Evergreen Christian Community

Mike Tyson - "Everybody has a plan until they get punched in the mouth.” Matthew 5:9 Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. Big Idea: Oikos cannot thrive where there is unresolved conflict. How important is conflict resolution to God? 1 John 4:20 “Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar. For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen.” Matthew 5:23-24 “So if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar and go. First, be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift”. The Bible’s Seven-Step Model for Conflict Diffusion and Resolution: 1. Go DIRECTLY and IMMEDIATELY. Matthew 18:15 “If your brother sins against you, go and show him his fault, just between the two of you.” Myth: Time heals all things. Ephesians 4:26 “... do not let the sun go down while you are still angr

Joshua 1:6-9 The Big Idea: God commands us to be strong. How in the heck do I “BE(COME) STRONG?” Three ways to Be Strong: 1. Repetition ● KEEP SPEAKING ALOUD THE WORD OF GOD. ● V.8 “Keep this Book of the Law always on your mouth;  2. Discipline ○ Obedience ○ Joshua 1: 7 Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go. 3. Nutrition ○ Meditate on it day and night. ○ You will meditate - God Ephesians 6:10- Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 1 Corinthians 16:13- Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith , be courageous; be strong. Go back to TRUTH. It is a COMMAND. Psalm 27:14 Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord. Need inspiration? Who is the “Moses” in your life? Joshua 1:5b - “…as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will never leave you nor forsake you.” “God was with __________, so He will be with me.” Do-nots: ● Do not be TERRIFIED. ● Do not be

Big idea: If you will not communicate well, you cannot Oikos well. YOU HAVE TWO JOBS: 1. LOVE GOD with all you’ve got. 2. LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR as yourself. The Monumental Question: Who is my neighbor? Luke 10:25-37 The first decision: Be a FIRST RESPONDER or be a CLAIMS ADJUSTER. ⇒ Who is at fault? ⇒ What caused the accident? ⇒ What is the extent of the damage? ⇒ Who has to pay? THE JESUS PATTERN OF BEING A NEIGHBOR: ● Step One: Protection and first aid. ● Step Two: Speak to the soul. ● Step Three: Correct and train. Problem: We prefer the PERFORMANCE-BASED APPROACH to kindness. How deep the Father’s love for us! How vast, beyond all measure! That He should give His only Son, To make a wretch His treasure! How great the pain of searing loss? The Father turns His face away. As wounds which mar the Chosen One Bring many sons to glory. Why should I gain from His reward? I cannot give an answer. But this I know with all my heart His wounds have paid my ransom! The principle: Communicate grace, not judgemen

Luke 10:38-42 The most valuable and limited resource in the world is TIME. Where you invest your TIME, you invest your VALUE. Big idea: In order to Oikos, you must surrender your time to Jesus. Luke 10:38-42: Now as they went on their way, Jesus entered a village. And a woman named Martha welcomed him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet and listened to his teaching. But Martha was distracted with much serving. And she went up to him and said, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me.” But the Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.” LIVING AT GODSPEED: ● LIVING AT GODSPEED creates MARGIN for God to speak and work in you. ● LIVING AT GODSPEED creates SPACE for your Oikos to be involved in your life, and you in their life. MARGIN is your pathway to REST and ENERGY. People do

The Big Idea: The formula is simple: walk really close to Jesus and supernaturally serve those He brings into your front row. Jeremiah 1:4-12 The Calling: Four Things That Were True About You Before You Were Born: 1. God KNEW you. 2. God FORMED you in the womb. 3. God SET YOU APART. 4. God APPOINTED you. Psalm 139:13-18 The Big But: Alas, Sovereign Lord, I am too _________. The Secret Weapon for Your Assignment: Jeremiah 1:9 Jeremiah 1:11-12 B.L.E.S.S. your front row as a lifestyle. Believe for them in prayer. Listen to them. Eat with them. Serve them. Share your story. (and show your scars) Response: ● ACCEPT Your Mission ● LIST Your Oikos ● B.L.E.S.S. them

