ROC the Day 2013

We hope that you are able to join us and donate to TurningPoint Youth Ministries, Parma Christian Fellowship Church and Parma Free Center Nursery School as part of the 3rd Annual ROC the Day!

We have spent the last 20+ years helping those in our community, and with your help, we can continue to help members of our community. You are free to donate any amount, so please consider donating even just $1, and encourage your friends and family members to donate $1, especially if they have been impacted by our support.

We appreciate your prayers and support!

"Words"

We are building off of what we discussed last week, the importance of taming your tongue. The questions we talk about are based off of the ones from Student Ministry.

1. What's the most common remark you make to others that may not be very Christ-like? Cursing, put-downs, pressure/threats, black mail, sarcasm, sexual jokes
2. How does that make you feel when you say them? We got quite a mix of answers: bad, better, guilty, good, regret, happy.
3. How does it make you feel when those remarks are said to you? Sad, upset, horrible, mad. It's obvious that we don't like being told non-Christ-like words, yet we still tend to say them to other people.
4. Are you more likely to say mean things to others when you are with others and why? Yes, because you are putting on a facade for other people, trying to look "cool".
5. When you put others down, are you the bigger person? Our teens answered that it "depends". They feel like the bigger person when they are venting their feelings to others.
6. When person A calmly puts down person B, but person B retaliates, who really wins that situation? No one-they are both on the same level.

There are many ways to vent to other people that does not involve remarks that are not Christ-like. You will never be the bigger person if you "vent" using hurtful and ugly words. No one likes hearing those words said to them, so we shouldn't be quick to say them to other people. "Say only what helps, each word a gift" (Ephesians 4:29, MSG).

Don’t use foul or abusive language. Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them.
~Ephesians 4:29 (NLT)

Words
Hawk Nelson

They've made me feel like a prisoner
They've made me feel set free
They've made me feel like a criminal
Made me feel like a king

They've lifted my heart
To places I'd never been
And they've dragged me down
Back to where I began

Words can build you up
Words can break you down
Start a fire in your heart or
Put it out

Let my words be life
Let my words be truth
I don't wanna say a word
Unless it points the world back to You

You can heal the heartache
Speak over the fear
(Speak over the fear)
God, Your voice is the only thing
We need to hear
(We need to hear)

Words can build us up
Words can break us down
Start a fire in our hearts or
Put it out

Let my words be life
Let my words be truth
I don't wanna say a word
Unless it points the world back to You
(Back to You)

Let the words I say
(Let the words I say)
Be the sound of Your grace
(Sound like Your grace)
I don't wanna say a word
Unless it points the world back to You

I wanna speak Your love
Not just another noise
Oh, I wanna be Your light
I wanna be Your voice

Let my words be life
Let my words be truth
I don't wanna say a word
Unless it points the world back to You
(Back to You)

Let the words I say
(Let the words I say)
Be the sound of Your grace
(Sound like Your grace)
I don't wanna say a word
Unless it points the world back to You
(Back to You)

Words can build us up
Words can break us down
Start a fire in our hearts
Or put it out

I don't wanna say a word
Unless it points the world back to You

Taming the Tongue

We found a great message from Student Ministry about Taming the Tongue.

Not many of you should become teachers, my fellow believers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly. ² We all stumble in many ways. Anyone who is never at fault in what they say is perfect, able to keep their whole body in check. ³ When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can turn the whole animal. ⁴ Or take ships as an example. Although they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot wants to go. ⁵ Likewise, the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. ⁶ The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole body, sets the whole course of one’s life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell.
⁷ All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and sea creatures are being tamed and have been tamed by mankind, ⁸ but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.
⁹ With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings, who have been made in God’s likeness. ¹⁰ Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this should not be. ¹¹ Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring? ¹² My brothers and sisters, can a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water.
~James 3 (NIV)

The 3 illustrations in that passage are:

• Horses: a very powerful animal controlled by a small piece of metal in their mouth
• Ships: Huge, important vehicles, but useless without a rudder, which directs the ship.
• Fire: Not much of anything, but has the capability of creating a large and dangerous fire.

