THE LOCAL
Don't Be "This Guy" Recap
Part 2 of 4 in the Relationship Series at Clarity Church in Plymouth Minnesota.
What if I said that there was a secret to understanding why there are conflicts in the relationships of your life? What if I said there was one thing you could to that - if we all did it - would immediately bring the temperature down of the arguments and quarrels in our life? What if what I said just happened to be something that was revealed to us by Jesus’ brother James.
In all of the conflict of our lives, the problem is that we are always wanting something for ourselves that we are not getting. If we could stop and just admit that the problem in our relationships is that “I’m not getting what I want” - when we admit that it’s OUR problem, and not others - then we are well on our way towards living a life of healthy relationships that God wants for each of us.
Here are the notes from this weekend:
WHAT DO WE KNOW ABOUT CONFLICT?
When you WIN an argument with someone you are in relationships, you don’t really WIN anything.
We all process conflict DIFFERENTLY
• PEACEMAKERS
• SULKERS
• STUFFERS
• LITIGATORS
• SCREAMERS
As long as there are are RELATIONSHIPS there is CONFLICT
WHAT DOES SCRIPTURE TELL US ABOUT CONFLICT?
"What is causing quarrels and fights among you?" (James
4:1)
- Even though there are many kinds of conflict, there is only one SOURCE of conflict.
- As long as you BLAME OTHERS for your unhappiness you will always be unhappy
Don’t they come from YOUR desires that battle within YOU (James 4:1)
- Conflict always begins INSIDE of YOU.
"You DESIRE but do not have,…" (James 4:2)
- Every time there is conflict, you WANT something
“…So you KILL…” - James 4:2
- Do you know why you hurt the people that are closest to you? Because they are CLOSE to YOU
"You covet but you cannot get what you want, so you quarrel and fight.” (James 4:2)
- If you own a SLICE you have to be NICE.
"You do not have because you do not ask GOD.” (James 4:2)
QUESTION:
Who in your relationships is SUFFERING because you are not getting you WAY?
MEMORY VERSE:
Colossians 3:12
Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.
If you weren't able to make it on Sunday, you can watch the church service below:
Pulse Check Recap
Part 1: “Pulse Check” in the Relationship Series at Clarity Church in Plymouth Minnesota
At some point in our lives we all want to know that falling in love with someone forever is possible - that it’s not just something that happens to couples in Disney movies. While many people would suggest that the idea that two people could stay in love together forever is more of a coincidence than something that can actually be happen, Jesus would want to suggest that the opposite is true.
In a “not-so-about-marriage” passage of scripture, Jesus gives us insight into what is the secret for staying in love forever
John 13:34
“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another."
This is a definition of love you don’t find in your average american teen dream movie. For one, there are no vampires, and no one randomly breaks out in song - but most importantly, Jesus’ definition of love is something he backs up with action.
And that is the point.
Love is a verb that requires action. If you want to stay in love forever you have to make love a verb. And while many of us may agree with this as we read this, many of us don’t actually believe it. Why? Because we have not plan for proactively choosing to love. Anyone can “fall in love” because falling in love only requires a pulse. If you want to stay in love it requires a plan.
If you missed this message you can watch it below:
Story Recap
If your life was a story, would it be one worth telling? Would you be proud to tell it? Would anyone want to listen?
What if you were meant for a greater story than the one you’re living now? What if your story was all part of the most epic stories of all time?
This past week we simply took a look at what we commonly call “the Gospel” in Christian circles. The word “Gospel” simply means “Good News” - and while the news that God sent Jesus into the world to pay the debt our consistent breaking of God’s standards created - the good news is so much more than that. It’s a story that starts all the way from the beginning of time - and to be honest - it is still being told.
Listen in as we share the story of God. You were meant for this.
We look forward to seeing you next week at Clarity Church as we start a new series on Relationships.
If you missed the Story Sermon you can watch it below:
Geared Recap
We were all geared to live life in community. Many of us have never really found what we were meant for simply because we have tried to "find ourselves" in isolation.
