He said to them, “When you pray, say: “ ‘Father, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come. Give us each day our daily bread. Forgive us our sins, for we also forgive everyone who sins against us. And lead us not into temptation.’ ” - Luke 11:2-4 NIV

When it’s possible: Let the Bible explain the Bible.

Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. - James 1:2-3 NIV

Trials: something that breaks the pattern of peace, comfort, joy and happiness in someone’s life. The verb form of this word means ‘to put someone or something to the test,’ with the purpose of discovering that person’s nature or that thing’s quality. - From Got Questions.org

When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; but each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death. - James 1:13-15 NIV

H.A.L.T.

Hungry

Angry

Lonely

Tired

Temptation: comes from within but can be triggered by the Evil One.

“And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.” - Matthew 6:13 NIV

The key here is to see God as your partner in this battle.

Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. - James 4:7-8 NIV

”If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!” - Luke 11:13 NIV

“When a strong man, fully armed, guards his own house, his possessions are safe. But when someone stronger attacks and overpowers him, he takes away the armor in which the man trusted and divides up his plunder.” - Luke 11:21-22NIV

Jesus has already gone to battle with the Strongman holding you back, and He won!

“When an impure spirit comes out of a person, it goes through arid places seeking rest and does not find it. Then it says, ‘I will return to the house I left.’” - Luke 11:24 NIV

“When it arrives, it finds the house swept clean and put in order.” - Luke 11:25 NIV

“Then it goes and takes seven other spirits more wicked than itself, and they go in and live there. And the final condition of that person is worse than the first.” - Luke 11:26 NIV

Ridding yourself of a habit is not enough. Your life needs filled with one greater than your best!

Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call.” - Acts 2:38-39 NIV

Psalm 18:19b NIV

He rescued me because He delighted in me.

I Peter 4:8 NIV

Above all else love one another deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.

Luke 11:4a NIV

Forgive us our sins, for we also forgive everyone who sins against us.

Colossians 3:13 NIV

Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another.  Forgive just as the Lord forgave you.

Luke 17:3b–4 ESV

If your brother sins, rebuke him and if he repents forgive him.  If he sins against you seven times in a day, and seven times comes back to you and says, ‘I repent,’ forgive him.

Colossians 3:19 NASB

Husbands love your wives and do not be embittered against them. 

Proverbs 20:5 ESV

The purposes of a man’s heart are deep waters, but a man of understanding draws them out.                       

John 5:6b NIV

“Do you want to get well?”

Matthew 18:34-35 NIV

In anger his master turned him over to the jailers to be tortured until he should pay back all he owed. “This is how your my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother or sister from your heart.”

You can’t forgive from your heart until you get in touch with the pain in your heart.

Psalm 139:23-24 NIV

Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.

Proverbs 18:19a NIV

A brother (child) wronged (offended) is more unyielding than a fortified city.

Genesis 27:42b NLT

“… Listen, Esau is consoling himself by plotting to kill you.”

Psalm 123:3-4 NIV

Have mercy on us, O Lord, have mercy on us, for we have endured no end … of ridicule from the arrogant of contempt from the proud. 

Colossians 2:13-15 NIV

God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, having canceled the charge of our legal indebtedness, which stood against us and condemned us; he has taken it away, nailing it to the cross. And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.

1 John 3:14 NIV

We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love each other. Anyone who does not love remains in death.

Ezekiel 36:26-27 NIV

I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws.

Hebrews 11:6a NIV

And without faith, it is impossible to please God.

Sheep cannot rest if they are struggling with one of these four things: fear, hunger, friction, or predators.

Luke 11:2-4 NIV

"Father, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come. Give us each day our daily bread. Forgive us our sins, for we also forgive everyone who sins against us. And lead us not into temptation."

Deuteronomy 8:3 NIV

He humbled you, causing you to hunger and then feeding you with manna, which neither you nor your father had known, to teach you man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord.

He wants us to learn dependence upon him.

II Chronicles 16:12 NIV

In the thirty-ninth year of his reign, Asa was afflicted with a disease in his feet. Though his disease was severe, even in his illness he did not seek help from the Lord, but only from the physicians.

Proverbs 30:8b-9 NIV

"… give me neither poverty nor riches, but give me only my daily bread. Otherwise, I may have too much and disown you and say, ‘Who is the Lord?’ or I may become poor and steal, and so dishonor the name of my God."

He wants us to be a family and to show our love for one another by being willing to sacrifice for each other.

II Corinthians 9:6 NIV

Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously.

Acts 4:32 NIV

All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of their possessions was their own, but they shared everything they had.

