Union Chapel Ministries

Deuteronomy 16:9-17 I. Remembrance PARRIS’ TOP TEN CHRISTMAS SUGGESTIONS 1. Attend a Christmas Eve Candlelight service 2. Invest some time caring for/serving others. 3. Drive around and look at the light displays. 4. Feast with gratitude and eat too much without guilt. 5. Take a small gift to your neighbor (and introduce yourself). 6. Do not turn down fudge or Christmas cookies this year. 7. Sing Christmas carols loudly (on key is optional). 8. Watch “It’s A Wonderful Life” at least once. 9. Greet people with “Merry Christmas!” 10. Give yourself afresh to the Christ of Christmas. II. Rejoicing III. Feasting TOP TEN THINGS YOU DON’T WANT TO HEAR AT CHRISTMAS DINNER 10. I’m just using up cranberry sauce I had left over from last Christmas. 9. So, I figured if I’m dieting, everybody’s dieting. 8. Just brush the frost off the turkey before you carve it. 7. Who wants bologna? 6. Thought I’d save a little time and just leave the feathers on. 5. I’m trying out a brand new stuffing recipe. Hope you like licor

Luke 1:26-37 I. When God changes your plans He’s trying to get your attention. There is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death. Proverbs 14:12 II. When God changes your plans it also means God has a better plan. I know what I am planning for you, says the Lord. I have good plans for you. Not plans to hurt you. And I will give you hope and a good future. Jeremiah 29:11 We know God’s plan is bigger than your plan. We know God’s plan is more rewarding. We know God’s plan is at times harder. III. God wants you to trust Him. Without faith it is impossible to please God. Hebrews 11:6 Three warning signs of lack of trust: fatigue, frustration, fear. The Lord will work out his plans for my life for his faithful love endures forever. Psalm 138:8

John 3:16-21 I. A Spirit of giving. At the very heart of a liberated, joyful, Spirit-filled Christianity is the nature and character of giving. II. Giving in relationships. III. The giving nature of God. Ephesians 1 Vs. 3 “…God has blessed us with every spiritual blessing…” Vs. 4 “ He chose us to be holy and blameless in his sight.” Vs. 5 “In love he predestined us/chose us to be adopted as his sons and daughters.” Vs. 7 “In him we have redemption through his blood.” Vs. 9 “He made known to us the mystery of his will.” Vs. 11-14 “you were chosen and included in Christ and marked with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance…” God says, “I want to spend eternity with you!” The great announcement of Christianity is not that you have accepted God. The great announcement of Christianity is that God has accepted you!”

Ecclesiastes 4:7-12 “Rising from the debris of our lost values is the new value on the individual. The ‘me’ generation has given way to a ‘me’ world. The question is, how will the church, the ultimate ‘WE’ organization, adjust?” – Church Consultant, Lyle Schaller in The Connecting Church by Randy Frazee A life without connection brings isolation. Loneliness is a warning light on the dash board of your life that confirms that you are running low on the primary fuel you need: connection. A life without connection brings exhaustion. A life without connection brings frustration. Godly and meaningful connection brings production. Godly and meaningful connection brings provision. Godly and meaningful connection brings protection.

Matthew 9:35-38 1. We must engage in rigorous biblical instruction. 2. Evangelism must be at the heart of the church’s life.   Acts 1:16 I am not ashamed of the gospel for it is the power of God unto salvation to everyone who believes… 3. We should plant churches.

