Offended – Week Three DEFINITIONS: *Offense:* The state of being insulted or morally outraged1 Offend: to cause (a person or group) to feel hurt, angry, or upset by something said or done.1 Culture: There are seven elements, or parts, of a single culture. They are social organization, customs, religion, language, government, economy, and arts.2 HOW […]
The Gospel is Offensive Psalm 145:8-13 (NLT) 8The Lord is merciful and compassionate, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love. 9The Lord is good to everyone. He showers compassion on all his creation. 10All of your works will thank you, Lord, and your faithful followers will praise you. 11They will speak of the glory […]
We are living in a time and culture where it seems that everybody gets offended by someone else or some political position. How can we avoid being offended by so many traps, so many challenges? • You may be thinking, “I thought the gospel meant good news?” It does; however to get to the good […]
The Gospel is Offensive We are living in a time and culture where it seems that everybody gets offended by someone else or some political position. How can we avoid being offended by so many traps, so many challenges? • You may be thinking, “I thought the gospel meant good news?” It does; however to […]
The Gospel is Offensive INTRODUCTION The truth can be hard to say and hard to hear. We live in a culture that is easily offended. What if the very thing that will offend people is the very thing they need to hear? 1 Corinthians 1:18 & 23 (NLT) 18The message of the cross is foolish to […]
State of the Church INTRODUCTION • Next week, we start the Journey series. I’m excited about it! • I went on sabbatical. Real Life pastors go on sabbatical every 7 years to prevent burnout. I have been a patriotic guy. History and political science are my thing. • There is no perfect nation (because there’s […]
Abide with Christ Romans 12:1-2 (NIV) 1Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God— this is your true and proper worship. 2Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. […]
Abide with Christ Today we are talking about ABIDANCE. Misunderstandings about what abidance means: Just have more Faith Read my Bible more (start a Bible reading plan) Pray more (start a prayer journal) Abiding in Christ means doing more for Jesus Abidance means that I don’t need to do anything… that I just simply sit on […]
Abide with Christ REVIEW • The purpose of the series • Real Life’s vision, mission, methods, and making disciples (with the help promised by the Holy Spirit). • The definition of a disciple (Matthew 4:19): someone who is following Jesus, being changed by Jesus, and committed to the mission of Jesus. • The relational vehicle, […]
The Church 2 Corinthians 5:14-18 (NIV) 14For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. 15And 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. 16So from now on we regard […]
The Church PURPOSE OF THIS SERIES: • To help us understand what it means to be and to make disciples of Jesus. • To Encourage us in our growth towards Spiritual Maturity TODAY WE’RE TALKING ABOUT THE CHURCH SPHERE. If you ask Christians today “What is the Church?”, you will get answers like: o It’s […]
THE HOME THIS WEEK: THE HOME (Ephesians 5:21-6:4) • God has a specific design and directive for the home. • The home sphere consists of the relationships and responsibilities within the home: o Married, widowed, single, parent, grandparent, adolescent, child, siblings… o Spousing, Parenting, Adulting, Childing, Financing, Working, Learning, Growing… HUSBANDS AND WIVES: Ephesians 5:21-33 (NIV) […]
The Home THE HOME SPHERE: WITHIN EPHESIANS WE SEE… • Everyone has a home, but it doesn’t always look the same. • If you are married, or planned to be married, Ephesians 5 is your architectural plans (amongst other Scripture). • If you are not married, when you give advice to those who are married […]
The World • The idea of The Journey series is to grow as disciples towards spiritual maturity in each of our spheres of life. 1. OUR IDENTITY AND PURPOSE IN CHRIST KEEPS US ____________ . Ephesians 1:4-5 (NLT) 4Even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without […]
Spiritual Realm How do you define who or what a disciple is? Matthew 4:19 (NIV84) “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will make you fishers of men.” o In the invitation is the definition • A Disciple is someone who is: o Committed to Following Jesus o Committed to being Changed by Jesus o Committed […]
THE LIES WE BATTLE Ephesians 3:18-19 (NLT) 18 And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is. 19 May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with […]