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We are a Church on Purpose…Across the Street

Our purpose, beyond reaching across the aisle, is to reach across the street and then around the world. Look at the places in which Jesus commanded for there to be evangelism.

8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” 

First, Jerusalem! Jerusalem was their hometown. It’s where they were, it was local. We are to reach those that are in our home, in our hometown, across the street from where we are. Secondly, Jesus said in all of Judea. Get beyond just your street, your clique, your people or your tribe. I love that Jesus included Samaria in this command. We are often comfortable reaching to people who are like us. Jesus said and in Samaria. Samaria was the place that no one accepted. Jesus said we should reach to those that no one else will reach for. Reach for those in Samaria, there is a great harvest there. The fields are white; however, those willing to reach into the Samaria’s are few. 

That’s why the harvest is so bountiful. No one else will reach into the uncomfortable places to bring them a comforting word from Jesus. Often, some of the comforting words to those that are in “Samaria” aren’t words, they are actions. For many who find themselves in “Samaria”, they cannot hear our words over the grumbling of their stomach. Often the bread of Life served in the areas across the street is not symbolic bread, but literal bread. I am reminded of the words of Jesus, when He spoke about those that fed and watered those in need…

34 “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the creation of the world. 35 For I was hungry, and you fed me. I was thirsty, and you gave me a drink. I was a stranger, and you invited me into your home. 36 I was naked, and you gave me clothing. I was sick, and you cared for me. I was in prison, and you visited me.’ 

37 “Then these righteous ones will reply, ‘Lord, when did we ever see you hungry and feed you? Or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38 Or a stranger and show you hospitality? Or naked and give you clothing? 39 When did we ever see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ 

40 “And the King will say, ‘I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!

It isn’t easy to reach into uncomfortable places! It must be done on purpose, with a purpose, and for a purpose.

We must intentionally reach across the streets to fulfill the word and will of God for those who are across the street. We mustbring the light of Jesus into and onto their street. 

That’s what our Love Goes ministry is all about, being purposeful about those who are across the street. Today I am asking you to pray for our Love Goes ministry. Consider partnering with us to help go across the street. Our mission is to reach, teach and equip people with the Gospel of Jesus Christ and Love Goes helps us to REACH those in need! Take a moment and pray for restoration to come to every life that we touch through our Love Goes ministry!

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We are Church on Purpose… Across the Aisle

Every successful organization and business has a purpose for which they exist. The purpose of the Pepsi plant is to produce Pepsi, Mountain Dew,  and Diet Pepsi. If they suddenly decided to make their main purpose teaching golf lessons instead of making Pepsi, they would soon go out of business. The purpose of our hospitals is to provide health care. How long would they stay in business if they changed their purpose to dry cleaning? Now, there’s nothing wrong with golf lessons or dry cleaning, those are good things to do, but those things can’t become the primary focus of those organizations.

Our church has a purpose statement. There are hundreds of things a church could do that are good things, but a clearly defined purpose statement keeps us focused

on the best things we can do. Southern Illinois Worship Center purpose is to reach, teach, and equip people with the Gospel of Jesus Christ. 

 

Those people that we are to reach, teach, and equip are in three different directions: across the aisle; across the street; and around the world. We have to reach out on purpose in all three of those directions. 

 

There isn’t anything in this life that has value, deals with your destiny, or the kingdom of God that can be done on accident. It has to be done on purpose. You have to purposefully look across the aisle, literally look across the aisle at the people who gather to worship with you. We can go through our routine and forget that the people that sit across the aisle from us; have hurts, sorrow, pain, and grief. Those people, also have points of joy and victory as well. The question is do you genuinely care about the person across the aisle from you? Have reached out to them? 

Do you want to know them and to know about them? Or are you content to just see them each week and smile and shake their hands during our meet and greet time? I believe we can become more intentional (do it on purpose) in reaching across the aisle to love and connect with one another. 

The Apostle John wrote a magnificent letter, in this letter he hasa lot to say about loving one another. Many people call I Corinthians 13 the love chapter, “love” is found eight times in 1 Corinthians 13, but I John 4 should have the designation of the love chapter.  “Love” is used 27 times in 1 John 4. In reading this letter, think about how this relates to being on purpose across the aisle with those that gather with you. 

