West Lynchburg

1) God made me to KNOW HIM2) God made me to BE LIKE HIM3) God made me to SERVE HIM4) God made me to LIVE WITH HIM

The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom,and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight. - Proverbs 9:10

1) We have a Problem - Romans 7:15-18, Mark 14:382) God has a Promise - John 8:323) There is a Prescription ACKNOWLEDGE the root of my problem - 1 John 1:8, John 8:34BELIEVE that Christ can change me - Romans 7:24-25, Romans 8:2, John 14:6 COMMIT all I am to Christ - 2 Corinthians 5:17, 2 Timothy 1:7, 2 Cor 3:17

1. Know Who You Are! - Identification - John 8:122. Know Who You Are Trying to Please! - Dedication - John 5:303. Know What You Want to Accomplish! - Organization - John 8:144. Know What to Focus On! - Concentration - Luke 4:42-4455. Know What You Should and Should Not Do! - Delegation - Mark 3:146. Know Where to Start Your Day! - Meditation - Mark 1:35 7. Know Your Limits and Enjoy Life! - Relaxation & Recreation - Mark 68. Know Peace Now and for Eternity! - Transformation - Matthew 11:28-30

The Cost of Living - Acts 20:17-35 (Gideon Riches)

1. Godly Mothers are Models2. Godly Mothers are Optimists 3. Godly Mothers are Mainstays

1. Remember the Forerunners of Your Faith (v. 1a)2. Remove the Hindrances to Your Faith (v. 1b)3. Run the Race of Your Faith (v. 1c)4. Recover the Focus of Your Faith (vv. 2–3)

1) The Problem: Sin still has dominion in this world. 2) The Question: Can Christians live in sin?3) The Reality: Our old self has been crucified with Christ.4) The Solution: Reckon yourself dead to sin and alive to God. 5) The Hope: Everlasting life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

1. Hope rises over my guilt (of the past)2. Hope rises over my worry (of the future)3. Hope rises over my uncertainty (of the present)4. Hope rises over my inadequacy (of eternity)

God is Always In Control!

1. Doing What We Can Not Do (v. 22)2. Seeing What We Can Not See (v. 23)3. Receiving What We Can Not Receive (v. 24)4. Releasing What We Can Not Release (v. 25)

1. Carry on with Seperation! (13:1-9, 23-31)2. Carry on with Reformation! (13:10-14)3. Carry on with Consecration! (13:15-22)

Characteristics of True Conviction1. Publicly Sign Up2. Be Set Apart3. Support God's Work

1) Our God is the One Who is Forever (v5-6)2) Our God is the One Who Creates (v6)3) Our God is the One Who Keeps Promises (v7-8)4) Our God is the One Who Guides (v9-12)5) Our God is the One Who Speaks (v13-14)6) Our God is the One Who Provides (v15)7) Our God is the One Who Forgives (v16-21)8) Our God is the One Who Multiplies (v22-25)9) Our God is the One Who is Merciful (v26-31)10) Our God is the One Who is Faithful (v32-38)

1) Value the Word (v1-8) By being single-minded, enthusiastic, attentive, responsive, submissive, teachable2) Apply the Word (v9–12) By grieving over your sins, widening your reach, leaning on God's resources3) Share the Word (v13–18)Be thankful for the past, Be a witness in the present, Be confident in the future

1. Call Out the Called2. Know the Flock 3. Invest in the Cause

1) THE CAUSE OF CONFLICT (v. 1-5)2) THE CURE FOR CONFLICT (v. 6-19)STEP 1 - Get Angry (v6)STEP 2- Think before you speak (v. 7a)STEP 3 - Privately confront (v. 7b)STEP 4 - Publicly Deal with Public Divisions (v. 7c-13)STEP 5 - Set an Example (v. 14-19) * Great reverence for God * Genuine love for People

4 Ways of Opposition:1. Ridicule, 2. Recruit, 3. Discourage, 4. Intimidate4 Ways of Overcoming Opposition:1. Mind to Work, 2. Heart to Pray, 3. Eye to Watch, 4. Ear to Hear

We Are Better Together When We Have... 1) The Right Purpose (2:17) 2) The Right Priority (3:1-2) 3) The Right People (3:1-32) 4) The Right Places (3:1-32) 5) The Right Promises (3:1)

1) The God of Heaven (v1-8) 2) The God of My Heart (v9-16) 3) The Hand of My God (v17-20)

1. Prayer looks OUT with compassion (v1-3) 2. Prayer looks UP with dependence (v4-6a) 3. Prayer looks IN with repentance (v6b-7) 4. Prayer looks BACK with gratitude (v8-10) 5. Prayer looks FORWARD with confidence (v11)

Begin with Prayer Listen With Intentionality Eat With Purpose Serve Sacrificially Share Your Story with Jesus

God Focused Prayer (vs 9-10) God Dependent Prayer (vs 11-13)

Hidden With Christ Colossians 3: 3-4 1. You have Died 2. Your life is hidden with Christ 3. When Christ appears 4. You will also appear with Him in glory

With the gift of Jesus, I also receive the gift of... 1. A new identity 2. A new ability 3. A new community 4. A new destiny

Four truths about joy: 1) Joy Killers - Luke 2:8 2) Joy Fillers - Luke 2:9-14 3) Joy Thrillers - Luke 2:15-16 4) Joy Spillers - Luke 2:17-20

John 14:27,  “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let NOT your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.” Jesus gives us peace: 1) with God (upward) Romans 5:1 2) in the midst of our circumstances. (inward) Phil.  4:4-7; 11-13 Psalm 119:165 Rom 8:37 3) with others (outward) Romans 12:18 4) in the face of death (forward) Psalm 23:4-6 2 Thessalonians 3:16, “Now may the Lord of peace Himself give you peace at all times in every way. The Lord be with you all”.

