Sermon Notes...I'm Doing the Best I Can

Scriptural Text... Mark 9:14-29 (v. 24) The father instantly cried out, “I do believe, but help me overcome my unbelief!” (New Living Translation)

Introduction: Society's appreciation for mothers is great and it should be. However, there seems to be a public under-appreciation for fathers. This isn't a battle of the sexes, but this is a message that recognizes men and not males; that teaches males how to be men.

Transition: Mark chapter nine is the location of a really familiar story. Normally, we only deal with this text from the viewpoint of the disciples, the demoniac boy or Jesus. Since it's Father's Day, let's examine these verses through the lens of the boy's father...

Exposition: The text is tailored to teach three principles, to help every father to do the best they can...

1) When you're frustrated, get help not a high...verses 14-22 When they returned to the other disciples, they saw a large crowd surrounding them, and some teachers of religious law were arguing with them. ¹⁵ When the crowd saw Jesus, they were overwhelmed with awe, and they ran to greet him. ¹⁶ “What is all this arguing about?” Jesus asked. ¹⁷ One of the men in the crowd spoke up and said, “Teacher, I brought my son so you could heal him. He is possessed by an evil spirit that won’t let him talk. ¹⁸ And whenever this spirit seizes him, it throws him violently to the ground. Then he foams at the mouth and grinds his teeth and becomes rigid. So I asked your disciples to cast out the evil spirit, but they couldn’t do it.” ¹⁹ Jesus said to them, “You faithless people! How long must I be with you? How long must I put up with you? Bring the boy to me.” ²⁰ So they brought the boy. But when the evil spirit saw Jesus, it threw the child into a violent convulsion, and he fell to the ground, writhing and foaming at the mouth. ²¹ “How long has this been happening?” Jesus asked the boy’s father. He replied, “Since he was a little boy. ²² The spirit often throws him into the fire or into water, trying to kill him. Have mercy on us and help us, if you can.”
-Your life vices won't eliminate the issues you face.
-Do you know who to go to, when you're dealing with something that's to big for you?

2) Don't allow your testosterone to hinder your faith...verses 22-24 The spirit often throws him into the fire or into water, trying to kill him. Have mercy on us and help us, if you can.” ²³ “What do you mean, ‘If I can’?” Jesus asked. “Anything is possible if a person believes.” ²⁴ The father instantly cried out, “I do believe, but help me overcome my unbelief!”
-Faith (the positive and strong belief that things will change) coupled with action, makes the impossible possible.
-The exposure of your shortcomings doesn't make you less of a man; only when you don't want help does.

3) After you've positioned your children for greatness, fade into the background...verses 25-29
When Jesus saw that the crowd of onlookers was growing, he rebuked the evil spirit. “Listen, you spirit that makes this boy unable to hear and speak,” he said. “I command you to come out of this child and never enter him again!” ²⁶ Then the spirit screamed and threw the boy into another violent convulsion and left him. The boy appeared to be dead. A murmur ran through the crowd as people said, “He’s dead.” ²⁷ But Jesus took him by the hand and helped him to his feet, and he stood up. ²⁸ Afterward, when Jesus was alone in the house with his disciples, they asked him, “Why couldn’t we cast out that evil spirit?” ²⁹ Jesus replied, “This kind can be cast out only by prayer.”
-There comes a time when you have to be confident and comfortable with your parental work.
-You can advise (being a voice without a vote) when necessary but not dictate (control).

Sermon Notes...Be Cool

Scripture Text...Daniel 6

Introduction: Pressure, problems and pain doesn't develop your character, as much as it exposes it... The story of your ability is told as you struggle. Sometimes you're in a struggle and aren't even aware.

Transition: When you know the principles, you don't have to be afraid of the problem...

Exposition: Here's three action steps to help you 'Be Cool'...

1) Prayer has to be a priority...verse 10 But when Daniel learned that the law had been signed, he went home and knelt down as usual in his upstairs room, with its windows open toward Jerusalem. He prayed three times a day, just as he had always done, giving thanks to his God.
   -1 Thessalonians 5:17 Never stop praying.
   -If you only pray when you're in trouble, you're in trouble!
   -Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you.

2) Live like you're leaving...verse 16 So at last the king gave orders for Daniel to be arrested and thrown into the den of lions. The king said to him, “May your God, whom you serve so faithfully, rescue you.”
   -"Life isn't about your duration, but your donation." ~Jim Cowart (Reference verses 1-3)
   -Daniel understood that life was designed to glorify God by how he lived. Even the king knew   that he was serious about his relationship with God.
   -King Darius does not know God, but he knows Daniel and seeds have been planted in him and he didn't know it.

3) Keep your faith grounded...verse 23 The king was overjoyed and ordered that Daniel be lifted from the den. Not a scratch was found on him, for he had trusted in his God.
   -Don't allow the current direction of your life to separate you from God (Reference Romans 8:38-39).
   -Don't allow the lions of life, to scare you off course and make you feel trapped (Reference 1st Peter 5:8).
   -Don't act like you've made it on your own (Reference 1st Corinthians 15:10).

