Living Stones Church - South Bend

1 Samuel 30:1-2 - David and his men reached Ziklag on the third day. Now the Amalekites had raided the Negev and Ziklag. They had attacked Ziklag and burned it, and had taken captive the women and everyone else in it, both young and old. They killed none of them, but carried them off as they went on their way. 1 Samuel 30:3-5 – When David and his men reached Ziklag, they found it destroyed by fire and their wives and sons and daughters taken captive. So David and his men wept aloud until they had no strength left to weep. David’s two wives had been captured – Ahinoam of Jezreel and Abigail, the widow of Nabal of Carmel. 1 Samuel 30:6 – David was greatly distressed because the men were talking of stoning him; each one was bitter in spirit because of his sons and daughters. 1 Samuel 30:6 – KJV – And David was greatly distressed; for the people spake of stoning him, because the soul of all the people were grieved, every man for his sons and daughters: but David encouraged himself in the Lord his God. Psalm 2

Psalm 19:1 The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. Psalm 139:13–16 For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place, when I was woven together in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be. Luke 12:6–7 Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? Yet not one of them is forgotten by God. Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows. Jeremiah 10:23 Lord, I know that people’s lives are not their own; it is not for them to direct their steps. Matthew 7:1–5 “Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. “

1 Peter 1:6-7 – In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith – of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire – may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. Numbers 1:1-2 – The Lord said to Moses, “Send some men to explore the land of Canaan, which I am giving to the Israelites. From each ancestral tribe send one of its leaders.” Numbers 1:17-20 – When Moses sent them to explore Canaan, he said, “Go up through the Negev and on into the hill country. See what the land is like and whether the people who live there are strong or weak, few or many. What kind of land do they live in? Is it good or bad? What kind of towns do they live in? Are they unwalled or fortified? How is the soil? Is it fertile or poor? Are there trees in it or not? Do your best to bring back some of the fruit of the land.” Numbers 13:27-32 – They gave Moses

Romans 14:17-19 NLT – For the Kingdom of God is not a matter of what we eat or drink, but of living a life of goodness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. If you serve Christ with this attitude, you will please God, and others will approve of you, too. So then, let us aim for harmony in the church and try to build each other up. 1 Chronicles 29:14, 16 NLT – But who am I, and who are my people, that we could give anything to you? Everything we have has come from you, and we give you only what you first gave us! O Lord our God, even the material we have gathered to build a Temple to honor your holy name comes from you! It all belongs to you! 2 Kings 22:8-10 – Hilkiah the high priest said to Shaphan the secretary, “I have found the Book of the Law in the temple of the Lord.” He gave it to Shaphan, who read it. Then Shaphan the secretary went to the king and reported to him: “Your officials have paid out the money that was in the temple of the Lord and have entrusted it to the workers and supervisors at the t

Acts 1:4-5 – On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. For John baptized with water, but in a few days from now you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.” SERMON POINT #1 – THEY TOOK THEIR TIME Acts 2:1-4 – When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them. SERMON POINT #2 – THEY PRAYED Acts 1:14 – They all joined together constantly in prayer, along with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers. Proverbs 3:5-6 – Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit t

SERMON POINT #1 – UNCERTAINTY IS NORMAL Matthew 6:25-27, 31-34 – “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? Look at the bird of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Can you one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life? … So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father know that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore, do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. SERMON POINT #2 – IN UNCERTAIN TIMES, PUT GOD FIRST Matthew 6:33 – But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well

John 15:1-12 NKJV- ““I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit. You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you. Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned. If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you. By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples. “As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love. If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I hav

Mark 10:35 – Then James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to him. “Teacher,” they said, “we want you to do for us whatever we ask.” Mark 10:36 – “What do you want me to do for you?” he asked. Mark 10:37 – They replied, “Let one of us sit at your right and othe other at your left in your glory.” Mark 10:38-39 – “You don’t know what you are asking,” Jesus aid. “Can you drink the cup I drink or be baptized with the baptism I am baptized with?” “We can,” they answered. Jesus said to them, “You will drink the cup I drink and be baptized with the baptism I am baptized with.” Mark 10:41-45 – When the ten heard this, they became indignant with James and John. Jesus called them together and said, “You know that those who are regarded as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all. For even the Son of Man did not com

