Potter's Hand Sermons

What A Day!

2012-04-01T15:42:41Z

Mark11:1-11; Phil. 2:5-10

I. He had it all.

II. He gave it all up!.

III. He changed it all!

IV. He offers it all to you and me!

Do You Have Broken Dreams?

2012-03-26T04:24:39Z

Do You Have Broken Dreams?

Luke 19:41-45

I. We all have our broken dreams.

A. Broken dreams are a reality to deal with.

II. Broken dreams must not stop us.

A. Broken dreams can refine us.

B. Broken dreams can lead to a clearer perspective and a bigger heart.

III. Dream on! Dream on !

Fruit part 2

2012-03-26T03:29:36Z

Fruit

Galatians 5:16-23

I. Whetting our appetite.

II. Old house, new occupant.

III. No need for Law.

IV. The works of the flesh.

V. The fruit of the Spirit.

A. Fruit is visible.

B. Fruit is recognizable.

C. Fruit is for others.

1. Notice, all the deeds of the flesh are selfish.

D. Spiritual fruit

1. The joy of the Spirit has nothing to do with happiness.

2. Joy is the overflow of the life of God within you.

VI. Walking by the Spirit.

A. Walkiing implies that you are going somewhere.

B. Walking assumes continuous movement.

C. Walking is dependence, putting your weight down on your legs one leg at a time.

D. If prayer is an extra, that makes the Holy Spirit an extra.

VII. Bringing it home:

A. The Greek word translated mocked means to thumb your nose at something.

B. What you sow is what you reap.

C. Youmay not be able to change what you have already reaped, but you can plow up your field.

Fruit (Part 1)

2012-03-11T15:43:23Z

Galatians 5:16-23

The key word in this passage is available.

I. Whetting our appetite.

A. We cannot be perfected by the flesh.

B. By fleshk we mean our unredeemed humanity.

C. The Galatians were being tempted to substitute rules for a dynamice relationship with the Holy Spirit.

D. We live in a war zone and the war zone is you.

II. Old house, new occupant.

A. The flesh will desire to sin until it is laid in the grave.

B. The Holy Spirit runs interference for us.

III. No need for law.

A. Law is necessary because we are rebellious.

B. If you try to live the Christian lifef by keepiing a list of rules you are doomed to failure and misery.

C. The law is necessary to restrain evil.

D. We may have burdens in our lives, but the Christian life is not meant to be a burden.

IV. The Works of the flesh.

A. Moral sins.

1. Christians are the only ones in whom the Holy Spirit struggles against the flesh, because only christians have the Spirit.

B. Religious sins.

1. Idolatry is worshipping other gods.

2. People use drugs to get illegitimately what God wants to give us through His Holy Spirit.

3. Drug use uniquely opens a person to demonic influence.

C. Social sins.

The Invisible War: Never Fight Your Battles Undressed! (Part 2)

2012-03-04T16:55:01Z

Ephesians 6

We must put on:

I. The belt of truth.

II. The breastplate of righteousness.

III. The shoes of Good News.

A. We are to live peace and we are to speak it.

IV. The shield of faith.

A. Certainty is the shield of faith.

B. Certainty is trusting the promises of God when everything is going wrong in my life.

C. Some of the fiery darts:

1. Doubt.

2. Discouragement.

3. Delay.

4. Difficulty.

5. Depression.

D. Doubt your doubts and believe your beliefs.

V. The helmet.

A. What is it that protects my mind from evil? Salvation.

B. Paul says that you have to put on every piece.

VI. Maturity.

A. Maturity is knowing the Bible and knowing how to use it against Satan.

VII. The sword of The Spirit.

A. Whatever you're struggling with that's what you need.

B. Prayer is the way you put on the armor.

C. Prayer is how we fight the battle.

D. Prayer is how we win the battle.

The Invisible War: Never Fight Your Battles Undressed!

2012-02-26T16:45:00Z

1. 9/11 taught us we weren't ready for that kind of warfare.

I. We must learn that we must get dressed for the battle.

1. Satan is subtle. Satan is strategic.

2. Satan is not afraid of you, but he is afraid of who is in you----God.

II. I must know my real enemy.

1. Everybody gets used by Satan.

2. Not everything that is spiritual is good.

III. I must use every piece of armor.

1. The first thing a Roman centurion would put on would be the belt.

What does this represent?

