Evergreen Christian Community

2 Corinthians 5:17-21 Big Idea: We are chosen to carry the message of God’s hope and love to our world. 1. Be Light Matthew 5:15-16 • Let your message matter more than your opinion • Let your message matter more than your image • Let your message match your actions • Be a light IN the world  1 Peter 2:12 (The Message) “Sometimes we make too much of our work, thinking we have to control the outcome...

Luke 10:38-42 Big Idea:  We are called to pursue intimacy with God as our #1 priority! This is NOT a call of duty - This is a call of opportunity. 3 Keys to lasting intimacy: 1 - Intentional Listening  John 5:19-20 Be intentional if you are going to be intimate. 2 - Fight Distractions We fight distractions for the benefit of the relationship! Facts about distractions -  • Distractions can worry an...

Big Idea: As members of the Body of Christ, we are called to uniquely use our gifts.  1 Corinthians 12:12-18 • Unity in Diversity 1 Corinthians 12:12-14 “God designed His Church to function as a harmonious orchestra, with each member playing a unique instrument, producing a beautiful symphony of faith.” - John MacArthur • Neglecting Our Divine Design 1 Corinthians 12:15-18 “When we neglect our uni...

Matthew 4:18-22 John 10:3-4 Big Idea: The Voice of Jesus is Calling - it’s time to follow Him. 1. Jesus is Calling John 10:27 The call to follow Jesus = A call to trust. 2. Am I Responding? Luke 9:23 Matthew 4:18-20 • Jesus doesn’t try to convince  • Jesus doesn’t give promises of what is ahead for them. • Jesus doesn’t give clear answers to what that will look like.  • Jesus only says to follow…...

Romans 12:2 2 Corinthians 5:16-19 Big Idea: In Christ, you are a new creation. Now embrace it and live it. Galatians 6:14-15 1. The Old You - Remember where God has brought you from. Ephesians 2:1-3 - Let Go of your past.  Philippians 3:13-14 2. The New You 1 Peter 2:9-10  3. Embrace the new Life you’ve been given! What now? - Do not conform - Renew your mind - Reject the lies - Work through the g...

Romans 12:2 Big Idea: Renewing our minds is a continual but crucial process in a Christian life. 1 Corinthians 2:11-16 If you don’t allow God in to renew your mind, you’re not living the way you were created to live.  Point 1: Guard yourself.  “You are what your mind looks at.” - Tan Hwee Hwee 2 Corinthians 4:4 2 Timothy 1:7 Point 2: what’s filling you, what are you allowing to fill you? THAT'S wh...

Romans 12:2 Genesis 3:1-14 Big Idea: God wants to take our lies and replace them with truth. We believe the lie that God’s word is not trustworthy  • The truth is we are the ones who have drifted from fully trusting God We believe that the Bible is God’s word: We hold that the Scriptures are infallible and inerrant in the original manuscripts. They are the unique, full, and final authority on matt...

Romans 12:2 4 Areas of Relational Influence: • Parents  • Family  • Spouse • Friends Big Idea: Generational patterns, whether positive or negative, have a profound impact on our lives. 3 Objections to Dealing with Our Past: • Focusing on the past is bad. • I don’t need to address my past. • My past is a can of worms I am not willing to open. Exodus 20:5-6 "Children who repeat the sins of their fat...

Romans 12:1–2 Big Idea: The world wants to press you into its mold, but God wants to transform you from the inside out. • Formation Genesis 2:7 Psalm 139:15 • Conformation Romans 12:2 • Transformation 2 Corinthians 3:16–18 Transformation happens by: a. The Gospel b. Renewing of your mind Ezekiel 11:18–20 Spiritual Formation: “Spiritual formation focuses on the deepening of one's relationship with...

Matthew 16:13-20 The Big Idea: The Church is entirely a work of Jesus. The most important question any human will ever answer: Who do you say Jesus is? People Love Their Church for Five Reasons: • The Pastor  • The People • The Place • The Programs • The Platform Mature Christians Follow Jesus Deeper Into His Vision for the Church: Matthew 28:16-20 Response: • Let us pray for ECC and this transiti...

James 5:13-20 Big Idea: Prayer is our connection to Jesus, our source of overcoming. 1. Prayer is the breath to our spiritual lungs.  "To be a Christian without prayer is no more possible than to be alive without breathing." - Martin Luther Psalm 5:1-3 2. Prayer anchors our humanity, and roots us in our humility. a. Prayer reveals our need…we are like everyone else. b. Prayer reveals our limits…an...

Revelation 12:11 James 5:7-12 The Big Idea: Perseverence is an active and focused spiritual discipline. The focus that fuels our perseverance:  God’s promised deliverance “Never think that God's delays are God's denials. Hold on; hold fast; hold out. Patience is genius.”  –Comte de Buffon Let’s talk about practicing patient engagement: 1. Perseverence knows that God’s deliverance is coming. (V7-9)...

