Church Notes

08/28/2022

"1 Here is a trustworthy saying: Whoever aspires to be an overseer desires a noble task. 2 Now the overseer is to be above reproach, faithful to his wife, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, 3 not given to drunkenness, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money. 4 He must manage his own family well and see that his children obey him, and he must do so in a manner worthy of full respect. 5 (If anyone does not know how to manage his own family, how can he take care of God’s church?) 6 He must not be a recent convert, or he may become conceited and fall under the same judgment as the devil. 7 He must also have a good reputation with outsiders, so that he will not fall into disgrace and into the devil’s trap."
- 1 Timothy 3:1‭-‬7 NIV

•why must an elder be these things?
4- they are to be a roll model in the church for all
He is a Sheppard a pastor to the men and women of the church.

"1 To the elders among you, I appeal as a fellow elder and a witness of Christ’s sufferings who also will share in the glory to be revealed: 2 Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care, watching over them—not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not pursuing dishonest gain, but eager to serve; 3 not Lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock."
- 1 Peter 5:1‭-‬3 NIV

•What most an elder be?

• be an example for the people of the church

• be a Sheppard of gods people

-They are responsible to god for how they lead the flock of god
-Like parents are responsible for their children
-the only reason one should want to be an elder is to protect and lead God's people. Do they love Jesus and want to take care of his people.

•A church will only be as strong as their elders will only be as loving as their elders.

•The roll of an elder should not be take lightly

•what does an elder do

-they are there to encourage, support, give correction.
-in a healthy church elders should protect and encourage preacher and in turn preachers should protect and encourage elders

"28 Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds of the church of God, which he bought with his own blood. 29 I know that after I leave, savage wolves will come in among you and will not spare the flock. 30 Even from your own number men will arise and distort the truth in order to draw away disciples after them. 31 So be on your guard! Remember that for three years I never stopped warning each of you night and day with tears."
- Acts 20:28‭-‬31 NIV

"9 He must hold firmly to the trustworthy message as it has been taught, so that he can encourage others by sound doctrine and refute those who oppose it."
- Titus 1:9 NIV

•encourage or refute what should be taught

How can we assist the elders to do their job properly

"17 Have confidence in your leaders and submit to their authority, because they keep watch over you as those who must give an account. Do this so that their work will be a joy, not a burden, for that would be of no benefit to you."
- Hebrews 13:17 NIV

-because they keep watch over you as those who must give an account. -This is a serious responsibility

•obey?
•submit?
-what if you don't agree or understand?
-read Hebrews 13:17 NIV

•They hold an account for both your soul and their own.

-the church is not a democracy.
-It is a theocracy where God is in charge.
-we submit to god and to one another.
-for non doctrine issues we must discuss and come to a mutual decision
-we must respect our elders Even when we don't agree to them.

"5 The reason I left you in Crete was that you might put in order what was left unfinished and appoint elders in every town, as I directed you."
- Titus 1:5 NIV

"23 Paul and Barnabas appointed elders for them in each church and, with prayer and fasting, committed them to the Lord, in whom they had put their trust."
- Acts 14:23 NIV

•Appointed not elected
-think of the last election we had with all the fighting
-the bible speaks of appointing our elders but pinning them against each other for a vote / competition.
-Being an elder is a burden that they have accepted

07/19/2020

He is comparing our earthly nature vs our spiritual nature.
The problem is that for most of us we are losing that battle.
"I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do."
- Romans 7:15

Poisonous Thoughts

Your mind can play tricks on you.
You have to learn to replace these thought with
If you think negatives thoughts you will become negative
If you think like Christ then you will become like christ.

"Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it."
- Proverbs 4:23

"The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ."
- 2 Corinthians 10:4, 2 Corinthians 10:5

Remember that when the devil speaks he is lying
He wants us locked in a prison of lies.
We can demolish this prison with the word of Christ.

Remember that we have to carefully guard out thoughts. We have to replace the lies with truths of God.

Be honest with yourself

Do you think these thoughts?

Negative thoughts
I just give and everyone takes
I can't do it
I fail everytime I try.

Scared thoughts
Murder hornets
Sickness

Discontent thoughts
I wish I had this_____

Critical thoughts
Can you believe the way they dress.
They way they park
The way they act.

If you want to find something negative to think you can. You can't believe that you are God's handy work and also believe you are worthless

Identify replace reject.
Identify the lie. Reject the lie. Replace it with the truth if God.

