I Love The 90's Week 3

The Formula For Growth

In the final week of the I love the 90's series, we at Victory Hill Church have a lot to celebrate! One great thing to celebrate was that Michele, our Pastor's wife, was able to go home after open heart surgery. Another thing to celebrate is that we have had 11 salvation's in the last two Sunday Mornings!

When we are in elementary school, we begin learning about formulas and the basics of Algebra. It's so confusing, because just when you think you are getting this whole math thing figured out, they start mixing in the alphabet! Pastor Trey was able to bring back our elementary school horrors, and show us how we can apply formulas to our spiritual growth.

Passive ≠ Progress 
Many times in our lives, both spiritually and not, we find ourselves pondering things we should be doing. Maybe getting involved in ministry, losing weight, or saving more money. Just thinking about doing it will not accomplish much. Many times we have good intentions and even plans to accomplish something, but never quite get around to it. We will never get to where we want to go by continuing to be passive.

Proactive = Progress
There comes a time in your life when you must decide that you are no longer going to be passive, but that you are going to start being proactive. We can dream and think and wish something all day long, but nothing will ever change until we pursue those dreams, until we become proactive.

The enemy uses tools to keep us from becoming proactive. These tools are deception and destruction. So many people around us are being deceived. We can either continue to remain quiet (passive) or choose to share Christ (proactive).

However sometimes we as Christians get confused when it comes to being proactive. If our neighbors house is one fire it would be crazy to say "Well, I'm just going to pray for you." We would need to take action, we would call the fire department, try to see if anyone was home, we would be proactive. Then why do we do just the opposite when it comes to spiritual matters? We simply say that you are going to say a prayer, when maybe God's intention was for you to be the answer to that prayer. We have been created with so much power, the Bible even says we won't simply have the ability to do works as Jesus did, but works GREATER than he did.

It's time for us to do something.

I love the 90's Week 2

The Process of Progress

2 Peter 3:18 "But grow in the grace and knowledge or our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen."

The whole goal of this series is not to perfect the imperfect, but rather for the imperfect to simply make progress in their pursuit of Christ. But there is a process we have to go through in order to make progress. Progress doesn't just happen, we have to be intentional about making progress. 

A bad habit of many Christians is seeking inadequate sources to make progress. Someone who is looking to lose weight isn't going to ask someone even heavier to give them advice. Someone who is looking to better their financial situation and make wise investments isn't going to the individual who just filled for bankruptcy. But that is exactly what we do spiritually. We seek information and advice from people who are no further in their walk with Christ than we are. 

There is a secret to Spiritual progress, it's simply the phrase "Because you say so I will." 

Sometimes we can't see the benefits of doing what God says. God says to tithe, but if I do, I have a bill that isn't going to get paid. But because you say to do it, I will. My marriage is falling apart, and I don't want to try anymore, but because you say so, I will try again. Making progress is as simple as obeying Gods word, and doing the things he has already asked us to do. 

We all make mistakes, and we all fall short, but that doesn't mean we should stop following Christ. But many of us do. God isn't through with you simply because you messed up. He still loves you and still desires you. 

Today, make the decision to continue to move forward, regardless of the mistakes you have made. It can be scary, because following Christ will cost you. We have to get to the point where we stop depending on what we think is best, and start to follow the word of God, simply because he says so. 

1 Peter 2:21 For God called you to do good, even if it means suffering, just as Christ suffered for you. He is your example, and you must follow in his steps.

I Love the 90's Week 1

Where Am I?

This week Mason Harris our Student Pastor brought the message, as the first in this new series.

We learned the being of follower of Jesus Christ is a process. We aren't expected to become a Christ follower today, and be prefect tomorrow. But following Christ should change us. It should change our desires, it should change how we love others, and it should change our priorities. We have a Heavenly Father who knows that we are not perfect, yet he is cheering for us every step that we make closer to Him and His will for our lives.

We are all on different journey's when it comes to our walk with Christ, and that is OK! The main goal of this series is to realize where we are, and to begin making steps forward.

We are all in one of four areas of our walk: Seeker, Receiver, Follower, or Contributor.

Now see many of us in the church community, we get the seeking and receiving part down, but then we simply stop moving forward. This is where the work begins. The gift of salvation is absolutely free, and there is nothing that you or I could do to earn it. However, to become a disciple, a true follower of Christ, it requires sacrifice.

But how do I know if I have made that step into becoming more than simply a receiver, but a follower? Here are 5 indications that you are a fully devoted follower of Christ.

1. Daily pursuit of Jesus Christ: How can we be fully devoted unless we are daily seeking Jesus? Your marriage probably wouldn't last very long if you didn't at least talk to your Husband or Wife everyday. How do you expect your relationship with Christ to flourish if you don't make spending time with him a priority. Reading your Bible daily and spending time in prayer is a sign of becoming of follower. And if you haven't mastered this yet, that is OK! Start today by making your pursuit of Christ a priority.

2. Confession and Repentance: We all mess up, may times daily. That doesn't mean that we are loved any less by God. It does mean that when we realize we have sinned, we need to beginning by confessing those sins. He already sees everything we do, but sometimes we try to live our lives as if He doesn't. And repenting is so much more than a simply "I'm sorry". Repentance is actually feeling regret and remorse over your sin, and asking God for help and strength to turn away from that sin.

3. Financial Surrender: We all have bills. We all have things we want and need. The amazing thing about Jesus is that He didn't ask us all to give $100,000 a year to the church, because I don't know about you, but there is no way I could do that. He asked us to start by giving 10%. For some people that is easy, and for some of us, that 10% is hard to let go of. God didn't ask us to give simply to be doing so. When we hold on so tightly to the little we have, we make it impossible for God to bless us with so much more.

4. Involved in Church: The bible specifically tells us not to forsake the assembling of the church. Being involved in church is so much more than just showing up on Sunday morning, getting your feel good sermon, and going on about your life. Being involved in Church is being part of a family. You make a church your family when your join small groups and ministry groups.

5. Loves other people: John 13:35 "By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another." Some Christians can be associated with being mean, unforgiving, and unloving. This isn't what Jesus wants for his followers. The bible goes as far as to tell us that anyone who doesn't love, doesn't know God, because God is love. How can we followers if we can't love others, when love is God's very nature?

The last and final area that we might be on in our walk with Christ, is being a Contributor. We see Contributors every week. They are the people opening the doors, serving the coffee, watching the children, playing the band, and showing your to your seat.

Wherever you are, decide today to take a step forward, and to continue to grow and learn as your pursue Christ.