Monday, May 9, 2016

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

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."

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Monday, April 11, 2016

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
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Monday, April 4, 2016

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
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Monday, March 28, 2016

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

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

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

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

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

"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

"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

The resurrection means that Christ is with us today.

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Monday, March 21, 2016

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

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

""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

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

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

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

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.

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Monday, March 14, 2016

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

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

"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

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

"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

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

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

✔️ 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

✔️ 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

"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.

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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

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

"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

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

"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

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

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

✔️ 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

✔️ 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

"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.

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Monday, March 7, 2016

Making Disciples: a Challenge to Honor God

Making Disciples: a Challenge to Honor God
1 Thessalonians 2:11-12, 4:1-8
Pastor Miles
3/6/16

"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

"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. Yet we urge you, brothers and sisters, to do so more and more,"
‭‭1 Thessalonians‬ ‭4:9-10‬ ‭NIV‬‬

"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

"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."
‭‭1 Thessalonians‬ ‭4:1‬ ‭NIV‬‬

1. Do you want to live a life that honors God?

"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

"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."
‭‭1 Thessalonians‬ ‭4:1‬ ‭NIV‬‬

2. What does it look like to live a life that honors God?

"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. For you know what instructions we gave you by the authority of the Lord Jesus. It is God's will that you should be sanctified: that you should avoid sexual immorality;"
‭‭1 Thessalonians‬ ‭4:1-3‬ ‭NIV‬‬

✔️Abstain from sexual immorality (any sexual activity outside of marriage between one man and woman within the covenant of marriage)
⚫️We need to not only protect and prepare our children from pornography in this society (a demon of lust has overtaken this generation)
⚫️Nothing remains a secret forever
⚫️Your desires do not define who you are. Every Christian is called to honor God in this area of our lives
⚫️We need to live openly before God and to allow His transforming power to purify our lives
⚫️If single, abstain till marriage; if married, faithful; if attracted to same sex, abstinent/ remain celibate 

3. Have you heard God's warning?

"It is God's will that you should be sanctified: that you should avoid sexual immorality; that each of you should learn to control your own body in a way that is holy and honorable, not in passionate lust like the pagans, who do not know God; and that in this matter no one should wrong or take advantage of a brother or sister. The Lord will punish all those who commit such sins, as we told you and warned you before. For God did not call us to be impure, but to live a holy life. Therefore, anyone who rejects this instruction does not reject a human being but God, the very God who gives you his Holy Spirit."
‭‭1 Thessalonians‬ ‭4:3-8‬ ‭NIV‬‬

⚫️Our past does not define who we are. We are challenged to do better
⚫️We are more than our desires
✔️Our primary identity comes from Christ. He has placed in us a desire to honor Him 


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Monday, February 22, 2016

Making Disciples: Ministry Temptations

Making Disciples: Ministry Temptations
1 Thessalonians 2:1-6
Pastor Miles
2/21/2016

1. As disciple-makers, we are tempted to give up.

"Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one. Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was pelted with stones, three times I was shipwrecked, I spent a night and a day in the open sea, I have been constantly on the move. I have been in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from my fellow Jews, in danger from Gentiles; in danger in the city, in danger in the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from false believers. I have labored and toiled and have often gone without sleep; I have known hunger and thirst and have often gone without food; I have been cold and naked. Besides everything else, I face daily the pressure of my concern for all the churches. Who is weak, and I do not feel weak? Who is led into sin, and I do not inwardly burn?"
‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭11:24-29‬ ‭NIV‬‬

"You know, brothers and sisters, that our visit to you was not without results. We had previously suffered and been treated outrageously in Philippi, as you know, but with the help of our God we dared to tell you his gospel in the face of strong opposition."
‭‭1 Thessalonians‬ ‭2:1-2‬ ‭NIV‬‬

2. As disciple-makers we are tempted to have wrong motives.
- may stem from greed, financial gain, selfishness, looking to people to fulfill a need we might have.

"For the appeal we make does not spring from error or impure motives, nor are we trying to trick you. On the contrary, we speak as those approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel. We are not trying to please people but God, who tests our hearts. You know we never used flattery, nor did we put on a mask to cover up greed—God is our witness. We were not looking for praise from people, not from you or anyone else, even though as apostles of Christ we could have asserted our authority."
‭‭1 Thessalonians‬ ‭2:3-6‬ ‭NIV‬‬

"All a person's ways seem pure to them, but motives are weighed by the Lord."
‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭16:2‬ ‭NIV‬‬

"My conscience is clear, but that does not make me innocent. It is the Lord who judges me. Therefore judge nothing before the appointed time; wait until the Lord comes. He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of the heart. At that time each will receive their praise from God."
‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭4:4-5‬ ‭NIV‬‬

"For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. Nothing in all creation is hidden from God's sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account."
‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭4:12-13‬ ‭NIV‬‬

- motives matter in ministry. We need to examine the reasons behind what we do.

