New Song Students OKC

What is our Purpose?Purpose Over PopularitySLIDE #4:: 24 By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be known as the son of Pharaoh’s daughter. 25 He chose to be mistreated along with the people of God rather than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin. 26 He regarded disgrace for the sake of Christ as of greater value than the treasures of Egypt, because he was looking ahead to his reward. Shake Them Haters OffNehemiah 4:33 Tobiah the Ammonite, who was at his side, said, “What they are building—even a fox climbing up on it would break down their wall of stones!”Nehemiah 6:33 so I sent messengers to them with this reply: “I am carrying on a great project and cannot go down. Why should the work stop while I leave it and go down to you?”No Pain, No GainPower to PleaseActs 4:1616 “What are we going to do with these men?” they asked. “Everyone living in Jerusalem knows they have performed a notable sign, and we cannot deny it.Acts 5:2929 Peter and the other apostles replied: “We must obey God rather than human beings!Hebrews 11:2626 He regarded disgrace for the sake of Christ as of greater value than the treasures of Egypt, because he was looking ahead to his reward.

2 CORINTHIANS 5:16-21THE BEST SQUAD IS AN AVAILABLE SQUAD. 18 And all of this is a gift from God, who brought us back to himself through Christ. And God has given us this task of reconciling people to him.WORLDLY CULTURE: YOUR ROLE IS TIED TO ABILITYGOD’S NOT LOOKING FOR ABILITY. HE’S LOOKING FOR AVAILABILITY.And God has given us this task of reconciling people to him.So we are Christ’s ambassadors; God is making his appeal through us.There is so much to the idea of being ambassadors! An ambassador does not speak to please his audience, but the King who sent him. An ambassador does not speak on his own authority; his own opinions or demands mean little. He simply says what he has been commissioned to say. But an ambassador is more than a messenger; he is also a representative, and the honor and reputation of his country are in his hands. - GUZIK2 When Jesus returned to Capernaum several days later, the news spread quickly that he was back home. 2 Soon the house where he was staying was so packed with visitors that there was no more room, even outside the door. While he was preaching God’s word to them, 3 four men arrived carrying a paralyzed man on a mat. 4 They couldn’t bring him to Jesus because of the crowd, so they dug a hole through the roof above his head. Then they lowered the man on his mat, right down in front of Jesus. 5 Seeing their faith, Jesus said to the paralyzed man, “My child, your sins are forgiven.” 6 But some of the teachers of religious law who were sitting there thought to themselves, 7 “What is he saying? This is blasphemy! Only God can forgive sins!”8 Jesus knew immediately what they were thinking, so he asked them, “Why do you question this in your hearts? 9 Is it easier to say to the paralyzed man ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or ‘Stand up, pick up your mat, and walk’? 10 So I will prove to you that the Son of Man[a] has the authority on earth to forgive sins.” Then Jesus turned to the paralyzed man and said, 11 “Stand up, pick up your mat, and go home!”12 And the man jumped up, grabbed his mat, and walked out through the stunned onlookers. They were all amazed and praised God, exclaiming, “We’ve never seen anything like this before!”MARK 2:1-12IT’S OUR JOB TO BRING PEOPLE TO GODWE NEED TO BE PERSISTENTPersistent: continuing firmly or obstinately in a course of action in spite of difficulty or opposition.29 And now, O Lord, hear their threats, and give us, your servants, great boldness in preaching your word. 30 Stretch out your hand with healing power; may miraculous signs and wonders be done through the name of your holy servant Jesus.”31 After this prayer, the meeting place shook, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit. Then they preached the word of God with boldness.ACTS 4:29-31- STAYING FILLED KEEPS YOU AVAILABLE. IT’S GOD’S JOB TO DO THE HEALING

The righteous choose their friends carefully, but the way of the wicked leads them astray.DREAM TEAM.YOU DON’T GO AS FAR AS YOUR DREAM. YOU GO AS FAR AS YOUR TEAM.YOU ARE CALLED TO WIN. “I DON’T JUST NEED FRIENDS TO HANG WITH, I NEED A SQUAD TO BUILD WITH.”The righteous choose their friends carefully, but the way of the wicked leads them astray.PROVERBS 12:26THE BOOK OF GALATIANS MAIN GOAL IS THIS: JESUS ALONE IS ENOUGH TO SAVE. 6 And the leaders of the church had nothing to add to what I was preaching. (By the way, their reputation as great leaders made no difference to me, for God has no favorites.) 7 Instead, they saw that God had given me the responsibility of preaching the gospel to the Gentiles, just as he had given Peter the responsibility of preaching to the Jews. 8 For the same God who worked through Peter as the apostle to the Jews also worked through me as the apostle to the Gentiles.9 In fact, James, Peter,[c] and John, who were known as pillars of the church, recognized the gift God had given me, and they accepted Barnabas and me as their co-workers. They encouraged us to keep preaching to the Gentiles, while they continued their work with the Jews. 10 Their only suggestion was that we keep on helping the poor, which I have always been eager to do.SQUADS THAT WIN:ARE SUBMITTED TO THE SAME DREAM11 But when Peter came to Antioch, I had to oppose him to his face, for what he did was very wrong.12 When he first arrived, he ate with the Gentile believers, who were not circumcised. But afterward, when some friends of James came, Peter wouldn’t eat with the Gentiles anymore. He was afraid of criticism from these people who insisted on the necessity of circumcision. 13 As a result, other Jewish believers followed Peter’s hypocrisy, and even Barnabas was led astray by their hypocrisy.14 When I saw that they were not following the truth of the gospel message, I said to Peter in front of all the others, “Since you, a Jew by birth, have discarded the Jewish laws and are living like a Gentile, why are you now trying to make these Gentiles follow the Jewish traditions?GALATIANS 2:6-14SQUADS THAT WIN:PUSH ONE ANOTHER TOWARDS THE DREAMIron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another.[d]PROVERBS 27:17Two people are better than one because together they have a good reward for their hard work. If one falls, the other can help his friend get up. But how tragic it is for the one who is all alone when he falls. There is no one to help him get up.ECCLESIASTES 4:9-10

