• We compare ourselves now in Christ to ourselves before without Christ.
• The second comparison is ourselves now in Christ to the fullness of Christ.
• The first appreciates how far I have come. The second recognizes how far I’ve left to go.
• We are new.
• Newness is from God, who graciously, through Christ, doesn’t hold sin against those who are in Christ. 
• We are new creations because we move from enemies of God to children of God.
• Your old garments are gone, clothed in Christ, you have a new identity that comes with the full rights of the citizenry of heaven.
• You were hostile to God.
• You could not please Him.
• But Christ could and did.
• In Christ alone, you have been chosen, loved, redeemed, justified, and made new, by the grace of God. 

2 Corinthians 5:17-21, Titus 3:5, John 3:6-8, Revelation 21:4-5, Galatians 3:26-29, Romans 8:1-2,5-7,8,10,13,17,37-39

• We can become the righteousness of God because of Christ's work on the cross.
• We can become righteous because Christ was sinless.
• We can be righteous because Christ took on our sin.
• We can be righteous because God willed Christ to be our sin.
• We can be righteous because Christ's righteousness is attributed to us.
• We can be righteous through faith in Christ.

2 Corinthians 5:21, Galatians 2:20, Hebrews 4:15, 1 John 3:5, John 1:29, Isaiah 53:7 & 12, 1 Peter 2:24, 1 John 2:2, Isaiah 53:4-6 & 10, Romans 5:17, Ephesians 2:8, Philippians 3:8-9, Titus 1:6-9

• Redemption - The forgiveness of sins is a gift of the grace of God.
• Christ not only frees you from slavery but he also removes what causes the affliction to begin with.
• Your worth is measured in the blood of Christ.
• Your rescue is not provided with the perishable but the priceless, irreplaceable blood of Christ.
• It’s always been about his unmatchable ability to bring about the redemption and restoration of the sinner.
• Only Jesus is capable of redemption.
• Christ left Glory and took on human form to be your substitute.
• Jesus' authority to forgive sins exists because of his deity.

Ephesians 1:7, Ephesians 2:13, Ephesians 1:6, 1 Peter 1:18-19, Philippians 2:6-8, Colossians 2:8-9, Mark 2:6-10, Isaiah 53:4-5

• In Christ, we have the greatest possible love.
• It’s because of Christ’s sacrifice that we know what love is to begin with.
• Christ loved us to show us what love is and to inspire us to love others.
• Christ loved us despite ourselves.
• Christ loved us as a reflection of the Father’s love.
• Christ died for us to save us and to bring us into the fold.
• Pretty straight forward.

John 15:13, John 10:14-17, 1 John 3:16, Galatians 2:20, Ephesians 5:2, 1 John 4:19, Romans 5:8, Romans 3:9-12, 1 John 4:10, John 15:9-13, John 3:16, 1 John 4:7-8, John 13:34-35

• In Christ alone, you are chosen.
• In Christ, each of us has everything we need for spiritual well-being.
• Our purpose is to be set apart and blameless sacrifices dedicated to God’s purpose.
• We have been chosen to be coheirs with Christ.
• In Christ, all have been chosen. But not all respond in faith.
• This choosing, saving, and adoption accomplished through Jesus should result in our praise of God.
• Our faith is sealed with the Spirit.

Ephesians 1:3-14

• Salvation is a completed act, born from grace. Grace is not a merit-based system.
• It’s only through the grace of Christ that anyone can be saved.
• Sin entered the world and death became possible.
• Jesus came to Earth for one purpose: to destroy death.
• Through Christ and Christ only, we receive grace, which is undeserved life in the face of deserved death.
• We need grace to ensure that we aren’t defined by our worst moments.
• God’s power shines through our weaknesses.
• God may not change your circumstances. But through grace, he can change your perspective on your circumstances.
• Christ is grace.
• The law magnifies your sin. The Master moves you past it.

2 Timothy 1:9-10, Ephesians 2:8-10, Romans 8:28, Romans 5:12, 1 Corinthians 15:25-26, 1 Peter 1:3-4, Romans 3:23, Romans 6:23a, 2 Corinthians 12:9-10, Exodus 33:18-19, John 1:16-17, John 8:53-54, John 4:12-14, Titus 2:11, John 14:6-7, James 4:6, John 6:14

• If Jesus were coming back tomorrow, how would your today be different?
• Know the Scriptures and know the God you serve. Know his desires for your life. To love God with all your heart and to love others the same way.
• Before Jesus comes again, many will come in his name but will only be serving themselves.
• God’s word is final. What he says will be - and it is. Scoffers disregard God’s Word and what has been, and claim that God is inactive.
• What is immediacy for an eternal God? One who is slow to anger, quick to forgive, and patient with his creation, desiring that they not perish?
• Knowing that God is coming back should inspire all of us to live lives of holiness and godliness.

2 Peter 3, Matthew 24:3-5, 2 Timothy 3:1-5

• False teachers are Satan's biggest weapon and the Christian's worst enemy.
• False teachers dress up their message as the word of God but are really pulling people away from the true Christ and his teachings.
• A false teacher's message sounds good but lacks substance.
• Masses will follow these messages, which support our desire to sin and experience salvation.
• False teachers exploit followers for their own personal gain.
• Judgment is coming, but the righteous will be saved, and you are personally responsible for your outcome.
• The Lord knows how to rescue the faithful from the midst of a trial and is equally capable of punishing the unrighteous.
• Better to be reviled in this life than destroyed in the next.
• A false teacher can’t quench your thirst because they promise freedom they don’t have.

2 Peter 2

• The first step to mature faith is understanding that equality exists between all believers.
• We can't just know of God; we must know God.
• We supplement this grace with tremendous effort.
• These qualities show our growth in the Lord, and we should be growing at all times.
• Goodness - Morality and righteousness.
• Knowledge - Of the Lord. Spiritual understanding, which comes from the Spirit and the Word.
• Self-Control - Preventing one's passions from becoming overwhelming.
• Perseverance - Withstanding those who scoff at and persecute us.
• Godliness - Reverence for the Lord.
• Brotherly Affection - A genuine care for others.
• Love - Desiring the highest good for others.
• As Christians, we have to be growing constantly, or we risk being unfruitful.
• Our task isn’t easy, so encourage one another every chance you get.

2 Peter 1, 1 Peter 2:24

• Mature Christians must step up to guide those who are less so. 
• Each of us has a ministry serving those newer to faith than us. 
• Humility is the pathway we must travel on our walk of faith. 
• Faith In God’s providence is no excuse for blind carelessness.
• Your suffering is temporary, Your reward is forever.

1 Peter 5, John 21:16, 2 Tim 4:7-8

• We are in for a fight, and we need to prepare to have unswerving resolve in order to experience victory.
• We share in his victory, but we must also share in his suffering.
• Being dead to sin, requires us to live in the present.
• Whether it’s Jesus’ return or the end of our lives, our short time remaining should motivate us to live like Christ.
• They way we love others should hurt a little bit. It should require us to stretch beyond what we think is capable.
• Suffering as a Christian is not “if” but “when”.
• The one thing we can’t do is respond to persecution with retaliation.

1 Peter 4, 1 Peter 3:18, 1 Corinthians 15:55-57, Phil 3:10, Romans 8:17, 2 Timothy 2:12

• First, we must be of one mind; the church should be a united entity.
• As believers, we must do more than just abstain from answering evil in kind - we must bless those who persecute us.
• We bless others in the face of persecution, knowing that the Lord sees and loves good while hating evil.
• Because our reward is not of this world, hope rather than fear is what defines us during hardship.
• In the end, our motivation is what it always should be: Christ dying for our sins and freeing us from the chains our sins created.

1 Peter 3:8-22, Romans 12:17, Matthew 5:43-44, 1 Cor 4:12

• Christians are responsible to the laws of the land and the governments and rulers who have instituted them.
• Good, bad or ugly, we are exhibiting our trust in God’s sovereignty by submitting to the authority that is in place.
• We are to submit to authority until authority demands we stand against Christ. And then we must choose to stand with Christ.
• False accusations fail to convict when the accused lives in a way that silences the accuser.
• Your righteous service to an unrighteous authority is a service to the Lord and will bring blessing on your life.
• If Christ can endure the process of persecution without sinning, you can face the injustices of this world with the same resolve.

1 Peter 2:13-3:7, Daniel 2:21, Psalm 75:6-7, Acts 4:17-20, Romans 12:18

• No more malice, which is harboring ill will for others.
• No more deceit, which is deliberate dishonesty.
• No more hypocrisy, which is pretend love.
• No more envy, which is resentful discontent.
• No more slander, which is backbiting.
• All of these things characterize people who don’t know Christ. Therefore, they cannot characterize you.
• Everything that we need for growth is in the Word of God. 
• A characteristic of living things is the ability to reproduce. And as living stones, we must produce Christ-centered life. 

