California Community Church

Because Life is Short… “So be careful how you live. Don’t live like fools, but like those who are wise. Make the most of every opportunity in these evil days.” Ephesians 5:15-16 (NLT) “Teach us to realize the brevity of life, so that we may grow in wisdom.” Psalm 90:12 (NLT) “Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.” James 4:14 (NIV) “Lord, remind me how brief my time on earth will be. Remind me that my days are numbered—how fleeting my life is. You have made my life no longer than the width of my hand. My entire lifetime is just a moment to you; at best, each of us is but a breath.” Psalm 39:4-5 (NLT) Life at its longest point is short. “I am still not all I should be, but I am focusing all my energies on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead,, I strain to reach the end of the end of the race and receive the prize of God…” Philippians 3:13 NLT Here's What Lasts Forever: God- Isaiah 40:28 God’s Son- Hebrews 13:8 God’s Word- Isaiah 40:8 God’s Faithfulness- Psalm 117:2 God’s Kingdom- Psalm 145:13 God’s Kindness- Isaiah 54:8 God’s Love- Jeremiah 31:3 Salvation- Isaiah 51:6; 1 Corinthians 9:25; 1 Peter 1:4 Heaven- Psalm 23:6 Here’s What Doesn’t Last Forever: Our Accomplishments- 1 Corinthians 3:15 Everything on Earth- Zepheniah 1:18 WHAT DOES GOD WANT ACCOMPLISHED ON PLANET EARTH? God wants all people, in all places, at all times to come to know and experience His love for them in Jesus Christ. And our response is to love Him back and demonstrate that love through obedience. “The eyes of the Lord search the whole earth in order to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to Him.” 2 Chronicles 16:9 NLT “God showed us how much He loved us by sending His only Son into the world so that we might have eternal life through Him. This is real love. It is not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins.” 1 John 4:9, 10 NLT “Dear friends, since God loved us that much, we surely ought to love each other. No one has ever seen God. But if we love each other, God lives in us, and His love has been brought to full expression through us.” 1 John 4: 11, 12 NLT What Do We Sacrifice to God So the World Can Come to Know and Experience God’s Love? First, Give God Your Influence. Second, Give God Your Affluence. You let His work be the focus of your life. And when great focus and great sacrifice are combined, then the world will be changed. “And the Good News about the Kingdom will be preached throughout the whole world, so that all nations will hear it; and then, finally, the end will come.” Matthew 24:14 NLT

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“Make every effort to live in peace with everyone and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord. 15 See to it that no one falls short of the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many.” Hebrews 12:14, 15 Our spiritual enemy wants to plant small, seeds of offense that will grow into a root of bitterness. You can't control what people think about you, what they say about you, or what they do to you, but with God's help you can control how you respond. What is the Problem with Bitterness? BITTERNESS HAS A DANGEROUS ROOT See to it that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble. Hebrews 12:15 Love keeps no record of wrongs. 1 Corinthians 13:5 BITTERNESS HAS A POISONOUS FRUIT See to it that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many. Hebrews 12:15 “God, please reveal anything that is growing beneath the surface of my soul, that needs to be pulled up by the roots and healed by your Spirit.” How Do We Kill a Root of Bitterness? Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. Ephesians 4:31, 32 Kill Bitterness with Compassion. Do not be overcome by evil, overcome evil by doing good. Romans 12:21 Jesus, “Bless those who curse you, and pray for those who mistreat you.” Luke 6:28 Kill Bitterness with Forgiveness. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ, God forgave you. Ephesians 4:32

LESS OF WHAT YOU DON’T NEED AND MORE OF WHAT YOU DO! Part One Better is one handful with tranquility, than two handfuls with toil, and a chasing after the wind. Ecclesiastes 4:6 Be on your guard against all kinds of greed. Because life does not consist in an abundance of possessions. Luke 12:15 3 THOUGHTS ON ‘ONE HANDFUL IS ENOUGH’ Throw Out It becomes wrong when your stuff has you. It's wrong when your life is defined by your stuff. It's wrong when you believe that more stuff is actually what you need to be fulfilled and to be happy in life. Buy Less Turn my eyes from looking at worthless things; and give me life in your ways. Psalm 119:37 Give More Command those who are rich not to be arrogant, nor to put their hope in wealth which is so uncertain but put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. 1 Timothy 6:17 They are to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share, thus storing up treasure for themselves as a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is really life.” 1 Timothy 6:18-19