Matthew 16:13-14 – When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say the Son of Man is?” Matthew 16:15 – “But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say that I am?” Matthew 16:16 – Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” Matthew 16:17-18 – Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in heaven. And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock, I will build my church.” SERMON POINT #1 – JESUS IS BIGGER THAN WE THINK Matthew 16:21 – From that time on Jesus began to explain to his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elder, the chief priests and the teachers of the law and that he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life. Matthew 16:22-23 – Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. “Never, Lord!” he said. “This shall never happen to you!” Jesus turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me Satan

1 Kings 17:1 – Now Elijah the Tishbite, from Tishbe in Gilead, said to Ahab, “As the Lord, the God of Israel lives, whom I serve, there will be neither dew nor rain in the next few years except at my word.” 1 Kings 18:21 – Elijah went before the people and said, “How long will you waver between two opinions? If the Lord is God, follow him; but if Baal is God, follow him.” But the people said nothing. 1 Kings 18:29 says – “But there was no response, no one answered, no one paid attention.” 1 Kings 18:36-39 – At the time of sacrifice, the prophet Elijah stepped forward and prayed, “Lord, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, let it be known today that you are God in Israel and that I am your servant and have done all these things at your command. Answer me, Lord, answer me, so that these people will know that you, Lord, are God and that you are turning their hearts back again.” Then the fire of the Lord fell and burned up the sacrifice, the word, the stones, and the soil, and also licked up the water in

Exodus 3:1 – Moses answered, “What if they do not believe me or listen to me and say, ‘The Lord did not appear to you’?” SERMON POINT #1 – FULFILLING GOD’S CALLING FORCES ME TO FACE MY FEARS Psalm 34:4 – I sought the Lord, and he answered me; he delivered me from all my fears. Exodus 3:2-4 – Then the Lord said to him, “What is that in your hand?” “A staff,” he replied. The Lord said, “Throw it on the ground.” Moses threw it on the ground and it became a snake, and he ran from it. Then the Lord said to him, “Reach out your hand and take it by the tail.” So Moses reached out and took hold of the snake and it turned back into a staff in his hand. SERMON POINT # 2 – GOD CAN USE WHAT YOU HAVE Exodus 14:16 – Raise your staff and stretch out your hand over the sea to divide the water so that the Israelites can go through the sea on dry ground. SERMON POINT #3 – GOD IS LOOKING FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE AVAILABLE AND WILLING 2 Peter 1:1 ESV – Simon Peter, a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ, to those who have obta

Genesis 1:31 – God saw all that he had made, and it was very good. Genesis 3:1-7 – Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden’?” The woman said to the serpent, “We may eat fruit from the trees in the garden, but God did say, ‘You must not eat fruit from the tree that is in the middle of the garden, and you must not touch it, or you will die’.” “You will not certainly die,” the serpent said to the woman. “For God knows that when you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it. Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they realized they were naked; so they sewed fig leaves together and made coverings for themselv

2 Peter 3:18a – “But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ” Ephesians 2:10 – For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. Jeremiah 29:11 – “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to proper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” SERMON POINT #1 – NO DREAM Joel 2:28 – And afterward, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams and your young men will see visions. SERMON POINT #2 – Wrong Dream Acts 20:24 NLT – But my life is worth nothing to me unless I use it for finishing the work assigned me by the Lord Jesus – the work of telling others the good news about the wonderful grace of God. SERMON POINT #3 – STALE DREAM 2 Timothy 1:6 – For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands. SERMON POINT #4 – A VAGUE DREAM Habakkuk 2:2 –

Acts 1:14 – They all met together and were constantly united in prayer, along with Mary the mother of Jesus, several other women and the brothers of Jesus. Acts 2:1 NKJV – When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord. Colossians 3:12-14 – Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. Ephesians 4:3 – Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. John 17:20-23 – “My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. I have given them the glory that you ga

