Ministry

Identity – Valuable

Identity – Valuable

Sean Vickers

Ephesians 1:15-23

#1 FAITH AND LOVE MAKE A LASTING IMPACT Ephesians 1:15-16

#2 PRAYER 1: Growing Knowledge of God Ephesians 1:17

#3 PRAYER 2: Illuminated hearts for God Ephesians 1:18

  • Hope
  • Value
  • Power

#4 MIGHTY STRENGTH FOR LIFE IN CHRIST Ephesians 1:19-21

#5 THE HEAD OF THE CHURCH: JESUS! Ephesians 1:22-23

Therefore God exalted Him to the highest place and gave Him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Philippians 2:9-11 (NIV)

IDentity Blessed

IDentity Blessed

Sean Vickers

IDentity – Blessed

Ephesians 1:3-14

#1 THE BLESSINGS OF BEING “IN CHRIST.” Ephesians 1:3

#2 BLESSINGS FROM GOD THE FATHER Ephesians 1:4-6

  • Chosen  by God

Election is the gracious purpose of God, according to which He regenerates, justifies, sanctifies, and glorifies sinners. It is consistent with the free agency of man, and comprehends all the means in connection with the end. It is the glorious display of God’s sovereign goodness, and is infinitely wise, holy, and unchangeable. It excludes boasting and promotes humility. Baptist Faith and Message 2000

  • Adopted by God

#3 BLESSSINGS FROM GOD THE SON Ephesians 1:7-12

  • Redeemed by Christ
  • Informed by Christ

#4 BLESSINGS FROM GOD THE SPIRIT Ephesians 1:13-14

  • Marked by the Spirit

woody

  • Guaranteed by the Spirit

#5 BLESSED TO PRAISE Ephesians 1: 3,6,12 and 14

—to the praise of his glory. Ephesians 1:14b (NIV)

God’s Will

God’s Will

Sean Vickers

There is much conversation about God’s will for individuals and organizations. Some wrongly describe God’s will as being a secret or hard to find. Even worse is the pursuit of God’s will apart from a pursuit of God Himself. The truth is that God wants you to live in His will daily and have confidence for your life. In the devotional Experiencing God Day by Day, Henry Blackaby writes,

“If you are walking daily with the Lord, you will not have to find God’s will—you will already be in it. If you are walking with Him in obedience day by day, you will always be in the will of God. The Holy Spirit’s role is to guide you step by step to do God’s will. Walking closely with God each day guarantees that you will be exactly where He wants you to be. You would have to reject all of the Holy Spirit’s activity in your life in order to get out of the will of God.”

Devotion

Devotion to God and a close growing relationship with Him is essential for living in the will of God. The disciplines of the Christian faith become paramount in order to live in God’s will. The disciplines of prayer (John 10:27) and fasting, reading the Word of God (Psalm 119:105), and worship (Romans 12:1-2) lead you to a closer relationship with Him. As you abide in Him, He will direct your steps.  John 15:5

Desire

As you devote yourself to God you will notice something amazing happening in your life. The Holy Spirit will work in your life to transform your heart and mind and lead you to God’s perfect will (Romans 12:2). Following God’s desires is the natural response of a believer what is devoted to Christ. Through your transformed desires God’s is leading you from the inside out. Psalm 37:4 says,

Take delight in the Lord,
    and he will give you the desires of your heart.

Determination

Your devotion to God will also lead you to a determination to do God’s will. In Ephesians 1:2, Paul describes himself as an “apostle of Christ by the will of God.” Paul had a determination to follow Christ even though his path was hard. It’s the power of God working through devoted followers that allow them to do God’s will in sometimes hostile environments.

Living daily in God’s will is more a matter of “being” His child than “doing” His will. He is the goal. Philippians 3:14.

Identity #1 SAINT

Identity #1 SAINT

Sean Vickers

IDentity –  Saint Ephesians 1:1-2

In the New Testament book of Ephesians, the Apostle Paul writes about a believer’s position “in Christ.”

#1 YOUR IDENTITY MATTERS.

Genesis 1:26, 2 Corinthians 5:17

#2 GOD’S WILL IS A JOYFUL JOURNEY OVER SMOOTH ANBD ROUGH TERRAIN.

Psalm 40:8, Ephesians 3:1

#3 ID Check:  SAINT or SINNER

Colossians 3:3

#4 A GREAT GREETING

Ephesians 1:2

#5 AN AMAZING MESSAGE

Ephesians 1:3, Ephesians 4:1

Pray 4 Every Home

Pray 4 Every Home

Sean Vickers

 

The amount of prayer a church dedicates to it’s community is directly related to the effectiveness of that church to extend the Kingdom of God into that community.

