Week Two: 02/13/2022

Title: The Circle Size Matters

Bible: Mark 8:13: - 19; Mark 12:29 – 31;

 

“Everyone has a PLACE, but not everyone has the same POSITION.”

 

Mark 3:13-19 (NLT) 13 Afterward Jesus went up on a mountain and called out the ones he wanted to go with him. And they came to him.14 Then he appointed twelve of them and called them his apostles. They were to accompany him, and he would send them out to preach, 15 giving them authority to cast out demons. 16 These are the twelve he chose: Simon (whom he named Peter), 17 James and John (the sons of Zebedee, but Jesus nicknamed them “Sons of Thunder”), 18 Andrew, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James (son of Alphaeus), Thaddaeus, Simon (the zealot), 19 Judas Iscariot (who later betrayed him).

 

Proximity - accompany him

 

Preparation - send them out to preach

Matthew 10:5 - 11 (NLT) 5 Jesus sent out the twelve apostles with these instructions: “Don’t go to the Gentiles or the Samaritans, 6 but only to the people of Israel—God’s lost sheep. 7 Go and announce to them that the Kingdom of Heaven is near. 8 Heal the sick, raise the dead, cure those with leprosy, and cast out demons. Give as freely as you have received!

 

Empowers - giving them authority

 

Who am I giving relational proximity to in my life?

Proverbs 27:9 (NLT) The heartfelt counsel of a friend is as sweet as perfume and incense.

 

How am I being prepared to be a follower that is making followers of Jesus?

Galatians 5:26 (NLT) 26 Let us not become conceited, or provoke one another, or be jealous of one another.

 

“Healthy friendships shouldn’t foster exclusivity, jealousy, ownership, or sensuality. Rather, we hold our friends with open hands and invite others in. We celebrate the formation of new friendships in our friends’ lives and are open to building new friendships ourselves.”

 

Do I have relationships empowered by the gospel?

Mark 3:15 (NLT) 15 Later, Levi invited Jesus and his disciples to his home as dinner guests, along with many tax collectors and other disreputable sinners. (There were many people of this kind among Jesus’ followers.

Week One: 2/06/2022

Title: Build a Circle of Friends

Bible: John 1:35 – 41, Luke 5:1–11, Matthew 12:1 – 2, John 6:60 – 69

 

“Intentional relationships build through time, travel, and trouble.”

 

John 1:35 – 41 (NLT) 35 The following day John was again standing with two of his disciples. 36 As Jesus walked by, John looked at him and declared, “Look! There is the Lamb of God!” 37 When John’s two disciples heard this, they followed Jesus. 38 Jesus looked around and saw them following. “What do you want?” he asked them. They replied, “Rabbi” (which means “Teacher”), “where are you staying?” 39 “Come and see,” he said. It was about four o’clock in the afternoon when they went with him to the place where he was staying, and they remained with him the rest of the day. 40 Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, was one of these men who heard what John said and then followed Jesus. 41 Andrew went to find his brother, Simon, and told him, “We have found the Messiah” (which means “Christ”).

 

Luke 5:4 – 11 (NLT) 4 When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Now go out where it is deeper, and let down your nets to catch some fish.” 5 “Master,” Simon replied, “we worked hard all last night and didn’t catch a thing. But if you say so, I’ll let the nets down again.” 6 And this time their nets were so full of fish they began to tear! 7 A shout for help brought their partners in the other boat, and soon both boats were filled with fish and on the verge of sinking. 8 When Simon Peter realized what had happened, he fell to his knees before Jesus and said, “Oh, Lord, please leave me—I’m such a sinful man.” 9 For he was awestruck by the number of fish they had caught, as were the others with him. 10 His partners, James and John, the sons of Zebedee, were also amazed. Jesus replied to Simon, “Don’t be afraid! From now on you’ll be fishing for people!” 11 And as soon as they landed, they left everything and followed Jesus.

 

Matthew 12:1 – 2 (NLT) At about that time Jesus was walking through some grainfields on the Sabbath. His disciples were hungry, so they began breaking off some heads of grain and eating them. 2 But some Pharisees saw them do it and protested, “Look, your disciples are breaking the law by harvesting grain on the Sabbath.”

