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2 Thessalonians 3:16 Peace

Now may the Lord of peace himself  give you peace at all times and in every way. The Lord be with all of you.

2 Thessalonians 3:16 New International Version (NIV)

Blessed are the peacemakers,  for they will be called children of God.

Matthew 5:9 (NIV)

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday,  today and forever.

Hebrews 13:8 (NIV)

The Lord bless you and keep you;  the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you; the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace.

Numbers 6:24-26 English Standard Version (ESV)

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

Isaiah 9:6 (NIV)

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.

John 14:27 (NIV)

I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.

John 16:33 (NLT)

Forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. – The Lord’s Prayer

Forgiveness is giving up all hope for a better past. –Anne Lamont

Peace is allowing God to help you find that forgiveness.

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Philippians 4:6-7 (NIV)

2 Timothy 3:16 Scripture

All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.

2 Timothy 3:16-17 New International Version (NIV)

Theopneustos

Three Types of Bible People – Pastor Skip Heitzig

1- The Bible is just another book

2- The Bible is an important book

3- The Bible shapes my world view

And he [the Lord] said to me, “Son of man, eat what is before you, eat this scroll; then go and speak to the people of Israel.” So I opened my mouth, and he gave me the scroll to eat.

Ezekiel 3:1-4 (NIV)

Then he said to me, “Son of man, eat this scroll I am giving you and fill your stomach with it.” So I ate it, and it tasted as sweet as honey in my mouth. He then said to me:  “Son of man, go now to the people of Israel and speak my words to them.

Ezekiel 3:1-4 (NIV)

All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.

2 Timothy 3:16-17 (NIV)

Colossians 3:16 Worship

Since you have been raised to new life with Christ, set your sights on the realities of heaven, where Christ sits in the place of honor at God’s right hand. Think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth. For you died to this life, and your real life is hidden with Christ in God. And when Christ, who is your life, is revealed to the whole world, you will share in all his glory.

Colossians 3:1-4 New Living Translation (NLT)

So put to death the sinful, earthly things lurking within you. Have nothing to do with sexual immorality, impurity, lust, and evil desires. Don’t be greedy, for a greedy person is an idolater, worshiping the things of this world. Because of these sins, the anger of God is coming. You used to do these things when your life was still part of this world. But now is the time to get rid of anger, rage, malicious behavior, slander, and dirty language. Don’t lie to each other, for you have stripped off your old sinful nature and all its wicked deeds.

Colossians 3:5-9 (NLT)

Put on your new nature, and be renewed as you learn to know your Creator and become like him. In this new life, it doesn’t matter if you are a Jew or a Gentile, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbaric, uncivilized, slave, or free. Christ is all that matters, and he lives in all of us.

Colossians 3:5-9 (NLT)

Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others. Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds us all together in perfect harmony.

Colossians 3:12-14 (NLT)

Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.

Colossians 3:15 (NLT)

Let the message about Christ, in all its richness,  fill your lives. Teach and counsel each other with all the wisdom he gives.  Sing psalms and hymns and spiritual  songs to God with thankful hearts.

Colossians 3:16 (NLT)

“Above and below me,  before and behind me,
In every eye that sees me,  Christ be all around me,
Above and below me,
before and behind me,
in every eye that sees me,
Christ be all around me.”

Worship is not limited to time or place.
It is an ongoing, unending, unlimited, unconstrained attitude
we have toward God.

Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth. Worship the Lord with gladness; come into his presence with singing. Know that the Lord is God. It is he that made us, and we are his; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise.  Give thanks to him, bless his name. For the Lord is good;  his steadfast love endures forever,  and his faithfulness to all generations.

Psalm 100 New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)

And whatever you do or say, do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through him to God the Father.

Colossians 3:17 (NLT)

Lent: a season of preparation, reflection, and self-examination

Sinner to Winner

Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the Lord God as he was walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and they hid from the Lord God among the trees of the garden. But the Lord God called to the man, “Where are you?”

Genesis 3:8-9 New International Version (NIV)

they need to be rescued…

The Lord God made garments of skin for Adam and his wife and clothed them.

