063019-“There Is No Other Name” Acts 4:1-12. “There is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to people, and we must be saved by it.” Acts 4:12. Biblical Tolerance Is To Respectfully Disagree With Someone’s Position Without Unfriending Them Or Compromising Your Own Position. Living Biblically In A Pluralistic World Requires We Walk Out Of Step With The Authorities Of This World; Either Make Disciples Or We Make Enemies; Live Peaceably In A Hostile Environment; Submit To The Exclusive Universal Lordship Of Jesus.

062319- “God Has Glorified Jesus” Acts 3:1-26. Nothing Is Of Higher Worth Or Of Greater Beauty Than God! And, Jesus Manifested That Worth & Beauty To God’s Glory! God Glorifies Jesus By Healing Our Broken Lives (v.1-16); Promising A Future That Blesses Us (v. 17-25); Turning Us Away From Our Evil Ways (v.26). Acts 3:26 “God raised up His Servant (Jesus) and sent Him first to you to bless you by turning each of you from your evil ways”.

061619-“Being The Right Church” Acts 2:41-47 ..."And every day the Lord added to them those who were being saved”. Jesus Combines Holy Spirit Power With The Message Of The Gospel And Dynamic Community To Build His Church. The Right Church Is A Dynamic Community Devoted To Internalizing Scripture Together, Common Fellowship Together, Eating Meals Together, Praying Together. Acts 2:42 “…they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread, and to the prayers…”

060919-“What Must We Do With Jesus?” Acts 2:22-40. You Can’t Be Neutral About Jesus If He Is Your Lord, You Stand With God! If He Is Not Your Lord, You Oppose God! “Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Messiah” Acts 2:36. God Pointed Out Jesus As Lord & Messiah By His Miracles, Wonders & Signs (v.22); His Predetermined Crucifixion (v.23); Raising Him Up From The Dead (v.24); Exalting Him To God’s Throne (v.33); Giving The Spirit To Pour Out (v.33). “How much worse punishment do you think one will deserve who has trampled on the Son of God, regarded as profane the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified, and insulted the Spirit of grace?” Hebrews 10:29.

060219-“I Will Pour Out My Spirit” Acts 2:14-21. Because We Remain Broken—Despite Our Conversion—God Intervenes By His Spirit So Jesus’ Commission Can Be Achieved. Matthew 24:14 “This good news of the kingdom will be proclaimed in all the world as a testimony to all nations. And then the end will come”-Jesus. The Pouring Out Of God’s Spirit Is A Sign We’re Living In The Last Days (2:17); Is A Sign God Will Use Us If We Want Him To (2:17-18); Is A Sign We’ll Experience Great Ministry & Great Opposition (2:19-20); Is A Sign God’s Offer Of Salvation Is Universal (2:21).

052619-“God Glorified In All The Nations” Acts 2:1-13. God’s Purpose For Pentecost Was That He Would Be Glorified Among All The Nations By Empowering His Church To Carry Out Jesus’ Commission. On The Day Of Pentecost God:Identifies Himself With His Church;Intends His Church Will Reach The World;Allotted Tongues To Launch Gospel Dialogue;Works Through Spirit-Filled Believers.

051919-“They Were Filled With The Holy Spirit” Acts 2:1-13. If We’re Not Seeing The Same Results As The Spirit Produced In Acts Then We Must Not Depend On The Spirit Like They Did. God Pours Out His Spirit:On The Church United In Prayer (1:14);On The Church That’s Together (2:1);On The Outward-Focused Church (2:4-7a);On The Church That Waits On God (1:4).

050519-“The Purposes Of God’s Spirit” Acts 1:15-26.When Troubles Threaten Us, We Need God’s Help To See Them As His Spirits’ Relentless Purpose To Make Us More Like Jesus. The Purposes Of God’s Spirit Are Sovereign & Invincible v.16, Are Accomplished In All Life’s Circumstances v.17-20, and Are Always Connected To Jesus v.21-26. Acts 1:8-“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come on you, and you will be My witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

042819-“The Main Thing” Acts 1:1-14. "The main thing is to keep the main thing the main thing." Stephen R. Covey. By The Power Of God’s Spirit We Have Been Commissioned To Continue Doing & Teaching What Jesus Began. Because God’s Spirit Indwells Us: We No Longer Wait To Obey Jesus’ Commission v.4;We Have God’s Power To Obey Jesus’ Commission v.8;We Have Limited Time To Fulfill Jesus’ Commission v. 6, 7, 9-11;We Pray Strategically To Make Disciples v.12-14.

