2022 Wk 28: Lesson 1 Making Room

Generosity Moment

Giving within the church is central to the character of the people of God because of all that God has given to us.

Acts 20:35 NLT

And I have been a constant example of how you can help those in need by working hard. You should remember the words of the Lord Jesus: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’ ”

Lexham Survey of Theology (Giving in the Life of the Church)

Giving is the overflow of joy in God that gladly and lovingly meets the need of another person.

Intro

Almost 10% of households in the United States are currently renting a self storage unit.

According to the Parham Group's studies, 84% of all storage renters are women and 95% of men are moving the belongings that are to be stored.

Real estate website REJournals.com recently reported that there are more self-storage facilities in the U.S. than there are McDonald's restaurants. And with about 48,500 locations at last count, that's actually more than triple the number of Golden Arches (14,350).

Question: Are storage units an American thing?

The first self-storage facilities originated in Texas in the late 1960s. As one industry participant put it, “They just decided to build a bunch of garages in one day. They were able to rent them out.

Today we start a series about rooms—SPECIFICALLY — My Room.

Today we will entertain the thought…

“How can you put more in a room when it is already full?”

THE BIGGER QUESTION—

Is there room in our lives to meet with God throughout the week or do we believe that meeting with him on weekends in a church setting  is enough?

ANOTHER BIG IDEA—

Making Room for Father is a daily approach to know him, love him, and to discover him.

2 Peter 1:1–12 NLT

This letter is from Simon Peter, a slave and apostle of Jesus Christ. I am writing to you who share the same precious faith we have. This faith was given to you because of the justice and fairness of Jesus Christ, our God and Savior. May God give you more and more grace and peace as you grow in your knowledge of God and Jesus our Lord. By his divine power, God has given us everything we need for living a godly life. We have received all of this by coming to know him, the one who called us to himself by means of his marvelous glory and excellence. And because of his glory and excellence, he has given us great and precious promises. These are the promises that enable you to share his divine nature and escape the world’s corruption caused by human desires. In view of all this, make every effort to respond to God’s promises. Supplement your faith with a generous provision of moral excellence, and moral excellence with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with patient endurance, and patient endurance with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love for everyone. The more you grow like this, the more productive and useful you will be in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But those who fail to develop in this way are shortsighted or blind, forgetting that they have been cleansed from their old sins. So, dear brothers and sisters, work hard to prove that you really are among those God has called and chosen. Do these things, and you will never fall away. Then God will give you a grand entrance into the eternal Kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Therefore, I will always remind you about these things—even though you already know them and are standing firm in the truth you have been taught.

BIG COUNTER IDEA—

God is too Big to get to know and I will never know him deeply so why try?

Key Points

DISCOVERIES—

Discovering that real strength comes through choosing to willfully to live through true weakness.

DISCOVERIES—

Discovering that by letting God have your life, to direct your life, and to be open to receive His life leads us into so much more.

DISCOVERIES—

Discovering that by becoming aware that there is so more— more that God wants to reveal to me, in me, and through me it changes not only me but potentially those around me.

MAKING ROOM

(Taken from the lyrics of the song Make Room by Lucus Cortazio, Josh Farro, Evelyn Hiederiqui, Rebekah White—as performed by Meredith Andrews, Sarah Reeves, and Chris McClarney)

[Verse 1]

Here is where I lay it down

Every burden, every crown

This is my surrender

This is my surrender

Here is where I lay it down

Every lie and every doubt

This is my surrender

[Chorus]

And I will make room for You

To do whatever You want to

To do whatever You want to

And I will make room for You

To do whatever You want to

To do whatever You want to, oh Make Room

[Bridge]

Shake up the ground of all my tradition

Break down the walls of all my religion

Your way is better

Your way is better

[Ending]

Here is where I lay it down

You are all I’m chasing now

This is my surrender.

Investigate / Application

Series TOPICS would include:

Surrenderence

Clean out the Chambers of my Heart

Keep the door open for developing a strong relationship with God and man

Hindrances to a strong relationship

MY SIDE & GOD’S SIDE

Surrenderence

At first glance. Often seen as something I am going to do as an act of my will such as with the strength of my love.

the deeper reality is that Jesus has provided “everything” for us, but maybe it’s not because of the strength of MY LOVE, but because of the strength of HIS LOVE that I can surrender my will— our will?

Clean out the heart of

Worldly affections

Idolatry

Lies

Burden

Doubt and unbelief

Unforgiveness

We cannot clean out the chambers of our heart without first accepting Jesus as our Savior. All other attempts are futile. Jesus accepts us just as we are and then HE BEGINS THE WORK OF TRANSFORMATION.

It is only through Jesus that we really see our heart and realize that the Holy Spirit is needed to convict and to lead us through this journey we are on.

Keep the door open for developing a strong relationship with God and man

being a worshiper

being a hearer of God‘s Word

being a doer of God’s Word

Hindrances to a strong relationship

MY SIDE:

Condemnation

Shame

Guilt

Lack of productivity

Past sins or failures

GOD’s SIDE:

No hinderances from God!

He’s not condemning

He’s not heavy handed

He is loving

He is forgiving

He is approachable or welcoming

He is totally accepting of those who turn to Him

Surrendernce

At second glance. Hopefully we see that it is not our strength and resolve, but one of finding strength in our weakness. An act of faith to trust and believe that our Father wants to be in the room with us. Everyday. Every place. Every way possible to be present—loving, accepting, forgiving, and leading us on our journey.

Make it personal

1 Peter 2:1 NLT

So get rid of all evil behavior. Be done with all deceit, hypocrisy, jealousy, and all unkind speech.

1 Peter 2:2 NLT

Like newborn babies, you must crave pure spiritual milk so that you will grow into a full experience of salvation. Cry out for this nourishment,

Closing

would you come every Sunday this month CRAVING to know more of God?

Would you Crave the Word—Cry out for His NOURISHMENT that only comes from God

Updates

Open each Sunday 10am

MidWeek

The Gospel of Luke Chapter 7

Dessert Auction July 10th

Camp registration is due

COMING SOON

Making Room: craving the fullness of God 1 Peter 2.2

Men’s Breakfast July 16

at the First Nazarene Church w/Pastor Dale and the guys

THANKS for a GREAT Father’s Day celebration last week and FriendDay!