Knowing Jesus, 1 “Saturated in the Scriptures” Luke 4:1-13 Big Idea: Jesus shows us how engaging the Scriptures leads us to victory over the strategic, complicated and very real activity of Evil. The complexity of evil: Luke 22:3; Ephesians 4:27; Genesis 4:6-7; John 10:10; 1 Peter 5:8 The Bible describes three enemies: the WORLD, the FLESH and the DEVIL If you nurture spiritual DARKNESS, it gives an opportunity for evil to create an alliance in you and take you places you don’t want to go. The s...
Mar 26, 2017•36 min
Seeing Jesus 8 – Lazarus John 11:18-44 Big Idea: Jesus knows no barriers in resurrecting life and restoring hope. Even in times of DOUBT Jesus is present and FAITHFUL. ““Lord,” Martha said to Jesus, “if you had been here, my brother would not have died.” John 11:21 It’s possible to TRUST Jesus and still experience profound DISAPPOINTMENT. “Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.” Martha answered, “I know he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day.”” John 11:23-24 Jesus is t...
Mar 19, 2017•28 min
John 9:1-7; 35-38 Matthew 6:22-24 Misunderstanding SUFFERING can contribute to spiritual blindness. Three problems with attaching suffering to SIN 1. It creates tremendous pride and SELF-RIGHTEOUSNESS in the heart of the blessed 2. It’s not TRUE to the FACTS. Luke 13:2-9 3. People suffering BEAT THEMSELVES UP even more. Romans 8:28 To experience life in Jesus we must gain SPIRITUAL SIGHT To see is to REALIZE. Moving From Spiritual Blindness to Spiritual Sight: 1. The people who are the most ADVA...
Mar 12, 2017•30 min
Seeing Jesus, Week 6 "Walking on Water In A Storm" The Big Idea: God refuses to allow us to control Him, yet uses His uncontrollable power to lovingly and sacrificially redeem us. John 6:16-25 The huge subject of this sign is our need for CONTROL There is a Universal Effort to CONTROL God. Jesus did not come, primarily, to deal with our POLITICAL, ECONOMIC and SOCIAL problems, as crucial as they are. We all experience the ILLUSION of control. Two times Jesus meets people in storms: once he CALMS...
Mar 05, 2017•34 min
The Big Idea: Jesus is, in Himself, the source and supply of the life you were created for. John 6:1-14; 27-35 The Bread: - SUSTENANCE - FRIENDSHIP - PROVISION from God - DEPENDENCE upon God Of Life: Two words for life - BIOS and ZOE Jesus: I am the TREATY with God The number one answer to every challenge you face is more of JESUS What About Us? v69 and 70 1. God already knows and sometimes TESTS you. v6 2. Jesus created the food but had the disciples DELIVER IT COMMUNITY GROUP DISCUSSION QUESTI...
Feb 26, 2017•33 min
Seeing Jesus, Week 4 “The Good Stuff” The Big Idea: Every human soul is searching for the good stuff and we find it in Jesus alone; not in people or in religion. John 5:1-18 Every human soul is searching for the GOOD STUFF. The Man and His Stuff: His first four words reveal his heart: “I HAVE NO ONE.” When confronted by the Pharisees he chooses his STRATEGY. Jesus urges him to stop looking to MEN. The Ugly Result of Religion: Man’s RULES trump God’s LOVE. The Bold Declaration of Jesus: I and the...
Feb 19, 2017•33 min
Seeing Jesus, 3 “The Development of Faith” The Big Idea: Out of his great love for us, Jesus oversees and designs much of our faith development journey. John 4:46-54; John 20:30-31 We learn 5 things about Faith 1. Belief systems begin with REASON and involve your REASONING. V45-47 2. Life-giving faith has to move beyond REASON to real TRUST. 3. Jesus will lovingly push you from REASON to life-saving personal TRUST. 4. Life-giving faith saves by its OBJECT not by its QUALITY. 5. Real life-giving ...