"And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things."
- Philippians 4:7, Philippians 4:8

This is saying to think on
whatever is true
whatever is noble
whatever is right
whatever is pure
whatever is lovely
whatever is admirable
If you think on these things and on the word of God it will renew your life.

You can give in to the lies or push past the lie to the truth. Even with the lies become so loud that it is screaming and overwhelming remember to identify, reject and replace.

Identify the lie. Reject the lie. Replace it with the truth if God.

Remember that God loves you so much to send his only son to earth to save you.

Will you accept that truth or reject it for the lies of this world

01/26/2020

Who are you?

I am encouraging

•One of the most spiritual thing you can do is encourage others and build them up.

1 Thessalonians 5:1-10

"Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing. Now we ask you, brothers and sisters, to acknowledge those who work hard among you, who care for you in the Lord and who admonish you. Hold them in the highest regard in love because of their work. Live in peace with each other."
- 1 Thessalonians 5:11-13
• Jesus recognized that his followers were in need of encouragement.
-He was always encouraging and loving people
-He said don't be anxious about anything for God will take care of you.

• Think about how he walked on water to encourage his followers, how he healed Bartimaeus (the blind man), how he brought Lazarus back to life.
- Jesus was encouraging in everything.

•Would people identify you as an encourager?
-Who have you encouraged today?

•Even though we live in a world that is very discouraged their is a light in Jesus
-Jesus loves you right now; just the way you are.

01/12/2020

Who are you?

I am grateful

When we think we are better it gives us an excuse to complain.

Now on his way to Jerusalem, Jesus traveled along the border between Samaria and Galilee. As he was going into a village, ten men who had leprosy met him. They stood at a distance and called out in a loud voice, “Jesus, Master, have pity on us!”
Luke 17: 11-‬13 NIV

•Imagine the social and physical deviation of having leprosy.
•They can't have physical or social intimacy.

When he saw them, he said, “Go, show yourselves to the priests.” And as they went, they were cleansed. One of them, when he saw he was healed, came back, praising God in a loud voice. He threw himself at Jesus’ feet and thanked him—and he was a Samaritan.
Luke 17:14-‬16 NIV

Jesus asked, “Were not all ten cleansed? Where are the other nine? Has no one returned to give praise to God except this foreigner?”
Luke 17:17‭-‬18 NIV

•Only one of the ten came back with thanks

1)Every good thing we have comes from God
•"Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows."
- James 1:17
•Yes you may have worked hard but your gifts were given to you by God.

2)I will NOT let what I WANT, rob me of what I HAVE.
•Better what the eye sees than the roving of the appetite. This too is meaningless, a chasing after the wind.
Ecclesiastes 6:9 NIV
• It is better to embrace what you have than long for what you don't.
•Most of us have a lot that we are not grateful for even though it is something a lot of people don't have.

"I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through him who gives me strength."
- Philippians 4:11, Philippians 4:12, Philippians 4:13

3) I will turn every blessings I have back into praise.
• when we don't do this something dangerous happens. IT TURNS INTO PRIDE
•"I will praise you as long as I live, and in your name I will lift up my hands. I will be fully satisfied as with the richest of foods; with singing lips my mouth will praise you."
- Psalms 63:4, Psalms 63:5
•How? By changing your perspective.

01/05/2020

Who are you?

I am optimistic.
It is really easy to find negativity

The realtor is there are a lot of things going on that are wrong in our world. But at the same time there is a lot Good going on.

We find what we are looking for.
"Whoever seeks good finds favor, but evil comes to one who searches for it."
Proverbs 11:27 NIV

We are optimistic based not in what we feel but on what GOD says.

Romans 8
I am optimistic because....
1)My sins are forgiven
"Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death."
Romans 8:1‭-‬2 NIV
2)Jesus is at the right hand of God praying for me
"Who then is the one who condemns? No one. Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding (praying) for us."
Romans 8:34 NIV
3) my future victory is greater than my present pain
"I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us."
Romans 8:18 NIV
Everything he went through and he said it was nothing compared to what lies ahead for us in God
4) my mind is filled with the peace of God
"The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace."
Romans 8:6 NIV
We can remain positive because we have the
peace of God
5) God is for me
"What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?"
Romans 8:31 NIV
"Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies."
Romans 8:33 NIV
6)God's spirit helps me in my weakness
"Who hopes for what they already have? But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently. In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness."
Romans 8:24‭b-‬26a NIV
7) God is working everything in my life for good
"And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose."
Romans 8:28 NIV
8 ) Because nothing can separate me from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus
"For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord."
Romans 8:38‭-‬39 NIV

12/29/2019

Romans 7:14-24
We know that the law is spiritual; but I am unspiritual, sold as a slave to sin. I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good. As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me. For I know that good itself does not dwell in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. For I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing. Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it. So I find this law at work: Although I want to do good, evil is right there with me. For in my inner being I delight in God’s law; but I see another law at work in me, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within me. What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body that is subject to death?