 

John 6:60 – 69 (NLT) 60 Many of his disciples said, “This is very hard to understand. How can anyone accept it?” 61 Jesus was aware that his disciples were complaining, so he said to them, “Does this offend you? 62 Then what will you think if you see the Son of Man ascend to heaven again? 63 The Spirit alone gives eternal life. Human effort accomplishes nothing. And the very words I have spoken to you are spirit and life. 64 But some of you do not believe me.” (For Jesus knew from the beginning which ones didn’t believe, and he knew who would betray him.) 65 Then he said, “That is why I said that people can’t come to me unless the Father gives them to me.” 66 At this point many of his disciples turned away and deserted him. 67 Then Jesus turned to the Twelve and asked, “Are you also going to leave?” 68 Simon Peter replied, “Lord, to whom would we go? You have the words that give eternal life. 69 We believe, and we know you are the Holy One of God.”

 

How are you intentional in relationships?

1 Thessalonians 2:8 (NLT) 8 We loved you so much that we shared with you not only God’s Good News but our own lives, too.

 

How are you traveling through life with when it comes to following Jesus?

Romans 14:1(NLT) Accept other believers who are weak in faith, and don’t argue with them about what they think is right or wrong.

 

Romans 14: 17 – 19 (NLT) 17 For the Kingdom of God is not a matter of what we eat or drink, but of living a life of goodness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. 18 If you serve Christ with this attitude, you will please God, and others will approve of you, too. 19 So then, let us aim for harmony in the church and try to build each other up.

 

How are you dealing with life’s trouble as a f

Week Five: 01/30/2022

Title: What do we do Now?

Bible: Romans 8:31 – 39

 

“Grace gets us into a sinners world. Biblical Truth gets them out.” By AR Bernard

 

“Struggle positions us to SHARE in Forgiveness & Freedom”

 

Romans 8:31 – 39 (NLT) 31 What shall we say about such wonderful things as these? If God is for us, who can ever be against us? 32 Since he did not spare even his own Son but gave him up for us all, won’t he also give us everything else? Who dares accuse us whom God has chosen for his own? No one—for God himself has given us right standing with himself. 34 Who then will condemn us? No one—for Christ Jesus died for us and was raised to life for us, and he is sitting in the place of honor at God’s right hand, pleading for us. 35 Can anything ever separate us from Christ’s love? Does it mean he no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity, or are persecuted, or hungry, or destitute, or in danger, or threatened with death? 36 (As the Scriptures say, “For your sake we are killed every day; we are being slaughtered like sheep.”)

 

Romans 8:37 – 39 (NLT) 37 No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us. 38 And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. 39 No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.

 

Honesty about STRUGGLE within and temptations without is necessary for CHANGE.

Be Honest with Jesus

Matthew 11:28 – 29 (NLT) 28 Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls.

 

Be Honest with Each Other

James 5:16 (NLT) 16 Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results.

 

Share in forgiveness & Freedom

 

“Only the gospel of Jesus has the power to bring sanity to sexuality in a world that has gone crazy, and within the gospel there is power and potential for real, lasting, and personal transformation.” Paul David Tripp by 163 “Sex in a Broken World)

Week Four: 01/23/2022

Title: Misuse is a Missed Opportunity

Bible: 1 Corinthians 6:12 – 20

 

 “Misuse is a Missed Opportunity of Complete Eternal Joy”

 

1 Corinthians 6:12 – 20 (NLT) 12 You say, “I am allowed to do anything”—but not everything is good for you. And even though “I am allowed to do anything,” I must not become a slave to anything. 13 You say, “Food was made for the stomach, and the stomach for food.” (This is true, though someday God will do away with both of them.) But you can’t say that our bodies were made for sexual immorality. They were made for the Lord, and the Lord cares about our bodies. 14 And God will raise us from the dead by his power, just as he raised our Lord from the dead. 15 Don’t you realize that your bodies are actually parts of Christ? Should a man take his body, which is part of Christ, and join it to a prostitute? Never! 16 And don’t you realize that if a man joins himself to a prostitute, he becomes one body with her? For the Scriptures say, “The two are united into one.” But the person who is joined to the Lord is one spirit with him. 18 Run from sexual sin! No other sin so clearly affects the body as this one does. For sexual immorality is a sin against your own body. 19 Don’t you realize that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God? You do not belong to yourself, 20 for God bought you with a high price. So you must honor God with your body.

 

What we can take away from this is a couple of things:

Good things can become bad things when they become controlling things.

We were created for Eternity.

Our connection to Jesus leads us to a greater purpose.

