ascend

Ascend-rise-climb-soar-go up-come up-lead. To take an upward direction-to proceed from an inferior to a superior-rise from a lower to a higher level-to attain.

­ Colossians 4:2-3 "Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful. And pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ ..."


1. "Devote yourselves to prayer . . ."

­ 1 Thessalonians 5:17 Keep on praying. 

(appeal-plea-request-desire-hope-wish)

­ 1 Timothy 2:1-2 “I urge you, first of all, to pray for all people. As you make your requests, plead for God's mercy upon them, and give thanks. 2Pray this way for kings and all others who are in authority, so that we can live in peace and quietness, in godliness and dignity.”

• Devote yourselves to pray for the leaders of your campus, community, and country, that they would be filled with the knowledge of God and do His will.
• As you pray for the strength of your leaders Christian and Non-Christian God says He will have mercy on them.
• God also says that because of your prayers that we can live in peace and quietness, in godliness and dignity. (pride self-esteem-self-respect)

“Bad habits are like comfortable beds--easy to get into but hard to get out of.” Source Unknown


2. ". . . being watchful and thankful."
2 Thessalonians 3:3 “But the Lord is faithful; he will make you strong and guard you from the evil one. 4 And we are confident in the Lord that you are practicing the things we commanded you, and that you always will. 5 May the Lord bring you into an ever deeper understanding of the love of God and the endurance that comes from Christ.”

• Pray that God will protect you from the evil one, who will try to discourage you.
• To Ascend we also must let God take us into a deeper understanding of the love of God and the endurance that comes from Christ.

1 Chronicles 16:8 “Give thanks to the LORD and proclaim his greatness. Let the whole world know what he has done.“

• Thank the Lord for who He is and what He can do through you.
• To Ascend we must thank the Lord for who He is and what He can do through me!

3. "And pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ . . ."

1 Peter 3:13-16 “Now, who will want to harm you if you are eager to do good? 14But even if you suffer for doing what is right, God will reward you for it. So don't be afraid and don't worry. 15Instead, you must worship Christ as Lord of your life. And if you are asked about your Christian hope, always be ready to explain it. 16But you must do this in a gentle and respectful way. Keep your conscience clear. Then if people speak evil against you, they will be ashamed when they see what a good life you live because you belong to Christ.”

­ Romans 1:16 “For I am not ashamed of this Good News about Christ. It is the power of God at work, saving everyone who believes--Jews first and also Gentiles.”

­ Luke 9:26 "If a person is ashamed of me and my message, I, the Son of Man, will be ashamed of that person when I return in my glory and in the glory of the Father and the holy angels."

­

• Thank You for ascending your relationship with Christ! 
• Thank You for not being ashamed of Christ!
• Thank You for sharing Christ with others!
• Thank You for living in the power of Christ!
• Thank You for walking in the Spirit and not after the flesh!
• Thank You for standing out!

­ Christians stand out!

• If you are really living Christ like then you are standing OUT!

Mark 16:15 “And then he told them, "Go into all the world and preach the Good News to everyone, everywhere. 16Anyone who believes and is baptized will be saved. But anyone who refuses to believe will be condemned."

Revelation 16:15 “Take note: I will come as unexpectedly as a thief! Blessed are all who are watching for me, who keep their robes ready so they will not need to walk naked and ashamed."

• -Make prayer a habit in your life-

The chains of habit are generally too small to be felt until they are too strong to be broken. Samuel Johnson.

• -Make prayer a habit in your life so strong it cannot be broken!-
• Listen Being a leader requires that you ASCEND!

Ascend- rise-climb-soar-go up-come up-lead. To take an upward direction-to proceed from an inferior to a superior-rise from a lower to a higher level-to attain.

Psalms 24:1-6 "The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it. The world and all its people belong to Him. 2 For He laid the earth's foundation on the seas and built it on the ocean depths. 3 Who may climb the mountain of the LORD? Who may stand in His holy place? 4 Only those whose hands and hearts are pure, who do not worship idols and never tell lies. (Idols are anything that comes before God) 5 They will receive the Lord’s blessing and have right standing with God their savior. 6 They alone may enter God's presence and worship the God of Israel." 

Explain-pure hands and pure hearts

• Pure hands-we can only rescue others when we have pure hands because it takes the Spirits power.
• Pure hearts- Job 17:9 "The righteous will move onward and forward, and those with pure hearts will become stronger and stronger." 