In relationship to following Christ, when you divorce community from a faith in Christ you set yourself up for a 100% chance of not succeeding in having a fully engaged and growing faith in Jesus. Let's be clear, when we say community we mean a smaller group of people to whom you are accountable to and you receive support from and they look to you for the same. This one act of allowing your life to be shared with others is the most important thing you can do in successfully growing in your faith. Reading the bible, going to church, prayer - these are all great things, but being in community is the foundational environment for receiving the life change God wants - that you want in your life.
Notes from the message:
WHAT ARE WE "GEARED" FOR?
- We are all geared to grow in faith through COMMUNITY.
- In order to grow in faith we all need SUPPORT and ACCOUNTABILITY
WHY DO WE IGNORE THE NEED FOR COMMUNITY AS ESSENTIAL TO FOLLOWING CHRIST?
1. We've mistakenly assumed that being a Christians is mostly about ME and GOD.
By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one
another. - John 13:35
2. We've confused GOING TO church with BEING
THE church.
...always strive to do what is good for each other and for everyone
else - 1 Thessalonians 5:15
WHY
IS UNDERSTANDING WE ARE "GEARED FOR COMMUNITY" SO IMPORTANT?
1. We all live better when someone is WATCHING.
For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as
children of light - Ephesians 5:8
2. Scripture is clear that our lives were meant to be live with OTHERS in mind.
Ephesians 4:2 • 1 Peter 4:9 • Galatians 6:2 • James 5:16
3. If no one KNOWS me - no one will HELP me.
Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge, but whoever hates correction
is stupid - Proverbs 12:1
Memory Verse:
Hebrews 10:25
And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another...
Hope to see you for part 4: Story in the sermon series You Were Meant For This at Clarity Church in Plymouth Minnesota on Sunday Oct. 20th 2013. For directions click HERE
If you missed the Geared Sermon you can watch it below:
Navigating Recap
A Recap on Part 2: Navigating from the sermon series You Were Meant For This at Clarity Church.
There is nothing more frustrating than knowing where you want to go, but not knowing how to get there. We call this being lost. But what if the problem of navigating from "where we are" to "where God wants us to be" is less obvious than we think? Let's take a look at what we discussed this past week.
How do we navigate the problem of “where we are” isn't where we want to be?
1. The PROBLEM may be that we don’t know what the PROBLEM may be.
I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do.
-Romans 7:15
2. Navigating from “where you are” to where you hope to be is not found in a “DO” but in a “WHO”
Who will rescue me...
-Romans 7:24
3. A life in CHRIST is free to live out God’s VALUE for your life.
Thanks be to God, who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord!
-Romans 7:25
4. In Christ, what is true of CHRIST is true of YOU
Or don’t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death?
-Romans 6:3
MEMORY VERSE:
Hebrews 12:1b-2a
..let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith
When we allow God to set the value our lives we change our thinking about who we are.
When we allow Christ to be the Lord of our lives we change the spiritual condition of who we are.
Already tried the "Jesus thing" out and it "didn't work for you?" Did you "give your heart to Jesus" but it seemed to not make a bit of difference in changing your life? In part 3 we will look at the single most significant thing you can do to succeed at living a growing life of faith. In fact, it is impossible to have a growing faith without understanding what you were geared for. But now I'm getting ahead of myself. Stay tuned for part 3.
DON'T FORGET…
This weekend (9/13) is our tailgate party/potluck! Immediately after the service join us outside near the soccer fields for some free food and a time to get connected with new faces. We'll provide the grill, hot-dogs, beverages, and chips. You bring whatever you want to make it a blast! more info HERE
Value Recap
A Recap on Part 1: Value from the sermon series You Were Meant For This at Clarity Church.
All of us take on value. Some allow others to set the value of their lives. Others don't let anyone set value on them except themselves.
The problem is that whoever you let set value on your life is who you give control of your life - and let's admit it - some of us fail at successfully having control of our lives and letting others is even worse.
What if our value was not set by others or ourselves? What if our value was set by the one who made use, purchased us and - if we choose to - own us? We're suggesting that maybe you would realize that what you were meant for.
Hope to see you for part 2: Navigation in the sermon series You Were Meant For This at Clarity Church in Plymouth Minnesota on Sunday Oct. 6th 2013. For directions click HERE
If you missed the Value Sermon you can watch it below:
