Butterfly Effect: (in chaos theory) The phenomenon whereby a minute localized change in a complex system can have large effects elsewhere. Big Idea: God is not only Faithful in the fight you are in, He is equipping you for future battles. The Lord had been preparing David for the battle. 1 Samuel 17:34-36 1 Samuel 17:51 1 Samuel 21:8-9 How do we stay Faithful in the Fight? ● ENDURANCE through the trial. Romans 5:3-4 Ask the question: “God what are you preparing me for?” ● Give CREDIT where it’s due. Colossians 3:17 ● Return to an AWARENESS OF HIS PRESENCE. Proverbs 18:10 Altars of Remembrance: ● God promised that He would always be with JACOB: Genesis 28:10-19 ● God rescued Jacob from ESAU: GENESIS 33:20 ● God gave the Ten Commandments to MOSES: EXODUS 24:4 ● GOD DRIED UP THE JORDAN RIVER so His people could safely cross: Joshua 4:1-9 Response: ● God wants each of us to have ALTAR MOMENTS; Moments we can recall to remind ourselves of the goodness and faithfulness of God. ● If you don’t have an altar moment in your own personal story that you can recall, turn and look to the cross. Romans 5:8

Evergreen Christian Community

Sabbatical 2 - Faithful in the Fight

Dare- To challenge or provoke a person into a demonstration of courage. SURRENDER is the key to living the life God’s called us to live. Luke 9:57-62 The invitation Jesus makes to us is to follow him with ALL of our lives for the REST of our lives. The question we must ask is: Will we surrender our comfort? This raises another question: Will we surrender our security? The question for us is: Will we surrender our priorities? “We must know exactly when we say yes to God what is in that yes. Yes means ‘I surrender’ totally, fully – our yes to God is without reservations.” - Mother Teresa Matthew 13:44-46 First: The kingdom of heaven is of INCOMPARABLE VALUE. Second: Gaining this kingdom is an “all in” proposition. Main Thought: SURRENDER is the key to living the life God’s called us to live.

Sabbatical 1 - I Dare You

Romans 1:18-25 (NLT) 18 But God shows his anger from heaven against all sinful, wicked people who suppress the truth by their wickedness. 19 They know the truth about God because he has made it obvious to them. 20 For ever since the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky. Through everything God made, they can clearly see his invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature. So they have no excuse for not knowing God. 21 Yes, they knew God, but they wouldn’t worship him as God or even give him thanks. And they began to think up foolish ideas of what God was like. As a result, their minds became dark and confused. 22 Claiming to be wise, they instead became utter fools. 23 And instead of worshiping the glorious, ever-living God, they worshiped idols made to look like mere people and birds and animals and reptiles. 24 So God abandoned them to do whatever shameful things their hearts desired. As a result, they did vile and degrading things with each other’s bodies. 25 They traded the truth about God for a lie. So they worshiped and served the things God created instead of the Creator himself, who is worthy of eternal praise! Amen. Questions to ask God tonight: Is your truth obvious to me? Or am I confused about what you are like? Do I have a relationship with the things you created? Or am I truly walking with you?

Prayer & Worship - The Simplicity of Walking with God

Ken Rice, October 3, 2021 OneChild is an international child development organization helping to meet the physical and spiritual needs of children living in poverty. Through the work of local partners around the world, children receive food, education, medical aid, and hope in God! To learn more about this program, and ways you can get involved to help a child in need, visit evergreenpnw.com/onechild

OneChild Sunday - 10/3/2021

Chat – Have you ever had what you would consider a God given dream or vision? Acts 10:1-8 My Father is always at his work to this very day, and I too am working.  John 5:17 God is ALWAYS AT WORK whether we see proof of it or not! God is always at work but WE AREN’T ALWAYS PAYING ATTENTION! Acts 10:9-33 “Oikos” - household/family God used angels and visions before this but what/who does he use now? PETER! Acts 10:34-48 Our INDISPUTABLE PROOF = ONGOING TRANSFORMATION of our lives. Acts of the Apostles = Acts of the Holy Spirit.

