SouthPoint Church

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Notes: 

Sometimes we lack peace because our poor decision created a painful and dysfunctional result.

Angry – Stressed – Fearful – Hurt – Frustrated – Anxious – Insecure -

Greedy – Hateful – Resentful – Envious – Selfish – Jealous – Lustful

A lack of inner peace keeps us stuck in a loop of dysfunction which leads to more and more stress

Our current definition of peace is impossible to experience in the real world.

Peace: Freedom from Disturbance or a State of Tranquility.

In a world that is broken, and where everyone is flawed, Conflict and Chaos become unavoidable.

How do we find inner-peace?

Inner-Peace: 

Surrender: It’s the admission that life is hard and unfair…

Yet we choose to OBEY God regardless of how we feel or the effort required

Surrender requires: Self-discipline - We surrender our desire to “feel good” in the moment so we can have what “is good” even if it’s delayed.

“Anyone who hears and obeys these teachings of mine is like a wise person who built a house on solid rock. Rain poured down, rivers flooded, and winds beat against that house. But it was built on solid rock, and so it did not fall.”

“Anyone who hears my teachings and doesn't obey them is like a foolish person who built a house on sand. Rain poured down, rivers flooded, and the winds blew and beat against that house. Finally, it fell with a crash.”

For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline.

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.

We’ll experience the pain of DISCIPLINE

Three keys to discipline:

Full surrender to Jesus transforms our view of discipline from being a pain to a pathway of peace.

Welcome!

Church Online is a community of people all over the experiencing God and connecting with one another like never before in history. Introduce yourself in the chat and let us know where you're from! 

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Notes: 

Our definition of peace is impossible to experience in the real world.

Peace: Freedom from Disturbance or a State of Tranquility 

In a world that is broken, and where everyone is flawed, Conflict and Chaos become unavoidable.

Aiming at the impossible sets us up to be continuously disappointed.

Jesus’s Peace:

A wholeness, a wellness, and a completeness of every area of life

We want PEACE: 

Peace with CREATOR

“‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”

Trying to manufacture a peace with creation…without having peace with our Creator leads to failure and futility.

Only our Creator can answer these:

Who am I meant to be?

What am I meant to do?

How do I live out who and what I am?

Problem: All are naturally disconnected from our Creator.

God: Perfect & Holy

Us: Flawed & Sinful

For God in all his fullness was pleased to live in Christ, and through him God reconciled everything to himself. He made peace with everything in heaven and on earth by means of Christ’s blood on the cross.

…Yet now he has reconciled you to himself through the death of Christ in his physical body. As a result, he has brought you into his own presence, and you are holy and blameless as you stand before him without a single fault…

Who am I meant to be?

What am I meant to do?

How do I live out who and what I am?

See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!

Who am I meant to be?

What am I meant to do?

How do I live out who and what I am?

Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but ALSO the interests of others. Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus:

Who am I meant to be?

What am I meant to do?

How do I live out who and what I am?

“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.”

Peace with God through Jesus gives us the needed foundation to have peace with rest of creation!

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Notes: 

Everyone wants to have PEACE in their lives

The world has gone mad!

So, yes, the world is getting angrier. According to Gallup’s Global Emotions report, negative emotions remained at their highest level in 2023 (tied with 2022). Anger is a piece of this data, and it remains near an all-time high worldwide.

Why so disturbed? 

A life without peace is filled with self-sabotage

Misunderstanding what PEACE is and how it works actually keeps us from finding the peace we seek.

Peace is multi-dimensional:

PEACE definition:

If everyone is flawed and the world is broken then conflict and chaos are unavoidable

PEACE needs to be…

Shalom means: “May you be fulfilled”

For a child is born to us, a son is given to us. The government will rest on his shoulders.  And he will be called: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. His government and its peace will never end.

“I give you peace, the kind of peace only I can give. It isn't like the peace this world can give. So don't be worried or afraid.”

“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For He Himself is our peace…

Observations:

The peace we so desperately need isn’t a feeling or circumstance, it’s a person named Jesus!

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Notes: 

Without authenticity we experience “less-than” in life:

No one wants to be a “sell-out” in the story of their own life

No one intends to be a “sell-out” but the slow drift of distraction diverts our attention from our purpose to “feeling better”.

How do we avoid the natural drift of distraction that can cause us to “sell-out” and miss our destiny?

“Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants, so that they did not bear grain.”

“Still others, like seed sown among thorns, hear the word; but the worries of this life, the deceitfulness of wealth and the desires for other things come in and choke the word, making it unfruitful.”

Be very careful as distractions can rob us of the life God has for us.

1. Anchor of His Word

“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.” 

1. Anchor of His Word

…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…

1. Anchor of His Word

“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples”

God provides three connection anchors (Christ, Community, Cause) to keep us from selling-out to the drift of distraction.

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Notes: 

Every human being has hypocritical moments

ALL of us have hypocritical moments – No one wants to be a hypocritical person

Hypocrisy is a refusal to admit that the “evil-of-self” lives equally in our hearts, so we present ourselves falsely and treat others unfairly.

Hypocrisy makes us: BLIND and UNKIND

How do we avoid the trap of moving from hypocritical moments to becoming a hypocritical person?

Without authenticity we’re less connected to others and to our purpose.

How do we NOT become a hypocritical person?

“Be careful not to practice your righteousness in front of others to be seen by them.”

“So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by others.”

“And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by others.”

“And when you fast, do not put on a sad face as the hypocrites do. They neglect their appearance so that everyone will see that they are fasting.”

Jesus reveals that hypocrisy has two harmful parts:

“And why worry about a speck in your friend’s eye when you have a log in your own? 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? 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.”

