus? 

o   His Redemption, Restoration, Resurrection

o   His presence with me and purpose for me!

DAILY SCRIPTURE READINGS:

Monday:  Philippians 1:9-14
Tuesday:  Philippians 1:19-26
Wednesday:  Philippians 3:1, 4:11
Thursday:  Isaiah 25:8-9
Friday:  Philippians 3:12-16
Saturday:  Habakkuk 3:17-18

Exodus - A Trust Journey, Part 7

SERMON NOTES: 

 The EXODUS was a defining event for God’s people then
 and is a refining story for God’s people now!

Trust 101:    Lesson 1 - “God, You are the Hero of this story and I belong to You!”
                   Lesson 2 - “Say Yes to Yahweh”
                   Lesson 3 – “Yahweh always wins … so let that change you!”
                   Lesson 4 - “Yahweh makes a way when there seems to be no way!”                                               Lesson 5 - “Life with Yahweh is a whole new way…every day!”                 

                Final Exam“God doesn’t invite you to learn from trust; 

                                          He invites you to live from trust.” 

         How does God invite you to live from trust? 

1. He invites you to take the next step.

2. He reminds you of His promises.

3. He gives you strength in His Word.

4.  He makes you courageous by His presence.

DAILY SCRIPTURE READINGS:

Monday:  Deuteronomy 31:1-8
Tuesday:  Deuteronomy 31:14-29
Wednesday:  Deuteronomy 31:30-32:47
Thursday:  Deuteronomy 34:1-12
Friday:  Joshua 1:1-9
Saturday:  Psalm 90

Exodus - A Trust Journey, Part 6

SERMON NOTES: 

The EXODUS was a defining event for God’s people then and is a refining story for God’s people now!

Trust 101: Lesson 1 -  “God, You are the Hero of this story and I belong to You!”
                                 2 -  “Say Yes to Yahweh”
                                 3 -  “Yahweh always wins … so let that change you!”
                                 4 -  “Yahweh makes a way when there seems to be no way!”
                                 5 – “Life with Yahweh is a whole new way ….. every day!

Numbers 6 22 The Lord said to Moses, 23 “Tell Aaron and his sons, ‘This is how you are to bless the Israelites. Say to them:   24 “‘“The Lord bless you and keep you; 25 the Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you;
26 the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace.”’
27 “So they will put my name on the Israelites, and I will bless them.”

Lesson 6 –  “Yahweh is with us and He is for us!”

Problems come when I :

·         Am not trusting His is present!

·         Am not trusting He is for me!

·         Am not being for me! 

Numbers 14 6 Joshua son of Nun and Caleb son of Jephunneh, who were among those who had explored the land, tore their clothes 7 and said to the entire Israelite assembly, “ 9 Do not rebel against the Lord. And do not be afraid of the people of the land, because we will devour them. Their protection is gone, but the Lord is with us. Do not be afraid of them.”

Romans 8 28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose….. If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? 

DAILY SCRIPTURE READINGS:

Monday:  Numbers 6:22-27
Tuesday:  Numbers 11:4-6, 18-23
Wednesday:  Numbers 13:26-31
Thursday:  Numbers 14:1-9
Friday:  Romans 8:28, 31-32
Saturday:  Psalm 1