Revelation 12:11 James 4:1-10 Big Idea: Overcomers fight the right enemy with the right tactics. • Fight the Flesh James 4:1-3 Acts 4:32 Galatians 5:17 “Be killing sin or sin will be killing you.” - John Owen • Fight Worldliness James 4:4-6 1 John 2:16 2 Corinthians 10:3-5 • Fight the Devil James 4:7-10 "It is the Holy Spirit's job to convict, God's job to judge, and my job to love." - Billy Graha...

Revelation 12:11 James 3:13-18 The Big Idea: Godly wisdom is transformational for everyone involved 1. The Birthmark of Wisdom is a Humility John 5:44 2. The Two Versions of wisdom a. Ungodly wisdom – resulting in a disordered soul b. God’s wisdom - resulting in human flourishing 3. The Fruit of Wisdom is a harvest of right relationships Proverbs 3:13-18 Response: • Ask God for wisdom • Commit to...

Revelation 12:11 James 3:1-12 The Big Idea: Managing your mouth requires God’s constant help. Problem #1: Presumptive authority Problem #2: Your tongue is a very real and present danger. “You know the saying, “Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me.” I have no idea who came up with that. It’s simply not true at all. No one stays in a hospital with a broken bone forever,...

Revelation 12:11 James 2:14-26 Does this disagree with the Apostle Paul? Ephesians 2:8-10 The Big Idea: Faith without Incarnation is worthless. 1. The Proposition (v 14-17): Dead faith cannot do a thing James makes his point with two questions: • What good is it?  • Can such faith save him? 2. The Argument (v 18-25) • Works are evidence that a person has faith. • Even demons believe the Shema • Wh...

Revelation 12:11 James 2:1-13 The Big Idea: Our simple command is to love people. 1. Crucify your impulse to be God 2. Choose what God chooses 3. Live with your verdict in mind The Conclusion of the Matter: James 2:13 “Mercy triumphs over judgment.” Response: • Leave judgment to God • Choose mercy every time • B.L.E.S.S. Your Oikos DISCOVERY BIBLE STUDY ► Connection questions: 1. What are you than...

Revelation 12:11 James 1:19-27 God wired three desires into your DNA • To properly worship God  • To have God’s Blessing on all that you do. • To be used by God to change somebody’s World The Big Idea: To play the long game, “Listen Up, Grow Up, and Follow Up” Three Rules for Life: 1. Listen Up • Prov. 10:19 NLT “Too much talk leads to sin. Be sensible and keep your mouth shut.” • The worst outcom...

Revelation 12:11 We will overcome this way as well: The Blood of Jesus, the story of our obedience and life, and not loving our lives as to shrink from death. James 1:9–18 Big Idea: Temptation is an opportunity to move toward God or away from God.   Two Forces on our Soul: 1. Outward trials and attacks that erode our faith in God. 2. Inward temptations to move away from our trust in God. Are you t...

Revelation 12:11 James 1:1-8; 12 The Big Idea: Find joy in your trials because perseverance is the path. ‭‭Doctrine of God: He is the generous, holy, unchanging source of good; He is sovereign and just. Doctrine of Sin: It is universal and indwelling all people, resulting in death. It expresses itself in anger, moral filth, blasphemy, discrimination, bitterness, pride, theft, and oppression. Doctr...

The Big Idea: God has given us everything we need to be overcomers, and you are going to make it! John 16:7-15 The Better Way: Better than having Jesus right next to you is having the Spirit in you! 1. Never have to be Thirsty‭‭ John 7:37-39 John 16:8 2. Never have to be Lost John 3:8 ‭ John 16:12-13 3. Never have to be Confused John 16:13b-15 1 Corinthians 2:6-16 What is holding me back? Am I Ign...

The Big Idea: Jesus was the most free human ever and He can take us into that same level of freedom. John 8:28-36 Three Steps to Total Freedom: 1. Make a Declaration of Dependence:  John 15:1-8 2. Throw off Religious systems that create barriers rather than freedom. The Truth sets you free. It does not bind you into religious obligations Colossians 2:6-23 ‭‭ 3. Take up your cross every day Luke 9:...

Proverbs 18:1-4, 10, 12-13, 15-17, 19, 21, 24 Exodus 20:16 The Big Idea: Stop mindreading and actually talk to people • Stereotypes are thoughts. - Thoughts produce prejudices • Prejudices are feelings - Thoughts and feelings lead to Discrimination • Discrimination is an action. - Action creates culture. All of this began in Genesis 3: • I was afraid • Because I was naked • So I hid Three Skills o...

1 Peter 2:4–10 Big Idea: Community is built on God, with God, and for God. Observations from 1 Peter: Begins with the Living Stone Cornerstone The plumbline, anchor, base from which our community is constructed. Capstone The top level, shielding the wall from the elements and protecting it from cracking. Keystone The final piece in the arch, supporting a bridge of stones across an entryway. • Ever...

The Big Idea: We grow and thrive together or we do not grow much. Mark 3:31-35 ‭ Two Things This Means to Us: 1. Jesus’ vision for the church is that of a family. 2. Family is the place of our deepest hurt and our deepest healing. Adult Patterns of Relationship as established in our childhood: (Attachment Theory) 1. Avoidant - People cannot be trusted. 2. Anxious attachment - People are consistent...