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Notes
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Introduction
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Bible Reading:
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OT Timeline:
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OT Contemporary Books:
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Review
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In Christ We Have It All (Part 4)
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Raw Material
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Write a blog entry on James Ryles’ definition of grace.
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The empowering presence of God that enables you to be who he has called you to be and to do what he has called you to do
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For a message:
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Make sure you know God - “I never knew you”: Visiting, feeding, clothing those in need aren’t to be done as rules, but rather as a reflection of knowing Jesus.
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1Cor 13 “if I have not love”: Giving to the poor must be done out of love.
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Find Bible passage connection between this love and knowing God
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For the message
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Saying "I've never believed in any other God!" is like saying "I only root for the Celtics!". This is not the same as playing on the team and putting points on the board.
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Sermon Illustration:
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Our mission is not to permanently destroy the world’s system. It’s there to provide a “powerful delusion” for those who refuse to believe the truth. Our mission is to continually unravel the world’s system as a witness to the power and authority of God’s Kingdom.
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Use Airplane Metaphor For next message in series:
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stalling
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tailspin
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The way up is down?
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For the Message:
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Let the Ephesians 1 passage transform your thinking (Romans 8:5-6, racism as “2nd-hand smoke”)
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Romans 8
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You can do it too - let God design your relationships.
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Create resources for congregation:
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Who I am in Christ
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Romans 5:1-11
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Galatians 3
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Galatians 4:1-7
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Ephesians 1:3-10
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Colossians 1:9-14
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What I have in Christ
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Romans 5
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Galatians 5:16-26
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What I can do in Christ
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Ephesians 2:1-10
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Philippians 4:1-13
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James 1:1-8
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Preparation - Ephesians 1:3-10
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Select the Passage - Ephesians 1:3-10
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Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will — to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves. In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace that he lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding. And 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 will have reached their fulfillment — to bring all things in heaven and on earth together under one head, even Christ.
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Study the Passage
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NIV
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Hebrew Study Bible
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KJV
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The Message
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NASB
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RSV
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Discover the Exegetical Idea
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We have every spiritual blessing in Christ!
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Analyze the Exegetical Idea
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Explain It: What does this mean?
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We should bless / praise (eujloghto/ß) God who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing.
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The blessing is a series of linked concepts:
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We have been chosen in Christ for holiness and blamelessness.
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We were predestined for adoption as God's sons through Christ.
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according to God's good pleasure and will,
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to the praise of God's glorious grace
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It's in God's grace that he made us accepted in Jesus.
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It's in Jesus that we have redemption through his blood (the forgiveness of sins) according to the riches of his grace.
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His grace is what he lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding.
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Having made known to us the secret of his will to bring everything in heaven and earth under Christ.
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Prove It: Is it True? Do I believe it?
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Foreknow --> Predestined --> Called -, etc. - Romans 8:28-39
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We have everything we need - 2Peter 1:3-9
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Apply It: What difference does it make? So What?
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Every blessing means there is nothing left out.
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This is something we should be praising God for!
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We can be holy and blameless.
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We are God's sons!
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We have been set free from slavery to sin.
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We are part of the family business.
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Formulate the Homiletical Idea:
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Determine the Purpose of the Sermon (what listeners should do)
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Recognize their various layers of belief.
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Help the saints identify and eliminate the obstacles that keep them from believing Ephesians 1:3-10.
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Understand what believing Ephesians 1:3-10 looks like.
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Understand who they are in Christ.
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Understand what they have in Christ.
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Understand what they can do in Christ.
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Commit themselves to renewing their minds based on this revelation.
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Decide How to Accomplish This Purpose
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Outline the Sermon
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Standing Issues
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From a word Bishop gave me:
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Make sure people do something with God's message.
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Make it plain:
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Use accessible language.
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Use modern day parables based on every day occurrences:
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Sitting at a stop light
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Driving through a green light
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Approaching a yellow light
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Being cut off in traffic
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Going shopping
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Going to a mall
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Going to school; sitting in class
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Going to work; sitting in your office;
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Keep it simple.