November 24. 2024 I WANT TO BE BLESSED BY GOD “For he gives his sunlight to both the evil and the good, and he sends rain on the just and the unjust alike.”  Matthew 5:45 1.  BELIEVE GOD WANTS TO BLESS YOUR LIFE  “And God blessed them.”  Genesis 1:28 “For the eyes of the Lord move side to side, backward and forward throughout the earth that He may strongly support those whose heart is completely His.”  2 Chronicles 16:9 “For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed.”  Romans 8:18 “Blessed is the person who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life” James 1:12 2. THE BLESSED LIFE IS ALGINED WITH GOD’S WORD “Blessed is the person who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; 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 that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither.  IN ALL THAT HE DOES HE PROSPERS.”   Psalm 1:1-3 3. CONSISTANT BLESSINGS COME WITH CONSISTANT OBEDIENCE Deut. 11:8, “Keep the whole commandment that you may be strong” Deut. 11:26-28, “See, I am setting before you today a blessing and a curse: the blessing if you obey the commandments of the Lord your God…and the curse, if you do not obey…” Deut. 28:1, “And if you faithfully obey the voice of the Lord…God will set you high above all nations’ v.3 you will be blessed in the city v.4 your womb will be blessed, your fields, your cattle, your flocks v.5 your food supply v.6 all your coming and going v.7 above your enemies v.8 in all you undertake Extra reading: Psalm 5:12; 25:10; 115:13 Jesus said, “Teach others to OBEY ALL that I have commanded you” Matthew 28:20 “Bring all the tithes into the storehouse so there will be enough food in my Temple. If you do,” says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, “I will open the windows of heaven for you. I will pour out a blessing so great you won’t have enough room to take it in! Try it! Put me to the test!”  Malachi 3:10 4. THE DEEPEST BLESSINGS ARE FOUND IN CONNECTION WITH CHRIST “Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing. 6 Anyone who does not remain in me is thrown away like a useless branch and withers. Such branches are gathered into a pile to be burned. 7 But if you remain in me and my words remain in you, you may ask for anything you want, and it will be granted! 8 When you produce much fruit, you are my true disciples. This brings great glory to my Father. 9 “I have loved you even as the Father has loved me. Remain in my love. 10 When you obey my commandments, you remain in my love, just as I obey my Father’s commandments and remain in his love. 11 I have told you these things so that you will be filled with my joy. Yes, your joy will overflow! John 15:5-11 Galatians 3:9, “So then, those who are of faith are blessed” Ephesians 1:3, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing…”

Feels Like Home-pt 3 The Power of Mission Jesus said, “…GO and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.  Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you.  And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Matthew 28:19, 20 NLT “Jesus traveled through all the cities and villages of that area, teaching in the synagogues and announcing the Good News…”  Matthew 9:35 NLT “…the believers who had fled Jerusalem went everywhere preaching the Good News about Jesus.” Acts 8:4 NLT “But how can they call on Him (Jesus) to save them unless they believe in Him?  And how can they believe in Him if they have never heard about Him?  And how can they hear about Him unless someone tells them?  And how will anyone go and tell them without being sent?  That is what the scriptures mean when they say, ‘How beautiful are the feet of those who bring the good news.’”   Romans 10:14, 15 NLT STORY OF THE GOOD SAMARITAN Luke 10: 30-35 NLT HOW TO BE MISSIONARY Your Mission Begins in Your Heart “he felt deep pity”  Luke 10:33 NLT   “For I am not ashamed of this Good News about Christ.  It is the power of God at work, saving everyone who believes…” Romans 1:16 NLT “So everywhere we go, we tell everyone about Christ.” Colossians 1:28 NLT Your Mission is to Do What You Can “Kneeling beside him, the Samaritan soothed his wounds with medicine and bandaged them. Then he put the man on his own donkey and took him to an inn, where he took care of him.”  Luke 10:34 NLT THREE PHILOSOPHIES OF LIFE: The robber’s: What’s yours is mine and I’ll take it The traveler’s: What’s mine is mine and I’ll keep it The Samaritan’s: What’s mine is yours and I’ll give it Your Mission Outcome Multiplies With Partners