 

Pay Attention to what can control you

Galatians 6:4 – 5 (NLT) 4 Pay careful attention to your own work, for then you will get the satisfaction of a job well done, and you won’t need to compare yourself to anyone else. 5 For we are each responsible for our own conduct.

 

We have to fight Eternity Amnesia

Ecclesiastes 3:11 (NLT) 11 Yet God has made everything beautiful for its own time. He has planted eternity in the human heart, but even so, people cannot see the whole scope of God’s work from beginning to end.

 

Seek the Eternal Call and Joy for life

1 Thessalonians 2:12 (NLT) 12 We pleaded with you, encouraged you, and urged you to live your lives in a way that God would consider worthy. For he called you to share in his Kingdom and glory.

 

1 Thessalonians 4:7 (NLT) 7 God has called us to live holy lives, not impure lives.

Week Three: 01/16/2022

Title: Why do we do what we do?

Bible: Mark 7:14 – 23, Romans 1:21-24,

 

“The INTERNAL is expressed by the EXTERNAL which points to the ETERNAL”

 

Mark 7:14 – 23 (NLT) 14 Then Jesus called to the crowd to come and hear. “All of you listen,” he said, “and try to understand. 15 It’s not what goes into your body that defiles you; you are defiled by what comes from your heart.” 17 Then Jesus went into a house to get away from the crowd, and his disciples asked him what he meant by the parable he had just used. 18 “Don’t you understand either?” he asked. “Can’t you see that the food you put into your body cannot defile you? 19 Food doesn’t go into your heart, but only passes through the stomach and then goes into the sewer.” (By saying this, he declared that every kind of food is acceptable in God’s eyes.) 20 And then he added, “It is what comes from inside that defiles you. 21 For from within, out of a person’s heart, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, 22 adultery, greed, wickedness, deceit, lustful desires, envy, slander, pride, and foolishness. 23 All these vile things come from within; they are what defile you.”

 

Romans 1:21 – 24 (NLT) 21 Yes, they knew God, but they wouldn’t worship him as God or even give him thanks. And they began to think up foolish ideas of what God was like. As a result, their minds became dark and confused. 22 Claiming to be wise, they instead became utter fools. 23 And instead of worshiping the glorious, ever-living God, they worshiped idols made to look like mere people and birds and animals and reptiles. 24 So God abandoned them to do whatever shameful things their hearts desired. As a result, they did vile and degrading things with each other’s bodies.

 

Remove Yourself

1 Corinthians 6:18 (NLT) 18 Run from sexual sin! No other sin so clearly affects the body as this one does. For sexual immorality is a sin against your own body.

 

Rely on the Holy Spirit

Romans 8:12 – 14 (NLT) 12 Therefore, dear brothers and sisters, you have no obligation to do what your sinful nature urges you to do. 13 For if you live by its dictates, you will die. But if through the power of the Spirit you put to death the deeds of your sinful nature, you will live. 14 For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God.

 

Armor Up

Ephesians 6:13 – 17 (NLT) 13 Therefore, put on every piece of God’s armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle you will still be standing firm. 14 Stand your ground, putting on the belt of truth and the body armor of God’s righteousness. 15 For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News so that you will be fully prepared. 16 In addition to all of these, hold up the shield of faith to stop the fiery arrows of the devil. 17 Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

 

Wage War

2 Corinthians 10:3-4 (NLT) 3 We are human, but we don’t wage war as humans do. 4 We use God’s mighty weapons, not worldly weapons, to knock down the strongholds of human reasoning and to destroy false arguments.

Week Two: 1/09/2021

Title: The Mean Middle

Bible: Romans 8:18 – 28

 

“In the Meantime, it’s Messy Grace that Matters.”

 

Romans 8:18 – 28 (NLT) 18 Yet what we suffer now is nothing compared to the glory he will reveal to us later. 19 For all creation is waiting eagerly for that future day when God will reveal who his children really are. 20 Against its will, all creation was subjected to God’s curse. But with eager hope, 21 the creation looks forward to the day when it will join God’s children in glorious freedom from death and decay.

Struggle is part of being Human

 

Romans 8:22 – 25 (NLT) 22 For we know that all creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. 23 And we believers also groan, even though we have the Holy Spirit within us as a foretaste of future glory, for we long for our bodies to be released from sin and suffering. We, too, wait with eager hope for the day when God will give us our full rights as his adopted children, including the new bodies he has promised us. 24 We were given this hope when we were saved. (If we already have something, we don’t need to hope for it. 25 But if we look forward to something we don’t yet have, we must wait patiently and confidently.)