Matthew 5:8 “God blesses those whose hearts are pure, for they will see God.”

• God wants to be an awesome, intricate, part of your life.
• We can’t communicate with God if we don’t have pure hands and a pure heart.
• To begin a relationship with God you have to believe on Him.
• While using your faith, your heart, and your mouth.

­ Matthew 5:8 “God blesses those whose hearts are pure, for they will see God.”

Discipleship

Discipleship is so important, because it is the fundamental task of the church.

Fundamental-Base or the core.

We have read and understood the scripture text of the Great Commission to read as an evangelistic text when in fact it's about disciple making and not evangelizing.

• Disciple making and disciple forming is a life long endeavor in the lives of Christians. 
• We've built a whole movement on evangelizing the world and in the scripture it doesn't say that it says, 

Matthew 28:18-20 NLT "[18] Jesus came and told his disciples, "I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. [19] Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. [20] Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age."

• If we are to go into all the world and make disciples and that is our mandate then we need to get on with it, the problem is most of don't know how to do it. 
• We live our lives thinking and believing we'll just evangelize and that's good enough, well according to scripture, it's not nor ever will be.
• Evangelizing happens when disciples live their lives to their fullest potential in Christ, then through relationship.
• It's a process. 
• Evangelism takes place in the context of relationship not the other way around. 
• Evangelism is not sharing certain facts about Jesus as if we have a certain obligation before or afterwards. 
• But actually evangelism takes place in the context of a relationship which is called discipleship that can go a whole lifetime. 
• If our fundamental mission is to become more and more like Christ every year, every day, every hour, every moment then I believe this is the most valued thing we can possibly do, disciple. 
• Discipleship is by far the most strategic thing we could possibly do in the church. 
• If we fail at that then we fail at everything else. 

We have to have Values.

• Value God-Integrity First
• Value Others-Service before self
• Value the Mission-Excellence in all we do

Will you intentionally care? Will you intentionally connect? Will you intentionally teach, correct in truth, love without limits.  

1. Treat each other in a spiritual way. 

Ephesians 5:1-2 NLT "[1] Imitate God, therefore, in everything you do, because you are his dear children. [2] Live a life filled with love, following the example of Christ. He loved us and offered himself as a sacrifice for us, a pleasing aroma to God."

1 Corinthians 3:1-6 NLT "[1] Dear brothers and sisters, when I was with you I couldn't talk to you as I would to spiritual people. I had to talk as though you belonged to this world or as though you were infants in the Christian life. [2] I had to feed you with milk, not with solid food, because you weren't ready for anything stronger. And you still aren't ready, [3] for you are still controlled by your sinful nature. You are jealous of one another and quarrel with each other. Doesn't that prove you are controlled by your sinful nature? Aren't you living like people of the world? [4] When one of you says, "I am a follower of Paul," and another says, "I follow Apollos," aren't you acting just like people of the world? [5] After all, who is Apollos? Who is Paul? We are only God's servants through whom you believed the Good News. Each of us did the work the Lord gave us. [6] I planted the seed in your hearts, and Apollos watered it, but it was God who made it grow."

• There is a right way to treat others, the bible teaches us those ways. 
• Imparting those ways to others is difficult, making those changes personally is hard, and many times painful. 

2. Invest my time and talent into making a difference in the life of others. 

1 Corinthians 9:19 NLT "[19] Even though I am a free man with no master, I have become a slave to all people to bring many to Christ."

Slavery-a condition of having to work very hard without proper remuneration or appreciation.

3. Be impeccable with my words. (Without sin)

Matthew 5:37 NLT "[37] Just say a simple, 'Yes, I will,' or 'No, I won't.' Anything beyond this is from the evil one."

James 1:22,26 NLT "[22] But don't just listen to God's word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves. 

[26] If you claim to be religious but don't control your tongue, you are fooling yourself, and your religion is worthless."

• You can make or break any relationship with your words. 
• Words of condemnation or words of affirmation.

