An Unwanted Crown

1. It was a crown of thorns, not the crown fitting for the Savior, that was placed on Jesus head before he was nailed to a cross. But why the crown of thorns? Genesis 3:8-18
A. Why the thorns?
B. What else did God say about thorns? (it was a curse because of sin)
C. What did the thorns cause? (painful labor)

2. Thorns throughout the OT and the NT are signs of the curse of sin on man, but God did not just curse man, He destined sinful man to be redeemed back to Him.
A. Through salvation God clothes sinful man with his Righteousness. Genesis 3:19-21
B. He took on the curse because He alone could be conquer the curse of sin. John 19:5

3. Thorns are a constant symbol of the curse of sin. This is why Scripture is so adamant about the thorns (the sinful nature) of your life?
A. Prepare your life for God to rain on your fields, but run from sin. Jer. 4:3
B. Those who do not listen to God's Word are like thorns. Ezekiel 2:6-7
C. One who guards his life from the Thorns is wise. Proverbs 15:19
D. Thorns choke out the Truth. Mark 4:7

4. Obviously, none one desires thorns in life, but Scripture says that thorns grow in dry soil. (Isaiah 5:6) Therefore, in order to walk in the victory that was granted to you over the curse of sin you must keep your soil fertile. Psalms 1

Stones in the Garden

I. Take a few minutes, grab a pen & paper and write down the three most though consuming issues you are facing right now. They might be financial, relational, or even overwhelming thoughts of the future.

II. Look at each thing you wrote down, and take a look at 2 Corinthian 12:9, Phil 4:15-19, and 2 Timothy 2:1. What are the reoccurring thoughts in these passages?

III. The concept of grace is in all 3. It is only by God's grace that stones can be moved. We see this in Luke 22:39-44. Jesus looks in the cup which is reference to seeing his future and it brought great stress upon him
a) emotionally- notice the tears
b) physically- he sweated drops of blood
c) spiritually- notice his prayer to the Father

IV. But it is with great grace that the Lord took the stones that lie in the cup and he rolled the stones away out of his great love for us. The greatest stone in your life is the need for your sin to be forgiven. Without the forgiveness of sins you are like dead man in a cave, but read Eph. 2:8-9. God's grace rolled that stone away so that you could be alive in Him.
- Thank God for the stones in your life because his grace has conquered the greatest stone in your life.
- Surrender the other stones in your life to Him. He is faithful, and is grace is more than enough.
- Walk in the victory that grace brings. There is nothing more powerful than the grace and love of God.

Stone Movers

1. This week set aside some time to pray for your pastor and his family.
A. For their protection (physically, emotionally, & spiritually)
B. For an intimate time with the Lord
C. For a sweet time with Kayla, Tyler, Josh and Nicole
D. For wisdom and direction from the Lord for our church

2. Pray for Pastor's new series "Stone Movers" that will start this Sunday @ 9 a.m.

3. Finally, take some time to pray for the people you are going to invite to Easter Sunday.
A. Preparation of both yours and your guest heart
B. For the salvation of the lost

Thinking toward Heaven

1. What are the first thoughts that come to your mind when you think about Heaven? Are these the same thoughts you’ve always had, or have they changed over the years?

2. What has shaped most of those thoughts? (movies, books, people)

3. What should we think about heaven?

a. It was created -Genesis 1:1-2;14:22

b. It is a place of Blessing -Genesis 49:25;Exodus 16:4

c. It is a place of his Majesty & Greatness- Duet. 3:24

d. There are mysteries are mind cannot grasp -Job 38:33

e. God is preparing a place for his children -John14:2

4. Read Psalms 19, 97, 113 and Hebrews 1:1-3. What does it say about our Father and Heaven? Heaven was created in his image, so that it would bring glory to his name.

Ruling and Reigning With Christ

Ruling and Reigning with Christ is quite an interesting subject. There is no better place to look at what it will be like than in Scripture. Notice in these passages how we will rule with Him and what position we play in reigning with Him. 2 Tim 2:1-12/ 1 Pet. 5:3 /Rev. 4:10, 20:1-7
A. it is a place of reward
B. it is through enduring hardships
C. it is in directness and under his authority
D. it is through His power
E. it is a position that is not debunked nor removed
F. it is a position of Worship
G. it is a position of Victory

Remember that the Lord tells us that He is first will be last, and the last shall be first. Are you serving today? Have you turned your position as a spouse, worker, a parent into an opportunity to glorify the Lord even in difficult time? Those who do are the people who will rule and reign with Christ!

