Seth Powell is interviewing Pastor Brett Cooper on a very relevant topic that is facing the church today, "Why Don't People Trust the Church?"

This is a special podcast communicating our vision moving forward through 2020.

In the early 1920s a group of rich investors discovered that they had been given false hope. They believed that they would receive 50% and even a 100% profit on their money if they invested in a postal company. Many people lost a great deal of money in this illegal portal invested proposed by Mr. Charles Ponzi. To this day his way of doing business is known as “a Ponzi scheme.” Every one of these investors has passed on without their fortunes and money is still as unpredictable as ever.

 

We have good news, we have someone standing at our door and knocking (Rev. 3:20). He has something greater than money. He offers us a relationship:

 

“"And to the angel of the church in Laodicea write: 'The words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of God's creation. "'I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were either cold or hot! So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth. For you say, I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing, not realizing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked. I counsel you to buy from me gold refined by fire, so that you may be rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself and the shame of your nakedness may not be seen, and salve to anoint your eyes, so that you may see. Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline, so be zealous and repent. Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me. The one who conquers, I will grant him to sit with me on my throne, as I also conquered and sat down with my Father on his throne. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.'"”

‭‭Revelation‬ ‭3:14-22‬ ‭ESV‬‬

Neighbor | DOORWAY

Jesus came to teach the world how to fix broken relationships. Jesus came to restore our relationship with God and our relationships with one another. Take a look at how Jesus handled it when a lawyer confronted Him about gaining eternal life. The relationship between God hand people was broken. Many relationships between people and other people where broken, much like they are today. So, Jesus gave an example of how relationships could be fixed.

25 And behold, a lawyer stood up to put him to the test, saying, “Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” 26 He said to him, “What is written in the Law? How do you read it?” 27 And he answered, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself.” 28 And he said to him, “You have answered correctly; do this, and you will live.” 29 But he, desiring to justify himself, said to Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?” 30 Jesus replied, “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and he fell among robbers, who stripped him and beat him and departed, leaving him half dead. 31 Now by chance a priest was going down that road, and when he saw him he passed by on the other side. 32 So likewise a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. 33 But a Samaritan, as he journeyed, came to where he was, and when he saw him, he had compassion. 34 He went to him and bound up his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he set him on his own animal and brought him to an inn and took care of him. 35 And the next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper, saying, ‘Take care of him, and whatever more you spend, I will repay you when I come back.’ 36 Which of these three, do you think, proved to be a neighbor to the man who fell among the robbers?” 37 He said, “The one who showed him mercy.” And Jesus said to him, “You go, and do likewise.”

- Luke 10:25-37

Let's go on a journey together. It's not your typical kind of trip. This a journey toward having a healthy family. When we arrive, we will find a home with four pillars. These are four virtues that healthy/non-dysfunctional families have.

Now, we might or might not be a pioneers as we read these words. Maybe some of us are planning to help colonize the Moon or Mars. Or maybe, we are planning to ensure that you run a great household this year. Either way, if we want to find happiness that leads to thankfulness and contentment, we need to know the point of our lives.

Do you know the direction you’re going in life? I want to offer us an example that could help. As a man, it seems hardwired into my makeup that I just simply disdain: to read instructions and ask for directions. I remember feeling completely defeated once as I walked into a convenience store to ask for the location of a place. Stick with me, it’s a hazy memory because my mind is trying to block out the whole experience. Anyway, I could feel every eye in the place beaming on me as I stood that the counter in total defeat. I’m kidding, it wasn’t that bad. But it wasn’t that good either. Anyway, I needed to find my way more than I needed to hold onto my pride. Now that’s how it works with God. We reach a place where our need to find our way is greater than our need to hold onto pride. That’s when we look for the point in our lives. That’s when we find direction.

Peter overcame massive hardships when he was pointed in the right direction. He went into Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and all the way to Rome preaching the good news about Jesus. It all started after a fishing trip.