James 3:1-12 NLT "[1] Dear brothers and sisters, not many of you should become teachers in the church, for we who teach will be judged more strictly. [2] Indeed, we all make many mistakes. For if we could control our tongues, we would be perfect and could also control ourselves in every other way. [3] We can make a large horse go wherever we want by means of a small bit in its mouth. [4] And a small rudder makes a huge ship turn wherever the pilot chooses to go, even though the winds are strong. [5] In the same way, the tongue is a small thing that makes grand speeches. But a tiny spark can set a great forest on fire. [6] And the tongue is a flame of fire. It is a whole world of wickedness, corrupting your entire body. It can set your whole life on fire, for it is set on fire by hell itself. [7] People can tame all kinds of animals, birds, reptiles, and fish, [8] but no one can tame the tongue. It is restless and evil, full of deadly poison. [9] Sometimes it praises our Lord and Father, and sometimes it curses those who have been made in the image of God. [10] And so blessing and cursing come pouring out of the same mouth. Surely, my brothers and sisters, this is not right! [11] Does a spring of water bubble out with both fresh water and bitter water? [12] Does a fig tree produce olives, or a grapevine produce figs? No, and you can't draw fresh water from a salty spring."

• The main thing is to keep the main thing, the main thing. 
• Stay focused on truth. 
• Stay focused on Christ. His life, death, burial, resurrection and the modeling of that life for all of Christianity. 
• Allow relationship to happen, allow discipleship to happen, allow influence to occur. 
• Time is one of the greatest things you could ever give someone. 

Discipleship is a process, processes take time.

All the answers

How Can You Say Jesus Is the Only Way to God?

1 Corinthians 8:2 “Anyone who claims to know all the answers doesn't really know very much.”

People are only willing to accept one way if they believe it is appropriate, and to listen to authority when it is in their best interests or they have confidence in the authority. They don't promote pluralism regarding to breathe or not to breathe (the only one way to keep someone living). They follow their employers' way of doing things to keep their jobs. They follow detour signs held by orange-jacketed construction workers. When it comes to religion, however, suddenly pluralism is an absolute and anyone, such as Jesus, who is so narrow, minded as to say His religion is the only way to God, is convicted of prejudice.

Job 40:2 "Do you still want to argue with the Almighty? You are God's critic, but do you have the answers?" 

How does a Christian respond?

o      First, show the skeptic that he is himself, intolerant of at least one religious view -- Christianity, which makes exclusive claims about salvation.

o      Then, show him that consistent pluralism is meaningless because by giving the same truth value to conflicting claims, it denies truth to any claim.

Proverbs 26:5 “When arguing with fools, be sure to answer their foolish arguments, or they will become wise in their own estimation.”

Job 40:4 "I am nothing--how could I ever find the answers? I will put my hand over my mouth in silence.”

Job 35:12 "And if they do cry out and God does not answer, it is because of their pride.”

o      If there is only one God who is eternal, all-powerful, all-good, all-loving, all-knowing, and fully just; and He creates us in His image, we would be completely fulfilled if we related to Him the way He wants us to, in harmony with His will. As the creator from concept to production line, he would know the most about the perfect purpose of his creations. No one else could compete with him regarding his creations' functions or destiny.

o      If He were to say one's destiny is determined by how many slices of pizza he can consume, no one could bring greater authority or knowledge to dispute him.

o      If He were to say that one's destiny is determined by how he responds to God's loving sacrifice of His Son on behalf of all who are separated by sin from God, He cannot be disputed.

There is not one teacher who knows everything about his or her subject.

There are more questions than there are answers and this is also true when it comes to Christianity, the Bible, heaven, hell and eternity or the “afterlife.”

If we were to test each plan of salvation, all would fail except Christianity. To test each plan would be incredibly useless.

o      It would be like having five thousand cars in a parking lot, only one of which has an engine, and trying every single one to find the one that worked. You could try 4,999 unsuccessfully and know without even turning the key that car 5,000 works.

o      However, if the person who put the cars in the parking lot and chose the one with the engine were to tell you where that car is, pointed it out, led you to it, sat you in the seat, and even turned the key for you, people would call you a fool to insist, "You're too narrow-minded and intolerant. I'd rather try a few other cars first. I have my own ideas about where the engine is."

o      Christianity is the car with the engine.

o      It fits the facts, makes sense, perfectly reflects God's nature and character, and tells the truth about human nature and our predicament separated from God by sin.

o      If we are created in the image of the God described in the Bible, if we are separated from Him by our own sin, and if He loves us so much that He would provide Himself a sacrifice for human sin that reconciles His justice and mercy, wouldn't it make sense for Him to come Himself, demonstrate His identity and authority through His words and works, and then point us to the only way?

Luke 20:26 “So they failed to trap him in the presence of the people. Instead, they were amazed by his answer, and they were silenced.”