Romans 15:13 and Ruth 1-4

1. God is the source of all good things. 2. We were created to know God. 3. Reliance on God helps us to know Him and drives us to worship Him. 4. Reliance on God affects our priorities. 5. Reliance on God affects our resources. 6. Reliance on God affects our attitudes. 7. God paid your price through the death of His Son.

Hope-filled Church Members 1) Are humble servants (v5-7) - required with the leaders - rewarded with the Lord 2) Are prepared soldiers (v8-9) - recognizing the enemy - resisting the enemy 3) Are suffering, yet strengthened saints (v10-14) - God's grace is sufficient and enduring - God's glory is sustained and eternal

Hope-filled Church Leaders 1) Are Responsible * For Maturing * For Ministering * For Managing * For Mentoring * For Modeling 2) Are Rewarded

1) Our Purpose for Suffering (v1-11) Includes Cleansing and Chastening 2) Our Privilege of Suffering (v12-18) Includes Expecting and Extoling 3) Our Patience in Suffering (v19) Includes Clinging and Continuing

1) Christ's suffering is purposeful (v18) Includes Payment and Delivery 2) Christ's suffering is proclaimed (v19-20) Includes Victory and Defeat 3) Christ's suffering is protective (v21-22) Includes Now and Forever

1) Inward Maturity (3:8) * Enriching your mind, emotions, connection, compassion, and humility 2) Outward Maturity (3:9-12) * Expressing your forgiveness, self-control, purity, and peace 3) Upward Maturity (3:13-17) * Embracing your blessing, hope, and God's will

1 Peter 3:1-7 - Wisdom for a Hope-Filled Marriage Wisdom for Wives (3:1-6) 1) Adjust your actions 2) Adorn your attitude 3) Aim your attention Wisdom for Husbands (3:7) 1) Live 2) Know 3) Show

Honorable Submission for God's Glory We are called to submit honorably... 1) As citizens (2:13-17) 2) As servants (2:18-20) 3) As saints (2:21-25)

Consider Your Heavenly Father - Matthew 6:25-34 - Malachi Kearney

1) As you come to Him (v4-8) * He is: Living Stone * We are: Living Stones 2) As you share and show the gospel (v9-12) * Share: God's saving work in us * Show: God's saving work through us

Two Ways to Evaluate Your Spiritual Life 1) How am I loving others? 2) How am I longing for God's Word? Four Self-Examination Questions 1) How is my love for others currently reflecting God's love for me? 2) What sinful actions or attitudes must I abandon that hurt my relationships? 3) How am I consistently planting the imperishable seed in my mind and heart? 4) Does my current desire for God's word reflect God's worth?

Our Response to Our Salvation is... 1) A Settled Hope (1:13) * New Focus * New Future 2) A Steadfast Holiness (1:14-16) * New Relationship - Abandon your former ignorance - Embrace your new identity 3) A Sincere Humility (1:17-21) * New Approach * New Appreciation

Our hope is in the God who… 1) Graciously saves us 2) Guards us 3) Guides us 4) Grips us 5) Guarantees glory for us

Post-Christian Culture Shifts: 1. From the center to the margins 2. From majority to minority 3. From settlers to sojourners 4. From privilege to plurality 5. From control to witness 6. From maintenance to mission 7. From institution to movement 1 Peter teaches believers that our hope is realized through: • Our Salvation • Our Submission • Our Suffering

The 3 imperatives of giving: 1) Return, 2) Bring, 3) Test The 4 steps of growth in giving: * Non-giver to Initial Giver (TEST) * Initial Giver to Consistent Giver (TIMELY) * Consistent Giver to Proportional Giver (TITHE) * Proportional Giver to Sacrificial Giver (TRUST) Take the 4-month giving challenge @ wlbc.life/four

1. We are created to serve 2. We are saved to serve 3. We are gifted to serve 4. We are commanded to serve 5. We need each other's service 6. We serve others as a way of serving God 7. We serve as a way of worship 8. Our service shows we belong to Christ 9. Our service makes life far more meaningful 10. Our service will be rewarded

* Our challenge is not our present circumstances, proficiency, or profits. Our challenge is our perspective and priorities. * We are not owners but are stewards * 3 Options with Time, Talent, and Treasure: waste, spend, generously invest 1) We live in the moment! Your life is your… Loves Your life contains… Intersections Your life is blessed with… Fortunes Your life is part of God's… Eternity 2) We live for Eternity!

Romans 8:17 *   A highly nuanced question - Who's asking? * Among the most profound questions * What happened in the Two Gardens? * The magnitude of Adam's sin * God's plan includes suffering * The Surgeon's scalpel * The Designer of redemptive suffering

Four stages God uses to help us: 1) Crisis (v22-25) 2) Commitment (v26) 3) Confession (v27) 4) Cooperation (v28)

1. Becoming mature requires exercising one's spiritual senses. (5:11-14) 2. Becoming mature requires an awareness of the potential hindrances to growth. (6:1-6) 3. Becoming mature requires ongoing work to receive the word. (6:7-8) 4. Becoming mature will be evidenced by hope. (6:9-12)

1) Trust in the goodness of God (v1-15) 2) Look beyond the present (v16-22) 3) Let God be your portion (v23-28)

We only have hope... 1. When we humbly confess. 2. When we persistently pray. 3. When we passionately pursue. 4. When we rightly repent.