Evergreen Christian Community

Ongoing Warfare

Judges 2:6-14; 20-23; 3:2

The Language of Dreams and Visions

The Big Idea: God gives visions and dreams to us but never just for us. Acts 2:16-21 (p. 936) What We Know About Visions and Dreams: - God is moving and EVERYONE IS ELIGIBLE. - They begin in GOD’S HEART. - They are CONSTRUCTIVE not DESTRUCTIVE. - They have a SHARED MISSION. - They inform our IGNORANCE. - They give DIRECTIONAL CLARITY. - God is PERFECT and we are NOT.

Obedience for Dummies

The Language of Doors

The Big Idea: You never know where God might lead you next. Acts 16:6-10 (p. 951) Six Factors In Discerning God’s Will: 1. The GOOSE-BUMP Factor John 3:5-8 (p. 913) 2. The HIGHEST-PRIORITY Factor 1 Corinthians 16:5-9 (p. 991) 3. The PEACE Factor Colossians 3:12-17 (p. 1017) 4. The WISE-COUNSEL Factor Proverbs 15:22 (p. 554) 5. The CRAZY Factor 6. The PERSONAL DESIRE Factor 1 Samuel 10:5-7 (p. 236) - What do you WANT to do? Sometimes a SHIPWRECK is part of God’s plan...

Expecting The Kingdom Of God

The Language of Desire

The Big Idea: Some desires of your heart come directly from God and are His voice in you. PSALM 37:1-7 (p. 480 ) 1. The soil that desire grows in: a GOD-CENTERED life. Desire grows out of CONFIDENCE and CONTENTMENT in God. When you are daily in God’s presence, your passions become INFORMED without you even knowing it. 2. The poison that kills God’s desires in you: COMPARISON. Comparison – compare IS SIN. 3. The secret about the fruit of desire –God’s TIMING. Isaiah 40:28-31 (p. 620)...

National Day of Prayer and Worship Night

The Key of Keys

The Big Idea: The Bible is worth more in this life than a pile of pure gold. Psalms 19:7-14 (p. 471) The Power of God’s Word: 1. It returns my SOUL to its original home. 2. It makes the OPEN-MINDED wise. 3. It is the straight path to a HAPPY heart. 4. It gives SPARKLE to my eyes. 5. Awesome reverence for it enables me to STAND continually. 6. It accurately declares me “NOT-GUILTY.” Intermission: It should be more COVETED than pure gold; and tastes sweeter than pure honey. More Power of God’s Wor...

When You Are Too Weak

Easter Sunday

Series Big Idea: God’s Word is the most powerful thing in the universe. Hebrews 1:1-3 (p. 1033) Learning to hear God’s voice is the SOLUTION to a thousand PROBLEMS. Hearing is Different than LISTENING. Matthew 13:15-17 (p. 839) Wisdom is deciding to make God’s voice the LOUDEST voice in your life. The Big Idea Today: God speaks His loudest message through the person of Jesus. Jesus Speaks through His BLOOD. Genesis 4:9-10 (p. 4) Exodus 12:23 (p. 49) What Is God Saying Through Jesus? Three words ...

Always With Us

Big Idea: The Holy Spirit is God’s continual presence in your life. John 14:15-21, 26-27 (p. 927) 1. The Holy Spirit CONVICTS Us. - John 16:8-11 (p. 928) - John 14:26 (p. 927) - Galatians 5:19-25 (p. 1004) 2. The Holy Spirit COUNSELS Us. - Romans 8:26 (p. 972) - 1 Corinthians 2:13-16 (p. 981) - John 14:16-17 (p. 927) 3. The Holy Spirit COMFORTS Us. - John 14:16, 26-27 (p. 929) - Psalm 34:18 (p. 479) - Romans 5.5 (p. 969)...

The Power of Life and Death

The Big Idea: The most important relationship in your life is your relationship with the Holy Spirit. Acts 1:1-11 (p. 934) An Executive Summary of Jesus’ 40-Day School of the Kingdom of God: 1. The most important gift is a PERSON John 14:15-21 (p. 927) You receive Him at SALVATION John 20:19-23 (p. 933) He serves you by BAPTIZING you Acts 1:5 (p. 934) Mark 1:8 (p. 858) Ephesians 5:15-20 (p. 1009) 2. The most important focus is God’s KINGDOM Matthew 13 (p. 838) 3. The most important mission is to...

Listening For God's Voice

How Is It All Going To End?

Big Idea: Jesus has prepared an eternal destiny for you that is awe-inspiring. -Romans 8:18-31 (p.972) -Acts 1:11 (p. 933) -Romans 14:11 (p. 977) -Hebrews 9:27-28 (p. 1038) Reorienting Ourselves Toward Heaven: 1. Heaven is the HOME you already long for. 2. Heaven is the SURPRISE PARTY you never saw coming. 3. Heaven becomes your source of OPTIMISM. 4. Heaven transforms death from a CURSE to a DOORWAY. 5. Heaven tomorrow empowers LIFE today. -Philippians 3:13-14 (p. 1013) -Hebrews 12:28 (p. 1042)...

The Supernatural & Strategic

What Is The Church?

Big Idea: We are the church and we are unstoppable. Matthew 16:13-19 (p. 842) The Truth About Us, The Church: 1. We are BUILT by Jesus. Ephesians 2:19-22 (p. 1007) 2. We are OWNED by Jesus. Ephesians 3:7-12 (p. 1007) 3. We are EQUIPPED by Jesus. Ephesians 4:11-16 (p. 1008) Hebrews 10:19-25 (p. 1039) 4. We are SENT by Jesus. 1 Corinthians 2:7-8 (p. 981)

The Holy Spirit Is The Most Important Relationship

How Does God Continue To Work In Me?

