People's Church

Acts 19:1–2 NIV - While Apollos was at Corinth, Paul took the road through the interior and arrived at

Ephesus. There he found some disciples 2  and asked them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you

believed?” They answered, “No, we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.”

3 Myths About the Holy Spirit

1. The Holy Spirit is junior varsity

Acts 5:3-4 NIV - Then Peter said, “Ananias, how is it that Satan has so filled your heart that you

have lied to the Holy Spirit and have kept for yourself some of the money you received for the

land?  4  Didn’t it belong to you before it was sold? And after it was sold, wasn’t the money at your

disposal? What made you think of doing such a thing? You have not lied just to human beings but to

God.”

1. Holy Spirit is eternal

Hebrews 9:14 NIV - How much more, then, will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal

Spirit offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death, so

that we may serve the living God!

2. Holy Spirit is all-powerful

Luke 1:35 NIV - The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most

High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God.

Romans 8:11 NLT - The Spirit of God, who raised Jesus from the dead, lives in you. And just as God

raised Christ Jesus from the dead, he will give life to your mortal bodies by this same Spirit living within

you.

3. Holy Spirit is omnipresent

Psalm 139:7 ESV - Where shall I go from your Spirit? Or where shall I flee from your presence?

4. Holy Spirit is omniscient

1 Corinthians 2:10-11 NASB - For to us God revealed them through the Spirit; for the Spirit searches all

things, even the depths of God. For who among men knows the thoughts of a man except the spirit of the

man which is in him? Even so the thoughts of God no one knows except the Spirit of God.

5. Holy Spirit is creator

Genesis 1:1–2 NLT - In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. 2  The earth was

formless and empty, and darkness covered the deep waters. And the Spirit of God was hovering

over the surface of the waters.

Genesis 1:26 NIV - Then God said, “Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that

they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild

animals, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.”

Job 33:4 NLT - For the Spirit of God has made me, and the breath of the Almighty gives me life.

Matthew 28:19 NIV - Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of

the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 

Luke 3:22 NIV - and the Holy Spirit descended on him in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came

from heaven: “You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.”

John 15:26 NIV - “When the Advocate comes, whom I will send to you from the Father—the Spirit

of truth who goes out from the Father—he will testify about me.

Acts 2:33 NIV - Exalted to the right hand of God, he has received from the Father the promised Holy

Spirit and has poured out what you now see and hear.

Acts 10:38 NIV - how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, and how he

went around doing good and healing all who were under the power of the devil, because God was

with him.

2 Corinthians 13:14 NIV - May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the

fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.

1 Peter 1:2 NIV - who have been chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through

the sanctifying work of the Spirit, to be obedient to Jesus Christ and sprinkled with his blood: Grace

and peace be yours in abundance.

2. The Holy Spirit is scary and weird

1 Corinthians 14:32-33 NIV - The spirits of prophets are subject to the control of prophets.  33  For God is

not a God of disorder but of peace—as in all the congregations of the Lord’s people.

John 14:16 NIV - And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and

be with you forever—

Romans 8:26 NIV - In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we

ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans.

Romans 8:14 NIV - For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God.

Luke 9:38–39 NIV - A man in the crowd called out, “Teacher, I beg you to look at my son, for he is

my only child. 39  A spirit seizes him and he suddenly screams; it throws him into convulsions so that

he foams at the mouth. It scarcely ever leaves him and is destroying him.

Galatians 5:18 NIV - But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.

Galatians 5:16 NLT -   So I say, let the Holy Spirit guide your lives. Then you won’t be doing what

your sinful nature craves.

Acts 2:4 NIV - All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as

the Spirit enabled them.

3. The Holy Spirit is an optional part of my faith

Galatians 3:3 NLT - How foolish can you be? After starting your new lives in the Spirit, why are you

now trying to become perfect by your own human effort?

1. Don’t grieve the Holy Spirit

Ephesians 4:30-32 NIV - And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the

day of redemption. 31  Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every

form of malice. 32  Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God

forgave you.

