Just Like Jesus 3 of 4

Objective: To transform our lives and relationships, by living into what it means to be Christlike.

Hearing God

James 1:22-24 NLT… But don’t just listen to God’s word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves. 23 For if you listen to the word and don’t obey, it is like glancing at your face in a mirror. 24 You see yourself, walk away, and forget what you look like.

Introduction: As we celebrate the birth of the church, we must consider if God can trust us to carry out God’s kingdom building mission.

Transition: The tension of the text, is found in a person’s disregard of the details they learn from the mirror.

Exposition: Hearing God is a discipline…
-Devote and defend time. Reference Psalm 88:13, Psalm 141:2, Psalm 55:17 -Dig into the scriptures. Reference Psalm 1:2 -Determine to be receptive. Reference Acts 17:11

Conclusion/Overwhelming Observations:
-Not sound but substance (listen)
-Discernment is necessary (to God’s word)
-Input makes you responsible for output (do what it says)

Just Like Jesus 2 of 4

Objective: To transform our lives and relationships, by living into what it means to be Christlike.

The Touch of God

Colossians 3:12 NLT… Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.

Introduction: Love is a pure motivator. Reference Hebrews 10:24 Phileo (brotherly), Eros (passionate), Storge (familial), Agape (sacrificial).

Transition: To be like Jesus, we must investigate His hands so we can evaluate ours.

Exposition: There is grace in a touch from God!

Jesus displays the kind of grace we must be busy dispensing in Matthew 8:1-4… Large crowds followed Jesus as he came down the mountainside. 2 Suddenly, a man with leprosy approached him and knelt before him. “Lord,” the man said, “if you are willing, you can heal me and make me clean.” 3 Jesus reached out and touched him. “I am willing,” he said. “Be healed!” And instantly the leprosy disappeared. 4 Then Jesus said to him, “Don’t tell anyone about this. Instead, go to the priest and let him examine you. Take along the offering required in the law of Moses for those who have been healed of leprosy. This will be a public testimony that you have been cleansed.”

Conclusion: What we have received from God comes with great responsibility.

Just Like Jesus 1 of 4

Objective: To transform our lives and relationships, by living into what it means to be Christlike.

Loving People You’re Stuck With

Colossians 3:13 NLT… Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others.

Introduction: Blessed burdens is a term used to learn how to deal with relationships that test your limits.

Transition: Grace is the theme of our text. Grace is unmerited favor. Grace is God giving what is not deserved. Grace is prevenient. Reference Matthew 10:8

Exposition: How should grace affect the relationships with people we’re stuck with?

–Prepare for war in the time of peace.

–Breath, stretch, shake, LET IT GO!

–Don’t have a short memory.

Conclusion: Experience more of the blessing of people you’re stuck with, instead of the burden by going a little further. Colossians 3:14-15 says “Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds us all together in perfect harmony. And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. For as members of one body you are called to live in peace. And always be thankful“.

Character Under Construction 4 of 4

Character Under Construction 4 of 4 Fruit of the Spirit

Objective: To develop a deeper commitment to becoming disciples who embrace and embody, Christ-like principles and practices.

Galatians 5:22-23 NLT… But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!

I Peter 1:5-6 NLT… And through your faith, God is protecting you by his power until you receive this salvation, which is ready to be revealed on the last day for all to see. 6 So be truly glad. There is wonderful joy ahead, even though you must endure many trials for a little while.

Introduction: So much has been said about who we are, who we say we are, and who we want to be, but not enough has been said about who God wants us to be.

Transition: Since character is mental and moral qualities that make individuals distinct, what does God want from our lives? Reference Philippians 2:5; I Peter 5:8-9/mental, Galatians 5:19-21/moral.

Exposition: Production is the result of God’s work in us, and exhortation is what we need to remind us that something good comes out of bad situations.

Conclusion: Our internal (character) affects our external (production) because we’ve been given eternal (salvation) joy! “So be truly glad”.

Character Under Construction 3 of 4

Character Under Construction 3 of 4 Keeping Good Company

Objective: To develop a deeper commitment to becoming disciples who embrace and embody, Christ-like principles and practices.

Proverbs 1:8-19 NLT… My child, listen when your father corrects you. Don’t neglect your mother’s instruction. 9 What you learn from them will crown you with grace and be a chain of honor around your neck. 10 My child, if sinners entice you, turn your back on them!

11 They may say, “Come and join us. Let’s hide and kill someone! Just for fun, let’s ambush the innocent! 12 Let’s swallow them alive, like the grave; let’s swallow them whole, like those who go down to the pit of death. 13 Think of the great things we’ll get! We’ll fill our houses with all the stuff we take. 14 Come, throw in your lot with us; we’ll all share the loot.”

15 My child, don’t go along with them! Stay far away from their paths. 16 They rush to commit evil deeds.
They hurry to commit murder. 17 If a bird sees a trap being set, it knows to stay away. 18 But these people set an ambush for themselves; they are trying to get themselves killed. 19 Such is the fate of all who are greedy for money; it robs them of life.

Introduction: You can tell a lot about a person’s character (mental and moral qualities) by the company they keep, because our center/heart craves common bonds.

Transition: Our text is composed of two primary facets, instruction (verses 8-10, 15-19) and temptation (verses 11-14).

Exposition:

-The ideal for our lives is that we will not be closed to love that lifts us.

-The ordeal that life presents us is the result of being enticed by and yielding to temptation.

-A new deal for life can be attained when we fly high enough to spot traps.

Conclusion: When we fail to keep good company, we rob ourselves of a qualitative existence.

