1. WELCOME TO THE JACKSON STREET CHURCH OF CHRIST PLEASE TURN OFF CELL PHONES

2. Matthew 6:31-34 Therefore do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' (32) For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. (33) But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. (34) Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.

3. FIRST AND FOREMOST!

4. FIRST AND FOREMOST A.The word “first” pinpoints priority. B.The “first things” in life declare what’s most important. C.What are the most importance things to a Christian; what should come first?

5. I. GIVE GOD THE FIRST PART OF EACH DAY. A.SEEK HIM - Psalm 63:1 O God, You are my God; Early will I seek You; My soul thirsts for You; My flesh longs for You In a dry and thirsty land Where there is no water. B.DELIGHT IN HIS WORD - Psalm 1:1-2 Blessed is the man Who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, Nor stands in the path of sinners, Nor sits in the seat of the scornful; (2) But his delight is in the law of the LORD, C.PRAY TO HIM - 1 Timothy 2:1-4 Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, (2) for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence. (3) For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, (4) who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.

6. II. GIVE GOD THE FIRST DAY OF EACH WEEK. A.JESUS ROSE ON THE FIRST DAY OF THE WEEK – John 20:1 Now on the first day of the week Mary Magdalene went to the tomb early, while it was still dark, and saw that the stone had been taken away from the tomb. B.WE ASSEMBLE ON THE FIRST DAY OF THEE WEEK - Hebrews 10:24-25 And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, (25) not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.

7. II. GIVE GOD THE FIRST DAY OF EACH WEEK. C.WE PARTAKE OF THE LORD’S SUPPER ON THE FIRST DAY OF THE WEEK - Acts 20:7 Now on the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul, ready to depart the next day, spoke to them and continued his message until midnight. D.WE GIVE ON THE FIRST DAY OF THE WEEK - 1 Corinthians 16:2 On the first day of the week let each one of you lay something aside, storing up as he may prosper, that there be no collections when I come.

8. III. GIVE GOD THE FIRST PORTION OF YOUR PAY A.EVERY BLESSING, PHYSICAL OR SPIRITUAL, IS FROM GOD - James 1:17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning. B.HONOR THE LORD WITH YOUR POSSESSIONS - Proverbs 3:9-10 Proverbs 3:9-10 Honor the LORD with your possessions, And with the firstfruits of all your increase; (10) So your barns will be filled with plenty, And your vats will overflow with new wine.

9. III. GIVE GOD THE FIRST PORTION OF YOUR PAY. C.GIVE AND IT WILL BE GIVEN TO YOU - Luke 6:38 Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you." D.IF WE SOW SPARINGINGLY WE WILL REAP SPARINGINGLY - 2 Corinthians 9:6-8 But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. (7) So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver. (8) And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work.

10. IV. GIVE GOD THE FIRST CONSIDERATION IN EVERY DECISION. A.ALWAYS ASK, “WHAT WOULD JESUS DO?” B.ASK IF IT IS THE LORD’S WILL - James 4:13- 15 Come now, you who say, "Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, spend a year there, buy and sell, and make a profit"; (14) whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away. (15) Instead you ought to say, "If the Lord wills, we shall live and do this or that."

11. IV. GIVE GOD THE FIRST CONSIDERATION IN EVERY DECISION. C.DO ALL IN HIS NAME - Colossians 3:17 And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him. D.DO NOT LEAN ON YOUR OWN UNDERSTANDING - Proverbs 3:5-6 (5) Trust in the LORD with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; (6) In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.

12. V. GIVE GOD THE FIRST PLACE IN YOUR HEART. A.IF WE WANT TO BE IN GOD’S HEART WE MUST HAVE HIM IN OUR HEART - Acts 13:21-22 And afterward they asked for a king; so God gave them Saul the son of Kish, a man of the tribe of Benjamin, for forty years. (22) And when He had removed him, He raised up for them David as king, to whom also He gave testimony and said, 'I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after My own heart, who will do all My will.' B.WE MUST LOVE GOD WITH ALL OUR HEART - Mark 12:30 And you shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.' This is the first commandment. C.JESUS WILL NOT ACCEPT SECOND PLACE IN OUR HEART - Luke 14:26 "If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he cannot be My disciple.

13. V. GIVE GOD THE FIRST PLACE IN YOUR HEART. D.OUR HEART MUST BE FOCUSED ON THINGS ABOVE - Colossians 3:1-4 If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. (2) Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. (3) For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. (4) When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory. E.OUR HEART AND TREASURE MUST BE FOCUSED ON HEAVEN - Matthew 6:19-21 "Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; (20) but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. (21) For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

14. WHAT IS FIRST AND FOREMOST IN YOUR LIFE. A.Do you give the Lord the first part of your day? B.Do you give the Lord the first day of your week? C.Do you give the Lord the first portion of your pay? D.Do you give the Lord the first consideration in your decisions? E.Do you give the Lord the first place in your heart?

16. TONIGHT’S SERMON ISRAEL AND THE CHURCH