3. As disciple-makers, we are tempted to use improper means.

"For the appeal we make does not spring from error or impure motives, nor are we trying to trick you. On the contrary, we speak as those approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel. We are not trying to please people but God, who tests our hearts. You know we never used flattery, nor did we put on a mask to cover up greed—God is our witness. We were not looking for praise from people, not from you or anyone else, even though as apostles of Christ we could have asserted our authority."
‭‭1 Thessalonians‬ ‭2:3-6‬ ‭NIV‬‬


✔️In ministry, the ends do not justify the means.

4. How do we overcome these ministry temptations?

"On the contrary, we speak as those approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel. We are not trying to please people but God, who tests our hearts. You know we never used flattery, nor did we put on a mask to cover up greed—God is our witness."
‭‭1 Thessalonians‬ ‭2:4-5‬ ‭NIV‬‬

⚫️ Ultimately, we need to remember that:
✔️ we are pleasing God in our ministry.
✔️ God is our witness.

Next Steps:
- ask God to protect me from discouragement
- ask God to reveal and purify my motives in ministry
- remember that God is my witness, my audience of One







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Monday, February 1, 2016

Making Disciples: Goal #2 - Love

Making Disciples: Goal #2 - Love
1 Thessalonians 3:12
Pastor Miles
1/31/2016

"Paul, Silas and Timothy, To the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace and peace to you. We always thank God for all of you and continually mention you in our prayers. 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."
‭‭1 Thessalonians‬ ‭1:1-3‬ ‭NIV‬‬

The external actions (work, labor, endurance) are expressions of the internal qualities: Faith, hope and love

1. The distinctive mark of a disciple is love.
"By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.""
‭‭John‬ ‭13:35‬ ‭NIV‬‬

"Follow the way of love and eagerly desire gifts of the Spirit, especially prophecy."
‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭14:1‬ ‭NIV‬‬
- follow the way of love

"Do everything in love."
‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭16:14‬ ‭NIV‬‬
- do everything in love

"Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud."
‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭13:4‬ ‭NIV‬‬
- love is patient. Love is kind

✔️Love is active, not passive.

"May the Lord make your love increase and overflow for each other and for everyone else, just as ours does for you."
‭‭1 Thessalonians‬ ‭3:12‬ ‭NIV‬‬

A. Love for each other.
"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. Yet we urge you, brothers and sisters, to do so more and more,"
‭‭1 Thessalonians‬ ‭4:9-10‬ ‭NIV‬‬

B. Love for everyone.
Why does God call us to love everyone? Because He does. He calls us to be like Him. Every life matters to Him. As His representative he calls us to love everyone, even our enemies.

""You have heard that it was said, 'Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that?"
‭‭Matthew‬ ‭5:43-47‬ ‭NIV‬‬

It is not easy to love those close to us. It is even harder to love our enemies.

2. We can only love with God's love.
A. We love because He first loved us.
1 John 4:19

"Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another."
‭‭1 John‬ ‭4:7-11‬ ‭NIV‬‬

✔️We forgive because God forgave us.

B. We ask God to love others through us.

"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 ‭5:5‬ ‭NIV‬‬

"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law."
‭‭Galatians‬ ‭5:22-23‬ ‭NIV‬‬

My next steps:
- remember how God loves me
- ask God to love others through me

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Monday, January 4, 2016

New Year, New Priorities

New Year, New Priorities
Pastor Miles
1/3/16

1. Honor God with your time.
"Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil."
‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭5:15-16‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Take the time to meet with God, and His people.

A. Take the time to meet with God each day. Make this your priority. We need this for spiritual nourishment. 

"Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed."
‭‭Mark‬ ‭1:35‬ ‭NIV‬‬

B. Take time to meet with God's people each week.

"On the first day of the week we came together to break bread. Paul spoke to the people and, because he intended to leave the next day, kept on talking until midnight."
‭‭Acts‬ ‭20:7‬ ‭NIV‬‬

"And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching."
‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭10:24-25‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Consider participating in a small group.

