Author: Tyler West

Love Like Jesus #3 “Breaks Bread”

Ever just feel isolated? Like Castaway with Wilson Isolated? It’s a miserable place to be isn’t it? It’s like the whole weight of the world falls on your shoulders! It often leaves you feeling hopeless, helpless and without worth! God knew that we would get this way when He created us…so He’s constantly been with us so that in Him we have hope, strength and worth! From The Garden of Eden God has been pursuing community with us! And what better picture than to see what Jesus shows good community to look like?

John 15:1-17  Luke 22:20-34

Why is Christian Community Important?

Community                                                   No Community
Prunes (John 15:1)                                      Thrown Away (John 15:6)
Nurtures (John 15:9)                                   Withers (John 15:6)
Multiplies (John 15:5,16)                            Burned (John 15:6)
Invites & Invests (John 15:10-12)              Isolates & Consumes (John 15:18-25)

How Do I know if I’m In Good Christian Community?

1. I meet regularly with a committed group of people
2. I am challenged to take next steps in Christ with a committed group of people
3. I regularly take next steps in Christ with a committed group of people (better than when I started)
4. I am real with a committed group of people…they know my secret & they still believe the best in me
5. I serve with a committed group of people and make an impact greater than myself alone
6. I invite others in that don’t look like me, talk like me, or walk like me…but are worth the connection

Let’s Look at Jesus at the Passover Supper (Communion) Luke 22:20-34

• Jesus knew His best friends were about to betray, deny and abandon Him–He still decides to break bread with them one last time before He goes to the Cross.
• In truth Jesus tells the Disciples what they will do & yet challenges them to their next step in building the Church. He even tells them to shed Satan’s attempts to bring them away.
• He spent His ministry outside of the Temple with people who didn’t look like, talk like or even walk like Him…yet He still invites us all in!
• He reminds them that what they are doing is bigger than this moment…it’s for eternity

Take Away:
What are you doing right now that’s causing relationships to deepen? What are you doing that’s keeping them from deepening?

What are some things you do instead of spending time in community? Are they worth it?

Who do you know who’s lacking community? How can we help others to find community?

Interested in More About Our Thursday Night Bible Study: CLICK HERE

Love Like Jesus Week #2

Certain things gross me out—not washing your hands in the bathroom, or touching food without washing your hands, pet hair in the food you cook. If I could widdle it down to one thing…when you’re with me please wash your hands. And spit on the Birthday Cake from “blowing out the Candles”…leaves me praying for the Rapture :D! Yet if it’s someone I love, it doesn’t cross my mind! If we are totally honest, we will do some pretty gross things for those we love (parents changing a diaper is such a good example of getting dirty for those we love)! Jesus was no different! Enter the Passover Feast with His best friends…then He does the weirdest thing—He washes their feet!

John 13:1-17  Luke 22:7-28

Jesus Washed their Feet To Show:

1. It’s NOT ABOUT ME
   • Imagine being Jesus here…you are about to go to the Cross, you’re with your best friends and instead of cherishing the last few moments with you…they fight over who is going to be the greatest Luke 22:24
   • So Jesus steps in, puts a towel on His waist on washes the Disciples feet John 13:4-5
   • Jesus steps up and says “I’ve got this…I’m not only going to tell them to serve, I’m going to show them”.
2. I’m NOT AFRAID of Your MESS John 13:6-12
   • Jesus knew His friends were about to betray, deny and abandon Him & His last act wasn’t how to get even…instead He came down to them, met them right where they were and cleaned once of the messiest (grossest) parts of the human body.
   • The significance of washing feet in the Jewish culture was that when guests came to your house for a meal, a servant would wash their feet before they enjoyed the meal. For Levite Priests, they had to clean themselves before they could go to the Altar of Burnt Offering (so they had to be clean before they could partake in keeping others clean…don’t miss that!)
   • I imagine Jesus was praying for each one of them as He washed their feet! How powerful that a King would humble Himself to come down to meet us in the midst of our nastiest mess. What if Jesus was cleaning their feet to prepare them for their next step?
3. SERVING Is How You SHOW ME To The WORLD John 13:13-17 Luke 22:25-28
   • When Jesus explains He explains that when we want to truly show Him to the world we serve. He explains He came here to serve…not to be served!
   • Want to make your life better? SERVE, Want to make your marriage better? SERVE,
     Want to make your business better? SERVE, Want to make your family life better? SERVE
     Want to Change the World for Eternity’s Sake? SERVE

Take Away:
Compare times in your life where you’ve been more and less involved in service. What patterns do you notice?

