Storyside Church

God proved His love on the Cross. When Christ hung, and bled, and died, it was God saying to the world, "I love you."

— Billy Graham

Luke 19:10 — The Son of Man came to find lost people and save them.

Proximity: To be close. 

Luke 23

41 We deserve to die for our crimes, but this man hasn’t done anything wrong. 

42 Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your Kingdom.”

43 And Jesus replied, “I assure you, today you will be with me in paradise.”

Can you remember the day that Jesus saved you? 

Luke 19 

1 Jesus was going through the city of Jericho. 

2 In Jericho there was a man named Zacchaeus. He was a wealthy, very important tax collector. 

3 He wanted to see who Jesus was. There were many others who wanted to see Jesus too. Zacchaeus was too short to see above the people. 

4 So he ran to a place where he knew Jesus would come. Then he climbed a sycamore tree so he could see him.

5 When Jesus came to where Zacchaeus was, he looked up and saw him in the tree. Jesus said, “Zacchaeus, hurry! Come down! I must stay at your house today.”

John 4 

5 In Samaria Jesus came to the town called Sychar, which is near the field that Jacob gave to his son Joseph. 

6 Jacob’s well was there. Jesus was tired from his long trip, so he sat down beside the well. It was about noon. 

7 A Samaritan woman came to the well to get some water, and Jesus said to her, “Please give me a drink.”

9 The woman was surprised, for Jews refuse to have anything to do with Samaritans.

16 “Go and get your husband,” Jesus told her.

17 “I don’t have a husband,” the woman replied. Jesus said, “You’re right! You don’t have a husband. 

18 for you have had five husbands, and you aren’t even married to the man you’re living with now. You certainly spoke the truth!”

Mark 2

1 A few days later, Jesus came back to Capernaum. The news spread that he was back home. 

2 A large crowd gathered to hear him speak. The house was so full that there was no place to stand, not even outside the door. While Jesus was teaching, 

3 some people brought a paralyzed man to see him. He was being carried by four of them. 

4 But they could not get the man inside to Jesus because the house was so full of people. So they went to the roof above Jesus and made a hole in it. Then they lowered the mat with the paralyzed man on it. 

5 When Jesus saw how much faith they had, he said to the paralyzed man, “Young man, your sins are forgiven.” 

Jesus came…

God can give you MORE than what you came for today. 

Luke 8

40 Now when Jesus returned, the crowd welcomed him, for they were all waiting for him. 

41 And there came a man named Jairus, who was a ruler of the synagogue. And falling at Jesus' feet, he implored him to come to his house, 

42 for he had an only daughter, about twelve years of age, and she was dying. As Jesus went, the people pressed around him. 

43 And there was a woman who had had a discharge of blood for twelve years, and though she had spent all her living on physicians, she could not be healed by anyone.

44 She came up behind him and touched the fringe of his garment, and immediately her discharge of blood ceased. 

45 And Jesus said, "Who was it that touched me?" When all denied it, Peter said, "Master, the crowds surround you and are pressing in on you!"

46 But Jesus said, "Someone touched me, for I perceive that power has gone out from me." 

47 And when the woman saw that she was not hidden, she came trembling, and falling down before him declared in the presence of all the people why she had touched him, and how she had been immediately healed. 

48 And he said to her, "Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace." 

49 While he was still speaking, someone from the ruler's house came and said, "Your daughter is dead; do not trouble the Teacher any more." 

50 But Jesus on hearing this answered him, "Do not fear; only believe, and she will be well." 

51 And when he came to the house, he allowed no one to enter with him, except Peter and John and James, and the father and mother of the child. 

52 And all were weeping and mourning for her, but he said, "Do not weep, for she is not dead but sleeping." 

53 And they laughed at him, knowing that she was dead. 

54 But taking her by the hand he called, saying, "Child, arise." 

55 And her spirit returned, and she got up at once. And he directed that something should be given her to eat. 

56 And her parents were amazed, but he charged them to tell no one what had happened.

Don’t walk away.

What voices do I listen to? 

What voices do I value and prioritize?

‭‭Genesis‬ ‭3‬:‭17‬

Then to Adam He said, “Because you have heeded the voice of your wife, and have eaten from the tree of which I commanded you, saying, ‘You shall not eat of it’: “Cursed is the ground for your sake; In toil you shall eat of it All the days of your life.

"When a train goes through a tunnel and it gets dark, you don't throw away the ticket and jump off. You sit still and trust the engineer." - Corrie ten Boom

1 Timothy 1:15 — Here is a true statement that should be accepted without question: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, and I am the worst of them.

