Please turn to Luke 1:26-38 (NIV)

Finding Peace in Life’s Fearful challenges

1: See Yourself as Set Apart (v. 38a)

“I am the Lord’s servant…”

Servant (doulos) = slave:

God never asks anything of us He Himself hasn’t already done

…He made Himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant,

being made in human likeness.8 And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled himself by becoming obedient to death—

even death on a cross!

Philippians 2:7-8

2: Succumb To God’s Sovereignty (v. 38b)

“May your word to me be fulfilled…”

Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us, 21 to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.

Ephesians 3:20-21

3: Stand Alone When Necessary (v. 38c)

Then the angel left her.

What is God’s Spirit speaking into your life today? How must you respond?

We Believe

Hope—the Lord with You

December 4, 2016

Please turn in your Bibles to Luke 1:1-25 (NIV)

1: Hope begins with facing fear (V 12, 13, 20)

App: Don’t be afraid. The Lord has heard your prayers

2: Hope requires moving forward in faith (V 23-24)

App: Eventually we each must act on God’s promises

App: Old age is no excuse

3: Hope includes finding forgiveness (V 25b)

App: Receive God’s forgiveness provided through His Son

4: Hope is the blessing of full favor (v. 25a)

App: God’s favor can only be received as a gift (Surprise!!)

God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While

we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Romans 5:8

Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God—13 children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.

John 1:12-13

What is God’s Spirit speaking into your life today? How must you respond?

The Anointed – The Giant Within!

1 Samuel 17

1 Samuel 17:45-47

What can we learn from David today?

1. Know who you are! I am a child of God

2. Know whom you belong to! I belong to Jesus!

3. Know when the real battle is won! The battle is won when we know that our true identity is Christ Jesus.

4. Know who your real enemy is! Eph. 6:12

What can we learn from Goliath and the rest of the Israelites?

1. There will always be another battle to fight.

2. There will always be challenges, which stand in our way.

3. There will always be doubters and haters

4. There will always be those who want us to fight their way.

The truth:

1. Jesus won the ultimate battle for life and death! (John 14:6)

2. The battle is God’s and not against flesh and blood. (Eph. 6:12)

3. God will always provide for us a way.

4. When our identity is in Jesus, the words of the world don’t hold us back.

5. Be yourself, don’t try to be someone else!

Theodore Roosevelt had a very famous quote that resonates deep in my heart. The quote is entitled “The Man in the Arena”.

The Anointed

God’s Heart, God’s Man, God’s Way

November 13, 2016

Please turn to 1Samuel 16 (NIV) (ref. 1Samuel 8:5)

App: Celebrate the uniqueness of who God made you

(ref. 1Samuel 8:7, 9, 13:13-14, 1Corinthians 1:26-29)

“…the Lord has sought out a man after His own heart…” 1Samual 13:14b

App: If you don’t think you have what it takes, then you are the perfect candidate

3 Qualities Common to God’s Anointed

1: God anoints those who are hungry (ref.1Samuel 13:14b)

“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.” Matthew 5:6

2: God anoints those who are humble (ref. 1Samuel 16:7, 10-11, Psalm 78:70)

3: God anoints those who are smart (integrity)

God’s Boot Camp

1: He prepares us in Solitude

He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall

abide under the shadow of the Almighty. Psalm 91:1(NKJV)

2: He prepares us in Obscurity

3: He prepares us in Monotony

4: He prepares us in Reality (ref. 1Samuel17:33-37)

What is God’s Spirit speaking into your life today? How must you respond?

A Nobody Nobody Noticed –

The Anointed Series

1 Samuel 16:1-13

But the LORD said to Samuel, “Do not look at his appearance or at the height of his stature, because I have rejected him; for God sees not as man sees, for man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.”

Man’s Labels Limit

Jesse labels David in two ways:

First, he is the youngest. Translation = he is just a kid.

Secondly, he is a keeper of sheep. Translation = he is a nobody.

Life is not about what we “do” but who we are!

And Samuel said to Jesse, “Send and bring him. For we will not sit down till he comes here.” So he sent and brought him in. Now he was ruddy, with bright eyes, and good-looking. And the LORD said, “Arise, anoint him; for this is the one!” Then Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the midst of his brothers; and the Spirit of the LORD came upon David from that day forward. So Samuel arose and went to Ramah.”