Feb 12, 2017•32 min
The Big Idea: Jesus is the One who carries away our guilt and shame so that we can experience joy - even in the face of suffering. John 2:1-11 John records very few miracles and calls them SIGNS 3 things help us understand what this sign points to: 1. The six stone jars “I have come to bring the reality that the Jewish rituals only POINT TO.” 2. The interesting exchange with his mom. Jesus is thinking about his own WEDDING DAY Revelation 21:1-5 Matthew 22:2 3. The Wine Jesus is the real Lord of ...
Jan 29, 2017•39 min
Seeing Jesus, 1 “The Lamb of God” The Big Idea: Truly seeing Jesus changes the way you see every thing and every one. John 1:19-34 John is being asked, WHAT IS YOUR IDENTITY? John could not see his own GREATNESS Matthew 11:7-15 John's View of Jesus: YAHWEH The One on whom the SPIRIT SAT His SANDALS I am not worthy to UNTIE John was great because he grasped the GREATNESS of Jesus. EGO keeps you afraid and bashful, or bold and arrogant. How can we remove my ego? - BEHOLD the LAMB of God Shocker - ...
Jan 22, 2017•40 min
Wisdom Week 3 “How to Live in Wisdom” January 15, 2017 Speaker - Jim Ladd The Big Idea: Living in wisdom is a process that will require focused pursuit. Proverbs 4:5-9, 14-27 Wisdom: Competence with regard to the REALITIES of life 1. A life of wisdom is a unavoidable FIGHT. V5-9 2. A life of wisdom is a guarded HEART. V23 Your heart is where you hold the beliefs about the things you MUST HAVE to receive life joyfully. What the heart chooses to BELIEVE, the mind perceives and finds reasonable, th...
Jan 15, 2017•34 min
Wisdom, Week 2. “Where to Get It Speaker - Jim Ladd The Big Idea: Wisdom is acquired as character is developed over time, through the small, daily decisions of life. Proverbs 3:1-12 Wisdom: Competence with regard to the REALITIES of life Life is a PATHWAY The actions you take repeatedly in your life MAKE YOU SOMETHING How do I grow in Wisdom? KNOWING God “Let love and faithfulness never leave you...” TRUSTING God “Trust in the Lord with all your heart” Submitting to His WORD “And lean not on you...
Jan 08, 2017•43 min
Wisdom, part 1 “What is it?” January 1, 2017 Speaker - Jim Ladd The Big Idea: Let’s make 2017 the year of growing in Wisdom. Proverbs 1:1-9, 22, 32-33 What is Wisdom? Look at the synonyms: Insight: a Hebrew word that means “to NOTICE DIFFERENCES” Prudence - a Hebrew word that means “PRACTICAL” or “STRATEGIC” Instruction - “Depth of CHARACTER” Wisdom is competence with regard to the REALITIES OF LIFE. Why is wisdom important? V32 The waywardness of the simple will kill them - foolishness of fools...
Jan 01, 2017•38 min
John 1:1-5, 9-17
Dec 24, 2016•15 min
Luke Chapter 1-2 When God says He's going to MAKE A WAY, He makes a way. Favor is not the ABSENCE of struggles. God is OFFERING us a chance to be called favored.
Dec 18, 2016•36 min
Dec 11, 2016•37 min
The Adventure of a Lifetime, 2 "Oikos and Opportunity" December 4, 2016 Speaker - Jim Ladd The Big Idea: The Big Idea: God is asking you to change your world and us together to change the world. The secret sauce of Christianity is THE HOLY SPIRIT John 14; John 3:5-8; Acts 1:8; John 16:13; Luke 12:12 Consider all that God has given you: __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________...
