Week One: 12/04/2022

Title: “Is Peace even Possible?”

Bible: Isaiah 9:6, Isaiah 26:1 – 4, Philippians 4:8 – 9, John 14:27, Philippians 4:6 – 7

 

Isaiah 9:6 (NLT) 6 For a child is born to us, a son is given to us. The government will rest on his shoulders. And he will be called: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

 

Isaiah 26:1 – 4 (NLT) 1In that day, everyone in the land of Judah will sing this song: Our city is strong! We are surrounded by the walls of God’s salvation. 2 Open the gates to all who are righteous; allow the faithful to enter. 3 You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you! 4 Trust in the Lord always, for the Lord God is the eternal Rock.

 

SHALOM

 

“Peace isn’t found without Pain; Peace is found in the presence of the Prince.”

 

“The fight for peace starts in our Head”

 

Isaiah 26:3 (NLT) 3 You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you!

 

Isaiah 26:3 (NIV) You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you.

 

 “SAMAK”

 

Philippians 4:8 – 9 (NLT) 8 And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. 9 Keep putting into practice all you learned and received from me—everything you heard from me and saw me doing. Then the God of peace will be with you.

 

John 14:27 (NIV) 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.

 

Philippians 4:6 – 7 (NLT) 6 Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. 7 Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.

 

My Three Questions to Answer:

Head: What do I know now?

Heart: How does this change me?

Hands: What do I do now?

Proverbs 17:3 (NLT) 3 Fire tests the purity of silver and gold, but the Lord tests the heart.

 

“True Worship comes when what you treasure is Tested”

 

Deuteronomy 13: 1- 8 (NLT) 1 “Suppose there are prophets among you or those who dream dreams about the future, and they promise you signs or miracles, 2 and the predicted signs or miracles occur. If they then say, ‘Come, let us worship other gods’—gods you have not known before—3 do not listen to them. The Lord your God is testing you to see if you truly love him with all your heart and soul. 4 Serve only the Lord your God and fear him alone. Obey his commands, listen to his voice, and cling to him. 5 The false prophets or visionaries who try to lead you astray must be put to death, for they encourage rebellion against the Lord your God, who redeemed you from slavery and brought you out of the land of Egypt. Since they try to lead you astray from the way the Lord your God commanded you to live, you must put them to death. In this way you will purge the evil from among you. 6 “Suppose someone secretly entices you—even your brother, your son or daughter, your beloved wife, or your closest friend — and says, ‘Let us go worship other gods’—gods that neither you nor your ancestors have known. 7 They might suggest that you worship the gods of peoples who live nearby or who come from the ends of the earth. 8 But do not give in or listen. Have no pity, and do not spare or protect them.

 

Matthew 6:19 – 26 (NLT) 19 “Don’t store up treasures here on earth, where moths eat them and rust destroys them, and where thieves break in and steal. 20 Store your treasures in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal. 21 Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be. 23 But when your eye is unhealthy, your whole body is filled with darkness. And if the light you think you have is actually darkness, how deep that darkness is! 24 “No one can serve two masters. For you will hate one and love the other; you will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and be enslaved to money. 25 “That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life—whether you have enough food and drink, or enough clothes to wear. Isn’t life more than food, and your body more than clothing? 26 Look at the birds. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them. And aren’t you far more valuable to him than they are?

 

Where is your treasure being stored?

Matthew 6:19 – 20 (NLT) 19 “Don’t store up treasures here on earth, where moths eat them and rust destroys them, and where thieves break in and steal. 20 Store your treasures in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal.

 

“Many Christians dread the thought of leaving this world. Why? Because so many have stored up their treasures on earth, not in heaven. Each day brings us closer to death. If your treasures are on earth, that means each day brings you closer to losing your treasures.” by Randy Alcorn

 

Matthew 6:21 (NLT) 21 Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be.

 

Where are the desires of your heart?

Deuteronomy 13: 3 – 4 (NLT) 3 The Lord your God is testing you to see if you truly love him with all your heart and soul. 4 Serve only the Lord your God and fear him alone. Obey his commands, listen to his voice, and cling to him.

