Topic:(Compiled by Jon Dorris) (Permission granted for anyone to use freely) -What is your favorite Cinderella movie? (Ever After #1 of 20) -Why do you like it? -Guess what? GOD HAS THE ULTIMATE CINDERELLA STORY FOR YOU! -YOUR CHOICE: 100K$ or penny doubled every day for 30 days? -Will the 100K$ run out? -Sin is like that. -You get now. -But it will run out (fast). -A penny doubled every day for 30 days BUT then continuing each day forever is like Jesus’ highway for his true disciples. -What is a true disciple of Christ? -Someone that has committed to Jesus to learn about Him and grow in maturity in Him. -It is like a journey on a highway. -Main Point: When we stay on God’s narrow road, by Holy Spirit’s help, we will win the CROWN OF LIFE, that Jesus promises to His true disciples. -The benefits are for now and forever more increasingly -The ultimate Cinderella Story. -But beware: There are ditches on both sides of the road – -Two big ones 1. Hyper-Grace, & 2. Condemning Legalism. Sermon assignment/Small Group Discussion: (write on the paper provided) 1. Look for ways to walk down balanced center of Jesus’ Discipleship Highway. THE CINDERELLA PATH. 2. Realize patterns in your life that lead you into one of the two ditches. 3. Write down what you will do about 1 or 2, and share in group. -2 facets of Salvation -A. First one is FREE-Salvation and Jesus’ righteousness is a free gift. -This is just the door -What if you chose the penny doubled vs the 100K$ now, -BUT you waited 10 years to double the penny? -In 10 years = 1 penny. -B. Disciple of Christ / spotless Bride (Jesus’ Cinderella) must be walked out in faith, with love-based obedience to Holy Spirit’s leadings. -Regularly (ideally daily) = Jesus’ Cinderella HIGHWAY -Listen to God’s Cinderella Story out of Isaiah 35 (Jon reads) -satan hates this so he wants to sidetrack you in ditches -2 main ditches -But Jesus Christ’s discipleship road is to qualify us to be Spotless Bride and reign with him forever. -Rev. 19:7-9 Let us rejoice and be glad and give the glory to Him, for the marriage of the Lamb has come and His bride has made herself ready.” It was given to her to clothe herself in fine linen, bright and clean; for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints. Then he said to me, “Write, ‘Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.’” And he said to me, “These are true words of God.” -Rev. 5:10 and 22:5 tells us His Bride will reign on earth with Him forever. -Eph. 1 talks about consumating all things in JC = maturity -WE DO NOT WANT TO MISS THIS! -Cinderella had trials, didn’t she? -But she persevered. -James 1:12 Blessed is a man who perseveres under trial; for once he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him. -Let’s treat every HARDSHIP as an OPPORTUNITY to win the CROWN. -By doing what Jesus would do (WWJD) -Listen to Paul’s RACE to WIN -1 Cor. 9:23-27 I do all things for the sake of the gospel, so that I may become a fellow partaker of it. Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may win. Everyone who competes in the games exercises self-control in all things. They then do it to receive a perishable CROWN, but we an imperishable (CROWN). Therefore, I run in such a way, as not without aim; … … but I discipline my body and make it my slave, so that, after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified. EX.-Michael training to win at swimming. -Let’s look at satan’s 2 big schemes to sidetrack YOU. A. Condemnation, Inferiority, and Shame -satan accuser of the brethren -wants us condemned not faith-filled and dangerous to him -Don’t let him! -Ro. 8:1-2 KJV No condemnation BUT only for those walking after the Spirit (balance away from hyper-grace) -Ro. 8:1-2 KJV There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit (a true disciple of Jesus Christ). For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death. -We are Beloved, but maturing Sons and Daughters of God -Let’s NOT fall into the trap of condemnation. B. Hyper-Grace -a half-truth without the full counsel of God’s word. -Defined by www.gotquestions.org hyper-graceto the exclusion of other vital teachings such as repentance and confession of sinso there is no need for a believer to ever confess it(True but not all the truth).In short, hyper-grace teachers“pervert the grace of our God into a license for immorality”. -We have spent a lot of sermon time on God’s unconditional love for us (to keep us out of condemnation ditch) -But we have a responsibility to grow and mature in Jesus and His Kingdom ways. -God loves us enough to discipline (NOT punish) us to help us grow and mature. -Don’t confuse God’s loving discipline with satan’s junk like sickness, and evil circumstances. EX-Graham Cook said (the next day) to God – wow that was a gentle rebuke yesterday –so gentle – didn’t realize it EX. Mother eagle -Mom “pushes” baby out of nest then catch it until flies -Until eagles discover they can fly, there is no purpose for their lives -Until they learn how to soar. -We too were meant to soar in life with Jesus -Until we experience soaring as a disciple of Jesus we do not know how wonderful a life we are missing. -So God lovingly “pushes” us in disciple-making ways -Once learned to fly then she tears up comfortable nest -Now the teen eagle must pioneer his/her own unique life. -But the teen eagle finds out how wonderful real eagle life is. -So we too will never enjoy life fully until we soar with Jesus as His true disciple. -Don’t let the self-centered world system rob you from a fulfilling life of soaring to ever higher heights with Jesus. -There is no limit with Jesus. -Living without being a true disciple of Jesus is like an eagle that lives all it’s life scratching around the ground like a turkey. (Extra study-points from Rev. 2-3, seven churches) C. How do we cultivate this balanced life and win JC’s Crown of Life? -Romans 8:28-31 God’s eagle-making HIGHWAY: (Jon reads and comments) And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. (He does not cause the bad stuff, just causes it to work together for our good) 29 For those whom He foreknew, (He knew, before creation, who would choose Him with their free will and who would not) He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren; 30 and these whom He predestined, He also called (to be sons and daughters of God in Christ); and these whom He called, He also justified (free gift of salvation/righteousness in Christ); and these whom He justified, He also glorified (eagle soaring – disciple-making lifestyle, by Holy Spirit). 31 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who is against us? He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him over for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things? (to be mature sons and daughters, + other cool stuff). -That is the ultimate Cinderella Story. -It is yours if you want it. -Just tell Jesus you choose to do life on His highway of being a true disciple. -Ask Holy Spirit to help you live it all your life. -Alter call (Jon leads in prayer – MEAN IT IN YOUR HEART) Small Group Discussion 1. Look for ways to walk down balanced center of Jesus’ Discipleship Highway. THE CINDERELLA PATH. 2. Realize patterns in your life that lead you into one of the two ditches. 3. Write down what you will do about 1 or 2, and share in group.