LUKE 19:1-10 I’LL GO FIRST. Walk with the wise and become wise; associate with fools and get in trouble.PROVERBS 13:20 MYTH #1: FRIENDS ARE MEANT TO MEET MY NEEDS.18 At the moment I have all I need—and more! I am generously supplied with the gifts you sent me with Epaphroditus. They are a sweet-smelling sacrifice that is acceptable and pleasing to God. 19 And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus.PHILIPPIANS 4:18-19MYTH #2: FRIENDS ARE THE REASON WHY I AM THE WAY I AM.This is a powerless mindset11 “Who told you that you were naked?” the Lord God asked. “Have you eaten from the tree whose fruit I commanded you not to eat?”12 The man replied, “It was the woman you gave me who gave me the fruit, and I ate it.”GENESIS 3:11-12It takes away the ability to be used by God to change others19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”MATTHEW 28:19-20He walked in a level of maturity that understood I have the power to choose God’s best and I want you to know that too.FRIENDS ARE YOUR OPPORTUNITY TO LOVE12 My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. 13 Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friendsJOHN 15:12-13

Hall of Fame: A hall, wall, or walk of fame is a list of individuals, achievements, or animals, usually chosen by a group of electors, to mark their fame in their field.13 All these people died still believing what God had promised them. They did not receive what was promised, but they saw it all from a distance and welcomed it. They agreed that they were foreigners and nomads here on earth. 14 Obviously people who say such things are looking forward to a country they can call their own. 15 If they had longed for the country they came from, they could have gone back. 16 But they were looking for a better place, a heavenly homeland. That is why God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them.HEBREWS 11:13-16 “THIS COULD CHANGE EVERYTHING.”Encounters are catalysts. Catalysts: a substance that enables a chemical reaction to proceed at a usually faster rate or under different conditions (as at a lower temperature) than otherwise possibleENCOUNTERS INTRODUCE CHANGE. 6 “Therefore, say to the people of Israel: ‘I am the Lord. I will free you from your oppression and will rescue you from your slavery in Egypt. I will redeem you with a powerful arm and great acts of judgment. 7 I will claim you as my own people, and I will be your God. Then you will know that I am the Lord your God who has freed you from your oppression in Egypt. 8 I will bring you into the land I swore to give to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. I will give it to you as your very own possession. I am the Lord!’”EXODUS 6:6-8ENCOUNTERS DON’T SUSTAIN CHANGE.Then the whole community of Israel set out from Elim and journeyed into the wilderness of Sin,[a] between Elim and Mount Sinai. They arrived there on the fifteenth day of the second month, one month after leaving the land of Egypt.[b] 2 There, too, the whole community of Israel complained about Moses and Aaron.3 “If only the Lord had killed us back in Egypt,” they moaned. “There we sat around pots filled with meat and ate all the bread we wanted. But now you have brought us into this wilderness to starve us all to death.”EXODUS 16:1-39 So Moses told the people of Israel what the Lord had said, but they refused to listen anymore. They had become too discouraged by the brutality of their slavery.EXODUS 6:9FAITH SUSTAINS CHANGE.“WE DON’T LIVE FOR ENCOUNTERS, WE LIVE FROM THEM.”15 If they had longed for the country they came from, they could have gone back. 16 But they were looking for a better place, a heavenly homeland. That is why God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them.HEBREWS 11:15-16

12 For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires.HEBREWS 4:12“TALK TO YOURSELF”Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted there by the devil. 2 For forty days and forty nights he fasted and became very hungry. (I feel you, Jesus. I become very hungry when I skip breakfast)3 During that time the devil[a] came and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become loaves of bread.”4 But Jesus told him, “No! The Scriptures say,‘People do not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’[b]”5 Then the devil took him to the holy city, Jerusalem, to the highest point of the Temple, 6 and said, “If you are the Son of God, jump off! For the Scriptures say,‘He will order his angels to protect you.And they will hold you up with their hands so you won’t even hurt your foot on a stone.’[c]”7 Jesus responded, “The Scriptures also say, ‘You must not test the Lord your God.’[d]”8 Next the devil took him to the peak of a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. 9 “I will give it all to you,” he said, “if you will kneel down and worship me.”10 “Get out of here, Satan,” Jesus told him. “For the Scriptures say,‘You must worship the Lord your God and serve only him.’[e]”11 Then the devil went away, and angels came and took care of Jesus.MATTHEW 4:1-112 For forty days and forty nights he fasted and became very hungry.3 During that time the devil[a] came…YOU HAVE A REAL ENEMY.THE ENEMY (DEVIL) DON’T PLAY NICE.WE FIGHT WITH THE WORDWE WIN THE BATTLE WHEN WE DON’T TAKE IT PERSONALLY.KNOW THE WORD.“People do not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’UNDERSTAND THE WORD.5 Then the devil took him to the holy city, Jerusalem, to the highest point of the Temple, 6 and said, “If you are the Son of God, jump off! For the Scriptures say,‘He will order his angels to protect you.And they will hold you up with their hands so you won’t even hurt your foot on a stone.’[c]”7 Jesus responded, “The Scriptures also say, ‘You must not test the Lord your God.’[d]”BELIEVE THE WORD.17 So faith comes from hearing, that is, hearing the Good News about Christ. ROMANS 10:174 “Listen, O Israel! The Lord is our God, the Lord alone.[a] 5 And you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your strength. 6 And you must commit yourselves wholeheartedly to these commands that I am giving you today. 7 Repeat them again and again to your children. Talk about them when you are at home and when you are on the road, when you are going to bed and when you are getting up. 8 Tie them to your hands and wear them on your forehead as reminders. 9 Write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.DUETERONOMY 6:4-9