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Use illustrations of truth out of my own experience.
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Impart faith to obey the Word and receive God's promises.
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Introduction
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Welcome to our second service at the Hampton Inn & Suites.
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Welcome Cards -
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“I want to call your attention to the Welcome Card that you were given on your way into the auditorium”
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These cards do two things for us:
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They help us get to know our new visitors better.
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They also give anyone (visitors or members) a chance to express a need or to give us feedback.
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By filling it out you will help us to better serve you.
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We're going to provide time for you to complete the cards at the end of our service, but we encourage you to start filling them out now.
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Please use this card:
• if you’re a first time visitor or if you’ve never filled one out before,
• to tell us about a decision you made today,
• to ask us for more information, or to give us feedback.
Please include your contact information unless we already have it. At the end of service we’ll ask you to complete the card and then place it in the designated box or give it to someone from our staff on your way out.
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Transition
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Levels of thinking affect how we interact with God's Word.
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You need to know some things:
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Knowing who you are makes a difference.
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Knowing what you have makes a difference.
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Knowing what you can do makes a difference.
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Today we're focusing on letting Ephesians 1 transform our thinking.
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You need to know who you are.
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You need to know what you have and how to use it.
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Airplane Illustration
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Airplanes are powerful machines that require skill to use.
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Airplane files because air flow over its wings generates lift.
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Wings can't fall off a flying plane - the wings are flying the plane!
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The plane can fall off it's wings however - check youtube clips.
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Airplanes can stall when they are pitched too highly.
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Stall recovery requires speed achieved by descending.
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It's critical to get this right!
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You've got to know how to use what you have!
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You need to know what you can do and how to do it.
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Base Jumping - write a letter explaining why you died.
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Read the Passage - Ephesians 1:3-10
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Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will — to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves. In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace that he lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding. And 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 will have reached their fulfillment — to bring all things in heaven and on earth together under one head, even Christ.
|
|
|
|
Exegetical Idea: We have every spiritual blessing in Christ!
|
|
|
|
What does this mean?
|
|
|
|
We should bless / praise (eujloghto/ß) God who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing.
|
|
|
|
The blessing is a series of linked concepts:
|
|
|
|
We have been chosen in Christ for holiness and blamelessness.
|
|
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We were predestined for adoption as God's sons through Christ.
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God has male and female sons. - Galatians 3:26-29
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according to God's good pleasure and will,
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to the praise of God's glorious grace
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It's in God's grace that he made us accepted in Jesus.
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It's in Jesus that we have redemption through his blood (the forgiveness of sins) according to the riches of his grace.
|
|
|
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His grace is what he lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding.
|
|
|
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Having made known to us the secret of his will to bring everything in heaven and earth under Christ.
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Homiletical Idea: In Christ We Have It All
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Is it True? Do I believe it?
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Foreknow --> Predestined --> Called -, etc. - Romans 8:28-39
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We have everything we need - 2Peter 1:3-9
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What difference does it make? So What?
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Every blessing means there is nothing left out.
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This is something we should be praising God for!
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God has changed your identity - who you are!
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God has changed your assets - what you have!
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God has changed your ability - what you can do!
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Purpose of the Sermon (what listeners should do)
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Understand what believing Ephesians 1:3-10 looks like.
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Recognize their various layers of belief.
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Identify and eliminate their obstacles to believing Ephesians 1:3-10.
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Commit themselves to renewing their minds based on this revelation.
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Understand what believing Ephesians 1:3-10 looks like.
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Who you are in Christ.
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Your old identity:
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What is your identity? Who do you see yourself as?
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Where do you draw your identity from?
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Race / Ethnicity?
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Social Class?
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Nationality?
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Your new identity:
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You are blessed in heavenly places with every spiritual blessing.
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You are chosen to be holy and blameless.
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You are an adopted son of God.
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Confess: "I am who God says I am!"
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What you have in Christ.
