Southpointe Community Church Sermons

1 Timothy 6:3-9, 17-19 3 If anyone teaches a different doctrine and does not agree with the sound words of our Lord Jesus Christ and the teaching that accords with godliness, 4 he is puffed up with conceit and understands nothing. He has an unhealthy craving for controversy and for quarrels about words, which produce envy, dissension, slander, evil suspicions, 5 and constant friction among people who are depraved in mind and deprived of the truth, imagining that godliness is a means of gain. 6 But godliness with contentment is great gain, 7 for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world. 8 But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content. 9 But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. 10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs.

"For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sake He became poor, so that you by His poverty might become rich." 2 Corinthians 8:9 Our budgets ARE ALWAYS telling Jesus how we feel about Him. “All things were created by Him FOR Him.” Colossians 1:16

2 Timothy 2:1-7 The strategy for mission (v. 2) “And what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men who will be Able to teach others also” a.) The strategy for mission is that 1st, you get discipled b.) The strategy for the mission is that You disciple others “entrust to reliable men who will also be qualified to teach others” Our Mission: “To glorify God by bringing the Southpointe Area and all places we serve into a life-changing encounter with the Kingdom of God”

There are only two things that you can do on Earth that you cannot do in Heaven: sin and to share God's grace with non-believers. Our Roles as believers We are to…. - Magnify God’s Name - Model God’s character - Member of God’s family - Messenger of God’s love - Maker of Disciples Psalm 39:4-5 Show me, Lord, my life’s end and the number of my days; let me know how fleeting my life is. You have made my days a mere handbreadth; the span of my years is as nothing before you. Everyone is but a breath, even those who seem secure Ephesians 5:15-17 Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is.

God has blessed Southpointe with an opportunity - an opportunity He has entrusted us with to "bring the Southpointe area and all places we serve into a life changing encounter with the Kingdom of God." a. Enjoy the moment. b. Consider how God would have you play a key role in getting us started in the campaign. c. PRAY and Commit to LISTENING TO what God wants you to do in this season.

1. The Riches of Grace – Saving, “Sane-ing,” Sufficient 2 Corinthians 8:1, "And now, brothers and sisters, we want you to know about the grace that God has given the Macedonian churches." 2. The Power of Grace - Hilarity instead of Hoarding 2 Corinthians 8:2-3, "In the midst of a very severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity. 3 For I testify that they gave as much as they were able, and even beyond their ability. Entirely on their own, 4 they urgently pleaded with us for the privilege of sharing in this service to the Lord’s people." 3. The Privilege of Grace – Investing in the only lasting Kingdom 2 Corinthians 8:4-7, “the privilege of sharing in this service to the Lord’s people. 5 And they exceeded our expectations: They gave themselves first of all to the Lord, and then by the will of God also to us. 6 So we urged Titus, just as he had earlier made a beginning, to bring also to completion this act of grace on your part. 7 But since you excel in everyth

"Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap. For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith." Galatians 6:7-10 1. Three Principles of sowing and reaping a.). You Reap WHAT you sow b.) You Reap LATER than you Sow c.) You Reap GREATER than you sow 2. Two areas each of us need to apply this truth. a) You sow and reap in yourself: “The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from that Spirit will reap eternal life.” v. 8 b) Second place you sow and reap is in the lives of other people: “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we d

Five Pillars of Spiritual Development: 1. Hear the Word 2. Read the Word 3. Study the Word 4. Memorize the Word 5. Meditate on the Word 3 Reasons the Gospels can't be Legends: 1. Counter Productive Content 2. They were written way to soon after the events happened 3. The literary style makes it impossible for them to be legends "I have been reading poems, romances, vision literature, legends, and myths all my life. i know what they are like. I know none of them are like this. Of this gospel there are only two possible views. Either this is reportage... or else, some unknown ancient writer without known predecessors or successors suddenly anticipated the whole technique of modern novelistic realistic narrative” CS Lewis

“I believe in Christianity as I believe that the sun has risen: not only because I see it, but because by it I see everything else.” -CS Lewis “Spend your time and energy in training yourself for spiritual fitness.” 1 Timothy 4:7 a. Are you hungrier for God than ever before? Psalm 42:1 "As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, O God. b. Are you governed more and more by God's Word? 2 Timothy 3:16–17: "All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work." c. Am I becoming more and more loving? d. Are you more and more aware of your sin? 1 Timothy 1:15 e. Are you more and more willing to forgive others? Ephesians 4:32

Colossians 2:13-15: "And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with Him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This He set aside, nailing it to the cross. He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in Him." Romans 8:38-39: "For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord."

