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Aracely is Baptized

Victor and his wife lead the church in Santiago, Chile and will be leading a team to plant a church in Mexico City this summer. 

Jude 1: It is amazing to note the humility with which Jude begins his letter. There was only one James that would have been referred to simply as James without further clarification at this point in the Church and it was James the half brother of Jesus. That would make the author one of Jesus’ half brothers as listed in the gospels (Mark 6:3). But he saw him self not a Jesus’ brother, but simply his servant. Is your attitude that of Jude’s? Simply a servant of Christ.

To the called: Jude wants them to be aware of their true identity.

1. Jude 2-7: Grace is abundant when the sin is not redundant.

• God delivered his people out of Egypt, but later destroyed them for their sin and lack of faith.
• 2 Peter 1:3-4 – There is no sin that can master you because you have everything you need. It’s not that you can’t overcome, you just don’t really want to. The secret to overcoming is holding on to God’s promises. What are you holding on to? If not God, it’s foolish. God will always come through.
• Hebrews 10:26-29 – You can overcome. Make a radical decision to repent (180˚ turn).

2. Jude 8-13: You can tell when someone is on their way to hell.

9 Signs of the godless:

1. Reject Authority (v.8
2. Slander (v.9-10)
3. Selfishness (v.12 – shepherds who only feed themselves)
4. All talk, no walk (v.12 – clouds without rain)
5. Don’t bear fruit (v.12 – trees without fruit) Hebrews 6:4-8, falling away is evidenced by your life producing thorns and thistles.
6. Grumbling/Crying (v.16) – Philippians 2:12-15 Do everything with out complaining. When you start complaining you stop working out your salvation with fear and trembling.
7. Fault finders (v.16) – Philippians 4:8 Think about the good. If you are a fault finder your thoughts will be the opposite of this verse.
8. Boast about themselves (v.16)
9. Fake/Ingenuine (v.16 – flatter others for their own advantage) 2 Corinthians 6:3-13 How are your friendships?

These are the warning signs, we need to check ourselves and get rid of any of these things.

3. Jude 17-25: The warning has been heard now follow the Word.

• Either keep yourself in God’s love or you will fall into his wrath.
• Wake up to what God is trying to do.

Chanllenge: Stay Focused. Hold on to the Promises.

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Sandy is restored

The Power of Prayer– Outline
Learn how to be a prayer warrior using God’s word as the example.

1 Samuel 1:1-9

-Elkanah loved his wife Hannah even though God made her barren

-Hannah suffered because Peninah provoked her

-God allowed her to suffer

1 Samuel 1:9-20

-God allows suffering so that we will pour out our souls to him

-It is greater to be in pain so that we will pour ourselves out to God

-What does it take for you to be humble and seek God

-Pour out your soul knowing all you have is God

-Are you grateful for the trials?

-How was your prayer this morning?

-God will do what it takes to get you to go to him

-Do you forget about God after he answers your prayers?

James 5:13-18

-What problem(s) do you have?

-The answer to your problems is prayer

-When your prayer comes from a righteous person it will come true

1King 17:1; 18:1-2;  18:36-46

-Elijah was a righteous man

-This is what a prayer looks like

-Pray with all your heart

-Find a place with no distractions

-God will not give you what you are not willing to ask for

-God is not hard to persuade; we have to mean what we say

-Hannah and Elijah prayed and meant it

-They prayed with all their heart

-Believing is not enough

Acts 2:36-41

-Believe, repent, and get baptized

-You have to get rid of the sin and let the water wash it away

Luke 15:9-10

-God rejoices when people repent

-Remember to thank God for adding you to his Kingdom

-Prayer is the key

-It takes prayer to save a soul and thank God

-Our only weapon is prayer

-Pray like you have never prayed before for the lost souls

Mark 1:35-37

-Jesus went to a solitary place and prayed for hours

Luke 22:39-46

-As usually Jesus went

-This is a usual thing not a random thing

-Are you known for taking long prayer walks

-Not falling into temptation takes prayer

-Prayer takes physical energy

-Do you have the energy it takes to have a good prayer

-You have to be healthy

-Pray with all your heart

-Prayer life makes a difference

1 Timothy 2:8

-Pray to God

-Prayer warriors

-Every man will pray to God and have a relationship with him

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Parenting Godly Teens, class by Mike and Brittany Underhill, 5/12/2012

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The Fruit of Godly Parenting

