Istrouma Baptist Church (BR)
Mar 26, 2023

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March 26 l Drop Your Nets
Welcome! We're glad you've joined us today for our Sunday morning worship service! For more information about Istrouma, go to istrouma.org or contact us at info@istrouma.org.

We glorify God by making disciples of all nations.
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Connection Card
https://istrouma.org/myinfo

March 26, 2023 | Tim Keith

To G.R.O.W. in Christ, you will have to:
Go through trouble
Resist temptation
Open your heart to forgiveness
Walk with Jesus and His people

Open your heart to forgiveness.


When others FAIL US, we can learn FORGIVENESS.


Matthew 27:39-44
"The people passing by (looking at Jesus on the cross) shook their heads and hurled insults at Jesus…and the elders made fun of Him…Even the bandits who had been crucified with Him insulted him in the same way.”

Luke 23:34
“Jesus said, ‘Father, forgive these people, because they don’t know what they are doing’”.

1 Pet. 2:23
“When they hurled their insults at Him, He did not retaliate; when He suffered, He made no threats. Instead, He entrusted Himself to God who judges justly.”

Forgiveness is NOT saying it didn't hurt or that it's okay.

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭18‬:‭21‬-‭35‬‬
Then Peter approached him and asked, “Lord, how many times must I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? As many as seven times?” “I tell you, not as many as seven,” Jesus replied, “but seventy times seven. “For this reason, the kingdom of heaven can be compared to a king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants. When he began to settle accounts, one who owed ten thousand talents was brought before him. Since he did not have the money to pay it back, his master commanded that he, his wife, his children, and everything he had be sold to pay the debt. “At this, the servant fell facedown before him and said, ‘Be patient with me, and I will pay you everything.’ Then the master of that servant had compassion, released him, and forgave him the loan. “That servant went out and found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii. He grabbed him, started choking him, and said, ‘Pay what you owe!’ “At this, his fellow servant fell down and began begging him, ‘Be patient with me, and I will pay you back.’ But he wasn’t willing. Instead, he went and threw him into prison until he could pay what was owed. When the other servants saw what had taken place, they were deeply distressed and went and reported to their master everything that had happened. Then, after he had summoned him, his master said to him, ‘You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you begged me. Shouldn’t you also have had mercy on your fellow servant, as I had mercy on you?’ And because he was angry, his master handed him over to the jailers to be tortured until he could pay everything that was owed. So also my heavenly Father will do to you unless every one of you forgives his brother or sister from your heart.”

1. Remember how much God has forgiven you. (v.24)

‭‭Romans‬ ‭5‬:‭8‬‬
But God proves his own love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

2. Recognize the unforgiveness in your life. (v.34)

3. Release the anger/bitterness. (v. 34)

How do you release the bitterness?
Forgive first -- Forgive completely

4. Realize God’s purpose (v.27)

2 Corinthians 13:7
“Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom”

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Text ISTROUMA IBC to 73256 or go to:
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Istrouma Baptist Church (BR)
Mar 19, 2023

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March 19 l Drop Your Nets
Welcome! We're glad you've joined us today for our Sunday morning worship service! For more information about Istrouma, go to istrouma.org or contact us at info@istrouma.org.

We glorify God by making disciples of all nations.
==========

Connection Card
https://istrouma.org/myinfo

March 19, 2023 | Tim Keith

To G.R.O.W. in Christ, you will have to:
Go through trouble
Resist temptation
Open your heart to forgiveness
Walk with Jesus and His people

GO THROUGH TROUBLE

John 16:33
In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.

Trouble
1. Tests - over what you have
2. Trials - over what you don’t have
3.Tragedies - over what you lost

Romans 5:3-4
“…trouble produces patience, and patience produces character, and character produces hope”.

Every mess has a message!

Mark 14:34
“My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death.”

Mark 14:36
“Father, everything is possible for You. Please take this cup of suffering away from me. Yet, I want Your will, not My will!”

RESIST TEMPTATION

Luke 22:31-32
“Simon, Simon, look out. Satan has asked to sift you like wheat. But I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. And you, when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.”

Matthew 4:1
“Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert to be tempted by the devil”

Temptation
Temptation is not a sin
Everybody battles temptation
Temptation always tests your loyalty

Philippians 4:8
“Fix your thoughts on what is true and good and right and pure.”

Galatians 5:16
So I say, walk by the Spirit,

“Faith in God offers no assurance against tragedy, but in every case, suffering offers an opportunity for us to display God’s work”.
- Philip Yancey

Romans 8:17
“Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in His sufferings in order that we may also share in His glory.”

Philippians 2:5
“Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus”

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https://istrouma.org/email

Give Online
Text ISTROUMA IBC to 73256 or go to:
https://istrouma.org/give

Our Website
https://istrouma.org

Istrouma Baptist Church (BR)
Mar 12, 2023

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March 12 l Drop Your Nets
Welcome! We're glad you've joined us today for our Sunday morning worship service! For more information about Istrouma, go to istrouma.org or contact us at info@istrouma.org.

