“Approval Addicts”

The fear of man lays a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord is safe.
- Proverbs 29:25

People can be addicted to approval.

“You shall have no other gods before me.”
- Exodus 20:3

10 For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ.
- Galatians 1:10

God’s love sets us free from our addiction to approval.

20 I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.
- Galatians 2:20

2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.
- Romans 12:2

"Living with Eternal Perspective"

15 Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world. 17 And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.
- 1 John 2:15-16

Loving the world will cost you

15 Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
- 1 John 2:15-16

3 I know you are enduring patiently and bearing up for my name's sake, and you have not grown weary. 4 But I have this against you, that you have abandoned the love you had at first.
- Revelation 2:3-4

The world is passing away

17 And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.
- 1 John 2:17

Focus on eternal things

17 And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.
- 1 John 2:17

"Living Under the Influence (of God)"

1 Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers,
2 but whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and who meditates on his law day and night.
3 That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither—whatever they do prospers.
- Psalm 1:1-3

Obedience

3 and observe what the LORD your God requires: Walk in obedience to him, and keep his decrees and commands, his laws and regulations, as written in the Law of Moses. Do this so that you may prosper in all you do and wherever you go
- 1 Kings 2:3

Trust

17 “But blessed is the one who trusts in the LORD, whose confidence is in him.
- Jeremiah 7:17

Humility

For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.
- Matthew 23:12

"Impact of One"

35 And Jesus went throughout all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and every affliction. 36 When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. 37 Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; 38 therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.”
- Matthew 9:35-38

See what Jesus saw

Feel what Jesus felt

Pray as Jesus prayed

Do as Jesus did

9 For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to give strong support to those whose heart is blameless toward him.
- 2 Chronicles 16:9

19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
- Matthew 28:19-20

Disciple Maker vs. Great Evangelist

Year	Disciple Maker	Great Evangelist
1	2	2,000
2	4	4,000
3	64	6,000
4	256	8,000
5	1,024	10,000
6	4,096	12,000
7	16,384	14,000
8	65,536	16,000
15	1,073,741,824	30,000

EACH ONE REACH ONE EACH YEAR

“Impact in Groups”

God intended for His people to experience life and discipleship in groups.

16 And when Jesus was baptized, immediately he went up from the water, and behold, the heavens were opened to him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming to rest on him; 17 and behold, a voice from heaven said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.
- Matthew 3:16

20 For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them.”
- Matthew 18:20

You can make a great impact in a small group.

24 And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, 25 not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.
- Hebrews 10:24-25

Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another.
- Proverbs 27:17

42 And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.
- Acts 2:42

Our Church is greatly impacted by small groups.

37 Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; 38 therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.”
- Matthew 9:37-38

"Giving and Generosity"

3 For I testify that they gave as much as they were able, and even beyond their ability. Entirely on their own, 4 they urgently pleaded with us for the privilege of sharing in this service to the Lord’s people. 5 And they exceeded our expectations: They gave themselves first of all to the Lord, and then by the will of God also to us. 6 So we urged Titus, just as he had earlier made a beginning, to bring also to completion this act of grace on your part. 7 But since you excel in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and in the love we have kindled in you—see that you also excel in this grace of giving.
- 2 Corinthians 8:3-7

GIVING IS GOD’S CHARACTER

31 And God saw everything that he had made, and behold, it was very good. And there was evening and there was morning, the sixth day.
- Genesis 1:31

GIVING IS ROOTED IN AND MOTIVATED BY LOVE

Ahava - To love

Ahav - To give

16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.
- John 3:16

LOVE GIVES GENEROUSLY

3 For I testify that they gave as much as they were able, and even beyond their ability. Entirely on their own, 4 they urgently pleaded with us for the privilege of sharing in this service to the Lord’s people. 5 And they exceeded our expectations: They gave themselves first of all to the Lord, and then by the will of God also to us. 6 So we urged Titus, just as he had earlier made a beginning, to bring also to completion this act of grace on your part. 7 But since you excel in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and in the love we have kindled in you—see that you also excel in this grace of giving.
- 2 Corinthians 8:3-7

True generosity is an offering; given freely and out of pure love. No strings attached. No expectations. Time and love are the most valuable possessions you can share.
- Suze Orman

A generous person will prosper; whoever refreshes others will be refreshed.
- Proverbs 11:25

"Power Gifts Pt. 2"

27 But the anointing that you received from him abides in you, and you have no need that anyone should teach you. But as his anointing teaches you about everything, and is true, and is no lie—just as it has taught you, abide in him
- 1 John 2:27

28 And one of the scribes came up and heard them disputing with one another, and seeing that he answered them well, asked him, “Which commandment is the most important of all?” 29 Jesus answered, “The most important is, ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. 30 And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’31 The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.”
- Mark 12:28-31

Sh’ma - Hebrew word meaning to agree and act upon what is being said

15 “If you love me, you will keep my commandments.
- John 14:15

FAITH

The gift of faith is the divine strength or ability to believe in God for unseen supernatural results in every area of life.