LUKE 8:4-8 “GUARDING SOILLUKE 8:9-10Assumptions block connection. If you don’t understand the key to the parable, you don’t understand it at all. We can imagine what different people in Jesus’ audience might have thought when He taught this parable with no explanation. The farmer thought, “He’s telling me that I have to be more careful in the way I cast my seed. I guess I have wasted an awful lot.” The politician thought, “He’s telling me that I need to begin a farm education program to help farmers more efficiently cast their seed. This will be a big boost in my reelection campaign.” The newspaper reporter thought, “He’s telling me that there is a big story here about the bird problem and how it affects the farming community. That’s a great idea for a series in the newspaper.” The salesman thought, “He’s encouraging me in my fertilizer sales. Why, I could help that farmer more than he knows if he only used my product.” But none of them could understand the spiritual meaning until Jesus explained the key to them. If you miss the key, you miss the whole parable. If you think the seed represent money, you miss the parable. If you think the seed represents love, you miss the parable. If you think the seed represents hard work, you miss the parable. You can only understand it by understanding the keyWE ROB OURSELVES FROM A CONNECTION WITH GOD WHEN WE ASSUME THE MEANING OF HIS WORD.‘When they look, they won’t really see. When they hear, they won’t understand.”“Every moment in God’s word is an opportunity to connect” Do you see God’s word in that way or do you see it as a chore or a mystery that you have to figure out on your own. The motivation of our heart towards God’s word is important because Jesus literally tells us it’s the posture of our heart that opens the door to understanding God’s word. Amen?LUKE 8:11-15 Every single seed has the ability to produce a huge harvest. THE ISSUE IS NOT WITH THE SEED; IT’S WITH THE SOIL. THE FOOTPATHGOD’S WORD + HARD HEART = NO UNDERSTANDING THE ROCK“There was something that they did not have in connection with the spirit of God, who waters the word. When we speak of spiritual dew, we refer to the operation of the Holy Spirit. When we talk of the river of the water of life, we mean those sacred things which come streaming down to us from the throne of God through the working of the Spirit of God.”GOD’S WORD + STRIVING HEART = NO POWERTHE THORNSGOD’S WORD + DISTRACTED HEART = STUNTED GROWTHTHE GOOD GROUNDGOD’S WORD + PURE HEART = GROWTH GOD’S WORD GROWS IN GUARDED HEARTPROVERBS 4:23 Check-Heart StatusIs my heart hard or soft? (Do I really want to understand?) Is my heart dry? (Am I relying on the Holy Spirit’s help or my own?)Is my heart choked out? (Am I distracted?) Is my heart pure? (Am I willing to hear, trust, obey, and be patient?)

“The serpent was the shrewdest of all the wild animals the Lord God had made. One day he asked the woman, ‘Did God really say you must not eat the fruit from any of the trees in the garden?’”GENESIS 3:1Apologetics: reasoned arguments or writings in justification of something, typically a theory or religious doctrineYOU HAVE AN ENEMY. “IT’S IMPORTANT TO KNOW WHAT THE BIBLE IS AND WHY YOU CAN RELY ON IT BECAUSE YOU HAVE AN ENEMY.”“IT’S IMPORTANT TO KNOW WHAT THE BIBLE IS AND WHY YOU CAN RELY ON IT BECAUSE 1 PETER 3:15”Instead, you must worship Christ as Lord of your life. And if someone asks about your hope as a believer, always be ready to explain it.”1 PETER 3:15 GOD WANTS RELATIONSHIP WITH THE PEOPLE HE CREATED.PEOPLE IN RELATIONSHIPS SELF-DEFINE.“You can only be in a relationship with somebody who’s willing to tell you who they are.” IT’S A GOD BOOK, NOT A MAN BOOK. All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. 17 God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work.”2 TIMOTHY 3:16“Our mission is to help people experience the Bible as a unified story that leads to Jesus.” - The Bible ProjectWE ARE NOT THE MAIN CHARACTER OF THE BIBLE; JESUS IS.Historical/Narrative, The Law, Wisdom, Psalms/Poetry, Prophecy, Apocalyptic, Epistle, Gospel.IT’S HISTORICALLY ACCURATE.Afterward Jesus returned to Jerusalem for one of the Jewish holy days. 2 Inside the city, near the Sheep Gate, was the pool of Bethesda,[a] with five covered porches.”JOHN 5:1“We learn that Jesus was a wise man who did surprising feats, taught many, won over many followers from among Jews and Greeks, was believed to be the Messiah, was accused by the Jewish leaders, was condemned to be crucified by Pilate, and was considered to be resurrected.”- Josephus (Jewish Historian) “Nero inflicted the most exquisite tortures on a class… called Christians. Christus, from whom the name had its origin, suffered the extreme penalty during the reign of Tiberius at the hands of one of our procurators, Pontius Pilate.” -Tacitus (Roman Historian)IT’S THE MOST RELIABLE. “The New Testament is humanities most reliable document.”IT’S PROPHETICALLY PERFECTIT’S THE SAFEST PLACE 24 “Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25 And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. 26 And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. 27 And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it.”MATTHEW 7:24-27GOD’S WORD IS THE SAFEST PLACE

