Making God's Vision Your Focus
Our 2020 Theme
The Inside Out
December 13, 2020 • Dr. John Waterloo
* The outside does matter, but it’s not priority one. * The outside can be deceiving. But it is revealing! How to know a person’s heart? 1—Look at their works and behavior; you can’t fake fruit! 2—Listen to their words; out the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.
When Your World Comes Crashing Down
December 9, 2020 • Dr. John Waterloo
* Everything is not always as it seems - God sent an earthquake to convert a soul! * Not every tragedy is tragic - God doesn’t cause evil, but He can use it to bring good! * Sometimes it takes a tragedy to get our attention. * If often takes a sacrifice to turn things around - Paul and Silas sacrificed their freedom in order to be available for the jailer.
Truth or Tradition?
December 6, 2020 • Dr. John Waterloo
* Traditions have their place. God set up many traditions, to cause the people to REMEMBER! * Traditions are not a replacement for true heart-worship of God, i.e., Lip-religion vs. Heart-religion. The Pharisees were so careful to keep laws and traditions, but they had no relationship with God! Outwardly they were religious but inwardly they were wicked and lost. * When traditions supersede God’s commands, there is a big problem… and the problem is with our HEART! When we hear the Word, and do not embrace it and live it, we make it of none effect!
When Things Come to a Halt
December 2, 2020 • Dr. John Waterloo
We can’t cultivate a relationship with God without stillness! So when things stop... * Trust that God has a plan! He certainly has not stopped. * Retool... and take time to GROW! It doesn’t mean we are done! * Take advantage and find times of stillness!
They Considered not the Miracle of the Loaves
November 29, 2020 • Dr. John Waterloo
• We too often miss what God is doing in our lives! • God’s Word and God’s House helps us restore our focus - Be aware and careful of worldly distractions! We can’t stop them, but we can deal with them. We MUST focus! - Be aware of the doubts! - Be aware of the NEED to discipline ourselves to focus on God! • Our greatest failure is NOT recognizing what God has already done in our lives. • Our greatest CHALLENGE is maintaining our focus! Never lose sight of our divine mission and responsibility.
Rest a While
November 22, 2020 • Dr. John Waterloo
* Open our eyes and recognize the marvelous works of God! * There is no honor in burning out. 1. We can’t do God’s work on our own; we must have His power. 2. We have to wait on the Lord. Let God work! 3. Respect and obey authority 4. We must be wise and discerning 5. Rest, and strengthen ourselves in the Lord
We Must Stand with Truth
November 8, 2020 • Dr. John Waterloo
* We need to be willing to be rejected by man, in order to be accepted by Jesus. It’s always better to be accepted by Christ. * We should not reject God's plan regarding marriage. * We should not reject the person, just the sin. * We should know WHAT to reject! * The greatest rejection is rejecting Jesus, rejecting salvation!
Shake it Off!
November 8, 2020 • Dr. John Waterloo
How to handle rejection... * You have to prepare mentally. We have to have a proper perspective on life. Shore up your minds. * If we spend all our time trying to avoid rejection, we will never do the work of God. * It’s always good to have a partner! We need encouragement and support (Ecclesiastes 4:9, 10). * Travel light, i.e., unencumbered with the cares of this world. * We need a safe place to go! We all need a city of refuge, a local church! * Rejoice in the results and rewards, not the rejection.
The Storms of Life
October 18, 2020 • Dr. John Waterloo
* When we are not at peace with the Master (weak, anemic faith) we will not be at peace with others. The lack of peace in our life is not because of the storms... or God! * Trials reveal, not produce, our faith! * We don’t prepare for the storm, in the MIDST of the storm! * There is a DIRECT CORRELATION BETWEEN FAITH AND PEACE!