Matthew 24:1-14 I. Take heed to yourself. (Do not be deceived.) Vs. 4 And Jesus answered and said to them: ‘Take heed (watch out) that no one deceives you.’ II. See that you are not troubled. Vs. 6 And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not troubled; for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. III. Guard your love for God. Vs. 12 And because lawlessness (iniquity) will abound, the love of many will grow (wax) cold. Guard your heart with all diligence for from it flow the issues of life. Proverbs 4:23 Above all guard the door of your mind with diligence, for out of it re the issues of life. Proverbs 4:23 A Faithful Version Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life. Proverbs 4:23 New Living Translation IV. Endure. Vs. 13 but the one who stands firm (endures) to the end will be saved. V. Preach the gospel! Vs. 14 And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and t

Like what you're hearing? Keep the conversation going. Find a few people to talk with about the things you've been learning. Here are a few questions that you can use to kickstart some conversation. • Who sleeps with your phone? Who checks email on vacation? Who looks at social media first thing every morning? Last thing of the day? While you’re driving? Posts from the bathroom? • Describe your love/hate relationship with technology in a few phrases. • On a scale of 1 to 10, how addicted are you to technology and why? • Which app, game, or form of media is the biggest problem for you? What about it makes you admit it’s a problem? • What are some signs that technology is your master? • How has the amount of time you spend staring at your phone or computer affected your relationships with the people around you in real life? • How much time do you think is healthy for you to spend on your phone daily? • How would you feel if you skipped all online media for a day? A week? A year? • What are some signs that you

Like what you're hearing? Keep the conversation going. Find a few people to talk with about the things you've been learning. Here are a few questions that you can use to kickstart some conversation. • What’s the most awkward overshare you’ve seen on social media? Take a few minutes to laugh about it! • It’s time #TBH (to be honest). Everyone think of something you feel bad about not feeling bad about. Then, take turns finishing the sentence, “I couldn’t care less about _____.” • In your own life or in the lives of others, how have you noticed that people don’t care as much? • If someone followed you around, what evidence might they see that you’re obsessed with yourself? (Bonus for admitting you’d love it if someone watched your every move.) • Share an example of something you would say you care about that you don’t do anything about. Try to identify what’s keeping you from turning those feelings into action. • How has serving and caring for others impacted your life? • Share a time when you showed compassi

Like what you're hearing? Keep the conversation going. Find a few people to talk with about the things you've been learning. Here are a few questions that you can use to kickstart some conversation. • Share something silly that was a struggle for you this week that isn’t really a big deal compared to deeper #struggles. • Share a time when you worked to create a social media moment instead of just engaging in the situation. • Scroll through the things you’ve posted online. Share the real story that was going on that might not show in the carefully crafted photo or post. • How many close friends do you have?. How far off is this number from what you think would be God’s best for you? • Do you see any area of your life where you are starting to fear or avoid unfiltered communication? • What’s something about you that you’d never reveal to your wider group of “friends” on your social media page? • What veil are you wearing? What are some situations where you find yourself showing “the me I want you to see”? • Wh

Like what you're hearing? Keep the conversation going. Find a few people to talk with about the things you've been learning. Here are a few questions that you can use to kickstart some conversation. • Talk about any anxiety or compulsions you experience being untethered to your device. • What’s the dumbest thing you’re into online? • From Pinterest to World of Warcraft, what’s your biggest technology distraction? • What does the word “friend” mean to you? What are the different ways you use that term? • In what ways might technology change how you connect in your relationships? • Share a time when you got a text or saw a post that was exactly what you needed at that moment. How can you do a better job of using technology to engage with others? • How have you used technology to connect to someone in a positive, meaningful way? • What are some signs that you may be addicted to immediate affirmation? • Would your online friends know you’re a disciple of Christ like John 13:35 describes? How can you show who Ch

Like what you're hearing? Keep the conversation going. Find a few people to talk with about the things you've been learning. Here are a few questions that you can use to kickstart some conversation. • Share the most ridiculous selfie you’ve seen recently. • If you could switch lives with someone, real or fictional, who would it be and why? • Between the weekend message and now, which areas of discontentment has God exposed in you? • On a scale of 1-10 (1=not at all, 10=completely) how satisfied are you with your life? Why did you choose that number? What would it take to move that number up? • What are some differences between comparing yourself to God’s standard and comparing yourself to the world’s standard? • In what area do you feel most content? Why is that? • In what area do you feel least content? Why do you think that is? What can you do about that to change it? • What are some specific sources of envy you need to block from your life? • Paul shares his secret to contentment in Philippians 4:12-13.