 

“Give me five minutes with a person's checkbook, and I will tell you where their heart is.” by Billy Graham

 

What/who do you serve?

Matthew 6:24 (NLT) 24 “No one can serve two masters. For you will hate one and love the other; you will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and be enslaved to money.

 

“Your money, or your life.’ We know what to do when a burglar makes this demand of us, but not when God does.” By Mignon McLaughlin

 

My Three Questions:

Head: What do I know now?  

 

Heart: How does this change me?  

 

Hands

Proverbs 17:3 (NLT) 3 Fire tests the purity of silver and gold, but the Lord tests the heart.

 

“cash” to 720-740-0620  

 

“Do not save what is left after spending; instead spend what is left after saving.” ― Warren Buffett

 

Proverbs 19:8 (NLT)8 To acquire wisdom is to love yourself; people who cherish understanding will prosper.

 

“We should remember that good fortune often happens when opportunity meets with preparation.” ― Thomas A. Edison

 

Proverbs 15:21 - 22 (NLT) 21 Foolishness brings joy to those with no sense; a sensible person stays on the right path. 22 Plans go wrong for lack of advice; many advisers bring success.

 

“A budget is telling your money where to go instead of wondering where it went.” ― Dave Ramsey

 

Proverbs 21:5 (NLT) 5 Good planning and hard work lead to prosperity, but hasty shortcuts lead to poverty.

 

 “Whether we make our own money or rely on someone else, many of us would rather pretend our financial matters don’t exist. Or we hope they’ll just take care of themselves somehow. My ex-husband was like that. He always said, “I bank by prayer. I go to the ATM and pray that money will come out.” ― Author Nancy Levin, Worthy: Boost Your Self-Worth to Grow Your Net Worth

 

Head: What do I know now?

 

Heart: How does this change me?

 

Hands: What do I do now?

Romans 12:1 – 2 (NLT) And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him. 2 Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.

 

Malachi 3:6 – 12 (NLT) 6 “I am the Lord, and I do not change. That is why you descendants of Jacob are not already destroyed. 7 Ever since the days of your ancestors, you have scorned my decrees and failed to obey them. Now return to me, and I will return to you,” says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies. “But you ask, ‘How can we return when we have never gone away?’ 8 “Should people cheat God? Yet you have cheated me! “But you ask, ‘What do you mean? When did we ever cheat you?’ “You have cheated me of the tithes and offerings due to me. 9 You are under a curse, for your whole nation has been cheating me. 10 Bring all the tithes into the storehouse so there will be enough food in my Temple. If you do,” says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, “I will open the windows of heaven for you. I will pour out a blessing so great you won’t have enough room to take it in! Try it! Put me to the test! 11 Your crops will be abundant, for I will guard them from insects and disease. Your grapes will not fall from the vine before they are ripe,” says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies. 12 “Then all nations will call you blessed, for your land will be such a delight,” says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies.

 

Proverbs 17:3 (NLT) 3 Fire tests the purity of silver and gold, but the Lord tests the heart.

 

A Test of Self-Denial (Mal 3:6-9)

Malachi 3:6 – 9 (NLT) 6 “I am the Lord, and I do not change. That is why you descendants of Jacob are not already destroyed. 7 Ever since the days of your ancestors, you have scorned my decrees and failed to obey them. Now return to me, and I will return to you,” says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies. “But you ask, ‘How can we return when we have never gone away?’ 8 “Should people cheat God? Yet you have cheated me! “But you ask, ‘What do you mean? When did we ever cheat you?’ “You have cheated me of the tithes and offerings due to me. 9 You are under a curse, for your whole nation has been cheating me.

 

A Test of Obedience (Mal 3:10a)

Malachi 3:10a (NLT) 10 Bring all the tithes into the storehouse so there will be enough food in my Temple.

 

A Test of Faith (Mal 3:10b-12)

Malachi 3:10b – 12 (NLT) If you do,” says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, “I will open the windows of heaven for you. I will pour out a blessing so great you won’t have enough room to take it in! Try it! Put me to the test! 11 Your crops will be abundant, for I will guard them from insects and disease. Your grapes will not fall from the vine before they are ripe,” says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies. 12 “Then all nations will call you blessed, for your land will be such a delight,” says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies.

