Better Together: Series Part 2: Diversity makes us Better Together! Scripture Text: 1 Corinthians 12:4-7 NLTPoint #1: God never intended the church to be a cookie cutter organization.I Corinthians 12:12-14(NIV)Galatians 3:28 (HCSB)Application:1. Embrace the reality that diversity is healthy.Revelation 7:9 (ESV)2. Guard your heart from making external judgments.James 2:1-4 (MSG)Point #2: Different gifts and abilities enable us to be Better Together!I Corinthians 12:25-26 (MSG)I Peter 4:10 (NLT)Application:1. Embrace God's giftsI Timothy 4:14-15 (NLT)2. Your gift is found in your SHAPE! Spiritual gift, Heart, Abilities, Personality, Experiences. 3. Make it a priority to take class 301.Point #3: Don’t let differences divide the church allow them to make you Better Together.Acts 11:1-4a, 18 (MSG)Application:1. Confess to God any prejudice that you may have.I John 1:9 (NLT)2. Confess to others any partiality that you may have held.I Corinthians 1:10,12-13James 5:16PrayerGod, thank You for making me different than everyone else—this means I’m special. I’m sorry for not realizing how diversity is actually a good thing. And that diversity is a God-thing. It really helps us to embrace that we’re Better Together. Because, each of our unique gifting(s) are needed for the body of Christ to function like it should. Today, I embrace the fact that you’ve called me to serve in the church. So I put all prejudice aside and rebuke all partiality so that I can come along side others in Your church and make it Better Together.In Jesus Name Amen.

Everybody can accomplish more than somebody.“The achievements of an organization are the result of the combined efforts of each individual.”- Vince LombardiWe're BETTER TOGETHER becausePoint #1: Growth should be expectedActs 6:1 (NLT)Acts 2:47 (NLT)Acts 5:14 (NLT)Application: 1.Don’t be surprised when your church grows.2.Expect it! 3.Embrace it!Point #2: Growth comes with challengesActs 6:1 (MSG)Application:1.Don’t run from challenges in the (your) church2.Choose to be a part of the solution—not the problem.Point #3: Growth presents opportunities“We're all working together; that's the secret.” –Sam WaltonActs 6:2-4 (MSG)Acts 6:7 (MSG)Application:1.Take then next step.2. Embrace the BETTER TOGETHERreality.I desire to serve God at LWC by volunteering with: Students (I enjoy working with teenagers) Children Pre-K kids Nursery (babies) Seniors (I want to get involved with Senior’s ministry) Small Groups (I desire to help small groups Pastor) Musicians (I play an instrument) Singing (I like to sing) I’m a teacher Sermon Research Team (I enjoy doing research and Bible study). Sunday Worship Experience (set-up) Greeter Sound (I’ve got an ear for music) Media (I’m good with computers) Lights (I’m willing to learn the lightboard) Grounds & Maintenance (I enjoy working with my hands) Café (I enjoy making coffee). Office volunteer (I enjoy office work) Driving (I’m able to drive van for trips, youth, children) Other (I enjoy doing this): ______________________________________________For more information on how you can get more involved in serving visit http://lwcoracle.org/#/serve

"Take the energy of the Super Bowl and turn it to introduce people to a Super God"-Steve WIlson John 10:10 (HCSB)Two Keys to unlock your potential and enable you to become a champion of faithKey #1: How you believe is instrumental to your success.Hebrews 11:1 (NLT)Isaiah 55:11 (NLT)"Once people learned how to believe in something, that skill started spilling over into other parts of their lives until they started believing they could change. Belief was the ingredient that made a reworked loop into a permanent behavior."- The Power of Habit by Charles DuhiggApplication1. Start SmallMatthew 17:20 (NIV)2. Increase your faithLuke 17:5 (NASB)3. Concrete your faithRomans 10:17 (NIV)Key #2: Who you believe can be detrimental to your success.Hebrews 11:7 (NLT)Hebrews 11:31 (HCSB)Hebrews 12:1 (NLT)"When people join groups where change seems possible, the potential for that change to occur becomes more real. For most people who overhaul their lives, there are no seminal moments or life-altering disasters. There are simple communities - sometines of just one other person - who make change believable."- The Power of Habit by Charles DuhiggApplication1. Keep your eyes on JesusHebrews 12:2 (NLT)2. Make church attendance a priorityActs 2:42a (NIV)3. Join a small group; host a small groupHebrews 10:24-25 (ESV)

The average NFL play lasts 7 secondsThe average game lasts 20 minutesThe Word of God lasts foreverGod's P.L.A.N. for your lifePreparationPrepare for successJeremiah 29:11Are you reading your Playbook (God's Word)Lead with expectaionShow them the way; expect great thingsAttitude of excellanceAre we simply existing, or are we excelling?We are called to live a life of excellance.Never give up