What you choose to put into your body effects what your body looks like. Your words show and affect how you live your life. If you curse, boast, slander others, and use other negative words, it shows that you are trying to hurt others. The issue is the fact that you don't choose your words wisely. When you don't choose your words wisely, you fall out of favor with God.

Choose your words wisely, whether in person or online. The negative things we say about other people can have a great impact on them. Even side comments and jokes that are said may not mean any harm, but many times, it makes a deep impact on them. There's a saying: sticks and stones may break my bones, but words can hurt forever. Your jokes and insignificant words can be so hurtful to others!

{Source}

A couple other versions of the James passage:

^5-6 It only takes a spark, remember, to set off a forest fire. A careless or wrongly placed word out of your mouth can do that. By our speech we can ruin the world, turn harmony to chaos, throw mud on a reputation, send the whole world up in smoke and go up in smoke with it, smoke right from the pit of hell.
~James 3 (MSG)

 ² Indeed, we all make many mistakes. For if we could control our tongues, we would be perfect and could also control ourselves in every other way. ³ We can make a large horse go wherever we want by means of a small bit in its mouth. ⁴ And a small rudder makes a huge ship turn wherever the pilot chooses to go, even though the winds are strong. ⁵ In the same way, the tongue is a small thing that makes grand speeches.
But a tiny spark can set a great forest on fire. ⁶ And the tongue is a flame of fire. It is a whole world of wickedness, corrupting your entire body. It can set your whole life on fire, for it is set on fire by hell itself.
~James 3 (NLT)

Sticks & Stones Poem:
Sticks and Stones May Break My Bones...
But Words Can Hurt Forever

Bruises heal and bones can mend,
But feelings will not ever,

Sticks fail and stones may miss
But well aimed words will never

How to Have a Relationship with God

Last week, we talked about how to avoid sin, and said that when we sin, we don't have to repent quickly because our relationship with God is very important.

Having a relationship with God is very similar to having a relationship with a human being.

When you begin a relationship with someone, how do you do it? Usually, you'll get to know that person. You'll talk to them more frequently and spend more time with them.

You'll generally like or dislike things about each other, agree or disagree about things, and other common issues you can experience in relationship. If something goes wrong, you generally work on the problem. It's a give and take, and you work at the relationship.

When you're in a relationship with God, it's the same thing: You'll like or dislike things about each other, agree or disagree on things. It's a give and take, and you need to stick with Him, and you work at the relationship. You will get mad at Him, but He won't get mad at you. He won't be happy with your decisions, but He's understanding.

You show what your relationship with God is by your actions. If you do not have a relationship with God, you make decisions based on the world. You do things that feel good in the moment, to have a good time, and that are self-centered. If you do have a relationship with God, you make decisions based on what God wants for you.

When you have the Holy Spirit in you, it will change your life. When you have the Holy Spirit and a relationship with God, you show the fruit of the spirit in your life. If you have no relationship with God, you do not show the fruit of the spirit. It is possible to believe in God, but not have a relationship with Him and not have the Holy Spirit in you. If this is the case, you are not following His ways. If you have a relationship with God, your decisions and actions should show the fruit of the spirit and God's law and love. If your actions don't, then you don't have a relationship.

Building a relationship does not happen overnight. It is not an easy relationship to work on, and it can be hard to have a relationship with God in your current home situation. You need to make a conscious decision to not want what your current situation is, and change your ways. It does not have to stay the same.

Do you remember the 7 Words of the Gospel from FCWC?

You need to make a choice to follow Him. It is no one else's choice but yours.Your decision will change your life. Your life has to change if you follow God. You should be fellowshiping with other Christians, your actions should be different.

God always has His foot in the door. He is always there for you, and will be there for you when you make your decision to follow Him.

Temptation

Temptation: the fact or state of being tempted, especially to evil.
Tempted: to entice or allure, to do something often regarded as unwise, wrong, or immoral.
Repentance: deep sorrow, compunction for a past sin, wrong doing, or the like.
Compunction: feeling of uneasiness or anxiety of the conscience caused by regret for doing wrong or causing pain.

Temptation is something that everyone faces, and everyone will continue to face. It can take a lifetime, but we can learn how to avoid temptation.

