Storyside Church

We are ALL givers. 

There are two great days in a person’s life — the day we are born and the day we discover why. 

Am I generous with my time?  

Am I generous with my words?

Am I generous with my talents?

Am I generous with my finances?  

Am I generous with grace/forgiveness?  

Standard of Living

Standard of Giving 

Proverbs 11:25 —The generous will prosper; those who refresh others will themselves be refreshed.  

Am I generous with my time?  

You are not here in the world for yourself. You have been sent here for others. The world is waiting for you!

— Catherine Booth 

Co-Founder Salvation Army 

Am I generous with my (life-giving) words?

Ephesians 4:29 — Don’t use foul or abusive language. Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them.

Caring  

Compliment 

Courageous 

Communication 

Proverbs 12:25 — Worry takes away your joy, but a kind word makes you happy.

Am I generous with my talents?

1 Peter 4:10 — God has helped each of you in a certain way. Think carefully about how to use that gift from God well. Remember that God has given many different gifts to his people so that they can help each other.

Am I generous with my finances?  

A faith that hasn’t reached your wallet probably hasn’t reached your heart.

— Adrian Rogers 

Matthew 6:24 — No one can be a slave to two masters. He will hate one master and love the other. Or he will follow one master and refuse to follow the other. So you cannot serve God and money at the same time.

1 Timothy 6:10 — For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. And some people, craving money, have wandered from the true faith and pierced themselves with many sorrows.

It’s never enough. 

My feelings fluctuate with my finances. 

My mood is tied to my money. 

I’m sensitive about the subject. 

I only ask for God’s help in crisis or when I’m in a financial dilemma. I don’t include Him in my financial decisions, donations, and overall financial direction. 

I can’t keep consistency in my giving. 

I don’t have joy when it comes to my giving. 

Matthew 6:33 — The thing you should want most is God’s kingdom and doing what God wants. Then all these other things you need will be given to you.

Proverbs 3:9 — Honor the Lord with your wealth and with the best part of everything you produce. 

We are wealthy. 

Does God get my first and best? 

Luke 12

15 Then he said, “Beware! Guard against every kind of greed. Life is not measured by how much you own.”

16 Then he told them a story: “A rich man had a fertile farm that produced fine crops. 

17 He said to himself, ‘What should I do? I don’t have room for all my crops.’ 

18 Then he said, ‘I know! I’ll tear down my barns and build bigger ones. Then I’ll have room enough to store all my wheat and other goods. 

19 And I’ll sit back and say to myself, “My friend, you have enough stored away for years to come. Now take it easy! Eat, drink, and be merry!”’

20 “But God said to him, ‘You fool! You will die this very night. Then who will get everything you worked for?’

21 “Yes, a person is a fool to store up earthly wealth but not have a rich relationship with God.”

What is my first thought when it comes to my finances? 

The foolishness was not necessarily that he had accumulated wealth, it’s that he didn’t know why he had wealth. 

“The world asks, ‘What does a man own?’ Christ asks, ‘How does he use it?’”

— Andrew Murray 

The rich man ran out of time before he ran out of money. 

Am I generous with grace? 

Am I generous with my forgiveness?  

Ephesians 4:32 — Be kind and loving to each other. Forgive each other the same as God forgave you through Christ.

God was so generous with His grace in my life. 

Grace, like water, flows to the lowest part.

— Author Philip Yancey 

God answers the mess of life with one word: grace.

— Author Max Lucado 

I am not what I ought to be, I am not what I want to be; but I am not what I once was, and by the grace of God I am what I am.

— Songwriter John Newton 

(Amazing Grace) 

Am I generous with my time?  

Am I generous with my words?

Am I generous with my talents?

Am I generous with my finances?  

Am I generous with grace/forgiveness? 

Luke 10 

25 Then an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. He said, “Teacher, what must I do to get eternal life?” 

26 Jesus said to him, “What is written in the law? What do you understand from it?” 

27 The man answered, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your strength, and all your mind.’ Also, ‘Love your neighbor the same as you love yourself.’” 

