Storyside Church

Welcome to Storyside Church Online!   + For kids resources and lessons, visit Storyside Kids on Facebook! www.facebook.com/storysidekids   + For other ways to stay connected, visit: https://linktr.ee/storysidechurch

Welcome to Storyside Church Online!   + For kids resources and lessons, visit Storyside Kids on Facebook! www.facebook.com/storysidekids   + For other ways to stay connected, visit: https://linktr.ee/storysidechurch

Welcome to Storyside Church Online!   + For kids resources and lessons, visit Storyside Kids on Facebook! www.facebook.com/storysidekids   + For other ways to stay connected, visit: https://linktr.ee/storysidechurch

Welcome to Storyside Church Online!   + For kids resources and lessons, visit Storyside Kids on Facebook! www.facebook.com/storysidekids   + For other ways to stay connected, visit: https://linktr.ee/storysidechurch

Welcome to Storyside Church Online!   + For kids resources and lessons, visit Storyside Kids on Facebook! www.facebook.com/storysidekids   + For other ways to stay connected, visit: https://linktr.ee/storysidechurch

Welcome to Storyside Church Online!   + For kids resources and lessons, visit Storyside Kids on Facebook! www.facebook.com/storysidekids   + For other ways to stay connected, visit: https://linktr.ee/storysidechurch

Welcome to Storyside Church Online!   + For kids resources and lessons, visit Storyside Kids on Facebook! www.facebook.com/storysidekids   + For other ways to stay connected, visit: https://linktr.ee/storysidechurch

Welcome to Storyside Church Online!   + For kids resources and lessons, visit Storyside Kids on Facebook! www.facebook.com/storysidekids   + For other ways to stay connected, visit: https://linktr.ee/storysidechurch

John 13    1 Now before the feast of the passover, when Jesus knew that his hour was come that he should depart out of this world unto the Father, having loved his own which were in the world, he loved them unto the end.   2 And supper being ended, the devil having now put into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, to betray him;   3 Jesus knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he was come from God, and went to God;   4 He riseth from supper, and laid aside his garments; and took a towel, and girded himself.   5 After that he poureth water into a bason, and began to wash the disciples' feet, and to wipe them with the towel wherewith he was girded.   6 Then cometh he to Simon Peter: and Peter saith unto him, Lord, dost thou wash my feet?   7 Jesus answered and said unto him, What I do thou knowest not now; but thou shalt know hereafter.         The Unknown      Isaiah 55   8 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord.   9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.         How do I respond to the unknown?       I have learned that faith means trusting in advance what will only make sense in reverse.  — Philip Yancey       God Knows       Jeremiah 1:5 — “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you; I have appointed you a prophet to the nations.”       Matthew 10:30 — But the very hairs of your head are all numbered.       Psalm 1:6 — For the Lord knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish.       Psalm 147:4-5 He counts the number of the stars; He gives names to all of them. Great is our Lord and abundant in strength; His understanding is infinite.        Isaiah 40:28 — Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom.       Psalm 142:3 — When my spirit was overwhelmed within me, then You knew my path. In the way in which I walk they have secretly set a snare for me.       Job 23   8 “But if I go to the east, he is not there; if I go to the west, I do not find him.   9 When he is at work in the north, I do not see him; when he turns to the south, I catch no glimpse of him.   10 But he knows the way that I take; when he has tested me, I will come forth as gold.       Never be afraid to trust an unknown future to a known God.  — Corrie Ten Boom  

Philippians 3   13 Brothers, I do not count myself to have attained, but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead,    14 I press toward the goal to the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.         Have you ever felt stuck?         Steps to becoming unstuck:   1. They have to want to get unstuck.    2. What are they holding on to?    3. What do they need to release?     4. Are they willing to endure the discomfort of dislodging?     5. Can they take the pressure of the pull to freedom?        Joshua 1   1 After the death of Moses the servant of the Lord, the Lord said to Joshua son of Nun, Moses' aide:    2 “Moses my servant is dead. Now then, you and all these people, get ready to cross the Jordan River into the land I am about to give to them—to the Israelites.    3 I will give you every place where you set your foot, as I promised Moses.    4 Your territory will extend from the desert to Lebanon, and from the great river, the Euphrates—all the Hittite country—to the Mediterranean Sea in the west.    5 No one will be able to stand against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you.    6 Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their ancestors to give them.   7 “Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go.    8 Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.    9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”           After…       I want God to speak.        407%   228%    59%    30%        If we fail to accept "what is" then we stay stuck in "what was" and it will impede our movement into "what could be.”       Many people die at twenty five and aren't buried until they are seventy five. — Benjamin Franklin       God reminds Joshua of his purpose.  God reminds Joshua of His presence.        What Now?   

Free: not costing or charging anything.        422%        Free Gifts         All the Christmas presents in the world are worth nothing without the presence of Christ. — David Jeremiah       John 3:16 — 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.       Sin will take you farther than you want to go, keep you longer than you want to stay, and cost you more than you want to pay.         Romans 3   23 All have sinned and are not good enough to share God's divine greatness.    Have you ever felt not good enough?   24 They are made right with God by his grace. This is a free gift. They are made right with God by being made free from sin through Jesus Christ.       Romans 5:8 — But God showed how much he loved us by having Christ die for us, even though we were sinful.     Even though…       Titus 2:11 — For the free gift of eternal salvation is now being offered to everyone.   

Have you ever felt that you weren't good enough for _______________?       Romans 6:23 — For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.       The meaning of life.  The wasted years of life.  The poor choices of life.  God answers the mess of life with one word: "grace."  — Max Lucado        John 4   4 Now he had to go through Samaria.    5 So he came to a town in Samaria called Sychar, near the plot of ground Jacob had given to his son Joseph.    6 Jacob's well was there, and Jesus, tired as he was from the journey, sat down by the well. It was about noon.   7 When a Samaritan woman came to draw water, Jesus said to her, “Will you give me a drink?”    8 (His disciples had gone into the town to buy food.)   9 The Samaritan woman said to him, “You are a Jew and I am a Samaritan woman. How can you ask me for a drink?” (For Jews do not associate with Samaritans.)   10 Jesus answered her, “If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water.”   13 Jesus answered, “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again,    14 but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.”   15 The woman said to him, “Sir, give me this water so that I won't get thirsty and have to keep coming here to draw water.”   16 He told her, “Go, call your husband and come back.”   17 “I have no husband,” she replied. Jesus said to her, “You are right when you say you have no husband.    18 The fact is, you have had five husbands, and the man you now have is not your husband. What you have just said is quite true.”   27 Just then his disciples returned and were surprised to find him talking with a woman. But no one asked, “What do you want?” or “Why are you talking with her?”       What would you do with the woman at the well?     28 Then, leaving her water jar, the woman went back to the town and said to the people,    29 “Come, see a man who told me everything I ever did. Could this be the Messiah?”    39 Many of the Samaritans from that town believed in him because of the woman's testimony, “He told me everything I ever did.”       10 Jesus answered her, “If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water.”       If you knew…you would.      God loves us too much to leave us where He finds us.     We don't get good to get God.       God has GRACE for the PLACE you are in right now.     If you knew…you would.    

