06/27/12 - Wednesday Night - Tony Sherrill

Tony Sherrill teaches in this Wednesday evening celebration.

Wednesday Night
Tony Sherrill
Wednesday, June 27, 2012

www.mylifegatechurch.com

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06/24/12 - Second is First Loser - Pastor Michael Adams

Pastor Michael Adams teaches on "Second is First Loser" in this Sunday morning celebration.

Second is First Loser
Pastor Michael Adams
Sunday, June 24, 2012

www.mylifegatechurch.com

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Study now: Download the Sermon Notes (requires Adobe Reader)


Sermon Notes:

Second is First Loser
- 66 books, 40 authors over 1600 years
- central theme is Jesus
- never contradicts itself
- "thus says the Lord" 3000 times

The Word of God must be the ultimate authority in our lives.  Having it second or just another part of life won’t work. Knowing and living a life that really matters is grounded on the bible’s divine inspiration, its infallible authority and its completeness in form and content.

Matthew 4: 1-4

Next Jesus was taken into the wild by the Spirit for the Test. The Devil was ready to give it. Jesus prepared for the Test by fasting forty days and forty nights. That left him, of course, in a state of extreme hunger, which the Devil took advantage of in the first test: "Since you are God's Son, speak the word that will turn these stones into loaves of bread." Jesus answered by quoting Deuteronomy: "It takes more than bread to stay alive. It takes a steady stream of words from God's mouth."

-   We are presented with this same challenge in life. Will we look to other things for nourishment and fulfillment?
-   Jesus was at one of the most desperate times of his life and he declares that real life comes from the Words of God

Matthew 7:24-27

24 “Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. 26 But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. 27 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.”


Making the Word the Ultimate Authority

John 1:1-5

1 In the beginning the Word already existed. The Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He existed in the beginning with God. 3 God created everything through him, and nothing was created except through him. 4 The Word gave life to everything that was created, and his life brought light to everyone. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it.


*The Word is a person, Jesus Christ

-   The religious leaders were looking for life in scriptures and missed that life was standing right in front of them. 
-   We are very much wired to read and become doers. The supernatural part of the Word, life transformation, is a result of Jesus, the incarnate Word, living in and through us.
-   The writings of 40 authors, 66 books over 1500 years all converge in Jesus Christ
-   The bible it self is a tool that come alive through my relationship with God

John 5:39 (MSG)

39-40"You have your heads in your Bibles constantly because you think you'll find eternal life there. But you miss the forest for the trees. These Scriptures are all about me! And here I am, standing right before you, and you aren't willing to receive from me the life you say you want.

John 5:39 (NLT)

39 “You search the Scriptures because you think they give you eternal life. But the Scriptures point to me. 40 Yet you refuse to come to me to receive this life.


*The Word is foundational not additional

-   It’s not a matter of God simply suggesting some nice things to help us in life
-   We make the Word of God a piece of the house rather than the foundation of the whole thing
-   Take him at his Word, literally. Will we trust him with the whole thing?
-   Our way of thinking mixed with God’s thinking doesn’t make a good concoction. It’s still stinking thinking.
-   His promise is to watch over His word to perform it, not ours. (Jer. 1:12)
-   Our culture teaches to keep an open mind yet God clearly requires us to serve him with absolute single-heartedness. (Luke 4:8)
-   There is such thing as absolute truth and it’s found in Jesus

Luke 6: 46-49 (MSG)

46-47"Why are you so polite with me, always saying 'Yes, sir,' and 'That's right, sir,' but never doing a thing I tell you? These words I speak to you are not mere additions to your life, homeowner improvements to your standard of living. They are foundation words, words to build a life on. 48-49"If you work the words into your life, you are like a smart carpenter who dug deep and laid the foundation of his house on bedrock. When the river burst its banks and crashed against the house, nothing could shake it; it was built to last. But if you just use my words in Bible studies and don't work them into your life, you are like a dumb carpenter who built a house but skipped the foundation. When the swollen river came crashing in, it collapsed like a house of cards. It was a total loss.

Filtering everything through the Word

Illus. A/C filter

 Like a filter on an AC unit, if it doesn’t have one, or the proper one, it will eventually break. The filter is the first thing that the unclean air passes through and causes the system to deliver clean pure air on the other side. If the Word is the first and only filter, you can have the rich and satisfying life- clean air. A filter that never clogs up and never needs to be replaced. Everything we think and do is processed through it so that only truth comes out. This is the way we align ourselves with the will of God.