Who has Jesus placed in your life that He’s called you to serve regardless of the mess? What steps can you take to serve them this week?

Interested in More About Our Thursday Night Bible Study: CLICK HERE

Love Like Jesus #1 “Forgives”

If we are truly honest there are some things in our lives that make us just a little upset…and other things that send us through the roof with anger. The emotions are rising up in us as we think about them right now. Many of us can say those emotions and anger come from abuse, neglect, betrayal. I mean how could we ever forgive someone who did that us? When we don’t forgive it’s like driving down the interstate with our emergency brake on…yeah we may get to where we need to be but it’s going to take a lot longer & involve a lot of frustration! When we love like Jesus, we are compelled to forgive because we were first forgiven.

Facts about Forgiveness:

1. FORGIVEN People FORGIVE People Matthew 18:21-22 ; Colossians 3:13
   • SEVEN is the number of Completion in the Bible! So Jesus not only told Peter to forgive completely…He said to forgive continually
   • Forgiveness is not a one time decision…it’s a choice made daily
   • Forgiveness can not be earned but only received! Only you can forgive…that thing/person isn’t going to ask you for forgiveness, you have to make the choice to forgive them
2. FORGIVENESS is the KEY TO FREEDOM Matthew 18:23-27 ; Matthew 6:14-15
   • We seek fairness we want revenge to those who hurt us! We’ve played out many scenarios in our heads where those who have done us harm get payback…but the Fair is where we ride rides—not so with our God! If our God was fair none of us would have a chance at a relationship with Him, because none of us in fairness deserve it.
   • The debt mentioned in this passage is equal to 200,000 years of labor (a denari, or bag of gold, is worth 20 years a day laborers salary). HUGE Debt that was amassed!
   • In this part of the story, if we have a relationship with Jesus, we are the servant who gets a debt he could never fully repay cancelled. If we don’t have a relationship with Jesus we are the servant trying in our power to pay off a debt we never could without the help of the Master.
   • When we forgive others we set ourselves and them free. Imagine what life is like not having to prove anything, but getting to live in all that Jesus made you to be—that’s FREEDOM!
3. FORGIVENESS always bears FRUIT Matthew 18:28-35 ; Luke 23:34
   • The story takes a strange turn…when the one who has been forgiven refuses to forgive others he is put in a prison with a penalty he could never repay on his own. His freedom is gone. Unforgiveness = Unfruitfulness
   • Jesus knows what it’s like to be Betrayed (The Last Supper), Abandoned (The Garden of Gethsemane), Denied (Peter at His trial) and still had to look on as the hands He made slapped Him, Mocked Him, Spit on Him and hung Him on a Cross to die a Sinner’s Death! Yet through all of that Jesus still says “Father Forgive Them”. He then still loved us enough to not stay dead but leave an empty tomb so that we can have life.
   • I know what you are going through still hurts, and the pain is unbearable…give it to Jesus and let Him work through it in you. The First step is accepting Jesus’ forgiveness for you, forgiving those that have hurt you and keeping your eyes on Jesus

Take Away:
Have you ever received unexpected forgiveness? What was that like?

Is there anyone you still need to forgive? How will you take action instead of waiting for your feelings to change?

Interested in More About Our Thursday Night Bible Study: CLICK HERE

Stay Positive #5 “I’m Confident”

Think back to when you were small! Wasn’t great believing you could fly? And then…Middle School (or High School or College for some)…something happened! The confidence faded as our insecurities grew! Little do we know that our insecurities keep us from following dreams! When we come to the moment that it isn’t our personal confidence but God confidence to live out immeasurably more than we can ask or imagine we flip the board and step right into all God made us to be!

