GOD’s WORD to SSMC over the years

1988 - 2015

1988 - 1989 : Haggai 2:9

'The glory of this present house will be greater than

the glory of the former house,' says the LORD

Almighty. 'And in this place I will grant peace,' declares

the LORD Almighty.

Haggai 2:9

1990 - 1991 : Isa 56:7

“... for my house will be called a house of prayer for

all nations.” Isa 56:7

2010 : Daniel 9:19

O Lord, listen! O Lord, forgive! O Lord, hear and act! For your sake, O my God, do not delay, because your city (church) and your people

bear your Name. Daniel 9:19

2011 : John 7:38 NKJV

He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said,

out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.

John 7:38

2012 : Colossians 4:2

Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful.

Col 4:2

2013 : 1 Cor 11:1 (NKJV)

“Imitate me,

just as I also imitate Christ”

1 Cor 11:1

2014 : 2 Cor 5:14-15

For Christ's love compels us,...that those who live should no

longer live for themselves but for him...

2 Cor 5:14-15

"Participation is a big deal. We believe the more people participating in these sets of activities, with higher levels of frequency, it will produce disciples of Christ." This has been Willow's philosophy of ministry in a nutshell. The church creates programs/activities. People participate in these activities. The outcome is spiritual maturity...that's how we do it in churches. We measure levels of participation."

the research revealed that "Increasing levels of participation in these sets of activities DOES NOT predict whether someone's becoming more of a disciple of Christ. It DOES NOT predict whether they love God more or they love people more."

Moving forward ...

Isaiah 43:19

SEE, I AM DOING A NEW THING!...

2 Samuel 5:20

JEHOVAH PERAZIM – the Lord of Breakthroughs

2015 : Col 1:10

“...that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way: bearing fruit in every

good work, growing in the knowledge of God,...” Col 1:10

Year of Breakthroughs -WHOLESOME LIVING

Trilogy Sermon Series :

1. LIVING WORTHILY

- AS A DISCIPLECol 1:10 “...that you may live a life

worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way...”

LIVING WORTHILY as a DISCIPLE

GREAT COMMISSION Matt 28:18-2018b "All authority in heaven and on earth has been

given to me.

19 Therefore go and MAKE DISCIPLES of all

nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,

20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."

LIVING WORTHILY as a Disciple

Q: WHY must we LIVE WORTHILY as DISCIPLES ?

1.GOD THINKS SOGod thinks you are worthy...God knows you are worthy...

John 3:16 "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”

Rom 5:8 But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

LIVING WORTHILY as a Disciple

2. GOD SAYS SO ... In His Word

Eph 4:1 “...to live a life worthy of the calling you have received...”

Phil 1:27 (HCSB) “... live your life in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ.”

1 Thess 2:12 “encouraging, comforting and urging you to live lives worthy of God, who calls you into his kingdom and glory.”

God commands us to ‘Live Worthily’

LIVING WORTHILY as a Disciple

3. GOD JUDGES SOChristian – ‘belonging to Christ’Disciple – ‘learner’ or ‘follower’The ‘world’ do not see Christ ...but see Christians

cannot see Christ ...but can see Christiansthe ‘world’ knows ‘the Church’ ...

knows ‘Christians’...sees... hears ... talk to ....

Seeing Christians ... Seeing ‘the Church’...• What will the ‘world’ think about Christ ?• How will the ‘world’ think about Christ ?

LIVING WORTHILY as a Disciple

3. GOD JUDGES SOQ: Are ‘we’ honoring His Name ?Q: Are ‘we’ taking God’s Name in vain ?Q: Are ‘we’ breaking the 3rd Commandment ?Q: Are ‘we’ living worthily to please Him ?

Ref 2 Cor 5:9-10So we make it our goal to please him... for we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is due him for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.

LIVING WORTHILY as a Disciple

WHY must we Live Worthily as a Disciple -

1. GOD Thinks So2. God Says So3. God Judges So

LIVING WORTHILY as a DiscipleHOW to Live Worthily as DISCIPLES ?Col 1:10 that you may live a life worthy of the Lord

and may please him in every way...The secret is ....Wanting to PLEASE HimWanting to PLEASE Him in EVERY WAYQ: How can we PLEASE Him ?Q: HOW can I PLEASE the one I LOVE ?

LOVE RELATIONSHIPs...

SHARING

LIVING WORTHILY as a DiscipleHOW to Live Worthily as DISCIPLES ?Col 1:10 that you may live a life worthy of the Lord

and may please him in every way...The secret is ....Wanting to PLEASE HimWanting to PLEASE Him in EVERY WAYQ: How can we PLEASE Him ?A: by being in Relationship with Him...Talking to Him...Listening to Him...Finding Out All About Him... Just Being with Him...

LIVING WORTHILY as a Disciple

HOW to Live Worthily as DISCIPLES ?Ref - Rom 12:1-21. Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's

mercy, to OFFER YOUR BODIES AS LIVING SACRIFICES, HOLY AND PLEASING TO GOD — this is your spiritual act of worship.

2. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be TRANSFORMED BY THE RENEWING OF YOUR MIND. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is — his good, pleasing and perfect will.

A SacrificeA Renewal

FAMILY

FAMILY

Luke 10:41-42"Martha, Martha," the Lord answered, "you are worried and upset about many things,

BUT ONLY ONE THING IS NEEDED. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not

be taken away from her."

LIVING WORTHILY as a DiscipleQ: Do You Think You Are Worthy ?• God is Holy• God calls us to be Holy (1 Pet 1:16)• “Holy” = moral purity - the ‘DOING’

= ‘set apart’, ‘dedicated to God’ (Ref Heb 8:10) - the ‘BEING’

Biblical Holiness –First is our RELATIONSHIP with GodCalled to be ‘set apart’Called to ABIDE IN CHRIST

LIVING WORTHILY as a DiscipleQ: Do You Think You Are Worthy ?Q: Do You Think You Can Ever Live Worthily ?A: We on our own can NEVER be WorthyA: We on our own will NEVER live worthilyIt’s all about our RELATIONSHIP with ChristIt’s all about abiding in ChristThe secret is in the ROOTS** ...

Ref Col 2:6-7 So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught,

LIVING WORTHILY - AS A DISCIPLEFor BREAKTHROUGHs to occur in our Church ....

It must first happen in familiesFor BREAKTHROUGHs to happen in Families,

It must first happen in individual livesFor BREAKTHROUGHs to happen in individual lives Our RELATIONSHIP with Christ must be solid... Our ROOTEDNESS in Christ ... REMOVE & REPLACE Principle ...

LIVING WORTHILY as a Disciple

God’s knows we cannot do it ...So God also is working ...Phil 2:12-13

“... continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for IT IS GOD WHO WORKS IN YOU TO WILL AND TO ACT ACCORDING TO HIS GOOD PURPOSE.”

LIVING WORTHILY as a DiscipleLiving Worthily as a Disciple –WHY ?

1. GOD Thinks So2. God Says So3. God Judges So

HOW ?1. Relationship with Christ2. Rootedness in Christ3. Remove & Replace Principle

CONCLUSION:Heb 13:20-2120 May the God of peace, who through the

blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep,

21 equip you with everything good for doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.