Evergreen Christian Community

The Big Idea: The Church is called and equipped to lead the way in hospitality and community to a lonely world! Americans have more technical capacity to connect than ever before, and yet we are more lonely than ever before. 1 Peter 4:1-11 HOSPITALITY is an attitude before it is a practice. Two Cultural Approaches to Community: 1. An INDIVIDUALIST approach to community. 2. The TRIBAL approach to community. Acts 4:32-35 Acts 10:23-33 Hebrews 13:1-3 Two things we must do to answer the question well: 1. REESTABLISH OIKOS AS SCHOOLS OF LOVE. 2. CLOTHE HOSPITALITY WITH THREE CRITICAL ITEMS: 1. Humility 2. Hope 3. Personal Responsibility Luke 22:1-14 (*) Response- Extending Hospitality 1 - Personally practice the attitude of Jesus - SERVE 2 - Begin with your OIKOS 3 - Seek DAILY GUIDANCE and wisdom from God toward hospitality

Isaiah 55:8-9 In the chat - share an instance when you were told no “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord. “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.” Isaiah 55:8-9 God’s NO is just as much a blessing as his yes! His NO is a positive, not a negative! His NO is an affirmation, not a rejection! His NO is a sign of his favor, not displeasure! His NO might be even more powerful than His YES because His NO requires more faith and trust on our part!

Luke 8:4-9, 11-15 The Big Idea: Our formation began in the womb and is an ongoing process. We experience re-formation through habits of obedience carried out in relationships. Understanding Re-Formation: ● The soil of fruitfulness is the HEART. Proverbs 4:20-26 ● The obstructions to fruitfulness are HEART ISSUES. ● The source of fruitfulness is JESUS. Jeremiah 17:5-9 Psalm 139:23-24 ● The process of fruitfulness is HEART RECLAMATION through OBEDIENCE. In our Culture there are two dominant models: 1. The self-discovery model of formation: ○ The goal is happiness. ○ The path is self-knowledge and self-acceptance. 2. The Self-improvement model of formation: ○ The goal is success. ○ The path is to cultivate skills, access resources, and solve problems. The Biblical Model of formation: To live and love like Jesus ○ The goal of Biblical formation is LOVE. ○ The path of Biblical formation is OBEDIENCE. John 15:9-17 How To Get Started: Use LOVE as your compass, the SCRIPTURES as your True North, and OBEDIENCE

Tonight’s Agreement and Instruction:  The Lord, His kindness, and His bountiful power do not revolve around us.  Our lives flourish when our they revolve around Him. We want to FACE TWO FACTS and allow them to inform our paths forward. 1) God has SUPERNATURAL PARTNERS and SERVANTS. 2) These partners are not for us, THEY ARE FOR THE LORD. Joshua 5:13-15 Colossians 1:13-17 Isaiah 10:12-16 Prayer Focus: ● The Lord is with us. Period. ● We experience life abundantly when we are with Him. ● Gratitude, humility, and obedience are the sweet spot for us.

The Big Idea: Human dignity and flourishing are anchored in the Person of Jesus Deuteronomy 28:1-14 Acts 17:22-28 Jesus is our PATHWAY to FLOURISHING! The pathway to FLOURISHING is attached to the pathway to IDENTITY. WHAT HAVE CHRISTIANS ALWAYS BELIEVED ABOUT HUMAN IDENTITY? Genesis 1:26-31 1. We are creatures of GLORY.  2. We are creatures of SHAME.  3. We are creatures of HOPE. Our MINDS can be RENEWED.  Philippians 4:8-9 Our LOVES can be REORDERED.  Matthew 22:36-40 Our HABITS can be REDIRECTED.  Romans 8:6; 11  Our BODIES will be RESURRECTED. 1 Corinthians 15:53-58 THE CHURCH  must never, ever GIVE UP HOPE on any human being.

The horse is made ready for battle, but victory rests with the LORD. – Prov. 21:31 Unless the Lord builds the house, the builders labor in vain. Unless the Lord watches over the city, the guards stand watch in vain. – Psalm 127:1 The foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom, the weakness of God is stronger than human strength. 1 Cor. 1:25 This kind only comes out by prayer and fasting! – Matt. 17:21 26  Remember, dear brothers and sisters, that few of you were wise in the world’s eyes or powerful or wealthy [a]  when God called you.  27  Instead, God chose things the world considers foolish in order to shame those who think they are wise. And he chose things that are powerless to shame those who are powerful.  28  God chose things despised by the world, [b]  things counted as nothing at all, and used them to bring to nothing what the world considers important.  29  As a result, no one can ever boast in the presence of God. -1 Cor. 1:26-29 NLT

/In the Chat:/ If you could be a United States Ambassador to any nation on earth, which one would you choose? 2 Corinthians 5:17-21 The Big Idea: To be effective ambassadors of Christ in the world we must recover and incarnate the core confessions of Christianity. Confessions are Confusing: ● They have been used as occasion for violence. ● They have been used to describe God as angry and hateful. ● Our culture believes fixed confessions cannot be trusted. ● Some Christians have made confession exclusively personal. ● Some see Christian confession as a call to cultural control. ● Neither of these is at the heart of Christian confession. Christian confession is about relationship restored between Creator God and His rebellious creation. Remember what we believe: 1. We believe in a Creator and Triune God of LOVE. 2. We believe in the corruption of LOVE. 3. We all have only a flawed ability to LOVE. 4. We believe in God’s pursuit of LOVE toward us. Luke 10:25-37 ● In the incarnation of Jesus, LOVE pursued

