Category Archives: Discovery Prescott

Discovery Church, Discovery Prescott

FRAMING YOUR FAITH – Part 2

Here is the outline to this message.

1 Timothy 3:15, “I want you to know how people who are members of God’s family must live. God’s family is the church” (GW).

Last week: – GOD REMEMBERS WHAT WE FORGET.
“For He knows our frame;
He remembers that we are dust.” – Psalm 103:14

Ephesians 2:21 – “In whom all the building fitly framed together grows unto an holy temple in the Lord” 

This kingdom of faith is now your home country. You’re no longer strangers or outsiders. You belong here, with as much right to the name Christian as anyone. God is building a home. He’s using us all—irrespective of how we got here—in what he is building. He used the apostles and prophets for the foundation. Now he’s using you, fitting you in brick by brick, stone by stone, with Christ Jesus as the cornerstone that holds all the parts together. We see it taking shape day after day—a holy temple built by God, all of us built into it, a temple in which God is quite at home. (the message)

Hebrews 11:3 – Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God.

Who is in God’s family photo album ?
 

1 Timothy 3:15, “I want you to know how people who are members of God’s family must live. God’s family is the church” (GW).

We are the family of God.

Church is not something you go to. Church is something you belong to.

1. A FRAMEWORK OF FORGIVENESS

I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength to do his work. He considered me trustworthy and appointed me to serve him (and put me in the ministry),13 even though I used to blaspheme the name of Christ. In my insolence, I persecuted his people. But God had mercy on me because I did it in ignorance and unbelief. 14 Oh, how generous and gracious our Lord was! He filled me with the faith and love that come from Christ Jesus.

15 This is a trustworthy saying, and everyone should accept it: “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners”—and  I am the worst of them all. 16 But God had mercy on me so that Christ Jesus could use me as a prime example of his great patience with even the worst sinners. Then others will realize that they, too, can believe in him and receive eternal life. 17 All honor and glory to God forever and ever! He is the eternal King, the unseen one who never dies; he alone is God. Amen. – 1 Timothy 1:12-17 


“… it is his boundless mercy that has given us the privilege of being born again so that we are now members of God’s own family” (1 Peter 1:3, LB).

 
God loves tying knots.
A college student came to his pastor sand said; “Pastor, Ive done terrible things in my life….I know God could never forgive me. What can I do?” 
Ah, answered the pastor, “all of us are connected to God by a piece of rope, one that is the same length for everyone of us. When we sin, sadly, we cut the rope that connects us to God. But, when we repent, God is in a hurry to tie the pieces together again. Every time you tie a knot in the rope, of course, the rope gets shorter.
So, those with more knots in their rope are that much closer to God.”
2. A FRAMEWORK OF FELLOWSHIP.

A cord of three strands is not quickly broken. Ecclesiastes 4:12

Everyone needs a “THIRD PLACE”

First place is our HOME.
Second place is our WORK.
Third place is our COMMUNITY.

Everyone needs a “THIRD PLACE”

First place is our HOME.
Second place is our WORK.
Third place is our COMMUNITY.

HAVE FUN
LOVE FRIENDS
SHARE FAITH
 
Every culture has celebrations – your job as a Christian is to engage in the celebration with those people. We bring the better wine – we bring what is lacking. We ought to be known as the greatest party people on the planet – we ought to party like crazy because we actually have something to celebrate – the resurrection of Jesus!
 
The smells of: Compassion, kindness, humility, meekness and patience, transparency authenticity.
“For we are to God the pleasing aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing.” – 2 Corinthians 2:15
 
3. GETTING MY FRIENDS IN THE PICTURE. (No Selfies)

 
 

 

If you are a follower of Jesus Christ, God has given you a mission in this world. You’re not here to just take up space; you’re not here to just strive after your own personal goals.

You have an assignment from God himself. Once you’re in the family, your life changes. You have a new reason for living. Your life isn’t about you anymore; it’s about God’s mission.

And your mission fits into God’s mission for all of history. God created everything in the universe because he wanted a family. He didn’t need Earth. He didn’t need the other planets. He didn’t need the stars. He created all of it because he knew some of us would willingly choose to be a part of his family.