2. Don’t neglect the Holy Spirit

1 Thessalonians 5:19 NIV - Do not quench the Spirit.

3. Desire more of the Holy Spirit

Ephesians 5:18 NLT -   Don’t be drunk with wine, because that will ruin your life. Instead, be filled

with the Holy Spirit,

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!”

Acts 19:1–2 NIV - While Apollos was at Corinth, Paul took the road through the interior and arrived at

Ephesus. There he found some disciples 2  and asked them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you

believed?” They answered, “No, we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.”

3 Myths About the Holy Spirit

1. The Holy Spirit is junior varsity

Acts 5:3-4 NIV - Then Peter said, “Ananias, how is it that Satan has so filled your heart that you

have lied to the Holy Spirit and have kept for yourself some of the money you received for the

land?  4  Didn’t it belong to you before it was sold? And after it was sold, wasn’t the money at your

disposal? What made you think of doing such a thing? You have not lied just to human beings but to

God.”

1. Holy Spirit is eternal

Hebrews 9:14 NIV - How much more, then, will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal

Spirit offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death, so

that we may serve the living God!

2. Holy Spirit is all-powerful

Luke 1:35 NIV - The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most

High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God.

Romans 8:11 NLT - The Spirit of God, who raised Jesus from the dead, lives in you. And just as God

raised Christ Jesus from the dead, he will give life to your mortal bodies by this same Spirit living within

you.

3. Holy Spirit is omnipresent

Psalm 139:7 ESV - Where shall I go from your Spirit? Or where shall I flee from your presence?

4. Holy Spirit is omniscient

1 Corinthians 2:10-11 NASB - For to us God revealed them through the Spirit; for the Spirit searches all

things, even the depths of God. For who among men knows the thoughts of a man except the spirit of the

man which is in him? Even so the thoughts of God no one knows except the Spirit of God.

5. Holy Spirit is creator

Genesis 1:1–2 NLT - In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. 2  The earth was

formless and empty, and darkness covered the deep waters. And the Spirit of God was hovering

over the surface of the waters.

Genesis 1:26 NIV - Then God said, “Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that

they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild

animals, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.”

Job 33:4 NLT - For the Spirit of God has made me, and the breath of the Almighty gives me life.

Matthew 28:19 NIV - Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of

the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 

Luke 3:22 NIV - and the Holy Spirit descended on him in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came

from heaven: “You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.”

John 15:26 NIV - “When the Advocate comes, whom I will send to you from the Father—the Spirit

of truth who goes out from the Father—he will testify about me.

Acts 2:33 NIV - Exalted to the right hand of God, he has received from the Father the promised Holy

Spirit and has poured out what you now see and hear.

Acts 10:38 NIV - how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, and how he

went around doing good and healing all who were under the power of the devil, because God was

with him.

2 Corinthians 13:14 NIV - May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the

fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.

1 Peter 1:2 NIV - who have been chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through

the sanctifying work of the Spirit, to be obedient to Jesus Christ and sprinkled with his blood: Grace

and peace be yours in abundance.

2. The Holy Spirit is scary and weird

1 Corinthians 14:32-33 NIV - The spirits of prophets are subject to the control of prophets.  33  For God is

not a God of disorder but of peace—as in all the congregations of the Lord’s people.

John 14:16 NIV - And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and

be with you forever—

Romans 8:26 NIV - In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we

ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans.

Romans 8:14 NIV - For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God.

Luke 9:38–39 NIV - A man in the crowd called out, “Teacher, I beg you to look at my son, for he is

my only child. 39  A spirit seizes him and he suddenly screams; it throws him into convulsions so that

he foams at the mouth. It scarcely ever leaves him and is destroying him.

Galatians 5:18 NIV - But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.

Galatians 5:16 NLT -   So I say, let the Holy Spirit guide your lives. Then you won’t be doing what

your sinful nature craves.

Acts 2:4 NIV - All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as

the Spirit enabled them.

