Church of the Nazarene

u joined us last week you are aware that we began a new series entitled, “RELATIONSHIP GOALS”  For some of us that was a new concept.  Today we will take a look at “FAMILY GOALS” The word “family” alone could evoke a wide variety of responses in all of us. From Thankfulness to Anx.   Delight to grief.    The mere mention may bring tears of joy. Or tears of hurt. I have a disclaimer – Pastor Kevin did not invite me to bring this message because the Kohl family has it all figured out, I don’t have it mastered as a mom, wife, sister or daughter.  Often when I get the opportunity to share, the message is to deepen me. And I am pretty sure, the reason I was given this topic is because we are uniquely in the throws of parenting.  PICTURE of my family. Here is a PICTURE of my family. My college sweetheart and husband of 27 years, Our oldest daughter Gwenna – she is a freshman at Liberty. Eli is a sophomore at East Rock. And Ivy is 4 and in Preschool.  I would not want you to get distracted trying to figure out just how old I was when our youngest was born – I was 44. And for those of you who love statistics, there is only a 2-3% chance of two 44 years olds to have a child naturally – even less when being prevented. NOW THAT THAT’S CLEARED UP.  I will say I call that our “ONLY GOD” story.  And though we would have never imagined that surprise in our family – we have seen the goodness of God. I remind you that the same powerful God is at work in your life and in your families – not to bring you all babies in your old age but to meet the needs you may not even know you have. Last week Pastor Kevin shared that just as the world was created, we see how the Lord Places us, Provides for us, gives us purpose, gives parameters, and is the place we find our IDENTITY.                  Our goal should be abandoning any image of myself that God doesn’t say about me. This is KEY to any healthy, vibrant relationship! What is a family? Family - a group of people who are related to each other, including parents, children, and close relatives. - Oxford dictionary Another source defines it as family, a group of persons united by the ties of marriage, blood, or adoption, constituting a single household and interacting with each other in their respective social positions, usually those of spouses, parents, children, and siblings. Marriage and family are Gods institutions.  God created the family when he made the first man and woman – telling them to be fruitful and multiply in Genesis 1:28 God wastes no time developing marriage and family. Marriage is a foundational unit of society. Shortly after , we see sin enter the scene. Self-sufficiency enters and so does family disfunction. The effects of sin, destroy families and society – wreak havoc, create unimaginable suffering, leading many to a Christless society and life. In Genesis 4, we meet Cain and Abel, Adam and Eve’s first and second born son. In Genesis 4:3-5, God favors Abels offering over Cains 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.” Genesis 4:6-7 Now Cain said to his brother Abel, “Let’s go out to the field.”[a] While they were in the field, Cain attacked his brother Abel and killed him. Genesis 4:8 Then Cain ran away to avoid punishment – creating yet more challenge and hurt. This is not to discourage, but to remind us that as soon as sin entered so did the battle against and with family. Though today’s challenges likely look different than God giving favor to one offering over another – Jealousy is a hurt that still reigns as destructive. The family is in battle. Life, Hope, Truth.com research reveals that the some of the greatest or top THREATS that come against our families today are: Materialism – keeping our families focused on acquiring more and more – and our children believing that material possessions are where happiness is.                 Secularism – 25% of Americans claim no religious affiliation                                                 Compared to 6% in 1991                 Negative Media Influence – not only bringing constant unwholesome influence, but                        

 RELATIONSHIP GOALS · STARTED A NEW SERIES 2 WEEKS AGO RELATIONSHIP GOALS SERIES · WEIGHT LOSS GOALS - FINANCIAL GOALS · ACHIEVEMENT/ACCOMPLISHMENT GOALS · FITNESS GOALS · DO WE HAVE RELATIONAL GOALS? WEEK 1- ADAM- I WILL GIVE YOU YOUR IDENTITY WEEK 2 ANGELA KOHL ASKED US TO CONSIDER RELATIONAL (FAMILY) GOALS 1. WOULD YOU CONSIDER WRITING A FEW GOALS DOWN FOR YOUR FAMILY. (SHARED SOME OF HERS) NOW BECAUSE THIS CAN BE A HEAVY TOPIC- WE SHOULD INFUSE SOME LAUGHTER INTO THIS NOT ONLY FOR MARRIED PEOPLE- BUT SPOTLIGHT · NATE BARGZATE TALKS -LAUNDRY/MARRIAGE VIDEO NATE BARGZATE · RELATIONAL GOALS TIED TO LAUNDRY · RELATIONAL GOALS TIED TO MOWING · TAKE YOU BACK TO THE BEGINNING · FIRST ENCOUNTER WITH RUTH RODRIGUEZ WAWA PICTURE · I HAD NO GOAL- GET A DATE/ THAT WAS THE GOAL · TODAY ISNT “5 STEPS TO HAPPY MARRIAGE” MATTHEW 19 1. WHEN JESUS HAD FINISHED SAYING THESE THINGS, HE LEFT GALILEE AND WENT INTO THE REGION OF JUDEA TO THE OTHER SIDE OF THE JORDAN. SAYING WHAT THINGS: HE JUST FINISHED A LESSON ON FORGIVNESS- THEN THE PHARISEES COME TO HIM WITH THIS. 2 Large crowds followed him, and he healed them there. MATTHEW 19:3-4 3 Some Pharisees came to him to test him. They asked, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for any and every reason?” 4 “Haven’t you read,” he replied, “that at the beginning the Creator ‘made them male and female,’ MATTHEW 19:5 5 and said, ‘For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh. 6 So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate · SIDE NOTE- HE DOES ADDRESS DIVORCE · MATTHEW 20- LET CHILDREN COME TO ME · VICTIMS IN THE DIVORCE  GENESIS 2:18 18. THEN THE LORD GOD SAID, “IT IS NOT GOOD FOR THE MAN TO BE ALONE. I WILL MAKE A HELPER WHO IS JUST RIGHT FOR HIM. BUT FOR ADAM NO SUITABLE HELPER WAS FOUND. GENESIS 2:21-22 21. “SO THE LORD GOD CAUSED THE MAN TO FALL INTO A DEEP SLEEP; AND WHILE HE WAS SLEEPING, HE TOOK ONE OF THE MANS RIBS AND THEN CLOSED UP THE PLACE WITH FLESH. THEN THE LORD GOD MADE A WOMAN FROM THE RIB HE HAD TAKEN OUT OF THE MAN, AND HE BROUGHT HER TO THE MAN. GENESIS 2:23-24 23. THIS IS NOW BONE OF MY BONE AND FLESH OF MY FLESH; SHE SHALL BE CALLED ‘WOMAN,’ FOR SHE WAS TAKEN OUT OF MAN. “THAT IS WHY A MAN LEAVES HIS FATHER AND MOTHER AND IS UNITED TO HIS WIFE, AND THEY BECOME ONE FLESH.” · JESUS QUOTES THIS PASSAGE · PAUL IN CORINTHIANS SAYS 15 Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ himself? Shall I then take the members of Christ and unite them with a prostitute? Never! 16 Do you not know that he who unites himself with a prostitute is one with her in body? For it is said, “The two will become one flesh.” 17 But whoever is united with the Lord is one with him in spirit. CASUAL · DO YOU FEEL LIKE DOING THIS? MAYBE · NO COMMITMENT- NO ATTACHMENT · BOREDOM- SEEMS FUN- NO HARM NO FOUL · MOSTLY PHYSICAL- WALLS ARE UP/PROTECT SEL CONTRACT · THIS IS WHERE WE HAVE AN AGREEMENT · HAS A TIME LIMIT · WE ARRIVE AT THE SIGNING WITH A MUTUAL DISTRUST- ALMOST ASSUMING THE OTHER WILL BREAK THE AGREEMENT. SETH NOT INTERESTED IN PEOPLE MY AGE WHAT I WANT TO SEE ARE PEOPLE YOUR AGE OR OLDER WHO WANT TO BE MARRIED STILL AND ARE STILL IN LOVE  COVENANT · A COVERING- THIS IS GODS IDEA · HEBREW WORD IS “bĕriyth”- TO CUT DROP OF BLOOD · OVER ARCHING THEMES IN SCRIPTURE · LOVE OF GOD-HE WANTS TO MAKE THINGS RIGHT · GRACE OF GOD- HE KEEPS EXTENDING THIS · THE BACK DROP OF BLOOD · HEBREW WORD FOR BLOOD-CUTTING BLOOD OVER THE DOOR POST · BLOOD SYMBOLIZED PROTECTION/FREEDOM CONTRACT VS COVENANT STATED TERMINATION DATE PERMANENT INK BASED BLOOD BASED MUTUAL DISTRUST MUTUAL COMMITMENT VISUAL OF GODS INTENTION MARRIAGE · KEVIN GETS CLOSER TO GOD- I STILL DON’T LEAVE RUTH · WE DON’T DRAW CLOSE AT SAME SPEED · IN THE SAME WAYS- AT THE SAME TIME · PULLEY SYSTEM-GOD DRAWS · BUT WE DO HAVE TO PURSUE HIM GODS MATH 1 + 1 = 1 COVENANT PICTURE · WEEKEND TO REMEMBER -NEXT WEEKEND · TITUS AND NICOLE BECAUSE IT TAKES WORK PEOPLE TRY SOMETHING- IT DOESN’T WORK-QUIT · WE CHECK EVERYTHING ELSE BUT OUR MARRIAGE · NOT A SCUD MISSILE IS A SLOW DRIP WHAT IS YOUR RELATIONSHIP GOAL? WHAT IS GODS GOAL FOR YOUR MARRIAGE? CAN THE TWO OF YOU BE MORE EFFECTIVE FOR GOD TOGETHER THAN YOU WOULD BE SINGLE? · PRAY TOGETGHER ONCE A WEEK. “WHAT IS GODS GOAL FOR YOUR MARRIAGE?” SURVIVE- JUST GRIN AND BEAR IT- WAIT FOR THE KIDS TO GET OUT OF THE HOUSE AND THEN WE WILL SPLIT · CHILDREN ARE A BLESSING- THEY WILL NOT BRING THE FULLFILLMENT GOD DESIRES FOR YOUR MARRIAGE. SINGLE PERSON WANTING TO BE MARRIED THE GOAL MIGHT BE TO SEE MARRIAGE FOR WHAT IT WAS REALLY DESIGNED TO BE-SEEK IT ACCORDINGLY DIVORCED PERSON THE GOAL IS TO SEEK HEALING KNOWING THAT IT WAS NEVER GODS’ INTENTION OR DESIGN FOR YOU TO BE HERE. FIND HEALING IN GODS PROMISE. THE WIDOW TO THE ONE WHO KNOWS WHAT THE TEARING OF FLESH AND LONELINESS AND ABODONMENT FEELS LIKE- CELEBRATE WHAT GOD HAS GIVEN YOU, AND LOOK TO