How To Live With God Confidence! Realize:

1. I Am LOVED John 3:16
   • God is Love! The Bible from Genesis to Revelations show us of God’s Love for us
   • Often we get stuck believing this because we see our circumstance and how we measure up to man instead of who God sees us to be!
2. I Am CHILD OF THE KING Romans 8:15
   • Jesus didn’t just come to die for our sins, rise on the 3^rd and then leave us! He instead came to earth to allow us to be a part of the Family in Heaven (Any one else remember the old Hymn “I’m so glad I’m a part of the Family of God” :D)
   • Through Christ alone we are adopted into the Family! No matter what circumstance you walk through today that has you feeling all by yourself, know if Christ we are never alone.
3. I Am BLESSED Genesis 15:1-6 ; Jeremiah 29:11
   • In Christ we are promised a hope and a future! Even when we can’t see it…if there is a beat in our heart and breath in our lungs the Best Is Still Yet To Come (trust…I’ve read what the end looks like and it all works out for those in Christ)
   • When we see ourselves as the blessing God works through to be a blessing to others…that’s when our eyes are opened to see that we are truly blessed!
4. I Am CALLED and EQUIPPED Exodus 4:1-17
   • What God calls us to…no matter how overwhelming, or even unrealistic, to our eyes He puts what we need right in our hands at just the right time. We have to believe that He who called us to it will see us through it…and His will is His Bill!
   • There is so much freedom in knowing this because it takes the weight of provision off of our shoulders and puts directly into God’s!

Take Away:
What Do You See When You Look In The Mirror Every Day? Can You Look In The Mirror and say with confidence these 4 things?

Challenge:
Look in the Mirror Every Day and Say With God Confidence These 4 Things!
Fight hard to go 3 days straight without a negative thought!
***If you get a negative thought you restart trying for 3 days straight!

Stay Positive #4 “I’m Enthusiastic”

We got to started looking at staying positive with Optimism! It’s easy to get optimism confused with enthusiasm! Enthusiasm means “in God”! Optimism is a frame of reference and Enthusiasm is a way of life. We can be optimistic without being enthusiastic but we can’t be enthusiastic without having an optimistic overflow! Enthusiasm flows from a relationship with Christ!

How to live Enthusiastically!

1. TRUST God!
   • Nehemiah 1:1-4; Nehemiah 2:1-9
   • What makes us weep is often the exact thing God is calling us to make a difference in! When we trust God to go where we are called to go our fears fade and our boldness grows.
2. WALK with God!
   • Nehemiah 2:11-18
   • When we walk with God it’s crazy how He allows us to be a light in the darkness. The darkness doesn’t make us afraid…it instead emboldens our vision is helps us to bring others alongside of us to accomplish things beyond us!
3. WORSHIP God!
   • Nehemiah 12:27-30
   • When we trust God, walk with God it will ultimately lead to worship God! Our surrender in worship can lead to others seeing God for the first time!

Take Away:
How could Enthusiasm change the environment around you?

Have You Ever Ran into the day with Enthusiasm?

What are the differences between the times you did and didn’t live with enthusiastic faith?

Challenge:
Fight hard to go 3 days straight without a negative thought!
***If you get a negative thought you restart trying for 3 days straight!

Interested in More About Our Thursday Night Bible Study: CLICK HERE

Stay Positive #3 “I’m Generous”

One Thing we can all agree on in our lives is that we are all Greedy in at least one area of our lives…money, food, cars, clothes, forgiveness, sin! All of us struggle to break free from greed in our lives…yet when we see that greed is what kills what God wants to do in & through us then it’s so much easier to be generous! Yet, we often keep walking in the Cul-De-Sac of Generosity getting no where because we can’t see the greed we are blinded by!

3 Ways to Break Greed In Our Lives
John 6:1-14

1. LOOK AT Jesus! (Look Up Like Jesus Did)
   • No matter what our Circumstance it all starts with Jesus being at the Center. When we look to Jesus the things, and trials, of this world seem small!
   • Generosity isn’t about bringing to Tithe to Jesus…that is His already…it’s about giving above what is already His. It’s helping a stranger in need, it’s forgiving that person though they haven’t asked for it.
2. UNDERSTAND what Jesus WANTS! (Jesus Asks to Sit At His Feet and He Will Provide)
   • So Often we get caught saying it’s easy for them to give because they have all they need provided for…and isn’t that what our Father in Heaven does for us?
   • Jesus wants us to live a life that is fulfilled beyond measure, not so that we can get a bunch of stuff…but so that we can experience a heart full blessing, anticipation and life change.
3. SURRENDER! (Just give what you have to Jesus)
   • When we surrender all that we have to Jesus it goes further than us, blesses more than we ever could and comes back to us abundantly more than we could ask or imagine
   • When we surrender control to Jesus…funny thing is we aren’t worried about results! The peace that comes from that far outweighs the stress of trying to do it all on our own.

Take Away:
What Areas of My Life Am I Being Greedy?