#1 GOD KNOWS WHERE YOU ARE! 1 Peter 2:10-12 (NIV)

#2 DON’T JUST SURVIVE – THRIVE! Jeremiah 29:5 (NIV)

#3 THINK ABOUT FUTURE GENERATIONS Jeremiah 29:6 (NIV)

#4 PRAY FOR YOUR CITY Jeremiah 29:7 (NIV)

www.pray4everyhome.com

www.fbcdalhart.org/prayer

#5 TRUST GOD’S PLAND AND PURPOSE FOR YOUR LIFE

For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV)

The Foundation

The Foundation

Sean Vickers

The Resurrection of Jesus Christ is the concrete in the foundation of the Christian faith.

Reasons to believe Jesus really did rise from the dead:

#1 JESUS OWN PREDICTIONS OF HIS DEATH AND RESURRECTION Luke 9:22

#2 THE PUBLIC CRUCIFIXION John 19:32-34

#3 THE EYE WITNESS TESTIMONIES 1 Corinthians 15:6

#4 THE EMPTY TOMB Mark 16:1

#5 THE TRANSFORMED LIVES OF THE DISCIPLES  Matthew 26:56, Acts 3:15, Acts 4:1-2

#6 THE BIRTH OF THE CHURCH Acts 2:40-41

#7 THE TRANSFORMED LIVES OF CHRIST FOLLOWERS TODAY

How do these truths effect our lives today?

– WE ARE TRULY LOVED Armand 5:8
– BY FAITH OUR SINS CAN BE FORGIVEN Justified=declared righteous
– DEATH IS NOT THE END In death we fall asleep only be awakened to new life.
– HOW WE LIVE IS IMPORTANT How we live is proof of what we believe
– CHRIST DEMANDS AND DESERVES OUR FULL DEVOTION

Passion Week

Passion Week

Sean Vickers

The most important week of the most important person who ever lived

 

PALM SUNDAY – It is right for us to worship Him!
Matthew 21:1-17, Mark 11:1-11, Luke 19:29-44, John 12:12-36

 

MALADY MONDAY – How we worship and serve Him matters to God.
Matthew 21:12-19, Mark 11:12-18, Luke 19:45-48

 

TEACHING TUESDAY – Loving God and loving others is the greatest commandment.
Matthew 21:20-25:46, Mark 11:20-13:37, Luke 20:1-21:36

 

SPY WEDNESDAY – In this world there will always be someone willing to tear down what God is working to build up.
Matthew 26:3-5, Mark 14:1-2, Luke 21:37-22:2

 

TABLE THURSDAY – We must always remember Jesus sacrifice by joining Him at His table.
Matthew 26:17-46, Mark 14:12-42, Luke 22:7-46, John 13:1-17:26

 

GOOD FRIDAY – Never loose hope. Never give up. Never, never never. Even on the darkest of days God has a plan.
Matthew 26:47-27:61, Mark 14:43-15:47, Luke 22:47-23:56, Jn 18:2-19:42

 

SILENT SATURDAY – Trust God in the silence. He is still working out His plan for your life.
Matthew 27:62-66

 

VICTORIOUS SUNDAY EASTER! – Death, the grave and hell have been defeated. He is Risen, indeed!
Matthew 28:1-10, Mark 16:1-8, Luke 24:1-43, John 20:1-23

Miracle of Christmas #1

Miracle of Christmas #1

Sean Vickers

The Miracle of the Moment

Galatians 4:4-7

A Miracle is a wonderful event caused by God that brings Him glory and demonstrates His purposes and plan.

  • Don’t miss the miracle of THAT moment.
  • Don’t miss the miracle of THIS moment.

#1 A MOMENT LIKE NONE OTHER.

When the time came to completion, God sent His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba, Father!” So you are no longer a slave but a son, and if a son, then an heir through God. Galatians 4:4-7 (HCSB)

 

#2 EMBRACING THE HUMANITY OF OUR SAVIOR.

For we do not have a High Priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have One who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet He did not sin.  Hebrews 4:15 (NIV)

#3 TRUSTING GOD WITH YOUR MOMENTS.

He tends his flock like a Shepherd:
He gathers the lambs in His arms
and carries them close to His heart;
He gently leads those that have young.
Isaiah 40:11 (NIV)

Miracle Defined

Miracle Defined

Sean Vickers

Miracles happen in the ordinary and the extraordinary. Albert Einstein said, “There are only two ways to live your life. One is as if nothing is a miracle. The other is as if everything is.”

There are moments that God breaks through the ordinary for His glory.

A miracle is a wonderful event caused by God, that brings Him glory and demonstrates His purposes and plan.

Remembering the miracles of God in the ordinary moments of life and praising Him for the extraordinary events He preforms brings Him glory and praise.