The mission God gave Jesus he now gives to the Body of Christ — the Church. He wants us to help get other people into his family. Jesus said it like this: “In the same way that you gave me a mission in the world, I give them a mission in the world” (John 17:18 MSG).

Once we know Jesus, we have to go! We must tell our friends and families about him. But we can’t stop there. God has never made anyone he doesn’t want saved. He loves everyone — across the entire globe.

God wants us to live out his mission everywhere: in our families, our communities, and our world. His mission for your life is both global and local. The Bible says, “Now the Lord says to me, ‘It isn’t enough for you to be merely my servant. You must do more than lead back survivors from the tribes of Israel. I have placed you here as a light for other nations; you must take my saving power to everyone on earth’” (Isaiah 49:6 CEV).

That’s God’s plan for the world. That’s his mission for you. He wants everyone on Earth to know him. And he wants to use you to see that happen. God didn’t just say that to missionaries or pastors. If you’re in his family, he gave his mission to you!

 

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Discovery Church, Discovery Prescott

FRAMING YOUR FAITH – Part 1

FRAMEOLOGY – Here are the bullet point to the message.
 
FAITH DOESN’T ALWAYS GUARANTEE THE OUTCOME BUT IT DOES ESTABLISH THE OUTLOOK.

“Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the command of God our Savior and of Christ Jesus our hope,

2 To Timothy my true son in the faith:

Grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.” – 1 Timothy 1:1,2 (NIV)

Ephesians 2:21 – “In whom all the building fitly framed together grows unto an holy temple in the Lord”

Hebrews 11:1-3 – “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

2 For by it the elders obtained a good report.

3 Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.

 

1. WHAT’S IN YOUR FRAME?

” But when Peter saw the wind and the waves, he became afraid and began to sink. He shouted, “Lord, save me!”

31 Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught Peter. Jesus said,“Your faith is small. Why did you doubt?” – Matthew 14:30 (NCV)

Do you have too much wind and too many waves in your frame?

Is Jesus in your frame? – Hebrews 12:2 – “looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith.”

Having more of Jesus in your frame keeps you from sinking.

2. WHAT IS YOUR FRAME OF REFERENCE?
sand map
What is framing your world?

Matthew 17:14-21  When they came to the crowd, a man approached Jesus and knelt before him. 15 “Lord, have mercy on my son,” he said. “He has seizuresand is suffering greatly. He often falls into the fire or into the water. 16 I brought him to your disciples, but they could not heal him.”17 “You unbelieving and perverse generation,” Jesus replied, “how long shall I stay with you? How long shall I put up with you? Bring the boy here to me.” 18 Jesus rebuked the demon, and it came out of the boy, and he was healed at that moment.

19 Then the disciples came to Jesus in private and asked, “Why couldn’t we drive it out?”

20 He replied, “Because you have so little faith. Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.” 

 

3. DO YOU NEED A FRAME CHANGE?
Change of place, + change of pace = change of perspective.
ADDITION
SUBTRACTION
EXAMINATION
1 Corinthians 11:28 “But let a man examine himself.”
framed
 
GOD REMEMBERS WHAT WE FORGET.
“For He knows our frame;
He remembers that we are dust.” – Psalm 103:14
framology
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Discovery Church, Discovery Prescott

Anticipation Part 2 – THE END IS NEAR AND OTHER SCARY SERMONS I SURVIVED

THE END IS NEAR AND OTHER SCARY SERMONS I SURVIVED.

 

2 Thessalonians 2:1 – Now, dear brothers and sisters, let us clarify some things about the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and how we will be gathered to meet him. (NLT)

Scriptures that speak about the end times.

1 Thessalonians 4:16-17  For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first.17 After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. 

1 Thessalonians 5:2 – “For you know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night.

Luke 21:34 – and that day will spring upon you suddenly like a snare.

1 Corinthians 1:8 – He will sustain you to the end, so that you will be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.

1 Thessalonians 5:4 – But you, brothers, are not in the darkness so that this day should overtake you like a thief.
2 Thessalonians 2:2

not to be easily disconcerted or alarmed by any spirit or message or letter presuming to be from us and alleging that the day of the Lord has already come.

2 Peter 3:10 – But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar, the elements will be dissolved in the fire, and the earth and its works will not be found.

Revelation 3:3 – I will come like a thief, and you will not know the hour when I will come upon you.

