Series: X-Factors

Message: 5 THINGS YOU MUST KEEP DOING

 

Keep SURRENDERING DAILY.

 

(Luke 9:23)(NLT) Then Jesus said to the crowd, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross daily, and follow me.

 

Keep opening GOD’S WORD.

 

(2 Timothy 3:16-17) 16 All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. 17 God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work.

 

Keep privately MEETING WITH GOD.

 

(Luke 5:16)(NIV) But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed.

 

Keep the RIGHT RELATIONSHIPS.

 

(1 Corinthians 15:33-34) (NIV) 33Do not be misled: “Bad company corrupts good character.”34Come back to your senses as you ought, and stop sinning; for there are some who are ignorant of God—I say this to your shame.

 

(Proverbs 27:17)(NLT) As iron sharpens iron, so a friend sharpens a friend.

 

 

Keep LIVING BY FAITH.

 

(2 Corinthians 5:7)(NIV) For we live by faith, not by sight.

 

 

Series: HE CAME

Message: More Than A Manger Scene

3 Things You Must Know:

A. Jesus’ birth was LONG AWAITED.

(Isaiah 9:6)(NIV) “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the

government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful

Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”

B. Jesus’ birth was WORLD CHANGING.

(Isaiah 9:7) (NIV) Of the greatness of his government and peace, there will be

no end. He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom, establishing

and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever.

The zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this.

C. Jesus’ birth was TOTALLY DIVINE.

(Matthew 1:18-25) (NIV)18 This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about:

His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came

together, she was found to be with child through the Holy Spirit.19 Because

Joseph her husband was a righteous man and did not want to expose her to

public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly. 20 But after he had

considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said,

"Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife,

because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. 21 She will give birth

to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his

people from their sins."22 All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said

through the prophet: 23 "The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a

son, and they will call him Immanuel"--which means, "God with us."24 When

Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and

took Mary home as his wife. 25 But he had no union with her until she gave

birth to a son. And he gave him the name Jesus.

(Luke 1:34-35) (NLT)34 Mary asked the angel, “But how can this happen? I

am a virgin.” 35 The angel replied, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and

the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the baby to be born will

be holy, and he will be called the Son of God.

DIVINE GIFTS JESUS GAVE US:

DIVINE – Things that only COME FROM GOD.

1. Jesus’ birth gave us DIVINE LOVE.

(John 3:16) (NIV) “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only

Son…”

(Ephesians 3:18-19) (NLT) 18And may you have the power to understand, as

all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love

is. 19May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to

understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life

and power that comes from God.

(Romans 8:38-39) (NIV) 38 For I am convinced that neither death nor life,

neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any

powers,39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be

able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

2. Jesus’ birth gave us DIVINE PEACE.

(John 16:33)(NLT) I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me.

Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because

I have overcome the world."

(Isaiah 9:7) (NIV) Of the greatness of his government and peace, there will be

no end.

(Luke 2:8-14) (NLT) 8 That night there were shepherds staying in the fields

nearby, guarding their flocks of sheep. 9 Suddenly, an angel of the Lord

appeared among them, and the radiance of the Lord’s glory surrounded them.

They were terrified, 10 but the angel reassured them. “Don’t be afraid!” he

said. “I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people. 11 The

Savior—yes, the Messiah, the Lord—has been born today in Bethlehem, the

city of David! 12 An

Series: He Came

Message: What Jesus Wants For Christmas

1. Jesus wants you to BELIEVE IN HIM.

(Matthew 1:18-24) (NLT) 18 This is how Jesus the Messiah was born. His

mother, Mary, was engaged to be married to Joseph. But before the marriage

took place, while she was still a virgin, she became pregnant through the

power of the Holy Spirit. 19 Joseph, to whom she was engaged, was a righteous

man and did not want to disgrace her publicly, so he decided to break the

engagement quietly.

20 As he considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream.

“Joseph, son of David,” the angel said, “do not be afraid to take Mary as your

wife. For the child within her was conceived by the Holy Spirit. 21 And she will

have a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from

their sins.”