042119-Easter Sunday-Jesus IS Alive - Matthew 28:1-15. “…if Christ has not been raised, your faith is worthless; you are still in your sins.” -1 Corinthians 15:7. “The resurrection of Jesus couldn’t have been preached and believed for a single hour in Jerusalem if it weren’t true. There would have been too many ways to discredit the claims and disprove the evidence”. Conclusion: Jesus Rose From The Dead:Jesus Had Predicted It, Eye Witnesses Confirmed It, History Supports It!

041419-PALM SUNDAY-“Jesus’ Triumphal Entry” Luke 19:29-40. “With Whom Do You Identify, In The Crowd, Observing Jesus’ Triumphal Entry That Palm Sunday?” Do You Identify With Those In The Crowd: Who Refused To See Jesus For Who He Truly Was? OR, those Who Saw Jesus As Someone To Fulfill Their Selfish Desires? OR, those Who Humbly Bowed Before Jesus As Lord, King & Savior? “There is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.” -Acts 4:12

040719 - “Church 168” Living on Mission Colossians 1:24 - 2:8. For our faith the reason we contend is for the spiritual maturity of all in the end. "29, To this end I strenuously contend with all the energy Christ so powerfully works in me." Strenuously Contending for the faith requires 1: Genuine Faith 2: A willingness to proclaim, teach and admonish wisely. 3: Not simply taking the easy way 4: Genuine care for others, and 5: Bearing authentic witness to a life of discipline and firm faith in the teaching that belief in Jesus Christ is the ONLY way to the Father.

022419-”SNOW DAY” message - Romans 7:1-6. Released from the Law-Bound to Christ

021719-”SNOW DAY” message - John 6:15-24. Jesus, The Bread of Life.

033119 - “The Quality Test Of Your Work” 1 Corinthians 3:5-15. God Will Test The Quality Of Our Work & Reward Only That Which Is Built On The Foundation Of Jesus Christ. 1 Corinthians 3:16 “Don’t you yourselves know that you are God’s sanctuary and that the Spirit of God lives in you?” We Pass Divine Inspection When Our Life’s Work Is Built On The Right Foundation (v.11); When Our Life’s Work Is Built With Quality Materials (v.12-15); When Our Life’s Work Is Built With The Right Motive (v.16).

032419 - “Work Heartily For The Lord” Colossians 3:23-24. “Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ”. Our Work Becomes An Idol When We Use It To Build Our Own Kingdom Rather Than God’s Kingdom. God Gives Us Work So We Give To His Work, So We Provide For Our Family, So We Care For Other’s Needs, and So We Can Love Our Neighbors. Proverbs 3:9-10 “Honor the Lord with your possessions and with the first produce of your entire harvest; then your barns will be completely filled, and your vats will overflow with new wine”.

031719-“How Not To Work” Proverbs 21:25. “A slacker’s craving will kill him because his hands refuse to work”. At The Heart Of A Slackers Poor Worth Ethic Is Spiritual Confusion. There Are Physical Slackers, Mental Slackers, Moral Slackers and Spiritual Slackers. The Slacker Lives In Disregard To The Biblical Theology Of Work, A Prison To Themselves, and in Need Of A Converted Heart.

031019-“Seeing God’s Purpose Where You Work” Esther 1-10. God Has A Divine Purpose For Your Life Right Where You Work. God’s Purpose For My Work Means:He’s In All The Details, He’s In All The Timing, He’ll Reveal Himself Through Me, He May Lead Me To Take Risks, He Never Makes A Mistake, He Intends For Me To Be Present.

030319- “Working For The Common Good” Jeremiah 29:4-7. We Put On The Likeness Of God In The Workplace When We Extend Common Grace To All. Join God In Extending Common Grace:In Your Work Alongside Unbelievers, By Seeking Our City's Welfare, By Praying For Our Neighbors. Grace = God’s Undeserved Blessing: Common Grace—Everyone enjoys the “undeserved blessings” of life, provision & abundance regardless of their spiritual condition because God is good! Saving Grace—Only those who put their faith & trust in Jesus enjoy the “undeserved blessing” of God’s eternal salvation in heaven!