Revelation 16:15 – Behold, I am coming like a thief. 

1 .  MINISTRY MALPRACTICE

James 3:1 – Don’t be in any rush to become a teacher, my friends. Teaching is highly responsible work. Teachers are held to the strictest standards.

To not address this issue out of scripture  would be pastoral malpractice on my part.

To over exaggerate it would be pastoral puffing…..so I need to be courageous and cautious with this talk.

Sermons of my past that that could TURN PEOPLE TO JESUS or TURN THEM OFF FROM JESUS.

2 . BEING HERE NOW

THEY WERE PREOCCUPIED WITH BEING SO HEAVENLY MINDED THAT THEY WERE NO EARTHLY GOOD.

“Occupy till I come.” Luke 19:13 

2 Thessalonians 3:10 “If anyone will not work, neither shall he eat.”

1 Thessalonians 5:2 – “For you know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night.

3 – BEYOND THE POETS, PROPHETS AND PREACHERS

WHAT DID JESUS SAY?

Since it’s on his itinerary he has some things to say about it.

Second Coming Facts to give you an idea of how much God’s word talks about this truth:

1 out of every 30 verses in the Bible mentions the subject of the end times or of Christ’s return.

In the New Testament there are 216 chapters. In those 216 chapters there are well over 300 references to the return of Christ.

Only 4 of the 27 New Testament books fail to mention Christ’s return.

George Gallup has done a survey in which he discovered that 62% of all Americans believe that Jesus Christ will return to earth someday.

1. NOBODY KNOWS.

No one knows the day or the hour of my return.

Matthew 24:36 “But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. ”

2. THERE WILL BE SIGNS YOU WILL NOTICE.

There will be several signs, increasing in intensity, as my return draws near.

Matthew 24:6,7 – Jesus promised there would be wars and rumors of wars, famines, earthquakes in various places

“You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. 7 Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. 8 All these are the beginning of birth pains.”

3. IT WILL SEEM LIKE ANOTHER NORMAL DAY.

Matthew 24:37-39   “As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. 38 For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark;39 and they knew nothing about what would happen until the flood came and took them all away. That is how it will be at the coming of the Son of Man.”

4. THERE WILL BE SOME SURPRISES.

Not everyone who expects to make it into the Christ’s kingdom will.

Some of the most sobering words of Jesus are about those who will not be allowed to enter the kingdom of heaven. In Matthew 7:21-23, Jesus said, “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’”

5.  STAY AWAKE. 

Matthew 24:42-44 – “Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come. 43 But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what time of night the thief was coming, he would have kept watch and would not have let his house be broken into. 44 So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.

DON’T MISS TO POINT OR YOU WILL WILL MISS THE PURPOSE.

what is the point?

HE  HAS ALWAYS WANTED TO BE WITH US.

Jesus doesn’t just love you…. He likes you.

John 14:1-4 “Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. 2 In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also. 4 And where I go you know, and the way you know.”

3

Maranatha,

Steve

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Discovery Church, Discovery Prescott

Easter 2016

Here are a few of the talking points.

Growing up in church I heard songs and old hymns like:


“When I see the blood”.

“There is power in the blood”.

“There is a fountain filled with blood filled from Emmanuel’s veins”.

“without shedding of blood there is no remission of sin”. – Hebrews 9:22

1 John 1:7″… the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanses
us from all sin.”

 Revelation 1:5 “… Unto him that loved us, and washed us
from our sins in his own blood.”

Revelation 12:11 “And they overcame him (Satan) by the blood
of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony …”

Hebrews 9:14 “How much more shall the blood of Christ, who
through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God,
purge your conscience …”

Hebrews 10:19 “Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, 20 by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, 21 and since we have a great priest over the house of God, 22 let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water.

 

Physician Horace Smith describes the importance of human blood:

Each drop of human blood contains over 5 million red cells … In an average lifetime, a person’s red cells arranged in single file would reach from the earth to the sun and back five times!

Our bodies contain approximately 60,000 miles of blood vessels … Through this delivery system, blood provides everything our cells need to live, and they take away waste that would poison us. At the cellular level, capillaries are so small that they are about the size of a single red blood cell … To connect with all the cells in the body, capillary walls cover an area of about 70,000 square feet … The circulatory system is the epitome of consistency. Every day, the heart beats 100,000 times, and over an average lifespan, this amazing machine beats 2.5 billion times, pumping 60 million gallons of blood.