 

I John 4:7-12; 18-21:

7 Dear friends, let us continue to love one another, for love comes from God. Anyone who loves is a child of God and knows God. 8 But anyone who does not love does not know God, for God is love. 

9 God showed how much he loved us by sending his one and only Son into the world so that we might have eternal life through him. 10 This is real love—not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins. 

11 Dear friends, since God loved us that much, we surely ought to love each other. 12 No one has ever seen God. But if we love each other, God lives in us, and his love is brought to full expression in us. 

18 Such love has no fear, because perfect love expels all fear. If we are afraid, it is for fear of punishment, and this shows that we have not fully experienced his perfect love. 19 We love each other because he loved us first. 

20 If someone says, “I love God,” but hates a fellow believer, that person is a liar; for if we don’t love people we can see, how can we love God, whom we cannot see? 21 And he has given us this command: Those who love God must also love their fellow believers. 

 

We must purpose in our hearts to reach out to the people across the aisle, on purpose. The issue of our day, in all of our technology, we are more connected than ever before, but we also live in isolation. Be on purpose about getting connected to real people.  Reach across that aisle! 

The crux of Christianity is that the last words of Jesus should be our first priority. Jesus said go into all the world (Matthew 28:19). Further He instructed them in Acts 1:8 that they “will” be witnesses of Him, in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and to the ends of the earth! 

 

Take some time over the next 21 days and purposefully connect with those that are across the Aisle, go to them, then go and fellowship with them! Do it on purpose! 

 

 

 

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The Cross was the Purpose

In the presentation of Jesus Christ’s birth to the world the four Gospel writers penned it differently from each other. In two of the Gospels we find the genealogy of Jesus. Each gospel writer presents to us the beginning of his life in a different form.

Matthew presented Jesus as the King; therefore, he wrote a genealogy of his human lineage to show the beginning because a king must have the proper pedigree in order to lay claim to the throne.

Mark presented Christ as a servant, and since no one cares about the lineage of a servant there was no need to write of the genealogies or the beginnings of a servant.

Luke presents Jesus as the son of man because it is helpful to know where a man comes from. Luke tells us emphatically that Jesus was the only man in history to have been able to claim without equivocation that He had a right to the throne of Israel.

Both Joseph and Mary could trace their roots back to David, therefore the lines of genealogy are similar except from verses 23-31 of Luke 3.

It is there that the line changes in Luke’s account. Matthew traced the line of Joseph and Luke is tracing the line of Mary. Instead of tracing it through Solomon where there was a curse (Jeremiah 22:28-30) he traced the lineage back through Solomon’s brother Nathan, the un-cursed line! So, either way they traced it Jesus Christ was the rightful heir to the throne of Israel, if there was to be a throne given!

Jesus of Nazareth was the only person in history that could have been the king of Israel legally or spiritually! His origin that Luke traced out proved that he really was the King!

Luke presented him as the son of man and produced the genealogy of Mary, but John didn’t present him that way! John presented him as the Son of God!

When we open the Gospel of John we find these words…

John 1:1

1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

His beginning was long before the event in Bethlehem. The birth in Bethlehem was the beginning of a new day, but it also was the ending. Remember, God is not just a God of beginnings, God is a finisher!

The Birth was the beginning of the redemptive plan of God. Until Jesus accomplished what He was sent to accomplish, which was to take away the sins of the world, there wasn’t anything or anyone that was going to stop it!

That’s why Paul wrote and said in Philippians 1:6

6 Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:

The Writer of Hebrews wrote it like this in Hebrews 12:2

2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith.

The purpose of the birth was not just about the beginning, the birth of Jesus, but the whole thing was all about the finish. It was about fulfilling the purpose, and that purpose was the Cross!

Jesus said in John 12:27 – “this is the purpose for which I came.” I came to go to the Cross. My purpose in being born and the life I live is to die for the sins of the world.

Everything that Jesus did was to fulfill the purpose of Heaven. The purpose of Heaven was for Jesus to be offered up for you and for me.

When Jesus declared on the Cross that it was finished. It was finished. The sin of the world had forever been erased and cleansed by the blood of the Lamb. The bible tells us; “by one man we were brought into sin, and by one man and his sacrifice we were brought out of sin!” His beginning was as a baby, but His purpose was to finish the work that the law could not do. His purpose was seeking and saving that which was lost! The scripture tells us the he perfected us! Jesus finished the work, He fulfilled His purpose so that we can live out our purpose!

