Sermon Study: Let's Go Fishin'. Success in Fishing

__________ does not mean anything to the __________ but everything to us.

John 14:27 (NLT) ²⁷“I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give isn’t like the peace the world gives. So don’t be troubled or afraid.

What will bring __________ in __________ for __________ ?

1. __________ in your own salvation.

• Before sharing your faith you have to __________ in your own.

1 John 5:13 (NLT) ¹³I write this to you who believe in the Son of God, so that you may know you have

eternal life.

2. __________

• __________ life

Matthew 16:24 (NLT) ²⁴Then Jesus said to the disciples, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must put aside your selfish ambition, shoulder your cross, and follow me.

• __________ is our greatest enemy.

3. __________

• 1 John 3:19 - 20 (NLT) ¹⁹It is by our actions that we know we are living in the truth, so we will be

confident when we stand before the Lord, ²⁰even if our hearts condemn us. For God is greater than

our hearts, and he knows everything.

• Strive for greater __________ .

1 Peter 3:16 (NLT) ¹⁶But you must do this in a gentle and respectful way. Keep your conscience clear. Then if people speak evil against you, they will be ashamed when they see what a good life you live because you belong to Christ.

4. __________ actively at work

• Doing the __________ God has prepared.

• Speaking truth with __________ .

Ephesians 4:15 (NLT) ¹⁵Instead, we will hold to the truth in love, becoming more and more in every

way like Christ, who is the head of his body, the church.

5. __________

• Keep at the __________ .

Galatians 6:9 (NLT) ⁹So don’t get tired of doing what is good. Don’t get discouraged and give up, for we

will reap a harvest of blessing at the appropriate time.

6. __________ often.

• James 5:16 (NLT) ¹⁶Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The earnest

prayer of a righteous person has great power and wonderful results.

7. __________ of the Word

• John 20:30 - 31 (NLT) ³⁰Jesus’ disciples saw him do many other miraculous signs besides the ones recorded in this

book. ³¹But these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by

believing in him you will have life.

- The __________ of the Word

God's Plan

1. Do our _____________ plans match God’s?
Open your Bible to: Malachi 3:3, 6-15

2. God asks us to __________in God’s _____.

We have a goal to __________.

It’s a clear ____________.

Proverbs 3:9-10
9 Honor the Lord with your wealth and with the best part of everything you produce. 10 Then he will fill your barns with grain, and your vats will overflow with good wine.
1 Corinthians 16:2
2 On the first day of each week, you should each put aside a portion of the money you have earned. Don’t wait until I get there and then try to collect it all at once.
The ___________ is clear.
Acts 2:44-47
44 And all the believers met together in one place and shared everything they had. 45 They sold their property and possessions and shared the money with those in need. 46 They worshiped together at the Temple each day, met in homes for the Lord’s Supper, and shared their meals with great joy and generosity 47 all the while praising God and enjoying the goodwill of all the people. And each day the Lord added to their fellowship those who were being saved.

James 1:17
17 Whatever is good and perfect comes down to us from God our Father, who created all the lights in the heavens. He never changes
or casts a shifting shadow.

3. God says….

_______ me. _______ me.

4. With ________ comes a __________.

Open your Bible to:
Malachi 3:10
Malachi 3:11
Malachi 3:12

5. By not ___________ we _____ God.

You miss awesome ___________.
You experience ______________.
You lose the ________________.
You negatively affect your ___________.

Let's Go Fishin' : Essential Attitudes

I. Nurture __________.

A. If you __________ nothing, __________ will happen.

Matthew 17:20 - 21 (NLT) ²⁰“You didn’t have enough faith,” Jesus told them. “I assure you, even if you had faith as small as a mustard seed you could say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it would move. Nothing would be impossible.”

B. Lack of __________ produces no __________.

James 2:17 (NLT) ¹⁷So you see, it isn’t enough just to have faith. Faith that doesn’t show itself by good deeds is no faith at all—it is dead and useless.

II. Have a __________ heart.

A. Christ promises to give __________ through the __________ __________.

B. __________ brings joy.

III. Always rely on __________.

A. Prayer centered in __________ accomplishes __________.

Matthew 21:21 (NLT) ²¹Then Jesus told them, “I assure you, if you have faith and don’t doubt, you can do things like this and much more. You can even say to this mountain, ‘May God lift you up and throw you into the sea,’ and it will happen.

B. God __________ __________ prayers.

Matthew 7:12 (NLT) ¹²“Do for others what you would like them to do for you. This is a summary of all that is taught in the law and the prophets.