1. God did something astounding Now the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows: After His mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Spirit. 2. In the birth of Jesus God did something life changing v. 21-23 And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.” So all this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying: “Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,” which is translated, “God with us.”

"Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God." John 3:3 Verse 5: "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God." Verse 7: "You must be born again." Conversion is more than Bible knowledge. Conversion is essential. Conversion is a miracle from God. Conversion makes a nice person into a new person.

Micah 5:2-5 “2 But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be RULER over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times.” 3 Therefore Israel will be abandoned until the time when she who is in labor bears a son, and the rest of his brothers return to join the Israelites. 4 He will stand and SHEPHERD His flock in the strength of the LORD, in the majesty of the name of the LORD His God. And they will live securely, for then His greatness will reach to the ends of the earth. 5 And He will be our PEACE”

Mark Chapter 2 - 5 “Every Christian here is either a missionary or an impostor. Recollect that you are either trying to spread abroad the kingdom of Christ, or else you do not love him at all. It cannot be that there is a high appreciation of Jesus, and a totally silent tongue about him. Of course I do not mean, by that, that those who use the pen for Christ are silent; they are not. And those who help others to use the tongue, or spread that which others have written, are doing their part well; but I mean this,—that man who says, ‘I believe in Jesus,’ but does not think enough of Jesus ever to tell another about him, by mouth, or pen, or tract, is an impostor.” – Charles Spurgeon Mark 4:35 “On that day, when evening had come, he said to them, “Let us go across to the other side.” Mark 5: 7-13 “What have you to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I adjure you by God, do not torment me. 8 For he was saying to him, “Come out of the man, you unclean spirit!” 9 And Jesus asked him, “What is your nam

"Since ancient times no one has heard, no ear has perceived, no eye has seen any God besides you, who acts on behalf of those who wait for Him." Isaiah 64:4 1. The source of our Authority. “Yes, Lord, walking in the way of your laws” 2. The Basis of our Acceptance. “We wait for you” 3. The object of your Affections, “Your name and your renown are the desire of our hearts” "You can safely assume that you've created God in your own image when it turns out that God hates all the same people you do." Anne Lamott "Yes LORD, walking in the way of your laws, we wait for you. Your name and your renown are the desire of our hearts" Isaiah 26:8

1. Calling: What is it? a. Primary Calling b. Personal Calling 2. The History of Calling 3. Distortions of Calling a.) The Sacred/ Secular Divide b.) The only thing that matters is souls "I have brought you glory on earth by finishing the work you gave me to do." John 17:4 "In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven." Matthew 5:16 “Now when David had served God’s purpose in his own generation, he fell asleep; he was buried with his ancestors." Acts 13:36

Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life. Proverbs 4:23 22 Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. 23 Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror 24 and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. James 1.22-23 How drifting happens: a. Make small moral compromises. b. Start hanging out with people who have negative lifestyle c. Stop hanging out with other strong Christians d. Start to doubt what it is I believe

1. Our words matter: Morally 2. Our words matter: Emotionally 3. Our words matter: But there are Limits Lying lips are an abomination to the Lord. Proverbs 12:22 An evildoer listens to wicked lips, and a liar gives ear to a mischievous tongue. Proverbs 17:4 Death and life are in the power of the tongue. Proverbs 18:21 In all toil there is profit, but mere talk tends only to poverty. Proverbs 14:23 If you say, “Behold, we did not know this,” does not he who weighs the heart perceive it? Proverbs 24:12 Whoever guards his mouth preserves his life; he who opens wide his lips comes to ruin. Proverbs 13:3

1. Pray like a Child - with Honest, Humbling and Trusting Faith 2. “ASK” like a Child 3. Come Messy, as Forgiven Children “And when you pray, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do, for they think that they will be heard for their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.” Matthew 6:7-8 “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. Or which one of you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a serpent? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him! Matthew 7:7-11 “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.” Philippians 4

"If God were your Father, you would love me, for I proceeded and came forth from God . . . You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father's desires." John 8:41, 44 1. An immeasurable love For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us. Ps. 103 2. Compassionate Love As a father shows compassion to his children, so the LORD shows compassion to those who fear him. For he knows our frame; he remembers that we are dust. Ps. 103:13-14 3. A Correcting love The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. He will not always chide, nor will he keep his anger forever. Ps. 103:8-9 4. A completing love (it will bring you home) As for man, his days are like grass, he flourishes like a flower of the field; the wind blows over it and it is gone, and its place remembers it no more. BUT fro