Sermon by Dr. Robert Lewis

11/4/2001

Life is a team sport.

What Friendships are not:

• Friendship is not to be equated with friendly.
• Friendship is not getting someone to take care of you.

What Friendships are:

• A real friend seeks your best.
• A real friend is durable.
• A real friend keeps confidence.
• A real friend, at times, is confrontative.
• A real friend is real.

The Worst Proverb: 18:1 - the opposite of all friendship principles.

Strategy #9: A Godly friend is one of life's greatest blessings, but to have one you must also be one.

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Sermon by Dr. Robert Lewis

10/21/2001

Generosity is the great hidden secret of a rich life.

Greed constantly pulls us to ourselves.

Three Ways the Wisdom of Proverbs Calls Us to be Generous:

• With our money: Give to honor the Lord
• With our good deeds
• With our words: Helping someone find Jesus

Strategy #7 for Ensuring the Blessing of God: "give and it shall be given to you"

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Sermon by Dr. Robert Lewis

8/26/2001

Two Important Things You Need to Know about Wisdom:

• Wisdom richly rewards
• Wisdom is available to everyone

How to be Wise:

• Fear the Lord
• Apply God's Word
• Hang out with wise people

Strategy #1 for Assuring the Blessing of God: Acquire Wisdom.

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Sermon by Dr. Robert Lewis

8/5/2001

The Story of Risky Faith

• Naomi's Plan:
  • Knew there was chemistry with Boaz
  • Knew Boaz was righteous
• Ruth's Courageous Execution:
  • Risky to go to the threshing floor
• Boaz"s Manly Response:
  • Praises her character
  • Follow principles

Relevant Observations of Exceptional Living

• From Naomi's life: An exceptional faith will move when you see God moving.
• From Ruth's life: An exceptional life will require moments of great personal risk.
• From Boaz's life: An exceptional masculinity loves righteousness above all.
  • Every man needs a mission above all else, even his wife.

Ruth 3

Sermon by Dr. Robert Lewis

6/24/2001

Climbing God's Mountain:

• Conversion - Discovery - Grounding - Growth and Service - Call

What Do We Mean by Mission?

• A personal mission is different from those general spiritual responsibilities Scripture calls every believer to in the church.
• A personal mission is finding what God specifically created you to do with your life, and doing it.

The "Gear" for a Personal Mission:

• Gifting is the starting point.
• Desires and interests mark the trail ahead.
• Calling is the summit.
• Faith is the climb.
• Perseverance is the victory.

Moses:

• Gift of leadership
• Wanted the oppression lifted from his people
• Not leader of sheep but deliverer of Israel

Do you know what God has created you to do?

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Sermon by Dr. Robert Lewis

6/3/2001

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Sermon by Dr. Robert Lewis

5/20/2001

Biblical Snapshots of Stuck:

• We all get stuck at some time in our Christian life.

Chief Culprits Behind Stuck

• Obvious ones:
  • Stuck in sin
  • Stuck in time
  • Stuck on me
  • Stuck in world
• Not so obvious ones:
  • Stuck in transition
  • Stuck on the surface
• To get unstuck will require:
  • Reflection and assessment
  • One hard step of faith and commitment
  • Pursuit of Lordship

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Sermon by Dr. Robert Lewis

4/22/2001

Ways We Experience Doubt:

• Theological
• Experiential
• Personal
  • About Me
  • About God

Observations About Doubt:

• Doubt is uncertainty about a thing, not a conclusion.
• Doubt and faith are not incompatible.
• Doubt can be spiritually paralyzing for those who confuse faith with certainty.
• Doubt usually ends in one of three places.
  • A greater faith and fruitfulness
  • Lifeless stagnation
  • Apostasy

How To Deal With Your Doubt:

• Don't be afraid of your doubt - God isn't.
• Talk to people about your doubt.
• Talk to God about your doubt.
• Press to resolve your doubt. Take risks and do research but don't drift in it.

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