IN EVERYTHING GIVE THANKS

1 Thessalonians 5:18, Psalm 100:1-5, Psalm 95:1-11

Truth: Be thankful to God. Express your thankfulness to God. Be thankful in the tough times. Are you thankful to our God?

I. BE THANKFUL TO GOD

1. God wants us to have an attitude of gratitude. 1 Thess 5:18, James 1:17, Rom 8:28
2. God wants us to know He is God. Psa 100:3, Col 3:16, Psa 95:3-5, 1 Thess 5:19-21

II. EXPRESS YOUR THANKFULNESS TO GOD

1. Thank God for your salvation, church membership, Holy Spirit leadership, the Word of God. Psa 107:1-2, 1 Thess 5:19-21
2. Thank God by praising Him. Psa 100:1, Psa 95:2
3. Thank God by serving Him. Psa 100:2-5

III. BE THANKFUL FOR THE TOUGH TIMES

1. Tough times should cause us to draw closer to God. Psa 95: 7-11, 2 Cor 12:9-10
2. Tough times should cause our faith to grow. 1 Peter 1:7-8
3. Tough times can be our greatest witness. Dan 3:16-18, Matt 10:19-20

ARE YOU THANKFUL TO OUR GOD?

THERE IS REST FOR GOD’S PEOPLE

Hebrews 4:1-13

Truth: There is a rest with God in salvation. There is rest is submission to God. There is a future rest in heaven for God’s people. Are you resting in Christ?

I. THERE IS REST WITH GOD IN SALVATION

1. As God rested on the seventh day we have rest when we are saved. Heb 4:1-5, Matt 11:28
2. As Israel was set free from the bondage of Egypt when we believe the Gospel we are free from bondage of sin. Col 1:13-14

II. THERE IS REST IN SUBMISSION TO GOD

1. The believer must take heed that he grieves not God with a hard heart or an erring heart, or an unbelieving heart that departs from the living God. Heb 3:7-12
2. The believers are to exhort one another daily to prevent a hard heart because of the deceitfulness of sin. Heb 3:13
3. Believers are partakers of Christ and are to labor to enter into that rest through His Holy Word. Heb 3:14-19, 4:11-13
4. The land of Canaan is a type of our spiritual inheritance in Christ (Eph. 1:3, 11, 15-23). Matt 11:29-30

III. THERE IS A FUTURE REST IN HEAVEN FOR GOD’S PEOPLE

1. There remains a (sab-bat-is-mos’) rest for the people of God. Heb 4:9-10
2. When the saints enter heaven, it will be like sharing God’s great Sabbath rest, with all labors and battles ended (Rev. 14:13).

ARE YOU RESTING IN CHRIST?

GREATNESS IN THE EYES OF CHRIST

Matthew 18:1-5

Truth: Jesus was the greatest. Greatness to God comes through serving. The greatest in God’s eyes serves all. Who is the greatest person you know?

I. JESUS IS THE GREATEST

1. Jesus is God in the flesh who came to do God’s will. John 6:38, Phil 2:7
2. Jesus displayed His greatness by His service. Matt 20:28, John 13:14-17
3. Jesus ultimate service was His life for our sins. 1 Tim 2:5-6

II. GREATNESS TO GOD COMES THROUGH SERVICE

1. God’s greatest servants have a converted heart like a child. Matt 18:1-3, 1 Sam 16:7, Luke 18:16-17
2. God’s greatest servants have a child’s humble heart to serve. Matt 18:4, Matt 20:25-27
3. God’s greatest servants put others above themselves. Mark 9:35, Phil 2:3

III. THE GREATEST IN GOD’S EYES SERVES ALL

1. The greatest among us serves Christ by serving in the church. Matt 18:5, Luke 9:48, 1 Peter 4:10-11
2. The greatest among us serves Christ by serving the unsaved. Matt 5:38-48

WHO IS THE GREATEST PERSON YOU KNOW?

