Nate's Faith Blog

Week 4 Text: John 6:60–69 Topic(s): Discipleship, Salvation, Eternal Life, Perseverance Big Idea of the Message: Jesus challenges his followers to decide: Will they follow him, or walk away? Application Point: We must make the choice to either follow Jesus wholeheartedly or walk away; true life can only be found through Christ  Talking Points: This passage follows Jesus’s teaching about him being the Bread of Life.The disciples, interpreting his statement literally, were really confused (v. 60). How do you eat his flesh and drink his blood (v. 56–57)? Gross. It seems like Jesus just says things to scare people away sometimes, but he likely wanted to move people from a place of following a leader who rises to some sort of political power to a place of true belief in Jesus, the Messiah. Knowing that the people who were following him are worked up about what he said, Jesus challenges them (v. 61). He asks them what they will thi...

Week 3 Text: Matthew 7:12–27 Topic(s): Following Jesus, Spiritual Foundations, Spiritual Fruit Big Idea of the Message: True disciples will bear spiritual fruit as evidence of God in their lives. Application Point: The believer should consider what their spiritual foundation is and how that shapes and sustains their Christian walk. Talking Points: This passage starts with the Golden Rule: we should treat others the way we desire to be treated (v. 12). Then it becomes a cautionary tale to listeners: there is only one way to eternal life—through Jesus. Don’t be deceived by the “wide” gate that leads to destruction, but instead choose the “hard” path that leads to life (vv. 13–14). Jesus continues his teaching with another warning about false prophets who look like good guys but really are bad news (v. 15). He uses the illustration of a tree to point out how we will know the good from the bad. A good tree bears good fruit, but a ...

  Week 2 Text: Luke 14:25–33 Topic(s): Priorities, Counting the Cost Big Idea of the Message: Jesus challenges people to count the cost of being a disciple. Application Point: The believer is wise to count the cost of following Jesus and to prioritize Christ over the other things that may want to usurp his place in their life. Sermon Ideas and Talking Points: In this passage, Jesus has some strong words about the cost of disciple ship. “Luke had just recorded Jesus’ teaching about God's gracious invitation to enjoy the messianic banquet in the kingdom. It was free for all who would respond. Jesus taught elsewhere that responding meant believing on Him. Now Luke recorded Jesus’ teaching that though salvation was free, discipleship was costly. This is important balancing revelation. Salvation guarantees heaven, but it also calls for complete commitment to Jesus, not to secure heaven but to express gratitude for heaven” (Thomas L. Constable, Notes on...

  Week 1 Text: Matthew 16:21–28 Topic(s): Salvation, Discipleship, Celebrity Big Idea of the Message: Following Jesus requires sacrifice and selflessness. Application Point: Believers keep their eyes focused on Christ and his purposes instead of being distracted by cool Christianity. Talking Points: In this passage, Jesus begins revealing to his disciples that he will suffer, die, and be raised to life in the days ahead (Matthew 16:21). Peter does not like this plan, and he confronts Jesus about it. Peter tells him, “No way.” This is not going to go down like Jesus described it. Jesus fires back at Peter and tells him to knock it off. Peter has lost sight of God’s plan and is too focused on “the things of man” (vv. 22–23). Peter is so relatable, because sometimes God’s plans seem awful from our perspective. We tend to be drawn to the things that look appealing. Why would people want to follow a suffering Savior? That’s just...

  Week 5 Statement: “...the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting." Text: 1 John 1:5-2:2; 1 Cor. 15:35-57 Big Idea: When we trust in Jesus as Lord and Savior, we are completely forgiven of all our sin past, present, and future. Because Jesus defeated death, Christians can have full assurance that we will live with God forever. Sermon Ideas and Talking Points: “It is typical for nonChristians today to say that the cross of Christ makes no sense. ‘Why did Jesus have to die? Why couldn’t God just forgive us?’ Actually no one who has been deeply wronged ‘ just forgives’! If someone wrongs you, there are only two options: (1) you make them suffer, or (2) you refuse revenge and forgive them and then you suffer. And if we can’t forgive without suffering, how much more must God suffer in order to forgive us? If we unavoidably sense the obligation and debt and injustice of sin in our soul, how much more does God know i...

