Evergreen Christian Community

Hebrews 7:17-28 ● Why do we need a Priest? ● How is Jesus Christ the Priest we need? ● What difference will it make if you receive Him as Priest? V25 - a key word that talks about Jesus’ work - “Intercede.” “For years I looked at life like a case at law. It was a series of proofs. When you were young you proved how brave you were, or smart. Then later on what a good lover you are. Later you prove what a good father or husband you are. Finally you prove how wise or powerful or whatever. But underlying it all, I see now I always made an assumption that when moved on some kind of upward path toward some elevation where I don’t know what, I could be justified or condemned - a verdict at any rate. I think my disaster began when I looked up one day and I realized the bench was empty. No judge in sight and all that remained was the endless argument with myself. This pointless litigation of existence with an empty bench, which of course is another way of saying, despair.” - Arthur Miller, Playwright 1 John 1:8-9

John 8:54-59 Exodus 3:13-15 The Big Idea: Jesus is the eternal I Am who is a “right now” Redeemer. ● Jesus is the Eternal God who met with Moses. ● “I Am” is only a fraction of the identity of Jesus. ● God defines His name in Exodus 6:1-8 Exodus 6:1-8 ● All of the resources of God are focused on redemption. I will rescue you out of the yoke of slavery. I will take you as my own people. I will bring you to a new possession. ● What holds you back? Exodus 6:9 Response: If this really is God’s Word - and Jesus really is the I AM, what changes must I make in my life? “I am ______________” (What do you need from Him today? Where do you need to trust Him to be I am?) Ephesians 3:20-21

Hebrews 4:1-16 ● The Promise of HIS REST IS REAL. (v.1) ● FAITH AND OBEDIENCE are the two legs of relationship with God. (v.2,6) ● It takes GREAT EFFORT to enter GOD’S REST. (v.10-11) ● The WORD OF GOD is ESSENTIAL. (v.12-13) ● NOTHING is hidden from Him. ● We have a great HIGH PRIEST. ● Therefore - let us approach God’s throne of grace with CONFIDENCE!

What Child is This?, 1 - Jesus, The One and Only Jim Ladd, Dec 5, 2021 Luke 2:8-11 John 1:1-5; 9-18 The Big Idea: Until you know Jesus, you lack the resources and understanding needed to know anything. I bring you good news of great joy that shall be for all people!!! 1. Jesus IS THE BEGINNING - of everything. Colossians 1:15-20 2. Jesus wants to bring you LIFE and FIRE. 3. Darkness cannot UNDERSTAND or OVERCOME Jesus. 4. HE TAKES ALL WHO RECEIVE HIM back to God. Colossians 1:21-22 “So completely was Jesus bent upon saving sinners by the sacrifice of himself, he created the tree upon which he was to die, and nurtured from infancy the men who were to nail him to the accursed wood…” - Octavious Winslow Response: • Will you receive Him and accept your right to become a child of God - by His will and work? - John 6:35 “Sir, please give us this bread.” Jesus said to them, “Whoever comes to me will never be hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.” • Will you pray for tho

Acts 18:23-26 Acts 19:1-5 The Big Idea: Baptism is not a bath, but a burial and a new birth. John’s baptism was a baptism of repentance - to prepare people to believe in the one coming after him, that is, in Jesus. Repentance: /metanoia/ - “to change one’s way of life as the result of a complete change of thought and attitude with regard to sin and righteousness” “to repent and to change one’s way” THE BAPTISM OF JOHN is a decision to CONFESS MY SIN AND REPENT - turn around and walk with God, by the Law, and do a better job. BAPTISM INTO CHRIST JESUS is a completely different thing. It is to be born into Christ Jesus and to participate in the divine nature. Romans 6:3-4 Everything you NATURALLY THINK about how to relate to God is WRONG. God’s grace is given to us WHEN WE ARE DEAD, and good works follow. “It’s as if God were to produce a fresh, green tree out of a dry log, which tree then bears natural fruit.” -Martin Luther Galatians 2:19-21 Galatians 3:1-14 Galatians 3:26-29 THE BAPTISM OF JESUS i

DEPRESSION throws us into REGRET and DESPAIR. ANXIETY throws us into PANIC and FEAR. Big Idea: In order to find peace in our life, we need to let go of all control and let Jesus do what He has to do. Matthew 14:22-33 “When we focus on the waves, we not only begin to be overtaken by them, but we actually get in the way of the miracle that Jesus wants us to do.” Philippians 4:4-9 God’s command: 1. REJOICE in HIM. 2. PRAY about EVERYTHING 3. FOCUS on all that is GOOD. John 14:27 PRAYER and GRATITUDE are great SALVES TO OUR WOUNDS and STRESSORS of life. What can we do? 1. PRAY, PRAY, AND PRAY. 2. SHARE with those you love and trust. 3. Get the HELP you need 4. Share your GRATITUDE with others. It is okay to get out of the way, and let Jesus do what he has to do.

2 CORINTHIANS 5:20-21 WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BE A CHRIST AMBASSADOR? 1. YOU ARE THE FACE = PEOPLE SEE IT. 2. YOU ARE THE VOICE = PEOPLE HEAR IT. 3. YOU ARE THE LIFE = PEOPLE EXPERIENCE IT. WHO NEEDS YOU TO BE A CHRIST AMBASSADOR?

