First Baptist Church of Lindale, GA

Matthew 25:31

Matthew 24:32-35Jesus is coming back...and it could be in our lifetime.1. Live with a sense of UrgencyThere is a work to be done and a message to share2. Act with Personal CertaintyRespond to God's holiness, love, and grace3. Stand on the message of ExclusivityJesus is the only way of spiritual rescue

This weekend calls us to remember those who willingly sacrifice their lives for the security and safety of family, friends, and country. The display of duty and love calls for a time to recognize their sacrifice with honor and gratitude. As we ponder the sacrifice of men and women of the Armed Forces this weekend, even more so, let's consider the ultimate sacrifice of Christ. His death was voluntary: His life was not taken from Him; it was given up by Him.His death was vicarious: Jesus died so we can live!His death was victorious: He resolved the debt of sin, He rresurrected from the grave and He will return as King of Kings and Lord of Lords!

Daniel 1:4-8Distinctive - distinguishing from others; not alike; individual; marching to a different drum.Daniel illustrates the challenges and choices in living distinctively Christian lives in a new environment, different situations, and conflicting culture.The Test of Loyalty - Who Will You Serve?1. A secular culture and philosophy2. The Savior and Lord JesusThe Temptation in Lifestyle - Will You Compromise Your Convictions?1. Compromising Biblical truth2. Concealing your Christian Identity3. Compromising your Christian behaviorBe Truimphant in a Corrupt Culture1. Purpsose to make a difference in people one at a time2. Pray for power to be bold in your Christian witness and spiritual walk.3. Fellowship with others who want to be distinctive in the Christian faith.

1 Thessalonians 5:19The Holy Spirit enables followers of Christ to serve the Lord and each other. The Holy Spirit gives spiritual gifts, ministry opportunities with people, places for ministry with the purpose of glorifying God and serve both believers and unbelievers. The Holy Spirit provides power to accomplish God's purpose for our lives. The Holy Spirit is our source of spiritual fulfillment and personal enrichment.Don't stifle the fire!How can we fan the fire in our personal lives?1. Seek to be controlled by the Holy Spirit2. Serve the Lord with your spiritual gifts and in unique opportunities outside your gift3. Pursue what is good4. Rejoice in God's love and grace5. Cultivate a prayerful atmosphere6. Express gratitude for the provisions, purpose, and power of GodHow can we fan the fire in our church?1. Enjoy balanced worship2. Reach the unchurched3. Value truth over tradition

Luke 7:36-50No one is invisible to Jesus!- The extravagance of love has no limits.- The expression of devotion reveals the depth of gratitude.- The experience of grace is the strating place for extravagant love and expressed devotion.

Matthew 22:37-401. We love God with our minds by heeding the warnings about the danger of a depraved mind. (Romans 1:28-31; Titus 1:15)2. We love God with our minds by allowing our minds to be renewed. (Romans 12:1-2; Ephesians 4:23-24)3. We love God with our minds by developing the discipline of learning. (2 Tim. 2:15-16; Proverbs 15:14, 18:15, 22:17-18; 1 Corinthians 14:19)4. We love God with our minds by choosing to focus our thoughts. (Philippians 4:8-9)Conclusion: Proverbs 26:3

Matthew 22: 34-40; 24:4-14

1 Corinthians 15:17-20Christianity stands or falls on the reality of the resurrection of Jesus Christ.1. The crucifixion of Christ was factual and fatal2. The disciples of Christ believed and testified to the actual appearance of the resurrected Lord and offer eyewitness testimony3. The conversion of an enemy of the cross to a committed follower of Christ - Saul of Tarsus4. The conversion of a skeptic to a spiritual leader of the Jerusalem church - James5. The empty tomb

John 12:12-15; 19:28-30The desperate cry from the crowd reveals the need for help.The divine cry from the cross reveals the reality of hope.

To give glory to God is to recognize and respond to His majesty and magnificence with worship and service.1. Jesus provided the pattern for glorifying God. (John 17:4)2. Followers of Christ are to be like mirrors reflecting the glory of the Lord. (2 Corinthians 3:18)

I Corinthians 11:23-26It’s so easy to forget! Things people most often forget:Names – 83% Where something is – 60%Telephone numbers – 57%Words – 53%What was said - 49%Faces – 42%What you just did – 38%(Karen Bolla – Johns Hopkins researcher)The Lord’s Supper reminds us of what really matters. The Bread Represents the Sinless, Suffering Body of Jesus Christ.1. His incarnation – God took on flesh and came to our world2. His involvement – the ministry and miracles that revealed glory and grace in our world3. His intervention – He took my place, took my sin and provided for my salvation The Cup Represents the Blood That Covers My Sin1. The cross is the demonstration of scandalous grace2. The cross is the declaration of the sufficiency of love that held Jesus to the cross When you take time to remember what matters it really is unforgettable! It will motivate you to worship King Jesus and it will move you to work for King Jesus.