28 Jesus said, “Your answer is right. Do this and you will have eternal life.” 

29 But the man wanted to show that the way he was living was right. So he said to Jesus, “But who is my neighbor?” 

30 To answer this question, Jesus said, “A man was going down the road from Jerusalem to Jericho. Some robbers surrounded him, tore off his clothes, and beat him. Then they left him lying there on the ground almost dead. 

31 “It happened that a Jewish priest was going down that road. When he saw the man, he did not stop to help him. He walked away. 

32 Next, a Levite came near. He saw the hurt man, but he went around him. He would not stop to help him either. He just walked away. 

33 “Then a Samaritan man traveled down that road. He came to the place where the hurt man was lying. He saw the man and felt very sorry for him. 

34 The Samaritan went to him and poured olive oil and wine on his wounds. Then he covered the man’s wounds with cloth. The Samaritan had a donkey. He put the hurt man on his donkey, and he took him to an inn. There he cared for him. 

35 The next day, the Samaritan took out two silver coins and gave them to the man who worked at the inn. He said, ‘Take care of this hurt man. If you spend more money on him, I will pay it back to you when I come again.’” 

36 Then Jesus said, “Which one of these three men do you think was really a neighbor to the man who was hurt by the robbers?” 

37 The teacher of the law answered, “The one who helped him.” Jesus said, “Then you go and do the same.”

The Road

What are the most dangerous (damaging) roads that you have travelled in your life? 

The Response

You can no more pray effectively and hate your neighbor than you can walk north and south at the same time. 

You may choose to look the other way, but you can never again say that you did not know.

— William Wilberforce

“The first question the priest and Levite asked was, ‘If I stop to help this man, what will happen to me?’”

The Samaritan reversed the question: ‘If I do not stop to help this man, what will happen to him?’”

The Reasons 

The Good Samaritan Experiment 

A. You have plenty of time, and you are early.

B. You are on-time, but you should head over now so as not to be late.

C. You are running late, and you really need to go.

The Good Samaritan Experiment 

63% of participants in the “you are early” category stopped to help the stranger.

45% of participants in the “you are on-time” category stopped to help the stranger.

10% of participants in the “you are late” high hurry category stopped to help the stranger. 

Hurry overrides our moral values. 

Never get so busy making a living that you forget to make a life.

We are so busy chasing the extraordinary that we forget to notice the ordinary.

The key to success is not in doing more, but in doing what matters most.

If the devil can’t make you sin, he’ll make you busy.

— Corrie ten Boom

What are my reasons for not stopping?

Christ’s love is a costly, serving, healing love that reaches into the deepest wounds and darkest places.

— Tim Keller 

The Robbers — What’s yours is mine. 

The Priest/Levite — I’ll keep mine.

The Samaritan — What’s mine is yours.

Author John Maxwell

Matthew 9:36 — When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. 

1 John 3:18 — Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.

Ephesians 4:32 — Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.

God help me to SEE, STOP, and SERVE the people in my path this week.

What In The World? 

Matthew 5 

13 You are the world’s seasoning, to make it tolerable. If you lose your flavor, what will happen to the world? And you yourselves will be thrown out and trampled underfoot as worthless. 

14 You are the world’s light—a city on a hill, glowing in the night for all to see. 

15-16 Don’t hide your light! Let it shine for all; let your good deeds glow for all to see, so that they will praise your heavenly Father.

You are…

Light of the World 

Your Light 

Where has God positioned me to shine?

Where is the darkness dominating?

Does my light make a difference? 

The light of Jesus penetrates every shadow, offering hope and salvation to all who believe.

— C.H. Spurgeon

Philippians 2 

14-15 In everything you do, stay away from complaining and arguing so that no one can speak a word of blame against you. You are to live clean, innocent lives as children of God in a dark world full of people who are crooked and stubborn. Shine out among them like beacon lights, 

16 holding out to them the Word of Life. Then when Christ returns, how glad I will be that my work among you was so worthwhile. 

Salt serves a bigger purpose than itself. 

We all have a ME Monster. 

Philippians 2:3-4 

Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too.