Who are the gifts in your life?       Psalm 127:3 — Behold, children are a heritage and gift from the Lord, The fruit of the womb a reward.       Psalm 127:3 — Children too are a gift from Adonai; the fruit of the womb is a reward.       Proverbs 22:6 — Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it.       Our greatest contribution to the kingdom of God may not be something we do, but someone we raise.        84%        How much is this chair worth?       Ministries  Monies  Motivation       If we don't teach our children, someone else will.       Children are our most valuable asset and our greatest hope for our future.        Parents: if you treat the church as optional, your kids will treat Jesus as unnecessary.    — John Wesley       I will commit my life to Christ.        We commit to care for the chairs at our table.   

Matthew 27:57 — When it was evening, there came a rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph, who also was a disciple of Jesus.       Mark 15:43 — Joseph of Arimathea, a respected member of the council, who was also himself looking for the kingdom of God, took courage and went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus.       John 19:38 — After these things Joseph of Arimathea, who was a disciple of Jesus, but secretly for fear of the Jews, asked Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus, and Pilate gave him permission. So he came and took away his body.       Luke 23   50 Now there was a man named Joseph, from the Jewish town of Arimathea. He was a member of the council, a good and righteous man,    51 who had not consented to their decision and action; and he was looking for the kingdom of God.    52 This man went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus.    53 Then he took it down and wrapped it in a linen shroud and laid him in a tomb cut in stone, where no one had ever yet been laid.          Success can often silence you.        Are you afraid of what they might say?         Courage doesn't mean you don't get afraid. Courage means you don't let fear stop you.       EVERY decision is not an EASY decision.        It's not how you start — it's how you finish.        What have I been entrusted with?         I want to give God my best.        Commit to play your part in the plan of God. 

1 John 2:1 — “My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.”     Luke 22   31 “Simon, Simon, behold, Satan demanded to have you, that he might sift you like wheat,    32 but I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned again, strengthen your brothers.”    33 Peter said to him, “Lord, I am ready to go with you both to prison and to death.”    34 Jesus said, “I tell you, Peter, the rooster will not crow this day, until you deny three times that you know me.”     54 Then they seized him and led him away, bringing him into the high priest's house, and Peter was following at a distance.    55 And when they had kindled a fire in the middle of the courtyard and sat down together, Peter sat down among them.    56 Then a servant girl, seeing him as he sat in the light and looking closely at him, said, “This man also was with him.”    57 But he denied it, saying, “Woman, I do not know him.”    58 And a little later someone else saw him and said, “You also are one of them.” But Peter said, “Man, I am not.”    59 And after an interval of about an hour still another insisted, saying, “Certainly this man also was with him, for he too is a Galilean.”    60 But Peter said, “Man, I do not know what you are talking about.” And immediately, while he was still speaking, the rooster crowed.    61 And the Lord turned and looked at Peter. And Peter remembered the saying of the Lord, how he had said to him, “Before the rooster crows today, you will deny me three times.”    62 And he went out and wept bitterly.         John 1:42 — Andrew brought Simon to Jesus. Jesus looked at Simon and said, "You are Simon, son of John. Your name will be changed to Cephas" (which means "Peter")       Who brought you to Jesus?         Who could you lead to Jesus?         Peer Pressure        You can love God and still get off track.        Have you ever hurt someone you loved?       Sifting shows us how fragile we can be.        Failing is not a disgrace unless you make it the last chapter of your book. — Jack Hyles        God sees you on the other side of your struggle.       Luke 24   33 And they rose that same hour and returned to Jerusalem. And they found the eleven and those who were with them gathered together,    34 saying, “The Lord has risen indeed, and has appeared to Simon!”        God sees your whole story.   

Comeback: To return, regain, or recover.        Luke 15   11 Then Jesus said, “There was a man who had two sons.    12 The younger son said to his father, ‘Give me now the part of your property that I am supposed to receive someday.' So the father divided his wealth between his two sons.   13 “A few days later the younger son gathered up all that he had and left. He traveled far away to another country, and there he wasted his money living like a fool.    14 After he spent everything he had, there was a terrible famine throughout the country. He was hungry and he needed money.    15 So he went and got a job with one of the people who lived there. The man sent him into the fields to feed pigs.    16 He was so hungry that he wanted to eat the food the pigs were eating. But no one gave him anything.   17 “The son realized that he had been very foolish. He thought, ‘All my father's hired workers have plenty of food. But here I am, almost dead because I have nothing to eat.    18 I will leave and go to my father. I will say to him: Father, I have sinned against God and have done wrong to you.    19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son. But let me be like one of your hired workers.'    20 So he left and went to his father. “While the son was still a long way off, his father saw him coming and felt sorry for him. So he ran to him and hugged and kissed him.         Selfishness can come early in life.        Give Me             We often underestimate where a “give me” mentality is going to take us.        It's not always wise to get your way.        Distance can become dangerous.        Churchgoers are like coals in a fire. When they cling together, they keep the flame aglow; when they separate, they die out. — Billy Graham       What have you wasted?  What am I wasting right now?         How did I end up here?         When you have nothing left but God, you have more than enough to start over again.  — Mother Teresa       You can come back to the Father.   

1 Peter 2:9 — But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.     1 Corinthians 14:40 — Let all things be done decently and in order.       767      838     246      30% - 32%     Better Together              Luke 11    1 And it came to pass, that, as he was praying in a certain place, when he ceased, one of his disciples said unto him, Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples.   2 And he said unto them, When ye pray, say, Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, as in heaven, so in earth.   3 Give us day by day our daily bread.   4 And forgive us our sins; for we also forgive every one that is indebted to us. And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil.         Say      Our Father      Heaven      Hallowed      Your Name      Prayer shifts me away from selfishness.      Today      I want a Godly “give me” mindset.      And forgive us…as we forgive.      Holy moments will often focus on forgiveness.      Lead Me          Luke 18   1 And he told them a parable to the effect that they ought always to pray and not lose heart.    2 He said, “In a certain city there was a judge who neither feared God nor respected man…       Our commitment cannot be based off of our current events.      Don't Quit   

As long as we let the Word of God be our only armor, we can look confidently into the future. — Dietrich Bonhoeffer     Luke 8   4 And when a great crowd was gathering and people from town after town came to him, he said in a parable,    5 “A sower went out to sow his seed. And as he sowed, some fell along the path and was trampled underfoot, and the birds of the air devoured it.    6 And some fell on the rock, and as it grew up, it withered away, because it had no moisture.    7 And some fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up with it and choked it.    8 And some fell into good soil and grew and yielded a hundredfold.” As he said these things, he called out, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear.”     11 Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God.    12 The ones along the path are those who have heard; then the devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts, so that they may not believe and be saved.    13 And the ones on the rock are those who, when they hear the word, receive it with joy. But these have no root; they believe for a while, and in time of testing fall away.    14 And as for what fell among the thorns, they are those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by the cares and riches and pleasures of life, and their fruit does not mature.    15 As for that in the good soil, they are those who, hearing the word, hold it fast in an honest and good heart, and bear fruit with patience.         The Word of God      The Sower     Stolen Seed      What has the devil taken from you?         Ephesians 6   10 To end my letter I tell you, be strong in the Lord and in his great power.    11 Wear the full armor of God. Wear God's armor so that you can fight against the devil's clever tricks.    12 Our fight is not against people on earth. We are fighting against the rulers and authorities and the powers of this world's darkness. We are fighting against the spiritual powers of evil in the heavenly places.    13 That is why you need to get God's full armor. Then on the day of evil, you will be able to stand strong. And when you have finished the whole fight, you will still be standing.   14 So stand strong with the belt of truth tied around your waist, and on your chest wear the protection of right living.    15 On your feet wear the Good News of peace to help you stand strong.    16 And also use the shield of faith with which you can stop all the burning arrows that come from the Evil One.    17 Accept God's salvation as your helmet. And take the sword of the Spirit—that sword is the teaching of God.    18 Pray in the Spirit at all times. Pray with all kinds of prayers, and ask for everything you need. To do this you must always be ready. Never give up. Always pray for all of God's people.         Shallow Seed     Are you rooted?       The Thorns      Position Priorities  Process  Stuff > Seed      The Good Ground      If we want revivals, we must revive our reverence for the Word of God. — Charles Spurgeon     Hear the Word of God        Romans 10   13 For, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.”   14 How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher?    15 And how shall they preach unless they are sent? As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace, who bring good news of good things!”       Hold on to the Word of God 

