TEXT: Mark 10:13-16

The reality is children are little people but they are not little adults.

While times and cultures have changed and continue to change we must cling to the unchanging truth of God’s Word.

There is a difference between being childish in our actions and attitudes and in being childlike in our faith and trust.

I. ACCESS DENIED

II. A DISPLEASED SAVIOUR

Proverbs 22:6
“Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.”

Kids will learn more about what we really believe by watching our behavior than they will by how much we try and teach them the Bible.

III. THE DANGER OF RELIGION

Salvation is not based on what we need to do but on what Jesus did!

Your little child is a little sinner that needs the Salvation of a great Saviour!

I Corinthians 14:20
“Brethren, be not children in understanding: howbeit in malice be ye children, but in understanding be men.”

Romans 15:7
“Wherefore receive ye one another, as Christ also received us to the glory of God.”

IV. A DEMONSTRATION OF LOVE

John 6:37
“All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.”

The outstretched arms of Jesus on Calvary declare to the whole world that God loves us and the only way into the Kingdom of God is through His Son.

TEXT: Psalm 128

The never ending quest for happiness in the human heart is the souls hunger cry for God to be the center and source of our life.

1. This Psalm, while specific, also includes principles of blessings.
2. This Psalm is progressive in its path of blessings.

Romans 14:7, 8
“For none of us liveth to himself, and no man dieth to himself. For whether we live, we live unto the Lord; and whether we die, we die unto the Lord: whether we live therefore, or die, we are the Lord's.”

I. THE ROOTS OF LIVING A BLESSED LIFE

If you want to be happy as a way of life then pursue the source of happiness for your life.

Proverbs 23:17
“Let not thine heart envy sinners: but be thou in the fear of the LORD all the day long.”

Too many people relinquish their happiness to the rulership of someone else.

*C. S. Lewis said:
"God cannot give us happiness and peace apart from himself, because it is not there. There is no such thing."

The outflow of a life that has its foundation in the fear of the Lord is a life marked by faithfulness.

Psalm 16:11
“Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.”

II. THE REWARDS OF LIVING A BLESSED LIFE

Galatians 6:9
“And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.”

A. Blessing Experienced At Work

Instead of always seeking happiness “in” something or someone seek happiness “with” them.

B. Blessings Enjoyed In The Home
C. Blessings Expanded Globally

The transforming power of the Gospel is what will bring peace to the souls of men.

Colossians 2:6, 7
“As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him: Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.”

The blessed life is only experienced by being in Christ and faithfully following Him.

TEXT: Mark 10:32-45

Christ is the Suffering, Servant, Savior!

I. ONE FINAL REMINDER

God planned, prophesied, and preformed the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ!

II. AN UNBELIEVABLE REQUEST

Jesus didn’t come to give us special seats in the coming Kingdom but to pay the ransom for our sin debt!

III. THE REALITY OF SERVANTHOOD

Jesus has not called us to be in the center of the mainstream of anything!

We are never going to impact the world by trying to get special seats of power or becoming mainstream but by demonstrating what it means to live as humble and loving servants.

The wonder of our salvation is not about if we get a seat on a throne of glory but that we get a seat at the table of His grace!

TEXT: Psalm 127

When life is frustrating remember that apart from the faithfulness of God life seems futile.

I. AVOID THE VANITIES OF LIFE

There is no abundant life apart from the Author of Life.
A. Working

Proverbs 16:3
“Commit thy works unto the LORD, and thy thoughts shall be established.”

Hebrews 3:4
“For every house is builded by some man; but he that built all things is God.”

In day when people are obsessed with being first God has called us to be faithful!
B. Watching
C. Worrying

Psalm 4:8
“I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep: for thou, LORD, only makest me dwell in safety.”

Quote:
“Worry is not believing God will get it right, and bitterness is believing God got it wrong.” Tim Keller

The ability to rest is a result of receiving the love of God.

II. ACKNOWLEDGE THE BLESSINGS OF THE LORD

Quote:
"People who do not like children are swine, dunces, and blockheads, not worthy to be called men and women, because they despise the blessing of God, the Creator and Author of marriage." Martin Luther

The priority of worship and raising a family is often sacrificed on the altar of success in the work place.

When we devalue what God says is valuable we end up empty.