27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:JOHN 10:27 “IT’S IMPOSSIBLE TO FOLLOW JESUS WITHOUT HIS WORD.”JOHN 6:53-69BECOMING STUDENTS OF THE WORD.Student: any person who studies, investigates, or examines thoughtfully 60 Many of his disciples said, “This is very hard to understand. How can anyone accept it?”61 Jesus was aware that his disciples were complaining, so he said to them, “Does this offend you?“Jesus understood the offence many of His listeners took at His teaching, yet He didn’t change the teaching or feel it was His fault. Jesus didn’t preach just to please His audience. If that was His concern, He would have instantly taken back what was just said, seeing His audience was offended. Jesus didn’t take it back. He challenged and confronted them even more.”6 At this point many of his disciples turned away and deserted him. 67 Then Jesus turned to the Twelve and asked, “Are you also going to leave?”YOU WON’T FOLLOW JESUS AS AN OBSERVER68 Simon Peter replied, “Lord, to whom would we go? You have the words that give eternal life. 69 We believe, and we know you are the Holy One of God.[j]”RECOGNIZE I’M THE STUDENT.“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,”declares the Lord.9 “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.ISAIAH 55:8-9As for God, his way is perfect:The Lord’s word is flawless;he shields all who take refuge in himPSALM 18:30Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.MATTHEW 24:25SEEK TO UNDERSTANDBut when the Father sends the Advocate as my representative—that is, the Holy Spirit—he will teach you everything and will remind you of everything I have told you.JOHN 14:26When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own but will tell you what he has heard. He will tell you about the future. JOHN 16:12CHOOSE TO STAY ANCHORED68 Simon Peter replied, “Lord, to whom would we go? You have the words that give eternal life. 69 We believe, and we know you are the Holy One of God.[j]”

All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness2 TIMOTHY 3:16The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God will stand forever.ISAIAH 40:8For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.HEBREWS 4:12 As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon called Peter and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.” At once they left their nets and followed him.Going on from there, he saw two other brothers, James son of Zebedee and his brother John. They were in a boat with their father Zebedee, preparing their nets. Jesus called them, and immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him.MATTHEW 4:18-22“INVITATION TO GREATNESS”.KALEO: to inviteJesus invites them to step into GREATNESS. KNOW GOD HELP PEOPLE KNOW GODTHE INVITE COMES DURING THE NORMALTHE INVITE LACKS DETAILSTHE INVITE IS ALL YOU NEED. may he equip you with all you need for doing his will.May he produce in you,[e] through the power of Jesus Christ,every good thing that is pleasing to him. All glory to him forever and ever! Amen.HEBREWS 13:21

Exodus 20:12 Honor your father and your mother that your days may be long upon the land which the Lord your God is giving you.Mark 6:5 he could do no mighty work thereMark 6:4 And Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without here it is honor, except in his hometown and among his relatives and in his own household.” #1 Honor FirstProverbs 3:6 In everything you do, put God first, and he will direct you and crown your efforts with success. Matthew 6:33 Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things will be added unto you.Psalm 37:4 Delight yourself also in the Lord, And He shall give you the desires of your heart. #2 Honor UpRomans 13:1 All authority comes from God1 Peter 3:10 If you want to enjoy life and see many happy days, keep your tongue from speaking evil.Matthew 25:40 Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.How you honor people, is how you honor Jesus!1 Peter 2:17 Make the Master proud of you by being good citizens. Respect the authorities, whatever their level; they are God’s emissaries for keeping order. It is God’s will that by doing good, you might cure the ignorance of the fools who think you’re a danger to society. Exercise your freedom by serving God, not by breaking the rules. Treat everyone you meet with dignity. Love your spiritual family. Revere God. Respect the government.#3 Honor AroundHebrews 10:24-25 Let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds… encouraging one another.James 1:19 slow to speak#4 Honor DownMatthew 10:42 And whoever gives to one of these little ones [these who are humble in rank or influence] even a cup of cold water to drink because he is my disciple, truly I say to you, he will not lose his reward.

we seek to put the person of God in everything we do. As Moses looked, he saw that the bush was on fire but was not consumed. 3 So Moses thought, “I must go over and look at this remarkable sight. Why isn’t the bush burning up?”4 When the Lord saw that he had gone over to look, God called out to him from the bush, “Moses, Moses!”“Here I am,” he answered.5 “Do not come closer,” he said. “Remove the sandals from your feet, for the place where you are standing is holy ground.”EXODUS 3:2-5“IN HIS PRESENCE”.WE ARE SEEN4 When the Lord saw that he had gone over to look, God called out to him from the bush, “Moses, Moses!”For 40 years Moses lived as an obscure shepherd in the desert of Midian. At this point his life was so humble that he didn’t even have a flock of sheep to call his own – the sheep belonged to his father-in-law.You are important to God."But now, this is what the Lord says – he who created you, Jacob, he who formed you, Israel: 'Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine.ISAIAH 43:1-27 Indeed, the hairs of your head are all counted. Don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.LUKE 12:7 WE ARE HUMBLED5 “Do not come closer,” he said. “Remove the sandals from your feet, for the place where you are standing is holy ground.”In this moment, Moses is invited to step into the revelation that the value of His life is not found in a pair of sandals, but in a God who knows His name…WE ARE WASHED4 So he got up from supper, laid aside his outer clothing, took a towel, and tied it around himself. 5 Next, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet and to dry them with the towel tied around him.6 He came to Simon Peter, who asked him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?”7 Jesus answered him, “What I’m doing you don’t realize now, but afterward you will understand.”8 “You will never wash my feet,” Peter said.Jesus replied, “If I don’t wash you, you have no part with me.”JOHN 13:4-8 “This was an immoderate modesty, a proud humility.”Then they began to argue among themselves about who would be the greatest among them.LUKE 22:24Jesus replied, “If I don’t wash you, you have no part with me.”We are grateful Jesus did not say, If you do not have great holiness, you have no part with Me. We are happy He did not say, If you are not a Bible expert, you have no part with Me. Having a part with Jesus begins simply with receiving something from Him, not achieving something our self.WE ARE SENTNow go, for I am sending you to Pharaoh. You must lead my people Israel out of Egypt.”EXODUS 3:10