What is sin?
•Breaking the law of God
•Rebelling against him
•it separates us from him

Psalm 32:5 and Exodus 34:7
Three words for sin
• sin (khata/kamartia)
To miss the mark
Knowingly or unknowingly
• transgressions (Pesha/paraptoma)
To Break trust, rebel, betray
We choose this
• iniquity (Avon/anomia)
Make crooked, to bend, twist or distorted
Describes the consequences of carrying sin
Well I've crossed the line but this is my choice and I will stay here.
•Each level gets worse
•GOD FORGIVES IT ALL if we let him

It gets personified
Genesis 4:6-7 SIN is crouching at you door, it desires to have you.
Romans 7:17,20 sin is considered to be a living thing in us
Romans 6:6-7 SIN is considered a slave master

What it does to us
Genesis 1:26-27
•we were meant to be like God but because of sin we have messed with God's design for us
Romans 3:23
Genesis 3:14-19
•sin deviates EVERYTHING
•Adams sin was the Earth's death sentence

THE DEPTH- - we don't like talking about it; but we have to. We will never completely understand how great the gospel is if we don't fully understand how hopeless our situation would be without it

So Jesus --> 2 Corinthians 5:21

Romans 7 --> Romans 8:1 There is Therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus

SIMPLE piece of paper
Take a piece of paper write down your sins, pray for forgiveness and help overcoming them.
Throw the paper away in a symbol of getting rid of that sin

APPLICATION:
This is not a magical piece of paper; but I want you to know you can do this! How?
1. Accept you'll NEVER BE PERFECT and trust in Jesus's sacrifice
2. Trust in GODS PLAN over YOUR OWN - His word, his Spirit , and again the gospel
3 GET HELP ,do not STRUGGLE ALONE

12/24/2019

In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) And everyone went to their own town to register. So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.
Luke 2:1‭-‬7 NIV

This is how the birth of Jesus the Messiah came about : His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit. Because Joseph her husband was faithful to the law, and yet did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly. But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.” All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel” (which means “God with us”). When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife.
Matthew 1:18‭-‬24 NIV

12/22/2019

12/16/2019

12/16/2019

12/15/2019

What you PRAY for reflects what you BELIEVE about God?
If you don't pray - you don't believe he's real or answer them
If you pray small prayers - that god is small or won't answer big prayers
If you pray Selfish prayers- God is here to serve you
If prayer is your last resort- then God is your last resort

What did you pray about last week?
I prayed for....
health of myself and others
Patience
Safe travels
To be high

If God answered everything that you prayed for last week, what would be different in the world today?
Mostly just stuff that is close to you would be changed.

On their release, Peter and John went back to their own people and reported all that the chief priests and the elders had said to them. When they heard this, THEY RAISED THEIR VOICES TOGETHER IN PRAYER TO GOD. “Sovereign Lord,” they said, “you made the heavens and the earth and the sea, and everything in them.
Acts 4:23‭-‬24 NIV

They were arrested and told to stop praying in Jesus's name.
But the first thing they did was pray.
Is very powerful when God's people come together to pay
What they prayed...
"...“Sovereign Lord,” they said, “you made the heavens and the earth and the sea, and everything in them. You spoke by the Holy Spirit through the mouth of your servant, our father David: “ ‘Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain? The kings of the earth rise up and the rulers band together against the Lord and against his anointed one. ’ Indeed Herod and Pontius Pilate met together with the Gentiles and the people of Israel in this city to conspire against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed. They did what your power and will had decided beforehand should happen. Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness. Stretch out your hand to heal and perform signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus.”
Acts 4:23-30

•Pray for BOLDNESS

Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great BOLDNESS.
Acts 4:29 NIV

THEY PRAYED FOR EVEN MORE BOLDNESS

TALK IT OVER
• How would you describe the way you pray? What's keeping you from changing your selfish and small prayers into big, bold prayers?
•What big bold this do you need to start praying for right now?
•What big results would you like to see come from you bold prayers?