II Corinthians 1:20-22
“For all the promises of God in him are yea, and in him Amen, unto the glory of God by us. Now he which stablisheth us with you in Christ, and hath anointed us, is God; Who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts.”

We can rest in God because all that we need doesn’t depend on us but God and He has promised His blessing to us through Jesus.

TEXT: Mark 10:1-12

Proverbs 4:20-23
“My son, attend to my words; incline thine ear unto my sayings. Let them not depart from thine eyes; keep them in the midst of thine heart. For they are life unto those that find them, and health to all their flesh. Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.”

The heart not only needs protected, it needs permeated with the truths of God’s Word.

God knows what it means to deal with the heartbreak of divorce.

Dysfunction, differences and disagreements are a part of marriage. But, that does not mean they are grounds for divorce.

The whole concept of marriage is rooted in a permanent covenant.

I. A PUBLIC CHALLENGE ISSUED

II. THE PROBLEM REVEALED

The most common reason for divorce is a hard heart.

When problems come in your marriage, look to the Creator of the marriage covenant.

The whole concept of marriage is rooted in a permanent covenant.

III. A PRIVATE QUESTION ANSWERED

In all of our unfaithfulness to God, He has remained faithful to us!

TEXT: Mark 9:42-50

The words of Jesus are not a collection of soundbites to randomly quote when it suites us, but serious statements that disciples are to live their life by.

Quote:
“If sinners be damned, at least let them leap to Hell over our dead bodies. And if they perish, let them perish with our arms wrapped about their knees, imploring them to stay. If Hell must be filled, let it be filled in the teeth of our exertions, and let not one go unwarned and unprayed for.” Charles Spurgeon

Quote:
“The strongest and most striking statements concerning hell came from the lips of one who died in order that we wouldn’t have to go there!” Alistair Begg

I. RECOGNIZE THE RISK OF CAUSING OTHERS TO STUMBLE

Being a believer is more about faithful obedience to Jesus and not about being sophisticated and “puffed up” with knowledge.

We need to be concerned not only with the eyes of a watching world but for the lives of those we are seeking to lead.

II. PRACTICE THE PRINCIPLE OF RADICAL AMPUTATION

I Corinthians 6:20
“For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.”

Breaking Free From Life Dominating Sin
1. Take immediate action.
2. Admit your sin.
3. Seek accountability.

A heart that has been truly changed by Jesus will ultimately choose the path of holiness, no matter how hard it is, because the alternative is to take the highway to hell.

III. EMBRACE THE SIGNIFICANCE OF REMAINING SALTY

Our lives will be refined and one day what we have done will be revealed.

Romans 12:1
“I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.”

The purity and potency of the Gospel is lost when the very people who are proclaiming the peace that the Gospel promises are feuding with each other over who is first and fighting about who is right.

Jesus came to serve and he demonstrated what servanthood looks like with his life.

I. __(Insert Your Name)__ UNDERSTANDS THE MISSION OF JESUS

Daniel 7:13, 14
“I saw in the night visions, and, behold, one like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of days, and they brought him near before him. And there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages, should serve him: his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed.”

Any servant who only sticks with Jesus as long as things are going good has no understanding of the cross.

I Corinthians 2:9
“But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.”

Servants understand that life is never going to be easy but in the eternal rule and reign of Jesus we will experience all the indescribable joys God has planned for us.

II. __(Insert Your Name)__ KNOWS THAT LIFE IS NOT ABOUT HIM/HER

When you’re consumed with your own righteousness you will have very little room for other people in your life.

It’s good to know that being a servant is not a platform for greatness it’s a position of humble service.

Quote:
Service to others is the primary way in which believers imitate and fulfill the mission of Jesus. J.R. Edwards

III. __(Insert Your Name)__ ACKNOWLEDGES THERE ARE MANY OTHER SERVANTS

Quote:
“Churches that are filled with self-righteous, exclusive, insecure, angry, moralistic people are extremely unattractive.” Tim Keller

If your brand of Christianity and study of the Scriptures is not ultimately leading you to love Jesus, receive and reach out to others, and serve joyfully in the local church; you’re doing it wrong!

In essentials, Unity!
In non-essentials, Liberty!
In all things, Charity!