1 Peter 2

• Peter was a remarkably unremarkable person.
• Rejoice in your salvation.
• In the face of trials, we have to learn to look to the promised future and not at the flawed presence.
• Faith requires action. Without action, our faith is dead.

1 Peter 1

• Why do I need to be a person who forgives? 
• Christ instructs us to be forgiving.
• Doing the will of the Father is a sign that salvation has taken place in your life, which is the key to accessing heaven.
• It’s a wise instruction, which leads to stability. 
• It allows God to work through us for kingdom purposes.
• We forgive others because we have been forgiven.
• One might argue that if no one is worthy of forgiveness, everyone is equally deserving of forgiveness.

Matthew 6:14-15, Matthew 6:12, Matthew 7:21-23, Matthew 18:21-22, Matthew 7:24-27, John 6:38, Philippians 2:13-15, Ephesians 4:32, Luke 17:3-4, Matthew 5:44-45, Colossians 3:12-13, 1 Peter 2:19, Romans 12:20

• Repentance requires action.
• Sin has no place in our lives. We can’t claim to be buried with Christ, made alive in Christ - and remain shackled to our sins. 
• Matthew 6:13 is a call for protection against our own humanity.
• God tests us. Satan tempts us.
• Every situation that tests us has an opportunity to tempt us.
• Embrace the testing. Pray through the temptation.

Matthew 6:13, Romans 5:20-21, Romans 6:1-14, James 1:13-14, Romans 7:15-20, Galatians 2:20, Psalm 19:13, Matthew 4:1, James 1:3-4

• If we want God to hear and provide, we can’t make requests with sin-filled hearts.
• Asking God to help you forgive others is a recognition of our spiritual weakness. 
• Refusing forgiveness is a spiritual weakness.
• Our sin accrued a debt. Christ paid that debt. And so God is faithful to forgive.
• Matthew 6:12 is about your relationship with God.
• You have a debt. Christ paid the debt. God erased and continues to erase the debt while the Spirit tries to keep you out of debt.
• Forgiveness is free. Fellowship comes at a cross.
• Proof of your relationship with God is a merciful disposition.

Matthew 6, Mark 11:24-25, James 1:13-14, 1 John 1:9, Ephesians 4:32, Romans 5:8, Romans 12:19-20

• Praying for God’s Kingdom to come is asking for the presence of Christ. 
• When you pray for God’s kingdom to come, you are asking for the global swelling of the Church. 
• In praying these words, we are asking for Him, before we are seeking for us.
• Praying for God’s will to be done, is a prayer of submission.

Matthew 6:10, Matthew 3:1-2, Matthew 4:17, Matthew 6:33 , Matthew 20:28, Luke 22:42, John 4:34, John 5:30, John 6:38, Colossians 1:17, 2 Corinthians 12:9

• Prayer begins with worship and reverence.
• We pray because of who we are praying to.
• We should pray expectantly because we are asking our Father who loves us.
• Yes to worship, yes to reverence. But pray expectantly because of relationship.

• Prayer is personal, not performative.
• Prayer doesn’t need to be long.
• Prayer doesn’t need to turn a phrase. Prayer needs only to be sincere. 
• If you are worried about a wandering heart, pray in private.
• Pray with a purpose.

Matthew 6:5-15

• Know when to speak.
• Think about what you say.
• You can be right and wrong at the same time.
• Seek forgiveness.

James 3:1-8, Proverbs 17:28, Psalm 19:14, Matthew 15:16-20, Colossians 4:5-6, Proverbs 16:24

• We are all slaves to sin. But through Christ, we can choose to be subject to him, making us slaves to righteousness.
• This is calling us to snuff out the fire of self-centeredness.
• To serve Christ is to serve others.
• Greatness in the world is to be served. Greatness in the kingdom of God is to serve others.
• What we do for others we ultimately do for the Lord.
• You won’t serve those you despise.

• Communication’s greatest gift is its ability to resolve conflict and build connections that aren’t easily destroyed. 
• “Excellent communication doesn’t just happen naturally. It is a product of process, skill, climate, relationship, and hard work.” - Pat McMillan
• If you have a problem with a brother or sister in Christ, the only person you should discuss that problem with, to begin with, is them. 
• If you haven’t given your brother or sister a chance to correct their ills, don’t expect your pastor to do it for you. 
• Communication is a matter of correction, not a seed of animosity.
• Our communication must be grounded in love.
• We must remember that the goal of our communication is restoration.

Matthew 18:15-16, Ephesians 4:26-27, Proverbs 10:12 

• Prayer is the means by which God fulfills his will among his people. 
• Suffering that leads to prayer, that leads to grace, leads to the glory of God.
• Prayer encourages confession and brings healing.
• We can’t experience healing, or expect our offering to be received while harboring ill will for our brothers and sisters. 
• Our lives should have clear evidence of a pattern of prayer

2 Corinthians 2:11, 2 Corinthians 4:15, James 5:16, Matthew 5:23-26, Romans 12:12, Acts 1:14, Acts 2:12, Acts 6:4

• Approaching each other with a spirit of grace starts with assuming the best in one another.
• When we assume the worst in others, we break the bonds of fellowship, destroy trust and crush our own confidence.
• It’s easy to have a spirit of grace with others when you view yourself in the correct light.

Matthew 22:36-40, Luke 6:36-37, Matthew 7:1-5

• The greatest defense of the existence of God is the propensity to create idols for ourselves.
• We reach peace once - that god is the one true God.
• When we unplug from God, we turn to idol worship.
• When your gods are taken from you, all you have is nothing.
• But there is nothing that can take God from you.
• I’m not a fan of "hellfire and brimstone" but I believe strongly in truth and immovable moral standards.

Judges 17:1-5, Judges 18:22-26, Judges 21:25

• Jesus is the perfect Savior because He was both human and divine. 
• A real sacrifice exchanges something of equal value. Human life for human life. A divine sacrifice allows for the Son of God to reconcile all human life.
• Jesus is the perfect Savior because He was the perfect sacrifice. 
• Jesus is Savior because He completes the process of salvation. 
• It’s not just that Christ has allowed you to be forgiven, but that God sees you as blameless and whole because of what He's done.

• We can’t let our lust override the law. 
• As parents, we can raise our children, try to lead them, and still watch them fail.
• God uses our mistakes for His mission.
• We can’t lead others down a sinful path despite our struggles.
• A lack of wise decision-making leads to a troublesome life.
• Poor decision-making is aided by an unchecked anger and the consequences can be earth-shattering.
• If we don’t learn from our mistakes, we are doomed to repeat them.

• God’s faithfulness persists beyond our foolishness.
• God uses the ordinary to bring about the extraordinary.
• We must do what we can to prevent corrupting what has been gifted from and ordained to the Lord.
• As parents, we must seek guidance from the Lord, control what’s in our control, and trust God with the rest.
• We all need people to bring us back to the ground, who speak wisdom and knowledge, people who we will listen to.

• Repentance requires actions and humility. And words alone mean very little. 
• When you repent, you need to act and be humble. You are at the other party's mercy. What they need from you, you do. If you aren’t willing to repent, you are sorry about your circumstances, not that you caused them. 
• Your past does not disqualify you from serving God, even if you find yourself rejected by man. 
• It’s a blessing from God to be able to overlook how you’ve been hurt to serve others who need you.

• Be wary of those who want to lead you and be careful what you wish for.
• We must weigh advice based on its merit and not on its deliverer. 
• Our God is a God of justice and there is no escaping consequences for your actions.

• Your odds might not be great but they are never zero with God. 
• God knows what you need when you need it.
• We must remember our place in the big picture of life.
• We can give God glory and still lead others astray.

• Sometimes, God makes us deal with uncomfortable circumstances to call our attention to how we caused them.
• To pretend that God would work through self-inflicted wounds throughout Scripture - but not do so today - is dishonest.
• God isn’t above helping correct what we corrupted. 
• There is a striking contrast between how we see ourselves vs. how God sees us - and His opinion is the one that matters.
• Knowing that God is capable means that it isn’t sinful to feel like you need reassurance that you are His chosen vessel.

• Our voice should be one of encouragement and accountability.
• Deborah and Barak teach us that the greatest and best among us aren’t self-sufficient but recognize their need for others. 
• Sometimes, people must be reminded that God is on their side and their success is a matter of faith.
• If you aren’t willing to accept God’s blessing, he will bestow it on someone else.

• A successful Christian walk requires us to identify strong leadership and heed its wisdom.
• Not adhering to Biblical leadership has consequences.
• Deliverance follows repentance.
• Deliverance is temporary without perseverance.
• God calls specific people to specific tasks because of their specific giftings. 
• Sometimes when God calls you to something, you gotta deal with some dung.

