Wednesday Kidz

“Keeping my Heart Clean”

With Video, games and skits we’ll be teaching the kids to keep their hearts free of sin. 

Beatitudes:  Meeting the Needs of Others

Jesus Develops His Followship

The Followship of Jesus (Part I)

 First Assembly of God

January 29, 2012

I.    Clarity about last week’s state of the church address. (Deut.29:29 NKJ)

²⁹ “The secret things belong to the LORD our God, but those things which are revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may do all the words of this law. (NKJ)

 (Rev.2:4-5, 3:1-3)

⁴ Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken the love you had at first. ⁵ Consider how far you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first. If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place.

I know your deeds; you have a reputation of being alive, but you are dead. ² Wake up! Strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have found your deeds unfinished in the sight of my God. ³ Remember, therefore, what you have received and heard; hold it fast, and repent. But if you do not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what time I will come to you.

II.  Jesus called His disciples to follow, not just believe. (Matt.4:18-25)

·         Later Jesus talks about “many are called, but few are chosen” (Matt.22:14)

·         The chosen come out of followship not believership

·         Jesus was not looking for crowds (23-25)

·         What began with thousands later became a few, once followship became the reality

III.   Nicodemus was a fan before he became a follower (John 2:23-25 - 3:1-21)

• Nicodemus was in this crowd when Jesus begins to reveal Himself to the people of Israel. (2:23-25)

• Nicodemus was a “wanna be” at this meeting

• He believed Jesus was a teacher, came from God and acknowledged that He could do supernatural miracles. (2)

• Jesus declared following Him was not an “add on” to religious practice…it was a radical life change (3)
• The rest of this discourse with Nicodemus was a revealing of what is true of all religious minded people who will miss God without a radical life change.

• You can always know someone is religious when they don’t understand spiritual terms (4)
• Jesus responded to his honest doubt (9)
• Jesus throws down the challenge and that will divide fans from followers forever (10-21)
• Fans or even believers will be attracted to the miracles, message of healing and relief from pain and bondage until it requires a change in behavior or direction in life’s choices.

IV.  Nicodemus begins his move to become a follower (John 7:47-51)

• We hear nothing of Nicodemus until after Jesus is dead (John 19:38:40)
• Nicodemus had much to lose…position, income, family, his identity…to follow Jesus would require a whole new life

Blessed are those that mourn, for they will be comforted. Matthew 5:4

Parents you can teach your kids:

What is sin?

Sin is disobeying God.

Why should I admit my sin?

God will forgive and comfort us when we admit our sins and do our best not to do them again.  He has given us the Holy  Spirit to help us become more like Jesus in our       attitudes and actions.  When we ask God to forgive our sins, we should be so sorry that our attitudes and behaviors toward others should change.  Others should be able to tell that when we say, “I’m sorry,” we really mean it and we prove it by not  repeating the wrong things we’ve done.

Fasting and Prayer Focus for 2012 

 First Assembly of God

January 1, 201

I.      One can only trust when focused effort to know God’s heart is pursued (Proverbs 3:5-6)

·         Trust is a learned discipline (5-6)

·         Refuse your own thinking and choose to know His

·         Pride will rob you quickly and create disaster (7-8)

·         Participate in God’s economy and He will provide for you…He must be first

Every day this week we will have a progressive focus from the day before. 

Monday - Repentance

Tuesday – Cleansing

Wednesday – Occupy

Thursday – Guidance

Friday - Empowerment

Saturday – Movement

Whether becoming a partner or fasting or entering into ministry opportunities are a question of maturity, not ability.

II.  Fasting and prayer is the engine that God wants us to use to focus effectively (Isa.58)

(Matt.6:16-18)

(Acts 2:2-3)

We are in the Beautitudes

Christmas Program this Wednesday

Yippee!

Look what a pleasant thing I've got for you http://www.sit-n-bull.com/inf.php?NewYear