Evergreen Christian Community

The Big Idea: To have a shot at transformation, I must shatter my delusional sense of self. Luke 18:9-14 This is a universal human struggle: a DELUSIONAL SENSE OF SELF. Symptoms of a Problem: ● Vanity ● Defensiveness ● Exclusiveness ● Pride Self-absorbed = How to be NOXIOUS IN THE SIGHT OF GOD. “…to some who were confident in their own righteousness and looked down on everybody else.” (v.9) PRIDE...

Exodus 6:1-9 TONIGHT’S OBJECTIVES: ● A greater grasp on the SIZE OF OUR GOD. ● Clean out our ears so that we might LISTEN BETTER. “God Almighty” - El Shaddai - The Self-Sufficient and Almighty One The Lord = “I AM who I AM” Exodus 3:14 ● THEREFORE - because of who I AM: ○ I will bring you out from under the YOKE OF SLAVERY. ○ I will REDEEM YOU with mighty acts of judgement. ○ I will take you as MY...

Mark 2:1-12 Mark 10:45 The significance of a name. The power of friends What does your faith look like? Faith must be seen. What is your faith doing? Sin diminishes, torments, destroys, and kills. The real human issue: sin. The key idea: That you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins. How will you respond to truth?

/Chat: What team were you hoping to make it to the Superbowl this year?/ The Big Idea: : It’s time to identify our giant, run to the battle line, and engage in our victory. 1 Samuel 17:20-24 David HEARD the giant’s defiance and it caused him to rise to COURAGE. The Israelite army were AFRAID and FLED in FEAR. No one believed that David was EQUIPPED to fight the giant. There will be voices (sometim...

“Many Christians are unthinkably horrified when a real sinner is suddenly discovered among the righteous. So we remain alone with our sin, living in lies and hypocrisy...He who is alone with his sins is utterly alone.” - Dietrich Bonhoefer The Big Idea: Confession is the antidote to shame. James 5:13-20 The healthy soul is the source of powerful prayer. Shame is the universal sense of self for hum...

Genesis 40:23 Genesis 41:1 Delay does not mean denial. God can change your prison sentence into a powerful deliverance in a single night. Genesis 41:41-43 Luke 15:20-24 The Ring - The signet ring of the family reputation and fortune fully entrusted to him. The Robe - The best robe. The Royal Treatment - Killed the fattened calf and had a massive celebration. The greatest news of all time: Your hea...

Jim Ladd, January 24, 2021 WE CAN LEARN TO LISTEN TO GOD THE BIG IDEA: I MUST LEARN TO HEAR GOD WHEN HE SPEAKS TO ME. “IN OUR DAY HEAVEN AND EARTH ARE ON TIPTOE WAITING FOR THE EMERGING OF A SPIRIT-LED, SPIRIT-INTOXICATED, SPIRIT-EMPOWERED PEOPLE. ALL OF CREATION WATCHES EXPECTANTLY FOR THE SPRINGING UP OF A DISCIPLINED, FREELY GATHERED, MARTYR PEOPLE WHO KNOW IN THIS LIFE THE LIFE AND POWER OF TH...

Matthew 19:26b Something that is impossible with man is absolutely possible with God. BUT, with God all things are possible! GO SELL GIVE AWAY DISCOVER FOLLOW ● What piece of your identity, security, and trust is holding you back? ● What must you give away that is impossible for you to give away? ● Are you willing to allow Jesus to help you give it away? Will you: ● GO somewhere you’ve never gone?...

The Big Idea: Your actionable decisions flow from your deeply held beliefs. Exodus 33:12b-14 Matthew 11:28-30 John 14:25-27 Psalm 23 - The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing! He leads me beside still waters, makes me lie down in green pastures, and restores my soul. Many Christians are making actionable decisions from a non-biblical set of core beliefs Six Calibrating Beliefs That Must Guide Our...

Romans 8 - Life governed by the Spirit is life and peace! Matthew 6:19-34 TREASURE: ● Treasure management proceeds heart management. EYES: ● The health of your eyes determines the light in your soul. SLAVERY: ● You cannot serve two masters. WORRY: ● Worry is the indicator that the first three are misaligned Steps Forward: ● Accept reality. ● Become politically homeless: ● Trust in the Lord your Go...

"Christianity without discipleship is always Christianity without Christ." - Dietrich Bonhoeffer IT IS ABOUT TRAINING VS TRYING ‭‭ 1 Corinthians 9:25-27 ‭‭ THE BIG IDEA: Following Jesus simply means learning from Him how to arrange my life in ways that enable me to live in the fruit of the Spirit. THREE LIES ABOUT SPIRITUAL DISCIPLINES: Spiritual disciplines are a barometer of spirituality Spiritu...