1 Timothy 1:15 — So here is a statement you can trust, one that fully deserves to be accepted: the Messiah came into the world to save sinners, and I’m the number one sinner!

Romans 8

1 Saul approved the stoning of Stephen. Some faithful followers of the Lord buried Stephen and mourned very much for him.

2 At that time the church in Jerusalem suffered terribly. All of the Lord's followers, except the apostles, were scattered everywhere in Judea and Samaria. 

3 Saul started making a lot of trouble for the church. He went from house to house, arresting men and women and putting them in jail.

Acts 9:1-2 

Saul kept on threatening to kill the Lord's followers. He even went to the high priest and asked for letters to the leaders of the synagogues in Damascus. He did this because he wanted to arrest and take to Jerusalem any man or woman who had accepted the Lord's Way. 

Acts 9

3 So Saul went to Damascus. When he came near the city, a very bright light from heaven suddenly shined around him. 

4 He fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul! Why are you persecuting me?”

5 Saul said, “Who are you, Lord?”

The voice answered, “I am Jesus, the one you are persecuting. 

Romans 8:3 — Saul was making trouble for the church…

Philippians 3:8-9 

Nothing is as wonderful as knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. I have given up everything else and count it all as garbage. All I want is Christ and to know that I belong to him. I could not make myself acceptable to God by obeying the Law of Moses. God accepted me simply because of my faith in Christ.

1 Timothy 1:15 — Here is a true statement that should be accepted without question: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, and I am the worst of them.

Christ came to save sinners. 

I am the worst.

The recognition of sin is the beginning of salvation. 

— Martin Luther 

Romans 3:23 — All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. 

Romans 6:23 — The wages of sin is death. 

The gospel is open to all; the most respectable sinner has no more claim on it than the worst.

Romans 10:9 — Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.

The Christian Gospel is that I am so flawed that Jesus had to die for me, yet I am so loved and valued that Jesus was glad to die for me. 

— Tim Keller 

1 Corinthians 6

9 Don’t you realize that those who do wrong will not inherit the Kingdom of God? Don’t fool yourselves. Those who indulge in sexual sin, or who worship idols, or commit adultery, or are male prostitutes, or practice homosexuality, 

10 or are thieves, or greedy people, or drunkards, or are abusive, or cheat people—none of these will inherit the Kingdom of God. 

11 Some of you were once like that. But you were cleansed; you were made holy; you were made right with God by calling on the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.

Psalm 23:6 — Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

I believe that every Christian ought to be joined to some visible church; that is his plain duty, according to the Scriptures. God’s people are not dogs, else they might go about one by one; but they are sheep, and therefore they should be in flocks.

— Charles Spurgeon 

The Church exists for nothing else but to draw men into Christ.

— C. S. Lewis 

What has the church done for me?

What WILL I do for God’s house?

If everyone in this church were just like me, what kind of church would this church be?

I will HONOR God’s house. 

Haggai 1:4 — You people are living in beautiful houses. But my temple is still just a heap of stones! It is time for you to do something about it!

I will SERVE God’s house. 

There are many of us that are willing to do great things for the Lord, but few of us are willing to do little things.

— Dwight L. Moody

I will WORSHIP in God’s house. 

Psalm 5:7 — But by your great mercy, I can enter your house. I can worship in your holy Temple with fear and respect for you.

Psalm 122:1 — I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the Lord.

Romans 1 

24 People wanted only to do evil. So God left them and let them go their sinful way. And so they became completely immoral and used their bodies in shameful ways with each other. 

25 They traded the truth of God for a lie. They bowed down and worshiped the things God made instead of worshiping the God who made those things. He is the one who should be praised forever. Amen.

I will GIVE to God’s house. 

Money is not good or evil. 

It has no morals or intentions on its own. 

Money reflects the character of the user. 

20% 

Someone is sitting in the shade today because someone planted a tree a long time ago.

You don’t even have to push me…

I will DWELL in God’s house. 

Misunderstandings 

2 Peter 3:16

Expectations 

Philippians 2 

Abandonment 

2 Timothy 4

Criticisms/Skepticisms 

Disagreements 

Acts 15 

Disappointments 

2 Corinthians 11:22-29

1 Corinthians 15:58 — So, my dear brothers and sisters, stand strong. Don’t let anything change you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord. You know that your work in the Lord is never wasted.

Don’t let anything change you.