There is Mess in the Middle

 

Romans 8:26 – 28 (NLT) 26 And the Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness. For example, we don’t know what God wants us to pray for. But the Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words. 27 And the Father who knows all hearts knows what the Spirit is saying, for the Spirit pleads for us believers in harmony with God’s own will. 28 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.

Radical Grace Intervenes

 

“EXPECT STRUGGLE”

1Timothy 4:10 (NLT) 10 This is why we work hard and continue to struggle, for our hope is in the living God, who is the Savior of all people and particularly of all believers.

 

“MESS IN THE MIDDLE MATTERS”.

2 Corinthians 12:9 (NLT) 9 Each time he said, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me.

 

 “RADICAL GRACE REPRESENTS HIS STRENGTH”

Hebrews 13:5b – 6 (NLT) 5For God has said, “I will never fail you. I will never abandon you.” 6 So we can say with confidence, “The Lord is my helper, so I will have no fear. What can mere people do to me?”

Week One: 1/02/2022

Title: First the Foundation

Bible: Psalm 119:105, Proverbs 30: 5 – 6, 2 Timothy 3:16 – 17, 2 Peter 1:2 – 4, Hebrews 4:12

 

Gift cards brought to and or mailed to Elevationcc for the families. We are looking for cards to get groceries (food) and clothes for families right now.

 

Next, we have a Fund: Funds to Aid those Affected by the Marshall Fire.  You can text “Fire Aid” to 720-740-0620 to donate to this fund. 

 

Constant PRAYER.  We are going to invite you all to pray each day for the month of January that God will provide for these families. Let’s all set alarms for us to pray together at 11:00 AM.  We can be like the church in Acts 1:14 where it is written, “They all met together and were constantly united in prayer”

 

“Begin with the Word so the Word can Begin with You.”

 

“What is written in the bible about this?”

 

Psalm 119:105 (NLT) 105 Your word is a lamp to guide my feet and a light for my path.

 

Proverbs 30: 5 - 6 (NLT) 5 Every word of God proves true. He is a shield to all who come to him for protection. 6 Do not add to his words, or he may rebuke you and expose you as a liar.

 

2 Timothy 3:16 – 17 (NLT) 16 All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. 17 God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work.

 

2 Peter 1:2 – 4 (NLT) 2 May God give you more and more grace and peace as you grow in your knowledge of God and Jesus our Lord. 3 By his divine power, God has given us everything we need for living a godly life. We have received all of this by coming to know him, the one who called us to himself by means of his marvelous glory and excellence. 4 And because of his glory and excellence, he has given us great and precious promises. These are the promises that enable you to share his divine nature and escape the world’s corruption caused by human desires.

 

Read the Bible: Start with the Gospels (Matthew Mark Luke and John) start with the life of Jesus.

Read it with Others: Make sure you read it with other followers of Jesus that can give you guidance and direction as you read. A person you trust and have a relationship with.

Read it for Growth: The goal is to gain knowledge to live your life as a representative of Jesus in this world. The goal is to let the bible begin with you. Listen to this as I read:

 

Hebrews 4:12 (NLT) 12 For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires.

 

Can I say?

The Bible is God’s word to us. Human authors, under the supernatural guidance of the Holy Spirit, wrote the Bible. It is the supreme source of truth for Christian beliefs and living. Because God inspires it, it is the truth without any mixture or error. The Bible is infallible, inerrant, and absolute truth. Where it speaks, we listen and obey.

Week Three: 12/19/2021

Title: Lost in Labels

Bible: Genesis 35:16 – 20, Matthew 16:13 – 20

 

Proverbs 18:21 (NLT) 21 The tongue can bring death or life; those who love to talk will reap the consequences.

 

“Labels in Life don’t last only the words of the Father’s DO!”

 

Genesis 35:16 – 20 (NLT) 16 Leaving Bethel, Jacob and his clan moved on toward Ephrath. But Rachel went into labor while they were still some distance away. Her labor pains were intense. 17 After a very hard delivery, the midwife finally exclaimed, “Don’t be afraid—you have another son!” 18 Rachel was about to die, but with her last breath she named the baby Ben-oni (which means “son of my sorrow”). The baby’s father, however, called him Benjamin (which means “son of my right hand”). 19 So Rachel died and was buried on the way to Ephrath (that is, Bethlehem). 20 Jacob set up a stone monument over Rachel’s grave, and it can be seen there to this day.