IV. Let God’s __________ overflow.

A. Love for __________.

John 14:23 - 24 (NLT) ²³Jesus replied, “All those who love me will do what I say. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and live with them. ²⁴Anyone who doesn’t love me will not do what I say. And remember, my words are not my own. This message is from the Father who sent me.

B. Love for __________ and __________ in Christ.

Hebrews 13:1 (NLT) ¹Continue to love each other with true Christian love.

C. Love for the __________ and __________.

Luke 19:10 (NLT) ¹⁰And I, the Son of Man, have come to seek and save those like him who are lost.”

D. Without love __________ __________?

1 Corinthians 13:3 (NLT) ³If I gave everything I have to the poor and even sacrificed my body, I could boast about it; but if I didn’t love others, I would be of no value whatsoever.

V. Be __________.

Luke 18:1 (NLT) ¹One day Jesus told his disciples a story to illustrate their need for constant prayer and to show them that they must never give up.

A. __________ is the secret of __________.

B. Life and __________ is tested by __________.

Romans 12:1 (NLT) ¹And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will accept. When you think of what he has done for you, is this too much to ask?

God’s judgment is not based on __________ but on __________ __________.

Let’s Go Fishin: Discouragement of Fishing for People

1. People who care about individual __________ often face discouragement.

1. The greatest discouragement __________ of __________ by people who say they are __________.

Some of the Reasons

1. A Lack of True __________: __________, __________, __________.

+ Who does the Bible say we are?

• We are __________:
Romans 6:17 - 18 (NLT) ¹⁷Thank God! Once you were slaves of sin, but now you have obeyed with all your heart the new teaching God has given you. ¹⁸Now you are free from sin, your old master, and you have become slaves to your new master, righteousness.

• We are __________:
Colossians 1:13 (NLT) ¹³For he has rescued us from the one who rules in the kingdom of darkness, and he has brought us into the Kingdom of his dear Son.

• We are __________ :
1 Thessalonians 5:5 (NLT) ⁵For you are all children of the light and of the day; we don’t belong to darkness and night.

+ Some people are __________ but have not become __________ - __________.

1. A wrong view of the __________.

+ We are not an __________.

+ We do not exist just to __________ __________

Jesus said, I have come to __________ not be __________.

+ We do not exist only when we are __________.

1. A lack of individual __________.

+ Being a Christ-follower means __________ __________

Romans 6:16 - 18 (NLT) ¹⁶Don’t you realize that whatever you choose to obey becomes your master? You can choose sin, which leads to death, or you can choose to obey God and receive his approval. ¹⁷Thank God! Once you were slaves of sin, but now you have obeyed with all your heart the new teaching God has given you. ¹⁸Now you are free from sin, your old master, and you have become slaves to your new master, righteousness.

+ Being a Christ-follower means __________ in a local church.
1 Corinthians 12:11 - 12 (NLT) ¹¹It is the one and only Holy Spirit who distributes these gifts. He alone decides which gift each person should have. ¹²The human body has many parts, but the many parts make up only one body. So it is with the body of Christ.

1. An unwillingness to __________

+ __________ of the Bible

+ __________

+ __________ by world interests

+ __________ by the __________

The Cure

1. Acts 2:42 (NLT) ⁴²They joined with the other believers and devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, sharing in the Lord’s Supper and in prayer.
2. __________

+ __________ vs ignorance of the Bible, __________ – apathy, __________ vs world’s interests, __________ vs devil’s undermining activity

Bethany's Got Talent: Personality

Sermon study for 8/28

1. __________ your experiences.

“ You have experienced many things. Were all those experiences wasted? I hope not!” Gal. 3:4 (ICB)

__________ – __________ – __________ – __________ – __________

“Jesus replied, ‘You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand.’” John 13:7 (NIV)

2. __________ the lessons you learned.

“Examine and test and evaluate your own selves to see whether you are holding to your faith.... Do you not realize by an ever increasing experience that Jesus Christ is in you...?” 2 Cor. 13:5 (Amp)

3. __________ what you have learned.

“ I want you to know, my friends, that the things that have happened to me have really helped the progress of the gospel.” Phi. 1:12 (TEV)

How We Will Use Them

1. __________ to others.

“In our trouble God has comforted us – and this, too, to help you: to show you from our

personal experience how God will tenderly comfort you when you undergo these same sufferings. He will give you the strength to endure.” 2 Cor. 1:6-7 (LB)

2. __________ others.

“Encourage one another and help one another.”1 Th. 5:11 (TEV)

3. __________ for others.