1. Recognize your tendency toward sin: Be aware of what your most common sins are, or what things you tend to sin with. Recognize that you will be tempted, and be prepared. ^"2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, ³ because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. ⁴ Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. ⁵ If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. ⁶ But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. ⁷ That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. ⁸ Such a person is double-minded and unstable in all they do. ⁹ Believers in humble circumstances ought to take pride in their high position. ¹⁰ But the rich should take pride in their humiliation—since they will pass away like a wild flower. ¹¹ For the sun rises with scorching heat and withers the plant; its blossom falls and its beauty is destroyed. In the same way, the rich will fade away even while they go about their business.
   ¹² Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him. ¹³ When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; ¹⁴ but each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed. ¹⁵ Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death. ¹⁶ Don’t be deceived, my dear brothers and sisters. ¹⁷ Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. ¹⁸ He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of all he created." ~James 1 (NIV)
2. Run away from the temptaion: After we recognize what tempts us, we need to run away from that temptation. Now, we have to want to run away and get it out of our lives, but keeping it out of our lives as best we can is the only way to avoid that temptation. "No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it." ~1 Corinthians 10:13 (NIV)
3. Resist with the Word of truth: You can't resist temptation without knowing the truth, so spend time regularly reading the bible. If you regularly read the bible, you are better prepared to fight off temptation. "For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart." ~Hebrews 4:12 (NIV) We have a weapon that we can use to fight off our sins! "⁴ The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. ⁵ We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ." ~2 Corinthians 10 (NIV)
4. Refocus with praise: It's hard to focus on your sins when you are praising God. Praising God takes your focus off of yourself and others, and puts it on God. No one is strong enough to fight temptation alone, but when you focus on God, He will give you the strength to walk away. There are many great praises to God in the bible (as we use the Word to fight off temptation), but check out Psalm 147.
5. Repent when you fail: You will sin. Everyone will sin. It's important to remember that when we do fall to temptation, that we ask for forgiveness of our sins. We need to continual repent (not necessarily quickly, that's where a relationship with God comes in) when we sin.

Sins are all on the same level. Some common sins that you struggle with could be what was talked about at FCWC. It is important to follow these steps when you are tempted with anything. This is one way that you can work on a relationship with God, which we'll talk about next week.

FCWC13: Friday Morning

Glory: stunning perfection

"Now, brothers and sisters, I want to remind you of the gospel I preached to you, which you received and on which you have taken your stand. By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in vain."  

~1 Corinthians 15:1-2 (NIV)

Jesus died on the cross for you and for your sins. He offered forgiveness for penalty of sin.

Have power over the presence of sin in your life. Know how to pursue things. Do things, but do them for God. Have 1 supreme sacrifice and pursuit that stands above all: a passion for the glory of God.

Get the order right: God -> others -> self

"³¹ What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? ³² 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? ³³ Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. ³⁴ 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. ³⁵ Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? ³⁶ As it is written: “For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered 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 convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, ³⁹ neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord."

~Romans 8 (NIV)

FCWC13:Thursday Evening

⁷ So, as the Holy Spirit says:

“Today, if you hear his voice,
⁸     do not harden your hearts
as you did in the rebellion,
    during the time of testing in the wilderness,
⁹ where your ancestors tested and tried me,
    though for forty years they saw what I did.
¹⁰ That is why I was angry with that generation;
    I said, ‘Their hearts are always going astray,
    and they have not known my ways.’
¹¹ So I declared on oath in my anger,
    ‘They shall never enter my rest.’ ”

¹² See to it, brothers and sisters, that none of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God. ¹³ But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called “Today,” so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness. ~Hebrews 3:7-13 (NIV)

There is great danger in the valley. It is easy to turn away from God, but He has instructed you.