  Week 4 Statement: “ I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic church, the communion of saints...” Text: John 16:5-15; Acts 2:41-47 Big Idea: To become a Christian is to become a member of God’s family when we receive His Holy Spirit. This new identity affects real life every day, not just at church on Sunday mornings. Sermon Ideas and Talking Points: For many of us who have been in church as children, we probably have heard the phrase “Jesus is in your heart,” especially when it comes to becoming a born-again believer. But this phrase is a little misleading. Jesus is literally at the right hand of the Father right now in His resurrected body. When we are born again, we are filled with the Holy Spirit; it is He who comes into us (Romans 8:9-11; John 14:17). It seems the Holy Spirit gets the short end of the stick when it comes to honor in many churches today. How many songs do we sing about the Holy Spirit in worship...

  Week 3 Statement: “...suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. On the third day he rose again; he ascended into heaven; he is seated at the right hand of the Father, and he will come again to judge the living and the dead...” Text: Mark 15 (may choose to read out loud in service verses 1-5; 12-20; 24-39; 42-46); 1 Cor. 15:12-20; Acts 17:30-31; 2 Cor. 5:10 Big Idea: Jesus took on our sin when He died on the cross, defeating evil and death forever when He rose from the dead. If we have trusted in Jesus as Lord and Savior, we do not have to fear punishment when He comes again to judge the world. Sermon Ideas and Talking Points: Notice how Superman is portrayed in this trailer for  Man Of Steel : https://youtu.be/T6DJcgm3wNY If we aren’t careful, we may assume that Jesus was like a superhero in that He had special powers to ward off human weaknesses. Jesus wasn’t super h...

Week 2 Statement: “ I believe in Jesus Christ, God's only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary.” Text: Luke 1:26-38; John 3:16-21 Big Idea of the Message: Jesus isn’t merely a wise teacher, but God in the flesh. Believing this requires radical sacrifice. Talking Points: “We throw around the word ‘believe’ pretty casually, from phrases like ‘I believe in Santa Claus’ to ‘We Believe!’ written on posters held up at sports events. Yet the Biblical sense of ‘believing’ like John 3:16 uses is much stronger. It implies a commitment to trust, understanding ‘that actions based on that trust may follow.” (James Strong, The Strongest Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible , 1636). Acknowledging that Jesus was real is not the basis of Christian faith.Even historians who deny Jesus’ deity acknowledge that He was a real person who existed. The real issue is what w...

  Week 1 Statement: “ I believe in God, the Father Almighty, creator of heaven and earth.” Text: Acts 17:22-28; Genesis 1:1-2 Big Idea of the Message: God is the creator and ruler of all existence; meaning, He deserves our complete and undivided worship. Sermon Ideas and Talking Points: 1. “The word ‘creed’ comes from the Latin word  credo,  meaning ‘I believe.’It was called ‘Apostles’ not because the apostles themselves wrote it (although some people may have thought this), but because the Creed was believed to be an accurate summary of what the apostles taught. The Creed was useful in several ways: The Creed was a public statement of faith, a standardized way in which new people could confess their faith in Jesus Christ. The Creed anchored Christian faith to a tradition, to make it difficult for people or churches to be led astray by strange doctrines. The Creed was a preaching and teaching tool, giving an outline for further ...

3 | CONCLUSION The Devil is the king of lies. All he wants to do sell you lies that lead to sin. When you are being tempted, remember this, Sin never lives up to its promise ​ . Sin is built on lies. Remember that ​ Jesus is THE VOICE in the WILDERNESS. ​ He is ​ THE BREAD OF LIFE. ​ He is always faithful through a hard season! Remember     When you are in an Awkward Stage as a young person you have ​ 2 choices You can either remain in your Awkward Stage for the rest of your life and not grow past it. You can Know that it will not last forever and how one day there will be change! JESUS ​ sees your awkward stage. ​ He sees your inner struggles. He sees your weaknesses! ​ He sees your hurts! But the Devil also sees your weaknesse...

  APPLICATION ​ .  POINT 1  : ​ THE DEVIL ATTACKED JESUS’ WEAKEST AREA. The scripture plainly says that ​ Jesus had just gotten off a 40 day fast ​ . If you don’t know what that means basically Jesus just went 40 days only drinking water! So you could only imagine how hungry he was! But the Devil immediately tried to get Jesus to give in to his temptation because he knew that Jesus was starving! ​ Jesus didn’t give in because he knew that his strength not only came from food but the words and truth of God. The Devil knows your weakest area. ​ He knows what you struggle with and he will try and take advantage of your condition. Remember hard seasons are inevitable, there is no way around them. So when the Devil is attacking your weaknesses remember what the scripture says about what we need. John 6:35 | ​ “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will ne...

