I Believe and I Belong

Christianity isn't just about believing, it's about belonging.

2 Peter 2:9-10

"But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God's special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. 10 Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God."

1 Timothy 3:15

"God's family is the church of the living God, the pillar and foundation of the truth."

Philippians 1:21-25

"For to me, living means living for Christ, and dying is even better. 22 But if I live, I can do more fruitful work for Christ. So I really don't know which is better. 23 I'm torn between two desires: I long to go and be with Christ, which would be far better for me. 24 But for your sakes, it is better that I continue to live.

25 Knowing this, I am convinced that I will remain alive so I can continue to help all of you grow and experience the joy of your faith."

Christianity isn't just about believing, it's about belonging.

Acts 2:42-47

"The believers devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer…All the believers were together and had everything in common… 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, 47 praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved."

The secret sauce to spiritual growth and vitality is community.

Ecclesiastes 4:9-10

"Two people are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed. 10 If one person falls, the other can reach out and help. But someone who falls alone is in real trouble."

Christianity isn't just about believing, it's about belonging.

Proverbs 27:17

"As iron sharpens iron, one man sharpens another."

Hebrews 10:24-25

"Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. 25 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."

Your Time Is Coming

One touch from God can change everything.

1 Peter 5:6-7

"Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. 7 Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you."

Your Time Is Coming

One touch from God can change everything.

Mark 5:34

"He said to her, "Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace and be freed from your suffering."

1 Peter 5:6-7

"Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. 7 Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you."

This Is The New You

2 Corinthians 5:17-18,

"This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun! And all of this is a gift from God, who brought us back to himself through Christ. And God has given us this task of reconciling people to him."

You Are Free From Your Past

Romans 8:1

"So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus."

John 8:36

"So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed."

You Have Power

1 John 4:4

"You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world."

Luke 10:19-20

"I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you. However, do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven."

You Are Blessed

Galatians 3:13-14

"But Christ has rescued us from the curse pronounced by the law. When he was hung on the cross, he took upon himself the curse for our wrongdoing…Through Christ Jesus, God has blessed the Gentiles with the same blessing he promised to Abraham."

I Love the 90s

Remember What God Has Done

Joshua 4:4-7

"So Joshua called together the twelve men he had appointed from the Israelites, one from each tribe, 5 and said to them, "Go over before the ark of the Lord your God into the middle of the Jordan. Each of you is to take up a stone on his shoulder, according to the number of the tribes of the Israelites, 6 to serve as a sign among you. In the future, when your children ask you, 'What do these stones mean?' 7 tell them that the flow of the Jordan was cut off before the ark of the covenant of the Lord. When it crossed the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan were cut off. These stones are to be a memorial to the people of Israel forever."

Joshua 4:21-23

He said to the Israelites, "In the future when your children ask their fathers, 'What do these stones mean?' 22 tell them, 'Israel crossed the Jordan on dry ground.' 23 For the Lord your God dried up the Jordan before you until you had crossed over. The Lord your God did to the Jordan what he had done to the Red Sea."

God has done it before, he can do it again.

1 Samuel 17:37

"The Lord who rescued me from the paw of the lion and the paw of the bear will rescue me from the hand of this Philistine."

Psalm 77:11-12

"But then I recall all you have done, O Lord; I remember your wonderful deeds of long ago. They are constantly in my thoughts. I cannot stop thinking about your mighty works."

God has done it before, he can do it again.

To Good To Be True

1 Timothy 1:13-15

"Even though I was once a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent man, I was shown mercy because I acted in ignorance and unbelief. 14 The grace of our Lord was poured out on me abundantly, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. 15 Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst."

Romans 3:23

"For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God's glorious standard. 24 Yet God, in his grace, freely makes us right in his sight. He did this through Christ Jesus when he freed us from the penalty for our sins."

2 Corinthians 8:9

"For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich."

2 Timothy 1:9-10

"For God saved us and called us to live a holy life. He did this, not because we deserved it, but because that was his plan from before the beginning of time—to show us his grace through Christ Jesus."

Ephesians 2:8-9

"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."

Amazing Grace, How sweet the sound That saved a wretch like me I once was lost, but now am found T'was blind but now I see

T'was Grace that taught my heart to fear And Grace, my fears relieved How precious did that grace appear The hour I first believed

Through many dangers, toils and snares We have already come. T'was grace that brought us safe thus far And grace will lead us home,

The Lord has promised good to me,

His word my hope secures

He will my shield and portion be

As long as life endures

I Love The 90's

Knocked Down But Not Out

"When you get knocked down do you know how to get back up again?"

2 Corinthians 4:8-9

"We are pressed on every side by troubles, but we are not crushed. We are perplexed, but not driven to despair. 9 We are hunted down, but never abandoned by God. We get knocked down, but we are not destroyed."

Romans 8:28-39

"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.

29 For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. 30 And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.

31 What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? 33 Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. 34 Who then is the one who condemns? No one. Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?

37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

God is with you and God is for you.

Hebrews 13:5-6

God has said, "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you." So we say with confidence, "The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?"

God is with you and God is for you.

Uncommon Faith

Uncommon things happen when you have uncommon faith.

Luke 1:38

"I am the Lord's servant, may it be to me as you have said."

Uncommon things happen when you have uncommon faith!

Acts 4:13

"When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus."

Uncommon things happen when you have uncommon faith.

Uncommon Love

Romans 12:2

" 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."

1 Corinthians 13:4-8

"Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

8 Love never fails."

Love is not just something you feel it's something you do.

Ephesians 5:1-2

"Follow God's example, therefore, as dearly loved children 2 and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God."

Uncommon Power

1 Peter 2:9-11

"But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God's special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. 10 Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy."

Uncommon Power

Luke 24:49

"I am going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high."

John 16:7

"But I tell you the truth, it is better for you that I go away. When I go away, I will send the Helper to you. If I do not go away, the Helper will not come."

John 14:16-17

"I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper to be with you forever— 17 the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it does not see him or know him. But you know him, because he lives with you and he will be in you."

To live an uncommon life you need an uncommon power.

John 14:27

"Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid."

Galatians 5:16

"So I say, let the Holy Spirit guide your lives. Then you won't be doing what your sinful nature craves."

Ephesians 1:13

"When you believed in Christ, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit."

To live an uncommon life you need an uncommon power.

Uncommon

Because Normal Isn't Working

Don't settle for normal when you can be uncommon.

Matthew 7:13-14

"Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it.14 But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it."

"If you want what normal people have, do what normal people do. But if

you want what few people have, do what few people do."

Craig Groeschel

Romans 12:2

"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."

What you think determines what you become.

Don't settle for normal when you can be uncommon.