 

“CHALLENGE” to 720-740-0620

Head: What do I know now? 

Heart: How does this change me? 

Hands: What do I do now?

Proverbs 17:3 (NLT) 3 Fire tests the purity of silver and gold, but the Lord tests the heart.

 

“Testing reveals what we VALUE and who we TRUST.”

 

Genesis 22:1 – 3 (NLT) Sometime later, God tested Abraham’s faith. “Abraham!” God called.

“Yes,” he replied. “Here I am.” 2 “Take your son, your only son—yes, Isaac, whom you love so much—and go to the land of Moriah. Go and sacrifice him as a burnt offering on one of the mountains, which I will show you.” 3 The next morning Abraham got up early. He saddled his donkey and took two of his servants with him, along with his son, Isaac. Then he chopped wood for a fire for a burnt offering and set out for the place God had told him about.

Genesis 22:6 – 8 (NLT) 6 So Abraham placed the wood for the burnt offering on Isaac’s shoulders, while he himself carried the fire and the knife. As the two of them walked on together, 7 Isaac turned to Abraham and said, “Father?” “Yes, my son?” Abraham replied. “We have the fire and the wood,” the boy said, “but where is the sheep for the burnt offering?” 8 “God will provide a sheep for the burnt offering, my son,” Abraham answered. And they both walked on together.

Genesis 22:9 – 12 (NLT) 9 When they arrived at the place where God had told him to go, Abraham built an altar and arranged the wood on it. Then he tied his son, Isaac, and laid him on the altar on top of the wood. 10 And Abraham picked up the knife to kill his son as a sacrifice. 11 At that moment the angel of the Lord called to him from heaven, “Abraham! Abraham!” “Yes,” Abraham replied. “Here I am!” 12 “Don’t lay a hand on the boy!” the angel said. “Do not hurt him in any way, for now I know that you truly fear God. You have not withheld from me even your son, your only son.” 13 Then Abraham looked up and saw a ram caught by its horns in a thicket. So he took the ram and sacrificed it as a burnt offering in place of his son. 14 Abraham named the place Yahweh-Yireh (which means “the Lord will provide”). To this day, people still use that name as a proverb: “On the mountain of the Lord it will be provided.”

 

“Possessions by themselves do not impede us from following God, but, due to the perversity of the human mind, it is almost impossible that those who have great abundance not be intoxicated by it.” John Calvin.

 

1 Timothy 6:9 – 10 (NLT) 9 But people who long to be rich fall into temptation and are trapped by many foolish and harmful desires that plunge them into ruin and destruction. 10 For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. And some people, craving money, have wandered from the true faith and pierced themselves with many sorrows.

 

Four Month Giving Challenge Text “CHALLENGE” to 720-740-0620

 

Head: What do I know now?  

 

Heart: How does this change me?  

 

Hands: What do I do now?

Series: Better: How to Win at Home

Week Nine: 10/30/2022

Title: Generational Impact

Bible: Matthew 7:13, Galatians 6:9, Romans 12:4 – 8, Mark 10:45, James 1:22 - 24

 

Matthew 7:13 (NLT) 13 “You can enter God’s Kingdom only through the narrow gate. The highway to hell is broad, and its gate is wide for the many who choose that way.

 

GENERATIONAL IMPACT

 

 “Legacy is not a Life well Lived, but a Life well Lived for Others.”

 

CONSISTENT

 

20,075 – 27,375 Days

 

Galatians 6:9 (NLT) 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.

 

ENGAGE

 

“Speed of the Leader, Speed of the Team.”

 

Romans 12:4 – 8 (NLT) 4 Just as our bodies have many parts and each part has a special function, 5 so it is with Christ’s body. We are many parts of one body, and we all belong to each other.

