At The Movies - Part 5

COCO

What do we do when our passion conflicts with those we care about?

Who is going to win?

Talents help us matter.

Pursuing our own happiness above all else doesn't make us happy. 

Look at how much encouragement you’ve found in your relationship with the Anointed One! You are filled to overflowing with his comforting love. You have experienced a deepening friendship with the Holy Spirit and have felt his tender affection and mercy. So I’m asking you, my friends, that you be joined together in perfect unity—with one heart, one passion, and united in one love. Walk together with one harmonious purpose and you will fill my heart with unbounded joy.  Philippians 2:1-2 TPT

What we do is a response to what God has already done for us.

Be free from pride-filled opinions, for they will only harm your cherished unity. Don’t allow self-promotion to hide in your hearts, but in authentic humility put others first and view others as more important than yourselves.  Abandon every display of selfishness. Possess a greater concern for what matters to others instead of your own interests.  Philippians 2:3-4 TPT

The way to resolve differences is not by fighting for what you want but by choosing humility.

And consider the example that Jesus, the Anointed One, has set before us. Let his mindset become your motivation. He existed in the form of God, yet he gave no thought to seizing equality with God as his supreme prize. Instead he emptied himself of his outward glory by reducing himself to the form of a lowly servant. He became human!  He humbled himself and became vulnerable, choosing to be revealed as a man and was obedient. He was a perfect example, even in his death—a criminal’s death by crucifixion!  Philippians 2:5-8 TPT

We put others first because Jesus put us first.

But I have come to give you everything in abundance, more than you expect—life in its fullness until you overflow!  John 10:10  PTP

Because of that obedience, God exalted him and multiplied his greatness! He has now been given the greatest of all names! The authority of the name of Jesus causes every knee to bow in reverence! Everything and everyone will one day submit to this name—in the heavenly realm, in the earthly realm, and in the demonic realm. And every tongue will proclaim in every language: “Jesus Christ is Lord Yahweh,” bringing glory and honor to God, his Father!   Philippians 2:9-11 TPT

This passage:
*reminds us of the true nature of God
*challenges us to do for others what God has done for us
*teaches that when we put others first, everyone benefits

At The Movies - Part 4

Black Panther

Should Wakanda share vibranium with the rest of world? 

"The Spirit of the LORD is upon me, for he has anointed me to bring Good News (the Gospel) to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim that captives will be released, that the blind will see, that the oppressed will be set free, Luke 4:18 NLT

THE GOSPEL

"You are the light of the world--like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden.”No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house, Matthew 5:14-15 NLT

“In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your Heavenly Father.”  Matthew 5:16 NLT

SHARING IS CARING

Do you think not sharing the cure would be an injustice?

SHARING IS CARING

1. Share your story
2. Have Intentional Conversations
3. Share by your actions

SHARING IS CARING

At The Movies - Part 3

Beauty And The Beast

The heartbeat of God is transformation.

Love is our motivation.

For it is Christ’s love that fuels our passion and motivates us, because we are absolutely convinced that he has given his life for all of us. This means all died with him, so that those who live should no longer live self-absorbed lives but lives that are poured out for him—the one who died for us and now lives again. 2 Corinthians 5:14-15 PTP

When we are touched by love, we want to touch others with love.

Love changes our perspective.

So then, from now on, we have a new perspective that refuses to evaluate people merely by their outward appearances. At one time we thought of Christ merely from a human point of view. How differently we know him now!  2 Corinthians 5:16 TPT

Love transforms us.

Now, if anyone is enfolded into Christ, he has become an entirely new creation.  2 Corinthians 5:17a TPT

Love creates a new beginning.

All that is related to the old order has vanished. Behold, everything is fresh and new.  2 Corinthians 5:17b TPT

Love gives us a new purpose.

And God has made all things new, and reconciled us to himself, and given us the ministry of reconciling others to God. 2 Corinthians 5:18 TPT

Your mistakes can be your ministry.

Changed people change people.

Love self-sacrifices.

For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ. 2 Corinthians 5:21 NLT

When we are touched by love, 

we want to touch others with love.

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!