“Dear brothers and sisters, pattern your lives after mine, and learn from those who follow our example.” Phil. 3:17 (NLT)

4. __________ others.

“We saw it, we heard it, and now we're telling you so you can experience it along with us...” 1 John 1:3 (Message)

Bethany's Got Talent: Your Personality Type

Sermon Study for 8/11 & 8/14

1. ____________

• PURPOSE:

“The words of the wise bring healing.” Pr. 12:18

“The words of the wise keep people out of trouble.”

Pr. 14:3

• WEAKNESS:

“The more you talk, the more likely you are to sin.”

Pr. 10:19

“Those who are sure of themselves do not talk all the time.” Pr. 17:27

• WARNING:

“Get to work and you’ll earn a living; if you just sit around talking you’ll be poor.” Pr. 14:23

2. ____________

• PURPOSE:

“Be kind and compassionate to each other, tender-hearted, for-giving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you.” Eph. 4:32

• WEAKNESS:

“Since your real home is in heaven, keep away from the evil pleasures of this world; they are not for you, for they fight against your very souls.” 1 Peter 2:11

• WARNING:

“Let the Spirit direct your lives, and you will not satisfy the desires of the human nature.” Gal. 5:16

3. ____________

• PURPOSE:

“We should think about the way we are living, and turn back to the Lord.” Lament. 3:40

• WEAKNESS:

“Knowledge makes people arrogant, but love builds them up.” 1 Cor. 8:1

“... always studying but are never able to recognize the truth.” 2 Tim. 3:7

• WARNING:

“Don't be impressed with your own wisdom.” Pr. 3:7 (NLT)

“Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.” James 1:22

4. ____________

• PURPOSE:

“Offer your bodies to Him as a living sacrifice, pure and pleasing. That's the most sensible way to serve God.” Rom. 12:1

• WEAKNESS:

“It is senseless for you to work so hard from early morning until late at night, fearing you will starve to death; for God wants His loved ones to get their proper rest.” Psalm 127:2

• WARNING:

“Don't wear yourself out trying to get rich. Be wise enough to show restraint.” Pr. 23:4

UNDERSTANDING YOUR TALENTS AND GIFTS

“God has given each of us the ability to do certain things well…” Rom. 12:6 (NLT)

“God … will equip you with all you need for doing His will.” Heb. 13:21 (LB)

MY ABILITIES ARE TO BE USED TO...

1. ___________ _________

“… whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.” 1 Cor. 10:31 (NIV)

2. ________ OTHERS

“God has given each of you some special abilities; be sure to use them to help each other, passing on to others God's many kinds of blessings.” 1 Peter 4:10 (LB)

3. ________ A _____________

“Remember the Lord your God, for it is He who gives you the ability to produce wealth…” Deut. 8:18 (NIV)

4. BE AN _____________ TO OTHERS

“Put these abilities to work; throw yourself into your tasks so everyone may notice your improvement and progress.” 1 Tim. 4:15 (LB)

5. BE A GOOD ______________ AND _____________ THE MONEY I EARN

“Begin using your hands for honest work, and then give generously to others in need.” Eph. 4:28 (NLT)

6. ____________ UP THE _______________

“Why is it that God gives us these special abilities to do certain things best? It is that God's people will be equipped to do better work for Him, building up the Church, the body of Christ, to a position of strength and maturity.” Eph. 4:12 (LB)

“Take the talent from him _____ _______ _____ ____ and give to the one who has ten talents.” Matt. 25:28 (NIV)

PART 2: USING YOUR ABILITIES

1. HONESTLY __________________ WHAT YOU HAVE

“Try to have a sane estimate of your capabilities by the light of the faith God has given to you.” Rom. 12:3 (Ph)

2. ________________ WHAT YOU HAVE

“Offer yourselves as a living sacrifice to God, dedicated to His service and pleasing to Him.” Rom. 12:1 (GN)

3. _________________ WHAT YOU HAVE

“Jesus said, ‘When the Master comes back and finds his servant doing his work, that servant will be blessed!’” Luke 12:43 (NCV)

Bethany’s Got Talent: Your Spiritual Gifts

God blesses you through the Holy Spirit in your baptism. Your sanctification __________ __________ is something you participate in through Learning, Service, Worship, and Prayer.

S __________

P __________

I __________

R __________

I __________

T __________

WHY SHOULD I CARE?