1. Take a good look at Hebrews 12:1-3. What does it say about our life here? Our we running a race on our own or is that a crowd running with us? This passage we have all read before, but have you applied it to your life? When things are tough to you fight back only to fail, maybe you buckle under certain temptations; you are NOT alone.

2. Turn to Hebrews 11 and take a look at the whole chapter. If anyone is in this crowd of witnesses these guys are. This is the "Hall of Faith" these people ran the race and now they are to cheer you own. But look at their struggles and their challenges
-Abraham vs.8-17; Gen.20
-Isaac vs.20
-Jacob vs.21; Gen. 27
-Joseph vs. 22; Gen 39:20
-Moses vs. 23-29
- Rahab vs. 31
-The others vs.32-40

These and the others who have gone since then are not in heaven strumming hearts. They are surrounding us, encouraging us to run the race to win! Be encouraged by those who have gone on before!

Heaven

1. Read Paul's passage in 2 Corinthians 5:1-9
a. What do you observe about our eternal destination from this passage?
b. What interesting words does Paul use to describe it?
c. What is the difference between “an earthly tent”, and an “eternal
dwelling?”
d. What impact does it have or should it have on how you live your life?

2. Have you ever thought why God gave us an imagination? Is it possible that God gave us an imagination so that we could imagine what it is like to be in his presence. How often do you think about Heaven as home? 2 Peter 3:13
a. Do thoughts of heaven penetrate your daily life?
b. If not, wake up and get in God's Word and remind yourself that today is an opportunity to make an investment in your future home.

What Makes A Great Church-SERVE

1. It is in our very nature to be served. Everywhere we go there are people serving and those being served? But have you asked yourself lately which one you are? Are you serving others or are you the one being served? Mark 9:35/Galatians 5:13

2. It is a rule of Greatness, that great people do what great people do? Likewise, great servants learn from other great servants. Look at some character qualities of great servants.

• Joseph (Gen. 39:1-7)
• Rahab (Joshua 2:1)
• Mordecai (Esther 2:5-7)
• The Prostitute (Luke 7:36-48)

3. Several years ago the Make-a-Wish foundation began to make the wishes of terminally ill patients come true, whether it was Disney World or making the opening pitch of a baseball game. I often wander if I had three hours to live and could do anything, what would I do. Jesus faced this, He knew his death was approaching and hours before his death He picked up a towel and washed his disciples feet. This was his last moments with them before his death and He served them. If the Lord returns tomorrow what will you be doing? Will He find you with a towel in hand serving? Mat. 24:45-51

GROW

1. Down here in Mobile, we are accustom to two things in the Fall the Iron Bowl and hurricanes. In preparation for the latter we fill our pantries with can goods and water and we make sure are belongings are strapped down for torrential weather. But when it comes to our spiritual lives do we prepare ourselves when the rough waters come? This can only come through strong, living roots. We need something to hold on to when the storms come because they will come. read Psalms 1


2. Scripture tells us that roots are not good if they are dead, so our you alive and growing spiritually or are you holding on two the nourishment you got last week? Luke 13:5-7


3. When you grow spiritually what happens?

2 Cor. 10:14-16

Col. 1:10-11

2 Thes. 1:3


4. Tiger Woods & Michael Jordan are arguably the greatest athletes to ever play their sports. But they were not born the best, they spent many hours on driving ranges and free throw lines, working out, & reinventing their game. We all admire these men for their abilities that were groomed through hours of growing in the game. Yet, in our faith you and I have fallen into a lie that what we did two months ago for our devotional life was good enough for today. Read Philippians 12:12-13

Have you workout in your faith lately?

What Makes a Great Church?

WORSHIP

1. There is great discussion as to where we should worship these days, have you thought about where you worship? read Gen 12

Bethel "House of God"

Ai "A place of the World"

Do you worship in your Ai? In the place that you work? How about the gym? Where else should you be worshiping?


2. In what way are we to Worship? Phil 3:1-4, Gal. 5

We worship the Lord when we are producing the fruit of the Spirit in our lives


3. Do you really believe the King you worship? Mt 28:15-20


4. Worship should invade every area, in every moment, in ever place of our lives, yet often times we are hindered from worshiping in that way. What keeps you from worshiping the Lord at all times?

• Sorrow -Ps 16
• Pride- Ps 10:4
• Lustful Thoughts-Num. 15:39
• Coveting- James 4:1-4