I Thessalonians 5:12-28 I Grace is greater than your circumstances. Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. I Thessalonians 5:18 Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one. Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was pelted with stones, three times I was shipwrecked, I spent a night and a day in the open sea, I have been constantly on the move. I have been in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from my fellow Jews, in danger from Gentiles; in danger in the city, in danger in the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from false believers. I have labored and toiled and have often gone without sleep; I have known hunger and thirst and have often gone without food; I have been cold and naked. II Corinthians 11:24-27 Rejoice always. Pray without ceasing. Give thanks in all circumstances… I Thessalonians 5: 16-18 What God has done for you is greater than what that person has done to you. See to it that no one misses

Matthew 18:21-35 …where sin did abound, grace did much more abound… Romans 5:20 Every heart knows its own bitterness… Proverbs 14:10 “If the biggest sinner you know isn’t you, then you don’t know yourself very well.” John Laroe Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. Colossians 3:13 I. Grace is greater than repayment. II. Grace is greater than revenge. III. Grace is greater than resentment. “When you forgive the prisoner that it really frees is you.” Matthew West (songwriter) The key to giving grace — hard, messy grace — is to stop thinking about what’s been done to you and to start thinking about what Jesus has done for you.

II Corinthians 12:1-10 See to it that no one misses the grace of God… Hebrews 12:15 When we’re weak, that weakness gives space for God’s grace to show up. That weakness is the place where God’s power can be most visibly demonstrated. But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore, I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong. II Corinthians 12:9-10 I. Grace is greater than my infirmities. II. Grace is greater than my inabilities. When they [the religious leaders of the day] saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished, and they took note that they had been with Jesus. Acts 4:13 III. Grace is greater than my insecurities.

Romans 5:12-17 “See to it that no one misses the grace of God.” Hebrews 12:15 The wages of sin is death. Romans 6:23 When Adam sinned, sin entered the world. Adam’s sin brought death, so death spread to everyone, for everyone sinned. Romans 5:12 I. Grace is greater than your sin. For the sin of one man, Adam, brought death to many. But even greater is God’s wonderful grace and his gift of forgiveness to many through this other man, Jesus Christ. Romans 5:15 The result of God’s gracious gift is very different from the result
of that one man’s sin. For Adam’s sin led to condemnation, but God’s free gift leads to our being made right with God.” Romans 5:16 For the sin of this one man, Adam, caused death to rule over many. But even greater is God’s wonderful grace and his gift of righteousness, for all who receive it. Romans 5:17 II. Grace is greater than your secret. III. Grace is greater than your shame.

John 20:19-29 I. Asking Questions 1. Jesus will go to great lengths to answer your questions 2. Know the emotional context for your questions 3. Don’t let your feelings deceive you II. Finding Answers 1. Take your questions to people you trust 2. Take your questions to Jesus 3. Stop questioning yourself in unhealthy ways 4. The ultimate answer to your questions is the Holy Spirit!

Luke 7:18-23 Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen. Hebrews 11:1 I. Be honest about your doubt. II. Let doubt move you toward Jesus. III. When in doubt practice stubborn faith.

Mark 2: 1-12 I. THE STORY II. THE APPLICATION 1. The power of friendship. Who wouldn’t want to have four friends like these? Friends who would do anything to help you. 2. The power of desperation. 3. The power of faith. 4. The power of spiritual healing. The most important place in life is to know our sins are forgiven and our life made right with God.

John 9:1-12 I. The encounter II. The question Vs. 2 Why do bad things happen?...(this is not an exhaustive list) 1. Result of negative spiritual forces 2. Result of human sin 3. Result of a broken world 4. So the work of God might be displayed III. The priority IV. The miracle V. The witness Jesus heard that they had thrown him out, and when he found him, he said, “Do you believe in the Son of Man?” ”Who is he, sir? the man asked. “Tell me so that I may believe in him.” Jesus said, “You have now seen him, in fact, he is the one speaking with you.” Then the man said, “Lord, I believe,” and he worshiped him. John 9: 35-38