021019-“Work Like Jesus Worked” Matthew 11:28-30. God predestined us to be conformed to Jesus' likeness including in our work. We learn from Jesus that no work is unimportant; that our work is strategic to God's plan; that our work can glorify God in the marketplace; and, that our work can show love for our neighbors. To glorify God simply means to reflect his greatness to others or to reveal the greatness of his character in whatever we are doing.

020319-“The Parable About Resources” Matthew 25:14-30. How You Do Your Work Now In This Life Has Direct Impact On Your Work In The Next. “We must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each may be repaid for what he has done in the body, whether good or worthless” -2 Corinthians 5:10. Our Working God Gives Us: Resources To Work With Here For His Glory;Responsibility To Account For Our Resources;Rewards In The Future For Faithful Work Here.

012719 - “Work Regrets” John 9:1-5...."We must do the works of Him who sent Me while it is day. Night is coming when no one can work....(Jesus)" “…researchers have found that the biggest regrets come not from what you do but from what you didn't do…” called the “Inaction Effect” - Joe Robinson/Don't Miss Your Life. “Work is any purposeful expenditure of energy - whether manual, mental, or both, whether paid or not.” -R. Paul Stevens. Work, For The Night Is Coming:There Is A Specific Work That Jesus Has In Mind;There Is Limited Time To Complete This Work;There Must Be Urgency In Our Approach To This Work. How Would Viewing Yourself, As Being In The Ministry, Change The Way You Look At Your Work?

012019 - “Working In A Toxic Environment” Daniel 1-12. How Do We Live For God In A Work Environment Where No One Else Shares Our Faith? In A Toxic Work Place, Daniel Compromised Only On Non-Essentials, Depended On God For Spiritual Insight, Acted On The Power Of God, Modeled Competence & Integrity, and Was Sustained By Spiritual Discipline. Daniel 3:17,18 “If the God we serve exists, then He can rescue us from the furnace of blazing fire, and He can rescue us from the power of you, the king. But even if He does not rescue us, we want you as king to know that we will not serve your gods or worship the gold statue you set up”.

011319- “Seeing God In Your Work” Genesis 37-50. If I Am A Disciple Of Jesus I Am Called To Him Before I Am Called To A Vocation. “Work is any purposeful expenditure of energy - whether manual, mental, or both, whether paid or not.” -R. Paul Stevens. “If You Want To Find Out Who People Are, Don’t Ask Them What They Do But What They Love”-St. Augustine. Joseph Experienced:The Difference Between A Career, A Job & A Calling;The Temptation To View His Work In The Flesh;God’s Calling On His Work.

010619-“Created To Work” Genesis 1-3. For Our Work To Be Fulfilling We Must See How It Fits Into God’s Plan To Redeem His Broken World. A “Work” Definition:“Work is any purposeful expenditure of energy - whether manual, mental, or both, whether paid or not.”-R. Paul Stevens. We Were Created To Work In The Image Of A Working God, In The World With God, In Christ To Redeem Work From The Curse.

January thru December, 2018 Series

122318- “The Testing Of Your Faith” 2 Timothy 1-James 5. The Gospel is seen most plainly and Jesus is seen most valuable when we continue to pursue Him in spite of life's trials and tests. There are people all around us who need to see Jesus in your flesh living out your life in order to believe.

121618- “Gospel Lights To Sioux City” Ephesians 1 - 1 Timothy 6. Jesus Uses The Transformed Lives Of Our Church To Convict Sioux City Of Their Need For A Savior. We Shine As Gospel Lights To Sioux City: As We Empty Ourselves Of Self Glory, As We Humble Ourselves Of Self Importance, As We Humiliate Ourselves In Serving Others, As We Seek Only God’s Approval.

120918-“But You Were Washed” Romans 4-1 Corinthians 11. When Encountering Anyone Caught Up In Sexual Sin, We Act Most Like Jesus By Showing Them Grace & Truth..1 Corinthians 6:9-11, “Don’t you know that the unrighteous will not inherit God’s kingdom? Do not be deceived:No sexually immoral people, idolaters, adulterers, or anyone practicing homosexuality, no thieves, greedy people, drunkards, verbally abusive people, or swindlers will inherit God’s kingdom & some of you used to be like this. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ & by the Spirit of our God”. God’s Word Informs Me:That All Forms Of Sexual Sin Are Condemned By God;That All Sinful Lifestyles Are Equally Condemned By God;That All Habitual Sin Can Be Overcome By God’s Spirit;That Believers Must Humbly See Themselves As Equally Depraved.

