People's Church

People's Church of OKC is a multi-cultural church designed with you in mind. Senior Pastor, Herbert Cooper.

People's Church of OKC is a multi-cultural church designed with you in mind. Senior Pastor, Herbert Cooper.

People's Church of OKC is a multi-cultural church designed with you in mind. Senior Pastor, Herbert Cooper.

STORIES – Persevering Through Pain

1. Spend time with the Healer.

Romans 8:28  And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. NIV

2. Refuse to waste your pain.

John 16:33 In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world. NIV

3. Keep your eyes on the long-game.

2 Corinthians 4:16-18 Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. 17 For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. 18 So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. NIV

2 Corinthians 12:7-10 Therefore, in order to keep me from becoming conceited, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. 8 Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. 9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. 10 That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong. NIV


2 Corinthians 12:7-10 I will say this: because these experiences I had were so tremendous, God was afraid I might be puffed up by them; so I was given a physical condition which has been a thorn in my flesh, a messenger from Satan to hurt and bother me and prick my pride. 8 Three different times I begged God to make me well again. 9 Each time he said, “No. But I am with you; that is all you need. My power shows up best in weak people.” Now I am glad to boast about how weak I am; I am glad to be a living demonstration of Christ’s power, instead of showing off my own power and abilities. 10 Since I know it is all for Christ’s good, I am quite happy about “the thorn,” and about insults and hardships, persecutions and difficulties; for when I am weak, then I am strong—the less I have, the more I depend on him. TLB

2 Corinthians 12:7-10 Because of the extravagance of those revelations, and so I wouldn’t get a big head, I was given the gift of a handicap to keep me in constant touch with my limitations. Satan’s angel did his best to get me down; what he in fact did was push me to my knees. No danger then of walking around high and mighty! At first I didn’t think of it as a gift, and begged God to remove it. Three times I did that, and then he told me, My grace is enough; it’s all you need. My strength comes into its own in your weakness. Once I heard that, I was glad to let it happen. I quit focusing on the handicap and began appreciating the gift. It was a case of Christ’s strength moving in on my weakness. Now I take limitations in stride, and with good cheer, these limitations that cut me down to size—abuse, accidents, opposition, bad breaks. I just let Christ take over! And so the weaker I get, the stronger I become. MSG

STORIES – Persevering Through Pain

1. Spend time with the Healer.

Romans 8:28  And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. NIV

2. Refuse to waste your pain.

John 16:33 In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world. NIV

3. Keep your eyes on the long-game.

2 Corinthians 4:16-18 Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. 17 For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. 18 So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. NIV

2 Corinthians 12:7-10 Therefore, in order to keep me from becoming conceited, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. 8 Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. 9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. 10 That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong. NIV


2 Corinthians 12:7-10 I will say this: because these experiences I had were so tremendous, God was afraid I might be puffed up by them; so I was given a physical condition which has been a thorn in my flesh, a messenger from Satan to hurt and bother me and prick my pride. 8 Three different times I begged God to make me well again. 9 Each time he said, “No. But I am with you; that is all you need. My power shows up best in weak people.” Now I am glad to boast about how weak I am; I am glad to be a living demonstration of Christ’s power, instead of showing off my own power and abilities. 10 Since I know it is all for Christ’s good, I am quite happy about “the thorn,” and about insults and hardships, persecutions and difficulties; for when I am weak, then I am strong—the less I have, the more I depend on him. TLB

2 Corinthians 12:7-10 Because of the extravagance of those revelations, and so I wouldn’t get a big head, I was given the gift of a handicap to keep me in constant touch with my limitations. Satan’s angel did his best to get me down; what he in fact did was push me to my knees. No danger then of walking around high and mighty! At first I didn’t think of it as a gift, and begged God to remove it. Three times I did that, and then he told me, My grace is enough; it’s all you need. My strength comes into its own in your weakness. Once I heard that, I was glad to let it happen. I quit focusing on the handicap and began appreciating the gift. It was a case of Christ’s strength moving in on my weakness. Now I take limitations in stride, and with good cheer, these limitations that cut me down to size—abuse, accidents, opposition, bad breaks. I just let Christ take over! And so the weaker I get, the stronger I become. MSG

Proverbs 29:17 Discipline your children, and they will give you peace; they will bring you the delights you desire. (NIV)

Proverbs 19:18 Discipline your children while there is hope. Otherwise you will ruin their lives. (NLT)

