First Alliance Church ATL

08-06-17 Kevin Goins - Prayer Makes a Difference

Prayer Makes a Difference:  The Discipline of Prayer  1 Timothy 2:1-4

Prayer is not only the most well-known of the spiritual
disciplines, many would say it is the most transformative. Practicing it makes the greatest difference in the Christian life.  In our text
today we see how certain the Apostle Paul is that prayer always makes a difference.  

I First, Paul is so convinced prayer makes a difference that he sees prayer as the church’s n_________ o_______ most urgent need (2:1).

-The only way to prioritize prayer is to p_______ for prayer.

II Second, Paul is so convinced prayer makes a difference that he wants the church’s practice of prayer to be m___________(2:1).

1. Requests are prayers for s___________ n______.
2. Prayers are r_________ that can only be made to ________.
3. Intercession is asking God for something on behalf of s___________ e_____.
4. Thanksgiving is thanking God for what he h____ a_______ d______ and for what we believe he w____ d___ in the f_______.

III Third, Paul is so convinced prayer makes a difference that he wants the church to use it on behalf of a____ p_______ (2:1-2a).

-This means two things:  Prayer is never to be e____________.  We must pray for k_______, or those in a____________.

IV Lastly, Paul is so convinced prayer makes a difference that he wants the church to rely on prayer for the e_______________ of the w_________ (2:1-4).

07-23-17 Kevin Goins - Stewardship of Time

“Giving the Gift of Jesus: the Stewardship of Time”   Luke 19:1-9

Time is a precious commodity and that is why God wants us to practice the discipline of stewardship. He wants us to honor him, not just with how we spend our money, but also with how we spend our time. As Christians, we know the importance of giving time to God, to our family, and to our church. But how much time do we give to those who are outside the Kingdom of God? Today we are looking at a text which answers the question: Why should we give those who do not know Jesus the gift of our time?

First, because it takes time to look for the lost (19:1).
Second, because it takes time to see spiritual potential where, at first, there might seem to be none at all (19:2).

Third, because it takes time to be a p___-w_______ w________ (19:3-5).
A. It takes time to make a good i__________ on people before you attempt to share your faith with them.

B. To be an authentic representative of Jesus means we reach out to the people who seem to be so d__________ from us.

Fourth, because it takes time to recognize the o_____________ of the m__________ (19:5-6).

Fifth, because it takes time to n_____________ (19:7).

Finally, because it takes time to see r__________ (19:8-9).

07-16-17 Kevin Goins - Giving the Gift of Jesus

“Giving the Gift of Jesus: the Stewardship of Time”   Luke 19:1-9
Time is a precious commodity and that is why God wants us to practice the discipline of stewardship. He wants us to honor him, not just with how we spend our money, but also with how we spend our time. As Christians, we know the importance of giving time to God, to our family, and to our church. But how much time do we give to those who are outside the Kingdom of God? Today we are looking at a text which answers the question: Why should we give those who do not know Jesus the gift of our time?

I First, because it takes time to _______ for the _______ (19:1).
A. Jesus was “passing through” Jericho because he had s_______ p________ e_________ to be.

B. As we encounter crowds each day we need to focus our attention, not on the _______, but on the one who s________ o_______ from it.

II Second, because it takes time to see s__________ p__________ where, at first, there might seem to be n_______ at all (19:2).
A. There are two reasons why a Christian evangelist would not want to waste time on Zacchaeus:
   1. He was a c_______ t______ c________.
   2. He was w___________.
B. But sometimes the people who live “upright” lives are the h________ to win to Christ, and the people who would seem to be a l______ c______ are the most eager to respond to the Gospel.

III Third, because it takes time to be a p___-w_______ w________ (19:3-5).
A. It takes time to make a good i__________ on people before you attempt to share your faith with them.
B. To be an authentic representative of Jesus means we reach out to the people who seem to be so d__________ from us.

07-09-17 Kevin Goins - Discipline of Thankfulness part 2

The Spiritual Discipline of Thankfulness” (Conclusion) Luke 17:11-19

Thankfulness is one of the most well-known of the spiritual disciplines, but that does not mean that it is one of the most commonly practiced.  As our text today demonstrates, it is the nature of the majority of people who are blessed by God to take his blessing without giving thanks.  What does this text teach us about the discipline of thankfulness? 

I First, we learn that we ought to focus our thankfulness on the Lord Jesus (17:11-13).

II Second, the energizing power of thankfulness is faith (7:14-15).

III Third, the reason for our thankfulness is God’s grace (7:16).

IV Fourth, the absence of thankfulness is _______ (7:17).

-Four reasons why ingratitude is ______:

1. Ingratitude is sin because not being thankful is an act of _______________.
2. Ingratitude is sin because it d____________ God of what he is d_____.
3. Ingratitude is sin because it is bad for _____.
4. Ingratitude is sin because it hurts ________.

V Fifth, the presence of thankfulness is a sign of s___________ t______________(17:19).

VI Finally, evidence of thankfulness is never just _________, but ___________ (17:18).