 

Genesis 32:27 – 28 (NLT) 27 “What is your name?” the man asked. He replied, “Jacob.” 28 “Your name will no longer be Jacob,” the man told him. “From now on you will be called Israel, because you have fought with God and with men and have won.”

 

Matthew 16:13 – 18 (NLT) 13 When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” 14 “Well,” they replied, “some say John the Baptist, some say Elijah, and others say Jeremiah or one of the other prophets.” 15 Then he asked them, “But who do you say I am?” 16 Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” 17 Jesus replied, “You are blessed, Simon son of John, because my Father in heaven has revealed this to you. You did not learn this from any human being. 18 Now I say to you that you are Peter (which means ‘rock’), and upon this rock I will build my church, and all the powers of hell will not conquer it.

 

If you don’t like the label you are carrying with you, then listen to what the Father in Heaven calls you:

Do you carry the label, lonely? The FATHER says you are LOVED. Romans 8:35 – 37

Do you carry the label, abandoned? The FATHER says you are PROTECTED. Psalm 3:3

Do you carry the label, broken? The FATHER says you are a MASTERPIECE. Ephesians 2:2

Do you carry the label, weak? The FATHER gives you STRENGTH. Psalm 28:7

Do you carry the label, failure? The FATHER says you are an OVERCOMER. John 16:33

 

 

John 3:16 – 17 (NLT) 16 “For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. 17 God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through him.

Week Two: 12/12/2021

Title: The Shadow of Shame

Bible: Various

 

 “the intensely painful feeling that we are unworthy of love and belonging.” By Brene Brown

 

“The shadow of SHAME disappears because of “The Light of the World.”

 

Genesis 2:25 (NLT) 25 Now the man and his wife were both naked, but they felt no shame.

 

Genesis 3:7 (NLT) 7 At that moment their eyes were opened, and they suddenly felt shame at their nakedness. So they sewed fig leaves together to cover themselves.

 

Exodus 3:8 (NLT) 8 So I have come down to rescue them from the power of the Egyptians and lead them out of Egypt into their own fertile and spacious land. It is a land flowing with milk and honey—the land where the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites now live.

 

 “The shadow of SHAME disappears because of “The Light of the World.”

 

John 8:12 (NLT) 12 Jesus spoke to the people once more and said, “I am the light of the world. If you follow me, you won’t have to walk in darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life.”

 

1 John 1:9 (NLT) 9 But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness.

 

Joshua 5:9 (NLT) 9 Then the Lord said to Joshua, “Today I have rolled away the shame of your slavery in Egypt.” So that place has been called Gilgal to this day.

 

Hebrew 12:2 (NLT) 2 We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne.

 

I am not _________________________. Because of Jesus I am ___________________________.

 

Romans 5:16 (NLT)16 And the result of God’s gracious gift is very different from the result of that one man’s sin. For Adam’s sin led to condemnation,  but God’s free gift leads to our being made right with God, even though we are guilty of many sins.

Week One: 12/05/2021

Title: Moving Past the Offense

Bible: Proverbs 19:11, Ephesians 4:1 – 6,

 

“Moments of moving Past Offense MATTER when living on a Kingdom MISSION.”

 

Proverbs 19:11 (NLT) 11 Sensible people control their temper; they earn respect by overlooking wrongs.

 

Ephesians 4:1 – 6 (NLT) 1Therefore I, a prisoner for serving the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of your calling, for you have been called by God. 2 Always be humble and gentle Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other’s faults because of your love. 3 Make every effort to keep yourselves united in the Spirit, binding yourselves together with peace. 4 For there is one body and one Spirit, just as you have been called to one glorious hope for the future. 5 There is one Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6 one God and Father of all, who is over all, in all, and living through all.

 

I must move past being EASILY offended.

 

Ephesians 4:2 (NLT) 2 Always be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other’s faults because of your love.

 

I am moving past the BIG offenses.

 

Colossians 3:13 - 15 (NLT) 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.

 

Genesis 50:20 (NLT) 20 You intended to harm me, but God intended it all for good. He brought me to this position so I could save the lives of many people.

 

“We must develop and maintain the capacity to forgive. He who is devoid of the power to forgive is devoid of the power of love.” Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.