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Awaken Fast \\u2013 Finishing Strong
Sanctity of Human Life Sunday
On this annual remembrance day in support of the pro-life movement, a volunteer for CareNet, and member of City Central, Natalie shared with us how God sanctifies every stage of life. This overtly Christian Ministry desires to see women in crisis pregnancy circumstances get completely free help with health testing and one-on-one counseling. Once a woman decides to have her baby, she gets access to parenting classes and practical assistance by way of the Baby Boutique where she can get diapers, high chairs, car seats, formula, etc. Additionally, Healing Tides is a holistic ministry of CareNet providing peer support for women who\\u2019ve already had an abortion and are seeking healing. Learn more about this commemorative day and the ministry of CareNet at https://carenetps.org/sohls/
Sermon Summary
Romans 12:1-2 \\u201cTherefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God\\u2019s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God\\u2014this is your true and proper worship. 2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God\\u2019s will is\\u2014his good, pleasing and perfect will.\\u201d (NIV)
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Pastor Chris was away teaching a cadre of doctors about the freedom principles God has revealed and put into practice through City Central. We heard a positive and powerful exhortation from Pastor Dennis Gibson. Dennis shared how we can enter this third week of the Awaken Fast with a plan to finish strong \\u2013 a principle we can extend to our whole life as Christians.
How can we finish strong in life? Usually we ask, \\u201cWhere do I begin?\\u201d The best starting point is to ask God what He is expecting you to do. Begin with remembering what Christ has done for you on the cross. With that sober reminder, we can orient our time and prayers to press-in through life\\u2019s joys and difficulties. Here is the summary testimony of how God has worked in my life. Saved at 27 yrs. old. Grew up in the church, but hated it, so at age 12 I poured myself into the family business. Married at 20 to my high school sweetheart. Our first 7 years of marriage were turbulent. After we had our first daughter, one day before I went to work I looked over at my 2 year-old daughter and heard a voice ask, \\u201cdo you want her to grow up like you?\\u201d It was nearly audible, so answered, \\u201cNo, I\\u2019m miserable inside.\\u201d The voice asked, \\u201cWhat are you going to do about it?\\u201d Before I left for work, I asked Deb if she had thrown away the bible her sister gave us (I\\u2019d told her to get rid of it); she hadn\\u2019t. I read the bible cover to cover over the next year. This was key, getting the revelation from God\\u2019s word. I focused on reading Matthew to the end. In that reading God challenged me with Romans 12:1-2, \\u201cOffer your bodies as a living sacrifice \\u2026this is your spiritual service of worship.\\u201d Right then, I offered my life to the Lord. But, I said, \\u201cI have a concern. What about the hypocrites? How do I avoid being like them?\\u201d God replied, \\u201cYou\\u2019ll have to give an account of your life to me. (Romans 14:12)\\u201d I asked, \\u201cHow can I know you\\u2019ll keep me?\\u201d He turned me to focus on verse 2, \\u201cNo longer be conformed to the pattern of this world.\\u201d I said, \\u201cOK. If you can change my life and keep me, I\\u2019ll give my life to you completely.\\u201d I committed to go to church the next day, by myself, since the family was sick. I waited at the end, but there was no altar call. Undeterred, I talked with the pastor and I discovered that I must be committed to the truth to finish strong.\\xa0
14\\xa0May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ,\\xa0through which[a]\\xa0the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.\\u201d Gal. 6:14 (NIV)
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Five Ways to Finish Strong\\xa0
"13For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother\\u2019s womb. 14 I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made...." Psalms 139:13--14
23Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. 24 See if there is any offensive way in me\\u201d Psalms 139:23-24
Search me Lord, see if there be any offensive way in me \\u2013 pray this every day, God will reveal some to you today and some sin from weeks before. He restores us gently. He needs us to be open to hear the truth and change when he reveals it. His grace is sufficient. Repent and God is faithful to forgive. His lovingkindness leads us to repentance (Romans 2:4 \\u2013 \\u201cGod\\u2019s kindness is intended to lead you to repentance\\u2026\\u201d
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Discussion Questions
Application Questions