WELCOME TO THE ZOO
INTRO During this Spring we spent time talking about marriage. During this Summer we want to talk about the family, all areas of the family: parents, kids, grandparents, single parents, singles, and seniors. We have plans for some fun activities for all members of the family. Not just Kidz Camp and Youth America, but special events for singles, seniors, men, women, and the entire church. We are bringing back our “SNOW” nights: Summer Nights of Worship followed by homemade ice cream, picnics, and cookouts. I would love to have a camping trip for men and boys and something fluffy and foo-foo for the ladies and girls. The singles and seniors will not be forgotten.
To introduce the series today, let's look at the Bible to lay some framework. We will flesh it out in the weeks to come with staff teachings, interviews, panel discussions, videos, testimonies, and a few surprises! This will be a practical and fun time together!
VIDEO “Joe McGee: Disneyland Trip”
KEY VERSE Joshua 24:15b (NKJV) ...As for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.
1. God created the family.
Genesis 1:27-28 NKJV So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. Then God blessed them, and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply...”
2. Four areas where families can grow.
Luke 2:52 (NKJV) And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men.
3. Four opportunities for families to grow.
Deuteronomy 6:4-9 (NKJV) Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one! 5 You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength. 6 And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart. 7 You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up. 8 You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. 9 You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.
#TGIF
Sunday, May 29, 2016
Sunday, May 22, 2016
GROW UP Session 6 Hearing God Part 2
GROW UP Session 6
HEARING GOD - Part 2
God, Talk to me!
INTRO: Last week we began to
talk about the one essential in the Christian life: hearing God.
1. The question remains today,
“How do I hear God?”
a.
God
talks to me through His Word.
i. Reading
the Word
ii. Listening
to the Word
iii. Sharing
the Word
b.
God
talks to me through my spirit, my inner man.
i. Romans
8:16 “His
Spirit bears witness with our spirit…”
ii. God
moves the message to our mind by our thoughts.
1. “Where
did that come from?”
2. “Still,
small, voice…”; Elijah in the cave
a. 1 Kings 19:11–13 (NKJV) Then
He said, “Go out, and stand on the mountain before the Lord.” And behold, the
Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind tore into the mountains and broke
the rocks in pieces before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind; and
after the wind an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake; 12and
after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire; and after the
fire a still small voice. 13So it was, when Elijah heard it, that he
wrapped his face in his mantle and went out and stood in the entrance of the
cave. Suddenly a voice came to him, and said, “What are you doing here,
Elijah?”
iii. Sometimes
we just know
1. Naba, prophet, "bubble
up", a spontaneous flow
a. John
7:37–39 (NKJV) On the last day, that great day of the
feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to
Me and drink. 38He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said,
out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.” 39But this He
spoke concerning the Spirit, whom those believing in Him would receive; for the
Holy Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.
c.
God
talks to me through a sense of peace.
i. Colossians
3:15 (NKJV) And
let the peace of God rule in your hearts…
1. Rule
here means to umpire; blow the whistle…
2. We act
and the peace either stays or goes.
3. Oftentimes
we don’t know until we make the decision.
d.
God
talks to me through visions and dreams.
i. Acts
2:17 (NKJV) And it
shall come to pass in the last days, says God, that I will pour out of My
Spirit on all flesh; your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your young
men shall see visions, your old men shall dream dreams.
ii. Visions
and dreams are the language of the Holy Spirit (Cho)
e.
God
talks to me through people.
i. A
prophetic word
1. Emotional
idol in our heart
a. Too
involved in situation to hear clearly
2. Pride
of hearing
3. Sin
ii. A
conversation among friends
1. Sometimes
we don't like the messenger
iii. Agreement
in prayer with spouse
1. Danger
of becoming dependent on partner
2.
Questions
to ask yourself...
a.
Am I willing to obey what I hear?
i. Isaiah
66:4 (NKJV) So will I choose their delusions, and bring
their fears on them; because, when I called, no one answered, when I spoke they
did not hear; but they did evil before My eyes, and chose that in which I do
not delight.”
b.
