Blessed to Be a Blessing

Blessed to Be a Blessing

Matthew 25:34-40

Pastor Miles

5/8/2016

""But when the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit upon his glorious throne. All the nations will be gathered in his presence, and he will separate the people as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He will place the sheep at his right hand and the goats at his left. "Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the creation of the world. For I was hungry, and you fed me. I was thirsty, and you gave me a drink. I was a stranger, and you invited me into your home. I was naked, and you gave me clothing. I was sick, and you cared for me. I was in prison, and you visited me.' "Then these righteous ones will reply, 'Lord, when did we ever see you hungry and feed you? Or thirsty and give you something to drink? Or a stranger and show you hospitality? Or naked and give you clothing? When did we ever see you sick or in prison and visit you?' "And the King will say, 'I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!'"

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭25:31-40‬ ‭NLT‬‬

http://bible.com/116/mat.25.31-40.nlt

1. "I was hungry, and you fed me."

We have a responsibility to care for those in need.

2. "I was thirsty, and you gave me a drink."

3. "I was a stranger, and you invited me into your home."

We need to remember that spiritually we were strangers, until Jesus reaches out and made us part of His family.

4. "I was naked, and you gave me clothing."

5. "I was sick, and you cared for me."

6. "I was in prison, and you visited me."

Aligning Your Story with God's Great Story

Aligning Your Story with God's Great Story
Act 1: Creation - Made in the Image of God
Gen 1:26-27; Col 3:10
Pastor Jeff
4/10/16

Human beings are special creatures - made in the image of God

"Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth! You have set your glory in the heavens. Through the praise of children and infants you have established a stronghold against your enemies, to silence the foe and the avenger. When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is mankind that you are mindful of them, human beings that you care for them? You have made them a little lower than the angels and crowned them with glory and honor. You made them rulers over the works of your hands; you put everything under their feet: all flocks and herds, and the animals of the wild, the birds in the sky, and the fish in the sea, all that swim the paths of the seas."
‭‭Psalm‬ ‭8:1-8‬ ‭NIV‬‬
http://bible.com/111/psa.8.1-8.niv

"Then God said, "Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals, and over all the creatures that move along the ground." So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them. God blessed them and said to them, "Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky and over every living creature that moves on the ground.""
‭‭Genesis‬ ‭1:26-28‬ ‭NIV‬‬
http://bible.com/111/gen.1.26-28.niv

"Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator."
‭‭Colossians‬ ‭3:9-10‬ ‭NIV‬‬
http://bible.com/111/col.3.9-10.niv

Being created in the image of God is the source of human dignity
People are gifts to be treasured
Children are gifts from God - we need to invest in them

God's Great Storyline

God's Great Storyline
Ephesians 1:9-10
Pastor Jeff
4/3/16

God's great story:
A story is a series of events that is connected by a plot.
Faith is acting out your belief in what is true.
Are we able to align our life with God's storyline?
4 acts: creation, fall, redemption, restoration.
In Genesis, God creates human beings to have a relationship with Him, and for Him to bless them.
Instead of trusting God, Adam and Eve think that He is withholding something good from them, and they turn from Him, leading to the Fall.
How does God work through a redemption to restore a relationship and blessing?

"he made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, to be put into effect when the times reach their fulfillment—to bring unity to all things in heaven and on earth under Christ."
‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭1:9-10‬ ‭NIV‬‬
http://bible.com/111/eph.1.9-10.niv

"The Lord had said to Abram, "Go from your country, your people and your father's household to the land I will show you. "I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing."
‭‭Genesis‬ ‭12:1-2‬ ‭NIV‬‬
http://bible.com/111/gen.12.1-2.nivus

The promised land becomes the restoration for God's people.
But His people don't trust Him.
The tabernacle becomes the way for God to dwell in the midst of His people.
Jesus is the fulfillment of the promise to Abraham.
God's work is done by the Spirit.
God dwelled in the Garden of Eden, in the tabernacle, the temple, and now...
God is dwelling in us!

1. Get the right story, and get the story right.
2. Reflect on God's great story.
- Joshua 1, proverbs.
3. Remember God's great story.
4. Retell God's great story.
5. Relate yourself to God's great story.
- interpret your life in God's story.