https://www.bible.com/events/49391752 Church of the Nazarene - East Rockingham Campus Relationship Goals Part 3 We will be covenant keeping Over the next few weeks, we will work through several relationship goals that we can see in the scriptures. By naming this series Relationship Goals, we are acknowledging from the very beginning that our relationships have room to grow. They may need work, maybe even a lot of it. We also recognize that WE need work. that ME in relationship, needs work. The purpose of this series is not to make you feel guilty about yourself or the quality of your relationships. Our desire is to offer hope, to set some goals and find practical tools that will help us work on our relationships. As the old saying goes “If you don't know where you're going, any road will take you there.” So why not set some goals to get us where the bible is calling in our relationships? Today we continue with relationship goal #3 "We will be covenant keeping" Genesis 2:20-24 So the man gave names to all the livestock, the birds in the sky and all the wild animals. But for Adam no suitable helper was found. So the Lord God caused the man to fall into a deep sleep; and while he was sleeping, he took one of the man’s ribs and then closed up the place with flesh. Then the Lord God made a woman from the rib he had taken out of the man, and he brought her to the man. The man said, “This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called ‘woman,’ for she was taken out of man.” That is why a man leaves his father and mother and is united to his wife, and they become one flesh. God has spoken everything into existence, including Adam. Adam has his identity, worth, and purpose in life settled in the Lord. All of Adams core longings are fulfilled in the Lord, yet God recognizes that it’s not good for man to be alone. As the text notes, there was not a suitable helper or mate for Adam in creation before Eve. Adam bursts into his own poetic response at the sight of Eve, but it’s not just about a physical attraction. With poetic language, it’s communicating the idea that they are a part of each other. Adam recognizes this woman and this relationship as something deeply special and significant. Verse 24 essentially notes: “This is why we do what we do and believe what we believe about marriage- It was God’s design, it was his idea." With this scene Gods design is upheld for future generations. When it says Man is united to his wife- this literally means they stick together. It speaks of passion and permanence, it also speaks of covenant. An all in, put self aside commitment to the other person. This was God’s design, before any sin or brokenness entered our world. It’s a relationship of harmony and unity. It's a relationship built on covenant. Contract verses covenant A contract is essentially a transactional relationship We contact the roofer, he offers to complete the leak repair for the cost of $2000. He repairs the roof and we pay. Contract. Within Contracts there is an element of mutual distrust. We don’t trust each other to fulfill what we say, so we draft a document to lay out the terms. Contracts usually limited in their scope and they normally contain expiration dates. They also contain clauses that if one party no longer fulfills the obligations of the agreement, the other party is free to exit the agreement. That’s contract. Great for business, but terrible for close relationships and detrimental to a marriage. Covenant on the other hand, is a relational agreement based on mutual trust and sacrificial love for the other person. It’s a commitment of our whole self, to the other person. No conditions, no exceptions, permanent commitment. Matthew 19:3-6 Some Pharisees came to him to test him. They asked, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for any and every reason?” “Haven’t you read,” he replied, “that at the beginning the Creator ‘made them male and female,’ and said, ‘For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh’? So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate.” Jesus is asked about divorce and he answers them with God’s design for marriage. It’s interesting, Jesus doesn’t take up the argument as to what justified divorce. He simply points back to Genesis and God’s design to set the record straight. He essentially resets their view from contract terms to covenant keeping. Jesus reset the popular ideal for marriage in his day, and i believe he longs to do the same for us too. How are you approaching your marriage? Will you make God’s design, your goal? Will you be a covenant keeper?

If you joined us last week you are aware that we began a new series entitled, “RELATIONSHIP GOALS”  For some of us that was a new concept.  Today we will take a look at “FAMILY GOALS” The word “family” alone could evoke a wide variety of responses in all of us. From Thankfulness to Anx.   Delight to grief.    The mere mention may bring tears of joy. Or tears of hurt. I have a disclaimer – Pastor Kevin did not invite me to bring this message because the Kohl family has it all figured out, I don’t have it mastered as a mom, wife, sister or daughter.  Often when I get the opportunity to share, the message is to deepen me. And I am pretty sure, the reason I was given this topic is because we are uniquely in the throws of parenting.  PICTURE of my family. Here is a PICTURE of my family. My college sweetheart and husband of 27 years, Our oldest daughter Gwenna – she is a freshman at Liberty. Eli is a sophomore at East Rock. And Ivy is 4 and in Preschool.  I would not want you to get distracted trying to figure out just how old I was when our youngest was born – I was 44. And for those of you who love statistics, there is only a 2-3% chance of two 44 years olds to have a child naturally – even less when being prevented. NOW THAT THAT’S CLEARED UP.  I will say I call that our “ONLY GOD” story.  And though we would have never imagined that surprise in our family – we have seen the goodness of God. I remind you that the same powerful God is at work in your life and in your families – not to bring you all babies in your old age but to meet the needs you may not even know you have. Last week Pastor Kevin shared that just as the world was created, we see how the Lord Places us, Provides for us, gives us purpose, gives parameters, and is the place we find our IDENTITY.                  Our goal should be abandoning any image of myself that God doesn’t say about me. This is KEY to any healthy, vibrant relationship! INSERT STORY?? What is a family? Family - a group of people who are related to each other, including parents, children, and close relatives. - Oxford dictionary Another source defines it as family, a group of persons united by the ties of marriage, blood, or adoption, constituting a single household and interacting with each other in their respective social positions, usually those of spouses, parents, children, and siblings. Marriage and family are Gods institutions.  God created the family when he made the first man and woman – telling them to be fruitful and multiply in Genesis 1:28 God wastes no time developing marriage and family. Marriage is a foundational unit of society. Shortly after , we see sin enter the scene. Self-sufficiency enters and so does family disfunction. The effects of sin, destroy families and society – wreak havoc, create unimaginable suffering, leading many to a Christless society and life. In Genesis 4, we meet Cain and Abel, Adam and Eve’s first and second born son. In Genesis 4:3-5, God favors Abels offering over Cains 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.” Genesis 4:6-7 Now Cain said to his brother Abel, “Let’s go out to the field.”[a] While they were in the field, Cain attacked his brother Abel and killed him. Genesis 4:8 Then Cain ran away to avoid punishment – creating yet more challenge and hurt. This is not to discourage, but to remind us that as soon as sin entered so did the battle against and with family. Though today’s challenges likely look different than God giving favor to one offering over another – Jealousy is a hurt that still reigns as destructive. The family is in battle. Life, Hope, Truth.com research reveals that the some of the greatest or top THREATS that come against our families today are: Materialism – keeping our families focused on acquiring more and more – and our children believing that material possessions are where happiness is.                 Secularism – 25% of Americans claim no religious affiliation                                                 Compared to 6% in 1991                 Negative Media Influence – not only bringing constant unwholesome influence, but                    &nbs

https://www.bible.com/events/49388327 Church of the Nazarene - East Rockingham Campus Relationship Goals Part 2 We will be purpose driven Over the next few weeks, we will work through several relationship goals that we can see in the scriptures. By naming this series Relationship Goals, we are acknowledging from the very beginning that our relationships have room to grow. They may need work, maybe even a lot of it. We also recognize that WE need work. that ME in relationship, needs work. The purpose of this series is not to make you feel guilty about yourself or the quality of your relationships. Our desire is to offer hope, to set some goals and find practical tools that will help us work on our relationships. As the old saying goes “If you don't know where you're going, any road will take you there.” So why not set some goals to get us where the bible is calling in our relationships? Today we continue with relationship goal #2 "We will be purpose driven" As followers of Christ, we believe that we are called together for a purpose. We are called to be a part of something bigger than ourselves, to do things that we could otherwise not do alone. Our relationships should have purpose. As we dive into our goal of purpose driven relationship, I think it’s important that we first establish what our individual calling and purpose as followers of Jesus. As we establish that, we can begin to re-imagine our relationships in light of that core calling and purpose. To help us see these things come together, I want to look at the story of Peter and John. Two very different people who had a shared calling and a shared purpose in Christ. Luke 5:1-11 One day as Jesus was standing by the Lake of Gennesaret, the people were crowding around him and listening to the word of God. He saw at the water’s edge two boats, left there by the fishermen, who were washing their nets. He got into one of the boats, the one belonging to Simon, and asked him to put out a little from shore. Then he sat down and taught the people from the boat. When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch.” Simon answered, “Master, we’ve worked hard all night and haven’t caught anything. But because you say so, I will let down the nets.” When they had done so, they caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to break. So they signaled their partners in the other boat to come and help them, and they came and filled both boats so full that they began to sink. When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus’ knees and said, “Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!” For he and all his companions were astonished at the catch of fish they had taken, and so were James and John, the sons of Zebedee, Simon’s partners. Then Jesus said to Simon, “Don’t be afraid; from now on you will fish for people.” So they pulled their boats up on shore, left everything and followed him. This moment marked a new day in the lives of these men. Peter recognizes his sinful heart and his need for a savior. He is ready to leave his old life of sin, to find forgiveness in Jesus. Affirming that desire in Peter, Jesus replies with a new calling for Peter “follow me.” The invitation to follow Jesus was that they would literally go be with Jesus. Stay where he stayed, go where he went. To learn from him, and most importantly to become like him. “From now on, you will fish for people.” The focus of Peter’s life was changing. His number one goal was to leverage his life for the advancement of the Kingdom of God. The calling and purpose we see in Peter, is representative of the call for each and every one of us today. As we seek Jesus as our Lord and savior, we too share in this same calling. Romans 12:1 Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. As this is true of our lives, it’s certainly true of our relationships too. When we enter into relationship, we don’t leave behind our calling and purpose in Christ, we bring it into our relationships. That’s the essence of purpose driven relationships. As you trace the story of Peter and John through the gospels, you can see it was a work in progress. For them personally, and for their relationships. It took years… But by the grace of God they remained committed to their calling, and to their purpose in the world. As this shaped their lives, it shaped their relationships too. The impact of this commitment over the long haul comes to light in the book of Acts. In Chapter 4, Peter and John are on trial before the supreme court of the religious elite because they healed a man who had been paralyzed or lame for 40 years. Of course, this creates quite a stir and they end up being arrested. As we get further into chapter 4 they are standing trial before the religious elite of the day. And after giving their defense of their actions, verse 13 tells us some