CREATED FOR THE GLORY OF GOD

Ephesians 2:10

Truth: How God works in us. How God works through us. Are you living for the glory of God?

I. HOW GOD WORKS IN US

1. We are God’s workmanship created in Christ. 2 Cor 5:17, Rom 8:29
2. God works in us by His Spirit. Phil 2:13, Eph 4:7, Heb 13:20-21
3. God prepares us for His work through, His Word, prayer, and suffering. 1 Thess 2:13, Eph 3:20-21, and 1 Peter 4:11-13
4. Once we are saved God works in us to change the old man into the new man He wants us to be. Eph 4:22-24, Col 3:1

II. HOW GOD WORKS THROUGH US

1. God works in us through good works that glorify Him. Matt 5:16, Phil 1:20-21, Col 1:10, 2 Tim 3:17
2. God works through the power of the Holy Spirit to touch lives around us. Phil 2:13, 1 Cor 15:10, 1 Peter 2:12
3. God has a plan He wants to work in our lives for His glory. 1 Cor 2:9-13′

ARE YOU LIVING FOR THE GLORY OF GOD?

THE JOY OF LIVING FOR CHRIST

John 15:1-17

Truth: To live in the joy of Christ you must abide in Him. To live in the joy of Christ you must obey Him. Are you living in the joy of the Christ?

I. TO LIVE IN THE JOY OF CHRIST YOU MUST ABIDE IN HIM

1. Christ is the vine, the Father is the branch caretaker, we are the Branches. TO LIVE FOR HIM IS TO BEAR FRUIT. John 15:1-2
2. The Father takes away the unfruitful branch and cast it in the fire. John 15:2, John 15:6, 1 Cor 3:13-16
3. The Father purges the fruitful with the Word so they will be more fruitful. John 15:2-3, Eph 5:26, 1 Peter 1:22
4. We cannot bear fruit, more fruit, and much fruit unless we abide with Christ. John 15:4-8, Phil 4:13
5. Fruitful believers glorify The Father and are true disciples. John 15:8, Matt 5:16, Phil 1:9-11
6. Fruitful Christians keep Christ’s commandments and continue and abide in His love. John 15:9-10, 1 John 3:16

II. TO LIVE IN THE JOY OF CHRIST YOU MUST OBEY HIM

1. Full joy comes when we love one another as the Lord loves us. John 15:11-12, 1 Peter 4:8
2. We are a friend of Christ when we lay down our lives by loving our church family. John 15:13-15, John 13:14
3. Jesus has chosen us to be fruitful and to receive answers to our prayers. John 15:16-17, 1 Peter 2:9, 1 John 3:24

ARE YOU LIVING IN THE JOY OF CHRIST?

LIVING IN THE HOLY SPIRIT

Galatians 5:13-26

Truth: The Holy Spirit empowers us to serve in love. The Holy Spirit empowers us to overcome the flesh. The Holy Spirit empowers us to produce fruit. Are you living in the Spirit?

I. THE HOLY SPIRIT EMPOWERS US TO SERVE IN LOVE

1. We are called to liberty. Gal 5:13, Rom 8:1-2,1 John 5:3-4, Gal 4:6
2. We are called to fulfil the law through love. Gal 5:14-15, Rom 13:8-14

II. THE HOLY SPIRIT EMPOWERS US TO OVERCOME THE FLESH

1. The conflict is the flesh lusting against the spirit. Gal 5:16-17, Rom 7:15,19
2. The conquest comes when we surrender our will to the Holy Spirit. Gal 5:18, Psa 40:8, Heb 10:14-17
3. The crucifixion of the flesh through Christ is our goal. Gal 5:19-20, 24, Gal 2:20, Rom 6:6

III. THE HOLY SPIRIT EMPOWERS US TO GODLY CHARACTER

1. The Spirit by love produces an attitude of joy and peace. Gal 5:22, John 15:9-10, 11, John 14:27, Phil 4:7
2. The Spirit enables me to be long-suffering (courageous endurance without quitting), to be gentle (kind), and to do good (love in action). Gal 5:22
3. The Spirit will increase my faith, encourage meekness and produce temperance (self-control). Gal 5:22-23
4. If we live in the Spirit we will walk in the Spirit. Gal 5:25-26

ARE YOU LIVING IN THE SPIRIT?

