Question 1: What is your HEART full of? Luke 6:45, Proverbs 4:23

Question 2: How to have a THANKFUL heart every day? Colossians 2:7, Psalm 95, Psalm 7:17, 1 Chronicles 29:13, Psalm 9, 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

Question 3: What does a Thankful Heart PRODUCE in our lives?

A Thankful Heart Produces:

• PEACE
• WORSHIP
• JOY
• A SHIFT IN RELATIONSHIPS

Saul/Paul

• Ministry: AD ∽40-67
• Situation: Early Christianity
• Message: Jesus as Messiah
• Power: 10+ major miracles
• Fame: NT Writings & Missions
• Successor: Timothy
• Death: Executed in Rome

Observation 1: God gives COMFORT while utilizing our suffering for good. 2 Corinthians 1:3-7, 2, 4:8-12 NLT

Observation 2: TRIALS keep us humbly connected to Jesus. Deuteronomy 8:10-14, 2 Corinthians 12:6-10 NLT

Observation 3: In every trial, God’s GRACE is sufficient. 1 Corinthians 10:12-13 NLT

ELIJAH OF TISHBE

• Ministry: 870-850 BC
• Situation: idolatry (Baal)
• Message: Punishment
• Power: 10+ major miracles
• Fame: Prophets of Baal
• Successor: Elisha
• Death: Whirlwind to Heaven

Observation 1: Not every discouraging situation is PERSONAL. 1 Kings 17:1-7 NLT

Observation 2: Difficult journeys require SPIRITUAL nourishment. 1 Kings 19:1-8 NLT

Observation 3:You won’t find God in the HYPE. 1 Kings 19:9-13 NLT

The Life of David

• Anointed – 1 Sam 16:11-13
• Needed – 1 Sam 16:19-23
• Victorious – 1 Sam 17:48-51
• Celebrated – 1 Sam 18:6-7
• Envied – 1 Sam 18:8-9
• Challenged – 1 Sam 18:23-35
• Hated – 1 Sam 19:9-10
• Hunted – 1 Sam 20:41-42
• Humiliated – 1 Sam 21:12-13
• Respected – 1 Sam 24:16-22
• Tempted – 1 Sam 26:8-11
• Dismissed – 1 Sam 29:6-11

The Strength to Overcome Discouragement comes from God. 1 Samuel 20:1-6

Step 1: Trust in the Sovereignty of God. 1 Samuel 17:41-47

Step 2: Reflect on God’s Goodness. Psalm 13, 1 Chr. 10:11 Ps. 100:5 Acts 10:38 Ps. 23:6 Ps. 119:68 Rom. 2:4 Ps. 27:13 Ps. 136:1-3 Rom. 8:28 Ps. 31:19 Ps. 145:7-9 Rom. 11:22 Ps. 33:5 Jer. 31:14 Eph. 2:7 Ps. 34:8 Lam. 3:25 Titus 3:4-5 Ps. 53:9 Mic. 7:18-19 Heb. 13:15-16 Ps. 84:11 Nah. 1:7 Jas. 1:17 Ps. 92:1-2 John 10:11 Rev. 15:3-5

Step 3: Offer God Sacrificial Praise. 2 Samuel 24:21-25

Scripture: Eph. 4:30, 6:10-12, 1 Pet. 5:8-9, Eph. 6:13-18, John 16:33

Main Points:

• Dark Spirituality: There is an exponential increase in fascination with paranormal activity and dark spirituality. While this reveals that people are searching, it has implications for the Church.
• Vigilance: Christians do not need to fear the inevitable attacks of the enemy as long as we remain ready for attack through vigilance and spiritual preparation for war.
• Spiritual Obesity: The Church is stuffed to the brim with popular sermons and professional worship. It has depleted our need to live the Gospel and make that our worship. Unless we recognize the value of the Gospel and live our worship, we are not ready for Spiritual Attack.

Works, Baptism, and the Holy Spirit

Main Points:

Required Acts of Salvation: Jesus demonstrates a descriptive picture of salvation that lays out

the steps for submitting our lives to him. These are later expounded prescriptively by Paul.

Obedience & Delight: Jesus was baptized to prove his place in the coming Kingdom and to

ascend as the High Priest. Our decision to be baptized joins in the Kingdom and acknowledges

our priestly calling by God (Mat 10:32, Luke 14:25-27, 1 Pet 2:9).

HS Inclusivity: The Spirit is at work in the lives of all who call on God (1 Cor 12:3) but is also

inviting us into a deeper relationship marked by power for life and witness.

Scripture: Genesis 1:1-2, 3:1-5

Main Points:

Biblical Creation vs Scientific Origins

Biblical Observations:

Formless Earth

Empty Earth

Dark Earth

Water/Deep

Biblical Concepts:

Young Earth Creationism

Old Earth Creationism

Equality with God-

How does strata form?

• Radio-Dating 300,000 to 2,800,000 years old

What’s up with Argon?

How do fossils form?

How did life begin?

Similarity ≠ Commonality

What does AI teach us about genetics?

Humility of the Scientific Process

Scripture: 2 Cor 5:11, 13-21, Matt 16:13-19, 1 Cor 9:22-23

Main Points: 1. Next Generation: There comes a point when we have to call the Next Generation to stand. If

they are going to stand, then we must let them. This is how families grow!

2. City of the Dead: The revelation of Jesus as Messiah is a turning point in Church history. If he

is the Messiah, we have a mission to take authority over the darkness in our world!

3. Build the Church: Paul recognized that the building of God’s church hinged on his ability to

identify with those in need so that he could lead them to God. This is our task now.

Scriptures: Matthew 5:10-12; 10:16-22,32-36, Galatians 1:10

Main Points:

-Blessing and Persecution.

-Snakes and Doves.

-Division and Restoration.

-Gratitude for Persecution.

Scriptures: Matthew 5:9, Psalm 34:8-14, Romans 12:17-21, 1 John 3:14-15, John 13:34

Main Points:

-How is PEACE attained?

-Avoiding the work of peace is ungodly.

-Grace-filled Compassion Purchases our Peace.

-Our Love for Others Affects Our Eternity