Series: Lost
Message: Amazing Grace
I. My Testimony of Life before Jesus (all NASB version except as noted)
A. I was spiritually dead!
Eph. 2:1-3
B. I was without God’s mercy and love.
Eph. 2:4-10

II. My Testimony of the New Life in Jesus
A. I must “remember” the former life.
Eph. 2:11-13; Eph. 4:22-24
B. I must “remember” it’s all of God.
Eph. 1:3-8
C. I must “remember” to keep the Gospel at the forefront of my life.
I Cor. 15: 1-4; Eph. 6:10-18 (not on screen)

Finally, remember future grace.

Series: LOST

Message: Key Elements To Following Christ

1. Following Christ is a DECISIVE decision.

(Matthew 5:17-21) (NLT)17From then on Jesus began to preach, “Repent of your sins and turn to God, for the Kingdom of Heaven is near. 18One day as Jesus was walking along the shore of the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers—Simon, also called Peter, and Andrew—throwing a net into the water, for they fished for a living. 19Jesus called out to them, “Come, follow me, and I will show you how to fish for people!” 20And they left their nets at once and followed him.

21A little farther up the shore he saw two other brothers, James and John, sitting in a boat with their father, Zebedee, repairing their nets. And he called them to come, too. 22They immediately followed him, leaving the boat and their father behind.

Following Christ is a Decisive Decision that should dictate every other decision.

(Joshua 24:14-15)(NLT) 14 “So fear the Lord and serve him wholeheartedly. Put away forever the idols your ancestors worshiped when they lived beyond the Euphrates River and in Egypt. Serve the Lord alone. 15 But if you refuse to serve the Lord, then choose today whom you will serve. Would you prefer the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates? Or will it be the gods of the Amorites in whose land you now live? But as for me and my family, we will serve the Lord.”

1. Following Christ is a DETERMINED decision.

(Matthew 26:38-41) (NIV) 38Then Jesus said to them, “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.” 39Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.”40Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. “Couldn’t you men keep watch with me for one hour?” he asked Peter. 41“Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.”

(Hebrews 12:1-3) (NLT) 1Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. 2We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne. 3Think of all the hostility he endured from sinful people; then you won’t become weary and give up.

To keep following Christ you’ve got to pre-determine that come Hell or high water you’re going to follow Jesus.

1. Following Christ is a DEVOTED decision.

(Matthew 6:24)(NLT) Jesus said, “No one can serve two masters.

Series: LOST

Message: COME HOME

1. Never Changing Truth:

1. We all SIN.

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

1. We all BATTLE WITHIN.

(James 4:1)(NLT) What is causing the quarrels and fights among you? Don’t they come from the evil desires at war within you?

1. We all keep FALLING OFF TRACK.

(Romans 7:15)(NLT) I don’t really understand myself, for I want to do what is right, but I don’t do it. Instead, I do what I hate.

1. Life Falls Apart When:

1. We think we’ve FIGURED IT OUT.

(Proverbs 14:12) (NLT) There is a path before each person that seems right, but it ends in death.

1. We create our OWN AGENDA.

(Ephesians 5:17) Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord's will is.

1. We ride the SPIRITUAL FENCE.

(Revelation 3:15-16) (NLT) 15“I know all the things you do, that you are neither hot nor cold. I wish that you were one or the other!16But since you are like lukewarm water, neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth! 

1. We attempt anything WITHOUT JESUS.

(John 15:5) (NIV) Jesus said, “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.”

III. The Journey Home Requires:

(Luke 15:11-32) (NLT) 11To illustrate the point further, Jesus told them this story: “A man had two sons. 12The younger son told his father, ‘I want my share of your estate now before you die.’ So his father agreed to divide his wealth between his sons.

13“A few days later this younger son packed all his belongings and moved to a distant land, and there he wasted all his money in wild living. 14About the time his money ran out, a great famine swept over the land, and he began to starve. 15He persuaded a local farmer to hire him, and the man sent him into his fields to feed the pigs. 16The young man became so hungry that even the pods he was feeding the pigs looked good to him. But no one gave him anything.

17“When he finally came to his senses, he said to himself, ‘At home even the hired servants have food enough to spare, and here I am dying of hunger!</