Access Church

A conversation on race, healing, and Jesus with Pastor Jason Burns, Pastor Isaiah Board, and Dr. Allen Griffin.

James 2:1 NLT  // My dear brothers and sisters, how can you claim to have faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ if you favor some people over others?

Acts 6:1 NLT  // But as the believers rapidly multiplied, there were rumblings of discontent.

The Greek-speaking believers complained about the Hebrew-speaking believers, saying that their widows were being discriminated against in the daily distribution of food.

James 2:9 NLT  // But if you favor some people over others, you are committing a sin. You are guilty of breaking the law.

Us vs. Them Mentality

Honor

What do we have in common? 99.5%.

How did we get divided? Grouping.

In-Group Bias – The tendency to give preferential treatment to people who are like me.

In Group Bias:

I am more comfortable with those like me.

I am more inclined to spend time socially with those like me.

I am more patient with those like me.

I give the benefit of the doubt quicker to those like me.

I express more grace when mistakes are made by those like me.

It is easier to communicate with those like me.

I assume that I will get along easier with those like me.

I am more willing to go out of my way to help those like me.

How Can We Grow?

Acknowledge your blind spots.

See others as brothers and sisters.

Give In-Group love to your Out-Group.

Acknowledge your brother or sister’s color.

Learn from every conversation.

Give your heart to those not like you.

How’s 2020 going for you?

Philippians 4:4-7 NLT  // Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again—rejoice! Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.

Pray about everything.

Thanksgiving

Supplication

Philippians 1:3-4 NLT  // Every time I think of you, I give thanks to my God. Whenever I pray, I make my requests for all of you with joy.

Philippians 1:12-14 NIV  // Now I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that what has happened to me has actually served to advance the gospel. As a result, it has become clear throughout the whole palace guard and to everyone else that I am in chains for Christ. And because of my chains, most of the brothers and sisters have become confident in the Lord and dare all the more to proclaim the gospel without fear.

Philippians 4:8  // Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable — if anything is excellent or praiseworthy — think about such things.

Wrong perspective leads to wrong thinking.

Wrong thinking leads to wrong living.

You may not say I’m angry, but you’d say I’m…

Tired

Frustrated

Disappointed

Stir Crazy

“Emotions are more contagious than the flu. This dynamic is so powerful that in one study three volunteers sat silently in a circle for two minutes and at the end of the time the most emotionally expressive person transmitted his or her mood to the other two without saying a word. In every such session, the mood the most expressive person had going in was also the mood the other two felt coming out - whether it was happy, bored, anxious or angry.” – Dr. Daniel Goldman

James 1:19-25 NLT // "Understand this, my dear brothers and sisters: You must all be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry. Human anger does not produce the righteousness God desires. So get rid of all the filth and evil in your lives, and humbly accept the word God has planted in your hearts, for it has the power to save your souls.

But don’t just listen to God’s word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves. For if you listen to the word and don’t obey, it is like glancing at your face in a mirror. You see yourself, walk away, and forget what you look like. But if you look carefully into the perfect law that sets you free, and if you do what it says and don’t forget what you heard, then God will bless you for doing it."

Stages of Anger

Mild Irritation

Provoked Frustration

Personal Indignation

Uncontrolled Rage

Listen as our family panel answers the questions you submitted about family and parenting!

Mark 10:13-16 // 13 People were bringing little children to Jesus for him to place his hands on them, but the disciples rebuked them. 14 When Jesus saw this, he was indignant. He said to them, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. 15 Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.” 16 And he took the children in his arms, placed his hands on them and blessed them.

1. Our homes should be high touch.

Mark 6:56 // And wherever he went – into villages, towns or countryside – they placed the sick in the marketplaces. They begged him to let them  touch even the edge of his cloak, and all who touched it were healed.

2. Our families need time.

How do kids spell love? T-I-M-E.

Mark 10:13 // People were bringing little children to Jesus for him to place his hands on them, but the disciples rebuked them.

3. Our words should give blessing and encouragement.

Mark 10:16 // And he took the children in his arms, placed his hands on them and blessed them.

Mark 1:9-11 // 9 At that time Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. 10 Just as Jesus was coming up out of the water, he saw heaven being torn open and the Spirit descending on him like a dove. 11 And a voice came from heaven: “You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.”

