Monthly Archives: August 2013

Friday Fruit Audit ~ Character

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What kind of person are you?

Take a look at the following scripture and replace the word love with your name.

Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. – 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 (ESV)

(YOUR NAME HERE)
____________________ is patient
____________________ is kind
____________________ does not envy
____________________ does not boast
____________________ is not arrogant
____________________ is not rude
____________________ does not insist on his/her own way
____________________ is not irritable
____________________ is not resentful
____________________ does not rejoice at wrongdoing
____________________ rejoices with the truth
____________________ bears all things
____________________ believes all things
____________________ hopes all things
____________________ endures all things

Thursday Theology at its Best ~ Francis Chan, Follow Me Sermon at Saddleback

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Francis Chan was one of the many great guest speakers to preach at Saddleback Church after the tragic death of Senior Pastor Rick Warren’s son. You may view the video of that sermon here and some quick notes are below. This is a great one, so enjoy!

Francis Chan
Guest Speaker: Saddleback Church
Date: April 27 & 28, 2013
Title: Follow Me
Verses: Philippians 4:4-9

Philippians 4:4-9
(4) Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. (5) Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; (6) do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. (7) And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

(8) Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. (9) What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.

Thursday Theology at its Best ~ Dr. Mike Fabarez on Presenting Christ

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Pastor Mike Fabarez is one of my all time favorite preachers. He is to the point with ample biblical research to back up what he teaches. He is a straight Bible teaching pastor who tells it like it is.

“While you may not picture yourself as an evangelist, there is no escaping the fact that God calls all Christians to take the message of the gospel to those around them. Many nervously dodge this privilege and responsibility, in part because they don’t feel adequately prepared. Thankfully, in Luke 4:14-44, we can acquire a lot of training and confidence as we study Christ presenting his own claims to the people in his childhood hometown of Nazareth, and then to those in his new neighborhood of Capernaum.” – Dr. Mike Fabarez

PRESENTING CHRIST Sermon Series

The Role of the Holy Spirit (Part 1) Luke 4:14-15 May 05, 2013
The Use of Scripture (Part 2) Luke 4:16-21 May 12, 2013
Dealing with Objections (Part 3) Luke 4:22-30 May 19, 2013
Jesus as Judge (Part 4) Luke 4:31-37 June 02, 2013
Jesus as Deliverer (Part 5) Luke 4:38-41 June 09, 2013
Staying on Task (Part 6) Luke 4:42-44 June 16, 2013

For more great series and discussions visit Focal Point Ministries.

Wednesday Worship ~ Show Us Christ

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Check out the song here.
VERSE 1
Prepare our hearts, O God
Help us to receive
Break the hard and stony ground
Help our unbelief
Plant Your Word down deep in us
Cause it to bear fruit
Open up our ears to hear
Lead us in Your truth
CHORUS
Show us Christ, show us Christ
O God, reveal Your glory
Through the preaching of Your Word
Until every heart confesses Christ is Lord
VERSE 2
Your Word is living light
Upon our darkened eyes
Guards us through temptations
Makes the simple wise
Your Word is food for famished ones
Freedom for the slave
Riches for the needy soul
Come speak to us today
BRIDGE
Where else can we go, Lord
Where else can we go
You have the words of eternal life
© 2011 Sovereign Grace Worship (ASCAP)/Sovereign Grace Praise (BMI)

Proof of Salvation

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Can you Prove Your Salvation?

When you were born your parents were very aware of your growth. They had 100% proof that you were growing. If you were not, you would be taken immediately to the doctor. I remember having my baby and freaking out because his weight was in the 10th percentile. I was searching for any cause of lack of weight gain. Even to this date I obsess over the fact that his feet seem to not be growing at all while the other kids in his class have shoe sizes that are 3 sizes bigger. Moms search for evidence and proof of growth and life, constantly. How is it then that we never, or hardly ever, search for proof of growth and life in our faith? To have assurance in your own salvation is a huge thing. The word “hope” in biblical terms does not just mean you hope it might come true one day, but that it actually means “confident assurance.” That is a very different meaning and I think you would love to have confident assurance in the fact that you are going to Heaven. Take a look at our Fruits Audit Section to gain greater insight into your own salvation.