November 10, 2024 FEELS LIKE HOME pt 2 The Power of Service Jesus said, “For even I, the Son the of Man, came here not to be served, but to serve others, and to give My life as a ransom for many.”  Matthew 20:28 NLT Christian: Those who are like Christ.  “Before the Passover celebration, Jesus…now showed the disciples the full extent of His love…the Father had given Him authority over everything…So, He got up from the table, took off His robe, wrapped a towel around His waist, and poured water into a basin. Then He began to wash the disciple’s feet and to wipe them with the towel He had around Him… (He asked )’Since I, the Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash each other’s feet.  I have given you an example to follow…You know these things-now do them! That is the path of blessing.” John 13:1-17 NLT “Your attitude should be the same that Christ Jesus had.  Though He was God, He did not demand and cling to His rights as God.  He made Himself nothing; He took the humble position of a slave and appeared in human form.  And in human form He obediently humbled Himself even further by dying a criminal’s death on a cross.  Because of this, God raised Him up to the heights of heaven and gave Him a name that is above every other name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” Philippians 2:5-11 NLT WHY SERVE OTHERS HUMBLY: 1. God hates pride “God sets Himself against the proud, but He shows favor to the humble.”  James 4:6 NLT 2. There is no real basis for pride “You will remember your sins and cover your mouth in silence and shame when I forgive you of all that you have done, says the Sovereign Lord.”   Ezekiel 16:63 NLT “So humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God…” 1 Peter 5:6 NLT 3. Humility is the Example of Christ We don’t ASCEND UP to greatness, we DESCEND, down to greatness.  4. Humility is necessary to be joyful “Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourself.” Philippians 2:3 NLT 5. Humble service is multiplied “There are different kinds of service in the church, but it is the same Lord we are serving.  There are different ways God works in our lives, but it is the same God who does the work through us.  A spiritual gift is given to each of us as a means of helping the entire church.” 1 Corinthians 12:5-7 NLT TWO WAYS TO GET IN THE GAME: Do What You Love for the God You Love Dive in and swim around to find your sweet spot

FEELS LIKE HOME Part 1 WHAT’S our business and HOW’S business? “A man prepared a great fest and sent out many invitations.  When all was ready, he sent his servant around to notify the guests that it was time for them to come.  But they all began making excuses…so his master said, ‘Go out into the country lanes and behind hedges and urge anyone you find to come, so that the house will be full.”  Luke 14:16-18, 23 NLT The party is heaven and the church has all the invitations 1. THE LEVEL OF DEDICATION TO THIS PRIMARY TASK OF THE CHURCH MUST RAISE 2. THE LOVE TEMPERATURE OF THE CHURCH MUST RAISE “Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are MY disciples.”  John 13:35 NLT They were a caring family- every person mattered They were a sharing family- every resource was offered 3. THE FREQUENCY OF MY INVITATIONS MUST RAISE Jesus said, “urge anyone you find to come, so that the house will be full.”   Luke 14: 23 NLT

UNSTUCK: From Fatigue “Have you never heard? Have you never understood? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of all the earth. He never grows weak or weary. No one can measure the depths of his understanding. He gives power to the weak and strength to the powerless. Even youths will become weak and tired, and young men will fall in exhaustion. But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint.”      Isaiah 40:28-31 WHY DO I GET MORE FATIGUED THAN I SHOULD? I Carry What I Should Not Carry “You are going to wear yourself out and the people too.  This job is too heavy a burden for you to handle all by yourself.”  Exodus 18:18 “Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.” Matthew 11:28-30 (MSG) If you want to get from here to there, you have to learn to travel light. 2. I Worry When I Should Not Worry “Give your cares to God because He cares for you.”  1 Peter 5:7 25 “That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life—whether you have enough food and drink, or enough clothes to wear. Isn’t life more than food, and your body more than clothing? 26 Look at the birds. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them. And aren’t you far more valuable to him than they are?  27 Can all your worries add a single moment to your life? 28 “And why worry about your clothing? Look at the lilies of the field and how they grow. They don’t work or make their clothing, 29 yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are. 30 And if God cares so wonderfully for wildflowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, he will certainly care for you. Why do you have so little faith?  31 “So don’t worry about these things, saying, ‘What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?’ 32 These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. 33 Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need. 34 “So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today.” Matthew 6:25-34 3. I Hurry When I Should Not Hurry I must plan SPACE in my day, so I can keep a steady PACE in my life. 4. I Work When I Should Not Work “Remember the Sabbath day”  Exodus 20:8 “It’s the Lord who renews my strength” Psalm 23:3 “Times of refreshment will come in the presence of the Lord”  Acts 3:20 “Those who live in the shelter of the Most High will find rest in the shadow of the almighty.”  Psalm 91:1 “Come to ME, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.”  Matthew 11:28 “Be still and know that I am God” Psalm 46:10 Today, I will take inventory of all I carry and will ask God for wisdom to identify what I should no longer carry, and I will lay that burden down. Today, I will list everything I worry about and will confess that worry diminishes faith and belittles God.  And today, I will place these worries in life into the hands of my loving, powerful God and will refuse to take these worries back.  These are His to handle. Today, I will examine my schedule and ask God to show me what matters to Him.   I will build into my day extra margin…SPACE so I can live at a PACE that is without hurry and pleasing to Jesus. Today, I will commit myself to weekly time away from my work and weekly time in relationship with the Lord. I will come to Him to find rest for my soul. I affirm my desire to no longer live in fatigue, but to begin to live in victory! Amen