 Pray (Show/ talk about an awkward stage in your life)  We all have awkward stages in our life. There is no way to avoid them! Discuss the mental challenges during that time. Even though awkward stages are not fun, they are important.  When you are in an Awkward Stage as a young person you have 2 choices  1. You can either remain in your Awkward Stage for the rest of your life and not grow past it.  2. You can Know that it will not last forever and how one day there will be change!  (Show pictures of you now/ talk about how you grew out of it)  JESUS sees your awkward stage. He sees your inner struggles. He sees your weaknesses! He sees your hurts! But the Devil also sees your weaknesses and knows when you are going through something hard.  But the difference is that JESUS is FOR YOU, meaning that he does not want you to remain in that tough season but he wants to guide you and show you the way past it!  So what is “A VOICE IN THE WILDERNESS”...

Unstoppable Influence  (Acts 9:15-19) But the Lord said to Ananias, "Go!  This man is my chosen instrument to carry my name before the Gentiles and their kings and before the people of Israel. I will show him how much he must suffer for my name." Then Ananias went to the house and entered it. Placing his hands on Saul, he said, "Brother Saul, the Lord—Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you were coming here—has sent me so that you may see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit." Immediately, something like scales fell from Saul's eyes, and he could see again. He got up and was baptized, and after taking some food, he regained his strength.  Influence Killers   When we become gripped with fear.  (Acts 9:13-14) "Lord," Ananias answered, "I have heard many reports about this man and all the harm he has done to your saints in Jerusalem. 14And he has come here with authority from the chief priests to arrest all who call on your nam...

 Unstoppable Pursuit  (1Samuel 13:14) “The Lord has sought out a man after his own heart.”  (Acts 13:22) “After removing Saul, he made David their king. He testified concerning him: ʻI have found David son of Jesse a man after my own heartʼ…”  (Isaiah 40:11) “He tends his flock like a shepherd: He gathers the lambs in his arms and carries them close to his heart…” Godʼs greatest desire is to be close to his kids.   The Fatherʼs heart is loving.  (John 3:16) “For God so loved the world…”  (1 John 3:1) “How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God!”   The Fatherʼs heart is giving.  (John 3:16) “…that he gave his one and only son…”  (Matthew 7:11 NLT) “So if you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give good gifts to those who ask him!”   The Fatherʼs heart is searching.  (John 3:16) “…that whoever believes in h...

 Unstoppable Family Seven Dysfunctions of the Family  (Genesis 12:1-3) “The LORD had said to Abram, "Leave your country, your people and your father's household and go to the land I will show you. I will make you into a great nation and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.”   Discord.  Favoritism.   Hatred.  Jealousy.   Suspicion.   Division.   Murder. Unstoppable Family  (Galatians 3:29) “If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.”  1. Go back to the Word of God.  (Psalm 109:105) “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path.”  2. Trust God through the good and the bad.  (Job 1:21) “Naked came I out of my mother's womb, and naked shall I return thither: the LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken awa...

Unstoppable Unity  (John 17:20-23) “My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one: I in them and you in me. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.”   One enemy.  (Ephesians 6:12) “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.”   One heart.  (Acts 4:32, 34) “All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of his possessions was his own, but they shared everything they had… There were no needy persons among th...

  Ready for Revival John 14:1-3 (NIV) “And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.”   Psalm 85:1-6 (NKJV) You, Lord, showed favor to your land; you restored the fortunes of Jacob. You forgave the iniquity of your people and covered all their sins. You set aside all your wrath and turned from your fierce anger. Restore us again, God our Savior, and put away your displeasure toward us. Will you be angry with us forever? Will you prolong your anger through all generations? Will you not revive us again, that your people may rejoice in you?   Revival: A unique season where the Spirit of God is helping you do something in a supernatural way. Acts 2:14-21 (NIV) Then Peter stood up with the Eleven, raised his voice and addressed the crowd: “Fellow Jews and all ...