2 Timothy 2:15

15 Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.

1.  Ask
-   Ask and allow the Holy Spirit to be your guide

John 16:13

But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come.

2.  Read
-   Read and study attentively and with intention
-   Many times there is an absence of attention because there is little intention
-   Read on purpose

1 Timothy 4:15

15 Be diligent in these matters; give yourself wholly to them, so that everyone may see your progress.

3.   Plan
-   Make a plan
-   New SOAP quarter beginning this week

4.   Share
-   We have the responsibility to all mankind, to communicate the Word of God through our witness and service
-   When the Word of God has preeminence in our lives it supernaturally flows through us to others. This is a natural result of communion with Jesus.
-   When our thinking is filtered through the Word then people around us will experience life 

2 Timothy 3 16-17 (MSG)

There's nothing like the written Word of God for showing you the way to salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. Every part of Scripture is God-breathed and useful one way or another—showing us truth, exposing our rebellion, correcting our mistakes, training us to live God's way. Through the Word we are put together and shaped up for the tasks God has for us.
Thouroughly equipped for every good work

Equipped:

Physician Word meaning- to set a broken bone, replace a displaced limb, mended or repaired
1. healed and mended
2. Find where they fit
3. handle life, cracks, managing life

06/20/12 - Wednesday Night - Joe Keith

Joe Keith teaches in this Wednesday evening celebration.

Wednesday Night
Joe Keith
Wednesday, June 20, 2012

www.mylifegatechurch.com

Listen now: Download today's podcast

06/17/12 - Father's Arms - Pastor Tony Ashmore

Pastor Tony Ashmore teaches on "The Father's Arms" in this Sunday morning celebration.

The Father's Arms
Pastor Tony Ashmore
Sunday, June 17, 2012

www.mylifegatechurch.com

Listen now: Download today's podcast

Study now: Download the Sermon Notes (requires Adobe Reader)



Sermon Notes:

1 Corinthians 4:15 “For even if you had ten thousand others to teach you about Christ, you have only one spiritual father. For I became your father in Christ Jesus when I preached the Good News to you.” 


Big Idea:  There are lots of ‘teachers’ who want to tell us what to think, but we need ‘fathers’ who teach us how to think.  “…became your father when I preached the Good News…” Fathers are for you, they want your best. 

Galatians 3:28 “There is no longer Jew or Gentile, slave or free, male and female. For you are all one in Christ Jesus.”  This isn’t just a ‘man’ thing—this is for anyone who is a Kingdom person: mom, dad, married, single, boss, employee, son, daughter, friend, etc.


Great Fathers:

1. Are sure of whom they are reflecting: 

Genesis 5:3 “When Adam was 130 years old, he became the father of a son who was just like him—in his very image. He named his son Seth.” Do the ‘images’ we create reflect Him?
Do I re-present Him well or is there a distortion?  The way we relate to God is often defined or affected by how He was represented to us by authority figures. 

(Exodus 20:4 “…you shall not make for yourself any image or likeness…”)

Genesis 1:26 (NKJV) “Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion…”

Express His personality, Exhibit His Power, Extend His Kingdom


2.  Reflect Accurately:

Revelation 1:5 (NKJV) “Jesus has made us kings and priests to His God and Father” (A King and a Priest: A Leader and a Connector, A Strong Place and an Intimate Place)
Lyrics from “My Father’s Arms”:

•   A place I want to go:  Am I that place?  The same yesterday, today and forever.  (Hebrews 13:8) The same when the news is good or bad.  The same when I am coming with something that will make you proud or something that will be disappointing.
•   Amazing comfort and rest:  wisdom, encouragement, protection, provision
•   A smile is never rare: Consistent, joy-filled demeanor.  What will those you are leading remember?  Example: Jeff and fielding ground balls.  Psalm 2:1-4 “Why are the nations so angry?
Why do they waste their time with futile plans? The kings of the earth prepare for battle; the rulers plot together
against the Lord
and against his anointed one….But the one who rules in heaven laughs.
The Lord scoffs at them.” 
•   Love is as free as the air: no strings attached, no manipulation or games, unconditional love, unmerited favor
•   Lack for nothing when I can see the love in your eyes and know that its all for me: undivided attention, no competition for the place that is supposed to be mine.  (Example:  my dad and off-days and vacations—he knew his work schedule was taking away valuable time so he made sure the leisure time was memorable)
•   I fear nothing at all when I’m safe in the arms of my father:  boundaries, protection, strength
•   When I fall (fail), I take comfort in knowing you are there: Are mercy and grace defining my response to failure?  Am I the place they want to run to when they fail, or the one they want it hidden from? 


