Strategies for Abundant Living
“I have come that you might have life, and that you
may have it more abundantly” Jn. 10:10
1. The Perfect Coach
“Coaching is a profession of
love. You can’t coach people
unless you love them”
- Eddie Robinson
Coach, Grambling State
1. The Perfect Coach
Meet the Coach
1. Smart – Isa. 55:8-9
2. Engaged – Ps. 139:1-4
3. Experienced – Ps. 90:2
4. Energetic – Eph. 1:19
5. Composed – Ps. 62:6
6. Caring – Ps. 55:22
7. Honorable – Isa. 6:3
8. Instructive – 2 Tim. 3:16-17
9. Challenging – Jn. 15:2
10.Encouraging – 2 Cor. 1:3-4
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1. The Perfect Coach
Coaching Staff
1.
2.
3.
4.
Elders – 1 Pet. 5:1-3
Teachers and Preachers – 2 Tim. 4:2
Parents – Prov. 22:6
Loving Brethren – Gal. 6:1-2
1. The Perfect Coach
Choose Your Team?
Satan or God?
Each Player Must Accept Responsibility on Field
Coach Can:
- Draw up perfect plays
- Remind you to do your homework
- But cannot study and practice for you
1. Commitment
“No one has ever drowned
in sweat.”
- Lou Holtz
Notre Dame
1. Commitment
What Commitments Do We Make?
-
School
Military Service
Marriage
Work
Family
God
1. Commitment
God’s Commitment to You
1. Never leave you – Heb. 13:5
2. Nothing can separate – Rom. 8:38-39
3. Complete care – Ps. 23:1
1. Commitment
Jesus’ Commitment to You
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Gave up heaven for you – 2 Cor. 8:9
Left an example for you – 1 Pet. 2:21
Defeated death for you – Heb. 2:14-15
Intercedes for you – 1 Jn. 2:1
Coming back for you – Jn. 14:1-3
1. Commitment
How to Commit to Christ
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Hear – Rom. 10:17
Believe – Matt. 16:16
Repent – Lk. 13:3
Confess – Acts 8:36-38
Baptized – Acts 2:38
1. Commitment
Commitment and Courage
- Without courage, there can be no commitment
- Love is the basis of meaningful commitment –
1 Jn. 4:20-21
- A commitment is something you keep – Jn. 14:15
2. Fellowship
“If a team is to reach its potential, each
player must be willing to subordinate his
personal goals for the good of the team”
- Bud Wilkinson
Oklahoma Sooners
2. Fellowship
How to Commit to the Church
1. Commit to your Elders – Heb. 13:17
When you find it difficult:
- Believe they genuinely care for you – 1 Cor. 13:7
- Realize they must consider multiple interest
- 1 Thess. 5:12-13
2. Fellowship
How to Commit to the Church
2. Commit to Church Assemblies – Heb. 10:25
- Neglect worship, study, fellowship we drift from
Christ – Heb. 2:1
2. Fellowship
How to Commit to the Church
3. Commit to one Another
“We are born for cooperation, as are the feet, the
hands, the eyelids, and the upper and lower jaws.”
- Marcus Aurelius
Roman Emperor
2. Fellowship
How to Commit to the Church
3. Commit to one Another
-
Acts 2:44-47
Acts 4:32-37
1 Thess. 5:11
Rom. 12:15
Gal. 6:1
3. Bible Study
“You can’t get from A to Z by
passing up B”
- Nick Saban
Alabama Crimson Tide
3. Bible Study
How to Commit to Bible Study
Why Should I Study?
1. Commanded by God – Col. 3:16
2. Bible is reliable and completely true – Jn.
17:17
3. Scripture has saving power – 2 Tim. 3:15
4. Because it works – 2 Tim. 3:16-17
3. Bible Study
How to Commit to Bible Study
What do you long for in life?
1.
2.
3.
4.
Better character?
Greater influence?
More usefulness?
Increased peace?
3. Bible Study
How to Commit to Bible Study
When Should I Study?
- Make it a higher priority than everything it
competes against – Eph. 5:16
3. Bible Study
How to Commit to Bible Study
Where Should I Study?
- Remove all distractions
- Pick a specific place. Jesus retreated to the
Garden of Gethsemane
- Have a recovery plan
3. Bible Study
How to Commit to Bible Study
How come so few establish this daily practice?