• God doesn't take away without providing a way forward.
• There is no aimlessness inside the will of God. Even wandering in the desert has a purpose.
• There is strength in numbers but that relationship should be mutually beneficial. 
• Fear isn't an excuse to ignore the will of God. 
• God isn't afraid to let us experience the natural consequences of our actions. 
• God's promises to you will come to fruition.

• Serving God with our money starts in the same place that serving God in any capacity does.
• Our Priorities
• Wealth is not evil. The love of wealth is evil.
• Signs that you have a healthy relationship with money:
• 1) Your decision-making process when it comes to spending starts with prayer and thoughtful consideration.
• 2) You are a good steward of what’s been entrusted to you. 
• You can’t give to God what you have to give to a debtor.
• 3) You give from a place of love not a compulsion.
• 4) You have found contentment in the right things.

• God in his abundant grace, has gifted you with the ability to serve your brothers and sisters in Christ. 
• As we use our gifts, it must always be in the service of others, viewing people in the same light as we do our gifts, equals.
• John Doe came to know Jesus because Jane Doe was willing to take out the trash.
• The aim of our spiritual gifts is to love others.

• You were uniquely created and gifted to serve others.
• As important as having talent is the willingness to use it in the service of God and the education of others. 
• Our service bears witness to gifts instilled in us by the Father and it brings Him glory.

• Seeking first the Kingdom of God and his righteousness is about viewing all choices through his character and trusting the outcome of the decision that is made. 
• Being mission minded with our time leads us to be kingdom focused with our priorities. 
• Recognizing that our time is precious and understanding its value should give us a desire to spend it wisely. 
• Using our time wisely is ensuring that we are prepared when the opportunity to be missional arrives so that we never miss the chance to show others the love of Christ. 
• Service, Witness, Encouragement, Life Change.
• A pitcher does not refill itself but must be topped off to find itself useful again.

• Before we can give anything to God, we must give everything to God.
• Discipleship comes at a cost.
• The cost of our discipleship is whatever belongs to our earthly nature.
• What is anything compared to the gift that is Christ Jesus?
• All good things outside of Christ aren't good.
• Why Missions? To be an expression of God's love to the world around us. 
• Being missional comes down to giving the totality of ourselves.

• Jesus is the fulfillment of promises made to Abraham. 
• Jesus is the fulfillment of Jacob’s final words to his son Judah. 
• Jesus fulfills the promise from God, through Nathan that Messiah would come from David’s line.
• Not only is Christ the fulfillment of old testament promise, but he is the introduction of a new promise. 
• Jesus was the greatest sign God had to offer and the needed proof for those who struggle with faith.

• God's love is not deserved.
• God's love came at a high price.
• God's commands give us joy through life, peace with God, hope for a future, won by the love which we don’t deserve. 
• God's love is the greatest love that has ever been shown.
• God's love is willingly given.

• Christ being a part of our world is the greatest reason for joy.
• God’s ability to supply us with abounding grace directly relates to Christ's work on the cross and correlates to our willingness to abound in good works. 
• We have security in Christ.
• In the Commandments, the sinner sees restriction but the saved see freedom. 

• The only way to experience true peace is by accepting the free gift of grace from the shedding of Christ's blood. 
• Each of us is searching for that missing peace. 
• It turns out that Jesus is the missing piece, in our search for missing peace. 
• This is why Christ came. If we are his people, we must be characterized by peace. 

• Biblical God-inspired hope, which is what we have in Christ, is an expectation, not a wish. 
• Jesus was born to die, and his destruction is the security of hope. 
• You've sinned, Jesus saves, Your faith guarantees it.

• Christians should be characterized by their expressions of gratitude.
• Our goal is to be distinct from non-Christians.  
• Joy and happiness are not equal. 
• Happiness is a measure of outer contentment. Joy is a measure of inner peace.
• Christians avoid needless conflict with this world.
• Joy is the pathway to peace.

• Few things make those without faith more angry than seeing those with faith remain faithful in the midst of trials. 
• Choosing gratitude over grumbling is a matter of perspective. 
• Pure gratitude doesn’t just say “thank you for the strength during my trial”, but “thank you for the strength from my trial.”
• It allows us to look for the lesson rather than just desiring for the pain to lessen. 
• Good doesn’t exist outside of the blessing of God.

• Our reason for gratefulness can be firmly found in the sacrifice of Christ.
• We all have something to be thankful for.
• God’s love endures where human love ends.
• Gratitude is a choice solidified by habit.
• Christians should be characterized by their expressions of gratitude.

• As Christians, we need to be praying for our Nation!
• We are called to be change in the world.
• We have a responsibility to represent Jesus in the political arena.
• I will not excuse myself from the truth that my greatest responsibility isn’t to help win an election but to help win souls. 

• Find common ground with the people you are speaking to. 
• Be an upstanding citizen. 
• Let the Gospel be the offense. 

• You need not worry about what the enemy has planned for you. Just have faith that the reverse is going to occur. 
• God influences others through your trials and impending victories.
• Motivation matters. Success is rooted in the Why. 
• It’s important to remember all that has been accomplished on our behalf.
• If God doesn’t get praise for the good things in your life, then he doesn’t deserve your anger either. 

• This is God at work to bring about the redemption of his people. 
• that God’s redemption isn’t simply about removing bad but replacing it with better.
• In this moment, we see that faith builds.
• Occasionally, we must participate in our own deliverance.
• The proper response to witnessing the work of God is to rejoice.

• Esther shows us the way in which we should approach the Lord - with humility and hope.
• God sees, he hears, and he moves.
• A lack of appreciation for our blessings leads to our destruction. 
• Someone out there is praying for the family you take for granted. The home you wish was bigger. The job that pays your bills. We cannot let our sinful nature outweigh our blessings.
• What the enemy means for evil, God uses for good.

• The invisible providence of God is at work when the rest of the world is sleeping.
• I don’t believe in coincidence, luck, or happy accidents. I do subscribe to a powerful God of purpose.
• Hello Big Head, welcome hot coals.

• This moment shows both the continued providence of God as well as the power of prayer and fasting. 
• While we may be fearful of approaching earthly kings, we never have to be afraid of approaching God. 
• While earthly kings often withhold good fortune in favor of self-preservation and glorification, we serve a God who delights in answering prayers.
• What man so often plans to show his own might, God uses instead to glorify himself. 
• Men can scheme and plan and prepare all day long, but the Lord has the final say in all.

• It’s okay to grieve for what’s been lost, even if it was given away for the right reasons. 
• Grief without a plan leads to aimless wandering instead of purposeful progression.
• Sometimes fear gets in the way of you taking necessary risks. 
• It’s important to surround yourself with people who will tell you hard truths. 
• Hard truths without unwavering support are cruelties.

• Time reveals that God has Mordecai in this position as part of his larger providence for the remnant.
• It is naive to think that standing firm in our faith won’t at some point cost us.
• Haman’s inability to be satisfied is ultimately his downfall.

• When our tempers control us, regret can’t take away the damage we cause.
• Good men raise good children.
• Blessing comes from inner beauty.
• Real wisdom and our ability to listen to the experience of others are related.
• Stop telling God that He can’t use you because of your past decisions and stop letting others tell you the same.

• Riches, wealth, and status don’t make a man.
• God’s purpose was being fulfilled through earthly failure. 
• Sometimes justified actions are met with unjust consequences. 
• Godly male authority in the home is based on servant leadership, not brash decrees.

• Noble women seek to serve others as a service to the Lord.
• Noble women are Christ-Centered, not self-centered. 
• Noble women do not concern themselves with earthly outcomes in favor of heavenly outcomes. 
• Noble women let the true Gospel rule their lives and will let it be the offense.
• Noble women serve others out of reverence for Jesus.

• Noble women understand that humility only adds to their strengths and is in no way a weakness. 
• Noble women understand that God is in control so they don’t need the credit. 
• Noble women understand that God values their humility more than their accomplishments.
• Noble women have the same mindset as Jesus, which elevates others above themselves.
• The biggest struggle women tend to have when it comes to selfishness is not being selfish enough.
• In order to look after others, you need to look after yourself. 

• Beauty and physical charm aren’t bad, but they fade. Noble women are judged by that which is eternal, not that which is temporary. 
• Noble women don’t let the world set beauty standards on their behalf. 
• Bodies deteriorate, persons develop. Noble women invest in that which lasts and understand that their worth is not tied in any way, shape or form to their bodies. 
• Years can steal the physical but not the internal. 
• The Lord is looking at your heart. 
• It’s not the right aesthetic that God is after but the right Spirit.

• Noble women deliver wisdom for the betterment of others.
• A faithful speaker understands that the truth ultimately causes less harm than appeasing others.
• One of the greatest things that a wife can do for her husband is tell him the truth.
• Your words are powerful and important, but be careful of the fruit they bear.