James 3:14-16

But if you are bitterly jealous and there is selfish ambition in your heart, don’t cover up the truth with boasting and lying. For jealousy and selfishness are not God’s kind of wisdom. Such things are earthly, unspiritual, and demonic. For wherever there is jealousy and selfish ambition, there you will find disorder and evil of every kind.

Palatable

Colossians 4:5-6

Be wise when you engage with those outside the faith community; make the most of every moment and every encounter. When you speak the word, speak it gracefully (as if seasoned with salt), so you will know how to respond to everyone rightly.

Preservation 

In what areas of my _______________________ am I preserving Godly values?

Purification 

Psalm 147:3 — He heals the broken hearted, and he binds up their wounds.

It is often in our brokenness that God does His best work. 

— Max Lucado 

Brokenness is a doorway that opens us up to God’s deepest work.

— Brennan Manning

The broken heart is the altar upon which God offers His healing.

— Timothy Keller 

1 Peter 5:8

8 Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.

‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭10‬:3-4

3 For though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh.

4 For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds.

2 Corinthians‬ ‭10‬:3-4 (NIV)

3 For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does.

4 The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds.

Ephesians 6:10-11

10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might.

11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil.

1 Peter 5:8

Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.

1 Peter 5:8

8 Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.

BE ALERT

AM I ALERT?

AM I WATCHING?

Ephesians 6:12-18

12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.

13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm.

14 Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness,

15 and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace.

16 In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one;

17 and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God,

18 praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints,

The Belt of Truth

John‬ ‭8‬:‭44‬-‭47‬

44 You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father's desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies.

45 But because I tell the truth, you do not believe me.

46 Which one of you convicts me of sin? If I tell the truth, why do you not believe me?

47 Whoever is of God hears the words of God. The reason why you do not hear them is that you are not of God." ‭‭

John‬ ‭8‬:‭31‬-‭32‬

31 So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, "If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples,

32 and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free."

The Breastplate of Righteousness

1 Peter 2:24

He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed.

Romans 5:19

For as by the one man's disobedience the many were made sinners, so by the one man's obedience the many will be made righteous.

Shoes for your feet - Readiness from the Gospel of Peace

The Shield of Faith

The Sword of the Spirit - the Word of God

1 Be Alert

2 Put on the Whole Armor of God

3 Stand Firm

Hebrews 10:39

But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who have faith and preserve their souls.

1 Corinthians 13

11 When I was a child, I spoke and thought and reasoned as a child. But when I grew up, I put away childish things. 

12 Now we see things imperfectly, like puzzling reflections in a mirror, but then we will see everything with perfect clarity. All that I know now is partial and incomplete, but then I will know everything completely, just as God now knows me completely.

13 Three things will last forever—faith, hope, and love—and the greatest of these is love.

How am I spiritually growing?

CJB — But for now, three things last — trust, hope, love; and the greatest of these is love.

ESV — So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love.

NLT — Three things will last forever—faith, hope, and love—and the greatest of these is love.

FAITH

The Greek term often translated as “faith” (pistis) implies belief, trust, and fidelity. 

Biblical faith is a trusting reliance on the God revealed in Scripture, evidenced by obedience that springs not from fear, but from confidence in Him. It is well-rooted in both the historical record of God’s works and the transforming power of His Word.

Biblically, faith is not “blind.” It includes reasoned confidence in God’s Word and actions throughout history. Scripture portrays faith as an active reliance upon God, anchored in divine revelation and confirmed by changed lives, miracles, and historical testimonies.

Romans 10:17 — Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God.

Hebrews 11:1 – Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.

2 Corinthians 5:7 — We walk by faith, not by sight.

James 1:2-4 

My brothers and sisters, you will have many kinds of trouble. But this gives you a reason to be very happy. You know that when your faith is tested, you learn to be patient in suffering. If you let that patience work in you, the end result will be good. You will be mature and complete. You will be all that God wants you to be.

Faith doesn't always know where it is being led, but it loves and knows the One who is leading. 

— Oswald Chambers 

When it looks like things are out of control, behind the scenes there is a God who hasn’t surrendered His authority.

— A.W. Tozer 

Never be afraid to trust an unknown future to a known God.