Genesis 37:2-4 – Joseph, a young man of seventeen, was tending the flocks with his brothers, the sons of Bilhah and the sons of Zilpah, his father’s wives, and he brought his father a bad report about them. Now Israel loved Joseph more than any of his other sons, because he had been born to him in his old age; and he made an ornate robe for him. When his brothers saw that their father loved him more than any of them, they hated him and could not speak a kind word to him. Genesis 40:12-15 – “This is what it means,” Joseph said to him. “The three branches are three days. Within three days Pharaoh will lift up your head and restore you to your position, and you will put Pharaoh’s cup in his hand, just as you used to do when you were his cupbearer. But when all goes well with you, remember me and show me kindness; mention me to Pharaoh and get me out of this prison. I was forcibly carried off from the land of the Hebrews, and even here I have done nothing to deserve being put in a dungeon.” SERMON POINT #1 – G

Mark 6:45-46 – Immediately Jesus made his disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to Bethsaida, while he dismissed the crowd. After leaving them, he went up on a mountainside to pray. Mark 6:47-51 – Later that night, the boat was in the middle of the lake, and he was alone on the land. He saw the disciples straining at the oars because the wind was against them. Shortly before dawn he went out to them, walking on the lake. He was about to pass by them, but when they saw him walking on the lake, they thought he was a ghost. They cried out, because they all saw him and were terrified. Immediately, he spoke to them and said, “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.” Then he climbed into the boat with them, and the wind died down. They were completely amazed v. 47-48 – it says that Jesus saw they were in the middle of the lake and that they were straining at the oars because the wind was against them SERMON POINT #1 – THE REAL STORM WAS IN THEIR MINDS v.48 says “Shortly before dawn he went out to

Luke 23:32-34, 39-43 – Two other men, both criminals, were also led out with him to be executed. When they came to the place called The Skull, they crucified him there, along with the criminals – one on his right and the other on his left. Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” And they divided his clothes by casting lots…One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: “Aren’t you the Messiah?” Save yourself and us!” But the other criminal rebuked him. “Don’t you fear God,” he said, “since you are under the same sentence?” We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.” Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” Jesus ansewered him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.” SERMON POINT #1 – HOW HE SAW HIMSELF SERMON POINT #2 – HOW HE SAW JESUS James 2:10 – NLT – For the person who keeps all of the laws except one is as guilty as a person who has broken all of

Nehemiah 8:10 – Then Nehemiah the governor, Ezra the preist and teacher of the Law, and the Levites who were instructing the people said to them all, “This day is holy to the Lord your God. Do not mourn or weep.” For all the people had been weeping as they listened to the words of the Law. Nehemiah said, “Go and enjoy choice food and sweet drinks, and send some to those who have nothing prepared. This day is holy to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.” Hebrews 12:2 – For the joy set before him, he endured the cross, scorning its shame and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. James 1:2-4 – Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you now that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. Hebrews 12:1 – Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us through off everything that hinders a

2 Chronicles 7:14 – If my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and forgive their sin and heal their land. Daniel 1:1-4 – In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came to Jerusalem and besieged it. And the Lord delivered Jehoiakim king of Judah into his hand, along with some of the articles form the temple of God. These he carried off to the temple of his god in Babylonia and put in the treasure house of his god. Then the king ordered Ashpenaz, chief of his court officials, to bring into the king’s service some of the Israelites from the royal family and nobility – young men without physical defect, handsome, showing aptitude for every kind of learning, well informed, quick to understand, and qualified to serve in the king’s palace. He was to teach them the language and literature of the Babylonians. Daniel 1:6-7 – Among those who were chosen were so

Psalm 10:1-2 – Why, Lord, do you stand far off? Why do you hide in times of trouble? Habakkuk 1:2-3 – How long Lord, must I call for help, but you do not listen? Or cry out to you, “Violence!” but you do not save? Why do you make me look at injustice? Why do you tolerate wrongdoing? Destruction and violence are before me; there is strife and conflict abounds. Definition of trust – act of placing confidence in someone or something Mark 9:20-24 – So they brought him. When the sprit saw Jesus, it immediately threw the boy into a convulsion. He fell to the ground and rolled around, foaming in the mouth. Jesus asked the boy’s father, “How long has he been like this?” “From childhood,” he answered. “It has thrown him into fire or water to kill him. But if you can do anything, take pity on us and help us.” “ ‘If I can’?” said Jesus. “Everything is possible for one who believes.” Immediately the boy’s father exclaimed, “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!” SERMON POINT #1 – ADJUST OUR EXPECTATIONS