SERIES:  Transformed By Passion

TITLE:  Ryan East Preaching This Sunday!

NEXT WEEK:  

         Title: Revenge Is (Not) Sweet; I Samuel 24-25; Mt.5:38-42

SERIES:  Transformed By Passion

TITLE:  Let’s Go Spelunking!

TEXT:  I Samuel 22: 1-2 (p.245); Psalm 57; Psalm 142 

I. THE CAVE: THE DOWNSIDE                  

Turn to I Samuel 18:12-16

David was riding a (high); Saul was riding a (low).  Even Jonathan recognized his father preoccupation with (killing David) and told him to be careful.

The downside: the tendency to look at things through a (negative lens). 

II. THE CAVE: THE UPSIDE                         

3 attitudes David show us:

1. David admitted his (need).  Ps.142

2. David cried for (help). Ps.57:1-5

3. David leaned on (God)  Ps.57:5-11 

Check out Psalm 34:1-4, 6-10, 19, 22.

NEXT WEEK: Ryan East preaching

 For July 8:  Title: Revenge Is (Not) Sweet; I Samuel 24-25; Mt.5:38-42

SERIES:  Transformed By Passion

TITLE:  Battle Ready

TEXT:  I Samuel 17 (p.239) 

I.  DAVID KNEW HIS ENEMY                 

Goliath would have been about (9’9”) tall.  The coat of mail went from shoulder to knee and weighed (175-200) pounds.  He also had a bronze helmet, bronze leggings, and a bronze javelin, whose head weighed about (20-25) pounds.  Shield was size of a full-grown man. 

 David knew his enemy. We can too.  Turn to Ephesians 6:10-12 (p.979). 

II. DAVID KNEW HIS WEAPON                        

Eliab, one of those in fear, tells David to get lost.  Notice Samuel’s first choice for king in 16:6.

 David knew his weapon. He didn’t go after Goliath with the king’s armor.  He went after him with his (sling and staff). 

 David knew his weapon. We can too. Turn to Ephesians 6:13-17. 

III. DAVID KNEW HIS STRENGTH

“Some trust in chariots and some trust in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God.”  Psalm 20:7

 “I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.”  Phil.4:13

 “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”  2 Cor.12:9

 David knew his strength. We can too.  Turn to Ephesians 6:18

NEXT:  Series: David: Transformed by Passion

            Sermon:  Let’s Go Spelunking! I Samuel 22:1-2; Psalm 57; Psalm 142

SERIES:  Transformed By Passion

TITLE:  Who Says You’re a Nobody?

TEXT:  I Samuel 15:24-16:13 (p.238) 

I.  THE FALL OF SAUL

Drowning Event #1: Disregard for God’s (Law).  I Samuel 13:8-14

Drowning Event #2: Disregard for God’s (Words).  I Samuel 15

Drowning Event #3: Disregard for God’s (Command). I Samuel 28:3-7

II. THE RISE OF DAVID                       

“When a man or woman of God fails, nothing of God fails.  When a man or woman of God changes, nothing of God changes.  When someone dies, nothing of God dies.  When our lives are altered by the unexpected, nothing of God is altered or unexpected.”  Chuck Swindoll

There are three major players in this drama:

1. Samuel.
2. God.
3. David.

Some practical applications for us to see:

1. God’s choices seem (strange) in our eyes.
2. God often chooses (the weak) to confound (the wise). 
3. Never judge (and make choices) by the (outward appearance).

NEXT:  Series: David: Transformed by Passion

            Sermon:  Battle Ready I Samuel 17

SERIES:  Transformed By Passion

TITLE:  What God Looks For

TEXT:  I Samuel 13:13-14 & others (p.235) 

I.  MAN’S CHOICE NOT GOD’S               

Turn to I Samuel 8 for background.  Two things stand out:

• Their displeasure with Samuel’s sons
• They want a king just like the nations around them.

The choice was a man named (Saul).  Description is 9:2.  Two instances that show the problem:

1)      I Samuel 13

2)      I Samuel 15

II. GOD’S CHOICE NOT MAN’S                      

4 characteristics of God’s choice:

1. A (Thirst for God).    Turn to Psalm 42:1-2 (p.469) and Psalm 63:1
2. (Sensitivity).  “For the eyes of the Lord move to and fro throughout the earth that He may strongly support those whose heart is completely His.”  2 Chron.16:9   “God is constantly on the lookout for people who are totally committed to Him.”  (MSG)
3. (Integrity).  Psalm 78:71-72.  God is not looking for magnificent specimens of (humanity).  He is looking for deeply (spiritual), genuinely (humble), honest-to-the-core (servants)  who have integrity.
4. A willingness to (admit sin).   “Search me, O God, and know my heart!  Try me and know my thoughts!  And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting!”  Ps.139:23-24

NEXT:  Series: David: Transformed by Passion

            Sermon:  Who Says You’re a Nobody?  I Samuel 15:24-16:13

SERIES:  Transformed By Love

TITLE:  Love’s Permanence

TEXT:  I Corinthians 13: 8-19 (p.959)

1. GETTING FOCUSED              

“Love never ends.”

            “Love never fails.”

            “Love never dies.”