UNSTUCK: Failure 1. EVERY PERSON HAS SOME FAILURE Romans 3:23 “For everyone has sinned; we ALL fall short of God’s glorious standard.” 2.  EVERY FAILURE HAS WITHIN IT A CHOICE I’m either going to allow this failure to be HURTFUL and get stuck OR I’m going to allow it to be HELPFUL and move forward How do we choose to let failure block us, stop us, hurt us more and keep us stuck? --remain in the shame “They felt no shame.”  Genesis 2:25 “Suddenly they felt shame.”  Genesis 3:7 “God, help me abandon my shameful ways.”   Psalm 119:39 --try on our own power to overcome the failure “The wise are glad to be instructed, but babbling fools fall flat on their faces.”  Proverbs 10:8 “Pride goes before destruction, and haughtiness before a fall.”  Proverbs 16:18 “A dog returns to his vomit, so a fool repeats his foolishness.”  Proverbs 26:11 Choose The Blessing of the Lesson “And if you fail to learn the lesson and continue in hostility toward Me, says the Lord…”  Leviticus 26:23 “To learn, you must love discipline; it is stupid to hate correction.”  Proverbs 12:1 “Even though Jesus was God’s Son, He learned obedience from the things He suffered.”  Hebrews 5:8 What’s the best choice after failure: LEARN THE LESSON AND MOVE ON “If you fail under pressure, your strength is too small.”  Proverbs 24:10 1. EVERYBODY FAILS 2.  INSIDE EVERY FAILURE IS A CHOICE 3. AND IN EVERY RIGHT CHOICE (TO LEARN, GROW, EXPAND, DEVELOP, ELEVATE, BECOME) IS THE LESSON TO LEARN “Return, O Israel, to the Lord your God, for your sins have brought you down.”  Hosea 14 “Look how far you have fallen! Turn back to Me.”  Revelation 2:5 “The godly may trip seven times, but they will get up again.”  Proverbs 24:16 Deuteronomy 30- Now I call on heaven and earth to witness the choice you make. Oh, that you would choose life… Lord, Today, I acknowledge the failures in my life--past, present and future.   Today, I ask Your forgiveness for those.  Take away all condemnation and shame.  You don’t want me to sit in shame, but rather to live in forgiveness, confidence and joy. Today, I will assume my responsibility for my choices.  I will choose to find Your lessons, tucked into both the successes and failures of my life. Help me learn the lessons that I need so that I might fully walk toward and embrace the future You have wonderfully prepared for me. Lord, I want to discover your plan and purpose for my life.  I’m not perfect, but You are.  Help me on this journey.”  Amen.

