Join us outside on the back lawn for our morning service at 9:00am - there will be a baptism at the end of the service for those who would like to be baptized. Go to our website at www.baycitiessouthbay.com to sign up. You can also join us online for live streaming at our website, as well as facebook live, and our drive in spots in the parking lot!
A safe place to be on a Friday Night - to help with your hurts, habits, and hangups.
Hello everyone, this week Jim continued our series on Staying Encouraged with part 23…”The Danger Zone.” He described the Danger Zone as a five-letter word…P R I D E. There’s a good side to pride and a bad side. We don’t want to think too highly of ourselves, but at the same time we don’t want to think too poorly. We run into problems when we subtly shift into hubris or arrogance. We know pride when we see it in others, but it can often be challenging to see it in ourselves. This is definitely an area we can focus more on the sliver in someone else’s eye, rather than the log in our own. Jim gave us a list of 12 signs of pride…here they are:
1. We think we’re humble & tell others.
2. We don’t accept constructive criticisms.
3. We always seek to be the center of attention.
4. We’re vain about our physical appearance.
5. We don’t like associating with ordinary people.
6. We regularly find ways to name-drop.
7. We’re not usually teachable.
8. We seldom listen to others’ advice.
9. We’re too important to do the mundane.
10. We’re critical of those who do better than us.
11. We like to control others.
12. We get angry if things go against us.
Did any of those resonate with you? I know for me there are definitely a few that made me squirm a bit. Jim then asked why is pride a Danger Zone? Why do we need to pay attention to these signs of pride in our lives? He gave us four reasons. Having pride in our lives steals our encouragement, it negatively affects our relationships, it seems to offer much but leaves us empty and it keeps us butting heads with God. It’s summed up well in James 4:6…God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.
So how do we overcome pride if we have it in our lives? First off we need to be aware of areas where pride has snuck in. Examining our thoughts and looking through lists like the one above can definitely help. Next we can not take ourselves so seriously. Sometimes pride can come from fear of embarrassment or shame. Admitting to ourselves and others that we don’t know everything and that it’s ok to not know everything help us not worry about impressing others. We also need to ask the right questions…learning vs judging. We can also strive to be more open-minded. Just because others do things differently than we would, doesn’t mean they are wrong or bad. If I’m thinking it my way or the highway…maybe I’m in the Danger Zone. Next is a hard one…listen, don’t talk. And part of listening is asking others questions. Do you have a friend or family member that’s a really good listener? Don’t you feel honored and respected when you’re with them? Letting others talk and listening well helps us overcome pride and builds others up. And finally, pray. Prayer should be the number one thing we do. We serve a God who loves us and wants the best for us. He’s on our side and He knows just how damaging pride can be. So let’s ask him to keep us from pride and to help us root out any pride that might be lurking in areas of our lives.
God tells us in Jeremiah that if we’re going to boast about anything, we should boast about Him. He’s certainly worth boasting about!!! So let’s stay out of the Danger Zone. Let’s work to keep pride in check boast about the great God we serve.
God we love You and thank You for Your word and the truth we read in it. Thank You for Jim and Sandy and all they do to lead us to You. Please help each of us see if we’re heading to the Danger Zone of pride. Please help us put You first in our lives and submit ourselves to Your Spirt and Your leading. Teach us to number our days and search our hearts and show us if we have pride. God please keep us humble and seeking You as we live our lives in this crazy world. We love You God and we want to have the right perspective on ourselves. Thank You for how You are going to help us here. In Jesus name we pray, amen.
Proverbs 13:10 Where there is strife, there is pride, but wisdom is found in those who take advice.
Psalm 75:4 To the arrogant I say, ‘Boast no more, and to the wicked, ‘Do not lift up your horns.
Rom 11:18 do not consider yourself to be superior to those other branches. If you do, consider this: You do not support the root, but the root supports you. 19 You will say then, “Branches were broken off so that I could be grafted in.” 20 Granted. But they were broken off because of unbelief, and you stand by faith. Do not be arrogant, but tremble.
Jeremiah 9:23 This is what the Lord says: “Let not the wise boast of their wisdom or the strong boast of their strength or the rich boast of their riches, 24 but let the one who boasts boast about this: that they have the understanding to know me, that I am the Lord, who exercises kindness, justice and righteousness on earth, for in these I delight,” declares the Lord.
Prov 15:25 The Lord tears down the house of the proud, but he sets the widow’s boundary stones in place. 26 The Lord detests the thoughts of the wicked, but gracious words are pure in his sight. 27 The greedy bring ruin to their households, but the one who hates bribes will live. 28 The heart of the righteous weighs its answers, but the mouth of the wicked gushes evil. 29 The Lord is far from the wicked, but he hears the prayer of the righteous. 30 Light in a messenger’s eyes brings joy to the heart, and good news gives health to the bones. 31 Whoever heeds life-giving correction will be at home among the wise. 32 Those who disregard discipline despise themselves, but the one who heeds correction gains understanding. 33 Wisdom’s instruction is to fear the Lord, and humility comes before honor.
