Sermon Central
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Let’s Get Real
Contributed by Joseph Smith on Mar 9, 2003 (message contributor)
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1. Getting Real With Your Self
Contributed on Mar 9, 2003
Lenten series based on Mark 14 and Jesus’ encounters: Jesus was so comfortable with Himself that He could encounter threatening people without being threatened; could correct hostile people without being destructive; and could receive the heart of a tortu
We wear the mask that grins and lies, It hides our cheeks and shades our eyes – This debt we pay to human guile; With torn and bleeding hearts we smile, And mouth with myriad subtleties. Why should the world be over-wise, In counting all our tears and sighs? Nay, let them only see ...read more
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2. Getting Real With God
Contributed on Mar 16, 2003
Jesus showed how to get real, in prayer, with God: He admitted His true feelings; He told God what He really wanted; and He enlisted His imperfect friends as companions for the journey.
“Yes, God is Real” Don’t you like singing that song? You sing that with relish! So do I! “Yes, God is real, real in my soul.” We believe that. That’s our faith. Or is it? Do we truly believe that God is real? If we believe it, why do we play games with God? Why do we hide ...read more
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3. Getting Real With God
Contributed on Mar 16, 2003
Jesus showed how to get real, in prayer, with God: He admitted His true feelings; He told God what He really wanted; and He enlisted His imperfect friends as companions for the journey.
“Yes, God is Real” Don’t you like singing that song? You sing that with relish! So do I! “Yes, God is real, real in my soul.” We believe that. That’s our faith. Or is it? Do we truly believe that God is real? If we believe it, why do we play games with God? Why do we hide ...read more
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4. Getting Real With Your Friends
Contributed on Mar 29, 2003
Jesus used the principle of understanding our weaknesses but trusting our possibilities in order to transform people-pleasers into persons of integrity, ambition into selfless commitment, and immaturity into responsibility.
History is full of stories of betrayal. Those who look like friends sometimes turn on you. Friendship means nothing to people who are bent on preserving privileges or feeding ambitions. Some of us have friends who would sell us for even less than Judas’ thirty pieces of silver if ...read more
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5. Getting Real With Your Enemies
Contributed on Apr 5, 2003
Hostility comes from the obsessed, self-absorbed heart, and often offers permission for random acts of violence. Jesus got real with His enemies by naming their madness but trusting His own defense to God.
Stress strengthens. That is a physical fact. It is also a spiritual truth. Stress strengthens us. When we face opposition, we grow. When we deal with differences, we become stronger than we were. Strange as it may seem, and unpleasant though it may feel, give thanks when you ...read more