112518- “A Relevant Church”, Acts 14-Romans 3. When the Church returns to the mission Jesus gave her, she will become relevant in the world once again. We are called to preach the Gospel and make disciples. The power of the Gospel changes nations one disciple at a time.

111818-“Let’s Be Thankful” John 19-Acts 13. Thankful People Pay Attention To God’s Blessings; And, They Pay Attention Because They Are Thankful. 2 Corinthians 5:21 “God made Him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God”. Let’s Be Thankful For: The Cross (John 19:16-18);The Atonement (John 19:28-30);The Resurrection (John 20:1, 11-18); and The Commission (Acts 1:8).

111118-“The Spirit Of Truth” John 6-18. Only God’s Spirit Breaks Us From Satan’s Grasp To Do Jesus’ Work By God’s Power. John 14:16,17 “And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Counselor to be with you forever. He is the Spirit of truth”. In the Greek “Counselor”=Parakletos; “called to one’s aid”;“to come alongside”. God, The Holy Spirit:Is God’s Gift To Us;Is A Person Like Jesus;Is With Us Forever;Is Inside Us If We Believe;Is Our Internal Counselor.

110418-“We Observe His Glory” Luke 16-John 5. Jesus Concealed The Glory Of His Fame In The Form Of An Earthly Frame. John Chapter 1:v.1-2– “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God,and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning.” JESUS—“The Word”: (John ch.1) Existed In Eternity Past (v.1a);Was With God & Was God (v.1b);Created Everything (v.3, 10);Became A Man (v.14a);Shares The Father’s Glory (v.14b);Saves All Who Receive Him (v.12-13).

102818- “The Kingdom Of God” Luke 4-15. The Substance Of God’s Kingdom Is The People Of God Living In God’s Place Under The Authority Of God. Mark 1:15 “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news”. Entrance To The Kingdom Of God: Requires A Spiritual Birth - Requires Radical Trust In Jesus - Requires A New Value System - Requires A Sacrificial Life - Requires A Rejection Of The Kingdoms Of This World.

102118-“The Incarnation Of Jesus” Mark 7-Luke 3. In All Of Humanities Stories, Jesus Christ Is The Most Unique Story Of All. Philippians 2:8 “He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death—even to death on a cross”. The Bible Affirms:The Humility Of Jesus - The Humanity Of Jesus (His “Incarnation”) - The Divinity Of Jesus (The “Hypostatic Union”). Hebrews 4:15 “We do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tested in every way as we are, yet without sin”.

101418-“The Gospel Of Jesus Christ” Matthew 22-Mark 6. Whatever The Question, Jesus Is The Answer; Whatever The Problem, Jesus Is The Solution. The Gospel Of Jesus Christ Is Activated As You: Prepare The Way For Him To Enter Your Life; Confess & Repent Of Your Sin; Receive The Forgiveness Of Sin; and, Testify Publicly Your Belief In Him.

100718 - “God With Us” Matthew 5-21. The One & Only Difference Between Christianity & All Other Religions Is Jesus Christ. “Messianic” Examinations: Began With Observation - Continued With Interrogation - Concluded With A Decision. 3 Specific Messianic Miracles: (The Messiah Would Perform) He Would Heal A Leper - Cast Out A Dumb Demon - Heal A Man Born Blind. ". …... Now it seems to me obvious that He was neither a lunatic nor a fiend: and consequently, however strange or terrifying or unlikely it may seem, I have to accept the view that He was & is God”. C.S.Lewis,--from his book, Mere Christianity.

093018-“Our Blindness To Spiritual Drift” Nahum 1-Matthew 4. About Sin, Someone Said: “Sin will take you farther than you want to go, keep you longer than you want to stay, and cost you more than you want to pay”. Our Sinful Brokenness Will Always Keep Us In Desperate Need For God’s Word To Confront Our Spiritual Drift. God’s Word Confronts Us When We’re: Skeptical Of God’s Love 1:1-5; Careless About Our Worship 1:6-14;Indifferent Toward Truth 2:1-9; Disloyal To Our Marriage Vows 2:10-16; and, Acting Like Owners vs. Managers 3:7-12.

