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Countless common thoughts have a negative and lasting impact.
– Lisa Ferentz, 
Psychology Today, 
3/20/17

Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable – if anything is excellent or praiseworthy – 
think about such things.

Philippians 4:8, New International Version (NIV)

But now you must rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips.

Colossians 3:8 (NIV)

Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice.

Ephesians 4:31 (NIV)

FIX YOUR THOUGHTS ON

Whatever is True
– alethes (greek) 
genuine, reliable, trustworthy, valid, real
– “I am the way, the truth, and the life.” John 14.6

Whatever is Noble
– semnos (greek) 
worthy of respect, honorable

Whatever is Right
– dikaios (greek) 
right, righteous, upright

Whatever is Pure
– free from contamination, spotless, stainless

Whatever is Lovely
– what is pleasing, what brings pleasure

Whatever is Admirable
– euphemos (greek) – admirable, appealing, praiseworthy

If anything is excellent or praiseworthy

I lift up my eyes to the mountains — where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.

Psalm 121:1-2 NIV

In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:
Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his 
own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing 
by taking the very nature of a servant, being made 
in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross!

Philippians 2:5-8 NIV

 

Study Reaps Truth

TRUTH: that which is true or in accord with fact or reality; faithful to an original or standard

Whose facts or reality are we using as the basis of truth?

RELATIVE TRUTH vs ABSOLUTE TRUTH

God is the Truth Standard

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)

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

Psalm 119:105 (NIV)

Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.

Joshua 1:8 (NIV)

Jesus answered, 
“It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”

Matthew 4:4 (NIV)

For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing 
soul and spirit, joints and marrow; 
it judges the thoughts 
and attitudes of the heart.

Hebrews 4:12 (NIV)

The Bible is the 
greatest selling book 
in the world. 100 million printed 
each year.

STUDY REAPS TRUTH

I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

Philippians 4:13

All things are working together for good.

Romans 8:28

I am not condemned by God.

Romans 8:1

Greet
Read
Observe
Write

“God meets us where we are.
This is the beautiful, 
hope-giving reality of grace.” – October 24 New Morning Mercies

For God so loved the world (you) 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 (you) to condemn the world (you), but to save the world (you) through him.

John 3:16-17 (NIV)

Gratitude Reaps Contentment

We reap what we sow.

Galatians 6:7

CONTENTMENT
a state of peace; at ease in and accepting of one’s situation.

COMPLACENT
being self-satisfied yet unaware of any dangers 
or deficiencies.

Too often we see successful individuals and feel that they must never be satisfied in life. We strive and feel that we need more to be happy. We feel that once we get that raise, promotion, bonus, or once we finally pay off our debt or once the kids go back to school, then we will be happy. Marketing and sales professionals understand that they need to emphasize what is missing in your life and then show you how much better things will be if you had their product. All of this seems to point to a choice between being happy or being successful but not both. The key to being happy is to realize that you have what you need and become content. But the key to success is to be constantly improving and never become complacent.

Contentment goes hand in hand with gratitude. Being appreciative of the things in your life, you see everything as a miracle. The complacent individual doesn’t see anything as a miracle and takes everything for granted. So one way to start being more content and less complacent is actually to find ways to be more grateful for the things you already 
have in life.

Scott Miker, scottmiker.com

Gratitude is an emotion expressing appreciation for what one has as opposed to, for instance, a consumer-driven emphasis on what one wants or thinks they need. Tossing off the half-hearted “thanks” won’t cut it; deep gratitude has to come from within and in a meaningful way. …Studies show that people can deliberately cultivate gratitude by literally counting their blessings and writing letters of thanks, for example. This proactive acknowledgement can increase well-being, health, and happiness. 
Being grateful – and especially the expression of it – is also associated 
with increased energy, optimism, and empathy.

psychologytoday.com

Gratitude Reaps Contentment

How To Become Truly Thankful (Sarah Hardee, christcenteredmama.com)

Lower Our Expectations

There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens: a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot, a time to kill and a time to heal, a time to tear down and a time to build, a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance, a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them, a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing, a time to search and a time to give up, a time to keep and a time to throw away, a time to tear and a time to mend, a time to be silent and a time to speak, a time to love and a time to hate, a time for war 
and a time for peace.

Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 New International Version (NIV)

Give thanks in all situations

Consider it a sheer gift, friends, when tests and challenges come at you from all sides. You know that under pressure, your faith-life is forced into the open and shows its true colors. So don’t try to get out of anything prematurely. Let it do its work so you become mature and well-developed, not deficient in any way.

