Access Church

John 20:19 // On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jewish leaders, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!”

Identity: the truest thing about you.

The early & often factor.

Identity determines behavior.

Ephesians 2:1-3 // As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, 2 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. 3 All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath.

Ephesians 2:4-5 // But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, 5 made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved.

Ephesians 2:8-10 // For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast. 10 For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

Pressure to perform.

Fear of failure.

Constant comparison.

Wrecked relationships.

Fatigue and frustration.

In Christ, you are:

Chosen.

Adopted.

Redeemed.

Marked.

Purchased.

Romans 8:11 NLT // “The Spirit of God, who raised Jesus from the dead, lives in you. And just as God raised Christ Jesus from the dead, he will give life to your mortal bodies by this same Spirit living within you.”

You don’t have to just celebrate Easter, you can experience Easter!

The resurrection of Jesus gives you the power to close the gap between the life you are living and could live.

Why 3 Days?

1 Peter 2:21 MSG // This is the kind of life you’ve been invited into, the kind of life Christ lived. He suffered everything that came his way so you would know that it could be done, and also know how to do it, step-by-step.

Friday: The Day of Pain

Types of Pain:

Physical Pain

Emotional Pain

Relational Pain

Romans 8:28 // And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.

There is no pain that His purpose cannot redeem.

Saturday: The Day of Confusion

When we’re confused:

We want answers.

We begin to doubt.

We give up.

We feel alone.

There is no confusion that His presence cannot calm.

Sunday: The Day of Resurrection.

John 11:25-26 // “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; 26 and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?”

There is no death that His power cannot resurrect.

Philippians 3:10-11 NLT // I want to know Christ and experience the mighty power that raised him from the dead. I want to suffer with him, sharing in his death, so that one way or another I will experience the resurrection from the dead!

What is so good about Good Friday?

You can’t tell the whole story of a great life from one perspective.

1 Corinthians 1:18 // For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.

John 10:18 // No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. This command I received from my Father.

Jesus died for me.

Luke 22:19 // Do this in remembrance of me.

We are at a crossroads – we have an opportunity to either DISTANCE and DISTRACT or DIVE IN and DEVELOP.

Change our perspective

Change our approach

Seek Him first

Jesus is the same.

Hebrews 13:8 // Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.

When I know that something in my life is steady, it frees me to rest in the confidence that it takes to enjoy today.

What do you want to say about this time when it’s over?

There is hope for today, not just for tomorrow.

Useful Links

Useful Links

Useful Links

For date ideas, marriage resources, and more, visit access.tv/relationshipgoals.

God is a relational God.

Relationships influence the quality and the direction of our lives.

Since the 1980s, the percentage of American adults who say they’re lonely has doubled from 20 percent to 40 percent. – via Slate.com

3 Approaches to Marriage:

Causal Approach - Marriage is just a piece of paper

Contractual Approach - Marriage is a contract

A contract is based on mutual distrust.

Covenantal Approach - Marriage is a holy covenant established by God

A covenant is based on mutual commitment.

Covenant - beriyth - To cut

"One" can mean singular or together in unity.

How do we become one?

Genesis 2:24 // That is why a man leaves his father and mother and is united to his wife, and they become one flesh.

Ephesians 5:31 // “For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.”

1 Corinthians 6:15–16 // Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ himself? Shall I then take the members of Christ and unite them with a prostitute? Never! 16 Do you not know that he who unites himself with a prostitute is one with her in body? For it is said, “The two will become one flesh.”

1 Corinthians 6:17 // But whoever is united with the Lord is one with him in spirit.

How do we become one in spirit?

Luke 9:23 // Then he said to them all: "Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me.”

3 John 2 // Beloved, I pray that all may go well with you and that you may be in good health, as it goes well with your soul.

You’re only as healthy as your soul.

4 Practices of a Healthy Soul:

 Silence and Solitude

Matthew 3:17 // And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.”

Jesus Is Tested in the Wilderness

Matthew 4:1-3 // Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. 2 After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. 3 The tempter came to him…

Mark 1:35-38 // Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed. Simon and his companions went to look for him, and when they found him, they exclaimed: “Everyone is looking for you!” Jesus replied, “Let us go somewhere else—to the nearby villages—so I can preach there also. That is why I have come.”

Luke 4:5:15-16 // Yet the news about him spread all the more, so that crowds of people came to hear him and to be healed of their sicknesses. 16 But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed.

Without solitude it is virtually impossible to live a spiritual life… We do not take the spiritual life seriously if we do not set aside time to be with God and listen to Him. - Henri Nouwen

POINT: If Jesus needed quiet time, we do too.

Sabbath

What ultimately satisfies us?

Infinite desire - finite soul = restlessness

Sabbath - Shabbat: to stop

Mark 2:27 // Then he said to them, "The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath.

“People who keep sabbath live all seven days differently.” - Walter Brueggermann

Genesis 2:1-3 // Thus the heavens and the earth were completed in all their vast array. By the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing; so on the seventh day he rested from all his work. Then God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it he rested from all the work of creating that he had done.

POINT: If God chose rest, we should too.

Simplicity

What do you really need?

“Simplicity is an inward reality that can be seen in an outward lifestyle of choosing to leverage time, money, talents, and possessions toward what matters most.” - Richard Foster and Mark Scandrette

The goal of simplicity isn’t to declutter your stuff, but to declutter your life.

Philippians 4:11-13 // I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through him who gives me strength.

Slowing

“Slowing is cultivating patience by deliberately choosing to place ourselves in positions where we simply have to wait.” - John Ortberg

Proverbs 4:23 // Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.

3 John 2  //  Beloved, I pray that all may go well with you and that you may be in good health, as it goes well with your soul.

You are only as healthy as your soul.

4 Elements of a Healthy Soul:

Rest

Genesis 2:9 //  The Lord God made all kinds of trees grow out of the ground—trees that were pleasing to the eye and good for food. In the middle of the garden were the tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.

Matthew 11:29  //  Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.

Responsibility

Genesis 2:15  //  The Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it.

Ecclesiastes 9:10  //  Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might.

Colossians 3:23  //  Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord,

Restriction

Genesis 2:16-17  //  And the Lord God commanded the man, “You are free to eat from any tree in the garden; 17 but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat from it you will certainly die.”

Relationship

Genesis 2:18  //  The Lord God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him.”