Live out 1 Corinthians 11:1- 1 Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ. “Follow me as I follow Christ.” Philippians 4:9 – “Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.” What are both of these verses speaking to? DISCIPLESHIP! Discipleship is about LIFE ON LIFE! Organic not structured Practical not theoretical Everyday life not a weekly time slot Jesus MODELED this! Mark 3:14- He appointed twelve that they MIGHT BE WITH HIM and that he might send them out to preach. Implications? Accountability - You can’t lead where you haven’t been! Who in your oikos has GOD IDENTIFIED? SUPERNATURAL/STRATEGIC Luke 6:12-13a 12 One of those days Jesus went out to a mountainside to pray, and spent the night praying to God. 13 When morning came, he called his disciples to him and chose twelve of them. Who is in your EVERYDAY TRAFFIC PATTERN (your 8-15/ front row)? Matthew 28:18-20 18 Then Jesus came to them an

Psalm 13:1-6 1. We tend to BLAME OTHERS for our problems. The Two Biggest Frustrations in the Christian Life: 1. God doesn’t act like we want Him to. 2. We don’t act like He wants us to. Matthew 6:1-6 Psalm 139:23-24 2. Inappropriate PRIORITIES snatch our focus away from God’s PRESENCE. “Prayer is an expression of who we are. We are a living incompleteness.” Thomas Merton “Prayer can either be the steering wheel or the spare tire.” Corrie Ten Boom 3. We feel like we don't BELONG in the same room with GOD. Isaiah 6:1-5 Hebrews 10:19-22 Hebrews 7:19 Matthew 27:50-51 Acts 17:23-27 How Do You Pray When God Doesn’t Seem to Care? 1. Ask Him to reveal your shortcomings. 2. Ask Him to reveal Himself before you look for other options. 3. Recognize that, if Jesus belongs in the presence of the Father, that so do you.

2 Corinthians 4:7-18 Big Idea: In our suffering, we can find endurance by running into the arms of our Father. Guarantees in Life: 1. There is GOOD. 2. There is SUFFERING. 3. GOD IS SOVEREIGN over all. Our God is the GOOD SHEPHERD, caring for us every step of the way. 2 Corinthians 12:8-10 Deuteronomy 31:6 1 Peter 5:6-7 Remember: God will COMFORT YOU in your suffering. God will GROW YOU in your suffering. God will HEAL YOU from your suffering. Response: 1. Take your struggles to the Altar. 2. Lift up those who are suffering around you.

Andy Raatz, October 31, 2021 John 4:46-53 The Setting: An IMPOSSIBLE SITUATION without a possible solution. The Request: An impossible situation needs help from the only possible source—JESUS. The Answer: Man’s view of the impossible is not the same as God’s understanding of impossible. ● We can come to Jesus anytime. ● The first level of trust is the willingness to ask for help…for strength…for God to work. “As long as you are proud you cannot know God. A proud man is always looking down on things and people: and, of course, as long as you are looking down you cannot see something that is above you.” - C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity ● Trust is a process; faith is a journey. "Faith is so rare--and religion so common--because no one wants to live between first base and second base. Faith is the in-between space where you're not sure you'll make it to second base. You've let go of one thing and haven't yet latched into another. Most of us choose the security of first base." - Richard Rohr ● The

GOD…THIS WOULDN’T BE TOUGH! GOD…THESE PEOPLE WE CARE ABOUT NEED YOUR HELP! IF I WERE YOU…I’D DO THIS IN A HEARTBEAT! Main Thought: A WAITING SEASON IS NOT A WASTED SEASON. John 11:1-4 John 11:17 John 11:20-22 WHEN WAITING ON GOD REMEMBER: 1) GOD’S DELAYS ARE NOT NECESSARILY GOD’S DENIALS. 2) IF GOD ALWAYS MET YOUR EXPECTATIONS, HE’D NEVER HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO EXCEED THEM. John 11:23-26 John 11:34-35 John 11:43-44 With God—Waiting Season Is Never A Wasted Season. “THE SCENE OF YOUR GREATEST DISAPPOINTMENT MAY BE THE SETTING OF YOUR GREATEST MIRACLE.” WHEN TIMES GET TOUGH… 1. Be Still Psalm 46:10 Joshua 1:9 2. Maintain Perspective We Must Remember: - TOUGH TIMES are part of life. - TOUGH TIMES can be our own fault. - God uses TOUGH TIMES in our lives. Romans 8:28

