PDL 22

The Video
Purpose #1 - worship
Purpose #2 - fellowship
Purpose #3 - discipleship, how God makes us more Christ like

The Audio
God made you to grow up spiritually. God wants us to grow up to be like Christ - to become fully alive. It is going to take your entire life. How do we learn to become more Christ like?
   1. Worship
   2. Fellowship
   3. Growing
   4. Serving
   5. Sharing
In all things God works for the good of those who love him. While (as you get older) your body is getting weaker, your character is getting stronger. If God is going to make you like Jesus Christ, has going to take you through what Jesus went through. 
He gives us three unexpected tools to do this:
   1. Troubles - to teach us to trust him
   2. Temptation - to teach us to obey God
   3. Trespasses - things to teach us to grow up
1. Troubles. God is far more interested in what you are, than what you do. If you are good at something and love to do it, then that what God wants you to do. Make use of your gifts.

Every problem has a purpose - to make us grow up. Pray like Jesus did the night before he died:
   A) I know you, God, can take this away
   B) I want you to take this away
   C) But they will be done.
Learn from the mistakes of others. Remember your reward in heaven for how you handled troubles.

2. Temptation. God NEVER tempts you. That is Satan, you have a choice. God can even make good come from that. After every spiritual victory be ever watchful for the low/temptation to come from Satan. It is not a sin to be tempted, Jesus was tempted. You have a choice; it’s how you react to temptation that causes sin. Everybody is tempted in the same way. God will give you strength; you have only but to ask. Every temptation is an opportunity to do well. To avoid temptation:
   1. Keep focused on good thoughts, not the temptation (passion). Follow the steps of Jesus; this will feed your passion with something else.
   2. Get a spiritual partner - someone to help and support you.
   3. Go to class 201!!!! :O)

3. Trespasses. (When somebody hurts you) God hates evil, "if you bring it to me I can turn it around and bring good out of it. You are never going to become like Jesus unless you learn to forgive. You are most like Christ when you suffer to save other people. This is the highest form of love. Am I going to trust God even when it just doesn’t make sense? Remember that God is in control. (? free will?). If we go thru the bad times with Jesus, we will go thru the good times with him as well.

The Book
you were created to become like Christ. This is the third purpose of your life. The bible says Jesus is "the exact likeness of God." Let me be absolutely clear: you will never become God, or even a god. Satan promised Adam and Eve if they followed his advice, "ye shall be as gods." Many religions and New Age philosophies still promote this old lie.
God wants you to become godly, not a god. Life is supposed to be difficult! It’s what enables us to grow.

Gods spirit working in you.
It is the Holy Spirits job to produce a Christ like manner in you. The Holy Spirit nudges you with a "gentle whisper." "For this is the secret, Christ lives in you." Choose to do the right thing, and then trust Gods Spirit to give you his power, love, faith, and wisdom to do it. It is always available for the asking. The Holy Spirit releases his power THE MOMENT. You take a step of faith. (Remember in Raiders of the Lost Ark, Harrison Ford had to take that first leap of faith? - this isn’t from the book, it just reminded me of it!) God wants for you to act first.

Our 3 responsibilities in becoming like Christ: 1st we must choose to let go of old ways of acting; 2nd we must change the way we think; and 3rd we must "put on" the character of Christ by developing new, and godly habits.

God’s Word provides the TRUTH we need to grow, Gods people provide the SUPPORT we need to grow, and circumstances provide the ENVIRONMENT we need to practice Christ likeness.

Many people assume all that is needed for spiritual growth is bible study and prayer. Remember - it’s all about love - loving God and loving others. Spiritual maturity will take the rest of your life. You are a work in progress. God wants to make you like himself before he takes you to heaven.

PDL 21

Congratulations Everyone! Today marks the end of both the third week, and Purpose #2!

The Video
The #1 reason for a failed church is gossip. Even Listening to gossip makes you a trouble maker according to the bible. You are just as guilty, because you are listening to the gossip.

The Audio
the four things people base their decisions on:
1. Circumstance
2. Convenience
3. Criticism (sp?)
4. Convictions - only these will last. Build your convictions on something that is going to last.