Parenting Godly Children – Outline
Much can be learned from the life of Eli and his sons (1 Samuel 2) on how not to raise your children.
General Principles
-very few things as important as parenting. It is a huge responsibility
Deuteronomy 6:1-7
v.5 Love the Lord your God…
v.7 impress them on your children. Talk about them when at home, when you walk with them, lie down and get up with them.
-Goal is to teach kids to teach the next generation. Goal: to have them fear and be in awe of God.
-What you do will impact your kids & the generations to come
Result: enjoying a long life (v.2)
-It takes hard work to raise kids who want to be Disciples.
-To accomplish this, be careful to obey (v.3)
-Get a lot of input.
-Christianity can’t be facade. Kids can spot a fake.
- v.5 Love God with all your heart
- v.7 impress “pierce” them with the Word of God.
- Talk about God daily, & multiple times a day.
- what are you telling them throughout the day.
- Have dinner together and not in front of the TV. When you walk along road, travel and talk of God.
- Bedtime and when you wake up with them, talk & pray
v. 8 Tie them on hands, bind on foreheads.
-Must know the Word – Memorize it.
-The Word of God must apart of us every waking minute
-Can’t talk about God’s Word too much.
How Not to Raise Kids
1 Samuel 2:12-13
Eli’s sons were wicked – no regard for LORD
-If God isn’t real to us, God won’t appear real to your kids by your example.
-Practical – Don’t pick up phones at dinner. Engage with family. When tucking in your kids if people are over, invite them to pray with you.
- Teach kids how to interact with others put them in positions where they can learn to talk to others, in an open way,
- You kids are part of your ministry.
How are kids going to be open with their sin if you don’t make the time know to talk with them
- Teach character, not just right and wrong.
- Teach to look in the eye; how you show respect. Eli didn’t set great example (v. 13)
-Disobeyed God’s Word by eating uncooked meat. Taught sons to be selfish kids more focused on what they see before what you say.
- We can’t afford to be poor examples,
- If angry, kids will be bitter.
- If you aren’t sacrificial, they won’t be either. Converse is true.
- If generous kids will be generous
- Can’t call your kids to do something you aren’t doing. Teach them to seek Godly advice.
- Nobody likes a hypocrites. We sin most at home. If kids overhear you complain, they will see you true heart. Tame the tongue. Repent confess. Apologize to kids. Show them by your life, your gratitude for the cross and your conviction and about what you need to change.
- Be real with your kids, not just a director.
2 Timothy 3
“Don’t have a form of godliness by deny its power.”
1 Samuel 2:27
Prophecy against Eli’s house
- Don’t put family over God. Priority: God – his Kingdom – Wife – Children
1 Samuel 3:11
God to Samuel – “When you put your family before God, you put your family against God.”
- If sin is in your household, you must do something about it. Get input. Go to the kingdom for advice.
- Ask teachers how your kids are doing. Be humble.
- Don’t give in to lazy attitude
- Raise your kids according to the Word of God.

How to Parent Teens – Outline

No patent is perfect…that’s what helps draw us to God…because HE is perfect.
Proverbs 22:6…train a child and when older he won’t turn from it!
First there is a training involved. Chenoch is translation… it’s similar to spoon feeding them in way to go. Spoon feed them the bible in what’s right and correct. Encourage them to read Bibles every Morning. When a teenager knows the truth…it will train them in what to do later.

Sometimes kids want bible and sometimes they don’t…they may hate it. Training them in “the way.”. Giving them “the way ” is the bigger picture.
Help your kids, in faith, what they can be and do sometime. Have faith that our kids are going to make it to heaven!!

Training in western culture is different than eastern culture. Don’t just read the Bible…disciple them and walk with them and set the example for them! Setting the example is the most crucial training tool! Train them by giving up everything and sacrificing where God wants us to go and how we seek kingdom first and children see this and know “the way” to go.
Don’t worry about making sacrifices for the kingdom and worrying how it will affect your children…their hope is to have parents that seek the kingdom first!! What’s planted in our children will help them when they are older!

Matthew 28:19…teach them to obey everything! The parents are responsible for problem with kids and are also the solution for the kids!
We are impressing on our kids 7 days a week! We need to realize that what our kids see as an example is branded into their memory of what disciples do…great examples or hypocrites.
Be passionate to do the right thing! Do what’s right and everyone’s heart will follow!
Sacrifice brings the family together. You are your kids’ hero. Set the bar high for them in your example and they will aspire to be like you!