• A Noble Woman’s worth is solidified by her character.
• Character is defined as the mental and moral qualities distinctive of an individual.
• Noble woman of high character have one main thing in common, they are God seekers. 
• Your identity should flow through God the Father and Christ the Son.
• When we seek God first, the significance of the anxiety inducing questions fades in light of his glory and everything finds a way of taking care of itself. 
• A woman of noble character, wherever she is found to be, has immeasurable worth.

• Charity, mercy, and kindness make a man far more than self-reliance and cold-heartedness. 
• Men of God live open-handed.
• Men of God treasure people more than treasure.
• Men of God will trade being uncomfortable in this world for the comforts of eternity.

• A man who continually repeats the same errors does a truly disgusting thing. 
• When it comes to matters of faith, men of God avoid returning to a life before Christ.
• When we recognize what God has done for us, it encourages us to maintain our progress. 
• There is no reason for a regenerated believer to yield to temptation.

• A lack of seeking counsel isn't about self-reliance but a lack of respect for what others have to offer.
• Seeking counsel gives us a different perspective. 
• Seeking counsel instills confidence in us. 
• Seeking counsel helps us avoid failure.
• Pride is evil because it prevents us from hearing the wisdom of others. 
• It takes courage to step out and ask for help and to listen to others.
• Anxiety however can become an idol when we worship at its feet and let it dictate and determine our approach to life. 

• We have a duty to protect and serve those who are weaker than us. 
• In order to share in another’s burdens, we must have a heart for their healing.
• It’s not just the ability to bear someone else’s burdens - it’s about having the strength to share ours as well. 
• Our strength is fortified by our confidence in who we are.
• For a man of God, confidence stems from following Christ.
• For the man of God, confidence stems from being a man who chases after God. 

• Men sacrifice and deliver on their commitments even if it isn’t self-serving. 
• Ensuring that we take care of our responsibilities is motivated by a love that puts others first and by the love we desire.
• Hampton Keathley says, “This type of love is a ministry and not a manipulation.” 
• Men of God deliver on their commitments because of their love for God. 
• You will hate every job you ever do until your attitude derives from your purpose and your purpose is to serve the Lord. 
• A disciplined man of God is the ruler of his emotions. He is not controlled by the moment, nor does he act out because of his frustration. He measures each and every action in light of the consequences.
• Discipline ensures that we receive the most out of every blessing.

• Honesty is the idea that we tell the truth even when it hurts. 
• Part of being truthful is being truthful when you could hide the truth. 
• Confession is built in truth and results in the mercy of God. 
• Integrity is present when we live out our values outside of the presence of others. 
• A person with integrity is a person literally without blame.
• Better for a man to be the person that tells you no, their wife no, their children no - than to be a person of empty promises.
• Men who are honest and have integrity don't have to bargain in order to be believed. 

• The Holy Spirit connects us to the attributes and abilities of a living God while working on our behalf to complete the total work of salvation in us through the process of sanctification.
• The value of pursuing the Spirit comes in finding contentment in the ever-changing circumstances of our lives which might otherwise cause debilitating anxiety. 
• Rather than spending time worrying about these things, we should first turn our attention to seeking the kingdom of God and his righteousness. 
• Growth comes from devotion and community.
• It is easier to do these things, and we find more success in having these things make an impact in our lives, while in fellowship with other believers.
• Being in the body has an impact that has an impact.

• We have a responsibility to invoke the name of Jesus when evil attempts to appropriate Christianity. 
• There is no cross-pollination in Christianity.
• Melding the Godly with that which is ungodly is cross-contamination. Nothing good blooms from evil.
• We have authority over sin.

• Sometimes we find ourselves in need of prayer for a situation that is unfair and undeserved.
• Peter, like so many of us often do, needs God to move if there is to be any hope in this situation.
• Our confidence in God’s ability to bring about a needed outcome affects our serenity in the midst of stress.
• The goal is to be servants of Jesus and not consumers of Jesus.
• It’s important to take a moment to appreciate what God has done when you come to the realization of what he has done.
• Recognizing the work of God when it happens gives us strength when we don’t see him moving.
• Somebody testify!

• Sometimes the Light of the World cripples us to ensure we lose sight of our past.
• Ananias shows us that faith and courage go hand in hand.
• Faith in the place of fear makes room for those who are blinded to their sin to receive sight of the truth.
• Having faith in the place of fear leads to powerful life-altering testimonies.

• A single act of faithful servitude to the Lord can create change beyond what we can even comprehend.
• When our relationship with Christ is where it should be, He is the why.
• Following the Spirit is exciting.
• First, the Eunuch accepts Christ as his Savior.
• Secondly, the Eunuch continues his journey back home, rejoicing on his way.
• Third, there is now a joy-filled Gospel spreader of great means going back to the queen of Ethiopa's household.

• The only reason we get to witness the extraordinary in this moment is because of the obedience of the disciples.
• The disciples were worried about the restoration of a nation while Jesus was focused on the restoration of humanity. 
• This week I have wondered how many times I have missed the opportunity to change world, because I was focused on my will and not his. 
• The Holy Spirit is capable of equipping us for the extraordinary.
• The Spirit moves with purpose
• God can and will use you, where you are at, with what you have available, the Spirit will make up for any weakness that exists.

• The gifting of the Holy Spirit is the fulfillment of the promise that God will not leave us nor forsake us.
• Keeping his commandments comes with the promise of the Helper.
• We are promised an eternal presence who receives his power from God the Father. 
• The Spirit leads us to the truth in study and helps us discern the truth in the presence of confusion. 
• The Spirit testifies to us about Jesus.
• The Spirit convicts us of sin.
• The Spirit teaches us.
• The Spirit delivers specific instruction.
• The Spirit intercedes on our behalf.
• The Spirit gives us strength.
• The Spirit, having the very same authority as Jesus, gives confidence that Christ’s promise of peace is not wanting. 

• The introduction of Sin necessitated the coming of Christ.
• Everyone has sinned, and everyone falls short.
• Sin separates from God.
• To be justified means to be declared righteous.
• God made the free gift of salvation available to all people through the sacrifice of his son Jesus on the Cross. 
• Christ died for each and every one of us while we were still in love with sin.
• So Christ died in your place, for sins you committed, before you have ever thought about not committing them.
• Christ chose to die for you, but he chose to live for you as well.

• God’s motivation for evangelism begins and ends with His love for people. 
• Loving others like God does causes us to have compassion for them. 
• Our perspective on evangelism would change if we truly viewed others as lost sheep and not lost causes. 
• A Christ-like perspective comes from a Christ-centered life.

• The world is sick.
• The Gospel is the cure.
• We are called to be ambassadors of the Kingdom of God.
• We are all called to go and take the cure for sin to the world.
• God cares.
• We aren’t the authors of the message, we’re simply delivering it.
• We have a responsibility to the world around us.

• If your faith isn’t important enough for you to discuss, do you truly value your faith? 
• We have a Gospel message and it is worth delivering that message to others.
• People can't believe in a message that hasn't been delivered to them.
• We must walk the walk, so that people don’t automatically disregard what we have to say when we try to talk the talk.

• Our lives will either will either support or undermine our claims for Christ.
• We must always be prepared to share the hope we have in Christ. 
• Theologian Alexander McClaren states, “Only he who can say 'the Lord is the strength of my life' can go on to say, 'of whom shall I be afraid?'".
• Holding Christ in the proper regard removes the fear of promoting our faith.
• Any chance that we have to point others to Christ that is not taken pushes them closer to the entryway of hell.  
• Part of Christian life is facing persecution. Being above reproach is a necessity if we want our lives to testify to Christ. 
• Jesus washing feet ain’t about feet. It’s about setting a precedent of humility and servitude. 
• If you are about you, you aren’t about Jesus and people won’t see him in you. 
• Living a life of love and servitude, is living a life that is an offering to God. 

• The Church is the human representation of the kingdom of God. We talk about two different “churches” in Christianity, the global Church and the local church. The global Church is the body of Christ and encompassing all believers around the world. Together, we do the work of God’s Kingdom. The local church exists to provide a family of believers with fellowship, encouragement, accountability, strength, teaching for biblical instruction, and corporate worship. The local church is also called to be the hands and feet of Jesus in its local community, fulfilling the Great Commission. At CrossPoint, we seek to be a family that loves each other as Jesus loves us, living our lives as brothers and sisters, building each other up at every opportunity and growing in our relationship with God. Together we strive to serve our local community, both by supporting our mission partners and directly helping where we can.
• Church isn't a place, it's a people.
• Church is better when you are here.
• God has put the body together.
• Church is where the "one anothers" take place.

• The Lord’s Supper is the representation of Jesus’ final meal with His closest followers. As believers, we partake in the Lord’s Supper of bread and fruit of the vine, as Jesus did, which symbolize His broken body and blood spilt at the cross. When we do this, we do so in remembrance of Christ’s sacrifice. As Christians, this is also a time of reflection and self-examination of our relationship and standing with God. At CrossPoint, we invite all followers of Jesus to participate in the Lord’s Supper with us.
• The Lord's Supper isn't for everyone.
• The Lord’s Supper isn’t just some cracker and juice. This is sustainment, which comes through Christ taking our place in crucifixion.
• We partake in the Lord's Supper to remember Jesus.
• The Lord's Supper is a call to repentance. 

• Jesus submitted to baptism, signifying the beginning of His ministry. Likewise, He asks us to be baptized as a public profession of faith, as the next right step following Salvation. Believers are baptized by water in order to reflect the death, burial and resurrection of Christ. If you choose to be baptized at CrossPoint Fellowship, it occurs through full immersion.
• Baptism represents the rebirth that Jesus says is required in order to enter the kingdom of Heaven.
• By submitting to Baptism, we are following Jesus’ example.
• Baptism is a testimony to the power of God. 
• Baptism is a testimony that we can be cleansed.
• Baptism is a testimony that we are in right relationship with God.
• Every person that takes the step of faith into baptism tells the world the God is able, willing, and faithful to save.
• Baptism also testifies to Christ's work on the cross and in the grave.
• Every time someone submits to baptism, they tell the story of what Christ did on the cross.
• Baptism is the start of something, not the end.

• The Bible is the Word of God. The 66 books encompassed by the Old and New Testaments were all inspired by God to instruct and lead people to Him and to righteous living. Though multiple translations are available in multiple languages, God’s truth is made apparent to all people by guidance of the Holy Spirit through prayer and study. Therefore, the Bible is faultless and the highest physical authority to any believer and church. “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.”
• Paul was referring to the Scriptures before the revelation of Christ without forsaking the writings that we would consider Scripture today. 
• If not explicitly stated in the New Testament, the Old Testament is as authoritative as any word uttered by Christ. 
• If all Scripture is God-breathed, then it is without error and therefore cannot be ignored or cast aside.
• Scriptures, I would argue, were written by man but divinely inspired by God.

• All people have sinned and will sin. The due punishment for this rebellion against God is eternal death, which is separation from God. The only way to restore our relationship with God is by accepting the gift of grace, through faith, that Christ provided through His death and resurrection. Therefore, anyone who accepts this free gift by submitting their life to Christ, His teachings, and repenting from their sins, shall inherit eternal life.
• The Jews clung to their distinction from the rest of the world like Christians today cling to their distinction from the rest of the world. 
• We all sin. We can’t avoid sin. The wages of sin is death. Therefore we need salvation. 
• Salvation is a free gift of grace won for us on the cross by Jesus Christ, the son of God. 

• The Holy Spirit is the final person of the Trinity, God with us. The Spirit calls all people to repent of their sin and is gifted to everyone who has repented and surrendered their life to Jesus. Through the Spirit, God equips His believers and guides them to truth so they can fulfill the plan God has for them. As Christians, it is the presence of the Holy Spirit that gives us power, boldness, comfort, security, and resistance to sin.
• Those who submit themselves to Jesus receive the Spirit.
• One of the Spirit’s main roles is to convict believers and unbelievers of sin.
• The Spirit testifies to the true, real existence of Christ. 
• 1. The Spirit reveals the Truth.
• 2. The Spirit sustains us.
• 3. The Spirit instills confidence in us.
• 4. The Spirit gives us the Courage to fight the good fight.

• Jesus Christ, the Son, is God born as a man. He is the second person of the Trinity and the only way to salvation. Born of a virgin, He lived a perfect life. Through this perfect life and His willingness to take our punishment on the cross, He provided the only way for our sins to be forgiven. Through His resurrection, He conquered death, paving the way for eternal life with God. He now sits at the right hand of the Father where He mediates on our behalf until His promised return.
• Necessity dictates that Jesus be born of the Spirit by a virgin if he was to be the Son of God.
• God declares Christ the Son, but the gifting of his Spirit solidifies him as his equal. 
• Christ's perfection in the face of imperfection makes him the perfect and necessary sacrifice to allow him to be the atonement for sins.

• God the Father is the head of the Trinity and the creator of the universe. He is all powerful, all knowing, all loving and all wise. God is the foundation of love and truth. As His creation we are subject to His teaching, guidance and correction revealed through His Son, the Holy Spirit and His Scriptures. 
• Genesis establishes God as the beginning of all things. 
• Who better to lay out the guidelines for a creation than its creator.
• God’s reply to Moses speaks to His self-existence and all sufficiency.
• God is what you need Him to be when you need Him to be it.

• The original Greek for the words translated into "gave" and "loved", are both written in the Aorist Active Indicative. Which indicates actions undefined by time that are present and future occurring. 
• The love of Christ focuses on sacrifice and servitude.
• You are loved by God.
• One of the reasons people fail to believe that they are loved by God is that they haven’t been loved by God’s people.
• We genuinely desire others to experience and be changed by the love of God.

• Jesus is an eternal giver of joy.
• Jesus promises those who experience sorrow that it won't be a permanent condition.
• We experience joy because Jesus went to the cross to solidify our faith, and did so for our joy.
• Joy is a sign that salvation has taken place.
• The cure for discouragement is to find joy that can be had.
• “Happiness is an emotion, whereas joy is more of a state of being. When you are joyful it doesn’t mean you are always giddy or happy, but it means you can appreciate moments of happiness within the bigger context of life.” - Dr. Rebekkah Frunzac

• The first way that Jesus' peace is made present in our lives is through the restoration of relationships. 
• Our propensity to sin leads us to hurting each other. 
• When we realize that what’s most important is the connection we have to one another through our commonality of being loved by Christ, that which separates us disappears and is replaced with peace.
• The second thing that comes with Jesus' gift of peace is order and balance. 
• When the world is in Chaos, we are in Christ. 
• Jesus inspires peace in us by assuring our eternal destiny.
• Any peace obtained from worldly sources is temporary.

• The first great thing about receiving gifts is the anticipation.
• Jesus is our reason to hope in what otherwise feels like a hopeless situation.
• The second great thing about gifts is realizing what you have received.
• This is the hope we have in Jesus - that we can approach Jesus while crippled by sin.
• We can experience grace and forgiveness. And leave his presence forever changed.
• A good present is one that lasts.
• Hope in Christ is hope unwasted.

• We have no right to be angry with God for being God.
• Too many of us get upset because others experience the goodness of God which we so willingly accept ourselves.
• God, slow to anger, seeks to reason with Jonah rather than punish him.
• Too often our anger stems from our affection being directed in the wrong places. 
• We get upset about others receiving blessings that we don’t think they deserve while ignoring the blessings we have received that we didn’t deserve either.

• There is no running from God's command on your life.
• We have no control over how people respond to the message God calls us to deliver, but that doesn’t lessen our responsibility to deliver it.
• We see that repentance is marked by response and reaction.
• Leaders lead in word and deed.
• God's heart is that all repent and none be punished.

• The natural reaction to finding ourselves in the belly of the whale would be to ask for deliverance, but Jonah’s prayer was one of thanksgiving.
• Circumstances often lead us to repentance and renewal. 
• God often uses less than ideal circumstances to solidify our deliverance. 
• Lay your trials at the feet of the Father, follow the feet of the Son, and trust the feat of the Holy Spirit.

• Pray
• Listen to God
• Don’t run from God
• Care for others

• Major discussions should be approached in accord with other believers through prayer and petition. 
• Sometimes there's no wrong choice.
• Both fame and failure are from the Lord.
• We find success in one another.

• No matter what barriers or obstacles we place in Jesus’ way, he can still find his way into the center of our lives.
• In the midst of chaos, he is here to bring peace.
• It's easy to believe when the results are tangible.
• But real faith expresses belief in that which the Spirit leads us to know is true.

• Each of us must know the true identity of Jesus if we seek to follow him faithfully.
• To truly know Christ is to be blessed.
• It would seem that it is possible to be both foundational and faltering.

• They certainly didn't have all the answers. But they had hope, they were willing, and they were faithful.
• We can’t let the fear of rejection prohibit our message from being delivered. Nor can we let rejection change our message in any way. 
• We can't let what might happen influence what can happen. 

• From the lowest of blue-collar workers to the white-collar criminals, Jesus is truly for everyone. 
• We show more about our connection to Christ in the way we accept a new brother or sister into the family of God than by years of religious deeds.
• No, we must only be concerned that people find the forgiveness which may be offered to them once repentance is made.