The Big Idea: Christians grieve with hope as we face a death that has lost its sting. 1 Thessalonians 4:13 - 5:11 WHAT IS OUR HOPE AND HOW DO WE GET IT? WE FIND BALANCE WITH TWO EXTREME TRUTHS: 1. Death is a terrible reality that is far outside of God’s design. 2. Death’s sting has been stolen and it now provides our pathway to greatness. John 11:35-38 - Jesus wept. THREE FAULTY PERSPECTIVES: 1. Grief is a lack of faith. 2. Death is the end and it’s all over. 3. Death is natural and a part of life and nothing to be afraid of. “If we let him, he will make the feeblest and filthiest of us into dazzling, radiant, immortal creatures pulsating with such joy and wisdom and love as we cannot yet now imagine. A bright, stainless mirror which reflects back to God perfectly, though of course on a smaller scale, His own boundless power, and delight, and goodness.” - CS Lewis Our Hope is unique in 3 ways: 1. The LOVE you’ve always dreamed of 1 Corinthians 13:12 2. The LIFE you’ve always wanted We will “meet” Him

Ephesians 4:1-16 The Big Idea: Christian hope makes COMMUNITY possible and grows deeper through community Let’s get this clear: How many churches are there in Olympia? ONE! 1. We are called to live a life worthy of COMMUNITY 2. Jesus gives the GRACE GIFTS we need to become ONE 3. The POWER of a JESUS COMMUNITY is found in the CONNECTION of its members • v16 - as each member does its part, joined and held together by ligaments - grows and builds itself up as each part does its work - each JOINT - the connection of two parts. • We are, together, the TEMPLE OF GOD. Ephesians 2:22 Ephesians 3:10-11 Ephesians 1:23 RESPONSE: • Repent • Restore • Govern your mouth • Serve your Oikos

Leif Holmes, August 4, 2021 IN CHAT – WHEN DO YOU FIND THE MOST FRUSTRATING TO HAVE TO WAIT? Isaiah 40:28-31 WAIT: actual Hebrew literally = (verb) meaning to twist, stretch, with added element = tension of enduring Romans 8:24-25 1 Peter 1:12 Command to wait is NOT PASSIVE, BUT ACTIVE! "But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength" RENEW = “exchange for something better”

2 Corinthians 8:8-11 Big Idea: The hope that we have in Jesus should change how we see everything, including money. 2 Corinthians 8:1-2 2 Corinthians 8:8 How we handle money shows something about our faith. ● Money shows where we’re placing our hope. ● James 2:17 ● James 2:18 1. Generosity leads to more joy ● 2 Corinthians 9:6 ● Proverbs 11:24 (Message Paraphrase) The world of the generous gets larger and larger; the world of the stingy gets smaller and smaller. 2. Our hope in Jesus should lead to generosity Response -I will live with open hands -I will ask God what He is calling me to -I will look for opportunities in my Oikos

Romans 14:1-3, 14-15:7 The Big Idea: Cultural diversity is both an obstacle to and an essential ingredient of Biblical clarity and Christian hope. Sometimes you are right and sometimes you are wrong. The problem is knowing in real time which one is true. 3 Guiding Realities for Community: 1. Most of our conflicts are CULTURAL more than THEOLOGICAL. 2. DIVERSITY WITH UNITY is a very real and constant CHALLENGE for all humans. 3. Because of our CULTURAL BLIND SPOTS, we cannot see the whole Truth without diversity in our community. HOW DO WE DEAL WITH THIS PROBLEM? ● THE COUNTERFEIT SOLUTIONS: - Broad Mindedness - Power and Control ● THE BIBLICAL SOLUTION: - CRUCIFORM STRENGTH - Romans 14:19-20a PRACTICING STRONG SERVANTHOOD: 1. EMBRACE TRUTH with HUMILITY AND LOVE. ● 1 Corinthians 8:1-3 2. SEEK RELATIONSHIP, NOT VICTORY. ● Romans14:1 “Accept the one whose faith is weak…” ● Carry the weak ● Romans 15:1 3. FIND EMPOWERMENT FROM HOPE ● Romans 15:4-6 ● Our Hope tells us that we will ALL BE ONE one day. Respon