3. The Holy Spirit is an optional part of my faith

Galatians 3:3 NLT - How foolish can you be? After starting your new lives in the Spirit, why are you

now trying to become perfect by your own human effort?

1. Don’t grieve the Holy Spirit

Ephesians 4:30-32 NIV - And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the

day of redemption. 31  Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every

form of malice. 32  Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God

forgave you.

2. Don’t neglect the Holy Spirit

1 Thessalonians 5:19 NIV - Do not quench the Spirit.

3. Desire more of the Holy Spirit

Ephesians 5:18 NLT -   Don’t be drunk with wine, because that will ruin your life. Instead, be filled

with the Holy Spirit,

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!”

Deuteronomy 11:1 You must love the Lord your God and always obey his requirements, decrees,

regulations and commands. NLT

Deuteronomy 11:18-21 Place these words on your hearts. Get them deep inside of you. Tie them

on your hands and foreheads as a reminder. Teach them to your children. Talk about them

wherever you are, sitting at home or walking in the street; talk about them from the time you get

up in the morning until you fall into bed at night. Inscribe them on the doorpost and gates of your

cities so that you’ll live a long time, and your children with you, on the soil that God promised to

give your ancestors as long as there is sky over the earth. MSG

1. THIS GENERATION HAS BEEN MARKED BY THE WORLD.

We’ve all been marked by this world and marred by sin.

Romans 3:23 For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard. NLT

2. THIS GENERATION IS MARKED BY GOD.

Ephesians 4:24 Put on your new nature, created to be like God – truly righteous and Holy. NLT

Romans 1:1 Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle, set apart for the gospel of

God. ESV

1 John 3:1 See how very much our father loves us, for he calls us his children, and that is what

we are! NLT

Ephesians 1:13-14 Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy

Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God

possession –to the praise of his glory. NIV

Psalm 78:4-7 We will not hide these truths from our children; we will tell the next generation

about the glorious deeds of the Lord, about his power and his mighty wonders. For he issued his

laws to Jacob; he gave his instructions to Israel. He commanded our ancestors to teach them to

their children, so the next generation might know them—even the children not yet born—and

they in turn will teach their own children. So each generation should set its hope anew on God,

not forgetting his glorious miracles and obeying his commands. NLT

Psalm 145:4 Let each generation tell it’s children of your mighty acts; let them proclaim your

power. NLT

Psalm 92:13 Planted in the house of the LORD, they will flourish in the courts of our God. NIV

Deuteronomy 11:1 You must love the Lord your God and always obey his requirements, decrees,

regulations and commands. NLT

Deuteronomy 11:18-21 Place these words on your hearts. Get them deep inside of you. Tie them

on your hands and foreheads as a reminder. Teach them to your children. Talk about them

wherever you are, sitting at home or walking in the street; talk about them from the time you get

up in the morning until you fall into bed at night. Inscribe them on the doorpost and gates of your

cities so that you’ll live a long time, and your children with you, on the soil that God promised to

give your ancestors as long as there is sky over the earth. MSG

1. THIS GENERATION HAS BEEN MARKED BY THE WORLD.

We’ve all been marked by this world and marred by sin.

Romans 3:23 For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard. NLT

2. THIS GENERATION IS MARKED BY GOD.

Ephesians 4:24 Put on your new nature, created to be like God – truly righteous and Holy. NLT

Romans 1:1 Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle, set apart for the gospel of

God. ESV

1 John 3:1 See how very much our father loves us, for he calls us his children, and that is what

we are! NLT

Ephesians 1:13-14 Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy

Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God

possession –to the praise of his glory. NIV

Psalm 78:4-7 We will not hide these truths from our children; we will tell the next generation

about the glorious deeds of the Lord, about his power and his mighty wonders. For he issued his

laws to Jacob; he gave his instructions to Israel. He commanded our ancestors to teach them to

their children, so the next generation might know them—even the children not yet born—and

they in turn will teach their own children. So each generation should set its hope anew on God,

not forgetting his glorious miracles and obeying his commands. NLT

Psalm 145:4 Let each generation tell it’s children of your mighty acts; let them proclaim your

power. NLT

Psalm 92:13 Planted in the house of the LORD, they will flourish in the courts of our God. NIV