Four experiences thath the Bible reveals are evident in fulfilling God's purposes:1. Experience sufferingI Peter 4:1 (NASB)Hebrews 5:8 (NLT)"A season of suffering is a small assignment when compared to the reward. Rather than begrudge your problem - explore it, ponder it, and most of all, use it. Use it to the glory og God"- Max LucadoApplication:1) In times of difficulty allow your suffering to prompt you to trust God for His comfort and guidance.I Peter 5:10 (ESV)2) Approach every difficulty with the assurance that with Christ - nothing has the power to steal our joy.I Peter 5:3-5 (ESV)3) Instead of blaming God for your trials, allow Him to grow you into a person who reflects/mirrors Christ.Jamesb1:24 (ESV)2. Experience separationI Corinthians 6:9-11 (NLT)John 8:36 (NIV)I Peter 4:3-5 (NLT)Application:1) Make the choice to separate from people that hinder you from fulfilling God's purposes.I Corinthians 15:33 (NLT)2) Make the choice of staying away from places that don't honor God.II Corinthians 6:14 (NLT)3) Don't open up doors that God is closing for your own good.Revelation 3:8 (NLT)3. Experience love.I Peter 4:8 (NIV)Colossians 3:12-14 (NLT)Application:1) Remember that love is a choice, not a feeling.2) Small things are big with God's love.4. Experience and use your gift.I Peter 4:10-11 (NLT)Application:1) Experienceing your gift is important to you!2) Using your gift is important to the world around you!3) Embracing your gift is important to God!I Peter 4:11 (NASB)

Embrace God's Purpose:1. With the understanding that we never know where the road of life is going to take us.Genesis 37:26-28 (NIV)Genesis 45:4 (NASB)Application:1) Don't get discouraged when there are detours in your life-journey."Embrace the reality that with every twist and turn on the road of life there are lessons to be learned and faith to be exercised in Christ"- Pastor James Ruiz2) Trust God to be your source of direction and strength.Proverbs 16:9 (NLT)2. With the awareness that people will let you down on the journey.Genesis 39:19-20 (NLT)Genesis 40:23 (NIV)II Timothy 4:14 (NLT)Application:1) Don't put unrealistic expectations on the people around you.2) Don't expect everyone to embrace God's plan for your life."You have enemies? Good! That means you've stood up for something, sometime in your life."- Sir Winston Churchill3. With the assurance that God's purposes are intended to provide life.Genesis 45:5b, 7 (NASB)Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV)Application:1) Take measures to be a part of God's construction crew and not the devil's destruction crew.Ephesians 4:26 (NIV)2) Forgive quickly.3) Go the extra mile to reveal God's love.4. With the reliance that God has the power to fulfill His good purposes through you.Genesis 39:21 (NIV)Genesis 45:8 (NASB)Application:1) Trust that God sees the big picture of your life.Gesesis 50:20 (NASB)2) Embrace the fact that God has the power to even turn tragedy into good.Romans 8:28 (NIV)

Four Truths for experiencing God's purpose for our lives:1. YOU were BORN with a God inspired purpose"Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart..." Jeremiah 1:5 NIV"But even before I was born, God chose me and called me by his marvelous grace..." Galatians 1:15 NLTGod doesn't create junk!Born with a God inspired purpose APPLICATION:1) Take STEPS to find your God-inspired purpose.2) Find it through PRAYER.3) Find it through reading your BIBLE.4) Find it through CONFIRMATION of a trusted source.2. Quit making excuses and embrace God's purpose for your life"The Lord replied, "Don't say, 'I'm too young,' for you must go wherever I send you and say whatever I tell you."-Jeremiah 1:7 NLT"But Moses pleaded with the Lord, "O, Lord, I'm not very good with words. I never have been, and I' now, even though you have spoken to me. I get tongued-tied, and my words get tangled."-Exodus 4:10 NLT"He that is good for making excuses is seldom good for anything else."-Benjamin Franklin"Never make excuses. Your friends don't need them and your foes won't believe them."-Coach John Wooden3. Don't let FEAR deter you from experiencing a life of purpose"Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you and will rescue you," declares the Lord."-Jeremiah 1:8 NIV'...do not fear, for I am with you: do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand."-Isaiah 41:10 NIV"Our greatest fear should not be of failure but of succeeding at things in life that don't really matter."-Francis Chan4. God has called you--so that He can EMPOWER you to fulfill His purposes."See, I have appointed you this day over the nations and over the kingdoms, to pluck up and break down, to destroy and to overthrow, to build and to plant.." Jeremiah 1:10 NASB"The Lord will fulfill his steadfast his purpose for me; your steadfast love, O Lord, endures forever. Do not forsake the work of your hands."-Psalm 138:8 ESVGod has a plan, it includes you, and it's a good one...embrace it!Embracing God's empowered purpose APPLICATION:1) Find out your UNIQUE S.H.A.P.E.2) Spiritual gifts, Heart, Abilities, Personality, Experiences.3) Take the LWC 301 CLASS on March 8th4) Don't let FEAR control your life.PRAYER:God, without YOU I know that there will always be a void and a lack of purpose in my life. Thank YOU for giving me true purpose in life through Jesus Christ my Lord. I choose today to embrace your plan. I choose today to make my plans with YOU at the center of them. I also embrace YOUR power so that I can fulfill all you called me to be. For the glory of Jesus! Through the power of the Holy Spirit. In Jesus name I pray, AMEN.