During this time, the heart never takes time off. We can’t afford for it to take a break—even a few minutes without blood supply causes severe brain damage or death.

Virtually all other cells in the human body are stationary, but blood is mobile tissue, carrying nutrients to every part of the body … protecting us from harm and healing our wounds.

No wonder the Old Testament says that “The life of every creature is its blood” (Lev. 17:14).

Today, we understand the significance of this truth even more deeply. There are no cells in the human body that can live without continual contact with life-giving blood. Every type of cell, from the ones that survive only moments to those that live for many years, owes its life to the flow of blood.

All three types of cells in human blood—red cells, white cells, and  platelets—perform functions that are essential to life.

LET’S Do an experiment.

LOOK AT ME CAREFULLY FOR A MOMENT!

“I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;” –  Psalm 139:14

* Inside my body is a fluid pump.

* It weighs about 10 ounces.

* Has a life expectancy of about 75 years.

* Over an average lifespan, this amazing machine beats 2.5 billion times, pumping 60 million gallons of blood.

* There is no maintenance required if you eat health and exercise regularly.

* Every 23 seconds this mysterious fluid called blood makes its way through my entire body.

If this pump goes on the blink…..I’m in trouble.


Outline: Red Blood Cells – White blood cell and Platelets

 

 

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Discovery Church, Discovery Prescott

DREAM BIG/STAY HUMBLE – Colossians part 2

2 (2)

Watch the sermon here:

“The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. 16 For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. 17 He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. ” – Colossians 1:15-17 (NIV)
1. By looking at Jesus and what He created we discovery who God is.
1 (2)
vs. 15, 16 The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. 16 For in him all things were created:
 
 
2. Creation was Jesus idea.
jesus-idea
 
vs. 16b all things have been created through him and for him.
Psalm 19:1  The heavens declare the glory of God;
    the skies proclaim the work of his hands.
2 Day after day they pour forth speech;
    night after night they reveal knowledge.
3 They have no speech, they use no words;
    no sound is heard from them.
4 Yet their voice goes out into all the earth,
    their words to the ends of the world.
 
 
“Creation was meant to glorify God. The task of the Christian is not to worship nature, but to join nature in worshiping God,”
join-nature
Psalm 148:1-5  – Praise to the Lord from Creation

148 Praise the Lord!

Praise the Lord from the heavens;
Praise Him in the heights!
2 Praise Him, all His angels;
Praise Him, all His hosts!
3 Praise Him, sun and moon;
Praise Him, all you stars of light!
4 Praise Him, you heavens of heavens,
And you waters above the heavens!

5 Let them praise the name of the Lord,
For He commanded and they were created.

3. – 7 Million Cars.

Junk-Yard-Pittsburgh

In America, more than seven million cars are junked every year. In New York city alone there are over 70,000 abandon cars on the streets. We throw away 40 billion metal cans, 26 billion bottles, and 65 billion bottle caps annually.
Indestructible plastic appears everywhere. Oil spills pollute our beaches and chemical rail and expanding industry destroy our forest.
 
 
4. Saving souls or saving trees?
saving-souls
There seems to be a conflict between those who are in the “soul winning” business and those who are in the “tree hugging/saving business.
This is ridiculous…We need saved souls who can live meaningful lives in God’s beautiful world of nature which is yearning to be free from pollution and destruction.
Romans 8:22 We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time.
5. We need to care about creation because Jesus made it!
6. We are owners of nothing and stewards of everything.
owners

Psalm 24:1 “A Psalm of David. The earth is the Lord’s and the fullness thereof, the world and those who dwell therein.”

Genesis 2:15 “The Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and keep it.”

Maybe our God is much bigger than we know! – Maybe it’s more than just about us.

bigger

For God so loved the world (cosmos) that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. John 3:16
 
 the hope of the gospel which you heard, which was preached to every creature under heaven, of which I, Paul, became a minister. – Colossians 1:23
humble
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Discovery Church, Discovery Prescott

Dream BIG/Stay HUMBLE – Colossians part 1

humble

Here is the video and talking points to this message.