22 All of this occurred to fulfill the Lord’s message through his prophet:

23 “Look! The virgin will conceive a child! She will give birth to a son,

and they will call him Immanuel, which means ‘God is with us.’”

24 When Joseph woke up, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded and took

Mary as his wife. 25 But he did not have sexual relations with her until her son

was born. And Joseph named him Jesus.

(John 3:16)(NLT) “For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and

only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal

life.

(Romans 10:16-17) (NLT) 16But not everyone welcomes the Good News, for

Isaiah the prophet said, “LORD, who has believed our message?” 17So faith

comes from hearing, that is, hearing the Good News about Christ.

2. Jesus wants you to SEEK HIM.

(Matthew 2:1-9) (NLT) 1Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the

reign of King Herod. About that time some wise men from eastern lands

arrived in Jerusalem, asking, 2 “Where is the newborn king of the Jews? We

saw his star as it rose, and we have come to worship him.”

3 King Herod was deeply disturbed when he heard this, as was everyone in

Jerusalem. 4 He called a meeting of the leading priests and teachers of

religious law and asked, “Where is the Messiah supposed to be born?”

5 “In Bethlehem in Judea,” they said, “for this is what the prophet wrote:

6 ‘And you, O Bethlehem in the land of Judah, are not least among the ruling

cities of Judah, for a ruler will come from you who will be the shepherd for

my people Israel.”

7 Then Herod called for a private meeting with the wise men, and he learned

from them the time when the star first appeared. 8 Then he told them, “Go to

Bethlehem and search carefully for the child. And when you find him, come

back and tell me so that I can go and worship him, too!”

9 After this interview the wise men went their way. And the star they had seen

in the east guided them to Bethlehem. It went ahead of them and stopped over

the place where the child was.

(Matthew 6:33) Jesus said, “But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness,

and all these things will be given to you as well.”

(Deuteronomy 4:29)(NIV) But if from there you seek the LORD your God,

you will find him if you seek him with all your heart and with all your soul.

(Jeremiah 29:11-13)(NIV) 11 For I know the plans I have for you,” declares

the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope

and a future.12 Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will

listen to you. 13 You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your

heart.

3. Jesus wants you to WORSHIP HIM.

(Matthew 2:10-11)(NLT) 10 When they saw the star, they were filled with

joy! 11 They entered the house and saw the child with his mother, Mary, and

they bowed down and worshiped him.

WORSHIP

Series: He Came

Message: What Mary Did Know

1. Mary knew she would give birth to GOD’S SON.

(Luke 1:26-32) (NLT) 26 In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent

the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a village in Galilee, 27 to a virgin named Mary.

She was engaged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of King

David. 28 Gabriel appeared to her and said, “Greetings, favored woman! The

Lord is with you!”

29 Confused and disturbed, Mary tried to think what the angel could

mean. 30 “Don’t be afraid, Mary,” the angel told her, “for you have found

favor with God! 31 You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you will name

him Jesus. 32 He will be very great and will be called the Son of the Most High.

LESSON: God SPEAKS TO US in many ways.

(John 10:27)(NLT) My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow

me.

2. Mary knew Jesus would be a WORLD CHANGER.

(Luke 1:32-33)(NLT) 32 He will be very great and will be called the Son of the

Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his ancestor

David.33 And he will reign over Israel forever; his Kingdom will never end!”

LESSON: Every Christ follower is called to BE LIGHT.

(Matthew 5:14)(NLT) You are the light of the world--like a city on a hilltop

that cannot be hidden.

(John 8:12)(NLT) Jesus spoke to the people once more and said, "I am the

light of the world. If you follow me, you won't have to walk in darkness,

because you will have the light that leads to life."

3. Mary knew Jesus’ birth would be HARD TO EXPLAIN.

(Luke 1:34-37)(NLT) 34 Mary asked the angel, “But how can this happen? I

am a virgin.” 35 The angel replied, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and

the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the baby to be born will

be holy, and he will be called the Son of God. 36 What’s more, your relative

Elizabeth has become pregnant in her old age! People used to say she was

barren, but she has conceived a son and is now in her sixth month.37 For the

word of God will never fail.”

