Sunday, May 1, 2016

Go Fish - # 1


“Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.” At once they left their nets and followed him.

Matthew 4: 19-20

“How glorious the splendor of a human heart that trusts that it is loved!”
Brennan Manning


Avoiding the “summer slump… to realize the “summer jump”


The reality of our society is that instead of our lives revolving around Christ and His Church, we have allowed Christ and His Church to revolved around our lives!


Acts 2:42-47 notice that the world DEVOTED is emphasized…


Going ‘fishing” for people. To realize the “jump”… we need to “feel” the compelling reasons why?!


5 Motivators for those who want to “fishing”: (2 Cor. 5: 1-21)


1.     The Glory of Heaven – Something to HOPE for!
2.     The Goal to PLEASE Christ: Something to LIVE for!
3.     The Gloom of judgment day: Something to prepare for!
4.     The Gripping love of Christ: Something to Die for!
5.     The Great Commission: Something to accomplish for!



Our Mission – Reconciliation of ourselves… and others.


2Co 5:20 - We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ's behalf: Be reconciled to God.

5 GREAT MOTIVATIONS OF EFFECTIVE SOUL WINNERS

2 Corinthians 5:1-5:21

5 GREAT MOTIVATIONS OF EFFECTIVE SOUL WINNERS
(2COR. 5:1-21)

The apostle Paul is one of the great examples of a soul winner. He survived and defied all hardship and challenges of his mission because his eyes are focus on the five great motivations of his life. Let us therefore study these five great principles that motivate the life of Paul in his ministry – the ministry of reconciliation.

Indeed, Paul lives a meaningful and exciting life. He found the reasons for living and accomplished the purpose of his very existence. He died a happy man because he found the right motivations.

I.            The glory of heaven: Something to hope for
II.            The goal to please Christ: Something to live for
III.            The gloom of judgment day: Something to prepare for
IV.            The gripping love of Christ: Something to die for
V.            The great commission: Something to accomplish for

I.THE GLORY OF HEAVEN (vs.1-8)
(Something to hope for)

1. The divine goods
2Co 5:1 Now we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands.
2Co 5:2 Meanwhile we groan, longing to be clothed with our heavenly dwelling,
2Co 5:3 because when we are clothed, we will not be found naked.
2Co 5:4 For while we are in this tent, we groan and are burdened, because we do not wish to be unclothed but to be clothed with our heavenly dwelling, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life.

2. The divine guarantee
2Co 5:5 Now it is God who has made us for this very purpose and has given us the Spirit as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.
2Co 5:6 Therefore we are always confident and know that as long as we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord.
2Co 5:7 We live by faith, not by sight.
2Co 5:8 We are confident, I say, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord.

II. THE GOAL TO PLEASE CHRIST – (v.9)
(Something to live for)

2Co 5:9 So we make it our goal to please him, whether we are at home in the body or away from it.


III. THE GLOOM OF THE JUDGMENT DAY (vs.10-11)
(Something to prepare for)

1. The admonition:
2Co 5:10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is due him for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.
•            Reward for good works
•            Punishment for bad works

2. The exhortation:
2Co 5:11 Since, then, we know what it is to fear the Lord, we try to persuade men. What we are is plain to God, and I hope it is also plain to your conscience.
2Co 5:12 We are not trying to commend ourselves to you again, but are giving you an opportunity to take pride in us, so that you can answer those who take pride in what is seen rather than in what is in the heart.
•            Fear the Lord
•            Use conscience
•            See what is in the heart

3. The intention
2Co 5:13 If we are out of our mind, it is for the sake of God; if we are in our right mind, it is for you.
•            For the sake of God
•            For the sake of brethren

IV. THE GRIPPING LOVE OF CHRIST (vs.14-17)
(Something to die for)

1. It is a compelling love
2Co 5:14 For Christ's love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died.

2. It is a changing love
2Co 5:15 And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again.

3. It is an enlightening love
2Co 5:16 So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view. Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer.

4. It is a transforming love
2Co 5:17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!

V. THE GREAT COMMISSION (vs.18-21)
(Something to accomplish for)


1. The ministry:
2Co 5:18 All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation:

2. The message:
2Co 5:19 that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men's sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation.

3. The mission
2Co 5:20 We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ's behalf: Be reconciled to God.

4. The magnification
2Co 5:21 God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God

Sunday, April 24, 2016

Love God Love Others


“Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.        There is no commandment greater than these.”  
  Mark 12:30-31
Being unwanted, unloved, uncared for, forgotten by everybody, I think that is a much greater hunger, a much greater poverty than the person who has nothing to eat.
Mother Teresa


When Jesus said that Loving God and Loving Others was the MOST IMPORTANT things to concern ourselves with... What if He really meant it?!


Ruth 1: 16-17 Ruth and her mother in law Naomi are an EXAMPLE of what loving each other looks like...
·       Naomi’s life changes drastically and as she is left alone and in misery... Ruth says “where you go, I go”


Jesus once said that there is NO GREATER Love that one can show another than to lay down their life for another! John 15:13


5 Things that Ruth’s Devotion to Naomi teaches...US!


1.     You show love by sticking with someone through tough times.
a.     Ruth DECIDED to stick it out!
2.     You show love by adjusting to others
a.     Working with people means there has to be give and take
3.     You show love by reaching beyond your comfort zones
a.     Reaching beyond our comfort zones means self sacrifice
4.     You show love by offering encouraging words
a.     A loving word can bring healing
5.     You show love by putting the needs of others ahead of yours
a.     1 Corinthians 13


Practically Speaking... when we are dealing with the “average person”... how do we love them unselfishly?

