nimble.church nimble.church

The Church is…Active



Conflict over Water RightsWhen Isaac planted his crops that year, he harvested a hundred times more grain than he planted, for the Lord blessed him. He became a very rich man, and his wealth continued to grow. He acquired so many flocks of sheep and goats, herds of cattle, and servants that the Philistines became jealous of him. So the Philistines filled up all of Isaac’s wells with dirt. These were the wells that had been dug by the servants of his father, Abraham. Finally, Abimelech ordered Isaac to leave the country. “Go somewhere else,” he said, “for you have become too powerful for us.” So Isaac moved away to the Gerar Valley, where he set up their tents and settled down. He reopened the wells his father had dug, which the Philistines had filled in after Abraham’s death. Isaac also restored the names Abraham had given them.Isaac’s servants also dug in the Gerar Valley and discovered a well of fresh water.But then the shepherds from Gerar came and claimed the spring. “This is our water,” they said, and they argued over it with Isaac’s herdsmen. So Isaac named the well Esek (which means “argument”). Isaac’s men then dug another well, but again there was a dispute over it. So Isaac named it Sitnah (which means “hostility”). Abandoning that one, Isaac moved on and dug another well. This time there was no dispute over it, so Isaac named the place Rehoboth (which means “open space”), for he said, “At last the Lord has created enough space for us to prosper in this land.”From there, Isaac moved to Beersheba, where the Lord appeared to him on the night of his arrival. “I am the God of your father, Abraham,” he said. “Do not be afraid, for I am with you and will bless you. I will multiply your descendants, and they will become a great nation. I will do this because of my promise to Abraham, my servant.” Then Isaac built an altar there and worshiped the Lord. He set up his camp at that place, and his servants dug another well.



—Genesis 26:12-25 (NLT)



Creating a Space of Transformation



A Space of Salvation



A space of rest for the mind to think.A space where obstacles to salvation are intentionally removed.A space of peace free from opinions, judgments, and political rhetoric.A space for people to find Jesus, allowing Him to grow them, correct them, and turn their weaknesses into strengths.



A Space of Growth



Being born again is an ongoing activity. It is about constantly changing the will’s preference from self-gratification to God’s gratification.



Your salvation is immediate, but your kingdom’s impact is exercised by growing and allowing others to find their space of growth.



A Space of Genuine Love of Others



You were cleansed from your sins when you obeyed the truth, so now you must show sincere love to each other as brothers and sisters. Love each other deeply with all your heart. For you have been born again, but not to a life that will quickly end. Your new life will last forever because it comes from the eternal, living word of God.



—1 Peter 1:22-23 NLT



Here is how:



So get rid of all evil behavior. Be done with all deceit, hypocrisy, jealousy, and all unkind speech. Like newborn babies, you must crave pure spiritual milk so that you will grow into a full experience of salvation. Cry out for this nourishment, now that you have had a taste of the Lord’s kindness.



—1 Peter 2:1-3 NLT



As we grow in our awareness of God in our lives. we will grow in our awareness of others.



Therefore I, a prisoner for serving the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of your calling, for you have been called by God.Always be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other’s faults because of your love. Make every effort to keep yourselves united in the Spirit, binding yourselves together with peace. For there is one body and one Spirit, just as you have been called to one glorious hope for

The Church Is Us



The Series:



Church is…. USChurch is…. ACTIVEChurch is…. UNITEDChurch is…. EQUIPPED



At every significant moment in history, the church has always had an opportunity to stand and be counted or lie low and go unnoticed.



Church Is Not…



The Church is not a social club.The Church is not a place.The Church is not a group meeting you have to attend.The Church is not a drive through spiritual pick me up.The Church is not an organization.The Church is not religious tradition/roles and hoops to jump through.The Church is not a self help program.The Church is not a quick hand out to pay rent when you are short.The Church is not a place of entertainment.The Church is not a money collection agency.The Church is not the building.



The Church Is…



The Church is a movement of people following a loving God and helping each other walk out their God-given purpose.The Church is the surge of people following and being Christ together.



The righteous will flourish like a palm tree, they will grow like a cedar of Lebanon; planted in the house of the Lord, they will flourish in the courts of our God. They will still bear fruit in old age, they will stay fresh and green, proclaiming, “The Lord is upright; he is my Rock…”



—Psalm 92:12-15



We are not there yet!



Palms and Cedars



CEDAR: Durable wood used to make beams, columns, and roof structures. It is an attractive wood with a pleasant aroma.



PALM: A branch that is a symbol of triumph and victory.



Both Evergreens: Thriving, producing life year-round, and flourishing.



Our Call



Called to be Cedars – Reliable, Effective, Strong in Christ’s Character (Focused on who?)



Called to be Palms – Refreshing, rest, victorious, triumphant.(Focused on what?)