YOUR DAD IS NOT LIKE DADDY GODMatthew 7:7–11 ESV7 “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. 9 Or which one of you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone? 10 Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a serpent? 11 If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him!Romans 8:12–17 NLT12 Therefore, dear brothers and sisters, you have no obligation to do what your sinful nature urges you to do. 13 For if you live by its dictates, you will die. But if through the power of the Spirit you put to death the deeds of your sinful nature, you will live. 14 For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God. 15 So you have not received a spirit that makes you fearful slaves. Instead, you received God’s Spirit when he adopted you as his own children. Now we call him, “Abba, Father.” 16 For his Spirit joins with our spirit to affirm that we are God’s children. 17 And since we are his children, we are his heirs. In fact, together with Christ we are heirs of God’s glory. But if we are to share his glory, we must also share his suffering.YOUR PART OF THE FAM (God’s Family)OUR SINS WHERE NOT ONLY BOUGHT, WE HAVE BEEN ADOPTEDJESUS IS YOUR BIG BROYOU ARE A CO-HEIR WITH CHRIST“In contrast with the control of sin, which enslaves to the point of fear, believers have received the Spirit of sonship. The word translated “sonship” means “placing as a son” and is frequently translated “adoption”. Believers are adopted sons, not slaves ; so they need not be enslaved to sin or in fear. In New Testament times adopted sons enjoyed the same privileges as natural-born sons. In many families children inherit their parents’ estates; each child is an heir and the children together are co-heirs. Since Christians are God’s children, they are His heirs , and they are co-heirs with Christ. They are recipients of all spiritual blessings now, and in the future they will share with the Lord Jesus in all the riches of God’s kingdom. YOU CAN GO INTO DAD’S OFFICEABBA GOD IS APPROACHABLE Romans 8:15 NLT15 So you have not received a spirit that makes you fearful slaves. Instead, you received God’s Spirit when he adopted you as his own children. Now we call him, “Abba, Father.”We experience a special relationship with God that people in the Bible before Jesus didn’t experience. Hebrews 4:16 NLT16 So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most.YOU WILL ALWAYS HAVE A DAD

GENESIS 22:1-14 (CSB) PROVISION IS SEEING A NEED AND MEETING A NEED. And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.PHILLIPIANS 4:19GOD PROVIDES… PERIOD.So Abraham got up early in the morning, saddled his donkey, and took with him two of his young men and his son Isaac. He split wood for a burnt offering and set out to go to the place God had told him about. 4 On the third day Abraham looked up and saw the place in the distance. 5 Then Abraham said to his young men, “Stay here with the donkey. The boy and I will go over there to worship; then we’ll come back to you.”“This does not mean that Abraham somehow knew this was only a test and God would not really require this of him. Instead, Abraham’s faith was in understanding that should he kill Isaac, God would raise him from the dead, because God had promised Isaac would carry on the line of blessing and the covenant.Abraham knew anything was possible, but it was impossible that God would break His promise. He knew God was not a liar. To this point in Biblical history, we have no record of anyone being raised from the dead, so Abraham had no precedent for this faith, apart from God’s promise. Yet Abraham knew God was able. God could do it.”GOD PROVIDES BECAUSE HE SEES THE NEED And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.PHILLIPIANS 4:19 GOD PROVIDES BECAUSE HE WANTS YOUR HEART12 Then he said, “Do not lay a hand on the boy or do anything to him. For now I know that you fear God, since you have not withheld your only son from me.”“No one can serve two masters, since either he will hate one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.MATTHEW 6:24I ALLOW GOD TO BE JIREH IN MY LIFE WHEN:I KNOW HIM“Take your son,” he said, “your only son Isaac, whom you love, go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains I will tell you about.”3 So Abraham got up early in the morning, saddled his donkey, and took with him two of his young men and his son Isaac. He split wood for a burnt offering and set out to go to the place God had told him about. 4 On the third day Abraham looked up and saw the place in the distance.I TAKE HIM SERIOUSLY 12 Then he said, “Do not lay a hand on the boy or do anything to him. For now I know that you fear God, since you have not withheld your only son from me.”I NEED HIM5 I am the vine; you are the branches. The one who remains in me and I in him produces much fruit, because you can do nothing without me.MATTHEW 6:25-34"YOUR FATHER KNOWS YOU NEED HIM, DO YOU?”

22 Then Gideon perceived that he was the angel of the Lord. And Gideon said, “Alas, O Lord God! For now I have seen the angel of the Lord face to face.” 23 But the Lord said to him, “Peace be to you. Do not fear; you shall not die.” 24 Then Gideon built an altar there to the Lord and called it, The Lord Is Peace. To this day it still stands at Ophrah, which belongs to the Abiezrites.JUDGES 6:22-24THE PEACE OF GOD IS A PROMISE 27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid. JOHN 14:27-28“He carefully described the peace as ‘My peace.’ His peace was a heart untroubled and unfearful in spite of all the suffering and conflict ahead of Him.” G. Campbell MorganUSING THE CORRECT STANDARD OF MEASUREMENT IN ANY ASPECT OF LIFE IS IMPORTANT.22 Then Gideon perceived that he was the angel of the Lord. And Gideon said, “Alas, O Lord God! For now I have seen the angel of the Lord face to face.” 23 But the Lord said to him, “Peace be to you. Do not fear; you shall not die.” 24 Then Gideon built an altar there to the Lord and called it, The Lord Is Peace.JUDGES 6:22-24 GIDEON BUILDS GOD AN ALTAR AND CALLS IT “THE LORD IS PEACE” BEFORE HE EVER EXPERIENCED THE VICTORY. Peace: the absence of war (conflict), freedom from disturbances; tranquilityTHE PEACE OF GOD IS NOT THE ABSENCE OF TROUBLE.THE PEACE OF GOD IS GOD22 Then Gideon perceived that he was the angel of the Lord. And Gideon said, “Alas, O Lord God! For now I have seen the angel of the Lord face to face.” 23 But the Lord said to him, “Peace be to you.JUDGES 6:22-23 Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times and in every way. The Lord be with all of you.2 THESSALONIANS 3:16 You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you.ISAIAH 26:3 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.PHILIPPIANS 4:6 “STAYING IN THE PRESENCE OF GOD IS A CHOICE JUST AS MUCH AS STAYING IN ANXIETY IS A CHOICE.”