6 In his grace, God has given us different gifts for doing certain things well. So if God has given you the ability to prophesy, speak out with as much faith as God has given you. 7 If your gift is serving others, serve them well. If you are a teacher, teach well. 8 If your gift is to encourage others, be encouraging. If it is giving, give generously. If God has given you leadership ability, take the responsibility seriously. And if you have a gift for showing kindness to others, do it gladly.

 

SACRIFICE

 

Mark 10:45 (NLT) 45 For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

 

“What we have done for ourselves alone dies with us; what we have done for others and the world remains and is immortal.” – Albert Pike

 

OWNERSHIP

 

Six Stages of Ownership:

Hear it - Process it - Understand it – Agree with it – Implement it – Own it

 

James 1:22 - 24 (NLT) 22 But don’t just listen to God’s word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves. 23 For if you listen to the word and don’t obey, it is like glancing at your face in a mirror. 24 You see yourself, walk away, and forget what you look like.

Series: Better: How to Win at Home

Week Seven: 10/23/2022

Title: Faithful Family

Bible: Luke 8:19 – 21, Ephesians 1:5, Ephesians 2:19,

 

“Losing one’s religion in America, it seems, is a family affair, just as becoming religious is, too.”

 

Luke 8:19 – 21 (NLT) 19 Then Jesus’ mother and brothers came to see him, but they couldn’t get to him because of the crowd. 20 Someone told Jesus, “Your mother and your brothers are standing outside, and they want to see you.” 21 Jesus replied, “My mother and my brothers are all those who hear God’s word and obey it.”

 

Ephesians 1:5 (NLT) 5 God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. This is what he wanted to do, and it gave him great pleasure.

 

Ephesians 2:19 (NLT) 19 So now you Gentiles are no longer strangers and foreigners. You are citizens along with all of God’s holy people. You are members of God’s family.

 

FAMILY = Home + Church

 

FAMILY = Home + Church – MINUS

1 Corinthians 12: 25 – 27 (NLT) 25 This makes for harmony among the members, so that all the members care for each other. 26 If one part suffers, all the parts suffer with it, and if one part is honored, all the parts are glad. 27 All of you together are Christ’s body, and each of you is a part of it.

 

Ephesians 4:16 (NLT) 16 He makes the whole body fit together perfectly. As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love.

 

FAMILY = Home + Church / DIVIDED

1 Corinthians 1: 10 (NLT) 10 I appeal to you, dear brothers and sisters, by the authority of our Lord Jesus Christ, to live in harmony with each other. Let there be no divisions in the church. Rather, be of one mind, united in thought and purpose.

 

1 Peter 5:8 (NLT) 8 Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour.

 

FAMILY = Home + Church x MULTIPLIED

Acts 16:4 – 5 (NLT) 4 Then they went from town to town, instructing the believers to follow the decisions made by the apostles and elders in Jerusalem. 5 So the churches were strengthened in their faith and grew larger every day.

 

Ephesians 4:16 (NLT) 16 He makes the whole body fit together perfectly. As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love.

 

“We should see that churches and families should not be competitors but collaborators”

 

Head: What do I now know?

 

Heart: How does this change me?

 

Hands: What do I do now?

 

“Losing one’s religion in America, it seems, is a family affair, just as becoming religious is, too.”

Series: Better: How to Win at Home

Week Seven: 10/16/2022

Title: Synaptic Pruning

 

“Parental patterns are a powerful device for mental pruning in a child.”

 

Psalm 139:14 (NLT) 14 Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex! Your workmanship is marvelous—how well I know it.

 

Deuteronomy 6:1 – 2 (NLT) “These are the commands, decrees, and regulations that the Lord your God commanded me to teach you. You must obey them in the land you are about to enter and occupy, 2 and you and your children and grandchildren must fear the Lord your God as long as you live. If you obey all his decrees and commands, you will enjoy a long life.

 

Deuteronomy 6:5 – 7 (NLT) 5 And you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your strength. 6 And you must commit yourselves wholeheartedly to these commands that I am giving you today. 7 Repeat them again and again to your children. Talk about them when you are at home and when you are on the road, when you are going to bed and when you are getting up.