“But when the day was now breaking, Jesus stood on the beach; yet the disciples did not know that it was Jesus. So Jesus *said to them, “Children, you do not have any fish, do you?” They answered Him, “No.” And He said to them, “Cast the net on the right-hand side of the boat and you will find a catch. ” So they cast, and then they were not able to haul it in because of the great number of fish. Therefore that disciple whom Jesus loved *said to Peter, “It is the Lord.” So when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put his outer garment on (for he was stripped for work), and threw himself into the sea. But the other disciples came in the little boat, for they were not far from the land, but about one hundred yards away, dragging the net full of fish. So when they got out on the land, they *saw a charcoal fire already laid and fish placed on it, and bread. Jesus *said to them, “Bring some of the fish which you have now caught.” Simon Peter went up and drew the net to land, full of large fish, a hundred and fifty-three; and although there were so many, the net was not torn. Jesus *said to them, “Come and have breakfast.” None of the disciples ventured to question Him, “Who are You?” knowing that it was the Lord. Jesus *came and *took the bread and *gave it to them, and the fish likewise. This is now the third time that Jesus was manifested to the disciples, after He was raised from the dead. So when they had finished breakfast, Jesus *said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love Me more than these?” He *said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.” He *said to him, “Tend My lambs.” He *said to him again a second time, “Simon, son of John, do you love Me?” He *said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.” He *said to him, “Shepherd My sheep.” He *said to him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love Me?” Peter was grieved because He said to him the third time, “Do you love Me?” And he said to Him, “Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You.” Jesus *said to him, “Tend My sheep.”

John 21:4-17 NASB

Knowing the P.O.I.N.T. in life presents new possibilities, opens up opportunities, invites us to invest, navigates us toward newness, and helps us to track the truth.

This podcast is an overview of Paul's letter to Philemon (emphasis on verse 10). The focus is on teaching you how to step in and help others with their situations. You will discover how to strengthen others in the Lord. Also, you will learn to show others ways to separate from things that lead to destruction. Finally, you will be encouraged to take a stand for others. This is all about moving outside you yourself and helping someone else.

Have you ever heard the expression, “If you fail to plan, you plan to fail?” Have you ever experienced the truth behind that expression. You see the way it works is that people who have no plan, in life, are the ones who follow people who do have a plan. Now, this is not an invitation to just make up a plan! Some plans sound great but they’re just silly. For example, building a gym with an ice cream bar that features extra gummy bears. Also, there are amazing frozen yogurt stands that feature candy toppings. They taste so good that we are willing to pay $30.00 to take the family there for a few cups. You’ve gotta love some Sweet Frog! It’s worth every penny. Wait, are we getting off topic here? Back to the point. We need to have a plan. Not just any plan! The right plan! Another way to look at it is that we can’t just adopt someone else’s plan and think, “Hey, if it worked for them it’ll work for me.” You can learn from other people, but you can’t live their life. Go blesses each of us with a skill set. So, we can’t just think, “hmmm, I like golf enough to be there greatest golfer of all time.” Wait a second, I’m sorry Tiger Woods if you’re reading this you can ignore that last statement. If you’re not Tiger or someone who can compete with him at that level, I would suggest that you seek God for the right plan. And there is the point that we all need to understand. When we seek God we discover the plan for our lives. There are some famous people who wish for a simple life and some simple people who wish for a life of fame. No matter what, we all need to find the plan God has for us and live it to the fullest.

One thing is for sure, if you are reading this it’s because God has a plan for your life as a disciple. Let’s look at the plan Jesus gave his twelve disciples and consider how it applies to us.

“Jesus summoned His twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal every kind of disease and every kind of sickness. Now the names of the twelve apostles are these: The first, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother; and James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother; Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus; Simon the Zealot, and Judas Iscariot, the one who betrayed Him. These twelve Jesus sent out after instructing them: “Do not go in the way of the Gentiles, and do not enter any city of the Samaritans; but rather go to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. And as you go, preach, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’ Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, cast out demons. Freely you received, freely give.”

Matthew 10:1-8 NASB