Colossians 2:6-7

6 And now, just as you accepted Christ Jesus as your Lord, you must continue to live in obedience to him. 7 Let your roots grow down into him and draw up nourishment from him, so you will grow in faith, strong and vigorous in the truth you were taught. Let your lives overflow with thanksgiving for all he has done. (NLT)

Think of your life like it is a tree, first the seed needs to be planted in the soil (just like the seed of the Word of God was planted inside of you). Then the seed begins to grow and take root (just like the Word grows within you). Then it pushes its way out of the ground and into the light (just like when you accepted Christ and came into the light). Now comes the crucial moment, without the water and the sunlight it could die (just like without the Word and fellowship faith can fade). But with lots of water, sunlight and good cultivated soil, it grows strong (just as when you study the word, obey the word and trust in Jesus you too become strong). Therefore let your roots grow deep in Christ and draw on the nourishment of the Word so that your faith grows strong and vigorous in the truth you were taught. Let your lives overflow with thanksgiving for all that Christ has done. Give thanks and praise to our Lord.

Our Mission is to Lead People into a Growing Relationship with Jesus Christ

2 Peter 3:18

18 But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen. (KJV)

Grow in Grace - God has given us His wonderful grace and it is through grace that we are saved. Grace He has given us therefore give grace to others.

Knowledge of Jesus - We are to spend time getting to know Jesus and to learn everything we can about our great Savior.

To Him be the glory – All that we do and all that we are we are to glorify Christ. Our lives should be a living memorial to Jesus. His life should be seen through us.

Our Mission is to Lead People into a Growing Relationship with Jesus Christ

Mark 1:17

17 And Jesus said to them, "Follow Me, and I will make you become fishers of men." (NASB)

Jesus wants us to follow Him, to walk with Him every day and to be His witnesses. Jesus wants to teach us how we to can become “fishers of men.” Jesus wants each one of us to be involved in witnessing and in discipleship. We are Jesus’ ambassadors to the world and we are to go out into the world and show others Christ living in us. Ask Jesus who He wants you to witness to, pray for that person and share Jesus with them.

Our Mission is to Lead People into a Growing Relationship with Jesus Christ

Romans 13:1-5

1 Obey the government, for God is the one who put it there. All governments have been placed in power by God. 2 So those who refuse to obey the laws of the land are refusing to obey God, and punishment will follow. 3 For the authorities do not frighten people who are doing right, but they frighten those who do wrong. So do what they say, and you will get along well. 4 The authorities are sent by God to help you. But if you are doing something wrong, of course you should be afraid, for you will be punished. The authorities are established by God for that very purpose, to punish those who do wrong. 5 So you must obey the government for two reasons: to keep from being punished and to keep a clear conscience. (NLT)

We may not always agree with how or why our government does what it does, but we are to obey because God says to. We must obey God first and what God has put in place or we are fighting against God Himself. Those who refuse to obey the laws of the land are refusing to obey God, and punishment will follow. Blessings are upon those who obey, we will have trials but God blesses those who obey His Word. Therefore be in agreement with God’s Word, obey God’s Word, be a participant of God’s, do what’s right according to God’s Word and put your faith in God’s power.

Our Mission is to Lead People into a Growing Relationship with Jesus Christ

1 Peter3:8-12

8 Finally, all of you should be of one mind, full of sympathy toward each other, loving one another with tender hearts and humble minds. 9 Don't repay evil for evil. Don't retaliate when people say unkind things about you. Instead, pay them back with a blessing. That is what God wants you to do, and he will bless you for it. 10 For the Scriptures say,

"If you want a happy life and good days,

keep your tongue from speaking evil,

and keep your lips from telling lies.

11 Turn away from evil and do good.

Work hard at living in peace with others.

12 The eyes of the Lord watch over those who do right,

and his ears are open to their prayers.

But the Lord turns his face

against those who do evil." (NLT)

The Lord knows our motives, even if others do not and one day we will stand before the Lord and give an account. Therefore let us love one another, forgive one another and be a blessing to one another. If others are mean to you or say hurtful things to you do not return it back to them but rather be a blessing to them, pray good for them and say kind words to them for this is what God wants you to do and He will bless you for it. Jesus endured the ultimate worst for us. He endured death on the cross for us and He wants us to follow Him. Bless as God has blessed you.