• Sometimes we fail not because we are doing the wrong thing, but because we are doing it without Jesus.
• Listening to Jesus is a path to success in the face of data that success will not be had.
• When people finally realize that Jesus is the real deal, they have a hard time believing it and they feel unworthy.

• There will always be people who will seek to find fault in the faultless.
• Let's give them nothing to talk about.
• What if all they could come up with are false claims and frail arguments?
• No matter what is before us, our relationship with God is off limits.
• The Truth will out.
• Character wins over misrepresentation every time. 

• We must provide others with the confidence that their honesty will not be met with hostility. 
• We can deliver hard truths in a way that lends itself to compassion.
• God's judgment can be averted by repentance.
• Change doesn't happen overnight and God doesn't expect it to.
• Even when we fail, restoration is never off of the table.

• Oftentimes doing things that are right by God means doing things we are ordered not to do.
• We must be willing to lose all that we have gained for what is right. 
• We must be willing to go from being praised to pariah. 

• Nebuchadnezzar was attempting to prepare these men for positions of responsibility but their success came because they were being prepared by God.
• God doesn’t just give you what you need to survive, he gives you what you need to thrive. 
• In the face of certain death, Daniel sought like-minded believers and the intervention of God.

• You are who your actions say you are.
• It’s easy to seek God when our provision is pint-sized and far more difficult when our provision is plentiful.
• Faith and logic aren't always at odds. 
• Honoring God never results in having egg on your face. 

• When we realize and accept that when we are left alone to our own devices, we are on the losing side of righteousness, then God can use us. 
• The preparation for your calling is on you - God will take care of it.
• God’s calling is for you to purposefully use your story to help influence how others write theirs. 
• Knowing God is all we need for success.
• Faith says I don’t need to know the exact outcome to know that God will make it a successful one. 
• Knowing God is accomplished by knowing his Scripture.

• You can have immense faith, which leads you into the wilderness, and be willing to go wherever God calls you. You can give others hope in the face of certain destruction and perform miracles in God’s name. You can defend the faith against all outside forces who seek to destroy it… And still be touched by depression. 
• 4 factors present in depression: Fear, Failure, Fatigue, Futility
• You are not your feelings. You are who God says you are. 
• Isolation is desolation and desolation leads to destruction. 

• Outside of Jesus, God has never called anyone to do anything who hadn’t experienced a giant L. 
• Understand that God will often use you not only in spite of your shortcomings, but because of them.
• It’s not about who you were on your journey before Christ stopped you in your tracks. It’s who you become after that point that matters. 
• Your past isn’t a weapon wielded against you. It has been turned into a gift to help you reach others who have the same struggles. 

• We set ourselves up for failure when we value the opinion of others more than we value the opinion of God.
• God cares more about substance than style, and we should do the same. 
• God equips the called. He doesn’t necessarily call the equipped. 
• We are who God says we are.
• We are only defined by sin if we remain in sin and allow it to be our identity.
• David was afraid of losing God’s presence, while Saul was afraid of losing God’s favor.

• We need Jesus.
• We are losers.
• God loves us.
• To be Christ-like requires daily effort.

• All of humanity was intended to be the Family of God.
• Due to our sin, God required a new plan - God elected Abraham.
• The Family of God, through Abraham, was to outnumber the stars in the sky and be a blessing to all nations and families of Earth. Israel could not accomplish this. A messiah was needed.
• Christ is the redeemer.
• No longer is the Family of God restricted to just Israel.
• Through the blood of Christ, spilled at the cross, we are brought back into the Family of God. That means ALL people.

• The family of God is often divided between those who were chosen and those who were not chosen. 
• Just because you are non-elect does not mean you are outside of God's mercy.

• Election is not absent of faith or action.
• Throughout Scripture we see that salvation always comes through our connection with others.
• We follow God's will through faith and participation in a community rooted deeply in forgiveness and surrender.
• When things start to go wrong, it's typically because we have failed to trust in God and work outside the family. 

• When we fail to adhere to the design God intends for us, it leads to destruction.
• It's not just about abstaining from violence, it's about respecting God's word and sovereignty.
• Instead of honoring God, this was an act of rebellion.
• God’s command for unity isn’t a command for a lack of diversity, but to supersede our differences in favor of togetherness.

• God’s original intention wasn’t that His creation just survive - it was that they thrive. 
• When this relationship exists as it should, society prospers because it is in the design of God. 
• Gen 2:24
• Naturally, humans as creation will come together.
• We have a responsibility to lead others into life and not death. 

• Jesus's movement knows no bounds. It was and is the most culturally diverse and ethnically inclusive religious movement ever. 
• The diversity of the Church is a reason to hope. 
• Diversity does not weaken the family of God - it only makes us stronger.
• Christians have more in common with someone who is “inconceivably poor” on the other side of the world and believes in Jesus than with someone from their own location, economic status, and political party who do not believe in Jesus. -Wise Man or Woman in the Era of Twitter
• In order to recognize the fullness of the family of God, we must learn about, appreciate, and take from Christianity as it exists in other cultures. 

• The giving of our bodies is an act of worship in which we give back to God what he has paid for with the blood of Christ.
• The general measuring stick for life success is others. But as renewed beings, our success is measured against how well we conform to God’s plan for our life.
• Sober-minded persons are able to view themselves as part of God’s plan and not the author of it.
• The beauty of the body of Christ is that it celebrates diversity.

• We will never change lives if our focus is on how we differ from others rather than how we all differ from Scripture.
• If you are making a choice in an earnest attempt to honor the Lord, and the choice you are making isn’t prohibited by Scripture, what matters isn’t what I feel about your choice. You are accountable to the Lord only. 
• We take time away from winning souls to win arguments - and that's gross.
• Mindfulness and weakness do not equate.
• When you are with a fellow believer who holds a strong belief, to disregard their feelings in favor of your liberty because you don’t have the same convictions is sinful.

• We must be anguished at the rejection of the Gospel in order to be bold enough to share it with the world. 
• The reason we often don’t feel as if we experience this isn’t the value of the promise - it’s guaranteed. It’s because of our failure to place our faith in the promiser.
• Mercy is God’s to give, not ours to receive.
• Judgment falling on those who turn a blind eye to God’s call for obedience is righteous.

• We have justification through faith in Jesus’ death and resurrection.
• Baptism is a naming ceremony.
• A life empowered by the reality of the new covenant with Christ and a life that reflects the values of Christ.
• Sanctification is becoming like Christ through our union with Him.
• Sin has lost its dominion over you.
• Through Christ we gain wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption.

• Faith and righteousness are synonymous in that one cannot be obtained without the other. 
• Regardless of how hard we try, we continuously fall short of the mark set for us by God. 
• The ransom payment was the literal blood of Christ, and it paid for our sins. 
• Not only did Christ die for you, he rose for you too. 
• Christ didn’t come just to forgive your sins. He came so that you might conquer them.

• God's condemnation is the natural consequence of ignoring his existence and righteousness. 
• The lie we believe is that humans can be self-fulfilled, self-reliant and have no need for God.
• Anytime we live outside of God’s design for us, we sin. 
• There are no excuses for sin.
• God's judgment is based on three things: truth, impartiality and the example of Christ.
• We face God's judgment based on what we do more than what we know or proclaim.

• Genuine love reflects the Father's love and it is the fruit that Christians must bear.
• We have to be brave enough to call a sin a sin. Not to do so is the opposite of loving and it destroys the purpose of God's love, which is to bring us into right relationship with him.
• When we love one another with brotherly affection, we follow Christ’s example of loving sacrificially.
• Too many of us serve a God whose love is based in accepting our will. That’s a false God.
• When we are persecuted for our principles, we return their curse with a blessing. 
• Without empathy, harmony is non-existent.
• The Bible's literal advice is to kill them with kindness.

• The entirety of Christian living can be summed up in two things - loving God and loving others.
• We can’t love God wholly and completely if we have placed something before him. 
• Obedience is the only thing we have to offer in return for all he has done for us.
• Real love stands the test of time.

- A hardened heart closes reasonable ears. 

- Serve the Lord by supporting your husband's God-given place of authority.

- Husbands are called to sacrifice for their wives in the same way that Christ did for the church. 

- The goal, husbands, is to live, love, and lead in such a way, that our wives don’t have to plug their noses as they serve the Lord by submitting to our leadership. 

- God hates abuse.

- We teach our children how to treat us based on how we treat our parents. And we teach our children how to raise their children by how we raise them.

• Christ's love begins at the cross.
• Our ability to love one another is a sign of our salvation.
• Christ lived in a way that refused exaltation. This allowed him to love in a way that made exaltation possible for others.
• He lived a life that was not his own, so that we might reap what we could not sew - the righteousness of God.

• A single question has the power to change the world.
• Our neighbor is the one who loves us when others would leave us. 
• Too many of us are concerned with others receiving what they deserve, when Christ ensured that we would never have to be in that situation. 