What Will It Take To Accomplish This?



1. Stay The Course (Roots)



If you are planted here – we need to press through difficulty to make sure our roots are deep.



They are like trees planted along a riverbank, with roots that reach deep into the water. Such trees are not bothered by the heat or worried by long months of drought…



—Jeremiah 17:8a



2. Help Others (Fruit)



With roots that reach deep into the water. Such trees are not bothered by the heat or worried by long months of drought. Their leaves stay green, and they never stop producing fruit.



—Jeremiah 17:8b



Fruit is not just for you.



Discover the thrill of being used by God!



3. Invite Others (Shade)



My people will again live under my shade. They will flourish like grain and blossom like grapevines. They will be as fragrant as the wines of Lebanon.



—Hosea 14:7



You are invited to invite others!You don’t have to be unknown



You are ready to invite others it is how we move people to a place where they can discover Jesus.



It does not matter who you are, what you believe, or what you have done. “Church is a place where you can belong.



Church is a movement of people following a loving God and helping each other walk out their God-given purpose.



4. Room For All (Space)



Church is for everyone!



Isaac’s servants also dug in the Gerar Valley and discovered a well of fresh water.But then the shepherds from Gerar came and claimed the spring. “This is our water,” they said, and they argued over it with Isaac’s herdsmen. So Isaac named the well Esek (which means “argument”).Isaac’s men then dug another well, but again there was a dispute over it. So Isaac named it Sitnah (which means “hostility”).Abandoning that one, Isaac moved on and dug another well. This time there was no dispute over it, so Isaac named the place Rehoboth (which means “open space”), for he said, “At last the Lord has created enough space for us to prosper in this land.”



—Genesis 26:19-22



Church is for everyone to encounter Jesus and be changed by Him. and Him alone! We don’t decide who gets exposed we don’t decide how Jesus will change them. We keep pointin

The Focussed Disciple



Focus on What?



The who and the what of following Jesus.



Part TWO: Focussed On What?



To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps…



—1 Peter 2:21 (NIV)



We focus on Jesus to SEE the example.



F – FOLLOWO – OBEYC – CALLEDU – USE GOD’s WORDS – SPIRIT LED



But there is seeing the example, and then there is FOLLOWING the example.



Just as much as we focus on Jesus to see Him, hear Him call us, feel His forgiveness, and sense the Spirit guiding us, we must concentrate on WHAT His example is an example of.



An example is not an example unless it is not copied.



The enemy of focusing on Jesus is our comfort.



The enemy of FOLLOWING Jesus’ example is distraction.



The Solution to Distraction



So don’t worry about these things, saying, ‘What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?’ These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.“So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today.



—Matthew 6:31-34



The solution to distraction is to prioritize the Kingdom.



The King came to set an example of what it looked like for people to operate in His Kingdom.



And Jesus, walking by the Sea of Galilee, saw two brothers, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea; for they were fishermen. Then He said to them, “Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.” They immediately left their nets and followed Him.



Move from Focus to Faith



Jesus is the same and still invites present-day disciples similarly: “Follow Me and I will make you…”



He calls us to FOCUS.



To do that we respond in that we FOLLOW Him, OBEY His advice, believe we are good enough to be CALLED, USE His Words, and allow ourselves to be SPIRIT-LED.



OUR AIRPractically, we respond daily by seeking the APPLICATION of His Word, living INSPIRED by His promises, and seeking REVELATION of the Father through Him.BUT HE CALLS US TO DO AS HE DID



The Balance of Character (Breath In) and Deeds (Breath Out)



The example of Jesus was how he fed His character AND helped others.



“Faith without deeds is dead.”



LIVING OUT THE EXAMPLE – The Same AIR



He needs us to live ready to:1. Apply his example to other people’s situations.2. Inspire those around us with hope.3. Reveal Him to others through our lives.



To follow Him, we need to know where He is going and what he does when he arrives.



The Parable of the Lost Sheep



“What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he loses one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness, and go after the one which is lost until he finds it? And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost!’ I say to you that likewise there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine just persons who need no repentance.



—Luke 15:4-7 NKJV



The Parable of the Lost Coin



Or what woman, having ten silver coins, if she loses one coin, does not light a lamp, sweep the house, and search carefully until she finds it? And when she has found it, she calls her friends and neighbors together, saying, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found the piece which I lost!’ Likewise, I say to you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”



—Luke 15:8-10 NKJV



The Parable of the Lost Son (Luke 15:11-32)



Wrong place and a right place



Shepherd – One sheep in the wrong place and 99 sheep in the right place.



Women – One coin in the wrong place and nine coins in the right

The Focused Disciple



The who and the what of following Jesus.



Part One: Focused On Who?