LESSON: God’s plans don’t always MAKE SENSE.

(1 Corinthians 1:27)(NIV) But God chose the foolish things of the world to

shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong.

(Proverbs 3:5)(NLT) Trust in the LORD with all your heart; do not depend

on your own understanding.

4. Mary knew she just needed to BELIEVE GOD.

(Luke 1:38) (NLT) Mary responded, “I am the Lord’s servant. May

everything you have said about me come true.” And then the angel left her.

LESSON: All God asks us to do is TRUST & OBEY.

(John 3:16)(NLT) "For God loved the world so much that he gave his one and

only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal

life.

(John 14:15)(NLT) "If you love me, obey my commandments.

5. Mary knew she was HIGHLY FAVORED.

(Luke 1:39-45) (NLT) 39 A few days later Mary hurried to the hill country of

Judea, to the town 40 where Zechariah lived. She entered the house and

greeted Elizabeth. 41 At the sound of Mary’s greeting, Elizabeth’s child leaped

within her, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.

42 Elizabeth gave a glad cry and exclaimed to Mary, “God has blessed you

above all women, and your child is blessed. 43 Why am I so honored, that the

mother of my Lord should visit me? 44 When I heard your greeting, the baby

in my womb jumped for joy.” 45 “You are blessed because you believed that

the Lord would do what he said.”

(Luke 1:46-56)(NLT) 46 Mary responded,

“Oh, how my soul praises the Lord.

47 How my spirit rejoices in God my Savior!

48 For he took notice of his lowly servant girl,

and from now on all generations will call me blessed.

49 For

Series: HE CAME

Message: What’s The Big Deal?

 

Jesus’ Birth was LONG AWAITED & FORETOLD.

 

#1 The Place Of Jesus’ Birth.

(Micah 5:2)(NLT) But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, are only a small village among all the people of Judah. Yet a ruler of Israel, whose origins are in the distant past, will come from you on my behalf.

 

#2 His Virgin Birth & Divine Nature

(Isaiah 7:14)(NLT) All right then, the Lord himself will give you the sign. Look! The virgin will conceive a child! She will give birth to a son and will call him Immanuel (which means ‘God is with us’).

 

#3 The Presentation of Gifts

(Psalm 72:10-11)(NLT) The western kings of Tarshish and other distant lands

will bring him tribute. The eastern kings of Sheba and Seba will bring him gifts.11 All kings will bow before him, and all nations will serve him.

 

#4 The Massacre of Children

(Jeremiah 31:15)(NLT)This is what the Lord says: “A cry is heard in Ramah—deep anguish and bitter weeping. Rachel weeps for her children, refusing to be comforted—for her children are gone.”

 

#5 Jesus’ Escape To Egypt

(Hosea 11:1)(NLT) “When Israel was a child, I loved him, and I called my son out of Egypt.

 

#6 Jesus’ Residence in Nazareth.

(Matthew 2:23)(NLT) So the family went and lived in a town called Nazareth. This fulfilled what the prophets had said: “He will be called a Nazarene.”

 

#7 Jesus’ Childhood Poverty.

(Isaiah 53:2)(NLT) My servant grew up in the Lord’s presence like a tender green shoot, like a root in dry ground. There was nothing beautiful or majestic about his appearance, nothing to attract us to him.

 

Jesus’ Birth CHANGED HISTORY.

 

(Isaiah 9:6-7) (NIV) 6 For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.7 Of the greatness of his government and peace, there will be no end. He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this.

 

Jesus’ Birth was TOTALLY DIVINE.

 

(Matthew 1:18-25) (NIV)18 This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be with child through the Holy Spirit.19 Because Joseph her husband was a righteous man and did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly. 20 But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, "Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. 21 She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins."22 All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: 23 "The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel"--which means, "God with us."24 When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife. 25 But he had no union with her until she gave birth to a son. And he gave him the name Jesus.

