Evergreen Christian Community

The Big Idea: Pain is inherently productive, and you get to decide what it produces. James 1:1-18 (p. 1043) Seven Things God is Saying In Your Pain: 1. Let me grow you STRONG and MATURE. 2. Let me give you WISDOM. 3. Learn the secret of FOCUS. 4. Find confidence in your WEAKNESS. - 2 Corinthians 12:9 (p. 999) 5. Your CROWN is coming. 6. Defeat the temptation to BLAME ME. 7. Feel my PRESENCE in your pain, and walk with me to GOOD THINGS. Change your question from “WHY?” to “WHO?” When the Devil thinks he’s got you crushed, the Lord is preparing a table so you can FEAST in his FACE. Psalm 42:5 (p. 484) Psalm 23:5 (p.473) Romans 8:37-39 (p. 972)

The Big Idea: Jesus offers a grand adventure to all who will follow Him. Isaiah 30:19-26 (p. 611) Don’t settle for a DEAL with your Pastor - go for the REAL DEAL. - John 3:5-8 (p. 913) - John 10:1-5 (p. 922) The adventure God is inviting you to is this: He PROMPTS, you FOLLOW. It is all about SURRENDER. God can change someone’s entire world in a single moment by PROMPTING someone. - Esther 6:1-3 Consider a new Rule of Life: The 10 Second Rule. A Few Principles to Keep in Mind: ● The promptings will typically be RIGHT ON TIME. ● God’s primary promptings will be about CONFRONTING YOUR SIN. ● God’s ultimate aim is BLESSING. ● The central key to this process is OBEDIENCE. John 14:23-27 (p. 927)

The Big Idea: God is always speaking and often it’s through other people. Exodus 18:7-10, 13-19, 23 (p. 63) 1. God speaks through OTHER PEOPLE in our lives. - Exodus 18:12 (p. 63) 2. We listen best when we are HUMBLE. - Proverbs 15:31-33 (p. 555) 3. God uses people to give us PERSPECTIVE and WISDOM. - Exodus 18:14 (p. 63) 4. God speaks through people TO CONFIRM what He is ALREADY DOING in our lives. - Exodus 18:23 (p. 63) - Proverbs 15:22 (p. 554)

Judges 2:6-14; 20-23; 3:2

The Big Idea: God gives visions and dreams to us but never just for us. Acts 2:16-21 (p. 936) What We Know About Visions and Dreams: - God is moving and EVERYONE IS ELIGIBLE. - They begin in GOD’S HEART. - They are CONSTRUCTIVE not DESTRUCTIVE. - They have a SHARED MISSION. - They inform our IGNORANCE. - They give DIRECTIONAL CLARITY. - God is PERFECT and we are NOT.

The Big Idea: You never know where God might lead you next. Acts 16:6-10 (p. 951) Six Factors In Discerning God’s Will: 1. The GOOSE-BUMP Factor John 3:5-8 (p. 913) 2. The HIGHEST-PRIORITY Factor 1 Corinthians 16:5-9 (p. 991) 3. The PEACE Factor Colossians 3:12-17 (p. 1017) 4. The WISE-COUNSEL Factor Proverbs 15:22 (p. 554) 5. The CRAZY Factor 6. The PERSONAL DESIRE Factor 1 Samuel 10:5-7 (p. 236) - What do you WANT to do? Sometimes a SHIPWRECK is part of God’s plan

The Big Idea: Some desires of your heart come directly from God and are His voice in you. PSALM 37:1-7 (p. 480 ) 1. The soil that desire grows in: a GOD-CENTERED life. Desire grows out of CONFIDENCE and CONTENTMENT in God. When you are daily in God’s presence, your passions become INFORMED without you even knowing it. 2. The poison that kills God’s desires in you: COMPARISON. Comparison – compare IS SIN. 3. The secret about the fruit of desire –God’s TIMING. Isaiah 40:28-31 (p. 620)

The Big Idea: The Bible is worth more in this life than a pile of pure gold. Psalms 19:7-14 (p. 471) The Power of God’s Word: 1. It returns my SOUL to its original home. 2. It makes the OPEN-MINDED wise. 3. It is the straight path to a HAPPY heart. 4. It gives SPARKLE to my eyes. 5. Awesome reverence for it enables me to STAND continually. 6. It accurately declares me “NOT-GUILTY.” Intermission: It should be more COVETED than pure gold; and tastes sweeter than pure honey. More Power of God’s Word: 7. It provides GUARDRAILS that lead to many great CONSEQUENCES. 8. It gives me discernment to see my ERRORS. 9. Leads me to forgiveness for my hidden SECRETS. 10. Calibrates my ARROGANCE. 11. Empowers me to live FREE. 12. Completes the death of my REBELLION.

Series Big Idea: God’s Word is the most powerful thing in the universe. Hebrews 1:1-3 (p. 1033) Learning to hear God’s voice is the SOLUTION to a thousand PROBLEMS. Hearing is Different than LISTENING. Matthew 13:15-17 (p. 839) Wisdom is deciding to make God’s voice the LOUDEST voice in your life. The Big Idea Today: God speaks His loudest message through the person of Jesus. Jesus Speaks through His BLOOD. Genesis 4:9-10 (p. 4) Exodus 12:23 (p. 49) What Is God Saying Through Jesus? Three words that change everything: PAID IN FULL John 3:16-17 (p. 913)

Big Idea: The Holy Spirit is God’s continual presence in your life. John 14:15-21, 26-27 (p. 927) 1. The Holy Spirit CONVICTS Us. - John 16:8-11 (p. 928) - John 14:26 (p. 927) - Galatians 5:19-25 (p. 1004) 2. The Holy Spirit COUNSELS Us. - Romans 8:26 (p. 972) - 1 Corinthians 2:13-16 (p. 981) - John 14:16-17 (p. 927) 3. The Holy Spirit COMFORTS Us. - John 14:16, 26-27 (p. 929) - Psalm 34:18 (p. 479) - Romans 5.5 (p. 969)

The Big Idea: The most important relationship in your life is your relationship with the Holy Spirit. Acts 1:1-11 (p. 934) An Executive Summary of Jesus’ 40-Day School of the Kingdom of God: 1. The most important gift is a PERSON John 14:15-21 (p. 927) You receive Him at SALVATION John 20:19-23 (p. 933) He serves you by BAPTIZING you Acts 1:5 (p. 934) Mark 1:8 (p. 858) Ephesians 5:15-20 (p. 1009) 2. The most important focus is God’s KINGDOM Matthew 13 (p. 838) 3. The most important mission is to be a WITNESS His explosive power enables you to both DIE and LIVE Jesus is our living MODEL

Big Idea: Jesus has prepared an eternal destiny for you that is awe-inspiring. -Romans 8:18-31 (p.972) -Acts 1:11 (p. 933) -Romans 14:11 (p. 977) -Hebrews 9:27-28 (p. 1038) Reorienting Ourselves Toward Heaven: 1. Heaven is the HOME you already long for. 2. Heaven is the SURPRISE PARTY you never saw coming. 3. Heaven becomes your source of OPTIMISM. 4. Heaven transforms death from a CURSE to a DOORWAY. 5. Heaven tomorrow empowers LIFE today. -Philippians 3:13-14 (p. 1013) -Hebrews 12:28 (p. 1042)