LUKE ‭5:17-26‬ ‭ESV‬‬ 17 On one of those days, as he was teaching, Pharisees and teachers of the law were sitting there, who had come from every village of Galilee and Judea and from Jerusalem. And the power of the Lord was with him to heal. 18 And behold, some men were bringing on a bed a man who was paralyzed, and they were seeking to bring him in and lay him before Jesus,  19 But finding no way to bring him in, because of the crowd, they went up on the roof and let him down with his bed through the tiles into the midst before Jesus.  20 And when he saw their faith, he said, “Man, your sins are forgiven you.”  21 And the scribes and the Pharisees began to question, saying, “Who is this who speaks blasphemies? Who can forgive sins but God alone?”  22 When Jesus perceived their thoughts, he answered them, “Why do you question in your hearts?  23 Which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven you,' or to say, ‘Rise and walk'?  24 But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”—he said to the man who was paralyzed—“I say to you, rise, pick up your bed and go home.”  25 And immediately he rose up before them and picked up what he had been lying on and went home, glorifying God.  26 And amazement seized them all, and they glorified God and were filled with awe, saying, “We have seen extraordinary things today.”     NEW CROWD     YOUR FRIENDS MATTER     Some “friends” pretend to be friends, but a true friend sticks closer than a brother. Proverbs 18:24‬ ‭ Just as iron sharpens iron, a person sharpens the character of his friend. Proverbs 27:17‬ ‭     GODLY FRIENDS WILL FIND A WAY WHEN THERE IS NO WAY.     TEAR THE ROOF OFF   “When four true hearts are set upon the spiritual good of a sinner, their holy hunger will break through stone walls or house roofs.” - Charles Spurgeon   THEIR FAITH   What am I questioning in my heart?   GLORIFYING GOD!   Pray for your friends and family.   Live with urgency   Show them Jesus   Never Give up   WHO ARE YOU BRINGING TO JESUS?    

Luke 3   3 And he went into all the region around the Jordan, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.    16 John answered them all, saying, “I baptize you with water, but he who is mightier than I is coming, the strap of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.    19 But Herod the tetrarch, who had been reproved by him for Herodias, his brother's wife, and for all the evil things that Herod had done,    20 added this to them all, that he locked up John in prison.   21 Now when all the people were baptized, and when Jesus also had been baptized and was praying, the heavens were opened,    22 and the Holy Spirit descended on him in bodily form, like a dove; and a voice came from heaven, “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.”       Baptism Of Repentance  Holy Spirit Baptism  Water Baptism     Repent: To turn or return.      Mark 6 17 Herod himself had ordered his soldiers to arrest John and put him in prison. Herod did this to please his wife Herodias. She had been married to Herod's brother Philip, but then Herod married her.  18 John told Herod, “It is not right for you to be married to your brother's wife.”  19 So Herodias hated John. She wanted him dead, but she was not able to persuade Herod to kill him.     John 3   19 And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.   20 For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.       Romans 3:23 — All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.      Have I repented of my sins?     Regret  Remorse  Repent  Review  Release  Refocus          Belong/Acceptance  Beloved/Affection  Belief/Affirmation      A lot of people have gone further than they thought they could because someone else thought they could. — Zig Ziglar 

Luke 2    41 Now his parents went to Jerusalem every year at the Feast of the Passover.    42 And when he was twelve years old, they went up according to custom.    43 And when the feast was ended, as they were returning, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem. His parents did not know it,    44 but supposing him to be in the group they went a day's journey, but then they began to search for him among their relatives and acquaintances,    45 and when they did not find him, they returned to Jerusalem, searching for him.    46 After three days they found him in the temple, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions.    47 And all who heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers.    48 And when his parents saw him, they were astonished. And his mother said to him, “Son, why have you treated us so? Behold, your father and I have been searching for you in great distress.”          What is the faith of your family worth?       The Feast of Pentecost  The Feast of Tabernacles  The Feast of Passover        The Door  The Bread  The Blood  The Passover  The Deliverance        Supposing        Have you ever taken God for granted?         Searching        Have you ever regretted something to the point of great distress?        They returned…       “Human history is the long terrible story of man trying to find something other than God which will make him happy.” — C.S. Lewis       What are you searching for today?       Do you need to find Jesus today?  

Luke 3 (ESV)   3 And he (John) went into all the region around the Jordan, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.    7 He said therefore to the crowds that came out to be baptized by him, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come?    8 Bear fruits in keeping with repentance. And do not begin to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.' For I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children for Abraham.    9 Even now the axe is laid to the root of the trees. Every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.”   10 And the crowds asked him, “What then shall we do?”    11 And he answered them, “Whoever has two tunics is to share with him who has none, and whoever has food is to do likewise.”    12 Tax collectors also came to be baptized and said to him, “Teacher, what shall we do?”    13 And he said to them, “Collect no more than you are authorized to do.”    14 Soldiers also asked him, “And we, what shall we do?” And he said to them, “Do not extort money from anyone by threats or by false accusation, and be content with your wages.”‬‬   Repentance matters. Change matters   What is the one thing you want God to change in your life?    Everything in your life may not change in one day, but one thing in your life can change today, that can change everything!   You can choose comfort or change, but you cant have both.   The most important step is your next step!

80%      Luke 2:1 — In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered.   Luke 2:6 — And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth.     Our lives have moments that matter.      Don't underestimate the people and the places that God can use in your life.      What time is it?         Luke 2   36 And there was a prophetess, Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was advanced in years, having lived with her husband seven years from when she was a virgin,    37 and then as a widow until she was eighty-four. She did not depart from the temple, worshiping with fasting and prayer night and day.    38 And coming up at that very hour she began to give thanks to God and to speak of him to all who were waiting for the redemption of Jerusalem.       Luke 1   59 And on the eighth day they came to circumcise the child. And they would have called him Zechariah after his father,    60 but his mother answered, “No; he shall be called John.”    61 And they said to her, “None of your relatives is called by this name.”    62 And they made signs to his father, inquiring what he wanted him to be called.    63 And he asked for a writing tablet and wrote, “His name is John.” And they all wondered.        Every single day in a marriage, we influence each other. It is a matter of am I going to have a positive influence or a negative influence? — Gary Chapman     “All great change in America begins at the dinner table.”  — Ronald Reagan     Young men need a positive influence, especially when they don't have a strong male figure in their lives. They can be influenced by a great, godly man in the church, which gives men a great mission in the church to influence these kids. — Dr. Tony Evans     Do I add value with my voice?       Without doubt, the most common weakness of all human beings is the habit of leaving their minds open to the negative influence of other people. — Napoleon Hill     Who are the loudest voices in my life?     Who am I listening to?       God will speak to us through His Word.    Psalm 119:105 – “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.”       God will speak to us in prayer.    Philippians 4   6 Don't worry about anything, but pray and ask God for everything you need, always giving thanks for what you have.    7 And because you belong to Christ Jesus, God's peace will stand guard over all your thoughts and feelings. His peace can do this far better than our human minds.       God will speak to us through His Spirit.    Ephesians 1:17 — I always pray to the great and glorious Father, the God of our Lord Jesus Christ. I pray that he will give you the Spirit, who will let you know truths about God and help you understand them, so that you will know him better.       God will speak to us through right relationships.    Proverbs 19:20 — Take good counsel and accept correction—that's the way to live wisely and well.   Ephesians 4   11 So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers,    12 to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up…

