At The Movies - Part 2

The Greatest Showman

Behavior flows from identity.

My true identity "In Christ"...

But you are not like that, for you are a chosen people. You are royal priests, a holy nation, God’s very own possession. As a result, you can show others the goodness of God, for he called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light. “Once you had no identity as a people; now you are God’s people. Once you received no mercy; now you have received God’s mercy.”  1 Peter 2:9-10 NLT

I am completely accepted - "chosen"

Jesus treated us much better than we deserve. He made us acceptable to God and gave us the hope of eternal life.  Titus 3:7 CEV

I am extremely valuable - "God's possession"

    What makes something valuable?
        *who owns it
        *what is somebody willing to pay for it

Don’t you realize that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God? You do not belong to yourself, for God bought you with a high price. So you must honor God with your body.  1 Corinthians 6:19-20 NLT

"I'd rather die than live without you."

I am eternally loved - "God's people"

    Two characteristics of God's love:
        *Unconditional
        *Unending

God will never love you any more or any less than He does right now.

I am totally forgiven - "God's mercy"

So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus.  Romans 8:1 NLT

I am fully capable - "royal priests"

There is nothing in us that allows us to claim that we are capable of doing this work. The capacity we have comes from God; it is he who made us capable of serving the new covenant, which consists not of a written law but of the Spirit. The written law brings death, but the Spirit gives life. 2 Corinthians 3:5-6 GNT

For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.  Philippians 4:13 NLT

God wants us to treat others the way He treats us.

Behavior flows from identity.

At The Movies - Part 1

JUMANJI

What are you searching for?

If others have reason for confidence in their own efforts, I have even more! I was circumcised when I was eight days old. I am a pure-blooded citizen of Israel and a member of the tribe of Benjamin—a real Hebrew if there ever was one! I was a member of the Pharisees, who demand the strictest obedience to the Jewish law.  I was so zealous that I harshly persecuted the church. And as for righteousness, I obeyed the law without fault.  Philippians 3:4-6 NLT

The missing piece is not what you think.

I once thought these things were valuable, but now I consider them worthless because of what Christ has done. Yes, everything else is worthless when compared with the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage, so that I could gain Christ and become one with him. I no longer count on my own righteousness through obeying the law; rather, I become righteous through faith in Christ. For God’s way of making us right with himself depends on faith.  Philippians 3:7-9 NLT

The missing piece is ____________________________.

What are you focusing your energies on?

No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us. Philippians 3:13-14 NLT

Concentration - The secret to influence and effectiveness.

Godisnowhere

You only get ____________________________

Purpose and passion always go together.

What is your guide for life?

But we must be sure to obey the truth we have learned already. Philippians 3:16 NLT

Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take.  Proverbs 3:5-6 NLT

The best map for life is ______________________________.

Purpose and passion always go together.

We Can Do More Together

We Can Do More Together

Name what's broken.

They said to me, “Things are not going well for those who returned to the province of Judah. They are in great trouble and disgrace. The wall of Jerusalem has been torn down, and the gates have been destroyed by fire.” Nehemiah 1:3 NLT

If we ignore our community problems, then we forfeit our right to influence our community.

We don't have influence because we are right, we have influence when we care.

Don't ignore what's broken.

...In those days I was the king’s cup-bearer. Nehemiah 1:11 NLT

It's okay to expect a miracle, but not okay to wait for one.

You can't expect to rebuild something without it costing you something.

Proximity always changes your perspective.

The closer to the brokenness, the more impact we have.

But now I said to them, “You know very well what trouble we are in. Jerusalem lies in ruins, and its gates have been destroyed by fire. Let us rebuild the wall of Jerusalem and end this disgrace!” Nehemiah 2:17 NLT

They replied at once, “Yes, let’s rebuild the wall!” So they began the good work. Nehemiah 2:18 NLT

Do something you don't know how to do.

Everybody needed to rebuild the town was already there.

When the parents stood in the gap, the enemy decided not to attack.

Expect to see God but not necessarily the God you expect.

3 things that happened once the wall was rebuilt:

*those outside changed what they believed about God

When our enemies and the surrounding nations heard about it, they were frightened and humiliated. They realized this work had been done with the help of our God. Nehemiah 6:16 NLT

*those inside changed how they listened to God

From morning to noon he read aloud to everyone who could understand. All the people listened closely to the Book of the Law.  Nehemiah 8:3 NLT

*a generation changed how they worshipped God

They were all filled with great joy! The Israelites had not celebrated like this since the days of Joshua.  Nehemiah 8:17 NLT

Working together can change how a generation sees God.

Family Matters - Part 6

What Do Kids Need Most?

To be taught responsibility.

Let the message about Christ, in all its richness, live in your hearts and make you wise. Colossians 3:16 NLT

     3 goals of parenting:
    *parent control in early years
    *self control in the middle years
    *God control for the rest of their lives

To be counseled.

Teach and counsel each other with all the wisdom he gives. Sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs to God with thankful hearts.  Colossians 3:16 NLT

A consistent example.

And whatever you do or say, do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through him to God the Father.  Colossians 3:17 NLT

To be loved.

Wives, submit to your husbands, as is fitting for those who belong to the Lord. Husbands, love your wives and never treat them harshly.  Colossians 3:18-19 NLT

3 ways to express love:

*affection  *affirmation  *attention

To be disciplined.

