sermon series…GI Joe pt 2 the heart of a hero!

The heart of a hero…what’s in the heart of a hero?

The heart in biblical times was refereed to as the center of vital action…decisions, actions. the heart represents man himself and was considered to be the seat of his emotions, passions, and appetites!

1 samuel 14:1-17 Jonathon and his armor bearer take on a philistine outpost, and what you see in the story is nothing but pure heart. Jonathan’s heart is revealed in his words and his actions. Matthew 12:34 Out of the overflow of your heart your mouth will speak! the heart of a hero is willing to step out and act. Nothing will happen until you choose to act!

What’s in the heart of a hero?
1. No fear here! A hero will show up and show out! jonathons plan was to show himself to the enemy and see what happens. either way he was looking for a fight by showing out! So many believers are hiding when its time to show out! the word show here means to advertise, to reveal! we are challenging our students to step out and be seen this year!

2. Determination….a hero climbs up and over any every obstacle!
there will always be Obstacles…and the obstacles that students face are oh s familiar. we look at 3 obstacles and 2 answers…
Popularity…is it the popular thing to do?
Presentation…is it the cool thing to do?
Property…is it going to make a difference in my school?

the answer to these obstacles is simple…
What about the power of God! Ephesians 1:18 – 21
What about the promises of God! Mark 15:15-19

what’s in the heart of a hero?
3. Perseverance…The heart of a hero never gives up!
They started something they could not finish, but God could finish!

When you go to school this year…will you start something that only God can finish?

sermon series…GI Joe a real american hero!

This week we started a 3 week series getting our students ready for the new school year. Night one we focused on the Hero David when he took on the Giant Goliath. David was a the real deal Hero, even though he was a boy! You see, what our students school needs is not another athlete, not another musician and not another academic wonder…what their school needs is another hero! The heroes of today are sitting in youth churches all over America! They just need to step up to the challenge!

We are challenging our students to pray like never before for their school…nothing happens unless you pray! 4 truths about the story of David!
1. Goliath was big and David was small! Size is not an issue in a fight! What really matters is who has your back! David understood that The Lord was on his side and the Lord and him would conquer anything!

2. Goliath was well equipped to fight but David was more equipped! Goliath had all the latest and greatest in armor but it was not enough! David on the other hand was given Saul’s armor and he said ” i can’t use this i am not used to it” you can’t go into battle with someone else’s armor! our greatest weapon is prayer and we need to use it! you can’t win with someone else’s armor…Ephesians 6:10-17 say be strong and put on the whole armor of God! it does not say someone else’s armor! So, be armed and dangerous.

3. Goliath was all noise but no action! Goliath talked smack, but could not back up what he was saying! David on the other hand talked more smack and backed it up with action! I love the fact that a boy stands up to a Giant and opens his mouth no fear here!

4. Goliath was an obstacle…it only takes one to overcome! It only took ONE to kill the giant…the response is what’s amazing. The entire israelite army surged forward and chased the philistines! ONE person, one fight…one massive victory! It only takes one to change the face of a school! Who is gonna be the hero? Who is gonna be the one?

Few creative notes…a trip to the army navy store to dress up the stage and show movie clips from the trailer, we chopped up the part where they get the excelerator suits and used it for point 2 being well equipped!

unwrapping the impossible pt 2

can the impossible be possible in your life? why not…with God all things are possible! absolutely nothing is impossible with Him! NO THING! nada! i am sitting in bed with my ibook – which is terribly slow now – listening to kari jobe and studying for my message…God can do the impossible! i belive it, BUT if i can’t see it i can’t have it! i f the shepherds never saw the baby jesus they would have never experienced the impossible…they would have never spread the word! If i can’t hear him i wont respond to what he has for my life. if the shepherds did not hear the angel say the baby would be wrapped in swaddling clothes…they would have been still tending sheep and never made it into the Bible today. They saw…they heard…and they went. We have seen so much, but can we see God do the impossible in our lives? God is speaking, but are we listening? if not we wont go where he has planned for our lives! Now that’s a bummer! i am stoked about tomorrow night. This is truly the most wonderful time of the year! enjoy…

sermon series…I am mature

we are in a series with our students entitled “i am mature” it’s time to grow up and show how much you truly love. the love factor can determine your level of maturity…here is the lowdown on the message!

1 Corinthians 13:11 When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me.
1. maturity is loving God with action…
Romans 5: 8 But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Demonstrate – to show or express by action, to prove, to establish, to exhibit, to put on display!

God demonstrated his love for us – will you demonstrate yours?

Maturity is loving God with your life!

If we are going to grow up then we have to put our love on display!

2. Maturity is loving your neighbor as yourself!
3 people had a chance…to show love!

by chance these people walked by a man beaten half to death and stripped…
1. the priest
2. the levite
3. the Samaritan
by chance you are going to walk by someone…that needs to know what love is…

What will you choose to avoid or show compassion.

current series in crave…

it’s all about how you respond to life…

1 Corinthians 13:11 When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me.

heroes vs villains pt 2

our current series in crave is good vs. evil.

tonight we are going to deal with the greatest villain of all time…YOU!

how do you deal with YOU…

1. do you play the blame game? whenever you fail do you blame anything and anyone in order to shift the focus off yourself.

2. do you choose to be responsible? no more covering up a simple “i did it” will suffice!

3. do you choose to overcome evil with good! evil is a choice! good is a choice! if the villain is living inside of you, and you are the only one in control of YOU, then choose to respond rather than react. too many people are reacting to what happens rather than responding to what’s inside of them. Romans 12:21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

4. do you know what power lives inside of you? the same power that conquered the grave lives in you! there will always be opportunity to do evil, BUT the same power that raised Jesus from the dead lives in you! live up to what’s living inside of you!

props go out to a friend in ministry for hooking me up with a great video clip on heroes vs. villains. check it out on Godtube thanks kent!

good vs evil

i am starting a series entitled good vs. evil. this is gonna be a fun series, where we look into where it all began as well as who is the author of evil. we are gonna call out old slew foot (this pentecostal woman i grew up with called the devil old slew foot) for what he truly is! evil is all around us. the bible says…1 john 5:19 We know that we are children of God, and that the whole world is under the control of the evil one. the evil one is working in the world…BUT…greater is he that is in us (who is in you?) than he that is in the world! if our students can capture a vision of who is truly living on the inside of them, then they would pursue righteousness! they would see they truly have the power to live a holy life. the same power that conquered the grave is in us! the one thing old slew foot wants for students to see what they think they are missing in order for them to miss what’s been deposited in their lives!

good will battle evil in the realm of choices!