He is not an ancient ideal but a real person here and now, ready to barge in and transform our lives. . . . The love of God is the answers not only to (1) the quest for the extreme value. . . and to (2) the quest for the ultimate reality. . . but it is also the answer to the third quest, the quest for life's deepest meaning and purpose."(3)

Psalms 17:6 “I am praying to you because I know you will answer, O God. Bend down and listen as I pray.”

 

Psalms 91:15 “When they call on me, I will answer; I will be with them in trouble. I will rescue them and honor them.”

Proverbs 16:1 “We can gather our thoughts, but the Lord gives the right answer.”

Paul said, Romans 7:25 “Thank God! The answer is in Jesus Christ our Lord. So you see how it is: In my mind I really want to obey God's law, but because of my sinful nature I am a slave to sin.” 

Proverbs 8:17 "I love all who love me. Those who search for me will surely find me.”

Discover what you can do

Proverbs 18:16 promises, “ A man’s gift makes room for him and brings him before great men.” 

Believe it or not, God has put special gifts of ability in your life. Here are 4 ways you can find out what they are.

1.     SEEKING GOD IN PRAYER, ASKING HIM TO REVEAL YOUR ABILITIES.

Jeremiah 33:3 tells us when we call upon Him, He’ll show us things to come.

Jeremiah 33:3 "Ask me and I will tell you remarkable secrets you do not know about things to come." 

2.     ASK PEOPLE CLOSE TO YOU. 

   Solicit the evaluation of friends, parents, teachers, coaches, and others you trust to give their observations on your gifting.

   Allow the truth to speak deep into your heart and let it change you. 

3.     GO AFTER THINGS YOU HAVE IN YOUR HEART. 

   Never be afraid to step out and attempt something you’ve never done.

   I love this quote, "I will do today what others won't so tomorrow I can do what others can't."

   I read this on twitter today, "What's ironic is that those who don't have the courage to take risks, & those who do, experience the same amount of fear in life."

   John Maxwell

4.     FAITHFULLY DO THE LITTLE THINGS YOU ARE ASKED TO DO THE THINGS YOU DON’T LIKE MUCH. 

   God promises to give you bigger things when we do the small stuff well.

   Stay on task, stay faithful to Christ. 

Matthew 25:23 NLT

   [23] "The master said, 'Well done, my good and faithful servant. You have been faithful in handling this small amount, so now I will give you many more responsibilities. Let's celebrate together!'

Helping the Hurting

Luke 4:35 Jesus cut him short. "Be silent!" he told the demon. "Come out of the man!" The demon threw the man to the floor as the crowd watched; then it left him without hurting him further. 

o    We want to leave people better than they came to us.

1.        Be Friendly: It seems obvious, but many people get so focused on the task in front of them that they miss the people and possible relationships passing them by. Grab each opportunity to build new relationships by doing the small things that make it happen. Say hello introduce yourself or simply smile. Make the first effort by showing yourself friendly.

o    Proverbs 18: 24 “There are "friends" who destroy each other, but a real friend sticks closer than a brother.”

2.                 Focus on others: People want to talk about things that matter to them. If you spend 4 hours talking about what’s going on in their world then listen. Make the effort to find out what you can do to help if it’s listen then listen if it’s financially then do what you can God will bless you, if it’s encouragement which is 80% of what they need

o    Psalms 35:27 “But give great joy to those who have stood with me in my defense. Let them continually say, "Great is the LORD, who enjoys helping his servant."

3.                 Proverbs 31:20 “She extends a helping hand to the poor and opens her arms to the needy.” 

a.                  Do kind things without looking for credit: The simple principle of sowing and reaping workings in friendship too. If you begin to go out of your way to sow into the lives of people, you will begin to reap the kind of friends that you want.

o    Galatians 6:7 “Be not deceived; God is not mocked for whatsoever a man soweth that shall he also reap.”

o    Matthew 12:30 “Anyone who isn't helping me opposes me, and anyone who isn't working with me is actually working against me.” 

4.                 Prayer

o    Proverbs 15:22 “Plans go wrong for lack of advice; many counselors bring success. 23 Everyone enjoys a fitting reply; it is wonderful to say the right thing at the right time!” 

Growth Barriers

1. When it comes to moving a church forward, being proactive is the name of the game. You have to make a decision right now not to let your church or ministry get stuck at any point. 
a. We must learn to adjust when needed so we can move through growth barriers.

