Evergreen Christian Community

The Surprising Secret to a Powerful Marriage BIG IDEA: Personal Responsibility is the fuel that drives the actions of a healthy marriage. Marriages experience conflict for two reasons: 1. Couples fail to make each other HAPPY 2. Couples succeed at making each other UNHAPPY A Few Surprises About Marriage: - God didn't invent marriage to make me HAPPY, but to make me WHOLE and HOLY Genesis 2:18-25 - The greatest threat to my marriage is ME Ephesians 5:22-33 - The surprising key to a powerful marriage is PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY Actions of Personal Responsibility: Ephesians 5:15-21 1. Make it your primary quest to gain CLARITY about your spouses REALITY 2. Stop asking the WRONG questions. 3. Always ask the PRODUCTIVE questions. 4. Ask the MILLION DOLLAR question: WHAT DO YOU NEED FROM ME? 5. Ask the TRILLION DOLLAR question: How can I get in alignment with what God is doing FOR THE GOOD OF MY SPOUSE? Personal responsibility + utter dependence upon God = MIRACLES

Football players share their stories of pain, loss, and hope.

The Year of Health, part 5 “Healthy Love” January 24, 2016 The Big Idea: Healthy love is at its best when the going gets tough. 1 John 4:7-12 THE FACTS OF LOVE: My ability and desire to love is profoundly connected to my KNOWLEDGE of God. V8 We SHOW our love the same way God SHOWED His v9 God’s love for me is made complete in me when I LOVE OTHERS v12 Love is made complete among us when it ELIMINATES FEAR v16-18 How To Be A Great Lover: 1. Embrace the two most important truths about yourself: You are more WICKED than you can possibly know You are more profoundly LOVED than you can possibly imagine 2. When you struggle to love someone, go back to STEP ONE 3. Intentionally choose His NAME and REPUTATION as your own. Proverbs 19:11; Exodus 34

Big Idea: We are all in process, and the source of our spiritual growth is Jesus. - We all start out as SEEKERS - We need to begin living our faith OUT LOUD - God will give us opportunities to be BOLD - God BEGINS and FINISHES the work in us - NOW is always a GOOD time to follow Jesus

The Big Idea: Healthy trust in God requires that I learn the art of accepting responsibility and relinquishing control. Proverbs 3:5-6 TRUST LEAN ACKNOWLEDGE God ANTICIPATE STRAIGHT paths Look at an example of control gone bad. Genesis 16:1-4 Now, once you identify it, let’s ask three questions: Is it worth my CONCERN? Luke 10:41-42 Is it mine TO CONTROL? James 4:13-14 Is it for GOD ALONE? Philippians 4:6-7

The Big Idea: The two most important things about you are what you think about God and what you think about you. WE MUST LAY DOWN: Our feelings of INADEQUACY. Our need for CONTROL. Our right to be OFFENDED. Our longing for APPROVAL. Judges 6:11-16 THREE THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT YOU AND GOD: 1. God’s VIEW of you is different than YOU THINK v12; Ephesians 2:10 2. God has GIVEN YOU more than YOU THINK v14; 2 Peter 1:3 3. It’s LESS about you than YOU THINK v16; Philippians 4:13

The Kingdom Response to Darkness December 27, 2015 THE BIG IDEA: Darkness can never eliminate darkness; only light can do that. Matthew 12:1-8 The foundational, guiding principle for our lives is that God desires MERCY more than virtually everything! Hosea 6:1-6 As we live out MERCY, through the KNOWLEDGE OF GOD, His presence and power will be our experience. Matthew 12:9-14 What does the desire to KILL reveal about the one with that desire? Ezekiel 18:23; Matthew 12:15-21 Jesus navigates darkness with merciful LOVE and gentle QUIETNESS. Matthew 12:22-30 A DIVIDED Kingdom cannot stand and our enemy is THE STRONG MAN. Matthew 12:33-37 Our primary task is to watch and guard the GOODNESS of the TREE and it’s FRUIT.

The Hope of the World pt. 3 December 20, 2015 Big Idea: Our hope awakens when we realize that God is for us And HE, GOD who sent His Son to die for me - IS FOR ME Romans 8:31-32; Matthew 19:14 My hope lives because MY GOD IS FOR ME Jeremiah 29:11 My hope lives because I know God is working IN ME Romans 8:28; Philippians 2:13; Psalms 66:16 My hope lives because God FORGIVES me Romans 5:8 My hope lives because my God LOVES me John 3:16 His story did not end at death; He had victory over death This gives us ACCESS This gives us CONFIDENCE This give us HOPE

The Hope of the World pt. 2 December 13, 2015 Big Idea: We are the carriers of hope, and we need to live that out in a way everyone can see. Romans 5:1-5 We find hope in our JOURNEY and hope grows in our EXPERIENCES. We are NOT the hope of the world, but the hope of the world LIVES in us. Hope isn’t a THING to be held, hope is the BELIEF in a promise.

Hope Awakens - Session 1 - God With Us December 6, 2015 Big Idea: God with us is the hope of the world and the plan God premeditated before the beginning of time Emmanuel means GOD WITH US. Matthew 1:21-23 Isaiah 9:6-7 EMMANUEL - GOD WITH US Luke 7:18-23 1) God IS with you. The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.” Luke 1:28 2) God WAS with you. But the LORD was with Joseph and showed him mercy, and He gave him favor in the sight of the keeper of the prison. Genesis 39:21 NKJV 3) God WILL BE with you. Romans 8:35, 37-39

Getting Grace Right, 3 “Cheapening Grace” The Big Idea: Grace is the justification of the sinner, not the justification of sin. John 8:3-11 John 1:14 Grace is accepting RELATIONSHIP Truth is acknowledging what is REAL Truth without grace is JUDGEMENT Grace without truth is DECEPTION Does grace change my relationship with sin? Romans 6:1-4 Two Critical Truths to Keep in Mind: 1. Grace does not eliminate the law of THE FARM Galatians 6:7-10 2. BELIEF is connected to BEHAVIOR James 2:14-26 Reflection Question: What is the EVIDENCE of my BELIEF?

Getting Grace Right, 2“Extending Grace” November 22, 2015 The Big Idea: Let him without sin throw the first stone. John 8:3-11 The Dark Side: The ACCUSERS The SPIES The DEGRADING The SIN Romans 6:23 The Key Sentence to Guide Our Lives: John 8:7 Our goal: See others through the eyes of GRACE: Romans 8:1 The High Cost of No Grace: Matthew 18:10-25

Getting Grace Right, 1 “A Theological Primer” November 15, 2015 The Big Idea: Your relationship with God is built entirely upon God’s grace. Theology 101 on Grace - Five Background Issues: 1. The NATURE of God 2. The LAW of God Romans 6:23 3. The Human CONDITION Romans 3:23 4. The SACRIFICIAL System 5. JESUS Romans 5:7-8 Grace Romans 6:23 Ephesians 2:8-9 John 1:9-18 The only thing grace requires is that you RECEIVE IT

When we think mission over moment we build momentum.