Jurassic Faith Fossils of Faith Finding Fossils of Faith The sweat pours off your brow as you chip away at the hard, dry ground. Slowly as you brush away the parched, dusty soil, there is a clue to a past life. This is a place where a powerful life once lived. You’ve discovered a Fossil of Faith, a valuable discovery that is key to restoring lost life. Today we will learn how to ‘piece together’ the Fossils of Faith that leads to an abundant, powerful life. A fossil is the hardened remains of life. Fossils Help Us Remember What Was __________________________ I have this complaint against you. You have lost your first love! Look how far you have fallen! Turn back to Me and do the works you did at first. Revelation 2:4 Go back and fall in love with God again! Create in me a clean heart, O God. Renew a loyal spirit within me. Do not banish me from your presence, and don’t take your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and make me willing to obey you. Psalm 51:10-12 Remember the joy of salvation, seek to restore it. House of Praise Pastor Lon Dean 8/2/15 Scriptures are New Living Translation (nlt) unless noted otherwise 1 Jurassic Faith Fossils of Faith At this they began to argue with each other because they hadn’t brought any bread. Jesus knew what they were saying, so He said, “Why are you arguing about having no bread? Don’t you know or understand even yet? Are your hearts too hard to take it in? Matthew 8:16-17 ‘You have eyes—can’t you see? You have ears—can’t you hear?’ Don’t you remember anything at all? When I fed the 5,000 with five loaves of bread, how many baskets of leftovers did you pick up afterward?” “Twelve,” they said. Matthew 8:18-19 Jesus wants us to remember the miracles we’ve seen. Remember what happened to Lot’s wife! If you cling to your life, you will lose it, and if you let your life go, you will save it. Luke 17:33 Remember those that have lost their faith and become fossils looking back for the pleasure of sin. Fossils Help Us Remember What Was __________________________ He isn’t here! He is risen from the dead! Remember what He told you back in Galilee, that “the Son of Man must be betrayed into the hands of sinful men and be crucified, and that He would rise again on the third day.” Luke 24:6-7 As we look back 2,000 years, remember Jesus did exactly what He said He would do. Always remember that Jesus Christ, a descendant of King David, was raised from the dead. This is the Good News I preach. 2 Timothy 2:8 When we remember Who we serve it rekindles our faith! House of Praise Pastor Lon Dean 8/2/15 Scriptures are New Living Translation (nlt) unless noted otherwise 2 Jurassic Faith Fossils of Faith Fossils Help Us Believe Truth ____________ ______________ ____________ One of the twelve disciples, Thomas (nicknamed the Twin), was not with the others when Jesus came. They told him, “We have seen the Lord!” But he replied, “I won’t believe it unless I see the nail wounds in his hands, put my fingers into them, and place my hand into the wound in His side.” John 20:24-25 Then He said to Thomas, “Put your finger here, and look at my hands. Put your hand into the wound in my side. Don’t be faithless any longer. Believe!” John 20:27 Eight days later Jesus appears again. “My Lord and my God!” Thomas exclaimed. Then Jesus told him, “You believe because you have seen me. Blessed are those who believe without seeing Me.” John 20:28-29 You are not controlled by your sinful nature. You are controlled by the Spirit if you have the Spirit of God living in you. (And remember that those who do not have the Spirit of Christ living in them do not belong to Him at all.) Romans 8:9 Remember that you have been set free of sin’s power. House of Praise Pastor Lon Dean 8/2/15 Scriptures are New Living Translation (nlt) unless noted otherwise 3 Jurassic Faith Fossils of Faith For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God. Romans 8:14 Am I led by the Spirit? We look back to go forward! What’s your next step? My Next Steps in My Faith I Will Take This Week: I Commit to: Accept salvation by committing to follow Jesus Recommit to living for Jesus Sign up to be baptized on Sunday Sept 13th Start serving Begin giving to the church Share my faith with someone Sign up for Foundations Class (starts Sun Aug 16th) Got questions about any of these steps? Church leaders will be in the café after service to answer them. Grab your favorite drink from the café and chat. House of Praise Pastor Lon Dean 8/2/15 Scriptures are New Living Translation (nlt) unless noted otherwise 4