"If today’s church does not recapture the sacrificial spirit of the early church, it will lose its authenticity, forfeit the loyalty of millions, and be dismissed as an irrelevant social club with no meaning for the twentieth century." – Martin Luther King Jr. Letter From Birmingham Jail

Luke‬ ‭11‬:‭1 (NIV)

One day Jesus was praying in a certain place. When he finished, one of his disciples said to him, "Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples."

Luke‬ ‭11‬:‭2 (NIV)‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

He said to them, "When you pray, say: "'Father, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come.

Luke‬ ‭11‬:‭3-4‬a ‭(NIV)‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

Give us each day our daily bread. Forgive us our sins, for we also forgive everyone who sins against us.

Luke‬ ‭11‬:‭4‬b ‭(NIV)‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

"And lead us not into temptation."

The early church prayed the "Our Father" three times a day (morning, noon, and night).

Luke‬ ‭11‬:‭2 ‭(NIV)‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

"When you pray, say: "'Father, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come.

"Our Father. Familiar words, maybe so familiar that they are no longer real. Those words were not only real, but also revolutionary to the twelve disciples. Pagan philosophers such as Aristotle arrived at the existence of God via human reason and referred to Him in vague, impersonal terms: the uncaused cause, the immovable mover. The prophets of Israel revealed the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in a warmer, more compassionate manner. But only Jesus revealed to an astonished Jewish community that God is truly Father." - Brennan Manning, The Furious Longing of God

Luke‬ ‭11‬:‭2 ‭(NIV)‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

"When you pray, say: " 'Father, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come.

Hallowed = (Ἁγιασθήτω/Hagiasthētō) = Holy

Isaiah 55:8-9 (NIV)

God's holiness means God does not see the world, our sins, and our problems the way we do.

"For my thoughts are not your thoughts,

neither are your ways my ways,"

declares the LORD.

"As the heavens are higher than the earth,

so are my ways higher than your ways

and my thoughts than your thoughts.

In this prayer, we see that God is both:

1) tough and tender.

2) intimate and infinite.

3) attentive and awesome.

God desires both the intimacy of "Father" and the respect of "hallowed"

Luke‬ ‭11‬:‭5‬ (NIV)‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

Then Jesus said to them, "Suppose you have a friend, and you go to him at midnight and say, 'Friend, lend me three loaves of bread; - 

Luke‬ ‭11‬:‭6‬ (NIV)‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

a friend of mine on a journey has come to me, and I have no food to offer him.'

Luke‬ ‭11‬:‭7‬ (NIV)‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

And suppose the one inside answers, 'Don't bother me. The door is already locked, and my children and I are in bed. I can't get up and give you anything.'

Luke‬ ‭11‬:‭8‬ ‭(NIV)‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

I tell you, even though he will not get up and give you the bread because of friendship, yet because of your shameless audacity he will surely get up and give you as much as you need.

As a good Father, God delights in meeting all your needs.

Luke‬ ‭11‬:‭9‬ ‭(NIV)‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

"So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.

Luke‬ ‭11‬:‭10‬ ‭(NIV)‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.

Luke‬ ‭11‬:‭11-12‬ ‭(NIV)‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

"Which of you fathers, if your son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead? Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion?

Luke‬ ‭11‬:‭13‬ ‭(NIV)‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!"‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬ 

"If you took the love of all the best mothers and fathers who have lived in the course of human history, all their goodness, kindness, patience, fidelity, wisdom, tenderness, strength, and love and united all those qualities in a single person, that person's love would only be a faint shadow of the furious love and mercy in the heart of God the Father addressed to you and me at this moment." - Brennan Manning, The Furious Longing of God

Let's Celebrate 2023!  

The Rooted Experience is an 11-week small-group opportunity that inspires questions, conversations, and experiences designed to connect people to God, His Church, and their purpose. Kingsway people are finding it an excellent way to meet and connect with others.

In 2024, we will:

Luke‬ ‭10‬:‭38‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

"As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him."

Luke‬ ‭10‬:‭39‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet listening to what he said.

Luke‬ ‭10‬:‭40‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, "Lord, don't you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!"

Luke‬ ‭10‬:‭41‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

"Martha, Martha," the Lord answered, "you are worried and upset about many things,

Be careful: it's easy to confuse spiritual activity for true connection.

Luke‬ ‭10‬:‭42‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

"but few things are needed—or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her."

One thing is needed: Jesus First!

John‬ ‭12‬:‭1‬-‭2‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

Six days before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany, where Lazarus lived, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. Here a dinner was given in Jesus' honor. Martha served, while Lazarus was among those reclining at the table with him. 

John‬ ‭12‬:‭3‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

Then Mary took about a pint of pure nard, an expensive perfume; she poured it on Jesus' feet and wiped his feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume. 

Jesus is worthy of our sacrifice and praise!