 RELATIONSHIP GOALS SERIES · NEW HERE- WE HAVE SEVERAL CAMPUSES · LAST WEEK LAUNCHED HISPANIC CAMPUS-56 · ESPERANZA VIVA CELEBRATED 20 YEARS · 1 ASK- STILL NEED VOLUNTEERS HUNT 2 HARVEST · TODAY BEGIN A NEW SERIES RELATIONSHP GOALS DEFINE GOAL: · AN AIM OR PURPOSE · INTENTION- TARGET DUDE PERFECT TRICK SHOTS · THESE GUYS HAVE MADE MILLIONS-HOW? · THEY GET A TARGET-THEY AIM-THEY SHOOT · THE TARGETS THEY SHOOT AT-UNUSUAL WE HAVE EVERY OTHER KIND OF GOAL · WEIGHT LOSS GOAL EDUCATIONAL DEGREE GOAL · JOB PROMOTION GOAL · GET OUT OF DEBT GOAL · SPEAK ANOTHER LANGUAGE GOAL DO WE ACTUALLY HAVE RELATIONSHIP GOALS? HOW IMPORTANT ARE RELATIONSHIPS ANYWAY? PURPOSE: · WE WOULD HAVE A GREATER UNDERSTANDING OF TOOLS TO MAINTAIN GOD HONORING RELATIONSHIPS GENESIS 2:18. GOOD GOOD GOOD 18. “THEN THE LORD GOD SAID, IT IS NOT GOOD FOR THE MAN TO BE ALONE. I WILL MAKE A HELPER WHO IS JUST RIGHT FOR HIM. # 1 TACTIC FOR PUNISHING-ISOLATION-NOT SOLITUDE VIDEO ON BUSINESS RELATIONSHIPS · BUSINESS PEOPLE UNDERSTAND ITS IMPORTANCE · DO WE? · I DON’T THINK HES SUGGESTING APPROACH THIS SELFISHLY · IDENTIFYING GENUINE RELATIONSHIP BUILDIUNG · WE DO RELATIONSHIP BECAUSE WE BELIEVE WE ARE CALLED TOGETHER FOR SOMETHING BIGGER THAN US IN GODS KINGDOM GENESIS 2:7-8 7. “THEN THE LORD GOD FORMED A MAN FROM THE DUST OF THE GROUND. HE BREATHED THE BREATH OF LIFE OF LIFE INTO THE MAN’S NOSTRILS, AND THE MAN BECAME A LIVING PERSON. THEN THE LORD GOD PLANTED A GARDEN IN EDEN IN THE EAST, AND THERE HE PLACED THE MAN HE HAD MADE. PLACED · WHAT PLACE ARE YOU LOOKING FOR? · WHERE HAS HE PLACED YOU? STILL LOOKING?  GENESIS 2:9 9. “THE LORD GOD MADE ALL SORTS OF TREES GROW UP FROM THE GROUND-TREES THAT WERE BEAUTIFUL AND THAT PRODUCED DELICIOUS FRUIT. IN THE MIDDLE OF THE GARDEN HE PLACED THE TREE OF LIFE AND THE TREE OF KNOWLEDGE OF GOOD AND EVIL.” PROVIDES · THE LORD PLACES THE MAN · THEN HE HAS PROVISION FOR THE MAN · HE PLACES AND PROVIDES · MANY OF YOU HAVE SERVED THE LORD · HAS HE NOT ALWAYS PROVIDED? · NO EVE YET  GENESIS 2:15 15. “THE LORD GOD PLACED THE MAN IN THE GARDEN OF EDEN TO TEND AND WATCH OVER IT.” PURPOSE · WHERE YOU LOOKING TO FIND PURPOSE? · PURPOSE DRIVEN LIFE? AGE OLD QUESTION  SCRIPTURE GENESIS 2:16 16. “BUT THE LORD GOD WARNED HIM, YOU MAY FREELY EAT THE FRUIT OF EVERY TREE IN THE GARDEN.” GENESIS 2:17 17. EXCEPT THE TREE OF THE KNOWLEDGE OF GOOD AND EVIL. IF YOU EAT ITS FRUIT, YOU ARE SURE TO DIE.” GARDEN IMAGE · LONGWOOD GARDENS- DUPONT · HE DOESN’T SAY- YOU HAVE 2 CHOICES · HE PROVIDES INCREDIBLE OPTIONS · HE SAYS ALL OF IT IS YOURS- EXCEPT 1 THING · CHRISTIANITY HAS TOO MANY RESTRICTIONS · HANDCUFFS ME- YOU CAN HAVE IT ALL PARAMETERS · THE LORD PROVIDES GUARDRAILS FOR ADAM · HERE ARE THE BOUNDARY LINES FOR YOU · HE DOES THE SAME FOR US INDIVIDUALLY · WHAT DOG DOES WHEN LET HIM OUT THE DOOR · RUNS TO THE EDGE-PERIMETER. GENESIS 1:26 26. THEN GOD SAID, “LET US MAKE HUMAN BEINGS IN OUR IMAGE, TO BE LIKE US. THEY WILL REIGN OVER FISH IN THE SEA, THE BIRDS IN THE SKY, THE LIVESTOCK, ALL THE WILD ANIMALS ON THE EARTH, AND THE SMALL ANIMALS THAT SCURRY ALONG THE GROUND.”  IDENTITY · IN EVERY RELATIONSHIP- IT HINGES ON THIS · DOESN’T MATTER WHAT THE RELATIONSHIP · IF YOU DON’T KNOW YOUR IDENTITY- YOU WILL STRUGGLE · HINGES ON HIM- WHO DOES HE WANT ME TO BE  WORDS P/P/P/P IDENTITY PLACE. PROVISION. PURPOSE. PARAMETERS. IDENTITY MANY PEOPLE (MAYBE US) HAVE THE WRONG TARGET? SO WHAT IS YOUR GOAL OR GOALS? WHAT ARE THEY? HOW MANY ARE USING/ALLOWING CULTURE TO PROVIDE THE TARGET? WHAT IS BAROMETER TO HELP SET PROPER GOALS? RELATIONAL GOALS ARE KARDASHIAN ESTABLISHED · THE OTHER ISSUE IS MANY OF US HAVE POOR AIM · WE DON’T MAKE ANY ADJUSTMENT FOR WEATHER · DISTANCE  TARGET WITH CROSS IN THE CENTER · HERE IS A TARGET · DEATH TO LIFE- DIE TO YOURSELF- SEEK TO ELEVATE OTHERS · JESUS “I CAME NOT TO BE SERVED BUT TO SERVE” · EVERYONE NEEDS EXAMPLES/RELATIONSHIPS  PYRAMID · THINK OF IT LIKE A PYRAMID- · TOP IS OF COURSE GOD- MOST IMPORTANT · PAUL- A MENTOR (HE MENTORED TIMOTHY) · BARNABAS-COMRADE/PEER JOIN YOU · TIMOTHY-YOU HELP/POUR IN TO · SAMARITAN- OPEN YOUR HANDS TO LIFT UP · FOR ONE-DO HAVE 1 THAT DOESN’T KNOW JESUS?  RELATIONSHIP GOALS 1. FIND MY IDENTITY IN CHRIST 2. FIND 12 MEN THIS CALENDAR YEAR TO JOURNEY WITH ME IN PRAYER, FELLOWSHIP AND DISCIPLESHIP 3. HAVE OUR KIDS WANT TO HANG OUT WITH US, EVEN WHEN THEY DON’T HAVE TO. 4. COMMUMINCATE BETTER 5. GET COMPLETELY OUT OF DEBT JOHN THE BAPTIST · JOHN STATES HIS RELATIONSHIP GOALS · HE MUST INCREASE · I MUST DECREASE EVEN THE MISSION IS A RELATIONSHIP. ITS NOT A TASK, THE MISSION IS A RELATIONSHIP. GOD IS SEEKING TO BRING YOU INTO A RELATIONSHIP, AND ONCE WE’RE THERE, TO BRING OTHERS TO RELATIONSHIP. SALVATION IS A RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD/JESUS. FROM THE VERY BEGINNING, THE MISSION THAT GOD SENT JESUS ON WAS TO BUILD A TEAM. GOD SENT JESUS TO BUILD A TEAM, AND HE CALLED THESE MEN TO BE WITH HIM, FOLLOW HIM, BUILD THEIR LIVES ON HIM AND THAT RELAT

https://www.bible.com/events/49384868 Church of the Nazarene - East Rockingham Campus Relationship Goals Part 1 Our Identity is in Christ Over the next few weeks, we will work through several relationship goals that we can see in the scriptures. By naming this series Relationship Goals, we are acknowledging from the very beginning that our relationships have room to grow. They may need work, maybe even a lot of it. We also recognize that WE need work. that ME in relationship, needs work. The purpose of this series is not to make you feel guilty about yourself or the quality of your relationships. Our desire is to offer hope, to set some goals and find practical tools that will help us work on our relationships. As the old saying goes “If you don't know where you're going, any road will take you there.” So why not set some goals to get us where the bible is calling in our relationships? Today we begin with relationship goal #1 "Our identity is in Christ" In relationships we must begin by grounding our own identity in Christ before pursing relationship with others. To know who we are as a child of God created in his image for a purpose, frees us to engage in relationships freely and with confidence because we know that no individual can ever be my “number 1” in any relationship because that place is always reserved for Jesus. To get a clearer picture of our identity and god’s design, I want us to go back to the beginning, let’s turn to Genesis chapter 2 In genesis 1-2 we have the account of how the Lord created everything Sun, moon, and stars, land and sea and everything in it. There is no sin present, everything is as God designed and intended it to be, including the first man, Adam. Let’s read about his beginnings Genesis 2:7-8 Then the Lord God formed a man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being. Now the Lord God had planted a garden in the east, in Eden; and there he put the man he had formed. “God formed a man from the dust of the ground” Who are you? You are god’s masterpiece, skillfully and purposefully created. You are not an accident. You are created with intrinsic value and worth. Formed, shaped, knit together by the hand of the Lord. “Breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being” This idea is of the breath that you would blow onto an ember to bring it flame. God took the elements of the earth and breathed life into them. Genesis 2:15-17 The Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it. And the Lord God commanded the man, “You are free to eat from any tree in the garden; but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat from it you will certainly die.” The Lord had a specific plan, a specific place for Adam. He gave him a calling, a vocation, a purpose to give his life work to. Like Adam we are created for a purpose, to glorify God as he has a plan for us. The Lord also gave parameters, instructions on how to live out his calling and how to live in relationship with God. Adam first found his identity in relationship with the Lord. It was there that Adam had fulfilled the deep core created longings of his heart. And now he was ready for relationship. Genesis 2:18 The Lord God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him.” Having our identity, purpose, and belonging secure in the Lord, doesn’t mean we don’t need relationships. I believe it means we are ready for relationships. Adam had all this sorted out and settled in the Lord, but God still looks at him and sees “it’s not good for man to be alone”. And what we see in this passage, in this “not good” idea, is that we were made for relationships. It’s part of who we are and how we are made. We are made to be in community and relationship with others. It’s good. But don’t miss the order in which the Lord brought these things together. Adam first had his identity in the Lord, THEN relationship with Eve. If we enter into relationship with our identity being incomplete, inevitably we will seek to complete ourselves, our identity, our purpose, our value, in another person. And friends that is not going to go well. We cannot expect any other person to complete something that God designed for himself. That means that nobody can be our number 1. Not our parents, not our kids, not our spouse, or even our best friend. That place must be reserved for Christ alone. And friends, that’s why our first relationship Goal is "Our identity is in Christ First."

