http://bible.com/events/640510

Title: Not Fearful, But Faithful 

Today we celebrate 20 years of ministry at our current location.  We pause today to give thanks for God for all He has done, and to tune our hearts to His call for our church as we head into the future.  Our God is faithful! 

The people God uses aren’t fearless; they are faithful.

Joshua 6:1-16, 20

The promise – Joshua 6:2 

God’s promises are true, even when our reality suggests otherwise. 

The plan – Joshua 6:3-5 

Joshua did not take the city by clever, human military action. 

The strategy was the Lord’s.

The obedience – Joshua 6:14 

Day after day there were opportunities to quit, to become distracted or preoccupied, but obedience was the key to experiencing God’s promise.

The fulfillment  – Joshua 6:20 

Because they trusted the promise, submitted to the plan, and chose obedience even when it seemed impossible, they experienced God’s fulfillment.

And today we stand at a critical place in our history…

Do we believe that God is not done? 

Do we believe that there are still walls to fall? 

We thought God had done big things before, but we can’t even conceive of what it is he has before us…

The question for us….

”Will you go another lap?” 

When you feel like you have obeyed and nothing is happening…

”Will you go another lap?” 

When you are tempted to give up or lose focus…

”Will you go another lap?” 

When you feel tired, or discouraged, or afraid…

”Will you go another lap?” 

When you can’t see how God will fulfill His promise…

”Will you go another lap?” 

http://bible.com/events/637647

The Science of Temptation, Part 2

There is a plan in place to hurt you and it will kill you if it can.

That sobering idea is the primary reason for this two-part series on temptation that concludes today: The Science of Temptation.

Temptation comes at you with a structure, a strategy, even a science.

This series asks: What is your plan to fight the temptation you face?

For, while temptation itself is not sin, it wants to lead you to sin and, then, to death:

For the wages of sin is death – Romans 6:23

Matthew 4:1-11

Three questions posed by Jesus’ temptation:

1. What do you want more than you want God?

2. Whom do you trust?

3. What will you trade for your soul?

The Three-Point Shield in the Face of Temptation

1. “It is written…” The activated power of the Word of God in our lives.

2. The faithfulness of God

1 Corinthians 10:13

3. The power of rescuing grace

 Hebrews 4:14-16

The Science of Temptation: Part 1
Temptation has been a reality to all humans since the beginning of time. It lured the fall of mankind; even Jesus faced it!  Join us as we discover exactly what temptation is and how God has prepared us to fight it.

Genesis 3:1-13

They should have been running to God in their need
But instead they HIDE

They should be taking ownership and responsibility
But instead they BLAME

Is temptation a sin?
No, we all face temptation, even Jesus

Hebrews 4:15

Sin is….
….a voluntary violation of a known law of God
…a violation of the law of love (because we are people who have been given a choice)

Matthew 22:37-40

Temptation is….
…the act of being enticed to sin
Temptation begins with a desire, which if we aren’t careful, can give birth to sin.
Temptation is anything that promises satisfaction at the cost of obedience.

James 1:14-15

What was the strategy (science) in the first sin?
What did the serpent know that he used to break down their defenses?

The strategy (science) behind the temptation:
• Humans tend to want.
• They can be coerced into wanting.
• They can be persuaded that they are not getting what they deserve.
• They can be convinced to “want it all” and to act on that want.
• They can be easily convinced that they know better.
• They have the capacity to want something more than they want God.

The serpent didn’t use bad temptation approaches.
Strategies such as the following would likely not have worked on Adam and Eve:
• You should hate God.
• Disobeying God is a good idea.
• Ignore everything God says.
• God is wholly untrustworthy
• Bad things might happen but the risk is worth it

Perhaps the greatest threat temptation poses is that, in the moment, it makes a proposal that seems to make sense.

1 Peter 5:8-9

Stand firm…
…affirm God’s truth
What is your foundation?
Who is it that is leading and guiding your life?

…affirm God’s character….
Are you trusting in what you know to be true of God?

…affirm God’s presence….
Isolation breeds destruction
Affirming God’s truth & God’s character will always lead us to affirming His presence

The battle against temptation begins with the choices I make today

http://bible.com/events/628594
HFCN Definition:
The Gospel is the good news message that God sent His son, Jesus Christ, to die on the cross for our sins. He was raised to life, victorious over the power of death. In choosing to live for Him, we can be free from the power of sin and experience abundant life today and eternal life in Heaven.  1 Corinthians 15: 1-2
The Gospel Is….
-Your gift 
I want to remind you of the gospel I preached to you, which you received 1 Corinthians 15:1
The Gospel is not something we invented and it is not something we discovered
The Gospel is the gift of God for us 

-Your foundation 
Which you received and on which you have taken your stand 1 Corinthians 15:1
The Gospel is your foundation and your solid rock 

-Your salvation 
By this gospel you are saved 1 Corinthians 15:2
Not a past tense “you were saved” but a present tense…”you are being saved” 

1 Corinthians 15: 3-8 Our series “The Pure Gospel” 
The Life of Jesus 
The Death of Jesus 
The Resurrection of Jesus 

1 Corinthians 15:12-19
Why is resurrection critical? 
What does it mean to us today?

Truth is stronger than lies 
The Truth of God is stronger than any lie of the enemy

Good is stronger than evil 
The resurrection proved that evil had lost and that God is greater 

Love is stronger than hate 
When Jesus rose again, He proved that the perfect love of Jesus    
overcomes ALL

Life is stronger than death 
Powerful implications….
 1. This life is not all there is 
 2. In this life, freedom is possible 

If there is no resurrection, there is no…
Life
Freedom from Sin
Victory
Hope

Two Questions that the Gospel asks of us:
Will you believe in that which you don’t fully understand? 
Does your daily life reflect victory over sin?

http://bible.com/events/624911
Pure Gospel: The Death of Jesus

 HFCN Definition of the Gospel:The Gospel is the good news message that God sent His son, Jesus Christ, to die on the cross for our sins. He was raised to life, victorious over the power of death. In choosing to live for Him, we can be free from the power of sin and experience abundant life today and eternal life in Heaven. 

Romans 5:1-5
In our series last month “More than Me: More Hope” 
Romans 5:6-11 
The Pure Gospel: 
Week One: The Life of Jesus
Week Two: The Death of Jesus  

Who we were….
Ungodly (Romans 5:6) 
Powerless (Romans 5:6)
Sinners (Romans 5:8) 
Guilty (Romans 5:8) 
Enemies (Romans 5:10) 

Who God is….

Just (Romans 5:9) 
We all love justice, except for when it is applied to us. 
When the Bible speaks about “the wrath of God”, it is referring to a God of justice (the presence of sin means a debt must be paid).  

Loving (Romans 5:8 “God demonstrates His love for us”  
If it is all about justice then we are doomed, but our God is just AND full of love.

Romans‬ ‭5:8‬ ‭NIV‬‬

His love is willing to meet the demands of His justice. -Billy Graham 

Who we are….

Justified (Romans 5:9) 
Justice has been served on our behalf 

Saved (Romans 5:9)
“Jesus died so you could choose not to. He chose death so you could choose life.”

Reconciled (Romans 5:10-11) 
We were separated, but because of the cross, we are brought near.

Closing Thought:
What is your response to the cross of Jesus?