THIS CHRISTMAS - let God breathe life into this current time of trial with the truth that HOPE WILL RISE AGAIN.

The Gift of Hope enables us to Trust in the God who works throughout time for His Glory.

 Relationships are Priority #1

38 Now as they went on their way, Jesus entered a village. And a woman named Martha welcomed him into her house. 39 And she had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet and listened to his teaching. 40 But Martha was distracted with much serving. And she went up to him and said, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me.” 41 But the Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, 42 but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.”

Our Priorities: 

Increasingly reflecting the heart of Jesus through relationships

Relationship with God the Father

Relationship with Other Believers in Christ

Relationship with Our World

RELATIONSHIPS ARE PRIORITY #1

We Increasingly Reflect the Heart of Jesus through Relationships when…

We identify and align ourselves to God’s priority

We focus on what will lead to accomplishing God’s priority and cut away what is contrary

We embrace being inconvenienced

When we Increasingly Reflect the Heart of God through Relationships we become…

The Gospel with Flesh On

And Strangers become Neighbors and Neighbors become family

Passage:  Matthew 6:19-34

Hurdle #1:  ISOLATION

Getting over the need to hide

Hurdle #2:  RELAXATION

Getting over the need to unwind

Hurdle #3:  ENTERTAINMENT

Getting over the addiction to diversion

Hurdle #4: BUSYNESS

Getting over the lack of margin

Keep It Simple-

Matthew 13:31-32

"He put another parable before them, saying, "The kingdom of heaven is like a grain of mustard seed that a man took and sowed in his field. It is the smallest of all seeds, but when it has grown it is larger than all the garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and make nests in its branches."

Ephesians 5:1-2

"Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. 2 And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God."

"you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone,"

Fear or hatred of strangers or foreigners or of anything that is strange or foreign

The Love of Strangers (hospitality)

30 Jesus replied, "A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and he fell among robbers, who stripped him and beat him and departed, leaving him half dead. 31 Now by chance a priest was going down that road, and when he saw him he passed by on the other side. 32 So likewise a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. 33 But a Samaritan, as he journeyed, came to where he was, and when he saw him, he had compassion. 34 He went to him and bound up his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he set him on his own animal and brought him to an inn and took care of him. 35 And the next day he took out two denarii[a] and gave them to the innkeeper, saying, 'Take care of him, and whatever more you spend, I will repay you when I come back.' 

Graduate of Trinity Evangelical Divinity School

EFCA pastor for 20+ years

Bryan is a full time, pre-deployed missionaries with the EFCA's mission ReachGlobal

- The way we live reveals the condition of our hearts

- From the overflow of the heart, the mouth speaks

- Don't think you've arrived, you're still in process

Philippians 2:12-13, Hebrews 10:24-25, Galatians 6:9-10

Message Title:  In the Spirit

Galatians 5:25

"If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep step with the Spirit." (ESV)

"Since we are living by the Spirit, let us follow the Spirit's leading in every part of our lives."  (NLT)

In the Spirit we find our Source of Life  - To Live in the Spirit

In the Spirit we see our Direction for Life – To Walk in the Spirit

Message Title:   In Christ

Key Passages:  Galatians 5:24, Galatians 2:20, Romans 6:6-7, Romans 6:10-11, Titus 2:11-12, Mark 8:34

The ability to crucify the flesh is possible when we belong to Christ because of what He has already done for us.

Our sin was nailed to the Cross with Christ – we need leave it there, to die there.

Fruit of the Spirit- Self Control

1 Corinthians 9:24-27

Discipline is choosing between what you want now and what you want more.

"Nothing is so strong as gentleness and nothing is as gentle as real strength."  -St. Frances de Sales - Bishop of Geneva 17th Century