We do for other people because of what God has done for us through Christ.

John 5:1-21

John 5:24

John 5:39-40

God through Christ has done something for you that you cannot do for yourself.

That's the gospel.

“Actions speaker louder than words.”

Love is easy to see.

1 John 3:16-18

The most appropriate response to the love of God on display on the cross where Jesus died is to love others extravagantly.

We make our love easy to see when we live with compassion.

Luke 6:36

BE compassionate… not feel compassionate.

Luke 7:12-15

Compassion requires reaction.

1, See a need

2, Feel something

3, walk towards the need

Be open to interruptions.

Jesus addressed the need that was right in front of him at the moment.

Ecclesiastes 4:1

LOVE is EASY to SEE.

Guatemala Mission Debrief

(Nov 2023)

"What is God nudging you to do?"

Every once in a while, as followers of Christ, God will nudge us out of our comfort zones

Matthew 14:15-33

When God calls you to do something, you will be provided with the resources of God.

When God calls you to do something, He waits for us to do what we know how to do, and then God does what only God can do.

Mark 6:51-52

God’s call is always accompanied by God’s resources.

And God’s will is accomplished by God’s power.

God has called each of us to position ourselves in the lives of people who aren’t yet following Him that we might lead them into a relationship with Jesus.

Traditions

...the shepherds

Luke 2:10… good news of great joy for everyone!

We all need a savior.

2 Corinthians 5:14, We are sure that Christ died for everyone.

John 10:10, “...I have come that you may have life, and have it to the full.”

Also John 10:10, “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy;

I have come that you may have life, and have it to the full.”

(We have an enemy of our souls.)

The coming of Jesus, God in human flesh…

Christmas changes everything!

CHRISTMAS is all about...

1) The PREDICTION

** 4,000 B.C.

** Genesis 3:14-15

** A BIG problem

** THE Seed

2) The PROMISE

** Galatians 3:16

** Genesis 4; 6; 8; 9

3) The PASSWORD

** “Say John 3, verse 16”

** John 3:16

What CHRISTMAS is all about:

God’s unconditional love

God's unspeakable gift

God's unselective deliverance

God's uncommon blessing!

SHADOW #1, offense

Your calling is too great to live offended.

Proverbs 19:11, to overlook an offense

Forgiveness: choosing to live with the consequences of someone else’s sin.

With God's help, I'm getting over being easily offended.

Ephesians 4:2

We tend to judge others by their actions, but we judge ourselves by our intentions.

With God's help, I'm getting over the big offenses.

When we’ve been hurt: A) rehearse, or B) release

Colossians 3:13

SHADOW #2, shame

Guilt: I did something bad.

Shame: I am bad.

vulnerable to perfectionism

critical of ourselves and others

self-defeating thoughts

Isaiah 54:4

1 John 1:9

Move the focus from what I'm not to who Christ is

I am not _________________;

because of Christ, I am ________________.

SHADOW #3, words

Proverbs 18:21

We struggle in the present because of labels that we have picked up in the past.

What's true about you now doesn't have to be true about you later.

Name it something different!

You matter to the heart of God.

Psalm 118:24

Philippians 4:4

1 Thessalonians 5:16

Romans 5:3-4

James 1:2-3

1 Peter 4:12-13

2 Corinthians 8:1-2

Joy is not the result of what is going on around us but rather what is going on inside us.

Isaiah 26:3

John 14:27

John 16:33

2 Thessalonians 3:16

Psalm 34:14

Matthew 5:9

Romans 12:18

2 Corinthians 13:11

Philippians 4:6-7

Luke 2:14

Good will is the attitude that leads to the action of kindness.

Challenge #1: Maintain awareness of those in need January - November.

Challenge #2: Maintain awareness of the manger January - November.

Psalm 62:5

Psalm 147:11

Lamentations 3:21-23

Romans 15:13

1 Timothy 4:10

The baby in the manger was hope personified.

Acts 16:20-34

1, The Spirit

Psalm 150:6

2, The Sympathy

Acts 12:18-19

3, The Salvation

God is still in the business of “rocking” places.

The power of LOVE is a very strong thing.

The fact of transformation is that a man, woman or child cannot remain the same once Jesus comes into his or her life.

Whatever your calamity... God is on the scene.

Mark 4:35-41

If Jesus is sleeping in the storm -- RELAX!

Jesus broke in, and broke up the storm.

Allow HIM to break IN, break UP, and rock your jailhouse and set you FREE!