“since we heard of your  faith in Christ Jesus and of your  love for all the saints; 5 because of the  hope which is laid up for you in heaven, of which you heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel.”         – Colossians 1:4,5 

FUN FACTS ABOUT THE CITY OF COLOSSAE. – COLOSAL – (kolossós, “large statue, )

Maybe Colossae received it’s name from becoming large overnight .

Antiochos The Great  is said to have relocated 2000 Jewish families from Babylonia and Mesopotamia to the city.

The city was decimated by an earthquake in the 60s AD

Colossae was destroyed, ultimately, by the Turks in the 12th century

The book of Colossians was written by Paul around 60 A.D.

Paul’s name literally means “Paul the little” – or “small”.

God’s ways are not our ways.

“So the last will be first, and the first will be last.” – Matthew 20:16

“But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God has chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty;” – 1 Corinthians 1:27

“if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.” – Matthew 17:20

 

“O magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt his name together.” – Psalm 34:3

  1. God can become small to us when we are so far away from him.

2. We need a close up picture of our creator!

3. The nearer we get to him the bigger he becomes to us.

THE CREATOR IS GREATER THAN THE UNIVERSE.

TALLER THAN TIME.

LARGER THAN HUMANITY.

BIGGER THAN OUR RESTLESSNESS.

 

1. WHAT HAPPENS WHEN  BIG STEPS INTO SMALL?

vs. 4 & 5 since we heard of your  faith in Christ Jesus and of your  love for all the saints; 5 because of the  hope which is laid up for you in heaven, of which you heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel,

Which you heard in the “word of truth” of the Gospel

Our small faith becomes BIG faith

Our small love becomes BIG love.

Our small hope becomes BIG hope.

 

2. AWARENESS = NEARNESS

vs. 9 For this reason we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding;

“Two men looked out from prison bars,
One saw the mud, the other saw stars.” – Dale Carnegie

 

3. THE CREATORS INTENTIONS  FOR CREATIONS ACTIONS.

Vs. 10 that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God;

Our styles of relating to each other and to our creator

We all have a predominant style:
Move Against
Move Away
Move Toward

 

Conclusion: our problem .

When the pieces don’t look like the picture and the process doesn’t look like the promise .

Many of us have made it here on BROKEN PIECES.

vs. 4 & 5 since we heard of your  faith in Christ Jesus and of your  love for all the saints; 5 because of the  hope which is laid up for you in heaven, of which you heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel,

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Discovery Church, Discovery Prescott

Guest Blogger Monty Sears

m sears
“Light Afflictions”
2 Corinthians 4:16-18; Therefore we do not lose heart.  Even tho our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day.  For our light affliction which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceedingly and eternal weight of glory
ONE: The Bed  –  John 11:1-4.  
 
TWO: The Tomb  –  John 11:32-35. 
 
THREE: The Chair  –  John 12:1, 2.  
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Discovery Prescott

Rites Of Passage – Part 4

rites-of-passage-1
We wrap up our four week series today called “Rites Of Passage” .
Here are the talking points:
This weekend we wrap up the book of Philippians.

What a fascinating way to develop our spiritual journey.
Paul’s letter to the Philippians is a kind of sherpa, if you will, to accompany us on our own pilgrimage through this life. 

 

Rite of passage is a celebration of the passage which occurs when an individual leaves one group to enter another or one season to another. It involves a significant change, growth or progress of status in society.
This talk I believe is GERMANE to our culture today – We are attempting to everything and the results turn out poorly. Instead we might attempt doing the right things with excellence.
Philippians 4:13 “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”
VIDEO  Nick Vujicic: We Can Do All Things in Christ!
 
THE 3 RULES OF MOUNTAINEERING.
IT’S ALWAYS FARTHER THAN IT LOOKS.
IT’S ALWAYS TALLER THAN IT LOOKS.
IT’S ALWAYS HARDER THAN IT LOOKS.

“its not an adventure until something goes wrong” – Scott Brady
 
Making mistakes and having things “go wrong” or “not as planned” are a essential part  of growth for our spiritual journey.  …… As important as forest fires winter and insects are to the life of a healthy thriving forest.
 
We only grow by being BURNT, BROKEN, BENT AND BITTEN.
 