"All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath. But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God's handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do."
‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭2:3-10‬ ‭NIV‬‬
http://bible.com/111/eph.2.3-10.niv

The Significance of the Resurrection

The Significance of the Resurrection

1 Corinthians 15:14-22

Pastor Miles 

3/27/16

"If there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith. More than that, we are then found to be false witnesses about God, for we have testified about God that he raised Christ from the dead. But he did not raise him if in fact the dead are not raised. For if the dead are not raised, then Christ has not been raised either. And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins. Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ are lost. If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are of all people most to be pitied. But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man. For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive."

‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭15:13-22‬ ‭NIV‬‬

http://bible.com/111/1co.15.13-22.niv

1. The resurrection proves that Jesus is who He claimed to be.

The ultimate proof of His claim is the miracle of the resurrection.

"So Jesus said, "When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am he and that I do nothing on my own but speak just what the Father has taught me."

‭‭John‬ ‭8:28‬ ‭NIV‬‬

http://bible.com/111/jhn.8.28.niv

2. The resurrection provides the power for us to change.

"and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms,"

‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭1:19-20‬ ‭NIV‬‬

http://bible.com/111/eph.1.19-20.niv

If this same power was in us, what could we change?

God's power can free us from our past.

We were never meant to live our lives with our own power.

God has given us a new heart and new life.

"When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, having canceled the charge of our legal indebtedness, which stood against us and condemned us; he has taken it away, nailing it to the cross."

‭‭Colossians‬ ‭2:13-14‬ ‭NIV‬‬

http://bible.com/111/col.2.13-14.niv

Our debt to God because of sin has been paid in full by Jesus' death and resurrection.

3. The resurrection promises our victory over death.

"By his power God raised the Lord from the dead, and he will raise us also."

‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭6:14‬ ‭NIV‬‬

http://bible.com/111/1co.6.14.niv

"Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die;"

‭‭John‬ ‭11:25‬ ‭NIV‬‬

http://bible.com/111/jhn.11.25.niv

"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, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. This inheritance is kept in heaven for you,"

‭‭1 Peter‬ ‭1:3-4‬ ‭NIV‬‬

http://bible.com/111/1pe.1.3-4.niv

The resurrection means that Christ is with us today.

Making Disciples: Comforting Others

Making Disciples: Comforting Others

1 Thessalonians 2:11-12

Pastor Miles

3/20/2016

"For you know that we dealt with each of you as a father deals with his own children, encouraging, comforting and urging you to live lives worthy of God, who calls you into his kingdom and glory."

‭‭1 Thessalonians‬ ‭2:11-12‬ ‭NIV‬‬

http://bible.com/111/1th.2.11-12.niv

1. When do we need comfort?

Times of loss, sorrow, failure ...

"and many Jews had come to Martha and Mary to comfort them in the loss of their brother.

When the Jews who had been with Mary in the house, comforting her, noticed how quickly she got up and went out, they followed her, supposing she was going to the tomb to mourn there."

‭‭John‬ ‭11:19, 31‬ ‭NIV‬‬

http://bible.com/111/jhn.11.19,31.niv

""Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. My Father's house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am."

‭‭John‬ ‭14:1-3‬ ‭NIV‬‬

http://bible.com/111/jhn.14.1-3.niv

2. Where do we go for comfort?

Food, family, friends...

"Is there any encouragement from belonging to Christ? Any comfort from his love? Any fellowship together in the Spirit? Are your hearts tender and compassionate?"

‭‭Philippians‬ ‭2:1‬ ‭NLT‬‬

http://bible.com/116/php.2.1.nlt

It's in His arms of love that we find true comfort because He know our hurt, sorrows, and grief. In the midst of our mistakes and failures, He knows our shame and guilt. He himself has felt and suffered great loss.

"Surely he took up our pain and bore our suffering, yet we considered him punished by God, stricken by him, and afflicted."

‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭53:4‬ ‭NIV‬‬

http://bible.com/111/isa.53.4.niv

His pain has exceeded ours the same way His power exceeds ours.

He knows what it's like to be in suffering.

3. How do we comfort others?

To sympathize and empathize. To understand what they are going through and to feel what they feel. 

"Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God."

‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭1:3-4‬ ‭NIV‬‬

http://bible.com/111/2co.1.3-4.niv

God comforts us in our trials and afflictions so that we can comfort others. 

We can comfort them in the comfort that we have found in Christ.

We become a channel of God's love and grace.

Because of what we've been through, we can come alongside others who are experiencing the same issues.

Making Disciple: Encouraging Others

Making Disciple: Encouraging Others

1 Thessalonians 2:11-12

Pastor Miles

3/13/2016

"For you know that we dealt with each of you as a father deals with his own children, encouraging, comforting and urging you to live lives worthy of God, who calls you into his kingdom and glory."

‭‭1 Thessalonians‬ ‭2:11-12‬ ‭NIV‬‬

http://bible.com/111/1th.2.11-12.niv

1. Who needs encouragement?

Everyone!

God can still use us despite our shortcomings.

"But Timothy has just now come to us from you and has brought good news about your faith and love. He has told us that you always have pleasant memories of us and that you long to see us, just as we also long to see you. Therefore, brothers and sisters, in all our distress and persecution we were encouraged about you because of your faith. For now we really live, since you are standing firm in the Lord. How can we thank God enough for you in return for all the joy we have in the presence of our God because of you?"

‭‭1 Thessalonians‬ ‭3:6-9‬ ‭NIV‬‬

http://bible.com/111/1th.3.6-9.niv

"For what is our hope, our joy, or the crown in which we will glory in the presence of our Lord Jesus when he comes? Is it not you? Indeed, you are our glory and joy."

‭‭1 Thessalonians‬ ‭2:19-20‬ ‭NIV‬‬

http://bible.com/111/1th.2.19-20.niv

2. When do we need encouragement?

All the time!

Especially when we lack/lose courage ("en-courage" = to put in courage).

"And we urge you, brothers and sisters, warn those who are idle and disruptive, encourage the disheartened, help the weak, be patient with everyone."

‭‭1 Thessalonians‬ ‭5:14‬ ‭NIV‬‬

http://bible.com/111/1th.5.14.niv

"So when we could stand it no longer, we thought it best to be left by ourselves in Athens. We sent Timothy, who is our brother and co-worker in God's service in spreading the gospel of Christ, to strengthen and encourage you in your faith, so that no one would be unsettled by these trials. For you know quite well that we are destined for them."

‭‭1 Thessalonians‬ ‭3:1-3‬ ‭NIV‬‬

http://bible.com/111/1th.3.1-3.niv

God sends people to encourage.

3. How do we encourage others?

With our words!

"Therefore encourage one another with these words."

‭‭1 Thessalonians‬ ‭4:18‬ ‭NIV‬‬

http://bible.com/111/1th.4.18.niv

"Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing."

‭‭1 Thessalonians‬ ‭5:11‬ ‭NIV‬‬

http://bible.com/111/1th.5.11.niv

"We remember before our God and Father your work produced by faith, your labor prompted by love, and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ. For we know, brothers and sisters loved by God, that he has chosen you, because our gospel came to you not simply with words but also with power, with the Holy Spirit and deep conviction..."

‭‭1 Thessalonians‬ ‭1:3-5a‬ ‭NIV‬‬

http://bible.com/111/1th.1.3-5.niv

✔️ Encourage by acknowledging that God's hand is at work in their lives

"You became imitators of us and of the Lord, for you welcomed the message in the midst of severe suffering with the joy given by the Holy Spirit. And so you became a model to all the believers in Macedonia and Achaia. The Lord's message rang out from you not only in Macedonia and Achaia—your faith in God has become known everywhere..,"

‭‭1 Thessalonians‬ ‭1:6-8a‬ ‭NIV‬‬

http://bible.com/111/1th.1.6-8.niv

✔️ Encourage by acknowledging that their lives are a great example to others

"As for other matters, brothers and sisters, we instructed you how to live in order to please God, as in fact you are living. Now we ask you and urge you in the Lord Jesus to do this more and more.

Now about your love for one another we do not need to write to you, for you yourselves have been taught by God to love each other. And in fact, you do love all of God's family throughout Macedonia...,"

‭‭1 Thessalonians‬ ‭4:1, 9-10‬ a‭NIV‬‬

http://bible.com/111/1th.4.1,9-10.niv

"You've done a great job!"

