The Creature Within Series | Week 4

[Chad Simpkins] Anger

"But the things that come out of the mouth come from the heart…" -Jesus

Ephesians 4:26 - And “don’t sin by letting anger control you.”

Two Types of People:

Spewer - "A fool gives full vent to his anger, but a wise man keeps himself under control." -Proverbs 29:11

Stewer - "Don’t let the sun go down while you are still angry…" -Ephesians 4:26

James 1:19 - Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry.

Ephesians 4:27 - ...for anger gives a foothold to the devil.

Where does my anger come from?

Ephesians 4:31 - Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of evil behavior.

Ephesians 4:32 - Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you.

Step #1 - Identify who you’re angry with.

Step #2 - Decide what was taken from you.

Step #3 - Cancel the debt.

-Face To Face

-Write And Send A Letter

-Write A Letter

The Creature Within Series | Week 4

[Chad Simpkins] Jealousy

"O, beware, my lord, of jealousy; It is the green-eyed monster which doth mock the meat it feeds on…" -Shakespeare

"But the things that come out of the mouth come from the heart." -Jesus

Jealousy: A resentment towards someone for a perceived advantage or superiority they hold.

-We’re jealous because we compare ourselves to others.

-We’re jealous because we’re never content.

Luke 15

Accept Who I Am (1 Samuel 16:7)

Appreciate Who They Are (1 Corinthians 13:4-8)

Be Content With What God Has Given You

"I've spent most of my life walking under that hovering cloud, jealousy, whose acid raindrops blurred my vision and burned holes in my heart." -Astrid Alauda

Philippians 4:11-13

Psalm 51:10 - "Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me."

The Creature Within Series | Week 2

[Daniel Roach] Guilt

4 Types of Guilt:

Good Guilt

Bad Guilt

Misplaced Guilt

Irrational Guilt

Hope ≠ Reality -> Guilt

“Our guilt comes from this very strange combination of a wonderful intention and an imperfect world.” -Jamie Kenney

Luke 19:1-10

Jesus Includes the Unlikely

Zacchaeus Recognizes the Tension of Guilt

Real Guilt Invokes Real Change

Mission of Jesus: To Seek and To Save the Lost

How to Deal with Guilt:

1. Analyze

-Why do you feel guilty?

2. Confess

-Leviticus 5:5 - ..when anyone becomes aware that they are guilty in any of these matters, they must confess in what way they have sinned.

3. Apologize

-“The single biggest problem in communication is the illusion that it has taken place,” -George Bernard Shaw.

4. Make It Right

-Romans 12:9-21

Psalm 51:10 - Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.

The Creature Within Series | Week 1

[Chad Simpkins] Heart

 

Matthew 15:1-20

 

10 Commandments + 613 Extra Commandments

365 were negative (Things not allowed)

248 were positive (Things allowed)

 

The Pharisees were all about Behavioral Modification

Punishments & Filters

 

Psalm 51:10 - Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.

 

Questions to Ask Yourself:

What needs to be changed in my heart?

What words do you use that make you say - Where did that come from?

What actions do you take that make you say - Why did I do that?

Who are the people you have hurt?

How is your heart?

Chasing Carrots Series | Week 4

[Chad Simpkins] Chasing Approval

 

"It is the avoidance of disapproval - more than the attainment of approval - that moves people-pleasing behaviors from compulsive habits to bona fide addiction."   -Harriet Braiker, The Disease to Please

 

Question #1: Do you obsess about what other people think about you?

Question #2: Are you overly sensitive to criticism?

Question #3: Do you have a hard time saying no?

 

Proverbs 29:25 - Fearing people is a dangerous trap, but trusting the Lord means safety.

 

John 12:37-43

We all have the disease of idolatry.

Commandment 1 - You must not have any other god but me.

Commandment 2 - You must not make for yourself an idol of any kind or an image of anything in the heavens or on the earth or in the sea.