Scripture — stories of people who changed…

Give Yourselves

Never Wasted 

Luke 15:13 And not many days after the younger son gathered all together, and took his journey

into a far country, and there wasted his substance with riotous living. 14 And when he had spent

all, there arose a mighty famine in that land; and he began to be in want.

1. Jacked Up -

Luke 15:16 And he would fain have filled his belly with the husks that the swine did eat: and no

man gave unto him.

2. Fed Up -

don't resent successful people simply because you put up with what their fed up with.

Luke 15:17 And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father's

have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger!

3. Wake Up -

Luke 15:18 I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against

heaven, and before thee,

4. Get Up -

Luke 15:19 And am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants.

5. Grow Up -

Luke 15:21 And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight,

and am no more worthy to be called thy son.

6. Speak Up -

Luke 15: 22 But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and

put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet: 23 And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and

let us eat, and be merry:

7. Make Up -

God will make up for what you lost.

God will make up for what you lack.

God will make up for what you left.

Luke 15:24 For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they

began to be merry.

8. Live Up -

Matthew 6

9 Pray then like this: “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name.

10 Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.

11 Give us this day our daily bread,

12 and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.

13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.

14 For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, 

15 but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

Debts

Debtors 

Romans 3:23 — For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard.

We are chargeable with debts—debts of every description: original, imputed, inherent; [and] actual, debts of omission and commission, of ignorance, infirmity, and deliberate wickedness, without limits and without number.

— Herman Witsius

95% of my clients have unresolved guilt. 

1 John 1:8-9 — If we say that we have no sin, we are fooling ourselves, and the truth is not in us. But if we confess our sins, God will forgive us. We can trust God to do this. He always does what is right. He will make us clean from all the wrong things we have done. 

Colossians 1:13-14 — God made us free from the power of darkness. And he brought us into the kingdom of his dear Son. The Son paid the price to make us free. In him we have forgiveness of our sins.

The voice of sin is loud, but the voice of forgiveness is louder.

— Dwight L. Moody

We do not really know how to forgive until we know what it is to be forgiven.

— Thomas Merton 

One-Sided Forgiveness 

Two-Sided Forgiveness 

Every one says forgiveness is a lovely idea, until they have something to forgive.

Ephesians 4:32 — Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you.

To be a Christian means to forgive the inexcusable, because God has forgiven the inexcusable in you.

— C.S. Lewis

Genesis 45 

1 Joseph could not control himself any longer. He cried in front of all the people who were there. Joseph said, “Tell everyone to leave here.” So all the people left. Only the brothers were left with Joseph. Then he told them who he was. 

2 Joseph continued to cry, and all the Egyptian people in Pharaoh’s house heard it. 

3 He said to his brothers, “I am your brother Joseph. Is my father doing well?” But the brothers did not answer him because they were confused and afraid.

4 So Joseph said to his brothers again, “Come here to me. I beg you, come here.” When the brothers went to him, he said to them, “I am your brother Joseph. I am the one you sold as a slave to Egypt. 

5 Now don’t be worried. Don’t be angry with yourselves for what you did. It was God’s plan for me to come here. I am here to save people’s lives. 

Joseph excused the Egyptians. 

Joseph called them close. 

Joseph asked that his brothers wouldn't be angry with themselves. 

Genesis 50:20 — You tried to harm me, but God made it turn out for the best, so that he could save all these people, as he is now doing.

Joseph acknowledged that God was working in and through his life experiences. 

Luke 11

1 And it came to pass, that, as he was praying in a certain place, when he ceased, one of his disciples said unto him, Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples.

2 And he said unto them, When ye pray, say, Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, as in heaven, so in earth.

3 Give us day by day our daily bread.

4 And forgive us our sins; for we also forgive every one that is indebted to us. And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil.

One of the great uses of social media will be to prove at the Last Day that prayerlessness was not from lack of time.

85% of people are affected by low self-esteem in the world today.

— Dr. Joe Rubino

Studies show that social media can cause low self esteem and negative thinking.

— Digital Information World 

Companies like TikTok, YouTube, and Facebook are fueling a mental health crisis by designing their platforms with addictive and dangerous features. 

— 1/25/2024 

Just as the [U.S.] surgeon general did with tobacco and guns, we are treating social media like other public health hazards. 

— 1/25/2024 

60% of people wished they had more respect for themselves.

— Self Love Index Studies

Low self-esteem is linked to violence, school dropout rates, teenage pregnancy, suicide, and low academic achievement. 

— Misetich & Delis-Abrams

Rates of anxiety and depression have increased 70% in the past 25 years.

— Royal Society for Public Health, 2022

The average child hears 432 negative statements per day, but only 32 positive statements each day. 

