God’s Best Gifts - #2 – Church!

By Rick Post

God’s Best Gifts - #1 – Adoption!

By Steve Anderson.

The Father chose to adopt us, not out of pity, but because he loves us! (Eph. 1:4)

The Father’s plan is to adopt us through Jesus! (Eph. 1:5a)

Our adoption brings joy to the Father’s heart! (Eph. 1:5b)

We are no longer held hostage. We’re adopted in God’s family! (Rom. 8:15)

Our confidence is that through Jesus Christ, God the Father has chosen us!

Reminder who I am:

I have been chosen by God. I have signed my adoption papers by placing my full trust in Jesus Christ. I am no longer a hostage to sin, death, and the devil. I am free from fear. I bring joy to the Father’s heart. I am a child of God. Jesus has changed everything! Amen.

Jesus Stories – #5 – Jesus and Thanksgiving

By Steve Anderson.

Old Testament Thanksgiving (Deuteronomy 26:1-11)

Jesus is in the “wrong place”. (Luke 17:11)

Jesus is confronted by desperate people. (Luke 17:12-13)

Jesus commands a step of faith. (Luke 17:14)

Thanksgiving ratio of 1:10. (Luke 17:15-16)

Jesus’ questions. (Luke 17:17)

Thanksgiving is giving glory to God! (Luke 17:18)

A life without thanksgiving is a life without God.

Thanksgiving brings us into the presence of God.

Next Steps:

1. Put thanking God where it belongs!

2. Always include thanking God when you pray. Always. (Phil. 4:5:6-7)

Jesus Stories – #4 – Jesus and Kids

By Steve Anderson.

Jesus Stories – #3 – The Father’s Heart

By Steve Anderson.

Jesus is uniquely qualified to reveal God the Father to us. (John 1:18)

A son with a rebellious heart. (Lk. 15:11-12)

A son’s rebellion runs its course. (Lk. 15:13-16)

A son gives up his rebellion. (Lk. 15:17-19)

The father’s heart revealed. (Lk. 15:20-24)

An angry oldest son. (Lk. 15:25-30)

The father’s heart revealed. (Lk. 15:31-32; John 3:16-17)

Prayer of thanksgiving:

Jesus, thank you for revealing the Father’s heart for me. Thank you that when I come to my senses and turn toward the Father, He runs to meet me, welcomes me with a smile, gives me a big hug, and celebrates that I am home with him where I belong. Amen.

By Steve Anderson & Zach Kingery

Jesus Stories – #1 – Temptation

By Steve Anderson.

We know a person by the stories we know about them.

Jesus changes everything as the stories we know about Jesus become our stories.

The question: Is Jesus secure in his identity? (Mt. 4:1-2)

Temptation/Test #1: What do you hunger for most? (Mt. 4:3-4)

Temptation/Test #2: Testing God or serving God? (Mt. 4:5-7)

Temptation/Test #3: Who or what do you really worship? (Mt. 4:8-11)

God enables us to turn a temptation to wrong into an affirmation of our identity in Christ! (1 Cor. 10:13)

Prayer to follow Jesus through temptation:

Jesus, thanks for your example. Fill me with your Holy Spirit so that my hunger and worship will be focused on you. I renounce testing you; I want to serve you! Thank you that you allow a time of testing not to break me, but to bring me closer to You. Amen.

Spiritual Check-Up! OUT – Networks and Neighborhoods

By Steve Anderson.

How did you find out about Cornerstone?

The Good News about Jesus doesn’t spread by itself. (Rom. 10:13-15)

From the beginning the Good News spread through networks and neighborhoods. (Jn. 1:40-41; Jn. 1:43-45; Jn. 4:28-30)

Jesus commands his followers to share the Good News with others! (Matt. 28:18-20)

When something changes, everything begins to change!

Next Step: Look for the 1!

Daily Bible Reading and Question:

What does it look like to share the Good News of Jesus through my networks and neighborhood?

Mon. – John 1:35-42; Tues. – John 1:43-45; Wed. – John 4:25-29; Thurs. – Rom. 10:13-14; Fri. – Matt. 28:18-20

Spiritual Check-Up! OUT - GOSPEL

By Mark Tracy.

RELATIONSHIPS are key to outreach.

Jesus calls each and every one of us to partner with Him in advancing His KINGDOM.

Jesus says we are SALT of the earth. (Matthew 5:13)

When Jesus comes out of the desert in Mark 1:15 what Greek word does He use for time? KAIROS

Chronos is the Greek word for CHRONOLIGICAL time.

When you have Kairos moment God is trying to SPEAK.

One important task of the church is to EQUIP you.

If someone asks about your hope as a believer, you’ll always be ready to explain it. (1 Peter 3:15b)

Spiritual Check-Up! IN – Healing in a Christ-Community

By Steve Anderson.

How do we best heal when we are broken?

A Christ-community “sets” our broken places back in alignment, and like a cast, holds us steady while God’s Spirit brings healing. (Gal. 6:1-3)

Childish faith hides. Child-like faith seeks community.

In a Christ-Community we “sign” each other’s lives.

Daily Spiritual Check-Up UP Prayer:

Jesus, I need to be restored gently and humbly. I need help carrying a burden that’s too heavy for me alone. Give me child-like faith that seeks community and the healing I need. Guide me to where I can

plug in. Amen.

Daily Bible Reading and Question:

How does a Christ-community help us heal? Mon. – Gal. 5:1-3;

Tues. – Rom. 12:9-16; Wed. – Eccl. 4:9-12; Thurs. – 2 Cor. 1:8-11; Fri. – 1 John 3:16-19