Evergreen Christian Community

Great By Choice, “Sacrifice” July 17, 2016 Speaker -Jim Ladd Big Idea: .Many times the choice to be great is also the choice of sacrifice. Life has KAIROS and CHRONOS moments Esther 4:9-11 Esther 4:12-14 “Go, gather together all the Jews who are in Susa, and fast for me. Do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my attendants will fast as you do. When this is done, I will go to the king, even though it is against the law. And if I perish, I perish.” Esther 4:16 What is a great life? A LIFE FOR CHRIST No Reserves. No Retreats. No Regrets.

Great By Choice, 1 “Wisdom” July 10, 2016 Big Idea: Greatness is not a circumstance; it is intentionally chosen. “...if there’s one overarching message arising from more than six thousand years of [combined] corporate history across all our research...it would be this: greatness is not primarily a matter of circumstance; greatness is first and foremost a matter of conscious choice…” Jim Collins Deuteronomy 28:1-14 and Matthew 10:34-39 1 Kings 3:5-15 “Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is.” Ephesians 5:15-16 Choosing Wisdom: 1. PRAY for it. James 1:5 2. STUDY it. 3. ASK the Question. 4. ACT on it. 5. Seek COUNSEL. Zechariah 4:6-10 What will you do now to grow in wisdom? COMMUNITY GROUP DISCUSSION QUESTIONS 1. 1 out of 3 adults say they are not living life fully, what about you? 2. What reas

CITIZENS OF TWO KINGDOMS July 3, 2016 1 Peter 2:11-20 Live as FOREIGNERS (vs 11 -12) Live as CITIZENS (vs 13-14) Live as EMPLOYEES (vs 15-16)

Father’s Day June 19, 2016 The Big Idea: Today’s decision changes tomorrow’s outcome. God’s advice: I. Love their MOM. Ephesians 5:25-30 II. TEACH your children a) About GOD Deuteronomy 11:18-21 b) Do not PROVOKE them Ephesians 6:4 III. DISCIPLINE your children Proverbs 19:18 IV. Speak to them about POSSIBILITIES Psalm 78:2-8 COMMUNITY GROUP DISCUSSION QUESTIONS 1. When you reflect over your journey as a father, or your journey with your father, what words would you use to describe what has been true? 2. If as a father, you are unsatisfied with your history, what are some changes God is challenging you to make moving forward? What is one step you can make this week that will move you in that direction? 3. What are the characteristics our heavenly Father shows to us as His children? What can we learn from those, and how can we apply them? 4. What impact can a father have on his children and family, when h

Breath of God “The Gifts of the Spirit” June 12, 2016 The Big Idea: Everything the Body needs it already has, through the Presence of the Holy Spirit. 1 Corinthians 12, 14 Romans 12 Ephesians 4 COMMUNITY GROUP DISCUSSION QUESTIONS 1. Have you ever considered that God has given you spiritual gifts? What is the primary use for those gifts? 2. Where do you suppose God wants you to use the gifts He has given you? 3. Have you ever been on the receiving end of someone using their spiritual gift for your benefit? How did that impact you? 4. Have you ever used the gifts God has given you to bless others? How did it impact them? 5. Do you know what Spiritual Gifts you have been given? What practical step can you take to begin to discover them?

Breath of God “The Fruit of the Spirit” June 5, 2016 Galatians 5 The journey is about CONFORMITY to Jesus WALK by the Spirit: Galatians 5:16 Psalm 1 At the Holy Spirit’s coming at conversion divine PERFECTION does not set in…but divine INFECTION does. EVERYTHING is a work of the Spirit : The Fruit in the Bowl: 1. LOVE: “self-sacrificial giving for the sake of others” 2. JOY: Entirely based on what God has done for us in Christ through the Spirit 3. PEACE: “shalom” “wholeness; well being” A virtue that stands against the works of the flesh 4. FORBEARANCE: “The passive and tenacious side of love” 5. KINDNESS: “The active and tenacious side of love” 6. GOODNESS: “all embracing quality of character” 7. FAITH “Trust in God producing a long obedience in the same direction” 8. GENTLENESS: “Humility towards self that produces considerateness toward others” 9. SELF-CONTROL: “Life in moderation, but with abstinence for the sake of someone else” • only one on the list n

Breath of God “The Spirit Against the Flesh” May 29, 2016 Romans 6 & 7 Big Idea: Through Christ and the power of the Holy Spirit God has opened a new way for us to live and to walk in godliness. Romans 7 & 8 Galatians 5 COMMUNITY GROUP DISCUSSION QUESTIONS 1. When the Bible talks about our "flesh" what do you think it's referring to? 2. When God gives us a New Way to live, what does that look like? How do we walk into the New Way? 3. If our strength to walk in new life comes from God, why do we struggle with trying to achieve it by our own strength? 4. What is an area in your life that God is calling you to walk in a new way? What is one practical step you can take this week to move in that direction?