“We tend by a secret law of the soul to move toward our mental image of God… If we were able to extract from any man a complete answer to the question, ‘What comes to mind when you think about God?’ We might predict with certainty the spiritual future of that man.” EXODUS 34:4-7 “Your name was your identity, your destiny, the truth hidden in the marrow of your bones. It was a one-word moniker for the truest thing about you - your inner essence. Your inner Tom-ness or Rut-ness.” JMC“YOU NAME IS YOUR NATURE”Abram to Abraham: “exalted Father” to “father of a multitude or father of many nations”Saul to Paul: “small or humble” EXODUS 3:9-14 (MSG) YAHWEH IS GOD (AUTHORITY)“Here’s how you know if you’ve created God in your own image: he agrees with you on everything. He hates all of the people you hate. He voted for the person you voted for. If you’re republican, so is he. If you’re a democrat, so is he. If you’re passionate about __________, then God is passionate about ___________. If you’re open and elastic about sexuality, so is he. And above all, he’s tame. You never get mad at him or blown away by him or scared of him. Because he’s controllable… And of course, he’s a figment of your imagination.” The Lord is my Shepherd [to feed, to guide and to shield me], I shall not want.He lets me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still and quiet waters.He refreshes and restores my soul (life); He leads me in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake.Even though I walk through the [sunless] [a]valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod [to protect] and Your staff [to guide], they comfort and console mePSALM 23“WHAT WE LEARN FROM THE NAME OF YAHWEH IS THAT HE IS GOD AND WE ARE NOT.” And that’s a lot better than you being god. YAHWEH IS ALWAYS GOD (CONSISTENT) 12 “I’ll be with you,” God said. “And this will be the proof that I am the one who sent you: When you have brought my people out of Egypt, you will worship God right here at this very mountain.”Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.JAMES 1:17“WHAT WE LEARN FROM THE NAME OF YAHWEH IS THAT HE WILL DO WHAT HE SAID HE WILL DO.”YAHWEH IS ABLE (POWERFUL)But Moses said to the Lord, “Oh, my Lord, I am not eloquent, either in the past or since you have spoken to your servant, but I am slow of speech and of tongue.” 11 Then the Lord said to him, “Who has made man's mouth? Who makes him mute, or deaf, or seeing, or blind? Is it not I, the Lord? 12 Now therefore go, and I will be with your mouth and teach you what you shall speak.” EXODUS 4:10-12 Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, 21 to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.EPHESIANS 3:20-21

But the Jewish leaders demanded, “What are you doing? If God gave you authority to do this, show us a miraculous sign to prove it.”19 “All right,” Jesus replied. “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.”20 “What!” they exclaimed. “It has taken forty-six years to build this Temple, and you can rebuild it in three days?” 21 But when Jesus said “this temple,” he meant his own body. 22 After he was raised from the dead, his disciples remembered he had said this, and they believed both the Scriptures and what Jesus had said.JOHN 2:18-22Message Title: THIS CHANGES EVERYTHING."EVERYTHING CHANGED WHEN I EXPERIENCED THE PROOF” 19 “All right,” Jesus replied. “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.”But when Jesus said “this temple,” he meant his own body. 22 After he was raised from the dead, his disciples remembered he had said this, and they believed both the Scriptures and what Jesus had said.What is the thing that changed everything for the disciples? THE RESURRECTION. The Resurrection of Jesus changes everything.“Apart from the resurrection of Jesus Christ, there is no savior, no salvation, no forgiveness of sin, and no hope of resurrected eternal life. Apart from the resurrection, Jesus is reduced to yet another good but dead man and therefore is of no considerable help to us in this life or at its end. Plainly stated, without the resurrection of Jesus, the few billion people today who worship Jesus as God are gullible; their hope for a resurrection life after this is the hope of silly fools who trust in a dead man to give them life. Subsequently, the doctrine of Jesus’ resurrection is, without question, profoundly significant and worthy of the most careful consideration and examination.” - DOCTRINE. But if it is preached that Christ has been raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? 13 If there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. 14 And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith.1 CORINTHIANS 15:12-14 THE RESURRECTION IS YOUR RECEIPTHe has removed our sins as far from us as the east is from the west.PSALM 103:12THE RESURRECTION IS YOUR I.D.This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!2 CORINTHIANS 5:17THE RESURRECTION IS YOUR DEGREE And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.ROMANS 8:28