One man fulfilling His purpose, changed the world.

Whose world can you change by fulfilling yours?

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For the Fame of His Name (What’s In A Name?)

Key Verse.
 
11 For from the rising of the sun, even to its going down,
My name shall begreat among the Gentiles;
In every place incense shall beoffered to My name,
And a pure offering;
For My name shall be great among the nations,”
Says the Lord of hosts.
 The New King James Version. (1982). (Mal 1:11). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.
 
 
The scripture says that His name shall be great among the Gentiles. Further, the scriptures tell us that His name shall be great among the Nations. The bible also declares that there would be a time that worship unto Him would not just be in Jerusalem but throughout all the world.  People from everywhere would bring their best to Him, and declare Him to be great. This would cause His name to be famous, great, and known throughout all the world.He wouldn’t be famous just in one place, but in every place. 
 
 
1.) What exactly is in a Name?
 
In Romeo and Juliet, Juliet asked Romeo that very question and then answered it herself: “That which we call a Rose, by any other word would smell as sweet.”
 
The simple truth is that names do make a difference to people.
 
Parents agonize over the names of their children. It is not a simple decision. 
 
Some of us have been named after people that were in our families lives, or after people that made an impact in the world. Your name is something special. 
There are times in life when your full name is appropriate to use, some of you go by a nickname that somewhere someone hung it on you. 
Some of you have special names that only those that are close to you know and use. They are terms of endearment, and by using that name they are expressing love and admiration for you. 
Names are important to us. 
If names are important to us and our culture, they were even more so in the biblical times and culture. Biblical names were filled with meaning. Here are just a few.  
 
Adam meant earth or from the dust.
Abraham meant the father of many nations. 
Isaac meant laughter.
Rachel named her son Benoni meaning the son of my sorrow. Jacob would later change his name to Benjamin meaning the son of my right hand. 
Jabez meant Pain. 
 
As you read through the bible you will find that names were vitally important.
 
This especially true for the names given to our Lord. His names and titles are a dual revelation unto us. I have not counted them, but one historian states, that there are over seven hundred different names and titles of Jesus Christ in the Bible. Each one reveals what Jesus Christ is in Himself, and also what He wants to do for us. 
Jesus Christ is so great that it takes hundreds of names and titles to describe Him! Every name that He wears is a blessing that He shares.  For us the better we understand the power of His name, the better we will know Him. It also brings an understanding to what He wants to do for us. 
Even with all the names and the titles that were given to Jesus, we must understand that, He is better than what we can describe. He is greater than any one name can express. 
 
We just simply say His name, Jesus, and we find out that there is so much wrapped up in that name!
 
21 And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.”
 The New King James Version. (1982). (Mt 1:21). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.
 
She will bring forth a son, and you shall call Him Jesus….
 
Seven Hundred and Fifty Years before the birth of Christ, the Prophet Isaiah spoke these words concerning Him. 
 
14 Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel.
 The New King James Version. (1982). (Is 7:14). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.
 
Later the scriptures record this about Him. 
 
6 For unto us a Child is born,
Unto us a Son is given;
And the government will be upon His shoulder.
And His name will be called
Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
7 Of the increase of Hisgovernment and peace
There will beno end,
Upon the throne of David and over His kingdom,
To order it and establish it with judgment and justice
From that time forward, even forever.
The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this.
 The New King James Version. (1982). (Is 9:6–7). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.
 
Isaiah saw the uniqueness of this child, He was born and He was given. He was both God and man. As a man He was born, but as God, He was given. He (Jesus) would be God wrapped in the flesh of humanity. 
 
Think of the words the description that Isaiah used and then think of what Jesus is to you. 
 
As the wonderful counselor. He guides me through he decisions and the difficulties of life
 
As the Mighty God.  He empowers me for the demands of this life. 
 
As the everlasting Father. He will be with me through every aspect of life. Never leaving, never forsaking, and always with me.
 
As the Prince of Peace.  He gives me peace in every trial and storm that appears in my life. 
 
He is Emmanuel God with us, the one who never leaves us, never forsakes us, but is with us until the ends of the world. 
 
He is the one who is the same yesterday today, and forever. 
 