John 6:5-15 Big Idea: The limitless power of Jesus covers over our limited selves. John 6:53-58 So Jesus says: He is limitless and he requires limitless devotion. God’s limitless power, grace and love work in spite of our limited status. Jesus works his miracle through his disciples. His limitless power worked through limited individuals. In Jesus Christ, we find our potential. Jesus Christ fills us with the Holy Spirit. This Spirit guides, fills us, empowers us. RESPONSE:  Accept that you are limited in power, but He is Limitless.  Trust that His Power can work in every circumstance.  Believe and pray that God’s limitless Power impacts your Oikos.

Jim Ladd, May 9, 2021 Finding our place in the world In the Chat: What about the world drives you the most crazy these days? The Big Idea: We must rediscover our place in the world. Ephesians 1:3-10; 19-23 (MSG) “How blessed is God! And what a blessing he is! He’s the Father of our Master, Jesus Christ, and takes us to the high places of blessing in him. Long before he laid down earth’s foundations, he had us in mind, had settled on us as the focus of his love, to be made whole and holy by his love. Long, long ago he decided to adopt us into his family through Jesus Christ. (What pleasure he took in planning this!) He wanted us to enter into the celebration of his lavish gift-giving by the hand of his beloved Son. Because of the sacrifice of the Messiah, his blood poured out on the altar of the Cross, we’re a free people—free of penalties and punishments chalked up by all our misdeeds. And not just barely free, either. Abundantly free! He thought of everything, provided for everything we could possibly nee

Andy Manley, May 2, 2021 /In the chat: After the NFL draft, how many people had compassion for you? / Big Idea: Compassion and justice is an overflow of our faith. John 20:14-15 Narcotizing Dysfunction - “…that as mass media inundates people on a particular issue, they become apathetic to it, substituting knowledge for action.” Genesis 2:8-9 Revelation - Garden Like City John 20:14-15 Luke 4:17-19 James 1:27 1. TAKE A STEP TOWARD the people in our own lives. 2. TAKE A STEP TOWARD the area we’re burdened for. Response: 1. Ask God to bring back your compassion. 2. Reach out to someone in your Oikos. 3. Move towards where you care most.

In the Chat: Where are you when you feel most relaxed and rested? The Big Idea: Rest is an act of worship because it puts the universe back on God’s shoulders and makes room for healing. 1. SABBATH is a God strategy for growth. Genesis 2:1-3 Two key words: BLESSED - Barak - A life-giving ability to make more life - to procreate QADOSH - Holy - A serious word - usually used for God. The Principle of “FIRST MENTION”: 2. Sabbath is DEFIANCE against slavery. Exodus 20:8-11 Romans 14:5 Deuteronomy 5:12-15 In Exodus, SABBATH is an art form, tapping into the rhythm of creation. In Deuteronomy, the SABBATH is an act of defiance against slavery. In Exodus it is saying YES to God and His world. In Deuteronomy, it is saying NO to Egypt and its systems. In Exodus, we are called to JOIN God in His delight. In Deuteronomy we are called to STAY AWAY from Egypt’s way of life. 3. Sabbath is an environment for healing. Mark 2:23-28 Mark 3:1-6 Response: ● I will practice rest as a God STRATEGY FOR GROWTH. ● I will

Joshua 9:3-6 Joshua 9:14-15 INQUIRE OF THE LORD even when it seems obvious. Bad choices can lead to UNNECESSARY BATTLES. Joshua 10:7-13 God is in the REDEEMING BUSINESS. GOD FIGHTS OUR BATTLES with all of heaven’s resources. God can turn our CURSES into BLESSINGS RESPONSE: Can you believe for God’s deliverance? IDENTIFY a situation where God’s intervention is needed.

In the chat: What was an activity you used to do with your grandparents? Big Idea: Being an image bearer calls us to value people and declare his greatness. Genesis‬ 1:26-27‬ NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬ We are “Imago Dei.” “There are no ordinary people. You have never talked to a mere mortal. Nations, cultures, arts, civilizations - these are mortal, and their life is to ours as the life of a gnat. But it is immortals whom we joke with, work with, marry, snub and exploit - immortal horrors or everlasting splendors.” -C.S. Lewis The “Uncanny Valley” (Image from Polar Express) 3 Pieces to the Puzzle: 1. Because of the Fall in the Garden, the puzzle has been dismantled. Genesis 3:6-8 2. We must reclaim our Imago Dei. The true Human, the perfect human: Jesus Christ. 2 Corinthians 5:21 1 Peter 2:9 3. Our lives become complete by the power of Jesus Christ. Fulfillment comes through Jesus - anything you do outside of Jesus to find fulfillment leaves you empty. Ephesians 2:10 RESPONSE: -ACKNOWLEDGE the image bearing of