Dec 04, 2016•39 min
The Adventure of a Lifetime, 1 - The Invitation The Big Idea: The call of Jesus is a call to join Him in the adventure of a lifetime. The Call Is Simple: 1) FOLLOW ME 2) GO BACK and TELL John 14:6-14 If following Jesus is awesome, then it’s even more exciting in GROUPS. Matthew 16:18-19 Matthew 18:18-20 We, together, are the CALLED OUT ONES - the “ekklesia” We have the KEYS! The Church Challenge: - The Church is a CORPORATION. - The Church is a COMMUNITY. - The Church is a CAUSE. For 2,000 years...
Nov 27, 2016•33 min
WE ARE CALLED TO BE THANKFUL Colossians 1:12-14 “Giving joyful thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of his holy people in the kingdom of light. For He has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins”. Giving thanks to the Father: 1. Who has qualified us to share the inheritance. 2. Who has rescued us from the dominion of darkness. 3. Who has transferred us into the...
Nov 20, 2016•29 min
Right on the Money, 4: Attitudes and Strategies The Big Idea: How you handle money is an outward indicator of an inward condition. Attitudes guide STRATEGY. 4 Attitudes That Drive Financial Strategy: 1. GRATITUDE Ephesians 1:1-14 Strategy: you RECEIVE and you WORSHIP in one motion. Malachi 3:10-12 The faithfulness with which you tithe is probably why you're BROKE. 2. DILIGENCE Proverbs 6:6-11 Strategy: you SAVE. Spending more money than you make isn't just FOOLISH, It's SINFUL. The amount you sa...
Nov 13, 2016•39 min
Right on the Money, 3 “Money and the Blessing of God” November 6, 2016 Speaker - Jim Ladd The Big Idea: The greatest thing you can have in this life is the favor of God. Psalm 81:8-16 Hosea 4:16 How to Pursue the Blessing of God: 1. God blesses a PRIORITY correction Proverbs 3:7-26 Mammon Inc.: The Jesus Company: 1. EARN 1. RECEIVE 2. SPEND/PAY 2. TITHE 3. SAVE 3. SAVE 4. GIVE 4. SPEND/PAY 5. GIVE Money can reveal your STUBBORNNESS James 4:1-4 2. God blesses a deeper CONFIDENCE Galatians 6:7-10 ...
Nov 06, 2016
Right on the Money - “The Purpose of Money” (Week 2) October 30, 2016 The Big Idea: Understanding the purpose of money brings clarity on how to use it well. Three Money Myths: 1. Pastors TALK TOO MUCH about it 2. 10% belongs to God 3. Financial blessing is a sign of God’s LOVE Money is a TOOL When God gives you more of it, He is not saying He loves you more. He is saying He wants to USE YOU more. Luke 12:41-48 Generosity is a TRIGGER Proverbs 11:25; Luke 16:1-13 The Purpose of Money: WORSHIP: Go...
Oct 30, 2016
Right on the Money, 1 “A Choice is required” Oct 23, 2016 Speaker - Jim Ladd The Big Idea: You cannot serve two masters. Luke 16:1-15; 1 Timothy 6:6-10; 17-19 Your Two Options: 1. Mammon, Inc. - Where you work for money Corporate Structure: MONEY YOU JESUS Corporate Value: GREED Corporate Mission: ACCUMULATE Mission Statement: He who DIES with the most TOYS wins 2. The Jesus Company - Where money works for you Corporate Structure: JESUS YOU OTHERS Corporate Value: GENEROSITY Corporate Mission: D...
Oct 23, 2016
It is not good TO BE ALONE WHY ARE WE SO LONELY? 1. Breakdown of FAMILIES. 2. Increased MOBILITY 3. Heavy WORKLOADS 4. Rise of SOCIAL MEDIA OVERCOMING THE LIES OF LONELINESS: 1. I am ALONE 2 Corinthians 1:3-11 2. No one UNDERSTANDS 2 Corinthians 1:5-6 3. God has LEFT ME Hebrews 12:1-3 4. I don’t have enough FAITH John 16:32-33 HOW DO WE LOVE THE LONELY? 1. Love with TOUCH. Matt 8:2-3 2. Love by LISTENING. Luke 24:17-19 3. Love with TIME. Luke 5:17-19, Luke 8:22-24, Luke 8:43, Mark 1:35-39 You ca...
