Sunday, April 22, 2012

What's on your mind?


Is this your story? We need to serve God with our entire being so that we can show forth God's goodness.  Listen to this song and then view this week's lesson.  Then let's talk....

The Cross, The Requirements, The Results - part 4





The Cross, The requirements, the results


Acts 4:9-11


9 If we are being called to account today for an act of kindness shown to a man who was lame and are being asked how he was healed, 10 then know this, you and all the people of Israel: It is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified but whom God raised from the dead, that this man stands before you healed. 11 Jesus is “‘the stone you builders rejected,
which has become the cornerstone.’[a]

Wednesday, April 18, 2012

Wednesday's Word



A changed mind, is a Changed life

Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. – Romans 12:2


The Jesus Mindset



Jesus and his disciples

24 Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. 25 For whoever wants to save their life[a] will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it. 26 What good will it be for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul? 27 For the Son of Man is going to come in his Father’s glory with his angels, and then he will reward each person according to what they have done. – Matthew 16:24-27
·        Jesus took time teaching His disciples. ~
·        Jesus explained the call of being a disciple.
·        The disciples were important to Jesus.

Sunday, April 15, 2012

What's On Your Mind?


When we understand the great gift we have been given by God, we should rejoice and worship Him.  Listen to the music today and allow it to remind you of the wonderful gift of salvation you have been given.  Then join us for the message, The Cross, The Requirements, The Results. Then, Let's talk....

The Cross, The Requirements, the Results - part 3



So a man thinks, so is he ~ What are you thinking?!

“Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:” Philippians 2:5


The Cross, The requirements, the results


1 Peter 2:23-25


23 When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly. 24 “He himself bore our sins” in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; “by his wounds you have been healed.” 25 For “you were like sheep going astray,”[a] but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.

Wednesday, April 11, 2012

The Jesus Mindset - Jesus and the Religious People


The Jesus Mindset



Jesus and the religious people

Going on from that place, he went into their synagogue, and a man with a shriveled hand was there. Looking for a reason to bring charges against Jesus, they asked him, “Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath?” He said to them, “If any of you has a sheep and it falls into a pit on the Sabbath, will you not take hold of it and lift it out? How much more valuable is a person than a sheep! Therefore it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath.” Then he said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” So he stretched it out and it was completely restored, just as sound as the other. But the Pharisees went out and plotted how they might kill Jesus. Aware of this, Jesus withdrew from that place. A large crowd followed him, and he healed all who were ill. – Matthew 12:9-15

·        Jesus preached the Word and affected people’s lives.

·        The religious people continually looked to stop the work of Jesus.

·        Jesus addressed them but continued to do his work.

Sunday, April 8, 2012

What's on Your Mind

Happy Resurrection Sunday! Today remind yourself that no matter what you face, you are not alone.  God is with you and He will take care of you. Our God reigns! View this video and then watch this Sunday's message.  Then, let's talk....

The Cross, The Requirements, the Results


 

The Cross, The requirements, the results


Mark 16:5-7

5 As they entered the tomb, they saw a young man dressed in a white robe sitting on the right side, and they were alarmed. 6 “Don’t be alarmed,” he said. “You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. He has risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid him. 7 But go, tell his disciples and Peter, ‘He is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him, just as he told you.’”

Wednesday, April 4, 2012

The Jesus Mindset - Jesus and the Multitudes


The Jesus Mindset

A changed mind, is a Changed life

Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. – Romans 12:2


This month of April we will look at having the mindset that Christ did. As stated in the video lesson, one meaning for mindset is approach. Using this meaning, sets the tone that if we want to have the mindset of Jesus, we must approach people, situations, and God the way Jesus did.

Today we look at Jesus approach to the large multitude of people that continually followed Him.  There were many reasons the people followed Jesus. Can you think of some of the reasons why?

Jesus and the multitude

35And Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people.  36But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd.  37Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few; 38Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest. – Matthew 9:35-38

 Here is Jesus' mindset/approach to the crowd.

·        Jesus’ ministry (office) did not over shadow His purpose (reason). (office and reason are one) ~ Jesus is the savior and He came to direct people back to a right relationship with God.  Jesus as savior was His office.  As the savior, Jesus has all power and ability, yet He willingly set aside His power so that His purpose could be accomplished.  What was the purpose or reason.  To reach the people.  Jesus knew the people were lost.  He knew they were without someone to lead them or help them.  He knew that He had to come, die and be resurrected for man's need. So even though Jesus had the power to call down angels to stop the road to the cross, He did not because then the ability of His office would have overshadowed His purpose.  Jesus shows us how to line up both our calling and our purpose.  If we ever become so focused with our calling and forget our purpose, we do not have a Jesus mindset. How do you handle making sure your calling and purpose or reason for doing are the same?


·        People’s needs moved Jesus. ~ Jesus throughout scripture interacted with people. Jesus saw the needs of the people and he was moved with compassion. This compassion is more than a simply caring for someone, but the kind of compassion that will not allow you to sit by and watch others suffer when you have the way to end that suffering.  Jesus had the power to heal, deliver and set people free.  He understood who He was and what abilities He had.  Therefore, the love of people moved Him to become active in their lives to bring them to wholeness.  As we move towards having the mindset of Jesus, we must understand who we are in Christ so that when we are confronted with situations and people we can allow that knowledge to move us into action to help people receive wholeness through a right relationship with Jesus Christ. What steps do you do to show compassion to others?



·        Jesus compassion requires response from his followers. ~ This point reminds us that it isn't optional for us to have compassion, it is in fact a requirement that Jesus tells the disciples to have.  As Jesus moved and gave of Himself for others, so must we that are disciples of Jesus Christ be moved to reach out and help others. What will you start doing today to be the compassionate person Jesus is calling us to be?

 What stands out for you in this lesson?

Sunday, April 1, 2012

What's On Your Mind?

 We are drawing closer to the time of celebrating the resurrection of Jesus Christ.  As we draw our

thoughts toward this event, what does the blood mean to you?  What has this great gift given to you? 

As you listen to this song today, meditate on the blood that Christ shed on the cross for you and I.  This

video also offers a time of communion.  Though you may not be taking communion, offer your heart in

sacrifice. Then view this week's Sunday message, The Cross, the Requirements, the Results. 

Then let's talk....

The Cross, the Requirements, the Results part 1 of 5


So a man thinks, so is he ~ What are you thinking?!

“Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:” Philippians 2:5



The Cross, the Requirements, the Results



Acts 10:38-40 ~ The cross (the method)

38 how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, and how he went around doing good and healing all who were under the power of the devil, because God was with him.

39 “We are witnesses of everything he did in the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem. They killed him by hanging him on a cross, 40 but God raised him from the dead on the third day and caused him to be seen.



Matthew 10:37-39 - ~ The requirements (the necessity)

37 “Anyone who loves their father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves their son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. 38 Whoever does not take up their cross and follow me is not worthy of me. 39 Whoever finds their life will lose it, and whoever loses their life for my sake will find it.

 


Hebrews 12:1-3 ~ The Results (the outcome)


1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, 2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart