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God did not design you to be a spiritual CONSUMER. He designed you to be a spiritual CONTRIBUTOR. 1 Peter 4:10 God has given each of you a gift from his great variety of spiritual gifts. Use them well to serve one another. BOX SEATS BENCH TOWEL The BOX SEATS  The mentality that the church exists to SERVE ME Mark 10:35-37 Then James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came over and spoke to him. “Teacher,” they said, “we want you to do us a favor.” “What is your request?” he asked. They replied, “When you sit on your glorious throne, we want to sit in places of honor next to you, one on your right and the other on your left.” Mark 10:42-45 Jesus called them together and said, “You know that those who are regarded as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all. For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” The BENCH  The mentality that says, “I'm not QUALIFIED or WORTHY enough to serve,” or “I'm just TOO BUSY to serve God” There is NO bench in the body of Christ. God doesn't call the QUALIFIED. He qualifies the CALLED. God works through your AVAILABILITY far more than your ABILITY. The secret of serving: You are always more FILLED UP than you POUR OUT. HOLDING a TOWEL The universal sign of “I am here to SERVE YOU” John 13:12-15 When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. “Do you understand what I have done for you?” he asked them. “You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am. Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you.” Jesus measures greatness not by SEATS or TITLES, but by who picks up a TOWEL.  SAVED people SERVE people.

We don't fight PEOPLE. We fight FOR people. Lukewarm Christianity is accepting just enough of Jesus to make us FEEL better, but not enough of Jesus to CHANGE our lives. COMFORTABLE Christianity is where faith goes to DIE. Revelation 3:15–20  “I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth. You say, ‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.’ But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked. I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see. Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest and repent. Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me.” 1. Jesus confronts what he LOVES. The rebuke is not REJECTION. It's RESCUE. Conviction is LOVE refusing to leave you where it found you. 2. Distance creates DRIFT. Ephesians 5:25–27 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless. 3. Self-sufficiency STARVES the soul. Revelation 3:17 "You say, 'I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.' But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked." Growth doesn't make us LESS dependent on God. It should make us MORE dependent. SUCCESS makes promises that only JESUS can keep. Hebrews 10:24–25 And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another — and all the more as you see the Day approaching. 4. Consistency REKINDLES devotion. All-in Christians do CONSISTENTLY what lukewarm Christians do OCCASIONALLY. What you do occasionally may INSPIRE you. What you do consistently FORMS you. Revelation 3:19–20 "Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest and repent. Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me." Jesus went ALL IN for you. So go ALL IN for Him.

Exodus 2:11-15 One day, after Moses had grown up, he went out to where his own people were and watched them at their hard labor. He saw an Egyptian beating a Hebrew, one of his own people. Looking this way and that and seeing no one, he killed the Egyptian and hid him in the sand. The next day he went out and saw two Hebrews fighting. He asked the one in the wrong, “Why are you hitting your fellow Hebrew?” The man said, “Who made you ruler and judge over us? Are you thinking of killing me as you killed the Egyptian?” Then Moses was afraid and thought, “What I did must have become known.” When Pharaoh heard of this, he tried to kill Moses, but Moses fled from Pharaoh and went to live in Midian, where he sat down by a well. BIG IDEA: Whom we were born to be may be hidden under whom we appear to be. The culture that surrounds us cannot be the context that defines us. Exodus 2:19 They answered, “An Egyptian rescued us from the shepherds. He even drew water for us and watered the flock.” God may be waiting for our attention before He gives us His commission. Exodus 3:4 When the LORD saw that he had gone over to look, God called to him from within the bush, “Moses! Moses!” And Moses said, “Here I am.” Whom God wants to send us to is often the people we’ve tried to escape from. Exodus 3:10 “So now, go. I am sending you to Pharaoh to bring my people the Israelites out of Egypt.” Our big but doesn’t dissuade God from His big plans. Exodus 3:11 But Moses said to God, “Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?” 2 Corinthians 4:16-18 Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.” Matthew 11‬:‭28‬-‭30‬ Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heisart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.”

Ever wonder what ministry is really like beyond Sunday? In this episode, our pastors share the honest realities of the job. They talk about the hidden parts of a typical week, the toughest challenges, and the things people often get wrong (and right) about life in ministry.

