You’re Not Working Alone
Philippians 2:12-16 |  Pastor Terry Wilcox

Name two people who inspire you:

Few things are harder to put up with, than the annoyance of a good example.” -Mark Twain

Admiration for a great person can inspire us, but it cannot enable us. Unless the person can enter. Into our own lives and share his skills, we cannot attain to his heights of accomplishment. It takes more than an example on the outside; it takes power on the inside. – Dr Warren Wiersbe

Philippians 2:13
Galatians 2:20

  1. God in us (Philippians 2:13) – His character, mind, and attitudes.
    The Greek behind “work out” was used to describe mining and farming.
    On a church sign:  “God is love, who are you?”
    Romans 8:29
    Genesis 1:28
  2. ”…To will and to act…”  Philippians 2:13
    Greek word translated “works in you” is where we get our English word energy.

How Do We Engage?

  1. His Word.
    I Thessalonians 2:13
  2. Talk and listen to God.
    Acts 1:14
    Acts 4:31
  3. Go and do.

Personal Notes

Consider the “Good” Son
Luke 15:25-32 |  Pastor Terry Wilcox

The Older Son of the Prodigal Father

  1. He became .  Luke 15:28  Why?
    a. He had a spirit.
        A belief that we are made righteous and accepted by God through obeying rules and laws, rather than  
        through faith in Jesus.
    b. He was .  Luke 15:29
    c. He did not see the younger one as his .  Luke 15:30

Three Lessons From This Parable

  1. It is possible to assume the place and privilege of a son while refusing the  of a .
  2. It is possible to stay home and serve the Father without actually  him.
  3. It is possible to be heir of all that the Father possesses but to have less  than those possessing .
    Luke 15:31 “My son, the father said you are always with me and everything I have is yours.”

If you don’t share the Father’s love for His  sons and daughters, you won’t enjoy the .

Personal Notes

The Commission Continued
Acts 1:1-11 |  Pastor Karl Moore

Acts 1:1-11

  1. We are living in very exceptional times that provide the church with some very exceptional opportunities.
  2. Esther 4:14
  3. Matthew 28:19-20  “…making disciples.”
    , , .
  4. Acts 1:6 – easily distracted.
    , , .
  5. Jesus redirects the disciples’ thinking and in Acts 1:8 provides a four-point plan to take advantage of such a time as this.

The Prerequisite

  1. Acts 1:7-8  “It’s not for you to know, but…”
  2. Surrender of .
  3. Surrender to  will.
  4. What we want must become what He wants.

The Priority

  1. Acts 1:8
  2. Matthew 9:12
  3. Luke 19:10
  4. Should need to be saved.
  5. Church must grow.
  6. The Process.
  7. Acts 1:8
  8. Saints are sent.
  9. Saints are not spectators.
  10. Acts 1:1-10

 

  1. The Power.
  2. Joel 2:28-29
  3. John 14:26
  4. Acts 1:4
  5. Spirit is the Source.
    Saints make a select ten.

As with Esther, “…for such a time as this.” Our Savior provided the Great Commission.

Knowing that men would be easily distracted, He then continues the commission.

Personal Notes

The Prodigal Father
Luke 15:11-24 |  Pastor Terry Wilcox

The parables of Jesus are Jesus painting us a portrait of God.

Most folks can’t define “prodigal,” and the main character is neither of the sons. Jesus’ portrait is of the father.

Prodigal – .

Let’s consider the youngest son

  1. He tells his dad, .  Luke 15:12
  2. He probably received .
  3. Luke 15:13 – “the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country”
  4. Luke 15:13 – “and there squandered his wealth in wild living”
    Proverbs 6:20-26
    He became -less, hungry, -less, and -less.
  5. Luke 15:17 – “when he came to his senses”

Now let’s look at the father

  1. Luke 15:12 – We see the father’s benevolent 
  2. Luke 15:12 – The father  gave the son his share.
  3. Luke 15:20 – The father was  with .
  4. Luke 15:22 –
    The father  restores him
    a. “the best robe”  2 Corinthians 5:17-19, I Peter 3:18
    b. “put a ring on his finger” = 
    c. “sandals on his feet” – slaves went without
  5. Luke 15:23 – The father throws a celebration.

Personal Notes

A Biblical Perspective on Suffering
Psalms 128:1-6 |  Pastor Terry Wilcox

Abraham was called “Hebrew” because he came from the “other side” of the Euphrates River.

The Hebrew perspective on suffering is expressed in the book of , Deuteronomy, and the Prophets.

A divine ; human limitations; a call to , and the suffering  of Isaiah.

 

Four religious views

  1. Stoic personal .
  2. Buddhism
    Empty yourself of all . If you don’t want anything, can’t disappoint you.
  3. Hinduism
    All our suffering is .
  4. Islam
    Whatever happens to us is all .

What does a Christian do with suffering?

  1. Sometimes we are  unmerited hurt.
    Psalm 91:8-12
    Matthew 5:44-45
  2. Regardless of circumstances – we  in His .
    Habakkuk 3:17-19
  3. Jesus’ attitude was different; he doesn’t explain, nor suffering.
    John 9:1-4

Our questions of “why” must move to the more mature, Holy Spirit-enlightened questions of “what” and “how.” The “why” question is answered in Genesis 3 and is illustrated daily throughout the world.

