Devoted Church

Matthew 1:18-25

This is how Jesus the Messiah was born. His mother, Mary, was engaged to be married to Joseph. But before the marriage took place, while she was still a virgin, she became pregnant through the power of the Holy Spirit. 19 Joseph, to whom she was engaged, was a righteous man and did not want to disgrace her publicly, so he decided to break the engagement quietly. 20 As he considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream. “Joseph, son of David,” the angel said, “do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife. For the child within her was conceived by the Holy Spirit. 21 And she will have a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.”

22 All of this occurred to fulfill the Lord’s message through his prophet: 23 “Look! The virgin will conceive a child! She will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel, which means ‘God is with us.’” 24 When Joseph woke up, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded and took Mary as his wife. 25 But he did not have sexual relations with her until her son was born. And Joseph named him Jesus.

Five Characteristics of Game Changers

1. They Are Empathetic.

Matthew 1:18-19 But before the marriage took place, while she was still a virgin, she became pregnant through the power of the Holy Spirit. 19 Joseph, to whom she was engaged, was a righteous man and did not want to disgrace her publicly, so he decided to break the engagement quietly.

2. They Listen to God over Feelings.

Matthew 1:20 As he considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream. “Joseph, son of David,”

God speaks to us through the Word, Prayer, and Others.

You can’t Trust your Feelings!

3. They are Strong and Courageous.

Matthew 1:20-21 “do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife. For the child within her was conceived by the Holy Spirit. 21 And she will have a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.”

Joshua 1:9 This is my command—be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”

4. They are Obedient.

Matthew 1:24 24 When Joseph woke up, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded and took Mary as his wife.

5. They practice Self-Control.

Matthew 1:25 25 But he did not have sexual relations with her until her son was born. And Joseph named him Jesus.

God has called all of us to be Game Changers!

What is God calling you to change so you can be the Game Changer God called you to be

GameChangers - Wisemen

Matthew 2:1-12

Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the reign of King Herod. About that time some wise men from eastern lands arrived in Jerusalem, asking,2 “Where is the newborn king of the Jews? We saw his star as it rose, and we have come to worship him.”

3 King Herod was deeply disturbed when he heard this, as was everyone in Jerusalem. 4 He called a meeting of the leading priests and teachers of religious law and asked, “Where is the Messiah supposed to be born?”

5 “In Bethlehem in Judea,” they said, “for this is what the prophet wrote:

6 ‘And you, O Bethlehem in the land of Judah,

are not least among the ruling cities of Judah,

for a ruler will come from you

who will be the shepherd for my people Israel.’”

7 Then Herod called for a private meeting with the wise men, and he learned from them the time when the star first appeared. 8 Then he told them, “Go to Bethlehem and search carefully for the child. And when you find him, come back and tell me so that I can go and worship him, too!”

9 After this interview the wise men went their way. And the star they had seen in the east guided them to Bethlehem. It went ahead of them and stopped over the place where the child was. 10 When they saw the star, they were filled with joy!11 They entered the house and saw the child with his mother, Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasure chests and gave him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.

12 When it was time to leave, they returned to their own country by another route, for God had warned them in a dream not to return to Herod.

Five Characteristics of Game Changers.

1. They Pursue Jesus Diligently.

2. They Influence Others.

3. They Realize Life Isn’t About Them.

Ephesians 3:14-15

When I think of all this, I fall to my knees and pray to the Father, the Creator of everything in heaven and on earth.

4. They Worship Jesus Intentionally.

Romans 12:1-2

Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform 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.

5. They Listen to God over Others.

Remember it starts with Gratitude towards Him.

Psalms 136:1

Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good.His love endures forever.

Colossians 3:12-17 NLT

12 Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.13 Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others. 14 Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds us all together in perfect harmony. 15 And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. For as members of one body you are called to live in peace. And always be thankful. 16 Let the message about Christ, in all its richness, fill your lives. Teach and counsel each other with all the wisdom he gives. Sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs to God with thankful hearts. 17 And whatever you do or say, do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through him to God the Father.

Colossians 3:12-17 MSG

12-14 So, chosen by God for this new life of love, dress in the wardrobe God picked out for you: compassion, kindness, humility, quiet strength, discipline. Be even-tempered, content with second place, quick to forgive an offense. Forgive as quickly and completely as the Master forgave you. And regardless of what else you put on, wear love. It’s your basic, all-purpose garment. Never be without it.

15-17 Let the peace of Christ keep you in tune with each other, in step with each other. None of this going off and doing your own thing. And cultivate thankfulness. Let the Word of Christ—the Message—have the run of the house. Give it plenty of room in your lives. Instruct and direct one another using good common sense. And sing, sing your hearts out to God! Let every detail in your lives—words, actions, whatever—be done in the name of the Master, Jesus, thanking God the Father every step of the way.