Harvard Business Review:

High Performing Teams: 5.6 to 1

Medium Performing Teams: 1.9 to 1

Low Performing Teams: .36 to 1

Family is 5 to 1

Family Feud – A Vision For Your Family – Pastor Jason Burns

What does love require of me?

Having a vision for your family starts with inheritance.

Proverbs 13:22 NIV // A good person leaves an inheritance for their children’s children, but a sinner’s wealth is stored up for the righteous.

3 areas we can leave an inheritance:

Financial Inheritance

Honorable Name Inheritance

Spiritual Inheritance

Psalm 138:8 NLT // The Lord will work out his plans for my life— for your faithful love, O Lord, endures forever. Don’t abandon me, for you made me.

The goal: My children will fulfill God’s will and purpose for their lives.

1 Samuel 1:1-18 NIV //

There was a certain man from Ramathaim, a Zuphite from the hill country of Ephraim, whose name was Elkanah son of Jeroham, the son of Elihu, the son of Tohu, the son of Zuph, an Ephraimite. He had two wives; one was called Hannah and the other Peninnah. Peninnah had children, but Hannah had none.

Year after year this man went up from his town to worship and sacrifice to the Lord Almighty at Shiloh, where Hophni and Phinehas, the two sons of Eli, were priests of the Lord. Whenever the day came for Elkanah to sacrifice, he would give portions of the meat to his wife Peninnah and to all her sons and daughters. But to Hannah he gave a double portion because he loved her, and the Lord had closed her womb. Because the Lord had closed Hannah’s womb, her rival kept provoking her in order to irritate her. This went on year after year. Whenever Hannah went up to the house of the Lord, her rival provoked her till she wept and would not eat. Her husband Elkanah would say to her, “Hannah, why are you weeping? Why don’t you eat? Why are you downhearted? Don’t I mean more to you than ten sons?”

Once when they had finished eating and drinking in Shiloh, Hannah stood up. Now Eli the priest was sitting on his chair by the doorpost of the Lord’s house. In her deep anguish Hannah prayed to the Lord, weeping bitterly. And she made a vow, saying, “Lord Almighty, if you will only look on your servant’s misery and remember me, and not forget your servant but give her a son, then I will give him to the Lord for all the days of his life, and no razor will ever be used on his head.”

As she kept on praying to the Lord, Eli observed her mouth. Hannah was praying in her heart, and her lips were moving but her voice was not heard. Eli thought she was drunk and said to her, “How long are you going to stay drunk? Put away your wine.”

“Not so, my lord,” Hannah replied, “I am a woman who is deeply troubled. I have not been drinking wine or beer; I was pouring out my soul to the Lord. Do not take your servant for a wicked woman; I have been praying here out of my great anguish and grief.”

Eli answered, “Go in peace, and may the God of Israel grant you what you have asked of him.” She said, “May your servant find favor in your eyes.” Then she went her way and ate something, and her face was no longer downcast.

Pray these promises over your children:

Psalm 138:8 // That my children will fulfill God’s will and purpose for their lives.

Isaiah 54:13 // That my child will be “taught of the Lord” and great will be their peace.

Psalm 119:11 // That my child will hide God’s Word in their hearts.

Colossians 1:9 // That God will fill my child with the knowledge of His will so that they can walk in a way that’s pleasing to Him and that their life will bear fruit.

Ephesians 1:17-19 // I pray that my child heart will be flooded with light so that they can understand the wonderful future God has promised to those He calls.

Proverbs 3:5-6 // That my child will trust in the Lord with all their hearts and not lean on their own understanding.

Philippians 4:6-9 // That my child will not worry or be afraid but that they will pray about everything, and that the peace of God will guard their hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.

Psalm 5:12 // I pray that God’s favor will surround them like a shield whether at school or work or play.

What does love require of me?

Mark 12:28-31 NIV // One of the teachers of the law came and heard them debating. Noticing that Jesus had given them a good answer, he asked him, “Of all the commandments, which is the most important?”

“The most important one,” answered Jesus, “is this: ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. 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.”

