Leadership: As A Man Thinks In His Heart - Part 2

Speaker: Toby Soechting

Scripture: Proverbs 23:7

INTRODUCTION:

1. “Do not eat the bread of a miser, Nor desire his delicacies; For as he thinks in his heart, so is he. “Eat and drink!” he says to you, But his heart is not with you.” (Proverbs 23:6–7) 
2. “Therefore we make it our aim, whether present or absent, to be well pleasing to Him. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.” (2 Cor. 5:9–10)  

DISCUSSION:  KNOWING MY DESTINY IS SO CLOSELY CONNECTED TO MY THOUGHTS, TODAY, I “THINK” --I. I WILL LEAD.

1. I will forget those things which are behind and reach forward to those things which are ahead. (Phil. 3:12)
2. I will remember to be a new creature (2 Cor. 5:17).
3. I will do the good works for which I am created in Christ (Eph. 2:10).
4. Life’s circumstances will never defeat me nor destroy me (2 Cor. 4:7-10).

II. I WILL LOVE.

1. Without it, my actions are little more than clanging cymbals (1 Cor. 13:1).
2. Without love, it does not matter how much I know (1 Cor. 13:2-3).
3. Love never fails (1 Cor. 13:4-8).

III. I WILL LAST.

1. “The end of a thing is better than its beginning; The patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit.” (Ecclesiastes 7:8) 
2. “Do not fear any of those things which you are about to suffer. Indeed, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and you will have tribulation ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life.” (Revelation 2:10, NKJV) 

IV. I WILL LEAN.

1. “Trust in the LORD with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding;” (Proverbs 3:5, NKJV) 
2. ““Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.” (Matt. 6:31–33) 

V. I WILL LIMIT.

1. “But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, to knowledge self-control…” (2 Peter 1:5–6, NKJV) 
2. I will be filled with a diet of spiritual fruit, instead of physical lusts (Gal. 5:16-26).

VI. I WILL LAUGH.

1. “A time to weep, And a time to laugh; A time to mourn, And a time to dance;” (Eccl. 3:4) 
2. “A merry heart does good, like medicine, But a broken spirit dries the bones.” (Prov. 17:22) 
3. “Yes, and if I am being poured out as a drink offering on the sacrifice and service of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with you all. For the same reason you also be glad and rejoice with me.” (Philip. 2:17–18) 

VII. I WILL LIVE.

1. Paul only knew two days—today and “the day.”
2. “redeeming the time, because the days are evil.” (Eph. 5:16)
3. Today, I will avoid the deceitfulness of sin (Heb. 3:12-13).
4. I will take up my cross daily (Lk. 9:23). 

Conclusion:  Our thoughts will eventually become our destiny.  As we think in our hearts, so shall we be. So… whatcha thinking?

Leadership: As A Man Thinks In His Heart - Part 2

Leadership: As A Man Thinks In His Heart - Part 1

Speaker: Toby Soechting

Scripture: Proverbs 23:7

INTRODUCTION:

1. “Do not eat the bread of a miser, Nor desire his delicacies; For as he thinks in his heart, so is he. “Eat and drink!” he says to you, But his heart is not with you.” (Proverbs 23:6–7) 
2. “Therefore we make it our aim, whether present or absent, to be well pleasing to Him. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.” (2 Cor. 5:9–10)  

DISCUSSION:  KNOWING MY DESTINY IS SO CLOSELY CONNECTED TO MY THOUGHTS, TODAY, I “THINK” --I. I WILL LEAD.

1. I will forget those things which are behind and reach forward to those things which are ahead. (Phil. 3:12)
2. I will remember to be a new creature (2 Cor. 5:17).
3. I will do the good works for which I am created in Christ (Eph. 2:10).
4. Life’s circumstances will never defeat me nor destroy me (2 Cor. 4:7-10).

II. I WILL LOVE.

1. Without it, my actions are little more than clanging cymbals (1 Cor. 13:1).
2. Without love, it does not matter how much I know (1 Cor. 13:2-3).
3. Love never fails (1 Cor. 13:4-8).

III. I WILL LAST.

1. “The end of a thing is better than its beginning; The patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit.” (Ecclesiastes 7:8) 
2. “Do not fear any of those things which you are about to suffer. Indeed, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and you will have tribulation ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life.” (Revelation 2:10, NKJV) 

IV. I WILL LEAN.

1. “Trust in the LORD with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding;” (Proverbs 3:5, NKJV) 
2. ““Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.” (Matt. 6:31–33) 

V. I WILL LIMIT.

1. “But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, to knowledge self-control…” (2 Peter 1:5–6, NKJV) 
2. I will be filled with a diet of spiritual fruit, instead of physical lusts (Gal. 5:16-26).

VI. I WILL LAUGH.

1. “A time to weep, And a time to laugh; A time to mourn, And a time to dance;” (Eccl. 3:4) 
2. “A merry heart does good, like medicine, But a broken spirit dries the bones.” (Prov. 17:22) 
3. “Yes, and if I am being poured out as a drink offering on the sacrifice and service of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with you all. For the same reason you also be glad and rejoice with me.” (Philip. 2:17–18) 

VII. I WILL LIVE.

1. Paul only knew two days—today and “the day.”
2. “redeeming the time, because the days are evil.” (Eph. 5:16)
3. Today, I will avoid the deceitfulness of sin (Heb. 3:12-13).
4. I will take up my cross daily (Lk. 9:23). 

Conclusion:  Our thoughts will eventually become our destiny.  As we think in our hearts, so shall we be. So… whatcha thinking?

Leadership: As A Man Thinks In His Heart - Part 1

How To Have A Spirit Of Power Amidst A Perverse, Distracting, And Intimidating World

Speaker: Toby Soechting

Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 4:9-12 

INTRODUCTION:

1. In order to feel more positive about one’s life, one must first, be right with God, and second, be useful  for his neighbor’s sake (Mt. 22:39). 
2. There is great power in knowing that one’s labor  is not in vain (1 Cor. 15:58).
3. Making a difference  for others, makes a difference  for you!

DISCUSSION:  WE HAVE GREAT POWER WHEN WE --
I. INCREASE IN OUR LOVE OF OUR BRETHREN (vv. 9-10).

1. “Brotherly love” is a spiritual barometer of sorts.
2. “Love never fails” (1 Cor. 13:8).

II. ASPIRE TO LIVE A QUIET LIFE (v. 11).

1. “Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life” (NIV).
2. Some need to hurry up and be quiet!
3. This is to be done in the context of persecution!

III. ARE READY TO WORK (v. 12).

1. From the beginning (cf. Gen. 3:17-19), work has been an important part of the solution for the curse of sin and death.
2. “And let our people also learn  to maintain good works, to meet urgent needs, that they may not be unfruitful” (Titus 3:14).

IV. CONDUCT OURSELVES PROPERLY WITH THOSE OUTSIDE (v. 12).

1. If we have not love, unity, and empathy we have little chance of converting others.
2. Actions speaks louder than words (cf. James 1:22-25).

Conclusion:  Without Christ, it is impossible to approach life with a sense of power.  With Him, all things are possible.  

How To Have A Spirit Of Power

Things We Wouldn't Miss In 2012

Speaker: Toby Soechting

Scripture: Proverbs 23:7

INTRODUCTION:

1. Life is a grindstone.  But whether it grinds us down, or polishes us up depends upon us. (Unknown)
2. The condition of this congregation is very much the result of our attitudes and her future depends much on that of preceding generations.

DISCUSSION:  IF IT FAILED TO APPEAR IN 2012, WE WOULD NOT MISS --
I. PROCRASTINATION.

1. Here’s an attitude that doesn’t say, “we won’t!” but instead says, “Let’s wait until…”
2. When working for the Lord’s sake, Christians are to be steadfast, immovable, and always abounding (1 Cor. 15:58).
3. God promised forgiveness to your repentance, but He has not promised tomorrow to your procrastination (Augustine).

II. WORRY.

1. Stewing without doing.
2. Faith and worry cannot exist at the same time!
3. Understanding God’s will gives us hope (Heb. 6:18-19).

III. COMPLACENCY.

1. God deserves our best, and that will require desire, determination, and dedication (Mt. 6:33; Mk. 12:30).
2. This congregation has done amazing things, but this congregation can do more!
3. Christians own the future!

IV. FEAR

1. Fear is the dark room where negatives are developed.
2. God has given Christians a spirit of power (2 Ti. 1:7)

Conclusion:  

“I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.” (Romans 12:1–2, NKJV) 

Things We Wouldn't Miss In 2012

Going Into All The World May Take A While

Speaker: Toby Soechting

Scripture: Acts 14:1-18

Introduction:

1. When Paul and Barnabas arrived in Lystra and Derbe they were in less than familiar surroundings.
2. The gospel does not change (Psa. 119:89; 1 Pt. 1:23), but circumstances and the background of the people we approach do.

DISCUSSION:  IF WE DEVOTE OURSELVES TO CARRYING OUT THE GREAT COMMISSION –

I.    WE MUST BE CONSIDERATE OF OTHERS.

1. Different people have different convictions (cf. Gal. 1:13).
2. Some will have great knowledge, while others have a lack thereof (cf. 1 Tim. 1:12-16).
3. People differ in their level of interest in the truth (cf. Acts 16:9). 

II.   SOME THINGS ARE CONSTANT.

1. God (Mal. 3:6; Heb. 13:8).
2. Gospel (Mk. 16:15-16; Gal. 1:6-9).
3. Gulf between God and man created by sin (Isa. 59:1,2).

III.  WE SHOULD BE AS CAUTIOUS AS WE ARE COMPELLED.

1. Aware of our prejudice (cf. Acts 2:13).
2. Careful to avoid compromising the truth (cf. Gal. 2:4-5).
3. Let us never become caustic with the truth (cf. Eph. 4:15).

Conclusion:  As a Christian is guided by the word of God to make disciples, they should take great care about what they teach and to the manner in which they teach.

Going Into All The World May Take A While