 
Paul is writing this book in a Roman Prison. – and he writes these words.
“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” – Philippians 4:13
 
1. BEFORE DOING “ALL THINGS” REMEMBER TO START WITH SMALL THINGS.
 
“If you are faithful in little things, you will be faithful in large ones. – Luke 16:10
 
“God will entrust you with something bigger after you have proved yourself faithful in the small things.” 
 
“Don’t despise the day of small things.” – Zechariah 4:10
 
The problem most of us face is we see so many “big” things and we forget or don’t even know how they originally started.
 
 
 
 
 
2. MAYBE “ALL THINGS” NEED TO BE RIGHT THINGS 

“You can be anything you want to be.” …..”If you can dream it you can do it.”

How many of you have those statements before?
these are phrases that almost all of us have agreed we’ve heard throughout our childhood.

While it sounds so great and inspirational, it’s actually could be a a lie.

Take me for example.

When I was a kid, I wanted to be Larry Bird of the Boston Celtics.

There were three simple steps to accomplishing my goal.

  1. Make 24.3 points per game in the NBA
  2. Be selected to represent the United States in the 1992 Olympics in Barcelona.
  3. Be 6’9.”

That’s not my gift set. You would laugh watching me try out for the NBA. If I would have seriously pursued that dream, I would be lost wondering why life didn’t work out. God had something better in mind for me than I did for me.

The same goes for all of us.

We can’t be anything we want to be because we can only be who God made us to be. Our dreams are important, but God’s desires for us are even greater. 

Adopting His vision for our lives sets us free to be who He wants us to be, rather than who we think we should be.  

So how do we discover what we’re supposed to do with our lives?

Replace the lies we’ve been telling ourselves about who we should be by being honest about our obstacles and opportunities.

Our lies wear us out by pursuing goals that God never meant us to chase. A pipe-dream life. Unreal and unattainable. Both are not us. The lies have to die so you can finally live.

God’s miraculous plan – STOP AT 3:46 minutes

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SYuVx2LU5QM

“Close some doors today. Not because of pride, incapacity or arrogance, but simply because they lead you nowhere.”

What doors are open for you? Do they match up with your skill set?
 

If yes, these are your opportunities. You were created exactly the way you are for a reason and have a great purpose in being here on this planet. God has put something incredible in your grasp.

 
Reach out and take it. 
 
Try “ALL THINGS” AND DO THEM POORLY OR THE RIGHTS THINGS AND DO THEM WITH EXCELLENCE.
3.  “ALL THINGS” BUT MOSTLY PRAISEWORTHY THINGS.
“whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things. 9 The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you.” – Philippians 4:8,9 (NKJV)
 
 
Rites of passage to to an amazing life with your creator in this creation is developed through small things/right things and praiseworthy things.
 
 
ALL THINGS MIGHT NOT JUST MEAN ALL THINGS IN THE GOOD TIMES.
ALL THINGS MEANS ALL THING IN THE HARD TIMES.
 
 
“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”  Put it on a coffee mug. Put in on a T-shirt. Tattoo it on your body. Put the quote on one of those inspirational posters. The message is “you can do anything you set your mind to!” You can follow your dreams because Christ will strengthen you. You can put it on football posters, superhero posters, jumping in the air triumphantly posters, weight lifting posters, and of course “standing on the edge of a cliff” posters.  One meme that I came across said, “Don’t let anyone tell you that you can’t do something when the Bible says you can do all things through Christ. I can do all things through him who strengthens me.  (Philippians 4:10-13 ESV)
This is about contentment.  Paul discovered the secret to being content in every circumstance. He knows how to face anything that comes at him, whether it is the worst of times or the best of times. It is not about triumphant living. It is not a mantra that will enable you to follow your dreams. The passage doesn’t match the tone of an inspirational poster. Paul talks about being content when he is brought low and when he is hungry and in need.
 