092318 - “God, Jonah & A Big Fish Too” Daniel 10-Micah 7. Jonah’s Story Reveals How God Includes Us In His Disciple-Making Work & Then Prepares Us For It. To Make Us Useful, God First, Makes Us Uncomfortable; Then, Exposes Our Idols; Unmasks Our Prejudice; and Awakens Us To Souls Nearby.

091618-“Living A ‘Well Done’ Life” Ezekiel 38-Daniel 9. Through Daniel’s Story God Shows Us How To Live A ‘Well Done, Good & Faithful Servant’ Kind Of Life. God Shows Us How To Respond When Life Isn’t Happy ch. 1, In Impossible Situations ch 2:1-23, When The Future’s Scary ch 2:24-49, When Ungodly Men Make Ungodly Laws ch 3, and When God Interrupts Our Lives ch 4.

090918-“Called To Be A Watchman” Ezekiel 17-37. In The Making Of A Disciple There Is The Disciple’s Part & God’s Part & Our Part! We Are Only Responsible For Our Part! God Has Given Us, As Watchmen A Specific Responsibility v.1-6, A Precise Message v.7-11, 14-16, and A Notice Of Accountability v.20.

090218-“Put Your Hope In God” Lamentations 3:21-24. “Remember my affliction and my homelessness, the wormwood and the poison. I continually remember them and have become depressed” Lamentations 3:19-20. Lamenting Is Appropriate In Times Of Pain & Struggle; But, Should Eventually Give Way To Repentance & Hope. There Is Hope In Suffering Because Of God’s Faithful Love, Because God’s Mercy Never Ends, Because God Is Faithful To His Word, and Because The Lord Is Our Portion.

082618- “Is Anything Too Difficult For Me?” Jeremiah 27-50. God Intends To Train Us, Through Life’s Painful Events, To Trust His Faithfulness & To Look Forward To Redemption. Jeremiah 32:27;“Look, I am Yahweh, the God of all flesh. Is anything too difficult for Me?” God Uses Life’s Painful Events: To Bring Us To Spiritual Brokenness (Jer. 30); To Change Our Heart Toward Him (Jer. 31); To Enable Us To Walk By Faith (Jer. 32).

081918-“Clay In God’s Hands” Jeremiah 4-26. Jeremiah Was The:Reluctant Prophet (1:6); Weeping Prophet (9:1; 13:17); Lonely Prophet (16:2); Persecuted Prophet (11:18-23; 12:6; 15:10; 18:18; 20:1-3; etc). We Are Like Clay—Which Has Little Value– Until We Are Molded, By The Master Potter, Into Jesus’ Likeness. God Has The Sovereign Right To:Deal With Us However He Wills (v.5-6);Withhold Judgment If We Repent (v.7-8);Remold Us So As To Make Us Usable Again (v.4); Act Toward Us Based On Our Actions (v.9-10);Cast Us Aside When We Are Hardened Against Him (ch.19). Ephesians 2:10 “For we are His creation, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared ahead of time so that we should walk in them”.

081218-“Knowing God Better” Isaiah 39-Jeremiah 3. Relationship With God Does Not Depend On Our Faithful Ministry To Him; But, On Jesus’ Faithful Ministry To Us On The Cross. A Relationship With God Requires: Our Humility; His Help; We Accept His Sovereign Plans; We Abandon All Idols; We Submit To His Grace; We Accept Jesus’ Substitutionary Atonement For Sin. Isaiah 40:28-31;Youths may faint and grow weary, and young men stumble and fall, but those who trust 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 faint”.

080519-"Finding Peace in a Chaotic World", Isaiah 8-38. Solomon wrote "He who walks with wise men will be wise, But the companion of fools will suffer harm." Proverbs 13:20. What God has willed is always fulfilled. Who is YOUR leader? Do you really believe that what you believe is real? You'll never find lasting peace until you follow the One who is the provider of lasting peace.

072918-“Your Life Is Meaningless” Proverbs 29-Isaiah 7.Your Joy & Fulfillment In This Life Is Directly Linked To Your Investment In God’s Economy & Not To The World’s. When You Invest In God’s Economy Your Eyes Will Be Opened To The Facts that You’re Able To Stop Taking Inventory Of Your Stuff & Count Your Eternal Inheritance;You’ll Realize That Time Is Your Most Precious Commodity! Don’t Waste It!;You’ll Delight In The Simple Pleasures In Life As Gifts From God!