2 Wrong Ingredients About Sex

1. Sex is dirty

1. Sex is good because God created it

Gen 1:27-28 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and

female he created them. 28 God blessed them and said to them, "Be fruitful and increase in number;

fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air and over every living

creature that moves on the ground." (NIV)

Gen 1:31 God saw all that he had made, and it was very good. And there was evening, and there was

morning--the sixth day. (NIV)

2. Sex before marriage is best

Proverbs 8:29 when he gave the sea its boundary so the waters would not overstep his command,

and when he marked out the foundations of the earth. (NIV)

2. Sex was created for marriage

Hebrews 13:4   Marriage should be honored by all, and the marriage bed kept pure, for God will

judge the adulterer and all the sexually immoral. (NIV)

1 Corinthians 7:1–2 Now, getting down to the questions you asked in your letter to me. First, Is it

a good thing to have sexual relations? Certainly—but only within a certain context. It’s good for

a man to have a wife, and for a woman to have a husband. Sexual drives are strong, but marriage

is strong enough to contain them and provide for a balanced and fulfilling sexual life in a world

of sexual disorder. (Message)

1 Corinthians 7:8–9 So I say to those who aren’t married and to widows—it’s better to stay

unmarried, just as I am. 9  But if they can’t control themselves, they should go ahead and marry.

It’s better to marry than to burn with lust. (NLT)

1 Corinthians 6:18–20 Run from sexual sin! No other sin so clearly affects the body as this one

does. For sexual immorality is a sin against your own body. 19  Don’t you realize that your body is

the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God? You do not belong

to yourself, 20 for God bought you with a high price. So you must honor God with your body.

(NLT)

1 Thessalonians 4:3–5 God’s will is for you to be holy, so stay away from all sexual sin. 4  Then

each of you will control his own body and live in holiness and honor— 5  not in lustful passion like

the pagans who do not know God and his ways. (NLT)

1. Sex was created for procreation

Gen 1:27-28 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and

female he created them. 28 God blessed them and said to them, "Be fruitful and increase in number;

fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air and over every living

creature that moves on the ground." (NIV)

2. Sex was created for enjoyment

Proverbs 5:18–19   Let your wife be a fountain of blessing for you. Rejoice in the wife of your

youth. 19  She is a loving deer, a graceful doe. Let her breasts satisfy you always. May you always

be captivated by her love. (NLT)

3. Sex was created for needs to be fulfilled

1 Corinthians 7:3 The husband should fulfill his wife’s sexual needs, and the wife should fulfill

her husband’s needs. (NLT)

1. Communicate about needs

2. Communicate about frequency

1 Corinthians 7:5   Do not deprive each other of sexual relations, unless you both agree to refrain

from sexual intimacy for a limited time so you can give yourselves more completely to prayer.

Afterward, you should come together again so that Satan won’t be able to tempt you because of

your lack of self-control. (NLT)

3. Communicate about boundaries

2 Wrong Ingredients About Sex

1. Sex is dirty

1. Sex is good because God created it

Gen 1:27-28 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and

female he created them. 28 God blessed them and said to them, "Be fruitful and increase in number;

fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air and over every living

creature that moves on the ground." (NIV)

Gen 1:31 God saw all that he had made, and it was very good. And there was evening, and there was

morning--the sixth day. (NIV)

2. Sex before marriage is best

Proverbs 8:29 when he gave the sea its boundary so the waters would not overstep his command,

and when he marked out the foundations of the earth. (NIV)

2. Sex was created for marriage

Hebrews 13:4   Marriage should be honored by all, and the marriage bed kept pure, for God will

judge the adulterer and all the sexually immoral. (NIV)

1 Corinthians 7:1–2 Now, getting down to the questions you asked in your letter to me. First, Is it

a good thing to have sexual relations? Certainly—but only within a certain context. It’s good for

a man to have a wife, and for a woman to have a husband. Sexual drives are strong, but marriage

is strong enough to contain them and provide for a balanced and fulfilling sexual life in a world

of sexual disorder. (Message)

1 Corinthians 7:8–9 So I say to those who aren’t married and to widows—it’s better to stay

unmarried, just as I am. 9  But if they can’t control themselves, they should go ahead and marry.

