Thanksgiving 2010 – Give Thanks

This message is a special Thanksgiving message called, Give Thanks.

E50-NT - Miracles

This message is part 3 in the series E50-NT and is called, Miracles.

E50-NT – Jesus: God’s Invasion of Earth

This message is part 2 in the series E50-NT and is called, Jesus: God’s Invasion of Earth.

Guest Speaker Dr. Doug Oss

This message was given by guest speaker Dr. Doug Oss.

E50-NT – Hearing Gods Voice In His Word

This message, Hearing God’s Voice in His Word is Part 1 in the new series, E50-NT.

Guardrails in the Workplace - Guardrails

This message talks about guardrails in the workplace.

Colossians 3:23 (NIV)

Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men.

What does the Bible say about work?

We are to be hard workers.

Works purpose is to provide for our families.

Work was the plan from the beginning.

Guardrails save us from hitting the things that can destroy us.

In what areas should we set up guardrails @ work?

In our work ethic.

We are to work with a Godly motive.

Keep our on God so we know who really is in charge.

Guardrails keep me from going over the point of no return.

We need to identify what the possible dangers are in our workplace and set guardrails.

We need guardrails before work gets in the way of sacred obligations.

Guardrails should be set before work gets in the way of your family.

Quantity time generates quality time!

For Protection and Direction - Guardrails

This message talks about protection and direction.

Daniel 1:8 (NIV)
But Daniel resolved not to defile himself with the royal food and wine, and he asked the chief official for permission not to defile himself this way.

Three unchanging truths if you oppose guardrails

1) The tension that you feel will never go away

2) You will put the brakes on somewhere

3) Your appetites are never fully and finally satisfied

Guardrails do protect but they also direct

1) Daniel resolved

He set the guardrail because he could predict the end of his story

2) God caused

Stop asking God to act, start obeying and watch God react

3) God gave

Your guardrails influence more than yourself

4) They entered

Guardrails have an endless impact on your future

The Influence of Friendship - Guardrails

The message talks about the influence of friendship.

Proverbs 13:20 (NIV)
He who walks with the wise grows wise, but a companion of fools suffers harm.

Friendship Insights

1) Friendship allows us to drop our guard

2) We are all acceptance magnets

3) Acceptance leads to influence

4) Our greatest regrets frequently involve our friends, not enemies

The character of wisdom is contagious

Wise: A person who understands that all of life is connected

The consequences of foolishness are caught

Fool: A person who knows the difference between right and wrong yet doesn’t care

Suggested Guardrails: Your conscience should shout out loud when . . .

1) Your friends are not moving in the direction you want your life to go

2) You catch yourself pretending to be someone other than who you are

3) You begin to consider something that use to be off limits

4) You hope the people you care about the most don’t find out where you’ve been or who you’ve been with

5) Compassion will never require you to make an unwise decision about yourself

The Principle of the Guardrail - Guardrails

This message talks about the principle of the guardrail.

Ephesians 5:15-18 (NIV)
¹⁵ Be very careful, then, how you live--not as unwise but as wise,
¹⁶ making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.
¹⁷ Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord's will is.
¹⁸ Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit.

The Principle of the Guardrail

Definition: A personal standard of behavior that becomes a matter of conscience

What should a Guardrail look like?

Goldilocks: just right for you

Where should a Guardrail be located?

A safe distance from severe danger

What areas should we have Guardrails installed?

Anywhere the possibility for losing control exists

When should I install Guardrails?

Before you need one and after you need one

The Parable Of The Treasure – Figuratively Speaking

This message is about the parable of the treasure.

Matthew 13:44-46 (GW)
The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure buried in a field. When a man discovered it, he buried it again. He was so delighted with it that he went away, sold everything he had, and bought that field.
Also, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant who was searching for fine pearls.
When he found a valuable pearl, he went away, sold everything he had, and bought it.