072218-“Living Life Wisely” Proverbs 9-28. What Is A “Proverb”?“A Proverb Is A Timeless Truth, In The Form Of A Simple Illustration, That Exposes A Fundamental Reality Of Life”. Experience Is A Great Teacher & A Fool Learns No Other Way! The Wise Assimilate God’s Word & Corrects Their Course Of Life! Wisdom Teaches Us To Be Cautious Choosing Friends;To Be Open To Loving Rebuke; To Be A Blessing To Parents; To Be A Peacemaker; To Be Slow To Speak; To Be Humble & God-Directed; To Be Generous; To Be An Encourager.

062418-“You Can Be Honest With God”-Psalm 30-65. God Created Us With Emotions, And, He Invites Us To Pour Out Our Hearts To Him Knowing He Will Respond. Psalm 30:v.11-12 “You turned my lament into dancing; You removed my sackcloth and clothed me with gladness, so that I can sing to You and not be silent. Lord my God, I will praise You forever”. Be Honest With God, But, Praise Him: When He Heals You (Psalm 30), When He Forgives (Psalm 32), When Our Strength Fails (Psalm 33), When He Delivers Us From Our Fears (Psalm 34), When You’re Struggling With Depression (Psalm 42 & 43), Because He Alone Satisfies (Psalm 63).

061718-“How To Live Happily Ever After”-Job 37-Psalm 29. Your Level Of Happiness Is Directly Related To The Depth Of Relationship You Have With God. Romans 12:1-2 “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect”. Your Happiness Depends On Where You Get Your Advice, What You Delight In, What You Meditate On, and The Fruit Your Life Bears.

061018-"God’s Blessings to Job" Job 1-13. We must trust God, when we do not understand, and because we cannot understand. Job 13:15  "Even if He (God)kills me, I will hope in Him. I will still defend my ways before Him." What do we learn from the Book of Job? 1)Suffering is part of the human condition, and Christians are human. 2)If Jesus was willing to suffer for us on earth, how then should we live? 3)God is just, but not in the way humans consider just.

050618-“Signs Of Revival” 2 Kings 22-1 Chronicles 12. We Need God To Revive Us By Removing Our Spiritual Indifference & Renewing Our Commitment To Live For Him. Signs Of Genuine Revival:You No Longer Neglect Meeting Together-You No Longer Neglect The Word of God-You Repent Over Sin & Eliminate It-You Re-form Your Life In Covenant With God-You Remember God’s Deliverance From Sin.

040818-"The Spirit Overcomes the Flesh" 1 & 2 Samuel/Galatians 5:16-26. We walk by the Spirit, when we want what He wants, produce what He plants and hate what He hates. Now I say walk by the Spirit and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh because: 1. The Spirit desires what is opposed to the flesh and the flesh desires what is opposed to the Spirit. 2. The works of the flesh are obvious. 3. The Fruit of the Spirit! 4. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 

040118-“Easter Lessons In Ruth” Ruth 1-1 and Samuel 20. The Opening Line Of Ruth: “During the time of the judges, there was a famine in the land” -Ruth 1:1. God Has To Empty Us Of  All Competing Gods To Break Us & Make Us Willing To Bow To Him Alone. Once Emptied, God Fills Us Through His Providential Blessings In Our Life, Through The Providential People In Our Life, and Through The Providential Redeemer In Our Life.

032518-“The Crisis Of Compromise” Judges 4-21. Sin’s Most Effective Strategy Against Us Is To Gradually Introduce Small Compromises, Sinking Us Into Moral Collapse.  Spiritual Principles In Judges:God Can Transform Flawed People Into Leaders; God Allows Our Idols To Enslave Us To Drive Us To Himself; God’s Absence From Our Lives Can Lead To Shocking Moral Depravity; God’s Always To Be Taken Seriously Lest Our Enemy Overtake Us. “In those days there was no king in Israel, every man did what was right in their own eyes”. Judges 21:25.