John‬ ‭12‬:‭4 ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

But one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, who was later to betray him, objected,

John‬ ‭12‬:‭5-6 ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

"Why wasn't this perfume sold and the money given to the poor? It was worth a year's wages." He did not say this because he cared about the poor but because he was a thief; as keeper of the money bag, he used to help himself to what was put into it.

John‬ ‭12‬:‭7-8‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

"Leave her alone," Jesus replied. "It was intended that she should save this perfume for the day of my burial. You will always have the poor among you, but you will not always have me."

Heavenly Father, Your kingdom come, Your will be done, on Earth as it is in Heaven. Nothing more, nothing less, & nothing else. In Jesus' name, Amen.

Luke‬ ‭10‬:‭25‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. "Teacher," he asked, "what must I do to inherit eternal life?"

Luke‬ ‭10‬:‭26‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

"What is written in the Law?" he replied. "How do you read it?"

The "Law" = the Torah (the first 5 books).

There are 613 laws in the Torah.

Luke‬ ‭10‬:‭27 ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

He answered, "'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind'; and, 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'"

Luke‬ ‭10‬:‭28‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

"You have answered correctly," Jesus replied. "Do this and you will live."

Luke‬ ‭10‬:‭29‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

But he wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, "And who is my neighbor?"

Pay attention to your inner motives.

Luke‬ ‭10‬:‭30‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

In reply Jesus said: "A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he was attacked by robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead.

Luke‬ ‭10‬:‭33‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

"But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him.

"he took pity on him." = he felt an aching in his gut (compassion)

Luke‬ ‭10‬:‭34‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

"He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, brought him to an inn and took care of him.

To really live means to feel an ache in your gut for others that moves you into action.

Luke‬ ‭10‬:‭35‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

"The next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper. 'Look after him,' he said, 'and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.'"

If you want to honor Jesus, then plan to be generous with your life and resources.

Last year, 44 people were sent globally; 100 were sent locally!

Will God evaluate me as generous with my life and resources?

Luke‬ ‭10‬:‭36 ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

"Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?"

Luke‬ ‭10‬:‭37‬a NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

The expert in the law replied, "The one who had mercy on him."

$500,000+ collected // $2,100,000 committed

Luke‬ ‭10‬:‭37‬b NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

Jesus told him, "Go and do likewise."

Luke‬ ‭10‬:‭1‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

After this the Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them two by two ahead of him to every town and place where he was about to go.

Luke‬ ‭10‬:‭1‬ ‭KJV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

After these things the Lord appointed other seventy also, and sent them two and two before his face into every city and place, whither he himself would come.

In Genesis 10:

Deuteronomy‬ ‭32‬:‭7‬-‭9‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

Remember the days of old;

consider the generations long past.

Ask your father and he will tell you,

your elders, and they will explain to you.

When the Most High gave the nations their inheritance,

when he divided all mankind,

he (the Most High) set up boundaries for the peoples

according to the number of the sons of Israel.

For the Lord's portion is his people,

Jacob his allotted inheritance.

Acts‬ ‭17‬:‭24‬-‭28‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

"The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by human hands. And he is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything. Rather, he himself gives everyone life and breath and everything else. From one man he made all the nations, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he marked out their appointed times in history and the boundaries of their lands.

God did this so that they (you!) would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from any one of us. 'For in him we live and move and have our being.' As some of your own poets have said, 'We are his offspring.'

Luke‬ ‭10‬:‭2‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

He told them, "The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field."

Jesus wants you to see yourself as sent by Him into your everyday life.

Luke‬ ‭10‬:‭3‬-‭4‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

"Go! I am sending you out like lambs among wolves. Do not take a purse or bag or sandals; and do not greet anyone on the road." 

Luke‬ ‭10‬:‭16‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

"Whoever listens to you listens to me; whoever rejects you rejects me; but whoever rejects me rejects him who sent me."

Luke‬ ‭10‬:‭17 ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

The seventy-two returned with joy and said, "Lord, even the demons submit to us in your name."

Luke‬ ‭10‬:‭18‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

He replied, "I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven."

Luke‬ ‭10‬:‭19‬-‭20‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

"I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you. However, do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven."

I saw satan fall like lightning.

I saw darkness run for cover.

But the miracle that I just can't get over,

My name is registered in heaven.

This is my testimony from death to life.

Cause grace rewrote my story, I'll testify!

By Jesus Christ, the Righteous,

I'm justified.

This is my testimony!

- My Testimony, Song by Elevation Worship

Acts 17:27‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

God did this so that they would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from any one of us.

Deuteronomy‬ ‭31‬:‭6‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.

‭‭Luke‬ ‭9‬:‭22‬-‭24‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

And he said, "The Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, and he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life."

Then he said to them all: "Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will save it." 

Luke‬ ‭9‬:‭31‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

They (Moses and Elijah) spoke about his departure (exodus), which he was about to bring to fulfillment at Jerusalem.