 

Jesus’ birth was GOD’S GREATEST GIFT.

 

(John 3:16)(NIV) For God SO LOVED the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

 

(Ephesians 2:8-9) (NIV) 8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast…

 

Jesus’ birth was HOPE IN A MANGER.

 

Series: Heartology

Message: How To Maintain Your Joy

3 THINGS YOU SHOULD KNOW:

A. Satan is trying to LEAD YOU ASTRAY.

(Genesis 3:1-19) (NIV) 1Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild

animals the LORD God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God really say,

‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden’?”

2The woman said to the serpent, “We may eat fruit from the trees in the

garden, 3but God did say, ‘You must not eat fruit from the tree that is in the

middle of the garden, and you must not touch it, or you will die.’”

4“You will not certainly die,” the serpent said to the woman. 5“For God knows

that when you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God,

knowing good and evil.”

6When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing

to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She

also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it.

7Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they realized they were naked;

so they sewed fig leaves together and made coverings for themselves.

8Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the LORD God as he was walking

in the garden in the cool of the day, and they hid from the LORD God among

the trees of the garden.

9But the LORD God called to the man, “Where are you?”10He answered, “I

heard you in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; so I hid.”

11And he said, “Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the

tree that I commanded you not to eat from?”12The man said, “The woman you

put here with me—she gave me some fruit from the tree, and I ate it.”

13Then the LORD God said to the woman, “What is this you have done?” The

woman said, “The serpent deceived me, and I ate.”

14So the LORD God said to the serpent, “Because you have done this,

“Cursed are you above all livestock and all wild animals!

You will crawl on your belly and you will eat dust all the days of your life.

15And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your

offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel.”

16To the woman he said, “I will make your pains in childbearing very severe;

with painful labor you will give birth to children. Your desire will be for your

husband, and he will rule over you.”

17To Adam he said, “Because you listened to your wife and ate fruit from the

tree about which I commanded you, ‘You must not eat from it,’

“Cursed is the ground because of you; through painful toil you will eat food

from it all the days of your life.

18It will produce thorns and thistles for you, and you will eat the plants of the

field. 19By the sweat of your brow you will eat your food until you return to the

ground, since from it you were taken; for dust you are and to dust you will

return.”

B. Satan is trying to TAKE YOU DOWN.

(1 Peter 5:8)(NLT) Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He

prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour.

C. Satan is trying to STEAL YOUR JOY.

(John 10:10)(NIV) Jesus said, “The thief comes only to steal and kill and

destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the fullest.”

5 THINGS WE MUST DO DAILY:

1. Keep GIVING THANKS.

(James 1:17)(NLT) “Whatever is good and perfect comes down to us from

God our Father, who created all the lights in the heavens. He never

changes…”

(1 Thessalonians 5:18)(NIV) Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God's

will for you in Christ Jesus.

(Psalm 107:1-2) (NASB) 1Oh give thanks to the LORD, for He is good, For His

lovingkindness is everlasting.2Let the redeemed of the LORD say so,

Whom He has redeemed from

Series: Heartology

Message: THE END OF ME

“A Servant’s Heart”

 

(All Scripture references are from the NASB Bible Translation)

 

Jesus was UNSELFISH.

(Philippians 2:3-5) 3Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; 4do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others. 5Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus,

 

(John 13:15) For I gave you an example that you also should do as I did to you.

 

Jesus was HUMBLE.

(Philippians 2:3) Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves;

 

(Proverbs 16:18) Pride goes before destruction,

And a haughty spirit before stumbling.

 

Jesus was a TEAM PLAYER.

(Philippians 2:1-2) 1Therefore if there is any encouragement in Christ, if there is any consolation of love, if there is any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and compassion, 2make my joy complete by being of the same mind, maintaining the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose.