UNSTUCK: Comfort Zone COMFORT ZONES AREN’T ALWAYS COMFORTABLE. What they really are is FAMILIAR. “We fix our gaze on the things that cannot be seen.  For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things that we cannot see will last forever.” 2 Corinthians 4:18 The Christian life is many things, but BORING isn’t one of them. “In the Messiah, Christ, God leads us from place to place in one perpetual victory parade.”  2 Corinthians 2:14 (The Message) FAMILIARITY IS NOT A SIN UNLESS… …IT KEEPS ME FROM OBEYING GOD “My life constantly hangs in the balance, but I will not stop obeying the Lord”  Psalm 119:109 …IT KEEPS ME FROM GROWING “We hope that your faith will grow” 2 Corinthians 10:15 “Grow in every way more and more like Christ.”  Ephesians 4:15 “When your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow”  James 1:3 …IT KEEPS ME FROM TRUSTING THE LORD JESUS DESIRES TO LEAD MY LIFE, OFTEN TO THE UNFAMILIAR, BUT ALWAYS TOWARD HIS GOOD PLANS FOR ME. AND MY RESPONSE?   I AM TO FOLLOW! “The Lord had said to Abram, “Leave your native country, your relatives, and your father’s family, and go to the land that I will show you. 2 I will make you into a great nation. I will bless you and make you famous, and you will be a blessing to others. 3 I will bless those who bless you and curse those who treat you with contempt. All the families on earth will be blessed through you.” 4 So Abram departed as the Lord had instructed” Genesis 12:1-4 “The Lord is MY shepherd and He LEADS ME…”  Psalm 23:1 “You made me, You created me.  Now give me the sense to follow Your commands.”  Psalm 119:73 “And they left their nets and followed Him.” Matthew 4:20 “Anyone who wants to serve Me must FOLLOW ME.”  John 12:26 Jesus, TODAY, I will trust You more! Today, If You ask, I will step out of my comfort zone, like Abraham.   Today, I will resist my natural tendency to seek sameness, predictability, and control.   Today, I will step out of my rut and routine. Today, I will let go of all the temporary things in which I have sought security and give myself to the wind of the Spirit, and Your leadership, Jesus. Today, I will follow You.

UNSTUCK: From Fear 1. We fear pain--   2. We fear loss--  3. We fear humiliation/embarrassment--   4. We fear people-- “For God has NOT given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love and self-discipline.”  2 Timothy 1:7 “Fear of the Lord is the foundation of wisdom. Knowledge of the Holy One results in good judgment.”  Proverbs 9:10 WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO ‘FEAR GOD?’ The Fear of the Lord is Reverent Awe The Fear of the Lord is the Constant Awareness of His Presence The Fear of the Lord is Being MORE Concerned with What He Thinks and Feels Than What Anyone Else Feels or Thinks “Don’t be afraid of those who want to kill the body; they cannot do anymore to you after that.  But I’ll tell you whom to fear.  Fear God, who has the power to kill the body and then throw you into hell.”    Luke 12:5 EXAMPLE: Job Chapter One 3 QUESTIONS THAT LEAD TO COURAGEOUS FAITH: 1. Is God Good? “How kind the Lord is!  How GOOD He is!”   Psalm 116:5 2.  Is God Powerful and Trustworthy? “God is faithful to do what He says”   1 Corinthians 1:9 “He is the same yesterday, today and forever.”  Hebrews 13:8 -God is more powerful than all kings  Daniel 2:37 -God is more powerful than all wealth Job 24:22 -God is more powerful than death Psalm 49:15 -God is more powerful than the wicked Psalm 71:4 -God is more powerful than angels Psalm 89:7 -God is more powerful than even hell Romans 8:38 “I also pray that you will understand the incredible greatness of God’s power for us who believe Him.”   Ephesians 1:19 3. Will I Trust Him EVEN When Life Hurts? Here are 3 Stages of Faith: Early Faith That Falls Easily Middle Stage Faith That Doesn’t Fall as Easily, but Still Falls Too Frequently Job’s Faith, the faith of COURAGE “Though God slays me, YET I WILL TRUST HIM.”  Job 13:15 Psalm 68:35 “God gives POWER AND STRENGTH to His people!” God is good and trustworthy and powerful!  Therefore, I WILL trust Him today…even if life hurts!

