Summit Church Garden City

The Gospel: - you have a problem - you are the problem - there is a solution - you are not the solution - Jesus is the solution   1. Revelation vs speculation 2. Redemption vs religion 3. Calling vs job

Accepting an altered Gospel… 1. Is a rejection of the true Gospel 2. Is to subject oneself to the Judgment of God 3. Is not a matter of personal preference

1. Your choices are important 2. Your bad choices have consequences 3. The necessity of the Holy Spirit

Start with God - he finds strength in God - he seeks God's will in prayer - he acts on God's word in faith Go With God Do as God God will use trials: - to strip away other objects of faith that we're trusting in - to reveal to us our true selves - to remind us that something has gone terribly wrong with our planet and someone needs to fix it - to reveals to us who and what really matters  

1. Living out your faith brings conflict with the world 2. The highest goal of our life is to bring glory to God 3. Trust in God's sovereignty - He will provide a way of escape - He will work all things for the good of those that love Him

The allure of En-dor… 1. Begins and ends with fear 2. Promises answers but leads to death and isolation 3. Is the result of not listening to the voice of God

1. The Resurrection is a life-altering historical event 2. The Resurrection is the key to understanding all the Bible 3. The Resurrection is a powerful message to the world 4. The resurrection gives us hope for the future - Real - Personal - Certain - Unimaginably beautiful

1. We are to live in the world, but we are not of it 3 access points to our hearts: - desires of the flesh - desires of the eyes - boastful pride of life 2. We are to live as good citizens in the world - submit yourselves to the governing authorities - pray for and seek the good of your community 3. We are citizens of a different kingdom

Rationalizations that lead to sin: 5. I'll just do it one time 4. Nobody will know 3. That's not sin, that's not wrong, everyone is doing it. 2. This can't possibly be wrong 1. God will forgive me   1. Trust God to make things right Lesson: Watch out for temptation 2. Trust God to Protect you 3. Trust God for your salvation   Ways we can be misled into thinking we have assurance of salvation: 1. I said the sinner's prayer (Acts 20:21) 2. I'm convicted when I sin (2 Cor. 7:10) 3. I feel close to God 4. I pray, read the Bible, and go to church (Mat. 7:22-23) 5. God is blessing my life (Mat. 5:45) 6. I know Jesus died and rose again (James 2:19)

Do not repay evil for evil Be careful to display the Gospel in everything Live at peace with everyone as far as possible Do not take revenge but leave it in God's hands Return good for evil, not evil for good This will lead others to conviction and repentance

Respond properly to suffering Be a man or a woman of prayer Don't hold grudges, but forgive others Be patient Be Kingdom focused Be a lifelong learner

1. Seek God's will through the word of God and prayer (David at Keilah) 1st lesson: we should be bold in trusting God's promises 2nd lesson: we should be wise in avoiding unnecessary danger   2. Persevere and grow in the faith (David at Ziph)   3. Trust God's providential care (David at Maon) 1st lesson: Be alert, the enemy seeks to destroy you 2nd lesson: Be at peace, God is in control

From the Cave to the Crown Finding Grace in the Darkest Places

What do we trust when we are afraid or desperate.. 1. Do we trust in our own plans? 2. Do we trust in a common enemy? 3. Do we trust in the Lord?

1. The absolute importance of biblical friendship 2. Faithfulness and honesty are crucial components of biblical friendship 3. Where do we get the strength to pursue biblical friendship 

1. Delayed Repentance->Deeper shame->Dimmer discernment 2. EVIL NEVER CHANGES 3. Dimmer Discernment: God appears further and the darkness around you will deepen 4. How to be free: - Christ our inheritance - Christ our deliverance - Christ our confidence

1. What is envy? - comparison - desire - resentment 2. What does envy do? - it robs - it grows - it hides 3. How do you escape envy? - we need to grasp the Biblical meaning of love - we need to understand the absence of envy in Jesus Christ - we need to pursue the freedom of surrender

1. The problem with counterfeit courage 2. True courage 3. The Ultimate Champion

1. God is even Sovereign over evil 2. There is no such thing as a spiritual neutrality 3. Be faithful in following God's call but allow Him to produce the result

Kinds of Suffering: Adamic, Consequential, Demonic, Victim, Disciplinary, Testimonial, Preventative   1. Suffering for the good of others 2. Suffering for your growth 3. Suffering for God's glory   Application: - Be honest - Talking about it helps - Praying for one another is the most we can do

1. Humility Defined 2. A Gospel-centered humility **3 reasons to be humble: - we did not create ourselves - we are sinners - we are saved by grace 4. Humility Displayed 5. Humility Pursued **Practices: - immerse yourself into God's Word more - try kneeling in prayer when you get the chance - take regular periods of fasting - practice intercession prayer for others (VOM app) - try others-centered conversations 6. Bowing low, standing tall  

1. Help me see more of You than ever before 2. Reveal to me just how little I know of You - Whose sin are you focused on? - Who is the first to be served? 3. Make what I do know of You more alive in my life

The Love of God is: 1. The Light and Life of mankind 2. Rejected by the darkness 3. Reproduced in us by God

1. Jesus is the Savior 2. Jesus is the Lord   2 Practices: - Find your joy in Jesus - Spread joy by sharing the Gospel

Does the peace of Christ produce perseverance in your life? Do we have peace with God or peace with the world? Allow the Gospel of Peace to remind us of who we are and who Jesus is.