Our Mission is to Lead People into a Growing Relationship with Jesus Christ

Galatians 6:9

9 So don't get tired of doing what is good. Don't get discouraged and give up, for we will reap a harvest of blessing at the appropriate time. (NLT)

Do not get tired of doing good and doing what is good. Never give up and never get discouraged for God is always right there with you. Fight the good fight. For at the right time God will pour out His blessings upon you. God blesses those who obey Him and do that which is pleasing in His sight. God loves to see His children following in the footsteps of His Son Jesus.

Our Mission is to Lead People into a Growing Relationship with Jesus Christ

Words of Encouragement

Galatians 3:8-9 & 14

8 What's more, the Scriptures looked forward to this time when God would accept the Gentiles, too, on the basis of their faith. God promised this good news to Abraham long ago when he said, "All nations will be blessed through you." 9 And so it is: All who put their faith in Christ share the same blessing Abraham received because of his faith.

14 Through the work of Christ Jesus, God has blessed the Gentiles with the same blessing he promised to Abraham, and we Christians receive the promised Holy Spirit through faith. (NLT)

It is wonderful that God accepts us into His family. We are His children. It is by faith that we enter into God’s family just as Abraham believed God by faith and entered in. We, like Abraham, share in the blessings of God through faith in Christ. We receive the promised Holy Spirit when we believe by faith in our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. It is He who made the way, it is He who sends the blessing to us, it is He who sent the Holy Spirit and it is because of what He did on the cross that we are partakers in the inheritance.

Oh what a wonderful Savior.

Our Mission is to Lead People into a Growing Relationship with Jesus Christ

Matthew 4:10

10 "Get out of here, Satan,"Jesus told him. "For the Scriptures say,

'You must worship the Lord your God; serve only him." (NLT)

You must worship the Lord your God and serve only him. We must make sure that our lives are not controlled by anything else but God alone. We are to worship the Lord our God and Him only. Take time to see if there is anything that you value more than God. What do you tend to focus on more or spend more time doing that is outside of serving God? Is it possessions or money or video games or books or cars or clothing or work or something else? You can worship God anywhere and at any time. Show God that He is worthy of praise and praise His Holy name. Make God more important than anything else. Make God the first thing you think about every morning. Praise Him.

Pslams 150:1-6

Praise the LORD!

Praise God in his heavenly dwelling;

praise him in his mighty heaven!

2 Praise him for his mighty works;

praise his unequaled greatness!

3 Praise him with a blast of the trumpet;

praise him with the lyre and harp!

4 Praise him with the tambourine and dancing;

praise him with stringed instruments and flutes!

5 Praise him with a clash of cymbals;

praise him with loud clanging cymbals.

6 Let everything that lives sing praises to the LORD!

Praise the LORD! (NLT)

Our Mission is to Lead People into a Growing Relationship with Jesus Christ

Matthew 4:4

4 But Jesus told him, "No! The Scriptures say,

'People need more than bread for their life;

they must feed on every word of God.' “(NLT)

Life is more than food and clothing and it is more than our jobs. Life, real life, is where we live off of every word of God. God’s word is spiritual food. It is food for our spirit and soul. His Word is life, it sustains life, it gives life and it changes lives. We are to feed daily on God’s Word. We feed ourselves at least three meals a day but how often do we feed our spirit which needs God’s Word? In Psalms 1:2 is says, “But his delight is in the law of the LORD, And in His law he meditates day and night. (NASB) Therefore spend the extra time each and everyday spending time with God in His Word because God wants to spend that time with you too.

Our Mission is to Lead People into a Growing Relationship with Jesus Christ

Words of Encouragement

John 3:21-24

21 Dear friends, if our conscience is clear, we can come to God with bold confidence. 22 And we will receive whatever we request because we obey him and do the things that please him. 23 And this is his commandment: We must believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and love one another, just as he commanded us. 24 Those who obey God's commandments live in fellowship with him, and he with them. And we know he lives in us because the Holy Spirit lives in us. (NLT)

Dear friends, we have been called to obedience to God and to love each other as God loves us. And this is His commandment: We must believe in the name of His Son, Jesus Christ, and love one another. God has commanded us to do this. As we do what God has commanded us to do we set ourselves apart from the world and this too we have been called to do. We are to reach out to the lost world in Christ, to show them the love of God in Christ and to share the grace of God through faith in Christ. We can do these things because Jesus sent His Holy Spirit to live in us and to guide into all righteousness. Abide in Christ, abide in God and He abides in you. We will receive whatever we request because we obey Him and do the things that please Him.