1. Threatening your kids

2. The repeating parrot

3. The bribing parent

4. Misusing compassion

Proverbs 22:6 Train up a child in the way he should go, And when he is old he will not depart from it. (NKJV)

1. First time obedience

Hebrews 12:7–11 As you endure this divine discipline, remember that God is treating you as his own children. Who ever heard of a child who is never disciplined by its father? 8 If God doesn’t discipline you as he does all of his children, it means that you are illegitimate and are not really his children at all. 9 Since we respected our earthly fathers who disciplined us, shouldn’t we submit even more to the discipline of the Father of our spirits, and live forever? 10 For our earthly fathers disciplined us for a few years, doing the best they knew how. But God’s discipline is always good for us, so that we might share in his holiness. 11 No discipline is enjoyable while it is happening—it’s painful! But afterward there will be a peaceful harvest of right living for those who are trained in this way. (NLT)

2. Limit choices early on

3. Train your child's heart through non-conflict instruction

Deuteronomy 6:6-7 These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. 7 Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. (NIV)

4. The type of correction depends on the motives

1 Corinthians 13:11 When I was a child, I spoke and thought and reasoned as a child. But when I grew up, I put away childish things. (NLT)

Proverbs 22:15 Foolishness is bound up in the heart of a child; The rod of correction will drive it far from him. (NKJV)

How frequent is the offense?

What’s the context of the moment?

What is your child's age?

What is the overall characterization of your child's behavior?

5. Show them don’t tell them

1 Corinthians 11:1 Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ. (NIV)

Proverbs 29:17 Discipline your children, and they will give you peace; they will bring you the delights you desire. (NIV)

Proverbs 19:18 Discipline your children while there is hope. Otherwise you will ruin their lives. (NLT)

1. Threatening your kids

2. The repeating parrot

3. The bribing parent

4. Misusing compassion

Proverbs 22:6 Train up a child in the way he should go, And when he is old he will not depart from it. (NKJV)

1. First time obedience

Hebrews 12:7–11 As you endure this divine discipline, remember that God is treating you as his own children. Who ever heard of a child who is never disciplined by its father? 8 If God doesn’t discipline you as he does all of his children, it means that you are illegitimate and are not really his children at all. 9 Since we respected our earthly fathers who disciplined us, shouldn’t we submit even more to the discipline of the Father of our spirits, and live forever? 10 For our earthly fathers disciplined us for a few years, doing the best they knew how. But God’s discipline is always good for us, so that we might share in his holiness. 11 No discipline is enjoyable while it is happening—it’s painful! But afterward there will be a peaceful harvest of right living for those who are trained in this way. (NLT)

2. Limit choices early on

3. Train your child's heart through non-conflict instruction

Deuteronomy 6:6-7 These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. 7 Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. (NIV)

4. The type of correction depends on the motives

1 Corinthians 13:11 When I was a child, I spoke and thought and reasoned as a child. But when I grew up, I put away childish things. (NLT)

Proverbs 22:15 Foolishness is bound up in the heart of a child; The rod of correction will drive it far from him. (NKJV)

How frequent is the offense?

What’s the context of the moment?

What is your child's age?

What is the overall characterization of your child's behavior?

5. Show them don’t tell them

1 Corinthians 11:1 Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ. (NIV)

The Two Values | Herbert Cooper

Deuteronomy 6:6-8 These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. 7 Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. 8 Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. (NIV)

Proverbs 28:13  People who conceal their sins will not prosper, but if they confess and turn from them, they will receive mercy. (NLT)

1 John 1:8–9 If we claim we have no sin, we are only fooling ourselves and not living in the truth. 9 But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness. (NLT)

1. Honor everyone

Romans 12:10 Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves. (NIV)

1 Peter 2:17 Honor all people. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the king. (NKJV)

Philippians 2:3–4 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, 4 not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. (NIV)

2. Honor authority

Romans 13:1-2 Everyone must submit to governing authorities. For all authority comes from God, and those in positions of authority have been placed there by God. 2 So anyone who rebels against authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and they will be punished. (NLT)

3. Honor spiritual leaders

Hebrews 13:17 Obey your spiritual leaders, and do what they say. Their work is to watch over your souls, and they are accountable to God. Give them reason to do this with joy and not with sorrow. That would certainly not be for your benefit. (NLT)

4. Honor your elders

Leviticus 19:32 “Stand up in the presence of the elderly, and show respect for the aged. Fear your God. I am the Lord. (NLT)

