FICF Foundation Stones Abundant Life FICF Foundation Stones

Joshua 4:21-24 21 He [Joshua] said to the Israelites, “In the future when your descendants ask their parents, ‘What do these stones mean?’ 22 tell them, ‘Israel crossed the Jordan on dry ground.’ 23 For the Lord your God dried up the Jordan before you until you had crossed over. The Lord your God did to the Jordan what he had done to the Red Sea when he dried it up before us until we had crossed over. 24 He did this so that all the peoples of the earth might know that the hand of the Lord is powerful and so that you might always fear the Lord your God.” Introduce Sermon Series: FICF Foundation Stones Stones were significant for the Israelites Took stones from the middle of the Jordan River as they entered the Promised Land. 12 Stones, 12 Tribes.

Generosity Growth Faith Word Abundant Life Discipleship Worship Grace Excellence Love Outreach Reverence

John 10:10 10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. Introduce FICF Foundation Stone: Abundant Life “Full” or “Abundant” Life= Zoe Both physical (present) and spiritual (future) Abundant= perisson (Greek) “exceedingly, very highly, beyond measure, more, superfluous, a quantity so abundant as to be considerably more than what one would expect or anticipate.” Are you living the abundant life that Jesus promised?

John 10:1-6 1“Very truly I tell you Pharisees, anyone who does not enter the sheep pen by the gate, but climbs in by some other way, is a thief and a robber. 2 The one who enters by the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. 3 The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. 4 When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice. Introduce Passage Chapter 9: Jesus healed the man who was born blind. Jesus came “so that the blind would see and those that see would be blind”. Pharisees were blind Offended and outraged at Jesus’ claims Healed man could see “Do you believe in the Son of Man?” (9:35) Then the man said, “Lord, I believe,” and he worshiped him (9:38). If you “see”, you see Jesus. If you see Jesus, you worship him. This AM, my prayer is that we would see Jesus and worship Him.

John 10:1-6 5 But they will never follow a stranger; in fact, they will run away from him because they do not recognize a stranger’s voice.” 6 Jesus used this figure of speech, but the Pharisees did not understand what he was telling them. Jesus is gathering a flock Relationship between Shepherd & Sheep His voice They Listen They Follow Analogy: Olivia at Daycare. He calls …us out…of a worldly abundant life …us in… to a spiritual abundant life He leads Where? Pastures…Peace, Joy, Healing, Restoration, Reconciliation, Contentment, to be loved and valued and have purpose. But, it often involves going through dangerous places…humility, forgiveness, repentance, extending mercy & grace, loving the unlovely. If we don't know His voice or if we ignore His voice, then we’ll get lost along the way.

John 10:7-10 7 Therefore Jesus said again, “Very truly I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep. 8 All who have come before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep have not listened to them. 9 I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. They will come in and go out, and find pasture. 10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. Why is Jesus gathering a flock? To give them abundant life Jesus is the door He has the right, the privilege and the authority. Abundant life is deeply connected to the door & salvation. It is eternal life John 17:3…3 Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent. It starts by going through the door (Jesus). Jesus’ promises once the sheep go through the door: Safety Plenty 2 Peter 1:3…3 His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. Never be destroyed.

Abundant Life 7Then the Lord God formed a man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being (Genesis 2:7). 17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! (2 Corinthians 5:17) Abundant life is not…material things. Chapter 9…Disciples mistakenly connected blindness with sin of man or his parents. Jesus is giving sight to the blind man, as well as his disciples. Challenge because we’re immersed in a different story… worldly abundance It can so easily become our norm and our measuring stick. Often our desires and emotions are not leading us to what we need. The Biblical Story (The Better Story) says…Abundant life is deeply connected to God.

John 10:11-18 11 “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. 12 The hired hand is not the shepherd and does not own the sheep. So when he sees the wolf coming, he abandons the sheep and runs away. Then the wolf attacks the flock and scatters it. 13 The man runs away because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep. 14 “I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me— 15 just as the Father knows me and I know the Father—and I lay down my life for the sheep.

John 10:11-18 16 I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd. 17 The reason my Father loves me is that I lay down my life—only to take it up again. 18 No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. This command I received from my Father.” How is Jesus giving them abundant life? Sacrificial Love Jesus is the good shepherd. Father & Son= Shepherd & Sheep. He owns the sheep= He will never leave His sheep. He will deal with the wolf. We’re His sheep! He has absolute authority When the shepherd dies, the sheep die. He doesn’t stay dead. He gives us a position of privilege/authority- power over Satan.

How Do We Live An Abundant Life? 7 Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows (Galatians 6:7). 6 The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace (Romans 8:6). How do we live an abundant life? Plant seeds. Feed the spirit, starve the flesh. The one that thrives is the one that we feed. How do we plant seeds that feed the Spirit? Walking by Faith God’s word (& His promises) Worship Gratitude/ Thanksgiving Prayer Discipline (AKA intentional living)

Closing Pray: We want to see you…Open our eyes We enter through the door We choose to listen and follow you We choose to feed our spirit and starve our flesh.