Jesus  suffering by using it to turn  into victors, losers into winners,  into givers, and stagnant ponds into ! With Jesus, your test is turned into a .

Matthew 5:11-12, Romans 8:18, Philippians 1:29, 2 Timothy 3:12

Paul wrote half of the New Testament.
2 Corinthians 11:25-29

God is working all around us. To see that, we must let him work .

Personal Notes

Chasing or Being Chased?
Philippians 3:12-16 |  Pastor Terry Wilcox

Philippians 3:12-16 NIV
Philippians 3:12-16 TPT

  1. A  dissatisfaction. Philippians 3:12-13
  2. A  focus.  Philippians 3:13b
    There is nothing more important than pursuing God’s .
  3. focus on the future.  Philippians 3:13b
    “To forget” in scripture means not to be  or affected by…  See Hebrews 10:17
  4. Achievement requires .
    Same Greek verb in Philippians 3:12 and 14.

Two Attitudes to Avoid

  1. must do it all.
  2. must do it all.

Personal Notes

The Church’s GREAT Identity
Ephesians 1:19-23, 2:4-10 NLT |  Pastor Joel 

Ephesians 1:19-23, 2:4-10 NLT

BIG IDEA: When the Church knows who she is…she can accomplish GREAT things! The church has been given:

  1. G-ravitas. We have been raised with Christ and given access to GREAT  and .  Ephesians 1:19-20, 2:4-6
  2. R-ulership authority. We are benefactors of His GREAT .  Ephesians 1:21-22, Matthew 28:18-20
  3. E-spousal. We are Christ’s , His Great Bride, working on His behalf.  Ephesians 1:23, 5:25-33
  4. A-ffirmation. We have witnesses and we are a witness. We are a GREAT living testimony of God’s love, mercy, and grace.  Ephesians 2:4-5, 7-9, Acts 1:8, etc.
  5. T-asks! We are His Great  – created to do things He planned for us ages ago.  Ephesians 2:10

CALL: To embrace our GREAT identity and live out our calling together.

PRAYER: To reject false identity ideas and embrace the truth.

Personal Notes

What the Church REALLY Is…
I Timothy 3:14-15 NLT |  Pastor Joel Rissinger

Big Idea: Seeing the Church as God does enables us to reach our full potential. We must embrace the Four Absolute Truths from I Timothy 3:15 in order for this to happen.

 

Four Absolute Truths

  1. The Church is God’s !  I Timothy 3:14-15a
  2. The Church is composed of those by the Living God!  I Timothy 3:15b; Romans 1:7; etc.
  3. The Church is the  of the Truth!  I Timothy 3:15c
  4. The Church is also the  for the Truth!  I Timothy 3:15d; John 14:6; Ephesians 1:22-23

So what does this mean to us?

  • We need to see the Church as more than a social club, community service organization, or even a mission agency.
  • We need to value the Church and take it seriously. This affects our giving, our attendance, our service, and our outreach.
  • As Christ’s Body and the Foundation of Truth, we need to represent the truth to a lost and dying world. This means we share the gospel and the teachings of Christ and the Apostles, even if it’s not WOKE or popular.

CALL & Prayer: To see, uphold, and experience the Church as God intends.

Personal Notes

Building In Destructive Times
Jude 20-24  |  Pastor Terry Wilcox

Modern Christians hope to save the world by being like it, but it will never work. The church’s power over this world springs out of her unlikeness to it, never from her integration into it.”   -A.W. Tozer

Construction is more difficult than destruction

  1. Build your . Jude 20
    Greek pistis is a ; Greek peitho is a . 
    The foundation of a Godly life is .
    Habakkuk  2:4; Romans 1:7; Hebrews 10:38; Galatians 3:11
    Hebrews 11:6; Ephesians 2:8; James 2:14-16
  2. Pray in the Holy Spirit
    Romans 8:9-11
    Praying in the Holy Spirit is to get in with God’s plans. It is to  and   to our spiritual enemies.
    II Corinthians 10:3-4
  3. Stay in the love of God.  Jude 21
    Jude 21 TPT “Fasten your hearts to the love of God and receive the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ, who gives us eternal life.”
  4. Wait.  Jude 21
    Recommended book – Stealing From God by Frank Turek
  5. Have compassion for others.  Jude 22
    Greek eleeo = compassion; Greek eleos = .
  6. Be a .  Jude 23
    Pray, prepare, and act in .

Personal Notes

All Leaders Come And Go
Psalm 146:2-6  |  Pastor Terry Wilcox

Sometimes The Loss Is Shocking

  1. In the real world, even heroes are . Psalm 146:3
    St. Augustine – “Do not rest your hope in any man. He is only a man. Your hope must rest in Him who made man.”
  2. Misplaced hope is a threat to . Psalm 146:4
    We can appreciate leaders without worshipping them. We can learn from their example without building our hope on their .
    Matthew 7:24-27
  3. God is the  that never fails. Psalm 146:5
    Jacob was the patriarch of the 12 tribes constituting Israel.
    Corrie Ten Boom – “Never be afraid to trust an unknown future to a known God.”

What Do We Do?

  1. Cry.
    Psalm 62:8
  2. Check your focus.
    Hebrews 13:7-8
  3. Read His Word and  with His .
  4. Keep  on.
    Hebrews 12:1-2
    Philippians 4:8

    Our hope is not  because our God is not !