I. The belt of truth represents integrity. Integrity is knowing and doing the truth.

1. The opposite of integrity is knowing the truth and not doing it.

2. The second thing to be put on over the tunic is some body armor.

II. Put on the breastplate of righteousness.

1. Purity which means keeping my motives clear.

2. Satan always wants to attack you with impurity.

3. If you don't have a pure heart, a brave heart, you are a pushover for Satan.

4. Satan will try to get you to be impure through greed.

III.. The third thing that a soldier would put on are the shoes of Good News.

1. If you want to stand in life and stand up under the storms you are going to have to be at peace.

2. If you have conflict you have just opened the door to satanic attack.

3. Serenity is living and speaking the gospel of peace.

4. Satan is going to atttack your integrity with lies. Satan is going to attack your purity with lust.

5. We are to live peace and we are to speak it.

IV. The fourth thing you need is what he calls the shield of faith.

The Potter's Hand: 9 Year Celebration

2012-02-19T18:21:29Z

Jeremiah 18:1-6, Rev. 21:5-8

I. The word of The Lord came.

A. It came because of a need.

II. The Word of came from The Potter.

A. Why? Because He has the right.

B. The vessel is shaped according to the image in the Potters mind.

C. The only way to know the mind of Christ is through His Word and prayer.

III. What are we to do?

A. Go!

IV. How do we get there?

A. By being pliable and answering the call.

The Invisible War: Being Faithful in a Faithless World

2012-02-05T16:48:44Z

Luke 18:7

I. Six tests of faithfulness.

A. God uses little things to test your integrity.

B. God uses my talents to test my unselfishness.

C. God uses tough times to teach me persistence.

D. God uses shortages to test my generosity.

1. Faithful people a generous when they don't have to give.

2. The acid test of your faith in your life is your finances.

3. Five principles for blessing:

a. God gives to generous people.

(1) You cannot out give God.

b. Obeying God's vision will bring God's provision.

(1) What He has given you the vision for He will give you the provision for.

c. When I do all that God tells me to do, he does what I can't do.

(1) When I give what little I've got, God multiplies it and he makes up for it.

d. When I have a need I sow a seed.

(1) Whatever you need more of, give it away.

e. There"s always a delay between sowing and reaping.

E. Faithful people bring friends to Jesus.

1. You have friends that are paralyzed and can't get to Jesus.

2. When God looks out and he sees people bringing people to hime he not only heals those people, he blesses the person who brought them.

F. Faithful people build the faith of others.

1. It's wise to learn from experience; it's wiser to learn from the experience and mistakes of others.

2. God loves to use losers.

The Invisible War: Being Faithful in a Faithless World

2012-01-29T16:47:44Z

The Invisible War

Being Faithful in a Faithless World

Luke 18

I. Three important things about the importance of faith.

A. God is looking for faithful people.

B. Faithful people are hard to find.

C. Faithfulness is the key to blessing, to victory.

II. Six tests of faithfulness.

A. God uses little things to test your integrity.

1. If you are not faithful with somebody lses job who's going to give you yours?

2. Principle: I don"t have to own it to enjoy it, but I can take care of it even though it is not mine.

3. I don't have to own stuff.

B. God uses my talents to test my unselfishness.

1. FAithful people don't live for themselves.

2. God shaped you to serve Him.

3. If you don't use your talent because of fear or laziness, God will take it away and give it to someboy else.

C. God uses tough times to teach me persistence.

1. God is more interested in who you are than what you do.

The Invisible War: Being Faithful in a Faithless World

2012-01-22T16:47:24Z

Luke 18

I. Three important things about the importance of faith.

A. God is looking for faithful people.

B. Faithful people are hard to find.

C. Faithfulness is the key to blessing, to victory.

II. Six tests of faithfulness.

A. God uses little things to test your integrity.

1. If you are not faithful with somebody lses job who's going to give you yours?

2. Principle: I don"t have to own it to enjoy it, but I can take care of it even though it is not mine.

3. I don't have to own stuff.

B. God uses my talents to test my unselfishness.

1. FAithful people don't live for themselves.

2. God shaped you to serve Him.

3. If you don't use your talent because of fear or laziness, God will take it away and give it to someboy else.

C. God uses tough times to teach me persistence.

1. God is more interested in who you are than what you do.

The Invisible War: Why is life so hard?