Character Under Construction 2 of 4

Character Under Construction 2 of 4 Guarding Your Heart

Objective: To develop a deeper commitment to becoming disciples who embrace and embody, Christ-like principles and practices.

Proverbs 4:20-23 NLT… My child, pay attention to what I say. Listen carefully to my words. 21 Don’t lose sight of them. Let them penetrate deep into your heart, 22 for they bring life to those who find them, and healing to their whole body. 23 Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life.

Introduction: The book of Proverbs is a part of the Wisdom Literature genre, which promotes practical principles for successful living.

Transition: REFERENCE I Samuel 16:7 But the Lord said to Samuel, “Don’t judge by his appearance or height, for I have rejected him. The Lord doesn’t see things the way you see them. People judge by outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”

Exposition: Understanding your heart will make guarding it make sense to you…

–What is the heart? A person’s center; where God should be enthroned.

–What is in the heart? Either faith or foolishness (Psalm 14:1).

–What is the function of the heart? To guide your life with the wisdom of God’s word.

–How do you guard the heart? Learn from the the experiences of others. Let wisdom help you!

–What should you guard your heart against? Idolatry (Exodus 20:3-6) Covetousness (Exodus 20:17) Pride (Proverbs 16:18)

Conclusion: Your character is constructed when the word penetrates your heart, and it pours out of you. It causes you to not stoop at standing time!

Character Under Construction 1 of 4

Charcater Under Construction 1 of 4 Controlling Your Thoughts

Objective: To develop a deeper commitment to becoming disciples who embrace and embody, Christ-like principles and practices.

Romans 12:1-2 NLT… And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice-the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him. [2] Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.

Philippians 4:8 NLT… And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.

Introduction: Paul, the author of both these letters exhibits a closing habit like in his other works. After the heavy discussion of doctrinal matters, he offers some life application on how to practically use them.

Transition: Sow a thought, reap an action. Sow an action, reap a habit. Sow a habit, reap a character. Sow a character, reap a destiny!

Exposition: To control your thoughts, we must be…

–Be pliable (let God) to conform is the result external pressure, but to transform occurs from internal renewal.

Isaiah 55:8-9 “My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts,” says the LORD. “And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine. [9] For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so my ways are higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts.

–Be positive (fix your thoughts) don’t dwell on what you’ve been delivered from!

Conclusion: What is the benefit of controlling your thoughts? Isaiah 26:3 “You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you!”

This Meal Matters (Maundy Thursday)

This Meal Matters *This communion message was prepared and presented for the 2024 Maundy Thursday fellowship between Franklin Street Missionary Baptist Church and Legacy Church at Toulminville Warren United Methodist in Mobile, Alabama. PastorAEW was honored to be the co-celebrant with Pastor Marlon Jones.

Matthew 26:26-28 NLT… As they were eating, Jesus took some bread and blessed it. Then he broke it in pieces and gave it to the disciples, saying, “Take this and eat it, for this is my body.” 27 And he took a cup of wine and gave thanks to God for it. He gave it to them and said, “Each of you drink from it, 28 for this is my blood, which confirms the covenant between God and his people. It is poured out as a sacrifice to forgive the sins of many.

Introduction: How do people of know that Christian’s are serious about their faith?

Transition: What should we call this meal? Eucharist – The Lord’s Supper – Communion…

Exposition: This meal matters…

-because it highlights that Christian communities are caring.

-because it reminds us of the covenant relationship we have with God.

-because it offers forgiveness, which frees us from guilt and shame!

Conclusion: Is there anything God cannot do?

Sold Out For Chicken Change (LENTEN DEVOTIONAL)

Sold Out For Chicken Change *This Lenten devotional was prepared and presented for the 2024 Lenten Lunch series, of Ashland Place U.M.C. in Mobile, Alabama. PastorAEW was honored to be their pulpit guest.

Luke 22:1-6 NLT… The Festival of Unleavened Bread, which is also called Passover, was approaching. 2 The leading priests and teachers of religious law were plotting how to kill Jesus, but they were afraid of the people’s reaction. 3 Then Satan entered into Judas Iscariot, who was one of the twelve disciples, 4 and he went to the leading priests and captains of the Temple guard to discuss the best way to betray Jesus to them. 5 They were delighted, and they promised to give him money. 6 So he agreed and began looking for an opportunity to betray Jesus so they could arrest him when the crowds weren’t around.

Introduction: Listen to the story of the change.

Transition: Judas was a follower of Jesus Christ, who had sticky fingers.

Overwhelming Observations: According to verse 3, Satan entered Judas a disciple of Jesus.

-Being close to Jesus doesn’t anesthetize your humanity.

-Being close to Jesus doesn’t exempt you from Satan’ use radar.

-Being close to Jesus isn’t merely about what we believe but is inclusive of how we believe.

Conclusion: Let’s not become so involved with pointing fingers at Judas, that we forget how easy it is to become Judas.

Service – 5 of 6 Spiritual Disciplines

Service – 5 of 6 Spiritual Disciplines

I Peter 4:10-11 NLT… God has given each of you a gift from his great variety of spiritual gifts. Use them well to serve one another. 11 Do you have the gift of speaking? Then speak as though God himself were speaking through you. Do you have the gift of helping others? Do it with all the strength and energy that God supplies. Then everything you do will bring glory to God through Jesus Christ. All glory and power to him forever and ever! Amen.

We are God’s workmen who worship.

We are God’s workmen… empowered to engage and explore with enthusiasm.

Who worship… because God chooses to work through us, and is worthy of our adoration.

Challenge: Since your faith community is incomplete without you, identify what you do well and make it a priority to share your gift with members of this fellowship.