Proverbs 22:15 Rod of discipline…
Folly is bound up in heart of a child. This is normal. Discipling is key (discipline). Openness is important. Allow kids to know that they can talk about what they feel.
The children of disciples in church…there is a lot that can be going on. They need to be treated like adults and speak to them with respect in order to build them up and encourage them to make the right decisions. Show your children that you respect them and show them grace! Show them that you trust them and even make their own decisions. Get advice from your kids and show your children that you respect them. Submit your marriage to your children.
Understanding the cross can be difficult for children in the church who hear communion every single week. They know the truth. They have heard this their whole life. The key is that they know the truth but they don’t have the faith they need in order to be a baptized disciple. They don’t see the big picture of faith and Jesus work. Faith is internal…miracles are external. Children see the miracles but won’t realize the root and source of it is faith. They need to develop their own faith. They have a lot of knowledge but no faith at all (like a remnant disciple). Teach and show them what faith really is. Try to look at as many angles as possible to teach them the cross….how it’s all about faith. Children will remain immature and unfaithful until we can teach them the root ofthe cross. Every day try to help them understand and see the cross.
Love is the biggest thing for teenagers. Always show love no matter how hard it gets and whatever decision they make! Love opens the doors to encourage your children to want to stay connected even with the church when they want to walk away.
Every person in church plays a vital role in our children’s lives! It takes a whole church to raise a child…but the hard work still comes back to parenting. We need to invest the hard work necessary!

Proverbs 13:20

If we want our children to grow in areas, we can forge relationships with people in church to help with these areas. “He who walks with wise grows wise.” Unity in marriage is important in teaching your children to respect your marriage.
Choose specifically who we want our children to be friends with. Encourage who they should spend time with. Replace every bad thing with a godly quality. Dislike their friends… replace with great friends!

There is a lot of behind the scenes work to establish and forge these relationships for our children! Teach the disciples who are working with your children what they should be talking about and what areas you would like them to influence in your children.
Decide who are going to be working with your children…set them up for success!
Don’t force your children to become a disciple…just place them in relationships with godly people to influence them.

These disciples with your children
will become a part of your family. Incorporate them in your family times.
Around the sophomore year is the time when it can be the most challenging with children involved in sin.

The work doesn’t stop at baptism. Once our children are saved, it will be equally as much work after that point to keep them strong as disciples.
Mindset of parent with teenagers…it’s important to see that God has put the child in your life for a reason. Realize that God has put our children with a family of disciples! But also realize that these children growing up in the church can be the most hard-hearted to work with. Requires a lot of patience and love to work with them! They aren’t angels! God put them where they are because it my take a lifetime around the church for their hearts to soften!

Alyssa gets baptized!

“No mission too difficult. No sacrifice too great. Duty First”
-What is our duty?

Matthew 22:34-40
-Jesus was being questioned
-Love God with all your mind, heart, and soul everyday
-Our duty is to love God
-What is your duty before God?
-God wants to be your first duty
-It is not enough to put God second

1.) Disciples Climb to Glory
Exodus 33:12-18
-What distinguishes you is your love for the Lord
-Moses was with God face to face and even after he still wanted to know God more
-Is that your heart?
-It takes effort and investment to climb to glory
-Have you put that much investment into it or do you have more to give?

2 Corinthians 3:12-18
-Moses’ face was glowing after seeing the Lord
-In Christ, you see the full glory
-As you are climbing to glory, you become more glorious reflecting God’s glory
-Ever-increasing glory
-Are you spending more time with God to reflect his glory?

2.) Unity is Strength
Ephesians 4:1-6; :11-13
-You need to make every effort to be unified
-You are chosen to build up the body of Christ in unity
-Unity has to be important to you
-You will never see the full measure of greatness without unity
-You have to make every effort to have great communication to keep unity
-Unity is the key to surviving the battles
-Are you intensely loyal?
-Constant communication
-Do you have great relationships with people who are not like you?

3.) Today as Much as I Can
-The heart of a disciple is to do as much as you can even when it is hard
-What motivates sacrifice?

2 Corinthians 11:23-29
-Paul was motivated
-What motivates you to give all you can for the Lord?

2 Corinthians 5:11-15
-Love for God should be your motivation
-Do you really love God with all your heart?
-Are you here for relationships, fun, your needs, or God?

4.) You are Always Faithful
Revelation 12:7-12
-Always be faithful
-There was a war in Heaven
-Now there is a war on Earth
-How can you stay faithful?
-Jesus’ blood and the Word

Ephesians 6:10-12
-Our war is against principalities we cannot see
-The key is the blood of the lamb and the Word of testimony
-The weapon is you faithful to God

Luke 17:5-10
-God is always entrusting us with more
-Jesus says you just need a little faith to move things
-You do not have to be a rocket scientist
-After serving, you have to have humility
-You have only done your duty
-You will not win a metal for your efforts but you will get a golden crown

DUTY = Love God

Gratitude in the Mission of the Disciple – Outline
1 Thessalonians 5:16
-God wants us to have this kind of heart all the time
-Gratitude is important
-Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today, and a vision for tomorrow
-Gratitude fuels you to do things you would never think you could do
-Gratitude is key
-Are you grateful for your life?
-Life is a gift you have been given!
-Where is your gratitude for your life with God?
-God has rescued you out of the pit of despair
-Parents love when their kids are grateful; God loves when you are grateful
-Gratitude makes the sacrifice worth it

Point 1. Grateful for the Treasure
Matthew 13:44
-It would be incredible to discover treasure
-He bought the field so nobody could say it is theirs
-People probably thought he lost his mind but they did not know about the treasure
-For the Kingdom we have to give up, “sell”, everything
-People may think you’ve lost your mind
-God’s Kingdom is the ultimate “hidden” treasure
-What do you have to offer God’s Kingdom?
-Where can you go besides the Kingdom?
-Get out of the worldly mindset and know you need to give in to the Kingdom
-Are you grateful for the treasure God gave you?
-Without gratitude for the Kingdom, you are lost
-Where would you be if others did not give up everything?
-Others have invested and sacrificed and now it is your turn
-It is awesome to be able to sacrifice for God!

