Sermon Outline for Feb 2/3, 2008

Producing a Loving, Active Network of Believers

If their “life needs” are met (food, nourishment, etc)
Healthy organisms will always produce

God intends for His people to produce

He wants us to “Bloom where we are planted”
Ref: “Hind’s Feet on High Places” by Hannah Hurnard

We bloom when we recognize God’s work in our lives
See Rom 8:28-29; Heb 12:5-11; Jas 1:2-4
Just as a flower pushes thru dirt and stone to grow
We should also push thru the difficulties in our lives
(whether great or small)

God’s love is revealed in nature
Ref: “To Own a Dragon” by Donald Miller
Psalm 19; 36:5; 103:11

Reasons people become a Christian
1. To be moral
2. To go to heaven
3. To be a part of an organization (church)

These are all good, but:
The best reason to be a Christian is to be in relationship with God
That’s God design for us

Jesus called it being born again: John 3
It is a complete new start
2 Corinthians 5:17
Ref: “Lost” Clip show
Narrator: “Why would they want to get off the island? They all had a new start when they came here. If they leave, they lose that”

If we are in right relationship with God, we can/should be in
Right relationship with each other

A part of being in right relationship is not trying to control each other
When we control our (or someone else’s) we act as if God isn’t in control

Where are you?
Going thru difficulties?
Need a new start?
Need to “lose control”?