Control asks, "What if it doesn't work out?" Surrender asks, "What if it's already in good hands?" You were never given the power to CONTROL. But you were always given the power to SURRENDER. Surrender isn't a FEELING. It's a DECISION you make, and then a PRACTICE you keep making. 5 THINGS THAT ARE TRUE ABOUT SURRENDER 1. Surrender is a DECISION, not a discovery. Romans 12:1 Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. 2. Surrender is NAMED, not vague. If you don't NAME it, you can't TAME it. 3. Surrender is DAILY, not one-and-done. Luke 9:23 Then he said to them all: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me.” Exodus 16:19-20 Then Moses said to them, “No one is to keep any of it until morning.” However, some of them paid no attention to Moses; they kept part of it until morning, but it was full of maggots and began to smell. 4. Surrender is MODELED, not manufactured. Galatians 5:22-23 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Matthew 26:39 Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will." CONTROL was in the garden. SURRENDER was on the cross. He chose the cross so that you would HAVE THE POWER to choose it too. 5. Surrender is REWARDED, not wasted. 1 Peter 5:6-7 Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. Control promises you SAFETY and pays you ANXIETY. Surrender promises you LOSS and pays you PEACE. THE SERENITY PRAYERGod, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.

The Law of CONTROL: whatever we try to FIX with control, we end up BREAKING even more.3 Areas Where Control Costs Us:1. Control breaks us PERSONALLY — Leads to EXHAUSTION and ANXIETY. Philippians 4:6Do not be anxious about anything…Philippians 4:6-7Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.1. The space INSIDE ME.Some Control 2. BETWEEN ME and PEOPLE. 3. The space BETWEEN ME and GOD.No Control 4. INSIDE OTHERS.1 Peter 5:2-3Be shepherds of God's flock that is under your care, watching over them — not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not pursuing dishonest gain, but eager to serve; not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock." Peace isn't found in BEING IN CONTROL — it's found in TRUSTING THE ONE who is.CONTROL was never in your hands, but SURRENDER always is.Control costs us RELATIONALLY — Leads to BROKEN relationships. Genesis 16:1-2Now Sarai, Abram's wife, had borne him no children. But she had an Egyptian slave named Hagar; so she said to Abram, “The Lord has kept me from having children. Go, sleep with my slave; perhaps I can build a family through her." The Law of CONTROL: whatever we try to FIX with control, we end up BREAKING even more. When you hold on with FORCE, you ultimately FORCE AWAY.Galatians 5:22-23 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. John 15:5I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.Control costs us SPIRITUALLY.—It leads to a POWERLESS faith.Hebrews 11:6 And without faith it is impossible to please God.Matthew 17:19-20 "Then the disciples came to Jesus in private and asked, 'Why couldn't we drive it out?' He replied, 'Because you have so little faith. Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, “Move from here to there,” and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.'"What you try to control the MOST reveals where you trust God the LEAST! Personally: exhaustion, and anxiety Relationally: broken relationships Spiritually: powerless faithYou don't have the power to CONTROL, but you always have the power to SURRENDER.THE SERENITY PRAYERGod, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.

Galatians 5:22–23 "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control." Proverbs 19:21 "Many are the plans in a man's heart, but it is the LORD's purpose that prevails." #1: Make the plan. Proverbs 21:5 "The plans of the diligent lead to profit, but the plans of the hasty lead to poverty." Proverbs 24:27 "Prepare your work outside; get everything ready for yourself in the field, and after that build your house." Luke 14:28–30 "Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Won't you first sit down and estimate the cost to see if you have enough money to complete it? For if you lay the foundation and are not able to finish it, everyone who sees it will ridicule you, saying, 'This person began to build and wasn't able to finish.'" # 2: Live a principled life. Romans 12:11-12 Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.  Romans 12:18 "If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone." Romans 12:19 "Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God's wrath, for it is written: 'It is mine to avenge; I will repay,' says the Lord." # 3: Surrender the outcome. We control because there is something we desperately want as the outcome. Control begins where trust ends.

Control is an ILLUSION.  Control is a GOD category — it's not a HUMAN one.  The more we try to CONTROL, the more CHAOS we create. 3 TOOLS WE USE TO CONTROL KNOWLEDGE and INFORMATION. Can be idols for control.  The tree of KNOWLEDGE. Genesis 3:5 “For God knows that when you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” From the beginning, we have believed the lie that KNOWLEDGE = CONTROL. We have confused information with INFLUENCE. Genesis 3:6 When the woman saw the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and she ate it. The tighter you grip for INFORMATION, the tighter ANXIETY grips you.  POWER and MONEY.  Sell the illusion of control but only lead to more chaos.  Genesis 3:5 …when you eat from it, your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.  When you hold with FORCE, you ultimately FORCE AWAY. Proverbs 23:4-5 Do not wear yourselves out to get rich; do not trust your own cleverness. Cast but a glance at riches, and they are gone, for they will surely sprout wings and fly off to the sky like an eagle.  SHAME and BLAME. The hidden and destructive tools of control.  Genesis 3:10 “I was afraid because I was naked; so I hid."  Shame convinces us that if we HIDE the worst parts of ourselves, we're in control. But hiding only CREATES CHAOS.