1 Corinthians 6:12-7:1; 7:27-31 THE BIG IDEA: Christian hope radically shapes our views and practice of sex, singleness, and marriage. 1. A Revolutionary View of Sex: Two Views About Sex: 1) I have the right to feed my appetites however I please. 2) Sex is dirty and bad. ● The key to the whole subject is DESIGN. (v13) ○ Sex is designed to do this: THE FULL GIVING OF ONESELF TO ANOTHER. ■ Not a defiling but necessary mode of PROCREATION. ■ Not just an appetite for self-gratification or satisfaction. ■ It is SELF-DONATION- To give yourself so deeply that it results in personal transformation. 2. A Revolutionary View of Marriage and Singleness: ● MARRIAGE is a one-Soma reality that mirrors and demonstrates THE ONE SPIRIT REALITY we can have with God. ● MARRIAGE is full of TROUBLES and SUFFERING. (v27) ● SINGLENESS is a valid option for a FULL and POWERFUL LIFE. 3. Rock Solid Guidance for Navigating Your Sexual Life: ● What God has DONE ● What God is DOING ● What God WILL DO RESPONSE: ● Anchor your personho

2 Corinthians 4:7-18; 12:7-10 The Big Idea: Suffering is not God’s plan, but it is God’s servant in advancing His Glory. 1. The Certainty of Suffering v16 “Therefore, we do not lose heart, though outwardly we are wasting away…” 2. The Power of Suffering My sufferings are not only not a denial of Jesus, but they are a confirmation of Him. SUFFERING HAS POWER IN TWO WAYS: 1. Relationally: “Death is at work in us but life is at work in you.” 2. Internally: Romans 5:3-5 “To love at all is to be vulnerable. Love anything and your heart will be wrung and possibly broken. If you want to make sure of keeping it intact you must give it to no one, not even an animal. Wrap it carefully round with hobbies and little luxuries; avoid all entanglements. Lock it up safe in the casket or coffin of your selfishness. But in that casket, safe, dark, motionless, airless, it will change. It will not be broken; it will become unbreakable, impenetrable, irredeemable. To love is to be vulnerable.” - C. S. Lewis, The Four Loves T

Luke 4:16 Luke 4:17-19 Jesus came bring something NEW. We AREN’T CALLED to take part in CULTURE WARS. We are CALLED to REPRESENT the kingdom of God. Luke 17: 20-21

The Big Idea: The certainty of our eternal future informs, directs and empowers our present life experience. 1 Corinthians 15:47-58 THE SHAPE OF GOD’S FUTURE FOR US: Four Things we are certain to Experience in Our Future: 1. DEATH WITH NO STING. “If we could be sure that death is annihilation, there would be no fear of it. But we cannot be totally sure. What people fear most is not that death is annihilation, but that it is not.” – Epicurus Jesus did not come to bring judgment, but to bear it on our behalf! 2. SUFFERING SWALLOWED UP IN VICTORY. Suffering isn’t repaid, but is completely swallowed up in victory! 3. PHYSICAL LIFE IN AN ETERNAL MATERIAL WORLD. 4. FINALLY EXPERIENCING THE TRUE YOU. Response: ● Keep praying over our nation! ● ABC - place your life in the hands of our Redeemer King and your certain eternal future. ● Live among your Oikos through the empowerment of your Hope.

Mark 9:14-29 REMEDIAL FASTING 101: 1) WHAT is it? 2) WHY do it? 3) HOW to start? 1) What is it? Simple definition: Going without food for a specified amount of time 2) Why do it? Jesus modeled it and expects it. Matt. 4:1-2 Matt. 9:15 Matt. 6:16-18 RELEASES POWER of God in you and through you. Galatians 5:16-17 2 Cor. 12:9-10 Fasting makes room for God’s power to work through our weakness! Mark 9:29 Daniel 10:2-3, 12-13 3) How to start? Go for ONE MEAL. Go for a DAY. (sundown to sundown) START SLOW, work up to more as the Spirit leads you. UNDERSTAND – this is a spiritual battle! Fast WITH SOMEONE, if possible

