Deuteronomy 8:10-20

Proverbs 14:34

Psalm 33:12

What is wrong with believing we are self-made men & women?

1) It is untrue.

2) It is ungrateful.

3) It results in mischievous behavior.

4) It is the reverse of what God wants.

5) It will eventually lead to humiliation & suffering.

Psalm 33:10

2 Chronicles 7:14

Proverbs 27:12

Direction determines destination.

"Heavenly Father, help me to see trouble coming,

give me the wisdom to know what to do,

then give me the courage to do it."

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Proverbs 3:5-7

Direction begins with submission.

We must learn to live with a God-component in every single area of our lives.

Pride overrides wisdom.

Arrogance overrides common sense.

Self-importance overrides discernment.

Have I surrendered to God those things I think I can control?

Direction determines destination.

Proverbs 27:12,

The prudent see danger and take refuge,

but the simple keep going and pay the penalty.

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The Prudent:

In light of my past experience,

in light of my current circumstances,

in light of my future hopes and dreams,

what is the wise thing for me to do?

The Simple:

keep going!

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The Prudent:

avoid some pain & suffering

avoid some unnecessary problems

The Simple:

pay the penalty...

...all options are bad!

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**Always evaluate a relationship based on where it is headed.

#1, Action

#2, Sacrifice

#3, Embarrassment

#4, Relief

"Heavenly Father, help me to see trouble coming,

give me the wisdom to know what to do,

then give me the courage to do it."

John 3:30

Matthew 28:8-9

WORSHIP THE LORD:

1) Only

Matthew 4:10

Romans 1:21-25

Creation is never to be worshiped or praised, only the Creator!

2) Everywhere

Matthew 14:22-23

Psalm 150:1

3) Sincerely

Why are we here?

Psalm 117

"When I worship, I would rather my heart be without words than my words be without heart."

2 Corinthians 13:5

Psalm 95:6-8

"It is in the process of being worshiped that God communicates His presence to men." | C.S. Lewis

COMMUNITY

God IS community.

Genesis 1:1-3

John 1:1-3

John 17:11, 20-21

How well does the church reflect the kind of community that Jesus prayed for?

1) ACCEPTANCE

Romans 15:7

2) MINISTRY

The Book of Acts

Romans 12

1 Corinthians 12

Galatians 5

Ephesians 4

3) OUTREACH

Organic

Strategic

The most convincing argument for the truth of the gospel to the unbelieving world is the spectacle of community.

People are more important than things.

We tend to VALUE things, and USE people.

We should value PEOPLE, and use THINGS.

2 Timothy 1:3-5

1) Look BACK - and Remember

2) Look OUT - and Love

Colossians 3:12-14

3) Look UP - and Honor

Matthew 22:36-37

James 1:17

1 Peter 1:22-23

We start life with PEOPLE and with GOD; and we end life that way.

- Let's not forget them in between!

Have you ever wished that other people shared a passion for something you're passionate about?

How many relationships do you have where Jesus just never enters the conversation?

Bottom-line: that we would be the kind of people who share the most significant things.

ACTS 20:24

God’s will for us that we share this good news with the people in our life.

Ways NOT to talk about our faith...

HELPFUL ways to share the love of Jesus...

Consider...

WHO in your life needs what you have to share?

HOW will you talk about your faith?

POST-MODERNISM:

skepticism, subjectivism, or relativism; a general suspicion of reason;

an acute sensitivity to the role of ideology

- from objectivity to subjectivity

- from authority to autonomy

- from evidence to experience

POST-CHRISTENDOM:

Christendom: the majority of people are Christians, or Christianity is the official religion

fear of rejection

WE DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO!

LOVE compels us to tell others about Jesus.

The THEOLOGY: WHY are we called to tell people about Jesus?

Acts 16:6-10

The Holy Spirit will lead you.

~ Telling others about Jesus is primarily an adventure of following the Holy Spirit!

Our PURPOSE: HOW do we bring the gospel to our community?

#1... LOVE

Ezekiel

Jeremiah

Hosea

Abel (2 Samuel 20:19)

Babylon (Revelation 17:5)

Eve (Genesis 3:20)

Sarah (Genesis 17:16)

Rebekah (Genesis 24:60)

Mary (Luke 2, John 2)

Paul (1 Corinthians 3:1, 1 Thessalonians 2:7)

Mother-in-law: Naomi > Ruth

Mothers influence every generation to come.

Proverbs 22:6

It's takes Mom's ability:

1) Her commitment to God

2) Today's mom is a multi-tasker

3) The love only a mother could give

- Exodus 2: Moses

MOM: God's unselfish servant

What if you saw people around you the way God does?

When if comes to human beings, God can see more than we can see.

God sees us with double-vision:

- He sees us as made in His image

- He sees us in our brokenness

Luke 15

Jesus sees the people around us as valuable!

Our Heavenly Father sees us in our brokenness, and welcomes us home!

When we see people as God sees them, we move closer to the heart of God.

The size of the vision God has for your life is determined by the size of your heart for people.