James 1:2-4 The Message (MSG)

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.

Romans 8:28 (NIV)

Be humble towards God

Remember who’s in charge.
Pay more attention to your faults than the flaws of others.
Serve others.

Allow God to use us

Yet you, Lord, are our Father. We are the clay, you are the potter; 
we are all the work of your hand.

Isaiah 64:8 (NIV)

What about you?

 

Prayer Reaps Intimacy

We reap what we sow.
Galatians 6:7

INTIMACY

How do we have intimacy with God?

Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present our requests to God.
Philippians 4:6 New International Version (NIV)

Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 (NIV)

Keller says “Persons can exchange information without much self-disclosure. Some conversations, however, go deeper and we sense that both of us are revealing not just information but our very selves. The conversation then becomes a personal encounter, a true connection.” This is the relationship we hope to have with God through prayer, seeking God through deep, meaningful, open and connected conversations.

Prayer is vulnerable. When we fully engage in this act, we begin to open ourselves up in ways that we may mask to the ones we are closest to. The beautiful thing is that when we allow ourselves to let go through engagement in prayer, we can develop a relationship so powerful that we sense fullness, a completeness that is hard to walk away from.
Lesli White, How to Experience Intimacy with God through Prayer, Beliefnet.com

Jesus’ model for prayer: Matthew 6:9-13

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy Name. Thy Kingdom come. Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. [For thine is the kingdom, the power, and the glory, forever and ever.] Amen.
U.S. Book of Common Prayer, 1928 edition

P…R…A…Y

P – Praise God

R – Repent

A – Ask

Y – Yield

Confession Reaps Freedom

Don’t be misled: No one makes a fool of God. What a person plants, he will harvest. The person who plants selfishness, ignoring the needs of others – ignoring God! – harvests a crop of weeds. All he’ll have to show for his life is weeds! But the one who plants in response to God, letting God’s Spirit do the growth work in him, harvests a crop of real life, eternal life.

Galatians 6:7-8 The Message (MSG)

We reap what we sow.

Whoever sins is a slave to sin.

John 8:34

All have sinned and fallen short 
of the glory of God.

Romans 3:23

SIN:

  • When we separate from God and others 
through our words and actions.
  • When we say and do the opposite of what 
God would have us say and do
  • When we settle for less than God’s best.

What must we sow in order to reap freedom?

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

Romans 6:23 (NIV)

Realize our need for a Savior!

Confession – to admit we’ve sinned

Repentance – to go in a new direction

We Can’t Ignore Sin

We can’t realize freedom without confession, without the realization that we are 
a sinner in need of a savior, 
that we can’t save ourselves or one another.

Now this outward concern/inward denial dynamic is 
not okay. Blindness to your own sin is a denial of the presence of personal spiritual need. Such a denial always leads to a devaluing of and a resistance to God’s grace. Denying your need for grace and underestimating the power of what that grace can do never, 
ever leads to anything good.
The admission of sin doesn’t lead you somewhere dark and depressing, because you know you’ve been given grace that is greater than your sin, and your celebration of grace is real and heartfelt because it’s done in the context of your confession of the very sin that grace addresses. Confession of sin without the celebration of grace leads to guilt, self-loathing, timidity, and spiritual paralysis.
Embracing grace without the admission of sin leads to confident theological “always rightism,” but does not result in change in your heart and life. So today, refuse to minimize sins, reject the temptation to devalue grace, 
and run to Jesus weeping and celebrating at the same time.

Paul David Tripp, New Morning Mercies, October 2.

 

Conflict

When Sanballat the Horonite and Tobiah the Ammonite official heard about this, 
they were very much disturbed that someone had come to promote the 
welfare of the Israelites.

Nehemiah 2:10 New International Version (NIV)

Now the men and their wives [in Jerusalem] raised a great outcry against their 
fellow Jews. Some were saying, “We and our sons and daughters are numerous; in order for us to eat and stay alive, we must get grain.” Others were saying, 
“We are mortgaging our fields, 
our vineyards and our homes to 
get grain during the famine.”

Still others were saying, “We have had to borrow money to pay the king’s tax on our fields and vineyards. Although we are of the same flesh and blood as our fellow Jews and though our children are as good as theirs, yet we have to subject our sons and daughters to slavery. Some of our daughters have already been enslaved, 
but we are powerless, because our fields and our vineyards belong to others.

Nehemiah 5:1-5 (NIV)

To be human is to be in conflict.

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

Matthew 5:9(NIV)

How do godly leaders 
resolve conflict? How can we be peacemakers?