Would I Like to Be More Generous or Less Generous with God and Others? How?

Challenge:
Find A Way To Be Generous to One Person this week
***Just Ask God what He would have you give & watch what happens
Fight hard to go 3 days straight without a negative thought!
***If you get a negative thought you restart trying for 3 days straight!

Interested in More About Our Thursday Night Bible Study: CLICK HERE

“I’m Encouraging”
Ever just been at your last end? Like You have to move in faith because if you don’t you know “this could be it God”. Like the Overflow is dried up? We’ve all either been there or are walking through that season currently! Most encouraging words in the Bible “It Is Finished” John 19:30

4 Characteristics of Encouragement
1 Kings 17:7-24

1. It ATTRACTS OTHERS 1 Kings 17:7-10
   • Elijah’s perspective on his dried up brook wasn’t one of messiness but one of moving towards overflow.
   • The widow was at her last ounce of hope & was outside looking for “sticks”…something to spark a fire and then she meets Elijah!
     • When You have a relationship with Jesus, You are that Word (John 1:1) to the one looking for a spark!
2. It BELIEVES the BEST! 1 Kings 17:13-14
   • Elijah answers the Widow… “Don’t be afraid”. Often when we receive a word from God and take a step of obedience we are frightened…but an encouraging word from someone else gives us the BOLDNESS to step into obedience.
   • Often we are so overwhelmed with the problem that we can’t even fathom what it would look like to see God move. Take our focus off of the Problem and move it to towards our God who is the ultimate solution.
     • The rain didn’t come for 3 years after Elijah arrived! The Jars stayed full that long!
3. It INVESTS in OTHERS! 1 Kings 17:15
   • Your encouraging word brings healing and blessing across eternity!
     • Just by being obedient and sharing encouragement to those who Jesus has called you to will reach beyond you & them into the future generations
   • Obedience = Abundance. Notice the Widow went from being blessed for herself and her son to her “family”. Those she was able to bless grew…just from running into Elijah at the town gate.
4. It PROMOTES Awareness of the TRUTH! 1 Kings 17:24
   • The widow’s eyes to the truth weren’t fully opened until she had a death to life experience.
     • Think of this, had Elijah been angry and just searched for food wherever he wanted instead of where God appointed…he would have never met this widow and she wouldn’t experience truth.
   • Zarepheth means “refinery”.
     • Elijah had to be refined from things holding him back from what God was calling him to next
     • The Widow needed to be refined to see the truth
     • Oftentimes God is refining us from things holding us back to live a life of all that He is calling us to. Relationships, Finances, Careers…all may be refined. Trust God in it.
       • If the things in your life you give priority to don’t connect with your pain, process or purpose…then shed yourself from them! They don’t belong there.

Take Away:
Who has God brought to you for the Word of Encouragement? How Will You Encourage Them?

Challenge:
The First 3 Numbers that show up on your phone…shoot them an encouraging text today!
***Something that you see in them that they can’t see in themselves
Fight hard to go 3 days straight without a negative thought!
***If you get a negative thought you restart trying for 3 days straight!

Interested in More About Our Thursday Night Bible Study: CLICK HERE

“I’m Optimistic”
If I were to pour a pitcher of water into a regular glass in the middle of your kitchen what would you think? Would you think “What a Mess that will make” or “That’s Overflowing”? What if I told you that’s how Jesus pours His blessings out on you every morning…to OVERFLOW! The perspective we have on them is what makes all of the difference! When we see our cup runneth over how do we react?

4 Reasons I’m Optimistic

1. My SINS are FORGIVEN
   • No matter what happens to me, in Christ my sins are forgiven! I’m gonna say that one more time so you can do a little shout & dance…IN CHRIST MY SINS ARE FORGIVEN!
2. JESUS is on My SIDE! Philippians 4:4-7
   • Paul reminds us that no matter what we aren’t alone & we aren’t afraid to ask Jesus for what we need.
   • The biggest thing to remember is to have the perspective of “Thanksgiving” when we pray. Be thankful for Jesus doing what you are asking before you do it & watch Him move!
3. My REWARD is PEACE! Philippians 4:8-9
   • Paul’s focus isn’t on the chains that man has placed on him, but instead on the Freedom he has in Christ. He reminds the Philippians that they are in freedom & to stop walking as if they are in chains
   • We must train our minds to focus on Christ and our reward is Peace through that!
4. GOD is working Everything in My LIFE  for GOOD! Philippians 4:10-13
   • No Matter what our circumstances we can be optimistic because we are not defined by our circumstance but by our Father in Heaven!
   • No matter what we are chained by God is still using it to His glory! We serve a good good Father who only wants good gifts for His children! He can take even death and turn it into life! No matter what you are going through you can be optimistic God is going to use it for your good and His glory!

