Category: Thursday Greenhouse Gathering

“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!

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“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!

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“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

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 “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.______________________________________

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“I Believe in God but Don’t Know Him”
Ever feel like you know someone so well and then you meet them…and they aren’t anything like what you thought they were! They spoke like they loved something so much…then you get to know them and they don’t really know anything about it. Believing in Jesus and doing what He says is very similar!

3 Types of People Believe In God

1. Believe in God But Don’t Know Him!
   • Jeremiah 8:5-13 ; Acts 9:1-9
     • Even Demons Believe in Jesus! What sets us apart is the relationship we have with Christ!
     • These folks are good people a lot of times. They go to Church, Give and like the Mission…but that’s where it stops.

2. Believe in God & Know Him but don’t Fully Trust Him!
   • Romans 12:1-2
     • Information + Application = Transformation
     • This is where the rubber meets the road…where action takes place to change
     • These folks know God and have met Him…but are stuck because they aren’t being obedient to what He says!

3. Believe in God & Serve Him Wholeheartedly!
   • Psalms 63:1-4 ; Psalms 1:1-3
     • These folks Walk with Jesus, Listen to Him and do what He says! They live a like that shows others that God is not only worth Believing in…He’s worth knowing!
     • As I get to know Christ More: Heart breaks for things, Hunger for his presence, Forgive quickly, Quick to share faith, Generous heart, Grieve over sin, Care for the poor, Compassion for the outcasts & Desire to worship and pray

Take Away:

Write down three ways you’re living like God doesn’t exist. Bring these to Christ in prayer each day this week:

1._____________________________­­_________
2.______________________________________
3.______________________________________

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 “Important OVER Urgent”

Luke 7:38-50 ; Luke 10:38-42
Ever just feel stressed to get everything done? Who really has enough time in the day to get everything they set out to do done? Scrolling through your insta feed…do you ever think How do they get it all done? They are like a super hero!

1. Choose Between the IMPORTANT and the URGENT
   • Luke 7:38-50
     • Important
       • Laying everything at Jesus’ feet! Not just saying we were in the same room with Jesus…but instead having an encounter with Him!
     • Urgent
       • The cost of the oil! Making an appearance with Jesus…not having an encounter! Comparing the sacrifice of others to ours!
   • Luke 10:38-42
     • Important
       • Resting in Jesus at His Feet and spending time with him regardless of how messed up our life is
     • Urgent
       • Getting everything ready to look like we have it together before we spend time with Jesus! Have the cleaned up life…then we go to Jesus! Feeling Overwhelmed because we are operating in our own Strength!
   • What if the reason we are so stressed is because we are constantly pursuing the urgent over the important? The important takes intentionality…the urgent comes like a wave!

Take Away:

What’s the Most Important thing you’ve been distracted from pursuing?

 

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I Choose “Discipline OVER Regret”

Matthew 25:1-13

This time of year if you follow football…it’s a fun time of year! We know that someone will win the SuperBowl and go to Disney World! Yet, if we’re not careful we’ll miss out on the discipline it takes to win the SuperBowl! No Ice Cream or Macaroni & Cheese? What?!? That’s just a few things these athletes have to give up for a chance to win the Championship!

1. Choose Between the Pain of Discipline or the Pain of Defeat. But this life will have Pain!
   • John 16:33
     • Jesus told us that in our lives on Earth we will experience pain but we can take heart because He has overcome the world!

2. Choose Between What You Want Now and What You Want Most?
   • Matthew 25:1-5
     • What Do You Want Most:____________________________________________
     • We see here that all 10 women were pure and lived a good life
     • The difference between the 5 wise & 5 foolish are that the wise virgins were preparing for what they want MOST—not just meeting the Bridegroom but going to the feast! It wasn’t about the appearance of having it all together…but instead the separation is in the preparation.