1) Hidden treasure

2) Expensive transaction

3) Untainted joy

4 Quick Insights

1) The transaction cost everything

2) Apparently could not have both

3) All he had was all that was required

4) Some things are so valuable as to render cost irrelevant

Parable of the Wheat and the Tares

This message talks about the parable of the wheat and the tares.

1) The Sowing

Christ and Satan are active in the same field

2) The Growing

There is a time of waiting

3) The Mowing

Some will be unpleasantly surprised at the judgment

Fruit matters

How do people mistakenly think they are saved?

Generational appropriation

Convinced a decision was all that was necessary

Trust feelings over obedience

The Parable of the Unmerciful Servant

This message talks about the parable of the unmerciful servant.

I need to forgive . . .

1) . . . because God has forgiven me

Why we don’t forgive:

We forget how much we have been forgiven

We minimize our sins

We don’t believe we are forgiven

2) . . . because resentment makes me miserable

3) . . . because I will need forgiveness in the future

You will rehearse it or release it

The blame test

The bitterness test

The behavior test

Step Up To The Plate – Father’s Day 2010

This Father’s Day message talks about stepping up to the plate.

Page 1: You have a story

Action: You must show up

Page 2: You have been chosen

Action: You must step up

Page 3: You have no stunt double

Action: You must engage

Page 4: You will have setbacks

Action: You must step into

When Things Go Wrong – Once Upon A Marriage

This message talks about when things go wrong.

What I am missing is better than what I have

If the grass looks greener somewhere else . . . water your own yard

Righteous Anger

Unfailing Love

Forgive an love as you have been forgiven and loved

Faith-Less or Faith-Full – Once Upon A Marriage

This message talks about being faith less or faith full.

Faith-Less responses when life doesn’t go as planned

1) We fall victim to fear

The fearful phrase: “What if”

2) We get ahead of God

To hurry God is to find fault with Him

3) We don’t believe God will do it for us

truth trumps facts

The Passive Husband And The Controlling Wife – Once Upon A Marriage

This message talks about the passive husband and the controlling wife.

The Controlling Wife

Belittles her husband with her words

Takes over

The Passive Husband

The Provider

You set the financial tone for your family

The Protector

You set the fences for your family

The Pastor

You set the spiritual tone for your family

Seeking The Wrong One – Once Upon A Marriage

This message talks about seeking the wrong one.

You compromise more than you should

You tend to become very demanding

You will always end up dissatisfied

To be fulfilled in life, you have to find the right one

God is your one, your spouse is your two

Having the right one helps you find the right two

If two are seeking the one, anything is possible

Understanding Your Men – Mother’s Day 2010

This message talks about how to understand your men.

The men in your life . . .

. . . desire tasks with significance

Understand that God has wired him for work

. . . are tired

Understand that he needs you to be his encourager

. . . are greatly influenced by their father

Understand the influence his Dad had is large

. . . desire their father’s approval

Understand that he needs his Dad to be proud

Experiencing Powerful Worship

This message talks about experiencing powerful worship.

Philippians 3:10 (NIV)
That I may know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His suffering

1. Worship is a result of relationship, not religion

2. Worship revalues your priorities

3. Worship is best fulfilled empty handed

4. Purpose of worship: to know him

5. Result of worship: becoming like him

6. Worship is always forward progress

The Posture Of Worship

This message talks about the posture of worship.

Romans 12:1
Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship.

1. Singing Songs of Praise

2. Clap Your Hands

3. Shout

4. Lifting of Hands

5. Kneel

6. Be Still

Romans 12:2

Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

Pursuing God

This message talks about pursuing God.

God is the goal, not heaven

Sunday Expectations

Engage God’s word

Encounter God’s people

Experience God

We must pursue God with Expectation

He will be found

He will be felt

He will be fulfilling

God reveals himself to those who seek

God waits to be wanted

What We Have Learned

This message talks about what we have learned through the Building Tomorrow Together series.

1) God rewards faith

2) We grow through commitment

3) We are better together

The Ultimate Commitment

This message talks about the ultimate commitment.

