4/11 – Experiencing God’s Grace – 1 John – Jordan Adams

To listen to the entire message click here.

1 John 1-2

2 Purposes to what John has to say:
-That we may have fellowship with Christ AND one another
-That our joy may be complete

1 John 1:5 – We should walk in the light as Jesus is in the light, so we can JOIN in that fellowship!

Sometimes we Jesus as less of a friend and more of a janitor.
Do we just treat Jesus as someone who walks behind us cleaning up our messes?
No! We should be walking WITH him in the light.

Some of us, instead of feeling the joy in Christ and going to Him about our mess-ups, we just get depressed.

Let’s make this real clear.

Shame and guilt are straight from Hell.

They have no place in a Christian’s life.

Shame and guilt are not living in the light, it’s living in darkness because you don’t know how to deal with your sin.

1 John 1:9
Forgive means to give up all claim or account of.

He will never lack in forgiveness! God, who is just, looks on you and sees purity, not failure.  He brings us into the light.

Jesus is our advocate to a just God!

1 John 2:2 (ESV) Jesus is the propitiation for our sins!
propitiation meaning Jesus takes our wrath and turns it to favor!

Romans 8:15 There is no guilt and shame!

We have been given the right to be children of God!

It’s a choice. Choose to LIVE in that freedom!

When you are obedient…WORSHIP GOD!
When you sin…WORSHIP GOD!

Don’t let Satan lie to you.  You’ve been given freedom in the light!

Jessamy’s story of living in the light:

Romans 13:11-14

Romans 7:14-20

Romans 8:9

Be transparent! If your desire is to truly shine Christ, it’s the only way!

4/4 – Easter – Cody Cline

Listen to the entire night here for illustrations and more detail!

Celebrating Easter

Rather than focusing on the big picture of Easter let’s focus on the intimate things Jesus did for you and me.

Jesus conquered sin and death in us.

Our lives changed because of Christ’s resurrection.

John 9

This man believes in Jesus Christ for one reason and one reason only: He was once blind and now he can see.

One of the powerful testimonies we have is not Biblical knowledge or apologetics, but it is our testimony of how Christ changed our lives.

2 Corinthians 6:9-10

“The man who has God and everything else has no more than the man who has God and nothing else.” –C.S. Lewis

As we celebrate Easter, celebrate what Christ has done in your life. He conquered sin and death so that you can live free.

3/28 – Leadership – Mark Duvick

Listen to the message here for illustrations and more detail!

We need to rethink leadership.

-Who is a leader? What is a leader?
Everyone is a leader to some extent.

As leaders are we setting a godly example for those around us?

2 Corinthians 5:11-21

v. 14-15
-Leadership is not about you! It’s about serving others.
-Christ died for us so that we would live for Christ and for others.

Matthew 22:36-40
-Love God and Love People.
-Leadership is about serving others.

v. 16-17
-Leadership is about being the example of Christ.
-As Christians we are new creations.
-The old way of life is gone.
-We change our lives through repentance–turning around and walking the other way.
-We want to conform to Christ’s likeness.
-Follow Christ’s example as seen in Scripture.
-Read and Apply God’s Word.

-For Example:

-Words-Ephesians 4:29

-Purity-Ephesians 5:3

-As we read Scripture we should change our lives according to what is said the Word.

-We want people to be able to follow our example because we are following the example of Christ.

v. 18-20
-Leadership is a big responsibility.
-We are Christ’s ambassadors.
-“A good ambassador is who is solely devoted to the person he is representing.” –Justan Spaid
-It is our responsibility to represent Christ well.
-Conform to his likeness.
-God has entrusted to us the message of reconciliation (The Gospel).
-We need to share the Gospel through our words.
-We need to share the Gospel through our lives.
WARNING:

-Be very careful to not lead anyone astray.

-A Common Pitfall – Pride

-Satan does not like what God is doing in Freshmen Group and he will try to destroy Freshmen Group in any way he can.

-Don’t let Satan get a foothold in your heart because of your pride.

Recap:

-Leadership is not about you! It’s about serving others.

-Leadership is about being the example of Christ.

-Leadership is a big responsibility.

v. 21

2/28 – Leagalism/Grace Abusing – Jesse Reyes

We’re going to look at the two ditches we can fall into as Christians ……One of the ditches is LEGALISM where we try to earn favor with God through our actions….and the other ditch is Grace Abusing, which is when we take for granted the grace of God and continue in our sinful ways. Tonight we’ll find out how to stay on the “road” and avoid crashing into a ditch….