Children, always obey your parents, for this pleases the Lord.  Colossians 3:20 NLT

                      Punishment          Discipline
Purpose        inflict a penalty    promote growth    
Focus            the past                the future
Attitude        anger                    love

To be encouraged.

Fathers, do not aggravate your children, or they will become discouraged.  Colossians 3:21 NLT

You can't raise quality kids in your spare time!

Family Matters - Part 5

How Do I Resolve Conflict?

The reason for conflict:

What is the cause of your conflicts and quarrels with each other? Doesn’t the battle begin inside of you as you fight to have your own way and fulfill your own desires?  You jealously want what others have so you begin to see yourself as better than others. You scheme with envy and harm.   James 4:1-2a TPT

How to resolve conflict...

    *ask for help

You don’t have what you want because you don’t ask God for it.  James 4:2b NLT

    *change your focus

And if you ask, you won’t receive it for you’re asking with corrupt motives,seeking only to fulfill your own selfish desires.  James 4:3 TPT

You can't change what's going on around you until you change what's going on inside you.

    *become a Jesus follower

But he continues to pour out more and more grace upon us. For it says, God resists you when you are proud but continually pours out grace when you are humble.” So then, surrender to God. Move your heart closer and closer to God, and he will come even closer to you. But make sure you cleanse your life, you sinners, and keep your heart pure and stop doubting. Feel the pain of your sin, be sorrowful and weep! Let your joking around be turned into mourning and your joy into deep humiliation.  Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up in honor.  James 4:6-10 TPT

    *establish ground rules

Don’t speak evil against each other, dear brothers and sisters. If you criticize and judge each other, then you are criticizing and judging God’s law.  James 4:11 NLT

And never let ugly or hateful words come from your mouth, but instead let your words become beautiful gifts that encourage others; do this by speaking words of grace to help them. Lay aside bitter words, temper tantrums, revenge, profanity, and insults.  But instead be kind and affectionate toward one another. Has God graciously forgiven you? Then graciously forgive one another in the depths of Christ’s love.   Ephesians 4:29,31-32 TPT

        7 Rules of Engagement:
        #1 Be positive
        #2 Be specific
        #3 Be current
        #4 Be attentive
        #5 Be courteous
        #6 Be considerate
        #7 Be honest

    *go and make peace

You can't change what's going on around you until you change what's going on inside you.

Family Matters - Part 4

What If I Married the Wrong Person?

Why you may be thinking you married the wrong person:

* you discover a hidden negative
* you over-estimated your ability to cope

What you thought was a strength starts looking like a weakness

Flawed thinking that will destroy your marriage:
    *either/or thinking
    *over generalization
    *dismissing the positive
    *mind reading
    *negative expectations
    *exaggeration
    *emotional reasoning
    *shoulds/musts
    *labeling

Like is an emotion - love is a decision

And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him. Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.  Romans 12:1-2 NLT

How to change your marriage by changing your mind:

Acknowledge relationship realities

Eliminate negative thinking

Get the facts

Act on the truth

Like is an emotion - love is a decision

Family Matters - Part 3

Is There Life After Marriage?

Form a Joint Partnership

In the same way, you husbands must give honor to your wives. Treat your wife with understanding as you live together. She may be weaker than you are, but she is your equal partner in God’s gift of new life.  1 Peter 3:7 NLT

* everything must be in common

* every decision must be made on the principle of agreement

When you can't agree:
-you need more information
-you need more time to process
-when in doubt, don't

*God can change your spouse's mind (heart)

Then the Lord God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper who is just right for him.”  Genesis 2:18 NLT

Don't let your marriage slip... Make it an equal partnership!

Cultivate a Grateful heart

He gave names to all the livestock, all the birds of the sky, and all the wild animals. But still there was no helper just right for him. So the Lord God caused the man to fall into a deep sleep. While the man slept, the Lord God took out one of the man’s ribs and closed up the opening.  Then the Lord God made a woman from the rib, and he brought her to the man. “At last!” the man exclaimed. “This one is bone from my bone, and flesh from my flesh! She will be called ‘woman,’ because she was taken from ‘man.’”  Genesis 2:20-23 NLT

Make a Firm Commitment

This explains why a man leaves his father and mother and is joined to his wife, and the two are united into one.  Genesis 2:24 NLT

HOMEWORK: This week...
-verbalize your commitment to each other
-be in agreement about every decision
-list your differences, then thank God for completion

Don't let your marriage slip... Make it an equal partnership!

Family Matters - Part 2

Who Should I Marry?

Don't leave it to fate when choosing a mate.

How do I know if this is the right one?

-Character compatibility

    What is the level of honesty?

    What is the level of responsibility?

-Communication compatibility

-Physical compatibility

When Jacob saw Rachel...he went over and...kissed Rachel and began to weep aloud.  Genesis 29:10 NIV

-Spiritual compatibility

You are not the same as those who do not believe. So do not join yourselves to them. Good and bad do not belong together. Light and darkness cannot share together. How can Christ and the devil, have any agreement? What can a believer have together with a nonbeliever? The temple of God cannot have any agreement with idols, and we are the temple of the living God.  2 Corinthians 6:14-16 NCV

    *to ensure a common treasure

    *to ensure a common future

    *to ensure a common power

    *to ensure common values

-Give the relationship enough time

    *time for true attraction

Nine tests for love:

 - Share test
 - Strength test
 - Respect test
 - Habit test
 - Time test
 - Separation test
 - Giving test
 - Growth test
 - Patient test

    *time for affirmation

Don't leave it to fate when choosing a mate.