‭‭LAST WEEK OF SERIES HEALTHY ME STARTED 3 WEEKS AGO COVERED LONELINESS- DEPRESSION-ANXIETY  LONELINESS RECOGNIZE/REALIZE GODS PROMISE TO NEVER FORSAKE US. EMBRACE GODS DESIGN FOR COMMUNITY. ASK YOURSELF “WILL ANYONE BENEFIT FROM MY LONELINESS?  DEPRESSION/ANXIETY EMBRACE COMMUNITY CAST YOUR ANXIETY ON HIM (I PETER 5:7) LISTEN FOR HIS WHISPER. HE WISHPERS BECAUSE HE IS CLOSE. MEET WITH A TRAINEDE CHRISTIAN COUNSELOR. POSSIBLY MEET WITH MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS. THIS WEEK: ANGER- SOME THINGS REALL SLIDE 5: COMMANDERS/REDSKINS HELMET/LOGO I MEAN I KNOW THIS IS TROUBLE SOME OF US ARE EXCITED TODAY SOME OF US- THIS MAKES US ANGRY TODAY SLIDE 6: PICTURE OF TOILET PAPER ROLL WHEN THIS HAPPENS- DOESN’T IT TICK YOU OFF? WHEN IT HAPPENS IN A PUBLIC PLACE- AWFUL HAPPENS IN YOUR HOUSE- ROLLS RIGHT THERE SLIDE 5: LONELINESS RECOGNIZE/REALIZE GODS PROMISE TO NEVER FORSAKE US. EMBRACE GODS DESIGN FOR COMMUNITY. ASK YOURSELF “WILL ANYONE BENEFIT FROM MY LONELINESS? DEPRESSION/ANXIETY EMBRACE COMMUNITY CAST YOUR ANXIETY ON HIM (I PETER 5:7) LISTEN FOR HIS WHISPER. BECAUSE HE IS CLOSE. MEET WITH A TRAINEDE CHRISTIAN COUNSELOR. POSSIBLY MEET WITH MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS. ANGER: WOMEN LOSE TEMPER 3 XS WEEK/MEN 6 TIMES WOMAN ARE MORE VERBAL WITH ANGER MEN ARE MORE PHYSICAL WOMEN EXPRESS ANGER AT PEOPLE/ MEN AT THINGS SINGLE ADULTS EXPRESS ANGER TWICE AS OFTEN AS MARRIED PLACE YOU EXPRESS ANGER MOST OFTEN AT HOME 51 ILLNESSES ARE DIRECTLY ATTRIBUTED TO ANGER   “SPEAK WHEN YOU ARE ANRGY AND YOU WILL MAKE THE BEST SPEECHES YOU WILL EVER REGRET”   AMBROSE BIERCE INTRODUCED TO ANGER   GENESIS 4:2-7   2 Next she bore his brother Abel. Now Abel was a keeper of sheep, and Cain a tiller of the ground. 3 In the course of time Cain brought to the Lord an offering of the fruit of the ground, 4 and Abel for his part brought of the firstlings of his flock, their fat portions. And the Lord had regard for Abel and his offering, 5 but for Cain and his offering he had no regard. So Cain was very angry, and his countenance fell. 6 The Lord said to Cain, “Why are you angry, and why has your countenance fallen? 7 If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin is lurking at the door; its desire is for you, but you must master it.” EPHESIANS 4:22    “YOU WERE TAUGHT, WITH REGARD TO YOUR FORMER WAY OF LIFE, TO PUT OFF YOUR OLD SELF, WHICH IS BEING CORRUPTED BY ITS DECEITFUL DESIRES; TO BE MADE NEW IN THE ATTITUDE OF YOUR MINDS; AND TO PUT ON THE NEW SELF, CREATED LIKE GOD IN TRUE RIGHTEOUSNESS AND HOLINESS. EPHESIANS 4:25-26    THEREFORE EACH OF YOU MUST PUT OFF FALSEHOOD AND SPEAK TRUTHFULLY TO YOUR NEIGHBOR, FOR WE ARE ALL MEMBERS OF ONE BODY. “IN YOUR ANGER DO NOT SIN. DO NOT LET THE SUN GO DOWN WHILE YOU ARE STILL ANGRY. HE HAD JUST TALKED ABOUT UNITY HE HAD JUST TALKED ABOUT SENSUALITY/GREED SUNSET EVERY SUNSET- BEAUTY IN IT THINK- AM I ANGRY WITH SOMEONE?  EPHESIANS 4:27-28   27. AND DO NOT GIVE THE DEVIL A FOOTHOLD. ANYONE WHO HAS BEEN STEALING MUST STEAL NO LONGER, BUT MUST WORK, DOING SOMETHING USEFUL WITH THEIR OWN HANDS, THAT THEY MAY HAVE SOMETHING TO SHARE WITH THOSE IN NEED.  CHECK ENGINE LIGHT THE LIGHT COMES ON TO INDICATE PROBLEM UNDER HOOD- ENGINE NEEDS CHECK UP. WARNING IMAGE   READ AND FULLY UNDERSTAND OPERATORS MANUAL BEFORE USING THIS EMOTION. FAILURE TO FOLLOW OPERATING INSTRUCTIONS COULD RESULT IN DEATH OR SERIOUS INJURY. I WONDER HOW MANY OF US STRUGGLE WITH ANGER? WE MIGHT STRUGGLE BECAUSE WE FEEL GUILTY THAT WE HAVE IT- YOU SHOULDN’T GOD GIVEN EMOTION CANNOT LET IT RULE YOU- LIVE IN IT YOU SHOULD HEAD WARNINGS GIVEN ABOUT IT WORD INDULGE MEANS:  TO GIVE FREE REIGN- TO GRATIFY (CANT WITH ANGER) JOHN 2:13   13. “THE PASSOVER OF THE JEWS WAS NEAR, AND JESUS WENT UP TO JERUSALEM. IN THE TEMPLE HE FOUND PEOPLE SELLING CATTLE, SHEEP, AND DOVES AND THE MONEY CHANGERS SEATED AT THEIR TABLES.  JOHN 2:15   15. MAKING A WHIP OF CORDS, HE DROVE THEM ALL OUT OF THE TEMPLE, WITH THE SHEEP AND THE CATTLE. HE ALSO POURED OUT THE COINS OF THE MONEY CHANGERS AND OVERTURNED THEIR TABLES. JOHN 2:16   16. HE TOLD THOSE WHO WERE SELLING DOVES, “TAKE THESE THINGS OUT OF HERE! STOP MAKING MY FATHERS HOUSE A MARKETPLACE!” “IT IS WRITTEN, MY HOUSE SHALL BE CALLED A HOUSE OF PRAYER” BUT YOU ARE MAKING IT A DEN OF ROBBERS. ( HOUSE OR WORSHIP/PREACHING) I READ THIS IS BECAUSE JESUS GETS ANGRY BUT ITS NOT BECAUSE OF WHATS DONE TO HIM HES ANGRY BECAUSE OTHERS ARE MISTREATED  PICTURE OF TWO MEN ADOLF AND RUDOLF DASSLER (2 YEARS APART) 1948 RUDOLF ESTABLISHES PUMA 1949 ADOLF ESTABLISHES ADDIDAS    In 1948, after over 30 years of working together, Adolf and Rudolf abruptly shuttered Geda and separated GET BURRIED AT OPPOSITE ENDS OF CEMETARY ANGER IS A PROBLEM INCONVENIENCES TRIGGER STRONG ANGER RESPONSE ANGER HAS PATTERNS- ANGER UNCONTROLL

https://www.bible.com/events/49381389 Church of the Nazarene - East Rockingham Campus Healthy Me: Mind Made Up Part 4 Mad is Hell... Healthy Me is a compassionate invitation to seek healing and wholeness in the area of mental health. Believing that God sees us and he cares about how we are feeling. Our goal is to provide a biblical approach to our mental health and to gain tools to begin a path towards a healthy me. This is not about quick fixes, easy answers, or cliché responses. It’s not a substitute for professional counseling. These are tools for the journey of wholeness and healing through Christ. Today we conclude our series talking about anger. Anger- a strong feeling of displeasure and usually of antagonism. Or a threatening or violent appearance or state. In our everyday language we might say someone has a short fuse, or a bad temper, they get a little hot headed. You may be surprised to hear this morning that Anger is actually a God-Given emotion. It is part of our “fight or flight” response system that helps us avoid danger and compels us to action at injustice. But the truth about this God given emotion is that we often mis-use it. In fact, this emotion comes with specific instructions AND a warning label. James 1:19-20 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. How’s your relationship with anger? Have you read the operators manual for anger? Are you following it’s instructions? The reality is that failure to follow the biblical approach to anger, could result in serious injury to people around us, and to ourselves. Even death. Anger might seem like a strange topic for a series on mental health, but the truth is, if we are pursing wholeness and healing in Christ, we must address our anger. Ephesians 4:25-28 Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to your neighbor, for we are all members of one body. “In your anger do not sin”: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold. Anyone who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with their own hands, that they may have something to share with those in need. It’s really fascinating that right in the midst of lying and stealing having no place in the life of a Christian, Paul addresses anger. It’s fascinating because I think if we were honest, im not sure many of us would put our anger up there on a list in significance with lying and stealing. Often times I think look at anger and we want to excuse it, deny it, or attempt to justify it in our lives. But Paul says look- how you handle anger is critical in your life with Christ. He says “In your anger, do not sin: do not let the sun go down while you are still angry,” We need to read carefully here. I think it’s easy to read this and think it’s giving us permission to be angry, but in reality, it’s offering a concession. Commentator Andrew Lincoln paraphrases this verse by saying: “Anger is to be avoided at all costs, but if, for whatever reason, you do get angry, then refuse to indulge such anger so that you do not sin.” When we give into anger, if we allow it to take the controls, we give the devil a vantage point to wage hell on our life, our family, and our relationships. When anger comes up, use extreme caution. Ephesians 4:31-32 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. If you have been following along in the series, you know we have tried to close each message with a some practical tools for seeking wholeness and health. We have used acrostics as a way to remember those tools. For the path to wholeness and healing in the area of anger, i would propose that we remember the letters A.C.T. A-Awareness. The path to a healthy me in the area of anger begins with awareness. An honest look at the place anger has in our life. C- Check into it. As we become aware of our anger we need to check into it. "pop the hood" on our emotions and see what's going on underneath the feelings of anger. T-Today. We must take action to deal with our anger today. Don't continue to give the devil free room and board in your life by holding onto anger. At the end of the day we have a choice with anger. We might not choose when or how anger enters our lives, but we have a choice and a responsibility when it does. We can surrender to it, allowing it to control our lives. Or we can surrender our anger to the Lord, and allow him to bring the healing and transformation we need. What will it be for you?

Winter Retreat: Echo Echo God ‘s love Jeremiah 31:1-25 ““And when that happens”—God’s Decree— “it will be plain as the sun at high noon: I’ll be the God of every man, woman, and child in Israel and they shall be my very own people.” * * * This is the way God put it: “They found grace out in the desert, these people who survived the killing. Israel, out looking for a place to rest, met God out looking for them!” God told them, “I’ve never quit loving you and never will. Expect love, love, and more love! And so now I’ll start over with you and build you up again, dear virgin Israel. You’ll resume your singing, grabbing tambourines and joining the dance. You’ll go back to your old work of planting vineyards on the Samaritan hillsides, And sit back and enjoy the fruit— oh, how you’ll enjoy those harvests! The time’s coming when watchmen will call out from the hilltops of Ephraim: ‘On your feet! Let’s go to Zion, go to meet our God!’” * * * Oh yes, God says so: “Shout for joy at the top of your lungs for Jacob! Announce the good news to the number-one nation! Raise cheers! Sing praises. Say, ‘God has saved his people, saved the core of Israel.’ “Watch what comes next: “I’ll bring my people back from the north country And gather them up from the ends of the earth, gather those who’ve gone blind And those who are lame and limping, gather pregnant women, Even the mothers whose birth pangs have started, bring them all back, a huge crowd! “Watch them come! They’ll come weeping for joy as I take their hands and lead them, Lead them to fresh flowing brooks, lead them along smooth, uncluttered paths. Yes, it’s because I’m Israel’s Father and Ephraim’s my firstborn son! “Hear this, nations! God’s Message! Broadcast this all over the world! Tell them, ‘The One who scattered Israel will gather them together again. From now on he’ll keep a careful eye on them, like a shepherd with his flock.’ I, God, will pay a stiff ransom price for Jacob; I’ll free him from the grip of the Babylonian bully. The people will climb up Zion’s slopes shouting with joy, their faces beaming because of God’s bounty— Grain and wine and oil, flocks of sheep, herds of cattle. Their lives will be like a well-watered garden, never again left to dry up. Young women will dance and be happy, young men and old men will join in. I’ll convert their weeping into laughter, lavishing comfort, invading their grief with joy. I’ll make sure that their priests get three square meals a day and that my people have more than enough.’” God’s Decree. * * * Again, God’s Message: “Listen to this! Laments coming out of Ramah, wild and bitter weeping. It’s Rachel weeping for her children, Rachel refusing all solace. Her children are gone, gone—long gone into exile.” But God says, “Stop your incessant weeping, hold back your tears. Collect wages from your grief work.” God’s Decree. “They’ll be coming back home! There’s hope for your children.” God’s Decree. “I’ve heard the contrition of Ephraim. Yes, I’ve heard it clearly, saying, ‘You trained me well. You broke me, a wild yearling horse, to the saddle. Now put me, trained and obedient, to use. You are my God. After those years of running loose, I repented. After you trained me to obedience, I was ashamed of my past, my wild, unruly past. Humiliated, I beat on my chest. Will I ever live this down?’ “Oh! Ephraim is my dear, dear son, my child in whom I take pleasure! Every time I mention his name, my heart bursts with longing for him! Everything in me cries out for him. Softly and tenderly I wait for him.” God’s Decree. “Set up signposts to mark your trip home. Get a good map. Study the road conditions. The road out is the road back. Come back, dear virgin Israel, come back to your hometowns. How long will you flit here and there, indecisive? How long before you make up your fickle mind? God will create a new thing in this land: A transformed woman will embrace the transforming God!” * * * A Message from Israel’s God-of-the-Angel-Armies: “When I’ve turned everything around and brought my people back, the old expressions will be heard on the streets: ‘God bless you!’. . . ‘O True Home!’. . . ‘O Holy Mountain!’ All Judah’s people, whether in town or country, will get along just fine with each other. I’ll refresh tired bodies; I’ll restore tired souls.” Jeremiah 31:1-25 MSG ““That’s right. The time is coming when I will make a brand-new covenant with Israel and Judah. It won’t be a repeat of the covenant I made with their ancestors when I took their hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt. They broke that covenant even though I did my part as their Master.” God’s Decree. “This is the brand-new covenant that I will make with Israel when the time comes. I will put my law within them—write it on their hearts!—and be their God. And they will be my people. They will no longer go around setting up schools to teach each other about God. They’ll know me firsthand, the dull and the bright, the smart and the slow. I’ll wipe the slate

