Pastor Bob’s Lessons
From Pastor Bob’s Sermon this past Sunday:
1. We are responsible for our own life:
a. The choices we make and the actions we take are our own
b. People with a victim mentality do not take responsibility and therefore make excuses for hardships
2. Our attitude determines our altitude. People with a positive outlook do better in life. Therefore, we must choose to be joy-filled, looking for the good in every situation.
3. We must take personal responsibility for our own spiritual well-being/growth. If we are not growing as a Christian, it is not the Church’s, the preacher’s, or the spouse’s fault.
a. David strengthened himself in the Lord
(1 Samuel 30:6)
b. Daniel went to his house daily to pray
c. Jesus went to isolated places to pray/talk with the Father
d. As a pastor, I have had to take personal
responsibility for my spiritual health
4. God is able and willing to do more than we ask or imagine.
5. Keep a teachable spirit:
a. Occupationally
b. Relationally
c. Spiritually
6. Change does not always involve Growth, but Growth always involves Change.
7. Forgiveness brings healing; unforgiveness becomes spiritual and emotional cancer – eating away at the soul and body. When we hold onto unforgiveness we give power to another over our life.
8. Leave “getting back” to God. Revenge, judgment, and punishment need to be left in the hands of God. (Romans 12)
9. Be careful to confront spiritual leaders – those whom God has placed in authority. The Lord God does not tolerate challenging His authority or those whom He has placed in authority.
10. God has no equal. There is One God, One Savior and we will all stand before Him in judgment of our lives. In a world of pluralism, relativism, and non-accountability, we have bought into tolerance of religious diversity which says there are many gods.
11. Martin Luther said there are three (3) conversions:
a. Heart
b. Head
c. Purse
12. Winning an argument often means you lose (e.g. Paul and Barnabas)
13. Life is not fair; bad things happen to good people. We live in a fallen world. But… our problems are not bigger than God’s ability to resolve.
14. John 4 – Jesus said we need to worship in spirit and truth. There are many forms of worship and we need to be open to God the Holy Spirit in leading us to Him in ways that are not familiar.
15. Courageous Christianity is attractive (Romans 1). The Apostle Paul said, “I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Jesus Christ…” When people of the world look at the Church, many are repulsed by it; but God living in us is attractive.
a. Stand up for those who cannot: children, widows, orphans, the elderly
b. Take a righteous moral stand, but do not be legalistic (John 
16. If you’re not a part of the solution, do not be a part of the problem. Too many people get involved in the problems of others when they should not. When we do this, we participate in malice, gossip, unforgiveness, and relational triangling.
17. Pick your battles. Very few are worth fighting. The Lord honors the peacemaker.
18. People live in one of two camps: Camp of the Zapps, or Camp of the Sapps. Zapps energize those around them. Sapps suck the life from people.
19. Life goes on – with you or without you.
20. Whatever you do work as if you are working for the Lord.
Success is not an event, it is a series of good decisions throughout life.
21. Only two things will ultimately matter in life’s journey:
a. Our relationship to God
b. Our relationship to our family