Genesis 3:21 (NIV)

God gracefully redeems their nakedness through sacrifice.

Sinner > WINNER

Abraham Moses David Rahab Peter Paul

God turns Sinners to Winners!

When it comes to Sinner to Winner, the ultimate autocorrect is Jesus!

Zacchaeus

When Jesus reached the spot, he looked up and said  to him, “Zacchaeus, come down immediately.  I must stay at your house today.” So he came down at once and welcomed him gladly. All the people saw this and began to mutter, “He has gone to be the guest of a sinner.” But Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, “Look, Lord! Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount.” Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham. For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”

Luke 19:5-10 (NIV)

Luke 7:36-50

A woman in that town who lived a sinful life learned that Jesus was eating at the Pharisee’s house, so she came there with an alabaster jar of perfume. As she stood behind him at his feet weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears. Then she wiped them with her hair, kissed them and poured perfume on them.

Luke 7:37-38 (NIV)

Then he [Jesus] turned toward the woman and said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I came into your house. You did not give me any water for my feet,  but she wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. You did not give me a kiss, but this woman, from the time I entered, has not stopped  kissing my feet. You did not put oil on my head,  but she has poured perfume on my feet. Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven — as her great love has shown. But whoever has been forgiven little loves little.” Then Jesus said to her,  “Your sins are forgiven.” The other guests began to say among themselves, “Who is this who even  forgives sins?” Jesus said to the woman,  “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”

Luke 7: 44-50(NIV)

For everyone has sinned;  we all fall short of God’s glorious standard.

Romans 3:23 New Living Translation (NLT)

For the wages of sin is death,  but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord.

Romans 6:23 (NLT)

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world,  but to save the world through him.

John 16-17 (NIV)

Youth Sunday: Game On!

And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow – not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. No power in the sky above or in the earth below – indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Romans 8:38-39  New Living Translation (NLT)

God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them

Romans 8:28 (NLT)

Hide and Seek

Arise, shine, for your light has come,  and the glory of the Lord rises upon you. See, darkness covers the earth and thick darkness is over the peoples, but the Lord rises upon you and his glory  appears over you.

Isaiah 60:1-2 (NLT)

Tug of War

Trust the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding;  in all your ways submit to him,  and he will make your paths straight.

Proverbs 3:5-6 (NLT)

If they obey and serve him, they will spend the rest of their days in prosperity and their years in contentment.

Job 36:11 (NLT)

Tag

You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit-fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name.

John 15:16 New International Version (NIV)

So do not fear, for I am with you;  do not be dismayed, for I am your God.  I will strengthen you and help you.  I will uphold you with my  righteous right hand

Isaiah 41:10 (NIV)

Tag! You’re It!

GAME ON!

What games are you playing today?

Bitter to Better

Now Abel kept flocks, and Cain worked the soil.  In the course of time Cain brought some of the fruits of the soil as an offering to the Lord. And Abel also brought an offering — fat portions from some of the firstborn of his flock. The Lord looked with favor on Abel and his offering but on Cain and his offering he did not look with favor. So Cain was very angry, and his face was downcast.

Genesis 4:2b-5 New International Version (NIV)

Then the Lord said to Cain, “Why are you angry? Why is your face downcast? If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door;  it desires to have you, but you must rule over it.” Now Cain said to his brother Abel, “Let’s go out  to the field.” While they were in the field Cain attacked his brother Abel and killed him.

Genesis 4:6-8 (NIV)

Cain allowed  bitterness  to consume him

Naomi and Ruth

Then Naomi said to her two daughters-in-law,  “Go back, each of you, to your mother’s home.  May the Lord show you kindness, as you have shown kindness to your dead husbands and to me. May the Lord grant that each of you will find rest in the home of another husband.” Then she kissed them goodbye and they wept aloud and said to her,  “We will go back with you to your people.”

Ruth 1:8-10 (NIV)

Even if I thought there was still hope for me — even if I had a husband tonight and then gave birth to sons — would you wait until they grew up? Would you remain unmarried for them? No, my daughters. It is more bitter for me than for you, because the Lord’s  hand has turned against me!”

