Journey Church, West Chester

Romans 8:17-30 Romans 8:26 (message) 3 TRUTHS about HOPE from Romans 8:17-30 1. God is the only true source of Hope. 2. God is with us, even when we think we are alone. 3. God has the final word on our life.

Matthew 4:19 Discipleship is; 1) Following Jesus 2) Being Changed by Jesus 3) Joining Jesus in His Mission Romans 8:1-11, 7:14-15, 7:24, 8:5-6 1 John 1:9 The Best EVIDENCE of GOD’S SPIRIT in your life is OBEDIENCE. Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness and Self-control.

WHAT DO WE DO WHEN OUR BEST PARENTING DOESN’T WORK? EARLY WARNING SIGNS OF PRODIGALS: 1) Increasingly Self-Centered 2) Know All the Answers 3) Demand Immediate Gratification Luke 15:11-20 ACTIONS STEPS FOR PARENTS OF PRODIGALS: 1) Unwavering Prayer Colossians 1:9 For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you and asking God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding. Colossians 1:10 And we pray this in order 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, ACTIONS STEPS FOR PARENTS OF PRODIGALS: 2) Unending Patience Galations 6:9 Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. ACTIONS STEPS FOR PARENTS OF PRODIGALS: 3) Unconditional Love Luke 15:20 “ … But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his so

“Discipline your children while there is hope. Otherwise you will ruin their lives.” - Proverbs 19:18 DISCIPLINE is CORRECTION driven by LOVE 3 Kinds of Parenting Mistakes: 1) LIFEGUARD PARENTS 2) ETCH-A-SKETCH PARENTS 3) SPLIT DECISION PARENTS DISCIPLINE GUIDELINES: 1) First-time Obedience 2) Discipline more for Attitude than Actions 3) Never Discipline in Anger 4) Discipline towards Instruction and Reconciliation Colossians 3:20 Philippians 2:14 Ephesians 4:26, 6:4

Deuteronomy 6:1-9 “When they (kids) are thirteen, put them in a barrel and nail the lid shut, then feed them through the knothole” and then he added, “When they are sixteen, plug the knothole.” - Mark Twain

Matthew 13:1-9, 13:18-23, 7:16-20 REPENT - REMEMBER - REPEAT

“The people who we choose to spend the most time with are the greatest indicators of who we will become in every area of our life.” Hebrews 10:23-25 1. Community Challenges You to be More Like Jesus Hebrews 10:24-25 2. Community Carries you Emotionally Galatians 6:2 3. Community Open Your Eyes to the News of Others 1 Theolossians 5:14 4. Community Offers Opportunities for Confession and Healing James 5:16 5. Community Teaches you To Work Through Conflicts 1 Peter 4:8-11 MISCONCEPTIONS of COMMUNITY 1. We Think it’s EASY 2. We Think it will Just Come to Us 3. We Think it’s OPTIONAL

Reading: Matthew 7:24-27 and 6:16 Jeremiah 2:2 Notes: FASTING - willingly submitting ourselves to self-denial so that inwardly we might create space to internally listen for God’s voice in our lives. REASONS WE FAST: 1. Discernment 2. Preparation 3. Urgent Needs GUIDELINES to FASTING 1. Avoid Improper Motives 2. Fasting isn’t about being Miserable 3. Fasting isn’t for the “supper spiritual” 4. Fasting is about DEPENDING on GOD PRACTICAL STEPS to FASTING 1. It doesn’t have to be about food 2. Start small 3. Be kind to yourself 4. Be Focused

Forming a Prayer Routine 1. Pure motives to talk with God and not impress others 2. A trigger of time and place to make routine 3. Remember that God longs to listen Readings Matthew 6:5-8

Readings: 2 Timothy 3:14-17

Christmas means Jesus Christ the King is here!

Text: Matthew 2:1-12 Topic: Service Big Idea of the Text: The wise men found Jesus and offered Him gifts as a sign of worship. Like the wise men who worshiped Jesus, we must let our light shine by offering our lives as gifts to God.

"Every work of God comes with two edges - great joy and great pain." Philip Yancey Luke 1:26-38,41-46

John the Baptist Witness John 1:6-8,19-28

Ephesians 5:21-33 Topic: Self-sacrifice Big Idea: Marriage is the foundation of all family relationships; if it’s unstable, all the family members are affected. A godly marriage is one that reflects Jesus’ love relationship with His Bride, the Church.