This Is Us: We are Faith Filled, Big Thinking, Bet the Farm Risk Takers

Eph 3:20-21 "Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen."
1. God's Plan- His Glory. Col 1. God does not do His work through us so people will think how awesome we are, but how awesome He is.
2. God's Power- His Sprit. Eph 3:16-18.
3. God's Provision- His More. Eph 3:29. We are a bunch of "dumb askers." Our asking and praying and thinking is too small. Expect unexpected things! Think of how God loves to hear the prayers of His people. Whatever we ask, God can do more.
   A. God's "more" will always point back to Him.
   B. God's "more" often comes through pain, suffering and hardship.
   C. God's greatest "more" is Himself. Our greatest need is a real encounter with God and salvation through Jesus. Ps 63:1-8 "You, God, are my God, earnestly I seek you; I thirst for you, my whole being longs for you, in a dry and parched land where there is no water.  I have seen you in the sanctuary and beheld your power and your glory.  Because your love is better than life, my lips will glorify you.  I will praise you as long as I live, and in your name I will lift up my hands.  I will be fully satisfied as with the richest of foods; with singing lips my mouth will praise you.  On my bed I remember you; I think of you through the watches of the night.  Because you are my help, I sing in the shadow of your wings.  I cling to you; your right hand upholds me."
Faith filled- it starts with faith, Heb 11:1, 6
Big thinking- Think bigger!!
Bet the farm risk takers- we are not called to a comfortable, safe, life. Our risk taking must always point to God, not us.

Easter

1. The history of death. Gen 2:16-17, 3:17-19; Rom 5:12, 3:23, 6:23.
2. The answer to death. Jesus. 1 Cor 15:20-21; Eph 2:4-5. He answered our sin problem with his death, and he answered our death problem with his Resurrection.
It's Sunday, but Monday's coming. How do we take the Resurrection of Easter into the other days off the week?
-Repent, turn from our sins. 1 Jn 1:9; Col 2:13. All. Forgiven. By. Jesus.
-Belief, Jn 3:16; Rom 10:9-10

This is Us: Generosity

We will lead the way with irrational generosity.
1. God doesn't need our money. Ps 50:7-12
2. Please, don't be foolish. Lk 12:15-21
3. Generosity is not something God wants FROM us, it's something God wants FOR us. 1 Tim 6:17-19, 6-9; Mt 6:19-21
4. Generosity is the sign of a changed heart. Lk 19:7-8
5. We will fund God's work with the generous cheerful, sacrificial, giving of God's people.
-generous: 2 Cor 9:6
-cheerful: 2 Cor 9:7
-sacrificial: 2 Cor 8:1-4
-irrational: Mk 12:41-44
Generosity is not about the size of the gift, it's about the heart.
6. God is the most generous giver of all time. Jn 3:16 For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son

This is Us: Mission

1. We Live on Mission
Don't be a false advertiser of Jesus.
Mt 13:24-29, 36-43; Jn 3:16
2. If you are a follower of Jesus, you are called to be a missionary. We are all missionaries if we have placed our faith in Jesus.
3. Jesus lived on mission. Lk 5:29-32,19:7-10
4. Our mission is to boldly proclaim the story of Jesus. Acts 1:8; 2 Cor 5:11, 14, 17-21 "We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God. God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God." v 20‭-‬21
5. Be bold, not weird. Acts 4:29-31 "Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness. Stretch out your hand to heal and perform signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus.” v29-30
6. What if we brought our friends to Jesus? What would happen? Lk 5:17-26

S.O.A.P. Focus on Jesus

The most important thing I can do every day of my life is to start with Jesus and get my heart right. My circumstances won't necessarily change, but my heart will change.
Lk 10:38-42 Mary and Martha. Martha was angry and exploded into the room. Mary "left," which indicates that she was helping in the kitchen before. Martha's inward anxiety resulted in outward expectation.
1. Jesus desires intimacy with you. What Jesus wants foremost from me, is to spend time with me. He desires intimacy more than service to him. Ps 51:15-17, Message.
2. Distraction is the enemy of intimacy. Any time you find yourself chewing Jesus out, your heart is not in the right place. Mt 6:25, 28, 31, 34; 13:22. Don't worry.
3. Your worth is not determined by your service. Jesus loves you. Martha was trying to find something in serving Jesus that can only be found in Jesus. Worship first, then serve.
4. Focus! Lk 10:42; Phil 3:13-14. Start with Jesus.

S.O.A.P. Journaling

We have delicate root systems, which we need to protect from the noise and stuff of life.
3 reasons why Christians aren't in the Word regularly:
1. They don't know how.
2. They don't see a need.
3. They don't have time. They don't see enough value in taking time in the Word.

The MOTIVATION: Jn 15:5 “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples."
When we're not connected to Christ, we will inevitably wither. The Father's main tool for pruning us is the Word of God. Satan wants to keep us from the Word of God. To wither, you just have to do nothing. We need to actively and intentionally connect with Christ through the Word.
When we're connected with Christ, we prosper. Ps 1:1-3 "Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers,  but whose delight is in the law of the Lord , and who meditates on his law day and night. That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither— whatever they do prospers."

The MODEL: Lk 2:52 "And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man."; Mk 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."; Mt 14:23 "After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray. Later that night, he was there alone"; Lk 6:12 "One of those days Jesus went out to a mountainside to pray, and spent the night praying to God."; Lk 5:16 "But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed."

The METHOD: SOAP journaling
Scripture: Read and write it down!
Observation: Why was it written? To whom was this originally written? How does this fit with the verses before and after it? What is God intending to communicate through this text?
Application: What does this mean today? What would the application of this verse look like in my life? What is God saying to me?
Prayer: Be honest with God.
-Leave the first three pages of the journal open for a table of contents, make titles for each day.

Just start. Pray before you begin. Be self aware, understand your tendencies. Have a routine. Consider reading together with a group. Don't look for a feeling or a "wow" moment every time. Don't get overwhelmed, start slow. Use outside sources (a good study Bible, www.gotquestions.org, www.bible.org). Keep going! (Refuse condemnation and guilt)

Because of Bethlehem: We Have Peace

Isa 9:6 "For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace."
Lk 2:12-14 "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 heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”
1. Because of Bethlehem we can have peace with God. Mt 1:21; Rom 5:1; Col 1:15-22
2. Because of Bethlehem we can have peace in our heart. Col 3:15; Isa 26:3. Keep your eyes on Jesus; Jn 16:33. Lean in to Jesus for peace.
3. Because of Bethlehem we can have peace for eternity. Peace can come from having the proper eternal perspective. Jesus gave us a glimpse into eternity Jn 14:1-3, 26-27 "But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.  Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid." We are called to live an eternal perspective. Rev 19:13-16, 20:1-3, 7-10, 21:1-7