So What:

What if I have blown it thus far?

Examples of the ‘failed fathers’ who are Bible heroes: 
Abraham: his mishandling of God’s promise has resulted in the whole Middle East crisis.
Isaac: tolerated deceitfulness and manipulation resulting in a war between his 2 sons’ descendants

Jacob: showed show much favoritism that his other kids tried to kill Joseph, which would have resulted in the total destruction of the Jewish people and mass starvation throughout the world.

They really blew it in some areas, and yet God was there, not only to help them repair the damage, but to take them to a higher place.  They are the fathers of our faith. Men who did some things right and a lot of stuff wrong, but they never failed to lean on God, good or bad.


1.   Recognize the relationships that have resulted in an inaccurate reflection and take responsibility:  Apologize, forgive, release, set boundaries, maybe even disconnect from some.  Repent for where we have missed it in our ‘reflections’
2.   Set a new goal (no matter how well we have reflected, we can go higher)
3.   Take your relationship with the one you are reflecting to an HNL (whole ‘nuther level) 1 John 2:12-14 (JBP) “…I write to you who are now fathers, because you have known him who has always existed…to you fathers because of your experience of the one who has always existed…”

06/13/12 - Cosmic Kids - Pastor Tony Ashmore

Pastor Tony Ashmore discusses Cosmic Kids in this Wednesday evening celebration.

Cosmic Kids
Pastor Tony Ashmore
Wednesday, June 13, 2012

www.mylifegatechurch.com

Listen now: Download today's podcast

06/10/12 - The Divine Flow PT1 - Pastor Tony Ashmore

Pastor Tony Ashmore begins the series "The Divine Flow" in this Sunday morning celebration.

The Divine Flow Part 1
Pastor Tony Ashmore
Sunday, June 12, 2012

www.mylifegatechurch.com

Listen now: Download today's podcast

Study now: Download the Sermon Notes (requires Adobe Reader)


Sermon Notes:

The Divine Flow

Key Verses:

Matthew 9:35-38 “Jesus traveled through all the towns and villages of that area, teaching in the synagogues and announcing the Good News about the Kingdom. And he healed every kind of disease and illness. When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them because they were confused and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. He said to his disciples, “The harvest is great, but the workers are few. So pray to the Lord who is in charge of the harvest; ask him to send more workers into his fields.”

The Divine Flow—Jesus is moved by the compassion flowing from Heaven into Him.  Then He challenges His followers to be moved by that same Divine Flow.  The Harvest becomes an adventure fueled by love instead of a fearful, laborious task.  We simply recognize the flow, and respond to it.  “I just felt like calling you.”  “I had you on my mind.”  “You don’t know me, but I was wondering if there is something I can pray with you about.”  All a response to love welling up inside of us and then being allowed to flow instead of being ‘dammed up’.

2 John 6 (NLT) “Love means doing what God has commanded us, and he has commanded us to love one another, just as you heard from the beginning.”
(AMP) “…This is the commandment, as you have heard from the beginning, that you continue to walk in love [guided by it and following it].”