— Corrie ten Boom

HOPE

Because of Jesus, we can have a hope that is not based on circumstances but rooted in the character of God.

— Tim Keller 

Hebrews 6:19(a) — This hope is a strong and trustworthy anchor for our souls.

Hope means hoping when things are hopeless. 

— G.K.Chesterton 

Disappointment is inevitable. But to become discouraged, there’s a choice I make. God would never discourage me. He always guides me to Himself, so I choose hope.

— Charles Stanley

Relying on God has to begin all over again every day. 

— C.S. Lewis 

Hope has a thick skin and will endure many a blow. It will keep it alive, even when reason and sense would faint.

— John Bunyan 

Even in those terrifying conditions, the miners refused to give up hope.

“Estamos bien en el refugio los 33.”

Their story is one of endurance, unity, and above all — hope that would not die.

LOVE

1 John 4:8 — God is love. 

John 13:35 — In this way, everyone will know that you are my disciples. They will know it, if you really love each other.

1 John 4:7 — Dear friends, let us practice loving each other, for love comes from God and those who are loving and kind show that they are the children of God, and that they are getting to know him better.

"Dear Paco, meet me in front of the newspaper office at noon on Saturday. All is forgiven. I love you. Your father." 

Never worry about numbers. Help one at a time, and start with those nearest you. 

— Mother Teresa 

Romans 8

38 And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. 

39 No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Faith 

Hope 

Love 

What is the Holy Spirit stirring in me?

1 Samuel 17:29 — David said, “What have I now done? Is there not a cause?”

Revival is not churches filled with people, but people filled with the Holy Spirit.

We might as well try to hear without ears or breathe without lungs, as to try to live a Christian life without the Spirit of God in our hearts. 

— D.L. Moody 

A revival is nothing else than a new beginning of obedience to God, through the power of the Holy Spirit.

— Charles Finney 

Ephesians 3:16-17 — I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit. Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong. 

With the Holy Spirit, we have everything we need to face anything that comes.

How important was the Spirit to Jesus?

John 14:16-17 

Then I will ask the Father to send you the Holy Spirit who will help you and always be with you. The Spirit will show you what is true. The people of this world cannot accept the Spirit, because they don't see or know him. But you know the Spirit, who is with you and will keep on living in you. 

Acts 1:4 — While he was still with them, he said: Don't leave Jerusalem yet. Wait here for the Father to give you the Holy Spirit, just as I told you he has promised to do.

How important was the Holy Spirit to the early church?

Acts 1:8 — But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.

Acts 2

1 On the day of Pentecost all the believers were meeting together in one place. 

2 Suddenly, there was a sound from heaven like the roaring of a mighty windstorm, and it filled the house where they were sitting. 

3 Then, what looked like flames or tongues of fire appeared and settled on each of them. 

4 And everyone present was filled with the Holy Spirit and began speaking in other languages, as the Holy Spirit gave them this ability.

Acts 2:38-39

Peter replied, “Each of you must repent of your sins and turn to God, and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. Then you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. This promise is to you, to your children, and to those far away, all who have been called by the Lord our God. 

Acts 5:32 — We are witnesses of these things and so is the Holy Spirit, who is given by God to those who obey him.

Acts 11:12(a) — The Holy Spirit told me to go with them and not to worry that they were Gentiles. 

Acts 11:28 — One of these men was called Agabus. The Holy Spirit gave him a message from God. He stood up and he said to the people there, ‘Soon people will be very hungry all over the world because there will be no food.’ (That happened when Claudius ruled the Roman world.)

Acts 13:4 — So Barnabas and Saul were sent out by the Holy Spirit. They went down to the seaport of Seleucia and then sailed for the island of Cyprus.

Acts 15:28(a) — The Holy Spirit has shown us what we should do. We also think that this is the right thing to do.

Acts 16:6-7

Next Paul and Silas traveled through the area of Phrygia and Galatia, because the Holy Spirit had prevented them from preaching the word in the province of Asia at that time. Then coming to the borders of Mysia, they headed north for the province of Bithynia, but again the Spirit of Jesus did not allow them to go there.

