|| From CONTROL to SURRENDER ||

The greatest of all illusions is the illusion of control.

2 Samuel 15 & 16 – David & Absalom

The truth: you never had control in the first place.

In the process of giving up control, you are giving God permission to work in your life.

Joshua 1 – Joshua

Eventually, everybody faces a Jordan.

What's your Jordan River?

Surrender takes practice.

Acts 3:19

John 3:3

2 Corinthians 5:17

Acts 16:31

Titus 3:5

1 Corinthians 6:11

"Conformity to Christ is accomplished by the death of one life, and the replacement by a new life." [Clendennon]

Galatians 2:20

3 Steps to the New Creature:

1) Believe on Jesus

2) Repent and turn

3) Refreshing = re-breathing

|| From BLAME to RESPONSIBILITY ||

Blame is so easy to assign, and responsibility is so difficult to assume.

“It wasn’t me.”

reasons >> excuses // justification >> stagnation

*A reason can be an explanation, not a justification.

You can make excuses or you can make progress, but you can't make both.

The practice of blame signals the presence of shame.

Hebrews 4:12-16

Because of God's mercy, let’s stop assigning blame, and start assuming responsibility.

1) The Power of One HUMAN

John 12:24-26

Colossians 3:1-3

2) The Power of One WORD (or thought)

Genesis 3:1

David & Bathsheba

Achan

Lot

Eve

Satan still uses that little word: "yes"

If Christ Jesus could die for us, surely we can LIVE for Him!

|| From ANGER to GRATITUDE ||

Why are we so angry?Anger says, “You owe me.”

1, WHO owes you?2, WHY do they owe you?

Matthew 18:21-35

FORGIVENESS is the bridge from anger to gratitude.

3, PRAY

Matthew 5:44

4, Consider all the ways you've grieved God, and express GRATITUDE for the way He has treated you.

Memorial service for Barbara Garfield

|| From SUSPICION to TRUST ||

Trust is a choice.

Suspicion is a choice.

What do you do with the GAP in information?

Why do we default to suspicion?

1. Sin condition

2. Raised that way

3. Think we're better

Sanctification = the process of being made holy

The Gospel of Jesus Christ is a gospel of relentless HOPE!

1 Corinthians 13:4-7

How do we learn to trust?

~ fill gaps in information with the most generous explanation possible

"I'm not sure what’s going on (with...) but there must be a perfectly good explanation.”

2 Corinthians 5:17

sanctification: the process of being made holy

Resetting our defaults...

JUDGMENT to DISCERNMENT

Discernment:

is a gift and a skill

seeks to help

Judgment:

"you always / never"

emotional

Discernment is helpful;

judgment creates distance.

Matthew 7:1-5

Underlying your judgment:

"I know, I'm right, I'm better."

Judgment assumes you know best. (You don't.)

What if we started evaluating other people by their intentions, and evaluated yourself by your actions??

Pastor Todd Crosthwaite

God's ultimate agenda for your obedience is not your cooperation.

2 Kings 5:1-17

God's agenda... to get your FAITH to intersect with His FAITHFULNESS.

When your faith intersects with God's faithfulness, you will TRUST HIM like never before!

1) SIGNIFICANCE

Romans 4:1-5

Genesis 15:6

Romans 5:8-11

Galatians 2:20

2 Timothy 3:16-17

**Our significance and hope rest in Christ, and Christ alone!

2) STRENGTH

Colossians 2:1-3

3) SUCCESS

Colossians 2:4-10

Proverbs 9:10

**The solas:

- Christ alone

- Scriptures alone

- Faith alone

- Grace alone

- Glory to God alone