Impact Church Menifee

Key Scripture: Acts 2:42-47

Do you ever get distracted? In a world with so many options, it’s difficult to be truly devoted to anything. Church is no exception. There are so many different kinds of churches to choose from and each of these churches has so many different activities to occupy our time and attention. While these things are meant to engage us in spiritual growth, they can actually distract us from a simple devotion to Christ. The early Church gives us a clear example of Christian community engaged in God’s Word, fellowship, communion and prayer. To recapture the limitless influence of the early Church, we must recapture their simple devotion to the things that matter most.

Scripture References: John 17:20-21, Hebrews 5:12-14, Ephesians 4:11-12, James 5:16, Luke 22:31-32

Key Scripture: Acts 2:1-41

When the Holy Spirit came at Pentecost, He changed everything. When He comes into your life, He changes everything in you. So many things in life serve as constant reminders of our faults, fears and failures. It seems we’re always coming up short and we’ll never be good enough. In fact, we’re NOT stronger than we think…BUT He is stronger than we’re weak. He takes our greatest weaknesses and uses them to put His power and glory on full display. Do you believe His promise? His power is made perfect in your weakness!

Scripture References: Joel 2:28, Psalm 51:11, Galatians 3:13-14, Matthew 16:17-18, 1 Corinthians 2:3-5, 2 Corinthians 12:9-10

Key Scripture: Acts 1:12-26

God is always moving. His kingdom is always advancing. Nothing in heaven or on earth can stop the forward movement and progression of God. No government, no law, no evil, no earthly power, no philosophy and no person on earth can stop God’s will and purposes from being accomplished. God is the great “I am” and His power, glory and greatness are beyond human comprehension, He is Unstoppable! Often situations in life can cause us to doubt God’s sovereignty but our circumstances do not change His character. Trust His Unstoppable Purpose for your life!

Scripture References: Isaiah 46:9-10, Job 42:2, Proverbs 16:9, Romans 8:28

Key Scripture: Acts 1:1-11

We all have our limits. Some limitations are self-imposed, due to our past failures or lies we believe about ourselves. Other limitations are due to the finite nature of our humanity. Yet Jesus made it clear that His followers can experience a life without limits – a life of faith where “nothing will be impossible” and we do the works that He did. So, what’s the problem? Living without limits requires living beyond the suffocating boundaries of ordinary Self as a part of God’s extraordinary Church. It requires recapturing our mission to bring the good news of Jesus Christ to the world. We can’t do this on our own, of course, but He has given us His Spirit and power. This means we are no longer “only human,” but are His witnesses in this world. His Church is unstoppable!

Scripture References: Matthew 17:20, John 14:12, Matthew 16:18, Matthew 23:23-24, Galatians 2:20, Romans 8:11

Key Scripture: John 12:12-19

Palm Sunday. The day Jesus rode into Jerusalem on a donkey. “The Triumphal Entry.” But have you ever wondered what made it so triumphant? After all, didn’t they crucify Jesus at the end of the week? Many people at that time sided with Jesus for the same reason some Pharisees and others sided with Rome. They thought Jesus could do for them what Rome had done for their rulers—deliver them from the oppressive system under which they lived and make their lives better. Jesus never did what they wanted him to do, so they quickly changed their minds and wanted to get rid of Him. However, God had a much different and much better plan. He has a better plan for your life today, as well. Will you choose His script, or insist on your own?

Scripture References: Isaiah 55:8-9, Zechariah 9:9, Luke 19:41-44, Psalm 118:22-24, Romans 5:1-2, Romans 8:28

Key Scripture: Colossians 3:18-4:18

The reason most of us come to church is to get help with our relationships. Our marriage is struggling, our family is failing, and people are constantly disappointing us. God’s Word is clear: The Truth of Christ and good news of the gospel is our only hope for a changed life and healthier relationships. Why, then, do so many of us still struggle? Nothing in our lives will ever change until how we think about everything changes. Our minds are naturally conformed to the world’s self-focused way of thinking. Jesus came to transform us by renewing our minds. He came to show us that the surest way to get over our problems is to get over ourselves. Worship and sacrifice free us to experience the fullness of life Jesus offers us. To experience life change, we need a change of mind.

Scripture References: Romans 12:2, 2 Timothy 3:1-2, Matthew 16:25, Revelation 5:11-14

Key Scripture: Colossians 3:1-17

Jesus Christ died and rose again to pay the penalty for our sins and to give us new life in Him. This new life includes a new way of thinking. As followers of Christ, our mindset is different than it used to be. Why? Because our mind is no longer set on worldly things that are here and now. Instead, our minds are set in a different realm – above with Christ, in eternity. Our old life is dead and our new life is now found only in Him. He is our present and our future! As our thinking changes, so does the way we live and the way we love others. What is your mindset?

Scripture References: Romans 8:5-8, John 10:10, John 14:6, Ephesians 3:19-20, Galatians 2:20

Key Scripture: Colossians 2:1-23

Truth isn’t popular. Our world prides itself in being “inclusive” to all truth, yet all truth is exclusive by nature. Jesus claimed to be the exclusive Truth and the only Way to God. To call Him just another great religious teacher is to seriously misunderstand Who He is and what He said about Himself. He came to pay the infinite and impossible debt we owed God because of our sin. This means we no longer have to keep working to pay it off through exceptional moral living or religious performance. We can rest assured in the Truth that our sins are forgiven and we are righteous in Christ, regardless of how we might feel in any given moment. This is truth worth celebrating!

Scripture References: Matthew 18:23-27, Jeremiah 17:9, Luke 8:13

Key Scripture: Colossians 1:15-29

The only Truth that can change lives and change our world is the Truth of Jesus Christ. He is the perfect expression and visible representation of God to us, the One who made all things and holds everything together. As we get to know Him more, we become more like Him; as we become more like Him, we become less like this world. This difference will always bring opposition from those who stand against the good things of God. As Christ followers, we must be willing to endure any hardships that result from our standing for the Truth of the Gospel. We must speak boldly about sin, grace and the Cross of Jesus Christ. We must never be ashamed of the good news of Jesus – for it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes!

Scripture References:  John 5:39, John 14:6, Philippians 3:8, Hebrews 1:1-3, John 1:1, James 4:4, John 15:18, Acts 4:29, Romans 10:13-14, Romans 1:16, 1 Corinthians 1:18, 22-24

Key Scripture: Colossians 1:1-14

Countless Christians in the American Church today live in fear of standing for Truth and supporting the authority of Scripture. Why? Because we’re afraid of offending people and being labeled “one of those” narrow-minded and intolerant Christians. The result is often a timid, silent, and private form of Christianity that bears little resemblance to the revolutionary, world-changing Faith of the early Church. While our efforts to show God’s love to others must continue in full force, we must never stop boldly proclaiming His Truth. But we can’t proclaim what we don’t first possess ourselves. It’s time to once again cultivate a hunger for the knowledge of Christ and the Truth of His Word. It’s time to hold fast to the gospel as if life itself depends on it – because now more than ever, it most certainly does.

Scripture References: Colossians 4:6, Amos 8:11-12, Joshua 1:8