BIG IDEA: Experiencing Hope comes from knowing our confidence in Christ holds true over the surface of our circumstances. Ephesians 3:14-21 TWO CONCEPTS: ROOTS AND ANCHORS. REDWOODS- Who are you CONNECTED with and to? 16 I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being. The outcome of being rooted is loving like Christ: We TRANSFORM into HIS LIKENESS. Isaiah 40:31 1 John 3:3 Two OT words for hope used Hebrews 6:19-20 ● Trials will EXAGGERATE what is already there. “The sun that hardens the clay also melts the wax.” - Spurgeon People are not made in trials, they are REVEALED. Hope exists where there was PREPARATION. ● HOPE is never as far as it seems. ● HOLD ON through the storm. RESPONSE: When the surface of your life seems to be in turmoil, REMEMBER WHERE YOUR HOPE COMES FROM. Hebrews 11:1 Plus Ultra - There is more. Do we live a life understanding that “THERE IS MORE?” Romans 15:13

Definition: Season of celebration. Leviticus 25:8-10 What Jubilee brings: 1. Sabbath: It is a period of rest, for the land and the people. 2. Atonement: Begins on the Day of Atonement, forgiveness of sins by blood. 3. Liberation: The captives and slaves are set free, and return to their own people. Luke 4:18-21 JESUS BRINGS OUR JUBILEE! 1. JESUS is the SABBATH. Matthew 12:8 2. JESUS is our ATONEMENT. 1 John 2:2 3. JESUS is our LIBERATION. Galatians 5:1 RESPONSE: 1. Enter into JUBILEE: Are there walls you’ve built that God needs to tear down? Are there burdens you are carrying? Do you still carry that old yoke? 2. Share your STORY: Everyone went back to proclaim to their people the freedom that God had given them. We do the same because of the eternal freedom bought by Jesus Christ.

THE BIG IDEA: Christian hope is not a manufactured or fleeting optimistic attitude, but a confident obedience based on the certainty of the work of Jesus. Ephesians 1:13-22 ‬‬‬‬ 1. THE IMPORTANCE OF HOPE: Hope: “Life shaping certainty of something that hasn’t happened yet, but you know will.” Hebrews 11:1 2. THE CONTENT OF HOPE - KNOWING FOUR THINGS: 1. To KNOW the Holy Spirit as your SEAL, DEPOSIT AND GUARANTEE. 2. To KNOW that hope is your PRIMARY CALLING. 3. To KNOW that we are HIS INHERITANCE. 4. To KNOW the Father’s great POWER AND PLAN. 3. HOW TO GET HOPE: ● Ephesians 1:13-14 ● Isaiah 30:15 We become ANCHORED IN HOPE when we become anchored in the love of our Father, expressed through the work of the Son, experienced through the power of the Holy Spirit. RESPONSE: 1. Choose HOPE as your personal calling. 2. Place your life in His hands - be HIS POSSESSION. 3. SHARE THAT HOPE with your Oikos.

In the Chat: What was your first job, and how did you like it? Oxford definition of Vocation: a strong feeling of suitability for a particular career or occupation. Big Idea: Your vocation is about bringing the love and power of Jesus Christ into your current context. Ecclesiastes 3:9-13 Genesis 2:15-16 Steward: "Utilizing and managing all resources God provides for the glory of God and the betterment of His creation" Dominion: To rule over, subdue, and help something to fulfill its potential. 2 Peter 1:3-10 1. The Domains of Vocation: • Individual Domain • Institutional Domain • Civic Domain 2. The Direction of Vocation: • The goal of Christian vocation is Love. • Christian vocation is for the common good. Joseph: The example of dedicated vocation to God. Genesis 39:8-9 “If two angels were to receive at the same moment a commission from God, one to go down and rule earth’s grandest empire, the other to go and sweep the streets of its meanest village, it would be a matter of entire indifference to eac

In the Chat: Have you ever seen or been a part of a miracle? Mark 5:24-34 Common Things to Overcome: ● Facing Disappointments ● Fighting Discouragement ● Falling into Despair Three Common Necessities: 1. Nearly every miracle involves an APPROACH. 2. The exercise of a little FAITH. Matthew 17:20 3. Very little CONTACT. Isaiah 53:5