-
Thorny Ground – Matt. 13:7, 22
-
Reclaim your spiritual health by simplifying your
life and prioritizing your schedule
-
Cannot grow until the Word dwells in us – Col.
3:16
4. Prayer
“The difference between
ordinary and extraordinary is
that little extra”
- Jimmy Johnson
Dallas Cowboys
4. Prayer
Incentive to Practice Daily Prayer
1.
2.
3.
4.
Commanded – 1 Thess. 5:17
Stories to encourage prayer – Lk. 18:1-8
Examples of effective prayers – Jas. 5:17-18
Promises of the benefit of prayer – Prov. 15:29
4. Prayer
Principles of Prayer
1. Pray to the Father – Matt. 6:9-10
2. Pray through Jesus – Col. 3:17
4. Prayer
Topics in Prayer
ACTS
1. Adoration – Matt. 6:9
2. Confession – Lk. 18:13-14
3. Thanksgiving – Phil. 4:6
4. Supplication – 1 Pet. 5:7
4. Prayer
Spirit of the Prayer
- Mindful of the Father and Son in all you say
- The Father’s Will – Matt. 26:39
- Real maturity is to acknowledge that God’s
timing and solutions are superior to your own
5. Discipline
“Without discipline, success is
impossible, period”
- Lou Holtz
Notre Dame
5. Discipline
Control is Possible
- Prov. 25:28
5. Discipline
Keys to Control
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Purpose – Jn. 8:31
Prioritize – Phil. 1:20
Plan – Prov. 21:5
Pray
Practice
Persevere
5. Discipline
Areas in Need of Control
1. Healthy Living – 1 Cor. 6:19-20
2. Holy Living
- mouth – Eph. 4:29
- money – 1 Tim. 6:9
- moods – Eph. 4:26
5. Discipline
Hindrances to Self-Control
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Digital Distractions
Unhealthy Relationships – 1 Cor. 15:33
Overcommitting
Impatience – 2 Thess. 3:5
Discouragement
Besetting Sins – Jn. 15:13
6. Virtue
“It was great to win the Super Bowl,
but really and truly what your going
to leave on this earth is the influence
on others”
- Joe Gibbs
Washington Redskins
6. Virtue
How Holy Spirit Works
1. His presence challenges you – 1 Cor. 6:18-20
2. His pleading comforts you – Rom. 8:26-27
3. His purpose changes you – Jn. 16:8-11
6. Virtue
What the Holy Spirit Does
1. His
6. Virtue
Walking in the Spirit
1. His
6. Virtue
Virtues of the Spirit
Gal. 5:22-23
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
Love
Joy
Peace
Longsuffering
Kindness
Goodness
Gentleness
Faithfulness
Self-Control
Change your
mind, change
your life!
7. Service
“God’s definition of success is
really one of significance – the
significant difference our lives can
make in the lives of others”
- Tony Dungy
Indianapolis Colts
7. Service
Two Sided Coin
- Christianity is not only about cultivating good character,
but doing good deeds that manifest that character –
Heb. 10:22
- Holiness is a two sided coin
* Works of the flesh must be avoided
* Bless others
- Jesus’ example of service
7. Service
Growing through Serving
- Come into world without a care
- Some of the responsibility for your care is
redirected to you.