Here are six convictions for Why We Do What We Do at Saddleback Church:
1. it’s all about God. For the glory of God alone. If it’s all about God - then loving God is your biggest priority. Matt 22:37-39. 
Three reasons people don’t come to God:
   A. Materialism - when you love God more than things, people get irritated (sp?).
   B. Immoral lifestyle - they don’t want to stop what they are doing to turn to God
   C. Peer Pressure - what will my friends think?

2. Only the church will last forever. Everything in the universe was created by God for his family, his Glory.

3. Since we are all going to live together forever, we have to love others and the Church. Love is more important than anything else. More than any differences we may have. God loves unity. On the night before his death Jesus prayed for unity. John 17.

Your neighbor is the hardest one to love:
   A. People who are different
   B. People who are difficult
   C. People who are dangerous
God says love your enemies and do well to them. God is good to the wicked and ungrateful. Your enemies are those that disagree with you, harm you, and hate you. Every time you love the unlovely you will be rewarded in heaven. You are to love EVERYONE, just as Jesus did.

4. The whole world needs Jesus.
The greatest commission for Christians:
   A. Go. Go and make a disciple (says see PDL). Jesus said, "I will always be with you."

***Here he explains he is running out of time, so will rush to finish!

5. Everything is possible with God. "All things are possible to him that believes in God."

6. You are the biggest problem. You have a choice. You must believe in God.

The Book
it is your job to protect the unity of your church. Unity is the soul of fellowship. The bible says, "Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace."

Focus on what we have in common, not our differences. God wants unity NOT uniformity. Conflict is usually a sign that the focus has shifted to less important issues. Paul said, "...I plead with you to be of one mind, united in thought and purpose."

Other believers will disappoint you and let you down. God tells us, "Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other’s faults because of your love." Instead of leaving the church, we need to stay and work it out if at all possible. Besides, there is no perfect church to escape to.
Every church should put out a sign that says, "No perfect people need apply. This is a place for only for those who admit they are sinners, need grace, and want to grow." When you criticize what another believer is doing in faith and from sincere conviction, you are interfering with Gods business.
It’s the devils job to blame, complain, and criticize members of Gods family. Anytime we do the same we are being duped into doing Satan’s work for him.
Refuse to listen to gossip. People who will gossip TO you will also gossip ABOUT you. It is sad in Gods flock; the greatest wounds usually come from other sheep, not wolves.
During conflict, it’s tempting to complain to a third party rather than courageously speak the truth in love to the person your upset with, you should go directly to the person involved.

Support your pastor and leaders. "Honor those leaders who work so hard for you, who have been given the responsibility of urging and guiding you along in your obedience. Overwhelm them with appreciation and love." God blesses churches that are unified.

Debi. :o)

PDL 20

Today will be a little strange due to two factors; 1) my audio quit at 50 min, and would not continue, and 2) the book and the audio are basically identical, so I just picked a few things from the book and added them. Here we go...

The Video
Forgiveness is immediate, trust is earned.

The Audio
Relationships are like bridges. Humility is the key to restoring almost all broken relationships. To God you are infinitely valued, but deeply flawed. Humility is loving God, and loving others as well. Quoted Matt22:37-39 (one on the list to be memorized). Satan doesn’t care WHY you don’t think about God and others - as long as you don’t.

Six things to do to rebuild a relationship:
1. Ask for Gods help. God opposes the proud, but gives Grace to the humble.
2. Affirm the other person’s value.
   A. Honor them. Listen to them.
   B. Validate their feelings, you don’t have to agree.
3. Acknowledge your responsibility and your sin. Stop playing the "blame game." Pride leads to EVERY OTHER VICE. The more pride you have the more you are annoyed by it in others. People naturally think of themselves first. A sign of spiritual maturity is to think of God and others first.
4. Allow the other person to be human. Humility is recognizing no one is perfect. If you are easily offended, you have a pride problem.
5. Adjust to their needs. Look out for one another’s interests rather than your own.
6. Abandon your own rights. (You will need Gods help with this one). On a personal level yield your rights to God. EVERYTHING belongs to God; we just get to use it for a while.