Prayer & Worship - Acts 10 Paradigm Shift

The Big Idea: Your greatest influence rises from the intersection of your pain and God’s power. 2 Corinthians 4:7-18 The Four Elements of My Story: 1. The DITCH Jesus found me in. 2. The FAITH of my fathers. 3. The BATTLES I currently face. 4. The HOPE I possess. The Gift We Give: HOSPITALITY Hospitality makes ANXIOUS DISCIPLES into POWERFUL WITNESSES. Hospitality requires CONCENTRATION. CONCENTRATION - the ability to pay attention to the other. “For the other person to open and talk requires a withdrawal of the counselor. I must withdraw to make room for the other… This withdrawal, rather than going-out-to-meet the other, is an intense act of concentration, a model for which can be found in the Jewish mystical doctrine of Tsimtsum. God as omnipresent and omnipotent was everywhere. He filled the universe with His Being. How then could the creation come about?... God had to create by withdrawal; He created the not-Him, the other, by self-concentration… On the human level, withdrawal of myself aids the other to come into being.” James Hillman “But human withdrawal is a very painful and lonely process, because it forces us to face directly our own condition in all its beauty as well as misery. When we are not afraid to enter into our own center and to concentrate on the stirrings of our own soul, we come to know that being alive means being loved. This experience tells us that we can only love because we are born out of love, that we can only give because our life is a gift, and that we can only make others free because we are set free by Him whose heart is greater than ours. When we have found the anchor places for our lives in our own center, we can be free to let others enter into the space created for them and allow them to dance their own dance, sing their own song, and speak their own language without fear. Then our presence is no longer threatening and demanding but inviting and liberating.” - Nouwen Perhaps our GREATEST GIFT to our Oikos is to prevent people from suffering for the wrong reason. Response: ● Be brave- show your scars and your story. ● Give the gift of hospitality to your Oikos.

How to Oikos 6 - Scars and Stories

Matthew 26:55-56 55 In that hour Jesus said to the crowd, “Am I leading a rebellion, that you have come out with swords and clubs to capture me? Every day I sat in the temple courts teaching, and you did not arrest me. 56 But this has all taken place that the writings of the prophets might be fulfilled.” Then all the disciples deserted him and fled. John 19:25-26 25 Near the cross of Jesus stood his mother, his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. 26 When Jesus saw his mother there, and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to her, “Woman, here is your son,” A heart posture of worship is wanting to be NEAR Jesus. There are ALL KINDS OF THINGS that want our worship. SINGING is an outward expression of WHAT’S GOING ON IN OUR HEARTS.

Night of Worship - Heart Posture of Worship

The Big Idea: The best thing you can do to spiritually help your Oikos is walk intimately with Jesus every single day. Deuteronomy 6:4-25 Four Strategic Principles for Sharing Your Faith: 2 Corinthians 4:7-12 1. Your struggles QUALIFY YOU MORE for your mission. 2 Corinth. 1:3-5 2. GOD’S COMFORT is not designed to flow to you, but through you. 2 Corinthinas 2:14-17 3. Your faith has an AROMA to everyone. “Share your faith, and if necessary use words.” - St. Francis of Assisi 2 Corinthians 5:17-21 Response: ● Make a FRESH WALK with Jesus your highest priority. ● Make YOUR LIFE a Kingdom Embassy.

How To Oikos 5 - Sharing Faith

The Big Idea: Being a Christian is not a belief system, it is a transformational way of being you. Christianity is an “EXISTENTIAL” thing. We all know about “BORN AGAIN.” John 3:1-8 Now there was a Pharisee, a man named Nicodemus who was a member of the Jewish ruling council. 2 He came to Jesus at night and said, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the signs you are doing if God were not with him.” 3 Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.” 4 “How can someone be born when they are old?” Nicodemus asked. “Surely they cannot enter a second time into their mother’s womb to be born!” 5 Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit. 6 Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. 7 You should not be surprised at my saying, ‘You must be born again.’ 8 The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.” 1 Corinthians 10:1-23 For I do not want you to be ignorant of the fact, brothers and sisters, that our ancestors were all under the cloud and that they all passed through the sea. 2 They were all baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea. 3 They all ate the same spiritual food 4 and drank the same spiritual drink; for they drank from the spiritual rock that accompanied them, and that rock was Christ. 5 Nevertheless, God was not pleased with most of them; their bodies were scattered in the wilderness. 6 Now these things occurred as examples to keep us from setting our hearts on evil things as they did. 7 Do not be idolaters, as some of them were; as it is written: “The people sat down to eat and drink and got up to indulge in revelry.” 8 We should not commit sexual immorality, as some of them did—and in one day twenty-three thousand of them died. 9 We should not test Christ, as some of them did—and were killed by snakes. 10 And do not grumble, as some of them did—and were killed by the destroying angel. 11 These things happened to them as examples and were written down as warnings for us, on whom the culmination of the ages has come. 12 So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall! 13 No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it. 14 Therefore, my dear friends, flee from idolatry. 15 I speak to sensible people; judge for yourselves what I say. 16 Is not the cup of thanksgiving for which we give thanks a participation in the blood of Christ? And is not the bread that we break a participation in the body of Christ? 17 Because there is one loaf, we, who are many, are one body, for we all share the one loaf. 18 Consider the people of Israel: Do not those who eat the sacrifices participate in the altar? 19 Do I mean then that food sacrificed to an idol is anything, or that an idol is anything? 20 No, but the sacrifices of pagans are offered to demons, not to God, and I do not want you to be participants with demons. 21 You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons too; you cannot have a part in both the Lord’s table and the table of demons. 22 Are we trying to arouse the Lord’s jealousy? Are we stronger than he? Galatians 2:20 I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

