Evergreen Christian Community

The Big Idea: The Holy Spirit is our Advocate for navigating spiritual truth. John 16:5-15 (p. 928) When the Holy Spirit comes, He proves the world WRONG: - About SIN - About RIGHTEOUSNESS Romans 4:5 (p. 968) 1 Corinthians 1:30 (p. 980) - About JUDGMENT John 12:31-33 (p. 925) The Holy Spirit GUIDES us into all truth. The Holy Spirit is just getting STARTED.

The Big Idea: When you choose Jesus you pick a side. -John 15:9-25 (p. 928) Jesus Presents Three Relational Arenas Where You Must Choose: V.16 “You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you…” 1. You and ME - Choose to REMAIN. - Choose to OBEY. - Choose to become a FRIEND. 2. You and other FOLLOWERS OF JESUS - Choose EACH OTHER. 3. You and THE WORLD - Choose to accept REJECTION. - Choose not to BELONG TO THEM. - James 4:4 (p. 1045) I must CHOOSE. Joshua 24:13-18 (p. 210)

THE BIG IDEA: God has a simple strategy to make you very fruitful. John 15:1-11 (p. 928) God wants you to be FRUITFUL! He is committed to GETTING HIS HANDS DIRTY. He is committed to RESOURCING YOU. He is committed to LARGE FRUIT. He is committed to being GLORIFIED this way. This is how you find JOY. The Truth About Deadwood: Branches are in trouble when they lose their RESOURCE. The destiny of deadwood is STARVATION and DEATH. 3 Keys to Fruitfulness: (what’s the job of a branch?) 1. Choose the TRUE vine. 2. Stay in the PRUNING PROCESS. 3. Understand your LIMITS and God’s LIMITLESSNESS. How Do I Get Started? - Be constantly PRESENT with Jesus. - Walk in COMMUNITY.

The Big Idea: The Holy Spirit gives us the power to live like Jesus. John 14:12-14 (p. 927) THE OBVIOUS QUESTION: HOW? By THE POWER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. CLARIFYING QUESTION: How does Jesus decide who to show Himself to? Those who LOVE Him. How does Jesus spell love? OBEY (4 Times) The Holy Spirit is Your: ADVOCATE INTERCESSOR HELPER How to love God: PLAY OFFENSE. Romans 7 Romans 8 BODY GOD SPIRIT SOUL MIND MIND SOUL SPIRIT GOD BODY

The Big Idea: The love of the Father says, “do not let your hearts be troubled.” John 14:1-14 (p. 927) Jesus and God are ONE. Do not let your heart be TROUBLED. Trust in God brings PEACE. John 16:33 (p. 929) Relationship with God brings HOPE. Psalm 33:20-22 (p. 478) Hebrews 11:1 (p. 1040) Psalm 147:11 (p. 540) Faith in Jesus brings POWER Romans 15:13 (p. 978)

The Big Idea: Jesus sets the bar for what love should look like John 13:31-38 (p. 927) HOW CAN THE WORLD SEE JESUS? Radical LOVE - Luke 7:20; 22 (p. 887) This is how God is GLORIFIED. WHAT IS LOVE? God love is TRUE LOVE. - 1 John 3:16-18 (p. 1055) Human love loves for ITS OWN SAKE. God love loves for the sake of JESUS. Human love BINDS the person to me. God love BINDS the person to God. Human love desires the other PERSON. God love desires GOD. Human love seeks to be IRRESISTIBLE. God love seeks to be TRANSFORMATIONAL. Human love creates FLOWERS. God love creates FRUIT. Human love SEEKS. God love SACRIFICES. HOW CAN I LEARN TO LOVE LIKE THAT? God’s love must TRANSFORM me. Revelation 19:1-9 9 (p. 1074) THE MOST IMPORTANT THING: RECEIVE GOD’S LOVE and LOVE EACH OTHER!

