SavingFirst Baptist:

SavingFirst Baptist:Making hard decisions easy so God’s people can help their home church experience some healthy growth again.

Making hard decisions easy so God’s people can help their home church experience some healthy growth again.

Saving First Baptist:Saving First Baptist:23rd Psalm Renovate 201523rd Psalm Renovate 2015

We Love AmericaWe Love America

The Church must be reminded that it is not the master or the servant of the State, but rather the conscience of the State. If the church does not recapture its prophetic zeal it will become an irrelevant social club without moral or spiritual authority. - Martin Luther King, Jr.

TWO WAR STORIESTWO WAR STORIES

23RD

Psalm

Saving Private Ryan

23RD

Psalm

Saving Private Ryan

Empathy fatigue vs.

“Empathy energy” (1) The Lord [self-existent] is my Shepherd [my keeper-companion]

(2) Makes me lie down

LIE DOWNLIE DOWN

LIE DOWN NIGHTLYLIE DOWN NIGHTLY

89% of people have chronic stress syndrome (University of Maryland study)

LIE DOWN NIGHTLYLIE DOWN NIGHTLY

• Jesus has a “red-eye” empathy for you

• Your will be done– Matt. 26:42

• (1) He makes me to lie down [crouch down] in green pastures

ENERGIZING EMPATHY!

(2) Makes me lie down [crouch down] in green

pastures

LIE DOWN DAILYLIE DOWN DAILY

“70% of pastors stated they were burned out, and they battle depression beyond fatigue on a weekly and even a daily basis.”(Replenish: Leading from a Healthy Soul)

LIE DOWN DAILYLIE DOWN DAILY

Jesus was the master of vacating

stress

JESUS: “DAILY STRESS VACATIONS”

JESUS: “DAILY STRESS VACATIONS”

• Matt 8 – The storm sleeper• Matt 13 – The beach goer • Matt 15 – The mountain topper• John 4 – Starbucks by the well

Come apart by yourself to a

deserted place and rest awhile

– Mark 6:31

Passive fitness

Muscular fitness

Endurance fitness

- Dr. Kenneth Cooper

LIE DOWN DAILYLIE DOWN DAILY

WORKOUT FOR THE SOUL

(2) Leads me [Run with a sparkle] beside the still waters [of rest ]

(3) Restores [returns] my soul [to breathe]• When is your Sabbath?• When is your 1 in 7?

• When is your Sunday?

LIE DOWN WEEKLYLIE DOWN WEEKLY

LIE DOWN WEEKLYLIE DOWN WEEKLY

• Is your Sunday on Monday?

• Is your Sunday on Friday?

Restore my soul

(To self again)

When the country is in chaos, everybody has a plan to fix it – but it takes a leader of real understanding to straighten things out. - Proverbs 28:2 MSG

When the country is in chaos, everybody has a plan to fix it – but it takes a leader of real understanding to straighten things out. - Proverbs 28:2 MSG

My 4th Tour of Duty

GET UP TO THE VALLEY & LEADGET UP TO THE VALLEY & LEAD

(3) Leads – panting run

(4) Walk – “next step” behave

(4) Valley – gorge (root: pride)

(4) Shadow – grave/jail/desert

(4) Evil – harm

(4) Rod – authority

(4) Staff - responsibility

(4) Comfort – to sigh

Get Up To The Valley

Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death I will fear

no evil because (in Christ) I am the baddest warrior in the valley. (Tattoo on a U.S.

Soldier in Afghanistan)

Get Up To The Valley

Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death I will fear

no evil because (in Christ) I am the baddest warrior in the valley. (Tattoo on a U.S.

Soldier in Afghanistan)

GET UP TO THE TABLE & LOVEGET UP TO THE TABLE & LOVE

(5) Prepare – Set in a row

(5) Enemies – Pressure people

“Love is the only force capable of transforming an enemy into a

friend.”- Martin Luther King Jr.

But I say unto you love your enemies.

- Matt. 5:44

“Love is the only force capable of transforming an enemy into a

friend.”- Martin Luther King Jr.

But I say unto you love your enemies.

- Matt. 5:44

GET UP TO THE TABLE & LOVEGET UP TO THE TABLE & LOVE

(5) Table Acceptance

(5) Enemy Attack

(5) Head Authority

(5) Cup At-one-ment

(5) Overflow Attitude

TABLE FOR 5TABLE FOR 5

• Lord of Hosts• You• Your Spouse• Faithful• The Enemy’s Empty Chair

GET UP TO THE HOUSE & CELEBRATE

GET UP TO THE HOUSE & CELEBRATE

(6) Dwell to sit down to judge/ to take the high ground/ to quiet

(1,6) The Lord- self existent

LIBERATING FORCE• Church Praise• Class Plants

SavingFirst Baptist:

SavingFirst Baptist:Making hard decisions easy so God’s people can help their home church experience some healthy growth again.

Making hard decisions easy so God’s people can help their home church experience some healthy growth again.