1. God’s Spirit reveals God’s __________ for you.

"Before I shaped you in the womb, I knew all about you. Before you saw the light of day, I had holy plans for you: A spokesman to the nations – that’s what I had in mind for you.” Jer. 1:5 (MSG)

2. God’s Spirit __________ me to __________ .

“... __________ formed me in my mother's womb to be His servant, and He commissioned me ....” Isa. 49:5 (NLT)

3. God’s Spirit __________ the __________ of life.

“From where God sits God overlooks all of us on earth. God has shaped each person in turn; now God watches everything we do.” Ps. 33:14-15 (MSG)

4. God’s Spirit __________ God’s __________ .

“Bring Me all the people who are Mine, whom I made for My glory, those I formed and created.” Isaiah 43:7 (NCV)

WHAT SHOULD I DO IN RESPONSE TO WHAT GOD HAS DONE?

1. __________ God’s Spiritual call.

“My friend, I ask, ‘Who do you think you are to question God? Does the clay have the right to ask the potter why he shaped it the way he did?’” Rom. 9:20 (CEV)

2. __________ the gift of __________ and share it.

“Let Your love, God, shape my life with salvation, exactly as You promise.” Psalm 119:41 (Mes)

3. Stay __________ .

“The Lord does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” 1 Samuel 16:7 (NIV)

“By the grace of God I am what I am.” 1 Corinthians 15:10 (NLT)

Staying Connected with God: Strength for The Long Run

1. (Focus) your (attention) on God.

Matt 6:6 "Here's what I want you to do: Find a quiet, secluded place so you won't be tempted to role-play before God. Just be there as simply and honestly as you can manage. The focus will shift from you to God, and you will begin to sense his grace.

2. (Ask) God to (remove) your fears.

Psalms 34:4 (NLT) I prayed to the LORD, and he answered me, freeing me from all my fears.

3. (Trust) God to (restore) you.

Lamentations 5:21 (NLT) Restore us, O LORD, and bring us back to you again! Give us back the joys we once had!

• Don't (repress) emotions

• Don't (resign) from life

• Don't (retreat) into resentment

Instead - • Do (accept) what cannot be changed

• Do focus on what you (have) not what you've (lost)

• Do (trust) that in serving you are (helped)

4. (Remember) what remains (unchanging)

• (God) is in (control)

Lamentations 5:19 (TEV) But you, O Lord, are king forever and will rule to the end of time.

• God will always (love) you

Jeremiah 31:3 (NLT) Long ago the LORD said to Israel: “I have loved you, my people, with an everlasting love. With unfailing love I have drawn you to myself.

• God is really all you (need)

Lamentations 3:24 "Deep in my heart I say, 'The Lord is all I need. I can depend on Him.'"

Staying Connected Through Crisis

* On _____________ we remember all the _________ made by those defending our country.

* We also remember over 116 died in Joplin, MO, 300 died in Mississippi, Alabama, and Georgia.

* ELCA Disaster Response is on the scene

1. When crisis strikes tell God how you _________.

Lamentations 2:19b (NLT) 19bLift up your hands to him in prayer. Plead for your children as they faint with hunger in the streets.

1 Chronicles 16:11 (NLT) 11Search for the LORD and for his strength, and keep on searching.

2. ____________ God in all ______________.

Job 13:15 (NLT) 15God might kill me, but I cannot wait. I am going to argue my case with him.

3. ______ God for ____________ and _________ others.

Psalms 105:4 (NLT) 4Search for the LORD and for his strength, and keep on searching.

4. Keep ____________on _________and _______________.

2 Corinthians 4:16 - 18 (NLT) 16That is why we never give up. Though our bodies are dying, our spirits are being renewed every day. 17For our present troubles are quite small and won’t last very long. Yet they produce for us an immeasurably great glory that will last forever! 18So we don’t look at the troubles we can see right now; rather, we look forward to what we have not yet seen. For the troubles we see will soon be over, but the joys to come will last forever.

John 16:33 (The MSG) “In this godless world you will continue to experience difficulties. But take heart! I’ve conquered the world.”

* All ___________ are ________________.

* God will _________ a crisis for __________ purpose.

* Keep your __________ fixed on the ___________.

The Giving Connection

Questions we ask…

If God has everything and is the creator of all why do we need to (give) anything?

If Jesus abolished the requirements of the Law, why do we even talk about (tithing)?

Isn’t talk about ____________ going to __________ ______________ off?

• ___________ is mentioned in the very first _________ of the __________.

Genesis 14:18-20:Abraham tithed long before it was found in the Law Moses handed down as a response to God’s love and faithfulness.