To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps…



—1 Peter 2:21 (NIV)



Focused on Who?



Understanding who we are focused on draws us into the person of Jesus and the heart of the Father.



Philip said to him, “Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough for us.” Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you so long, and you still do not know me, Philip? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’?



—John 14:8-9 (ESV)



Your impact on this community will not be made by how long you have known Jesus, but by when last you were transformed by Him!



Before we can be the church that Jesus returns for, we must be the disciples Jesus calls for.



Now that we know what we have—Jesus, this great Priest with ready access to God—let’s not let it slip through our fingers. We don’t have a priest who is out of touch with our reality. He’s been through weakness and testing, experienced it all—all but the sin. So let’s walk right up to him and get what he is so ready to give. Take the mercy, accept the help.



—Hebrews 4:14-16 The Message (MSG)



To be disciples, we can only rest once we have found application, inspiration, and revelation in every word of Jesus for every situation, circumstance, and relationship.



And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.



—Colossians 3:17 (NLT)



We have to give our following of Jesus the respect He deserves.



So then, my beloved, obedient as you have always been, not only when I am present but all the more now when I am absent, work out your salvation with fear and trembling.



—Philippians 2:12



We have to FOCUS.



F – FOLLOW



As Jesus was walking along, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at his tax collector’s booth. “Follow me and be my disciple,” Jesus said to him. So Matthew got up and followed him.



—Matthew 9:9 NLT



mathetes (math-ay-tes’); a learner, pupil, disciple, follower.



We are not called to simply believe in or acknowledge our savior. Jesus calls us to live how He lived, love how He loved, and do what He did!



To be disciples, we have to follow the character of our teacher and the deeds of our master.



To follow means that we are willing to go where Jesus went but live our lives according to where Jesus is.



O – OBEY



Jesus said, ‘If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father’s commands and remain in his love.’



—John 15:10 (NLT)



Obedience gets us focused on the who of the gospel, not the who of our comfort.



We gave you strict orders not to teach in this name,” he said. “Yet you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and are determined to make us guilty of this man’s blood.” Peter and the other apostles replied: “We must obey God rather than men!



—Acts 5:28-29



Obey God completely & immediately.



For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome.



—1 John 5:3



If we find God’s commands burdensome, then we are obedient to the wrong WHO.



C – CALLED



Therefore I, a prisoner for serving the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of your calling, for you have been called by God.



—Ephesians 4:1 (NLT)



Calling is as much who you are becoming as it is what you are doing.



Calling isn’t about something important you do in the future, it’s about your faithfulness to Jesus today.



The moment you step into your calling you step out of your comfort.The biggest enemy of calling is comfort. Never sacrifice your calling on the altar of comfort.



God often uses our deepest pain to launch our greatest calling!



For God’s gifts and his call can never be withdrawn.



—Romans 11:2

SPIRITUAL WARFARE



Understanding, Engaging, and Embracing in Spiritual War



———————————————————————



THE ATMOSPHERE OF LIFE…



THE WAR THAT’S ABOUT US



Ideologies, opinions, theologies, and the global good vs. evil, right vs. wrong.



———————————————————————



THERE IS A WAR BUT ITS NOT JUST OUT THERE…



———————————————————————



THE WAR THAT’S WITHIN US



The battle of wrong and right, decisions, temptations, commitments, follow through, selfishness.



———————————————————————



THE UNSEEN WAR THAT RAGES



2 CORINTHIANS 4:18 (CSB)



So we do not focus on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.



Understanding, engaging, and embracing this unseen spiritual warfare will change the eternal IMPACT we have in this world.



———————————————————————



1. UNDERSTANDING



Paul Defines The War:



Ephesians 6:12 (CSB)



For our struggle is not against flesh and blood,   



but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers of this darkness, 



against evil, spiritual forces in the heavens.



There are forces of evil that want to turn us away from God and separate us from Him.



———————————————————————



WHAT IS THIS WAR ABOUT?



1 CORINTHIANS 10:20-21 (CSB)



No, but I do say that what they sacrifice (worship), they sacrifice to demons and not to God. I do not want you to be participants with demons! You cannot drink the cup of the Lord (sacrifice – worship) and the cup of demons. You cannot share in the Lord’s table (communion) and the table of demons.



IT IS ABOUT OUR WORSHIP (HEARTS)



IT IS ABOUT OUR OBEDIENCE (MINDS)



How do you practically honor the God you serve?



Spiritual war is all about your obedience and worship.



Which god do you obey?



Which god holds sway?



———————————————————————



HOW DID THIS WAR START?



Two forces are trying to gain your attention.



GOD VS SATAN



———————————————————————



GOD



When God created the rhythms of thought and the human psyche, he made a few non-negotiables on which human thought should be based.