 

Proverbs 22:6 (NLT) 6 Direct your children onto the right path, and when they are older, they will not leave it.

 

Start with a 30-day digital detox (30 days off all technology, not essential to keep your job)

1-1-1 Rule (phone free 1 hour a day, 1 day a week, 1 week a year)

No screens when you eat

No screens when you worship

No screens at big life events

Shape space around conversations, not the TV

Access to passwords (Spouses have one another’s passwords & parents have total access to kids’ devices. This is not an option remember from last week BE THE PARENT NOT THE BUDDY)

Screen time limits for everyone!

Phone stays on do not disturb (DND)

Notifications stay off

No social media apps on phone

Don’t start the day with your phone

Limit unnecessary phone usage (in front of your kids)

One screen at a time

Only quality television (we should consume entertainment for art, learning, formation, and fun, stay away from sex and violent stuff) RIGHT NOW MEDIA

Head: What do I now know?

Heart: How does this change me?

Hands: What do I do now?

Series: Better: How to Win at Home

Week SIX: 10/09/2022

Title: Glowing Rectangles

Bible: Multiple Verses

 

Matthew 9:16 – 17 (NLT) 16 “Besides, who would patch old clothing with new cloth? For the new patch would shrink and rip away from the old cloth, leaving an even bigger tear than before. 17 “And no one puts new wine into old wineskins. For the old skins would burst from the pressure, spilling the wine and ruining the skins. New wine is stored in new wineskins so that both are preserved.”

 

Proverbs 4:23 (NLT) 23 Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life.

 

Ephesians 5:15 – 16 (NLT) 15 So be careful how you live. Don’t live like fools, but like those who are wise. 16 Make the most of every opportunity in these evil days.

 

Time over Time is History

Love over Time is Worth

Words over Time is Direction

Stories over Time is Perspective

Tribe over Time is Belonging

Fun over Time is Connection

 

Perspective:

SCHOOL - K-12 Grade = 13 years = 113,880 Hours = 4745 Days

SLEEP - 8 Hours a day = 37,960 Hours = sleeping 1581 Days

WORK - 50 Weeks with 2 Weeks’ Vacation = 3250 Days at work = 26,000 Hours = 1083 Totals Days

CHURCH - 1.8 times a month = 21.6 weekends a year = 1.5 hours a week = 421 total hours = 17 days

PHONE - 5 hours a day = 23,725 hours = 988 Days

 

46X more on a phone than at church - You will be left with only 2081 days with your kids. Do you really want to give half of those days to a device?

 

1 Corinthians 10:23 – 24 (NLT) 23 You say, “I am allowed to do anything”—but not everything is good for you. You say, “I am allowed to do anything”—but not everything is beneficial. 24 Don’t be concerned for your own good but for the good of others.

Series: Better: How to Win at Home

Week Five: 10/02/2022

Title: Power Circles

Bible: Multiple Verses

 

3 John 1:4 (NLT) 4 I could have no greater joy than to hear that my children are following the truth.

 

Everyone Needs a Circle

Proverbs 13:20 (NLT) 20 Walk with the wise and become wise; associate with fools and get in trouble.

 

A Better Circle Provides a Better Experience

Ecclesiastes 4:9 – 12 (NLT) 9 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. 11 Likewise, two people lying close together can keep each other warm. But how can one be warm alone? 12 A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer. Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken.

 

1 Thessalonians 5:14 – 15 (NLT) 14 Brothers and sisters, we urge you to warn those who are lazy. Encourage those who are timid. Take tender care of those who are weak. Be patient with everyone. 15 See that no one pays back evil for evil, but always try to do good to each other and to all people.

 

The Circle Needs to Challenge Them

Proverbs 27:17 (NLT) 17 As iron sharpens iron, so a friend sharpens a friend.

 

Galatians 6:2 (NLT) 2 Share each other’s burdens, and in this way obey the law of Christ.

 

Proverbs 19:20 (NLT) 20 Get all the advice and instruction you can, so you will be wise the rest of your life.

 

Who do you need to let know that you are thankful for them being in your circle or the circle of your child(ren)?