It’s better to marry than to burn with lust. (NLT)

1 Corinthians 6:18–20 Run from sexual sin! No other sin so clearly affects the body as this one

does. For sexual immorality is a sin against your own body. 19  Don’t you realize that your body is

the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God? You do not belong

to yourself, 20 for God bought you with a high price. So you must honor God with your body.

(NLT)

1 Thessalonians 4:3–5 God’s will is for you to be holy, so stay away from all sexual sin. 4  Then

each of you will control his own body and live in holiness and honor— 5  not in lustful passion like

the pagans who do not know God and his ways. (NLT)

1. Sex was created for procreation

Gen 1:27-28 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and

female he created them. 28 God blessed them and said to them, "Be fruitful and increase in number;

fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air and over every living

creature that moves on the ground." (NIV)

2. Sex was created for enjoyment

Proverbs 5:18–19   Let your wife be a fountain of blessing for you. Rejoice in the wife of your

youth. 19  She is a loving deer, a graceful doe. Let her breasts satisfy you always. May you always

be captivated by her love. (NLT)

3. Sex was created for needs to be fulfilled

1 Corinthians 7:3 The husband should fulfill his wife’s sexual needs, and the wife should fulfill

her husband’s needs. (NLT)

1. Communicate about needs

2. Communicate about frequency

1 Corinthians 7:5   Do not deprive each other of sexual relations, unless you both agree to refrain

from sexual intimacy for a limited time so you can give yourselves more completely to prayer.

Afterward, you should come together again so that Satan won’t be able to tempt you because of

your lack of self-control. (NLT)

3. Communicate about boundaries

Acts 9:26-27 - When Saul arrived in Jerusalem, he tried to meet with the believers, but

they were all afraid of him. They did not believe he had truly become a believer!  27  Then

Barnabas brought him to the apostles and told them how Saul had seen the Lord on the

way to Damascus and how the Lord had spoken to Saul. He also told them that Saul

had preached boldly in the name of Jesus in Damascus. NLT

Acts 12:25 - 25  When Barnabas and Saul had finished their mission, they returned

from [a]  Jerusalem, taking with them John, also called Mark. (NIV)

Acts 13:13 - Paul and his companions then left Paphos by ship for Pamphylia, landing at the port

town of Perga. There John Mark left them and returned to Jerusalem. (NLT)

Acts 15:36-40 - 36  After some time Paul said to Barnabas, “Let’s go back and visit each city where

we previously preached the word of the Lord, to see how the new believers are

doing.”  37  Barnabas agreed and wanted to take along John Mark.  38  But Paul disagreed strongly,

since John Mark had deserted them in Pamphylia and had not continued with them in their

work.  39  Their disagreement was so sharp that they separated. Barnabas took John Mark with

him and sailed for Cyprus.  40  Paul chose Silas, and as he left, the believers entrusted him to the

Lord’s gracious care. NLT

2 Timothy 4:11 - Only Luke is with me. Get Mark and bring him with you, because he is helpful

to me in my ministry. (NIV)

1 John 4:20-21 - 20  If someone says, “I love God,” but hates a fellow believer, [c]  that person is a

liar; for if we don’t love people we can see, how can we love God, whom we cannot see?  21  And

he has given us this command: Those who love God must also love their fellow believers. NLT

Matthew 5:23-24 - 23  “Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there

remember that your brother or sister has something against you,  24  leave your gift there

in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to them; then come and offer your gift.