2. We must ask ourselves the right questions to stay on course.
a. In his book, “The Purpose Driven Church”, Rick Warren explains the right and wrong questions to ask in dealing with growth.
i. The wrong question:  How do I get my church or ministry to grow?  Starting with this question can lead to wrong, even dangerous, conclusions.  Here is a tip that will take a lot of pressure off of you.  

1. You are not supposed to grow your ministry.  You make bad decisions when you think that the growth is completely dependent on what you do or don’t do. Such a mind-set often leads to trying to grow a church at any cost.  If you find yourself slipping into that kind of thinking, re-examine your priorities. Remember why you became a minister.

ii. The Right Question:  What is keeping the church or ministry from growing?  

1. Healthy organisms grow, and that includes our church.

2. If there is stagnation setting in, our job is to identify the barriers and remove them.

3. The question is supported by making two important decisions.
a. First, God wants to grow our church.  

Matthew 16:18 we must know without a doubt that it is God’s will for us to continue to grow, thereby expanding his kingdom.

i. 2 Peter 3:9 God is being patient for mans sake.  He doesn’t want any to perish.
ii. God is on our side.
iii. As we grow criticism will come. “Jealously."

b. Second decision is that we want to see our church and ministries grow.
i. If thinking about the next phase drains you, be encouraged!  God will not give us vision without supplying what we need to fulfill it. 
ii. We are not to give out before his job is completed.

c. As a leader I am saying, “Whatever it takes!” Whatever it takes within God’s will.
i. That’s why He called us!
ii. Knowing in our hearts that both God and us want the church to grow, nothing can stop us.

4. Some barriers we must contend with.
a. Space:  (share space)
i. We just can’t keep packing them in. 
b. Self-development.
i. A ministry or church cannot outgrow its leader.
ii. In the book "21 irrefutable laws of leadership", John Maxwell defines the Law of the Lid.
iii. When the lead pastor isn’t growing.

1. The church stops growing, when ministry gets stale, and/or the staff and volunteers stop growing.  The passion for ministry wanes.
iv. Have a plan for praying, studying the word, reading good books, attending conferences, and having great friends to call upon.
v. Become the best possible leader you can be.

Live out Loud

"Live out loud"

Jesus is the reason to live out loud

I believe as you do that this church has been designed, blueprinted, and destined to:

*To create an atmosphere to convince the unconvinced.

*Offer healing to hurting and broken people. 

*Lead people to become fully devoted followers of Christ. 

1. Love is the mark.

2. Your life bringing glory and honor to God is the sacrifice.

3. Leading people to Jesus is the purpose.

4. Today: Jesus is the reason to live out loud

Romans 1:1-5 (NLT)

"This letter is from Paul, a slave of Christ Jesus, chosen by God to be an apostle and sent out to preach his Good News. [2] God promised this Good News long ago through his prophets in the holy Scriptures. [3] The Good News is about his Son. In his earthly life he was born into King David's family line, [4] and he was shown to be the Son of God when he was raised from the dead by the power of the Holy Spirit. He is Jesus Christ our Lord. [5] Through Christ, God has given us the privilege and authority as apostles to tell Gentiles everywhere what God has done for them, so that they will believe and obey him, bringing glory to his name."

•    Jesus is the reason to live out loud.

•             His life.

•             His mission.

•             His heart.

•             His sacrifice.

•             His death.

•             His resurrection.

Mark 10:45-52 (NLT)

"For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many." [46] Then they reached Jericho, and as Jesus and his disciples left town, a large crowd followed him. A blind beggar named Bartimaeus (son of Timaeus) was sitting beside the road. [47] When Bartimaeus heard that Jesus of Nazareth was nearby, he began to shout, "Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!" [48] "Be quiet!" many of the people yelled at him. But he only shouted louder, "Son of David, have mercy on me!" [49] When Jesus heard him, he stopped and said, "Tell him to come here." So they called the blind man. "Cheer up," they said. "Come on, he's calling you!" [50] Bartimaeus threw aside his coat, jumped up, and came to Jesus. [51] "What do you want me to do for you?" Jesus asked. "My rabbi," the blind man said, "I want to see!" [52] And Jesus said to him, "Go, for your faith has healed you." Instantly the man could see, and he followed Jesus down the road."

•    What do you want me to do for you?

•             Really Jesus?

•    I want to see.

•    I believe just like Jesus we need to be able to offer assistance and life alteration.