Luke 1   6 And they were both righteous before God, walking blamelessly in all the commandments and statutes of the Lord.    11 And there appeared to him an angel of the Lord standing on the right side of the altar of incense.    12 And Zechariah was troubled when he saw him, and fear fell upon him.    13 But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zechariah, for your prayer has been heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John.    14 And you will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth,    15 for he will be great before the Lord. And he must not drink wine or strong drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother's womb.    66 and all who heard them laid them up in their hearts, saying, “What then will this child be?” For the hand of the Lord was with him.   80 And the child grew and became strong in spirit, and he was in the wilderness until the day of his public appearance to Israel.       Don't stop serving the Lord.      Attitude Self Image Responsibility  Faith Relationships  — John Maxwell      Your greatest contribution to the Kingdom of God may not be something you do, but someone you raise.  — Andy Stanley      Your son will be GREAT before the Lord.      Our children need us.      Don't EXPECT what you won't INSPECT.      We won't be the only voice in our child's life but we should be the loudest voice in our child's life.      Thank-you Zechariah!       The child grew and became strong…     Become: To change or develop.      We BELIEVE that they can BECOME.      We BELIEVE that we can BECOME.   

A good father is one of the most unsung, unpraised, unnoticed, and yet one of the most valuable assets in our society. — Billy Graham        My wife asked if I could clear the kitchen table. I had to get a running start but I made it.      I had to fire the guy I hired to mow my lawn. He just didn't cut it.     I went for a job interview at IKEA.  The manager said: “Come in, make a seat.”     I thought the dryer was shrinking my clothes.  Turns out it was the refrigerator all along.     When two vegans get in an argument, is it still called a beef?     Spring is here!  I got so excited I wet my plants.     Whenever I try to eat healthy, a chocolate bar looks at me and Snickers.      I used to hate facial hair, but then it grew on me.     I went to a bookstore and saw a book titled "How to solve 50% of your problems". I bought 2.     Why can't you hear a psychiatrist using the bathroom?  Because the 'P' is silent.     An elderly woman in church turned to her husband and said, “I've just done a silent fart. What should I do?” He responded, “Change the batteries in your hearing aid”.     Why did the dad joke cross the road? To get to the other sigh.         Luke 1   1 Inasmuch as many have undertaken to compile a narrative of the things that have been accomplished among us,    2 just as those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and ministers of the word have delivered them to us,    3 it seemed good to me also, having followed all things closely for some time past, to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus,    4 that you may have certainty concerning the things you have been taught.   5 In the days of Herod, king of Judea, there was a priest named Zechariah, of the division of Abijah. And he had a wife from the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth.    6 And they were both righteous before God, walking blamelessly in all the commandments and statutes of the Lord.    7 But they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren, and both were advanced in years.   8 Now while he was serving as priest before God when his division was on duty,    9 according to the custom of the priesthood, he was chosen by lot to enter the temple of the Lord and burn incense.    10 And the whole multitude of the people were praying outside at the hour of incense.    11 And there appeared to him an angel of the Lord standing on the right side of the altar of incense.    12 And Zechariah was troubled when he saw him, and fear fell upon him.    13 But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zechariah, for your prayer has been heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John.          They had no child BECAUSE ______________.      John 9:2 — Jesus' followers asked him, “Teacher, why was this man born blind? Whose sin made it happen? Was it his own sin or that of his parents?”     Have you ever wondered why?     I have learned to kiss the wave that throws me against The Rock of Ages.  — Charles Spurgeon      Both: The one as well as the other.      75%      Philippians 2   14 Do everything without complaining or arguing    15 so that you will be blameless and pure, children of God without any fault. But you are living with evil people all around you, who have lost their sense of what is right. Among those people you shine like lights in a dark world,    16 and you offer them the teaching that gives life. So I can be proud of you when Christ comes again. You will show that my work was not wasted—that I ran in the race and won.       What is trying to stop you from serving?     Don't stop serving the Lord.      In 2021…there was _____________________.   

Luke 18:35-42 35 As Jesus approached Jericho, a blind beggar was sitting beside the road.  36 When he heard the noise of a crowd going past, he asked what was happening.  37 They told him that Jesus the Nazarene was going by. 38 So he began shouting, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” 39 “Be quiet!” the people in front yelled at him. But he only shouted louder, “Son of David, have mercy on me!” 40 When Jesus heard him, he stopped and ordered that the man be brought to him. As the man came near, Jesus asked him,  41 “What do you want me to do for you?” “Lord,” he said, “I want to see!” 42 And Jesus said, “All right, receive your sight! Your faith has healed you.”   We cannot pack what God has asked us to put down.  Mark 10:46 46 Then they reached Jericho, and as Jesus and his disciples left town, a large crowd followed him. A blind beggar named Bartimaeus (son of Timaeus) was sitting beside the road.   The enemy doesn't have the power to destroy you, so he tries to distract you.    Psalm 139:14 14 Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex! Your workmanship is marvelous—how well I know it.   Identity > Issues   1 Peter 2:9-10 9 But you are not like that, for you are a chosen people. You are royal priests, a holy nation, God's very own possession. As a result, you can show others the goodness of God, for he called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light. 10  “Once you had no identity as a people; now you are God's people. Once you received no mercy; now you have received God's mercy.”         Luke 18:35-37 35 As Jesus approached Jericho, a blind beggar was sitting beside the road.  36 When he heard the noise of a crowd going past, he asked what was happening.  37 They told him that Jesus the Nazarene was going by.   Once God has our attention, He can give us our assignment.   Hebrews 12:1 1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us.   Psalms 37:23 23 The Lord directs the steps of the godly. He delights in every detail of their lives.   If we walk in His principles, we will receive His promises!    New seasons always require new coats.   Genesis 37:3 3 Now Israel loved Joseph more than all his children, because he was the son of his old age: and he made him a coat of many colours. Genesis 37:23 23 And it came to pass, when Joseph was come unto his brethren, that they stript Joseph out of his coat, his coat of many colours that was on him Genesis 39:12 12 She grabbed him by his cloak, saying, “Sleep with me!” He left his coat in her hand and ran out of the house.   Genesis 41:14 14 Pharaoh at once sent for Joseph. They brought him on the run from the jail cell. He cut his hair, put on clean clothes, and came to Pharaoh.           Mark 10:49-50 49 When Jesus heard him, he stopped and said, “Tell him to come here.” So they called the blind man. “Cheer up,” they said. “Come on, he's calling you!”  50 Bartimaeus threw aside his coat, jumped up, and came to Jesus.   Isaiah 61:3 3 To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that he might be glorified.