Luke‬ ‭9‬:‭43‬-‭45‬ ‭NIV

And they were all amazed at the greatness of God. While everyone was marveling at all that Jesus did, he said to his disciples, "Listen carefully to what I am about to tell you: The Son of Man is going to be delivered into the hands of men." But they did not understand what this meant. It was hidden from them, so that they did not grasp it, and they were afraid to ask him about it.‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

Luke‬ ‭9‬:‭51‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

As the time approached for him to be taken up to heaven, Jesus resolutely set out for Jerusalem.

Jesus' reason for existing is abundantly clear to Him:

He came to bring glory to His Father by reconciling the world back to Him.  

Luke‬ ‭19‬:‭10‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

"For the Son of Man (Jesus) came to seek and to save the lost."

Bottom Line: Putting Jesus first means arranging my priorities to match God's priorities.

Luke‬ ‭9‬:‭57‬NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬

As they were walking along the road, a man said to him, "I will follow you wherever you go."

Luke‬ ‭9‬:‭58‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

Jesus replied, "Foxes have dens and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head."

Follow Jesus no matter the cost.

Luke‬ ‭9‬:‭59‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

He said to another man, "Follow me." But he replied, "Lord, first let me go and bury my father."

Luke‬ ‭9‬:‭60‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

Jesus said to him, "Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and proclaim the kingdom of God."

The 10 Commandments:

1. No other gods.

2. Do not make idols.

3. Honor the name of the Lord.

4. Keep the Sabbath holy.

5. Honor your father and your mother.

Follow Jesus before your family and social commitments.

Luke‬ ‭9‬:‭61‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

Still another said, "I will follow you, Lord; but first let me go back and say goodbye to my family."

Luke‬ ‭9‬:‭62‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

Jesus replied, "No one who puts a hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God."

Follow Jesus and don't look back.

1 Kings‬ ‭19‬:‭19‬-‭21‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

So Elijah went from there and found Elisha son of Shaphat. He was plowing with twelve yoke of oxen, and he himself was driving the twelfth pair. Elijah went up to him and threw his cloak around him. Elisha then left his oxen and ran after Elijah. "Let me kiss my father and mother goodbye," he said, "and then I will come with you."

"Go back," Elijah replied. "What have I done to you?"

So Elisha left him and went back. He took his yoke of oxen and slaughtered them. He burned the plowing equipment to cook the meat and gave it to the people, and they ate. Then he set out to follow Elijah and became his servant. - ‭‭

Jesus, Matthew 6:10

"Your kingdom come, Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven."

Eugene Peterson calls this "A long obedience in the same direction."‬‬‬‬‬‬

Has life ever felt "dark" and made you wonder if God was real or even interested in your story? 

"You have made us for yourself, O Lord, and our heart is restless until it finds its rest in you." – The Confessions of St. Augustine

Romans‬ ‭5‬:‭1-2a‬ NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. - 

Grace = unmerited favor

Romans‬ ‭5‬:‭1-2b‬ NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

And we boast in the hope of the glory of God.‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

Biblical Hope = Confident expectation that God will do what He promised us he would do.

Romans‬ ‭5‬:‭3‬-‭4 NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.

Romans‬ ‭5‬:‭5‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

And hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.

Romans‬ ‭5‬:‭6 ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly.

What seemed to be hopeless was really just God working behind the scenes on His own time!

Romans‬ ‭5‬:‭8‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬

But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. 

"The greatest sources of our suffering are the lies we tell ourselves. After listening to a leader share his self doubts and fears, I sometimes surprise him with a rebuke. 'You're a big stinkin' liar! Stop lying to yourself! You're neither helpless nor hopeless. Christ is in you, and He is for you!'" - Alan Ahlgrim, Soul Strength: Rhythms for Thriving

Love Each Other: We value and serve one another by showing love and care. We assume the best, trust each other, and work through conflict and disagreements quickly, with grace and truth.

Today, we are getting our joy back.

"Christian joy is a good feeling in the soul, produced by the Holy Spirit, as he causes us to see the beauty of Christ in the word and in the world." – John Piper

Galatians 5:16-17 NIV

So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want.

Galatians 5:19-21 NIV

The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.

Galatians 5:22-26 NIV

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other."

Joy gives you power.

God's Joy gives you strength.

Buddy suffered.

We all suffer.

Jesus suffered.

Hebrews 12:1-3 NIV

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.

Hebrews 11:39-40 NIV

These were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised, since God had planned something better for us so that only together with us would they be made perfect.

Hebrews 12:1-3 NIV

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.

1. Treat every day like it's Easter.

2. There's room for everyone in the Book of Life.

2 Peter 3:8-9 NIV

But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.

3. The best way to spread Christmas cheer, is singing loud for our Lord to hear.