Title of message:  Five Friendships

 

(Proverbs 17:24 GN)  “An intelligent person aims at wise action, but a fool starts off in many directions.”

(Psalm 40:2) “He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand.”

 

(Luke 6:39-40) “He also told them this parable: “Can the blind lead the blind? Will they not both fall into a pit? The student is not above the teacher, but everyone who is fully trained will be like their teacher.

Five Friendships:

 

1.    The Friend Inside

 

(Ezekiel 26:36) (NLT) “And I will give you a new heart, and I will put a new spirit in you. I will take out your stony, stubborn heart and give you a tender, responsive heart.”

 

(James 2:23)(NLT) “And so it happened just as the Scriptures say: “Abraham believed God, and God counted him as righteous because of his faith.” He was even called the friend of God.”

 

(Psalm 16:11) (NLT) “You will show me the way of life, granting me the joy of your presence and the pleasures of living with you forever.”

 

2.    The Friend Ahead

(2 Kings 2:6) “Then Elijah said to him, “Stay here; the LORD has sent me to the Jordan.” And he replied, “As surely as the LORD lives and as you live, I will not leave you.” So the two of them walked on.”

 

Who do you respect that is a little bit ahead of you? 

3.    The Friend Beside

 

(Acts 16:40) “After Paul and Silas came out of the prison, they went to Lydia’s house, where they met with the brothers and encouraged them. Then they left.”

 

(Acts 20:2) “He traveled through that area, speaking many words of encouragement to the people, and finally arrived in Greece,”

 

(Ephesians 6:21-22) “Tychicus, the dear brother and faithful servant in the Lord, will tell you everything, so that you also may know how I am and what I am doing. I am sending him to you for this very purpose, that you may know how we are, and that he may encourage you.”

 

4.    The Friend Behind

 

• 63% of youth suicides are from fatherless homes (US Dept. Of Health/Census)

• 90% of all homeless and runaway children are from fatherless homes

• 85% of all children who show behavior disorders come from fatherless homes (Center for Disease Control)

• 80% of rapists with anger problems come from fatherless homes –14 times the average.  (Justice & Behavior, Vol 14, p. 403-26)

• 71% of all high school dropouts come from fatherless homes (National Principals Association Report) 

 

(1 Thessalonians 2:8) “We loved you so much that we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but our lives as well, because you had become so dear to us.”

5.    The Friend Far Away

 

(Matthew 18:12-13) "What do you think? If a man owns a hundred sheep, and one of them wanders away, will he not leave the ninety-nine on the hills and go to look for the one that wandered off? And if he finds it, I tell you the truth, he is happier about that one sheep than about the ninety-nine that did not wander off.

(Proverbs 17:24) “A discerning person keeps wisdom in view, but a fool’s eyes wander to the ends of the earth.”

(Proverbs 17:24 GN)  “An intelligent person aims at wise action, but a fool starts off in many directions.”

 

(Matthew 6:33)  “But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.”

 

Title of my message:  Freedom’s Five

 

1. Prayer.

 

(1 Thessalonians 5:17)  “Pray continually.”

 

“I never pray more than 20 minutes but I never go more than 20 minutes without praying.”

 

(Psalm 68:19)  “Praise be to the Lord, to God our Savior, who daily bears our burdens.”

 

o  Time

 

(Psalm 5:3)  “In the morning, O LORD, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait in expectation.”

 

o  Place

 

(Mark 1:35)  “Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed.”

 

o  Plan.

(Luke 11:1-2)  “One day Jesus was praying in a certain place. When he finished, one of his disciples said to him, ‘Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples.’  He said to them, ‘when you pray, say: Father, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come.’”

 

(Jeremiah 29:13-14)  “You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.  I will be found by you,” declares the LORD.

 

Prayer connects us to God. Fasting disconnects us from the world.