Doing Life Together is Hard Work.

Four Ways to Express Gratitude towards Others.

1. Tell Them.

1 Thessalonians 1:2-4

We always thank God for all of you and pray for you constantly. 3 As we pray to our God and Father about you, we think of your faithful work, your loving deeds, and the enduring hope you have because of our Lord Jesus Christ.

4 We know, dear brothers and sisters, that God loves you and has chosen you to be his own people.

2. Listen to Them.

Listening is an art that requires attention over talent, spirit over ego, other over self.

When you talk you are only repeating what you already know. When you listen you may learn something new.

Push back the feeling that you have to be right.

3. Pray for Them.

1 Timothy 2:1-3

 I urge you, first of all, to pray for all people. Ask God to help them; intercede on their behalf, and give thanks for them. 2 Pray this way for kings and all who are in authority so that we can live peaceful and quiet lives marked by godliness and dignity. 3 This is good and pleases God our Savior

4. Forgive Them.

Ephesians 4:32

Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you.

Colossians 3:13

13 Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others.

The Opposite of Gratitude - “It is the All About Me” Attitude

“If not to God, you will surrender to the opinions or expectations of others, to money, to resentment, to fear, or to your own pride, lusts, or ego. You were designed to worship God and if you fail to worship Him, you will create other things (idols) to give your life to. You are free to choose, what you surrender to but you are not free from the consequence of that choice.” ― Rick Warren, The Purpose Driven Life: What on Earth Am I Here for?

We Need a Gratitude Adjustment Toward God

It is a changed Mind! We have to be Intentional!

Why aren’t We More Grateful toward God?

1. We struggle with selfishness.

2. We become overwhelmed with our circumstances.

3. We are constantly distracted.

Four Benefits to adjusting your Gratitude toward God.

1. It gets our eyes off of ourselves, and helps us to focus on God.

Psalms 103:1-5

1 Let all that I am praise the Lord;    with my whole heart, I will praise his holy name.2 Let all that I am praise the Lord;    may I never forget the good things he does for me.3 He forgives all my sins    and heals all my diseases.4 He redeems me from death    and crowns me with love and tender mercies.5 He fills my life with good things.    My youth is renewed like the eagle’s!

2. It reminds us we are not in Control.

Proverbs 19:21

You can make many plans, but the Lord’s purpose will prevail.

Proverbs 16:9

We can make our plans, but the Lord determines our steps.

3. It helps us recognize we have so much to be thankful for.

James 1:17

17 Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.

4. It teaches our heart that complaining is not useful or needed.

Philippians 2:13-14

13 For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him.14 Do everything without complaining and arguing

Acts 1:8-11

But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere- in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” After saying this, he was taken up into a cloud while they were watching, and then could no longer see him. As they strained to see him rising into heaven, two white-robed men suddenly stood among them. “Men of Galilee,” they said, “why are you standing here staring into heaven? Jesus has been taken from you into heaven, but someday he will return from heaven in the same way you saw him go!”

1. You will be My Witnesses…

2. Telling people Everywhere…

3. Why are you standing here staring into heaven?

Jesus completed what He was sent to do.

As Parents we tell our kids and eventually we have to be taken out to allow them to do it.

All People Matter to God

We All have Next Steps

Life is Better Connected

You Can’t Out-Give God

Saved People Serve People

Disciples Make Disciples

Found People Find People

It is Easy to talk about things we are passionate about.

Acts 1:8

But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

ITS NOT AN OPTION!!!

John 1:35:51

The next day John was there again with two of his disciples. When he saw Jesus passing by, he said, “Look, the Lamb of God!”

When the two disciples heard him say this, they followed Jesus.  Turning around, Jesus saw them following and asked, “What do you want?”

They said, “Rabbi” (which means “Teacher”), “where are you staying?”

“Come,” he replied, “and you will see.”

So they went and saw where he was staying, and they spent that day with him. It was about four in the afternoon.

Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, was one of the two who heard what John had said and who had followed Jesus.  The first thing Andrew did was to find his brother Simon and tell him, “We have found the Messiah” (that is, the Christ).  And he brought him to Jesus.

Jesus looked at him and said, “You are Simon son of John. You will be called Cephas” (which, when translated, is Peter).

Jesus Calls Philip and Nathanael

The next day Jesus decided to leave for Galilee. Finding Philip, he said to him, “Follow me.”

Philip, like Andrew and Peter, was from the town of Bethsaida. Philip found Nathanael and told him, “We have found the one Moses wrote about in the Law, and about whom the prophets also wrote—Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.”

“Nazareth! Can anything good come from there?” Nathanael asked.

“Come and see,” said Philip.

When Jesus saw Nathanael approaching, he said of him, “Here truly is an Israelite in whom there is no deceit.”