John 12:43 - For they loved human praise more than the praise of God.

 

Realize people aren’t thinking about you all the time like you think, but God has thought about you from the beginning.

 

"You wouldn’t worry so much about what others think about you if you realized how seldom they do." -Eleanor Roosevelt

 

Psalm 139:13-14 - For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.

 

Have a plan in place to deal with criticism.

Step 1 - Listen to Criticism

Proverbs 15:31 - If you listen to constructive criticism, you will be at home among the wise.

Step 2 - Answer Criticism

Proverbs 12:25 - Anxiety weighs down the heart, but a kind word cheers it up.

Step 3 - Dismiss Criticism

Put boundaries in place in your life.

1 Thessalonians 2:4-6 - For we speak as messengers approved by God to be entrusted with the Good News. Our purpose is to please God, not people. He alone examines the motives of our hearts. Never once did we try to win you with flattery, as you well know…As for human praise, we have never sought it from you or anyone else.

Chasing Carrots Series | Week 3

[Chad Simpkins] Chasing Perfection

Matthew 5:48 - But you are to be perfect, even as your Father in heaven is perfect.

What are you chasing?

Self-Oriented Perfectionist

Externally-Oriented Perfectionist

Other-Oriented Perfectionist

Matthew 12:1-8

GOD DOESN’T CALL US TO: Perfection

Matthew 5:43-48

Are we FULLY loving others? 

Will you choose to chase perfection?

Or choose to chase Jesus?

Chasing Carrots Series | Week 2

[Chad Simpkins] Chasing Comfort

Ecclesiastes 2:4-8

Ecclesiastes 2:11 - But as I looked at everything I had worked so hard to accomplish, it was all so meaningless—like chasing the wind.

Luke 4:1-8

Matthew 20:28 - The Son Of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many.

Luke 4:9-12

QUESTION #1: Are you chasing bread IN life or the bread OF life? 

QUESTION #2: Are you worshipping the pursuit of comfort or are you serving others?

Are you getting more or giving more?

QUESTION #3: Are you testing God or trusting God?

Luke 4:13 - When the devil had finished tempting Jesus, he left him until the next opportunity came.

Chasing Carrots Series | Week 1

[Chad Simpkins] Chasing Success

What are your motives for success?

Ecclesiastes 2:4-8

Why does success matter to you?

Ecclesiastes 2:9-11

What are you willing to give up for success?

"Once you agree upon the price you and your family must pay for success, it enables you to ignore the minor hurts, the opponent’s pressure, and the temporary failures." ⁃Vince Lombardi

Ecclesiastes 2:22-23

Who are you representing in your life?

Ecclesiastes 1:2-11

Ecclesiastes 12:13 - Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the duty of all mankind.

Psalm 102:11-12 - My life passes as swiftly as the evening shadows. I am withering away like grass. But you, O Lord, will sit on your throne forever. Your fame will endure to every generation.

John 3:30 - He must become greater and greater, and I must become less and less.

One Hit Wonders Series | Week 9

[Daniel Roach] Mephibosheth

2 Samuel 9

4 Main Characters:

1. Saul

2. Jonathan

3. David

4. Mephibosheth

Mephibosheth

-Victim of Circumstance - 2 Samuel 4:4

-Learned to Hide - Lo Debar = “no word” “nothing”

-Defined By Mistakes

-Believed the Lie - 2 Samuel 9:8

David

-Honors His Covenant - 2 Samuel 9:6-7

-Restores Identity - 2 Samuel 9:8-11a

-Adopts Into His Family - 2 Samuel 9:11b-13

One Hit Wonders Series | Week 8

[Chad Simpkins] Rahab

Joshua 2

 

What risks are you willing to take in your life?

What is God reading to you?

 

"The heart of the gospel is redemption, and the essence of redemption is the substitutionary sacrifice of Christ." -Charles Spurgeon

 

What redemption do you need in your life?