Oct 16, 2016
Message Notes: Poverty is RELATIVE Matthew 25:31-46 What you do for the LEAST OF THESE, you do for Jesus. 1 John 3:17-18 Proverbs 19:17 What is Poverty? Most Americans define poverty as a lack of something MATERIAL The truly poor define it as an IDENTITY The goal is to help them change, not just what they HAVE, but how they THINK The root of all poverty is BROKENNESS Luke 4:18-19 Jesus said TODAY this scripture is fulfilled We Are Called: 1. To SERVE others not to SAVE others 2. RELATE with peop...
Oct 09, 2016
Oct 02, 2016
Big Idea: God calls His people to care for the orphan. There are more than 400,000 foster kids in the U.S. without homes There are 10,068 in Washington The Church is PLAN A James 1:27 God - A conviction that a relationship with Jesus is the most important thing in life. Family - A commitment to nurture and serve the most intimate relationships God has entrusted to us. Others - A calling to invest my life in the 8-15 God has supernaturally and strategically placed around me. Psalm 82:3-4 ; Psalm ...
Sep 25, 2016
How to Neighbor - RACISM September 18, 2016 Speaker - Jim Ladd Luke 10:29 Racism is not a SKIN issue, it's a SIN issue. James 2:9 How do we Neighbor those different from us? 1) Recognize any PREJUDICES. • Prejudice: (prejudging) preconceived opinion that is not based on reason or actual experience. 2) Seek to UNDERSTAND others. 3) Love those DIFFERENT from you. • Racism isn’t just the presence of HATRED - It’s the absence of LOVE. Galatians 3:28 Revelation 7: 9-10 Romans 10:12 COMMUNITY GROUP DI...
Sep 18, 2016
Mark 4:35 Joshua 3:10 Mark 5:1-20 Mark 6 location: ISREAL Mark 8 location: DECAPOLIS Mark 6 initiator: DISCIPLES Mark 8:1-4 Mark 8 initiator: JESUS Mark 6 leftover: 12 baskets Mark 8 leftovers: 7 baskets Mark 15:30-31 Oikos is the primary reason 95% of all Christians actually are Christians. Mark 5:19 Luke 19:9 John 4:53 Mark 2:15 Acts 11:14 Mark 5:19 Community Group Discussion Questions 1. Who makes up your Oikos? 2. Who were you not considering in your Oikos, that you now should? 3. What are s...
Sep 11, 2016
Peace by Piece, pt 4 September 4, 2016 Speaker - Jim Ladd Big Idea: The way you handle conflict speaks volumes about your commitment to Christ and to His Kingdom. John 13:34-35. Last Week’s Three Guiding Principles in Conflict: 1. Don’t SWEAT THE SMALL STUFF 2. Don’t SPREAD THE BIG STUFF 3. Don’t STOP IF YOU GET STIFFED Matthew 18:15-17 Guiding Principles of Conflict, #4-6: 4. Trust God with all your LOSSES. 1 Corinthians 6:1-11 5. Know when to WALK AWAY. Matthew 7:1-6 6. Guard YOUR HEART ABOVE ...
Sep 04, 2016
Peace by Piece, pt 3 August 28, 2016 Big Idea: True love moves in when failing love moves out. The number one predictor of divorce or broken relationships is poor CONFLICT RESOLUTION How God Makes People Whole: The WORD of God The SPIRIT of God The PEOPLE of God Proverbs 27:5-6; 17 How Do I Speak The Truth In Love? Don’t SWEAT THE SMALL STUFF Don’t SPREAD THE BIG STUFF Don’t stop if you GET STIFFED Colossians 3:12-14 2 Timothy 2:24-26 Ephesians 4:1-3 Eight Step Action Plan: PRAY - for humility a...
Aug 28, 2016
