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.