The Church of Eleven22

6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” John 14:6 Final Thought: “I am trying here to prevent anyone saying the really foolish thing that people often say about Him: I’m ready to accept Jesus as a great moral teacher, but I don’t accept his claim to be God. That is the one thing we must not say. A man who was merely a man and said the sort of things Jesus said would not be a great moral teacher. He would either be a lunatic—on the level with the man who says he is a poached egg—or else he would be the Devil of Hell. You must make your choice. Either this man was, and is, the Son of God, or else a madman or something worse. You can shut him up for a fool, you can spit at him and kill him as a demon or you can fall at his feet and call him Lord and God, but let us not come with any patronizing nonsense about his being a great human teacher. He has not left that open to us. He did not intend to.” – C.S. Lewis MERE CHRISTIANITY

You and I don’t need a better heart. We need a NEW HEART, His HEART. A Heart that loves God and Loves one another.

The #1 reason to rescue a child from poverty in Jesus name is because Jesus rescued you. Action Step: 1. Sponsor a Compassion Child today: Love in Deed 2. Write your child a letter where you share Your testimony: Love in Truth. www.compassion.com

Righteous deeds that rightly reflect a relationship with God come only as a result of our right standing with Him through Christ’s death and resurrection. Final Thought: “Grace is glory begun, and glory is grace completed.” Jonathon Edwards.

“What comes into our minds when we think about God is the most important thing about us” - AW Tozer Final Thought: Abiding in Christ can only be fully experienced by wholly and completely surrendering ourselves to Jesus, just as he wholly and completely surrendered himself for us.

The GOSPEL gives us the power to live lives of INTEGRITY, GENEROSITY and HUMILITY. Final Thought: So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” John 8:31-32 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. John 15:4-5

The Love of Jesus IN you changes the way you Love the ones Beside you. -The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love. Galatians 5:6b (NIV) Action Steps: * With whom do I need to reconcile? ____________________ * What is my next move? __________________ * By When? ____________________ Final thought: 23 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. Matthew 5:23-24

God’s acceptance is the power that liberates us from sin, not the reward for having liberated ourselves- JD Greear Final thought: "I keep a close watch on this heart of mine I keep my eyes wide open all the time I keep the ends out for the tie that binds Because you're mine, I walk the line I find it very, very easy to be true I find myself alone when each day is through Yes, I'll admit that I'm a fool for you Because you're mine, I walk the line – Johnny Cash

How do I surrender my life to the Lordship of Jesus Christ? Admit that you are a sinner. Believe that when Jesus Died on the cross that it counted for you Confess Jesus as your Lord. 32Two others, who were criminals, were led away to be put to death with him. 33 And when they came to the place that is called The Skull, there they crucified him, and the criminals, one on his right and one on his left… 39 One of the criminals who were hanged railed at him,[d] saying, “Are you not the Christ? Save yourself and us!” 40 But the other rebuked him, saying, “Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? 41 And we indeed justly, for we are receiving the due reward of our deeds; but this man has done nothing wrong.” 42 And he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” 43 And he said to him, “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise.” Luke 23:32-33;39-43

The Almighty King of the universe came to Earth on a search and rescue mission. The moment you are rescued, you become part of the rescue team. For the Son of Man came to seek and save the lost. - Luke 19:10

The Tomb is Empty. Jesus is Alive. Your sins can be Forgiven and His Righteousness given to you. Have your eyes and mind been opened to that truth? Final Thought: because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. Romans 10:9-10

The Good News is not the we go up on the mountain top to seek the “glory” of God, but that His Glory came down in search of us. “A man can no more diminish God's glory by refusing to worship Him than a lunatic can put out the sun by scribbling the word 'darkness' on the walls of his cell.” - CS Lewis

The Point: The tabernacle reveals to us God’s Desire to dwell with His People. Jesus is the sum total fulfillment of that Tabernacle Desire of God for His people. Luke 9:30-31 30 And behold, two men were talking with him(Jesus), Moses and Elijah, 31 who appeared in glory and spoke of his departure (exodus), which he was about to accomplish at Jerusalem. John 1:14 14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt (“tabernacled) among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.

Stealing, Lying, and Coveting is practical atheism. It says we don't trust God's provision, God's approval, or God's plan. "He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain that which he cannot lose." "If we find ourselves with a desire that nothing in this world can satisfy, the most probable explanation is that we were made for another world." C.S. Lewis

FLEE SEXUAL IMMORALITY!!

Jesus forgave his murderers from His heart that our murderous hearts could be forgiven. * Forgiven people forgive people.

The #1 reason that we don’t give honor is because we are honor hogs. Why give credit when you can take credit? Honor is the willful decision to lift others and lower self. The Promise: “that your days may be long in the land that the LORD your God is giving you” Jesus Honored His Father perfectly on the cross and because of that WE are invited into the Promised Land.

Sabbath Rest isn’t found in a day of no work but is realized in the work done by Jesus. Mirror: * are you too busy? Doing what? * Would your spouse/kids say that you have a good rhythm? * Is God 1st in your week? 731 challenge * “if the devil can’t make you bad, he’ll make you busy Action: * 731. Trying praying 1st thing in the morning * get out your “i-dol- phone” and schedule your Sabbath now. * Answer the invitation of Jesus.

