It's Christmas time again! The guys have some fun stuff in store today!

NOTES:

God showed how much he loved us by sending his one and only Son into the world so that we might have eternal life through him. This is real love — not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins.

1 John 4:9–10 (NLT)

WE ARE LOVED BY GOD

Dear friends, let us continue to love one another, for love comes from God. Anyone who loves is a child of God and knows God. 

1 John 4:7 (NLT)

Dear friends, since God loved us that much, we surely ought to love each other. No one has ever seen God. But if we love each other, God lives in us, and his love is brought to full expression in us. 

1 John 4:11-12 (NLT)  

WE ARE LOVED BY GOD AND CALLED TO LOVE OTHERS. 

HOW DO WE DO THIS?

Be Mindful

Be Grace-FULL

Be Self-Giving

 

BOTTOM LINE:

As I have BEEN loved, so I WILL love. 

THE CHALLENGE:

What does love REQUIRE of me?

Josh is going solo this week. He always has some great things to share. Listen in.

NOTES:

Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again—rejoice! Let everyone see that you are considerate in all you do. Remember, the Lord is coming soon. Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus. And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.

Philippians 4:4–8 (NLT)

3 Practical Steps to Living the Abundant Life:

1. GIVE THANKS.

2. DRAW NEAR.

3. FIX YOUR EYES.

BOTTOM LINE:

Jesus knows where to TAKE you because he alone knows WHERE you’re going.

THE CHALLENGE:

Take a STEP to an ABUNDANT life.

NOTES:

Test everything. Hold on to what is good.”

1 Thessalonians 5:21 (NLT)

Now the Berean Jews were of more noble character than those in Thessalonica, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true.

Acts 17:11 (NIV)

PRINCIPLES FOR THE SEARCH FOR TRUTH:

Questions are GOOD

Doubt is NORMAL

Play FAIR

CONFIDENCE is the goal

WHY WE CAN HAVE CONFIDENCE IN THE BIBLE:

1. CONSISTENCY.

2. RELIABILITY of the Manuscripts

3. ARCHAEOLOGY

4. Fulfilled PROPHECY

WHY WE CAN HAVE CONFIDENCE IN JESUS:

Jesus was EXECUTED by Pontius Pilate

The tomb of Jesus was EMPTY

The CHURCH was founded in Jesus’ name

People were TRANSFORMED

BOTTOM LINE:

TRUTH is worth the SEARCH.

THE CHALLENGE:

DIG DEEPER

RESOURCES FOR FURTHER STUDY

Books

Evidence that Demands a Verdict

The Case for Christ (student edition)

The Resurrection of the Son of God, N.T. Wright

Surprised by Hope, N.T. Wright

The Reason for God, Timothy Keller

Truth About God: What Can We Know and How Can We Know It? Richard Knopp

Websites/Videos:

Room For Doubt: https://roomfordoubt.com

https://www.reasonablefaith.org/​

RightNow Media Resources

Apologetics – Chad Ragsdale

Apologetics – William Lane Craig

org: lots and lots of resources listed for further study

https://www.apologetics.org

https://www.peterkreeft.com

Kids:

Bible Unearthed on RightNow Media: Good for Adults too! https://app.rightnowmedia.org/en/content/details/418269

The Case for Christ Student Edition

How Great is our God: 100 Indescribable Devotions About God and Science

The Awesome Book of Bible Answers for Kids, Josh McDowell and Kevin Johnson.

Living on Mission.

The guys discuss Adam's sermon about how to live on mission, and loads of other topics in this week's episode. Plus, Luke drops a BOMBSHELL!

NOTES:

Jesus came and told his disciples, “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

Matthew 28:18–20 (NLT)

Our mission is a CONTINUATION of Jesus’s mission.

Our mission has ETERNAL significance.

Our mission is a PRIVILEGE.

Our mission gives MEANING.

SHARE YOUR STORY

And if someone asks about your hope as a believer, always be ready to explain it.

1 Peter 3:15 (NLT)

HOW TO SHARE YOUR STORY

1. Who I was BEFORE Christ.

2. What made me realize I NEEDED Christ.

3. How I COMMITTED to Christ.

4. How Jesus has CHANGED my life.

SHARE YOUR LIFE LESSONS

As for you, Titus, promote the kind of living that reflects wholesome teaching. Titus 2:1 (NLT)

SHARE AN INVITATION

“Come and see,” John 1:39 (NLT)

BOTTOM LINE:

Jesus not only calls us TO him but to GO FOR him.

THE CHALLENGE:

PRAY and SHARE

You need the church, and the church needs you.

Adam, Josh, and Luke give some life check-ins, football, and insight into the importance of life-giving relationships. Listen in now!

NOTES:

Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching. 

Hebrews 10:23–25 (NIV)

You may be ONE community away from changing your life!

THREE COMMUNITIES WE NEED.

A Community that CHALLENGES you.

As iron sharpens iron, so a friend sharpens a friend. 

Proverbs 27:17 (NLT)

2.  A Community who FIGHTS for you.

A friend is always loyal, and a brother is born to help in time of need. 

Proverbs 17:17 (NLT)

3.  A Community who tells you the TRUTH.

An open rebuke is better than hidden love! Wounds from a sincere friend are better than many kisses from an enemy. 

Proverbs 27:5–6 (NLT)

BOTTOM LINE:

God uses PEOPLE to form PEOPLE.

THE CHALLENGE:

Have ONE UNHURRIED conversation.

Be transformed. The guys discuss all sorts of things this week. Listen in as the break down Part Two of Searching.