The Big Idea: There is a secret from God that is only learned one way. Philippians 4:10-20 (p. 1013) A critical and personal attribute for life is CONTENTMENT. What is It? - A state of SATISFACTION or peaceful HAPPINESS. How Do You Learn It? - By being challenged with almost NO ONE to help you. (v. 15) There is a Secret From God For You: - You can DO ALL THINGS THROUGH CHRIST. (v. 13) Where Do I Acquire The Strength? -Through DISCIPLINE Hebrews 12:7-13 (p. 1041 ) Proverbs 4:20-27 (p. 545) James 1:2-8 (p. 1043) CONTENTMENT is closely attached to GENEROSITY because both are learned and require trust in God. (v. 17-20)

The Big Idea: The Presence of Jesus gives you peace when you have conflict with others. Philippians 4:2-9 (p. 1017) Conflict can make it difficult to STAND FIRM in the Lord. The enemy has an aim to DIVIDE and CONQUER. Critical Habits When in Conflict With Someone: - Involve a trusted PEACEMAKER. - Enjoy a state of HAPPINESS IN THE LORD. - Tell God exactly WHAT YOU WANT. - Militantly control your THINKING. The Results When Your Faith Rules Over Your Feelings: - Noteworthy GENTLENESS - Trans-rational PEACE Action Item: Make a PLAN and pursue RESOLUTION.

The Big Idea: The best way to stand firm is to intentionally keep moving. Philippians 3:12-4:1 (p. 1013 ) HOW TO STAND FIRM IN THE LORD: Step 1: FORGET and PURSUE. (v. 12-15) Step 2: Live what you ALREADY KNOW. (v. 16) Romans 9:30-31 (p. 973) Step 3: Choose and follow good ROLE MODELS. v. 17 Step 4: Understand how DESTINY is determined. Step 5: Stand firm in your FOCUS and HOPE in Jesus.

The Big Idea: Faith is out of focus if it stares at anything other than Jesus. Philippians 3:1-14 (p. 1012-1013) The universal question for people in chains is “WHY?” The search for an answer is actually a search for CONFIDENCE. There is a savage enemy of your faith: a LIST. -Romans 2:28-29 (p. 967) -Galatians 3:10 (p. 1002) -James 2:10 (p. 1044) When your focus is a LIST, your goal is SELF. When your focus is JESUS, your goal is HIM. You cannot know the power of the resurrection unless there is a DEATH. When your prize is JESUS, your life opens to a whole new world. So, What do I do now? -FORGET and PURSUE.

The Big Idea: Your most meaningful life will not be built by you alone. Philippians 2:19-30 (p. 1012) Paul’s Team for Life and Mission: - TIMOTHY - Philippians 1:1 (p. 1011) - EPAPHRODITUS - v.25 - FATHER -Titus 2:3-6 (p. 1030) - SON - v.22 - BROTHER -1 Samuel 20:17 (p. 247) - CO-LABORER - v.20 - FELLOW-SOLDIER -2 Timothy 2:1-4 (p. 1025) Three Steps To Build Your Team: 1. Determine what you most NEED. 2. Find the person who might MEET THAT NEED. 3. Go for a CONVERSATION Honor is the rope that ties us all together. 1 Thessalonians 4b-12 (p. 1019)

The Big Idea: Being one with Jesus is not a spectator sport. Philippians 2:12-18 (p. 819) The Job: To work OUT what God is working IN. - Your salvation Hebrews 5:9 (p. 840) - With fear and trembling Romans 2:1-5 (p.783) The Strategy: To BECOME who we ARE, in a POLLUTED world. Deuteronomy 32:1-5 (p. 143) The Mission: Stand OUT and hold ON TO. The Price: EMPTY yourself.

The Big Idea: Jesus is God and His way is humble obedience. Philippians 2:1-11 (p. 819) “If-Then” Statements (Hypothesis - Conclusion) If Jesus is HELPING you, then ONENESS with Him is key. -Romans 15:5 (p. 791 ) If Jesus did this FOR YOU, then do this FOR EACH OTHER. -1 Peter 2:13-25 (p. 851) If humble OBEDIENCE is the way of Jesus, then it is YOUR WAY, too. -Hebrews 12:1-3 (p. 844) If God EXALTED Jesus in His humilty, then Christ wihtin us will be EXALTED in our own humility. -James 4:1-10 (p. 848) If the Father gave Jesus a NEW NAME then He will GIVE YOU ONE. -Rev. 19:11-13 (p. 871)

The Big Idea: My chains, like all of my life, serve a higher purpose. Philippians 1:12-30 (p. 818) Paul’s Four Guiding Attitudes About Life in Chains: 1. Paul’s attitude about CIRCUMSTANCES 2. Paul’s attitude about his ADVERSARIES 3. Paul’s attitude about HIMSELF 4. Paul’s attitude toward his own LIFE Paul’s attitude advice for us: It’s not ABOUT YOU.