In this episode, we unpack tithing, generosity, debt, stewardship, and the prosperity gospel. Join us as we explore how followers of Jesus can honor God with their finances.

Control is an ILLUSION.  Control is a GOD category, not a HUMAN one.  The more we try to CONTROL, the more CHAOS we create. Galatians 5:22–23 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,   gentleness and self-control. Genesis 3:1 Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden’?” Genesis 3:2–3 The woman said, “We may eat fruit from the trees in the garden, but God did say, ‘You must not eat fruit from the tree in the middle of the garden, and you must not touch it, or you will die.’” Genesis 3:4–5 “You will not certainly die,” the serpent said. “For God knows that when you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” Genesis 3:6 When the woman saw that the fruit was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it. Genesis 3:7–10 Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they realized they were naked; so they sewed fig leaves together and made coverings for themselves. Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the Lord God as he was walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and they hid from the Lord God among the trees of the garden. But the Lord God called to the man, “Where are you?” He answered, “I heard you in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; so I hid.” Three Reasons We Reach For Control 1.  Control is rooted in DOUBTING God's GOODNESS. What you try to control MOST reveals where you trust God the LEAST. 2.  Control is driven by our DESIRE for AUTONOMY. Jeremiah 17:9 The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it? We are at our freest not when we're in CHARGE, but when we give God CONTROL. 3.  Control fuels FEAR and ANXIETY. Control CREATES anxiety.   Peace comes when I stop PLAYING God and start TRUSTING God. Control is an ILLUSION. Surrender is the SOLUTION. If you don't NAME it, you can't TAME it.

When you put God FIRST, He takes care of the REST. Who goes FIRST? 1. It's not IF you give—it's WHEN. The ORDER matters. The word TITHE simply means A TENTH. Proverbs 3:9-10 "Honor the Lord with your wealth, with the firstfruits of all your crops; then your barns will be filled to overflowing." John 6:1-14 "Some time after this, Jesus crossed to the far shore of the Sea of Galilee (that is, the Sea of Tiberias), and a great crowd of people followed him because they saw the signs he had performed by healing the sick. Then Jesus went up on a mountainside and sat down with his disciples. The Jewish Passover Festival was near. When Jesus looked up and saw a great crowd coming toward him, he said to Philip, “Where shall we buy bread for these people to eat?” He asked this only to test him, for he already had in mind what he was going to do. Philip answered him, “It would take more than half a year’s wages to buy enough bread for each one to have a bite!” Another of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, spoke up, “Here is a boy with five small barley loaves and two small fish, but how far will they go among so many?” Jesus said, “Have the people sit down.” There was plenty of grass in that place, and they sat down (about five thousand men were there). Jesus then took the loaves, gave thanks, and distributed to those who were seated as much as they wanted. He did the same with the fish. When they had all had enough to eat, he said to his disciples, “Gather the pieces that are left over. Let nothing be wasted.” So they gathered them and filled twelve baskets with the pieces of the five barley loaves left over by those who had eaten. After the people saw the sign Jesus performed, they began to say, “Surely this is the Prophet who is to come into the world.” 2. The tithe is where you TRUST God with FIRST PLACE. Malachi 3:10 "Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this," says the Lord Almighty, "and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it." 3. When God is FIRST, everything else falls IN ORDER. The goal isn’t that God can just give TO you but actually FLOW THROUGH you. Deuteronomy 8:17-18 You may say to yourself, " My power and the strength of my hands have produced this wealth for me." But remember the Lord your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth. Proverbs 11:24 The world of the generous gets larger and larger; the world of the stingy gets smaller and smaller. Tithing is not really an OBEDIENCE indicator. It is a SURRENDER indicator.

