IDENTITY 1-1-1 February 20, 2011 (Week 6- SHARE)

Keys to the Abundant Live

Sharing the Good News

First Free Will Baptist Church, Church Hill, TN

February 20th, 2011

Jesus: “As You sent Me into the world, I also have sent them into the world.”
                                                                                         John 17:18 (NKJV)

“… As the Father has sent Me, I also send you." John 20:21 (NKJV)

“The most important thing is that I complete my mission, the work that the Lord Jesus gave me – to
tell people the Good News about God's grace.” Acts 20:24 (NCV)


My 5th Purpose is to SHARE THE GOOD NEWS

“Evangelism”

“… you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the
Earth." Acts 1:8 (NKJV)

“Jerusalem” = the people closest to me

“Judea/Samaria” = people near but different from me

“Ends of the earth” = everybody else!

“This agrees with the purpose God had since the beginning of time, and He carried out His plan
through Christ Jesus our Lord.” Ephesians 3:11 (NCV)

Completing My Mission

1. I must share WITH THOSE IN my world.

“'Go back home and tell people how much God has done for you.’ So the man went all over town
telling how much Jesus had done for him.” Luke 8:39 (NCV)

“Always be ready to answer everyone who asks you to explain about the hope that you have”
    1 Peter 3:15 (NCV)

“...God does not want anyone to be lost, but he wants all people to change their hearts and lives!”
        2 Peter 3:9 (NCV)


2. I must dare TO REACH BEYOND my world.

“I have become all things to all men, that I might by all means save some.”
1 Corinthians 9:22b (NKJV)

“Religion that God accepts as pure and without fault is this: caring for orphans or widows who need help…   James 1:27 (NCV)

“for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and
you took Me in; I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and
you came to Me.” Matthew 25:35-36 (NKJV)

Jesus said, "I tell you the truth, all those who have left houses, brothers, sisters, mother, father,
children, or farms for Me and for the Good News will get more than they left. Here in this world they
will have a hundred times more homes, brothers, sisters, mothers, children, and fields."
    Mark 10:29 (NCV)


3. I must care ABOUT THE WHOLE world.


Jesus said to his followers, "Go everywhere in the world, and tell the Good News to everyone.”    
     Mark 16:15 (NCV)

“Those who want to save their lives will give up true life. But those who give up their lives for Me and for the Good News will have true life.” Mark 8:35 (NCV)

“David did God’s will during his lifetime...” Acts 13:36a (NCV)

“That Your way may be known on earth, Your salvation among all nations.”  Psalm 67:2 (NKJV)

IDENTITY 1-1-1 February 13, 2011 (Week 5- SERVE)

Keys to the Abundant Life

Serving God by Serving Others

First Free Will Baptist Church, Church Hill, TN

February 13th, 2011

“For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.” Ephesians 2:10 (NKJV)

“Your hands shaped and made me.” Job 10:8a (NCV)

“Each of you has received a gift to use to serve others. Be good servants of God’s various gifts of grace.” 1 Peter 4:10 (NCV)

My 4th purpose is to SERVE GOD BY SERVING OTHERS


We are all called to “Ministry”

Jesus: “just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve…” Matthew 20:28 (NKJV)

Learning to Serve Like Jesus


1. Serving like Jesus means being AVAILABLE

“Two blind men... cried out, saying, ‘Have mercy on us, O Lord, Son of David!’ ... Jesus
stood still and called them, and said, ‘What do you want Me to do for you?”  Matthew 20:30-32 (NKJV)

“If you have what your neighbor asks for, don’t say, “Come back later. I will give it to you
tomorrow.” Proverbs 3:28 (NCV)

1st Barrier: SELF-CENTEREDNESS

“Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of
others.” Philippians 2:4 (NKJV)

2nd Barrier: PERFECTIONISM

“Those who wait for perfect weather will never plant seeds; those who look at every
cloud will never harvest crops” Ecclesiastes 11:4 (NCV)

3rd Barrier: MATERIALISM

“No servant can serve two masters... You cannot serve both God and mammon."  Luke 16:13 (NKJV)

2. Serving like Jesus means being GRATEFUL

“… Jesus lifted up His eyes and said, ‘Father, I thank you that you have heard Me. And I
know that you always hear Me, but because of the people who are standing by..."  John 11:41-42 (NKJV)

