Life Center Tacoma

They Encourage us to BELIEVE They Challenge us to CHANGE They Remind us to GIVE BIG IDEA: THE ARRIVAL OF JESUS REVEALS...BELIEVING IS GREATER THAN SEEING Luke 1:39-45 NLT You are blessed because you believed that the Lord would do what he said Seeing is Believing Believing is Seeing John 20:29 NLT What we believe influences how we behave BELIEVING UNLOCKS BELONGING Acts 16:31 NLT BELIEVING UNLOCKS BOLDNESS Hebrews 10:35, 39 NLT BELIEVING UNLOCKS BLESSING Hebrews 11:1 NLT Hebrews 11:6 NLT When we refuse to BELIEVE, we neglect the BENEFIT Biblical faith never asks us to deny realities, it simply invites us to recognize a greater reality Are you willing to Believe even when you do not See? Are you willing to Obey even when you do not Understand? Are you willing to Wait even when things seem Hopeless?

Small hearts only have room for self Matthew 1:23 NLT Small hearts rehearse the pain Philippians 4:6-8 NLT Small hearts need intervention Colossians 3:11-17 NLT

Luke 2:8-18 ESV

Matthew 1:18-23 (NLT) IN A WORLD WEIGHED DOWN WITH LONELINESS AND ISOLATION THE ARRIVAL OF JESUS REVEALS WE HAVE A WITH US GOD John 1:1-2, 14 (NLT) ISOLATION WAS NEVER THE PLAN Genesis 2:18 (NLT) ISOLATION IS OFTEN THE PRODUCT OF PRIDE Proverbs 18:1 (ESV) ISOLATION ENABLES FACADES Proverbs 27:17 (NLT) ISOLATION BUILDS WALLS BUT JESUS BUILDS BRIDGES Romans 8:31 (NLT) Jesus faced loneliness and isolation for us at the cross, so that we would never have to spend another day alone or isolated from the love of God.

What’s my PATH? Matthew 7:13-14 NLT THE ROAD YOU TRAVEL ALWAYS DETERMINES YOUR DESTINATION What’s my FRUIT? Matthew 7:20 NLT THE NATURE OF THE TREE ALWAYS DETERMINES THE NATURE OF THE FRUIT What’s my CLAIM? Matthew 7:21-23 NLT WHO YOU KNOW DETERMINES THE REWARD YOU GET 1 John 2:3 NLT What’s my FOUNDATION? Matthew 7:24 NLT WHAT YOU BUILD ON ALWAYS DETERMINES THE STABILITY AND THE FINISH

Matthew 7:7-11 NLT DO I SEE PRAYER AS A LAST RESORT OR A FIRST RESPONSE? Think Relational vs. Transactional Think Dialogue vs. Monologue Think Being Changed vs. Only Seeing change Think Delight vs. Duty PRAY WITH PERSISTENCE - REMEMBER THAT THE CURRENT REALITY ISN'T THE FINAL REALITY PRAY WITH PURSUIT - REMEMBER THAT RELATIONSHIP IS THE GOAL Jeremiah 29:13 NLT PRAY WITH TRUST - REMEMBER THAT GOD IS GOOD

Ephesians 3:20 NASB Matthew 25:35-40 NLT James 2:17 NLT

Matthew 7:1-5 NLT Since I don’t see as clear as I think I do... A critical spirit says more about ME than it does about THEM. CHECK YOURSELF Psalm 139:23-24 NLT LOOK FOR A STANDARD DISPARITY Without humility it is hard to be helpful. KEEP THE GRACE YOU HAVE RECEIVED IN VIEW John 3:16-17 NLT

Matthew 6:19-21 NIV Matthew 6:31-33 NIV Matthew 6:34 NIV

Matthew 5:48-6:1 NLT IT’S NOT JUST WHAT YOU DO, BUT WHY YOU DO IT. Matthew 6:2-3 NLT Matthew 6:5-6 NLT Matthew 6:16-18 NLT When it comes to the actions of following Jesus: MOTIVATIONS MATTER The HEART of our HABITS “The greater the demand for holiness, the greater the opportunity for hypocrisy.” - D.A. Carson The DIRECTION of our DEVOTION Hosea 6:6 NLT