Big Idea: God has given me everything I need to live a powerful life 2 Peter 1:3-11 AVERAGE is the enemy of GREAT. Romans 7:14-25 Transformative change occurs INTERNALLY. How Does God Continue His Work In Me? 1. Through an authentic FRIENDSHIP with God. Philippians 2:12-13 (p. 1012) 2. Through PARTICIPATING in God’s Nature. The ruined life is not be IMPROVED - it is to be REPLACED. Romans 8:1-17 3. Through Making EVERY EFFORT. Galatians 5:17...

What is the Gospel?

Big Idea: The good news is Jesus, who reconciles us to God and gives us new life. Colossians 1:13-23 (p. ) The Gospel is GOOD NEWS. The GOOD NEWS is JESUS. The Good News of Jesus: 1. The PRESSURE is off. 2. The GAME is On John 8:36 (p. ) 2 Corinthians 5:17-21 (p. ) 3. I Have ONE JOB. Hold on to the hope and never let go.

Who Is Jesus?

Big Idea: Jesus is a far greater King than you settle for. Psalm 2:1-12 (p. 463) The Truth About King Jesus: 1. We HAVE a True King. - Even if you reject that there is a True King, you will CREATE ONE and serve him. 2. We HATE the True King. - We scream at the King, “I am MY OWN! Take off the YOKE!” Romans 8:6-7 (p. 971) - We even use RELIGION to protect us from Jesus. 3. We NEED the True King. - There is no refuge FROM the King; only refuge IN the King. What it Really Means to Have Jesus as You...

What Does God Require Of Us?

The Big Idea: God’s deep desire for you is to love Him and to love whom he loves. The most simple answer to today’s question is “THE 10 COMMANDMENTS.” -Exodus 20:1-19 (P. 64) The commandments are not the pathway to FREEDOM from SLAVERY; they are the way FREE PEOPLE live. It has always been about FAITH. God wants me to be a BONDSLAVE. Jesus Simplifies and Clarifies God’s Requirements: Mark 12:30-31 (p. 871) -Love GOD and love WHO HE LOVES. Matthew 25:31-46 (p. 852) -So, what does God require of u...

What Is Man?

The Big Idea: Man was, is, and always will be the center of God’s affection. Genesis 1:26-31 (p. 1) Genesis 2:7 (p. 2) Three Critical Facts About Man: 1. Man was the crown of CREATION. 2. Man is fundamentally BROKEN. The LIE  Genesis 3:4-5 (p. 3) The FALL  Genesis 3:6-13 (p. 3) The CURSE  Genesis 3:16-19 (p. 3) The CONSEQUENCE  Romans 3:11-12 (p. 968) Jeremiah 17:9 (p. 665) 3. Man can be fully REDEEMED and completely RESTORED to God. John 3:16-17 (p. 913) 1 John 3:1 (p. 913) 2 Corinthians 5:...

Breaking Condemnation

Who Is God

The Big Idea: The most important thing about you is what you think about God. John 1:1-18 (p. 910) One thing we can all know for sure: When we see God unfiltered, we will certainly be SURPRISED. John 3:1-2 (p. 913 ) 1. He is the God who IS. Genesis 1:1 (p. 1) Exodus 3:13-17 (p. 3) 2. He is the God who REVEALS HIMSELF. Hebrews 1:1-3 (p. 1033) 3. He is the God who REDEEMS. John 3:14-19 (p. 913) Isaiah 1:18 (p. 586) Jesus Guides Our DISCOVERY of God. Matthew 6:9-14 (p. 831)...

Walk By Faith, Not By Sight

Fighting Your Worst Enemy

2 Corinthians 10:3-5 (p. 998) Get your BATTLE PLAN right. The Big Idea: The key to winning is a well-executed battle plan. Your Battle Plan: 1. Control the HIGH GROUND. - 2 Corinthians 10:5 (p. 998) - Romans 12:1-2 (975) 2. Fight fire by being ON FIRE. - 2 Corinthians 10:3-4 (p. 998) - Ephesians 6:11 (p. 1009) Don’t try to live God’s way without God’s POWER. 3. Never GIVE UP. - James 1.12 (p. 1043) - Proverbs 24:6 (p. 563) - Revelation 12:11 (p. 1069) 4. Raise your VOICE. - Matthew 26:30 (p. 854...

An Old Thing A New Way

Fight Like You Know Who You Are

1 Thessalonians 5:5–11 (p. 1020) The Big Idea: Fighting is a daily decision that must flow from your new identity. To Fight Well, You Must Know WHO YOU ARE. 1. Leverage the power of the PACK. The easiest way to change your life is to change your FRIENDS. 2. Be DRESSED FOR BATTLE every day. 3. Speak to others with ENTHUSIASM  Galatians 2:20 (p. 1002) Living a new life often means doing the opposite of what we FEEL. The Bible doesn’t tell us what to FEEL, it tells us what to DO.  Proverbs 16:32 ...

Praying Against Anxiety

The War of Words

James 3:1-12 (p. 1044) Matthew 15:10-11 (p. 841) The Big Idea: Your words tell the real story. If Jesus is Lord of your life then He needs to be Lord of your LIPS. 1. Your words impact OTHER PEOPLE. Ephesians 4:25-32 (p. 1008) Proverbs 18:21 (p. 557) Colossians 4:2-6 (p. 1017) 2. Your words impact the FUTURE. James 3:3-5 (p. 1044 ) 3. Your words impact YOU. Psalm 43:5 (p. 485) Psalm 95:2 (p. 514) Psalm 100:4 (p. 516 ) 1 Thessalonians 5:18 (p. 1020) Psalm 107:2 (p. 521)...