Life Center Tacoma

They Encourage us to BELIEVE

They Challenge us to CHANGE

They Remind us to GIVE

BIG IDEA: THE ARRIVAL OF JESUS REVEALS...BELIEVING IS GREATER THAN SEEING

Luke 1:39-45 NLT

You are blessed because you believed that the Lord would do what he said

Seeing is Believing

Believing is Seeing

John 20:29 NLT

What we believe influences how we behave

BELIEVING UNLOCKS BELONGING

Acts 16:31 NLT

BELIEVING UNLOCKS BOLDNESS

Hebrews 10:35, 39 NLT

BELIEVING UNLOCKS BLESSING

Hebrews 11:1 NLT

Hebrews 11:6 NLT

When we refuse to BELIEVE, we neglect the BENEFIT

Biblical faith never asks us to deny realities, it simply invites us to recognize a greater reality

Are you willing to Believe even when you do not See?

Are you willing to Obey even when you do not Understand?

Are you willing to Wait even when things seem Hopeless?

Small hearts only have room for self

Matthew 1:23 NLT

Small hearts rehearse the pain

Philippians 4:6-8 NLT

Small hearts need intervention

Colossians 3:11-17 NLT

Luke 2:8-18 ESV

Matthew 1:18-23 (NLT)

IN A WORLD WEIGHED DOWN WITH LONELINESS AND ISOLATION THE ARRIVAL OF JESUS REVEALS WE HAVE A WITH US GOD

John 1:1-2, 14 (NLT)

ISOLATION WAS NEVER THE PLAN

Genesis 2:18 (NLT)

ISOLATION IS OFTEN THE PRODUCT OF PRIDE

Proverbs 18:1 (ESV)

ISOLATION ENABLES FACADES

Proverbs 27:17 (NLT)

ISOLATION BUILDS WALLS BUT JESUS BUILDS BRIDGES

Romans 8:31 (NLT)

Jesus faced loneliness and isolation for us at the cross, so that we would never have to spend another day alone or isolated from the love of God.

What’s my PATH?

Matthew 7:13-14 NLT

THE ROAD YOU TRAVEL ALWAYS DETERMINES YOUR DESTINATION

What’s my FRUIT?

Matthew 7:20 NLT

THE NATURE OF THE TREE ALWAYS DETERMINES THE NATURE OF THE FRUIT

What’s my CLAIM?

Matthew 7:21-23 NLT

WHO YOU KNOW DETERMINES THE REWARD YOU GET

1 John 2:3 NLT

What’s my FOUNDATION?

Matthew 7:24 NLT

WHAT YOU BUILD ON ALWAYS DETERMINES THE STABILITY AND THE FINISH

Matthew 7:7-11 NLT

DO I SEE PRAYER AS A LAST RESORT OR A FIRST RESPONSE?

Think Relational vs. Transactional

Think Dialogue vs. Monologue

Think Being Changed vs. Only Seeing change

Think Delight vs. Duty

PRAY WITH PERSISTENCE - REMEMBER THAT THE CURRENT REALITY ISN'T THE FINAL REALITY

PRAY WITH PURSUIT - REMEMBER THAT RELATIONSHIP IS THE GOAL

Jeremiah 29:13 NLT

PRAY WITH TRUST - REMEMBER THAT GOD IS GOOD

Ephesians 3:20 NASB

Matthew 25:35-40 NLT

James 2:17 NLT

Matthew 7:1-5 NLT

Since I don’t see as clear as I think I do... A critical spirit says more about ME than it does about THEM.

CHECK YOURSELF

Psalm 139:23-24 NLT

LOOK FOR A STANDARD DISPARITY

Without humility it is hard to be helpful.

KEEP THE GRACE YOU HAVE RECEIVED IN VIEW

John 3:16-17 NLT

Matthew 6:19-21 NIV

Matthew 6:31-33 NIV

Matthew 6:34 NIV

Matthew 5:48-6:1 NLT

IT’S NOT JUST WHAT YOU DO, BUT WHY YOU DO IT.

Matthew 6:2-3 NLT

Matthew 6:5-6 NLT

Matthew 6:16-18 NLT

When it comes to the actions of following Jesus:

The HEART of our HABITS

“The greater the demand for holiness, the greater the opportunity for hypocrisy.” - D.A. Carson

The DIRECTION of our DEVOTION

Hosea 6:6 NLT