He is the name that is Higher than any other name. He is Jesus, We shall call His Name Jesus. 
 
You would think that a name that is higher than any other name wouldn’t be a stumbling block. Most stumbling blocks are something low to the ground. Somehow the name that is higher than any other, is stumbling block for people. 
 
 
2.) Don’t stumbleover the Name! 
Have you ever heard somebody get really mad and yell the name of any other so called god? 
No doubt you’ve heard somebody get really mad and yell:
 “Jesus!”
Why?
Because when you’re as mad as you can get or as desperate as you can be. 
You automatically reach for the most powerful name you can find to express the full extent of your anger, frustration, and desperation. The most powerful name I know is the Name of Jesus. Even those that express there is no God, will find themselves calling on the most powerful one, in their moment of powerlessness. 
 
Let’s take a look at the third commandment given to us.  
7  No using the name of God, your God, in curses or silly banter; God won’t put up with the irreverent use of his name.
 Peterson, E. H. (2005). The Message: the Bible in contemporary language(Ex 20:7). Colorado Springs, CO: NavPress.
 
Everyone would agree that societies and families work best when there is no murder, stealing, or lying, people have an easy time understanding the commandments that prohibit those activities. However, in the minds of most people, this commandment the third commandant, is completely different. It is the commonality of everyone taking the Lord’s name in vain occasionally. It has numbed us to the truth, that this is one of those “ Thou Shalt Not’s! Though many think it’s ok to take the Lord’s name in vain, God disagrees. Think on this! He prohibited stealing, coveting, killing, lying, committing adultery with a simple “Thou shalt not,” He amplified the commandment of taking His name in vain as if to say “This is really serious.”
I would suggest that we are becoming desensitized to the Name of Jesus. when the Lord’s name is used in vain, in a manner that really has no meaning, the result is desensitization. Satan is behind blasphemy and profanity because they trivialize both salvation and damnation. This commandment is not about God being offended, but about people being lost, desensitized to the reality of the Name that will save them and the reality of where they will be if they don’t receive Him.
 
We cannot stumble over the name. We cannot misuse the Name!  This isn’t a Name nor is it a statement that we should use to express our frustration, or to pronounce a curse over anyone or anything. This Name is a saving Name, this is a delivering name. 
 
Yet, people continually stumble over the name. 
 
30 What shall we say then? That Gentiles, who did not pursue righteousness, have attained to righteousness, even the righteousness of faith; 31 but Israel, pursuing the law of righteousness, has not attained to the law of righteousness. 32 Why? Because they didnot seek itby faith, but as it were, by the works of the law. For they stumbled at that stumbling stone.33 As it is written:
“Behold, I lay in Ziona stumbling stone and rock of offense,
Andwhoever believes on Him will not be put to shame.”
 The New King James Version. (1982). (Ro 9:30–33). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.
 
3.) Who is this stumbling block?
 
22 For Jews request a sign, and Greeks seek after wisdom; 23 but we preach Christ crucified, to the Jews a stumbling block and to the Greeks foolishness, 24 but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.
 The New King James Version. (1982). (1 Co 1:22–24). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.
Jesus Christ was the stumbling block – 
 
The Jews discounted Jesus, because they were looking for a Messiah that would lead them militarily, someone who would forcefully deliver them. Yet, this Messiah was taken out by the cross, they found it to be a humiliation, that Jesus was crucified. If He was the Messiah, then He wouldn’t have allowed Himself to be humiliated by the Cross. 
 
The Greeks didn’t find the Cross, humiliating as did the Jews. They found it to be too simple. And the Greek mind-set is still present today in those who think the preaching of the Cross is too simple, that it doesn’t deal with the dysfunctional families, drug addictions, and cultural differences of our complex culture. We who have personally experienced the power of the Cross,  know otherwise.
 
That’s the stumbling block. It’s to simple. 
 
They’ll say…”It cannot be that easy.” 
 
Why do people stumble over the name of Jesus, and the power of the Cross? 
 
Because it’s to simple and my problems are complex, my life is complicated. 
 
They’ll ask. “You mean by believing on the Lord Jesus Christ that’s all? That is to easy.”
 
If that’s you, then you just stumbled over the very solution to your life. 
 
You haven’t found it to be the solution, because of it’s simplicity. 
 