You don’t have an INCOME problem. You have an OUTGO problem. Proverbs 13:7 Some who are poor pretend to be rich; others who are rich pretend to be poor. Proverbs 22:7 Just as the rich rule the poor, so the borrower is servant to the lender. Servant: ebed; a SLAVE, in BONDAGE 3 Biblical Values to Live Out Financially 1. Embrace the value of SELF-CONTROL. Proverbs 25:28 A person without self-control is like a city with broken-down walls. Learn to say NO for a little while in order to say YES later in life. Live like NO ONE else so that one day you can truly live like NO ONE else. 2. Embrace the value of SACRIFICE. Hebrews 12:2 We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, We give up something we LOVE for something we love EVEN MORE. 3. Embrace the value of PLANNING. Luke 14:28 Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Won’t you first sit down and estimate the cost to see if you have enough money to complete it? Before you PAY for it, PRAY for it! Proverbs 21:5 Good planning and hard work lead to prosperity, but hasty shortcuts lead to poverty. You can wander into DEBT, but you won’t wander OUT. Proverbs 6:5 Free yourself, like a gazelle from the hand of the hunter, like a bird from the snare of the fowler.

1 Timothy 6:6 But godliness with contentment is great gain. Luke 12:15 "Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; life does not consist in an abundance of possessions." You're not rich when you get everything YOU WANT.  You're rich when you want what you ALREADY HAVE. Three Big Ideas About Contentment Contentment is LEARNED; it's not NATURAL. The more you GET, the more you WANT. Philippians 4:12 I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. Contentment isn't a place you ARRIVE at in the future.  It's an attitude you EMBRACE today. Philippians 4:13 I can do all this through him who gives me strength. You can't CONSUME your way to happiness.  You CONTENT your way to happiness with what you have. 2.  CONTENTMENT begins when COMPARISON ends. Ecclesiastes 4:4 Then I observed that most people are motivated to success because they envy their neighbors. This too is meaningless, a chasing after the wind. Exodus 20:17 "You shall not covet your neighbor's house. You shall not covet your neighbor's wife, or his male or female servant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor." As long as you COMPARE, you'll never be CONTENT. 1 Timothy 6:6–8 But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. 1 Timothy 6:9–10 Those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs. 1 Timothy 6:17–18 Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. 1 Timothy 6:19 In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life. Contentment requires a vision to consume less so you can GIVE more.  John 3:16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. When we GIVE, we are most like JESUS.

John 21:3-12 Simon Peter said, “I’m going fishing.” “We’ll come, too,” they all said. So they went out in the boat, but they caught nothing all night. At dawn Jesus was standing on the beach, but the disciples couldn’t see who he was. He called out, “Fellows, have you caught any fish?” “No,” they replied. Then he said, “Throw out your net on the right-hand side of the boat, and you’ll get some!” So they did, and they couldn’t haul in the net because there were so many fish in it. Then the disciple Jesus loved said to Peter, “It’s the Lord!” When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his tunic (for he had stripped for work), jumped into the water, and headed to shore. The others stayed with the boat and pulled the loaded net to the shore, for they were only about a hundred yards from shore. When they got there, they found breakfast waiting for them—fish cooking over a charcoal fire, and some bread.“Bring some of the fish you’ve just caught,” Jesus said. So Simon Peter went aboard and dragged the net to the shore. There were 153 large fish, and yet the net hadn’t torn. “Now come and have some breakfast!” Jesus said. None of the disciples dared to ask him, “Who are you?” They knew it was the Lord. Then Jesus served them the bread and the fish. This was the third time Jesus had appeared to his disciples since he had been raised from the dead. Go back to the START, in order to MOVE FORWARD. When you don’t know what to do, go back to the last time you were WITH JESUS. Revelation 2:5 Look how far you have fallen! Turn back to me and do the works you did at first. When you don’t know what to do, BE OBEDIENT. Matthew 28:10 Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me.” 1 John 5:3 For this is what love for God is: to keep his commands. And his commands are not a burden. My level of OBEDIENCE reveals my level of TRUST in Him. When you RETURN and OBEY,  DAYBREAK will always come. Lamentations 3:22-23 The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. Psalm 30:5 Weeping may last through the night, but joy comes with the morning. Jesus often meets us not in the middle of the FIGHT, but at the DAWN of a new day. When Jesus is involved, SOME becomes ABUNDANT. Jesus cares for the WHOLE PERSON. He provides for their NEEDS = 153 large fish He provides for their SOULS = breakfast at the beach He provides for their SPIRITS = redemption and calling When we read the Bible searching for ANSWERS, we don't always find them, but we always find a FULL PICTURE of who GOD is. John 21: 15-17 When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?” “Yes, Lord,” he said, “you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Feed my lambs.” Again Jesus said, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” He answered, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Take care of my sheep.” The third time he said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, “Do you love me?” He said, “Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Feed my sheep.” God REDEEMS your past, REWRITES your story, and REAFFIRMS your purpose.

Is spiritual warfare real? We unpack what the Bible says about the unseen battle taking place around us, how the enemy works, and how followers of Jesus can stand firm through prayer, truth, and the power of God.