“Serve the Lord with gladness.” Psalm 100:2a (NKJV)

“… according to the power of God, who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not
according to our works, but according to His own purpose…”  2 Timothy 1:8-9 (NKJV)

1st Barrier: COMPARING AND CRITICIZING

“You cannot judge another person’s servant. The master decides if the servant is doing
well or not…” Romans 14:4 (NCV)

2nd Barrier: WRONG MOTIVATIONS

“Be careful! When you do good things, don’t do them in front of people to be seen by
them. If you do that, you will have no reward from your father in heaven” Matthew 6:1 (NCV)

3. Serving like Jesus means being FAITHFUL

“I have glorified You on the earth. I have finished the work that You gave Me to do.” John 17:4 (NKJV)

“Moreover it is required in stewards that one be found faithful.” 1 Corinthians 4:2 (NKJV)

“Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those
things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press
toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.”  Philippians 3:13-14 (NKJV)

“God is fair; He will not forget the work you did and the love you showed for Him by helping
His people… “ Hebrews 6:10 (NCV)

"…Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you
ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord."  Matthew 25:21 (NKJV)

IDENTITY 1-1-1 January 30, 2011 (Week 4- GROW)

Keys to the Abundant Life

Becoming Like Christ

First Free Will Baptist Church – Church Hill, TN

January 30th, 2011

“speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head –Christ--”
Ephesians 4:15 (NKJV)

My 3rd purpose in life is to GROW to become like Christ

“Discipleship”

“And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are


called according to His purpose.” Romans 8:28 (NKJV)

Three Unexpected Tools

1. God uses TROUBLE to teach us to TRUST HIM.

"...troubles produce patience. And patience produces character, and character produces
hope.” Romans 5:3-4 (NCV)

“They came to a place which was called Gethsemane; and He said to His disciples, ‘Sit here
while I pray.’ ... He began to be troubled and deeply distressed. Then He said to them, 'My
soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even to death."  Mark 14:32-34 (NKJV)

"Abba, Father, all things are possible for You. Take this cup away from Me; nevertheless, not
what I will, but what You will.” Mark 14:36 (NKJV)

• Remember the reward

“For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and
eternal weight of glory” 2 Corinthians 4:17 (NKJV)

2. God allows TEMPTATION to teach us to OBEY.



“Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.”
     Matthew 4:1 (NKJV)

"Then Jesus said to him, ‘Away with you, Satan!’ For it is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord
your God, and Him only you shall serve” Matthew 4:10 (NKJV)

• Keep focused on good thoughts

“…think about the things that are good and worthy of praise.”  Philippians 4:8a (NCV)


• Get a spiritual partner


“Two people are better than one…… If one falls down, the other can help him up….”
          Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 (NCV)

3. God uses TRESPASSES to teach us to FORGIVE.



“People walked by and insulted Jesus and shook their heads….the Jewish elders were also
making fun of Jesus…the robbers who were being crucified beside Jesus also insulted Him.”
   Matthew 27:39-44 (NCV)

“Then Jesus said, ‘Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do" Luke 23:34 (NKJV)


• Remember God has forgiven me



“And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ
forgave you.” Ephesians 4:32 (NKJV)


• Remember God is in control


“You meant to hurt me, but God turned your evil into good to save the lives of many people,
which is being done.” Genesis 50:20 (NCV)

“In your lives you must think and act like Christ Jesus.”  Philippians 2:5 (NCV)

IDENTITY 1-1-1 January 23, 2011 (Week 3- BELONG)

Keys to the Abundant Life

Loving God’s Family

First Free Will Baptist Church, Church Hill, TN

January 23rd, 2011

“God is the one who made all things, and all things are for his glory. He wanted to have many children share his glory...” Hebrews 2:10a (NCV)

“ Because of his love, God has already decided to make us his own children through Jesus Christ. That is what he wanted and what pleased him” Ephesians 1:5 (NCV)

“Show respect for all people: Love the brothers and sisters of God’s family…" 1 Peter 2:17a (NCV)


My 2nd purpose in life is to belong to a church family.

FELLOWSHIP is loving God’s Family.