— University of Iowa

80 percent of children entering the first grade scored high on the self-esteem inventory. By the fifth grade only 20 percent of the children were scoring high. And by the time they graduated from high school that number was down to just 5 percent.

— Jack Canfield, Chicken Soup for the Soul

Our prayers may be awkward. Our attempts may be feeble. But since the power of prayer is in the one who hears it and not in the one who says it, our prayers do make a difference. 

— Author Max Lucado

The GOAL is not to get GOOD at prayer. 

The GOAL is to spend time with GOD in prayer. 

Pray, and let God worry.

— Martin Luther

The value of prayer is not only that God will hear us, but that we will hear Him.

“Our Father”

Prayer helps me to see God relationally. 

Matthew 26

36 Then cometh Jesus with them unto a place called Gethsemane, and saith unto the disciples, Sit ye here, while I go and pray yonder.

37 And he took with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and began to be sorrowful and very heavy.

38 Then saith he unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death: tarry ye hear, and watch with me.

39 And he went a little farther, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt.

40 And he cometh unto the disciples, and findeth them asleep, and saith unto Peter, What, could ye not watch with me one hour?

41 Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.

42 He went away again the second time, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if this cup may not pass away from me, except I drink it, thy will be done.

43 And he came and found them asleep again: for their eyes were heavy.

44 And he left them, and went away again, and prayed the third time, saying the same words.

Luke 23:46 — And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, he said, Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit: and having said thus, he gave up the ghost.

Fathers

Provide

Protect/Watch

Encourage/Uplift 

Comfort 

Correct (Discipline) 

Our Father Provides 

Philippians 4:19 — But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

Our Father Protects/Watches 

Matthew 10:29-31

What is the price of two sparrows—one copper coin? But not a single sparrow can fall to the ground without your Father knowing it. And the very hairs on your head are all numbered. So don’t be afraid; you are more valuable to God than a whole flock of sparrows.

Our Father Encourages/Uplifts 

Psalm 40:2 — He lifted me out of the pit of despair, out of the mud and the mire. He set my feet on solid ground and steadied me as I walked along.

Our Father Comforts 

2 Corinthians 1:3-4 

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.

Our Father Corrects/Disciplines 

Proverbs 3:11-12

My son, do not despise the Lord's discipline or be weary of his reproof, for the Lord reproves him whom he loves, as a father the son in whom he delights.

Hebrews 12:9 — We have all had fathers here on earth who corrected us with discipline. And we respected them. So it is even more important that we accept discipline from the Father of our spirits. If we do this, we will have life.

Provide 

Protect/Watch 

Encourage/Uplift

Comfort 

Correct (Discipline) 

John 1:6-7 — God sent a man, John the Baptist, to tell about the light so that everyone might believe because of his testimony. 

John 1:15 — John testified about him when he shouted to the crowds, “This is the one I was talking about when I said, ‘Someone is coming after me who is far greater than I am, for he existed long before me.’”

John 1

29 The next day, John saw Jesus coming toward him and said: Here is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! 

30 He is the one I told you about when I said, “Someone else will come, who is greater than I am, because he was alive before I was born.” 

31 I didn't know who he was. But I came to baptize you with water, so that everyone in Israel would see him.

32 I was there and saw the Spirit come down on him like a dove from heaven. And the Spirit stayed on him. 

33 Before this I didn't know who he was. But the one who sent me to baptize with water had told me, “You will see the Spirit come down and stay on someone. Then you will know that he is the one who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.” 

34 I saw this happen, and I tell you that he is the Son of God.

John 3:23-24 — At this time John the Baptist was baptizing at Aenon, near Salim, because there was plenty of water there; and people kept coming to him for baptism. This was before John was thrown into prison.

Before 

Matthew 11

1 And it came to pass, when Jesus had made an end of commanding his twelve disciples, he departed thence to teach and to preach in their cities.

2 Now when John had heard in the prison the works of Christ, he sent two of his disciples,

3 And said unto him, Art thou he that should come, or do we look for another?

4 Jesus answered and said unto them, Go and shew John again those things which ye do hear and see:

5 The blind receive their sight, and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have the gospel preached to them.

6 And blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in me.

How did I get here? 

Luke 7

19 And John calling unto him two of his disciples sent them to Jesus, saying, Art thou he that should come? or look we for another?

20 When the men were come unto him, they said, John Baptist hath sent us unto thee, saying, Art thou he that should come? or look we for another?

21 And in that same hour he cured many of their infirmities and plagues, and of evil spirits; and unto many that were blind he gave sight.