When the hour came, Jesus and his apostles reclined at the table. 15 And he said to them, “I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer. 16 For I tell you, I will not eat it again until it finds fulfillment in the kingdom of God.”17 After taking the cup, he gave thanks and said, “Take this and divide it among you. 18 For I tell you I will not drink again from the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.”19 And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me.”20 In the same way, after the supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you.[a] 21 But the hand of him who is going to betray me is with mine on the table. 22 The Son of Man will go as it has been decreed. But woe to that man who betrays him!” 23 They began to question among themselves which of them it might be who would do this.LUKE 22:14-23Message Title: WELCOME TO THE TABLE“WHEN I DON’T UNDERSTAND THE COST OF THE MEAL, I MINIMIZE THE POWER OF THE MEAL.” 6 We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to our own way;and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.ISAIAH 53:6“SIN IS ALWAYS INJUSTICE AGAINST SOMEONE. AND BECAUSE OF IT, JUSTICE HAS TO BE PAID.”5 But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities;the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed.ISAIAH 53:5“COMMUNION IS THE MOST EXPENSIVE MEAL YOU COULD EVER EAT.”“COMMUNION IS SEAT AT THE TABLE WITH JESUS.” As they approached the village to which they were going, Jesus continued on as if he were going farther. 29 But they urged him strongly, “Stay with us, for it is nearly evening; the day is almost over.” So he went in to stay with them.30 When he was at the table with them, he took bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them. 31 Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him, and he disappeared from their sight. 32 They asked each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?”LUKE 24:28-32

“When he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! 18 I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. 19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired servants.’ 20 So he got up and went to his father. Luke 15:17-20 A painful feeling of humiliation or distress caused by the consciousness of wrong or foolish behavior.SHAME is a painful feeling of humiliation or distress caused by sinShame is the feeling the follows SINSin we commit Sin committed against us.SHAME IS AN OVERWHELMING FEAR OF ABANDONMENT. SHAME IS AN OVERWHELMING FEAR OF REJECTION. SHAME IS AN OVERWHELMING BELIEF THAT I AM BROKEN. “Shame says, ‘what happened determines who you are’.” In other words, your action determine your identity…SHAME HIDES ME FROM YOUThen the man and his wife heard the sound of the Lord God as He was walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and they hid from the Lord God among the trees in the garden. Genesis 3:8“Shame only allows for surface level relationships”SHAME LIES TO ME ABOUT MEI will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. 19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired servants.’ 20 So he got up and went to his father. Luke 15:17-20 Luke 22:54-62 So when they had eaten breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of [b]Jonah, do you love Me more than these?”He said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.”He said to him, “Feed My lambs.”16 He said to him again a second time, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?”He said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.”He said to him, “Tend My sheep.”17 He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?” Peter was grieved because He said to him the third time, “Do you love Me?”And he said to Him, “Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You.”Jesus said to him, “Feed My sheep. - John 21:15-17 John 21:15-17JESUS REDEEMS SINJESUS REVEALS PURPOSEJESUS BORE SHAMEFor our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.2 Corinthians 5:21

EVERYONE IS EMOTIONAL EMOTIONS ARE GOOD… EMOTIONS ARE GOOD… WHEN THEY ARE SUBMITTED. When Jesus had finished instructing his twelve disciples, he went on from there to teach and preach in their cities.2 Now when John heard in prison about the deeds of the Christ, he sent word by his disciples 3 and said to him, “Are you the one who is to come, or shall we look for another?” 4 And Jesus answered them, “Go and tell John what you hear and see: 5 the blind receive their sight and the lame walk, lepers[a] are cleansed and the deaf hear, and the dead are raised up, and the poor have good news preached to them. 6 And blessed is the one who is not offended by me.”MATTHEW 11:1-6 Doubt: to be uncertain about; consider questionable or unlikely; hesitate to believe.I’M NOT THE ONLY ONE. “Are you the one who is to come, or shall we look for another?”And someone from the crowd answered him, “Teacher, I brought my son to you, for he has a spirit that makes him mute. 18 And whenever it seizes him, it throws him down, and he foams and grinds his teeth and becomes rigid. So I asked your disciples to cast it out, and they were not able.” 19 And he answered them, “O faithless generation, how long am I to be with you? How long am I to bear with you? Bring him to me.” 20 And they brought the boy to him. And when the spirit saw him, immediately it convulsed the boy, and he fell on the ground and rolled about, foaming at the mouth. 21 And Jesus asked his father, “How long has this been happening to him?” And he said, “From childhood. 22 And it has often cast him into fire and into water, to destroy him. But if you can do anything, have compassion on us and help us.” 23 And Jesus said to him, “‘If you can’! All things are possible for one who believes.” 24 Immediately the father of the child cried out[d] and said, “I believe; help my unbelief!”MARK 9:17-24Then Jesus *came with them to a place called [a]Gethsemane, and *told His disciples, “Sit here while I go over there and pray.” 37 And He took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee with Him, and began to be grieved and distressed. 38 Then He *said to them, “My soul is deeply grieved, to the point of death; remain here and keep watch with Me.”39 And He went a little beyond them, and fell on His face and prayed, saying, “My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me;MATTHEW 26:36-41THE PRESENCE OF DOUBT IS NOT THE ABSENCE OF FAITH.WHAT DO WE DO?CHOOSE TO BELIEVE BEFORE FEELING LIKE BELIEVINGSEEK GOD.And He went a little beyond them, and fell on His face and prayed,MATTHEW 26:36-41