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Your old assets
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Your own righteousness
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Your old status
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Your old agenda
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Your old sins
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Your new assets:
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You have peace with God - Romans 5
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You have redemption
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freeing for ransom
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the forgiveness of sins.
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You have God's grace
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"Grace is the empowering presence of God that enables you to be who he has called you to be and to do what he has called you to do"
- Pastor James Ryle
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Freely given to you.
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Lavished on you with all wisdom and understanding.
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Grace --> gifts - Romans 12:3-8
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God's grace is enough - 2Corinthians 12:7-10
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The Word of God's Grace - Acts 20:32
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God's grace causes us to reign in this life - Romans 5:15-21
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But the gift is not like the trespass. For if the many died by the trespass of the one man, how much more did God’s grace and the gift that came by the grace of the one man, Jesus Christ, overflow to the many! Again, the gift of God is not like the result of the one man’s sin: The judgment followed one sin and brought condemnation, but the gift followed many trespasses and brought justification. For if, by the trespass of the one man, death reigned through that one man, how much more will those who receive God’s abundant provision of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ.
Consequently, just as the result of one trespass was condemnation for all men, so also the result of one act of righteousness was justification that brings life for all men. For just as through the disobedience of the one man the many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of the one man the many will be made righteous.
The law was added so that the trespass might increase. But where sin increased, grace increased all the more, so that, just as sin reigned in death, so also grace might reign through righteousness to bring eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
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I have what God says I have!
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What you can do in Christ.
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Your old ability:
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Your new ability:
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I can do what God says I can do!
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I can know God's will.
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Talk to God and hear his voice
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Know him - Ephesians 1:15-23
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I can partner with God in the work of his Kingdom.
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Reach out to the lost
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Lead
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God is raising up people who will do his will with no visible means of support:
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Walking on water
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“Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon” - wire work.
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How Do You Do It (God's Will)?
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Identify and eliminate your obstacles to believing Ephesians 1:3-10.
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The Old You
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Your old identity.
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Your old attitude.
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"I'm a failure."
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"I can't make it."
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"It would be just my luck."
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“I’m so far behind, I'll never catch up.”
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Poor spiritual nutrition:
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Lack of exposure to God's Word.
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Lack of understanding of God's Word.
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Lack of application of God's Word.
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Lack of patient trust in God - insistence on quick results.
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Rely on God's grace
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Grace is activated by our alignment with God's agenda
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Acts 4:32-35 - The apostles testify about the resurrection (Part 2)
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All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of his possessions was his own, but they shared everything they had. With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and much grace was upon them all. There were no needy persons among them. For from time to time those who owned lands or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales and put it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to anyone as he had need.
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Acts 14:1-3 - Paul and Barnabus speak boldly for the Lord
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At Iconium Paul and Barnabas went as usual into the Jewish synagogue. There they spoke so effectively that a great number of Jews and Gentiles believed. But the Jews who refused to believe stirred up the Gentiles and poisoned their minds against the brothers. So Paul and Barnabas spent considerable time there, speaking boldly for the Lord, who confirmed the message of his grace by enabling them to do miraculous signs and wonders.
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1Corinthians 15:9-10 - Paul works hard by God's grace (Part 2)
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For I am the least of the apostles and do not even deserve to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace to me was not without effect. No, I worked harder than all of them — yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me.
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We receive grace by approaching God's throne - Hebrews 4:14-16
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Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has gone through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are — yet was without sin. Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.
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God's grace is enough for us. - 2Corinthians 12:7-10
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Renew your mind.
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Faith comes by hearing God's Word - Romans 10:12-17
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You need a transformed mind. - Romans 12:1-2
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Let God's Word build you up - Acts 20:32
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Let the Ephesians 1 passage transform your thinking
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Sowing and Reaping
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God’s Word is seed that gets planted in our hearts and lives.
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God says: “Teach them to plant my Word like a seed in their hearts.”
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I'm teaching you to plant so that you will be able to harvest.
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"Sow a thought and you reap an action; sow an action and you reap a habit; sow a habit and you reap a character; sow a character and you reap a destiny."