Acts 20:23 — I only know that in every city the Holy Spirit has warned me that prison and troubles wait for me.

Acts 20:28 — So guard yourselves and God’s people. Feed and shepherd God’s flock—his church, purchased with his own blood — over which the Holy Spirit has appointed you as leaders.

Romans 8:1-2 

There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death.

Romans 8:14 — For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.

Romans 8:26-27

Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. 

The Holy Spirit is a Person. He can be grieved. He can be quenched. He can be obeyed. He can be followed. 

— A.W. Tozer 

How do I respond to the Holy Spirit? 

Acts 2:12 — Everyone was excited and confused. Some of them even kept asking each other, “What does all this mean?” 

Am I curious to know/want more? 

Acts 2:13 — Others made fun of the Lord's followers and said, “They are drunk.”

Do I mock (make fun of) the Holy Spirit?

Acts 7:51 — You stubborn and hardheaded people! You are always fighting against the Holy Spirit, just as your ancestors did.

Do I fight against the Holy Spirit? 

1 Thessalonians 5:19 — Quench not the Spirit.

Do I quench the Holy Spirit? 

Ephesians 4:29-32

Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.

Do I grieve the Holy Spirit?

Matthew 12:31 — So I tell you, people can be forgiven for every sin and everything they say against God. But whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven. 

Do I speak against the Holy Spirit? 

Trying to do the Lord’s work in your own strength is the most confusing, exhausting, and tedious of all work. But when you are filled with the Holy Spirit, then the ministry of Jesus just flows out of you.

— Corrie ten Boom 

How will the Holy Spirit help me?

He will help me to be Christ-like. 

He will empower me. (Luke 24)

He will teach me. (John 14) 

He will comfort me. (John 14)

He will convict me. (John 16) 

He guides me to truth. (John 16)

He will help me to fight my flesh. (Galatians 5)

He will help me to share my faith. (Acts 1)

He will help me to pray God’s will. (Romans 8)

What is the Holy Spirit stirring in me? 

Ephesians 6:18 — Never stop praying, especially for others. Always pray by the power of the Spirit. Stay alert and keep praying for God's people.

Silence in the face of evil is itself evil. 

— Dietrich Bonhoeffer 

Every evil act tends to harden man’s heart, that is, to make him more evil.

— C.S. Lewis

Romans 12:21 — Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

Genesis 1:1 — In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.

Hebrews 11:3 — We believe in God, so that is how we know that God made the world by his word. The things we see were made out of things that cannot be seen.

Psalm 14:1 — Only fools say in their hearts, “There is no God.” They are corrupt, and their actions are evil; not one of them does good!

God

No God 

Godly 

Ungodly 

With God

Without God

Life without God is like an unsharpened pencil – it has no point.

— Billy Graham 

Genesis 3

1 The serpent was the shrewdest of all the wild animals the Lord God had made. One day he asked the woman, “Did God really say you must not eat the fruit from any of the trees in the garden?”

2 “Of course we may eat fruit from the trees in the garden,” the woman replied. 

3 “It’s only the fruit from the tree in the middle of the garden that we are not allowed to eat. God said, ‘You must not eat it or even touch it; if you do, you will die.’”

4 “You won’t die!” the serpent replied to the woman. 

5 “God knows that your eyes will be opened as soon as you eat it, and you will be like God, knowing both good and evil.”

2 Timothy 3

1 Remember that there will be difficult times in the last days. 

2 People will be selfish, greedy, boastful, and conceited; they will be insulting, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, and irreligious; 

3 they will be unkind, merciless, slanderers, violent, and fierce; they will hate the good; 

4 they will be treacherous, reckless, and swollen with pride; they will love pleasure rather than God; 

5 they will hold to the outward form of our religion, but reject its real power. Keep away from such people.

We’re living in an unprecedented day (when) evil is no longer evil. We’ve changed the terminology — iniquity is now infirmity; wickedness is now weakness; devilry is now deficiency.

— Leonard Ravenhill 

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.

26 Because people did those things, God left them and let them do the shameful things they wanted to do. Women stopped having natural sex with men and started having sex with other women. 