https://www.bible.com/events/49378594 Church of the Nazarene - East Rockingham Campus Healthy Me: Mind Made Up Part 3 For Nothing! Healthy Me is a compassionate invitation to seek healing and wholeness in the area of mental health. Believing that God sees us and he cares about how we are feeling. Our goal is to provide a biblical approach to our mental health and to gain tools to begin a path towards a healthy me. This is not about quick fixes, easy answers, or cliché responses. It’s not a substitute for professional counseling. These are tools for the journey of wholeness and healing through Christ. Today we are talking about anxiety. Psalms 118:17 I will not die but live, and will proclaim what the Lord has done. Anxiety disorders are the most common mental disorders in the U.S. Fear, worry and anxiety are, not surprisingly, intense as we begin a new year living in the days in which we are living We are told in our Bibles to be “anxious for nothing.” Philippians 4:6-7 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, 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. It is possible to not be anxious. In the end, anxiety is that nagging, tormenting feeling that you cannot fully trust God to be in control. There is hope TODAY that you can be free from a life of perpetual anxiety. Pastor Max Lucado The presence of anxiety is unavoidable, but the prison of anxiety is optional. 1 Peter 5:6-7 Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. Exemption from care (worry/anxieties) goes along with humble submission (surrender) to God. Living free from worry and anxiety requires acting on our trust in Jesus. According to God’s Word, you can wage war on worry by doing these 4 things: -Praying -Proclaiming -Praising -Placing Other Scripture for study/reflection: Psalms 91:1-2 Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.” Psalms 46:10 He says, “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.” Psalms 56:3 When I am afraid, I put my trust in you. Isaiah 26:3 You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you. Proverbs 3:5-6 Trust in 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. Luke 12:22-31 Then Jesus said to his disciples: “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; or about your body, what you will wear. For life is more than food, and the body more than clothes. Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn; yet God feeds them. And how much more valuable you are than birds! Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to your life? Since you cannot do this very little thing, why do you worry about the rest? “Consider how the wild flowers grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today, and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, how much more will he clothe you—you of little faith! And do not set your heart on what you will eat or drink; do not worry about it. For the pagan world runs after all such things, and your Father knows that you need them. But seek his kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well. John 14:27 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. Romans 8:26-28 In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God. 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 8:31-39 What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. Who then is the one who condemns? No one. Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written: “For your sake we face death all day long; we are consid

· WELCOME- GLAD YOU ARE HERE · STARTED NEW SERIES · MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES ARE RAMPANT · CROSS EVERY BARRIER (ETHNICITY/AGE/GENDER) · CHRISTIANS AND NON CHRISTIANS SUFFER · NOT PSYCHOTHERAPIST/PSYCHOLOGIST · WE BELIEVE IN PRAYER- WILL PRAY- BUT NOT ONLY PRAY HARDER ISSUE. OR MORE FAITH · NEVER LOOK DOWN ON A PHYSICAL ISSUE · WHY DO WE DO THAT WHEN IT COMES TO THIS? DEUTERONOMY 6: SHEMA (EVERY ISRAELITE) HEAR OH ISRAEL THAT THE LORD YOUR GOD IS ONE; LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL AND WITH ALL YOUR STRENGTH. JESUS SPEAKING: IN RESPONSE TO “WHICH IS THE GREATEST COMMANDMENT IN THE LAW?” LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND. THIS IS THE FIRST AND GREATEST COMMANDMENT · PRESENT A PROBLEM OFFER AN ANTEDOTE/S · LAST WEEK LONELINESS- SOLUTIONS: 1. GOD’S CONSISTENT PROMISE TO BE WITH US EVERY FEAR NOT- FOLLOWED BY I AM WITH YOU 2. INVEST IN COMMUNITY/GOD CREATED IN US A DESIRE FOR ONE ANOTHER (59 TIMES IN THE NT PHRASE- ONE ANOTHER) TODAY TACKLE 2 DIFFERENT BUT CLOSELY RELATED TOPICS IN 1 MESSAGE SO I GET DOUBLE TIME. “MENTAL PAIN IS LESS DRAMATIC THAN PHYSICAL PAIN, BUT IT IS MORE COMMON AND ALSO HARDER TO BEAR. THE FREQUENT ATTEMPT TO CONCEAL MENTAL PAIN INCREASES THE BURDEN: IT’S EASIER TO SAY “MY TOOTH IS ACHING THAN SAY- MY HEART IS BROKEN” C.S. LEWIS · PROPHET IN THE BIBLE NAMED JEREMIAH · SOLOMONS TEMPLE (400 YEARS) 587 BC · JEREMIAH SAW THE DESTRUCTION TEMPLE · WATCHED BABYLONIANS RAVAGE RELATIVES DEPRESSION LAMENTATIONS 3:1-2 1. “I AM THE MAN WHO HAS SEEN AFFLICTION BY THE ROD OF THE LORDS WRATH. HE HAS DRIVEN ME AWAY AND MADE ME WALK IN DARKNESS RATHER THAN LIGHT.” LAMENTATIONS 3:5-6 5. HE HAS BESIEGED ME AND SURROUNDED ME WITH THE BITTERNESS AND HARDSHIP. HE HAS MADE ME DWELL IN THE DARKNESS LIKE THOSE LONG DEAD. LAMENTATIONS 3:7-8 7. HE HAS WALLED ME IN SO I CANNOT ESCAPE; HE HAS WEIGHED ME DOWN WITH CHAINS. EVEN WHEN I CALL OUT OR CRY FOR HELP, HE SHUTS OUT MY PRAYER.” LAMENTATIONS 3:17-18 17. I HAVE BEEN DEPRIVED OF PEACE; I HAVE FORGOTTEN WHAT PROSPERITY IS. I REMEMBER MY AFFLICTION AND MY WANDERING, THE BITTERNESS AND THE GALL.” LAMENTATIONS 3:20 20. “I WELL REMEMBER THEM, AND MY SOUL IS DOWNCAST WITHIN ME.” PAUSE TO ACKNOWLEDGE EMOTIONS ARE REAL · 1. EMOTIONS ARE REAL AND VALID · 2. YOUR SITUATION FEELS HOPELESS · THE BIBLE DOESN’T TRY AND HIDE REAL PEOPLE WITH RAW ISSUES. · ALL THE WAY THROUGH BROKEN PEOPLE · MANY MAKE BAD DECISIONS DEPRESSION MAKES YOU FEEL LIKE YOU CAN’T WIN THAT’S PART OF THE BATTLE OF DEPRESSION STEPHEN FRY QUOTE “TRY AND UNDERSTAND THE BLACKNESS, LETHARGY, HOPELESSNESS, AND LONELINESS THEY’RE GOING THROUGH. BE THERE FOR THEM WHEN THEY COME THROUGH THE OTHER SIDE. IT’S HARD TO BE A FRIEND TO SOMEONE WHO’S DEPRESSED, BUT IT’S ONE OF THE KINDEST, NOBLEST, AND BEST THINGS YOU WILL EVER DO.” S FRY INTRODUCE YOU TO GRACE- LISTEN TO PART STORY LISTEN TO THE SPIRAL · HAD DEPRESSION AND ANXIETY BOTH · PULLED AWAY FROM PEOPLE/GOD · FANTASY ABOUT ENDING LIFE (ESCAPE) · NUMBNESS WAS HER ONLY ESCAPE · PUSHED PEOPLE AWAY/ISOLATED SO WHAT’S THE ANTEDOTE? JEREMIAH PROPHET WRITES LATER- 3:22-23 Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. 23 They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. WILL HEAR FROM GRACE IN A FEW MINUTES SHE SAID SHE HAD BOTH ACTUALLY AND MOST DO- · THESE BLEED INTO AND ALL OVER THE OTHERS · WHILE THESE ARE SEPARATE THEY SHARE ALOT ANXIETY MENEIRE’S DISEASE · LATE 20’S LABOR DAY PARTY (I GOT SICK) · DIZZINESS/VOMITTING/HOURS · NOT LIKE LOSS OF BALANCE- INCAPACITATED · STARTED HAVING ATTACKS- LAST FOR HOURS · HOSPITALIZED/MET WITH DRS FROM PENN/JHU/UVA · OVER A PERIOD OF 7-8 YEARS AT LEAST · DEPRESSION AND ANXIETY · I WAS SCARED TO LEAVE MY HOUSE-PANIC · IT DEPRESSED ME- I WATCHED CARS GO BY · I THOUGHT NO HOPE FOR THIS-NO CURE PICTURE OF BOOK ANXIOUS GENERATION · RESEARCH DONE BY JONATHON HAIDT GENERARATION Z STATISTICS SINCE 2012 COLLEGE AGE STUDENTS SHOW 134 % INCREASE IN ANXIETY 106 % INCREASE IN DEPRESSION 72% INCREASE IN ADHD 57 % INCREASE IN BIPOLAR DISORDER GIRLS/BOYS STATS SINCE 2012 GIRLS: 188 % INCREASE IN VISITS TO ER FOR SELF HARM 167 % INCREASE IN SUICIDE RATES BOYS: 48% INCREASE IN VISITS TO ER SELF HARM 91% INCREASE IN SUICIDE RATES PROVERBS 12:25 25. ANXIETY IN THE HEART CAUSES DEPRESSION, BUT A GOOD WORD MAKES IT GLAD.” EVERYDAY ANXIETY VS ANXIETY DISORDER HOW DO WE KNOW WE HAVE A PROBLEM? I KINGS 19:4-5 “4. I HAVE HAD ENOUGH, LORD, “HE SAID, “TAKE MY LIFE; I AM NO BETTER THAN MY ANCESTORS.” THEN HE LAY DOWN UNDER THE BUSH AND FELL ASLEEP.” I KINGS 19:11 11. “THE LORD SAID, “GO OUT AND STAND ON THE MOUNTAIN IN THE PRESENCE OF THE LORDM FOR THE LORD IS ABOUT TO PASS BY. “THEN A GREAT AND PWERFUL WIND TORE THE MOUNTAINS APART AND SHATTERED THE ROCKS BEFORE THE LORD, BUT THE LORD WAS NOT IN THE WIND. AFTER THE WIND THERE WAS AN EARTHQUAKE, BUT THE LORD WAS NOT IN THE EARTHQUAKE. I KINGS 19:12 12. AFTER THE EARTHQUAKE CAME A FI

https://www.bible.com/events/49374853 Church of the Nazarene East Rockingham Campus Healthy Me: Mind Made Up Part 2 Out of The Dark... Today we are starting our new teaching series called Healthy Me: A mind made up. Healthy Me is a compassionate invitation to seek healing and wholeness in the area of mental health. Believing that God sees us and he cares about how we are feeling. Our goal is to provide a biblical approach to our mental health and to gain tools to begin a path towards a healthy me. This is not about quick fixes, easy answers, or cliché responses. It’s not a substitute for professional counseling. These are tools for the journey of wholeness and healing through Christ. Today we are talking about depression. Depression is more than a bad day or being a little blue. It’s a sense of gloom or darkness that just lays over you. It’s persistent feelings of sadness or anxiousness. And often you cant pinpoint why. You might feel like crying or you might have the motivation to even get out of bed, or you might feel overwhelmed by basic tasks You might feel hopeless and helpless about the future. You also might struggle to find any joy in life, even in things you once loved to do. Depression doesn’t just manifest itself in crying and sadness, it can also show up as being really irritable, or easily angered too. These feelings might last anywhere from several days, to several months or even years. And these feelings get in the way of your daily life. We certainly here more about depression today, but it’s definitely not new. People throughout the bible deal with feelings and seasons of depression. Jeremiah, Job, King David, The Apostle Paul, just to name a few. For our teaching text today, I want to look at a story from the life of the Prophet Elijah. 1 Kings 19:3-4 Elijah was afraid and ran for his life. When he came to Beersheba in Judah, he left his servant there, while he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness. He came to a broom bush, sat down under it and prayed that he might die. “I have had enough, Lord,” he said. “Take my life; I am no better than my ancestors.” Depression can come into our lives through many different things. It could stem from a physical issue with our bodies, or relational challenges we are facing. The loss of a loved one, getting let go from a job, a loss of friendship. Depression may even be a reflection of a spiritual battle we are facing. And truth be told, we might not know why we feel the way we feel. For Elijah, it was a threatening situation and fear for his life. And Elijah does what many of us do when our emotions run away- he sought isolation. Elijah withdraws from his daily life, isolates himself, lays down under a tree, and asks the Lord to take his life. It doesn’t end here under the broom tree, God doesn’t his prayer to die. Far from killing him like he asked, the Lord sends and angel to feed Elijah. Even when Elijah was running away, the Lord was there to care for him. And the Lord’s first words for Elijah in this season was not a lecture about his fear and actions. He didn’t give him a good talking too. No, the Lord simply asks Elijah a question 1 Kings 19:9 … And the word of the Lord came to him: “What are you doing here, Elijah?” 1 Kings 19:10-13 He replied, “I have been very zealous for the Lord God Almighty. The Israelites have rejected your covenant, torn down your altars, and put your prophets to death with the sword. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me too.” The Lord said, “Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the Lord, for the Lord is about to pass by.” Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. After the earthquake came a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper. When Elijah heard it, he pulled his cloak over his face and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave. Then a voice said to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” To the runaway prophet, hiding in isolation, dealing with feelings of depression and despairing of life itself, God shows up. Not in a big and dramatic way- but with a gentle whisper. The Lord met Elijah in the midst of his depression, not with condemnation or judgement, not with a lecture, but with compassion and a plan to get him back on track. Dealing with depression doesn’t disqualify you from being seen and heard by God. It doesn’t have to define your future and it certainly doesn’t disqualify you from being used by God. It means your human, and you need God’s help. And he is here, he is ready to help, and there is hope. Part of our goal in this teaching series is to offer practical tools to help us on this journey towards a Healthy Me. So I want to end with a simple invitation, a simple word to help guide us when our thoughts and feelings are dark and gloomy. That invitat