God’s Labels Liberate

• You are God’s workmanship, created in Christ to do good works (Ephesians 2:10).

• You are a joint-heir with Christ (Romans 8:17).

• You are more than a conqueror through Him Who loves you. (Romans 8:37).

• You are forgiven of all your sins and washed in the Blood. (Ephesians 1:7).

• You are delivered from the power of darkness and translated into God’s kingdom. (Colossians 1:13).

• You are an overcomer by the blood of the Lamb and the word of your testimony. (Revelation 12:11).

• You are an ambassador for Christ. (2 Corinthians 5:20).

• You are the righteousness of God in Jesus Christ. (2 Cor. 5:21).

• "Unto Him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in His own blood, and hath made us kings and priests unto God and His Father…" (Rev. 1:5-6).

K=Kid/Keeper of Sheep

I=In

N=Need of

G = God's Grace

What is God’s Spirit speaking into your life today?

How must you respond?

Circle Maker

Thinking Long

October 30, 2016

Please turn in you Bibles to Daniel 10:11-13: (NLT)

Big Idea: Pray as long as it takes

To pray through: praying toward a victory

Circle Makers: people who draw circles of faith around their biggest dreams and greatest challenges

It involves:

A: following God’s command

B: circling His promises

C: watching miracles become a reality

Pokey = preparation time

Speedy = a seed that’s been planted

6 steps to birthing a dream/miracle:

-Dream

-Decision

-Delay

-Difficulty

-Dead End

-Delivery

3 things the angel affirmed in Daniel

V 11: He was “greatly loved”

V 12a: His prayer was heard the moment he prayed

V 12b: The angel was immediately sent into action

3 things about you

1: You are greatly loved: 1John 3:1-2

2: God answers your prayers: Matthew 7:11

3: God comes to your aid: Hebrews 1:14, Hebrews 11:6b

What is God’s Spirit speaking into your life today? How must you respond?

Circle Maker

Praying Through

October 23, 2016

Please turn: Luke 18:1-8: (NLT)

Big Idea: Never give up believing

One day Jesus told His disciples a story to show

that they should always pray and never give up.

Luke 18:1

However, when the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on the earth?

Luke 18:8b NIV

“Pray without ceasing.”

1Thessalonians 5:17

Why You Should Persist In Faith

 You’re a child of God (1John 3:1-2)

 You have ready access to the Father (Ephesians 3:12)

 You have friends in high places (Romans 8:26, 34)

 You come to the throne of grace (Hebrews 4:16)

 You have many promises (Matthew 7:7, 2Corinthians 1:20)

Pokey & Speedy (V 7-8)

-Think of Pokey as preparation time

-Think of Speedy as a seed that’s been planted

What is God’s Spirit speaking into your life today? How must you respond?

Dream Big: Cloudy with a Chance of Quail

The Circle Maker Sermon 2Text: Numbers 11

Introduction:

Circle Makers: people who learn to draw circles of faith around our biggest dreams and greatest fears. It involves:

A: following God’s command,

B: circling His promises and

C: watching how He delivers.

1. Circle makers are risk takers

Text: Numbers 11 Context:

2. Circle Makers use God’s math

Application: What is the “step of faith” that you need to take in pursuing your big dream?

3. Circle Makers take steps of Faith

Quailmeggedon

Application:

What promises do you need to circle?

Is there any limit to God’s power?

Application:

Prayer walk – we are circling our area in prayer, trusting that God has a dream for Summit Church. What is your dream? Can God’s math bring your dreams to life? Just as we circle our area with prayer for Summit Church, circle your biggest dreams and challenges with prayer.

What is God’s Spirit speaking into your life today? How must you respond?

Thee parts:

1. Planning

Many are the plans in a person’s heart,    but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails.- Proverbs 19:21

2. Practice

Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving. Colossians 3:23-24

HALF TIME - Review, Revise, and Refocus

3. Prayer

Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.- Philippians 4:6-7

Touchdowns in life are about "touching" people.