Discharge Plan: Feed your spirit. Make it strong.  "So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh." ~Galatians 5:16 (NIV)

Ways to feed your spirit:

1. Be ready for spiritual warfare: Our flesh is drawn to Satan. It pulls us away from God. Do you want to win spiritual warfare? You need to give up being cool. Do not be worrying about your image and your self. "⁹ But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. ¹⁰ Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. ¹¹ Dear friends, I urge you, as foreigners and exiles, to abstain from sinful desires, which wage war against your soul." ~1 Peter 2:9-11 (NIV).
2. Repent & Believe: This should be the rhythm to life. It is like a cycle to Christian life. You need to constantly have to take out the garbage in life to grow. You need to trust Christ to change. "“The time has come,” he said. “The kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news!”" ~Mark 1:15 (NIV)
3. Make hard decisions: "²⁷ “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ ²⁸ But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart. ²⁹ If your right eye causes you to stumble, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. ³⁰ And if your right hand causes you to stumble, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to go into hell." ~Matthew 5:27-30 (NIV). Sometimes you need to cut off things that cause you to sin. You need to get rid of access to these things. Sometimes we have to drastic things or we'll be drug toward hell. These can be things like friends (you can wait to help non-Christian friends until you're stronger), job, porn, significant others. Even in biblical times, this was done. In 1 Kings, Elijah gives his ministry to Elisha, and he leaves his parents.
4. Read your bible: It is important to read the bible regularly. It's ok if it's not the most exciting every time you read. It won't be. It will become sweeter over time. Be in the word. "Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth." ~John 17:17 (NIV). The bible is like a double edge sword: "For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart." ~Hebrews 4:12 (NIV). It will fully equip you: "¹⁶ All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, ¹⁷ so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work." ~2 Timothy 3 (NIV). You need the spirit of God AND the Word of God. It's like a bow. If you don't have both, you're ready to shoot but don't know where to shoot. Read good books to encourage your faith.
5. Pray: Don't stop praying. Prayer will connect you to God. Journaling can also help in your prayers. It slows down your thinking, giving you more time to think about your prayers. "“So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you." ~Luke 11:9 (NIV)
6. Stones of Remembrance: "On the tenth day of the first month the people went up from the Jordan and camped at Gilgal on the eastern border of Jericho. And Joshua set up at Gilgal the twelve stones they had taken out of the Jordan. He said to the Israelites, “In the future when your descendants ask their parents, ‘What do these stones mean?’ tell them, ‘Israel crossed the Jordan on dry ground.’ For the Lord your God dried up the Jordan before you until you had crossed over. The Lord your God did to the Jordan what he had done to the Red Sea when he dried it up before us until we had crossed over. He did this so that all the peoples of the earth might know that the hand of the Lord is powerful and so that you might always fear the Lord your God.”" ~Joshua 4:19-24 (NIV). Give yourself reminders of who God is and what He has done for you. Have reminders of what we are called to do. Accumulate different items to remember your walk with God. Look to them often to encourage you.
7. Together in church: Find wise people in the church. In the New Testament, all of the disciples were connected and committed to a church. "Walk with the wise and become wise, for a companion of fools suffers harm." ~Proverbs 13:20 (NIV). These people that you find at church are your faith family. Seek roots there. Connect with people your own age, but connect with wiser believers. Jesus works through the church. It is the hope of continuing faith.
8. Serve: Look for opportunities to serve. Look at places that you love, places that you feel need help or places that can utilize your talents. Do not neglect your gifts. You have special talents. Put them to use. " Do not neglect your gift, which was given you through prophecy when the body of elders laid their hands on you." ~1 Timothy 4:14 (NIV). Serving eases being critical.

FCWC13: Thursday Morning

I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples. 

~John 15:1-8 (NIV)

It is a continuous process to be a follower of Jesus. You invite Him in and constantly move and get rid of things so nothing messes up the vine and branches.

Remember: You are the branches, not the vine. You are the child, not the parent. You are the student, not the teacher.

You will die if you aren't fed with scripture. God wants you to be where the vine and branches meet.

We were given a packet of honey, a reminder of Psalm 119:103 (NIV): "How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth!"

Nothing is sweeter than the Word of God. It will change you if you allow yourself to get into it. It requires more than just reading. You need to meditate, memorize, pray, and practice. Have it on you. Internalize and personalize bible verses.

God wants you to abide in Him. Rest in the power of God's word. God has all of the resources because He's the true vine. The vine exists only for branches. Remain in him.

