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.'"