Loving God.
Loving People.

SUNDAY'S SERMON

YOUR WORLD IS WAITING (pt 2)
Dangerous Surrender

HOW CAN I DO ANY GOOD?

August 31, 2008

Give your Presence
"hen (Job's friends) set on the ground with Job seven days and seven nights. No one said a word to him because they saw how much he was suffering." Job 2:13 (NCV)

(My presence) X (God's Presence) = Great Results

Offer Practical Help

"Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ." Gal 6:2 (NIV)

What is the "Law of Christ?" - To Love God and to Love Your Neighbor

Offer Financial Help

"Never walk away from someone who deserves help; your hand is God's hand for that person." Prov. 3:27 (MSG)

"Tell (people) to use their money to do good. They should be rich in good works and should give generously to those in need, always being ready to share with others whatever God has given them." 1 Tim. 6:18 (NLT)

Little discretionary funds? - Give a little, give what you can

Have discretionary income? - Invest in God's Kingdom and in God's people.

Depend upon God to Use You

"Humans look at outward appearances, but the Lord looks into the heart." 1 Samuel 16:7 (GW)

"My grace is all you need, for my power is greatest when you are weak." 2 Cor 12:9 (TEV)

"May our Lord Jesus Christ and God our Father, who loved us and in His grace gave us unfailing courage and a firm hope, encourage you and strengthen you to always do and say what is good." 2Thes 2:16-17 (TEV)

You can't do Good until you are connected the the 'Good One'!

YOUR WORLD IS WAITING
August 24, 2008

Dangerous Surrender

"Dear brothers and sisters, what's the use of saying you have faith if you don't prove it by your actions?" James 2:14 (NLT)

1. YOUR WORLD IS WAITING FOR PEOPLE WHO LIVE AUTHENTICALLY
Luke 12:2; Psalm 32:8

• It's not your reputation that I'm concerned about as much as it is the reputation of Jesus Christ
• The world is looking for people who will make the faith believable to them.

2. YOUR WORLD IS WAITING FOR PEOPLE WHO FIGHT COURAGEOUSLY

1 Corinthians 2:3; 1 Chronicles 28:20a; Luke 12:19; Acts 20:24

Three Responses:

• "Count me in!"
• "I don't know that I can be what God is asking."
• "I know I should care but honestly I don't.

3. YOUR WORLD IS WAITING FOR PEOPLE WHO LOVE SACRIFICALLY

1Corinthians 14:1; Hebrews 13:16; James 1:27

• Let love be your highest goal!

PUSHING BACK THE DARKNESS
August17, 2008

Dangerous Surrender

WHAT DOES GOD WANT US TO DO WITH EVIL?

1. Don't deny evil - face it
   -In the world (Lev. 20:4-5; James 4:17; Eph. 5:11)
   -In Myself (Romans 7:18; Prov. 28:13)
   
2. Don't accept evil - hate it ( Ex 23:2; Prov 25:26; Ps. 97:10)
   Three Practical Ways
   - Don't laugh at it
   - Don't compromise with it (we will lose the abilit to distinquish between good & evil)
   - Don't participate in it.
   
3. Don't fear evil - resist it (Psalm 23:4; 1 John 4:4; Eph 6:11-12)
   Here are some ways you can do that:
   - Guard your mind
   - Raise your Voice - commend good, confront evil
   - Lend a hand
   
4. Don't return evil - overcome evil with good. (Rom 12:21; 1 John 3:8; Matt. 16:18; Ps 94:16; Hosea 2:15b)
   How is God going to overcome evil?
   - Through the Government? - NO
   - Through Education? - NO
   - Through the UN? - NO
   - Through the World Trade Organization - NO
   The answer: When the church acts like the church.

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SAYING "YES" TO GOD, part 2
Dangerous Surrender

WHAT KEEPS ME FROM SAYING "YES!" TO GOD?

• My Fears
  - What Makes your afraid of God? 1. Ignorance of Him, 2. Idolatry, 3. Insecurity
  "The Lord is good to everyone, and His compassion is intertwined with everything He does." Psalm 145:9 (LB)
  
  "For I know the plans I have for you. They are plans for good and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope." Jeremiah 29:11 (LB)
• My Sinfulness
  "Another said, 'Yes, Lord, I will follow You, but let me first say good-bye to my family.' Jesus told him, 'Anyone who puts a hand to the plaow then looks back is not fit for the Kingdom of God." Luke 9:61-62 (NLT)

HOW DO I SAY "YES" TO GOD? - it is a "Surrender" (i.e.:abandoning; yielding; letting go; giving in)

"Don't surrender any part of yourselves to sin to be used for wicked purposes. Instead, give yourselves to God, as those who have been brought from death to life, and surrender your whole being to Him to be used for righteous purposes." Romans 6:13 (TEV)

"Joshua said to the people,'You are your own witnesses to the fact that you have chosen to serve the Lord' 'YES!' they said, 'Then get rid of those foreign gods that you have,' he demanded, 'and pledge your love to the Lord." Joshua 24:22-23 (TEV)

- So in the end surrender becomes an offering of love!

WHERE DO I NEED TO SAY "YES!" TO GOD!

"So Eli said to Samuel, 'God lie down again, and if someone calls to you again, say, 'YES LORD, your servant is listening!" 1 Sam 3:9 (NLT)

"Find out for yourself how good the Lord is." Psalm 34:8 (TEV)

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SAYING "YES" TO GOD, part 1
Dangerous Surrender

July 27, 2008

"They preached with joyful urgency that life can be radically different!" Mark 6:12 (Message)

"They went out and preached that people should repent." Mark 6:12 (NIV)

WHAT CHANGES WHEN I SAY "YES" TO GOD?

• MY DAY BECOMES AN ADVENTURE.
  
  God, who got you started in this spiritual adventure, shares with us the life of His Son and our master." 1 Corinthians 1:9 (Message)
  "God, who has called you into fellowship with his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, is faithful." 1 Corinthians 1:9 (NIV)
  "By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going." Hebrews 11:8 (NIV)
  
• MY LIFE BECOMES A MIRACLE. (a miracle= When God chooses to be anonymous)
  
  "By His mighty power at work within us, God is able to accomplish infinitely more than we would ever dare to ask or hope." Ephesians 3:20 (NLT)
  "Jesus asked, ' Do you believe I can make you see?' 'Yes, Lord!' they told Him. 'We do!' Then He touched their eyes and said, 'Because of your faith, it will happen.' And suddenly they could see!" Matthew 9:28-30 (NLT)
  
• MY HEART BECOMES PEACEFUL.
  
  "I've told you all this so that in trusting Me, you will be unshakable and assured, deeply at peace." John 16:33 (Message)
  "I have told you these things so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world." John 16:33 (NIV)
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