Interim Pastor Bill Johnston began a new sermon series that will challenge us to add more of what matters in our lives, which will lead more to flourishing than languishing, bringing more meaning, and resulting in more real life.
MORE: MORE OPENNESS TO CHANGE
Message by Bill Johnston – April 29, 2018
PEOPLE CHANGE WHEN THEY …
1. HURT ENOUGH THAT THEY HAVE TO
Luke 9:37-39, 41-43 The next day, after they had come down the mountain, a large crowd met Jesus. A man in the crowd called out to him, “Teacher, I beg you to look at my son, my only child. An evil spirit keeps seizing him, making him scream. It throws him into convulsions so that he foams at the mouth. It batters him and hardly ever leaves him alone….Jesus said to the man, “Bring your son here…” Jesus rebuked the evil spirit and healed the boy. Then he gave him back to his father. Awe gripped the people as they saw this majestic display of God’s power.
2. LEARN ENOUGH THAT THEY WANT TO
Matthew 18:1-4 (NIV) At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Who, then, is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” He called a little child to him, and placed the child among them. And he said: “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever takes the lowly position of this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.”
3. RECEIVE ENOUGH THAT THEY ARE ABLE TO
Mark 2:2-5 While he was preaching God’s word to them, four men arrived carrying a paralyzed man on a mat. They couldn’t bring him to Jesus because of the crowd, so they dug a hole through the roof above his head. Then they lowered the man on his mat, right down in front of Jesus. Seeing their faith, Jesus said to the paralyzed man, “My child, your sins are forgiven.”
1 Corinthians 15:10 But whatever I am now, it is all because God poured out his special favour on me—and not without results.
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT CHANGE
1. CHANGE IS INEVITABLE
For some people, change is life. For some people, change is death. For all people, change is difficult. And for all people, change is mandatory.” (Leonard Sweet)
2. CHANGE IS FUTURE-FOCUSED
“…progress must be preceded by change… In an organization, we should remember that every tradition was originally a good idea—and perhaps even revolutionary. But every tradition may not be a good idea for the future.” (Andy Stanley)
Ecclesiastes 7:10 Don’t long for “the good old days.” This is not wise.
3. GOD DOES NOT CHANGE
Malachi 3:6 “I am the Lord, and I do not change.”
Hebrews 13:8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.
TWO IMPORTANT CHANGE PRINCIPLES
1. PERSPECTIVE PUTS CHANGE IN A HEALTHY CONTEXT
Perspective is how you see things.
2. ATTITUDE PUTS CHANGE IN A POSITIVE MINDSET
Attitude is how you think about things.
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