Conclusion: We've explored how you should 'Be Cool' but let's culminate this study with why you should 'Be Cool'. Psalm 37:1-3 says "Don’t worry about the wicked or envy those who do wrong.
² For like grass, they soon fade away. Like spring flowers, they soon wither. ³ Trust in the Lord and do good. Then you will live safely in the land and prosper." Daniel's enemies were cut off in verse 24 of Daniel chapter 6 and Daniel prospered in verse 28!

BIG NEWS!!!

Good morning and may the Lord be with you today! Here's the BIG NEWS!!!...

*Today from 10am to 12noon, Lucretia Taylor will be at the church for those of you that want to donate items for this Saturday's yard sale. Remember that the yard sale will be in the front paling lot from 7am to 12pm.

*Our prayer call tonight at 7pm is a don't miss! Peanut (Fred Taylor, III) will be leading us. Call (641) 715-3836 and use access code 131337. Please make every effort to be on the call and once it begins me your phones, so there won't be any distractions for the leader.

*Sunday morning, I'll be preaching a message titled 'Be Cool'. Be busy inviting folks to come with you this week at 10:45am.

*I'm in Tifton, Ga today through Saturday, for the yearly meeting of our conference of churches. Pray for my wife and I, as we represent you to best of our ability. It's my life's privilege to be your pastor and I want to make you proud of my work. Remember that church growth is not a one man show. I need every one of you to do your part, to make Grace Corner "The most caring, covenant community of Christians the world has ever seen!"

Sermon Notes...GCC 101: Explaining the Vision

 *This is a topical message, where various passages of scripture will be used to support the topic.


Objective: The goal of this teaching, is to remind you of Grace Corner's mission and vision, to recharge you for the task and to see a resurgence of evangelism efforts in our church.

Introduction: Grace Corner is a unique church, that's not for everybody but we are a church for anybody. We don't want to be like everybody, we just want to be like Jesus and welcome anybody!

Transition: Periodically, goals have to be revisited so we don't forget our purpose. Without a reminder, we end up overly concerned with the wrong things...

Exposition: Three questions must be asked and answered, in order to properly explain the vision of the Grace Corner Church...

1) Who are we? 1st Peter 2:9 "But you are not like that, for you are a chosen people. You are royal priests, a holy nation, God’s very own possession. As a result, you can show others the goodness of God, for he called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light."

~A people that's been chosen by God. There's a sense of humility and responsibility that comes with being God's chosen people.

~We've been called by God out of living in darkness, to living in the wonderful light. This wonderful light makes us different, so we can make a difference!

2) Why do we exist? Ephesians 4:12 "Their responsibility is to equip God’s people to do his work and build up the church, the body of Christ."

~The preparation of God's people is our purpose. We're to educate, encourage and exemplify life in Jesus Christ.

~Our preparation is for the construction of the body of Christ. We accomplish that through invitations (get people in here), retention (keep people here) and education (teach them to live like Jesus, so they can lead people to Jesus).

3) What's next for us? Acts 2:42 "All the believers devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, and to fellowship, and to sharing in meals (including the Lord’s Supper), and to prayer."

~Excellence in these five areas, is what will make us a strong and significant faith community.

~Devotion (a great commitment) to these things, leads to the addition of people by the Lord's doing! Acts 2:47b says "And each day the Lord added to their fellowship those who were being saved."

***Here's how you can help this week:

1...Pray for our church, that we fulfill God's plan for us. And pray with our church on Wednesday at 7 p.m. by calling (641) 715-3836 and use access code 131337.

2...Invite your friends and family to church next Sunday, and keep a few church cards with you so they'll have the necessary information. Invitations can be as simple as forwarding the daily text to someone; tagging friends on Facebook in an invite message with a link to the church's page or leaving a church card with your tip at a restaurant.

3...Get involved in a ministry. This builds relationships and makes sure that none of our members get lost in the shuffle of the crowd. If you're interested in helping with the youth, being a greeter, set-up for Café Grace, clean up of the building, office support, the prayer ministry or anything not mentioned that you feel drawn to, please text Pastor Walker TODAY!!!

4...Contribute a financial gift, that's from your heart to help the ministry stay alive. Your giving is how Grace Corner is able to function. God really doe's give blessings to blessers! We're not try to get rich, we're trying to get all we can so that we can give all we have, to the glory of God!

Big News!!!

Good morning! You are more than your job! You are not a slave to it, and there is much more to you than what you bring home in your pay check. God has chosen you for himself as his own people! You're a royal priesthood, that's smart, strong and sensitive to God's spirit! Let that sit in you spirit today and marinate in you mind, because God doesn't make junk...you're God's prized possession, the apple of his eye! Now live like you're loved and have been lifted!!!

Here's the BIG NEWS!!!

The lades of GCC are asked to be on a planning conference call tonight at 7 p.m., to organize our women's ministry. Please be a part in this call, to help make our faith community more exciting and empowering. Remember, that you only get of something, what you've put into it!

This Sunday at 10:45 a.m. we'll celebrate 1 year of being a merged church! Bring your family and friends to help us make turning 1 unforgettable! Pastor Walker will be preaching a celebratory message titled 'GCC 101: Explaining the Vision'. It's going to be a great time of reflection and celebration that you just don't want to miss!