031818-“Learning God’s Lessons Well” Joshua 8-Judges 3. Experience Is A Great Teacher and a Fool Will Learn No Other Way. A Devotion To Obeying God’s Word Will Keep You From Sin But, Sin Will Keep You From Obeying God’s Word. Learn God’s Lessons: About Unconfessed Sin (Josh. 7-8); About Prayerless Decision Making (Josh. 9); About Trusting God To Do Battle For Us (Josh. 10-14).

031118-“Leadership Development” Deuteronomy 20-Joshua 7. The Long Term Success Of Any Institution Is Dependent On An Effective Transfer Of Leadership. The Principles Learned: God Will Not Tolerate The Rebellion Of Men; God Is The Power Behind The Leader & The Sword; God’s Glory Must Always Be Sought Over Personal Accomplishments; God Blesses Leaders Who Love What He Loves & Hate What He Hates; God Alone Is Indispensable! Human Leaders Come & Go.

030418-“Don’t Forget To Remember” Numbers 34-Deuteronomy 19. We Always Face Unpleasant Consequences In Life When We Fail To Remember What God Says In His Word. John 14:15 “If you love Me, you will keep My commands”. For Your Own Good, Remember To Walk In God’s Ways, To Love The Lord Your God, To Worship The Lord Your God, To Keep The Lord’s Commands.

022518- “Beware Of Yourself” Numbers 16-33. The Person You Are Most Easily Deceived By Is Yourself! Beware Of Yourself! “A Faithful Door Keeper In The House Of The Lord Will Be Honored More By God Than An Unfaithful Pastor Or Priest!” Beware Of Yourself:If You Desire A Higher Position Of Leadership (Ch. 16), If You Take Credit For God’s Work In Your Life (Ch. 20), If You Fail To Trust God To Fight Your Battles (Ch. 21), If You Fight Against God’s Sovereign Plans (Ch. 22-25).

021818-“When We Doubt God” Numbers 1-15. Our Greatest Struggle In Life Is To Trust God Instead Of Our Own Reasoning. When We Doubt God We Begin To Complain, We Rebel Against Leadership, We Act Out In Disobedience, and then we Face God’s
Discipline.

021118-“God’s Dwelling Is With Humanity” Leviticus 11-27. For All Eternity, God Has Determined To Assemble A People With Whom To Dwell. Leviticus Calls Attention To God’s Condemnation Of Sin & Uncleanness; God’s Provision For Fellowship With Him; God’s Determination To Make A Holy People and God’s Desire To Dwell Among Us. “You are to be holy to Me because I, Yahweh, am holy, and I have set you apart from the nations to be Mine” -Leviticus 20:26

020418-“His Name Is Yahweh” Exodus 30-Leviticus 10. The Way To God
Is By Sacrifice;The Walk With God Is By Separation. In The Name Yahweh He Is Compassion & Grace; He Is Slow To Anger; He Is Rich In Faithful Love and He Forgives Wrongdoing, Rebellion & Sin. Romans 12:1-2 “…by the mercies of God, I urge you to offer yourselves as a living sacrifice, holy & pleasing to God, this is your spiritual worship…”

010718- “In The Beginning” Genesis 1-23. Genesis Reveals God’s Relentless
Plan To Restore Fellowship With Humanity & Fulfill His Purpose For Creation. In The Beginning There Was God, There Was Creation, There Was Law, There Was Sin, There Was Judgment, There Was A Nation, There Was Salvation.

123117-“God’s Work In Us” 1 Thessalonians 5:23-28. God uses everything that happens to you, good and bad, to make you more like Jesus.

122417-“Glory To God In The Highest” Luke 2:1-14. God’s Glory Is The Essence Of His Character; And, We Give Him Glory When We Honor His Character. God Is Glorified In The Christmas Story: By The Birth Of The Christ, By The Peace Christ Offers, and By The Believers He Favors.

121717- "Let God's Spirit Be Your Guide" 1 Thessalonians 5:20-22. God Gave You His Spirit To Guard You From Error; But, You Have To Maintain
Your Connection With Him. The Holy Spirit Helps Inflame A Passion For God’s Word In Us (v.20), Helps Us Investigate & Confirm The Truth (v.21), Helps Us Condemn & Avoid All Counterfeits (v.22).

121017-"Don't Stifle the Spirit" 1 Thessalonians 5:16-19. We Suffocate The Spirit’s Work When We Take Lightly The Authority That Scripture Has Over Our Lives. When We’re Submitted To The Spirit’s GPS: We Will Always Rejoice (v.16) We Will Constantly Pray (v.17) We Will Give Thanks In Everything (v.18).

