Bloom Church Podcast

  Book Of James - Week 2   Judgement is when you assume to know why someone does what they do.    And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God's love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God's love. No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:38-39   EVERY PERSON IS LOVED, VALUED AND SEEN BY GOD. - James says   Yes indeed, it is good when you obey the royal law as found in the Scriptures: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” But if you favor some people over others, you are committing a sin. You are guilty of breaking the law. For the person who keeps all of the laws except one is as guilty as a person who has broken all of God's laws. For the same God who said, “You must not commit adultery,” also said, “You must not murder.” So if you murder someone but do not commit adultery, you have still broken the law. So whatever you say or whatever you do, remember that you will be judged by the law that sets you free. There will be no mercy for those who have not shown mercy to others. But if you have been merciful, God will be merciful when he judges you. James 2:8-13       4 WAYS TO OVERCOME JUDGING OTHERS     1. WE MUST VALUE PEOPLE   Philippians says Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. Philippians 2:3   SEEING VALUE IN PEOPLE IS NOT ABOUT THEIR VALUE TO YOU, BUT THEIR VALUE TO GOD.     2. WE MUST ACCEPT PEOPLE - Matther says   When Jesus heard this, he said, “Healthy people don't need a doctor—sick people do.” Matthew 9:12   Acceptance is not approval—it's the starting place for love-filled relationship.   Most important of all, continue to show deep love for each other, for love covers a multitude of sins. 1 Peter 4:8     3. WE MUST FORGIVE PEOPLE   Forgiveness is not minimizing the hurt you feel. Forgiveness is not making excuses for what happened. Forgiveness is not saying the offense wasn't wrong. Un-forgiveness locks you out of what God wants to do in your life. “For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.” - Matthew 6:14-15 Here is the simple truth UN-FORGIVENESS WILL HARBOR RESENTMENT AND THAT WILL TURN INTO BITTERNESS   Job says Surely resentment destroys the fool - Job 5:2    Hebrews also says Watch out that no poisonous root of bitterness grows up to trouble you, corrupting many - Hebrews 12:15     Roots absorb. Roots store. And Roots grow.   It spills over. It poisons relationships. It impacts your marriage. It strains relationships with your kids, your family, your friends. It shows up in how you talk, how you react, how you see others. Suddenly, the fruit of bitterness starts to grow in your life: You start seeing the worst in people. You justify gossip and criticism. You secretly feel good when others fail. You tear others down to make yourself feel better. UN-FORGIVENESS, BITTERNESS, RESENTMENT HAS NO AUTHORITY IN MY LIFE..     “Father, forgive them, for they don't know what they are doing.” Luke 23:34       4. WE MUST PURSUE RELATIONSHIPS   Isolation creates the perfect conditions for judgment to grow.   Relationships only thrive when you're more focused on what you're giving than what you're getting. “Do not judge others, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn others, or it will all come back against you. Forgive others, and you will be forgiven. Give, and you will receive. Your gift will return to you in full—pressed down, shaken together to make room for more, running over, and poured into your lap. The amount you give will determine the amount you get back.” Luke 6:37-38   People are shaped by the way we choose to see and serve them. 4 Questions to Ask Before You Judge Someone   1. How does Jesus view this person? - James says "He chose to give birth to us by giving us his true word. And we, out of all creation, became his prized possession." – James 1:18   2. Can Jesus restore anyone? - 2 Corinthians says "This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is 3. Is Jesus' forgiveness available for all? - 1 John says "But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness." – 1 John 1:9   4. Am I pursuing life-giving relationships? - Ecclesiastes says "Two people are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed. If one person falls, the other can reach out and help. But someone who falls alone is in real trouble.”    – Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 “If you openly declare that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” Romans 10:9 (NLT) (NO SLIDE)

