Messages

HELPING YOUR FRIENDS AND FAMILY FIND GOD

But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander. 1 Peter 3:15-16

THE LIE:  That it’s all up to _____

Why?  Because God loves your friends and family

___________________________________

The first church: And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved. Acts 2:47

[God] has planted eternity in the human heart… Ecclesiastes 3:11 (NLT)

How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of the messenger who brings good news, the good news of peace and salvation, the news that the God of Israel reigns! Isaiah 52:7 (NLT)

Jesus said to his followers, “There are many people to harvest but only a few workers to help harvest them. Pray to the Lord, who owns the harvest, that he will send more workers to gather his harvest.” Matthew 9:37-38 (NCV)

Who are the two people you most want to ___________________?

1.

2.

1. Prepare your ____________

“But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord.”

2. Prepare your ____________

“Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have.”

Internal stages of answering tough questions:

1.

2.

3.

4.      

“Good people think before they answer.” Proverbs 15:28a (NCV)

Resources:

* Give Me an Answer by Cliffe Knechtle

* Edgewater’s “Hot Potatoes” teaching series from Summer 2008

3. Prepare your ____________

Link to story and audio

“But do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander.”

WHY A CITY WOULD LOVE A CHURCH

This is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says to all those I carried into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon:

“Build houses and settle down; plant gardens and eat what they produce. Marry and have sons and daughters; find wives for your sons and give your daughters in marriage, so that they too may have sons and daughters. Increase in number there; do not decrease. Also, seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you into exile. Pray to the Lord for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper.” Jeremiah 29:4-7

Beware of the temptation to long so much for ________________

that you never decide to seek the _______________ of where you live.

MANTRA:

GOOD __________

GOOD __________

GOOD __________

The first church:

Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need… praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved. Acts 2:45,47

1. Believe that God has a _________________ for where you live.

This is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says to all those I carried into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon… Jeremiah 29:4

2. ___________ for your city.

Pray to the Lord for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper. Jeremiah 29:7b

3. Work for the _____________________ of your city.

Also, seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you into exile. Jeremiah 29:7a

Shalom = “welfare, prosperity, well-being, good things, peace”

Video link

“You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.” Matthew 5:14-16

WHY YOU NEED A CHURCH FAMILY

Then, even if I am delayed, you will know how to live in the family of God. That family is the church of the living God… 1 Timothy 3:15 (NCV)

“Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts.” Acts 2:46

1. You need _______________ relationships.

The Lord God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone.” Genesis 2:18a

Then [Jesus] chose twelve of them to be his apostles, so that they could _________________________. Mark 3:14 (CEV)

“Who are my mother and my brothers?” [Jesus] asked. Then he looked at those seated in a circle around him and said, “Here are my mother and my brothers! Whoever does God’s will is my brother and sister and mother.” Mark 3:33-35

Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work: If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up!…Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken. Ecclesiastes 4:9-10, 12

2. You need a place where you can ________________________.

Do not neglect the spiritual gift you received through the prophecy spoken over you when the elders of the church laid their hands on you. 1 Timothy 4:14 (NLT)

3. You need a place where you can ___________.

Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day. They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Acts 2:41-42

For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them. Matthew 18:20

Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego replied to the king, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter. If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to save us from it, and he will rescue us from your hand, O king. But even if he does not, we want you to know, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up.” Daniel 3:16-18

4. You need to belong to something _____________ than yourself.

Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. Romans 12:4-5

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. Hebrews 10:25

BEGINNINGS:

MAKING THE MOST OF WHAT YOU’VE BEEN GIVEN

“Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need.”

Acts 2:45

WHY IS THIS IMPORTANT?

1. God _______________ you with specific talents and abilities to help people.

“For it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted to them his property.” Matthew 25:14 (ESV)

“Christ gave those gifts to prepare God’s holy people for the work of serving…” Ephesians 4:12 (NCV)

2. God will hold you ________________________ to what He’s given you.

“Now after a long time the master of those servants came and settled accounts with them.” Matthew 25:19 (ESV)

TYPES OF “SPIRITUAL” GIFTS

(1 Corinthians 12:4-11, Romans 12:6-8, Ephesians 4:11-13, Hebrews 2:4)

_____________ gifts: governments, giving, mercy, helps, pastoring

_____________ gifts: faith, word of knowledge, discerning of spirits, miracles, speaking in tongues, interpretation of tongues, healing, word of wisdom, prophecy

_____________ gifts: evangelism, exhortation, teaching, apostleship, ruling/leadership

HOW DO I DISCOVER WHAT GOD HAS GIVEN ME?

1. Ask ____________________________ questions.

“Make a careful exploration of who you are and the work you have been given, and then sink yourself into that.” Galatians 6:4a (The Message)

* Where have I seen _______________ in my life that other people have confirmed?

* What do I really ________________ doing the most?

2. Volunteer for ___________ opportunities…but try ___ opportunity at a time

HOW DO I HELP PEOPLE WITH WHAT GOD HAS GIVEN ME?

1. Enjoy ________________________________

“The man who received the $5,000 began immediately to buy and sell with it and soon earned another $5,000. The man with $2,000 went right to work, too, and earned another $2,000.” Matthew 25:16-17 (The Living Bible)

To those who use well what they are given, even more will be given…But from those who do nothing, even what little they have will be taken away. Mt 25:29 (NLT)

2. Enjoy ________________________________

“He gave $5,000 to one, $2,000 to another, and $1,000 to the last-dividing it in proportion to their abilities…” Matthew 25:15 (The Living Bible)

3. Enjoy ________________________________

“You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much.” Mt 25:21 (ESV)

4. Enjoy ________________________________

The master was full of praise. ‘Well done, my good and faithful servant…Let’s celebrate together!’ Matthew 25:21 (NLT)

BEGINNINGS – Starting the New Year Right, Pastor John Fanous

Message 1 of 5: Centering on What Matters Most

Acts 2:41-47, January 4, 2009

CENTERING ON WHAT MATTERS MOST

Acts 2:41-17: Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day.

They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common. Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.

The Overall Theme: ________________________________

You shall have no other gods before me. Exodus 20:3

The Promise: In everything you do, put God first, and he will direct you and crown your efforts with success. Proverbs 3:6 (The Living Bible)

HOW DO I MAKE GOD THE CENTER?

Give God priority in 5 areas

C___________________

Honor the Lord by giving him the first part of all your income, and he will fill your barn… Proverbs 3:9-10 (The Living Bible)

The purpose of tithing is to teach you always to put God first in your lives. Deuteronomy 14:23 (The Living Bible)

E___________________

And whatever you do or say, do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus… Colossians 3:17 (NLT)

____N________________

Call upon me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you will honor me. Psalm 50:15

T___________________

Make every minute count…find out what the Lord wants you to do. Ephesians 5:16-17 (CEV)

Very early in the morning…Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed. Mark 1:35

R___________________

Walk with the wise and become wise; associate with fools and get in trouble. Proverbs 13:20 (NLT)

The righteous should choose his friends carefully… Proverbs 12:26 (NKJV)