ER, Part 4: Life Support

(Ecclesiastes 3:1,5)  "There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven…a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance." Toxic Environments (Matthew 13:3-7)  Then he told them many things in parables, saying: "A farmer went out to sow his seed.  As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up.  Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow.  But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root.  Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants."   Toxic Traits: ü Reckless words. (Proverbs 12:18)  "Reckless words pierce like a sword, but the tongue of the wise brings healing." ü Negative attitudes. (Romans 8:6)  "The mind of sinful man is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace." ü An unbalanced life. (Luke 21:34)  "Be careful, or your hearts will be weighed down with dissipation, drunkenness and the anxieties of life, and that day will close on you unexpectedly like a trap." ü Wrong choices. (Proverbs 11:19)  "The truly righteous man attains life, but he who pursues evil goes to his death."   Life Support (Matthew 20:25-26)  Jesus called them together and said, "You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them.  Not so with you."   5 Secrets to creating life-giving environments: 1.     Give them something unexpected. (John 3:16)  "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life." 2.     Show them special attention. (Matthew 17:1)  "After six days Jesus took with him Peter, James and John the brother of James, and led them up a high mountain by themselves." 3.     Express unconditional acceptance. (Mark 10:16)  "And he took the children in his arms, put his hands on them and blessed them." 4.     Encourage them with your words. (Matthew 16:17-18)  Jesus replied, "Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by man, but by my Father in heaven.  And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it." (Proverbs 18:21) (MSG) "Words kill, words give life; they're either poison or fruit—you choose." 5.     Put their agenda ahead of your own. (Mark 10:45)  "For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many."   For more information on the vision of Freedom Church, please visit our website at www.freedom-church.org.