• When God delivered Israel from ______________ in _____________ they responded by __________.

Deut 26:8-10: And the LORD brought us out of Egypt with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm, with great deeds of terror, with signs and wonders. 9And he brought us into this place and gave us this land, a land flowing with milk and honey. 10And behold, now I bring the first of the fruit of the ground, which you, O LORD, have given me.' And you shall set it down before the LORD your God and worship before the LORD your God.

• ________ is one of the ways God keeps us _______ to Him and teaches us to become more _________.

Malachi 3:10: Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,” says the LORD Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it.

• Does the Bible have any _______________ for Christians about being ___________?

2 Cor. 9:6: Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. 7 Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. 8 And God is able to bless you abundantly,

• God’s __________ is not _________.

Acts 14:22: strengthening the disciples and encouraging them to remain true to the faith. “We must go through many hardships to enter the kingdom of God,”

• We are called to ________ ___________ the old ways of doing things.

Galatians 2:20: I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

• ________________ is intended to be a _________ ____________ response to God’s generosity.

2 Cor 9:12-13: This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of the Lord’s people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God. 13 Because of the service by which you have proved yourselves, others will praise God for ____________ the obedience that accompanies your confession of the gospel of Christ, and for your generosity in sharing with them and with everyone else.

• _________ God and not your _______________.

1 Tim 6:17-19: Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. 18 Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. 19 In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life.

Sermon Study May 8

1. Today's Gospel even takes place ___________ . They are on the road because it is time

to ___________ and ___________ . They are joined by ___________ . It is

___________ .

Did they recognize him? ___________

John Sculley was president of ___________ . He left it to work for ___________ .

Why did he change jobs? With Apple he saw an even greater ___________ .

Do we see the vision ___________ has for us? Do we walk in his presence but do not ___________ him?

2. That morning the women told their story of seeing Jesus at the tomb. These two

intelligent fellows ___________ . As they walked with the Risen Lord, they did not

___________ him.

3. Why didn't they recognize him? Sometimes we just will not let ourselves ___________ or

___________ .

There are signs along the way reminding us ___________ . Millions have.

On their journey, the Lord taught the two doubters about the Scriptures and how the events of Holy Week had been ___________ . Still they did not ___________ .

4. Sometimes we question why we do not ___________ .

Dan Wakefield says that belonging to Church gave him a sense of living in a larger context,

of being part of something greater than what I could see through the tunnel vision of my

personal concerns.........He had a hunger and thirst for spiritual understanding.

Like the two on the road, can we be in the presence of the Risen Lord and ___________ ?

In the house at eventide, Jesus takes bread, blesses it, gives it to them, and ___________.

When the man with the mask removed it, he found _______________________________.

Jesus, our Lord, ___________ and is __________ .

He comes to us in ___________ and ___________ .

He stand before us in the form of our___________ and ___________ and ___________ .

Do you ___________ ?

Connected with God Part 1

2 Kings 6:1 - 7 (NLT) 1One day the group of prophets came to Elisha and told him, “As you can see, this place where we meet with you is too small. 2Let’s go down to the Jordan River, where there are plenty of logs. There we can build a new place for us to meet.” “All right,” he told them, “go ahead.” 3“Please come with us,” someone suggested. “I will,” he said. 4When they arrived at the Jordan, they began cutting down trees. 5But as one of them was chopping, his ax head fell into the river. “Ah, my lord!” he cried. “It was a borrowed ax!” 6“Where did it fall?” the man of God asked. When he showed him the place, Elisha cut a stick and threw it into the water. Then the ax head rose to the surface and floated. 7“Grab it,” Elisha said to him. And the man reached out and grabbed it.

1. ___________ you’ve lost it.

Revelation 2:4 (NLT) 4But I have this complaint against you. You don’t love me or each other as you did at first!

2. ________ where you __________ your _________.

3. ____________ that God can _____________ it.

Jeremiah 15:19 (NLT) 19The LORD replied, “If you return to me, I will restore you so you can continue to serve me. If you speak words that are worthy, you will be my spokesman. You are to influence them; do not let them influence you!

The discipline of a tithe

Malachi 3:10 (NLT) 10Bring all the tithes into the storehouse so there will be enough food in my Temple. If you do,” says the LORD Almighty, “I will open the windows of heaven for you. I will pour out a blessing so great you won’t have enough room to take it in! Try it! Let me prove it to you!

God know what’s ________________ to us.

Matthew 6:21 (NLT) 21Wherever your treasure is, there your heart and thoughts will also be.

How _____________ is ___________ to us?