FCWC13: Wednesday Evening

Tonight Pastor Steve talked about continuum repentance. Continuum repentance is continually asking forgiveness and repenting for your actions. It is not an easy process, but it is practical and fruitful.

They tell how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God ~1 Thessalonians  1:9b (NIV)

 We need to keep moving away from all of the idols in our lives and toward God. It's like a bow. We pull back just enough from our sin, but there's still tension and we can feel ourselves being dragged back to our old ways. Pull all the way back (toward God), and you can relax in His strength and power.

How to turn to God from idols:

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. ~Ephesians 4:28 (NIV)

1. Prophetic vision: "Where there is no revelation, people cast off restraint; but blessed is the one who heeds wisdom’s instruction." ~Proverbs 29:18 (NIV). If you have no vision, you will go back to sin.
2. This is the work of God. You are not enough to do it alone. "for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose." ~Philippians 2:12 (NIV)
3. Bring glory to God and others

Progress is not made in generalities. You do not just grow in faith. You need to work hard at it.

Some things to work on to be a man or a woman of God:

1. Words: Speak good, healthy words into other's lives. Give good words of encouragement, comfort or correction. Do not use vulgar words. "Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen." ~Ephesians 4:29 (NIV). James 3 has great wisdom on the power of your words.
2. Hard/soft heart: Calm down. Get rid of your anger. "Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you." ~Ephesians 4:32 (NIV)
3. Money/possessions: Don't find happiness or status in your money and possessions. If you find it glorious, it will draw you away from God. Develop a habit of giving! Break the power of greed. "Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life." ~1 Timothy 6:17-19 (NIV)
4. Relationship with parents: Even if you feel that your relationship with your parents is ok, there is still work that can be done. Don't be disobedient or semi-obedient. Stop giving them attitude and dishonoring them. Break your old habits: serve them. Be helpful and encouraging, speak well of them and appreciate their hard work. "I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery." ~Deuteronomy 5:6 (NIV)
5. Sex: Learn to control and honor your body. Abstain from sexual activity. God has called us for holiness. This activity is driving you away from God and killing you emotionally. Guys: See girls as your sisters to defend. Stand up for them. Pray for the purity of your future wife. Give your wife purity. and Girls: Pray for the purity of your future husband. Give your husband purity. Sin will take you farther than you want to go, keep you longer than you want to stay, and cost more than you want to pay. "As for other matters, brothers and sisters, we instructed you how to live in order to please God, as in fact you are living. Now we ask you and urge you in the Lord Jesus to do this more and more. For you know what instructions we gave you by the authority of the Lord Jesus. It is God’s will that you should be sanctified: that you should avoid sexual immorality;  that each of you should learn to control your own body in a way that is holy and honorable,  not in passionate lust like the pagans, who do not know God; and that in this matter no one should wrong or take advantage of a brother or sister. The Lord will punish all those who commit such sins, as we told you and warned you before. For God did not call us to be impure, but to live a holy life." ~1 Thessalonians 4:1-7 (NIV)
6. Looks/appearance: Move away from clothes, hair, fashion and attracting the opposite sex. Move toward adorning the heart, your inner person. "She is worth far more than rubies. Her husband has full confidence in her and lacks nothing of value. She brings him good, not harm, all the days of her life. She opens her arms to the poor and extends her hands to the needy. She is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come. She speaks with wisdom, and faithful instruction is on her tongue." ~Sections of Proverbs 31 (NIV)
7. Entertainment: There are many crude and vial sources of entertainment that dragging is you down. A lot of entertainment is just mind numbing and mindless. There is no reading or discussions, and our minds need to be developed, or we'll remain on a low level. They are just a waste of time. Do you give God your time? You do have the time to do activities that bring you closer to God (pray, read the bible or a devotional, serve God and others). You just choose to waste it. Find time to fight a battle against Satan. Rest, but don't throw your time away. Show you love God and others.

Remember: God is bigger than the situation. He can help you work on any and all of these issues.

FCWC13: Wednesday Morning

So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.
~1 Corinthians 10:31(NIV)

 Whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.