3. What Do You Need to Choose Now for what you want Most?
   • Matthew 25:6-13
     • What we see here is 5 women were interested, 5 women were committed
     • It will be a lot of Hard Work…but you get to choose your pain. There is purpose in every step.
     • We must refuse that at the end of our life we won’t say: “I wish I spent more time with my kids”; “I wish I would have forgiven to keep that relationship alive”; “I wish I had taken better care of myself”; “I never knew that would ruin my life”

4. Significance of oil in this Parable:
   • Oil is used as faith in this story! The oil is a representation of the discipline and faith that the 5 wise women had! Their willingness to be vessels of faith allowed them to be a part of the feast! They not only meet the Bridegroom (Jesus)…they faithfully walked step by step with Him.
   • Ever tried to catch oil? That’s how faith works! We are trying to catch it instead of being the vessel for it. With just a little faith…BIG Things can happen! What is your faith leading you? What’s the thing God’s calling you to so that you can live out your MOST?

Take Away:
What will your life look like in five years if you don’t make changes to the undisciplined areas of your life?

 

What would you need to do differently now to achieve the thing you want most?

 

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I Choose #2 “Surrender OVER Control”

Genesis 3:1-12
Wouldn’t it be great to have a remote to control life like your DVR? Car Break Down…no pause…maybe tomorrow! Forgot to pay that bill? REWIND! Regret that hurt in your relationship? REWIND! Waiting on the Blessings from being obedient to the Lord? FAST FORWARD to blessing!

3 FILTERS TO HELP CHOOSE SURRENDER OVER CONTROL

1. Is it Worth My Attention?
   • Genesis 3:6
     • How Many Days did Adam and Eve get to hang out with all of the trees in the Garden of Eden? Hang out with all of God’s creation? Then…this one tree!!
     • Ever Notice how what you focus on expands?
       • Focus on the good of others…you’ll see it. Focus on the bad…you’ll find it.
     • Often the wrong thing grabs our attention in seasons where our focus goes from God to ourselves (seasons of loneliness, isolation and self worth)

2. Is it Mine to Steward?
   • Genesis 3:1-5
     • God has given you what He intends for you to steward…nothing more. When your focus changes outside of what God calls you to steward it leads you to destruction.
     • Stewardship starts with surrendering control! It doesn’t mean you sit back and wait for God to do all of the work…it means you do what He’s called you to do…which is give back what you’ve been given in better shape than when you received it.
       • If you are called to steward something…do something about it!

3. Is it for God Alone?
   • Genesis 3:7-12 ; Philippians 4:6-7
     • The Tree was for God Alone! He gave everything He had created but that one thing…that’s where we all can get caught! We have all of these things but the one thing we want isn’t for us to have!
     • Often when we try to control what we aren’t supposed to…we fear losing it….so we try to control it more…causes more anxiety/fear…the fear cycle doesn’t end
     • Can You Fix Your Spouse? Heal Your Loved One? Control your kid’s future?
       • Nope! But God Can. Rest in that!
     • When we get to follow Jesus step by step…we aren’t leading Him…He is leading us! We aren’t in control!

Take Away:

When was the last time you felt completely out of control?

How did this affect those you care about?

What did you learn?
I am trying to control these Area(s) Of My Life: ______________________________

____________________________________________________________________.

This Week Pray: Jesus, I’ve been trying to run my life like I know better than You! Forgive me Lord & help me to loosen my grip on control. Father, I surrender (what’s written above) fully to You! Amen.

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I Choose “Purpose Over Popularity”

John 6

Imagine a world where everyone likes you…awesome isn’t it? If we are truly honest with ourselves we know that this world doesn’t exist—yet it’s often the world we want to live in! When we try to live in this world we sacrifice God’s purpose for our lives for the sake of Popularity.

