The Rock of KC

- at the end of the day, we will all have to give an account of what we did with our time on earth to God - Luke 16:1-14 - leverage your stuff for eternal purposes - Luke 12:13-34 - where you treasure is, there your heart is also. Where ever you want your heart to be, start putting your treasure there. - Law of Contentment - Prov. 14:30 - when it comes to health, it's not what you eat, but what eats you, Eccl. 6:9 - better to be satisfied with what you have 5 Damaging Effects of Wanting More: 1. More fatigue (Prov. 23:4) - the drive to get more, leaves us tired - even if you win the rat race, you're still a rat. 2. More expenses (Eccl. 5:11) it always costs more to have more - my greeds are now my needs 3. More anxiety (Eccl. 5:12) - the more you have, the more you have to worry about - insomnia increases with income 4. More conflict (Prov. 15:27, 1 Tim. 6:9) - fatigue to expenses to anxiety = more conflict 5. More dissatisfaction (Eccl. 5:10) - we tend to think having more = more satisfaction, more love, more importance - why were we once thrilled with what we are now dissatisfied with? "Through contentment, you and I can live a life of less fatigue, less anxiety, less conflict and less dissatisfaction" Solomon

Matt. 25:1-46 - would you live your life differently if you knew you had to give an account? - Stewardship is about not being an owner but the manager of another’s property (Ps. 24:1-2, Gen. 2:15) - "How can a loving God pass judgement?" He holds us accoutable for our actions. God is a God of perfect love and perfect judgement (2 Tim. 4:1, 1 Peter 4:5, Rom. 14:10, Heb. 13:4, Rev. 11:18, Heb. 9:27, Matt. 12:36) - do believers really have to give account if 1 John 1:9 is true? Not for our sins but we will give account for what we did with our life. (Rom. 14:12, Heb. 13:17, 1 Peter 4:5) 2 Separate Judgements: 1. Believers Are Judged At: The Judgment Seat of Christ (Rom. 14:10-12, Eph. 2:8-9, 1 Cor. 3:11-15) 2. Unbelievers Are Judged At: The Great White Throne Judgment - if you were born twice, you only die once; if you’ve only been born once, you die twice (Rev. 20:11-15, Gal. 2:16) - true fellowship out of love for one another demands accountability. - "No snowflake in an avalanche ever feels responsible." James S. Hewett - "My greatest thought is my accountability to God." Daniel Webster - "What difference does it make to you what someone else becomes, or says, or does? You do not need to answer for others, only for yourself." Thomas A Kempis (1380-1471) - "The essence of sin is the refusal to recognize that we are accountable to God at all." Oswald Chambers

Luke 2:1-7 What woud your life be like without Christmas? - no family gatherings - no Christmas gifts - no Christmas traditions - no decorations - no Christmas trees - No Jimmy Stewart’s “It’s a Wonderful Life” Jesus' coming, changed history: - we number our calendars by it - largest religious celebration of the year Luke 10:27 Johann Sebastian Bach wrote on all his songs "Soli Deo Gloria" (Soley to the glory of God). Without Jesus coming, there would be: - no God with us - no victory - no salvation from our sin (Isa. 53:1-12) - no victory over satan (1 John 3:8) - evil would win instead of Jesus (Isa. 9:6) - no fulfilled prophecies - no resurrection from the dead - no hope for today or tomorrow (Luke 2:10-11, John 1:1-14, 2 Cor. 5:17) - no new life - no starting over (John 1:10, 12, 3:16-17, 1 Peter 3:18, John 1:12) Believe and receive the real Jesus, not the image or idea of Jesus

- we're on a mission to do what God has told us to do, just like Jesus was on a mission when He was on the earth - when God's message is preached, miracles happen - 1 Cor. 1:18 - Paul reminds us that the cross is the basis of Christianity 7 things about the blood of Jesus: 1. It's royal blood - not the blood of just any ordinary man 2. It's precious blood - Jesus is God's only Son (John 3:16) 3. It's holy blood - it was innocent (2 Cor. 5:21, Heb. 4:15) 4. It's redeeming blood (Col. 1:13-14) - redemption means to purchase or buy back. Jesus purchased me back from the enemy 5. It's cleansing blood (1 John 1:9, Ps. 51:10) - we need to walk in the cleansing foundain of Jesus' blood. 6. It's willing blood - not forced blood (Phil.2:8) - Jesus was willing to complete the mission. 7. It's powerful blood (1 Cor. 1:18) - Jesus' power is in His blood. When mixed with my faith by my action, nothing is impossible.