Debt will steal the joy and tie the hands of our generosity!3 steps we can take toward financial peace:1. Embrace God's KNOWLEDGEEducating ourselves is an important step to move us toward financial peace.Hosea 4:6 NLTProverbs 1:5 NIVProverbs 11:24 NIVApplication for EDUCATING ourselves toward financial peace.1) Educate yourself by reading what the BIBLE has to say on handling finances.Proverbs 3:9 NIV2) Read what proven financial EXPERTS say on overcoming debt.Proverbs 15:22 NLTThe one principle that surrounds everything else is that of steward-ship; that we are the managers of everything that God has given us."-Larry Burkett2. Embrace God's DISCIPLINEPhilippians 4:19 NLTProverbs 21:20 NIV"Financial peace isn't the acquisition of stuff. It's learning to live on less than you make, so you can give money back and have money to invest. You can't win until you do this."-Dave RamseyApplication for embracing God's DISCIPLINE:1) Set an ACTION planProverbs 21:5 NIV2) Invite GOD into your planProverbs 16:3 NIV3. Embrace God's ACCOUNTABILITYJames 5:16 NLTApplication for embracing God's accountability:1) Be HONESTColossians 3:9 NLT2) Seek a trusted PERSON to keep you accountable in areas of finances.Galatians 6:1-2 NLT3) PRAY regularlyPhilippians 4:6 NIVPRAYER:God, Thank you for sending Your Son to pay the debt of all my sin. Thank you that I am totally forgiven and restored in Christ. I choose to follow Jesus and embrace His direction for every part of my life. So today I invite You--God to help me with my finances. I confess that I am better with Your help. Holy Spirit, guide me so I will honor Christ with the financial blessings You've bestowed on me. In the areas where I have difficulty, I embrace Your help and the help of others You send my way. In Jesus Name, I pray. Amen

Matthew 7:7-11 NIV"Unwrapping the gift is necessary for you to experience the blessing of someone's generosity."Two facets of unwrapping our God given potential:1. Unwrap your PERSONAL potential.Every person born has a God-given potential.Luke 11:13 NIVMatthew 6:10 GWTExodus 34:6-7 NLTApplication for unwrapping your personal potential:1) Face your fears with FAITHDo what fear and your fear will disappear.2) Rebuke the temptation of SELFISHNESS and embrace the attitude of GENEROSITY.The second facet is:2. Unwrap your CHURCH's potential.The church has a God-given potentialMatthew 5:13-16 NLT2 Corinthians 8:1-4 NIVRomans 1:8 NLTMatthew 9:37-38 NIV1 Corinthians 9:13-14 NLTApplication for unwrapping our church's potential:1. GIVE regularly2 Corinthians 9:6-82. SERVE regularlyJohn 12:26 NIV3. PRAY regularlyJohn 14:13-14PRAYER:God, Thank you for sending Your Son to save my soul! Thank YOU for giving me the gift WHO keeps on giving! Today, I open up my heart to YOUR generosity! I also embrace Your power and gifting to reach my full potential in Christ. Lead me Lord, to have a heart that is generous. Empower me God, so that I can serve you with my gifting. Hear me Jesus, as I pray for my church and Your will for my life. I pray all this, in Jesus Name. Amen.

Purpose #1: MissionsMatthew 2:3-4 (NLT)Matthew 28:18-20 (MSG)Acts 1:8 (MSG)We can't put a monetary price on a human soul.Purpose #2: MaintenanceMatthew 2:1b (NASB)Matthew 25:14 (NLT)Purpose #3: MediaMatthew 2:2b (NASB)"[You Version] Now installed on more than 155 million unique devices, the Bible App is what it is today only because millioins of people all over the world use it every day to engage with the Bible - and with each other. Translators have dedicated much of their lives to bringing God's Word to life in different languages."-2014 Scripture Impact Award