The simplicity of this, is the profoundness of it. 
 
The seemingly weakness of it, is actually the strength of it. 
 
People stumble because His is the name that is Higher than any other – 
 
The world we live in, wants to bring the power of the name down. Because it’s not politically correct to state that one is better than the other. Therefore want to bring it down to be equal to all other names. You can say that if you like, but it still isn’t true. His Name is higher than any other. 
 
You may think of His name as something lowly, but His name is actually Higher than any other name. 
 
9 Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, 11 and thatevery tongue should confess that Jesus Christ isLord, to the glory of God the Father.
 The New King James Version. (1982). (Php 2:9–11). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.
 
We serve the only God that still lives. Jesus is the only one who laid down His life. He isn’t asking you to die for Him, He asks for you to Live For HIM! 
 
People stumble over Jesus because He takes the low and the high and causes them all to be equal. (Gal 3:26-29)
 
Because of Jesus, the rich man and poor man become equal in the sight of God. 
 
Regardless of the size of your house, the car you drive. When you walked in here today, we are all the Sons of God. 
 
People stumble over Jesus because He is the only way. 
 
Oh, there has to be multiple ways, there has to be my way, no there is only one way!
 
Acts 4:10-12
 
10 let it be known to you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead, by Him this man stands here before you whole. 11 This is the ‘stone which was rejected by you builders, which has become the chief cornerstone.’12 Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”
 The New King James Version. (1982). (Ac 4:10–12). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.
 
John 14:6
 
6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.
 The New King James Version. (1982). (Jn 14:6). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.
 
 
And when it comes to eternity, you better have the Name of Jesus applied to your life. It’s the only way in. 
 
4.) WhenYou Callon that Name!
 
21 And it shall come to pass
That whoever calls on the name of the Lord
Shall be saved.’
 The New King James Version. (1982). (Ac 2:21). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.
 
The Hebrew call means to call out cry out
Greek word means to invoke a person, to call a person by name.
The word says to them that call on His name, they shall be saved.
We call on the name of Jesus.
When did people begin to practice audibly calling on the name of the Lord?
Genesis tells us the practice of calling on the Lord began long ago in the third generation of mankind when Adam’s grandson Enosh was born: 
“And to Seth also a son was born, and he called his name Enosh. At that time men began to call upon the name of Jehovah.” Genesis 4:26
But why did people begin to do this? 
The meaning of the name Enosh gives us a clue. Enosh means frail, mortal man. Because of mankind’s fall, man was frail and without God, the meaning of his existence. From the time of Enosh, men realized both the emptiness and vanity of life apart from God as well as how fragile and mortal we are without Him! 
They began to call upon the name of Jehovah, the Hebrew word for Lord. The meaning of the name Jehovah is I am that I am. He is the eternal God, the unique One who is. Everything and everyone else is not. Frail, mortal human beings realized they needed the eternal God. So they began to call on the one that IS and IS to come.
 
Our condition is the same today as it was in Enosh’s time. We’re still frail and mortal, and life is often confusing, full of turmoil, and even overwhelming to us. We’re limited physically and psychologically. We are frail and need someone to strengthen us in our weakness. We are lost and in need of being found. Therefore you need not stumble over the Name instead call on the Name, the Name of Jesus. When you call on His Name, though you are lost, you will be found! 
Further Study
Romans 10:12-13, Acts 2:21, Joel 2:32

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Make the Wise Choice

Key Verse

15 See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, 16 redeeming the time, because the days are evil.17 Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is.

Ephesians 5:15-17 (NKJV)

There is a great assumption that if “something” isn’t wrong, then it must be alright. Many assume that if a sermon hasn’t been preached about the direct issue they are facing, or they haven’t found verses directly related to it, if other Church people are doing it, then many will believe what they are doing is a right thing.
We then move to a thought process of ‘ “how close can I get to sin without actually sinning!” How many times can I take fire in and not get burned?

Stop asking the question is this wrong for me, and start asking is this wise for me.

 

  1. Walk Carefully 

Walking carefully gives us the idea that we are to scope out the situation and think ahead to the domino effect this decision will have when we make it. Get an idea of what is to come before it’s too late.

We are to walk carefully because the arena in which we are walking is a dangerous one.