HEALING

The divine strength of ability to act as an intermediary in faith, prayer and by the laying on of hands for the healing of physical and mental illness and pain.

MIRACLES

The gift of miracles is the divine strength or ability to alter the natural outcomes of life in a supernatural way through prayer, faith and divine direction.

"Connection Issues"

Our spirits crave constant communication with God.

“Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the LORD God as he was walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and they hid from the LORD God among the trees of the garden.”
- Genesis‬ ‭3:8‬

As a deer pants for flowing streams, so pants my soul for you, O God. 2 My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When shall I come and appear before God?
- Psalm 42:1-2

God calls us all to connect with Him through Christ.

17 pray without ceasing…
- 1 Thessalonians 5:17

Spiritual Gifts to Aid our Connection to God

1. Knowledge: The divine strength or ability to understand and to bring clarity to situations and circumstances often accompanied by a word from God.

2. Discernment: The divine strength or ability to spiritually identify falsehood and to distinguish between right and wrong motives and situations.

3. Intercession: The divine strength or ability to stand in the gap in prayer for someone, something, or someplace believing for profound results.

We can connect to God with confidence.

16 Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
- Hebrews 4:16

“Me vs. Me”

16 But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.17 For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do.
- Galatians 5:16-17

We might be our own greatest enemies to experiencing God’s power.

19 She made him sleep on her knees. And she called a man and had him shave off the seven locks of his head. Then she began to torment him, and his strength left him. 20 And she said, “The Philistines are upon you, Samson!” And he awoke from his sleep and said, “I will go out as at other times and shake myself free.” But he did not know that the Lord had left him.
- Judges 16:19-20

We beat the desires of our flesh by becoming more like Jesus.

16 But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh... 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. 24 And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.
- Galatians 5:16, 22-24

3 Why do you see the speck that is in your brother's eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? 4 Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when there is the log in your own eye? 5 You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother's eye.
- Matthew 7:3-5

Correcting our character helps us become Christlike.

30 He must increase, but I must decrease.
- John 3:30

"Word Gifts Pt. 2"

WISDOM

6 Yet among the mature we do impart wisdom, although it is not a wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are doomed to pass away. 7 But we impart a secret and hidden wisdom of God, which God decreed before the ages for our glory. 8 None of the rulers of this age understood this, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. 9 But, as it is written,
“What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love him”—
10 these things God has revealed to us through the Spirit. For the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God. 11 For who knows a person's thoughts except the spirit of that person, which is in him? So also no one comprehends the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. 12 Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might understand the things freely given us by God. 13 And we impart this in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the Spirit, interpreting spiritual truths to those who are spiritual
- 1 Corinthians 2:6-13

Wisdom - The special ability that God gives through his spirit, to certain members of the Body of Christ to know how given knowledge, both biblical and practical, may best be applied to specific needs in life, especially in the Body of Christ.

EXHORTATION

4 For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, 5 so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. 6 Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith; 7 if service, in our serving; the one who teaches, in his teaching; 8 the one who exhorts, in his exhortation; the one who contributes, in generosity; the one who leads, with zeal; the one who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness.
- Romans 12:4-8

Exhortation - The special ability that God gives to certain members of the Body of Christ to minister words of comfort, consolation, encouragement, and counsel to other members of the Body in such a way that they feel helped and healed.

MISSIONARY

13 And he went up on the mountain and called to him those whom he desired, and they came to him. 14 And he appointed twelve (whom he also named apostles) so that they might be with him and he might send them out to preach 15 and have authority to cast out demons.
- Mark 3:13-15

Missionary - The special ability that God gives to certain members of the Body of Christ to minister to others, using their unique gifts, in a culture other than their own.

"The spirit of Christ is the spirit of missions. The nearer we get to Him, the more intensely missionary we become.”
- Henry Martin - Missionary to India and Persia

"We talk of the Second Coming; half the world has never heard of the first."
- Oswald J. Smith - Founder of The People’s Church - Canada