Unchained - Part 1 Philippians 1:1-11 (p. 818) THE BIG IDEA: God is partnering with you, in spite of your chains, to become who you already are in Him. You better get used to it: you are a SAINT. You can absolutely trust two things: 1. God’s GRACE and PEACE are yours. 2. He who BEGAN, will FINISH. John 15:4-5 (p. 752) There is One Central Prayer for You: -That your LOVE may flourish. Key Thoughts Moving Forward: -Love TRANSFORMS -Love CLARIFIES -Love PURIFIES -Love PRODUCES The Secret While In Chains: -His WORK in me -His PRAYER over me -My FOCUS on Him

The Big Idea: The ability to believe is the most powerful force at your disposal. Acts 17:22-31 (p. 772) Three Observations: 1. The ability to BELIEVE is the most powerful force at mankind's disposal. 2. We constantly look for EVIDENCE to support what we BELIEVE. 3. Belief is easy to maintain within a COMMUNITY of shared belief. - Religious BELIEF is simply BELIEF applied to things of a religious nature. - When Jesus died, those closest to him BELIEVED THAT he was dead. - Jesus' closest followers LOST FAITH in the end. After the disciples were transformed, they preached 4 points: 1. You KILLED him 2. God RAISED him 3. We've SEEN him 4. Say you're SORRY Acts 17:31 (p. 772) Belief is powerful - meeting the resurrected Jesus is TRANSFORMATIONAL.

Matthew 3:13-17 (p. 676) Matthew 26:26-27 (p. 695) Big Idea: These simple acts of obedience demonstrate a heart that seeks to honor the Word of the Lord. Communion Matthew 26:26-29 (p. 695) The Table - Communion is an invitation to be part of God’s family. The Bread - The provision - Jesus gave His life in our place. The Cup - The covenant of transformation – Jesus’ shed blood changes us. When Participating in Communion, we must: -Be a born-again believer (2 Corinthians 5:17)) -Examine ourselves (1 Corinthians 11:28) -Judge ourselves (1 Corinthians 11:31-32) -Cleanse ourselves 2 Corinthians 7:1-2) -Come with an expectation (Hebrews 11:6, Romans 14:23) Baptism Matthew 3:13-17 (p. 676) Baptism is an outward declaration of an inward transformation. Baptism is identification with Christ. Romans 6:3-11 (p. 785)

Big Idea: Contentment is the antidote to covetousness. Exodus 20:17 (p. 52) Hebrews 13:5 (p. 845) Deuteronomy 5:21 (p. 125) You shall not desire WHAT BELONGS TO SOMEONE ELSE. The only reason we would covet what someone has is that we are not CONTENT with what we have. Genesis 3:6 (p. 2) Covetousness causes us to RESENT God. Luke 12:15 (p. 727) 1 Corinthians 5:11 (p. 795) Ephesians 5:3 (p. 816) Colossians 3:1-5 (p. 822) Covetousness is IDOLATRY. Resolve your CONTENTION with CONTENTMENT. 2 Corinthians 10:12 (p. 807) Rule over your DESIRES with DELIGHT. Psalm 37:4 (p. 388) 1 Timothy 6:6-12 (p. 831)

The Big Idea: Dishonesty keeps you in an impossible situation but honesty brings freedom. Titus 3:3-8 1 Peter 3:8-12 (p. 851) 1. Be honest with yourself. -Honesty is your first step toward freedom. 1 John 1:9 (p. 855) 2. Be honest with God. Psalm 139:23-24 (p. 434) -God knows the truth and loves you in spite of it. 1 Peter 3:10 (p. 851) 3. Be honest with others. -James 5:16 (p. 849) -Humility and accountability are foundational to our healing! Titus 3:10-11 (p. 836)