When I [Nehemiah] heard their outcry and these charges, I was very angry. I pondered them in my mind and then accused the nobles and officials. 
I told them, “You are charging your own people interest!” So I called together a large meeting to deal with them and said: “As far as possible, 
we have bought back our fellow Jews who were sold to the Gentiles. Now you are selling our own people, 
only for them to be sold back to us!” 
They kept quiet, because they could find nothing to say.

Nehemiah 5:6-8 (NIV)

Godly leaders are patient and self-controlled.

A fool gives full vent to anger, 
but the wise quietly holds it back.

Proverbs 29:11 (NIV)

“What’s it like to be on the 
other side of me?”

  • Cary Nieuwhof

So I continued, “What you are doing is not right. Shouldn’t you walk in the fear of our God to avoid the reproach of our Gentile enemies? I and my brothers and my men are also lending the people money and grain. But let us stop charging interest! Give back to them immediately their fields, vineyards, olive groves and houses, and also the interest you are charging them — one percent of the money, grain, new wine and olive oil.” “We will give it back,” they said. “And we will not demand anything more from them. We will do as you say.” Then I summoned the priests and made the nobles and officials take an oath to do what they had promised.

Believe the best about others
Explain rather than blame
Be specific – Don’t use generalizations
Say you want things to get better

What about you?

PRAY!

Prayer will take any smirk of superiority out of your attitude, 
which goes a long way toward 
solving problems.

Cary Nieuwhof

Community

NEHEMIAH

Found in Old Testament
A Hebrew who was deported as part of the Exile
Cupbearer to the king

Why was the Jerusalem wall 
so important?

I went to Jerusalem, and after staying there three days I set out during the night with 
a few others. I had not told anyone what my God had put in my heart to do for Jerusalem. There were no mounts with me 
except the one I was riding on.

Nehemiah 2:11-12 New International Version (NIV)

Then I said to them, “You see the trouble 
we are in: Jerusalem lies in ruins, and its gates have been burned with fire. Come, let us rebuild the wall of Jerusalem, and we will no longer be in disgrace.” I also told them about the gracious hand of my God on me and what the king had said to me. They replied, 
“Let us start rebuilding.” 
So they began this good work.

Nehemiah 2:17-18 (NIV)

Leadership involves community

Eliashib the high priest and his fellow priests went to work and rebuilt the Sheep Gate. They dedicated it and set its doors in place, building as far as the Tower of the Hundred, which they dedicated, and as far as the Tower of Hananel. The men of Jericho built the adjoining section, and Zakkur son of Imri built next to them. The Fish Gate was rebuilt by the sons of Hassenaah. They laid its beams and put its doors and bolts and bars in place. Meremoth son of Uriah, the son of Hakkoz, repaired the next section. Next to him ….. [it continues section by section, gate by gate]

Nehemiah 3:1-4a (NIV)

A leader is great,
not because of his power but because of his ability
to empower others.

John Maxwell

The currency every great team uses is TRUST. Each member has to trust that the other person on their team will do their part. They must “build their own part of the wall.” A team with not 
much trust, is dysfunctional.

Paul Phillips, The 4 C’s of Nehemiah’s Leadership

Community is our model

The trinity: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit

Jesus was in community

We are called to be 
leaders in community

Our mission: To Connect People with Jesus and the New Life He Offers

Character

Character:

Features that make up or distinguish an individual
Can refer to a person in a book, play, or movie
A person with some eccentricities
Good repute, high esteem and honor, moral strength, integrity

Who you really are when no one is looking.

Nehemiah: 

A Hebrew who was part of the Babylonian Exile
A cupbearer to the king

3 True Qualities of Character
Brett and Kate McKay

Moral Attachment
not focused on self but toward the greater good
Moral Discipline
self-restraint; control in terms of doing 
what is right and wrong
Moral Autonomy
choosing the right way from one’s own free will

They said to me, “Those who survived the exile and are back in the province are in great trouble and disgrace. The wall of Jerusalem is broken down, and its gates have been burned with fire.” When I heard these things, I sat down and wept. For some days I mourned and fasted and prayed before the God of heaven.

Then I said:
“Lord, the God of heaven, the great and awesome God, who keeps his covenant of love with those who love him and keep his commandments, let your ear be attentive and your eyes open to hear the prayer your servant is praying before you day and night for your servants, the people of Israel. I confess the sins we Israelites, including myself and my father’s family, have committed against you. We have acted very wickedly toward you. We have not obeyed the commands, decrees and laws you gave 
your servant Moses.”