NIV

Keys to a Relational Comeback:

1. Understand that all relationships will have conflict.

James 4:1 - What is causing the quarrels and fights among you? Don’t they come from the evil

desires at war within you? (NLT)

2. Own what you can own.

Romans 12:17-18 - 17  Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes

of everyone.  18  If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. NIV

3. Speak the truth in love.

Ephesians 4:15-16 - 15  Instead, we will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and

more like Christ, who is the head of his body, the church.  16  He makes the whole body fit

together perfectly. As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that

the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love. NLT

A. Right Place

B. Right Time

C. Right Tone

4. Be more committed to reconciliation than to resolution.

Ephesians 4:2-3 - Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other’s faults because

of your love.  3  Make every effort to keep yourselves united in the Spirit, binding yourselves

together with peace. NLT

2 Corinthians 5:16-20 - 16  So we have stopped evaluating others from a human point of view. At

one time we thought of Christ merely from a human point of view. How differently we know

him now!  17  This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old

life is gone; a new life has begun!

18  And all of this is a gift from God, who brought us back to himself through Christ. And God has

given us this task of reconciling people to him.  19  For God was in Christ, reconciling the world to

himself, no longer counting people’s sins against them. And he gave us this wonderful message

of reconciliation.  20  So we are Christ’s ambassadors; God is making his appeal through us. We

speak for Christ when we plead, “Come back to God!”  21  For God made Christ, who never

sinned, to be the offering for our sin, [e]  so that we could be made right with God through Christ.

NLT

Acts 9:26-27 - When Saul arrived in Jerusalem, he tried to meet with the believers, but

they were all afraid of him. They did not believe he had truly become a believer!  27  Then

Barnabas brought him to the apostles and told them how Saul had seen the Lord on the

way to Damascus and how the Lord had spoken to Saul. He also told them that Saul

had preached boldly in the name of Jesus in Damascus. NLT

Acts 12:25 - 25  When Barnabas and Saul had finished their mission, they returned

from [a]  Jerusalem, taking with them John, also called Mark. (NIV)

Acts 13:13 - Paul and his companions then left Paphos by ship for Pamphylia, landing at the port

town of Perga. There John Mark left them and returned to Jerusalem. (NLT)

Acts 15:36-40 - 36  After some time Paul said to Barnabas, “Let’s go back and visit each city where

we previously preached the word of the Lord, to see how the new believers are

doing.”  37  Barnabas agreed and wanted to take along John Mark.  38  But Paul disagreed strongly,

since John Mark had deserted them in Pamphylia and had not continued with them in their

work.  39  Their disagreement was so sharp that they separated. Barnabas took John Mark with

him and sailed for Cyprus.  40  Paul chose Silas, and as he left, the believers entrusted him to the

Lord’s gracious care. NLT

2 Timothy 4:11 - Only Luke is with me. Get Mark and bring him with you, because he is helpful

to me in my ministry. (NIV)

1 John 4:20-21 - 20  If someone says, “I love God,” but hates a fellow believer, [c]  that person is a

liar; for if we don’t love people we can see, how can we love God, whom we cannot see?  21  And

he has given us this command: Those who love God must also love their fellow believers. NLT

Matthew 5:23-24 - 23  “Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there

remember that your brother or sister has something against you,  24  leave your gift there

in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to them; then come and offer your gift.

NIV

Keys to a Relational Comeback:

1. Understand that all relationships will have conflict.

James 4:1 - What is causing the quarrels and fights among you? Don’t they come from the evil

desires at war within you? (NLT)

2. Own what you can own.

Romans 12:17-18 - 17  Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes

of everyone.  18  If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. NIV

3. Speak the truth in love.

Ephesians 4:15-16 - 15  Instead, we will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and

more like Christ, who is the head of his body, the church.  16  He makes the whole body fit

together perfectly. As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that

the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love. NLT

A. Right Place

B. Right Time

C. Right Tone

4. Be more committed to reconciliation than to resolution.

Ephesians 4:2-3 - Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other’s faults because

of your love.  3  Make every effort to keep yourselves united in the Spirit, binding yourselves

together with peace. NLT

2 Corinthians 5:16-20 - 16  So we have stopped evaluating others from a human point of view. At

one time we thought of Christ merely from a human point of view. How differently we know

him now!  17  This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old

life is gone; a new life has begun!

