The weekly podcast of SouthPoint Church in Southaven, MS led by Pastor Craig Wendel.

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We are a people of faith, known for our love and a voice of hope in our community.

We exist so people far from God will find fullness of life in Christ.

We always bring our best Honoring God & serving people. #Excellence

The level of excellence that we produce with our God given resources, reveals the perfection of Christ that lives in our hearts.

Colossians 3:23 (New International Version)

Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters.

The Excellence Effect

2 Chronicles 9:1-4 (New International Version)

When the queen of Shebaheardof Solomon’s fame, she came to Jerusalem to test him with hard questions.

1. She heard of his fame.

2. She tested his wisdom

Practical Wisdom

Don’t answer, listen

Don’t “fix,” engage

Don’t assume they’re completely wrong

Recognize that there is room in the Kingdom

Ask them about their journey not their issues

3. She experiencedthe excellence.

2 Chronicles 9:3-4 (The Message)

When the queen of Sheba experienced for herself Solomon’s wisdom and saw with her own eyes the palace he had built, the meals that were served, the impressive array of court officials, the sharply dressed waiters, the cupbearers, and then the elaborate worship extravagant with Whole-Burnt-Offerings at The Temple of God, it all took her breath away.

2 Chronicles 9:5-6, 8 (New Living Translation)

She exclaimed to the king, “Everything I heard in my country about your achievements and wisdom is true!I didn’t believe what was said until I arrived here and saw it with my own eyes...Praise the Lord your God, who delights in you and has placed you on the throne as king to rule for him. Because God loves Israel and desires this kingdom to last forever, he has made you king over them so you can rule with justice and righteousness.”

The weekly podcast of SouthPoint Church in Southaven, MS led by Pastor Craig Wendel.

Notes:

VISION:

We are a people of faith, known for our love, and a voice of hope in our community.

MISSION:

SouthPoint exists so that people far from God will find fullness of life in Christ.

The local church is a big deal to God and a big deal to us.

We will invest our lives to build the local church. #LOCALCHURCH #ALLIN

Philippians 2:14 (New King James Version)

Do all things without complaining and disputing.

Things to know about Church

1. We need to live in harmony: that takes work.

Ephesians 4:2-3 (New Living Translation)

Always be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other’s faults because of your love.Make every effort to keep yourselves united in the Spirit, binding yourselves together with peace.

Romans 12:16 (New International Version)

Live in harmony with one another.Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited.

Psalm 133 (New Living Translation)

How wonderful and pleasant it is when brothers live together in harmony! For harmony is as precious as the anointing oil that was poured over Aaron’s head, that ran down his beard and onto the border of his robe. Harmony is as refreshing as the dew from Mount Hermon that falls on the mountains of Zion. And there the Lord has pronounced [commanded] his blessing, even life everlasting.

2. We need to be planted: That takes tenacity.

Psalm 92:12-13 (New International Version)

The righteous will flourish like a palm tree, they will grow like a cedar of Lebanon; planted in the house of the Lord, they will flourish in the courts of our God.

3. We need a relationship: That takes Passion.

Ephesians 5:25-27, 32 (New International Version)

Husbands, love your wives,just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word,and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish...This is a great mystery, but it is an illustration of the way Christ and the church are one.

4. We need to seethe church as He does: That takes grace.

“There is nothing like the local church when it’s working right. Its beauty is indescribable. Its power is breathtaking. Its potential is unlimited. It comforts the grieving and heals the broken in the context of community. It builds bridges to seekers and opens its arms to the forgotten, the downtrodden, and the disillusioned. It breaks the chains of addictions, frees the oppressed, and offers belonging to the marginalized of this world. The potential of the local church is almost more than I can grasp.” - Bill Hybels

The weekly podcast of SouthPoint Church in Southaven, MS led by Pastor Craig Wendel.

The weekly podcast of SouthPoint Church in Southaven, MS led by Pastor Craig Wendel.

The weekly podcast of SouthPoint Church in Southaven, Mississippi led by Pastor Craig Wendel.

1 Timothy 6:17(New International Version)

Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment.

Every blessing you don’t turn back to praise—turns into pride.

1 Timothy 6:18-19(New International Version)

Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life.

GOOD NEWS, BAD NEWS

1)The good news is: You are RICH!

Ecclesiastes 5:19(New International Version)

Moreover, when God gives someone wealth and possessions, and the ability to enjoy them...this is a gift of God.

We constantly consume everything God gives us.

God has blessed me with more than I need. I’m rich.

2)The bad news is: You are RICH!

Luke 18:24-25(New International Version)

“How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God! Indeed, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.”

THE PROBLEMS

It’s harder for you to depend on God

It distracts you from true priorities

You have a greater responsibility

Luke 12:48 (New International Version)

From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked.

“God has blessed me with more than I need. I’m rich.”

1 Timothy 6:17(New International Version)

Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life.

The weekly podcast of SouthPoint Church in Southaven, Mississippi led by Pastor Craig Wendel.

The weekly podcast of SouthPoint Church in Southaven, Mississippi led by Pastor Craig Wendel.

The weekly podcast of SouthPoint Church in Southaven, Mississippi led by Pastor Craig Wendel.

John 10:17-18 (NLT)

“The Father loves me because 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...