1) Triumphal Entry:

An obvious announcement

2) The Lord’s supper:

A symbolic description

3) Jesus at Gethsemane:

A decision made

4) Jesus’ arrest:

A full surrender

5) Jesus’ crucifixion:

A willing sacrifice

6) Jesus’ burial anointing:

An extravagant offering

Building A Life Of Sacrifice And Generosity

This message talks about building a life of sacrifice and generosity.

Why does God want me to be generous?

1. Giving makes me more like God

Every time we give we become like God

2. Giving draws me closer to God

When I give money to God it pulls my heart to him

3. Giving breaks the grip of materialism

What’s the antidote to materialism? Giving

4. Giving strengthens my faith

Generosity proves the reality of your faith

5. Giving is an investment in eternity

Building A Life Of Commitment

This message talks about building a life of commitment.

The Power of Commitment

Shows my value

Shapes my life

Determines my destiny

Practical Ways to Stay Committed

Give God the first thoughts of each day

Give God the first day of each week

Give God the first tenth of your paycheck

Give God the first consideration of any decision

Pitfalls to Avoid

Distractions surrounds us like thorns

Complacency grows around us like weeds

The Payoff

Affirmation à “well done good and faithful servant”

Promotion à “in charge of many things”

Celebration à “share your master’s happiness”

Starting A Legacy

This message talks about starting a legacy.

Purposes of Capital Giving Campaign

To help people grow to spiritual maturity

To raise the funds to build

To develop fellowship and unity within our church family

To celebrate with thanksgiving

Expect Three Different Reactions

Those who will give no matter what we do

Those who will never give no matter what we do

Those who will give when they catch the vision

Campaign Non-Negotiables

We will not pressure anyone

We will not say no for anyone

We will not sell anything

We will challenge everyone to sacrifice equally

Why I Love The Church

This message talks about why Pastor Mark loves the Church.

Reasons I Love FLAG

We are willing to extend invitations

We are a perfect place for imperfect people

We are contributors not consumers

We are flexible, not fossils

We are outward, not inward focused

We respond to vision

Straight Instruction From A Crooked Illustration

This message talks about a straight instruction from a crooked illustration.

God owns everything

We were made to manage what God owns

The shrewd steward . . .

. . . looked ahead

. . . planned ahead

. . . acted quickly

The purpose of giving

You can’t take it with you à But you can send it on ahead

The pattern for living

If I’m faithful in the little things then God can trust me in the big things

The principle of blessing

There is a direct relationship between my giving and my spiritual depth

The priority of loving

I must choose what I will love most in life.

Money is to be used not loved

Money is a great servant it is a lousy God

If I live for money, it becomes my master

If I give my money, it becomes my servant

Jesus taught: Money leads heart follows

Responding To The Holy Spirit

This message talks about responding to the Holy Spirit.

Operation: What is speaking in tongues?

It is the supernatural speaking in an unknown tongue that is not understood by the mind of the speaker

It is the initial and immediate physical evidence of the Baptism in the Holy Spirit

Apostles experienced this evidence

Apostles accepted this evidence as proof

There is no other evidence offered in NT

Consideration: What is the value of speaking in tongues?

Enhances a supernatural orientation

Establishes a spiritual prayer language

Allows for unrestricted praise and proclamation

Provides for supernatural edification

Enhances supernatural faith

Enlarges the possibility for supernatural ministry

Kansas District Superintendent Terry Yancey

This message was spoken by Kansas District Superintendent Terry Yancey.

Fasting Facts

This message gives facts about fasting.

Fasting is the abstaining from food for a determined length of time for spiritual purpose

10. Fasting is expected

9. Fasting is rewarded

8. Fasting can be loaded with legalism

7. Fasting is not dieting

6. Fasting slows everything down

5. Fasting is purposeful

4. Fasting is always inconvenient

3. Fasting properly positions me to receive

2. Fasting must be experienced

1. Fasting will bring a response from God