Excel Still More

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Giving is powerful. Being a giver makes you better and makes other people better. Giving builds strong relationships.  HOWEVER... so does receiving!  In fact, where there is a giver, there must be a receiver. And yet, great givers sometimes find it very hard to receive. 

There may be some science behind that. Check out 4 observations by Dr. John Amodeo, who has a PHD. in Marital and Family Therapy. You and I must overcome these things if we are to find truly rich, rewarding, fair and growing relationships. 

- Why do we sometimes Defend Against Intimacy?

- Why do I have trouble Letting Go of Control?

- Why do I Fear Attached Strings?

- Why do I carry a Negative View of Receiving?

- Am I willing to Express My Needs to someone in my life?

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We are Laying out FOUR Action Terms to set the tone for 2021:

1) GIVING (getting ready to share)
2) TEACHING (sharing the Gospel)

Today we add another:  3) LEARNING.   The only way to get better is to learn better. If we don't have new revelation, information, or perspective, how can we actually live better lives? Sadly, there are many people who refuse to learn. Pride keeps them locked into their old, and dated, ways. How can God shape those people for His work?  

But some of us thing we are learning new things, when really we are just recognizing old truths. We can do better.  We can actually allow experiences to reveal things we didn't know. Maybe things about ourselves. Maybe things about others, or God, or our purpose. 

Let's look at how EVEN JESUS "learned" obedience through His experiences. He became something more after the event of His suffering and death. If He can learn and change and become more valuable to people, can't we?  Let's dig in on that and build a better 2021!

- Is it important to learn new things as we live?

- What did you learn about yourself, God and others, in 2020?

- Did you learn new things, or just realize the same old things?

- How does the example of Jesus learning encourage us to grow?

- How will you apply new information as you build your best year ever?

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Jack Wilkie recently released a book, Church Reset, that I highly encourage you to check out. He discusses the 21st century local church model and how much emphasis we put upon people coming to church to be fed a sermon. It is a good thing, but it is a tool to help real growth, not a sign of maturity. Many immature Christians are faithful worshippers, but not growing to the place where Christ can use them best. So let's lay out Jesus' plan for His disciples, that we can be more like Him!

- Am I an infant in Christ?

- Am I a toddler in Christ?

- Am I a pre-teen Christian?

- Am I a teenager in the Lord?

- Am I truly and mature adult in the church?

---  Bonus Questions

- What does the next level look like and how do I go about getting there?

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Welcome to Season 3 and thanks for joining in!

I hope you heard last week's episode, as we saw the story of Lorenzo and Heather. What started with overcoming my personal weaknesses, led to someone being baptized into Christ! Did it require some time and money to meet their needs? Yes it did. Was it worth it? Oh yeah!

But the question today isn't: "should we be using our goods to help the needy?" You already know the answer to that. The bigger question is:  "am I actually ready to share?" Maybe some of us have not prepared well to give, to assist, to serve. 

Part of this is "The Math Problem." By the time we get down to what is left in the bank account to give, there just isn't any money left.  There is Netflix, but there isn't $15 to help someone get a lunch. We can do better. But first we need to look at a few key things:

- What is The Math Problem that can keep us from helping?

- What did Paul tell Timothy about what to do with our riches?

- What did Jesus specifically command disciples to do with their goods?

- What did Jesus say will be the criteria for eternal judgment in Matthew 25?

- And what steps can you and I take today to solve The Math Problem and start giving?

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How many of us were raised in churches where nearly zero priority was given to the poor? I understand the importance of using the treasury for authorized things, but what about Christians using their own money and time to help the poor in the community?  I confess, I was not raised with much of that, nor was it present in the early years of my preaching.  

We. Can. Do. Better. In fact, as you'll hear more in next week's episode "The Math Problem," we must. And just as importantly, God is putting people in our lives, strangers, who need our help.  It becomes easy to write them off as insignificant or deceptive, but so many times they most certainly are not. 

I want to tell you a story today.  I want you to hear about Lorenzo and Heather. May it have the kind of affect on you, and your local church, that it has had on me and my friends in Christ.

- Is it important for Christians to help the poor in the world?

- Should preachers "Answer The Door" when people come by looking for help?

- How can an altered "church culture" be the be the key to better things?

- Does it sometimes take money and time investments to open the door to the Gospel?

- Are you ready to renovate your saving and giving to be more hospitable in 2021? 

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Have you emptied yourself of self-will? Have you asked the big questions in times of conflict or trouble:  Who is this about? Is the really about me?  If so, I pray you have seen how quickly and beautifully God's Spirit fills the void you create when you remove yourself!

