"Inexpressible and Glorious Joy" - Practically Joyful

SERMON NOTES:  

We are made for Joy because our Creator and Re-creator is Joy full!

Galatians 5 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace ….

Joy has enemies – the Unholy trinity – The devil, the world and my sinful nature!  

My old nature is Self – Reliant!    When it leads I am very vulnerable.  Why?

            My new nature is God–Reliant!   When it leads I am very productive.  Why? 

Practically Joy-full:

·         “keep His commands”, “embrace His instruction” in my thinking, saying and doing!

John 15 9 “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. 10 If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love.
 11 I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. 

·         “Rejoice ….. Do not be anxious”   Anxiety and fear are the natural fruit of the old me!

Philippians 4 Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!  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. 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. 

o   Prayer

o   Gratitude

o   Celebration - focuses us on God and His Goodness revealed! 

SOLITUDE, SCRIPTURE, PRAYER - GUIDE:  

Find a quiet place and 15 minutes.

Solitude – Spend several minutes quietly alone. Take some deep breaths… Just be… … …Ask, “Holy Spirit, speak to me through your Word!”

Scripture – Read slowly, out loud if possible, listen, reread, dwell, notice words & phrases you are drawn to & return there!  (Sermon notes may help with understanding, but don’t stop there.)

Keep asking, “Jesus, what are You saying?  Why this word this day?

What are You asking me to believe about You and about me?  How am I learning to Live Loved?

How do I join You today on Your mission and in my transformation?” 

Prayer – Let your conversation with God flow from what He is saying then talk about what you notice is on your heart and also on your list.

Monday – John 15:5-11

Tuesday – Philippians 4:4-9

Wednesday – Colossians 3:12-17

Thursday – Ephesians 5:15-21

Friday – Isaiah 35

Saturday – Psalm 111

Got questions?  Continue the discussion.  Follow the link @  https://goo.gl/Jd93J7

"Inexpressible and Glorious Joy" - Joy's Unlikely Partner

SERMON NOTES:  

We are made for Joy because Maker is Joy full!

Galatians 5 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace ….

Joy has enemies – the Unholy trinity – The devil, the world and my sinful nature!  

How do they work together against me and joy?      

Galatians 5 16 So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. 17 For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want. 

John 3  3 Jesus replied, “Truly I tell you, unless someone is born again  he cannot see the kingdom of God.” 

Joy has an unlikely partner – Repentance – “changed thinking” in God’s direction!

Repentance releases Joy!

How does my thinking need to change in God’s direction? 

John 15 9 “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. 10 If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love.
 11 I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. 

SOLITUDE, SCRIPTURE, PRAYER - GUIDE:  

Find a quiet place and 15 minutes.

Solitude – Spend several minutes quietly alone. Take some deep breaths… Just be… … …Ask, “Holy Spirit, speak to me through your Word!”

Scripture – Read slowly, out loud if possible, listen, reread, dwell, notice words & phrases you are drawn to & return there!  (Sermon notes may help with understanding, but don’t stop there.)

Keep asking, “Jesus, what are You saying?  Why this word this day?

What are You asking me to believe about You and about me?  How am I learning to Live Loved?

How do I join You today on Your mission and in my transformation?”

Prayer – Let your conversation with God flow from what He is saying then talk about what you notice is on your heart and also on your list.

Monday – Galatians 5:16-25

Tuesday – John 3:1-8

Wednesday – John 15:5-11

Thursday – Psalm 51:1-12

Friday – Matthew 7:24-29

Saturday – Psalm 34

"Inexpressible and Glorious Joy" - Why Do I Lose It?

SERMON NOTES:  

We were made for Joy!

Nehemiah 8:10 “Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength”
Galatians 5 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace ….

Joy has enemies!    (Robbers, thieves, leaks, drains, impostors etc.)

If Joy is a fruit of life with God then enemies of that life are enemies of Joy in my life! 

The Unholy Trinity – a Triple Alliance against Life and Joy!

            The Devil         John 10 10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they  may have life, and have it to the full.

            The World     John 16 33 “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this  world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”  

            My Sinfulness   Galatians 519 The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual  immorality, impurity and  debauchery…; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions 21 and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. 

John 15 9 “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. 10 If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love.
 11 I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. 

SOLITUDE, SCRIPTURE, PRAYER - GUIDE:  

Find a quiet place and 15 minutes.

Solitude – Spend several minutes quietly alone. Take some deep breaths… Just be… … …Ask, “Holy Spirit, speak to me through your Word!”

Scripture – Read slowly, out loud if possible, listen, reread, dwell, notice words & phrases you are drawn to & return there!  (Sermon notes may help with understanding, but don’t stop there.)

Keep asking, “Jesus, what are You saying?  Why this word this day?

What are You asking me to believe about You and about me?  How am I learning to Live Loved?

How do I join You today on Your mission and in my transformation?”

Prayer – Let your conversation with God flow from what He is saying then talk about what you notice is on your heart and also on your list.