Cues From The Kingdom: Principles from Jesus Part 2, How To Live A Satisfied Life? “I have come that they may have life and have it to the full.” John 10:10 98% of people die unfulfilled God wants you to live an abundant life! 1) Find Your Burden Burden definition: your main responsibility. A specific aim or task. What impact do you want to make in this world and what do you care to see change in? Make a commitment “I want to be the kind of person that ” 2) Be Persistent “Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up. He said: “In a certain town there was a judge who neither feared God nor cared what people thought. And there was a widow in that town who kept coming to him with the plea, ‘Grant me justice against my adversary.’ “For some time he refused. But finally he said to himself, ‘Even though I don’t fear God or care what people think, yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will see that she gets justice, so that she won’t eventually come and attack me!’” And the Lord said, “Listen to what the unjust judge says. And will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off?” Luke 18:1-7 “Most people give up just when they're about to achieve success. They quit on the one yard line. They give up at the last minute of the game one foot from a winning touchdown.” - Ross Perot 3) Walk Away From Rejection Verse: “If anyone will not welcome you or listen to your words, leave that home or town and shake the dust off your feet.” Matthew 10:14 4) Believe Beyond The Possible Verse: “He replied, ‘Because you have so little faith. Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.’” Matthew 17:20-21

Cues From The Kingdom: Principles From Jesus How Do I Love People I Don’t Like? “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect. Matthew 5:43-48 (NIV) “In a word, what I’m saying is, Grow up. You’re kingdom subjects. Now live like it. Live out your God-created identity. Live generously and graciously toward others, the way God lives toward you.” Matthew 5:48 (MSG) The word of the Lord came to Jonah son of Amittai: “Go to the great city of Nineveh and preach against it, because its wickedness has come up before me.” But Jonah ran away from the Lord and headed for Tarshish. He went down to Joppa, where he found a ship bound for that port. After paying the fare, he went aboard and sailed for Tarshish to flee from the Lord. Jonah 1:1-3 (NIV) But to Jonah this seemed very wrong, and he became angry. He prayed to the Lord, “Isn’t this what I said, Lord, when I was still at home? That is what I tried to forestall by fleeing to Tarshish. I knew that you are a gracious and compassionate God, slow to anger and abounding in love, a God who relents from sending calamity. Now, Lord, take away my life, for it is better for me to die than to live.” Jonah 4:1-3 But the Lord replied, “Is it right for you to be angry?” Jonah had gone out and sat down at a place east of the city. There he made himself a shelter, sat in its shade and waited to see what would happen to the city. Then the Lord God provided a leafy plant and made it grow up over Jonah to give shade for his head to ease his discomfort, and Jonah was very happy about the plant. But at dawn the next day God provided a worm, which chewed the plant so that it withered. When the sun rose, God provided a scorching east wind, and the sun blazed on Jonah’s head so that he grew faint. He wanted to die, and said, “It would be better for me to die than to live.” But God said to Jonah, “Is it right for you to be angry about the plant?” “It is,” he said. “And I’m so angry I wish I were dead.” But the Lord said, “You have been concerned about this plant, though you did not tend it or make it grow. It sprang up overnight and died overnight. And should I not have concern for the great city of Nineveh, in which there are more than a hundred and twenty thousand people who cannot tell their right hand from their left—and also many animals?” Jonah 4:4:4-11 3 Things Loving Your Enemy Does Not Mean: 1) It Doesn’t Mean What They Did Was Right 2) It Doesn’t Mean You Should Not Be Wise In Your Relationships 3) It Doesn’t Mean That You Have To Do It Now…

Pastor Brad Johnson takes questions from the congregation.

WHAT CATCHES THE HEART AND WHAT CATCHES THE EYE OF GOD— Commitment THE POWER OF COMMITMENT My Commitments: Show my values Shape my life Determine my destiny “The eyes of the Lord range throughout the earth to strengthen those who hearts are fully committed to Him.” 2 Chronicles 16:9 Every Commitment has a PRICE Luke 14:26 "If you want to be My followers you must love Me more than your own father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, more than your own life. Otherwise, you cannot be My disciple." If Jesus Christ is not Lord of all of your life, He's not Lord at all in your life. C. S. Lewis, "If Christianity is untrue then it's unimportant." C. S. Lewis, "The only thing Christianity cannot be is moderately important." GIVE GOD THE FIRST THOUGHTS OF EACH DAY Psalm 5:3 says "Each morning I will look to You in heaven and lay my requests before You." GIVE GOD THE FIRST DAY OF EVERY WEEK Acts 20:7 "On the first day of the week, the disciples came together." GIVE GOD THE FIRST TEN PERCENT OF EVERY PAYCHECK Proverbs 3:9 "Honor the Lord by giving Him the first part of all your income." In gratitude for the past, to keep our priorities right in the present, and in faith for the future. Deuteronomy 14:23 "The purpose of tithing is to teach us to put God first in every area of our lives." GIVE GOD THE FIRST CONSIDERATION IN EVERY DECISION Proverbs 3:5-6, "In everything you do, put God first and He will direct you and crown your efforts with success." Romans 14:12 says "Don't be lazy in showing your devotion. Use your energy in serving the Lord." THE PAYOFF FOR COMMITMENT TO CHRIST "Do not worry, saying, `What shall we eat or drink or wear?' Your heavenly Father knows you need these. But seek first God's kingdom and His righteousness and all these things will be given to you as well." Matthew 6:31-33 "The master will say, `Well done good and faithful servant! You've been faithful with a few things. I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your Master's happiness." Matthew 25:23 It doesn't take great people to do great things. It just takes committed people.

