April/21/ 2019 Filed in:
Struggle BusThe Struggle Bus
Part 2
Faith Struggles
John 16:33 “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world YOU WILL HAVE TROUBLE. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”
In this world you will have trouble.
John 20:24-25 “Now Thomas … one of the Twelve, was not with the disciples when Jesus came. 25 So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord!”
But he said to them, “Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.”
1. I Doubt God’s existence
Jeremiah 29:13 “you will seek me and find me when you seek me with all of your heart:”
2. I Doubt God’s goodness
3. I Doubt God’s involvement
Two questions:
1. How did I get on the struggle bus?
A. When I put my faith in WHAT I SEE.
verse 25 “Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.”
John 20:26-29 “A week later his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” 27 Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.”
28 Thomas said to him, “My Lord and my God!” 29 Then Jesus told him, “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have NOT SEEN and yet have believed.”
B. Put my faith in WHAT I FEEL.
verse 25 “Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.”
2. How do you get off the struggle bus?
A. Acknowledge your doubts
Philippians 2:12 “…continue to WORK OUT your salvation with fear and trembling”
B. Ask God for help
Mark 9:24 “I do believe, but help me with my unbelief”
C. Act on the faith you have
Luke 17:6 “If you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and planted in the sea,’ and it will obey you.”
April/16/ 2019 Filed in:
Struggle BusStruggle Bus
Part 1
The Struggle is Real
John 16:33 “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”
I Corinthians 10:13 “No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.
Mark 14:34 "My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death…”
Why does God allow us to struggle? Four things…
1. So we will know God’s presence.
Psalm 23:4 “Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me…”
Jonah 2:2 “In my distress I called to the Lord…”
Jonah 2:7 “When my life was ebbing away, I remembered you…”
2. So we will depend on God’s people.
Ecclesiastes 4:9 “Two are better than one…”
Galatians 6:2 “Share each other’s burdens, and in this way obey the law of Christ.”
3. So we will gain wisdom for future problems.
James 1:2-4 “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. 4 Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.”
4. So we will witness God’s power.
2 Corinthians 12:9-10 “But God said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. 10 That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
April/08/ 2019 Filed in:
Awkward Conversation Awkward Conversation
Part 3
The Power of Invitation
Matthew 22:9 NCV “So go to the street corners and invite everyone you find to come to my feast”
Three things about the power of invitation:
1. God works through invitations
John 1:40-41 “Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, was one of the two who heard what John had said and who had followed Jesus. 41 The first thing Andrew did was to find his brother Simon and tell him, “We have found the Messiah”
John 4:28-29 “Then, leaving her water jar, the woman went back to the town and said to the people, 29 “Come, see a man who told me everything I ever did. Could this be the Messiah?”
Luke 5:29 “Then Levi held a great banquet for Jesus at his house, and a large crowd of tax collectors and others were eating with them.”
Acts 10:24 “The following day he arrived in Caesarea. Cornelius was expecting them and had called together his relatives and close friends.”
2. People are open to an invitation
3. Lives are changed by invitations
How do we invite someone?
John 1:40-42 “Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, was one of the two who heard what John had said and who had followed Jesus. 41 The first thing Andrew did was to find his brother Simon and tell him, “We have found the Messiah” (that is, the Christ). 42 And he brought him to Jesus.”
4 things
1. WHO did he tell?
Acts 1:8 “ But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
2. WHEN did he tell him?
verse 41 “the first thing that Andrew did was find his brother Peter and tell him.”
Mark 16:15 (NCV) “Jesus said to his followers, go everywhere in the world and tell the good news to everyone.”
3. WHAT did he tell him?
Verse 41 “We have found the messiah”
4. HOW did he tell him?
Verse 42 “He brought him to Jesus”