Monday – Nehemiah 8:9-12

Tuesday – Psalm 100

Wednesday – John 10:7-13

Thursday – Galatians 5:16-25

Friday – 1 Thessalonians 5:16-24

Saturday – Zephaniah 3:14-17

"Inexpressible and Glorious Joy" - How Do We Get It?

SERMON NOTES:  

“Joy is at the heart of God’s plan for human beings. 
The reason this is worth pondering awhile: Joy is at the heart of God himself.” – John Ortberg
 

The JOY Perspective:  “God’s capacity for Joy makes possible our experience of Joy!” 

God’s capacity for Joy… is seriously underestimated!

     Psalm 118 24This is the day the Lord has made; We will rejoice and be glad in it.

     John 15 11I have told you this, so that, my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. 

     Galatians 5 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace ….
 

“Joy is the serious business of heaven” – C.S. Lewis
 

…makes possible…
 

Ephesians 5 18 Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit,
 
     “If I need more Joy it means I need more of God!”
 

...our experience of Joy!

     Philippians 4 4 Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!  

                  Living joy-fully takes practice …….. Gratitude and Celebration! 

SOLITUDE, SCRIPTURE, PRAYER - GUIDE:  

Find a quiet place and 15 minutes.

Solitude – Spend several minutes quietly alone. Take some deep breaths… Just be… … …Ask, “Holy Spirit, speak to me through your Word!”

Scripture – Read slowly, out loud if possible, listen, reread, dwell, notice words & phrases you are drawn to & return there!  (Sermon notes may help with understanding, but don’t stop there.)

Keep asking, “Jesus, what are You saying?  Why this word this day?

What are You asking me to believe about You and about me?  How am I learning to Live Loved?

How do I join You today on Your mission and in my transformation?”

Prayer – Let your conversation with God flow from what He is saying then talk about what you notice is on your heart and also on your list.

Monday – Psalm 118:21-29

Tuesday – Psalm 19

Wednesday – John 15:9-11

Thursday – Galatians 5:16-25

Friday – Philippians 4:4-9

Saturday – Habbakuk 3:17-19

"Inexpressible and Glorious Joy" - Easter 2018

SERMON NOTES:  

Joy and Easter just go together!

What would it be like to live with Joy that is inexpressible and glorious? 

Matthew 28 5 The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. 6 He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. 7 Then go quickly and tell his disciples: ‘He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.’ Now I have told you.”  8 So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell his disciples.

1 Peter 13 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead……
…… 8 Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, 9 for you are receiving the end result of your faith, the salvation of your souls. 

Inexpressible and glorious Joy…

·         Flows from this “new birth into a living hope” life secured by the resurrection of Jesus
 

·         Is a result of loving and believing in Jesus (even though we haven’t seen Him)
 

·         Is a “now” thing no matter how bad our circumstances!

Joy Tools:  “REJOICE!  He is Risen!”

What’s your “JOY ?”

SOLITUDE, SCRIPTURE, PRAYER - GUIDE:  

Find a quiet place and 15 minutes.

Solitude – Spend several minutes quietly alone. Take some deep breaths… Just be… … …Ask, “Holy Spirit, speak to me through your Word!”

Scripture – Read slowly, out loud if possible, listen, reread, dwell, notice words & phrases you are drawn to & return there!  (Sermon notes may help with understanding, but don’t stop there.)

Keep asking, “Jesus, what are You saying?  Why this word this day?

What are You asking me to believe about You and about me?  How am I learning to Live Loved?

How do I join You today on Your mission and in my transformation?”

Prayer – Let your conversation with God flow from what He is saying then talk about what you notice is on your heart and also on your list.

Monday – Matthew 28:1-7

Tuesday – Matthew 28:8-15

Wednesday – 1 Peter 1:3-9

Thursday – 1 Peter 1:13-21

Friday – Philippians 4:4-7

Saturday – Psalm 150

Continue the conversation by scanning the QR code above or https://goo.gl/Jd93J7

Palm Sunday 2018 "See, Your King Comes To You

SERMON NOTES:  

The key to getting the most out of Palm Sunday, Holy Week, Easter …. and beyond is to:

            “Embrace what Jesus is up to … instead of what He is not up to!” 1  

So Jesus, what are you up to?

Matthew 21  5 “Say to Daughter Zion,    ‘See, your king comes to you, gentle and riding on a donkey,
 and on a colt, the foal of a donkey.’”
6 The disciples went and did as Jesus had instructed them. 7 They brought the donkey and the colt and placed their cloaks on them for Jesus to sit on. 8 A very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, while others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road.9 The crowds that went ahead of him and those that followed shouted,
“Hosanna to the Son of David!  Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!”
“Hosanna in the highest heaven!”
10 When Jesus entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred and asked, “Who is this?”
11 The crowds answered, “This is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth in Galilee.”
12 Jesus entered the temple courts and drove out all who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves. 13 “It is written,” he said to them, “‘My house will be called a house of prayer,’ but you are making it ‘a den of robbers.

I see Jesus…

·          Being a different sort of King…
 

·          Coming to fight “for me”…
 

·          Against my truest enemy…
 

·          Even if fighting “for me” means sometimes working against me …
 

·         Because He loves me! 

1What Jesus (God) has said and done is the lens needed to be able to see what He is up to now! 