Luke 10:29-37 NIV // But he wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”

In reply Jesus said: “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he was attacked by robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, brought him to an inn and took care of him. The next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper. ‘Look after him,’ he said, ‘and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.’

“Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?” The expert in the law replied, “The one who had mercy on him.” Jesus told him, “Go and do likewise.”

Who is my neighbor?

Passed by

Took pity

Had mercy

Ways to Love Well:

Love them where they are.

Love them consistently.

Love them, even if it costs me something.

True love is going to require a sacrifice.

Hebrews 10:25 NLT // And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near.

“Isolation is the modern day leprosy.” – Mother Teresa

1 Samuel 14:1,4-15 NLT //

1 One day Jonathan said to his armor bearer, “Come on, let’s go over to where the Philistines have their outpost.” But Jonathan did not tell his father what he was doing.

4 To reach the Philistine outpost, Jonathan had to go down between two rocky cliffs that were called Bozez and Seneh. 5 The cliff on the north was in front of Micmash, and the one on the south was in front of Geba. 6 “Let’s go across to the outpost of those pagans,” Jonathan said to his armor bearer. “Perhaps the Lord will help us, for nothing can hinder the Lord. He can win a battle whether he has many warriors or only a few!”

7 “Do what you think is best,” the armor bearer replied. “I’m with you completely, whatever you decide.” 8 “All right, then,” Jonathan told him. “We will cross over and let them see us. 9 If they say to us, ‘Stay where you are or we’ll kill you,’ then we will stop and not go up to them. 10 But if they say, ‘Come on up and fight,’ then we will go up. That will be the Lord’s sign that he will help us defeat them.”

11 When the Philistines saw them coming, they shouted, “Look! The Hebrews are crawling out of their holes!” 12 Then the men from the outpost shouted to Jonathan, “Come on up here, and we’ll teach you a lesson!” “Come on, climb right behind me,” Jonathan said to his armor bearer, “for the Lord will help us defeat them!”

13 So they climbed up using both hands and feet, and the Philistines fell before Jonathan, and his armor bearer killed those who came behind them. 14 They killed some twenty men in all, and their bodies were scattered over about half an acre. 15 Suddenly, panic broke out in the Philistine army, both in the camp and in the field, including even the outposts and raiding parties. And just then an earthquake struck, and everyone was terrified.

Godly inspiration requires collaboration which cannot happen in isolation.

5 Characteristics of Godly Friends:

Challenge your mentality

Stretch you spiritually

Hebrews 11:1 NIV // Now faith is the confidence in what we hope for and the assurance about what we do not see.

Support you wholeheartedly

Help you think strategically

Proverbs 21:5 NLT // Good planning and hard work lead to prosperity, but hasty shortcuts lead to poverty.

Propel you supernaturally

New Normal – The current state of being after some dramatic change has transpired. What replaces the expected, usual, typical state after an event occurs. The new normal encourages one to deal with current situations rather than lamenting what could have been.

Mark 5:25-34 // "And a woman was there who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years. 26 She had suffered a great deal under the care of many doctors and had spent all she had, yet instead of getting better she grew worse. 27 When she heard about Jesus, she came up behind him in the crowd and touched his cloak, 28 because she thought, 'If I just touch his clothes, I will be healed.' 29 Immediately her bleeding stopped and she felt in her body that she was freed from her suffering. 30 At once Jesus realized that power had gone out from him. He turned around in the crowd and asked, 'Who touched my clothes?' 31 'You see the people crowding against you,' his disciples answered, 'and yet you can ask, ‘Who touched me?’' 32 But Jesus kept looking around to see who had done it. 33 Then the woman, knowing what had happened to her, came and fell at his feet and, trembling with fear, told him the whole truth. 34 He said to her, 'Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace and be freed from your suffering.'"

God's desire for you is wholeness.

Isaiah 26:3 NLT // "You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you!"

Romans 12:2 NLT // "Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect."

Metamorphoo

Perspective

Actions

Habits

Character

How you think determines who you become.

Romans 12:2 MSG // "Don’t become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You’ll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognize what he wants from you, and quickly respond to it. Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its level of immaturity, God brings the best out of you, develops well-formed maturity in you."

Ecclesiastes 10:2 MSG // "Wise thinking leads to right living; Stupid thinking leads to wrong living."