Sermon in 10 Tweets

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The Red Sea “Step into the Sea” (Exodus 14-15) in Getting Unstuck for Dummies, a series in Exodus:

  1. Exodus offers a deeply biblical approach to recovery from the sins that derail us, the struggles that dog us & the scars that define us.
  2.  “I thought God would honor my decision.”
  3. Resentment toward God can creep into your life and you can get stuck spiritually.
  4. “If God has accepted me by grace alone, then I can’t expect anything from him. I owe him everything and he owes me nothing.”
  5. If y0u express your resentment & admit your acting like an “elder brother,” prepare to love God deeper than you ever have before.
  6. “Don’t be afraid. Stand firm. Watch God save you. All you have to do is shut up.”
  7. Sharing your resentment is healthy; staying resentful indefinitely is not.
  8. You can’t change your emotions on the spot, but you can change your focus.
  9. You’re stuck because, ultimately, you don’t trust God enough to step into the sea.
  10. “They had it easy? They didn’t know I would be plunged to the murky sea and drown for you on the cross.”

Tuesday Memo

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Hi Five Oakers, 7main

I want to share a great letter the campaign team leadership received from one of our members regarding their FOR [  ] Campaign pledge.

I want to thank…you for listening to God and putting together a capital campaign that was so much more than just a fund raising event. I joked with Henry about when the flogging would begin, but I never felt pressured. A solid rational was laid out and the direction was always to look to God for how to be involved.

Let me share the story of my wife and me through this campaign. We always knew we would be involved but we were unsure as to what extent. Over the last few years I have been through several corporate layoffs and our finances have been tight.

Early on we talked about what we thought we could give. My wife tends to be less optimistic than me (she calls it realism) and felt we needed to be very careful. I continued to pray about what we could do and how I could help to bring her along. After last weekend’s service we talked about what numbers were going through our heads. I was thinking a pledge of $7000. My wife completely surprised me and tried my faith position. She had a larger amount in mind and explained how we could do it – if God provided. We are happy to be following God’s leading and are making a $20,000 pledge today.

Last week’s presentation put so much into perspective. This was about more than money to buy land and prepare for future growth. This is also about ministering to our staff and impacting global leadership (you touched my heart there!).

Five Oaks is FOR [a lot of things], but we are thankful that Five Oaks is FOR [where God wants my wife and me to be].

Thanks for a great spiritual journey!

PS – Could we continue to get daily scripture texts that prepare and challenge us?

I love it!

Blessings, Pastor Henry