04-25-10 PM - Rev. Michael Barrett Message

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04-25-10 AM - The Door is Open

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04-18-10 PM - Building Lasting Relationships: Why Do Some Walk Away?

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Ruth 1:4, 11-15
4 And they took for themselves Moabite women as wives; the name of the one was Orpah (mane) and the name of the other Ruth (friend). And they lived there about ten years. (A long famine)
5 Then both Mahlon (sickly) and Chilion (waisting away) also died; and the woman was bereft of her two children and her husband.
6 Then she arose with her daughters-in-law that she might return from the land of Moab, for she had heard in the land of Moab that the LORD had visited His people in giving them food.
7 So she departed from the place where she was, and her two daughters-in-law with her; and they went on the way to return to the land of Judah.
8 And Naomi said to her two daughters-in-law, "Go, return each of you to her mother's house. May the LORD deal kindly with you as you have dealt with the dead and with me.
9 "May the LORD grant that you may find rest, each in the house of her husband." Then she kissed them, and they lifted up their voices and wept.
10 And they said to her, "No, but we will surely return with you to your people."
11 But Naomi said, "Return, my daughters. Why should you go with me? Have I yet sons in my womb, that they may be your husbands?
12 Return, my daughters! Go, for I am too old to have a husband. If I said I have hope, if I should even have a husband tonight and also bear sons,
13 would you therefore wait until they were grown? Would you therefore refrain from marrying? No, my daughters; for it is harder for me than for you, for the hand of the LORD has gone forth against me."
14 And they lifted up their voices and wept again; and Orpah kissed her mother-in-law, but Ruth clung to her.
15 Then she said, "Behold, your sister-in-law has gone back to her people and her gods; return after your sister-in-law."

"If things don't work out, then I'll just walk out."                                                                        

I. Walking away seems like an attractive option
1: 5 (11-14).
A. The potential fulfillment of unmet expectations.
Everyone enters relationships with ulterior expectations.
When those emotional or physical needs go unmet, frustration develops and tension stresses the marriage.
[1] Marital Bliss  1:4-5
[2] Maternal Joy
[3] Material Security  1:19
In the end, her relationships produced none of the anticipated benefits. Instead, she experience one disappointment after another.

B. The promise of new relationships – 1:9 "husband'

II. Walking away seems like an acceptable option  1:10-13.
Except in cases of abuse and adultery, God sanctioned marriage "till death do us part."

III. Walking away seems like an easy option – 1:14-15.

Sentiment without commitment is a shallow profession from which many could part with little discomfort.

04-18-10 AM - Uderstanding Spiritual Gifts

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1Cor. 12:1-12;31

1 ¬ Be Informed About Spiritual Gifts

“Now about spiritual gifts, brothers, I do not want you to be ignorant.”
John MacArthur writes, “No local congregation will be what it should be…until it understands spiritual gifts”

- Speaking Gifts:
 Word of wisdom, prophecy, evangelism, pastor-teacher, and teaching
-Service Gifts:
Administration, exhortation, faith, giving, helps, serving, and mercy
-Sign Gifts:
Distinguishing of spirits, miracles, healings, tongues, interpretation

These gifts are found in: Romans 12, 1 Corinthians 12, and Ephesians 4 and 1 Peter 4.

2 - Be Influenced by the Holy Spirit
“You know that when you were pagans, somehow or other you were influenced and led astray to mute idols. Therefore I tell you that no one who is speaking by the Spirit of God says, ‘Jesus be cursed’ and no one can say, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ except by the Holy Spirit.”

Galatians 5:25: “Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.”

John 3:8 “The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.”

3 ¬ Incorporate Diversity in your Understanding

 “There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working, but the same God works all of them in all men.”

The word “gifts” comes from the Greek, “charismata,” which is the root for the word “grace.”


“service.” This word speaks of opportunities for expressing our spiritual gifts in practical ways.

“working” refers to the results or accomplishments that come when we use our gifts in meaningful service.

We get the word “energy” from this Greek word.

Philippians 2:13 reminds us: “For it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose.”


This church has every gift that is needed in order to function as a biblical community.

1 Corinthians 1:7 “Therefore you do not lack any spiritual gift as you eagerly wait for our Lord Jesus Christ to be revealed.”

1 Peter 2:9: “But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.”

Ephesians 4:12 is “To prepare God’s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up.”
Here’s an exciting truth. You have permission to minister in this church!

4 ¬ Identify Your Spiritual Gift

We’re to be informed about spiritual gifts, be influenced by the Holy Spirit, and incorporate diversity in our understanding.

7  Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good.”

“manifest”-means to make plain.

First, Every Christian has been given at least one spiritual gift.

1 Corinthians 7:7 “I wish that all men were as I am. But each man has his own gift from God; one has this gift, another has that.”

Second, we’ve been given at least one spiritual gift for the “common good,” or profit of the church. Ephesians 4:16 “From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.”

1 Corinthians 12:11 “gives to each one, just as He determines.”

5 - Implement Your Gift in Service


1 Peter 4:10 “Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms.”:

1 Timothy 4:14; 2 Timothy 1:6 “Do not neglect your gift…I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God”

6 ¬ Intensify Your Love

“But eagerly desire the greater gifts. And now I will show you the most excellent way.”

“If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing.”

Jonathon Swift once said, “We have just enough religion to make us hate, but not enough to make us love one another.”


Be informed about spiritual gifts
Be influenced by the Holy Spirit
Incorporate diversity in your understanding
Identify your spiritual gift
Implement your gift in service
Intensify your love

www.churchgrowth.org  $2.95

http://elmertowns.com/spiritual_gifts_test

http://www.spreadinglight.com/biblestudy/gifts/index.html

04-11-20 AM - Rev. Kristian Walker

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