The Book
Relationships are always worth restoring. Paul wrote, "...Agree with each other, love each other, be deep-spirited friends." "I'll put it as urgently as I can: you MUST get along with each other." Learn to be a peacemaker. Peacemaking is NOT avoiding conflict, it is also not appeasement: always giving in, acting like a doormat, and allowing others to always run over you.

How to restore a relationship...
No one can meet all your needs accept God. The apostle James noted that many of our conflicts are caused by prayerlessness. "...you do not have because you do not ask God."
God expects you to make the first move. Don’t wait for the other party. Go to them first. You are only hurting yourself with your anger.
Focus on their feelings, not the facts. Don’t try to talk people out of how they feel. Just listen and let them unload, even when you don’t agree. Let’s please the other fellow, not ourselves, and do what is for his good. 
Admit your own mistakes. Accept responsibility for your mistakes and ask for forgiveness. Attack the problem, not the person. 
HOW you say it is as important as WHAT you say. Paul said, "Do not use harmful words, but only helpful words...so that what you say will do well to those who hear you."
Paul said, "Do everything possible on your part to live in peace with everybody." We can walk arm-in-arm without seeing eye-to-eye on every issue. Reconciliation means you bury the hatchet, not necessarily the issue.

Debi. :o)

PDL 19

The Video
Cultivating community: you should discuss with your group, as it is so rare. Small groups often have problems because they want to "make nice." You have to go thru the "tunnel of conflict" in order to have true fellowship.

The Audio
we believe we will be happy if we have independence. God says interdependence. Community is not optional. You cannot do it by yourself, you need one another. The greatest lesson in life is learning how to love.
1. You need others to walk with me. Work in wisdom, love, life, the spirit, etc... You were never meant to walk alone. Why?
   A. It’s safer
   B. Its supportive- when you run alone, you run Fast; when you run together you run Far.
   C. It’s smarter - we have to learn compromise. God hates loneliness. Everyone has a "longing for belonging."
2. You need others to work with you. Before we were even born God decided what gifts you would have. When you use your gifts you are doing what God put you here for. Two people are better than one because they get more done and it’s more fun!  Together we can make a difference. Everybody has a little part to play (in heaven).

Every time we get the chance let us work for the good of all. Look out for one another’s interests, not just your own. We need to watch out for each other. Pastor Rick was reading a report about 9/11 that said, in part "...we learned about an enemy that is sophisticated, patient, disciplined and lethal..." Just like Satan, who is your personal enemy who hates your guts, wants to hurt you, waste your days in shame, worry, guilt, and depression. His hatred of you is lethal. Is anybody watching your back?
4. We need others to wait and weep with us. (Wait for the bad news and weep when we get it). God’s safety net: you need a group of three or four people to support and pray for you. If one member suffers all suffer together. Community is Gods answer to despair.
5. We need others to witness with us. John 13 "...your love for one another will prove you are my disciples..." 2 Tim 1:17 "...to love and enjoy being with other people..."
Is anyone going to be in heaven because of you? Gods answer to fear is community.

"When you gather together, each one of you should be prepared with something for everyone; sing, teach a lesson, tell a story, lead a prayer, provide an insight...that way you all hear from each other."

The Book
Community requires commitment. Paul wrote, "I am writing these things to you... (So) you will know how to live in the family of God. That family is church."
You have to care enough to lovingly speak the truth. Often we know what needs to be said to someone, but our fears prevent us from saying anything. Solomon said, "An honest answer is a sign of true friendship." When you lie to others, you end up lying to yourself."

Real fellowship depends on frankness. The bible says, "In the end, people appreciate frankness more than flattery." Frankness is not a license to say anything you want, it is not rudeness, and there is a right time and a right way to do everything." The bible says, "Clothe you with humility toward one another..."

Live in harmony with each other. Don’t try to act important, but enjoy the company of ordinary people. And don’t think that you know it all!"

Courtesy is respecting our differences, being considerate of each other’s feelings, and being patient with people who irritate us. The truth I s we all have quirks and annoying traits. The basis for our fellowship is our relationship to God: We are family. Another part of courtesy is not downplaying other people’s doubts.