Monday Modern Parable ~ The Vase

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A young boy and his family ventured into an antique store. Somehow in the midst of the beautiful trappings the boy got separated from his parents. It was too quite for too long and the parents got nervous. They started looking for their child. They found him, to their despair, in the back of the store with his had and arm reaching into a very expensive and very old vase. They hurried over to the child and calmly asked him to remove his hand and to stop messing around as they did not want him to break anything. To their horror, the child could not remove his hand. They tried everything while trying to avoid the shop owner’s scanning eyes. What would they do? They finally gave up and decided to tell the owner. He went to the back to get some liquid soap and water. They tried everything. They finally decided there was no hope. They would have to break the vase and pay for it too. The owner went back to his desk to find a hammer. When he returned and just before he was going to smash the antique into pieces the child’s father asked him, “Son, is there anything you would like to say before we do this?” and he replied in a sheepish tone, “Dad?… Would it help if I let go of the quarter?”

How often do we hold onto the trappings of this life. While it is our only perspective, it is not the ONLY perspective. God has something far better for us waiting in Heaven. The angels must pity us knowing what they know. Let go of all those things in your life that really do not mean anything.

(Parable derived from Pastor Mike Fabarez)

Friday Fruit Audit ~ Practicing Sin

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Do you practice sin?

To hear a sermon on this topic, click HERE and listen to what Pastor Mike Fabarez has to say about sin.

What does the word “practice” mean? It means something you repeat often. Dictionary.com states it is a “condition arrived at by experience or exercise.” That’s interesting in light of sin. How many times have you heard the word “desensitize” from our parents and teachers about violence? We arrive at a specific condition of overlooking something or feeling it is now common because we have seen it or done it so many times in the past. This is what John meant when he said, “Whoever makes a practice of sinning is of the devil.” Wow! Is that harsh or what? Actually, it’s not harsh at all. It is the truth. He is not saying if you sin you are not of God, he is saying if you practice sin you are not born of God. Take a look at the following passage.

No one who abides in him keeps on sinning; no one who keeps on sinning has either seen him or known him. Little children, let no one deceive you. Whoever practices righteousness is righteous, as he is righteous. Whoever makes a practice of sinning is of the devil, for the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil. No one born of God makes a practice of sinning, for God’s seed abides in him, and he cannot keep on sinning because he has been born of God. By this it is evident who are the children of God, and who are the children of the devil: whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is the one who does not love his brother. – 1 John 3:6-10 (ESV)

Thursday Theology at its Best ~ Dr. Mike Fabarez on “The Harsh but Good News”

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“Many in modern Christianity have opted for a kinder and gentler version of the gospel message. This may be well-intentioned, but unfortunately it is a disastrous mistake that can cause irreparable harm to those who we seek to “win” for Christ. John the Baptist certainly didn’t attempt to soften the gospel. His bold and forthright approach may seem out of place in our “don’t-hurt-anybody’s-feelings culture,” but Jesus hailed him and his ministry as the greatest ever.” – Pastor Mike Fabarez

Title Passage Date
Why “As You Are” Can’t Stay That Way (Part 1) Luke 3:1-6 January 27, 2013
Being Sure to Move from Creeds to Deeds (Part 2) Luke 3:7-14 February 03, 2013
The Gospel’s Assault on the Egocentric (Part 3) Luke 3:15-16, 22-23 February 17, 2013
Loving Enough to Tell the Truth about Hell (Part 4) Luke 3:17-20 February 24, 2013

For more encouraging sermons go to Compass Bible Church or Focal Point Ministries.

Wednesday Worship ~ You’re Great Name

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Hear it here.

“Your Great Name”
© Natalie Grant

Verse 1
Lost are saved; find their way; at the sound of your great name
All condemned; feel no shame, at the sound of your great name
Every fear; has no place; at the sound of your great name
The enemy; he has to leave; at the sound of your great name

Chorus
Jesus, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain for us, Son of God and Man
You are high and lifted up; that all the world will praise your great name

Verse 2
All the weak; find their strength; at the sound of your great name
Hungry souls; receive grace; at the sound of your great name
The fatherless; they find their rest; at the sound of your great name
Sick are healed; and the dead are raised; at the sound of your great name

Chorus
Jesus, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain for us, Son of God and Man
You are high and lifted up; that all the world will praise your great name

Bridge
Redeemer, My Healer, Almighty
My savior, Defender, You are My King

Chorus
Jesus, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain for us, Son of God and Man
You are high and lifted up; that all the world will praise your great name

© Natalie Grant