~ James Allen
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Will the Word sown in your heart be fruitful? - Luke 8:4-15
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Sowing and reaping is not fast!
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As time goes on, many of the new habits, skills, and tools we need to master require a significant investment in time and a non-trivial learning curve.
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This is a result of growth. The more we grow, the more of the "easy" habits we've already mastered.
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President Obama has observed that by the time things get to his desk they're almost always difficult. If they weren't difficult, they would have been done by someone on a lower level.
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Self-sorting of dissimilar sized objects
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We need to persevere - 2Peter 1:3-9
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Conclusion
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How deep are you willing to allow this passage to get in your life?
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Will you embrace your new identity, assets, and ability in Christ?
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Are you willing to faithfully plant God's Word in your heart?
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Are you willing to retain the Word?
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Are you willing to persevere?
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Will you produce a good crop?
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New Material
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Preparation
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Expository Preaching
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Expository preaching is the communication of a biblical concept, derived from and transmitted through a historical, grammatical, and literary study of a passage in its context, which the Holy Spirit first applies to the personality and experience of the preacher, then through the preacher, applies to the hearers.
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Select the Passage
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Study the Passage
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NIV
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Hebrew Study Bible
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KJV
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The Message
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NASB
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RSV
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Discover the Exegetical Idea
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Subject
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Tools: How, Who, What, When, Where, Why
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Complement
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Analyze the Exegetical Idea
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Explain It: What does this mean?
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Prove It: Is it True? Do I believe it?
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Apply It: What difference does it make? So What?
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Formulate the Homiletical Idea
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Determine the Purpose of the Sermon
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Decide How to Accomplish This Purpose
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Make it plain
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Use accessible language and modern parables.
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|
|
|
Make sure people do something with God's message.
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|
|
|
Keep it simple.
|
|
|
|
Use illustrations of truth out of my own experience.
|
|
|
|
Impart faith to obey the Word and receive God's promises.
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Outline the Sermon
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Misc
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General
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Use examples that appeal to men.
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Make the Life Church Basic Training project-oriented - give everyone a ministry project.
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http://home.regent.edu/ruthven/2Worlds.htm
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You learn a lot about a person's spiritual maturity by how they respond to a rebuke.
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Always impart faith along with with the purpose of the sermon - Heb 4:2
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Develop a confession of faith regarding talking to God
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I can talk to God and he talks to me.
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I don't have to know how God is guiding me. I just need to trust his Word that he is guiding me.
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Not many fathers - 1Cor 4:6-17
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Fathers must influence.
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In search of a father.
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Don’t waste discipleship opportunities.
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Give people a way to demonstrate their hunger (as a qualification for discipleship).
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Faith comes by hearing - Romans 10:17
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What we must do at Life Church:
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Make it easy for people to connect to us.
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Make it easy for people to stay with us.
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Make it easy for people to grow with us.
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Make it easy for people to serve with us.
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Vision
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Key words: revolutionary, movement, life, vitality, love, power, transformation, river, families, networks, communities, world
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Our vision is based on the vision of the River of Life found in Ezekiel 47:1-12 and Revelation 22:1-2. It is a vision of a revolutionary movement:
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whose people relate to God on his own terms by following his Son, Jesus christ,
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whose people are known far and wide for living fruitful lives that nourish and heal their families, networks, and communities,
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that seeks and welcomes unchurched people who have been transformed by God's life and power into new followers of Jesus.
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Mission
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Our mission is to develop mature followers of Jesus Christ who love God with everything they've got, genuinely love their neighbors, and take the lead in expanding God's Kingdom in the world around them.
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Prep congregation for unchurched
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This Day In Black History: . . .
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Music
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Everything Is On The One - Parliament/Funkadelic
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Keep Their Heads Ringing - Dr. Dre
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Today Was A Good Day - Ice Cube
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My Mind Playin' Tricks On Me - Getto Boys
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Cosmic Slop - Funkadelic
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Let Me Clear My Throat - DJ Kool Feat. Biz Markie & Doug E. Fresh
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Specific
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Teach men what to do with their strength. Pimp or Papa?