Alright…so let’s take a look at the ditch of Legalism…. Ephesians 2:8-10

How do most people define legalism? They think that it is doing all the right things and saying all the right words….trying to live a prefect life…..with tons of rules and regulations and restrictions….In Jesus’ time living by the Law was being legalistic….Pharisees for example…He called them hypocrites and white-washed tombs as Dave mentioned last week…They followed the law of Moses…..this is what legalism is…

Legalism is living in such a way to try and EARN FAVOR with God.

It is a heart condition. If you are reading your bible every single day, praying every single day, being nice to people every single day, serving all the time, etc. and your sole purpose is to EARN favor with the Lord then you have a problem.

Some might say, “well at least I’m reading my bible and praying….I mean….its better than nothing” and that’s a cheap lie straight from hell….Revelation 3:15-16 ….I wish you were all in or all out……give me everything or give me nothing….don’t give God a second hand sacrifice like Cain….HE DETESTS THAT KIND OF ATTITUDE…..

Don’t be legalistic in the things you do for God

Another way we can be legalistic is setting our own standards above God’s…

Don’t be legalistic by setting your own standards which also leads to judging

Legalism is trying to EARN favor with God. And the verdict for every legalist is guilty.

Discipline is what God desires…not legalism….discipline is not trying to earn favor…its simply doing something because its right…it is a pure motivation to live in the spirit…simply out of an attitude that wants to obey God.

Let’s look at Romans 7:18-25 …We all have a sinful nature…we’re not going to be perfect….everyone makes mistakes….it is the sinful nature within us…we can’t help it…..look at the grace of God……even when we sin he removes it way far away and doesn’t hold it against us…..

This is very true, BUT it is a wretched, deplorable excuse that so many people use to keep on sinning.

What sin is in your life that you are trying to justify?!

How dare we take advantage of the grace that God has so freely given to us!

How dare we take advantage of the sacrifice of Jesus Christ’s atoning blood!

How dare we take advantage of suffering of our murdered savior on a cross!

Hebrews 10:26-31 … I believe that speaks for itself. “It is a dreadful thing to fall into the hands of the Living God.”

Remember Romans chapter 7 where Paul was saying “I do what…” Look at what he says in Romans 8:2, 9-10

We are no longer slaves to our sinful natures! We have no excuses! We are controlled by the Spirit which is alive in us!

Romans 6:1-2, 18 Slave to righteousness…how awesome! Through the Holy Spirit we have the power to overcome the sin in our lives.

Let’s take a look at Psalm 103:8-13…Look at the words used to describe God….WOW….WHAT GRACE!! He does not treat us as our sins deserve! Or repay us according to our iniquities! He has completely removed our sin from us! Incredible!

God does gives grace in abundance….don’t abuse it…

• So what does it look like to stay on the path? What does it look like to live without being a grace abuser or a legalist?

Romans 8:12-14 we must live in the spirit. Dave touched on it last week. Living life in the spirit, we must be led by the spirit.

We shouldn’t live by trying to complete a “to do” list here on earth, setting our own standards……and we shouldn’t live couch potato lives mooching off of God’s grace…

John said, “he must increase, I must decrease”

DON’T FORGET THE END RESULT OF LIVING LIFE IN THE SPIRIT! SOMEDAY WE WILL ALSO STAND IN THE PRESENCE OF ALMIGHTY GOD AND WORSHIP THE ONE WHO WAS, AND IS, AND IS TO COME!!!

Listen to the entire message here for illustrations and more detail!

2/21 – The Holy Spirit – David Vande Zandschulp

Click here to listen to the entire night!

Notes from this week’s message:

Opening Illustration- PBS Show- “Big Comfy Couch”
Challenge of the Night- Get Off the Couch!

Titus 3:5-7, Ephesians 4:30, 2 Corinthians 1:21-22 say (roughly) the same thing:
“Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ. He anointed us, set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.”

The Spirit Lives in US!

Psalm 139:7 – The Spirit is Everywhere

The question to ask is not what is the Holy Spirit- but who is the Holy Spirit.
It is a personal relationship that must be feed and fostered in order to grow and in order for you to recognize its voice.