· HAPPY NEW YEAR- NEW SERIES · WHY-WE LOOK AROUND AND SEE/HEAR PAIN NEXT FEW WEEKS SCRATCH THE SURFACE LOOK AT MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES A FEW THOUGHTS 1. NOT MEANT TO BE IN PLACE OF A COUNSELING SESSION 2. WE ARE NOT TRAINED PSYCHOLOGIST 3. TOPICS- LONELINESS/DEPRESSION/ANXIETY/ANGER 4. WE STRONGLY BELIEVE IN PRAYER- TODAY WE PRAY 5. WILL NOT PRESENT IN A WAY THAT YOU LACK FAITH IDEA- PRESENT A PROBLEM- PROVIDE AN ANTEDOTE · I WAS A SENIOR IN HS-PARENTS WERE MOVING · THEY WERE MOVING IN JANUARY · I WAS GOING TO HAVE TO MOVE IN THE FALL · LIVED IN DOWNTOWN SECTION-WEST CHESTER PA · MOVED TO A FARM IN LOWER DELAWARE · SUNDAY NIGHT- DARK- WAKE UP NEXT DAY-HOUSE · WALKED INTO NEW SCHOOL NOVEMBER · NEW LUNCH WAS COMING- 11:50AM- SCENE WEBSTER DEFINES LONELINESS: WITHOUT COMPANY- CUT OFF FROM OTHERS- PERCEIVED FEELING OF ISOLATION HAVE YOU EVER BEEN THERE? ARE YOU THERE NOW? LONELINESS DEFINED “AN UNHEALTHY STATE WHERE WE DESTRCTIVELY FEEL THAT WE ARE ALONE, NOT RECOGNIZING GODS PROMISE TO BE WITH US ALWAYS.  REASONS FOR LONELINESS 5. TECHNOLOGY 4. RELOCATION (CHANGE OF JOBS/STATES/COLLEGE) 3. LIFE TRANSITION/AGING (DIFF ACTVITITIES) 2. LOSS OF LOVED ONE 1. FOCUS ON SELF STATEMENT FROM NY TIMES ARTICLE EVEN BEFORE THE ONSET OF THE COVID 19 PANDEMIC, APPROXIMATELY HALF OF THE US ADULTS REPORTED EXPERIENCING MEASURABLE LEVELS OF LONELINESS. RIGHT NOW STATISTICS SAY BETWEEN 25-33 % LONELY GENESIS 1:3-5 3 And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. 4 God saw that the light was good, and he separated the light from the darkness. 5 God called the light “day,” and the darkness he called “night.” EDITSLIDE GENESIS 1:9-10 9 And God said, “Let the water under the sky be gathered to one place, and let dry ground appear.” And it was so. 10 God called the dry ground “land,” and the gathered waters he called “seas.” And God saw that it was good.  SCRIPTURE GENESIS 1:12 12 The land produced vegetation: plants bearing seed according to their kinds and trees bearing fruit with seed in it according to their kinds. And God saw that it was good. 17 God set them in the vault of the sky to give light on the earth,  GENESIS 1:18 18 to govern the day and the night, and to separate light from darkness. And God saw that it was good. 21 So God created the great creatures of the sea and every living thing with which the water teems and that moves about in it, according to their kinds, and every winged bird according to its kind. And God saw that it was good. 25 God made all the creatures that move along the ground according to their kinds. And God saw that it was good. GENESIS 2:18 18. THE LORD GOD SAID, “IT WAS NOT GOOD ENOUGH FOR MAN TO BE ALONE. I WILL MAKE A HELPER SUITABLR FOR HIM. POINT NEMO · FURTHEST POINT FROM LAND · MAYBE YOU ARE SICK OF PEOPLE? · JESUS SOUGHT SOLITUDE (DIFFERENT ISOLATION) 2 TIMOTHY 4:9 APOSTLE PAUL IS WRITING FINAL WORDS Paul wrote 2 Timothy a dark and damp Roman prison cell, just before his death in AD 67. (NERO LOSING IT) Do your best to come to me quickly, 10 for Demas, because he loved this world, has deserted me and has gone to Thessalonica. Crescens has gone to Galatia, and Titus to Dalmatia. 11 Only Luke is with me. Get Mark and bring him with you, because he is helpful to me in my ministry. (PAUL IS USED TO COMPANIONS) 12 I sent Tychicus to Ephesus. 13 When you come, bring the cloak that I left with Carpus at Troas, and my scrolls, especially the parchments. 14 Alexander the metalworker did me a great deal of harm. The Lord will repay him for what he has done. 15 You too should be on your guard against him, because he strongly opposed our message. 16 At my first defense, no one came to my support, but everyone deserted me. May it not be held against them. 17 But the Lord stood at my side and gave me strength, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it. And I was delivered from the lion’s mouth PICTURE OF TOM HANKS AND WILSON · SCREENWRITER WILLIAM BROYLES JR · WENT REMOTE CARRIBEAN ISLAND-SURVIVALIST · SOCCER BALL WASHED UP ON SHORE · KNEW ENOUGH TO SOLOMON THE WISEST OF MEN WROTE 5 BOOKS ONE NAMED ECCLESIASTES WHERE WE GET EKLESIA ECCLESIASTES 4:10 10.TWO ARE BETTER THAN ONE, BECAUSE THEY HAVE A GOOD RETURN FOR THEIR LABOR. IF EITHER OF THEM FALLS DOWN, ONE CAN HELP THE OTHER UP. BUT PITY ANYONE WHO FALLS AND HAS ONE TO HELP THEM UP. ECCLESIASTES 4:11-12 11. ALSO, IF TWO LIE DOWN TOGETHER, THEY WILL KEEP WARM ALONE? 12. THOUGH ONE MAY BE OVERPOWERED, TWO CAN DEFEND THEMSELVES. A CORD OF THREE STRANDS IS NOT QUICKLY BROKEN. SCHOLARS DON’T JUST THINK THIS WAS FOR MARRIAGE PASTOR RICK WARREN SAID MOST DEAL LONELINESS BY/WITH WORKING-WORK MYSELF TO DEATH/WAKE UP REPEAT MATERIALISM-I WILL PURCHASE ENOUGH THINGS TO REMOVE THE LONELINESS IN MY HEART ALCOHOL-DRUGS- ISOLATING MORE SEXUAL ESCAPE-SLEEPING NEXT TO ANY WARM BODY FANTASY-PORNOGRAPHY- LIVE A LIFE THAT’S NOT REAL HAS YOUR SADNESS ERASED YOUR JOY? HAS YOUR LONELINESS ECLIPSED YOUR

https://www.bible.com/events/49370939 Church of the Nazarene East Rockingham Campus Healthy Me: Mind Made Up Part 1 Never alone... Today we are starting our new teaching series called Healthy Me: A mind made up. Healthy Me is a compassionate invitation to seek healing and wholeness in the area of mental health. Believing that God sees us and he cares about how we are feeling. Our goal is to provide a biblical approach to our mental health and to gain tools to begin a path towards a healthy me. This is not about quick fixes, easy answers, or cliché responses. It’s not a substitute for professional counseling. These are tools for the journey of wholeness and healing through Christ. We begin today talking about loneliness. Loneliness is an unhealthy or destructive feeling of sadness due to a perceived lack of companionship, friendship, or any social connection. Loneliness is not necessarily a reflection of how big our social circles are, our marital status, or even how many calls and texts we receive each day. Rather, loneliness is a reflection of how connected we feel to others and how supported and seen we feel in relationship. So, loneliness is not simply about being alone. It’s not limited to those who are single, orphaned, or those who have lost a spouse. Loneliness can be a challenge for ANYONE who is missing connections with others. As we turn to the bible, loneliness appears sooner in the story than you might think. Genesis 2:18 The Lord God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him.” Loneliness is literally the first “Not good” in the creation account. From Genesis onward, we see different people facing loneliness. King David for example. He was wealthy, he had a large family, he even had multiple wives, all of the officials surrounding him, and he still dealt with loneliness. (See Psalm 27:16-17) The Apostle Paul, as he is imprisoned and facing the death penalty, he is also facing the weight and reality of loneliness. (See 2 Timothy 4:9-12) And let’s not forget Jesus powerful yet lonely words from the cross… Matthew 27:46 About three in the afternoon Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” (which means “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”). As we look at loneliness in our day, it’s a challenge for many people. Studies indicate that 1 in 4 people face loneliness on a regular basis. And this is just as true within the church as anywhere else. Loneliness can come into our lives in a variety of otherwise normal life events. We might change schools or change jobs, and suddenly we find ourselves surrounded by people, but feeling all alone. Family or friends might move away. We might loose a loved one and be left alone. We might even be rejected by others, whether by divorce, or by disagreement. Loneliness often shows up in our story as an unwelcome and un-invited guest and it doesn’t just affect our mood, it’s effecting our health. The surgeon general says that insufficient connection can lead to some serious health consequences. 29% increased risk of heart disease a 32% increased risk of stroke 50% increased risk of developing dementia for older adults. Loneliness also increases risk of premature death by more than 60% The Surgeon General likens the health effects of loneliness to smoking 15 cigarettes per day, that’s nearly a pack per day, or they relate it to consuming 6 alcoholic drinks per day. Of course, we arent oblivious to that pain, so people often try to self-medicate to offset the loneliness. We might throw ourselves into our work. We might try “retail therapy”. Others might turn to Drugs, alcohol, or prescription pills to dull the pain. Some might even seek to fill the void with one night stands. Sometimes we will build walks to protect ourselves from ever being hurt again. The pain of loneliness is not as bad as the pain of past rejection, so we reside to living there. It’s not hard to imagine how feelings of loneliness can become a spiral of destructive thoughts and emotions. Our loneliness drives isolation, producing depression and anxiety, which leads to avoiding people, which leads to loneliness. Around and around it goes. Loneliness. So, what do we do? We may not have chosen loneliness; we certainly don’t like it. What are some things we can do to help with those feelings? I would invite you on the journey of P.E.A.C.E. I believe P.E.A.C.E can help us on the path of healing and wholeness. P- Presence We must recognize the Lord’s presence and his promise that he is with us, ALWAYS. It’s the very promise of Christmas in the name Emmanuel given to Jesus to remind us, that he is God WITH us. Friends as we begin to deal with loneliness, we must remember God’s presence, that he is with us. Those who are in Christ, are NEVER, EVER, truly alone. John 14:23 “Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them. Matthew 28:20 …”and surely I am with you alway