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Structure the service to fight consumerism. Make sure that everyone has a way to contribute to the service (i.e. setting up, cleaning up, etc.)
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Prayer Teaching:
I’ve got so much to do today - I need to pray (Martin Luther?)
We need God’s help in our day to day lives:
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“Luck” management
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Character management
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I need God’s Word to live.
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Start every day with a Word from God. - Matthew 4:4
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Raised Up By Grace And Seated With Christ
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Raw Material
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Write a blog entry on James Ryles’ definition of grace.
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The empowering presence of God that enables you to be who he has called you to be and to do what he has called you to do
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For a message:
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Make sure you know God - “I never knew you”: Visiting, feeding, clothing those in need aren’t to be done as rules, but rather as a reflection of knowing Jesus.
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1Cor 13 “if I have not love”: Giving to the poor must be done out of love.
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Find Bible passage connection between this love and knowing God
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For the message
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Saying "I've never believed in any other God!" is like saying "I only root for the Celtics!". This is not the same as playing on the team and putting points on the board.
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Sermon Illustration:
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Our mission is not to permanently destroy the world’s system. It’s there to provide a “powerful delusion” for those who refuse to believe the truth. Our mission is to continually unravel the world’s system as a witness to the power and authority of God’s Kingdom.
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For the Message:
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Let the Ephesians 1 passage transform your thinking (Romans 8:5-6, racism as “2nd-hand smoke”)
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Romans 8
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You can do it too - let God design your relationships.
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Create resources for congregation:
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Who I am in Christ
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Romans 5:1-11
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Galatians 3
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Galatians 4:1-7
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Ephesians 1:3-10
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Colossians 1:9-14
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What I have in Christ
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Romans 5
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Galatians 5:16-26
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What I can do in Christ
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Ephesians 2:1-10
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Philippians 4:1-13
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James 1:1-8
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You have what you need! Use what you have!
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God: “They have been given my Spirit; teach them to listen to him.”
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The more Word you plant in your heart, the easier it will be for you to hear God’s Spirit.
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Romans 12:1-2
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The Spirit reminds us of what Jesus said - John 14 - 16
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For the message:
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The proper use of suffering.
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The way that I used TV to fight loneliness while Eva was away last night even though the Holy Spirit had told me to avoid TV during this period. This increased my vulnerability to sexual temptation.
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Preparation - Ephesians 2:1-10
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Select the Passage - Ephesians 2:1-10
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As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature objects 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 not from yourselves, it is the gift of God — not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
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Study the Passage
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NIV
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Hebrew Study Bible
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KJV
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The Message
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NASB
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RSV
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Discover the Exegetical Idea
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When we were dead in sin God made us alive with Christ and seated us with him in heavenly places to demonstrate the riches of his grace.
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Analyze the Exegetical Idea
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Explain It: What does this mean?
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We were dead in sin - our independence and rebellion from God.
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God is full of mercy.
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God made us (followers of Jesus) alive in Christ.
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God seated us with Christ in heavenly places. Christ is seated above everything else (Ephesians 1:20-23)
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Prove It: Is it True? Do I believe it?
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Yes - compare with Ephesians 1:3-8
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Apply It: What difference does it make? So What?
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Your old life of self-reliance was useless to God.
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In Christ you have new life.
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In Christ you have a new position - seated with the conqueror.
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You have been prepared to do good works.
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Formulate the Homiletical Idea:
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Raised up by grace and seated with Christ.
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Determine the Purpose of the Sermon (what listeners should do)
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Recognize your heavenly position.
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Rest in God's grace.
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Do the good works that God prepared you to do.
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Decide How to Accomplish This Purpose
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Outline the Sermon
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Standing Issues
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From a word Bishop gave me:
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Make sure people do something with God's message.
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Make it plain:
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Use accessible language.
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Use modern day parables based on every day occurrences:
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Sitting at a stop light
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Driving through a green light
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Approaching a yellow light
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Being cut off in traffic
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Going shopping
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Going to a mall
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Going to school; sitting in class
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Going to work; sitting in your office;
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Keep it simple.