• Humility allows us to show appreciation for the love of others. 
• Paul had needs. What he had lost was his anxieties. 
• Anxiety says "What am I going to do about this situation"? Faith says "I know God is working in this situation."
• It’s one thing to say that God is in control. To live that way is an accomplishment.
• Humility allows Christians to find equilibrium in the imbalance of life.

• The pinnacle of spiritual maturity can only be obtained when humility is perfected.
• Humility allows us to find joy in the pursuit of Christ while refusing to rest on past accomplishments or be discouraged by past failures.
• To rest on what we have done well is to rely on our own merit. To allow past failures to consume us and slow our progress is to ignore God's grace. 

• Circumstances should never influence our influence on others.
• An attitude of humility allows a believer to experience a faith of longevity.
• In our humility, we know that no human accomplishment is worthy of boasting.
• All of us can find something to boast about. But humility will not allow us to misjudge our own righteousness. 
• Humility recognizes that Christ is greater than anything we ourselves can provide.

• We live in a world shrouded with darkness.
• We are to be lights in this world of darkness.
• What is light for the believer? Jesus.
• We follow and obey Jesus because that’s the only way to reflect the light of Christ.
• We are to stand strong and unyielding in our faith and devotion to Christ so that the world might not be swallowed by darkness.

• Humble Christians seek unity with the body of Christ.
• By definition, a Bible believing, God-fearing, Christ-loving Christian is humble. 
• A spirit of pride in human relationships indicates a lack of humility before God.
• Christ wasn’t held to the cross by the nails in his hand and feet. It was his humility that kept him there in your place.

• Humble Christians are more concerned with spiritual deliverance than physical deliverance. 
• It seems that humility exists in us because we are faithful. And that because we are faithful, we are able to approach life with humility.
• A humble Christian’s purpose for living isn’t to glorify themselves, but to ensure that Christ be glorified in and through them.
• Humble Christians put others' needs before their own desires.
• As Christians, living for Christ and one another only succeeds if we see the other as more significant than ourselves. 

• Humility allows us to see life's tragedies as learning opportunities. 
• Humble Christians will share those stories in an attempt to help others. 
• Humiliated Christians will hide their hurts in hopes that the shame will remain hidden. 
• Humble Christians put the advancement of the Gospel before anything else. 

• Humility begins with seeing ourselves as servants of Jesus Christ.
• Humility continues with an earnest desire to see others flourish.
• A humble Christian also gives thanks and shows appreciation for others. 
• A humble Christian is made better and not bitter by their circumstances.
• Humble Christians don't let their circumstances affect the way they value others. 
• Humble Christians don't worry about the perception of others because they aren't living for their approval.

• If we are not people of peace, Christ will not be seen in us.
• Our goal should be to live in such a way that the only way we offend others is by sharing the good news and great joy that Christ has come.

• Light may cast a shadow, but its purpose is to illuminate.
• Faith is a prerequisite for the gift of grace.
• We rest spiritually with Christ where he rests physically, in Heaven.
• We can have confidence that our salvation is finalized at the point of faith, because of what Christ accomplished on the cross. 

• Faith is the proper response to experiencing the love which justifies our hope. 
• In Bethlehem, there is a place referred to as Migdal Eder, which literally means “Tower of the Flock”.
• Nothing says "I believe" more than a willingness to share. 
• You have a story of how you were introduced to Jesus and how he changed your life. This is the season to share.
• You may not think you have anything to offer others but, for someone, your story is the one that’s going change their whole world. 

• Everything that we place our hope in fails to love us, but the Lord in whom we place our hope loves us perfectly.
• Christ came so that you might realize hope and experience love.

• Jesus is our reason to hope.
• The Gospel thrives because hope was born in a manger.
• My hope cannot be extinguished.
• My hope is not reliant on circumstance.
• My hope is in the Lord.

• Our best ability is our availability.
• Church members love one another as family.
• Church members put each other first even if it comes at their own expense.
• Church members serve the Lord above all else and do so diligently and enthusiastically.
• Church members push through times of struggle and frustration to make the church into something better than it is.

• Being a church member is not just about being inside the building. It’s about what’s taking place in the building.
• Encouragement is worth the price of admission. 
• The more you miss church, the less you miss church, and the more you feel amiss in church.
• The Great Commission is an instruction that the individual is responsible for, but that is nearly impossible to fulfill without the church. 
• We need the fellowship of believers.

• When should you become a member of a church?
• When you are a believer.
• When you feel led.
• When you have a connection.
• When you feel you can serve.

• Church members support the ministry financially. 
• This tithe, like our tithe, is an act of obedience to God and Scripture.
• Giving should be proportional to each one's earnings.
• When you aren't contributing what you are able to in church, you're allowing someone else to fund your experience and to pay your way. 
• You should not give out of compulsion or guilt, but out of a love for the Lord. 
• God's math always works out. 

• The strength of our relationship with God can be seen in our ability to express faith in a state of heartbrokenness.
• Only through Christ can death unlock new life.
• Jesus wept.
• Christ isn't bound by human constraints.
• Jesus is calling you out of your grave.

• Why do we work so hard for perishable gain?
• Christ makes it abundantly clear. If we look at the character of God and the character of Christ it should be no surprise: God’s gift (his providence) is just that, a gift.
• So often we beg God for signs as if our current state of blessing isn’t enough.
• Part of the reason our blessing isn’t proof enough is because we don’t credit God with what’s been given.
• Will you believe?

• Christ isn’t concerned with that which would separate you from him. He instead focuses on how he might bring you into the fold. 
• We seek fulfillment from a broken world. We should be seeking for fulfillment from a perfect Savior.
• Jesus knows everything about her. 
• You don't have to be rid of your mess to be loved by the Messiah. 

• The rebirth isn't reincarnation. The rebirth is regeneration.
• Repentance is the prerequisite for regeneration by the Spirit.
• Being born into sin is not a reason to continue to live in sin. 
• This gift is not to be earned, but to be given. All we need to do is receive it. 
• Just because he didn't come to condemn man, doesn't mean that he won't.

• Traditions aren't a bad thing.
• Church isn't about what we have to offer but what God has to offer. 
• It's better to die because of the truth than live for the fanfare.

• John knows exactly who he is and he can explain it to those questioning him.
• John’s testimony tells who Jesus is.
• God gave us our story / testimony to be shared.
• God paid for our whole story because it gives him glory. Don’t rob him of his glory.
• His grace has already defeated that which we are ______ to share. Our past has no power over us anymore.

• The Word is eternal.
• The Word gives life.
• The Word dispels darkness.
• It’s through his light that our sin is revealed to us and if we chose to receive him, it is through his light that darkness is stamped out of us. 
• That which can’t be seen but only heard took human form.
• Existing out of the Father, He is the epitome of grace and truth.
• Christ is the Word of God personified. 
• John viewed Jesus as the epitome of Godliness.
• This signifies that Scripture as it is written can be trusted as reliable. 

• In order for guidance to be effective, we have to have the trust of those we are advising.
• Great teammates aren't in it for them. They're in it for the success of others and they offer guidance with that in mind. 
• Guidance from a trusted source inspires others to take chances.
• Guidance in strong team relationships is reciprocal.

• Large undertakings require an “all hands on deck” approach.
• Don't forget the encouragement along the way.
• Sometimes an "all hands on deck" approach requires you to have your hands in multiple areas.

CrossPoint has taught me:

• All about sin
• All about Scripture
• All about time
• All about serving
• All about prayer

• As teammates we must have each others' backs.
• Good teammates have delicate conversations about unknown conflict.
• Good teammates are willing to have tough conversations they don't want to have.
• Good teammates have conversations on behalf of their teammates.

• The start of good teamwork begins with the self-realization of weaknesses.
• A weakness only remains a weakness if we refuse to acknowledge its existence. 
• Lack of confidence or ability is not an excuse for inaction when God is calling you to move.
• Accept others' strengths, especially in your area of weakness.

• The only way to ignore the power of God is to willfully claim ignorance.
• Just as God once worked on behalf of his people, he continues in power and might to work on behalf of his people. 
• We can question. We can wonder why. We can desire and ask for change. But in the end, we can express faith in the face of fear.

• Just because you can, doesn’t mean that you should.
• Godly people aren't intentionally intimidating.
• Godly people don't intentionally harm others for their own security.
• Godly people don't build empires off the blood, sweat, and tears of others.
• Godly people don't objectify people for their pleasure.
• Godly people don't worship their self-made idols. 

• We can ask God to act on our behalf, but we don't always get to choose how the action takes place.
• When the walls are closing in, are you faithful or fearful?
• We can not see the whole picture, but still have faith that God will paint it beautifully.