Breath of God 2 “The Spirit of Power” May 22, 2016 Big Idea: The Holy Spirit wants to empower you to crucify your flesh and become more like Jesus for the common good. The Holy Spirit is guaranteed to ask you to go somewhere or do something YOU DON’T WANT TO DO. We are called to walk in COMMUNAL accountability and BIBLICAL integrity. Acts 8:20-23 Five Reasons The Spirit wants to give you Power: 1. To be His MARTYR- Acts 1:8; Ephesians 3:16-19 2. To put to death your SIN - Galatians 5:16-17 3. To HOPE - Romans 15:13 4. To use your gifts to SERVE - 1 Corinthians 12:7 5. To bring Christ’s CHARACTER to life - 2 Corinthians 3:18 - The Holy Spirit has given you the supernatural ability to serve the people God has placed around you! - You are a vital part of the Church of Jesus Christ! - We are crippled without your involvement! COMMUNITY GROUP QUESTIONS 1. Do you want the power of the Spirit in your life? Why and what for? 2. Do you have any fears about the Holy Spirit? Wher

Breath of God “Meet the Holy Spirit” May 15, 2016 Big Idea: The Holy Spirit is a Person and His influence upon Christians should be dramatic. John 14:16-17 Who is the Holy Spirit? Why do so many believe but have no power? Acts 19:1-3; Acts 7:51 Three ways the Holy Spirit will help you? 1. He will COMFORT you - John 14:16 2. He will COUNSEL you - John 16:13; Isaiah 30:21 3. He will CONVICT you - John 16:8 “if you then who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will my Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask” Luke 11:13

The Awesome Power of Mom May 8, 2016 Big Idea: Mothers have been divinely positioned to leave a legacy. God’s design for motherhood is MAGNIFIED at creation Genesis 1:26-28; Genesis 2:15-23 A mother’s connection to her young DEFIES human understanding 1 Kings 3:16-28 The man’s role in motherhood is to be the mother’s biggest ADVOCATE. Acts 16:1 2 Timothy 1:5

The God of Wrath & Mercy - “Christianity vs Islam" May 1, 2016 Intro to Islam The majority of Muslims are NOT FROM THE ARAB WORLD “Allah” is the Arabic word for GOD “Islam” means “obedience, SUBMISSION, or surrender “Muslim” means “one who is SURRENDERED” The Five Pillers of Islam: 1. Recite the “SHAHADAH” 2. PRAYER 3. Practice an annual FAST 4. Give ALMS 5. Make a PILGRIMAGE 6. Some add a sixth: JIHAD The Major Differences Between Islam and Christianity 1. the nature of GOD 2. The nature of the prophet JESUS 3. The nature of SALVATION 4. The nature of relationship to ENEMIES

The God of Wrath & Mercy - “Slaughters” April 24, 2016 Deuteronomy 20:10-18 1. This was God’s planned PUNISHMENT of the people of Canaan for their ways. Genesis 15:12-16 2. It was God’s CALL TO MAKE 3. The command to kill every living thing was not LITERAL a. This was common HYPERBOLE in the day. b. This was for the CITIES only c. This was more about PURIFYING than PURGING 1) Punishment 2) ordained by God 3) Military against military Matthew 5:38-42 COMMUNITY GROUP DISCUSSION QUESTIONS 1. Is it difficult for you to consider God commanding people to be destroyed? Does the context of their behavior change your mind at all? 2. Were the practices of the Canaanites deserving of God’s punishment? What does God’s willingness to wait and give them time to change say about God’s heart toward people? 3. If the answer to some of these questions were simply, “God is God, and it is His world to deal with as He pleases.” is that enough for you? 4. Is there a difference in your mind betwe

The God of Wrath & Mercy - Sacrifice April 17, 2016 Genesis 22:1-19 1. Abraham had ABSOLUTE FAITH that Isaac would not die. 2. Isaac also had FULL FAITH in God. 3. Abraham and Isaac’s Faith Was WELL PLACED He wanted people to see the SEVERITY of their sins. Following Jesus’ sacrifice, there was NO OTHER sacrifice needed. Luke 22:19-20

The God of Wrath & Mercy - “Punishment” April 10, 2016 Examples of punishment in Old Testament Leviticus 20:9; Lev. 24:10-14; Numbers 15:32-36; Duet. 21:18-21 Why are there so many "punishments" in the Old Testament? GOD WAS TRAINING UP A PEOPLE The New Testament is the NEW AGREEMENT God made after JESUS. The Old Testament (law) was to prepare people for the coming of a COMPLETE COVENANT in the Messiah. Even with the strictest of punishments in Old Testament, MERCY was allowed in almost every case. The ransom is JESUS 1 Timothy 2:3-6; Hebrews 9:13-15; Mark 10:45

The God of Wrath & Mercy - “The God of Two Testaments” April 3, 2016 A Testament is an AGREEMENT or COVENANT The better way to think of them is the FIRST covenant and the FULFILLED covenant. The HOLINESS of God and RUINED STATE of man. Isaiah 6:1-5 The God of HOLINESS is also a God of GRACE. Isaiah 6:6-7

The Hope of Easter March 27, 2016 Big Idea: Through Jesus, God reveals both who He is and the extravagance of His love for you. 2 Questions: What do you believe ABOUT GOD? WHY do you believe it? 1 Corinthians 15:3-8 Hebrews 1:1-4 Learning what God is like from Jesus and Peter 1. God chooses UNIMPRESSIVE people. Mark 1:16-18 2. God invites you to an ORIENTATION ADJUSTMENT. Matthew 14:22-32 3. God gives TO YOU what He asks FROM YOU. Matthew 16:16-19 4. God is as committed to you when you FAIL as He is when you SUCCEED. Luke 22 5. God has pre-planned your RESTORATION. Luke 22:32; Mark 16:7; John 21:7 Your faith doesn’t fail when you FALL. It fails when you WON’T GET BACK UP