 

“Prayer does not fit us for the greater work, prayer is the greater work.” -Oswald Chambers

 

2. The Word.

 

(Isaiah 40:8)  “The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God stands forever.”

 

Battles – 1 John 4:4, Luke 10:19, Romans 8:37

Money – Philippians 4:19, Psalm 1:1-3

Fear – Psalm 27:1

Sickness – Psalm 103:3

Confidence – 2 Corinthians 3:6

Safety – Psalm 121:8

 

(Joshua 1:8)  “Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.”

(Psalm 1:1-3)  “Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers.  But his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night.  He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers.”

 

3. Generosity

 

(Proverbs 3:6-10) “In all your ways acknowledge him…Honor the

LORD with your wealth, with the firstfruits of all your crops; then your barns will be filled to overflowing, and your vats will brim over with new wine.”

 

(1 Timothy 6:18-19) “Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life.”

 

4. Life-Giving Relationships.

 

(1 Corinthians 15:33) “Do not be misled: “Bad company corrupts good character.”

 

(Hebrews 3:13)  “But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness.”

 

(Hebrews 10:25)  “Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another--and all the more as you see the Day approaching.”

 

5. Leadership.

(2 Corinthians 5:18) (NLT) “And all of this is a gift from God, who brought us back to himself through Christ. And God has given us this task of reconciling people to him.”

 

(Mark 16:15 NCV)  Jesus said to His followers, “Go everywhere in the world, and tell the Good News to everyone.”

 

(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.”

 

(Matthew 18:12-13) "What do you think? If a man owns a hundred sheep, and one of them wanders away, will he not leave the ninety-nine on the hills and go to look for the one that wandered off? And if he finds it, I tell you the truth, he is happier about that one sheep than about the ninety-nine that did not wander off.

 

 

"The goal isn’t behavior modification it’s life transformation." - Pastor Ryan Vinson

 

Title of message:  The Rule of Five

 

(Jeremiah 6:16)  This is what the LORD says: “Stand at the crossroads and look; ask for the ancient paths, ask where the good way is, and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls.”

 

We base our resolutions and goals on the success stories we see in people instead of the failures that helped them get there.  

 

(Isaiah 43:18-19)  “Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past.  See, I am doing a new thing!  Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? 

 

(Isaiah 43:19)  “…I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland.”

 

The only adequate preparation for tomorrow is the right use of today.

 

5 Principals of Five.

 

1.  Find your five.

 

(Proverbs 17:24 GN)  “An intelligent person aims at wise action, but a fool starts off in many directions.”

 

2.  Prioritize your five.

 

(Psalm 90:12)  “Teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.”

3.  Enjoy your five.   

 

(Hebrews 12:1-2)  “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.  Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross…”

 

4.  Fight for your five.

 

(Hebrews 12:11)  “No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.”

 

5.  Evaluate your five.

 

(Philippians 3:13-14)  “Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.”

 

(Ephesians 1:19-20) (LB)  “I pray that you’ll begin to understand how incredibly great His power is to help those who believe Him.  It’s the same mighty power that raised Christ from the dead.”

 

(1 Peter 1:3-4) (Message)  “Because Jesus was raised from the dead, we’ve been given a brand-new life and have everything to live for, including a future in heaven – and the future starts now!"

 

 

 (Luke 2:8-14)  And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night.  An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified.  But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.  Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord.  This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”  Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests.”

  

Title of message is:  The Birth of Hope.

 

What can you hold onto during the days of darkness?

 

(Job 17:13)  “Where then is my hope?  Who can see any hope for me?”

 

(1 Timothy 6:17)  “Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment.”

 

(Romans 15:13) (GWT)  “May God, the source of hope, fill you with joy and peace through your faith in Him. Then you’ll overflow with hope…”

 

Where does this hope come from? 

 

Hope comes from:

 

1. His Presence.

 

(Psalm 62:5)  “Find rest, O my soul, in God alone; my hope comes from him.”

