We all have a favorite TV show heros, why? Because we picture ourselves to be like that person or like that family... Just when we think we know everything about our TV heros, we learn more each time we see them... but the book of Clossians gives us ways we can grow in our attitude and our action so we can honor God through our lives!

Colossians 1:1-14

What are the products of hope? (v.5) >> Faith and love make the product of hope... "stored in heaven" because we have faith in God, our father who makes a place for us in heaven, we ALL hope that our place will be ready when the Lord calls us home. We have hope that heaven is there waiting for us untill were called home. We have love because first Christ loved us, have His son taking our place on the cross for our sins!

Are you sharing "the gospel" to all? (vv.6, 12-14) >> After all Christ SAVED us from the darkness of the world... so Christ saved us and wants to use us as tools in His mission to keep shining the light of Christ! It hard to share to all because many will look @ us and wonder why we are the way we are... but God calls us to do just that and share!

Can you make a list of people who don't know Jesus? >> Yes, we all can name friends and family members that don't know Jesus... but we can pray and offer a chance to know Jesus... Yes if your church has an event, keep them mind for the invintation....

How is the fruit growing in your life?

Ephesians 4:17-32

Are we "living as Children of Light" in this world of 2009? We need to reconized that we are only human, that we are still learning regaurdless of our age from the youngest to the oldest....  In this Ephesians mini series, is  helping us answer, the BIG question, by Discovering Our Purpose of whats in our life (or what is missing?)... We are trying to understand that purpose that God has already given us.

(vv.20-24) Did we put on our new self?? >> Lets face it, we are new to this purpose, this relationship that God wants us to have... we just need to make the move to Him because he is ALWAYS ready... But we can still fall short of this relationship, just like husband & wife; boyfriend & girlfriend, we are humans that can get caught up in temptations becoming week in areas of our life... We can keep our new self in focus by coming to the father, to help put on the armor to defeat temptations (Galatians 5:16-17)

(vv.26-2 Are your actions shining the light or covering the light? >> Yes, anger can be a powerful emotion, both good and bad... We just need to control it NOT it controling us in our life... This is what the devil us to get into are hearts and stir up the spirit with sin... The world is watching us seeing if they can push their values into our hearts redefining us changing that spirit from within us....

(vv.30-32) Are we growing within our relationship? >> Sometimes we need to clean house now and than... we need to just see what clutter is in our life, that may becoming a impact on our realationship with God... We just need to remember what Christ has given us, and did in our life ALL because he loves us so much....

Are we ready to declutter our life, to make for our Savior Jesus Christ?

Ephesians 4:1-16

Unity is a special thing, one that which we CAN'T buy nor force to comform, but its something we Christians can have through our brothers and sisters in Christ as a body. Now, unity doesn't mean we have to agree on all choices, selections on church stuff, but our goal is the same...

(v. 1) Have we, meaning you and I, have we "live a life worthy of the calling..." ? >> Verse two has some ideas of that "life" and actions in verse three to five that we should be doing in our daily walk with God, friends, family, work and even ANY time, ANY place...!

(vv. 11-13) What role are we taking today to build the body of Christ?? >> Some of us may be a pastor or treacher, while others may be a church planter or a motivator who moves the church through many projects... All of us have many diffrents skills, where we can fill that one spot and build up the body of Christ in order to unity to be reached....

HOW ARE YOU IN FULFILLING YOUR CALL, THIS WEEK??

Acts 26:1-32

Do we ever look back @ the choices that we made in our life, far we can remember? Do we stop and wonder what if I took that one other choice and see how better life would be than today.... I can clearly say I still question the choices, I've made, wondering if I should have taken that one other thinking and hoping that life could have been better....!

But I can say that God has opened many doors, ones that I've never see myself opening nor exploring the possiblities of me in that choice... We are human, by default we stay within our "comfort zone" because its what we know and feel to be more of a success... or we think...?

But God just may lead us down a path that we never seen before, never thought of walking down it; but God has a plan for me, even you... We may not understand the reason of it nor unstand the need of why I am working here, attending school here or going to church on Sundays @ this church... He see the BIG picture of it all.... all he ask is to TRUST in Him completly....

ARE YOU READY TO TAKE THIS CHOICE HE HAS GIVEN?

Ephesians 3:14-21

What is prayer?? May people will say its something Christians do ALL the time... its what we do before we eat or sleep, but why? >> Think about it prayer is communitcation, to God... we come to Him, to seek his will and guidence.... Its one way of how we express whats on our mind, our feelings, our heart and our love.

(vv. 14-19) What's is Paul praying for; the Ephesians? >> Haved you ever justed prayed for a person to open his heart to God... to see that light shine from within you... have you prayed for time to wittness to that "friend" that hope would turn to God and not to the world...?

(vv. 19-21) How can we show love when some have seen rejection? >> Its hard to show love when maybe a person isn't use to love... but we can slowly give and show through our own actions...! Yes our actions can be that wittness, that light where people stop and wounder whats the reason and drive behind that person...! Let us "Let Love In" a song I heard from Goo Goo Dolls... we need to let the love in but our own defence wall is preventing everyone out....!