2012-01-15T17:06:55Z

Jan, me, potterschurch

The Invisible War

Why Is Life in This World So Hard?

I. The cause:

A. Rebellion against God broke everything.

1. Anytime God tells you to do something and you don't do it, you are actually in a war with God.

B. Three kinds of rebellion.

1. Sin: To miss the mark.

2. Transgression: You go too far.

3. Iniquity: Intention to hurt.

II. The Damage.

A. Sin has damaged everything.

B. Six dimensions of life that are damaged on our broken planet.

1. Natural disasters and deformities.

2. Physical decay and death.

a. The Second Law of Thermodynamics: everything in the universe is irreversibly decaying into disorder.

Prayer, Share & Dare!

2012-01-08T16:53:49Z

Making the Changes In Me

2012-01-02T02:29:24Z

Making the Changes In Me
Ephesians 4:21-27

I.    Change requires learning the truth.

II.   Change requires making choices.

III. Change requires new thinking.

IV. Change requires the Holy Spirit.

IV. Change requires honest Community.
    A. In small groups, we need gut level authenticity.
    B. You cannot become until you belong

V.    Change requires overcoming temptation.

Herod Totally Missed It!

2011-12-18T16:47:07Z

Herod Totally Missed It!

Matthew 2:1-8

Why did he miss it?

I. He was consumed by self interests.

A. What is in it for me?

B. The mood of American people runs counter to the thrust of Christian belief and theology.

C. The churches that are solid in this century are those whose where the commitment of people deepen.

II. He missed it because of conscience.

A. Moral chickens always come home to roost.

III. He missed it because of career.

The Bait of Satan: The Sure Foundation

2011-12-15T01:07:57Z

The Invisible War: Making the Hard Changes In Me

2011-12-11T16:50:21Z

Ephesians 4:21-27

I. Six requirements to change:

A. Change requires learning the Truth.

B. Change requires.

1. There is no change without loss.

2. Genetics explains my inclinations, but they don't excuse my sins.

3. Be afraid that you"ll miss God's best.

4. While you are doing the work out, God is working in you.

C. Change requires new thinking.

1. You aren't what you think you are, but what you think, you are.

2. The Greek word for repent is metanoia, which means to change your mind.

3. The only people that posers impress are other posers.

The Invisible War: Making the Hard Changes In Me

2011-12-04T16:53:06Z

The Invisible War

Making the Hard Changes In Me

Two terms: unavoidable defects, and zero defect mentality.

The truth is we're all defective.

Why is it so hard to change the stuff in me that I don't like?

1. Because I have had them so long.

2. I have a hard time with my defects because I identify with them.

a. You are not your defects.

3. My defects have a payoff.

a. There is a reward to everything you do.

4. Satan discourages me.

I. Six requirements to change:

1. Change requires learning the truth.

a. The proof of personal change is found in the truth.

b. Every time you get yourself in a problem it's because you have believed a lie.

c. The Bible was given to us for at least four things:

(1) Doctrine: Shows us the path to get on.

(2) Proof: When we get off the path.

(3) Instruction: How to get back on the path.

(4) Righteousness: How to stay on the path.

Symbol of Self Examination

2011-11-27T16:59:30Z

I John 1:9

1. The bread and cup of Thanksgiving.

2. Let a man examine himself.

3. Reminder:

a. Are you perplexed?

b. Are you troubled?

c. Do you feel guilty?

d. Are you burdened?

e. Are you bored?

4. The Lord's Table is a reminder of our salvation.

******Your faith can make His presence real to you or your unfaith can make His presence null and void!

The Invisible War: Set Free From Me (Conclusion)

2011-11-24T01:11:56Z

The Invisible War Set Free From Me

2011-11-20T17:10:42Z

The Invisible War

Set Free From Me

Romans 8

I. 7 habits needed to help apply the truths of Romans 8:

1. I must remind myself daily what Jesus did for me.

2. I ask the Holy Spirit to give me better thoughts.

a. There's the mindset of your old nature, and there's the mindset of the Holy Spirit.

b. You choose what you dwell on.

c. Satan gives you ideas, that's called temptation.

d. The Holy Spirit gives you ideas, that's called inspiration.

3. I have a new ability to say no.

a. I don't have any obligation to listen to my old nature.

4. I need to turn my thoughts to God whenever I'm afraid.

a. Stop focusing on your fear, start focusing on your Father.

b. Remember whose family you're in.