•             Christ is the hope of the world.

•             The bible says he followed Christ down the road, I believe so that he could share his story, his hope, his confidence, his testimony to any and every one he would ever come in contact with.

•    This became his vision, his new mission, his new addiction, his new life.

Luke 1:26-38 (NLT) "In the sixth month of Elizabeth's pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a village in Galilee, [27] to a virgin named Mary. She was engaged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of King David. [28] Gabriel appeared to her and said, "Greetings, favored woman! The Lord is with you!" [29] Confused and disturbed, Mary tried to think what the angel could mean. [30] "Don't be afraid, Mary," the angel told her, "for you have found favor with God! [31] You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you will name him Jesus. [32] He will be very great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his ancestor David. [33] And he will reign over Israel forever; his Kingdom will never end!" [34] Mary asked the angel, "But how can this happen? I am a virgin." [35] The angel replied, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the baby to be born will be holy, and he will be called the Son of God. [36] What's more, your relative Elizabeth has become pregnant in her old age! People used to say she was barren, but she's now in her sixth month. [37] For nothing is impossible with God." [38] Mary responded, "I am the Lord's servant. May everything you have said about me come true." And then the angel left her."

•    Jesus Christ born of a virgin in a town called Bethlehem.

•             Luke 1 God interrupted a genealogy to birth His son to save the world.

•    Think about this indescribable, impossible, black ops, behind enemy lines, covert operation.

•             A never ending Kingdom.

•    Impossible task.

•    Through the genealogy of Joseph, Christ was born.

•             When Jesus was born hope was born, life was born, healing was born, eternal life was born, prophecies were fulfilled through so many historians both secular and Christian.

Luke 2:11 (NLT) "The Savior-yes, the Messiah, the Lord-has been born today in Bethlehem, the city of David!"

•             He was just a child but still called a Savior.

Savior: one that saves from danger or destruction/one who brings salvation;deliverer, redeemer, rescuer, defender, protector.

•    A Savior-not One who shall be a Savior, not one who could be, not one that has the potential to be but "born a Savior."

Isaiah 9:6 (NLT) "For a child is born to us, a son is given to us. The government will rest on his shoulders. And he will be called: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace."

•    He was called all these things and declared all things before He had ever even done anything.

•    There has never been another man so compassionate, so concerned, so purposed, so willing to lay down His life for all of humanity.

•             No other man served like this, gave like this, prayed like this, healed like this, encouraged like this, calmed storms like this, raised the dead like this, preached like this, or lived like this.

•    This live out loud individual was, is and always will be one of a kind.

Genesis 7:13 “That very day Noah had gone into the boat with his wife and his sons—Shem, Ham, and Japheth—and their wives.14 With them in the boat were pairs of every kind of animal—domestic and wild, large and small—along with birds of every kind.15 Two by two they came into the boat, representing every living thing that breathes.16 A male and female of each kind entered, just as God had commanded Noah. Then the LORD closed the door behind them.

•    God chooses who goes, who stays, who’s worthy of grace and mercy.

•    Our job is to be the difference.

•             The church’s business summed up in one word is…people.

•    The church’s mission summed up in one word is…people.

•    Jesus Christ’s sole mission summed up in:“died for people.”

•             Jesus died for people not programs, facilities, ideas, or business deals, but people.

•    Jesus did not die for religion, or a philosophical system of ethical behavior, or rules and regulations, or the next big event, or this church or that church, or rituals and good works.

•    Jesus didn’t lay His life down for your personal preference of music, carpet color, chairs or pews, preaching, teaching or worship, He died for people.

•    People are what mattered to Him, people are what He surrendered to, and people are what He laid down His life for.

•             He lived out loud. Jesus is the reason we live out loud.

John 3:16, 17"For God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. 17 God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through him.”

•             God loves people, Jesus loves people, the Spirit of God empowers people, not programs, ideas, curriculums, events, or handouts but people.

•    Good people, bad people, people who lie, people who cheat, people who steal, people who mistreat other people and some who have even killed people.

•             Jesus lived out loud.

1 John 3:11 “This is the message you have heard from the beginning: We should love one another. 14 If we love our Christian brothers and sisters, it proves that we have passed from death to life. But a person who has no love is still dead. 18 Dear children, let's not merely say that we love each other; let us show the truth by our actions.”

•             Live it out loud.

•    People who are nice, people who are mean, people you can't stand and people who can't stand you.