Ephesians 3:1-13

We see that Paul is preaching to the Gentiles, however sharing the Gospel can be hard, but can you think of a time when someone NOT just preached the Gospel, but ENCOURAGED you with it? We just should quote the book down someones mouth, but share the Gospel through our words and also actions... after all we don't want to scare them away from us...!

(vv. 7-10) What's was Pauls mission, that God has given him? >> Has God given you a mission lately... have you taken that mission or are standing on the sidelines, just wait for something BETTER...?

(vv. 10-11) What mission does the church have, according to the passage? >> Has your church taken this mission forward, has it expanded this mission into ministry in action? Sometimes we can continue our minisrty without growing... but God wants us to grow in our ministry and relationship to continue to grow closer to him.... but we as humans just want to keep with in our "comfort ZONE", are you ready to MOVE the church into this mission...?

(vv. 11-12) How can we share the Gospel so people can REALLY hear it? >> Sometimes people put up their defense wall, blocking out what they don't know nor understand... but lets not become discouraged, but become that seed planter and continue to plant that seed and allow God to bloom within that person... We can list friends that don't know the Lord, but right now we can continue to pray for them... after all their still friends with us, so they have seen our light shining....!

Romans 15:1-13; Matthew 3:1-12

 Introduction

The story of Christmas is more than the birth of our savior; it’s the real message of God’s gift to the world that He love so much.

 The Faith

·         We need to read, study God’s word so that “we might have hope” (Romans 15:4)

·         We need to build our relationship with God, as one so we can “follow Christ Jesus” (Romans 15:5)

·         We need to trust one another, accept them, just as Christ accepted us (Romans 15:7)

·         We need to keep trusting Christ, so we can take this joy He has given us, to overflow into this world (Romans 15:13)

                                We need to have “the faith” by giving our ALL so we can become that servant for Christ!

 The Servant

·         We must give this gift to ALL, not keep it for our self (Romans 15:

·         We must think of others, not focusing on our needs (Romans 15:2-3)

·         We must produce good fruit, by keeping our eyes on Jesus (Matthew 3:10)

·         We must be willing to be guided by our true master (Matthew 3:11)

                                We must have an open heart to learn and obey our Father who guides us.

 Closing

Are you ready to build your relationship, or just remodel your relationship with Christ? Pray to God, pray for your heart to be willing… let this Christmas become the gift of salvation, (born again) because God has already accepted you on the cross!

Romans 13:11-14; Matthew 24:36-44

Introduction

The story of Christmas is more than the birth of our savior; it’s the real message of God’s gift to the world that He love so much.

Salvation is Near…

·         We need to understand our salvation (Romans 13:11)

·         We need to have preparation for  our salvation (Romans 13:12)

                                We need to TAKE time to learn and study God’s gift

Prepare the Heart

·         We need to replace our actions (Romans 11:13)

·         We need to allow God to make changes (Romans 11:14)

                                We need to open the door, let God in (Let Love in by Goo Goo Dolls)

Closing

                Do you count your blessing and the answers of prayer? We Christians should include our blessing and praises when we prayer to God. We should give our thanksgiving and praises to Him, because God’s hand is in our lives. God probably did answer your prayers differently than what you or I would aspect, but His plans and guidance; He does have a reason for the way He answers our request.

                For example; you or I when we get thirsty we would go to the frig or to the sink for a glass of water… but the Israelites’ had a different approached, they just complaining to Mosses for their request of water (Exodus 17:1-7). So the Lord told Mosses to take His staff and hit the rock and water will flow for the people to drink…  Mosses did just as the Lord told Him and water was supplied for the people but they still had doubts if God does exist among them…

                Now God did answer their grumbling complaints, and gave the Israelites’ water to drink. Many would not aspect water coming from a rock, our water from the kitchen sink or frig… but regardless of how God answered our prayers, we should give Him thanks for answer our needs during each moment of prayer.

We need to live by the commands that God has given us, his words from the bible. Just like children need to live by the love and guidance of their parent’s commands, (mom and dad) because they know what’s best for us as children. The book of 1 John gives us guidance how to “live right” to keep that relationship strong with God each day. First we need to see that there is no darkness in God, He is the true source of light (1 John 1:5) no other light can be him! The world can give us everything to make us happy but it also can direct us differently because they can tempt and offer us the true light.

                Secondly, we need to let our words be ahead of our actions; meaning really do what we say (1 John 1:6) because saying one thing and acting differently would be a sin and a lie. How can we claim to follow Jesus and yet still follow the world in darkness; there really can’t be two true light, only the one true light! Let us have that true fellowship by walking in that light (1 John 1:7).

                Lastly, if we humans claim to not sin (telling lies, make mistakes, fall short) which I think we may have sinned because after all we are humans and we are not perfect; than we have truly hidden the truth! We need to confess our sins to let God “purify us” to reveal the truth, so his word can have a place in our lives (1 John 1:8-10). It feels good to let our mistakes, lies, problems and sins out through prayer or confession with other believers… we can see the true source of the sin and build ideas to handle it!