Evergreen Christian Community

Discipleship is a long obedience in the same direction. Big Idea: In a world filled with deception and division, God’s Word equips us to live with discernment, integrity, and perseverance in our walk. 2 Timothy 3:10-17 1. Stay Grounded in Godly Example Hebrews 13:7 We are not meant to be the end-users of the gospel but links in a chain of discipleship. 2. Expect and Endure Hardship with Purpose Tr...

1 Timothy 6:11-21 Big Idea: The Fight is Real and the Cost is Worth it 1. Battle Tested - Eternally Worth it “Fight the good fight” literally means “agonize the good agony” 2 Timothy 4:7 Romans 8:18 "I would rather be in this wheelchair knowing Jesus than on my feet without him." Joni Eareckson Tada 2. God can be Trusted - Riches can not 1 Timothy 6:17 1 Timothy 6:9-10 Proverbs 23:5 3. Treasures E...

1 Timothy 4:1-5 1 Timothy 4:7-16  Big Idea: In order to live into the example of Christ, we need to train. The Discipline to Avoid Proverbs 19:2  Proverbs 3:5-6   The Discipline to Adhere 1 Timothy 4:8 James 1:22 “True prayer should pour out the whole soul and every inward feeling before him.” - John Calvin  The Discipline to Follow Through John 13:15 Proverbs 4:20-23 RESPONSE • Be encouraged  1 T...

Big Idea: God calls for leaders who exemplify godly character, manage their households well, and demonstrate faithful service. 1 Timothy 3:1-13 1 Timothy 2:12 2 Peter 3:16 1. Godly Character is the Foundation of Leadership “A leader is one who knows the way, goes the way, and shows the way.” - John C. Maxwell James 3:1 "A true and safe leader is likely to be one who has no desire to lead but is fo...

1 Timothy 1:3-11 Big Idea: Your perception of truth determines your reaction to it. 1. What is it? 1 John 1:6  2. What do we do? 2 Timothy 2:14-16  3. Why do we do it? 1 Timothy 1:12-17  Titus 3:4-7  RESPONSE • Be sober minded.  - 1 Peter 5:8 • Live in the truth.  - John 8:32 - Galatians 5:22-23 • Prepare yourself for the good work - 2 Timothy 2:20-21 DISCOVERY BIBLE STUDY ► This week's passages: ...

Colossians 1:11-14 What do we know about this Kingdom? 1. THE KINGDOM IS NOT OF THIS WORLD Mark 1:15 John 18:34-35 John 18:36 Mark 10:42-45 2. THE KINGDOM IS OUR FIRST PURSUIT Matthew 6:10 Matthew 6:31-34 3. THE KINGDOM CHANGES HOW I BEHAVE Matthew 4:23 Matthew 5:3-11

Nehemiah 13:6-9 Nehemiah 13:15-22 Context - The thirty-second year of Artaxerxes would have been around 433 BC and this is when Nehemiah returned to Persia and was there for some time before he requested he visit Jerusalem. His return visit was around 430 or 429 BC, and he tells us what he found in Jerusalem (vv 6-7). - Tobiah and Eliashib were somehow connected (perhaps related through a marriage...

Nehemiah 12:27-30 Big Idea: We find freedom from conformity through our surrender to transformation. 1. The Humility To Remember Where We Come From 2 Chronicles 36:15-19  Nehemiah 13:17-18  2. The Humility To Be Honest With Where We Are Currently At 3. The Humility To Accept What We Are Called To 1 John 2: 6  Philippians 2:5-8 Response: • Remember where you come from  • Acknowledge where you’re at...

Nehemiah 6:15 Nehemiah 8 Big Idea: Pursuing and Celebrating the Right Thing Brings Fulfillment. Spiritual Renewal - Hunger for God is greater than our hunger for the things of the world 1. Temporarily Satisfied - Spiritually Lacking It doesn’t matter how well rounded you are, If it’s at the expense of being well grounded Mark 8:36 2. Attentiveness Required - Response Voluntary Nehemiah 8:3 Nehemia...

Nehemiah 5:1-19 Big Idea: Generosity is an outward expression of our love for God and others. Context - Hunger  - Famine - Taxes  - Slavery - Lending money with interest under these conditions was wrong Exodus 22:25-27 Deuteronomy 23:19-20 1. Generosity should be a mark of His people Credit Card Debt (per person) by generation: Generation Z $3,262 Millennials $6,521 Generation X $9,123 Baby Boomer...

Nehemiah 4:15-23 Big Idea: Spiritual warfare is prevalent, but we’ve been equipped to prevail. 1. Be all in Nehemiah 4:23 Romans 8:12-14 "The devil is a better theologian than any of us and is a devil still." A.W. Tozer  Ephesians 6:10-12 2. Armor up James 4:7  3. Work with your weapons Nehemiah 4:17  RESPONSE • Kill the flesh • Speak the Name  • Lean into community  - Nehemiah 4:19-20 - Proverbs...

John 3:1-15 Big Idea: How do you SATISFY the curiosity of your soul? 1. New Birth John 3:3 2. New Spirit John 3:5-8 3. New Life John 3:12-15 John 7:50-52 John 19:38-39 DISCOVERY BIBLE STUDY ► Connection questions: 1. What are you thankful for? 2. What is a challenge you are facing? 3. How did you do with last week’s “I will” statement? ► Have at least one member of the group restate the passage in...

Nehemiah 3:1-5 Big Idea: The restorative work of God in our lives begins with acknowledging we are broken. 1. Fortify the Gates “He who thinks he leads, but has no followers, is only taking a walk” - John C. Maxwell The devil is on the hunt for the weakest part of your wall 1 Peter 5:8-9 "Confession is not a weakness. It shows the power of grace in breaking down the walls of pride." - Jerry Bridge...

Nehemiah 2:1-20 Big Idea: Have the courage to believe what only God can do. 1. The Courage to Ask “Courage is not the absence of fear, but rather the assessment that something else is more important than fear.” - Franklin D. Roosevelt Ezra 4:19-21 Nehemiah 1:11 2. The Courage to Be Honest With Reality “This is the lesson: never give in, never give in, never, never, never, never—in nothing, great o...

Series Theme: We Rise and Build as we Fall on our Knees and Pray James 4:10 Big Idea: God WANTS to be the Hero in your story. Overview of the Books of Ezra & Nehemiah: Ezra 1-6 Ezra 7-10 Nehemiah 1-7 Nehemiah 8-13 Zerubbabel Ezra          Nehemiah Temple Torah/Law      Walls Spiritual Renewal King Cyrus King Artaxerxes   King Artaxerxes Nehemiah 1:1-11  It’s easy to make Nehemiah the hero He shoul...

Romans 10:1-17 Big Idea: A gospel of depth leads to declaration. 1. The Good News Isaiah 52:7 Romans 1:2-7 (The Message Translation) The sacred writings contain preliminary reports by the prophets on God’s Son. His descent from David roots him in history; his unique identity as Son of God was shown by the Spirit when Jesus was raised from the dead, setting him apart as the Messiah, our Master. Thr...

Mark 2:1-12 Big Idea: Individuals in your traffic pattern depend on you to introduce them to Jesus. Context • There was an understanding that sickness was caused by sin. John 9:1-3 • Jesus preached the word Mark 1:14–15 Who are you in the story? 1. The Crowd “Stop trying to change non-believers’ behaviors towards your morals” - Pastor Ryan “New Dad” O’Neill 2. The Faithful 1 Corinthians 12:12–14 3...

Where you call home matters. 1 Peter 2:11 Jeremiah 29:4-14 Big Idea: Your community is a gift from God, treat it as such. 1. Pray for the Transformation of your Community Jeremiah 29:7  You can love where you live, but can you love where you left? Matthew 5:43-44 2. Embrace God's Truth Jeremiah 29:8-9 What grounds you, grows you. “A Bible that's falling apart usually belongs to a person that isn't...

Esther 4:12-16 Big Idea: You have a “such a time as this” role in your community. 1. Don’t ignore/suppress reality If you are not moved by anything You are most likely distracted by everything Luke 4:18 2. Find Strength in the Lord Isaiah 40:31 3. Pursue the Wisdom & Favor from the Lord 2 Chronicles 20:12 Isaiah 58:6-9 Proverbs 19:2 James 1:5 4. Do something! Esther 4:16 RESPONSE • Acknowledge you...

Big Idea: The church pursues full purpose when it extends past its property. Luke 19:1-10 1. See Mark 12:29-31 2. Seek Romans 10:14-15 3. Sacrifice 1 John 2:6 4. Save Acts 4:12 Romans 10:13 RESPONSE • Know Your Why - Ephesians 5:15-17 Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but unde...

Big Idea: God has a mission for us Matthew 28:16-20 1. The discipleship journey starts with the Gospel 2. God asks us to join Him on this mission 2 Corinthians 5:18-21 3. We make disciples when we live out the G.O. principle G - Intimacy with God O - Investing in others Mark 5:19 Matthew 5:14-16 A - Admit B - Believe C - Choose  Response • Look for people in your traffic pattern who are far from G...

Acts 2:42-47 You that are members of the church have not found it perfect and I hope that you feel almost glad that you have not. If I had never joined a Church till I had found one that was perfect, I should never have joined one at all! And the moment I did join it, if I had found one, I should have spoiled it, for it would not have been a perfect Church after I had become a member of it. Still,...

Matthew 18:21-35 BIG IDEA: Forgiveness is hard, yet freeing. “Stop beating yourself up because of your past bad decisions. No one's past is spotless. Learn from your past and start over. God's mercies are endless." -Terraine Francois 1. Forgiveness is a Priority Ephesians 4:31-32 Everyone has the right to be bitter, but none of us can afford to be bitter. Matthew 6:12 2. With Forgiveness Comes Fre...

“The greatest single cause of atheism in the world today is Christians: who acknowledge Jesus with their lips, walk out the door, and deny Him by their lifestyle. That is what an unbelieving world simply finds unbelievable.” - Brennan Manning What cancer is to the body, hypocrisy is to the church. Big Idea: Living authentically means committing to transparency that reflects God's truth and love. R...

Big Idea: The Church: Ordained by God, messed up by man, still God’s plan. Matthew 16:13-18 1 - The Church is different from any other organization or organism. The Church originated with Christ. "Church" comes from the word "ekklesia" meaning “Called out ones” Christ is The Cornerstone (Ephesians 2:19-22) Christ is Head of the Church (Colossians 1:18) The Church has both eternal & present purpose...