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Sermon Summary: This sermon explores the importance of listening as part of the "BLESS" strategy for sharing the gospel. It emphasizes the need to listen first to God, then to others, and finally to our surroundings. The pastor stresses that a burning heart for God leads to a flaming tongue for evangelism and that intentional, compassionate listening is crucial for effective ministry and personal spiritual growth.

Key Points: Prayer is the foundation for all aspects of blessing others We must listen to God first before listening to others Listening to people involves understanding their hearts, not just their words We need to be aware of and listen to our community's needs and idols Intentional and compassionate listening is essential for showing Christ's love The goal of Christian life is not just to endure until heaven, but to participate in God's redemptive work

Scripture Reference: Proverbs 18:13 - "He who answers before listening, that is his folly and his shame."

We're challenged to embrace the second greatest commandment: loving our neighbors. The sermon series 'BLESS' unpacks five everyday ways we can love our neighbors and change the world. We're reminded that loving our neighbors isn't always easy, especially in our modern 'back deck' culture. However, by beginning with prayer, we can ask God to bless us indeed and enlarge our territory, just as Jabez did in 1 Chronicles 4:10. This isn't about material blessings, but about expanding our sphere of influence and opening our eyes to the opportunities around us. We're called to let our light shine, as Jesus teaches in Matthew 5:16, making a ripple effect that can impact eternity. This message challenges us to see that our 'someday' for making a difference is today, encouraging us to live intentionally and sacrificially for God's glory.

Key Points:

• Love God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength, and love your neighbor as yourself
• Begin with prayer to ask God for blessings and increased influence
• Open your eyes to opportunities to love your neighbors that are already around you
• Make your life "ripple" for eternity by impacting others positively Intentionally and sacrificially love your neighbors to fulfill God's purpose for your life

Scripture Reference:

• Mark 12:30-31 (The two greatest commandments)
• 1 Chronicles 4:10 (The prayer of Jabez)

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Sermon Summary:

This sermon explores the concept of gluttony, expanding its definition beyond just food to encompass overindulgence in various aspects of life. The pastor emphasizes that gluttony is allowing our senses and desires to dictate our actions, rather than relying on God's wisdom and self-control. The message highlights the importance of having a plan to combat impulsiveness and understanding our true spiritual hunger, which can only be satisfied through a relationship with Jesus Christ. The sermon concludes with a powerful reminder of God's unconditional love and the transformative power of choosing Christ over our earthly cravings.

Key Points:

• Gluttony is not just about overeating but overindulging in any desire
• The "monster of more" constantly tempts us to want more than we need
• Gluttony involves letting our senses dictate our actions instead of seeking God's wisdom
• Having a plan is crucial to combat impulsive behavior and temptation
• True contentment comes from seeking something greater than personal satisfaction
• Jesus knew who He was dying for and loves us unconditionally despite our flaws
• God always provides a way out of temptation when we rely on Him

Scripture Reference:

• Genesis 25:29-34 (The story of Esau selling his birthright to Jacob for a bowl of stew)

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Sermon Summary:

This sermon addresses the human tendency to constantly compare ourselves to others, leading to envy and dissatisfaction. The speaker emphasizes that there is "no win in comparison" and encourages listeners to find contentment and peace by focusing on God's view of them rather than measuring themselves against others. The message highlights the futility of always seeking more and the importance of finding tranquility in what God has provided.

Key Points:

• Constant comparison to others leads to dissatisfaction and envy
• There is "no win in comparison" - it's meaningless and like chasing the wind
• Envy can lead to destructive behaviors and attitudes
• It's better to have "one handful with tranquility" than two handfuls with toil
• We should take our cue about ourselves from God, not from comparing to others
• Finding peace and acceptance in God's view of us is the path to contentment

Scripture Reference:

• Ecclesiastes 4:4-8 (primary focus)
• Proverbs 14:30 (supporting reference)

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Sermon Summary:

This sermon addresses the challenging topic of lust and sexual temptation, framing it as a spiritual battle that all Christians face. Pastor Jody emphasizes that God's warnings about sexual purity are not meant to deprive us of pleasure, but to protect us from harm and draw us closer to Him. Using the analogy of an airboat tour and the repeated warning to "keep your hands inside the boat," the sermon illustrates how God's commandments regarding sexual purity are meant to safeguard us from the dangers of lust, which is compared to alligators lurking in the water.