1 Peter 5:5 In the same way, you who are younger, submit yourselves to your elders. All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, “God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.” (NIV)

5. Honor your parents

Ephesians 6:2-3 “Honor your father and mother”—which is the first commandment with a promise—3 “so that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth.”  (NIV)

6. Honor God

Psalm 29:1-2 Honor the Lord, you heavenly beings; honor the Lord for his glory and strength.
2 Honor the Lord for the glory of his name. Worship the Lord in the splendor of his holiness. (NLT)

6a. Honor God daily by giving Him the first 15 minutes

6b. Honor God weekly by worshipping at church

Hebrews 10:25 … not avoiding worshiping together as some do but spurring each other on, especially as we see the big Day approaching. (The Message)

6c. Honor God monthly by tithing

Proverbs 3:9–10 Honor God with everything you own; give him the first and the best. Your barns will burst, your wine vats will brim over. (The Message)

6d. Honor God annually by fasting

The Two Values | Herbert Cooper

Deuteronomy 6:6-8 These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. 7 Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. 8 Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. (NIV)

Proverbs 28:13  People who conceal their sins will not prosper, but if they confess and turn from them, they will receive mercy. (NLT)

1 John 1:8–9 If we claim we have no sin, we are only fooling ourselves and not living in the truth. 9 But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness. (NLT)

1. Honor everyone

Romans 12:10 Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves. (NIV)

1 Peter 2:17 Honor all people. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the king. (NKJV)

Philippians 2:3–4 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, 4 not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. (NIV)

2. Honor authority

Romans 13:1-2 Everyone must submit to governing authorities. For all authority comes from God, and those in positions of authority have been placed there by God. 2 So anyone who rebels against authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and they will be punished. (NLT)

3. Honor spiritual leaders

Hebrews 13:17 Obey your spiritual leaders, and do what they say. Their work is to watch over your souls, and they are accountable to God. Give them reason to do this with joy and not with sorrow. That would certainly not be for your benefit. (NLT)

4. Honor your elders

Leviticus 19:32 “Stand up in the presence of the elderly, and show respect for the aged. Fear your God. I am the Lord. (NLT)

1 Peter 5:5 In the same way, you who are younger, submit yourselves to your elders. All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, “God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.” (NIV)

5. Honor your parents

Ephesians 6:2-3 “Honor your father and mother”—which is the first commandment with a promise—3 “so that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth.”  (NIV)

6. Honor God

Psalm 29:1-2 Honor the Lord, you heavenly beings; honor the Lord for his glory and strength.
2 Honor the Lord for the glory of his name. Worship the Lord in the splendor of his holiness. (NLT)

6a. Honor God daily by giving Him the first 15 minutes

6b. Honor God weekly by worshipping at church

Hebrews 10:25 … not avoiding worshiping together as some do but spurring each other on, especially as we see the big Day approaching. (The Message)

6c. Honor God monthly by tithing

Proverbs 3:9–10 Honor God with everything you own; give him the first and the best. Your barns will burst, your wine vats will brim over. (The Message)

6d. Honor God annually by fasting

THE PHASES OF PARENTING

Proverbs 22:6 Train up a child in the way he should go, And when he is old he will not depart from it. (NKJV)

Ecclesiastes 3:1 There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens: (NIV)

1. Discipline Phase (0-5)

Hebrews 12:5-11 - And have you completely forgotten this word of encouragement that addresses you as a father addresses his son? It says, “My son, do not make light of the Lord’s discipline, and do not lose heart when he rebukes you, 6 because the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and he chastens everyone he accepts as his son.”[a] 7 Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as his children. For what children are not disciplined by their father? 8 If you are not disciplined—and everyone undergoes discipline—then you are not legitimate, not true sons and daughters at all. 9 Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of spirits and live! 10 They disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, in order that we may share in his holiness. 11 No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it. (NIV)

Proverbs 29:17 Discipline your children, and they will give you peace; they will bring you the delights you desire. (NIV)

2. Training Phase (5-12)

1. Negative training

2. Positive training

1 Thessalonians 5:11 Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing. (NIV)

Deuteronomy 6:6-9 These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts.7 Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. 8 Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. 9 Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates. (NIV)

“Teaching kids to count is fine, but teaching them what counts is best.” Bob Talbert

1 Corinthians 11:1 Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ. (NIV)

3. Coaching Phase (12-18)

Proverbs 13:20 Walk with the wise and become wise, for a companion of fools suffers harm. (NIV)

4. Friendship Phase (19 and beyond)