18  And all of this is a gift from God, who brought us back to himself through Christ. And God has

given us this task of reconciling people to him.  19  For God was in Christ, reconciling the world to

himself, no longer counting people’s sins against them. And he gave us this wonderful message

of reconciliation.  20  So we are Christ’s ambassadors; God is making his appeal through us. We

speak for Christ when we plead, “Come back to God!”  21  For God made Christ, who never

sinned, to be the offering for our sin, [e]  so that we could be made right with God through Christ.

NLT

3 Steps To Overcoming Silent Frustrations

1. Get emotionally healthy

Matthew 7:3–5 “And why worry about a speck in your friend’s eye when you have a log in your own? 4 How can you think of saying to your friend, ‘Let me help you get rid of that speck in your eye,’ when you can’t see past the log in your own eye? 5 Hypocrite! First get rid of the log in your own eye; then you will see well enough to deal with the speck in your friend’s eye. (NLT)

1. The Blindness log removed

James 1:19 My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, (NIV)

2. The Emotional unhealth log removed

1. Trust issues from my dysfunctional upbringing

Emotionally unhealthy people deny the impact the past is having on their present

2. Rejection and abandonment issues from my childhood

Psalm 34:18 If your heart is broken, you’ll find God right there; if you’re kicked in the gut, he’ll help you catch your breath. (Message)

  3. The Pride log removed

Proverbs 16:18 First pride, then the crash— the bigger the ego, the harder the fall. (Message)

Psalm 34:14 Turn from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it.

1. Remove The Victim Mentality Log

2. Remove The Shame Log

3. Remove The Living in Isolation Log.

 

2.  Attack the Issue and not each other. 

3. Keep Jesus at the center

When Jesus is at the center:

We continually change and grow because we’re on the potter’s wheel

We follow God’s word instead of our flesh or secular advice

1 Corinthians 13:4-7 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.  Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

We humble ourselves before our spouse

1. Don’t use God to run from God

2. We have to live to out serve each other instead of out selfish each other.

Philippians 2:4 Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too. (NLT)

3. We Forgive, forgive, forgive.

Ephesians 4:32 Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God

forgave you. (NIV)

3 Steps To Overcoming Silent Frustrations

1. Get emotionally healthy

Matthew 7:3–5 “And why worry about a speck in your friend’s eye when you have a log in your own? 4 How can you think of saying to your friend, ‘Let me help you get rid of that speck in your eye,’ when you can’t see past the log in your own eye? 5 Hypocrite! First get rid of the log in your own eye; then you will see well enough to deal with the speck in your friend’s eye. (NLT)

1. The Blindness log removed

James 1:19 My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, (NIV)

2. The Emotional unhealth log removed

1. Trust issues from my dysfunctional upbringing

Emotionally unhealthy people deny the impact the past is having on their present

2. Rejection and abandonment issues from my childhood

Psalm 34:18 If your heart is broken, you’ll find God right there; if you’re kicked in the gut, he’ll help you catch your breath. (Message)

  3. The Pride log removed

Proverbs 16:18 First pride, then the crash— the bigger the ego, the harder the fall. (Message)

Psalm 34:14 Turn from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it.

1. Remove The Victim Mentality Log

2. Remove The Shame Log

3. Remove The Living in Isolation Log.

 

2.  Attack the Issue and not each other. 

3. Keep Jesus at the center

When Jesus is at the center:

We continually change and grow because we’re on the potter’s wheel

We follow God’s word instead of our flesh or secular advice

1 Corinthians 13:4-7 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.  Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

We humble ourselves before our spouse

1. Don’t use God to run from God

2. We have to live to out serve each other instead of out selfish each other.

Philippians 2:4 Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too. (NLT)

3. We Forgive, forgive, forgive.

Ephesians 4:32 Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God

forgave you. (NIV)