http://bible.com/events/49368657 Church of the Nazarene - Harrisonburg Steadfast Loyalty Christianity is not consistency to conscience or to convictions; Christianity is being true to Jesus Christ. - Oswald Chambers WHAT DOES GOD WANT FROM ME THIS YEAR? We are stuck in a generation where loyalty is just a tattoo, love is just a quote, and lying is the new truth. 2 Kings 3:1-15 Joram son of Ahab became king of Israel in Samaria in the eighteenth year of Jehoshaphat king of Judah, and he reigned twelve years. He did evil in the eyes of the Lord, but not as his father and mother had done. He got rid of the sacred stone of Baal that his father had made. Nevertheless he clung to the sins of Jeroboam son of Nebat, which he had caused Israel to commit; he did not turn away from them. Now Mesha king of Moab raised sheep, and he had to pay the king of Israel a tribute of a hundred thousand lambs and the wool of a hundred thousand rams. But after Ahab died, the king of Moab rebelled against the king of Israel. So at that time King Joram set out from Samaria and mobilized all Israel. He also sent this message to Jehoshaphat king of Judah: “The king of Moab has rebelled against me. Will you go with me to fight against Moab?” “I will go with you,” he replied. “I am as you are, my people as your people, my horses as your horses.” “By what route shall we attack?” he asked. “Through the Desert of Edom,” he answered. So the king of Israel set out with the king of Judah and the king of Edom. After a roundabout march of seven days, the army had no more water for themselves or for the animals with them. “What!” exclaimed the king of Israel. “Has the Lord called us three kings together only to deliver us into the hands of Moab?” But Jehoshaphat asked, “Is there no prophet of the Lord here, through whom we may inquire of the Lord?” An officer of the king of Israel answered, “Elisha son of Shaphat is here. He used to pour water on the hands of Elijah.” Jehoshaphat said, “The word of the Lord is with him.” So the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat and the king of Edom went down to him. Elisha said to the king of Israel, “Why do you want to involve me? Go to the prophets of your father and the prophets of your mother.” “No,” the king of Israel answered, “because it was the Lord who called us three kings together to deliver us into the hands of Moab.” Elisha said, “As surely as the Lord Almighty lives, whom I serve, if I did not have respect for the presence of Jehoshaphat king of Judah, I would not pay any attention to you. But now bring me a harpist.” While the harpist was playing, the hand of the Lord came on Elisha GOD'S UNDERSTANDING OF LOYALTY Matthew 22:34-38 Hearing that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, the Pharisees got together. One of them, an expert in the law, tested him with this question: “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” Jesus replied: “ ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. DEMONSTRATING STEADFAST OR FAITHFUL LOVE IN (COVENANT) RELATIONSHIP WITH HIM Andy Mineo We want a god we don't have to trust We want a god that’s ok with lust We want a god that doesn't ask for much Some of us serve a god by the name of “us" Oswald Chambers Our danger is to water down God’s word to suit ourselves. God never fits His word to suit me; He fits me to suit His word. Are we loyal to the One who redeemed us? HOW HE WANTS LOYALTY TO BE LIVED OUT 1. Completely undivided 2. Daily, over a lifetime Luke 9:23-25 Then he said to them all: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will save it. What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit their very self? Connect on Church Center If you have ever have questions or need help with any questions, please let us know: [email protected] Click below to connect with us! https://cotnaz.churchcenter.com/home

Today we are going to continue a teaching series that we began back in August called “For One” The “For One” teaching series was all about seeing Jesus’ one at a time approach to engaging with people. We believe that Jesus came to save the whole world, and that through His life, death, and resurrection, He has made the pathway to salvation and eternal life open to everyone. In that sense, Jesus is for everyone. But during his earthly ministry, often times we see Jesus fulfilling this worldwide redemption one person at a time. Jesus is ‘for the one’. Throughout this teaching series we asked the question: “What would it look like for you and me to adoptthis same model for our lives?” What does it look like to be “for the one” like Jesus was? For me, “my one” was a man named Buddy. On January 31, 2016, I was called by Steven and Sandy and asked to go visit Buddy, Steven’s dad.  This was the beginning of my relationship with Buddy, “my one”. Buddy was 92 years old, and he had recently received a bad medical report.   Buddy was a pre-Christian and his family was concerned about where he would spend eternity. I asked them when they wanted me to go visit.  Sandy said “Tonight if you are able.”   It was cold, single digit temperature with snow covered on the ground with ice.  My precious husband, Thomas thought it would be best if he drove me since the roads were so bad. Thomas waited for me in the car while I visited Buddy.   Steven’s sister, Karen, was there for the night to help Buddy with his care.     Buddy was direct.  He asked me why I had come to visit him on a night with such bad weather. It seemed as though our relationship was off to a bumpy start. I told Buddy, You matter to God and to your family.  They are concerned that you are going to die and go to hell.  They are concerned about your salvation.”   I remember asking Buddy if he believed in heaven.  “Yes”, he answered.  I asked Buddy if he believed in hell.  “Yes”, he answered.  I asked Buddy if he believed in Jesus. “Yes.”  But that was the end of the discussion.   Buddy quickly told me: 1. I am not interested in all that stuff. 2. I’m 92 years old. I have made it on my own all these years, AND I am going to continue to make it on my own.   3. I’m not a religious person.  I don’t need religionAND I don’t want religion! I remember Buddy’s words like it was yesterday.  I toldBuddy, we were going to get along just fine, because I wasn’t a religious person either, and that I was all about relationships NOT religion! I explained to Buddy that Jesus desired a personal relationship with him so bad that he would send a little red head out on a cold winter night, to tell him that Jesus loves him and that He died on the cross for his sins.   As Buddy and I were talking, I noticed many blue ribbons hanging on the wall.  I asked him to tell me about the ribbons, and immediately I hit a home run.   Buddy began to talk. He smiled and told me about the Field Trials at Melrose.  Buddy had fond memories of hunting with his bird dogs and training them.   He boastfully told me about a puppy he raised up to be an award hunting dog.   It was approaching 9 p.m. and Buddy told me that his bed time was always 8:00 p.m. Buddy was ready to go to bed. Before leaving, I asked Buddy if I could pray for himand we did. I didn’t know it at the time, but God had put Buddy in my life to be “my one”. Together within our “For One” series, we prayed that the Lord would show us who ‘the one’ was in our lives. Someone that the Lord had put into our lives, that he wanted us to cultivate a relationship with and show them the Love of Christ. For those of you who were here for that series, can I ask you, how’s your relationship with your one going? It’s been a few months, are you still praying for them?  Have you gotten to check in to see how they are doing this Christmas season? I understand it’s been a while since we talked about this and life has a way of getting busy.  So, today isn’t about making you feel guilty, or shaming anyone into action. This is a reminder as we step into the new year we want to be for ‘our one’. Today we are going to look at the life of Jesus where he pursued ‘the one’ named Zacchaeus.   Today we are going to be in Luke 19:1-10, but before we unpack it, let us pray. Please join me in praying this prayer:   “Dear God, we welcome You here.  We need You Jesus.  Lord, please help me, help us to go for ‘the one’. Father, please prepare the way for me. Lord, I also that with every breath that I take, please help me, help us to surrender all to You.   Even if I have surrendered all yesterday, I want to surrender all today, and to surrender all every day. Wonderful Counselor please speak.  In Jesus Name we pray, Amen.” Verses 1, 2, and 3:  Jesus entered Jericho and was passing through. 2 

Christmas Eve message: Jesus- Light of the World

Christmas Eve message - Jesus: Light of the World

https://www.bible.com/events/49365254 Church of the Nazarene East Rockingham Campus The Names of Jesus Part 4- East Rock Savior Today we continue our Advent teaching series "The Names of Jesus" Throughout this series we are looking at a few of the different names that the scriptures give to Jesus. Names In the bible often hold far more meaning and importance than what we are accustomed to in our time. Names often spoke of a persons character and even their destiny. The same is true for Jesus. We continue today with the name Savior As you enter the Christmas story, the theme of salvation or rescue is all over the place. Luke 1:30-31 But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God. You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus. The name Jesus literally translated means “The salvation of God” or “God saves” And so, from the very moment of his miraculous conception, the message of salvation is there. After Jesus is born in Bethlehem, when the angels appear to the shepherds out in the fields, their announcement is really all about salvation. Luke 2:10-11 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. A savior, a deliverer, has been born to you. A rescuer has arrived. And I love that in Matthew Chapter 1 Joseph gets perhaps the most clear explanation of them all. Matthew 1:20-21 But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.” This baby boy’s name would be his mission- The Lord saves. He was born to save his people from their sins. This idea of will save, is one word in the original language. It has the basic idea of rescuing someone from great peril. Additionally, it carries the idea of protection, to keep alive, to preserve life, to make someone whole. It’s the basic idea of rescue. The great rescue mission of Christmas is a little different because it’s not about rescue from a burning building, or from a hiking trip in the woods gone wrong. Jesus came to rescue his people from their SINS. The word for sins here means literally to miss the mark. Literally, it meant shooting at a target and missing. It was used of a traveler who lost their way, who couldn’t get to their destination. Sins also spoke of falling short of an intended purpose. Not fulfilling what you were made for. So as we consider the rescue mission of Jesus, it is not about rescuing us from torrent waters, or not fulfilling our career dreams. He came to bring us back into relationship with God. To re-align our lives to our created purpose, to bring us back on target. Jesus himself said "I have come to seek and save the lost." It’s all about rescue. I understand this news of needing rescue might be a little surprising to hear because typically, when you find yourself in the need of rescue, something happened, right? A car accident, you got lost on a hike, something catches fire, etc. So, you’re hearing all this talk about Christmas and rescue wondering “Why do I need rescue? I’m doing just fine?” But the bible tells us that something DID happen to put us all in need of rescue, even if everything seems fine now. To see what happened, we need to go back in the Christmas story, WAY back, to the beginning. The need for rescue begins all the way back in Genesis 3 of our bibles. In Genesis 1 and 2 we find the story of how God brought all of creation into being. It was his creative power speaking everything into existence, including Adam and Eve, the first human beings. As you read the creation account we see that Adam and Eve were created for relationship with the Lord. They knew him, they walked with him, and served as co-agents in tending creation. Think about it- they had deep meaningful Relationship, true sense of identity, and life-giving purpose. They had literally everything that we still long for today. They had it all, until genesis 3. God had given Adam and Eve virtually unlimited freedom, nothing was off limits except for the fruit of one tree. They were not to eat the fruit from this one special tree in the garden. That was God’s only stipulation to them, they had to choose relationship and obedience to him. At this point in the story, a strange new character comes in, evil in the form of a snake. This evil one convinces Eve that God is holding out on them, that they should take matters into their own hands. They shouldn’t be told they couldn’t eat from a tree. And so, they do. They disobey God. Genesis 3:6 When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took so