1 Timothy 2:1-4

Ephesians 2:1-10 The Big Idea: Transformation IS possible and hope is the fuel for the process. THE FOUR “FIRSTS” IN THIS QUEST: THE FIRST PARADIGM SHIFT: God is not interested in your spiritual life. “Poiema” - God’s work of art. THE FIRST ACTION: TURN ASIDE Exodus 3 2 Corinthians 3:18 “And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with eve...

The Big Idea: Jesus can offer perfect peace because He is the Perfect Priest. John 14:27 Isaiah 26:3 “You will keep in PERFECT PEACE those whose minds are STEADFAST, because they TRUST IN YOU.” Hebrews 7:16-28 Perfect peace comes only through a PERFECT PRIEST. Open the gift of Jesus and His Redemptive work.

Big Idea: We can find security in an Everlasting Father. Isaiah 9:6-7 Isaiah 9:1-2 John 15:4 Matthew 9:35

IN THE CHAT: What motivates you or helps you get up in the morning? John 11:32-35 How we exercise COMPASSION: 1. WEEP and share in the sorrow. Romans 12:15 NAS 2. GIVE of what you have. Matthew 23:37-38 3. Serve with COMPASSION. Our response: 1. Pray for God to change my heart and open my eyes. 2. Ask God to prompt my response. 3. What’s my time frame?

Isaiah 9:6-7 Mighty = One who magnifies Himself; bold and audacious. God = Singular, absolute. Without equal or compare God never aligns Himself with the world’s understanding of power. The Cross is both the WORK OF GOD and the REVELATION OF GOD. Philippians 2:6-11 The devices of your captivity have been SHATTERED and lie on the ground! The greatest evidence of unstoppable power is SELF-FORGETFULN...

Isaiah 9:1-7 Why do we so desperately need a Counselor? Isaiah 1:2-3 What makes Him Wonderful? He has the only accurate Perspective. What is a Counselor? He helps me see clearly and navigate wisely. THE WISE ADVICE OF THE WONDERFUL COUNSELOR: 1. Deal with the self. Isaiah 1:16-20 2. Never leave your Counselor. John 16:12-15 Proverbs 3:5-6 Psalm 23:1 Response: 1. Confess and repent. 2. Keep walking...

PROBLEM: SALVATION HAS BEEN DESCRIBED AND UNDERSTOOD ALMOST ENTIRELY FROM A LEGAL FRAMEWORK. 5 Things: 1. GOD IS LIGHT. ● 1 John 1:5 2. IF = HOW ● 1 John 1:6-7 3. CURRENT CONFESSION IS CENTRAL TO A LIFE WITH GOD. ● 1 John 1:8-10 4. WE KNOW THAT WE KNOW WHEN WE OBEY. ● 1 John 2:3-6 5. THE KEY INDICATOR OF OBEDIENCE TO GOD IS THE PRESENCE OF LOVE AND THE ABSENCE OF HATE. ● 1 John 2:9-11

Big Idea: Jesus transforms us when we submit our pain to Him. Romans 8:18-25 How should we process pain? • Pain is universal. • Pain must be processed. Our Hope in Jesus. The Glory of God will be revealed in us because of our suffering. 1. Pain must be processed. 1 Peter 4:1 2. We process pain through the hope we have in Jesus. What needs processing in your own life?

Isaiah 43:1-7 God is the worthy and safe One! Ezekiel 23 Misplaced trust is a gross perversion. Misplaced trust leads to captivity. God can defeat anyone and anything with nothing but Himself. Any time He wants to. Ezekiel 37:1-14 2 Kings 6:24 -7

In The Chat: What is the hardest personal boundary for you to protect? John 13:34-35 John 2:24 1 Peter 2:23 Genesis 1:26-31 Ownership of the Self: IDENTITY - PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY - DEFINITION Life is a TEST, life is a TRUST, and life is a TEMPORARY ASSIGNMENT. Boundaries are crossed: ● Whenever we make someone else’s choices for them. ● Whenever we think someone else is responsible for making c...

Matthew 7:28-29 Mark 1:22 Luke 4:32. Mark 1:22 Luke 4:32 Jesus HEALED – with authority. Matthew 9:8 Mark 1:27 Luke 4:36 “Don’t DISCOUNT yourself.” Authority- rightful, actual, unimpeded power to act, to possess, control, use or dispose of. Matthew 28:18 Matthew 10:1 Three takeaways: 1. Jesus can GIVE what He has been given. 2. Know that you QUALIFY as a recipient. 3. Have SHAMELESS AUDACITY in you...

In the Chat: Who has been the most powerful influence in your life? The Four Essential Functions of Emotional Health: 1. Relational Connection 2. Relational Disconnection 3. Processing Pain 4. Adult Competencies How do you grow a human? God is Love and Love only finds expression in relationships. There are only two human realities in the world: Life and Death. Ephesians 4:3-6 Why is this so hard f...