27 In the same way, men stopped having natural sex with women and began wanting each other all the time. Men did shameful things with other men, and in their bodies they received the punishment for those wrongs.

28 People did not think it was important to have a true knowledge of God. So God left them and allowed them to have their own worthless thinking. And so they do what they should not do. 

29 They are filled with every kind of sin, evil, greed, and hatred. They are full of jealousy, murder, fighting, lying, and thinking the worst things about each other. They gossip 

30 and say evil things about each other. They hate God. They are rude, proud, and brag about themselves. They invent ways of doing evil. They don’t obey their parents, 

31 they are foolish, they don’t keep their promises, and they show no kindness or mercy to others. 

32 They know God’s law says that anyone who lives like that should die. But they not only continue to do these things themselves, but they also encourage others who do them.

Genesis 6

The Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intention of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. And the Lord regretted that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him to his heart.

Proverbs 8:13 — The fear of the Lord is hatred of evil. Pride and arrogance and the way of evil and perverted speech I hate.

Proverbs 6:16-19 

There are six things that the Lord hates, seven that are an abomination to him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked plans, feet that make haste to run to evil, a false witness who breathes out lies, and one who sows discord among brothers.

Ephesians 6:12 — For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.

Romans 12:9 — Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good.

1 Thessalonians 5:22 — Abstain from every form of evil.

1 Timothy 6:10 — For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs.

Romans 12:21 — Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

We The People (Rights) 

Be The People (Responsibilities) 

Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.

— Martin Luther King Jr 

The ultimate weakness of violence is that it is a descending spiral, begetting the very thing it seeks to destroy. Instead of diminishing evil, it multiplies it. 

— Martin Luther King Jr 

Psalm 23:4 — Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.

Psalm 119:133 — Guide me, as you promised. Don’t let evil rule over me.

Matthew 6:13 — And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.

2 Timothy 3

12 Everyone who wants to live a godly life in union with Christ Jesus will be persecuted; 

13 and evil persons and impostors will keep on going from bad to worse, deceiving others and being deceived themselves. 

14 But as for you, continue in the truths that you were taught and firmly believe. You know who your teachers were, 

15 and you remember that ever since you were a child, you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to give you the wisdom that leads to salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.

As for me…

Continue 

Firmly Believe 

Holy Scriptures 

Colossians 2:7 — Let your roots grow down into Him, and let your lives be built on Him.

We were never meant to just visit God’s presence — we were meant to be planted in His presence. 

Mark 4

3 “Listen! And take note: A sower went out to sow.

4 As he sowed, some seed fell beside the path, and the birds of the air came and devoured it. 

5 Some seed fell on rocky ground, where it did not have much soil, and soon it sprang up because it did not have deep soil. 

6 But when the sun rose, it was scorched. And because it had no root, it withered away. 

7 Other seed fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked it, and it yielded no grain. 

8 And other seed fell on good ground, and it yielded grain that sprang up and increased by thirty, sixty, or a hundred times as much.”

14 The sower sows the word.

15 These are those beside the path, where the word is sown. But when they hear, Satan comes immediately and takes away the word which is sown in their hearts.

16 Others, likewise, are seed sown on rocky ground, who, when they hear the word, immediately receive it with gladness,

17 but have no root in themselves, and so endure for a time. Afterward, when affliction or persecution rises for the word’s sake, immediately they fall away.

18 And others are seed sown among thorns, the ones who hear the word.

19 But the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the desires for other things entering in choke the word, and it proves unfruitful.

20 Still others are seed sown on good ground, those who hear the word, and receive it, and bear fruit: thirty, sixty, or a hundred times as much.”

I want to be rooted. 

Roots aren’t very visible but they are very valuable. 

A strong tree typically survives storms not because of its branches, but because of its roots. 

The Chinese Bamboo

The Pando

The Redwoods

The Banyan Tree 

The Mangroves

Mangroves take in extra oxygen and remove salt, allowing them to tolerate conditions that kill most plants.

The Olive Trees

Wild Fig Trees 

The Shepherd’s Tree

This tree can survive in harsh conditions and dry climates. It sends roots deep down to reach water no other plants access.

