Purity (Part 5)

Wednesday Night, April 28, 2010

Pastor Shane is continuing week 5 of the "Happy" series from Matthew 5:3-12, "The Beatitudes". We are studying what Jesus was saying at the Sermon on the Mount. Shane's sermon  focuses on verse 8..."God blesses those whose hearts are pure, for they will see God". What does it mean to be pure? Webster's dictionary defines it as free of foreign matter, contamination, or corruption. It is simply "taking impurities out." What is purity? It is to make or become pure. So, how do we become pure in an impure world? Let's take a look at what Pastor Shane has shown us: If you were shown pictures of these 4 men, would you say they were pure or impure/good or bad?

1. Hitler
2. Abraham Lincoln
3. Osama Bin Laden
4. George W. Bush

Now, if you were looking at your own picture, would your friends, parents, etc. say that you were pure or impure/good or bad? Are we really pure or impure? What are your motives? God knows you and your thoughts. He knows what you are like.

 Proverbs 22:11 says...Whoever loves a pure heart and gracious speach will have the king as a friend.

Acts 13:22 tells us that God will remove people in high places to place those that are after God's own heart, despite of their sins. (In this case, God put David in place of Saul. David was after God's own heart and would do whatever God wanted him to do).

Psalm 51:10 says...Create in me a clean heart, O God. Renew a loyal spirit within me.

3 Ways Not to Have a Pure Heart: (Illustrated from David and Bathsheba's life in sin)

1. Believe you are stronger than the temptation.
2. Selfishness/All about Me.
3. Cover up your sin.

There are consequences to every sin and every sin can be forgiven. David's life doesn't end in a bad way. Through his blood line, Jesus came. He took all of our sins to the cross and paid the price in full and through Him we have been forgiven. Do you need forgiveness? Then turn away from your sin, ask God for forgiveness and then receive that forgiveness. For He is worthy to forgive!

Forgiving Others

Wednesday Night, April 21, 2010

Pastor Shane continued his sermon series on week 4 of  the "Happy" series from The Beatitudes in Matthew 5:3-12. Pastor Shane shows us how we can forgive others that have hurt us. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they are called sons of God. We have a lot of hurt with our students. So, what can we do?

We can choose to be happy the world's way or choose to be happy God's way. We are struggling to release the pain from those that have hurt us. (Matthew 5:3-12, Matthew 22:37-39)

Key Verses:

• Matthew 5:23-24
• Matthew 18:21-22
• Colossians 3:13

Happy results when I'm right with God and love Others.
We can be right with God when we ask for forgiveness.
We can be right with others when we offer forgiveness.
Matthew 5:23-24 NLT (Love God and Love Others)
Matthew 18:21-22 NLT (Forgiveness should be unlimited)

Happiness is a choice and forgiveness is not defined by emotion.

Key Points:
What happens when I don't forgive...

• I disobey God's instructions.
• My anger is intensified.
• I relive painful experiences.

How to be a Peacemaker...

• Identify the people who have hurt you.
• Determine what they owe you.
• Cancel their debt.

Are you holding in your anger? Blessed are the peacemakers.

Don't focus on the ones that have Hurt you. Rather, focus on the One who paid such a high price to Forgive You!