SOLITUDE, SCRIPTURE, PRAYER - GUIDE:  

Find a quiet place and 15 minutes.

Solitude – Spend several minutes quietly alone. Take some deep breaths… Just be… … …Ask, “Holy Spirit, speak to me through your Word!”

Scripture – Read slowly, out loud if possible, listen, reread, dwell, notice words & phrases you are drawn to & return there!  (Sermon notes may help with understanding, but don’t stop there.)

Keep asking, “Jesus, what are You saying?  Why this word this day?

What are You asking me to believe about You and about me?  How am I learning to Live Loved?

How do I join You today on Your mission and in my transformation?”

Prayer – Let your conversation with God flow from what He is saying then talk about what you notice is on your heart and also on your list.

Monday – Matthew 21:12-17

Tuesday – Matthew 22:34-40

Wednesday – Matthew 26:6-13

Thursday – Matthew 26:31-35

Friday – Matthew 27:22-31

Saturday – Matthew 27:45-66

Live Loved With 1 John! The 5th Sunday of Lent

SERMON NOTES:  

Learning to “Live Loved” is a journey!  1 John is our guide to explore an amazing way to live!

The Fellowship of the Light Trail   (1:5-2:2)                   The Obedience of Love Trail   (2:3-17)      
Opposition Overlook   (2:18-28)                                           Born of God Basin   (3:1-24)
Pre-Summit Warnings and Encouragement (4:1-6)    The Summit (4:7-21)

The “Overcomer’s Victory” Trail (5:1-21)

·         (1-5) Living Loved means living as an “overcomer” because we have been born of God!

3 In fact, this is love for God: to keep his commands (…embrace His instructions…) . And his commands are not burdensome, 4 for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. 5 Who is it that overcomes the world?  Only the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God. 

·         (6-12) Living Loved means having faith in Jesus Only, Only Jesus and All of Jesus!

11 And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.12 Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life. 

·         (13-21) Living Loved means heeding heartfelt concluding gifts of truth about …
 

*  Confidence before God (13-15)

*  Sins and the SIN (16-17)

*  Winning against Evil (18-19)

*  Knowing Him who is TRUE! (20-21)

1 John 5 20 We know also that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know him who is true. And we are in him who is true by being in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life. 21 Dear children, keep yourselves from idols. 

SOLITUDE, SCRIPTURE, PRAYER - GUIDE:  

Find a quiet place and 15 minutes.

Solitude – Spend several minutes quietly alone. Take some deep breaths… Just be… … …Ask, “Holy Spirit, speak to me through your Word!”

Scripture – Read slowly, out loud if possible, listen, reread, dwell, notice words & phrases you are drawn to & return there!  (Sermon notes may help with understanding, but don’t stop there.)

Keep asking, “Jesus, what are You saying?  Why this word this day?

What are You asking me to believe about You and about me?  How am I learning to Live Loved?

How do I join You today on Your mission and in my transformation?”

Prayer – Let your conversation with God flow from what He is saying then talk about what you notice is on your heart and also on your list.

Monday – 1 John 5:1-5

Tuesday – 1 John 5:6-12

Wednesday – 1 John 5:13-15

Thursday – 1 John 5:16-17

Friday – 1 John 5:18-21

Saturday – 1 John 5:1-21

Live Loved With 1 John! The 4th Sunday of Lent

SERMON NOTES:  

Learning to “Live Loved” is a journey!  1 John is our guide to explore an amazing way to live!

The Fellowship of the Light Trail   (1:5-2:2)
The Obedience of Love Trail   (2:3-17)      
Opposition Overlook   (2:18-28)
Born of God Basin   (3:1-24)

Pre-Summit Warnings and Encouragement (4:1-6)

-Test the spirits, “Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, 3 but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God.

-Remember Whose you are, “4 You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because  the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.

The Summit (4:7-21)

The “Live Loved” life is extraordinarily powerful because this Love is:

·         Sourced in God (the Lover)

·         Received by us (the Beloved)

·         Given to others (the Loved)

10 This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. 11 Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. 

Love finds completeness in our lives, powerfully overcoming fear and hate!

18 There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear 

SOLITUDE, SCRIPTURE, PRAYER - GUIDE:  

Find a quiet place and 15 minutes.

Solitude – Spend several minutes quietly alone. Take some deep breaths… Just be… … …Ask, “Holy Spirit, speak to me through your Word!”

Scripture – Read slowly, out loud if possible, listen, reread, dwell, notice words & phrases you are drawn to & return there!  (Sermon notes may help with understanding, but don’t stop there.)

Keep asking, “Jesus, what are You saying?  Why this word this day?

What are You asking me to believe about You and about me?  How am I learning to Live Loved?

How do I join You today on Your mission and in my transformation?”

Prayer – Let your conversation with God flow from what He is saying then talk about what you notice is on your heart and also on your list.

Monday – 1 John 4:1-6

Tuesday – 1 John 4:7-10

Wednesday – 1 John 4:11-15

Thursday – 1 John 4:16-18

Friday – 1 John 4:19-21

Saturday – 1 John 4:1-21