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Give Online: https://pushpay.com/pay/gatecitychristian Website: https://www.gatecitychristian.com/ Decision Card: https://gatecity.churchcenter.com/people/forms/371658 GRATEFUL IN THE GRIND Selfless – Part 5 01/29/2023 … whatever you do, do it for the glory of God. 1 Corinthians 10:31 NIV WHAT IF? • WHAT IF THE WORK IS THE REWARD? • WHAT IF THE PRIZE IS IN THE PROCESS? • WHAT IF YOU CAN BE GRATEFUL IN THE GRIND? For I am the least of the apostles and do not even deserve to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace to me was not without effect. No, I worked harder than all of them—yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me. 1 Corinthians 15:9-10 NIV THE THREE ENEMIES OF THE TRUE REWARD • The pillow: the seduction of comfort. - Easy never changed the world. • The shiny thing: the allure of constant distractions. - Always chasing but never finding. • The towel: the perpetual temptation to quit. - You can throw in the towel or you can use it wipe the sweat off your face. However, I consider my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the good news of God’s grace. Acts 20:24 NIV Selfish PASSION is about us—God is calling us to Selfless PURPOSE. Do it all for the glory of God Talk About It • There three enemies of true reward: the pillow (comfort), the shiny thing (distraction), and the towel (quitting). Which do you need to fight most? • Read 1 Corinthians 10:31. What are some ordinary things you do that could actually be worship before God? • What good things are you tempted to quit? How can you let God’s purpose for it create passion in you?

Give Online: https://pushpay.com/pay/gatecitychristian Website: https://www.gatecitychristian.com/ Decision Card: https://gatecity.churchcenter.com/people/forms/371658 EXTRAVAGANT IN GENEROSITY Selfless – Part 4 1/22/2023 All day long [the lazy and selfish] craves and craves, but the righteous gives and does not hold back. Proverbs 21:26 ESV THREE MINDSETS ABOUT GENEROSITY 1. THE BAG: THERE IS NEVER ENOUGH. … You eat, but do not have enough; You drink, but you are not filled with drink; You clothe yourselves, but no one is warm; And he who earns wages, earns wages to put into a bag with holes. Haggai 1:6 NKJV 2. THE BASKET: THERE IS ENOUGH. All these blessings will come on you and accompany you if you obey the LORD your God … 5 Your basket and your kneading trough will be blessed. Deuteronomy 28:2, 5 NIV “Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap.…” Luke 6:38 NIV • What you keep is all you have. What you give, God multiplies. 3. THE BARN: THERE IS WAY MORE THAN ENOUGH. Honor the Lord with your wealth, with the firstfruits of all your crops; then your barns will be filled to overflowing.… Proverbs 3:9-10 NIV “Dedicate to me every firstborn among the Israelites. The first offspring to be born, of both humans and animals, belongs to me.” Exodus 13:2 NLT Redeem with a lamb every firstborn donkey, but if you do not redeem it, break its neck.… Exodus 13:13 NIV Honor the Lord with your wealth, with the firstfruits of all your crops; 10 then your barns will be filled to overflowing.… Proverbs 3:9-10 NIV All day long [the lazy and selfish] craves and craves, but the righteous gives and does not hold back. Proverbs 21:26 ESV We believe in a barn-blessing, big hearted, open handed good and grace filled God who doesn’t hold back. TALK ABOUT IT • Rank how generous you are on a scale of 1-10. Why that number? • When is the last time you gave away so much it scared you? What happened next? • Do you currently have the bag, basket, or barn mindset? What would it take to move toward the barn mindset?

FAITHFUL IN SERVICE Selfless – Part 3 01/15/2023 • What would others say that you’re always doing? “The greatest among you will be your servant.” Matthew 23:11 NIV • Serving is not an action that we do, it is an expression of who we are. WHAT ARE YOU ALWAYS DOING? In Joppa there was a disciple named Tabitha (in Greek her name is Dorcas); she was always doing good and helping the poor. Acts 9:36 NIV HOW DO WE BECOME A FAITHFUL SERVANT? • Bring a lunch. • Offer a ride. • Carry a towel. BRING A LUNCH One day Jesse said to David, “Take this basket of roasted grain and these ten loaves of bread, and carry them quickly to your brothers. 18 … See how your brothers are getting along, and bring back a report on how they are doing.” 1 Samuel 17:17-18 NLT OFFER A RIDE “If anyone asks you, 'Why are you untying it?' say, 'The Lord needs it.'” Luke 19:31 NIV CARRY A TOWEL So [Jesus] got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. 5 After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet … John 13:4-5 NIV “The greatest among you will be your servant.” Matthew 23:11 NIV Being a servant means taking off the bib and putting on the apron. Serving is not what we do, it is who we are Talk About It • Bring a lunch, offer a ride, and carry a towel. How can you do more of these this week? • What “little things” do you consider beneath you? What “little things” do you do each day that God views as great? How can you more faithfully serve your friends, family, and community? • What do you want to be known for always doing? How can you deepen that reputation?