We glorify God by making disciples of all nations.
==========

Connection Card
https://istrouma.org/myinfo

March 12, 2023 | Tim Keith
John 15:1-8

‭‭John‬ ‭15‬:‭1‬-‭8‬‬
“I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. Every branch in me that does not produce fruit he removes, and he prunes every branch that produces fruit so that it will produce more fruit. You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. Remain in me, and I in you. Just as a branch is unable to produce fruit by itself unless it remains on the vine, neither can you unless you remain in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. The one who remains in me and I in him produces much fruit, because you can do nothing without me. If anyone does not remain in me, he is thrown aside like a branch and he withers. They gather them, throw them into the fire, and they are burned. If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you want and it will be done for you. My Father is glorified by this: that you produce much fruit and prove to be my disciples.

When Jesus says "Remain in Me"


Who is Jesus talking to?
“every branch in Me”
v.2


What does He mean?
Stay close to Me
v.7


When do I remain in Jesus?
Every Day

Where do I remain in Jesus?
Everywhere


Why Remain in Jesus?
​* God's Blessing (v.2)
​* Be Fruitful (v.2 & v.5)
​* God's Glory (v.8)
* Your Joy (v.11)


How do I remain in Jesus?
* Keep going back when you stray (John 21:7)
* Keep reading His word and praying
    (Istrouma.org: Devotion and Prayer Guide)
* Remove Distractions


Why do we spend so much time trying to grow fruit that isn’t going to remain?

Is your fruit going to remain?

‭‭Galatians‬ ‭5‬:‭22‬-‭23‬‬
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. The law is not against such things.

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭3‬:‭8‬‬
Therefore produce fruit consistent with repentance.

‭‭Psalms‬ ‭3‬:‭3‬‬
But you, Lord, are a shield around me, my glory, and the one who lifts up my head.

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Give Online
Text ISTROUMA IBC to 73256 or go to:
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Our Website
https://istrouma.org

Istrouma Baptist Church (BR)
Mar 5, 2023

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March 5 l Drop Your Nets
Welcome! We're glad you've joined us today for our Sunday morning worship service! For more information about Istrouma, go to istrouma.org or contact us at info@istrouma.org.

We glorify God by making disciples of all nations.
==========

Connection Card
https://istrouma.org/myinfo

March 5, 2023 | Tim Keith
Matthew 4:18-22

Are You A Fan Or A Follower?

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭4‬:‭18‬-‭22‬‬
As he was walking along the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon (who is called Peter), and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the sea — for they were fishermen. “Follow me,” he told them, “and I will make you fish for people.” Immediately they left their nets and followed him. Going on from there, he saw two other brothers, James the son of Zebedee, and his brother John. They were in a boat with Zebedee their father, preparing their nets, and he called them. Immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him.

WHEN JESUS SAYS "FOLLOW ME"
(Matthew 4:18-22)

Who is it for?
Everyone who knows Jesus (4:18)

‭‭Luke‬ ‭5‬:‭1‬-‭11‬‬
As the crowd was pressing in on Jesus to hear God’s word, he was standing by Lake Gennesaret. He saw two boats at the edge of the lake; the fishermen had left them and were washing their nets. He got into one of the boats, which belonged to Simon, and asked him to put out a little from the land. Then he sat down and was teaching the crowds from the boat. When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into deep water and let down your nets for a catch.” “Master,” Simon replied, “we’ve worked hard all night long and caught nothing. But if you say so, I’ll let down the nets.” When they did this, they caught a great number of fish, and their nets began to tear. So they signaled to their partners in the other boat to come and help them; they came and filled both boats so full that they began to sink. When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus’s knees and said, “Go away from me, because I’m a sinful man, Lord!” For he and all those with him were amazed at the catch of fish they had taken, and so were James and John, Zebedee’s sons, who were Simon’s partners. “Don’t be afraid,” Jesus told Simon. “From now on you will be catching people.” Then they brought the boats to land, left everything, and followed him.

What does He want?
Focus on living out the message of salvation (4:19)

When do I respond?
Immediately, if not sooner. (4:20)

Where do I go?
Go with Jesus --> wherever He leads… (4:20)

Why do I go?
It’s Jesus calling…

‭‭Revelation‬ ‭19‬:‭16‬‬
And he has a name written on his robe and on his thigh: King of Kings and Lord of Lords.

How do I respond?
Be willing to leave everything.
Drop your nets (4:20)

Look at what they left...
- their comfort and safety
- their careers and possessions
- their families and friends
- their sin and selfishness

‭‭Mark‬ ‭8‬:‭34‬-‭37‬‬
Calling the crowd along with his disciples, he said to them, “If anyone wants to follow after me, let him deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life because of me and the gospel will save it. For what does it benefit someone to gain the whole world and yet lose his life? What can anyone give in exchange for his life?

What if they would have asked, “Should we do it?”

What am I holding on to too tightly?

What am I doing that only makes sense in light of the Gospel?

Looking at my life, how do I know that I’m a follower of Jesus?

What is God calling me to do?


The call is not to sit, it is to go!

To be a follower of Jesus is not about making decisions, it’s about making disciples!

‭‭Luke‬ ‭14‬:‭33‬‬
In the same way, therefore, every one of you who does not renounce all his possessions cannot be my disciple.

‭‭Galatians‬ ‭2‬:‭20‬‬
I have been crucified with Christ, and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭13‬:‭44‬‬
“The kingdom of heaven is like treasure, buried in a field, that a man found and reburied. Then in his joy he goes and sells everything he has and buys that field.

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https://istrouma.org/email

Give Online
Text ISTROUMA IBC to 73256 or go to:
https://istrouma.org/give

Our Website
https://istrouma.org