Prov 18:10 The name of the Lord is a fortified tower; the righteous run to it and are safe. 11 The wealth of the rich is their fortified city; they imagine it a wall too high to scale. 12 Before a downfall the heart is haughty
James 4:6 “God opposes the proud . . .
Join this Friday for Celebrate Recovery Baycities Church Livestream at 6:30pm. Check out this Trailer.
https://youtu.be/J4hrXzwDuhQ
YOUTUBE.COM
CR Lesson #7 Sponsor
BAPTISM THIS SUNDAY MORNING! If you would like to be baptized this Sunday, October 11, please call the church at 310-373-1818, or sign up next Sunday. The Baptism will be at the end of the morning service that begins at 9:00am.
Continuing the series "Staying Encouraged" Jesus wants us to keep things real as He as shown us. Jesus was real and showed us what being real is. It's being authentic, willing to be yourself, honest & Truthful, and owning up to what you've done and will do.
Join us tomorrow for worship and a great message from Pastor Jim! 9:00am in person, drive in, facebook live, and online @ baycitiessouthbay.com See you soon!!
A safe place to be on a Friday Night - to help with your hurts, habits, and hangups.
Hi Forever Family,
Please join us Friday evening at 6:30pm for Celebrate Recovery Lesson #8 Moral.
https://youtu.be/boNqeTYtuAE
YOUTUBE.COM
CR Trailer for Moral
In this series "Staying Encouraged", today's message is about two big points on our Long Term Thinking. First we must trust the right things and second we must be faithful to those right things. We learn the right things start with Jesus and our faithfulness depends on Jesus. Right things are rooted in living a life of love as Jesus did.
In this series "Staying Encouraged", today's message is about two big points on our Long Term Thinking. First we must trust the right things and second we must be faithful to those right things. We learn the right things start with Jesus and our faithfulness depends on Jesus. Right things are rooted in living a life of love as Jesus did.
Continuing our "Staying Encouraged" series Jesus reminds us to seek forgiveness never revenge. Being careful with actions is always wise. We need to watch out for bitterness and know that wisdom moves us from grudge to forgiveness. And to have this forgiving life we must have Jesus!
We are packing boxes after church tomorrow!!! PLEASE BRING EMPTY SHOE BOXES! We are out of boxes!! Even if you cannot join us for packing we need empty shoe boxes!!
A safe place to be on a Friday Night - to help with your hurts, habits, and hangups.
Start packing your boxes! One more week until our deadline to turn them in! This weekend we will host a packing event outside immediately following the morning service. Bring your empty shoe boxes and designated items you would like to share with others. Contact Lorrie Rose for what to bring by messaging us
Join us this weekend at our live service 9am! Weather forecast is GOOD! Sunny and 70º
Following the service we will have an Operation Christmas Child packing event! Contact Lorrie by messaging us for what to bring!
Continuing the "Staying Encouraged" series how do we actually pull off the following Jesus "Walk". First we need to understand who's beside us. We need to be self disciplined to follow Jesus' commands. We need to invest our time wisely. And lastly we need to love as Jesus Loved, always!
"Walking with God 2021" Part 3 - We see o walk by faith we must be willing to apply God's wisdom in relationships. We are to manage our relationships carefully. God warns us when they bring a negative influence, when the quiet our convictions, and when they could make us care-less about truth.
Part 3 - Choose Friends Wisely
Part 3 - Choose Friends Wisely
Getting ready for worship!! See you at 9:00!
Hello everyone, today’s our last day of reading through the sermon notes this week. We talked a lot about choosing our friends wisely. Today our focus in on choosing the best friend there is…Jesus. It’s pretty amazing that we can love, serve and be friends with the One who created the universe, the One who bore our sins on the cross, the One who created us and knows number of the hairs on our head (for some of us that’s easier for than others). Jesus know us and He loves us. He pursues us with a relentless and undaunted fervor that is impossible for us to understand.
Jesus says in John 15:13-15: Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you. No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you.
There’s a great hymn many of you may have heard called “What a Friend We Have in Jesus”. I’ve put the lyrics to the song and a link to a great version of it I found on YouTube. Please take a few minutes and read the lyrics and watch the video.
Jesus is a friend that sticks closer than a brother, a friend that will listen and wait patiently for us, He empathizes with our pain and knows exactly what we’re going through. He cares about the little details of our lives and He’s always available…He’s never too busy or preoccupied, He never has a bad day and would prefer to just be left alone. Jesus is the ultimate best friend, there truly is none like Him.