•             People who didn't deserve it, people who couldn’t purchase it, people who couldn't earn it, and people who won't accept it He.. died…for…them…all.

•             God did not tell Noah to pick and choose through the animals.

•    He didn’t say I want you to kill the mosquitoes cause they are annoying and they suck no pun intended.

•    Leave off the skunks’ cause they stink.

•    Don’t load the raccoons or badgers because they fight.

•    Refuse the big cat family, panthers lions, tigers, bears oh my, cause they eat everybody up with their mouths.

•    Keep the peacock’s from boarding cause they walk around with their beautiful tail stuck up in the air saying I’m better than you, more beautiful than you, and everybody wants to be me.

•    The anteater’s with their long snouts sticking their nose into everything or their sticky tongue.

•    Those big eared elephants wanting to hear all that gossip everyone’s passing around.  

•    The bug eyed tree frog’s are too nosey, got those shifty eyes staring at everybody making them nervous.

•             God said to load them all.

•    We have to live our lives in a “Load All” mentality.

•             Jesus is the reason to load all.

Ezekiel 34:21 “For you fat sheep pushed and butted and crowded my sick and hungry flock until you scattered them to distant lands.”

•    If you always come to church and hear the Word of God and you feed your Spirit but you never release that word into the life of another than you will become spiritually fat, spiritually obese, and good for nothing in the Kingdom of God.

•    Jesus lived out loud.

•             I am sick of the church talking about evangelizing the world yet not doing it.

•             Church is not always about you it's about the people who have not got here yet.

•    Who are you sharing the Gospel with?

•    Who are you discipling?

•    Who are you rescuing from hell and destruction?

•    Who are the people God has chosen, commanded, and blueprinted you to minister to?

•    The world can not read our minds nor our spirits, they will see our lives, they will hear our words if we have validity and respect in their eyes.

•             When we love people as Christ loved them and gave Him self for them then we will live out Loud Christ's mission.

•    Thanking God is an action.

•             You have to speak it, act it out, declare it, and live in it with a sincerity about you.

•             A healthy Christian community attracts people to Christ.

•    Like a moth to a flame.

•    Like kids to candy.

•    Like a magnet to metal.

•             A healthy, loving church will grow in numbers.

•    What are you doing to make your church, every ministry in/out of the church the kind of place that will attract others to Christ?

•             We each have to ask the question in and of ourselves what am I doing or not doing to grow myself, grow others, and grow the global church by proclaiming Jesus as the reason?

•             We can each make excuses, we can each choose to be connected or disconnected, we can each choose what our attitude will reflect but ultimately it's the world that suffers.

•    It's our family that suffers, it's our peers that suffer, heaven suffers, and it will eventually make us suffer.

•             God continues to remind me that He is able.

•    He continues to remind me that He is able to do the impossible.

•             God spread the good news of Jesus Christ's sacrifice to a world without smart phones, Internet, Facebook, twitter, or email.

•             God did it without speakers, flyers, concerts, conference, guest cards, electricity, planes, trains or automobiles.

•             He used His Spirit.

•    Maybe we should rethink our strategy, plans, programming, and structure.

•             God refuses to close heavens mercy, refuses to close heavens grace so that all may come to know Him.

•    God "so loved the world, John 3:16" not God so hated us, not God is so displeased with us, not God can't wait to catch you doing something wrong but God "so loved" us that His Son chose to trade His perfect existence for our imperfect one.

•             Christ's attitude was of overwhelming, confusing difference to culture, society, religion and law than that of any other king since the beginning of time. Exuding character, compassion, forgiveness, humility, servitude and vision.

Acts 4:32-33 (NLT) "All the believers were united in heart and mind. And they felt that what they owned was not their own, so they shared everything they had. [33] The apostles testified powerfully to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and God's great blessing was upon them all."

•             God's great blessing was upon them all.

•    God's great favor and protection was upon them all.

Philippians 2:4 (NLT)

"Don't look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too."

•             This was the life of Jesus.

•    Love is the Mark

•    Glory & Honor to God is the Sacrifice

•    Leading others to Him is the Purpose

•    Jesus is the reason to live out loud

•             Jesus had to overcome ridicule, murder, unbelief, anger, disappointment, frustration, and fear, all to save mankind.

•    Jesus is the reason, He is my motivation, He changed my life, He believed in me when no one else did, He rescued me when no one else would, and He's coming back for me like no one else can.