Ruth 1:12b-13 (NIV)

But Ruth replied, “Don’t urge me to leave you or to turn back from you. Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God. Where you die I will die, and there I will be buried. May the Lord deal with me, be it ever so severely, if even death separates you and me.”  When Naomi realized that Ruth was determined  to go with her, she stopped urging her.

Ruth 1:16-18 (NIV)

“Don’t call me Naomi,” she told them. “Call me Mara, because the Almighty has made my life very bitter.  [the name Mara means bitter] I went away full, but the Lord has brought me back empty. Why call me Naomi? The Lord has afflicted me; the Almighty has brought misfortune upon me.”

Ruth 1:20-21 (NIV)

Boaz and Ruth

God takes bitter and makes it better.

Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.  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 4:29-32 (NIV)

Bitterness is like cancer. It eats upon the host. – Maya Angelou

Satan uses our bitterness to steal  our joy, kill our dreams, destroy our lives.

Bitterness is the first cousin to unforgiveness.

Bitterness is like drinking poison and  expecting the other person to die.

Bitterness is not what God had in mind  when He created us

Search me, O God and know my heart!
Try me and know my thoughts!
And see if there be any [bitterness] in me,
and lead me in the way everlasting!

Psalm 139:23-24  English Standard Version (ESV)

Are you willing go from Bitter to BETTER

Create in me a clean heart, O God,
and renew a right spirit within me.
Cast me not away from your presence,
and take not your Holy Spirit from me.
Restore to me the joy of your salvation,
and uphold me with a willing spirit.

Psalm 51:10-12 (ESV)

Nope to Hope

God’s Autocorrect takes “nope” to “HOPE!”

The exodus out of slavery.

Freedom would seem like a Nope.
With God, Nope becomes HOPE!

Moses and Pharaoh

With God, Nope becomes HOPE!

As Pharaoh approached, the Israelites looked up, and there were the Egyptians, marching after them. They were terrified and cried out to the Lord. They said to Moses, “Was it because there were no graves in Egypt that you brought us to the desert to die? What have you done to us by bringing us out of Egypt? Didn’t we say to you in Egypt, ‘Leave us alone; let us serve the Egyptians’? It would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the desert!”
Exodus 14:10-12 New International Version (NIV)

HOPE turned back to Nope.

When it seems like there’s NO WAY, remember there’s YAHWEH!

But the Israelites went through the sea on dry ground, with a wall of water on their right and on their left. That day the Lord saved Israel from the hands of the Egyptians, and Israel saw the Egyptians lying dead on the shore.
Exodus 14:29-30 (NIV)

Nope to HOPE

He [Jesus] approached the town gate. Just then, a dead person was being carried out. He was the only son of his mother. She was a widow. A large crowd from the town was with her. When the Lord saw her, he felt sorry for her. So he said, “Don’t cry.”
Luke 7:12-13 (NIV)

A future of Nope.

Then he went up and touched the coffin. Those carrying it stood still. Jesus said, “Young man, I say to you, get up!” The dead man sat up and began to talk. Then Jesus gave him back to his mother.
Luke 7:14-15 (NIV)

Nope turns into HOPE.

How about you?

Some men came carrying a paralyzed man on a mat and tried to take him into the house to lay him before Jesus. When they could not find a way to do this because of the crowd, they went up on the roof and lowered him on his mat through the tiles into the middle of the crowd, right in front of Jesus. When Jesus saw their faith he said, “Friend, your sins are forgiven.”
Luke 5:18-20 (NIV)

“I tell you, get up, take your mat and go home.”
Luke 5:24b (NIV)

The story of the paralytic and his friends
Luke 5:17-26

Nope to HOPE

Unfocused

Focus is Important – Focus isn’t Always Easy

Don’t you sometimes wish we had autofocus for life?

