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Key Scriptures:
Matthew 13:45 Again the kingdom of heaven is like a man who is a dealer in search of fine and precious pearls, 46 Who, on finding a single pearl of great price, went and sold all he had and bought it.
Value of Learning and Discovery
One great lesson of the parable is the joy of the discovery that caused the man to be willing to give up everything to make the treasure, and the expectation of discovery his own.
The Pull of Priority Revealed:
Find your “Pearls” and “Pearl.” Prioritize the things in God and in life that are most beautiful to you.
What is the Value of Priority?
Priority is not only about things you HAVE TO DO.
It is also about things you LOVE TO DO.
It is about things that you consider beautiful and the the pursuit of those things
We don’t seek the kingdom only to have things added. We seek the kingdom because it is beautiful! We seek the kingdom because there’s nothing better!
Value Reflection Questions:
1. What is Value?
2. Who are the people you value?
3. What are the things you value?
4. What values need to change?
5. How to you value the kingdom of God?
Priority Reflection Questions:
1. What is Priority?
2. What do you have to do?
3. What should you do?
4. What things are beautiful to you?
5. Where does the Kingdom of God fit in?
6. What needs to change?
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Key Scriptures:
Ecclesiastes 4:9, Two are better than one, Because they have a good reward for their labor. 10 For if they fall, one will lift up his companion. But woe to him who is alone when he falls, For he has no one to help him up. 11 Again, if two lie down together, they will keep warm; But how can one be warm alone? 12 Though one may be overpowered by another, two can withstand him. And a threefold cord is not quickly broken.
Proverbs 17:17, A friend loves at all times, And a brother is born for adversity.
John 13:34, A new commandment I give unto you, That you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another.
We are going to learn about the Power of Together highlighting four words:
Better, Bigger, Braver, and Bolder
BETTER
Eccl. 4:9, “Two are better than one…”
You can do more with others than you can by yourself.
BIGGER
Eccl. 4:9, “They have a good reward for their labor…”
NLT, “…For they can help each other succeed.”
We usually think of bigger as large size or quantity –– more. We should think of bigger as higher quality.
BRAVER
Ecclesiastes. 4:12, “Though one may be overpowered by another, two can withstand him….”
BOLDER
Ecclesiastes 4:12, And a threefold cord is not quickly broken.
Watch Video: "Lesson from Mother Duck and Ducklings"
Brave defined: Willing to face and endure danger or pain; Possessing or displaying courage.
To be brave and have courage does not necessarily mean there is an absence of fear. When you are brave, your sense of purpose and willingness to act are greater than your fear. You learn bravery from others and God gives you strength to stand against obstacles.
For this reason, it is good to read biographies and study the lives of others.
It is amazing what you can learn “vicariously,” meaning through the “flesh/experiences” of other people
Example of Boldness by Frederick Douglass
“…Between the Christianity of this land, and the Christianity of Christ, I recognize the widest possible difference — so wide, that to receive the one as good, pure, and holy, is of necessity to reject the other as bad, corrupt, and wicked. To be the friend of the one, is of necessity to be the enemy of the other. I love the pure, peaceable, and impartial Christianity of Christ..”
April 28, 1845, Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, An American Slave,
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Key Scriptures:
Ecclesiastes 4:9, Two are better than one, Because they have a good reward for their labor. 10 For if they fall, one will lift up his companion. But woe to him who is alone when he falls, For he has no one to help him up. 11 Again, if two lie down together, they will keep warm; But how can one be warm alone? 12 Though one may be overpowered by another, two can withstand him. And a threefold cord is not quickly broken.
Proverbs 17:17, A friend loves at all times, And a brother is born for adversity.
John 13:34, A new commandment I give unto you, That you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another.
We are going to learn about the Power of Together highlighting four words:
Better, Bigger, Braver, and Bolder
BETTER
Eccl. 4:9, “Two are better than one…”
You can do more with others than you can by yourself.
BIGGER
Eccl. 4:9, “They have a good reward for their labor…”
NLT, “…For they can help each other succeed.”
We usually think of bigger as large size or quantity –– more. We should think of bigger as higher quality.
LISTEN TO PODCAST
1 John 4:7, Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. 8 He who does not love does not know God, for God is love. 9 In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him.
WHAT IS LOVE? LOVE IS A COMPASS.
John 3:16 Tells you everything essential that you need to know about the love of God, or what we can call “the God kind of love.” There are four important ingredients to the God kind of love.
1. Love is universal and not selective
2. Love is sacrificial and not selfish
3. Love gives and doesn’t take
4. Love leads to safe places
Contrasted to the “world’s kind of love” we find quite the opposite. The worldly kind of love is:
1. Narrow and highly selective
2. Stingy and selfish
3. Motivated by selfish gain
4. The best interests of others is not in view
How we relate to, and navigate with, others is one of the most important skills of life. Entire books and courses are dedicated to how to relate to others. All this is good, but walking in love is the most helpful.
James called it the “Royal Law.”
James 2:8, Yes indeed, it is good when you obey the royal law as found in the Scriptures: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” (Leviticus 19:17-18)
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SPECIAL 5 MIN. MESSAGE EXCERPT
"Navigate Well During COVID. Get Out of Fear. Get Into Love. Have Courage."
Mark 6:30, Then the apostles gathered to Jesus and told Him all things, both what they had done and what they had taught. 31 And He said to them, “Come aside by yourselves to a deserted place and rest a while.” For there were many coming and going, and they did not even have time to eat. 32 So they departed to a deserted place in the boat by themselves.
When taking a voyage of any type, before starting the navigation to the destination, check the readiness of the vessel. We are going to focus on self-care, not in a spirit of self indulgence, but in the spirit of being ready to serve the Lord. We want to be “Fit for the Journey.” The need for self-care is not evidence of a deficiency within yourself, it is evidence that you've been about the Father’s business.
Principles of Self-Care:
1. REST – Good rest is one of the most important things you can do for your self care. Rest is not only about sleeping, which is a part of rest. Rest is a state of mind. If you don’t get rest in your mind, it may be difficult to go to sleep:
Jesus said, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” Matthew 11:28
Reflection Questions:
1. What do you need to “fix” on your vessel before continuing the journey?
2. Why are you more than what you do?
3. What is rest? Why is it more than sleep?
4. In what do you need to reach out for help?
5. What is your value? (Make a list)
6. What are the two parts of the Great Commandment?
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"Navigate" is the best word I have found to characterize living and working in this interesting and sometimes perilous season. Looking at people and circumstances both within my circle and within our local and national community, we see challenges related to navigating life. We have seen both successful voyages and shipwrecks.
Romans 8:28, “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.”
We can’t make sense of things that happen. We don’t dwell on bad things because “things” don’t define us.
We are defined by our LOVE for God and fulfilling His PURPOSE— which causes the puzzle of things to work for our good.
What I mean by the word NAVIGATE:
1) Plan and direct the route or course of a ship, aircraft, or other form of transportation, especially by using instruments or maps.
2) To sail or travel over (a stretch of water or terrain), especially carefully or with difficulty.
3) Successful navigation or travel is based on fixed points of reference
Navigation Requires Fixed Points (coordinates)
#1 Jesus Christ: "The same yesterday, today, and forever." (Hebrews 13:8 )
#2 The Word of God #3 Objective Truth and Facts
We have to recognize truth at two levels:
1) Biblical truth
2) Objective truth. Believers who over spiritualize completely miss the importance of objective truth. Something which the Bible supports