  And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him. Don't copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God's will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect. Romans 12:1-2 NLT   HOME PLATE: CONNECT WITH GOD (WIN DEPENDENCE)   FIRST BASE: CHARACTER (WIN WITHIN)   SECOND BASE: COMMUNITY (WIN WITH OTHERS)   THIRD BASE: COMPETENCE (WIN RESULTS)   Look straight ahead, and fix your eyes on what lies before you. Mark out a straight path for your feet; stay on the safe path. Don't get sidetracked; your feet from following evil. Proverbs 4:25-27 NLT   "What counts on the last day of your life is what you should count every day of your life."   “Don't store up treasures here on earth, where moths eat them and rust destroys them, and where thieves break in and steal. Store your treasures in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal. Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be. Matthew 6:19-21 NLT                                                1. KNOW WHAT REALLY MATTERS   'Then he said, “Beware! Guard against every kind of greed. Life is not measured by how much you own.” Then he told them a story: “A rich man had a fertile farm that produced fine crops. He said to himself, ‘What should I do? I don't have room for all my crops.' Then he said, ‘I know! I'll tear down my barns and build bigger ones. Then I'll have room enough to store all my wheat and other goods. And I'll sit back and say to myself, “My friend, you have enough stored away for years to come. Now take it easy! Eat, drink, and be merry!”' “But God said to him, ‘You fool! You will die this very night. Then who will get everything you worked for?' “Yes, a person is a fool to store up earthly wealth but not have a rich relationship with God.” Luke 12:15-21 NLT   GOD IS GREAT; WE'RE NOT   Remember the things I have done in the past. For I alone am God! I am God, and there is none like me. Only I can tell you the future before it even happens. Everything I plan will come to pass, for I do whatever I wish. Isaiah 46:9-10 NLT   'Who is able to advise the Spirit of the Lord? Who knows enough to give him advice or teach him? Has the Lord ever needed anyone's advice? Does he need instruction about what is good? Did someone teach him what is right or show him the path of justice? Isaiah 40:13-14 NLT STUFF IS TEMPORARY; SOULS ARE ETERNAL 'But the day of the Lord will come as unexpectedly as a thief. Then the heavens will pass away with a terrible noise, and the very elements themselves will disappear in fire, and the earth and everything on it will be found to deserve judgment. 2 Peter 3:10 NLT   “I like your Christ, I do not like your Christians. Your Christians are so unlike your Christ.” Mahatma Gandhi   2. STRIVE TO EARN THE MOST IMPORTANT RELATIONAL COMMODITY: TRUST   TRUST MEANS YOU KEEP YOUR WORD!   'The Lord detests lying lips, but he delights in those who tell the truth. Proverbs 12:22 NLT   TRUST MEANS LOYALTY!    A friend is always loyal, and a brother is born to help in time of need. Proverbs 17:17 NLT   TRUST MEANS INTEGRITY!    'The godly walk with integrity; blessed are their children who follow them. Proverbs 20:7 NLT   TRUST MEANS DISCRETION.     A gossip goes around telling secrets, but those who are trustworthy can keep a confidence. Proverbs 11:13 NLT   3. ALIGN YOUR CALENDAR   'Teach us to realize the brevity of life, so that we may grow in wisdom. Psalms 90:12 NLT   4. DON'T LET BITTERNESS THROW YOU OUT Surely resentment destroys the fool. Job 5:2 NLT   Watch out that no poisonous root of bitterness grows up to trouble you, corrupting many. Hebrews 12:15 NLT   FORGIVENESS IS NOT… MINIMIZING THE HURT YOU FEEL MAKING EXCUSES FOR WHAT HAS HAPPENED SAYING THAT THE OFFENSE WAS NOT WRONG INSTANT RESTORATION OF TRUST. CONTINUING THE RELATIONSHIP WITHOUT CHANGES.   I WILL FORGIVE BECAUSE I NEED FORGIVENESS