Everyone is emotional Emotions are goodEmotions are good… when they are submittedEmotions are bad when:We live in themWe live apart from themSo if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, 24 leave your gift there before the altar and go. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift. 25 Come to terms quickly with your accuser while you are going with him to court, lest your accuser hand you over to the judge, and the judge to the guard, and you be put in prison. 26 Truly, I say to you, you will never get out until you have paid the last penny. - Matthew 5:21-26Anger is an emotion characterized by antagonism toward someone or something you feel has deliberately done you wrong.ANGER CAN BE EXPRESSED. Jesus fully realized all that was going to happen to him, so he stepped forward to meet them. “Who are you looking for?” he asked.5 “Jesus the Nazarene,”[a] they replied.“I am he,”[b] Jesus said. (Judas, who betrayed him, was standing with them.) 6 As Jesus said “I am he,” they all drew back and fell to the ground! 7 Once more he asked them, “Who are you looking for?”And again they replied, “Jesus the Nazarene.”8 “I told you that I am he,” Jesus said. “And since I am the one you want, let these others go.” 9 He did this to fulfill his own statement: “I did not lose a single one of those you have given me.”10 Then Simon Peter drew a sword and slashed off the right ear of Malchus, the high priest’s slave. 11 But Jesus said to Peter, “Put your sword back into its sheath. Shall I not drink from the cup of suffering the Father has given me?”JOHN 18:4-11ANGER CAN BE SUPPRESSED. And whether you choose to express or suppress, anger always leads to something… Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, - Ephesians 4:26ANGER CAN LEAD TO SINANGER CAN LEAD TO JUSTICE So if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, 24 leave your gift there before the altar and go. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift. 25 Come to terms quickly with your accuser while you are going with him to court, lest your accuser hand you over to the judge, and the judge to the guard, and you be put in prison. 26 Truly, I say to you, you will never get out until you have paid the last penny. - Matthew 5:21-26

Panel style message with Pastor Jackson and our New Song Students leaders; Molly Ratliff, Eman Ratliff, and Annie Stuemky, answering questions submitted on relationships.

When Jesus returned to Capernaum several days later, the news spread quickly that he was back home. 2 Soon the house where he was staying was so packed with visitors that there was no more room, even outside the door. While he was preaching God’s word to them, 3 four men arrived carrying a paralyzed man on a mat. 4 They couldn’t bring him to Jesus because of the crowd, so they dug a hole through the roof above his head. Then they lowered the man on his mat, right down in front of Jesus. 5 Seeing their faith, Jesus said to the paralyzed man, “My child, your sins are forgiven.”MARK 2:1-5 (NLT) “A RIGHT relationship is a relationship God would want to be apart of. A relationship done God’s way.” Right relationships are not focused on immediate options but on the end goal. Right Relationships are willing to put in time and effortRight Relationships don’t just focus on my needs but others needs. There are “friends” who destroy each other, but a real friend sticks closer than a brother.PROVERBS 18:24There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. JOHN 15:13 Jesus replied, “‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’[e] 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 A second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’[f] MATTHEW 22:37-39RIGHT RELATIONSHIPS (aka: relationships done God’s way) focus on the end goal, put in time and effort, focus on others needs

xo - a series on relationships It's Up To Me! Every Relationship has a specific cultureCulture is MoldableGood Culture Must Be Forged How Do We Have Healthy Culture? 1. KNOW IT2. GUARD IT3. REPEAT IT

“You shall have no other gods before me. “You shall not make for yourself a carved image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. You shall not bow down to them or serve them, for I the Lord your God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and the fourth generation of those who hate me, but showing steadfast love to thousands of those who love me and keep my commandments.Exodus 20:3-6YOU BELONG TO GOD. “Before I formed you in the womb I knew[a] you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.”Jeremiah 1:5“An idol is anything that we put over God and look towards to meet our needs.”As Jesus was starting out on his way to Jerusalem, a man came running up to him, knelt down, and asked, “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?”18 “Why do you call me good?” Jesus asked. “Only God is truly good. 19 But to answer your question, you know the commandments: ‘You must not murder. You must not commit adultery. You must not steal. You must not testify falsely. You must not cheat anyone. Honor your father and mother.’[e]”20 “Teacher,” the man replied, “I’ve obeyed all these commandments since I was young.”21 Looking at the man, Jesus felt genuine love for him. “There is still one thing you haven’t done,” he told him. “Go and sell all your possessions and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”22 At this the man’s face fell, and he went away sad, for he had many possessions.23 Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, “How hard it is for the rich to enter the Kingdom of God!” 24 This amazed them. But Jesus said again, “Dear children, it is very hard[f] to enter the Kingdom of God. 25 In fact, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the Kingdom of God!”Mark 10:17-25IDOLS KEEP ME FROM PURSUING JESUS“No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth.Matthew 6:24IDOLS KEEP ME FROM HEARING JESUS’ TONEBut seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.Matthew 6:33IDOLS ARE RED FLAGS ‘He is my shepherd, and he shall fulfill all my purpose’Isaiah 44:28GOING DEEPERJesus asked the rich young ruler to lay down his wealth to follow Him. What is something Jesus might as you to lay down? Idols can be red flags of a deeper issue. What is the deeper issue of the thing that you mentioned? What would it look for God to meet that need in your life instead of that thing?

A FRESH PURSUIT. 🏎 IN-PURSUIT // WK.01Pursue: to follow (someone or something) in order to catch or attack them.“it’s impossible to passively pursue”Now Israel went out to battle against the Philistines. They encamped at Ebenezer, and the Philistines encamped at Aphek. 2 The Philistines drew up in line against Israel, and when the battle spread, Israel was defeated before the Philistines, who killed about four thousand men on the field of battle. 3 And when the people came to the camp, the elders of Israel said, “Why has the Lord defeated us today before the Philistines? Let us bring the ark of the covenant of the Lord here from Shiloh, that it[a] may come among us and save us from the power of our enemies.” 1 Samuel 4:1-3“THE ENEMY OF PURSUIT IS CHANCE”The Lord looks down from heaven on the children of man, to see if there are any who understand, who seek after God.Psalm 14:2You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart.Jeremiah 29:13THE PURSUIT IS ON YOU. instead of a fresh pursuit, they looked to old methods to solve their problems. Seek the Lord and his strength; seek his presence continually!1 Chronicles 16:11“All relationships require a fresh pursuit”GOING DEEPER.In what ways are you actively pursuing a deeper relationship with God right now? Has there ever been a time in your life where you left something up to chance instead of seeking God’s direction? ShareWhat is one thing that you can intentionally do this year to make your pursuit towards God more aggressive?