Don't do things for your own comfort. Do it for God and to glorify Him. Have initiative and don't give your left over effort. Go hard or go home. Go all the way. Be fully engaged in everything that you do.

Do these in ALL aspects of your life: school, work, friendships, sports. When you do anything, do it fully to show God's glory.

Challenge yourself:
Are you doing it for your comfort or for the glory of God?

FCWC13: Tuesday Evening

Pain vs. Desire

Pastor Steve used the diagram from above to explain glory.

We need to start with giving glory to God, then we will be able to be good to others, then we can have joy.

If we start with giving glory to ourselves, we lose our life. Don't move to push past issues that cause you pain first. That's not why we are lost. We lost God and need to get Him back. To recover what was lost, go back to the core: God.

If you pursue your own joy, you will not find it. Pursue the glory of God, then you will find joy. Other things will lead you away from God. Jesus needs to be your greatest pursuit and joy. You must see Him as glorious and beautiful. Do not pursue lesser joys.

Matthew 13 gives a great example of how we should pursue God. The passage talks about doing everything for God. Take the time to do things whole heartedly to give Him glory.

Pastor Steve also compared a microscope and a telescope to illustrate glory.

• Microscope: Take something small and make it look big (things like worldly items and possessions). This perspective often has us look at something insignificant, but it makes us focus too much on it. It blows up the issue when it is really not an issue.
• Telescope: Take something big and look closely at the awesomeness of it (like you would look at a star or planet). This perspective has us looking at how amazing things are, and magnify something, in a way we should magnify the Lord.

Our telescope is the bible. It reveals the God who created everything- God, Himself. It shows us how wonderful He is. Magnify the Lord and exalt Him (teach about Him, be an example of Him, read the bible).

Alpha and Omega

 You will pursue what is most beautiful. If He is not magnified, you will not follow him. You'll just be concerned with microscope work.

You need to take ownership of your life and actions. You must learn to love God.

It's time to magnify the Lord.

Praise the Lord, for the Lord is good;
His love endures forever
sing praise to his name, for that is pleasant.
His love endures forever
For the Lord has chosen Jacob to be his own, 
His love endures forever
Israel to be his treasured possession.

His love endures forever

I know that the Lord is great,
His love endures forever

that our Lord is greater than all gods.
His love endures forever

The Lord does whatever pleases him,
His love endures forever

in the heavens and on the earth,
His love endures forever

in the seas and all their depths.
His love endures forever

He makes clouds rise from the ends of the earth;
His love endures forever

he sends lightning with the rain
His love endures forever

and brings out the wind from his storehouses.

His love endures forever

 

Other passages used:

 

¹ I will extol the Lord at all times;
    his praise will always be on my lips.
² I will glory in the Lord;
    let the afflicted hear and rejoice.
³ Glorify the Lord with me;
    let us exalt his name together. ~Psalm 34 (NIV)

³³ Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and^[a] knowledge of God!
    How unsearchable his judgments,
    and his paths beyond tracing out!
³⁴ “Who has known the mind of the Lord?
    Or who has been his counselor?”^[b]
35 “Who has ever given to God,
    that God should repay them?”^[c]
36 For from him and through him and for him are all things.
    To him be the glory forever! Amen. ~Romans 11 (NIV)

⁸ “I am the Lord; that is my name!
    I will not yield my glory to another
    or my praise to idols.
⁹ See, the former things have taken place,
    and new things I declare;
before they spring into being
    I announce them to you.” ~Isaiah42 (NIV)

¹⁶ For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. ~Colossians 1 (NIV)

¹ Not to us, Lord, not to us
    but to your name be the glory,
    because of your love and faithfulness. ~Psalm115 (NIV) 

 

 

 

FCWC13: Tuesday Morning

We want recognition for our hard work, and will often do just about anything to get it.

We need to remember that God also wants recognition for all of His hard work.

⁴ I am in the midst of lions;
    I am forced to dwell among ravenous beasts—
men whose teeth are spears and arrows,
    whose tongues are sharp swords.

⁵ Be exalted, O God, above the heavens;
    let your glory be over all the earth.

⁶ They spread a net for my feet—
    I was bowed down in distress.
They dug a pit in my path—
    but they have fallen into it themselves.