Take Away:
Write down the 3 things you want to be known for?

Now when you look in the mirror every morning do you see those 3 things in you? If not, know that you have those 3 things in you! Seek God to grow in those 3 things!

Challenge:
Fight hard to go 3 days straight without a negative thought! If you get a negative thought you restart trying for 3 days straight!

Interested in More About Our Thursday Night Bible Study: CLICK HERE

“I Believe in God But I Don’t Want To Go Overboard”
Ever said you went all out for something and you only gave 98%? No one else knew but you did. How did that work out for you? Did you always look back and say “I left too much on the table”? Following Jesus is no different! He died a full death on the Cross, with a full Resurrection so that we can live a full life…not a 98% life! So where are you? You ALL IN?

How Do We Believe God and Not Go Overboard?

1. Crave Acceptance from Others More Than God
   • Daniel 1:3-7
     • Daniel is taken into a foreign land and set into the King’s service! They even change his name…but it doesn’t phase Daniel! The others from Judah just go with the flow for what the Babylon King wanted for them…not what God wanted for them!

2. Give When It Doesn’t Impinge on their Comfortableness
   • Daniel 1:8-14
     • Daniel had faith even when it wasn’t logical too…Which would you chose steak or spinach? Yet his faith made him uncomfortable and sacrifice when others wouldn’t even think twice about it.

3. Want the Benefits of Jesus without Conforming to Him
   • Daniel 1:15-21
     • Through Daniel’s obedience he was able to gain favor with the King and allows us to tell the stories we get to tell about him to this day! The other men of Judah wanted what Daniel got to experience but were didn’t take the steps of obedience to get there.
   • Culture says:
     • Promote Yourself, Pursue Things/Happiness, Hate those who hurt, Cosume, Love for now
   • Jesus says:
     • Deny You, Pursue God/Righteousness, Love, Give, Love for Eternity

Take Away:
Do You Find Yourself wanting what God has or what God wants for your life?

WHAT ARE YOU UNDER?

  Under Culture           1     2     3     4     5     6     7     8     9     10           Under God

 “No individual has any right to come into the world and go out of it without leaving behind him distinct and legitimate reasons for having passed through it.” George Washington Carver

Interested in More About Our Thursday Night Bible Study: CLICK HERE

 “I Believe in God But I Don’t Fear Him”
Remember when you started driving as a Teenager? Oh the Freedom…but you had no fear of not being in control. The danger on the road…the danger you pose texting driving to others. As you grow older your fear has lead to obedience to follow the rules out of love for others! If we aren’t careful our walk with Jesus can be like us being that teenage driver…wreckless without even being aware!

The Bible Tells Us About 2 Types of Fear

1. Spirit Of Fear: Timid & Anxious
   • 2 Timothy 1:7; Matthew 10:31; Isaiah 41:10; Psalm 56:11
     • The Lord calls us to be BOLD! This type of Fear isn’t the one we are supposed to have.
     • This is like an animal defeated and thrown in a cage! We are more valuable than that!

2. Fear of The Lord: Love + Respect God
   • 2 Timothy 3:1-5; Psalm 36:1-2; Psalm 112
     • This Fear is Reverant Awe of God! It shows us just how BIG He is!
       • Often we want God’s love but forget the wrath of our sin
       • Often we want God’s mercy but forget His judgement on our sin
       • Often we want God’s blessing but refuse His Discipline
     • This is the teenage driver operating in Freedom but letting God tell them where to turn
     • When you Fear God you will be obedient to His call for you because you know when you aren’t you will miss out on God’s best for you!
     • What Does This Fear Bring Us:
       • Understanding (Psalm 112:1)
       • Life (Psalm 112:2)
       • Peace & Rest (Psalm 112:3-5)
       • Safety (Psalm 112:8)

Take Away:

Write down two action steps you’ll take to fear the Lord with obedience that you haven’t been this week:

1._____________________________­­_________
2.______________________________________

Interested in More About Our Thursday Night Bible Study: CLICK HERE