Intro Today as we continue in our Advent Teaching series, we are going to look at the name given to Jesus, the prince of Peace. The Prince of Peace. Turn with me to Isaiah Chapter 9, beginning at verse 6 Isaiah 9:6-7 For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. 7 Of the greatness of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this. These words from the book of Isaiah were written hundreds of years before Jesus was born in Bethlehem. In the days of Isaiah, the people of God were in a desperate and dark place, they didn’t have peace. They had turned away from serving the Lord, they weren’t really worshipping him like they were called to do. And they were living in the consequences of those decisions. God sent the prophet Isaiah to warn his people about the coming judgement, he warned them to change their ways, but they refused. Soon they would be overcome by the neighboring nation of Assyria, and taken captive to their land. In the midst of this dark and chaotic place, a word of hope breaks through. For to us a child is born, to us a son is given… Hope comes on the horizon in the form of a baby born to rule his people, to bring restoration and redemption to God’s people. He would be the wonderful counselor, Mighty God, everlasting father, and the prince of peace. The titles of this coming one reveal that he will be far more than a political leader, far more than a new president to run their nation. He would be a redeemer a restorer. He would not just rule the people, he would save them. He would bring them peace. I wonder what comes to your mind when you think of peace? Is it tie-dye, Volkswagen vans, and a peace symbol? Is peace those precious early morning, or late night hours, when everyone else is in bed, and finally, all is calm and quiet. Deep breath… Ahhh…. Peace. That’s one of the things I love about getting up early in the morning. Peace. Perhaps when you think of peace, you think of a specific place. Perhaps an hour or two at the local library or coffee shop. Maybe at the beach with a good book, or on a hike in nature. Time alone in the treestand, enjoying the stillness of the woods. For me peace can often look like this *PICTURE* this was early one morning on Switzer Lake. Nobody else around, quiet, beautiful. So, what about you? What do you think about when you think of peace? If you look up peace in the dictionary, you will find definitions like Freedom from disturbance. (Parents, that’s those golden hours when everyone in the house is asleep, right?) peace. Tranquility or quiet. And there’s a part of every one of us that longs for peace. It’s like a natural hunger, a need that we seek to fulfil. to be free from disturbance, from conflict and turmoil, to be free from the noise and hustle of life. To know that stillness not just in our circumstances, but to have peace on the inside. I don’t know about you, but I have visited plenty of peaceful places this year and yet somehow, even in those peaceful places, I haven’t really been at peace on the inside. Have you ever been there? Your surroundings can be completely at peace, but inside you are anything but at rest. your upset, anxious, racing thoughts about things outside of your control. The grief of illness, or the loss of a loved one seems like a constant current under the surface. Perhaps your worried about the future or haunted by the past. And peace seems impossible. Perhaps you feel that way right now. It’s Christmas time. It’s supposed to be a time of joy and celebration, a time marked by peace, but you just arent there. Friends, if you are like me and sometimes struggle to find peace in the midst of everyday life, the message of Christmas is good news. The message of Jesus, the prince of peace, coming into our world to give peace. You see, true peace is that it doesn’t come from just the right circumstances, we don’t find it on the perfect vacation, we wont find it in any gift wrapped up under the tree. True peace only comes through a person, and his name is Jesus, he is the prince of peace. Jesus said in John 14:27 27 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. The gift of peace has been given; will you receive it? Today we are continuing in part 3 of our teaching series The Names of Jesus. Throughout this series we are exploring some of the different names the bible gives to Jesus. Names In the bible often hold far more meaning and importance than what we are accustomed to in our time. It’s way more than a way to call someone out of a crowd. Throughout the bible names often spoke of the persons character and eve

https://www.bible.com/events/49361778 Church of the Nazarene East Rockingham Campus The Names of Jesus Part 3 East Rock The Prince of Peace Today we continue our Advent teaching series "The Names of Jesus" Throughout this series we are looking at a few of the different names that the scriptures give to Jesus. Names In the bible often hold far more meaning and importance than what we are accustomed to in our time. Names often spoke of a persons character and even their destiny. The same is true for Jesus. We continue today with a name for Jesus found in Isaiah 9, The Prince of Peace. Isaiah 9:6 For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. In the days of Isaiah when this was written, the people had turned away from serving the Lord, they weren’t really worshipping him like they were called to do. And they were living in the consequences of those decisions. God sent the prophet Isaiah to warn his people about the coming judgement, he warned them to change their ways, but they refused. Soon they would be overcome by the neighboring nation of Assyria, and taken captive to their land. It was anything but tidings of great joy, certainly nothing to sing carols about. But In the midst of this dark and chaotic place, this word of hope breaks through. For to us a child is born, to us a son is given… Hope comes on the horizon in the form of a baby born to rule his people, to bring restoration and redemption to God’s people. He would be the wonderful counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, and the Prince of Peace. When the bible talks about peace, it’s looking beyond what we might typically think of with a quiet still morning, or just the absence of noise and conflict. The word for peace in the Old Testament, is the word shalom. Shalom carries the idea of completeness, or wholeness. It’s like a puzzle with all its pieces in place. It’s not just that the outside is peaceful, but internally we are complete and whole. It’s well being, restfulness, peace deep within. Peace that is not dependent on circumstances. That’s the peace this new king that Isaiah spoke about would bring. As we step into the story of Christmas in the New Testament, we are invited to see Jesus as the one who fulfills this hope-filled promise from Isaiah Luke 2:9-14 An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.” Generations had waited for this moment, for this hope to break out. And it’s here. The child has been given. The Wonderful Counselor, Almighty God, Everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace was here. It’s interesting that the world seemingly had no more at peace after the arrival of the prince of Peace than ours does today. Rome was still in charge, Herod was still king, and He would still try to kill Jesus. It was anything but a tranquil setting that was free of conflict. But yet it’s right there in the midst of all the chaotic realities of life in this fallen world that we see the beautiful truth of Christmas- The Prince of Peace has come and he offers us peace in the midst of our chaotic world. And he offers wholeness and healing, to put the pieces together in the lives of those who look to him in faith. The gift of peace has been given. The gift of peace has been given, how then do we experience the peace of the prince of peace? That journey has to begin with the understanding that Jesus has come to offer us peace with God himself. If we don’t know peace in our lives with God, peace anywhere else in life will never be found. We must start by seeking peace with God. Colossians 1:19-20 "19 For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, 20 and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross." The Prince of Peace came to make peace through his death on the Cross. As we surrender our lives to him, peace begins to take root and grow in our hearts, and it will transcend into our daily lives. That’s true peace, from the Prince of Peace. Next, to experience the Peace of Jesus, we have to believe it’s possible. Not possible in a conceptual, made up way in our minds, but actually possible in the midst of the chaotic reality of our lives and our world. Jesus himself said in John 14:27 27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. T

http://bible.com/events/49359165 Church of the Nazarene - Harrisonburg Campus The Names of Jesus Part 2 Wonderful Counselor Today we continue our Advent teaching series "The Names of Jesus" Throughout this series we are looking at a few of the different names that the scriptures give to Jesus. Names In the bible often hold far more meaning and importance than what we are accustomed to in our time. Names often spoke of a persons character and even their destiny. The same is true for Jesus. Counselor: a person trained to give guidance on personal, social, or psychological problems 3 Characteristics of Effective Counselor Personal Credibility Compassionate Listener Gives Godly/Biblical Advice Isaiah 9:6 For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Isaiah 28:29 This also comes from the Lord of hosts; he is wonderful in counsel and excellent in wisdom. DO YOU WANT TO FIX THIS? Jesus doesn’t just provide a prohibition, he always provides a path forward. Pastor Jon Tyson Any communication that comes to you from the enemy will have enough truth to be believable but enough deception to destroy you. Jeremiah 17:9 The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it? Bill Gaultiere Jesus understands the human soul, or psyche — first as our co-creator with God the Father, second as the incarnate Son of God who experienced being a man and living on this earth, third as the Redeemer who never sinned and conquered sin and death and Satan by rising from the dead, and fourth as the ever-living and present Spirit of Christ with us now. Hebrews 4:15-16 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin. Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need. If you're not spiritually fed, you will be emotionally led. DO YOU TRUST HIM AS YOUR WONDERFUL COUNSELOR TODAY? EXTRA SCRIPTURES “I will instruct you and teach you in the way which you should go; I will counsel you with My eye upon you” (Psalm 32:8). The counsel of the LORD stands forever, The plans of His heart from generation to generation” (Psalm 33:11). Many plans are in a man’s heart, But the counsel of the LORD will stand” (Psalm 19:21). “I bless the Lord who gives me counsel; in the night also my heart instructs me” (Psalm 16:7). Your testimonies also are my delight; they are my counselors” (Psalm 119:24). For the LORD gives wisdom; from His mouth come knowledge and understanding. He stores up sound wisdom for the upright; He is a shield to those who walk in integrity” (Proverbs 2:6-7). Counsel is mine and sound wisdom; I am understanding, power is mine” (Proverbs 8:14). The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding” (Proverbs 9:6). But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him” (James 1:5).

We are on week two of our series on the Names of Jesus.  What’s in a name?  Names have meanings.  Take the name Sherry, it means “darling”, “beloved”, or “dearest”.  The name Richard means “brave ruler” or “strong king”.   The name Stephanie means “crown”, “wreath”, or “garland”.  The Bible is full of names, and those names are full of meaning.  In the Bible, a person’s name had great significance.  It reflected that person’s character.  Take the name Abraham, it means “father of a nation”.  Or the name Moses, which means “to draw out of water”.   The name Hannah means “favor” or “grace”.   Today we are going to dive into the name of Jesus, ‘Wonderful Counselor’.  This name refers to Him as a divine guide with extraordinary wisdom and insight.  Jesus, as our Wonderful Counselor, not only gives us wise counsel, He also has the power to resolve, and grace to help us.  As wonderful counselor, He does not just give counsel, He pours in the power for a successful resolution to your problems.  There are numerous stories throughout the Gospels that demonstrate Jesus’ ability to provide wise guidance and comfort to the people.  EVERY instance, ALWAYS showing Jesus offering counsel or teaching, as a reflection of the title:  Wonderful Counselor.   For example, in the story of the Samaritan woman at the well, John 4:7-30, Jesus, the Wonderful Counselor provides wise counsel and comfort to the ‘Woman at the Well’.  He helped her to face her past and trade her shame for salvation.  In this story, we see the protagonist going from ‘miserable’ to ‘missionary’ as she scurries from the well anxiously desiring to share her good news of Jesus with others.   By studying the names of Jesus, we get to know Him better.    Each name of Jesus recorded in the Bible is a way through which we see Him more clearly and know Him better.   And knowing Him better is essential so we can reflect His character to the world around us.  Please turn to Isaiah 9:6, and it will also be on the screen,   “For a child is born to us, a son is given to us.  And the government will rest on his shoulders.  These will be his royal titles:  Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”  Let us pray together:  “Dear God, may we hear from Your Word today.  Wonderful Counselor, Jesus, You are the answer.  You knew us while forming us in our mother’s womb.  You know every detail about us, our fears, our struggles, and our successes.  Lord, You know us and exactly where we are.  You love us without judging.  Father, please speak to us today.  Give us Your wise counsel.  Renew us, and give us hope, as there are folks in this room who are weary.  Lord, we extol You oh LORD!!! In Your Holy Name we pray, Amen.”  Short back ground of the book of Isaiah.  In Chapter 6, Isaiah answers the call and he is commissioned as a prophet.    God tells Isaiah to go and speak to Judah’s king Ahaz, who is terrified about an impending invasion from Syria and Israel. Isaiah promises this invasion will not happen. Instead, both nations will soon be destroyed.  In the midst of the darkness, Isaiah prophesized that God would send the ‘Wonderful Counselor’ to save His people.    The ‘Wonderful Counselor’ will come as a baby to a virgin.  Isaiah is proclaiming the message of HOPE through the name “Wonderful Counselor”. The birth of baby Jesus fulfilled God’s promise.  The word “Wonderful” in the English language means ‘exciting wonder’.    But do we really use the word to describe ‘exciting wonder’?  We often use wonderful like this:  It was a wonderful party. The meal was wonderful. You did a wonderful job. It appears that in many cases, perhaps the word ‘wonderful’ has lost its’ power of excitement.   Matthew Henry, best known for his six-volume biblical commentary ‘Exposition of the Old and New Testaments’, said when explaining the name of Jesus as Wonderful Counselor,   “Justly is He called wonderful, for He is both God and man.  His love is the wonder of angels and glorified saints; in His birth, death, resurrection, and ascension, He was wonderful.  A constant series of wonders attended Him and, without controversy, great was the mystery of godliness concerning Him.”  The awe of wonder and the word Wonderful.  The Hebrew word for ‘Wonderful’ is pele (peh’-leh) which expresses the “wonder”, the divine intervention or miraculous events that reveal God’s power and majesty:  “Who is like thee, O Lord, among the gods, little ‘g’ god?”  In ancient Israelite culture, wonders and miracles were seen as direct manifestations of God's presence and power.   The Israelites believed that God