⁷ My heart, O God, is steadfast,
    my heart is steadfast;
    I will sing and make music.
⁸ Awake, my soul!
    Awake, harp and lyre!
    I will awaken the dawn.

⁹ I will praise you, Lord, among the nations;
    I will sing of you among the peoples.
¹⁰ For great is your love, reaching to the heavens;
    your faithfulness reaches to the skies.

¹¹ Be exalted, O God, above the heavens;
    let your glory be over all the earth.

~Psalm 54 (NIV) 

David (the author) sees his circumstances as existing separately from God's glory. David is going through many emotions, but is still giving praise when he is suffering.

God is true and God is real.

God is not more or less true because of your pain or your joy.

FCWC13: Monday Evening

The 7 Words of the Gospel:

1. Created: In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. ~Genesis 1:1 (NIV)
2. Sin: for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God ~Romans 3:23 (NIV)
3. Death: For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. ~Romans 6:23 (NIV)
4. Jesus: But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. ~Romans 5:8 (NIV)
5. Faith: For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast. ~Ephesians 2:8-9 (NIV)
6. Life: The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. ~John 10:10 (NIV)
7. Follow: My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. ~John 10:27 (NIV)

There was an invitation to come to "detox", a way to use this week to get close to Jesus. This will include moving away from sin and moving into a right way of living.

A few things to remember:

• Sin is still a poison, no matter how it is presented.
• Don't be ok with where you are. Don't compare yourself with others to decide where you should be. Don't say "I'm not doing what she's doing, so I'm not that bad."

Key passages:

 After six days Jesus took Peter, James and John with him and led them up a high mountain, where they were all alone. There he was transfigured before them. His clothes became dazzling white, whiter than anyone in the world could bleach them. And there appeared before them Elijah and Moses, who were talking with Jesus.Peter said to Jesus, “Rabbi, it is good for us to be here. Let us put up three shelters—one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.”  (He did not know what to say, they were so frightened.)
Then a cloud appeared and covered them, and a voice came from the cloud: “This is my Son, whom I love. Listen to him!”
Suddenly, when they looked around, they no longer saw anyone with them except Jesus. ~Mark 9:2-8 (NIV) 

Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling ~Philippians 2:12 (NIV) 

 

 

What Kept Jesus on the Cross?

Easter is this Sunday! Easter is one of the most important holidays in Christianity, as Jesus rising from the dead is the basis of the religion.

Holy Week has already started, with Sunday being Palm Sunday. On Thursday, Jesus and his disciples had the last supper, and Jesus prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane. On Friday, Jesus was put on trial and was crucified. Jesus knew that the crucifixion would be brutal, and while in the Garden of Gethsemane, He prayed that if there were any other way to save the world, for God to do it. But, that was not God's plan. Jesus HAD to be sacrificed.

³⁵ When they had crucified him, they divided up his clothes by casting lots. ³⁶ And sitting down, they kept watch over him there. ³⁷ Above his head they placed the written charge against him: this is jesus, the king of the jews.
³⁸ Two rebels were crucified with him, one on his right and one on his left. ³⁹ Those who passed by hurled insults at him, shaking their heads ⁴⁰ and saying, “You who are going to destroy the temple and build it in three days, save yourself! Come down from the cross, if you are the Son of God!” ⁴¹ In the same way the chief priests, the teachers of the law and the elders mocked him. ⁴² “He saved others,” they said, “but he can’t save himself! He’s the king of Israel! Let him come down now from the cross, and we will believe in him.
~Matthew 27 (NIV)

 Jesus had to be sacrificed, and willingly did so because He loves you. It was not the nails that held Jesus to the cross. He could have found a way down or asked God to release Him, but His love for us kept Him there until the job was finished.

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
~John 3:16 (NIV)

 Jesus can relate to you. Not in every specific scenario, but understands the suffering you are feeling. After all, He went through death in the most cruel and brutal way, and loves you enough to have done that.

We all received dots on our wrists with our names by it. This is to remind us that Jesus died for us. Everytime you look at it, remember that He died for YOU.

{When you look at your dot, remember that Jesus died for you}