As a courtesy, please turn your cell phones off.

Welcome to Grace Gathering If you are visiting us today we hope you feel very welcome. Many of us do mission together in smaller gatherings throughout the New Haven/Fort Wayne area. We invite you to our website or the welcome center and find a mission-community that meets near you or has a similar focus to your passion. Oh, and by the way, stop by our welcome center for a free drink at our Fireside Café.

Grace Gathering Vision and Strategy Run through 6/2 There will be a breakfast for our Young Adults on Sunday, June 9 th From 9AM – 10AM (before service) In the adult classrooms

How do you know if you are a people pleaser: regularly worry about what people think of you. regularly worry about what people think of you. are often passive/aggressive. are often passive/aggressive. avoid making difficult decisions. avoid making difficult decisions. often crumble under pressure. often crumble under pressure. hate it when someone disagrees with you. hate it when someone disagrees with you. cannot rest when someone is mad at you. cannot rest when someone is mad at you. get consumed with your reputation. get consumed with your reputation. work hard to get compliments from others. work hard to get compliments from others.

What we sill see this morning is that 1)We are to care what people think of us to a certain extent 2)We are to avoid the consuming trap of being a people pleaser

Acts 19:15 One day the evil spirit answered them, “Jesus I know, and Paul I know about, but who are you?”

The more fully someone follows God in life the more apparent it becomes that: 1)We are living against the flow of society 2)We will suffer because of it

Philippians 1:29 For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe in him, but also to suffer for him,

Acts 16:16-24 Once when we were going to the place of prayer, we were met by a female slave who had a spirit by which she predicted the future. She earned a great deal of money for her owners by fortune-telling. She followed Paul and the rest of us, shouting, “These men are servants of the Most High God, who are telling you the way to be saved.” She kept this up for many days. Finally Paul became so annoyed that he turned around and said to the spirit, “In the name of Jesus Christ I command you to come out of her!” At that moment the spirit left her. … Once when we were going to the place of prayer, we were met by a female slave who had a spirit by which she predicted the future. She earned a great deal of money for her owners by fortune-telling. She followed Paul and the rest of us, shouting, “These men are servants of the Most High God, who are telling you the way to be saved.” She kept this up for many days. Finally Paul became so annoyed that he turned around and said to the spirit, “In the name of Jesus Christ I command you to come out of her!” At that moment the spirit left her. …

Acts 16:16-24 … When her owners realized that their hope of making money was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them into the marketplace to face the authorities. They brought them before the magistrates and said, “These men are Jews, and are throwing our city into an uproar by advocating customs unlawful for us Romans to accept or practice.” …

Acts 16:16-24 … The crowd joined in the attack against Paul and Silas, and the magistrates ordered them to be stripped and beaten with rods. After they had been severely flogged, they were thrown into prison, and the jailer was commanded to guard them carefully. When he received these orders, he put them in the inner cell and fastened their feet in the stocks.

1 Thessalonians 2:1-12 You know, brothers and sisters, that our visit to you was not without results. We had previously suffered and been treated outrageously in Philippi, as you know, but with the help of our God we dared to tell you his gospel in the face of strong opposition. For the appeal we make does not spring from error or impure motives, nor are we trying to trick you. On the contrary, we speak as those approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel. We are not trying to please people but God, who tests our hearts. … You know, brothers and sisters, that our visit to you was not without results. We had previously suffered and been treated outrageously in Philippi, as you know, but with the help of our God we dared to tell you his gospel in the face of strong opposition. For the appeal we make does not spring from error or impure motives, nor are we trying to trick you. On the contrary, we speak as those approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel. We are not trying to please people but God, who tests our hearts. …

1 Thessalonians 2:1-12 …You know we never used flattery, nor did we put on a mask to cover up greed—God is our witness. We were not looking for praise from people, not from you or anyone else, even though as apostles of Christ we could have asserted our authority. Instead, we were like young children among you. …

1 Thessalonians 2:1-12 … Just as a nursing mother cares for her children, so we cared for you. Because we loved you so much, we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but our lives as well. Surely you remember, brothers and sisters, our toil and hardship; we worked night and day in order not to be a burden to anyone while we preached the gospel of God to you. …

1 Thessalonians 2:1-12 …You are witnesses, and so is God, of how holy, righteous and blameless we were among you who believed. For you know that we dealt with each of you as a father deals with his own children, encouraging, comforting and urging you to live lives worthy of God, who calls you into his kingdom and glory.

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Three rumors about Paul: 1)In it for the money 2)Very authoritative 3)Uses deception/flattery

Romans 12:17-18 Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.

2 Corinthians 8:20-21 We want to avoid any criticism of the way we administer this liberal gift. For we are taking pains to do what is right, not only in the eyes of the Lord but also in the eyes of man.

1 Timothy 3:7 He must also have a good reputation with outsiders, so that he will not fall into disgrace and into the devil’s trap.

Galatians 1:10 Am I now trying to win the approval of human beings, or of God? Or am I trying to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a servant of Christ. Am I now trying to win the approval of human beings, or of God? Or am I trying to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a servant of Christ.

Grace Gathering Vision and Strategy Bringing God’s kingdom to earth today by discipling people to live and lead like Jesus