John 14:26 — But the Helper will teach you everything and cause you to remember all that I told you. This Helper is the Holy Spirit that the Father will send in my name.   God wants to HELP you!        "The Holy Spirit can rejuvenate a tired Christian, captivate an indifferent believer and empower a dry church."  — Billy Graham        Stubborn    Acts 7:51 — You stubborn and hardheaded people! You are always fighting against the Holy Spirit, just as your ancestors did.     Grieve    Ephesians 4:30 — Don't cause grief to God's Ruach HaKodesh, for he has stamped you as his property until the day of final redemption.   Ephesians 4:30 — Don't grieve God. Don't break his heart. His Holy Spirit, moving and breathing in you, is the most intimate part of your life, making you fit for himself. Don't take such a gift for granted.     Quench    1 Thessalonians 5:19 — Quench not the Spirit.     Blaspheme    Mark 3:28-30   “Listen to this carefully. I'm warning you. There's nothing done or said that can't be forgiven. But if you persist in your slanders against God's Holy Spirit, you are repudiating the very One who forgives, sawing off the branch on which you're sitting, severing by your own perversity all connection with the One who forgives.” He gave this warning because they were accusing him of being in league with Evil.     Receive   Receive: To take, to be a recipient of, to permit to enter.      John 7   38 Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.”   39 By this he meant the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were later to receive. Up to that time the Spirit had not been given, since Jesus had not yet been glorified.       Acts 2:38 — Peter replied, “Each of you must repent of your sins and turn to God, and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. Then you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.     Baptized into Christ  Water Baptism  Baptism in the Holy Spirit      Acts 8   14 When word reached the apostles in Jerusalem that Samaria had accepted God's word, they commissioned Peter and John to go to Samaria.    15 Peter and John went down to Samaria where they prayed that the new believers would receive the Holy Spirit.    (16 This was because the Holy Spirit had not yet fallen on any of them; they had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.)   17 Then they laid their hands on them and they received the Holy Spirit.       Acts 10   1 In the city of Caesarea there was a man named Cornelius, a Roman army officer in what was called the Italian Unit.    2 He was a religious man. He and all the others who lived in his house were worshipers of the true God. He gave much of his money to help the poor people and always prayed to God.    3 One afternoon about three o'clock, Cornelius had a vision. He clearly saw an angel from God coming to him and saying, “Cornelius!”   4 Staring at the angel and feeling afraid, Cornelius said, “What do you want, sir?” The angel said to him, “God has heard your prayers and has seen your gifts to the poor. He remembers you and all you have done.    5 Send some men now to the city of Joppa to get a man named Simon, who is also called Peter.     24 They arrived in Caesarea the following day. Anticipating their arrival, Cornelius had gathered his relatives and close friends.    25 As Peter entered the house, Cornelius met him and fell at his feet in order to honor him.    26 But Peter lifted him up, saying, “Get up! Like you, I'm just a human.”    27 As they continued to talk, Peter went inside and found a large gathering of people.    28 He said to them, “You all realize that it is forbidden for a Jew to associate or visit with outsiders. However, God has shown me that I should never call a person impure or unclean.    29 For this reason, when you sent for me, I came without objection. I want to know, then, why you sent for me.”   30 Cornelius answered, “Four days ago at this same time, three o'clock in the afternoon, I was praying at home. Suddenly a man in radiant clothing stood before me.    31 He said, ‘Cornelius, God has heard your prayers, and your compassionate acts are like a memorial offering to him.    32 Therefore, send someone to Joppa and summon Simon, who is known as Peter. He is a guest in the home of Simon the tanner, located near the seacoast.'    33 I sent for you right away, and you were kind enough to come. Now, here we are, gathered in the presence of God to listen to everything the Lord has directed you to say.”   34 Peter said, “I really am learning that God doesn't show partiality to one group of people over another.    35 Rather, in every nation, whoever worships him and does what is right is acceptable to him.    36 This is the message of peace he sent to the Israelites by proclaiming the good news through Jesus Christ: He is Lord of all!    37 You know what happened throughout Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism John preached.    38 You know about Jesus of Nazareth, whom God anointed with the Holy Spirit and endowed with power. Jesus traveled around doing good and healing everyone oppressed by the devil because God was with him.    39 We are witnesses of everything he did, both in Judea and in Jerusalem. They killed him by hanging him on a tree,    40 but God raised him up on the third day and allowed him to be seen,    41 not by everyone but by us. We are witnesses whom God chose beforehand, who ate and drank with him after God raised him from the dead.    42 He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one whom God appointed as judge of the living and the dead.    43 All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.”   44 While Peter was still speaking, the Holy Spirit fell on everyone who heard the word.    45 The circumcised believers who had come with Peter were astonished that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on the Gentiles.    46 They heard them speaking in other languages and praising God. Peter asked,    47 “These people have received the Holy Spirit just as we have. Surely no one can stop them from being baptized with water, can they?”    48 He directed that they be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they invited Peter to stay for several days.       Acts 19   1 While Apollos was in the city of Corinth, Paul was visiting some places on his way to Ephesus. In Ephesus he found some other followers of the Lord.    2 He asked them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” These followers said to him, “We have never even heard of a Holy Spirit!”   3 Paul asked them, “So what kind of baptism did you have?” They said, “It was the baptism that John taught.”   4 Paul said, “John told people to be baptized to show they wanted to change their lives. He told people to believe in the one who would come after him, and that one is Jesus.”   5 When these followers heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.    6 Then Paul laid his hands on them, and the Holy Spirit came on them. They began speaking different languages and prophesying.       How will I respond to the Holy Spirit?       Stubborn  Grieve Quench  Blaspheme  Receive      I want God's Spirit in my life.     

Every time we say we believe in the Holy Spirit, we mean we believe that there is a living God able and willing to enter human personality and change it.     Acts 19   1 While Apollos was at Corinth, Paul took the road through the interior and arrived at Ephesus. There he found some disciples 2 and asked them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” They answered, “No, we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.” 3 And he said, “Into what then were you baptized?” They said, “Into John's baptism.”  4 And Paul said, “John baptized with the baptism of repentance, telling the people to believe in the one who was to come after him, that is, Jesus.”  5 On hearing this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. 6 And when Paul had laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they began speaking in tongues and prophesying.    8 Paul went into the synagogue and spoke out boldly for three months. He talked with the Jews and persuaded them to accept the things he said about the kingdom of God.  9 But when some became stubborn and continued in unbelief, speaking evil of the Way before the congregation, he withdrew from them and took the disciples with him, reasoning daily in the hall of Tyrannus.     Extremes  Everyone Education Elitism      Romans 8:14 — For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God.     Acts 2   1 When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place.    2 Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting.    3 They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them.    4 All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.   12 Amazed and confused, they kept asking each other, “What does this mean?”   13 But others made fun of the believers, saying, “These people are drunk!”   37 Now when they heard this they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?”    38 And Peter said to them, Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.     Luke 11:13 — As bad as you are, you know how to give good things to your children. How much more, then, will the Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”     Have you asked Him for the Holy Spirit?     I want the Holy Spirit in my life.      The PRESENCE of the Holy Spirit  The POWER of the Holy Spirit  The PROMPTING of the Holy Spirit  PRAY in the Holy Spirit      Romans 8    26 And the Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness. For example, we don't know what God wants us to pray for. But the Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words.    27 And the Father who knows all hearts knows what the Spirit is saying, for the Spirit pleads for us believers in harmony with God's own will.     People  Prayer  Praise  Place Part      I will make SPACE for the SPIRIT in my life.   