Acknowledge the spirit’s presence- Need to spend time listening

Romans 8:1-16 (7 points on the Holy Spirit)
1.    (vs 1-2) By the Power of the Spirit we have power over sin (Isaiah 59:19)
2.    (vs 3-4) The Spirit empowers us to do what we could not do
i.    It sets us free from the bondage of sin
3.    (vs 5-8) The Spirit reveals the mind of God
a.    Ephesians 5:18-20
i.    Your speech should be different
ii.    New song in your heart
iii.    Give thanks to God
iv.    Become a servant
4.    (vs 9-10) The Spirit clothes us in righteousness (through the Blood of Jesus)
5.    (vs 11) The Spirit is truly God- it heals
6.    (vs 12-14) The Spirit helps us die to ourselves
7.    (vs 15-16) The Spirit will testify of your salvation

Move to the Practical
3 Groups of People
a.    Don’t believe in the Spiritual
b.    Believe- but have never experienced
c.    Believe- have experienced
Pride can destroy us here- critical of other groups

Big take away- an experience is always greater evidence than a theory or explanation.  Faith is always greater than an experience.  Not experiences, but belief in God to do the supernatural displays greatest love.

Get off the comfy couch- step out in Faith!

2/14 – Holy Hotties – Cody Cline

Click here to listen to the entire Holy Hotties message!

Notes from this week’s message:

To the Women…….

Proverbs 31:10-31

The story of Natalie Dylan – “What is Virginity Worth Today?” —-”A price far above rubies”

1 Corinthians 3:16-17 “Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit lives in you? If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy him; for God’s temple is sacred, and you are that temple.”

Your body is worth far more than rubies!

Satan has 3 constant attacks on men and women:

Men
-Pride
-Sex
-Money

Women
-Lack of worth
-A small view of God’s ability to satisfy
-”I can’t control my feelings”

Women, you can chase the affirmation of men but without Jesus’ love you have no hope of gaining self worth.

3 Things to take from the Proverbs 31 list:

1. God desires for you to be an asset to your family

-She’s a hard worker (v.13, 17)
-She provides the very best (v. 14)
-She is resourceful (v. 16)
-She is a wise investor (v. 18-19)
-She lacks nothing (v. 11)

Are you an asset or a liability?
Do you contribute or are you the tumor that just takes and takes and gives nothing back?
Are you a servant or do you want to be served?
Are you developing skills and abilities in college that will help you contribute to be an asset to your future family?

2. God desires for you to be compassionate

-She serves the servants (v. 15)
-She helps the needy (v. 20)

Do you love the unlovable or are you the first to judge?
Are you including those on the outside or are you closing yourself and your friends in and excluding the outsiders?

3. God desires for you to be full of character and wisdom

-She does not fight against her role as the helper
-She is competent and aggressive but continues to push her husband forward and exalts him and she LOVES it

-She lives a respectable life (v. 25)
-She hears what God says and doesn’t believe the lies –> that is strength
-She speaks truth through the scriptures, not of her own opinions (v. 26)

Are you the one who has women coming to you for wisdom or are you constantly seeking the wisdom of someone else?

Women, live a praiseworthy life!  A life of respect, strength, that shows you fear the LORD’s approval above anyone else’s!
God awaits the day that he can LAVISH you with praise!

“Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting;
but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.” (v. 30)

MEN,
Find ways to exalt your sisters here.  Bust the molds constantly — build them up!
Protect, lead and encourage them
Love these girls.  Wash their feet as a brother would to his sister.

Click here to see more photos from the night!

1/31 – My God Story – Cody Cline

Cody and Stacy Cline

1 John 1 – 2

Vital verse in Cody’s life: 1 John 2:4 “The man who says, “I know him,” but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in him.”

Why this time in college is such a great time of life:

– It’s kind of a do-over or fresh start
-Nobody cares about your high school sports experience

– Sieze the Day! Cut yourself free of your high school baggage!

– There are limitless opportunities to grow and to lead here
-Be sponges and soak it up!

– If you make yourself usable for God, he’ll wear you out! (In the best way possible)

1 John 2:6 “Whoever claims to live in him must walk as Jesus did.”
- That verse should haunt us.

What Cody has to say to Freshmen Group:

-Be REAL with me
-Let us deal with some dirt together
-Be consumed with me
-I want to teach you how to be consumed the REST of your life

Cody Cline – Freshmen Group Director
563.380.0019
cmcline@gmail.com

Jesus Freaks-The Voice of the Martyrs – the book Cody’s high school friend and mentor suggested for him to read

Feel free to post comments on what Cody said or just to Cody in general!