 

(Isaiah 40:31)  “…those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength.  They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary; they will walk and not be faint.”

 

2.       His process.

 

(Romans 5:2-4)  “And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God.  Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.”

 

(Romans 8:28)  “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”

 

3.  His purpose.

 

(Jeremiah 29:11)  “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”

 

4.  His place.

 

(John 14:1-2)  “Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me.  In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you.”

 

Is what I’m worrying about going to matter in 50 years? 

 

(1 Peter 1:4-6) (LB)  “God has reserved for His children the priceless gift of eternal life; it is kept in heaven for you…And God, in His mighty power, will make sure that you get there safely to receive it because you are trusting Him…So be truly glad!  There is wonderful joy ahead, even though the going is rough for a while down here.”

Title of message:  Seeker or Spectator?

 

Top Christmas Gifts:

 

o   1930 – Mickey Mouse Hankercheif

o   1938 – Monopoly

o   1943 – Slinky

o   1952 --Mr. Potato Head

o   1959 – Barbie 

o   1975  -Pong –ATARI

o   1977 – Green Slime

  1980 –Rubicks Cube

o   1983 –Cabbage Patch Kids

o   1989 –Nintendo Gameboy

o   1992 –Barney

o   1996  --Tickle Me Elmo

o   2009 –Notebook E-Reader

o   2010 –iPad



(Matthew 2:1-2) (NLT) “Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the reign of King Herod. About that time some wise men from eastern lands arrived in Jerusalem, asking, “Where is the newborn king of the Jews? We saw his star as it rose, and we have come to worship him.”

 

(Matthew 2:3-5) (NLT)  “King Herod was deeply disturbed when he heard this, as was everyone in Jerusalem. He called a meeting of the leading priests and teachers of religious law and asked, “Where is the Messiah supposed to be born? In Bethlehem in Judea…”

 

(Matthew 2:7-8) (NLT)  “Then Herod called for a private meeting with the wise men, and he learned from them the time when the star first appeared.  Then he told them, “Go to Bethlehem and search carefully for the child. And when you find him, come back and tell me so that I can go and worship him, too!”

 

(Matthew 2:9-11) (NLT)  “After this interview the wise men went their way. And the star they had seen in the east guided them to Bethlehem. It went ahead of them and stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they were filled with joy! They entered the house and saw the child with his mother, Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasure chests and gave him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.”

 

Lessons from the Wise Men:

1.    Seek the Truth

 

(James 4:8) (NKJV) “Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.”

  

2.    Find Joy

Worrying never solves tomorrow’s problems, it only robs today of its peace.

 

(Luke 2:10) “But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.”

(Matthew 2:9-10) (NLT)  “After this interview the wise men went their way. And the star they had seen in the east guided them to Bethlehem. It went ahead of them and stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they were filled with joy!

 

3.    Worship Him

 

(Matthew 2:11) “They entered the house and saw the child with his mother, Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasure chests and gave him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.”

 

What are you going to find this Christmas? 

 

(Jeremiah 29:13) “You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.”

Title of message:  Now’s the Time

 
“Healthy things grow,

Growing things change,

Changing things challenges us,

Challenge leads us to trust God,

Trusting leads us to obedience,

Obedience leads us to health,

Healthy things grow.”

 

The Church is NOT:

 

o   The Church is not a building

o   The Church is not a music style

o   The Church is not a location

 

What is the Church? 

 

The Church:

 

1.    Is Jesus’ plan for the World

(Matthew 16:17-18) “Jesus replied, “You are blessed, Simon son of John, because my Father in heaven has revealed this to you. You did not learn this from any human being. Now I say to you that you are Peter (which means ‘rock’), and upon this rock I will build my church, and all the powers of hell will not conquer it.”

 

(2 Corinthians 5:18) (NLT) “And all of this is a gift from God, who brought us back to himself through Christ. And God has given us this task of reconciling people to him.”