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Use illustrations of truth out of my own experience.
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Impart faith to obey the Word and receive God's promises.
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Introduction
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Welcome to another service at the Hampton Inn & Suites.
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Welcome Cards -
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“I want to call your attention to the Welcome Card that you were given on your way into the auditorium”
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These cards do two things for us:
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They help us get to know our new visitors better.
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They also give anyone (visitors or members) a chance to express a need or to give us feedback.
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By filling it out you will help us to better serve you.
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We're going to provide time for you to complete the cards at the end of our service, but we encourage you to start filling them out now.
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Please use this card:
• if you’re a first time visitor or if you’ve never filled one out before,
• to tell us about a decision you made today,
• to ask us for more information, or to give us feedback.
Please include your contact information unless we already have it. At the end of service we’ll ask you to complete the card and then place it in the designated box or give it to someone from our staff on your way out.
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Transition
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Read the Passage - Ephesians 2:1-10
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As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature objects 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 not from yourselves, it is the gift of God — not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
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Exegetical Idea
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When we were dead in sin God made us alive with Christ and seated us with him in heavenly places to demonstrate the riches of his grace.
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Homiletical Idea:
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Raised up by grace and seated with Christ.
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What does this mean?
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We were dead in sin - our independence and rebellion from God.
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Following the world's ways.
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Following satan's ways.
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Doing your own thing.
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A "loser" by nature.
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God is rich in mercy.
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God made us (followers of Jesus) alive in Christ.
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God seated us with Christ in heavenly places. Christ is seated above everything else (Ephesians 1:20-23)
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Is it True? Do I believe it?
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Yes - compare with Ephesians 1:3-8
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What difference does it make? So What?
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Your old life of self-reliance was useless to God.
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In Christ you have new and real life.
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In Christ you have a new position - seated with the conqueror.
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You have been prepared to do good works.
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Homiletical Idea:
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Raised up by grace and seated with Christ.
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Purpose of the Sermon (what listeners should do)
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Recognize your heavenly position.
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Rest in God's grace.
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Do the good works that God prepared you to do.
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Recognize your heavenly position.
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You are where God says you are.
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Rest in God's grace.
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This requires relying on God, which you can't really do without talking to him.
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Trust God to execute his agenda - not yours.
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"Wake Up Everybody" by Harold Melvin and the Bluenotes
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Dope dealers - stop pushin' that dope!
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Businessmen - stop cheatin'
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Politicians - stop lyin'
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Preachers - start teachin' what you preach
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These things don't happen just because you tell people to do them.
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Do the good works that God prepared you to do.
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Because you spend enough time talking to God to let him lead you to the good works he has prepared.
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Conclusion
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How deep are you willing to allow this passage to get in your life?
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Will you embrace your new identity, assets, and ability in Christ?
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Are you willing to faithfully plant this word in your heart?
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Are you willing to retain the Word?
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Are you willing to persevere?
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Will you produce a good crop?
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Altar Call / Welcome Cards / Communion ?
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Welcome Cards - refer to script
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We're almost ready to close this portion of our service, but first we want to give you a chance to respond to what you've heard.
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Earlier in the service we mentioned the welcome cards and we encouraged you to begin filling them out.
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Right now we want you to complete your welcome card. We especially want you to use this card if:
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if you’re a first time visitor
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if you’ve never filled one out before,
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if you want to tell us about a decision you made today,
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if you want to ask us for more information, or to give us feedback.
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Please be sure to include your up to date contact information unless we already have it.
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MC & Worship Team continue with tithes, offerings, and worship
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Benediction - Numbers 6:24-26
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“‘“The LORD bless you and keep you; the LORD make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you; the LORD turn his face toward you and give you peace.”’
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Men's Prayer
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Life Group Material
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Life Group Word Material
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These are sample discussion questions / topics. Your life group leaders may choose to adjust these questions, substitute new ones, or spend the Word section of the meeting in a different way altogether.