Think about the things of heaven,
not the things of earth…put to death the sinful, earthly things lurking within you. Have nothing to do with sexual immorality, impurity, lust,
and evil desires. Don’t be greedy,
for a greedy person is an idolater, worshiping the things of this world. Because of these sins,
the anger of God is coming. You used to do these things when our life was still part of this world.
But now is the time to get rid of anger, rage, malicious behavior, slander,
and dirty language. Don’t lie to each other, for you have stripped off your old sinful nature and all its wicked deeds.

Colossians 3:2-9  New Living Translation (NLT)

Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness,
and patience. Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others. Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds us all together in perfect harmony. And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. For as members of one body you are called to live in peace. And always be thankful.

Colossians 3:12-15 (NLT)

WWJHMD

Matthew 14

But immediately Jesus spoke  to them and said,  “Take heart, it is I; do not be afraid.”
Peter answered him, “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you  on the water.” He said, “Come.”  So Peter got out of the boat,  started walking on the water,  and came toward Jesus. But when he noticed the  strong wind, He became frightened, and beginning to sink, he cried out, “Lord, save me!” Jesus immediately reached out his hand and caught him, saying to him, “You of little faith, why did you doubt?” When they got into the boat, the wind ceased. And those in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.”

Matthew 14:27-33  New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)

I can do all things through Christ  who strengthens me.

Philippians 4:13  New King James Version (NKJV)

When Peter realized he was sinking,  he called out to Jesus.

Call on Jesus during small challenges so you are prepared for the big ones.

Lenses help bring things into focus. – Use the lenses of prayer and the Bible.

Your word is a lamp for my feet,
a light on my path.

Psalm 119:105  New International Version (NIV)

Out of Sight

So God created human beings in his own image. In the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.

Genesis 1:27  New Living Translation (NLT)

Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.

1 John 4:7-8  New International Version (NIV)

“Our culture has accepted two huge lies. The first is that if you disagree with someone’s lifestyle, you must fear or hate them. The second is that to love someone means you agree with everything they believe or do. Both are nonsense. You don’t have to compromise convictions to be compassionate.” – Pastor Rick Warren, Saddleback Church

John 4:1-26, 39-42 | Jesus  and the  Samaritan Woman

He [Jesus] told her, “Go, call your husband and come back.” “I have no husband,” she replied. Jesus said to her, “You are right when you say you have no husband. The fact is, you have had five husbands, and the man you now have is not your husband. What you have just said is quite true.”

John 4:16-18 (NIV)

So in Christ Jesus, you are all children of God through faith, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.

Galatians 3:26-28 (NIV)

Luke 10:25-37 | Parable of the Good Samaritan

We Need JESUS!

Short Sighted

Where there is no vision,  the people perish:  but he that keepeth the law, happy is he.

PROVERBS 29:18  KING JAMES VERSION (KJV)

VISION is the Hebrew word CHAZOWN which means REVELATION

Where there is no revelation, the people cast off restraint;
But happy is he who keeps the law.

PROVERBS 29:18  NEW KING JAMES VERSION (NKJV)

What about us as a church?

Are we SHORT SIGHTED, lacking revelation of God?

He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of  His love, in whom we have redemption through His blood,  the forgiveness of sins.

Colossians 1: 13-14 (NKJV)

In the shallows of God, we become confident that His will for our lives is good and will be accomplished!

…being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ

Philippians 1:6 (NKJV)

We are able to keep the faith when we focus on the Revelation of  Jesus Christ!

Therefore we do not lose heart.  Even though our outward man  is perishing, yet the inward man is  being renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment,  is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen.  For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are  not seen are eternal.

2 Corinthians 4:16-18 (NKJV)

We are all called to the deep things of God!
To know the revelation of God.

Deep calls unto deep at the noise of Your waterfalls;
All Your waves and billows have gone over me.
The Lord will command His lovingkindness in the daytime,
And in the night His song shall  be with me-
A prayer to the God of my life.

Psalm 42:7-8 (NKJV)

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Archives: Messages

2 Thessalonians 3:16 Peace

2 Timothy 3:16 Scripture

Colossians 3:16 Worship

Sinner to Winner

Youth Sunday: Game On!

Bitter to Better

Nope to Hope

Unfocused

Out of Sight

Short Sighted

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