Stay Connected

Sermon Text: John 15: 4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me.

Sermon Title: Stay Connected

Point 1: Stay connected vs. 4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me.

Point 2: Embrace the cutting process vs. 2 every branch that does bears fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit.

Point 3: Produce a cluster of fruit vs 8 by this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit, and so prove to be my disciples

Life Application:

1.  Look for opportunities to grow…register for the Summit

2.  Accept the pruning process

3.  Ask and expect to receive

NLICIC Announcement September 18

It Had to Die - Sunday 9/18/16 - Bishop Dudley

Sermon Text: John 11:14, 15 - 14 Then Jesus told them plainly, “Lazarus has died, 15 and for your sake I am glad that I was not there, so that you may believe. But let us go to him.”

Sermon Title: It Had to Die

Point 1: Let it die – cause Jesus ain’t coming until it does! Vs. 5-6 - 5 Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. 6 So, when he heard that Lazarus[a] was ill, he stayed two days longer in the place where he was.

Point 2: Let it die cause you have to die too Vs. 16 - 16 So Thomas, called the Twin,[b] said to his fellow disciples, “Let us also go, that we may die with him.”

Point 3: Let it die cause God’s glory will rise vs. 4, 40 - 4 But when Jesus heard it he said, “This illness does not lead to death. It is for the glory of God, so that the Son of God may be glorified through it.” 40 Jesus said to her, “Did I not tell you that if you believed you would see the glory of God?”

Conclusion: vs. 44 - 44 The man who had died came out, his hands and feet bound with linen strips, and his face wrapped with a cloth. Jesus said to them, “Unbind him, and let him go.”

Life Application:

1.   Stop holding on to what God is telling you to turn loose of

2.  How do you know to let it go – when it starts smelling

3.  Trust God for the new resurrected blessing

Small Group Questions:

1.   Name one thing/person/relationship you have to let go of

2.  What’s the hold up?

3.  How do you plan to let go?

The Good, The Bad, The Xtra

September 14, 2016

Pericope:  John 11:45-47

Sermon Text:  John 11:45-47 45 Many of the Jews therefore, who had come with Mary and had seen what he did, believed in him, 46 but some of them went to the Pharisees and told them what Jesus had done. 47 So the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered the council and said, “What are we to do? For this man performs many signs.

Sermon Title:  Jesus is SOO Xtra: The Good, The Bad, The Xtra

Point 1:  Some believe some don’t  – vs. 45-46 45 Many of the Jews therefore, who had come with Mary and had seen what he did, believed in him, 46 but some of them went to the Pharisees and told them what Jesus had done.

Point 2:  Your success is a Threat.  Vs. 48 -  If we let him go on like this, everyone will believe in him, and the Romans will come and take away both our place and our nation.”  

a)  System of belief

b)  System of doing things

c)  System of structure

Point 3:  Stick with the ones that Stuck with you!  vs. 54 -  Jesus therefore no longer walked openly among the Jews, but went from there to the region near the wilderness, to a town called Ephraim, and there he stayed with the disciples.

Life Application:  

Cause or Cure - Main Campus - 8am Service

Pericope: John 9: 1 – 12

Sermon Title: John 9: 3 Jesus answered, “It was not that this man sinned, or his parents, but that the works of God might be manifest in him.

Sermon Title: Cause or Cure

Point 1: Stop focusing in on the problem vs. 2 And his disciples asked him, Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind  

Point 2: Start focusing in on the solution vs. 11 He answered, “The man called Jesus made clay and anointed my eyes and said to me, “Go to Siloam and wash’; so I went and washed and received my sight.”

Point 3: It’s a set up for God’s glory vs. 3 Jesus answered, “It was not that this man sinned, or his parents, but that the works of God might be made manifest in him.

vs. 39 – 40 Jesus said, “For judgement I came into this world, that those who do not see may see, and that those who see may become blind.” (40) Some of the Pharisees near him heard this, and they said to him, “Are we also blind?”

Small Group Questions:

1.  What problem(s) are you dealing with right now?

2.  Have you been focusing in on the problem or the solution, the cause or the cure?

3.  What does the word/Jesus say your cure is?

R U a Show Off?

Pericope: John 7: 1 – 9

Sermon Text: John 7: 6 Jesus said to them my time has not yet come, but your time is always here

Sermon Title: Are You a Show-off?

Point 1: Show off your faith James 2: 17 So also faith by itself, if it does not have works is dead. (18) But someone will say, “You have faith and I have works, “Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works

Point 2: Show off your focus on the things of God James 4: 4…Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore, whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.

Point 3: Show off your fidelity to Jesus 1 Peter 1: 15 but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct (16) …you shall be holy for I am holy

Deuteronomy 6: 5 You shall love the Lord you God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.

Conclusion: If you are not a show-off, you should be. Jesus needs show-offs. 

Getting Through the Storm - 8am sermon

Sermon Text:  John 6:18 -  18 A strong wind was blowing and the waters grew rough

Sermon Title:  Jesus is SOOO Xtra – Getting Through the Storm

Point 1:  You cannot always forecast a storm. Vs. 17 …it was dark and Jesus had not yet come to them. 

Point 2:  You must forge ahead. Vs. 19 - 19 When they had rowed about three or four miles… 

Point 3:  Don’t get fearful – vs. 19 -19 …they saw Jesus approaching the boat, walking on the water; and they were frightened.

Life Application:

1.  Look for Jesus in your storm

2.  Invite Jesus in your boat in the storm…both are in the storm but the storm doesn’t stop until Jesus is in the boat

3.  Get to the other side of your storm

Small Group Discussion Questions:

1.  Share your most recent storm

2.  Name three things you did wrong in your storm

3.  Name three things you did right in your storm

4.  What’s your favorite memory verse you hold onto in your storm…get one if you don’t have one?

Caught in a Storm - 11am Sermon

Sermon Text:  John 6:18 -  18 A strong wind was blowing and the waters grew rough

Sermon Title:  Jesus is SOOO Xtra – Caught In A Storm

Point 1:  Remember who sent into a storm. Vs. 17 …it was dark and Jesus had not yet come to them.

Point 2:  You must see your way through. Vs. 19 - 19 When they had rowed about three or four miles… 

Point 3:  Jesus will come see about you in your storm vs. 19 -19 …they saw Jesus approaching the boat, walking on the water; and they were frightened.

Life Application:

1.  Look for Jesus in your storm

2.  Invite Jesus in your boat in the storm…both are in the storm but the storm doesn’t stop until Jesus is in the boat

3.  Get to the other side of your storm

Small Group Discussion Questions:

1.  Share your most recent storm

2.  Name three things you did wrong in your storm

3.  Name three things you did right in your storm

4.  What’s your favorite memory verse you hold onto in your storm…get one if you don’t have one?

NLICIC Announcement September 4