            “Love will last forever.”

Word for “fail” is used of a leaf that falls to the ground, withers, and decays.

Word for “never” refers to time.

Word used for both prophecy and knowledge is (reduced to inactivity, abolished). 

Word for cease is (to stop, to come to an end).

2. GETTING STARTED                     

4 truths from I Corinthians 13 worth remembering:

#1: Love is of God, not man, so (get connected).    See I John 4:7-13 (p.1023)

#2: Love is an (act), not a (feeling), so just do it.   I John 4:18

#3: Love is a (gift), not a wage or a bribe, so give it (freely). 

#4: Love is an (obligation), not an option, so pay it.   I John 4:11- “Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.”

NEXT:  Series: Transformed by Passion (Study of David)

            Sermon:  What God Looks For- I Samuel 13:13-14 (and others)                   

SERIES:  Transformed By Love

TITLE:  Love’s Profile – Part 2

TEXT:  I Corinthians 13: 6-7

1. WHEN LOVE IS CONFRONTATIONAL

Love never deals in (deception); it traffics in (truth).

Love finds no joy in (sin). 

“Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness.”  Is.5:20

Love doesn’t pander in (wrong things).   Turn to Ephesians 4:25-32 (p.978)

See also Proverbs 12:17,19  (p.536)

2. WHEN LOVE HITS THE WALL

What is love supposed to be like?

1. Love bears all things.  Simply put: love (hangs tough).
2. Love believes all things.    Love is not (suspicious) and (cynical).
3. Love hopes all things.  Love is (optimistic) and smiles at the future.
4. Love endures all things.  Love stands against (overwhelming opposition) and refuses to quit bearing, believing, and hoping.

NEXT:  Series: Transformed by Love

            Sermon: Love’s Permanence-  I Corinthians 13: 8-13

SERIES:  Transformed By Love

TITLE:  Love’s Profile – Part 1

TEXT:  I Corinthians 13: 4-5 (p.959)

1. WHAT LOVE IS            

1.      Love is (Patient). 

Paul’s idea of patience is to (hang in, to persevere). 

2.      Love is (Kind). 

Patience will take anything from others, kindness will (give anything) to others, even to its enemies.

2. WHAT LOVE IS NOT                 

1.   Love is NOT (Jealous).   “Jealousy is fierce as the grave.”  Song 8:6

      In Matthew 20:15 Jesus calls it “the evil eye.”  (NKJV)

2.   Love is NOT (boastful).  Jealousy puts others down; bragging (builds us up).

3.      Love is NOT (arrogant).   Pride and arrogance breed (contention).

4.      Love is NOT (rude). 

5.      Love is NOT (selfish).   “Here lies a miser who lived for himself, and cared for nothing but gathering wealth.  Now where he is or how he fares, nobody knows and nobody cares.”

6.      Love is NOT (irritable). 

7.      Love is NOT (resentful).  “Love does not keep score.”

NEXT:  Series: Transformed by Love

            Sermon: Love’s Profile- Part Two-  I Corinthians 13: 6-7                   

SERIES:  Transformed By Love

TITLE:  Love’s Priority

TEXT:  I Corinthians 13: 1-3 (p.959)

 I.   UNRAVELING LOVE’S DEFINITION  

 Four different ways Greeks defined what we call “love.”

1. Eros- (sexual) love
2. Storge- (family)
3. Philos- (friendship) love
4. Agape- (unconditional) love

Eros- “I love you (if)”

Storge- gives a sense of (belonging)

Philos- “I love you (because)”

Agape- “I love you (in spite of)”

 II.    UNRAVELING LOVE’S PLACE                

    Some important truths to remember:

1. Remember that you are (sinful and selfish) and bring that to table of any discussion.
2. Realize your sinful and selfish nature needs to be (controlled).
3. Remember feelings can be (deceptive).

Three principles we want to see in I Corinthians 13:

1. Without love our personal communication is (ineffective).
2. Without love our spiritual understanding is (incomplete).
3. Without love our sacrificial giving is (insufficient).

NEXT:  Series: Transformed by Love

            Sermon: Love’s Profile- Part One-  I Corinthians 13: 4-5

SERIES:  Transformed By His Presence

TITLE:   Urgent!

TEXT:  Matthew 9:35-38 (p.814)

1. HEARING THE HEARTBEAT

(700,000) receive treatment for alcoholism

Nearly half (46%) of all (15-19 year olds) in the US have had sex at least once.

Estimated total # of people living in the US with an STD/STI is over (65 million).

(1500) children in the US die every day from child abuse and neglect.

Every second, ($3075.64) spent on pornography.  Every second, 28,258 internet users are viewing porn.  WWW visitors: 72 million annually.

Divorce rate for first marriages in (50%); second is 67%

Within 2 years after graduation, (96%) of high school students leave the church.

Each day 146,357 people die.  Each hour=6098. Each minute-102.

2. PROVIDING THE CURE

1. The “harvest is ready.”
2. The “workers are few.”

 1)      He is looking for workers (who can pray).

2)      He is looking for workers (who will go).

NEXT:  Series: Transformed by Love

            Sermon: Love’s Priority- I Corinthians 13: 1-3