“Bold prayers honor God, and God honors bold prayers. God isn’t offended by your biggest dreams or boldest prayers. He is offended by anything less. If your prayers aren’t impossible for you, they are insulting to God.” Mark Batterson In the chat - What do you think of when you think of praying bold prayers? THREE OT EXAMPLES: 1) David and Goliath ● 1 Samuel 17:45-47 2) Elijah and prophets of Baal ● 1 Kings 18:36-37 3) Hezekiah and Sennacherib ● 2 Kings 19:14-19 1 Samuel 17:23 1 Kings 18:21 2 Kings 19:.14 THESE TYPES OF BOLD PRAYERS WON’T TAKE PLACE: On a BATTLEFIELD . . . but at a BREAK AT WORK. On a MOUNTAINTOP . . . but over THE PHONE. In a TEMPLE . . . but in YOUR OIKOS.

Genesis 2:8-9 Big Idea: God has created us to partner with Him in moving the world forward. Question in the chat: What was your first job? “Man's chief end is to glorify God, and to enjoy him forever.” -Westminster Catechism Genesis 1:26 Radah - To actively partner with God in taking the world somewhere. Genesis 2:10-12 “Human beings are responsible for art, science, medicine, education, the Sistine Chapel, Handel’s Messiah, New York City, space travel, the novel, photography, and Mexican food - I mean, who doesn’t love Mexican food? But we’re also responsible for a world with 27 million slaves, blatant racism, the Holocaust, Hiroshima, the genocide in Rwanda, ISIS, the financial meltdown of 2008, pornography, global warming, the endagered-species list, and don’t even get me started on pop music. - John Mark Comer Colossians 3:23-24 What makes me ANGRY? What makes me feel ALIVE? RECOGNIZE that everything we do matters. Response: - FIND A FRIEND- talk to them about what you’re processing. -Go to work

To enjoy the Way of Jesus, I must leave the old ways that I love. Luke 5:33-39 TWO TOPICS: 1. NEW WINE must be poured into NEW WINESKINS. 2. No one, after drinking the old, wants the new. 1. THE NEW WAY OF JESUS does not fit with or inside of the old way. 2. No one, after drinking the old, wants the new, “for the old is better.” a. “BETTER” = “easy and suits me” b. My yoke is “BETTER” - easy and suits me. -Jesus (Matt. 11:30) 3. The OLD WINE that people love: ● Forgiveness is earned. ● God loves good people. ● God hates bad people. ● God will love us when we get our act together. ● People get what they deserve and deserve what they get. ● Religion should be hard and painful. PRAYER CALL FOR TONIGHT: ● Identify my “old ways” that are blocking the Jesus Way in my life ● Jesus, help me drink deeply of your NEW WINE!

The Big Idea: The resurrection is the proof of the finished work of Jesus and the demonstration of the power He offers today. Ephesians 1:15-19 1. The RESURRECTION is the PROOF that Jesus is who He said He is. Acts 17: 24-31 2. The RESURRECTION is the FINAL SAY concerning our inheritance. Acts 13:32-33, 38-39 1 Corinthians 15:14-19 3. The RESURRECTION DEMONSTRATES THE POWER to live a new life. Ephesians 1:19-23 Romans 8:26-39 Response: ● ABC- ADMIT, BELIEVE, CONFESS ● CRUCIFY YOUR SHAME ● SERVE your oikos in the POWER of the resurrection.

Jim Ladd, April 2, 2021 Join us as we recognize the suffering and sacrifice that Jesus paid on our behalf on the day of his crucifixion, before we celebrate his ultimate victory over death this Sunday.

Tonight: How much of your walk with Jesus is entirely self-serving? Holy Week - How did Jesus spend the week after Palm Sunday? Monday: Jesus cursed the fruitless fig tree and cleansed the Temple. Tuesday: Jesus confronts the Pharisees. Matthew 23:23-28 Wednesday: Judas sells out Jesus. Thursday: Passover meal, washing feet, and Peter’s warning. Themes of the week: ● RELIGION is SELF-SERVING and is the ENEMY OF GOD. ● WHO YOU are is a higher priority than what you do. ● How you approach people is the REAL DEMONSTRATION of your faith. Step 11: Sought through prayer and meditation to improve our conscious contact with God, praying only for knowledge of His will for us and the power to carry that out.

Matthew 11:12 Palm Sunday reveals the JESUS REVOLUTION. The Big Idea: Jesus is a revolutionary, leading an army of wounded healers. Good news for the desperate: Luke 4:14-20 If you are not DESPERATE then Jesus is of no value to you. 1 Corinthians 1:26-30 Jesus CALLS BEGGARS to HELP OTHER BEGGARS find bread. Luke 5:27-32 1 Corinthians 1:26-30 We Learn the REVOLUTIONARY STRATEGIES of Jesus. John 13:1-5; 12-17 Luke 22:24-27 Our natural instinct is to fight our enemies while JESUS LAYS DOWN HIS LIFE FOR HIS. RESPONSE: CONFESS your abject poverty to God. TURN YOUR ATTENTION to other beggars. PRAY for an Oikos member.