His Word is TRUTH.



His intent is RIGHTEOUS.



His motive is LOVE.



His character is PERFECT.



He has a divine, unique PURPOSE for us.



His AUTHORITY is absolute but is also delegated to us.



He desires a life-giving RELATIONSHIP with us.



His GRACE will always make way for those who chose Him.



With these truths cemented into the DNA of the universe,



God wanted us to choose to worship and be obedient to these truths. 



He wants us to formulate our will around His will. Our lives around who He is.



———————————————————————



SATAN



SATAN ATTACKS US TO DIVERT OUR WORSHIP OF THE TRUE GOD



Satan can not create something viable as an alternative. 



Better love, more perfect…



You can’t add to God. 



So, he wages this war of worship by diverting and shifting our perspective away from God’s absolute truths. Anything that minimizes truth is a lie. Anything that hides light is darkness.



Emboldened by his rebellion, Satan now brings supernatural war to the Human psyche, this supernatural distraction to God’s truths.



He knows that he could be victorious in the greater war if he can get God’s most precious creation to fall to the ravages of the war within.



———————————————————————



SATAN DISTORTS AND DISTRACTS



HE BLINDS WITH DOUBT



2 Corinthians 4:4 (CSB)



In their case, the god of this age has blinded the minds of the unbelievers to keep them f

5 Day Devotional



Small Group Discussion




SPIRITUAL WARFARE



Understanding, Engaging, and Embracing in Spiritual War



There is a war about us—most assuredly a war—but it is not just out



there. There is a war within us!



ITS CALLED SPIRITUAL WAR



Understanding, Engaging, and Embracing Spiritual War



Ephesians 6:12 (CSB)



For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers,



against the authorities, against the cosmic powers of this darkness,



against evil, spiritual forces in the heavens.



EVERY SINGLE HUMAN IS IN THIS WAR



1. UNDERSTANDING



HOW DID THIS WAR START?



When God created the rhythms of thought and the human psyche,



he made a few non-negotiables on which human thought should be



based.



The war OUT THERE started the moment Satan no longer



submitted to these truths. The war WITHIN began the moment



humankind considered the idea that these truths were not absolute.



SATAN ATTACKS US TO DEFEAT GOD



• The Word is questioned.



• God’s love and righteousness are undermined.



• Our authority is overly exaggerated.



• Our purpose is corrupted.



When humans base every thought and action on the absolute



truth of God’s character, this is called obedience.Satan needs us to be disobedient by diverting our attention from



the WORD OF GOD.



Spiritual death is denying the truth of God (Disobedience).



Genesis 2:17 (CSB)



…but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good



and evil, for on the day you eat from it, you will certainly die.



John 10:10 (CSB)



A thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I have come so



that they may have life and have it in abundance.



GOD RESPONDS (THE WAR OUT THERE)



Genesis 3:15 (CSB)



I will put hostility between you and the woman and between your



offspring and her offspring. He will strike your head, and you will



strike his heel.



THIS IS THE WAR WE DON’T HAVE TO FIGHT. IT’S JESUS’S



WAR. WE WIN THE WAR WITHIN BY BELIEVING THAT JESUS



HAS WON THE WAR OUT THERE!



2. ENGAGE



WE FIGHT BY LIVING OUT HIS VICTORY!



If you want to receive the accolades of Jesus’ victory (more than



conquerors), then you have to win the battles of the mind. We must



return our thoughts to God’s character and Jesus’ victory.THE POSTURE OF A WARRIOR



1. NEVER OVERSTEP



John 6:38 (CSB)



For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will, but



the will of him who sent me.



2. DON’T GET CAUGHT IN MEDIOCRITY



God’s promises are our weapons, His Word is our defense,



and Who He Is is our armor.



Matthew 13:19 (CSB)



When anyone hears the word about the kingdom and doesn’t



understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what



was sown in his heart. This is the one sown along the path.



3. DEAMPLIFY DOUBT



Satan needs you to doubt Jesus’s victory.



Hebrews 11:1 (CSB)



Now, faith is the reality of what is hoped for, the proof of what



is not seen.



4. STOP THE BLAME, END THE SHAME



We know who we are, so we will know what to do…



1 Peter 5:8



Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking



for someone to devour.



WE ENGAGE DAILY!



Romans 8:37



No, in all these things we are MORE than conquerors through



him who loved us.We are conquerors when we powerfully ENGAGE in the spiritual



war, but we are more than conquerors when we embrace our



supernatural impact!



3. EMBRACE



John 17:3 (CSB)



This is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and



the one you have sent



— Jesus Christ.



Amid the war we embrace life..



Embracing all that God’s character establishes and that Jesus’



victories provide gives us life.



Ephesians 6:13-18 (CSB)



Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil



comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have



done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth