First Baptist Church Lipan, TX

God In The Valley -  1 Kings 19:1-9a After the mountain, there is always the valley God doesn't give up on us, even when we have given up on ourselves When the going gets tough, the faithful follow God The God of the mountain is still God in the valley

RUNNING IN THE RAIN -  1 KINGS 18:41-46 ONLY BELIEVERS CAN HEAR THE BEGINNINGS OF THE WORK OF GOD BELIEVERS MUST DECLARE THE PROMISES OF GOD TO A WORLD WHO CANNOT SEE THEM BELIEVERS MUST ACTIVELY PRAY TO RECEIVE THE THINGS GOD HAS PROMISED SOMETIMES THE ANSWER TO PRAYER CAN COME FROM A SMALL START ELIJAH ACTED ON THE SMALL THINGS ELIJAH SUBMITTED HIMSELF TO THE HOLY SPIRIT

Fire On The Mountain - 1 Kings 18:20-40 Elijah would not accept passivity Elijah Accepted Responsibility Elijah Lived in His Faith Elijah Stood Alone When He Had To

Abide In Power - Revelation 5:5-6; Acts 1:8; Acts 3:1-10; Philippians 3:7-11 JESUS’ POWER DOES NOT LOOK LIKE THE WORLD’S POWER JESUS’ POWER IS ABOUT FUNCTION RATHER THAN ABILITY JESUS’ POWER IS OUTWARD FOCUSED JESUS' POWER IS MORE ABOUT WHAT YOU CAN ENDURE THAN WHAT YOU CAN DO

ABIDE IN GRACE - John 8:1-8 IN ORDER FOR HIS GRACE TO MANIFEST IN OUR LIVES, WE MUST REALIZE OUR OWN FRAILTY AND FAILINGS THE GRACE OF JESUS IS NOT JUDGMENTAL THE GRACE OF JESUS IS PATIENT THE GRACE OF JESUS IS COMPLETE

Abide In Life - Galatians 2:19-20 The only way into new life is a legal death The old self dies so the new self can live for God A believer's entire identity is wrapped in the death and resurrection of Christ The life we live is still lived in the flesh We still live in the flesh, but we live by faith

Fishing For People - Luke 5:1-11 Do you know Jesus? Are you Obeying Jesus? Are you sharing Jesus?

Rest - Genesis 2:2-3, Ephesians 5:28 & 6:4 Rest brings healthier lives Rest brings more time with our family Rest brings an opportunity to grow our relationship with Jesus

Abide In Love - John 15:9-17 Jesus Gave His Disciples One Commandment: Love Each Other As I Have Loved You Jesus' Love Is Unconditional Jesus' Love Is Sacrificial  Jesus' Love Is Total Abiding In Jesus' Love Is The Litmus Test Of How Well We Are Following Jesus

Abide - John 15:1-8 Jesus is the source of all life. Pruning is the more involved process. Abide literally means to take up residence with. You can do nothing apart from Jesus. You do not lose your identity, but you lose your function. The Secret to power in the Christian life is abiding.

Hindsight is - Matthew 10:26-31 God is in control God is never surprised You are exactly where God wants you to be

Why Her? - Luke 1:26-56 Mary was a pure and faithful follower of God. Mary had a believing faith. Mary had an accepting faith. Mary had a confirming faith. Mary had a praising faith.

Why Here? - Luke 2: 4 Jesus was born in Bethlehem to identify with and be available to common man Jesus was born in Bethlehem to satisfy our spiritual hunger Jesus was born in Bethlehem to connect to the history of God's chosen people    Rachel's Bethlehem - The birthplace of Israel's son of my right hand is also the birthplace of the son of God's right hand      Ruth...

Why Him? - Luke 2:6-7 He came as a baby to experience our frail humanity. He came as a baby to do what we could not. He came as a baby to fully understand the trust he was asking us to have. He came as a baby to paint a picture of  how faith should work in our lives.

Why Me? -  Mat thew 1:18-25 Joseph was chosen as Jesus' father because he was a just man. Joseph was chosen because he had an obedient heart. Joseph was chosen because he had a courageous spirit. Joseph was chosen because he was an ordinary man. Joseph's qualities are the qualities of anybody God is going to use.

Thankful for eternity     Thankful for Eternal Love - Romans 8:38-39    Thankful for Everlasting Life - John 5:24    Thankful for an Eternal Home - John 14:1-4

2 Corinthians 9:15; Ephesians 2:8; 1 Corinthians 15:10; 2 Corinthians 12:9-10; Luke 6:27-36 Jesus' grace is costless. Jesus' grace is effective. Jesus' grace is sufficient. Jesus' grace is contagious.

A Heart Condition -  Mark 7:14-23 Ingestion Stage -  the act of consuming what's around us Digestion Stage - we decide if what we ingest is good Outflow Stage - where we commit to our decision Who's understanding are you trusting?

Thankful For Sacrifice - 2 Corinthians 9:15; John 10:17-18; Luke 22:47-53; Mark 15:34 Jesus sacrificed His life. Jesus sacrificed His freedom. Jesus sacrificed His fellowship. Jesus sacrificed worldly glory. We should be thankful to God for the sacrifices of Jesus.

Frankenstein - Matthew 9:9-13 When Jesus sought out followers, he did not use the world's standards. When Jesus sought out followers, he went where the sinner was. The church should not be a place of judgment. The message of Jesus isn't just for religious people; it's for those lost in sin. Frankenstein exists in all of our churches, but like the novel, too often we're the monsters.

Jekyll & Hyde - Romans 7:14-8:1 There is a Mr. Hyde in all of us. We must recognize the danger within us. We must recognize our helplessness to overcome the danger alone. We should praise God for providing rescue from the Mr. Hyde within us. We will always struggle with the man of sin inside us.

Ghosts in Church - Acts 19:1-7    Ghosts in church are fully devoted to what used to be    In times of trouble, church ghosts find peace in past memory rather than future hope    In focusing on the past, church ghosts miss the greater blessing of the future    When we focus on the past, we cannot move forward    The future glory for God's faithful...

Vampires in Church -  Numbers 13:31-14:4 Spiritual Vampires walk among us undetected Spiritual Vampires Are More Concerned About Their Ideas Of What The Kingdom Should Be Rather Than What God Has Called Them To Be Spiritual Vampires suck the life out of those around them The truth about negativity Negativity reflects what is going on inside a person Negativity justifies itself Negativity will...

Zombie Christians - Rev 3:1-3 A Zombie Christian has works without faith. A Zombie Christian has farming without fruit. Zombies don't know they are dead! How to keep from becoming a Zombie (or come back from being one) 1- Wake up to your condition. 2- Strengthen what remains of the faith you claim. 3 -remember the gospel you have received and heard.

Sometimes God Says, “No” -   Numbers 12:10-16; Luke 22:39-44; 2 Corinthians 12:7-10 Sometimes God says, “No,” because He has a lesson to teach Sometimes God says, “No,” because  He has a greater plan Sometimes God says, “No,” because it brings Him glory When God says, “No,” we must trust that God is doing what is best