God's law is a map and a mirror: It's a map showing us how to be perfect. It's a mirror reflecting our imperfect condition. 3 Things to remember when studying God's law: 1. The law is good. 2. The law is inflexible. 3. The law is devasting "For 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

If God is fighting for us, what could stand in our way? 31 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be[i] against us? 32 He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? 33 Who shall bring any charge against God's elect? It is God who justifies. 34 Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us.[j]35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? 36 As it is written, “For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.” 37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:31-37

Jesus is THE Lamb of God that has come to take away YOUR sin. The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! John 1:29 Have you personally experienced the forgiveness of your sins through the shed blood of the Lamb? Why put it off? Then Pharaoh called Moses and Aaron and said, “Plead with the LORD to take away the frogs from me and from my people, and I will let the people go to sacrifice to the LORD.”9 Moses said to Pharaoh, “Be pleased to command me when I am to plead for you and for your servants and for your people, that the frogs be cut off from you and your houses and be left only in the Nile.” 10 And he said, “Tomorrow.” Exodus 8:8-10

You can make excuses or make a difference. Excuses are rooted in fear because they focus on your shortcomings. Making a difference is rooted faith because it focuses on God’s faithfulness.

Sovereign God orchestrates the details of our lives for His glory. He uses both pain and provision to accomplish His plans. He’s still got the whole world in His hands. 29 Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? And not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. 30 But even the hairs of your head are all numbered. 31 Fear not, therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows. 32 So everyone who acknowledges me before men, I also will acknowledge before my Father who is in heaven, Matthew 10:29-32

Rest is found in Jesus alone.

We are not mistakers in need of a life coach, but sinners in need of a savior. “I am trying here to prevent anyone saying the really foolish thing that people often say about Him: I’m ready to accept Jesus as a great moral teacher, but I don’t accept his claim to be God. That is the one thing we must not say. A man who was merely a man and said the sort of things Jesus said would not be a great moral teacher. He would either be a lunatic — on the level with the man who says he is a poached egg — or else he would be the Devil of Hell. You must make your choice. Either this man was, and is, the Son of God, or else a madman or something worse. You can shut him up for a fool, you can spit at him and kill him as a demon or you can fall at his feet and call him Lord and God, but let us not come with any patronizing nonsense about his being a great human teacher. He has not left that open to us. He did not intend to.” C.S. Lewis

From a heavenly perspective Jesus isn’t simply a cuddly little baby born into a silent night, but God’s Almighty Son sent behind enemy lines on a rescue mission. “For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.” Luke 19:10 As soon as you were rescued you became a part of the rescue team: 1.Pray for someone specifically that doesn’t know Jesus. 2.Invite someone to church next week (salvation message) 3.Host a Christmas in Box service 4.COMMIT TO ATTEND THE 1:30 SERVICE FOR 4 MONTHS BEGINNING JAN 11.

"And the King answered them, Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers you did it to me" Matthew 25:40

When ordinary people walk in extraordinary obedience they get to witness God’s Word made manifest.

Those who have experienced the freedom of being forgiven freely extend forgiveness. Who do you need to forgive? Will you leave a LEGACY of grace, mercy, and forgiveness or anger, bitterness, and resentment? 33 And should not you have had mercy on your fellow servant, as I had mercy on you?’ 34 And in anger his master delivered him to the jailers,[k]until he should pay all his debt. 35 So also my heavenly Father will do to every one of you, if you do not forgive your brother from your heart.” Matthew 18:33-35

You may have trusted Jesus with your heart, but are you trusting Him with your life?

God’s greatest desire for His Glory is for His Children to come home. God isn’t mad at you. He is mad about you.

The only way to satisfy the unlimited desires of your soul is with the unlimited grace and love of Jesus. 28 Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” Matthew 11

1. Often the most amazing things about Jesus are the things we understand the least. 2. That’s what the cross is. It is God choosing to lay all the deserved punishment for all the sins of all the adopted children of the God, on Jesus who was undeserving

"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him." John 3:16-17

God’s timing is always perfect. He is rarely early and never late. It may take patience, it’ll take more FAITH. In the end, HIS ways are worth the wait.

and the Scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness”—and he was called a friend of God. James 2:23

Jesus is the GREATER ark of our salvation. Respond: God is on a rescue mission.

We bring to God our first and best because God first loved us by giving His best.

God sent His Son Jesus on a rescue mission for all of us who have run from God.

God sent His Son Jesus on a rescue mission for all of us who have run from God.

You were created by God and for God to reflect God by having the spirit of God in you.

We can give because God did give. The root of generosity is not in our circumstances, abilities, bank accounts, or religiousness. The root of generosity is in the cross, that is where Jesus gave us life.

The only incorruptible thing in this corrupt world is the LOVE OF JESUS. Do you KNOW Him?

When your identity is IN CHRIST, whether you are on the top of the heap or the bottom of the barrel, you have an opportunity to: Show Honor, Wield Influence, Practice Integrity, Display Humility.

The condition of your marriage is not about activity but your identity in Christ.

How you live is a result of Who lives in you.

CoE22 is a movement for all people to discover and deepen a relationship with Jesus. If you are ready to move from a receiver to an owner of that mission and vision, then you are ready to become a Covenant Member of CoE22.