Is there any unconfessed sin or current
rebellion in my life?
i. Isaiah
59:1–2 (NKJV) Behold, the Lord’s
hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; nor His ear heavy, that it cannot
hear. 2But your iniquities have separated you from your God; and
your sins have hidden His face from you, so that He will not hear.
3. Let’s apply this practically…
The
best way to learn is to practice! You
have a decision to make. You need a word
from the Lord. You and your spouse begin
to pray and ask the Lord for direction.
1. You
confirm that you are willing to obey.
2. You
confess any known sin or rebellion in your life.
3. You
read the Word for a verse to stand on.
4. You ask
God to speak to your mind through your spirit.
5. You
look for a sense of peace in the decision you have made.
6. You can
ask God for a vision or a dream.
7. You can
seek confirmation through people.
Friday, May 13, 2016
GROW UP Session 5 Hearing God Part 1
GROW UP Session 5
HEARING GOD - Part 1
INTRO Have you ever struggled
to know what God wanted you to do in a given situation? We all have at one time
or another. Would you be interested in listening to me this morning if I
promised that, at the end of this message, you would be able to hear God’s
voice and always know what God wanted you to do? I believe you can know the will of God in
every decision if you seek Him.
Two of
the greatest prayers you can pray are: "Help!" and "God, what do you want me to do?"
God wants to walk with us like He walked with Adam in the Garden. He wants to be our friend just like He was
called Abraham a friend. Moses talked
with God face to face as a man speaks to a friend. Jesus called His disciples friends because servants
don't know what the Master is doing.
I am
talking about hearing and knowing the voice of God in every circumstance. If
you asked me, “What is the one absolute essential to growing up and becoming a
mature believer?” I would answer, “Hearing God!”
In the
past month, we have looked at several things that develop our spiritual ears:
having a quiet time, meditating on the Word, reading and understanding the
Bible, prayer. Now let’s look in detail how God speaks to us
My text
today is from the book of John...
John 10:1-4 (NKJV) Most assuredly, I say to you, he who does
not enter the sheepfold by the door, but climbs up some other way, the same is
a thief and a robber. But he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the
sheep. To him the doorkeeper opens, and the sheep hear
his voice; and he calls his own sheep by name
and leads them out. And when he brings out his own sheep, he goes before
them; and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice.”
1. Let me set the table…
a.
God has
always spoken to His children.
i. Adam, Abraham,
Moses, Samuel, the Judges, the Prophets, the Kings…
ii. Scripture
1.
Isaiah 30:21 (NKJV) Your ears shall hear a word behind you,
saying, “This is the way, walk in it,” whenever you turn to the right hand or whenever
you turn to the left.
2.
John 10:27 (NKJV) My sheep hear My voice, and I know them,
and they follow Me.
b.
God is
still speaking today.
i. He
didn’t just write a book and quit talking!
ii. Scripture
1.
Matthew 16:17–18 (NKJV) Jesus answered and said to him, “Blessed
are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but
My Father who is in heaven. And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on
this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail
against it.
2. Revelation
3:22 (NKJV) He who
has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. (Says
it seven times!)
c.
God
spoke and is speaking through Jesus Christ.
i. Hebrews
1:1–2 (NASB95) God,
after He spoke long ago to the fathers in the prophets in many portions and in
many ways, 2in these last days has spoken to us in His Son, whom He appointed
heir of all things, through whom also He made the world.
d.
God
speaks to us through our primary learning style.
i. Visual
1. Visions
ii. Auditory
1. Words
iii. Kinesthetic
1. Experiences
- Road to Emmaus
2. Dreams
2. So the question today is, “How
do I hear God?”
a.
The
first way God talks to me is through His Word.
i. Reading
the Word - visual
1. A verse
comes alive and God communicates to me.
2. God has
always given direction to me through His Word.
3. Illustrations
ii. Listening
to the Word - auditory
1. Digital
recorded versions
2. Sermons
3. Illustrations
iii. Experiencing
the Word - kinesthetic
1. Group
discussions
2. Real
life situations
3. Illustrations
INVITATION Who
needs a Word from God today?
Next
week: Part 2
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