Acts 19   1 While Apollos was at Corinth, Paul took the road through the interior and arrived at Ephesus. There he found some disciples 2 and asked them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” They answered, “No, we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.”     Are you open to the Holy Spirit?     1 Thessalonians 5:19 — Do not quench the Spirit.     Every time we say we believe in the Holy Spirit, we mean we believe that there is a living God able and willing to enter human personality and change it.     Romans 14:17 — In God’s kingdom, what we eat and drink is not important. Here is what is important: a right way of life, peace, and joy—all from the Holy Spirit.     The Right Way       I don't want the world to define God for me. I want the Holy Spirit to reveal God to me. — AW Tozer      Ephesians 3:16 — I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit.      Strength      Gifts Of The Spirit      Fruit Of The Spirit      Leadership      I think at times where I fail as a leader is probably when I haven't allowed the Holy Spirit to lead. I think I'm most successful as a leader when I allow the Holy Spirit to handle it.  — Kirk Cousins     Prayer      Romans 8:26 — In certain ways we are weak, but the Spirit is here to help us. For example, when we don’t know what to pray for, the Spirit prays for us in ways that cannot be put into words.   Jude 1:20 — But you, dear friends, use your most holy faith to build yourselves up even stronger. Pray with the help of the Holy Spirit.     Storyside  House  Me      1 Corinthians 6:19 — Don’t you know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit...

Welcome to the Storyside Church Podcast!   We are so excited you are joining us! This week Pastor Clint Thress talks about Building the House!    + For other ways to stay connected, visit: https://linktr.ee/storysidechurch

Acts 2   1 And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.   2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.   3 And there appeared unto them cloven tongues as of fire, and it sat upon each of them.   4 And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost and began to speak in other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.       One Place        One Accord        Salvation Seat        Spirituality Seat   Lots of people have their act together. It's their lives that are falling apart.   Everything that God does is wonderful until you get used to it.  — Spurgeon        Committed Chair    Some people are so poor, all they have is money.  — Missionary (Guatemala)        Serving Seat    Matthew 23:11 — Do you want to stand out? Then step down. Be a servant. If you puff yourself up, you’ll get the wind knocked out of you. But if you’re content to simply be yourself, your life will count for plenty.       Saved Seats    Can I see _____________________ in this seat?         Connected Chairs   

“Many...Many More”    Ephesians 5:16 — Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.   Ephesians 5:16 — These are evil times, so make every minute count.        John 4   5 So he came to a town in Samaria called Sychar, near the plot of ground Jacob had given to his son Joseph.    6 Jacob’s well was there, and Jesus, tired as he was from the journey, sat down by the well. It was about noon.   10 Jesus answered her, “If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water.”   15 The woman said to him, “Sir, give me this water so that I won’t get thirsty and have to keep coming here to draw water.”   16 He told her, “Go, call your husband and come back.”   17 “I have no husband,” she replied. Jesus said to her, “You are right when you say you have no husband.    18 The fact is, you have had five husbands, and the man you now have is not your husband. What you have just said is quite true.”   28 Then, leaving her water jar, the woman went back to the town and said to the people,    29 “Come, see a man who told me everything I ever did. Could this be the Messiah?”  30 They came out of the town and made their way toward him.   39 Many of the Samaritans from that town believed in him because of the woman’s testimony, “He told me everything I ever did.”    40 So when the Samaritans came to him, they urged him to stay with them, and he stayed two days.    41 And because of his words many more became believers.       God doesn’t give up on broken people.        God can use your story for His glory.        If you knew...       Where are your chairs?       The average person spends 90,000 hours at work over their lifetime. — Psychology Today        Each year, the average American spends over 100 hours commuting.  — US Census Bureau        Studies say that the average amount of  "family time" is 4-5 hours per week.        Watching TV is the leisure activity that occupies the most time per day.        Gamers 780 hours annually      Core Gamers  22 hours every week        On average, we spend 2 hours and 6 minutes per day on social media.        Facebook        YouTube        3,462,390 6 years and 8 months        Do you see the significance of these seats?         What are the chances that you are surrounded by people who don’t know Jesus?       Don’t waste the significance of your seat.       God forbid that I should travel with anyone for a quarter of an hour without speaking of Christ to them.  — George Whitefield   

Ecclesiastes 4   9 Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor:   10 If either of them falls down, one can help the other up. But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up.       Life moves at the speed of relationships.     Show me your friends and I will show you your future.      How stable is your table?     Who sits in the seats that are shaping you?     1 Corinthians 15:33 — Do not be misled: “Bad company corrupts good character.”   Character Chair      Proverbs 16:28 — A perverse person stirs up conflict, and a gossip separates close friends.   Conflict Chair      Scornful Seat    Psalm 1:1 — Blessed is the man that does not walk in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stand in the way of sinners, nor sit in the seat of the scornful.     James 3:16 — For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice.   Selfish Seat     Proverbs 12:26 — The godly give good advice to their friends; the wicked lead them astray.   Similar Seats        Caring Chair       Never look down on anybody unless you’re helping them up.     Correction Chair        Proverbs 18:24 — One who has unreliable friends soon comes to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.   Committed Chair      “I would rather walk with a friend in the dark, than alone in the light.” — Helen Keller     1 Thessalonians 5:11 — Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.   Comeback Chair     You can always tell a real friend: when you’ve made a fool of yourself he doesn’t feel you’ve done a permanent job.     Job 42:10 — After Job had prayed for his friends, the LORD restored his fortunes and gave him twice as much as he had before.   Prayer Chair      What a friend we have in Jesus.      John 15:13 — Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.  

Everyone: everybody, every one.      “Someone”     1 Peter 5    8 Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.    9 Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings.       Ephesians 6:12 — For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.     John 8:44 — ...the devil is a liar and the father of lies.     John 10:10 — The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.     Satan is a liar.      Satan is a thief.      Satan wants to destroy your destiny.      Satan wants you to underestimate him.      Size      Sound      Speed      Subtle      Stalking      Devour: To prey upon. To use up or destroy.     The devil will try to devour the detached.      The devil will try to devour you in the dark.      Satan wants you to be scared.      2 Timothy 1:7 — For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.     Resist      Stand firm in the faith. 

Easter Weekend — Everyone    Easter is a reminder that God always has the last word.       Everyone: everybody, every one.        Romans 3   22 We are made right with God by placing our faith in Jesus Christ. And this is true for everyone who believes, no matter who we are.   23 For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard.        Acts 2:21 — And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.     Romans 1:16 — For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile.       We have a Savior who will stop for everyone!       Luke 23:41 — We deserve to die for our crimes, but this man hasn’t done anything wrong.     Is it you?       Do you need the Savior to stop for you today?  