 
ALL THINGS WOULD BE:
 
HARD THINGS/PAINFUL THINGS/HURTFUL THINGS
MONOTONOUS THINGS
CONFUSING THINGS
FRUSTRATING THINGS
TOUGH THINGS
ALONE THINGS
FAITHFULNESS WHEN NOBODY NOTICES THINGS
MISUNDERSTOOD THINGS
BEING FORSAKEN THINGS
ENDURING THE BROKEN THINGS, THE THINGS THAT BURN US, BITE US AND BEND US.
If we wanted to be accurate we could still make some posters though.
One poster could have someone pulling their pockets inside out with a couple moths fluttering out. I CAN DO ALL THINGS!
Another poster could have someone getting last place in a race. I CAN DO ALL THINGS!
One poster could have a picture of someone face down crying on a pillow. I CAN DO ALL THINGS!
Another poster could have someone looking in their cupboard only to find one can of peas. I CAN DO ALL THINGS!
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Discovery Prescott

RITES OF PASSAGE – Part 1

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Rite of passage is a celebration of the passage which occurs when an individual leaves one group to enter another. It involves a significant change of status in society.

Philippians 1:1-6

To all God’s holy people in Christ Jesus at Philippi, together with the Bishops and  deacons

2 Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

3 I thank my God every time I remember you. 4 In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy 5 because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, 6 being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.

THE BACK STORY TO PHILIPPIANS.
The best way to get a grip on Philippians is to get the “back story” from Acts 16 (Paul arrives in Philippi around 50 A.D. )
Philippi is near today’s modern day Kavala, in North eastern Greece.. Philippi as the first city to be evangelized in Europe.

Some quick key points to Philippi

1. Lydia’s Conversion in Philippi Acts – 16:11-14

This is the first person according to historians to come to Christ in Europe!
Lydia
From Troas we put out to sea and sailed straight 12 From there we traveled to Philippi, a Roman colony and the leading city of that district of Macedonia. And we stayed there several days. 13 On the Sabbath we went outside the city  to the river, (Gangites River (or the Crenides river) where we expected to find a place of prayer. We sat down and began to speak to the women who had gathered there.  

A certain woman named Lydia, a seller of purple, of the city of Thyatira, one who worshiped God, heard us; whose heart the Lord opened to listen to the things which were spoken by Paul. When she and her household were baptized, she begged us, saying, “If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come into my house, and stay.” So she persuaded us. — Acts 16:14-15 World English Bible

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2. Paul and Silas in Prison because of a teenage demon possessed girl. –  Acts 16:16

16 Once when we were going to the place of prayer, we were met by a female slave who had a spirit by which she predicted the future. She earned a great deal of money for her owners by fortune-telling. 17 She followed Paul and the rest of us, shouting, “These men are servants of the Most High God, who are telling you the way to be saved.” 18 She kept this up for many days. Finally Paul became so annoyed that he turned around and said to the spirit, “In the name of Jesus Christ I command you to come out of her!” At that moment the spirit left her.

19 When her owners realized that their hope of making money was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them into the marketplace to face the authorities.

3. Jail house rock.

After they had been severely flogged, they were thrown into prison, and the jailer was commanded to guard them carefully. 24 When he received these orders, he put them in the inner cell and fastened their feet in the stocks.

25 About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them. 26 Suddenly there was such a violent earthquake that the foundations of the prison were shaken. At once all the prison doors flew open, and everyone’s chains came loose. 27 The jailer woke up, and when he saw the prison doors open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself because he thought the prisoners had escaped. 28 But Paul shouted, “Don’t harm yourself! We are all here!”

29 The jailer called for lights, rushed in and fell trembling before Paul and Silas.30 He then brought them out and asked, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”

So here we have Two families (households) that have come to Christ.

One by a river and the other in a jail.

Now fast forward about 10 – 15 years….Paul is in another Prison, this time in Rome writing back to the Church he started at Philippi.

Philippians 1:1-6

Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus,

To all God’s holy people in Christ Jesus at Philippi, together with the Bishops and  deacons[a]:

2 Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Thanksgiving and Prayer

3 I thank my God every time I remember you. 4 In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy 5 because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, 6 being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.

We have “rites of Passage’ but have we ever thought about the RITES OF PASSAGE FOR GOD?

NOT JUST WHAT DOES IT TAKE FOR US TO GET TO GOD….BUT WHAT DOES IT TAKE FOR GOD TO GET TO US?

RITES OF PASSAGE OF JESUS TO GET TO LYDIA AND THE PHILIPPIAN JAILER?