2.    Was worth dying for

 

(Mark 16:15 NCV)  Jesus said to His followers, “Go everywhere in the world, and tell the Good News to everyone.”

 

3.    Is me

(1 Peter 2:5) “And you are living stones that God is building into his spiritual temple. What’s more, you are his holy priests. Through the mediation of Jesus Christ, you offer spiritual sacrifices that please God.”

 

(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 Corinthians 6:19-20) (NLT) “Don’t you realize that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God? You do not belong to yourself, for God bought you with a high price. So you must honor God with your body.”

 

3 Responsibilities of THE CHURCH

1.  We are blessed to be a blessing.

 

(Genesis 12:2 NLT)  “I will bless you…and you will be a blessing to others.”

 

2.  When we bless others God takes care of our needs.

 

(Luke 18:29-30 (GW)  “I guarantee this.  Anyone who gives up anything for the kingdom of God will certainly receive many times more in this life and will receive eternal life in the next world to come.”

 

3. The more we’re blessed by God the more He expects us to help others. 

 

(Luke 12:48 LB)  “…Much is required from those to whom much is given.  For their responsibility is greater.”

 

Now’s the time to:

1.    Rise Up

 

(Isaiah 60:1-3) (ESV) “Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you. For behold, darkness shall cover the earth, and thick darkness the peoples; but the Lord will arise upon you, and his glory will be seen upon you. And nations shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your rising."

 

2.    Carry Hope

(Matthew 18:12-13) "What do you think? If a man owns a hundred sheep, and one of them wanders away, will he not leave the ninety-nine on the hills and go to look for the one that wandered off? And if he finds it, I tell you the truth, he is happier about that one sheep than about the ninety-nine that did not wander off.

3.    Show Mercy

 

(Matthew 5:7) “God blesses those who are merciful, for they will be shown mercy.”

 

(Jude 1:22-23) (NLT) “And you must show mercy to those whose faith is wavering. Rescue others by snatching them from the flames of judgment. Show mercy to still others, but do so with great caution, hating the sins that contaminate their lives.”

 (Mark 8:35 LB)  “If you insist on saving your life, you will lose it. Only those who throw away their lives for My sake and for the sake of the Good News will ever know what it means to really live.”

(2 Corinthians 4:2) (MSG) “We refuse to wear masks and play games. We don't maneuver and manipulate behind the scenes… Rather, we keep everything we do and say out in the open…”

 

(James 5:16) “Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed.”

 

(Proverbs 14:13 TLB) “Laughter cannot mask a heavy heart. When the laughter ends, the grief remains.”

The Title Message:  Unmasking Our Conflict.

 

The Conflict Masks:

Dominate it.

 

Ignore it.

Whine about it.

White flag it.

End it.

 

(James 4:1) “What causes fights and quarrels among you?

(James 4:1) “What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don't they come from your desires that battle within you?”

(James 4:2) “You want something but don't get it. You kill and covet, but you cannot have what you want. You quarrel and fight.”

(James 4:2) “You do not have, because you do not ask God.”

 

Living Mask Free in Conflict:

1. Look within myself.

(Matthew 7:3-4) “Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, `Let me take the speck out of your eye,' when all the time there is a plank in your own eye?”

2. Talk to God first.

 

(Philippians 4:6) “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.”

(Philippians 4:7) “And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

(Proverbs 18:13) “He who answers before listening--that is his folly and his shame.”

 

3. Let God do a work in me.

(1 Peter 1:6-7 TLB) “So be truly glad! There is wonderful joy ahead, even though the going is rough for a while down here. These trials are only to test your faith, to see whether or not it is strong and pure. It is being tested as fire tests gold and purifies it—and your faith is far more precious to God than mere gold; so if your faith remains strong after being tried in the test tube of fiery trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day of his return.”

 

4. Don’t expect from man what should only come from God.

(Psalm 33:22 NLT) “Let your unfailing love surround us, Lord, for our hope is in you alone.”