What do I have that the devil wants?     What should I be fighting for?     Who should I be fighting for?     Have I lost my fight?         Jude 1     1 This letter is from Jude, a brother of James. I am a servant owned by Jesus Christ. I am writing to you who have been chosen by God the Father. You are kept for Jesus Christ.    2 May you have much of God’s loving-kindness and peace and love.   3 Dear friends, I have been trying to write to you about what God did for us when He saved us from the punishment of sin. Now I must write to you and tell you to fight hard for the faith which was once and for all given to the holy people of God.    4 Some sinful men have come into your church without anyone knowing it. They are living in sin and they speak of the loving-favor of God to cover up their sins. They have turned against our only Leader and Lord, Jesus Christ. Long ago it was written that these people would die in their sins.   8 In the same way, these men go on dreaming and sinning against their bodies. They respect no leaders. They speak bad against those who live in the heavens.   16 These men complain and are never happy with anything. They let their desires lead them into sin. When they talk about themselves, they make it sound as if they are great people. They show respect to people only to get something out of them.   17 Dear friends, you must remember the words spoken by the missionaries of our Lord Jesus Christ.    18 They said, “In the last days there will be men who will laugh at the truth and will be led by their own sinful desires.”    19 They are men who will make trouble by dividing people into groups against each other. Their minds are on the things of the world because they do not have the Holy Spirit.   20 Dear friends, you must become strong in your most holy faith. Let the Holy Spirit lead you as you pray.    21 Keep yourselves in the love of God. Wait for life that lasts forever through the loving-kindness of our Lord Jesus Christ.    22 Have loving-kindness for those who doubt.    23 Save some by pulling them out of the fire. Have loving-kindness for others but also fear them. Be afraid of being led into doing their sins. Hate even the clothes that have touched sinful bodies.   24 There is One Who can keep you from falling and can bring you before Himself free from all sin. He can give you great joy as you stand before Him in His shining-greatness.          Instead        Wants  /  Needs        Sin will take you farther than you ever expected to go; it will keep you longer than you ever intended to stay, and it will cost you more than you ever expected to pay.       One great power of sin is that it blinds men so that they do not recognize its true character. — Andrew Murray       What do I need to hear right now?       His Anointing  /  His Approval        Who has slipped into your circle?        Most of us will never have an issue with the LOVE of God. Our issues will be with the LORDSHIP and LEADERSHIP of God.        Faith   2 Timothy 4:7 — I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.       Family    Nehemiah 4:14 — And I looked and arose and said to the nobles and to the officials and to the rest of the people, “Do not be afraid of them. Remember the Lord, who is great and awesome, and fight for your brothers, your sons, your daughters, your wives, and your homes.”       The Church        Them       You   

Mark 8   34 He called the crowd and his disciples together and said to them, “If anyone wants to follow me, let him deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me.    35 For whoever wants to save his life will lose it. But whoever loses his life for my sake, and for the sake of the gospel, will save it.     Have I given my life to the Lord?     Am I living my life for the Lord?       When we come to Christ, we’re no longer the most important person in the world to us; Christ is. Instead of living only for ourselves, we have a higher goal: to live for Jesus. — Billy Graham     What no is keeping me from my yes? Galatians 5   17 The sinful self wants what is against the Spirit, and the Spirit wants what is against the sinful self. They are always fighting against each other, so that you don’t do what you really want to do.    19 The wrong things the sinful self does are clear: committing sexual sin, being morally bad, doing all kinds of shameful things,    20 worshiping false gods, taking part in witchcraft, hating people, causing trouble, being jealous, angry or selfish, causing people to argue and divide into separate groups,    21 being filled with envy, getting drunk, having wild parties, and doing other things like this. I warn you now as I warned you before: The people who do these things will not have a part in God’s kingdom.     Have you ever wondered why Satan fights you so hard when it comes to your spirituality? Have you ever wondered why your flesh fights you so hard when it comes to your faith?     Psalm 92   12 The righteous will flourish like a palm tree, they will grow like a cedar of Lebanon;   13 planted in the house of the Lord, they will flourish in the courts of our God.   14 They will still bear fruit in old age, they will stay fresh and green,   15 proclaiming, “The Lord is upright; he is my Rock, and there is no wickedness in him.”     Planted      The enemy will look for opportunities to uproot you.       What is trying to uproot you right now?     They will...     Stay Planted      Jesus never said that a Godly life would be easy; He said it would be worth it.  

Titus 2:11-14 (NIV)  11 For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people.     12 It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age,    It teaches us to say no. Truth and Grace came from Jesus. King James mentions deny.    13 while we wait for the blessed hope—the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ,    14 who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good.       Titus 2:12 — Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world. (KJV)        Is God teaching you to say “no” to something?   Saying no is often difficult.   Say no with your yes in mind.   What no is keeping you from your yes?      

John 5:2-15   2 Inside the city, near the Sheep Gate, was the pool of Bethesda, with five covered porches. 3 Crowds of sick people—blind, lame, or paralyzed—lay on the porches. 5 One of the men lying there had been sick for thirty-eight years. 6 When Jesus saw him and knew he had been ill for a long time, he asked him, “Would you like to get well?” 7 “I can’t, sir,” the sick man said, “for I have no one to put me into the pool when the water bubbles up. Someone else always gets there ahead of me.” 8 Jesus told him, “Stand up, pick up your mat, and walk!” 9 Instantly, the man was healed! He rolled up his sleeping mat and began walking! But this miracle happened on the Sabbath, 10 so the Jewish leaders objected. They said to the man who was cured, “You can’t work on the Sabbath! The law doesn’t allow you to carry that sleeping mat!” 11 But he replied, “The man who healed me told me, ‘Pick up your mat and walk.’” 12 “Who said such a thing as that?” they demanded. 13 The man didn’t know, for Jesus had disappeared into the crowd. 14 But afterward Jesus found him in the Temple and told him, “Now you are well; so stop sinning, or something even worse may happen to you.” 15 Then the man went and told the Jewish leaders that it was Jesus who had healed him.         Nobody starts life down.     Sin has the devil for its father, shame for its companion, and death for its wages.      Thomas Watson       Wrong Direction     The enemy doesn’t want you to move in healthy directions.   Wrong Thoughts     You can reach unhealthy conclusions from your mat thoughts.   Wrong Relationships     The mat can cause you to lower your standards.    Wrong Growth     Growth requires movement       Would you like to get well?       Life is filled with “are you ready” questions.       Stand Up       Pick Up     Walk     “1 So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus. 2 And because you belong to him, the power of the life-giving Spirit has freed you from the power of sin that leads to death.”   ‭‭Romans‬ ‭8:1-2‬ ‭NLT‬‬     Jesus came to make your life right side up.  

There is no "I" in denial.      Luke 9    18 Now it happened that as he was praying alone, the disciples were with him. And he asked them, “Who do the crowds say that I am?”    19 And they answered, “John the Baptist. But others say, Elijah, and others, that one of the prophets of old has risen.”    20 Then he said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” And Peter answered, “The Christ of God.”   23 And he said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.    24 For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it.    25 For what does it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses or forfeits himself?   Some say...     Who do you say that I am?     Jesus is not one of many ways to approach God, nor is He the best of several ways; He is the only way. — A. W. Tozer     Romans 6   23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord.      “Our confessions of sin need to be as well defined as our professions of faith. If faith is being sure of what we hope for, then repentance is being sure of what we’re sorry for.”  — Mark Batterson      Who is Jesus in your life? Where is Jesus in your life?     We cannot be a part-time Christian and defeat a full-time Devil.     Denial  Die Daily  Direction      Have I lost my desire to live in denial?      Pleasure      2 Timothy 3    1 Remember this: There are some terrible times coming in the last days.    2 People will love only themselves and money. They will be proud and boast about themselves. They will abuse others with insults. They will not obey their parents. They will be ungrateful and against all that is pleasing to God.  3 They will have no love for others and will refuse to forgive anyone. They will talk about others to hurt them and will have no self-control. They will be cruel and hate what is good.    4 People will turn against their friends. They will do foolish things without thinking and will be so proud of themselves. Instead of loving God, they will love pleasure.     Purity    Luke 9   25 What will you gain, if you own the whole world but destroy yourself or waste your life?    It’s not my performance before man that matters most, it’s my position before God. 