The Tamarisk Tree

Genesis 21:33 — Abraham planted a tamarisk tree in Beersheba, and there he called on the name of the Lord, the Everlasting God.

Its root system is highly developed, with deep roots that allow it to access groundwater and withstand prolonged droughts.

The Baobabs 

31,700 Gallons 

Planted people don’t panic — 

Planted people persevere.

Mark 4:20 — Still others are seed sown on good ground, those who hear the word, and receive it, and bear fruit: thirty, sixty, or a hundred times as much.

Luke 5:11 — And when they had brought their ships to land, they forsook all, and followed him.

We must FORSAKE and FOLLOW. 

All to Jesus I surrender, 

All to Him I freely give;


I will ever love and trust Him,


In His presence daily live.


I surrender all, I surrender all;

All to Thee, my blessed Savior, 

I surrender all.

All to Jesus I surrender,


Humbly at His feet I bow;


Worldly pleasures all forsaken,


Take me, Jesus, take me now.

All to Jesus I surrender,


Make me, Savior, wholly Thine;


Let me feel the Holy Spirit,


Truly know that Thou art mine.

All to Jesus I surrender,


Lord, I give myself to Thee;


Fill me with Thy love and power,


Let Thy blessing fall on me.

All to Jesus I surrender,


Now I feel the sacred flame;


Oh, the joy of full salvation!


Glory, glory, to His Name!


I surrender all, I surrender all;

All to Thee, my blessed Savior, 

I surrender all. 

Revelation 

Response

Rejection

Reception 

Repentance

Removal

Revival 

Acts 19 

10 This continued for two years, so that all who lived in Asia heard the word of the Lord Jesus, both Jews and Greeks.

11 God worked powerful miracles by the hands of Paul. 

12 So handkerchiefs or aprons he had touched were brought to the sick, and the diseases left them, and the evil spirits went out of them.

13 Then some of the itinerant Jewish exorcists invoked the name of the Lord Jesus over those who had evil spirits, saying, “We command you to come out in the name of Jesus whom Paul preaches.” 

14 There were seven sons of a Jewish high priest named Sceva doing this. 

15 The evil spirit answered, “I know Jesus, and I know Paul, but who are you?” 

16 Then the man in whom the evil spirit was jumped on them, overpowered them, and prevailed against them, so that they fled from that house naked and wounded.

17 This became known to all Jews and Greeks living in Ephesus. And fear fell on them all, and the name of the Lord Jesus was magnified. 

18 Many who believed came confessing and telling their deeds. 

19 Many who practiced magic brought their books together and burned them before everyone. They calculated their value, which equaled fifty thousand drachmas.

20 So the word of the Lord powerfully grew and spread.

Some people do not like to hear much of repentance; but I think it is so necessary that if I should die in the pulpit, I would desire to die preaching repentance, and if out of the pulpit I would desire to die practicing it.

— Matthew Henry

I will kill you if you ever come near me again. 

Jesus loves you Nicky.

We must know Jesus for ourselves. 

2 Thessalonians 2:9-10 — When the wicked one appears, Satan will pretend to work all kinds of miracles, wonders, and signs. Lost people will be fooled by his evil deeds. They could be saved, but they will refuse to love the truth and accept it.

Came

Confessed

Brought

Burned

1 John 1:9 — If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

People who cover their faults and excuse themselves do not have a repentant spirit.

— Watchman Nee 

The recognition of sin is the beginning of salvation.

— Martin Luther 

Proverbs 28:13 — Whoever conceals their sins does not prosper, but the one who confesses and renounces them finds mercy.

Ephesians 4:31 — Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. 

Colossians 3:8 — But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth.

James 4:8 — Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.

Hebrews 12:1 — 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. 

What needs thrown off/away in my life? 

We all want progress, but if you're on the wrong road, progress means doing an about-turn and walking back to the right road. The man who turns back soonest is the most progressive.

— C.S. Lewis 

I surrender all to Jesus Christ. 

Acts 19:20 — So the word of the Lord powerfully grew and spread.