NOTES:
This is the message we heard from Jesus and now declare to you: God is light, and there is no darkness in him at all. So we are lying if we say we have fellowship with God but go on living in spiritual darkness; we are not practicing the truth. But if we are living in the light, as God is in the light, then we have fellowship with each other, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, cleanses us from all sin. If we claim we have no sin, we are only fooling ourselves and not living in the truth. But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness. If we claim we have not sinned, we are calling God a liar and showing that his word has no place in our hearts.
1 John 1:5–10 (NLT)
WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU STEP INTO THE LIGHT?
YOU STOP AND START BEING .
YOU STOP HIDING YOUR AND START TRUSTING GOD’S .
YOU STOP WALKING AND START WALKING WITH .
BOTTOM LINE:
You can’t in the light while in the dark.
THE CHALLENGE:
Take into the Light.
NOTES:
“Always be fully of joy in the Lord. I say it again—rejoice!
Philippians 4:4
Joy in Jesus provides from Jesus.
Don’t worry (or be anxious) about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus. And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. Keep putting into practice all you learned and received from me—everything you heard from me and saw me doing. Then the God of peace will be with you.”
Philippians 4:6-8
Joy in Jesus provides from Jesus.
How I praise the Lord that you are concerned about me again. I know you have always been concerned for me, but you didn’t have the chance to help me. Not that I was ever in need, for I have learned how to be content with whatever I have. I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little. For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.
Philippians 4:10-13
Joy in Jesus provides from Jesus.
THE BOTTOM LINE:
Looking for ? Look to !
THE CHALLENGE:
Look at Jesus!
NOTES:
For I have told you often before, and I say it again with tears in my eyes, that there are many whose conduct shows they are really enemies of the cross of Christ. They are headed for destruction. Their god is their appetite, they brag about shameful things, and they think only about this life here on earth. But we are citizens of heaven, where the Lord Jesus Christ lives.
Philippians 3:18-20 (NLT)
our
our
our
BOTTOM LINE:
Heaven is a ; not just a .
CHALLENGE:
Make an .
NOTES:
Is there any encouragement from belonging to Christ? Any comfort from his love? Any fellowship together in the Spirit? Are your hearts tender and compassionate? Then make me truly happy by agreeing wholeheartedly with each other, loving one another, and working together with one mind and purpose. Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too.
Philippians 2:1-4 (NLT)
LOOK UP
Action step: Philippians 2:6-11 .
LOOK IN
Action Step: your .
LOOK OUT
Action Step: .
BOTTOM LINE:
To get , think of .
CHALLENGE:
Look . Look . Look .
NOTES:
Every time I think of you, I give thanks to my God. Whenever I pray, I make my requests for all of you with joy, for you have been my partners in spreading the Good News about Christ from the time you first heard it until now. And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns. So it is right that I should feel as I do about all of you, for you have a special place in my heart. You share with me the special favor of God, both in my imprisonment and in defending and confirming the truth of the Good News. And I want you to know, my dear brothers and sisters, that everything that has happened to me here has helped to spread the Good News. For everyone here, including the whole palace guard, knows that I am in chains because of Christ. And because of my imprisonment, most of the believers here have gained confidence and boldly speak God’s message without fear. It’s true that some are preaching out of jealousy and rivalry. But others preach about Christ with pure motives. They preach because they love me, for they know I have been appointed to defend the Good News. Those others do not have pure motives as they preach about Christ. They preach with selfish ambition, not sincerely, intending to make my chains more painful to me. But that doesn’t matter. Whether their motives are false or genuine, the message about Christ is being preached either way, so I rejoice. And I will continue to rejoice. I will continue to be bold for Christ, as I have been in the past. And I trust that my life will bring honor to Christ, whether I live or die. For to me, living means living for Christ, and dying is even better.
Philippians 1:3-21 (NLT)
Your grow
Your expands
Your elevates
BOTTOM LINE:
True comes from not .