- porches represent where you sit and talk - sometimes have private moments - Prov. 4:1-10,16:16 - get wisdom and understanding - it'll help you avoide pitfalls in life - tender moments of discussion, when the walls come down and words are inadequet so you just sit and swing. - Prov. 23:23 - take money and buy wisdom and instruction, especially if you're struggling with something 3 things we need to hear 1. Cherish what you have, while you have it - when the Mona Lisa was stolen, more people went to the Louvre to stare at the blank spot than when it was there. There's Mona Lisa's all around us - what is constantly granted is easily taken for granted - stop to appreciate the Mona Lisa's in your life - "some day" is not a day on the calendar 2. Get rid of the rodents (the rodents are worry, anxiety, cares of this life, etc.) Col. 3:1-3 - your "rodents" can't survive and sxist in the atmosphere of heaven so when I have my rodents, I need to take go higher and higher to the throne of Heaven 3. Strengthen the foundations (let it begin with prayer) Ps. 11:3 - Foundations of: - the family - marriage (How? God, make me the spouse that my spouse needs me to be) - other relationships - prayer life - line of communication - golden rule - love (Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength. Love your neighbor as yourself) "God, make me the person you want me to be" - it's amazing the things people will do for material things but won't do for spiritual things

Luke 17:11-19 - ingratitude can be the source of many of our problems today - lepers were an outcast of society - Charles Brown gave some possible reasons why the nine did not give thanks: *One waited to see if the cure was real *One waited to see if it would last *One said he would see Jesus later *One decided that he had never had leprosy *One said that he would have gotten well anyway *One gave the glory to the priests *One said, “Any rabbi could have done it” *One said, I was already much improved - things that will help us not slip into ingratitude: 1. notice the leper's condition 2. notice the leper's cry - Rom. 5:6 - like lepers, we are helpless to stop our destruction in sin and cry out to Jesus for mercy - grace is getting what you don't deserve...mercy is not getting what you deserve - the leper's only hope was Jesus - the same is for us as sinners 3. notice one leper's celebration a. note the perception of gratitude - note how blessed we already are. The leper noticed that he was cleansed - do we really percieve what God has blessed us with? - an ungrateful Christians is a defeated CHristian because they 've lost their joy b. note the priority of gratitude - the leper immediately turned around and ran back to give thanks c. note the perfection of gratitude - v.15, in a loud voice - wholeness comes when gratitude is made to perfection and maturity and made a priority - he glorified God above all else

John 16:33 "I told you these things..." like "I am the vine, you are the branches, unless you abide in me...", "You did not choose me but I chose you to bear fruit", and "As much as the Father has loved me I have loved you" - we're to bear fruit - if I want peace in my life, I need to be a branch and daily abide in Jesus - Jesus is saying, "I want you to know, if you want to be in Me, and you want this peace in the midst of this trouble, then you have to become a branch in the vine. You have to let your life become entwined with My life. You can't just add Me as an attachment." - "In Me" you have peace, "In this world" you have trouble. We're living in two realities at the same time. - we're to take heart - hold on, don't dispare, and turn to the cross - Heb 6:13-20 - we must be anchored and focused on the cross where Jesus overcame At the cross we see... - that God loves us - God allows freedom but He maintains control (God is in control yet He gives us freedom) - God can use the worst for eternal good (the cross anchors us to this hope!) - it is the bright shining piece that is part of the greater canvas that God is painting Jesus on the cross is saying... - I love you - there is freedom but I have never lost control - I will take the worst and use it for eternal good - there is a canvas bigger than you understand The cross reminds us... - Jesus suffered loss - Jesus suffered rejection - Jesus went through pain - Jesus suffered death What the enemy means for evil - God will turn for good!

Galatians 5:22-26 (Msg & Amp) - the Holy Spirit is here to cause things to happen in our lives that bring us more in tune to God's purposes on earth - the change in our character and way of life produces the fruit of the Holy Sprit - abundant spiritual fruit also breeds hope and is well worth celebrating - everyone wins with good fruit (Matt 7:17-20) Saul - 1st king of Israel - insecure - he was hiding out when Samuel announced that he was being anointed king (1 Sam 10:22) - insecurity makes everything small - insecure people are threatened by secure people - insecurity also breeds immaturity - insecurity brings control, security brings freedom - disobedient (1 Sam. 13:8-13) - disobedience will keep us from our destiny - offended (1 Sam. 19:9-10) - when we walk in offense agains someone, it's as if we put on glasses and can only see them through our offense David - 2nd king of Israel - secure - his security was not in what he had or what he could do - David's security is identified in the Psalms. The Lord is my rock, my refuge, my deliverer, my fortress. He talks about exalting the Lord continually. - fighting Goliath - he knew the battle belonged to the Lord (1 Sam. 17:17, 33-34) - security is confident, it brings freedom and maturity - obedient - David acknowledges Saul as king and he will not touch him (1 Sam. 24:1-11) - forgiveness - David walks in mercy toward Saul (Ps. 86:5) - Our fruit is for others. It brings nourishment, blessing to those in our world. It feeds others. (John 15:1-3)