2. Honor God with your talents.
"There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work. Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good."
‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭12:4-7‬ ‭NIV‬‬

"Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it."
‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭12:27‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Put God first by using your gifts and talents to serve others.
Find a way to be involved. 

3. Honor God with your treasure.
A. Acknowledge that everything belongs to God.

"David praised the Lord in the presence of the whole assembly, saying, "Praise be to you, Lord, the God of our father Israel, from everlasting to everlasting. Yours, Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the majesty and the splendor, for everything in heaven and earth is yours. Yours, Lord, is the kingdom; you are exalted as head over all."
‭‭1 Chronicles‬ ‭29:10-11‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Everything comes from God:
"Wealth and honor come from you; you are the ruler of all things. In your hands are strength and power to exalt and give strength to all."
‭‭1 Chronicles‬ ‭29:12‬ ‭NIV‬‬

"Now, our God, we give you thanks, and praise your glorious name. "But who am I, and who are my people, that we should be able to give as generously as this? Everything comes from you, and we have given you only what comes from your hand. We are foreigners and strangers in your sight, as were all our ancestors. Our days on earth are like a shadow, without hope. Lord our God, all this abundance that we have provided for building you a temple for your Holy Name comes from your hand, and all of it belongs to you."
‭‭1 Chronicles‬ ‭29:13-16‬ ‭NIV‬‬

B. Bring the "first fruits" of your work to God.

"Honor the Lord with your wealth, with the firstfruits of all your crops;"
‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭3:9‬ ‭NIV‬‬

"As soon as the order went out, the Israelites generously gave the firstfruits of their grain, new wine, olive oil and honey and all that the fields produced. They brought a great amount, a tithe of everything. The people of Israel and Judah who lived in the towns of Judah also brought a tithe of their herds and flocks and a tithe of the holy things dedicated to the Lord their God, and they piled them in heaps."
‭‭2 Chronicles‬ ‭31:5-6‬ ‭NIV‬‬

"" 'A tithe of everything from the land, whether grain from the soil or fruit from the trees, belongs to the Lord; it is holy to the Lord."
‭‭Leviticus‬ ‭27:30‬ ‭NIV‬‬

""Will a mere mortal rob God? Yet you rob me. "But you ask, 'How are we robbing you?' "In tithes and offerings. You are under a curse—your whole nation—because you are robbing me. Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this," says the Lord Almighty, "and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it."
‭‭Malachi‬ ‭3:8-10‬ ‭NIV‬‬

""Bring the best of the firstfruits of your soil to the house of the Lord your God..."
‭‭Exodus‬ ‭34:26‬ ‭NIV‬‬

"Be sure to set aside a tenth of all that your fields produce each year. Eat the tithe of your grain, new wine and olive oil, and the firstborn of your herds and flocks in the presence of the Lord your God at the place he will choose as a dwelling for his Name, so that you may learn to revere the Lord your God always."
‭‭Deuteronomy‬ ‭14:22-23‬ ‭NIV‬‬

The "first fruits" belongs to God. Will we entrust it to God?
Will we put God first?

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Saturday, January 2, 2016

Jesus - Christmas Carol Observations

Jesus - Christmas Carol Observations
Pastor Miles
12/27/2015

1. Jesus - who He is
"You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over Jacob's descendants forever; his kingdom will never end.""
‭‭Luke‬ ‭1:31-33‬ ‭NIV‬‬

"Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness."
‭‭Philippians‬ ‭2:6-7‬ ‭NIV‬‬

2. Jesus - why He came
"But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, "Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.""
‭‭Matthew‬ ‭1:20-21‬ ‭NIV‬‬

"Jesus replied, "Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again. " "How can someone be born when they are old?" Nicodemus asked. "Surely they cannot enter a second time into their mother's womb to be born!" Jesus answered, "Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit."
‭‭John‬ ‭3:3-5‬ ‭NIV‬‬

"Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?""
‭‭John‬ ‭11:25-26‬ ‭NIV‬‬

3. Jesus - how we respond
"When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, "Let's go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.""
‭‭Luke‬ ‭2:15‬ ‭NIV‬‬

"On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh."
‭‭Matthew‬ ‭2:11‬ ‭NIV‬‬

What Child is This?
So bring him incense, gold, and myrrh,
Come, peasant, king, to own him.
The King of kings salvation brings,
Let loving hearts enthrone him.

Read more:  Christmas Carols - What Child Is This Lyrics | MetroLyrics 

My next step:
Consider how I will honor Christ with my life in the coming year



Lionel
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