When we are motivated by love, guided by love, follow love, we will express His personality, exhibit His power and extend His Kingdom.  We will be drawn by that love to people who need us and to people we need.  When we learn to recognize, be guided by, and follow the Divine Flow we will see His life released in and through us.  We connect with mentors, models, partners and friends (the 4 levels of deep relationship we need in our lives) and we become mentors, models, partners and friends to others as a result of the Divine Flow that draws us to each other.  (talk about how the Lord orchestrated these connections in your life, but you had to be guided by and follow the Divine Flow, even when it made you step out of your comfort zone)


The 4 Deep Relationships the Divine Flow will find for every person:

Mentors: a wise and trusted counselor or teacher, someone to whom we give authority to speak into our lives, a spiritual ‘father or mother’  (Paul: many teachers but not many fathers)

Proverbs 5:9-14 (MSG) "...Why be exploited by those who care nothing for you? You don't want to end your life full of regrets, nothing but sin and bones, Saying, "Oh, why didn't I do what they told me? Why did I reject a disciplined life? Why didn't I listen to my mentors, or take my teachers seriously? My life is ruined! I haven't one blessed thing to show for my life!" Sin doesn't seek to mentor you.  It seeks to master you.  Learn to recognize, be guided by, and follow the Divine Flow. Note there is a counterfeit divine flow-just do a google search for 'divine flow.  (Example of following my own 'flow' instead the Divine Flow: me and Steve P., who I chose to mentor me in finances.  Result: disaster!)

James 5:10-11 (MSG) "Take the old prophets as your mentors. They put up with anything, went through everything, and never once quit, all the time honoring God. What a gift life is to those who stay the course! You've heard, of course, of Job's staying power, and you know how God brought it all together for him at the end. That's because God cares, cares right down to the last detail."


Models: Models are those you may or may not know personally but who you admire and imitate.  We might just imitate ‘specific’ areas and not every area.  Example: Ed Young, Jr., Andy Stanley, Seth Godin.

Jeremiah 10:2-3 (MSG)  "Listen most carefully: "Don't take the godless nations as your models. Don't be impressed by their glamour and glitz..."

Hebrews 6:11-12 “Our great desire is that you will keep on loving others as long as life lasts, in order to make certain that what you hope for will come true. Then you will not become spiritually dull and indifferent. Instead, you will follow the example of those who are going to inherit God’s promises because of their faith and endurance.”  (note the Divine Flow leads us to models)


Partners: In the ‘boat’ with you and pulling in the same direction.  “With you”, not just “for you”.  Sharing, participating, not just observing and cheering.  The outcome effects them too.

2 Corinthians 1:24 (MSG) "We're not in charge of how you live out the faith, looking over your shoulders, suspiciously critical. We're partners, working alongside you, joyfully expectant..."

2 Corinthians 6:14-15 (MSG) "Don't become partners with those who reject God. How can you make a partnership out of right and wrong?..."


Friends:  Not just cheerleaders, but those that are for you and will speak truth into your life.  Proverbs 27:6 & 17—friends will tell you the truth even when it hurts and will make you stronger and better.

Psalm 16:3 (MSG) "And these God-chosen lives all around— what splendid friends they make!"

Ecclesiastes 4:12 (MSG) "By yourself you're unprotected. With a friend you can face the worst. Can you round up a third? A three-stranded rope isn't easily snapped."


An Example of the Divine Flow in the Bible:

Esther 2:17 “Now the king was attracted to Esther more than to any of the other women, and she won his favor and approval more than any of the other virgins. So he set a royal crown on her head and made her queen instead of Vashti.”
Saul didn’t follow the Divine Flow when God ordered him to destroy every Amalekite, including women and children.  (1 Samuel 15) He followed the human flow instead of the Divine Flow (which we often don’t understand and may not see it ourselves).  In the book of Esther, it is Haman who is orchestrating the total genocide of the Jews.  Haman is a direct descendant of the Amalekites who were supposed to be destroyed by Saul.  His failure to be guided by and follow the Divine Flow has endangered all of God’s chosen people 500 years later.

David refused to follow the human flow and was guided by and followed the Divine Flow when he would not have Shimei killed even though he continually cursed the King.  (2 Samuel 16).  It is Esther’s uncle, Mordecai, who convinces her to become queen and position herself to save the Jewish people.  Mordecai is a direct descendant of Shimei!  Had David killed Shimei, the Jews would have been slaughtered by Haman’s plan.  Had Saul obeyed, there would have been no Haman to develop the plan. 

Now Esther, guided by and following the Divine Flow, is used by God to save His people from destruction. 

All this a result of the Divine Flow (Grace) overcoming the mistakes of the human flow (self-will and works).  Also a great example of why  we don’t have to understand every move God asks us to make.  We simply have to trust that God is good and is for us.