22 Then Jesus answering said unto them, Go your way, and tell John what things ye have seen and heard; how that the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, to the poor the gospel is preached.

23 And blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in me.

Try hard not to offend others. 

Try even harder not to be offended.

Our people die well.

— John Wesley 

We teach Christians how to die with their faith strong until the very end. 

— John Wesley 

In that same hour…

Matthew 15

21 Then Jesus went from there and departed into the regions of Tyre and Sidon. 

22 There, a woman of Canaan came out of the same regions and cried out to Him, saying, “Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David. My daughter is severely possessed by a demon.”

23 But He did not answer her a word. And His disciples came and begged Him, saying, “Send her away, for she cries out after us.”

24 But He answered, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.”

25 Then she came and worshipped Him, saying, “Lord, help me.”

26 But He answered, “It is not fair to take the children’s bread and to throw it to dogs.”

27 She said, “Yes, Lord, yet even dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters’ table.”

28 Then Jesus answered her, “O woman, great is your faith. Let it be done for you as you desire.” And her daughter was healed instantly.

Even: In the highly unlikely case or condition. 

God, will you work with what’s left?

God, will you work where I’m at in my life?

Psalm 27:10 — Even if my father and mother abandon me, the LORD will hold me close.

Even if…

Psalm 139

8 If I go up to heaven, you are there; if I go down to the grave, you are there.

9 If I ride the wings of the morning, if I dwell by the farthest oceans,

10 even there your hand will guide me, and your strength will support me.

Even there…

God knows WHERE you are. 

God can meet you THERE. 

Psalm 23:5 — You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You have anointed and refreshed my head with oil; My cup overflows.

We can attempt to get even with our enemies or we can eat at His table. 

We can try to get revenge or we can get refreshed. 

We can focus on our adversary or we can ask God to anoint our head.

We can let life drain us or we can ask the Lord to overflow us. 

Ephesians 2

4 But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, 

5 made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. 

8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God. 

Even when…

2 Samuel 4:4 — There was a little lame grandson of King Saul’s named Mephibosheth, who was the son of Prince Jonathan. He was five years old at the time Saul and Jonathan were killed at the battle of Jezreel. When the news of the outcome of the battle reached the capital, the child’s nurse grabbed him and fled, but she fell and dropped him as she was running, and he became lame.

Childhood 

The Fall 

The Drop 

And he became…

2 Samuel 9:3 — The king said, “Is there anyone left in Saul’s family? I want to show God’s kindness to this person.” Ziba said to King David, “Jonathan has a son still living. He is crippled in both feet.”

2 Samuel 9:3 — David asked, “Are any of Saul's family still alive? If there are, I want to be kind to them.” Ziba answered, “One of Jonathan's sons is still alive, but he can't walk.”

But…

2 Samuel 9:4 — The king said to Ziba, “Where is this son?” Ziba said to the king, “He is at the house of Makir son of Ammiel in Lo Debar.”

Where is this son? 

Where is this ________________?

Men may flee from the sunlight to dark and musty caves of the earth, but they cannot put out the sun. So men may in any dispensation despise the grace of God, but they cannot extinguish it.

— Aiden Wilson Tozer 

2 Samuel 9 

7 David said to Mephibosheth, “Don’t be afraid. I will be kind to you because of your father Jonathan. I will give back to you all the land of your grandfather Saul. And you will always be able to eat at my table.”

8 Mephibosheth bowed to David again and he said, “I am no better than a dead dog, but you are being very kind to me.”

9 Then King David called Saul’s servant Ziba and said, “I have given Saul’s family and everything he owns to your master’s grandson, Mephibosheth. 

10 You will farm the land for Mephibosheth. Your sons and servants will do this for him. You will harvest the crops. Then your master’s grandson will have plenty of food to eat, but Mephibosheth will always be allowed to eat at my table.” Ziba had 15 sons and 20 servants. 

11 He said to King David, “I am your servant. I will do everything that my lord the king commands.” So Mephibosheth ate at David’s table like one of the king’s sons. 

12 Mephibosheth had a young son named Mica. All the people in Ziba’s family became Mephibosheth’s servants. 

13 Mephibosheth lived in Jerusalem. He was crippled in both feet, and every day he ate at the king’s table.

Romans 3:23 — For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.

Ephesians 2:13 — Yes, at one time you were far away from God, but now in Christ Jesus, you are brought near to him. You are brought near to God through the blood sacrifice of Christ.

Fall

Far 

I once was lost, but now am found.

— John Newton