Genesis 2:24-25Marriage is a mysterious and magnificent journey of two people experiencing companionship and completion emotionally, intellectually, physically and spiritually.The Pattern for a Perfect Marriage:1. Leaving one family unit to create a new family unit.2. Commited to one another for better or for worse.3. Unity that allows for diversity.4. Intimacy is the sharing of joy, grief, trials, troubles, heartbreaks, hopes, dreams, and desires in the journey together.The Problem is, No One is Perfect. Sin Ruins Everything!1. Lost intimacy leads to self-absorption and self preservation driven by fear.2. Wanting to be right but doing everything wrong – the pitfall of deception and the pain of blaming someone else.It’s never too late to start doing what’s right!

2 Corinthians 7:10-11Grace is not a license for sin, it is the liberation from sin. Only God’s grace can resolve our sinful condition and our sinful attitudes and behavior. The grace of God motivates the act of authentic repentance.Authentic repentance rescues from the penalty of sin and establishes our salvation through the blood of Christ.Authentic repentance releases from the power of sin that produces healing and freedom so that we can trust God completely and serve Him enthusiastically.

Romans 5:8 Many know about God’s love, but how many are really experiencing God’s love? How many are expressing God’s love? Two things we must consider: A willingness to receive God’s love will lead to spiritual life, spiritual maturity and spiritual fulfillment. 1. Trust God with our needs and we will experience His love. 2. Trust God with our destiny and we are empowered by His love. A readiness to release God’s love to others will add value to their lives. 1. We express God’s love when we meet the needs of others. 2. We exhibit God’s love when we invest in the spiritual maturity of others.

1 Peter 5:5-10If our primary motive is to please God we will develop a performance based relationship that brings little fulfillment and no freedom.If our primary motive is to trust God we will experience a partnership driven relationship that allows for fulfillment from God’s resources and freedom to accomplish God’s purpose. ( Hebrews 11:6)The primary motivation is to trust God so that we can grow in grace that leads to spiritual maturity. The door to the room of grace is humility (to think lowly in our mind). Gratefully acknowledge God’s sovereign distribution of spiritual gifts and personal privilege. Also acknowledge God’s sovereign empowerment in His service.Humility is trusting God with me.Humility is trusting God with others.Humility is trusting God with suffering and spiritual warfare.May we allow God to surround us with an atmosphere of Grace.

Proverbs 4:23Our motives direct what we value and what we value determines how we act. There are many admirable motives we can have in our spiritual life. What should be our primary motive to experience authentic spiritual maturity?If our primary motive is to please God we will develop a performance based relationship that brings little fulfillment and no freedom.If our primary motive is to trust God we will experience a partnership driven relationship that allows for fulfillment from God’s resources and freedom to accomplish God’s purpose. ( Hebrews 11:6)We can trust God with exactly who we are today. Don’t you think it’s time to take off the mask?

Luke 2:14 Peace on earth is not a universal prediction, but an individual possibility in Jesus, the Prince of Peace.

Luke 2:11 Salvation is God's gift of spiritual rescue.

Ephesians 5:21-25 The life of the Church is a reflection of the spiritual dynamic at work in the marriage.

Text: 1 Corinthians 13:4-8 Simply put, love is a verb.

Text: Ephesians 4:14-15 The Church's ability to minister to each other and attract the unchurched is greatly determined by the spiritual maturity of the individuals who make up the church.

Luke 7:36-50 A genuine worship experience begins with what a person brings, not with what he or she seeks to receive. Consider this woman in Luke 7... 1. She brought awareness to worship (v. 37) 2. She brought sacrifice to worship (v. 37) 3. She brought service to worship (v. 38) 4. She brought audacity to worship (v. 39) 5. She brought humility to worship (vv. 44-46) 6. She brought gratitude to worship (v. 47) This woman’s worship was fueled by the mercy she had already received from Christ. Have you encountered Christ’s mercy? How will it fuel your worship?

Hebrews 12:1-2 There are many kinds of races in this life. The race for success, fame, recognition, political positions, power, athletic titles,and trophies. Today we look at a spiritual race.

2 Timothy 1:5 Never underestimate the influence and impact of faith.

James 2:14-26 Faith is the key doctrine of Christianity! Does it matter what kind of faith? James identifies two kinds of faith that affect our lives here and hereafter.

Colossians 2:1-8 Because there is the real possibility of deception there must be the reality of a sure foundation.

John 11:25 In the journey of life we feel disappointment, discouragement and despair. We also face disasters, disease and that final enemy, death. Jesus is enough to build hope and bring ultimate victory.