1. It took a DREAM.

2. It took a RIVER.

3. It took some JAIL TIME.

4. It took some PRAISE and PRAYER.

5. It took an EARTHQUAKE.

25 About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them. 26 Suddenly there was such a violent earthquake that the foundations of the prison were shaken. At once all the prison doors flew open, and everyone’s chains came loose. 27 The jailer woke up, and when he saw the prison doors open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself because he thought the prisoners had escaped. 28 But Paul shouted, “Don’t harm yourself! We are all here!”

Paul saw him about to destroy himself and shouted, “Do thyself no harm: for we are all here” (Acts 16:28). The jailer called for a light and came in trembling before Paul and Silas and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” Paul responded, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house” (Acts 16:31). 

WHAT ARE SOME OF THE RIGHTS OF PASSAGE  FOR GOD?

1. TO GET TO US HE HAD TO BECOME LIKE US.

“The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel” (which means “God with us”). Matthew 1:23

2. TO GET TO US HE HAD TO LIVE LIKE US.

“ For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin.” – Hebrews 4:15

” Since he himself has gone through suffering and testing, he is able to help us when we are being tested.” – Hebrews 2:18

3. TO GIVE US LIFE HE HAD TO GIVE UP HIS.

Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. – 1 John 15:13

“who gave himself for our sins to rescue us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father.” – Galatians 1:4

“This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. ” – 1 John 3:16

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” – John 3:16

Jesus went through the RITES OF PASSAGE to get to you. He suffered, obeyed, gave up, sacrificed and loved even when we did not love him back.

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The RIGHTS OF PASSAGE OF GOD to get to you.

“being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion.”

 

 

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Discovery Prescott

Four converging streams at Discovery.

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“A RIVER WENT OUT OF EDEN TO WATER THE GARDEN…AND BECAME…FOUR [STREAMS].” GENESIS 2:10

1. Biblical Absolutes.

these are the truth statements provided for us in the Bible. As an absolute, we mean that these concepts are true no matter when or where we live. For example, the Bible makes it clear that all of us are sinners. That’s true whether you lived in 15th century England or 21st century Mexico, or even 24th century America should such a day ever come. Biblical absolutes stand tall regardless of current culture. The Bible’s insistence that Jesus is the only means of salvation is absolutely true, even though modern thinking wants to open up other roadways to God. No matter our ideas or preferences, absolutes are absolutes–even in a culture that wants to define truth as what works for you.

2. Personal Convictions.

comprised of those things that we have personally chosen as expressions of our faith in Christ. For some of us, there are things we won’t do because of our own convictions. The Apostle Paul dealt with these at Corinth when the issue of eating meat that had been previously offered to idols arose. Some felt that such eating was inappropriate while others didn’t wrestle with the idea. We should note that Paul didn’t take a side or establish either view as a standard or absolute, but instead made room for each person to follow their own heart and asked them to respect and love each other enough to allow for different choices.
3. Personal Preferences.

This  group is filled with all sorts of ideas. It’s “the way we like it” category of opinions and ideas. Music styles, Bible versions, carpet colors, ministry models, and so much more offer different approaches baed on what I personally enjoy most. And yet, while these are the lowest group on the conviction scale, they are often the largest source of conflict. You see, many of us (especially when we’ve taken our eyes off of God’s harvest) simply want things to be the way we like them.

Now, having preferences surely isn’t wrong. You can prefer certain styles of worship expression or decide that you like the New King James Version better than the old one, but when personal preferences aren’t kept personal, problems arise. Any time these start climbing the ladder into the other categories, trouble will soon erupt.

If I insist that my preferences are really my convictions, I will find myself easily offended. If try to make my Convictions into Community Standards, I will become demanding and difficult for others to work with. And if we try turning our Community Standards into Biblical Absolutes, we end up treating our ways and traditions as equal with the Bible.

4. Community Standards

This second level of conviction contains the rules we choose to live by in our community of faith. They are not Biblical directives, but they are agreed upon standards that allow our place in the body of Christ to be evident. For example, most of us worship on Sunday mornings. While local churches have been doing that for a very long time, it’s not a Biblical absolute, is it? We don’t discount congregations that choose to meet on different days, but we have our own agreed upon practices that we maintain. We also choose certain behaviors to either act out or avoid. Here, we often see a church’s membership standards or the “understood” rules we live by. We may not be able to offer chapter and verse to insist that everyone act as we do, but in our community, this is what we do.
Let’s Get along so we can move along.
Steve
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