If you’re on the fence about this Jesus we talk about. Not the meek and mild Jesus we often see portrayed today, but the Jesus of the Bible, the one who healed the sick and lame and even healed them on the Sabbath just to prove a point about the Sabbath, the one who spent time with the poor, the dejected and the weak and railed against the hypocrisy of the religious leaders. The Jesus who overturned money tables in the temple and endured the most brutal and painful death ever conceived. This is the Jesus without religious baggage, the One and only Son of the living God who suffered and bled for you and for me.
If you’re on the fence about Jesus, I encourage you to start by just asking Him to be Your friend. You can even tell him you’re not sure He’s even listening to You, He understands our doubts and fears. Ask Him to reveal Himself to You, to help You find your way, to know the truth and live the life you were meant to live. [spoiler alert: He is the way, He is the truth and He is the life] Start with following Jesus as your friend like you would follow someone on social media. But I’ll warn you, the more you learn the truth about Him, the more time You spend with Him, the more You turn to Him and pray to Him, the more You’ll trust Him, the more You’ll want to seek Him first. And…before You know it…He’ll be your best friend. What a friend we have in Jesus!!!
God thank You for Jesus! Thank You for the truth we find Your word and for bringing us truth each week. We do want to choose our friends wisely, but we also want to choose You. Help us to do just that, to seek You first, to choose You over this world and to love You with all of our heart, mind, soul and strength. Please bless the service for our friend Larry today. Help us celebrate his life and honor him and his family. Please continue to comfort them with the loss of this amazing man. In Jesus name we pray, amen.
Today’s Theme
“Choose Friends Wisely”
Series Title:
“Walking With God 2021” Part 3
1/31/21
To Walk By Faith I Must Be Willing To
1. Follow God’s lead in my life.
2. Tell the truth about my failures & sin.
3. Apply God’s wisdom in relationships.
Relationships To Manage Carefully
(1) When they bring a negative influence.
1 Cor 15:33 Do not be misled: “Bad company corrupts good character.”
Prov 22:24 Do not make friends with a hot-tempered man, do not associate with one easily angered,
(2) When they quiet my convictions.
2 Corinthians 6:14 Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness? 15 What harmony is there between Christ and Belial? What does a believer have in common with an unbeliever? 16 What agreement is there between the temple of God and idols? For we are the temple of the living God. As God has said: “I will live with them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be my people.” 17 “Therefore come out from them and be separate, says the Lord. Touch no unclean thing, and I will receive you.”
(3) When they could care-less about truth.
1 Cor 5:9 I wrote to you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral people— 10 not at all meaning the people of this world who are immoral, or the greedy and swindlers, or idolaters. In that case you would have to leave this world 11 But now I am writing you that you must not associate with anyone who calls himself a brother but is sexually immoral or greedy, an idolater or a slanderer, a drunkard or a swindler. With such a man do not even eat. 12 What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church? Are you not to judge those inside? 13 God will judge those outside. “Expel the wicked man from among you.”
1 Peter 4:4 Therefore, since Christ suffered in his body, arm yourselves also with the same attitude, because whoever suffers in the body is done with sin. 2 As a result, they do not live the rest of their earthly lives for evil human desires, but rather for the will of God. 3 For you have spent enough time in the past doing what pagans choose to do—living in debauchery, lust, drunkenness, orgies, carousing and detestable idolatry. 4 They are surprised that you do not join them in their reckless, wild living, and they heap abuse on you.
Psalm 1:1 Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers. 2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night. 3 He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers.
Proverbs 13:20 He who walks with the wise grows wise, but a companion of fools suffers harm.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0W0vTsM7Gps
What a Friend we have in Jesus,
All our sins and griefs to bear!
What a privilege to carry
Everything to God in prayer!
O what peace we often forfeit,
O what needless pain we bear,
All because we do not carry
Everything to God in prayer!
Have we trials and temptations?
Is there trouble anywhere?
We should never be discouraged,
Take it to the Lord in prayer.
Can we find a friend so faithful
Who will all our sorrows share?
Jesus knows our every weakness,
Take it to the Lord in prayer.
Are we weak and heavy-laden,
Cumbered with a load of care?
Precious Savior, still our refuge—
Take it to the Lord in prayer;
Do thy friends despise, forsake thee?
Take it to the Lord in prayer;
In His arms He’ll take and shield thee,
Thou wilt find a solace there.
Tomorrow we celebrate the life of Larry Johnson, a long time member of Baycities, at 1:00pm. There will be a live service outside on the back lawn 4915 Emerald Street, streaming from our website at www.baycitiessouthbay.com, and Facebook Live. He had a big heart with so much love to give wherever he went. Our church family will truly miss him.
A safe place to be on a Friday Night - to help with your hurts, habits, and hangups.