112617- "Nurturing Relationships" 1 Thessalonians 5:12-15. A Key Mark Of
Genuine Christian Faith Is That It Changes The Way We Relate To Others. Who Makes Up A Congregation? The Laborers—Recognize Them! The Leaders—Recognize Them! The Irresponsible—Warn Them! The Discouraged—Comfort Them! The Weak—Help Them! Toward Everyone In The Congregation: Be Patient, Don’t Seek Revenge, Pursue Good For Each Other.

111917-"Give Thanks" 1 Thessalonians 5:18.“Give thanks in everything, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus”. When We Give Thanks Despite The Circumstances We Proclaim To The World That God Can Be Trusted,That God Is Most Valuable, and Our Submission To God’s Will.

111217-"Like a Thief in the Night" 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11- God Intends To Use Our Awareness Of Prophetic Truth To Change Us. The “Day Of The Lord” 
Comes Like A Thief In The Night, Will Not Overtake Us Like A Thief, Demands That We Wake Up, Demands We Put On The Armor Of Faith & Love, Demands We Put On The Helmet Of The Hope Of Salvation.

110517- "Don't Be Uninformed" 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18. God Wants You To Know That Your Deceased Loved Ones In Christ Are Waiting To See You Again In The Same Way You’re Waiting To See Them. Our Reunion With Loved Ones Begins With Jesus’ Return, Is Announced By The Archangel, Advances With Their Resurrection, Continues With Our Resurrection, Climaxes At A Meeting In The Clouds.

102917-"In the Presence of Outsiders" 1 Thessalonians 4:9-12.If Your Christian Life Was A Movie, The World Would View Your Everyday Life Like The Trailer. Walk Properly In The Presence Of Outsiders: Love One Another Even More (v.9-10)
Seek To Lead A Quiet Life (v.11a) Mind Your Own Business (v.11b) Work With Your Own Hands (v.11c)

102217-"This Is God's Will" 1 Thessalonians 4:1-8. You Can’t Add God’s Will To Your Life; It’s A Course You Choose To Follow. Our Salvation Consists Of: “JUSTIFICATION”-FREE from Penalty of Sin; “SANCTIFICATION”-FREE from Power of Sin; "GLORIFICATION” -FREE from Presence of Sin.

101517-"You Are Here For Us" 1 Thessalonians 3:6-13. “We’re Not Just
Here For You;You’re Here For Us”. Your Life: Impacts Our Faith, Impacts Our Love, Impacts Our Joy, Impacts Our Prayer Life, Impacts Our Hearts.

100817-“Destined For Trials” 1 Thessalonians 3:1-5. When Hard Times Come, Be A Disciple; Not, A Victim. Focus On Caring For Others Instead Of Yourself  (v.1-2), Focus On Your Response Instead Of The Storm (v.3), Focus On Eternity Instead Of The Temporary Persecution (v.4), Focus On Persevering Instead Of the Satanic Opposition (v.5).

100117-“Welcoming God’s Word” 1st Thessalonians 2:13-20. Only When We Welcome Scripture As The Very Words Of God Will It Work In A Dynamic Way To Change Us. When You Welcome God’s Word You Will: Accept It’s Authority In Your Life v.13, Face Hostility From People v.14-15, Be Vindicated By God Some Day v.16, Face Satanic Opposition v.17-18, Receive A Crown For Souls Discipled v.19-20.

9/24/17-“Captured By The Gospel” 1 Thessalonians 2:7-12. When You’re Truly Captured By The Gospel, You Can’t Help But Share With Others Your Very Soul. If You’re Captured By The Gospel… You’ll Share Your Soul With Others Like A Nursing Mother (v.7-10) and You’ll Share Your Soul With Others Like A Father (v.11-12).

9/17/17-“Made Bold By God” 1 Thessalonians 2:1-6. If Your Boldness—To Please
The Lord—Is In Him, It Won’t Matter What The Critics Say About You. Boldness, In The Lord, Sets You Free From Fear Of Opposition v.2;Free From Intent To Deceive v.3;Free From The Praise Of Men v.4;Free From Greedy Motives v.5;Free From Self-Glory v.6.