HOW I CAN HELP IN THESE TIMES

Psalm 25:1-14, 21

Truth: Follow the Lord. Seek His answers. Share His truth. Are helping or hurting where you are?

I. FOLLOW THE LORD

1. Know you are saved. Psalm 25:1-2, 2 Tim 1:12
2. Thank the Lord that you are saved. Psalm 25:3-5, Psalm 116:1
3. Tell the world you are saved. Psalm 25:5, Psalm 107:2

II. SEEK HIS WILL

1. Ask for His wisdom. Psalm 25:5, James 1:5, Matt 7:7
2. Know His will in His Word. Psalm 25:6-14, Psalm 119:105
3. Do His will. Psalm 25:21, Phil 2:12-13

III. SHARE HIS TRUTH

1. Preach or teach Jesus. 1 Tim 1:15, Eph 2:8
2. Teach how to be saved. Rom 10:17, Rom 10:8-13
3. Teach new believer to follow the Lord. Matt 28:19-20

ARE YOU HELPING WHERE YOU ARE?

LIVING GODLY IN PERILOUS TIMES

2 Timothy 3:1-17

Truth; Turn away from evil. Follow those of truth. Stand on the Word of God. Are you worshiping God during these perilous times?

I. TURN AWAY FROM EVIL

1. Those that are lovers of self. 2 Tim 3:2-5, Rom 1:28-32
2. The Blind leaders of the blind. 2 Tim 3:6-7, Isa 5:20-24
3. False leaders. 2 Tim 3:8-9, Matt 7:21-23

II. FOLLOW THOSE WHO ARE TRUE

1. They teach and practice truth. 2 Tim 3:10, John 4:23-24
2. They live to glorify Christ. 2 Tim 3:10, 1 Peter 4:14
3. They are willing to suffer. 2 Tim 3:11-12, 1 Peter 4:12-13

III. CONTINUE IN THE WORD OF GOD

1. The Scripture are holy. 2 Tim 3:14-15. 2 Peter 1: 20-21
2. They lead us to salvation. 2 Tim 3:15, John 5:39
3. They equip us to serve. 2 Tim 3:16-17. Matt 22:37-40

ARE YOU LIVING GODLY IN THESE PERILOUS TIMES?

CHOOSE WHOM YOU WILL SERVE IN 2020

JOSH 24:14-25

Truth: Remember how the Lord has blessed us. The Lord wants us to choose to serve Him. The Lord tells us how to serve Him. Will you serve the Lord?

I. REMEMBER HOW THE LORD HAS BLESSED US

1. The Lord has fought for you and has done all He said He would do. Josh 23:3,14, Josh 24:11, 2 Cor 10:3-5
2. The Lord chastens those He loves. Josh 23:16, Josh 24:20, Rev 3:19-20.

II. THE LORD WANTS US TO CHOOSE TO SERVE HIM

1. We are to fear the Lord. Vs 14, Prov 1:7
2. We are to serve Him sincerely and faithfully. Vs. 14
3. The Lord wants us to know He is a holy and a jealous God. Vs. 19, Exodus 20:3, Matt 22:36-38
4. The Lord will hold you to your word. Josh 24:21-25, Eccl 5:4

III. THE LORD TELLS US HOW TO SERVE HIM

1. Be courageous and keep His Word. Josh 23:6,
2. Cleave unto the Lord. Josh 23:8
3. Be sure you love the Lord. Josh 23:11, John 14:15

WILL YOU SERVE THE LORD?

1. Come to church every Sunday I can!
2. Come to Sunday school every Sunday I can!
3. Give the Lord’s church a tenth of what the Lord helps me earn!
4. Serve in the church in some way!
5. Spend time everyday reading the Bible and pray!