• Often, we can’t see what God is doing because we aren’t looking beyond our current circumstances to see what is actually taking place.
• Instead, we tend to become hyper focused on the trial.
• Which leads us down the path of anxiety, depression, and exasperation at our circumstances. 
• This is the ideal, not standard practice. 
• Justice prevails.
• Sometimes we are too close to a situation to see beyond it in the now. 
• Be careful what you wish for.

• It’s okay to question God (with the right attitude) when he seems to be silent.
• Genuine concern is different than reverent accusation.

• One way that we can accomplish overcoming our ego is by leaning on God for wisdom.
• Pursuing God with our ego admits that God's way is better than our own.
• The wise see wisdom as a gift from God.
• Choosing the wisdom of God is the right choice.
• Wisdom doesn't exist in you if it isn't accompanied by humility.
• The pursuit of wisdom is the pursuit of Christ. 

• We are saved by faith, but our works testify to our faith. This follows Christ's example, and shows the world our connection to God, and brings glory to him.
• You give of your time, talents, and wealth
• My money is not my own, my house is not my own, my family is not my own, my occupation is not my own, my abilities aren’t my own.
• These are gifts that I have been blessed with through which I can pursue and serve God.
• How we give is as important as what we give. Everyone can give at different levels. And that changes throughout life. The attitude with which you give doesn’t have to change.
• In the end pursuing God with our works is about answering the call when he dials our number.

Why should we pray? 

1. It follows Christ's example.
2. Forgiveness. 
3. For strength and perseverance. 

How should we Pray?

1. With confidence. 
2. With purpose. 

When should we pray? Always.

• Time is the only finite resource we have
• How do we prioritize our time? How does God’s work being eternal affect what we do?
• God is the only one who can take what we do and give it lasting purpose
• There is not a priority list of “how much time do we spend with God or doing Christian things” - rather everything we spend our time on, both the required and voluntary, we should do in the pursuit of Christ.
• Our time is not only limited by our mortality
• Christ will return again, suddenly and without warning, so the time to pursue God is now, because we truly are not guaranteed later

• If we want to pursue Christ, we must pursue the Word of God.
• If we want to know Christ, if we want to be like Christ, if we want answers, Scripture is here for the job. 
• Scripture allows us to fight against the assault of the enemy by counteracting his lies with God's truth. 
• The Word is a revealer of truth. 

• Pursuing Christ requires courage and conviction.
• Pursuing Christ means making Him your number one priority.
• The results of an earnest pursuit of Christ are guaranteed.

• The cross paid our debts for wrongdoing, but his resurrection allows us to live and to thrive. 
• Christ died for those that betrayed him. He died for those that denied him. And he died for you and for me. 

• God's commands are centered around creating harmony between believers and himself. 
• Following God's commands are sacrificial, but when you love someone, a sacrifice is a pleasure and not a problem.
• If you struggle with being certain of your faith, look no further than your victory.
• It's not wrong to question your faith. It's wrong to not answer your questions.

• Love is a product of the indwelling of the Spirit.
• One cannot know the fullness of God outside of the parameters of Love.
• Everything we innately want from love can be realized in Jesus.
• No one has ever seen God. But if we love others, like he has loved us, then they will see God in you.
• God never leaves us. Us staying in him is a direct sign that the Spirit is in us.

• We must ensure that before we commit something to our hearts that it is in line with God's truth. 
• True confession is accompanied by fruit. 
• For a person's spirit to be of God, their life must testify to the sincerity of their words. 
• Christians who become familiar with the source have an easier time avoiding what the world speaks to them.
• Where the Spirit of the Lord is there is peace, which occurs in the form of freedom.

• In our sin we cannot be jealous of others' righteousness.
• Being hated shouldn't surprise us. Being hated by a believer should. 
• To hate is to murder, to murder is to sin, to sin is to die. 
• A believer cannot live in excess while their fellow Christian struggles to survive.
• Christians can calm their natural (sinful) hearts by participating in real acts of love. By doing so, they can find rest in God.

• Have you changed for the better? Have others seen change in you?
• People shouldn't recognize the new you. 
• No one who is a Child of God sins freely. 
• Those who pass the Christological test are influencers. They aren't influenced.
• If God's Seed is in you, righteousness will bloom and thrive in your life. 

• Love for the world breeds corruption of the heart. 
• It's not sinful to want, it’s not sinful to have, it’s not sinful to achieve, but if we do so at the expense of our relationship with God, then we have loved the world and that is sinful.
• Like the game of telephone, the farther you get away from the original message, the more corrupted it becomes. 
• To deny Christ, while using Christ as the justification for your denial, makes you an antichrist. 

• If we truly want to lead others to confession, and therefore lead them to Christ, seeing ourselves in their story increases the probability of it being important to us.
• A Christian who never asks his Heavenly Father for forgiveness of his sins cannot claim to be sensitive to the ways in which they grieve the Father.
• Forgiveness comes when confession is accompanied by true remorse.
• Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death

• God is identical to light.
• Our natural state is darkness.
• Thinking that perfection is what God demands of you alone demeans the gift of Christ. 

- When things are good or when things are bad, it’s important that we use our memories to keep us where we should be or return us to where we should go.

- Once you’ve been in the presence of the brightest light, everything seems dim by comparison.

- The potential for God's blessing is always present.

- What is and what isn't largely rest on decision making.

• It's not the temple, but what's inside the temple that matters.
• We can't focus so much on material wealth that we miss out on lasting riches. 
• Peace isn't about a life free from conflict or pain. Peace is found when the pieces of our life form together to create the beautiful masterpiece God is trying to paint from our lives. 
• Where the Glory of the Lord is, there is peace. Peace is the freedom from worldly expectations or standards.

• Empowerment is given to us when obedience is given to him.
• When God calls, we must respect his word, and do the work. 
• Sometimes obedience requires us to give up what we feel entitled to. 
• Recognize where you have made an error and correct, because it's not too late.

• A Leader is anyone with the willingness to hold others accountable and inspire action when complacency is present.
• Leaders lead in word and in deed.
• Leaders deliver uncomfortable truths.
• Leaders point out areas where corrections are necessary.
• The best leaders don't lead in a bubble. 
• God's people are those who make time for him.
• Make sure God receives more than excuses from you. 

• Christ came so that we might obtain life through him. That can only happen through his death. 
• Christ was born to die.
• The world has seen no greater act of love than what Christ did on the cross.

• The first step in anyone's faith journey is being given the opportunity to explore Christ.
• Christ is the realization of faith.
• Christ is the reward for faith.

• When we focus on things outside of our control, we take time away from things that we could actually influence. 
• Faith protects what’s inside, the self, and one’s soul. Love fights to protect that which is outside, others.
• Don’t get so distracted in what you are doing, that you lose sight of what others are accomplishing as well.
• When peace is possible, it should be chosen.
• Give thanks out of faith not feelings.

• Sanctification is the process by which an entity is brought into relationship with or attains that which is holy.
• Holiness is the state of being in which you find yourself separated from sin.
• The Christian experiences sin just like everyone else but we have a loving obligation to our God, which requires us not to act on it like everyone else.
• Unmeasured passion has no place in the Christian walk.
• Our words, actions, decisions, and thought processes must all be bridled by our desire to ensure that what we say, do, and think is pleasing to God.

As co-workers of Christ, we are called to strengthen and encourage others’ faith.

Prayer is a powerful way to show other in your life that you value them.

Trials are not necessarily signs of God's disfavor - they could be a part of your Christian legacy.

Together we can fill in the gaps that each other is missing.

Identify our message and its source. 

Don't corrupt the message. 

Identify the motives. 

Are you a source of gratitude or a source of grief?

Does you life testify to the Triad?

Faith is not produced by works but works are certainly a byproduct of faith.

True Love persists through hardship.

Don't make an offer you aren't ready to fulfill. 

Battles can only be considered lost when you learn nothing from them.

With God's grace, suffering, partnered with perseverance of faith, will benefit us more than it can harm us.

Our actions show others that we have changed.

Don’t let the battle leave you brainless. 

If we only have integrity when people haven't caused us offense, then we have favoritism. Treat those who have offended you with the same favor as those who have not. 

The midst of a battle is no time for an “I told you so.”

See past the now, so you can get to the wow. 

Don't lie to protect people’s feelings.

Doing what's right is always better than doing whatever it takes.

Faith allows for integrity in the face of trials.

1) We all need to be in agreement that disagreements are okay.

2) Everyone on a team has the right to express their opinion.

3) Team Members must give each other the benefit of the doubt.

We have to see, know, understand, and have faith that our teammates are seeking to make us better - we can’t take disagreements as an attack. Encouraging differences in opinion brings success to the team - and when the team finds success, we all succeed.

1. Always have someone to minister to Children and Youth, to make them a priority.
2. Second to have a strong presence in our small group settings.
3. To regularly lead people into relationships with Christ.