Started off with a clip from "Facing the Giants" (http://www.wingclips.com/movie-clips/facing-the-giants/death-crawl) Deut. 1:38,3:28, Isa. 35:3-4, Acts 11:20-24 - You know you're in the Spirit when you are an encourager. That's a sign that you're walking with the Spirit. - God has something for you to receive and somehting for you to give (Col. 4:5-8) - sins purpose is to harden your heart (Heb. 3:12-13) - discouragement is a thief, it steals vitality and contentment and brings self pity. It's a result of blindness. Exhortations: 1. Get encouragement from God and His Word (Rom. 15:1-6) - don't neglect the Scriptures which gives you encouragement - God needs you encouraged so you can encourage others - don't stop getting in the Word, and don't stop getting before God 2. Be confident in whom you have believed (2 Tim. 1:6-12) - I'm not trying to get victory, I'm following the One that's already victorious 3. Stand (Eph. 6:10-18) - "be strong in the Lord" - not myself - stand in faith believing in the strength and armor of the Lord and pray 4. Keep on keeping on (Gal. 6:9, 2 Thess. 3:10-15) - it doesn't matter the response of the world, my obedience to God remains the same - results are in the hands of God 5. Wait on the Lord and be patient (Isa. 40:25-31) - something supernatural happens when you wait on the Lord - "to wait" means to inter-twine - like a vine - Heb. 6:10-12 Ended with the song "Refuse To Be Denied" by Desperation Band (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ncM3bd_bv0g)

Special guest speaker, actress Nancy Stafford talks about how God has worked in her life.

Acts 20:31-35, Deut. 28:1-20 - do you want to live a more blessed life? Be generous with more than just your money, but with your love, kindness, patience, and everything God's given you. Truths about New Testament giving - 2 Cor. 8:1-14 - it's a grace (v.1-6) - it can be exercised during poverty (v.2) - it's a form of fellowship (v.4) - it should be proceeded by the dedication of self (v.5) Purposes in giving - to abound in all aspects of Christian experience (v.7) - to prove the reality of one's love (v.8) - to imitate Christ (v.9) - to help meet the needs of others (v.14) Blessed life people: 1. start with the first fruit tithe (Jesus affirmed tithe and said it should not be neglected) Matt. 23:23, 6:24 - Tithing also helps defeat the control of money over your life. 2. give generously (Prov. 11:24-25, 2 Cor. 6:6) 3. give freely (Matt. 10:8, Luke 6:38) 4. give cheerfully (2 Cor. 9:7) 5. give sacrificially (2 Sam. 24:24, 23:13-17)

Matt 5:3-12 - the beatitudes - supreme blessedness or happiness, Godly contentment - they're all inter-related - poor in spirit - convicted of our own spiritual poverty (Luke 18:13) - mourn - do so in a specific sense: over one's own spiritual poverty, one's sinfulness (Ps. 51:3-4) - meek - gentle, easy to be entreated, would rather suffer injury than inflict it (Ex. 32:19-20,30-34,Num.12:1-3) - merciful - loving towards those in misery - good samaritan (Luke 23:24, Acts 7:60), forgiving those who've sinned against them - pure in heart - honesty which has no hidden motive or selfish interest (Ps. 24:3-4) - peace maker - devote their lives to make peace (Rom. 12:18-21,5:1) - persecuted for righteousness sake

The Rock of KC is a church without walls for all generations located in Kansas City, MO. We meet for our coporate worship at 9:00am and 11:00am on Sunday mornings. RockKIDS! and children's classes are available at as well. You should expect friendly people who are excited about getting together to worship, a dynamic message, and a pastoral team who are dedicated to serving the body and bringing God's message to the world! We want you to come as you are and be free to worship with us. We have no dress code, no strict guidelines, or list of accomplishments to be completed before your first visit. Wear your suit, wear your flannel, wear your shorts! All we ask is that you come with a heart ready to worship and a decency for those around you!

The Rock of KC is a church without walls for all generations located in Kansas City, MO. We meet for our coporate worship at 9:00am and 11:00am on Sunday mornings. RockKIDS! and children's classes are available at as well. You should expect friendly people who are excited about getting together to worship, a dynamic message, and a pastoral team who are dedicated to serving the body and bringing God's message to the world! We want you to come as you are and be free to worship with us. We have no dress code, no strict guidelines, or list of accomplishments to be completed before your first visit. Wear your suit, wear your flannel, wear your shorts! All we ask is that you come with a heart ready to worship and a decency for those around you!

- in order to live a blessed life, I need to recognize that I am already blessed. 1. You're a seed (Gen. 8:22) - coming to church is sowing a seed. I'm sowing into my future harvest. - if I have a bad attitude toward something/someone, I'm sowing a bad seed. - God, show me where to sow what You've already given me - rock or sand? (Matt 7:21-27) - v.22: people had works, and knowledge of God, but the practice of their life didn't please God and obey Him. - how do I repsond to the Word of God? if I don't obey, I'm building my house on the sand. A blessed person is one who acts on what the Word of God says. "Bess those who curse you..." 2. Blessed people refuse to trust in the strength of man or take matters into their own hands (Jer. 17:5-11) - blessing comes when I put my trust and confidence in God, not man (v.7) 3. Blessed people refuses to lean on their own understanding (Prov. 3:5-10) - in John, Jesus washes His disciple's feet and He tells us to do the same.