“I’m writing… so you’ll know how to live in the family of God. That family is the church of the living God, the support and foundation of the truth” 1 Timothy 3:14-15 (NCV)


Four Levels of Fellowship:


Level 1: Membership: CHOOSING TO BELONG


“...You are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God” Ephesians 2:19 (NKJV)

“so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another.” Romans 12:5 (NKJV)

“Some of us are Jews, and some are Greeks. Some of us are slaves, and some are free. But we are all baptized into one body through one Spirit. …”  1 Corinthians 12:13 (NCV)

 
Level 2: Friendship: LEARNING TO SHARE

“All the believers were together and shared everything.” Acts 2:44 (NCV)

• Our EXPERIENCES
“As iron sharpens iron, so people can improve each other.” Proverbs 27:17 (NCV)

• Our HOMES
“Open your homes to each other.” 1 Peter 4:9 (NCV)

• Our PROBLEMS
“Bear one another’s burdens…” Galatians 6:2 (NKJV)

“You should not stay away from the church meetings, as some are doing, but you should meet together and encourage each other” Hebrews 10:25 (NCV)

Level 3: Partnership: DOING MY PART


“For we are God’s fellow workers;” 1 Corinthians 3:9a (NKJV)

“The whole body depends on Christ, and all the parts of the body are joined and held together. Each part does its own work to make the whole body grow and be strong with love.” Ephesians 4:16 (NCV)

“… inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me” Matthew 25:40 (NKJV)


Level 4: Kinship: LOVING BELIEVERS LIKE FAMILY

“Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another;” Romans 12:10 (NKJV)


“By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us. And we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.” 1 John 3:16 (NKJV)

“By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”  John 13:35 (NKJV)

“For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus.” Galatians 3:26 (NKJV)

IDENTITY 1-1-1 January 16, 2011 (Week 2- WORSHIP)

Keys to the Abundant Life

Loving God

First Free Will Baptist Church, Church Hill, TN

January 16th, 2011

“I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly." John 10:10b


“You are worthy , O Lord, To receive glory and honor and power; For You created all things, And by Your will they exist and were created.” Revelation 4:11 (NKJV)

"… love the LORD your God… This is the first and great commandment.”  Matthew 22:37-38 (NKJV)


My first priority in life is to WORSHIP GOD.

"So brothers and sisters, since God has shown us great mercy, I beg you to offer your lives as a living sacrifice to him. Your offering must be only to God and pleasing to him, which is the spiritual way for you to worship."  Romans 12:1 (NCV)

1. Worship is MY RESPONSE to God’s love.

2. Worship is GIVING BACK to God.

“And you shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.” Mark 12: 30 (NKJV)

God wants me to love Him PASSIONATELY with my heart and soul.


I worship by EXPRESSING MY AFFECTION to God.


“We love Him, because He first loved us.” 1 John 4:19 (NKJV)

“I want faithful love more than I want animal sacrifices. I want people to know me more than I want burnt offerings.” Hosea 6:6 (NCV)

"(for you shall worship no other god, for the LORD, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God)” Exodus 34:14 (NKJV)


God wants me to love Him THOUGHTFULLY with my mind.

I worship by FOCUSING MY ATTENTION on God.

"Lord, you have examined me and know all about me. You know when I sit down and when I get up. You know my thoughts before I think them. You know where I go and where I lie down. You know everything I do."  Psalm 139:1-3 (NCV)

"When people’s thinking is controlled by the sinful self, they are against God…"  Romans 8:7a (NCV)

"And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God."   Romans 12:2 (NKJV)

“Seek the LORD and His strength; Seek His face evermore!”  Psalm 105:4 (NKJV)

“You will keep him in perfect peace, Whose mind is stayed on You, Because he trusts in You."     Isaiah 26:3 (NKJV)


God wants me to love Him PRACTICALLY with my strength.

I worship by USING MY ABILITIES for God.


“And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men,”  Colossians 3:23 (NKJV)

"So brothers and sisters, since God has shown us great mercy, I beg you to offer your lives as a living sacrifice to him. Your offering must be only to God and pleasing to him, which is the spiritual way for you to worship."   Romans 12:1 (NCV)

“Our only goal is to please God...” 2 Corinthians 5:9 (NCV)