Jesus reveals that hypocrisy has two harmful parts: 

The Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, the glory as the only Son of the Father, full of grace and truth.

Who’s my Audience (people or God)

The grace and truth found in Jesus frees us to see ourselves and others honestly.

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Notes: 

POSEUR: A person who acts in a superficial way, while lacking the actual substance. Appearance vs. Actual

Financially – Vocationally – Physically - Morally – Relationally

Settling for the appearance of something without the substance of that thing causes us to miss out

How do we authentically follow Jesus and not settle for the appearance of religion?

Without authenticity we’re less connected to others and to our purpose

How do we authentically follow Jesus and not settle for the appearance of religion?

“Be careful, or your hearts will be weighed down with too much self-indulgence, drinking and worries of life…”

Brokenness weighs us down and warps our hearts so that we settle for the appearance of religion instead of an authentic relationship 

In a broken world where we’re all flawed, having an authentic relationship requires us to fight for it!

Fight for Authenticity:

Very early the next morning before daylight, Jesus got up and went to a place where he could be alone and pray. But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed.

Fight for Authenticity:

Later Jesus took Peter, James and John to the top of a mountain. No one else was there. Suddenly his face began to shine with glory, and his clothing became dazzling white, far more glorious than any earthly process could ever make it!

Fight for Authenticity:

…”I sacrifice my life so I may take it back again. No one can take my life from me. I sacrifice it voluntarily. For I have the authority to lay it down when I want to and also to take it up again.”

Being in love and being good are drastically different - An authentic relationship with Jesus doesn’t just happen, it’s intentional.

Bible (verse of the day)

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Notes: 

“There is nothing that can separate you from the love of God.”

Fearing authenticity will:  

Authentic - Greater Purpose

How do we avoid the less-than of living a disingenuous life and experience the fullness of an authentic life?

Hidden Obstacles: 

At that moment their eyes were opened, and they suddenly felt shame at their nakedness. So they sewed fig leaves together to cover themselves.

…the man and his wife heard the Lord God walking about in the garden. So they hid from the Lord God among the trees. Then the Lord God called to the man, “Where are you?”

The man replied, “It was the woman you gave me who gave me the fruit, and I ate it.” And the woman said, “The serpent deceived me, and I ate.”

Shame – Covering – Hiding – Blame

OBSTACLES TO AUTHENCITY:

But the other criminal protested, “Don’t you fear God even when you have been sentenced to die? We deserve to die for our crimes, but this man hasn’t done anything wrong.”

Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your Kingdom.” And Jesus replied, “I assure you, today you will be with me in paradise.”

THIEF ON CROSS:

GOD THROUGH JESUS:

God’s love and grace found in Jesus FREES us to live authentically for Him and not others!

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Notes: 

HOW and Why

Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

1. Jesus removes performance barriers by issuing an open invitation to ALL

2. Jesus offers grace and guidance not rules and regulations. 

3. Jesus provides a path to peace and rest. 

CHALLENGE:

How can I look at my life through the lens of Jesus changes everything?

What can I do today to embrace the perspective that Jesus changes everything?

Who can I reach out to for support on this journey?

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Notes: 

Jesus changes your parenting.

All people are made in the image of God so dignity and respect will be given to everyone.

Every parent wants to be a better parent.

Being a child today is not the same as it used to be.

It’s not doubt that’s toxic to faith, it’s silence.

“Ask and it will be given to you, seek and you will find, knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who receives; the one who seeks find; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.”

“ASK and it will be given to you, SEEK and you will find, KNOCK and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.”

Jesus asks questions.

“Where shall we buy bread for these people to eat?”

Philip answered him, “It would take more than half a year’s wages to buy enough bread for each one to have a bite!”

He asked this only to test him, for he already had in mind what he was going to do.

Jesus – Ask

Humanity – Know

Jesus asks questions.

Jesus seeks the truth.

 “All right but let the one who has never sinned throw the first stone!” Then he stooped down again and wrote in the dust.

When the accusers heard this, they slipped away one by one, beginning with the oldest, until only Jesus was left in the middle of the crowd with the woman.

Then Jesus stood up again and said to the woman, “Where are your accusers? Didn’t even one of them condemn you?” “No, Lord,” she said. And Jesus said, “Neither do I. Go and sin no more.”

Jesus: Ask – Seek

Humanity: Know – Assume

Jesus asks questions.

Then the Lord God called to the man, “Where are you?”

He replied, “I heard you walking in the garden, so I hid. I was afraid because I was naked.”

Jesus: Ask – Seek – Knock

Humanity: Know – Assume - Defend

“You parents—if your children ask for a loaf of bread, do you give them a stone instead? Or if they ask for a fish, do you give them a snake? Of course not!”  

“So if you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give good gifts to those who ask him.”

“Do to others whatever you would like them to do to you. This is the essence of all that is taught in the law and the prophets.”

“DO TO others whatever you would like them to DO TO you. This is the essence of all that is taught in the law and the prophets.”

Everyone is worthy of dignity and respect.

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Notes: 

We’re contributors, not consumers.

Jesus changes your finances.

“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy…

…and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

“No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.”

And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.

“His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’”

1. Recognize God as the owner

1. Recognize God as the owner

“Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much… 

…So if you have not been trustworthy in handling worldly wealth, who will trust you with true riches?”

1. Recognize God as the owner

Jesus sat down opposite the place where the offerings were put and watched the crowd putting their money into the temple treasury. Many rich people threw in large amounts.

But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins, worth only a few cents. 

Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, “Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything - all she had to live on.” 

“Test me in this”, says the Lord Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it.”

1. Recognize God as the owner