Give Online: https://pushpay.com/pay/gatecitychristian Website: https://www.gatecitychristian.com/ Decision Card: https://gatecity.churchcenter.com/people/forms/371658 UNCOMMON LOVE Selfless – Part 2 01/08/2023 The arrival of Jesus signaled an end to the temple model focused on self and the beginning of something new and selfless. The temple model is me centered. • What must I do or believe to make things and keep things right between God and me? • Temple thinking gravitates to rituals and rules . • What exactly must I do to make things and keep things right between God and me? The Jesus model is centered on the person beside you. “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” John 13:34-35 NIV For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” Galatians 5:14 NIV The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love. Galatians 5:6 NIV The New Testament imperatives are examples of how to demonstrate your love for God by loving others. The Jesus model is less complicated but far more demanding. In your relationships with one another have the same mindset as Christ Jesus. Philippians 2:5 NIV Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you. Luke 6:27 NIV Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful. Luke 6:36 NIV Uncommon love asks what does love require of me? When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his glorious throne. And all the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left. Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; Take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’ Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you? The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’” Matthew 25:38-39 NIV Your devotion to God is illustrated, demonstrated, and authenticated by your love for others. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” John 13:35 ESV The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love. Galatians 5:6 NIV WHAT DOES LOVE REQUIRE OF ME?

Give Online: https://pushpay.com/pay/gatecitychristian Website: https://www.gatecitychristian.com/ Decision Card: https://gatecity.churchcenter.com/people/forms/371658 BOLD IN WITNESS Selfless – Part 1 1/1/2022 … “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.” Matthew 16:24 NIV That Sunday evening the disciples were meeting behind locked doors because they were afraid of the Jewish leaders. Suddenly, Jesus was standing there among them! “Peace be with you,” he said. John 20:19 NIV Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, “Rulers and elders of our people, are we being questioned today because we’ve done a good deed for a crippled man? Do you want to know how he was healed? Let me clearly state to all of you and to all the people of Israel that he was healed by the powerful name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, the man you crucified but whom God raised from the dead. Acts 4:8-10 NIV • WE SPEAK BOLDLY ABOUT WHAT WE BELIEVE DEEPLY. There is salvation in no one else! God has given no other name under heaven by which we must be saved. The members of the council were amazed when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, for they could see that they were ordinary men with no special training in the Scriptures. They also recognized them as men who had been with Jesus. Acts 4:12-13 NIV HOW AMAZED ARE PEOPLE BY YOUR BOLDNESS FOR CHRIST? Unmoved 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Amazed HOW DO WE GROW IN BOLDNESS? 1. SPEND MORE TIME WITH JESUS. [They were amazed by the disciples’ boldness]… for they could see that they were ordinary men with no special training in the Scriptures. They also recognized them as men who had been with Jesus. Acts 4:13 NIV 2. ASK GOD TO MAKE YOU BOLD. And now, O Lord, hear their threats, and give us, your servants, great boldness in preaching your word. Acts 4:29 NIV … “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined what God has prepared for those who love him.” 1 Corinthians 2:9 NIV Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the old heaven and the old earth had disappeared ... I heard a loud shout from the throne, saying, “Look, God’s home is now among his people! He will live with them, and they will be his people. God himself will be with them. He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever.” And the one sitting on the throne said … “It is finished! I am the Alpha and the Omega—the Beginning and the End. To all who are thirsty I will give freely from the springs of the water of life. All who are victorious will inherit all these blessings, and I will be their God, and they will be my children. Revelation 21:1, 3-7 NIV Speak boldly—Believe deeply. TALK ABOUT IT • Rank your selflessness on a scale of 1-10. Go. • How could you grow in boldness for sharing your faith? What do you think it will take? • Who’s one person you’ll share your faith with this week?

WHY CALL HIM SAVIOR? Why The Nativity – Part 4 12/25/2022 The Glory of God’s Promise of a Savior But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. Luke 2:10-11 NIV For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost. Luke 19:10 NIV 1. The Promise of the Savior Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. Luke 2:11 NIV For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Isaiah 9:6 NIV She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins. Matthew 1:21 NIV 2. The Purpose of the Savior For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost. Luke 19:10 NIV • The Savior Is Needed to Seek the Lost • The Savior Is Needed to Save the Lost 3. The Provision of the Savior There is the promise of a Savior, the purpose of the Savior, and finally, the provision of a Savior: Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. Luke 2:11 NIV • A Fact of History—“Today A Savior has been born” • A Fulfillment of Prophecy—“In the City of David” But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times. Micah 5:2 NIV A Foundation for Eternity Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. Luke 2:11 NIV Do you know Him as your Savior?