“How do you know me?” Nathanael asked.

Jesus answered, “I saw you while you were still under the fig tree before Philip called you.”

Then Nathanael declared, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God; you are the king of Israel.”

Jesus said, “You believe because I told you I saw you under the fig tree. You will see greater things than that.”  He then added, “Very truly I tell you, you will see ‘heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending on’ the Son of Man.” John 1:35-51

• Pray that God will give you Compassion for ALL People.

Matthew 9:36

When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them because they were confused and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.

• Be Intentional.

Deliberate, calculated, conscious, intended, planned, meant, studied, knowing, willful, purposeful, done on purpose, premeditated, preplanned, preconceived.

Current Relationships

New Relationships

Share Your Story

• Invite Someone to Church Next Week

We want to create an experience that your friends want to be a part of.

The Enemy will do everything, in his power, to stop you.

We also must remember our personal responsibility.

Disciples Make Disciples

2 Timothy 2:1-7 (NASB)

Vs. 1 “Be Strong”

Vs. 2 “You Have Heard”

“Entrust to Faithful Men”

“Who Will Teach Others”

Vs. 3 “Suffer Hardship”

“Good Soldier”

Vs. 4 “Entangles”

(Heb 12:1-2)

Vs. 5 “According to the Rule”

(1 Cor 11:1)

Vs. 6 “Hard Working”

Vs. 7 “Consider What I Say”

(Luke 14:25-33)

All People Matter to God… That means YOU matter to God

Who you are and the things you do matter.

We all have a purpose

2 Timothy 1:9 MSG

...by the power of God, who first saved us and then called us to this holy work. We had nothing to do with it. It was all his idea, a gift prepared for us in Jesus long before we knew anything about it.

We all have a unique story

We have gifts

1 Peter 4:10

God has given each of you a gift from his great variety of spiritual gifts. Use them well to serve one another.

We all have life experience

Romans 12:1-2 MSG

So here’s what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life—your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life—and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him.

We all have pain

2 Corinthians 1:3-4

All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is our merciful Father and the source of all comfort. He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us.

We all have a role to play

1 Corinthians 12:14-18

I want you to think about how all this makes you more significant, not less. A body isn’t just a single part blown up into something huge. It’s all the different-but-similar parts arranged and functioning together.

If Foot said, “I’m not elegant like Hand, embellished with rings; I guess I don’t belong to this body,” would that make it so? If Ear said, “I’m not beautiful like Eye, limpid and expressive; I don’t deserve a place on the head,” would you want to remove it from the body? If the body was all eye, how could it hear?

If all ear, how could it smell? As it is, we see that God has carefully placed each part of the body right where he wanted it.

We can all make an impact

You Can’t Out Give God

2 Corinthians 9:6-15

Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. As it is written:

“They have freely scattered their gifts to the poor; their righteousness endures forever.”

Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. You will be enriched in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God.

This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of the Lord’s people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God. Because of the service by which you have proved yourselves, others will praise God for the

obedience that accompanies your confession of the gospel of Christ, and for your generosity in sharing with them and with everyone else. And in their prayers for you their hearts will go out to you, because of the surpassing grace God has given you. Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!

Stewardship Principle: We Don’t Give to Get. We Give to Give.

The Scripture does NOT teach that faith equals riches.

Proverbs 11:24 One man gives freely, yet grows all the richer; another withholds what he should give, and only suffers want.

1. Pay God First

2. Pay Yourself

3. Pay your bills

Three attitudes that we need to reject.

1. Greed

2. Giving Reluctantly

3. Compulsion

Seven Steps to Financial Freedom

1. Give Cheerfully

2. Give Regularly, Not Haphazardly

3. Give Your First Fruits

4. Give When It’s Tight

5. Give Sacrificially

6. Give a Tithe

7. Give in Faith

God did not create us to do life alone.

God created us for relationships not only with Him but with each other.

A community that is strong and in one accord reaches their community.

SHOW ME YOUR FRIENDS, AND I’LL SHOW YOU YOUR FUTURE.

Proverbs 13:20

Walk with the wise and become wise, for a companion of fools suffers harm.

A church must grow larger and smaller at the same time. Larger through worship and smaller through small groups. –Rick Warren

Acts 2:42-46

They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. 43 Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. 44 All the believers were together and had everything in common. 45 They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. 46 Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts.

3 Great Qualities of Great Community

YOU ARE ONE COMMUNITY AWAY FROM CHANGING YOUR COURSE.

• WE HAVE REFRIGERATOR RIGHTS.

Acts 2:44 All the believers were together and had everything in common.

• NO PERFECT PEOPLE ALLOWED!

Romans 15:7 Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God.

It’s OK Not to be OK!

• REALIZING WE ALL HAVE THE SAME ENEMY!

Peter 5:8 Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.

John 13:35 …everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.