1. “Partnerships are the Emphasis” July 14th

2. Partnerships are the “Wind Beneath our Wings” July 21st

3. In Partnerships “Love is NOT Optional” July 28th

6. “LOVE is NOT Optional”

7. Even though Jesus was disappointed, betrayed, battered, hurt, beaten, rejected & deserted: Jesus still chose to LOVE unconditionally!

8. Jesus & God must be our standard for Love! Unconditional Love.

9. Most of us will love unless we are going to be hurt, disappointed or rejected. Our love is so fickle, self-centered, fleeting, inconsistent, judgmental, fails, cynical, biased, conditional.

10. That’s why our theme is “Rooted in Christ”. We must be rooted in Christ & Love with the Love we received from Christ/ God! That’s a love never fails!

11. Shawshank Redemption: Red serving 40 years in prison says: These walls are funny. First you hate them. Then you get used to them. Enough time goes by, you get so you depend on them. That’s what it means to be institutionalized.

12. We don’t have to go to prison to be institutionalized. Some of us are living in our own prison walls. Confined to our own lives. In Christ we have a chance to change it all.

13. Shawshank Redemption: Red’s parole hearing after 40 years: Do you feel you’ve been rehabilitated? Not a day goes by I don’t feel regret, and not because I’m in here or because you think I should. I look back at myself the way I was. A young stupid kid who committed a terrible crime. I want to talk to him. I want to try and talk some sense into him. Tell him the way things are, but I can’t. That kids long gone and this old man is all that’s left. I’ve got to live with that.

14. With Christ we get a 2 nd chance! No matter how bad things seem, Jesus can take us out of our situation. With God nothings impossible!

15. Philippians 2:1-11; MSG

16. #1. Love IS the fruit of the Spirit

34. #2. Love is the way to obey & stay saved

44. #3. Love keeps us saved through openness

48. #4. Love is our obligation not just our need

50. In Partnerships “Love is NOT Optional”

51. #1. Love IS the fruit of the Spirit #2. Love is the way to obey & stay saved #3. Love keeps us saved through openness #4. Love is our obligation not just our need