Vertical Love | Feb 10, 2013

Matthew 22:34-40

The Greatest Commandment

34 Hearing that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, the Pharisees got together. 35 One of them, an expert in the law, tested him with this question: 36 “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”

37 Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’38 This is the first and greatest commandment.39 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’40 All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”

Notes:

1. God _________________ His people to completely love Him.
   
2. God's greatest _____________________ are vertical and horizontal.
3. God's love is more ________________ than taught.

Do you experience God's love?

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Stinky Feet | Feb 3, 2013

John 13:1-17

Jesus Washes His Disciples’ Feet

13 It was just before the Passover Festival. Jesus knew that the hour had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end.

2 The evening meal was in progress, and the devil had already prompted Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot, to betray Jesus. 3 Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God; 4 so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist.5 After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him.

6 He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?”

7 Jesus replied, “You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand.”

8 “No,” said Peter, “you shall never wash my feet.”

Jesus answered, “Unless I wash you, you have no part with me.”

9 “Then, Lord,” Simon Peter replied, “not just my feet but my hands and my head as well!”

10 Jesus answered, “Those who have had a bath need only to wash their feet; their whole body is clean. And you are clean, though not every one of you.” 11 For he knew who was going to betray him, and that was why he said not every one was clean.

12 When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. “Do you understand what I have done for you?” he asked them. 13 “You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am. 14 Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. 15 I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. 16 Very truly I tell you, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. 17 Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.

Notes:

1. Jesus _____________ himself by becoming a servant.
2. Peter was ______________ by Jesus' actions.
3. Jesus _____________ them and humbled them.

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Buffet Your Body | Jan 27, 2013

1 Corinthians 9:24-27

The Need for Self-Discipline

24 Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. 25 Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. 26 Therefore I do not run like someone running aimlessly; I do not fight like a boxer beating the air. 27 No, I strike a blow to my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.

Notes:

1. Paul was _____________ about his Christian run.
2. Paul treated his body as his ______________.
3. Paul did not ______________ on his blessed assurance.

Can a Christian be disqualified by God?

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The Sanctity of Life | Jan 20, 2013

James 3:9-12

9 With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings, who have been made in God’s likeness. 10 Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this should not be. 11 Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring? 12 My brothers and sisters, can a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water.

Notes:

1. How we _____________ humans is how we treat God.
2. We should ____________ in God's word and not in man's philosophy.
3. The unborn and aged should be protected not ___________________.

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Putting Feet to Your Faith | Jan 13, 2013

James 1:22-25

22 Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.23 Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror24 and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like.25 But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do.

Notes:

1. The majority of American Christians have a shallow _______________.
2. Christians need to learn to _________________ themselves.
3. We only ________________ the Word when we don't practice it.

Do you love God and love others more than you did in 2012?

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Heaven Help Us | Dec 30, 2012 | Ric Cadle

"Heaven Help Us" - Ric Cadle 37:08

Ecclesiastes 12: 13-14; Psalms 17:15; 1 John 3:2; Psalms 73:25

• A biblically based understanding of ____________ can change everything in your life...today.
• Death and suffering are only _____________ conditions.

1 Corinthians 15:55; Hebrews 2:14-15; Philippians 3:12-14; Revelation 21:2-3

• When a believer dies (prior to the Lord's return), he or she enters into what theologians call the "_____________ heaven" or paradise.

"Christians often talk about living with God 'in heaven, forever' but in fact the biblical teaching is richer than that:  it tells us that there will be new heavens and a new earth--an entirely renewed creation--and we will live with God there.  There will also be a new kind of unification of heaven and earth.  There will be a joining of heaven and earth in this new creation."  

From "Systematic Theology: An Introduction to Biblical Doctrine" by Wayne Gruden

• God will come _______ from heaven to live with man on the new earth.
• The things God rewards us with for the things we do in this life last ______________.

Job 19:25; Matthew 6:19-21; Ephesians 2:8-9; Revelation 3:21; Colossians 3:1-2

• Set your _______ on the things of heaven.

1 Thessalonians 4:13

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Highly Favored | Dec 23, 2012

"Highly Favored" - Jon Pearce 28:54

Luke 2:25-38

The Birth of Jesus Foretold

26 In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, 27 to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. 28 The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.”

29 Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. 30 But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God. 31 You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus. 32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, 33 and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end.”

34 “How will this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?”

35 The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God. 36 Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be unable to conceive is in her sixth month. 37 For no word from God will ever fail.”

38 “I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May your word to me be fulfilled.” Then the angel left her.

Notes:

1. Gabriel didn't visit Mary __________.
2. Young Mary was highly ___________ by God.
3. Mary's __________ stayed strong in the midst of a troubled life.

Are you being faithful to God's calling on your life?

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When Uzziah Dies | Mar 18, 2012

Isaiah 6:1-8
New International Version (NIV)

Isaiah's Vision of the Lord

6 In the year that King Uzziah died I saw the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up; and the train of his robe filled the temple. 2 Above him stood the seraphim. Each had six wings: with two he covered his face, and with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew. 3 And one called to another and said:

“Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts;
the whole earth is full of his glory!”

4 And the foundations of the thresholds shook at the voice of him who called, and the house was filled with smoke. 5 And I said: “Woe is me! For I am lost; for I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts!”

6 Then one of the seraphim flew to me, having in his hand a burning coal that he had taken with tongs from the altar. 7 And he touched my mouth and said: “Behold, this has touched your lips; your guilt is taken away, and your sin atoned for.”

Isaiah's Commission from the Lord

8 And I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?” Then I said, “Here I am! Send me.”

Notes:

When Uzziah dies, you will need...

1. To _____________ the _____________.
   
2. Which always causes us to _________ _________ as we truly are.
   
3. So that we may ____________ the gift of salvation.
   
4. Making us ____________ for ______________.
   

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