“Remember the instruction you gave your servant Moses, saying, ‘If you are unfaithful, I will scatter you among the nations, but if you return to me and obey my commands, then even if your exiled people are at the farthest horizon, I will gather them from there and bring them to the place I have chosen 
as a dwelling for my Name.’

“They are your servants and your people, whom you redeemed by your great strength and your mighty hand. Lord, let your ear be attentive to the prayer of this your servant and to the prayer of your servants who delight in revering your name. Give your servant success today by granting him favor in the presence of this man.” I was cupbearer to the king.

Nehemiah 1:3-11 New International Version (NIV)

I.N.A.M: It’s not about me

I was very much afraid, but I said to the king, 
“May the king live forever! Why should my face not look sad when the city where my ancestors are buried lies in ruins, and its gates have been destroyed by fire?” The king said to me, “What is it you want?” Then I prayed to the God of heaven, and I answered the king, “If it pleases the king and if your servant has found favor in his sight, let him send me to the city in Judah where my ancestors are buried 
so that I can rebuild it.”

Nehemiah 2:2b-5 (NIV)

My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires.

James 1:19-20 (NIV)

Nehemiah was dependent on God and sought God’s direction every step of the way

Character: kharakter (Greek), engraved mark; symbol or imprint on the soul

God Won’t Give You More than You Can Handle

Mark 5: 21-43

When Jesus had again crossed over by boat to the other side of the lake, a large crowd gathered around him while he was by the lake. Then one of the synagogue leaders, 
named Jairus, came, and when he saw Jesus, 
he fell at his feet. He pleaded earnestly with him 
“My little daughter is dying. Please come and put your hands on her so that she will be healed and live.”
So Jesus went with him. A large crowd followed and pressed around him. And a woman was there who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years. She had suffered a great deal under the care of many doctors and had spent all she had, yet instead of getting better she grew worse.
When she heard about Jesus, she came up behind him in the crowd and touched his cloak, because she thought, 
“If I just touch his clothes, I will be healed.”
 Immediately her bleeding stopped and she felt in her body that she was freed from her suffering. 
At once Jesus realized that power had gone out from him. He turned around in the crowd and asked, 
“Who touched my clothes?”
“You see the people crowding against you,” 
his disciples answered, “and yet you can ask, 
‘Who touched me?’ ” But Jesus kept looking around to see who had done it. Then the woman, knowing what had happened to her, came and fell at his feet and, 
trembling with fear, told him the whole truth. 
He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has healed you. 
Go in peace and be freed from your suffering.”
While Jesus was still speaking, some people came from the house of Jairus, the synagogue leader. 
“Your daughter is dead,” they said. 
“Why bother the teacher anymore?” 
Overhearing what they said, Jesus told him, 
“Don’t be afraid; just believe.” 
He did not let anyone follow him except 
Peter, James and John the brother of James.
When they came to the home of the synagogue leader, Jesus saw a commotion, with people crying 
and wailing loudly. He went in and said to them, 
“Why all this commotion and wailing? 
The child is not dead but asleep.” But they laughed at him. After he put them all out, he took the child’s father and mother and the disciples who were with him, 
and went in where the child was.
He took her by the hand and said to her, 
“Talitha khoum!” 
(which means “Little girl, I say to you, get up!”). Immediately the girl stood up and began to walk around (she was twelve years old). At this they were 
completely astonished. He gave strict orders not to let anyone know about this, and told them 
to give her something to eat.

Mark 5:21-43 
New international version (NIV)

They Had 3 Things in Common

They both did everything they could to fix their situations on their own. Spent all their money, all their specialists but nothing worked.

Both had to reach the end of themselves and in desperation reached out to Jesus for their help.

Both resolved to take a leap of faith in order to gain a miracle.

“Daughter your faith has healed you.”

Mark 5:34

What is Dead in Your Life?

God Never Meant for Us to Do this Alone!

 

Money is the Root of All Evil

For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil.

1 Timothy 6:10 
New International Version (NIV)

But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world and we can take nothing out of it. 
But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. Those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into any foolish and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of
all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith
and pierced themselves with any griefs.

1 Timothy 6:6-10 
(NIV)

Whoever loves money never has enough; whoever loves wealth
is never satisfied with their income.

Ecclesiastes 5:10 
(NIV)

The Rich Young Man
Mark 10:17-27

Jesus looked at them and said, 
“With man this is impossible, 
but not with God; 
all things are possible with God.”

Mark 10:27 
(NIV)

Tithe: biblical principle of giving back to God 10% 
of our income.

We keep 90%!!

“Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,” says the Lord Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it.”

Malachi 3:10 
(NIV)

For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil.

1 Timothy 6:10 
(NIV)

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