CHALLENGE:
Fill in the blank: For to me, living means ________ .
NOTES:
“That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life—whether you have enough food and drink, or enough clothes to wear. Isn’t life more than food, and your body more than clothing? Look at the birds. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them. And aren’t you far more valuable to him than they are? Can all your worries add a single moment to your life? “And why worry about your clothing? Look at the lilies of the field and how they grow. They don’t work or make their clothing, yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are. And if God cares so wonderfully for wildflowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, he will certainly care for you. Why do you have so little faith? “So don’t worry about these things, saying, ‘What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?’ These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need. “So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today.
Matthew 6:25–34 (NLT)
WORRY IS .
WORRY IS .
WORRY IS OF YOUR IDENTITY.
THREE SHIFTS TO BREAK THE CYCLE
- From If → If
- From →
- From Focus → Focus
BOTTOM LINE:
The path to is paved with .
THE CHALLENGE
The 5-Minute Reset.
NOTES:
God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it. For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.
Ephesians 2:8–10 (NLT)
– What makes your heart come ?
Take delight in the LORD, and he will give you your heart’s desires.
Psalm 37:4 (NLT)
– What has God built into you?
In his grace, God has given us different gifts for doing certain things well.
Romans 12:6 (NLT)
– What do wise, godly see in you?
Plans go wrong for lack of advice; many advisers bring success.
Proverbs 15:22 (NLT)
BOTTOM LINE:
You were created purpose a purpose.
THE CHALLENGE:
Walk It Out.
NOTES:
How do I deal with stress and burnout?
Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.”
Matthew 11:28–30 (NLT)
PAUSE AND PAY .
Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. Point out anything in me that offends you, and lead me along the path of everlasting life.
Psalm 139:23-24 (NLT)
PRIORITIZE .
Remember to observe the Sabbath day by keeping it holy.
Exodus 20:8 (NLT)
PACE YOUR LIFE WITH .
“Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it abides in the vine, so neither can you unless you abide in Me. “I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing.
John 15:4–5 (NASB95)
BOTTOM LINE:
BEGINS WITH .
THE CHALLENGE:
YOUR SCHEDULE.
NOTES:
Then Peter came to him and asked, “Lord, how often should I forgive someone who sins against me? Seven times?” “No, not seven times,” Jesus replied, “but seventy times seven!
Matthew 18:21–22 (NLT)
“That’s what my heavenly Father will do to you if you refuse to forgive your brothers and sisters from your heart.”
Matthew 18:35 (NLT)
HOW DO WE FORGIVE WHEN IT STILL HURTS?
(Give up revenge)
“Never pay back evil with more evil… Dear friends, never take revenge. Leave that to the righteous anger of God.”
Romans 12:17,19 (NLT)
(Pray for them)
“But I say, love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you!”
Matthew 5:44 (NLT)
(What Jesus did for you)
“Be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you.”
Ephesians 4:32 (NLT)
BOTTOM LINE:
Forgiveness is choosing over .
THE CHALLENGE:
Write. Pray. Step.
NOTES:
So to keep me from becoming proud, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger from Satan to torment me and keep me from becoming proud. Three different times I begged the Lord to take it away. Each time he said, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me. That’s why I take pleasure in my weaknesses, and in the insults, hardships, persecutions, and troubles that I suffer for Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
2 Corinthians 12:7b-10 (NLT)
- Paul identifies in the .
- Paul for the to be removed.
- Paul’s is shifted in the .
“I have learned to kiss the waves that throw me against the Rock of Ages.”
Charles Spurgeon
- to God.
“We must lay before Him what is in us, not what ought to be in us.”
C.S. Lewis
The LORD is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.
Psalm 34:18
2. the Purpose.
Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow.
James 1:2-4
3. in Grace.
BOTTOM LINE:
Your may be loud; but God’s is louder.
THE CHALLENGE:
Thank God for your thorn.