 

 

07-02-17 Kevin Goins - The Discipline of Thankfulness

“The Spiritual Discipline of Thankfulness”  Luke 17:11-16

Thankfulness is one of the most well-known of the spiritual disciplines, but that does not mean that it is one of the most commonly practiced.  As our text today demonstrates, it is the nature of the majority of people who are blessed by God to take his blessing without giving thanks.  What does this text teach us about the discipline of thankfulness? 

I     First, we learn that we ought to focus our thankfulness on the _______ ______(17:11-13).

       -For three reasons:

1. Because Jesus himself d____________ the discipline of thankfulness
2. Because Jesus is the one whose actions d___________ our thanks.
3. Because of what Jesus did for ____.

II    Second, the energizing power of thankfulness is ___________ (7:14-15).

III   Third, the reason for our thankfulness is ______ __________ (7:16).

 

06-25-17 Kevin Goins - Discipline of Detachment 4

“The Spiritual Discipline of Detachment” (Pt 4)  Matthew 6:24

This is the fourth message on the spiritual discipline of detachment and in the last two messages we have looked at the practical question:  From which of the world’s values do we need to detach ourselves?  Thus far we have identified three things that we need to abandon: 

I First, the world’s preoccupation with things that cannot last.

II Second, the world’s stingy, greedy, and selfish perspective on life.

III Third, the world’s love affair with the power and influence of money.

Today we see three more values of the world from which we must detach ourselves:

IV The fourth thing from which we must detach ourselves is the world’s a_____________ (6:25-32).

1. F______, d_______, and c_______ are not the only things we should not worry about (6:25-30).
2. It is the nature of the kingdom of this world to be a___________ (6:31-32a).
3. While it is the nature of those who belong to the kingdom of this world to w_________, it is the nature of those who belong to the Kingdom of God to _______ (6:31-32).

V The fifth thing from which we must detach ourselves is the world’s u__________ d________ priorities (6:33).

VI The sixth thing from which we must detach ourselves is the world’s t________ in t____________ (6:34).

06-18-17 Kevin Goins - Being Baptized on Father's Day

“Being Baptized on Father’s Day” Matthew 6:9-13

There is a text of Scripture which not only helps us better understand baptism, but which also reminds us fathers what we should value. This text is Matthew 6:9-13 and it tells us six things about our Father in Heaven:

I Our Heavenly Father is the kind of father who cares about being r____________ (6:9).

II Our Heavenly Father is the kind of father who wants to see his K_________ a________ (6:10a).

III Our Heavenly Father is the kind of father who has a p_______ for us and he wants us to f__________ his plan (6:10b).

IV Our Heavenly Father is the kind of father who wants us to see him as our p___________ (6:11).

V Our Heavenly Father is the kind of father who wants to m__________ f____________ (6:12).

VI Our Heavenly Father is the kind of father who gives us victory over e_________ (6: 13).

06-11-17 David Grove - Spiritual Abuse

06-04-17 Ross Anotonakos - The Lord's Table - Freedom to Worship

Dear Friends,
I am so excited about facilitating and preaching about the Lord’s Supper. It is by far my most favorite ministry event.
There are two ordinances (an authoritative described practice or ceremony) found in the New Testament that we regularly observe: Baptism and The Lord’s Supper which is also referred to as
Communion. It is my passion and heart that you grab ahold of the biblical understanding of Communion found in 1st Corinthians 10:14-22. It is a very serious time of reflection and repentance BUT ALSO one of celebration AND WORSHIP!
Hopefully you will discover some things about THIS ordinance that you have never thought about before today. I pray and desire that you will always remember that Jesus is Lord God—He cares for you and wants the best for His children. So relax, recoup, refresh and rest in knowing that your salvation and future are secure in Christ. If you don’t know this for sure—let today be the day when you decide to ask Him to be your savior.

Ross

05-28-17 The Discipline of Detachment part 3

“The Spiritual Discipline of Detachment” (Pt 3) Matthew 6:24

Last week, as we were discussing the discipline of detachment, we asked the question: From which of the world’s values should we detach ourselves. We said:
I First, we must detach ourselves from a love for the things that cannot last.
II Second, we must detach ourselves from the way the world looks at life.
III Third, we must detach ourselves from the d__________ for m________.

A. Why did Jesus focus on money when he said, “You cannot serve two masters”?
1. Money is one of the most d__________ powers in life and even _____________ can be deceived by it.
2. Living for money and loving money has rarely ever been c________________ by the church.
3. We find it so easy to be i____________ by people with lots of money, even if we do not know ______ they got their money.
B. But the problem is not money itself. Money is a n__________ force in society. It can be used to further _______ or to promote great _____.
1. The problem, Jesus says, is that many times it is not _______ who possess _________, but __________ that possesses ___________.
2. When we find comfort and security in knowing we have
money in our account, then we have become s___________, or s___________, of mammon.
C. We Christians often respond to warnings like this by d_________ that we have anything to worry about.
D. Another response we often make to the issue is to say, “I am just d_______ what I h_______ to do.” My family and I have got to l________!
E. How can we detach ourselves from the power that money has over people?
1. The only way is to detach ourselves from the _________ for money.
2. But, how do we do that? One of the best ways is to live a more s_________ life