Prayer & Worship | Participation in Christ

Mike Tyson - "Everybody has a plan until they get punched in the mouth.” Matthew 5:9 Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. Big Idea: Oikos cannot thrive where there is unresolved conflict. How important is conflict resolution to God? 1 John 4:20 “Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar. For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen.” Matthew 5:23-24 “So if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar and go. First, be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift”. The Bible’s Seven-Step Model for Conflict Diffusion and Resolution: 1. Go DIRECTLY and IMMEDIATELY. Matthew 18:15 “If your brother sins against you, go and show him his fault, just between the two of you.” Myth: Time heals all things. Ephesians 4:26 “... do not let the sun go down while you are still angry.” 2. Go PRIVATELY. 3. Begin with AFFIRMATION. 4. MONITOR Your Mouth. Proverbs 21:23 “Watch your tongue and keep your mouth shut, and you will stay out of trouble.” James 3:2 “We all stumble in many ways. Anyone who is never at fault in what they say is perfect, able to keep their whole body in check.” Ephesians 4:15 “we will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ…” 5. Look for What You Can Own. Romans 12:18 “If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all.” Matthew 7:3 “Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye?” 6. Establish SPECIFIC WAYS to Resolve the Conflict. 7. REAFFIRM the Relationship (reach resolution) James 3:18 Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness. Response:  Conflict can be a golden opportunity to strengthen the foundation of your Oikos.  Where within your Oikos is there unresolved conflict?  Don’t let another day go by where there isn’t resolution and reconciliation between you.

How To Oikos 4 - Conflict Resolution

Joshua 1:6-9 The Big Idea: God commands us to be strong. How in the heck do I “BE(COME) STRONG?” Three ways to Be Strong: 1. Repetition ● KEEP SPEAKING ALOUD THE WORD OF GOD. ● V.8 “Keep this Book of the Law always on your mouth;  2. Discipline ○ Obedience ○ Joshua 1: 7 Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go. 3. Nutrition ○ Meditate on it day and night. ○ You will meditate - God Ephesians 6:10- Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 1 Corinthians 16:13- Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith , be courageous; be strong. Go back to TRUTH. It is a COMMAND. Psalm 27:14 Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord. Need inspiration? Who is the “Moses” in your life? Joshua 1:5b - “…as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will never leave you nor forsake you.” “God was with __________, so He will be with me.” Do-nots: ● Do not be TERRIFIED. ● Do not be DISCOURAGED. ● Do not TURN to the right or left. Hebrews 12:1b-3 And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us,  2  fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.  3  Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.

Prayer & Worship | Be Strong

Big idea: If you will not communicate well, you cannot Oikos well. YOU HAVE TWO JOBS: 1. LOVE GOD with all you’ve got. 2. LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR as yourself. The Monumental Question: Who is my neighbor? Luke 10:25-37 The first decision: Be a FIRST RESPONDER or be a CLAIMS ADJUSTER. ⇒ Who is at fault? ⇒ What caused the accident? ⇒ What is the extent of the damage? ⇒ Who has to pay? THE JESUS PATTERN OF BEING A NEIGHBOR: ● Step One: Protection and first aid. ● Step Two: Speak to the soul. ● Step Three: Correct and train. Problem: We prefer the PERFORMANCE-BASED APPROACH to kindness. How deep the Father’s love for us! How vast, beyond all measure! That He should give His only Son, To make a wretch His treasure! How great the pain of searing loss? The Father turns His face away. As wounds which mar the Chosen One Bring many sons to glory. Why should I gain from His reward? I cannot give an answer. But this I know with all my heart His wounds have paid my ransom! The principle: Communicate grace, not judgement. Ephesians 4:29 Colossians 4:6 Proverbs 18:21 People will forget what you say, but they will never forget how you made them feel. “The Almighty appeared on earth as a helpless human baby, unable to do more than lie and stare and wriggle and make some noises needing to be fed and changed and taught to talk. It meant love to the uttermost for unlovely human beings, that they, through His poverty, might become rich.” - J. I. Packer Response: ● CONFESS your own need of a Savior/Healer. ● COMMIT to the Jesus pattern of being a neighbor. ● LOVE God and Love neighbors

