Posts

Spirit of Truth | March 10, 2018

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Spirit of Truth – March 10, 2018 Introduction : Following Jesus -> John’s account of the Last Supper / Good Friday Big Idea : Jesus’ death was just the beginning… Scripture : John 15:18-16:11 (CSB) John 15:18-25 (CSB) If the world hates you, understand that it hated me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own. However, because you are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of it, the world hates you. Remember the word I spoke to you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they kept my word, they will also keep yours. But they will do all these things to you on account of my name,because they don’t know the one who sent me. If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not be guilty of sin. Now they have no excuse for their sin. The one who hates me also hates my Father. If I had not done the works among them that no one else has done, they would not have sin. Now t

Commanded to Love | March 3, 2018

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Commanded to Love – March 3, 2018 Introduction : Following Jesus -> John’s account of the Last Supper (ch13-17) Big Idea : If we love Jesus, we must love each other. Scripture : John 13:1-14:24 (CSB) John 13:1-11 (CSB) Before the Passover Festival, Jesus knew that his hour had come to depart from this world to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end. Now when it was time for supper, the devil had already put it into the heart of Judas, Simon Iscariot’s son, to betray him. Jesus knew that the Father had given everything into his hands, that he had come from God, and that he was going back to God. So he got up from supper, laid aside his outer clothing, took a towel, and tied it around himself. Next, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet and to dry them with the towel tied around him. He came to Simon Peter, who asked him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?” Jesus answered him, “What I’m doing you don

Change the World | February 24, 2018

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Change the World – February 24, 2018 Introduction : Following Jesus -> Sending the 72 -> Blueprint for changing the world Big Idea : Jesus is sending us to prepare the way (with three things) Scripture : Luke 10:1-22 (CSB) Luke 10:1-6 (CSB) After this, the Lord appointed seventy-two others, and he sent them ahead of him in pairs to every town and place where he himself was about to go. He told them, “The harvest is abundant, but the workers are few. Therefore, pray to the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into his harvest. Now go; I’m sending you out like lambs among wolves. Don’t carry a money-bag, traveling bag, or sandals; don’t greet anyone along the road. Whatever house you enter, first say, ‘Peace to this household.’ If a person of peace is there, your peace will rest on him; but if not, it will return to you. Point One: A Message of Peace  Jesus sent out 72 disciples ahead of Him so they could practice sharing the Gospel The harvest is plentiful, but t

Ash Wednesday / Valentine’s Day

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Today is both Ash Wednesday and Valentine’s Day Ash Wednesday is the beginning of Lent, which is a season of reflection and often fasting as we prepare our hearts to celebrate the events of Good Friday and Easter Valentine’s Day began as the Feast of St. Valentine, who was martyred in the third century for defying the Roman Emperor Claudius by promoting Christian marriage over service in the Imperial army As you celebrate this day with your friends and family, remember that this world and all that is in it is temporary. Scripture says this about the creation and fall of man: Genesis 2:7 (NLT) Then the LORD God formed the man from the dust of the ground. He breathed the breath of life into the man’s nostrils, and the man became a living person. Genesis 3:19 (NLT) By the sweat of your brow will you have food to eat until you return to the ground from which you were made. For you were made from dust, and to dust you will return. But while we are here, we are called to love

Cost of Following | February 10, 2018

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Cost of Following – February 10, 2018 Introduction : Following Jesus -> Twelve Disciples -> Actively Following Jesus Big Idea : What does it mean to follow Jesus? Scripture : Luke 9:23-62 (ESV) Luke 9:23-25 (ESV) And he said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it. For what does it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses or forfeits himself? Point One: Taking Up Your Cross (v23-25) Jesus challenges His followers to deny themselves, take up their cross and let go of worldly ambition At this point, no one really understood what Jesus meant by ‘taking up your cross’ (this was before the events of Good Friday and Easter) When Jesus said, “Follow Me,” He literally meant leave everything behind and travel around with Me and my disciples (to follow meant to step out in faith) The more we try to survi

More than a Teacher | February 3, 2018

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More than a Teacher – February 3, 2018 Introduction : Following Jesus -> Peter, James, John -> Transfiguration (Jesus’ identity) Big Idea : Jesus is more than a moral teacher. Scripture : Luke 9:28-36 (ESV) Luke 9:28-31 (ESV) Now about eight days after these sayings he took with him Peter and John and James and went up on the mountain to pray. And as he was praying, the appearance of his face was altered, and his clothing became dazzling white. And behold, two men were talking with him, Moses and Elijah, who appeared in glory and spoke of his departure, which he was about to accomplish at Jerusalem. Point One: Jesus Fulfills the Law and the Prophets Jesus takes Peter, James and John up a mountain to pray (while they were there, Moses and Elijah show up, and they got to see Jesus in His glory) Moses and Elijah represent the Law and the Prophets, which shows that Jesus is the promised Messiah of the Old Testament The conversation is about Jesus’ upcoming death, resu