WHAT CATCHES THE EYE AND HEART OF GOD Part 9 - Purpose Acts 13:36 "David served God's purpose in his generation." YOU KNOW YOU HAVE NOT YET FOUND THE PURPOSE FOR LIFE IF… …Life seems useless Ecclesiastes 1:2-4 "Life is useless, all useless. You spend your life working but what do you have to show for it? The world just stays the same." …Life seems tiring Ecclesiastes 1:3-8 "The sun rises and goes down. The wind blows round and round and back again. Every river flows into the sea then the water returns to where the river began and starts all over again. Everything leads to weariness." …Life seems unfulfilling Ecclesiastes 1:8-10 "No matter how much we see, we're never satisfied; no matter how much we hear, we're not content…" …Life seems insignificant Ecclesiastes 1:11 "No one remembers what has happened in the past, and no one in days to come will remember what happens between now and then." …Life seems uncontrollable Ecclesiastes 1:15 "You can't straighten out what is crooked” Ephesians 1:4-5 "Long ago, even before He made the world, God chose us to be His very own through what Christ would do for us...His unchanging plan [purpose] has always been to adopt us into His own family by sending Jesus Christ to die for us." “He who believes in the Son has eternal life” John 3:36 “For God so loved the world that He sent His only Son that whoever believes in Him will have eternal life.” John 3:16 "This is His purpose: when the time is ripe, He will gather us all together to be with Him in Christ forever." Ephesians 1:10 Ecclesiastes 3:11 "He has planted eternity in the human heart." FOUR WAYS TO PREPARE FOR ETERNITY 1. GET TO KNOW JESUS CHRIST "To all who receive Him, Christ gives the right to become children of God." John 1:12 2. USE MY TIME FOR ETERNITY "Use your time in the best way you can" Colossians 4:5 Acts 20:24 "Life is worth nothing unless I use it for doing the work assigned me by the Lord Jesus." “And Jesus died for all that those who live should not live for themselves but for Him who died and rose again on their behalf.” 2 Corinthians 5:15 3. USE MY TALENTS FOR ETERNITY 1 Corinthians 6:20 "Use every part of your body to give glory back to God." 4. USE MY TREASURE FOR ETERNITY LIFE INVESTMENT GUIDE |--------------------------------------| MY TIME 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 |--------------------------------------| MY TALENT 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 |--------------------------------------| MY TREASURE 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100

WHAT CATCHES THE EYE AND HEART OF GOD Faith pt 2 “For the eyes of the Lord roam throughout the earth, so that He may strongly support those whose heart is completely His.” 2 Chronicles 16:9 (New American Standard Version) “Without faith it is IMPOSSIBLE to please God” Hebrews 11:6 1.  FAITH IS BELIEVING WHEN I DON'T SEE IT  “Some things you have to believe it, in order to see it."  2.  FAITH IS OBEYING WHEN I DON'T UNDERSTAND IT  Hebrews 11:7 "It was by faith that Noah built an ark to save his family from the flood.  He obeyed God who warned him about something that had never happened before."  v. 8 "It was by faith that made Abraham obey when God called him to go out to a country God has promised to him.  He left his own country without knowing where he was going."   3.  FAITH IS GIVING WHEN I DON'T HAVE IT   Hebrews 11:4 "It was faith that made Abel's offering to God a better sacrifice than Cain's.  Through his faith God approved of his giving."   You can give by faith or you can give by fear.  You can give by reason or you can give by revelation.   2 Corinthians 8:3 "Because of their great joy, they gave even more than they could afford."   2 Corinthians 9:6-8 "Whoever sows sparingly will reap sparingly, but whoever sows generously will reap generously.  And God will generously provide all you need.  Then you will always have everything you need and plenty left over to share with others."   4.  FAITH IS PERSISTING WHEN I DON'T FEEL LIKE IT Hebrews 11:27, "It was by faith that Moses left Egypt and was not afraid of the King's anger.  He held to his purpose like a man who could see the invisible."   5.  FAITH IS THANKING GOD BEFORE I RECEIVE IT Hebrews 11:30 "By faith the walls of Jericho fell down after the people had marched around them for seven days."   Mark 11:24 "When you pray and ask for something, believe that you have received it and you will given what you ask for.” 6.  FAITH IS TRUSTING IF I DON'T GET WHAT I WANT