How To Oikos 3 - How and What to Communicate

Luke 10:38-42 The most valuable and limited resource in the world is TIME. Where you invest your TIME, you invest your VALUE. Big idea: In order to Oikos, you must surrender your time to Jesus. Luke 10:38-42: Now as they went on their way, Jesus entered a village. And a woman named Martha welcomed him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet and listened to his teaching. But Martha was distracted with much serving. And she went up to him and said, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me.” But the Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.” LIVING AT GODSPEED: ● LIVING AT GODSPEED creates MARGIN for God to speak and work in you. ● LIVING AT GODSPEED creates SPACE for your Oikos to be involved in your life, and you in their life. MARGIN is your pathway to REST and ENERGY. People don’t need your TIME, they need your ENERGY. SET YOUR LIFE AT THE PACE OF OIKOS: 1. INTENTIONAL TIME with the FATHER Jesus showed a CONSISTENT DEDICATION to time with his Father. a. Luke 6:12- One of those days Jesus went out to a mountainside to pray, and spent the night praying to God. b. Mark 1:35- Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed. 2. SURRENDER your time 3. Your ENTIRE LIFE is for God a. 1 Corinthians 10:31: So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. God has the supernatural ability to multiply your time and energy like He does our surrendered money. RESPONSE: 1. Surrender your time. 2. Live at Godspeed. 3. Use your time to BLESS your Oikos.

How To Oikos 2 - Live at Godspeed

The Big Idea: The formula is simple: walk really close to Jesus and supernaturally serve those He brings into your front row. Jeremiah 1:4-12 The Calling: Four Things That Were True About You Before You Were Born: 1. God KNEW you. 2. God FORMED you in the womb. 3. God SET YOU APART. 4. God APPOINTED you. Psalm 139:13-18 The Big But: Alas, Sovereign Lord, I am too _________. The Secret Weapon for Your Assignment: Jeremiah 1:9 Jeremiah 1:11-12 B.L.E.S.S. your front row as a lifestyle. Believe for them in prayer. Listen to them. Eat with them. Serve them. Share your story. (and show your scars) Response: ● ACCEPT Your Mission ● LIST Your Oikos ● B.L.E.S.S. them

How To Oikos 1 - The Supernatural Secret

The Big Idea: Christians grieve with hope as we face a death that has lost its sting. 1 Thessalonians 4:13 - 5:11 WHAT IS OUR HOPE AND HOW DO WE GET IT? WE FIND BALANCE WITH TWO EXTREME TRUTHS: 1. Death is a terrible reality that is far outside of God’s design. 2. Death’s sting has been stolen and it now provides our pathway to greatness. John 11:35-38 - Jesus wept. THREE FAULTY PERSPECTIVES: 1. Grief is a lack of faith. 2. Death is the end and it’s all over. 3. Death is natural and a part of life and nothing to be afraid of. “If we let him, he will make the feeblest and filthiest of us into dazzling, radiant, immortal creatures pulsating with such joy and wisdom and love as we cannot yet now imagine. A bright, stainless mirror which reflects back to God perfectly, though of course on a smaller scale, His own boundless power, and delight, and goodness.” - CS Lewis Our Hope is unique in 3 ways: 1. The LOVE you’ve always dreamed of 1 Corinthians 13:12 2. The LIFE you’ve always wanted We will “meet” Him in the air. 3. The FORGIVENESS and RESTORATION you were appointed to receive 1 Thessalonians 5:9-11 “If you really are a product of a materialistic universe, why don’t you feel at home in a world where we die and disintegrate? Do fish complain of the sea for being wet? Or if they did, would that not strongly suggest that they were once not purely aquatic creatures? Why are we continually shocked and repulsed by death, unless indeed something in us is not temporal?” - CS Lewis SO, LIVE THIS WAY: 1 Thessalonians 5:5-10 Response: ● Suffer with those who suffer. ● Party on in hope! ● Pray for your Oikos.

Hope-Fully 9 - Christian Hope and Death

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