Point 2. A Superhero for God
2 Corinthians 4:6-7
-Light in our hearts
-Light comes from knowledge
-Knowledge comes from glory
-Glory comes from God
-God has given you light through your repentance, baptism, forgiveness of sins, and receiving the Holy Spirit
-We are jars of clay, hand pressed but not crushed
-We all feel pressure, but God keeps us from being crushed
-It is a miracle from God that you have not been crushed
-Freaking out is not an option!
-Panic, hysterical fear, and freaking out all bring sin
-Having faith in God and keeping close to him keeps you from being crushed
-When you are close to God, his power keeps you from being crushed
-You are a superhero because of what God has put in you
-Gratitude keeps Jesus in your heart
-When you lose gratitude, you lose conviction in your quiet time

1 Corinthians 4:20
-The Kingdom is not a matter of talk, but of power
-It takes action!
-Stop talking and start taking action!
-God’s Kingdom is not about talking the talk
-When was the last time you helped somebody become a disciple?
-Are you doing something powerful?
-Walk the walk

Revelation 21:1-5
-This symbolizes Christ and the church
-God dwells with us
-The church came from Heaven and now God is with us
-This is not an institution made by man
-We are not all here because of worldly connections, we are here because of God and his Word

Revelation 21:10-11
-This is a beautiful jewel, a treasure hidden in a field
-When was the last time you thanked the person who helped you become a disciple?
-When you are grateful, you point out the good in others, sin whole heartedly, and wake up early to be with God
-Gratitude leads you to do the things that will get you to Heaven
-God’s will is for us to be grateful
-You have a present from God, but are you grateful for it?
-Out gratitude can change the world
-Get your gratitude back!
-It is a wonderful life

Women’s day was amazing! Singing, dancing, preaching, food and God, all at one wonderful event.

Here are the highlights:

The Promise

Food and fellowship!

The Promise – Outline
Joshua 1:1-3, :7-8
-Jesus means ‘He who saves’
-We need a savior
-Without Jesus’ blood, there is no forgiveness
-God is with us
-The answers to God’s promises are always ‘yes’ with Christ

-Success is not what we think it is
-Success is having the Savior and a relationship with God
-Your soul is more valuable than any piece of real estate
-God sacrificed his son
-Where are you setting your foot?
-When you work hard for the Lord, you may get discouraged at people’s excuses
-Some days there are victories, and some days there is nothing
-Once in our lives, we should all go on a mission team
-As the church grows, you will be amazed at how fast it grows with hard work and faith
-Do you “got to have it”?
-Do you have to have the promises of God?
-The only way you are going to get it, is if you have the attitude of “I have to have it!”

Point 1. You have got to have Feet that are Ready to Go
-God takes out those who grumble
-You have to be righteous on God’s terms
-Joshua had 2 million people and 3 days
-God always calls us to an “impossible” task
-It is all about obedience, and God takes care of the rest

Joshua 1:5
-He will never leave us
-God promises he will be with us, conditional upon us going

Romans 10:15
-God has the feet to go, do you?
-We have to preach the Word wherever we go
-We have to be willing to suffer the persecution that comes along with following God

Point 2. Have Faith the Overcomes Fear
Mark 4:35-41
-Jesus can make any wind and wave stop and if he hasn’t, it is for a reason
-Apostle means ‘messenger’
-Nobody cares how much you know until they know how much you care
-We are always looking for somebody to care about us
-Top ten fears of women:
10. Identity theft,
9. change,
8. social situations,
7. being left alone in old age,
6. heart disease,
5. fear of no longer being attractive,
4. weight gain,
3. breast cancer,
2. divorce,
1. losing a child

-We need a forehead harder than flint
-Strain towards what is ahead!
-We are birthing churches
-When you birth a disciple there is a birth pain
-Rely on God’s strength
-When one person takes a stand, it has repercussions to many
-Take a stand for God!
-Have feet that are ready to go
-Have faith that overcomes fear
-God says ‘yes’ to all of his promises
-Take a stand about your relationship with God
-Take a stand about the mission to go to all nations
-Lets have the feet and the faith
-What is your excuse?