Confidentiality means that what is shared in your group needs to stay in your group. You must have frequent, regular contact with your group, to build deep relationships. If you are a member of a small group, I urge you to make a group covenant that includes the nine characteristics of biblical fellowship. (Sorry guys, there is just No Way I’m going to type all them, there all in the book. If you don’t have the book have someone read them to you. They are important, but l-o-n-g!).

Debi. :o)

PDL 18

The Video
whenever you share a joy, it is doubled. Whenever you share sadness it is split in half.
God uses relationships to build character in your life, making you more Christ like.

The Audio
the whole world is getting connected. We are disconnected with each other. God said man was not meant to be alone (Gen 2:18). Fellowship is soul to soul connection. We all need a dose of human contact every day. You have to have this in your life to really live.
Church is not a place to attend, but a place to connect. The church is like:
1. a brick in a building - all the connected parts support each other.
2. Parts of a body - we belong to each other.
   A. You are unique
   B. We all have different roles to play
   C. We are all needed - there are no little people, you are all needed
   D. We all belong to each other
   E. We all need to be connected to each other; all of the parts (of the body) grow together. Col 2:19 we grow as we get our nourishment from God
3. We are like sheep in a flock - the good shepherd (Jesse) lays down his life for his flock. In every church God gives people; pastors, group leaders, shepherd leaders, etc... To shepherd the flock. To give personal attention to and help each person, encouraging others.
-There we a lot of guest speakers today, so the audio notes may be a little shorter than usual.-
4. It is like being a member of a family; we are to love each other as brothers and sisters. Were not to be just spectators, but to participate. He related the theme song to Cheers to the church.
Praying for others is the quickest way to put your own problems in perspective.
Why should you stay disconnected?
1st - commit to Christ, then
2nd - commit to a church family

The Book
when it comes to fellowship, size matters. Smaller is better. God said "For where 2 or 3 have gathered in my name, I am there in their midst."

Authentic fellowship is genuine, heart-to-heart, sometimes gut-level sharing. Authenticity is the exact opposite of what you find in some churches. There is pretending, role-playing, politicking, and superficial politeness but shallow conversation. These attitudes are the death of real fellowship.

Make this your common practice: confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you can live together whole and healed.

The way God designed our bodies is a model of understanding our lives together as a church: every part dependent on every other part. Your faith will help me and my faith will help you.

The Bible says "as holy people...is sympathetic, kind, humble, gentle and patient." Every time you understand and affirm someone's feelings, you build fellowship. The Bible commands "Share each other’s troubles and problems, and in this way obey the laws of Christ."

God says "When people sin, you should forgive and comfort them, so they won't give up in despair." God warns: “Never hold grudges." The Bible says, "You must make allowance for each other's faults and forgive the person who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others."

Debi. :o)

PDL 17

The Video
you need to be part of a local church family. There are 58 commandments in the bible you cannot obey unless you are an active member of a local church. You are called, not just to believe, but to belong.

The Email
1. Study the bible - we need to make His Word part of our daily lives. God’s word is inspired.
2. Maintain a quiet time - what do you need to do to spend some time daily in God’s word?
3. Read Christian Books - do yourself a favor and learn all you can. Gain from the wisdom and experience of other believers.
4. be faithful to a small group of believers - We need the support and encouragement of other believers.

The Audio
Church is a family which will outlast your human family. You cannot be in the family of Christ without being a member of a church family. He quotes the Book of Acts in the bible telling how the church went from 129 people, to over 10's of thousands of people in 25 years.
Some churches just preach the Message, but not the Method of how growing a church is accomplished. There are over 10,000 mega churches (over 2,000 members), in the U.S. today.
In Acts 5:42 it says they met daily in Temple Courts (courtyards), and house to house. Large group (church) = worship, Small groups = fellowship.