"You have real strength in the area of..."

Next Steps:

Consider who in my life needs encouragement.

Speak a word of encouragement to them.

Making Disciple: Encouraging Others

Making Disciple: Encouraging Others

1 Thessalonians 2:11-12

Pastor Miles

3/13/2016

"For you know that we dealt with each of you as a father deals with his own children, encouraging, comforting and urging you to live lives worthy of God, who calls you into his kingdom and glory."

‭‭1 Thessalonians‬ ‭2:11-12‬ ‭NIV‬‬

http://bible.com/111/1th.2.11-12.niv

1. Who needs encouragement?

Everyone!

God can still use us despite our shortcomings.

"But Timothy has just now come to us from you and has brought good news about your faith and love. He has told us that you always have pleasant memories of us and that you long to see us, just as we also long to see you. Therefore, brothers and sisters, in all our distress and persecution we were encouraged about you because of your faith. For now we really live, since you are standing firm in the Lord. How can we thank God enough for you in return for all the joy we have in the presence of our God because of you?"

‭‭1 Thessalonians‬ ‭3:6-9‬ ‭NIV‬‬

http://bible.com/111/1th.3.6-9.niv

"For what is our hope, our joy, or the crown in which we will glory in the presence of our Lord Jesus when he comes? Is it not you? Indeed, you are our glory and joy."

‭‭1 Thessalonians‬ ‭2:19-20‬ ‭NIV‬‬

http://bible.com/111/1th.2.19-20.niv

2. When do we need encouragement?

All the time!

Especially when we lack/lose courage ("en-courage" = to put in courage).

"And we urge you, brothers and sisters, warn those who are idle and disruptive, encourage the disheartened, help the weak, be patient with everyone."

‭‭1 Thessalonians‬ ‭5:14‬ ‭NIV‬‬

http://bible.com/111/1th.5.14.niv

"So when we could stand it no longer, we thought it best to be left by ourselves in Athens. We sent Timothy, who is our brother and co-worker in God's service in spreading the gospel of Christ, to strengthen and encourage you in your faith, so that no one would be unsettled by these trials. For you know quite well that we are destined for them."

‭‭1 Thessalonians‬ ‭3:1-3‬ ‭NIV‬‬

http://bible.com/111/1th.3.1-3.niv

God sends people to encourage.

3. How do we encourage others?

With our words!

"Therefore encourage one another with these words."

‭‭1 Thessalonians‬ ‭4:18‬ ‭NIV‬‬

http://bible.com/111/1th.4.18.niv

"Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing."

‭‭1 Thessalonians‬ ‭5:11‬ ‭NIV‬‬

http://bible.com/111/1th.5.11.niv

"We remember before our God and Father your work produced by faith, your labor prompted by love, and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ. For we know, brothers and sisters loved by God, that he has chosen you, because our gospel came to you not simply with words but also with power, with the Holy Spirit and deep conviction..."

‭‭1 Thessalonians‬ ‭1:3-5a‬ ‭NIV‬‬

http://bible.com/111/1th.1.3-5.niv

✔️ Encourage by acknowledging that God's hand is at work in their lives

"You became imitators of us and of the Lord, for you welcomed the message in the midst of severe suffering with the joy given by the Holy Spirit. And so you became a model to all the believers in Macedonia and Achaia. The Lord's message rang out from you not only in Macedonia and Achaia—your faith in God has become known everywhere..,"

‭‭1 Thessalonians‬ ‭1:6-8a‬ ‭NIV‬‬

http://bible.com/111/1th.1.6-8.niv

✔️ Encourage by acknowledging that their lives are a great example to others

"As for other matters, brothers and sisters, we instructed you how to live in order to please God, as in fact you are living. Now we ask you and urge you in the Lord Jesus to do this more and more.

Now about your love for one another we do not need to write to you, for you yourselves have been taught by God to love each other. And in fact, you do love all of God's family throughout Macedonia...,"

‭‭1 Thessalonians‬ ‭4:1, 9-10‬ a‭NIV‬‬

http://bible.com/111/1th.4.1,9-10.niv

"You've done a great job!"

"You have real strength in the area of..."

Next Steps:

Consider who in my life needs encouragement.

Speak a word of encouragement to them.