Butterfly Effect: (in chaos theory) The phenomenon whereby a minute localized change in a complex system can have large effects elsewhere. Big Idea: God is not only Faithful in the fight you are in, He is equipping you for future battles. The Lord had been preparing David for the battle. 1 Samuel 17:34-36 1 Samuel 17:51 1 Samuel 21:8-9 How do we stay Faithful in the Fight? ● ENDURANCE through the trial. Romans 5:3-4 Ask the question: “God what are you preparing me for?” ● Give CREDIT where it’s due. Colossians 3:17 ● Return to an AWARENESS OF HIS PRESENCE. Proverbs 18:10 Altars of Remembrance: ● God promised that He would always be with JACOB: Genesis 28:10-19 ● God rescued Jacob from ESAU: GENESIS 33:20 ● God gave the Ten Commandments to MOSES: EXODUS 24:4 ● GOD DRIED UP THE JORDAN RIVER so His people could safely cross: Joshua 4:1-9 Response: ● God wants each of us to have ALTAR MOMENTS; Moments we can recall to remind ourselves of the goodness and faithfulness of God. ● If you don’t have an altar mo

Dare- To challenge or provoke a person into a demonstration of courage. SURRENDER is the key to living the life God’s called us to live. Luke 9:57-62 The invitation Jesus makes to us is to follow him with ALL of our lives for the REST of our lives. The question we must ask is: Will we surrender our comfort? This raises another question: Will we surrender our security? The question for us is: Will we surrender our priorities? “We must know exactly when we say yes to God what is in that yes. Yes means ‘I surrender’ totally, fully – our yes to God is without reservations.” - Mother Teresa Matthew 13:44-46 First: The kingdom of heaven is of INCOMPARABLE VALUE. Second: Gaining this kingdom is an “all in” proposition. Main Thought: SURRENDER is the key to living the life God’s called us to live.

Ken Rice, October 3, 2021 OneChild is an international child development organization helping to meet the physical and spiritual needs of children living in poverty. Through the work of local partners around the world, children receive food, education, medical aid, and hope in God! To learn more about this program, and ways you can get involved to help a child in need, visit evergreenpnw.com/onechild

Chat – Have you ever had what you would consider a God given dream or vision? Acts 10:1-8 My Father is always at his work to this very day, and I too am working.  John 5:17 God is ALWAYS AT WORK whether we see proof of it or not! God is always at work but WE AREN’T ALWAYS PAYING ATTENTION! Acts 10:9-33 “Oikos” - household/family God used angels and visions before this but what/who does he use now? PETER! Acts 10:34-48 Our INDISPUTABLE PROOF = ONGOING TRANSFORMATION of our lives. Acts of the Apostles = Acts of the Holy Spirit.

The Big Idea: Your greatest influence rises from the intersection of your pain and God’s power. 2 Corinthians 4:7-18 The Four Elements of My Story: 1. The DITCH Jesus found me in. 2. The FAITH of my fathers. 3. The BATTLES I currently face. 4. The HOPE I possess. The Gift We Give: HOSPITALITY Hospitality makes ANXIOUS DISCIPLES into POWERFUL WITNESSES. Hospitality requires CONCENTRATION. CONCENTRATION - the ability to pay attention to the other. “For the other person to open and talk requires a withdrawal of the counselor. I must withdraw to make room for the other… This withdrawal, rather than going-out-to-meet the other, is an intense act of concentration, a model for which can be found in the Jewish mystical doctrine of Tsimtsum. God as omnipresent and omnipotent was everywhere. He filled the universe with His Being. How then could the creation come about?... God had to create by withdrawal; He created the not-Him, the other, by self-concentration… On the human level, withdrawal of myself aids the othe

Matthew 26:55-56 55 In that hour Jesus said to the crowd, “Am I leading a rebellion, that you have come out with swords and clubs to capture me? Every day I sat in the temple courts teaching, and you did not arrest me. 56 But this has all taken place that the writings of the prophets might be fulfilled.” Then all the disciples deserted him and fled. John 19:25-26 25 Near the cross of Jesus stood his mother, his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. 26 When Jesus saw his mother there, and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to her, “Woman, here is your son,” A heart posture of worship is wanting to be NEAR Jesus. There are ALL KINDS OF THINGS that want our worship. SINGING is an outward expression of WHAT’S GOING ON IN OUR HEARTS.

The Big Idea: The best thing you can do to spiritually help your Oikos is walk intimately with Jesus every single day. Deuteronomy 6:4-25 Four Strategic Principles for Sharing Your Faith: 2 Corinthians 4:7-12 1. Your struggles QUALIFY YOU MORE for your mission. 2 Corinth. 1:3-5 2. GOD’S COMFORT is not designed to flow to you, but through you. 2 Corinthinas 2:14-17 3. Your faith has an AROMA to everyone. “Share your faith, and if necessary use words.” - St. Francis of Assisi 2 Corinthians 5:17-21 Response: ● Make a FRESH WALK with Jesus your highest priority. ● Make YOUR LIFE a Kingdom Embassy.

The Big Idea: Being a Christian is not a belief system, it is a transformational way of being you. Christianity is an “EXISTENTIAL” thing. We all know about “BORN AGAIN.” John 3:1-8 Now there was a Pharisee, a man named Nicodemus who was a member of the Jewish ruling council. 2 He came to Jesus at night and said, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the signs you are doing if God were not with him.” 3 Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.” 4 “How can someone be born when they are old?” Nicodemus asked. “Surely they cannot enter a second time into their mother’s womb to be born!” 5 Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit. 6 Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. 7 You should not be surprised at my saying, ‘You must be born again.’ 8 The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, bu