1. Look backward to examples of faith 2. Look forward to our heavenly home 3. Look upward to Christ

Look for comfort from God and not from the world Hatred and anger, when unchecked will lead to murder God uses the weak to supplant the strong

1. Partial obedience is still disobedience - God's commands are not always easy to obey - God's commands are to be fully obeyed 2. Pride goes before a fall 3. Sin is Deceptive - don't try to justify your sin - God's kindness should prompt us to obedience 4. To obey is better than sacrifice

1. Making foolish decisions will always cost you 2. Learn to not waver back and forth on decisions - don't make promises you can't keep - be willing to admit when you're wrong - don't lose trust with people - don't become weary and give up 3. Who's estimate is more important to you, man's estimate or God's estimate?

1. Do not fight like the world fights - we fight a spiritual battle - we fight with spiritual weapons 2. Move forward with faith - the church should be on the offensive - nothing can hinder the Lord from saving - true faith always results in action 3. Victory comes from the Lord - the battle is not yours but God's - your faith will encourage others to follow Christ

1. It is impossible to obey the commands of God without the heart of God 2. God desires a life dedicated to Him instead of a life dedicated to ritual.

1. Maintain a good reputation with God and man - make yourself accountable to the people in your life (v1-3) - if you've wronged anyone, make it right (v3-5) 2. Give testimony of God's goodness 3. Urge people to follow God - remind people of the consequences of obedience and disobedience (v12-15) - warn people that God calls them to repentance (v16-18) 4. Never stop praying

Outline: v1-4, Despair v5-10, Decision v11-15, Deliverance

1. Begin with the Holy Spirit - the Holy Spirit changes your heart (v9) - the Holy Spirit brings visible change (v 10-12) - the Holy Spirit leads you to worship (v13) 2. Let God do the promoting - wait for God's timing (v 14-16) - trust God to open the right doors (v 17-19) - humble yourself and let God lift you up (v 21-24) 3. Serve an audience of one - honor God and His Word (v25) - know that you will have followers and critics (v 25-27)

1. God's providential hand is at work in our life - in our family background (verses 1-2) - in the interruptions and setbacks (verses 3-4) - in the people He has placed around us (verses 5-10) - in the timing of events (verses 11-14) 2. A peek behind the scenes - God's plan precedes your present circumstances (15) - God's plan is bigger than you (16) - God will tell you what you need to know when you need to know it (17) 3. A divine appointment - God's plan is often different from our plan - God's plan is always better than ours

1. Why do people that call themselves Christian do not get baptized? - do not understand the importance of it - more committed to a church tradition than the Word of God - pride - thought they were Christian but they are not 2. What is baptism? - From a physical point of view, baptism is a ceremony during which a person, in the name of the Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit, is immersed in the water. 3. What's the purpose of baptism? 4. Do you have to be baptized to be saved? 5. When should I be baptized?

John 17

John 17

John 17

1. Consider God's Will 2. Consider the consequences - What will happen if God says “yes” now? - What will happen if God says “no” later? 3. Consider the stubbornness of your own heart Guideline for prayer: - Humble yourself before the Lord - Seek God's will first - Trust God with the answer 4. The Providential Twist

1. Revelation: God's Revelation Guides us to Repentance 2. Repentance: God is the rational solution, Not the last ditch attempt 3. Restoration: Remember God's Goodness

1. Passive leaders will allow their followers to walk into destruction 2. Inviting a Holy God into an unrepentant life will not produce salvation 3. Who is able to stand before a Holy God?

1. God was silent then, but don't say God is silent now when your Bible is closed 2. All you need is an open Bible, consistency, an open heart, and prayer 3. God ultimately speaks through Jesus

The Progression of Sinful and Godly Leaders   1. A Lack of Contentment - Contentment in Serving God 2. A Hardened Heart - Favor with Lord 3. Public Awareness of Sin - Public Awareness of the Gospel

1. God is in control; therefore, I rejoice 2. God humbles and exalts; therefore, do not be arrogant or discouraged Pursuing Holy Spirit enabled, Jesus centered humility: Whose sin am I focused on? Where do I find my comfort, joy, peace, and security? Who is the first to be served? 3. God gave us the Gospel through Jesus the King; therefore, we worship

1. God gives to us struggles so that: He might draw our hearts Exact His will 2. God gives to us gifts so that: We might share His gifts We might participate in His will

1. What's one thing you can do to increase your enjoyment of God? 2. What's the single biggest time-waster (distraction) in your life, and how can you redeem the time? 3. What's the most helpful way you could strengthen your church? 4. What's one thing you could do to improve your prayer life? 5. For whose salvation will you pray fervently and frequently?    

1. Your value has nothing to do with your net worth Two dangers: money can make us proud money is uncertain 2. Put your hope in Christ 3. The Gospel is our most valuable possession

To persevere, the man of God has to: 1. Flee worldliness 2. Pursue righteousness 3. Will fight for the faith 4. Take hold of eternal life   Motivators: 1. God's presence 2. Christ's coming 3. God's sovereignty   Some questions to consider: - Is proper theology and sound doctrine important and practical to you? - What need do you have, what problem do you face, that cannot be met by getting a bigger vision of the Almighty God? - Is your goal to live a life of integrity, but you're feeling pressure to compromise your testimony?