1. Purpose Diminishes Distractions  .
   • John 6:1-24 ; John 6:15
     • Jesus shows us here the power of distractions. He is about to be made king by force from His popularity instead of by His purpose
     • Our biggest hiccup here is we get caught up in the Comparison Game.
       • We see the sacrifice(s) we’re making and others aren’t & yet they are having more “success” than us.
       • OR we see the Crazy things others are doing & question them for it!
         • Why Tuna to work? “Serving a Greater Purpose”
         • Why Stay Pure when it’s so easy not to? “Serving a Greater Purpose”
         • Why Be Stay at Home Parent? “Serving a Greater Purpose”

2. Purpose Pushes You Through the  Pain.
   • John 6: 25- 67 ; John 6:60-67
     • Jesus has just fed the 5000, walked on water and explicitly explained why He is here…just to be told following Him is too hard & then many desert Him
       • Can you imagine that pain? Yet…in this moment where Christ is fully God/fully man He asks the Disciples if they will leave Him as well! It is a glimpse of what the beginning of going to the Cross will look like
     • When you do what God’s Called you to…others won’t get it—may not even like it.
       • They may say “You Can’t”…In Christ “You Can”; They may say “You Won’t”…In Christ “You Will”
     • The pathway to your purpose is paved in your pain. God will never waste a hurt!
     • Your purpose makes you stay later, go harder and stay disciplined!

3. Purpose Empowers You To Please God
   • John 6:68-70
     • You won’t be able to please everyone…but you will be able to please God by staying in your purpose.
     • Value in being Liked by people             Greater value:  Loved  by God.
       Value having Fun with friends              Greater value: Faithful to God.
       Value start something Important        Greater in Finishing!
       Value in Comfort                                       Greater value in Calling.
       Value in being popular                            Greater value serving God’s Purpose 

Take Away:
Fill Out and Take Action (share with a friend and pray for each other these things over the next year)

My main purpose is:

My main distraction is:

My greatest pain is:

To choose purpose, I will:

 

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 “Send Me”

Isaiah 6:8
How Many Of Us Pray Safe Prayers? Keep Me Safe Lord, Let Me Pay The Bills, Get Me Through This? What if we took a different approach and prayed Dangerous Prayers? Prayers that are so dangerous we couldn’t help but be changed by them! In our last week we pray “God Send Me!”

1. 3 Responses to God’s Call
   • Here I am Lord-I won’t go!
     • Matthew 19:16-22
     • The Rich Young Ruler
       • Much like the Rich Young Ruler, we seek out the Lord, have him meet us right where we are and He answers us…THEN we give the excuses why we can’t do what He’s called to. The very answer to our question!
       • Common Excuses by us all are: I’m too busy, I don’t have enough money, and I don’t have enough time!
   • Here I am Lord-Send Someone Else
     • Luke 14:15-24 (Also Moses in Exodus 3)
     • The Great Banquet
       • Many times we are invited to come in by the Lord to the great feast, but make the excuse of not being the right person! We are like the 3 who received the invitation, but rejected it.
       • Common Excuses by us all are: Send Someone else, I’m not the right person, I’m not worthy OR the call isn’t big enough for me to do!
   • Here I am Lord—SEND ME!
     • Isaiah 6:8 1 Samuel 3:4-11
     • Be open to God’s Call and Go
       • When we step into what God has for us the blessings overflow! When we see that God wants us to live a life more abundantly…then the more abundantly we get to be a part of what He is doing
2. How to Respond “SEND ME” to God’s Call
   • Luke 14:15-24
     • We literally have to be the servant and do as the Master calls us to.
       • Be in God’s Presence
       • Hear His Voice and What He’s called Us to
       • Do what He Calls Us To
     • When we do this we get to be a part of the feast and fill the table
     • When we pursue God as He has pursued us it completely changes our perspective and our capacity to be a part of His blessings when He says Go!

TakeAway:

• When was the last time you felt compelled to do something out of your norm? How did you respond? Could it have been God sending you?
• To What, Where or Who are you being sent now?

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