Finding the Divine Flow:

John 7:38 “Anyone who believes in me may come and drink! For the Scriptures declare, ‘Rivers of living water will flow from his heart.’”   The Divine Flow is available to anyone for whom Jesus is Lord.  (Note, He is everyone’s Savior and Lord to some. Acts 2:36.  It’s all about choice again.)

2 Kings 4:6 “Soon every container was full to the brim! “Bring me another jar,” she said to one of her sons. “There aren’t any more!” he told her. And then the olive oil stopped flowing.”  We are the vessels of the Holy Spirit and as long as the vessels are available there will be a divine flow of His love through us to others. 2 Corinthians 4:7 “We now have this light shining in our hearts, but we ourselves are like fragile clay jars containing this great treasure. This makes it clear that our great power is from God, not from ourselves.”


So What: 

Making sure we are available vessels:

Philippians 2:1  [Have the Attitude of Christ] Guard your heart and keeping it clear from blockages to the Divine Flow.  Just like we can experience blockages to the flow of blood to our physical heart, we can create blockages to our spiritual heart, stopping the flow of His love to us and through us.  Paul gives us some key questions to ask ourselves continually for a ‘heart health checkup’. Note:  here’s where the 4 deep relationships help us—people who will give us honest answers to these questions because we will deceive ourselves.  How’s your flow? “Is there any encouragement from belonging to Christ? Do we look for hope in every situation?  Are we obnoxiously optimistic?  Do we offer encouragement to others or add to their discouragement?  Are constantly having to be encouraged by others? Any comfort from his love?  Do we find peace and comfort in His presence no matter what is going on around us or in us?  Do we provide comfort to others or are we always the one being comforted?  Any fellowship together in the Spirit?  Are we friendly, reaching beyond our discomfort to make intentional connections with other believers (note: “in the Spirit”)?  Do we seek out Dinner Groups, Reel Life Groups, plan on attending the ManUP Sports Challenge this Saturday?  Do we move beyond what is convenient to accomplish what is helpful and healthy?  Or do we complain about not having friends, where are my visitors when I am sick, why don’t I ever get invitations?  Are your hearts tender and compassionate?”  Are we easily moved by the hurts and needs of others or have we become cynical and suspicious?  What is your thought process when you see a guy standing on the side of the road with a sign “Hungry”?  Note our 1st verse: Jesus was moved by the needs of people He knew would reject Him, betray Him, and crucify Him.   Guard your heart, have people in your life who will tell you when you are not, be guided by and follow the Love of God and the Divine Flow will always flow to you and through you, releasing the “rich and satisfying life” Jesus came to give us.

06/06/12 - Wednesday Night - Mike Barker

Mike Barker teaches in this Wednesday evening celebration.

Wednesday Night
Mike Barker
Wednesday, June 6, 2012

www.mylifegatechurch.com

Listen now: Download today's podcast

06/03/12 - Vision Sunday - Everett Spencer

Everett Spencer recasts the vision of LifeGate Church in this Sunday morning celebration.

Vision Sunday
Everett Spencer
Sunday, June 03, 2012

www.mylifegatechurch.com

Listen now: Download today's podcast


Sermon Notes:

Vision Sunday

LGC Vision Statement: We are a regional church sharing the life-giving message of Jesus with West Georgia and the world.

Define what it means to be a “regional church”

Acts 1:8 – But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.

Mark 16:15 & 20— And then He told them, “Go into all the world and preach the Good News to everyone… and they went forth, and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following…

Regional Churches…

1. See the great commission as a commandment
(In other words we know the church is the hope of the world and we know that this gospel must be preached everywhere without compromise)

2. Express His personality (Pastor Tony has been explaining to us what it means to take the LORD’s name in vain-we know we represent Christ and we do it with passion) Exhibit His Power (the power that works in us to change us into His image, the power for the miraculous and the power to love one another) & Extend His Kingdom (this is why we plant churches locally, nationally & around the world)

3. Regional churches grow in a healthy & consistent way (Mark 4)
Our Core Values:  (Healthy)
Life-giving, Christ-Centered, Spirit-Empowered, Team Ministry, Ministry of Excellence, Have Fun

4. Regional churches avoid “small church mentality”
Through connecting & serving

1 Corinthians 12:27—You are the Body of Christ and members in particular.