We can now go back to this remarkable text and look at 7 beautiful things God will fill us with if we remove self-focused things like lust, controversies, and fighting.  See if you can find the seven things that come after the word "Righteousness."

II Tim. 2:19 Nevertheless, the firm foundation of God stands, having this seal, “The Lord knows those who are His,” and, “Everyone who names the name of the Lord is to abstain from wickedness." 20 Now in a large house there are not only gold and silver vessels, but also vessels of wood and of earthenware, and some to honor and some to dishonor. 21 Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from these things, he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified, useful to the Master, prepared for every good work. 22 Now flee from youthful lusts and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart. 23 But refuse foolish and ignorant speculations, knowing that they produce quarrels. 24 The Lord’s bond-servant must not be quarrelsome, but be kind to all, able to teach, patient when wronged, 25 with gentleness correcting those who are in opposition, if perhaps God may grant them repentance leading to the knowledge of the truth, 26 and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, having been held captive by him to do his will.

- What happens when I remove the self-life from my vessel?

- Is it miraculous how quickly God can fill you with His Spirit?

- What habits do I use daily to keep the will of God flowing into me?

- What are the 7 great things of God in II Timothy 2?

- What should I be praying to help this process?

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O Fill My Cup, and let it overflow. Let it overflow with Love!

Next week, we will talk about how God will fill our vessel with His power. But first, we need to make sure the inside of the cup is clean.  If I have my own self-will is in the center of my heart, and God has to fit around that, He cannot fill me as I ought to be.  

Like the snowman in the coffee mug, it shows up where there should be more coffee. In the same way, I show up, my carnal desires, when it should just be more of God!  So let's prepare ourselves for God. Let's talk about things that need to be removed to give Him rule in us.

- How are we vessels for God?

- Can we be filled with God and His Spirit?

- Why is it important we empty ourselves out first?

- What are three particular things that must be removed?

- What can God do with you if you empty yourself for Him?

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This episode is for anyone who knows the right thing to do, but is struggling to do it. You know, with full conviction, what the Bible says, but emotions run high, temptation comes on strong, and you falter. If you have become frustrated with this demeaning and disheartening cycle, this episode is for you.  You can win.  With Christ you can win. But two things are required.  And I mean REQUIRED.  One of them will help, but not for long without them both.  Come and hear the power of combining Surrender and Fight.

- Why do we sometimes behave like Peter: convicted by not consistent?

- What is Surrender and how do we accomplish it in our prayer lives?

- Will God fight for us?  If I ask Him to fill my heart, will He direct my steps?

- How do I fight more valiantly when emotions are trying to burst out of me?

- How important is the combination of surrendering to God and fighting in the moment?

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The Social Dilemma is a documentary on Netflix that explains the monetization of social media and the internet.  If the product is free for you to use, then you are the product.  Billions of dollars is paid by advertisers to social media sites, and the product they deliver to them... is you. Your time, your eyes, your mind, your life. 

There is a great warning, a massive dilemma, associated with the internet.  On the one hand, there are a great many positives. But on the other side of the screen is a computer whose job is to addict and capture you, to sell you to the highest bidder.

Sadly, many of us have become powerless to resist.  Perhaps, as discussed in the episode, artificial intelligence is now able to "Overwhelm Human Weakness."  Maybe the phone is so strong that I can't resist it.  No matter how much I want to control my moral weaknesses, technology is too strong to resist. 

You might say, "But won't God help me overcome?"  Great question. Tune in today to hear more about how that works, and what we can do to find much more success in our walk.

- What is The Social Dilemma?"

- Why is social media free?  How is money made?

- How will an understanding of the purpose of social media open my eyes to the dangers?

- What would God have us do in order to keep technology from controlling our lives?

- What are the benefits you and I will enjoy if we get a better control on digital habits?

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What a fantastic question!  "What is Truth?" You will find that a lot of people don't ask it anymore. They think they know the truth already, like the Pharisees.  There are others like Pilate, who ask the question, but don't put in the work to answer it. They end up with a lot of uncertainly. And then there are those like Peter who do ask and answer but aren't strong enough to apply it when the time is right.  We can learn from all of these people. And we must learn from Jesus in John 18.  How we ask, answer and apply will shape or reshape our lives!

- Why did the Pharisees not listen to Jesus?

- Why did Pilate not sit down and learn from Jesus?

- What kept Peter from standing up to the crowds before the rooster crowed?

- How is TRUTH and our ATTITUDE towards it the answer to all these questions?

- How many things in your life would change if you approached Truth the right way?