Matthew 5:21-48 NIV The Heart Test - Your current world view The Heart Dilation - Opening my heart for a closer look The Heart Exam - A deeper look inside my heart The Heart Prescription - The Call and invitation to clearer vision and life Romans 13:8 NIV

Matthew 5:1-12 NLT BLESSING IS NOT FOUND IN THE CIRCUMSTANCES AROUND YOU, BUT IN WHAT GOD DESIRES TO CULTIVATE WITHIN YOU. JESUS IS WORKING FOR MY GOOD AND HIS GLORY — NOT MY COMFORT CHALLENGES AROUND ME HELP REFINE THE CHARACTER WITHIN ME IT IS POSSIBLE TO HAVE A “BLESSED" EXTERNAL LIFE AND AN IMPOVERISHED INTERNAL LIFE JESUS IS MORE CONCERNED WITH THE PERSON I AM BECOMING THAN WITH THE PERSON I HAVE BEEN WHEN JESUS’ VALUES AND VIEWS ARE DIFFERENT THAN MINE — HE ISN’T THE ONE WHO NEEDS TO ADJUST

Acts 1:4-8 NLT Acts 14:19-20 NLT WITH JESUS INVITATION TO FOLLOW COMES HIS PROMISE TO FILL Jesus followers are ordinary people who have not only been FORGIVEN but who also have been FILLED by an extraordinary God. WILL I LIVE AWARE? Ephesians 1:13 NLT Romans 8:11 NLT WILL I EMBRACE THE PURPOSE? WILL I TAP INTO THE SOURCE? The power of the Holy Spirit is not a luxury, it is a necessity.

Genesis 1:27 NLT Luke 10:25-29 NLT Ephesians 2:14-18 NLT Amos 3:3 NLT 2 Corinthians 5:17-21 NLT

Ephesians 4:32 ESV We can’t just receive it, we have to extend it. Matthew 5:23–24 ESV Luke 17:3–4 ESV 1 John 1:9–10 ESV Resist Bitterness 2 Timothy 4:14–16 ESV Forfeit your right to retaliate "The tragedy of revenge is that so often it is the warm gulf waters over which hurricanes of violence will circle. Small winds of injustice, whether real or perceived, swirl about, each increasing and bringing about more retaliation. One act of revenge leads to another. With each rotation, the cycle picks up speed, and a full-scale storm begins. Before you know it, more are sucked into the violence, and the cycle gets bigger" Chris Brauns, Unpacking Forgiveness Do your part. Romans 12:18-21 ESV

Matthew 4:18-22 NLT THE LIFE THAT JESUS INVITES US INTO IS ANYTHING BUT COMMON Isaiah 55:8-9 NLT A NEW IDENTITY John 10:10 ESV A NEW ASSIGNMENT There is authority for the assignment Know Jesus, Make Jesus Known

2 Kings 5:8-15 NLT OBEDIENCE STARTS IN THE HEART 1 John 2:3-6 MSG The Challenge: -IT DEMANDS HUMILITY -IT REQUIRES FAITH James 2:17 NLT Under every behavior is a belief Obedience is the highest form of worship What is the simple thing Jesus is asking you to do?

How we view God will shape how we respond to Him. Luke 15:17-24 NLT ATTENTIVE ACTIVE ABUNDANT Romans 2:4 NLT Rags to a ROBE Rejection to a RING Separation to SANDALS Funeral to a FEAST Will we turn toward home?

1 Corinthians 9:24-26 NLT IS THE FINISH IN FOCUS? 2 Timothy 4:6-8 NLT Two Problems & Two Principles to keep in mind: PROBLEM: When we live like there is no finish line A FINISH LINE IS GUARANTEED PROBLEM: When we assume there shouldn't be a fight THE FIGHT ISN'T JUST TO FINISH, THE FIGHT IS TO FINISH FAITHFUL 2 Timothy 4:9-11 NLT

Run...to Win 1 Corinthians 9:24-25 NLT Judges 6:14-16 NLT Train...to Win 1 Corinthians 9:26-27 NLT Matthew 28:18-20 NLT