“Again” — 2/28/21       Proverbs 24:16 — For the righteous falls seven times and rises again, but the wicked stumble in times of calamity.       Luke 5    2 He noticed two empty boats at the water’s edge, for the fishermen had left them and were washing their nets.    4 When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Now go out where it is deeper, and let down your nets to catch some fish.”   5 “Master,” Simon replied, “we worked hard all last night and didn’t catch a thing. But if you say so, I’ll let the nets down again.”    6 And this time their nets were so full of fish they began to tear!       Again: Another time, once more.        The Wall      The Fall    Loneliness Ledge Lackadaisical Letdown   Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a battle you know nothing about. — Quote      The Fallout      The Finality      Proverbs 24:16 — For the righteous falls seven times and rises again, but the wicked stumble in times of calamity.     AGAIN     Psalm 147:3 — He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.     God can put broken people back together again.  

Shut The Door    2 Kings 4 [KJV] 1 Now there cried a certain woman of the wives of the sons of the prophets unto Elisha, saying, Thy servant my husband is dead; and thou knowest that thy servant did fear the Lord: and the creditor is come to take unto him my two sons to be bondmen.    2 And Elisha said unto her, What shall I do for thee? tell me, what hast thou in the house? And she said, Thine handmaid hath not any thing in the house, save a pot of oil.    3 Then he said, Go, borrow thee vessels abroad of all thy neighbours, even empty vessels; borrow not a few.   4 And when thou art come in, thou shalt shut the door upon thee and upon thy sons, and shalt pour out into all those vessels, and thou shalt set aside that which is full.    5 So she went from him, and shut the door upon her and upon her sons, who brought the vessels to her; and she poured out.   6 And it came to pass, when the vessels were full, that she said unto her son, Bring me yet a vessel. And he said unto her, There is not a vessel more. And the oil stayed.    7 Then she came and told the man of God. And he said, Go, sell the oil, and pay thy debt, and live thou and thy children of the rest.     1. I believe that she shut the door for privacy.  2. I believe that she shut the door on public opinion.  3. I believe that she shut the door to protect her stuff.  4. I believe she shut the door to put doubt out.  5. I believe that she shut the door to pay Thy debt and live off of the rest.   2 Kings 4 7 Go, sell the oil, and pay thy debt, and live off the rest, let me talk to those who are in the pay thy debt season of your life,   There’s an anointing to pay thy debt and there’s an anointing to live off of the rest. You have to determine where you are in the pouring process.

Joshua 3:17 — The priests who carried the ark of the covenant of the Lord stopped in the middle of the Jordan and stood on dry ground, while all Israel passed by until the whole nation had completed the crossing on dry ground.     Joshua 4   3 and tell them to take up twelve stones from the middle of the Jordan, from right where the priests are standing, and carry them over with you and put them down at the place where you stay tonight.   4 So Joshua called together the twelve men he had appointed from the Israelites, one from each tribe,    5 and said to them, “Go over before the ark of the Lord your God into the middle of the Jordan. Each of you is to take up a stone on his shoulder, according to the number of the tribes of the Israelites,    6 to serve as a sign among you. In the future, when your children ask you, ‘What do these stones mean?’    7 tell them that the flow of the Jordan was cut off before the ark of the covenant of the Lord. When it crossed the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan were cut off. These stones are to be a memorial to the people of Israel forever.”   8 So the Israelites did as Joshua commanded them. They took twelve stones from the middle of the Jordan, according to the number of the tribes of the Israelites, as the Lord had told Joshua; and they carried them over with them to their camp, where they put them down.    9 Joshua set up the twelve stones that had been in the middle of the Jordan at the spot where the priests who carried the ark of the covenant had stood. And they are there to this day.   10 Now the priests who carried the ark remained standing in the middle of the Jordan until everything the Lord had commanded Joshua was done by the people, just as Moses had directed Joshua.         What is God asking me to do right now?     A revival is nothing else than a new beginning of obedience to God. — Charles Finney           Closing     Stay Standing      Trust God’s Track Record   

“Get Up”   Luke 22   31 “Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift all of you as wheat.    32 But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.”   33 But he replied, “Lord, I am ready to go with you to prison and to death.”   34 Jesus answered, “I tell you, Peter, before the rooster crows today, you will deny three times that you know me.”     54 Then seizing him, they led him away and took him into the house of the high priest. Peter followed at a distance.    55 And when some there had kindled a fire in the middle of the courtyard and had sat down together, Peter sat down with them.    56 A servant girl saw him seated there in the firelight. She looked closely at him and said, “This man was with him.”   57 But he denied it. “Woman, I don’t know him,” he said.   58 A little later someone else saw him and said, “You also are one of them.” “Man, I am not!” Peter replied.   59 About an hour later another asserted, “Certainly this fellow was with him, for he is a Galilean.”   60 Peter replied, “Man, I don’t know what you’re talking about!” Just as he was speaking, the rooster crowed.    61 The Lord turned and looked straight at Peter. Then Peter remembered the word the Lord had spoken to him: “Before the rooster crows today, you will disown me three times.”    62 And he went outside and wept bitterly.         The Devil’s Desires      Unfailing Faith      Proximity Place People    People are either a plus or a minus in your life.  — John Maxwell      Persistent Pressure        Peter denies his relationship with Jesus.   Peter disassociates himself from the disciples.    Peter denounces his personal revelation.        Have you ever broken a promise to God?       Luke 24    9 When they came back from the tomb, they told all these things to the Eleven and to all the others.    10 It was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the others with them who told this to the apostles.    11 But they did not believe the women, because their words seemed to them like nonsense.    12 Peter, however, got up and ran to the tomb. Bending over, he saw the strips of linen lying by themselves, and he went away, wondering to himself what had happened.       However      What am I going to do right now?       Get Up!   

Middle: The position of being among or in the midst of something.      Mark 6   39 Jesus then told his disciples to make all the people divide into groups and sit down on the green grass.   44 The number of men who were fed was five thousand.    45 At once Jesus made his disciples get into the boat and go ahead of him to Bethsaida, on the other side of the lake, while he sent the crowd away.    46 After saying good-bye to the people, he went away to a hill to pray.    47 When evening came, the boat was in the middle of the lake, while Jesus was alone on land.    48 He saw that his disciples were straining at the oars, because they were rowing against the wind; so sometime between three and six o'clock in the morning, he came to them, walking on the water. He was going to pass them by,   49 but they saw him walking on the water. “It's a ghost!” they thought, and screamed.    50 They were all terrified when they saw him. Jesus spoke to them at once, “Courage!” he said. “It is I. Don't be afraid!”    51 Then he got into the boat with them, and the wind died down. The disciples were completely amazed,    52 because they had not understood the real meaning of the feeding of the five thousand; their minds could not grasp it.       Miracle Moments      Middle Moments      Have you ever went from the miracle to the middle?       Middle Misperceptions     Don’t let fear decide your future.     Jesus