WHAT CATCHES THE EYE AND HEART OF GOD? Part 7 Surprises-part two 1. IT’S SURPRISING THAT GOD SPEAKS TO US Deism and Theism Deism suggests--God created the world much like clock maker would create a clock, and God wound it up and tossed it out into the universe to just let it run on its own. Theism suggests--God created the world much like a Father with children and He remains intimately involved with His creation. “God SAID, ‘Let there be light and there was light…’” Genesis 1:3 “Long ago God SPOKE many times and in many ways to our ancestors through the prophets.” Hebrews 1:1 In the beginning the Word already existed. The Word was with God,
and the Word was God…So the Word became human and made his home among us.” John 1:1, 14 I MUST BE READY 2. IT’S SURPRISING HOW GOD SPEAKS TO US God speaks through the Bible The whole Bible was given to us by inspiration from God and is useful to teach us what is true and make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It is God’s way of making us well prepared at every point. 2 Timothy 3:16 Get a modern translation of the Bible and Read it. God speaks through gifted teachers When we preached to you, you didn’t think of the words as being just our own, but you accepted it as the very Word of God -- which, of course, it was -- and it changed your lives. 1 Thessalonians 2:13 We do not speak in words taught by human wisdom, but in words taught by the Spirit, as we explain spiritual truths. 1 Corinthians 2:13 Make Sunday a priority...be here every week when possible God speaks through quiet promptings The Holy Spirit will be your teacher and will bring to your mind all that I have said to you. John 14:26 11 Then He said, “Go out, and stand on the mountain before the Lord.” And behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind tore into the mountains and broke the rocks in pieces before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind; and after the wind an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake; 12 and after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire; and after the fire a still small voice. 13 So it was, when Elijah heard it, that he wrapped his face in his mantle and went out and stood in the entrance of the cave. Suddenly a voice came to him, and said, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” 1 Kings 19:11-13 “Be still and know that I am God” Psalm 46:10 To hear God’s still voice, I must get still 3. IT’S SURPRISING WHEN GOD SPEAKS TO US God Speaks IN PAIN Sometimes it takes a painful experience to make us change our ways. Proverbs 20:30 God Speaks ON TIME The Lesson from Murline: God is not always on our time, but God is always on time! Story of Lazarus--John 11

Finding Joy The Message In Our Messes “I rejoiced greatly in the Lord that at last you renewed your concern for me. Indeed, you were concerned, but you had no opportunity to show it. I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through him who gives me strength.” Philippians 4:10-13 (NIV) Contentment doesn’t need more but wants more. Complacency needs things to change but doesn’t want them to. “David said, ‘I’ve been a shepherd, tending sheep for my father. Whenever a lion or bear came and took a lamb from the flock, I’d go after it, knock it down, and rescue the lamb. If it turned on me, I’d grab it by the throat, wring its neck, and kill it. Lion or bear, it made no difference—I killed it. And I’ll do the same to this Philistine pig who is taunting the troops of God-Alive. God, who delivered me from the teeth of the lion and the claws of the bear, will deliver me from this Philistine.’ Saul said, ‘Go. And God help you!’” 1 Samuel 17:34-37 (MSG) Your past doesn’t define your future, but it can prepare you for your future. “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters,whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.”James 1:2-3 (NIV) Questions for Reflection: 1) What has God brought me through? How is that helping me determine my trust in Him? 2) What blessing would have been avoided without some of the trials in my life? 3) Who can my trials and journey encourage today?