John 15:13

"Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends."

Christ died for you, so you could live for him.

Matthew 27:50-51

"And when Jesus had cried out again in a loud voice, he gave up his spirit.

51 At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook, the rocks split apart.."

"The one who draws near to God seizes the presence of God."

John 11:25

"Jesus told her, "I am the resurrection and the life. Anyone who believes in me will live, even after dying."

The Triumphal Entry

1 Corinthians 11:23-26

For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread, 24 and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, "This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me." 25 In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me." 26 For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes.

It Is Finished!

Isaiah 53:4-5

He took up our pain and bore our suffering and by his wounds we are healed. He was beaten and

whipped so we could be made whole.

"Way Maker"

Stand in Righteousness

2 Corinthians 5:21

"God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God."

Matthew 6:33

"But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well."

Psalm 46:10

Be STILL and know that I am God…

In the midst of painful circumstances you have to battle and struggle with fear and doubt and uncertainty.

You can't have progress without facing problems.

Expect Distracters

Nehemiah 6:1-3

"When word came to Sanballat, Tobiah, Geshem the Arab and the rest of our enemies that I had rebuilt the wall and not a gap was left in it—though up to that time I had not set the doors in the gates— 2 Sanballat and Geshem sent me this message: "Come, let us meet together in one of the villages on the plain of Ono." But they were scheming to harm me; 3 so I sent messengers to them with this reply: "I am carrying on a great project and cannot go down. Why should the work stop while I leave it and go down to you?"

To do greater things you have to say no to other things.

Expect Fatigue

Nehemiah 4:10

"Meanwhile, the people in Judah said, "The strength of the laborers is giving out, and there is so much rubble that we cannot rebuild the wall."

You can't have progress without facing problems.

Galatians 6:9

"So let's not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don't give up."

Expect Fear

Nehemiah 4:14

"After I looked things over, I stood up and said to the nobles, the officials and the rest of the people, "Don't be afraid of them. Remember the Lord, who is great and awesome, and fight for your families, your sons and your daughters, your wives and your homes."

Legacy

Your legacy is how you are remembered and

what you leave behind for others.

Nehemiah 2:19-20

"But when Sanballat the Horonite, Tobiah the Ammonite official and Geshem the Arab heard about it, they mocked and ridiculed us."What is this you are doing?" they asked. "Are you rebelling against the king?" 20 I answered them by saying, "The God of heaven will give us success. We his servants will start rebuilding, but as for you, you have no share in Jerusalem or any claim or historic right to it."

1 Timothy 4:8

"For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come."

When you live for God you live for something bigger than yourself.

Connections

Connections That Will Change Your Life

Your Connection To Christ

John 8:12 Jesus said, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life."

Psalm 37:4-5 "Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him and he will do this."

People You Do Life With Together

Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 "Two people are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed. If one person falls, the other can reach out and help. But someone who falls alone is in real trouble."

People You Follow

1 Corinthians 11:1 "Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ."

2 Kings 2:9 "Let me inherit a double portion of your spirit."

Proverbs 13:20 "He who walks with the wise grows wise but a companion of fools suffers harm."

People You Help Move Up

Acts 20:35 "It is more blessed to give than to receive."

Connections

Take Your Seat At The Table

John 6:35 "Then Jesus declared, "I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty."

Exploring Christ Matthew 9:36-38 "When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. 37 Then he said to his disciples, "The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few."

New To Christ

John 1:12-13 "But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God. 13 They are reborn—not with a physical birth resulting from human passion or plan, but a birth that comes from God."

Growing In Christ

1 Peter 2:2 "Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation.."

Hebrews 6:1

"Let us leave the elementary teachings of Christ and go on to maturity.."

Matthew 6:21 "For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."

Christ Centered

"Not my will Lord but your will be done."

Acts 20:24 "However, I consider my life worth nothing to me; if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the good news of God's grace."

Connections

Philippians 3:12-13 "Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. 13 Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead."

You were created for connection not isolation.

Mark 12:30-31 "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.' The second is this: 'Love your neighbor as yourself. There is no commandment greater than these."

You were created for connection not isolation.

John 15:4-5 "Remain in me, and I will remain in you. For a branch cannot produce fruit if it is severed from the vine, and you cannot be fruitful unless you remain in me. 5 "Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing."

You were created for connection not isolation.

All I Want For Christmas

Keep Hope Alive

Luke 2:25-32 "At that time there was a man in Jerusalem named Simeon. He was righteous and devout and was eagerly waiting for the Messiah to come and rescue Israel. The Holy Spirit was upon him 26 and had revealed to him that he would not die until he had seen the Lord's Messiah. 27 That day the Spirit led him to the Temple. So when Mary and Joseph came to present the baby Jesus to the Lord as the law required, 28 Simeon was there. He took the child in his arms and praised God,saying, 29 "Sovereign Lord, now let your servant die in peace, as you have promised. 30 I have seen your salvation, 31 which you have prepared for all people. 32 He is a light to reveal God to the nations, and he is the glory of your people Israel!"

Hope Of Eternal Life

John 3:16 "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life."

2 Corinthians 4:17-18 "For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. 18 So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal."

Hope For Something Better

Hebrews 11:1 "Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see."

Romans 4:18 "Even when there was no reason for hope, Abraham kept hoping—believing that he would become the father of many nations. For God had said to him, "That's how many descendants you will have!"

Hope Sustains You When Life Is Hard

Isaiah 40:31 "But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint."

Hebrews 10:23 "Let us hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm, for God can be trusted to keep his promise."

All I Want For Christmas

Get Your Joy Back

Luke 2:8-11

"That night there were shepherds staying in the fields nearby, guarding their flocks of sheep. 9 Suddenly, an angel of the Lord appeared among them, and the radiance of the Lord's glory surrounded them. They were terrified, 10 but the angel reassured them. "Don't be afraid!" he said. "I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people. 11 The Savior—yes, the Messiah, the Lord—has been born today in Bethlehem.."

Recognize Your Need For A Savior

Mark 2:17

"It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners."

Focus On What You Have Instead Of What You Don't

Philippians 4:11-13

"I have learned how to be content with whatever I have. 12 I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little. 13 For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength."

Rejoice That God Is In Control

Luke 2:1-5

"In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. 2 (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) 3 And everyone went to their own town to register.

4 So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. 5 He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. 6 While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born."

Proverbs 16:4

"The Lord works out everything for his own ends.."