Scripture taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION (NIV) Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Bible Publishers.
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Ephesians 2:1-10
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As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature objects 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 not from yourselves, it is the gift of God — not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
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Discussion Questions / Topics:
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This passage teaches that before we begin following Jesus we are dead in our sins. How did this concept first become real to you?
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Some people are known by their circumstances, others by their nature. This passage says that we were objects of wrath (i.e. losers) by nature. How does this compare with the way you've looked at yourself and/or others in the past?
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Christians are seated with Christ in heavenly places. Do you believe this? Does this apply to you? Why or why not?
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Did your life this past week demonstrate your trust in God's grace? Discuss. In what ways do you need to depend more on God's grace?
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Are you doing the good works that God has prepared in advance for you, or are you doing "your own" good works? Discuss.
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Luke 8:4-15
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While a large crowd was gathering and people were coming to Jesus from town after town, he told this parable: “A farmer went out to sow his seed. As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path; it was trampled on, and the birds of the air ate it up. Some fell on rock, and when it came up, the plants withered because they had no moisture. Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up with it and choked the plants. Still other seed fell on good soil. It came up and yielded a crop, a hundred times more than was sown.”
When he said this, he called out, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear.”
His disciples asked him what this parable meant. He said, “The knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of God has been given to you, but to others I speak in parables, so that, “‘though seeing, they may not see; though hearing, they may not understand.’
“This is the meaning of the parable: The seed is the word of God. Those along the path are the ones who hear, and then the devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts, so that they may not believe and be saved. Those on the rock are the ones who receive the word with joy when they hear it, but they have no root. They believe for a while, but in the time of testing they fall away. The seed that fell among thorns stands for those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by life’s worries, riches and pleasures, and they do not mature. But the seed on good soil stands for those with a noble and good heart, who hear the word, retain it, and by persevering produce a crop.
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Discussion Questions / Topics:
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This parable describes seed falling on four different locations. Which situation best describes your life this past week? Which one best describes your Christian life in general?
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Life Group Witnessing Activities
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Key Passage - Ephesians 1:15-23
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For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers. I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of his mighty strength, which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.
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Activities
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Begin praying this prayer four yourself and for the members of your life group.
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Scriptures For 09/26/2010 Life Church Sermon
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Scripture taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION (NIV) Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Bible Publishers.
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Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will — to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves. In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace that he lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding. And 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 will have reached their fulfillment — to bring all things in heaven and on earth together under one head, even Christ.
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For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers. I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of his mighty strength, which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.
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As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature objects 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 not from yourselves, it is the gift of God — not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
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Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has gone through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are — yet was without sin. Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.
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To keep me from becoming conceited because of these surpassingly great revelations, there was given me a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
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For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile — the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”
How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!”
But not all the Israelites accepted the good news. For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed our message?” Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ.
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Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God — this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is — his good, pleasing and perfect will.
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Now I commit you to God and to the word of his grace, which can build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified.
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While a large crowd was gathering and people were coming to Jesus from town after town, he told this parable: “A farmer went out to sow his seed. As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path; it was trampled on, and the birds of the air ate it up. Some fell on rock, and when it came up, the plants withered because they had no moisture. Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up with it and choked the plants. Still other seed fell on good soil. It came up and yielded a crop, a hundred times more than was sown.”
When he said this, he called out, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear.”
His disciples asked him what this parable meant. He said, “The knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of God has been given to you, but to others I speak in parables, so that, “‘though seeing, they may not see; though hearing, they may not understand.’
“This is the meaning of the parable: The seed is the word of God. Those along the path are the ones who hear, and then the devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts, so that they may not believe and be saved. Those on the rock are the ones who receive the word with joy when they hear it, but they have no root. They believe for a while, but in the time of testing they fall away. The seed that fell among thorns stands for those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by life’s worries, riches and pleasures, and they do not mature. But the seed on good soil stands for those with a noble and good heart, who hear the word, retain it, and by persevering produce a crop.
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