What steps are you taking to be Jesus With Skin On?!



More Practical Ideas of HOW you can LOVE Others


  • ·      Use you TEXTS everyday to tell someone you care about them and that you are praying for them!

  • ·      Make some cookies or a pie and take it to someone for no reason at all!

  • ·      Offer “random acts of kindness” to total strangers

  • ·      Send a crazy note in the mail to someone and say that you’re thinking about them!

  • ·      SMILE and say Hi to people!

  • ·      Make copies of photos you take with people in them… and send the copy to that person!

  • ·      Offer that person who seems rushed… the opportunity to go in front of you in line

  • ·      Appropriately hug someone who needs it!

  • ·      Do something “sacrificial” for your spouse or parent

  • ·      Do the task that no one else ever wants to

  • ·      Tell your waiter or waitress they did a GREAT job and leave them an extra generous tip

  • ·      Go casually sit next to the new person at Church and make them feel comfortable

  • ·      Don’t assume that your partner “knows” that you love them… tell them often! For no reason…and randomly!

  • ·      Hold doors open for people and smile and tell them to have an awesome day!

  • ·      Pray for others and their needs instead of just your own needs.

  • Look for ways to spiritually influence people you know and tell them about Jesus!

Sunday, April 17, 2016

Clay in HIS Hands!



“I WANT to be the clay in the hands of the Potter, but too many times I am treating the Potter AS the lump of clay!”
Francis Chan – Author/Pastor



Jeremiah 18  Gives a beautiful illustration of God being like a POTTER in our lives and we are like CLAY. To really gain the benefit of this analogy... we have to embrace it in our own lives!


1.    GOD IS THE POTTER – Our lives are “in the hands” of a living God! The Potter has POWER OVER the clay! We have to yield to the Potter who is TRYING to mold us! Psalm 32:4, Psalm 31:15


2.    MAN/WOMAN IS THE CLAY  2 Corinthians 4:7


3.    LIFE IS THE WHEEL – The wheel spins out of control at times.


4.    CLAY SEEMS TO HAVE A MIND OF ITS OWN... ONLY IN THE HANDS OF THE POTTER CAN IT EVER BECOME SOMETHING THAT HAS BEEN PLANNED! – Jeremiah 29:11


5.    GOD OFFERS A NEW BEGINNING TO MARRED OR SEEMINGLY BROKEN VESSELS. Joel 2:12-27



Today is YOUR DAY to be Clay in the Hands of the Potter!


Let Him make or RE-make your life into something Beautiful!
Let Him take your ashes and turn them into Beauty!

Sunday, April 10, 2016

The BIG Give!


“Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running
over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”
Luke 6:38


      “Give your hands to serve and your heart to love!”
Mother Teresa


Romans 12:1 We are supposed to OFFER ourselves as LIVING SACRIFICES… It is a worship that God Accepts!


THE SACRIFICE OF SERVING: 5 SACRIFICES WE MUST MAKE IN ORDER TO SERVE OTHERS


1.    Sacrifice of TIME
a.    In today’s hectic and busy world… our time is valuable! Give it to God and others and be blessed!

2.    Sacrifice of ENERGY
a.    When we give our FIRSTFRUIT of energy… it’s a sacrifice! Hymn – Give of your BEST to the Master!

3.    Sacrifice of MONEY
a.    Acts 2:44-45 Serving God with what He has given us! You can NEVER outgive God!


4.    Sacrifice of TALENT
a.    Can you bless someone else with the “talent” that God has blessed you with instead of benefiting yourself first?! 1 Peter 4:10


5.    Sacrifice of PLANS
a.     Can be one of the hardest things to do when serving others. We don’t naturally want to put what we want to do aside… to put others first.

Sunday, April 3, 2016

Don't Be A Potato


If you are reading this...  text Pastor Dan at 740-975-6714 and He WILL buy you lunch!!


Matthew 20:20-28
Go Look it up!


Are you a Couch Potato?!


In addition to this being a real problem physically in our culture… the bigger issue is that the Church today is full of “Pew Potatoes”!


Let’s face it… “Serving is not always “fun”… but it is REQUIRED!
The Son of Man came to GIVE as well as to be GIVEN as a
“ransom” for our sin! We too, have to be willing to GIVE as He Gave!


Why Should we “Give” or SERVE others?


1.     Because we were Created for Service! Ephesians 2:10 As I give my life away… I find it!

2.     It proves that I BELONG to Christ Jesus! Romans 7:4 A Non Serving Christian is a “contradiction” !

3.     Serving others is a way to serve God! Colossians 3:23-24 Do it to others…youre doing it to the Lord!

4.     Because we OWE GOD EVERYTHING! Romans 12:1 Because of HIS Mercy… we serve.

5.     Because it’s the BEST use of my life! 1 Cor. 15:58 Whatever you do… do it for the Lord… it makes a difference! Be a M.A.D. person!

6.     Because if makes life meaningful! Mark 8:35 Serving as Jesus served… allows you to know what it means to really live!

7.     It will be rewarded for all of Eternity! John 12:25  Matthew 25:21 Life is a test. If we serve others the way He served us… we win the prize!



God wants YOU NOW! Don’t be a Potato!