"Marks of Spiritual Maturity”
Colossians 2: 1-7
How do you measure up? Does this list sound like you?
1. faithfulness in difficult times (2a)
2. love in our relationships(2b)
3. growth in knowledge and understanding (2c)
4. discernment in confusing times (4)
5. disciplined in discipleship (5)
6. consistent in daily living (6)
7. overflowing with gratitude (7)
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
Sunday, October 18, 2009
The Harvest
The Harvest …lift up your eyes and look on to the fields that they are white for harvest.
John 4:35 .
Acts 16
1.Vision -You have to have a vision for a world that needs Jesus
2.Voyage -You have to be willing to go tell the Good News about Jesus
3.Victory- You have to see every soul that is won for Jesus as a victory
4 places to reach
Acts 16
The seeker- those that are seeking a new life vs 14
The slave- those that are addicted vs16
The secure- those whose world has been stable and now is turned upside down vs 23
The suicidal- those who are at the end of themselves vs 27
John 4:35 .
Acts 16
1.Vision -You have to have a vision for a world that needs Jesus
2.Voyage -You have to be willing to go tell the Good News about Jesus
3.Victory- You have to see every soul that is won for Jesus as a victory
4 places to reach
Acts 16
The seeker- those that are seeking a new life vs 14
The slave- those that are addicted vs16
The secure- those whose world has been stable and now is turned upside down vs 23
The suicidal- those who are at the end of themselves vs 27
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
"Principles of Effective Christian Leadership"
Colossians 1:24-29
Effective Christian Leaders Are Willing to Pay the Price
Effective Leaders Have a Servant Mentality
Effective Christian Leaders See the Big Picture
Effective Christian Leaders Know the Source of Their Strength
Sandhill Cranes fly great distances across continents, have three remarkable qualities. First, they rotate leadership. Second, they choose leaders that can handle turbulence. And then, all during the time the one bird is leading, the rest are honking their affirmation. Pretty smart birds, don't you think?
Effective Christian Leaders Are Willing to Pay the Price
Effective Leaders Have a Servant Mentality
Effective Christian Leaders See the Big Picture
Effective Christian Leaders Know the Source of Their Strength
Sandhill Cranes fly great distances across continents, have three remarkable qualities. First, they rotate leadership. Second, they choose leaders that can handle turbulence. And then, all during the time the one bird is leading, the rest are honking their affirmation. Pretty smart birds, don't you think?
Growing a Church
You have to love all the disscussion about what really matters when doing church. Is it about the numbers? Is it about how many people we baptize? How much the church takes in for tithes and offerings? How much goes to missions?
It is easy to get caught up with hype and fluff. Conferences are great but they do tend to fuel pipe dreams. List about who is doing it best are good but they are not totally accurate.
Here are my thoughts on this stuff. I have been on both sides of the debate. I Love numbers. I love hearing the stories of those that are succeeding in big ways. I have been a part of dead ministries and struggling churches. It is tough.
My list:
Be right with God
Be faithful
Reach out to the lost
Help Christians grow
Dream God ideas
Do it Gods way
Be Spirit led
It is easy to get caught up with hype and fluff. Conferences are great but they do tend to fuel pipe dreams. List about who is doing it best are good but they are not totally accurate.
Here are my thoughts on this stuff. I have been on both sides of the debate. I Love numbers. I love hearing the stories of those that are succeeding in big ways. I have been a part of dead ministries and struggling churches. It is tough.
My list:
Be right with God
Be faithful
Reach out to the lost
Help Christians grow
Dream God ideas
Do it Gods way
Be Spirit led
Friday, October 9, 2009
Weapons of Choice
As Christians we know that we have weapons that can be used to help as we battle against our enemies. Here in a list:
Prayer
Scripture
fellowship
Here is a list that is not so obvious:
Confrontation
exposing falsehoods
loving your enemies
The battle is won or lost by our understanding of what weapon to use at the right time. Staying close to God and being led by the Holy Spirit makes the battle the Lords and not yours. Remember the victory is ours.
Prayer
Scripture
fellowship
Here is a list that is not so obvious:
Confrontation
exposing falsehoods
loving your enemies
The battle is won or lost by our understanding of what weapon to use at the right time. Staying close to God and being led by the Holy Spirit makes the battle the Lords and not yours. Remember the victory is ours.
Thursday, October 1, 2009
How To Overcome
For my Spiritual Warfare series I will be preaching on "How To Overcome" this Sunday. Here are my main points. I Hope they will help someone.
7 things to help us be Overcomers:
1. Face the enemy and face yourself.
2. Don't try to do it yourself. Remember the battle is the Lords.
3. look for the root of the problem and not just the symptoms
4. Overcoming is a process. It may take some time.
5. Remember that God is teaching you something in your overcoming.
6. When overcoming you are being a testimony for God when you do the right things
7. Go on the offensive. You are more than a conqueror through Christ.
7 things to help us be Overcomers:
1. Face the enemy and face yourself.
2. Don't try to do it yourself. Remember the battle is the Lords.
3. look for the root of the problem and not just the symptoms
4. Overcoming is a process. It may take some time.
5. Remember that God is teaching you something in your overcoming.
6. When overcoming you are being a testimony for God when you do the right things
7. Go on the offensive. You are more than a conqueror through Christ.
Sunday, September 27, 2009
What Demons Do
The evidence – It is clear that Satan has a following of like beings (“Prince of the demons” – Matt.12:24; the Devil and his angels – Matt.25:41). Demons are described throughout the Scriptures (Dan.10:10-20; Matt.10:1; Eph.6:12).
The time – At the fall of Satan, many angels followed him in that rebellion (demons are fallen angels). A third of the angelic host seem to have fallen with Satan (Rev.12:4 – the imagery of Satan as a “dragon” and angels/demons as “stars”).
Demons are involved in carrying out Satan’s evil plans (2 Cor.11:15).
Demons promote idolatry (Lev.17:7; Deut.32:17; Ps.106:36-38). This activity is blatant in primitive cultures.
Demons are active in hindering the spiritual progress of believers every way they can. They are deliberate and organized in these attempts (Eph.6:10-12).
Demons promote false teaching (1 Tim.4:1).
Demons can possess and afflict people.
The time – At the fall of Satan, many angels followed him in that rebellion (demons are fallen angels). A third of the angelic host seem to have fallen with Satan (Rev.12:4 – the imagery of Satan as a “dragon” and angels/demons as “stars”).
Demons are involved in carrying out Satan’s evil plans (2 Cor.11:15).
Demons promote idolatry (Lev.17:7; Deut.32:17; Ps.106:36-38). This activity is blatant in primitive cultures.
Demons are active in hindering the spiritual progress of believers every way they can. They are deliberate and organized in these attempts (Eph.6:10-12).
Demons promote false teaching (1 Tim.4:1).
Demons can possess and afflict people.
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