EVERY CHOICE WE MAKE HAS A SPIRITUAL IMPLICATION ON OUR LIVES.  EVERY DECISION WE MAKE IS EITHER DRAWING US CLOSER TO JESUS OR PULLING US FURTHER FROM HIM. 6 TACTICS OF THE ENEMY: DESTRUCTION – THE ENEMY SEEKS TO DESTROY LIVES THROUGH SIN, ADDICTION, FEAR, AND HOPELESSNESS. OVERCOMING IT: PRACTICE A HEART OF GRATITUDE    PRACTICAL STEP: CREATE A GRATITUDE JOURNAL TO WRITE 1-3 THINGS YOU'RE THANKFUL FOR EACH DAY. START EVERY PRAYER WITH THANKS TO GOD.  EACH OPPORTUNITY PROVIDES US WITH A CHANCE TO TRUST IN GOD.   DISTRACTION: THE ENEMY USES BUSYNESS, ENTERTAINMENT, AND WORRIES TO PULL OUR FOCUS AWAY FROM GOD. OVERCOMING IT: PRIORITIZE GOD'S KINGDOM FIRST   PRACTICAL STEP: SET BOUNDARIES WITH YOUR TECHNOLOGY, USE THE DO NOT DISTURB. GO OLD SCHOOL AND JUST USE A PHYSICAL BIBLE SO YOUR PHONE CAN'T DISTRACT. GET ACCOUNTABILITY, TO KEEP YOU FROM INAPPROPRIATE CONTENT, DO BIBLE STUDIES WITH FRIENDS.  DECEPTION: THE ENEMY DISTORTS TRUTH, LEADING PEOPLE INTO FALSE BELIEFS AND SIN DISGUISED AS "GOOD." “SATAN LOVES TO KEEP US DOING SOMETHING GOOD, SO WE CAN AVOID DOING THE THING THAT'S THE BEST.” OVERCOMING IT: KNOW AND STAND ON THE WORD OF GOD   PRACTICAL STEP: JOURNAL YOUR THOUGHTS FOR ONE DAY AND THEN MATCH THEM TO THE WORD OF GOD. YOU CAN EVEN SPLIT THEM BETWEEN NEGATIVE AND POSITIVE THOUGHTS. 4. DISUNITY: THE ENEMY SOWS DISCORD IN FAMILIES, CHURCHES, AND RELATIONSHIPS TO WEAKEN THE BODY OF CHRIST. OVERCOMING IT: PURSUE PEACE AND RECONCILIATION   PRACTICAL STEP: CHOOSE FORGIVENESS OVER OFFENSE (COLOSSIANS 3:13). ENGAGE IN OPEN, LOVING COMMUNICATION. PRAY FOR UNITY IN YOUR HOME AND CHURCH. REJECT GOSSIP AND DIVISION. BE QUICK TO RESOLVE CONFLICTS IN A CHRISTLIKE WAY (MATTHEW 18:15-17). 5. DESENSITIZATION: THE ENEMY NORMALIZES SIN, MAKING US NUMB TO ITS DANGERS AND THE CONVICTION OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. OVERCOMING IT: GUARD YOUR HEART AND MIND   PRACTICAL STEP: BE MINDFUL OF WHAT YOU WATCH, LISTEN TO, AND ENGAGE WITH. SET BOUNDARIES ON MEDIA AND INFLUENCES THAT PROMOTE SIN. CONFESS AND REPENT REGULARLY TO KEEP YOUR HEART SENSITIVE TO GOD'S SPIRIT.  WHAT YOU FEED GROWS(MEANING YOU ARE ENSLAVED TO IT) SO CHOOSE YOUR CONTENT WISELY.  6. DECONSTRUCTION: THE ENEMY ATTACKS FAITH BY PLANTING DOUBT ABOUT GOD'S WORD, LEADING MANY TO REJECT BIBLICAL TRUTH. 29% OF EVANGELICAL CHRISTIANS DON'T BELIEVE IN A LITERAL HELL, AND 12% AREN'T SURE. OVERCOMING IT: BUILD A FIRM FOUNDATION IN CHRIST   PRACTICAL STEP: STUDY AND DEEPEN YOUR UNDERSTANDING OF SCRIPTURE, LIKE SIGNING UP FOR BLI. ASK QUESTIONS AND SEEK BIBLICAL ANSWERS INSTEAD OF TURNING TO WORLDLY PERSPECTIVES. SURROUND YOURSELF WITH WISE, MATURE BELIEVERS WHO STRENGTHEN YOUR FAITH.  

This message is part of a series called "Seeds: Tomorrow Starts Today". This series uses the biblical metaphor of seeds to help us uncover how to understand the concept of potential and spiritual growth. This week's message breaks down the process we go through to experience true growth. Growth requires intentionally planting the seed (our thoughts, beliefs, and actions) into rich soil (representing the condition of our hearts and environments). Ultimately, small acts of obedience lead to exponential growth and God's transformation in our lives.

We are launching a new sermon series called Seeds: Tomorrow Starts Today. This series uses the biblical metaphor of seeds to help us uncover how to understand the concept of potential and growth. This message emphasizes that realizing our potential requires understanding that growth takes time, patience, and the right environment. We encourage you today to focus on your daily choices, nurture your spiritual life, and trust in God's timing to bear fruit as you achieve your full potential. Join us on Sundays at 11 am (CST) online. Visit Bloomhere.org/sermons for more messages like this one!