Key Points:

• Lust is a heart issue that begins in the mind before manifesting in actions
• Our culture complicates the battle against lust through constant sexual stimulation
• Lustful desires are impossible to fully satisfy and lead to a cycle of increasing hunger
• Uncontrolled lust ultimately leads to disaster in various aspects of life
• Practical steps to combat lust include monitoring your eyes, defantasizing myths about relationships, acknowledging the struggle, and guarding your relationships
• The importance of nurturing one's relationship with Jesus and, for married couples, working on their marriage
• Resisting temptation through the power of the Holy Spirit and focusing on God's truth

Scripture Reference:

• Matthew 5:27-30

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Sermon Summary:

This sermon explores the delicate balance between maintaining personal purity and demonstrating compassion for the poor and needy. The pastor challenges listeners to examine their hearts, warning against using good deeds as a cover for impurity or focusing solely on outward purity while neglecting care for others. The message emphasizes that true religion, acceptable to God, involves both keeping oneself unstained by the world and actively caring for those in need.

Key Points:

• God desires both purity and compassion from believers
• Good deeds cannot compensate for personal impurity or sin
• Outward purity without genuine care for others is unacceptable to God
• True worship involves both personal holiness and active care for the needy
• God's love motivates His correction and discipline of His people
• Believers should bring their whole lives before God for cleansing and renewal

Scripture Reference: James 1:27 Galatians 6:7-8 Matthew 23:23-28 Amos 5:21-24 Revelation 3:17-19 Psalm 51:7-10 Psalm 139:23-24

Chapin Christian Community Church exists to help people connect with the saving love of Jesus, grow in full devotion to Him, and share His love with each other and the world.

In our journey of faith, we're called to become intercessors - those who persistently pray on behalf of others. The parable in Luke 11:5-8 beautifully illustrates this concept. It shows us a friend desperately seeking help at midnight, reminding us of our own desperate need for God and the urgent love we should have for others. This story challenges us to approach prayer with shameless persistence, knocking on heaven's door until we see God move. It's a powerful reminder that we have nothing to offer but Jesus, yet through Him, we have access to unlimited spiritual resources. As we cultivate this mindset, we shift from merely wanting to be used by God to desiring to be used by Him for the sake of others. This message urges us to keep asking, seeking, and knocking, believing that our Heavenly Father is eager to answer and pour out His Spirit upon us.

Key Points:

Recognize our desperate need for God and that only He can meet it Develop an urgent love for others, even those unaware of their spiritual need Be aware of the spiritual resources available through prayer Maintain shameless persistence in prayer, not giving up Be assured that God will answer prayer according to His goodness Shift from wanting to be used by God to being used by God for others Continue asking, seeking, and knocking in prayer

Scripture Reference:

Luke 11:5-13 (The Parable of the Friend at Midnight)

Chapin Christian Community Church exists to help people connect with the saving love of Jesus, grow in full devotion to Him, and share His love with each other and the world.

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Sermon Summary:

This sermon focuses on the Christian identity as missionaries, emphasizing that all believers are "sent ones" by Jesus Christ. The speaker challenges the congregation to recognize their purpose as witnesses for Christ, empowered by the Holy Spirit. The message stresses the importance of understanding this identity to fulfill God's mission of sharing His love and the gospel throughout the world.

Key Points:

Christians are missionaries, defined as "one who is sent" to share the good news of Jesus Many Christians suffer from an identity crisis, not fully embracing their role as missionaries The Holy Spirit empowers believers to be witnesses for Christ Understanding our identity as missionaries leads to active participation in God's mission The Global Impact Celebration (GIC) is an opportunity to engage in missionary work Christians are called to pray, practice, and participate in sharing God's love

Scripture Reference:

Acts 1:7-8 Mark 3:14 Matthew 10:16 John 17:18 John 20:21 Acts 1:4-11

Chapin Christian Community Church exists to help people connect with the saving love of Jesus, grow in full devotion to Him, and share His love with each other and the world.