 

  1. Understand the Will of the Lord– Ephesians 5:17

Paul is telling us to “face up to what you know in your heart is the will of the Lord”. You know the right thing to do, it’s in your heart and you know what is true! As long as you are honest with yourself, you’ll know the wise decision to make.

Choices have consequences, we must make wise choices to avoid tough consequences.

 Lot made a choice as to where to live, and as a result he
      experienced:
      1) War and kidnapping – Genesis 14
      2) Oppression and torment by the ungodly citizens of Sodom
(2 Peter 2:7-8)
      3) Loss of all his possessions, death of his wife, and incest with
         his daughters – Genesis 19
    David chose to commit adultery with Bathsheba, and as a consequence he suffered:
      1) The death of his infant son – II Samuel 12
      2) A daughter molested by her half-brother – II Samuel 13
      3) That son killed by her vengeful brother – II Samuel 13
      4) A rebellion led by that son, who shamed him publicly, and whose
         death brought even more grief to David – II Samuel 15-18
Choices have consequences.
  1. 3 Types of People – Who will you be? 
  1. The Fool
  2. The Scoffer
  3. The Wise

 

Proverbs 28:26  (NKJV) – He who trusts in his own heart is a fool,

But whoever walks wisely will be delivered.

 

Fool = knows what to do but doesn’t do it.
7 A proverb in the mouth of a fool
is as useless as a paralyzed leg.
 Tyndale House Publishers. (2013). Holy Bible: New Living Translation(Pr 26:7). Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House Publishers.
Scoffer = He’s a lot like the fool, he knows what to do and doesn’t do it. Then the scoffer takes it a step further by criticizing the wise.
24 A proud and haughty man—“Scoffer” is his name;
He acts with arrogant pride.
 The New King James Version. (1982). (Pr 21:24). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.
Wise – knows what to do and does what he knows to do.  (Homework assignment list out the attributes of the wise using a concordance or search engine)
20 There is desirable treasure,
And oil in the dwelling of the wise,
But a foolish man squanders it.
 The New King James Version. (1982). (Pr 21:20). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.
5 A wise man is strong,
Yes, a man of knowledge increases strength;
 The New King James Version. (1982). (Pr 24:5). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.

10 questions to ask yourself in making a decision.

1.What does the bible say about making decisions?

Proverbs 2:6, Proverbs 3:5-6, I Corinthians 10:31, II Corinthians 6:14, Proverbs 22:7, Philippians 4:8

2.Do I have all the facts? (do I know the whole story)

Proverbs 18:13,17

4 sides to a story.

3.Am I being pressured by time or people in making a premature decision?

Proverbs 19:2, Proverbs 21:5

Another’s procrastination doesn’t equal an emergency on my part.

4.What motives are driving my decision? 

Proverbs 16:2, Proverbs 20:9

Why do I do what I do?

5.Have I considered past experiences in making this decision?

Proverbs 26:11, Proverbs 17:10

Find someone who will tell you where the potholes are and how deep they are.

6.Have I asked for counsel from multiple people?

Proverbs 11:14, Proverbs 18:1-2

Multitude of counselors there is safety.

Friends for seasons and for reasons.

No meeting after the meeting!

7.Have I disregarded any warning red flags?

Proverbs 10:17, Proverbs 16:25, Proverbs 27:6

Have I blown past the stop signs?

Don’t ignore the checks, the checks are pointing you to a better decision.

You will not be the exception to the rule. Past performance equals future results, unless there is an encounter with Jesus.

8.Have I considered the outcomes and consequences for my course of action?

Proverbs 14:1,15, Proverbs 27:12

What’s the domino effect of this decision?

9.Could this decision cause my integrity or my witness for the Lord to be questioned?

Proverbs 25:26, Proverbs 10:9, Proverbs 20:7, Proverbs 22:1

Is it keeping your life above reproach?

Can your good be evil spoken of?

10. Will this allow me to make a greater impact for God’s Kingdom?

Proverbs 11:30

Only what you do for the Kingdom will last.

We must make maximum impact for the kingdom.

 

 

If you lack wisdom, ask God to give it to you.

James 1:5 (NKJV)

5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.

 

Proverbs 1:7 NKJV

7           The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge,

Butfools despise wisdom and instruction.

 

Proverbs 9:10 NKJV

10          “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom,

And the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.