- Care for the needs of another
7. Service
Principles of Christian Service
1. Remember that sooner or later you will need help too
– Matt. 7:12
2. You don’t have to be rich or famous to excel in giving –
Lk. 21:1-3; Jn. 13
3. You must open your eyes to see opportunities – Jn.
4:35
4. Serving others is the reason you exist – Eph. 2:10;
Matt. 5:16
5. God lets you choose between a life of selfishness or
service – Rom. 2:6-8
7. Service
Principles of Christian Service
6. The size of a deed does not determine its worth – Lk.
17:6
7. Service is the truest expression of love – 1 Jn. 3:18
8. You can make the world a better place – Matt. 25:34-36
9. You are more blessed by giving than receiving – Acts
20:35
8. Giving
“I want to be remembered as the
guy who gave his all whenever he
was on the field ”
- John Riggins
Washington Redskins
8. Giving
10 Rules for Giving
1. Give Purposely – 2 Cor. 9:7
2. Give Proportionately – 1 Cor. 16:2
3. Give Cheerfully – 2 Cor. 9:7
4. Give Confidently – Mal. 3:10
5. Give Selflessly – Lk. 6:35
6. Give Abundantly – 2 Cor. 9:6
7. Give Faithfully – 1 Cor. 16:2
8. Give Sacrificially – 2 Cor. 8:2
9. Give Diversely – Matt. 23:23
10. Give Spontaneously – Lk. 10:33
9. Evangelism
“It’s okay to have personal
ambitions, but you have to take
someone with you”
- Roger Staubach
Dallas Cowboys
9. Evangelism
Hitting Your Stride
- You know you are hitting your stride in the
growth zone when sharing the gospel becomes
as natural as saying hello.
- Evangelism is about you cup running over – Lk.
6:45
- When you walk in the Spirit, evangelism
becomes second nature
9. Evangelism
Review 8 Strategies
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
Commitment – Jn. 19:30
Fellowship – Acts 2:47
Bible Study – Rom. 1:16
Prayer – Eph. 6:19-20
Discipline
Virtue
Service
Giving – Matt. 6:19-21
9. Evangelism
A Simple Plan
When Was The Last Time You:
- Invited someone to worship with you?
- Asked someone about their faith and listened
before responding?
- Told someone how Jesus and His church have
blessed your life?
9. Evangelism
If You are Not Recruiting People
1. Quit growing and going through the motions
2. Fallen out of love with Jesus but don’t have the
courage to call it quits
- Rev. 2:1-7
“Do the first works”
“Remember from where you have fallen”
10. Perseverance
“God places the heaviest burden
on those who can carry the
weight”
- Reggie White
Philadelphia Eagles
10. Perseverance
Paul’s Threefold Challenge
1 Cor. 15:58
1. Be Steadfast – Lam. 3:22-24
4 Foundations for Faithful Life – Acts 2:42
- Study
- Fellowship
- Communion
- Prayer
10. Perseverance
Paul’s Threefold Challenge
1 Cor. 15:58
2. Be Immovable – 1 Cor. 13:7-8; Eph. 6:14-17
10. Perseverance
Paul’s Threefold Challenge
1 Cor. 15:58
3. Abound in the Work of the Lord
10. Perseverance
Paul’s Threefold Challenge
1 Cor. 15:58
1. Be Steadfast – Don’t resign
2. Be Immovable – Don’t retreat
3. Abound in the Work of the Lord – Don’t relax
Longing for Heaven
“If you are not going to go all the
way, why go at all”
- Joe Namath
New York Jets
Longing for Heaven
Power of Anticipation
Heaven
- Eph. 3:20-21
- 1 Cor. 2:9
Longing for Heaven
Paul’s Daily Challenge
- Christians are encouraged to think about heaven
daily. This will make us think of heavenly values.
1. Putting away evil desires and harmful behaviors
they produce – Col. 3:5-9
2. Replacing old habits with better ones – Col.
3:12-17
Longing for Heaven
Count Your Heavenly Blessings
- Paul said heavenly thoughts are comforting
thoughts – 1 Thess. 4:13-18
Longing for Heaven
Ultimate Guessing Game
- The disciples knew exactly where Jesus was headed –
Jn. 14:1-3
- The thief on the cross had no confusion about Christ’s
ultimate destination – Lk. 23:42-43
- The centurion was confident the Man he just executed
was on His way home to God – Lk. 23:47
- Did Paul know where he was going? Phil. 1:21-23
Be a Team Player
“You and I are players; God’s our
coach; and we’re playing the
biggest game of all. We have a
loving God that made us. We need
to get on His team”
- Joe Gibbs
Washington Redskins
Be a Team Player
God Loves to Work in Teams
1. Families
2. Church
3. Team spread throughout world – Acts 2
Be a Team Player
God Loves to Work in Teams
1 Cor. 12:12-31
1. Coordination
2. Consideration
Help Each Other Improve
- Mindfulness = None of us is infinitely capable, so we
must look out for one another.
- Acceptance = We all have faults, so we must get better
at forgiving than judging
- Encouragement = Everyone battles self-doubt, so we
must dispense more courage than criticism