Signs of a healthy small group:
1. Study the bible - talk it over
2. Fellowship and eat tighter
3. Share communion, The Lords Supper. (1 Cor 11) the purpose of communion with others is to promote openness to God
4. Pray for each other. Sometimes you are going thru hard times and are just so depressed or down that you can't pray for yourself, but your small group prays for you.
5. Help each other in practical ways (with food, errands, rides, babysitting, etc...)
6. Worship together
7. Invite others to Church. Introduce others to Jesus. We want EVERYBODY to participate. (Didn’t I just read that somewhere?!!!)

The Book
A lot of what the book says was already mentioned in the Audio, so I will only mention those that were not in the Audio.
You will miss the second purpose of your life if you are not attached to a living, local church. The first symptom of spiritual decline is usually inconsistent attendance at worship services and other gatherings of believers.
Jesus said "I will build my church, and all the powers of hell will not conquer it." The person who says "I don’t need the church," is either arrogant or ignorant. The Bible calls the church "the bride of Christ" and "the body of Christ". God commands us to love the church as much as Jesus does.
The New Testament assumes membership in a local congregation. Today’s culture has created many spiritual orphans - bunny believers who hop around one church to another. Many believe one can be "a good Christian" without attending a local church, but God would strongly disagree.
You are not "the Body of Christ" on your own. Together, not separated, we are his body. The local church is a lab for practicing unselfish, sympathetic love.
A place to belong. Biblical fellowship is being as committed to each other is we are to Jesus Christ. We are committed to: love, pray, encourage, admonish, greet, serve, teach, accept, honor, forgive, submit and be devoted to one another. These are your "family responsibilities" that God expects you to fulfill through a local fellowship.
We need more than the bible to grow, we need other believers. The church is Gods instrument on earth. Christ works through us in the world. A church family will keep you from backsliding. James tells us, "If you know people who have wandered off from Gods truth, don’t write them off. Go after them."
Satan loves disattached believers, because he knows they are defenseless and powerless against his tactics. God designed his church specifically to help you fulfill the five purposes he has for your life. Worship, fellowship, discipleship, ministry and evangelism.
You’re Choice. You can spend a lifetime searching for the perfect church, but you will never find it. The Christian life is more than just a commitment to Christ; it includes a commitment to other Christians.

Debi. :o)

PDL 16

The Audio
what matters MOST to God? All that matters is your faith that makes you love others. Love matters MOST. Please read the most important passage on Love in the Bible, 1Cor 13.

Words without love are just noise. Nothing you; say-know-believe-give-or accomplish without Love matters. Belief in Jesus is NOT enough, you must have Love. The GREATEST COMMANDMENT in the bible is Matt 22:37.

What IS Love?
1 love is a command, NOT an emotion.
2 loves is a choice. Acting in love when you don’t feel like it is the highest love. Love is giving what is needed, not what is deserved. This is called Grace. 
3 loves is a conduct, something you DO.
4 loves is a commitment. Keep on loving. Grow in love. WARNING: God WILL test you. God’s love will last a lifetime. We all have a lot of growing to do in mature love. Here are five things you can do to become a great lover:

1. Learn how mature love acts and responds.
2. Start your day with a daily reminder to love.
3. Memorize what God says about Love.
4. Practice acting in unselfish, loving ways.
5. Get support from other loving people.

Let Love be your greatest aim. There is no fear in love. The bible says "...faith, hope, loves, but the greatest of these is Love."

The Book
Life is all about love. The most important lesson...is how to love. Show special love for Gods people. The bible says, "Let love be your greatest aim."

Another reference is made to the greatest commandment, mentioned in the audio, Matt 22:37.

Life minus love equals zero. Love will last forever. Love...is what we will be evaluated on in eternity. The greatest gift you can give someone is your time. The best way to spell love is "T-I-M-E". Love means giving up - ...time for the benefit of someone else.

The best time to love is now.
You have no guarantee of tomorrow. If you want to express love, you had better do it now.

Oops!

Mom said that I did not spell out the following:

Purpose #1: learn to love God - which is Worship.

Purpose #2: learn to love one another - which are Fellowship.

Don't know how I missed actually spelling it out but there it is.
Special thanks to Kathy for forwarding "the one minute sermon". Love to you all,

Debi. :o)