Genesis 22:1-10 (NIV)

Some time later God tested Abraham. He said to him, “Abraham!” “Here I am,” he replied.Then God said, “Take your son, your only son, whom you love-Isaac-and go to the region of Moriah. Sacrifice him there as a burnt offering on a mountain I will show you.” Early the next morning Abraham got up and loaded his donkey. He took with him two of his servants and his son Isaac. When he had cut enough wood for the burnt offering, he set out for the place God had told him about. On the third day Abraham looked up and saw the place in the distance.He said to his servants, “Stay here with the donkey while I and the boy go over there. We will worship and then we will come back to you.” Abraham took the wood for the burnt offering and placed it on his son Isaac, and he himself carried the fire and the knife. As the two of them went on together, Isaac spoke up and said to his father Abraham, “Father?” “Yes, my son?” Abraham replied. “The fire and wood are here,” Isaac said, “but where is the lamb for the burnt offering?” Abraham answered, “God himself will provide the lamb for the burnt offering, my son.” And the two of them went on together. When they reached the place God had told him about, Abraham built an altar there and arranged the wood on it. He bound his son Isaac and laid him on the altar, on top of the wood. Then he reached out his hand and took the knife to slay his son.

Hebrews 11:17-19 (NLT)

It was by faith that Abraham offered Isaac as a sacrifice when God was testing him. Abraham, who had received God’s promises, was ready to sacrifice his only son, Isaac, even though God had told him, “Isaac is the son through whom your descendants will be counted.” Abraham reasoned that if Isaac died, God was able to bring him back to life again. And in a sense, Abraham did receive his son back from the dead.

1. True love is a choice made from a freewill

2.Obedience is the greatest form of worship you can give to God

3.There is a cost to be a follower of Jesus

4.The reward of obeying God is always greater than the cost of obeying God

The weekly podcast of SouthPoint Church, led by Pastor Craig Wendel.

Hebrews 12:1 (New International Version)

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us,

Judges 4:4(New International Version)

Now Deborah,a prophet,the wife of Lappidoth, was leading Israel at that time.

We have to live like the kingdom of God is a CO-OP, not a competition.

Isaiah 43:1-4(The Message)

Don’t be afraid, I’ve redeemed you. I’ve called your name. You’re mine. When you’re in over your head, I’ll be there with you. When you’re in rough waters, you will not go down. When you’re between a rockand a hard place, it won’t be a dead end—Because I am GOD, your personal God, The Holy of Israel, your Savior. I paid a huge price for you: all of Egypt, with rich Cush and Seba thrown in! That’show much you mean to me! That’show much Ilove you! I’d sell off the whole world to get you back, trade the creation just for you.

How to live without wishing you were someone else:

Be careful if and howyou confess your jealousy/envy.

Guard your friendsfrom jealousy

Matthew 6:1-4(The Message)

Be especially careful when you are trying to be good so that you don’t make a performance out of it. It might be good theater, but the God who made you won’t be applauding. When you do something for someone else, don’t call attention to yourself. You’ve seen them in action, I’m sure—‘play-actors’ I call them—treating prayer meeting and street corner alike as a stage, acting compassionate as long as someone is watching, playing to the crowds. They get applause, true, but that’s all they get. When you help someone out, don’t think about how it looks. Just do it—quietly and unobtrusively. That is the way your God, who conceived you in love, working behind the scenes, helps you out.

Dare to encourageinstead of compare

Proverbs 18:21 (The Message)

Words kill, words give life;they’re either poison or fruit—you choose.

Speaking all the ways that your friend encourages you through her one-of-a-kind way of living out the purpose God’s put on her life, will fill up your hungry spaces with the satisfaction of truth instead of the bitter crusts of comparison. – Lisa-Jo Baker (Never Unfriended)

The weekly podcast of SouthPoint Church, led by Pastor Craig Wendel.

Hebrews 12:1 (New International Version)

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us,

John 4:7, 9 (Easy-to-Read Version)

A Samaritan woman came to the well to get some water, and Jesus said to her, “Please give me a drink.”The woman answered, “I am surprised that you ask me for a drink! You are a maleJew and I am a Samaritan woman!”

John 4:11-15 (The Message)

The woman said, “Sir, you don’t even have a bucket to draw with, and this well is deep. So how are you going to get this ‘living water’? Are you a better man than our ancestor Jacob?” Jesus said, “Everyone who drinks this water will get thirsty again and again. Anyone who drinks the water I give will never thirst—not ever. The water I give will be an artesian spring within, gushing fountains of endless life.” The woman said, “Sir, give me this water so I won’t ever get thirsty, won’t ever have to come back to this well again!”

Religion produces a product.

John 4:16-18 (The Message)

He said, “Go call your husband and then come back.” “I have no husband,” she said. “That’s nicely put: ‘I have no husband.’ You’ve had five husbands, and the man you’re living with now isn’t even your husband.”

Conviction of sin, is not God pointing out our sin, it’s us seeing our sins.

John 4:19-21, 24 (New International Version)

“Sir,” the woman said, “I can see that you are a prophet. Our ancestors worshiped on this mountain, but you Jews claim that the place where we must worship is in Jerusalem.” “Woman,”Jesus replied,“believe me, a time is coming when you will worship theFather neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem. God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth.”

John 4:42 (The Message)

Many of the Samaritans from that village committed themselves to him because of the woman’s witness: “He knew all about the things I did. He knows me inside and out!” They asked him to stay on, so Jesus stayed two days. A lot more people entrusted their lives to him when they heard what he had to say. They said to the woman, “We’re no longer taking this on your say-so. We’ve heard it for ourselves and know it for sure. He’s the Savior of the world!”

Your past painful experiences form the basis for your current prejudice.

Using sarcasm to navigate current convictions leads to wrong decisions.

What you can carry is small compared to what he has created you to carry.