 

(John 17:21-23) 21that they may all be one; even as You, Father, are in Me and I in You, that they also may be in Us, so that the world may believe that You sent Me. 22The glory which You have given Me I have given to them, that they may be one, just as We are one; 23I in them and You in Me, that they may be perfected in unity, so that the world may know that You sent Me, and loved them, even as You have loved Me.

 

 

 

(1 Corinthians 12:25-27) 25so that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another. 26And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it.27Now you are Christ's body, and individually members of it.

 

Jesus was DAILY DYING TO SELF.

(Philippians 2:6-8) 6who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. 8Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.

 

(Luke 9:23) 23And He was saying to them all, "If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross daily and follow Me.

 

Jesus was FUELED BY LOVE.

(Romans 5:8) But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

 

(John 15:13) Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends.

 

Jesus was LIVING TO PLEASE GOD.

(Mark 10:45) For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many."

 

Jesus was OBEDIENT TO DEATH.

(Philippians 2:8) Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.

Series: Heartology

Message: Dealing With PTSD

(PTSD) Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder - a mental health condition triggered

by a terrifying event — either experiencing it or witnessing it. Symptoms may

include flashbacks, nightmares and severe anxiety, as well as uncontrollable

thoughts about the event.

(Proverbs 12:25)(ESV) Anxiety in a man’s heart weighs him down, but a good

word makes him glad.

Things We Must Understand About PTSD:

A. PTSD is not something MAKE BELIEVE.

“It’s real, even if it’s hard to explain.” — Natalie Hyland

“Many of my decisions today are affected by this condition. I live with bouts

of anxiety and hyper-vigilance because of my trauma.” — Michelle Rotella

“He didn’t have to hit me to leave a scar.” — Allison Rockwell

“I have scars you can’t see. I have feelings you can’t feel. I have thoughts you

could never understand. When you look at me you see the same person as

before, but when I look at me I see a completely different person.”

— Pam Berry

“I’m not being overly sensitive, looking for attention or making it up. I can’t

control how certain things affect me. If I could control it, believe me when I

tell you that I would.” — Melissa Goodman

“I already hate myself, so putting me down for not being normal and judging

and criticizing me because I can’t do certain things or can’t control myself

does not help not even one bit.” — Jessica Turner

B. No one CHOOSES PTSD.

PTSD will affect 7.8 percent of Americans at some point in their lives,,

according to the Department of Veterans Affairs.

“I did not ask for the things that I’ve been through, and I certainly did not ask

my mind to paint and repaint the pictures in flashback form.”

— Michelle Groth

“It isn’t just war veterans who suffer from it. It’s caused by being in any

traumatic situation, such as mental, physical or sexual abuse. Car accidents or

watching a traumatic incident can also cause it.” — Julianne Jeppesen

C. Getting through PTSD TAKES TIME.

“Even though it’s 13 years since [my sexual assault], when I’m having a panic

attack, it feels like it was 13 days ago. It isn’t in my past. It’s in my every

day.” – Helen Wilson

“Some days are worse than others, but those good days don’t mean we’re

‘better’ or ‘over it.’ It’s really not a thing you can just ‘get over.’ Moving past

it takes time and a lot of effort.” — Madison Chamberlain

“It could take you years to actually face what has happened. And numerous

more to overcome it. PTSD is not easy to deal with, much less live with.”

— Carol Sides

“It’s a never-ending battle. Sometimes you think you have it beat but then

something else comes along to trigger it and you feel like you’re at square one

again.” — Kristen Abbas

D. There is no way to deal with PTSD 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.

(Matthew 11:28-30) (NIV) Jesus said, “Come to me, all you who are weary

and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn

from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your

souls. 30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

(Philippians 4:13)(NKJV) I can do all things through Christ who strengthens

me.

4 Keys To Overcoming PTSD:

Put Things In God’s Hands.

(1 Peter 5:7)(NIV) Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.

(Matthew 19:26)(NIV) Jesus looked at them and said, "With man this is

impossible, but with God all things are possible."

Trust Jesus with Everything.

(Psalm 34:18)(NLT) The LORD is close to the brokenhearted; he rescues

those