Let's accelerate our faith and our church's mission by praying more than ever before. Senior pastor Mike Linch shows how we can go higher in prayer this year.

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• Accelerate part 1 sermon notes/ prayer guide

Accelerating our mission this year will require a greater investment in our faith. Mike Linch lays out a faith investment plan for 2010.

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• Accelerate part 1 sermon notes/ Digging Deeper

As we seek to accelerate our mission we need to go further in sharing the message about Jesus. Senior pastor Mike Linch shows how the message of Christ is spread through you and me.

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• Accelerate part 3 sermon notes & Digging Deeper

The same star that guided the magi guides us as well. Choose your destination wisely and find Someone you can give your life to.

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• The Journey part 1 -- Sermon Notes/ Digging Deeper

Just as the magi worshipped the Lord by bringing Him gifts of gold, frankencinse, and myrrh, so we can worship Him right where we are in our current location.

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• The Journey part 2 -- sermon notes/ Digging Deeper

In a dream God warned the magi to go home using an alternate route. When we face important decisions or think we're getting an impression from God, how can we know if it's really Him?

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• The Journey part 3 sermon notes/ Digging Deeper

When I give faithfully to the Lord from the financial resources He lets me manage for a short time here on this earth, God promises rewards in the life to come.

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• FlashForward Part 1 Sermon Notes/ Digging Deeper

God promises rewards to the dedicated worker who realizes that it's not really about WHAT he does, but WHO he does it for.

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• FlashForward Part 2 Sermon Notes/ Digging Deeper

Prayer is something you learn by doing. Join us as we walk through the steps of prayer using the A.C.T.S. acronym: Adore, Confess, Thanks, Share.

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• FlashForward Part 3 Sermon Notes/ Digging Deeper

When we help those who cannot pay us back, we send a powerful message to the world. God promises blessings and rewards to those who selflessly serve the needy.

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• FlashForward Part 4 Sermon Notes/ Digging Deeper

God's promise to the courageous witness is that they will be rewarded in the world to come. But the key to influencing others for Christ is simply to build bridges of friendship.

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• FlashForward Part 5 Sermon Notes/ Digging Deeper

God has a purpose for the family and a promise to the faithful parent.

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• FlashForward Part 6 Sermon Notes/ Digging Deeper

Mike Linch begins our Honeymoon series talking about what has to happen first in a marriage befpre it can grow. How do we deal with the baggage that we bring into the relationship?

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• Honeymoon - Part 1 Sermon Notes/Digging Deeper

Many couples stop cultivating their marriage after the honeymoon ends. They don't realize that if they withdraw more than they invest, their marriage will end in default. Mike Linch brings out a special guest to share how learning your spouse's love language can help you become more of an investor than a consumer in your marriage.

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• Sermon Notes/Digging Deeper

One of the biggest struggles couples must overcome in marriage is unfulfilled expectations. Before the wedding, we have "desires" for our marriage. But, many of these desires never actually happen, which leads to disappointment. Today, Mike Linch shares how we can overcome our disappointments and allow God to restore us and our marriages.

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• Honeymoon - Part 3 - Sermon Notes/ Digging Deeper

To close the Honeymoon series, HLN's Mike Galanos moderates a special panel to answer your marriage questions. Senior pastor Mike Linch, marriage & family therapist Diane Pearce, and special guest Clarence Jett answer your questions on how to make your marriage thrive.

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• Honeymoon part 4 sermon notes/ Digging Deeper

In the end, Jesus had you on his mind. As he made his way from the Upper Room to the Garden of Gethsemane, he prayed to his father that He be glorified through those who would come to know him. Mike Linch explains today that we should do exactly as Christ did - point others to the greatness of the Father!

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• United - Part One - Sermon Notes/ Digging Deeper

Before his earthly death, Jesus prayed passionately for God's power for us, His protection over us, and that his followers would not be derailed by what the world offers. Mike Linch explains what Jesus meant by "the world," and why we desperately need God's power and protection each and every day!

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• United - Part Two - Sermon Notes/ Digging Deeper

God has a plan for each of us. And, while each of us is equipped with different gifts and talents, we are all united in our primary purpose: pointing people towards Him. Today, Mike Linch shares how each of us can play a pivotal role in leading people to God.

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• United - Part Three - Sermon Notes/ Digging Deeper

The final week of our series addresses some keys to becoming unified with other belivers, and as a church body. In order to do this, we have to look at what is keeping us from being united, and understanding that what united us the love we have for our Father, and the love He has for us.

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• United - Part Four - Sermon Notes/ Digging Deeper

Today, we begin an 8-week journey through the Book of James called Bring It. James (Jesus' brother) was in your face, and he didn't pull any punches when it came to explaining how we can exercise our faith muscles. We've all heard the phrase, "No Pain, No Gain," and it couldn't me more true when faced with trials.

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• Bring It - Part One - Sermon Notes/ Digging Deeper

Like a long-distance runner needs water in preparation for - and during - the race, we all need to re-hydrate regularly in our spiritual journey. Jesus himself told us that he is living water that we can drink from, and the most effective way for us to re-hydrate is to read the Word - the Bible. Today, Mike explains three ways we can get the most out of God's Word, and how it will provide the necessary hydration we need daily.

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• Bring It - Part Two - Sermon Notes/ Digging Deeper

James wants us to understand that we cannot make it on our own. We need to surround ourselves with others to help us on the journey. In order to do that, we need to learn how to treat others right, and how to avoid using the magnifying glass to judge them. Ken Williams of West Cobb Church explains why mercy always triumphs over judgment.

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• Bring It - Part Three - Sermon Notes/ Digging Deep

James wanted to make it clear to us that talking the talk is not enough. It's one thing to believe in God; it's something altogether different to demonstrate your faith through your actions. Today, Mike Linch shares what we need to know about REAL faith, and avoid having a dead one.

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• Bring It - Part Four - Sermon Notes/ Digging Deepe

Probably the most deadly weapon in our arsenal is our tongue. We can use it to strengthen others, or we can use it to destroy them. And, wounds that our mouths create take much longer to heal. Today, Mike Linch shares three reasons we need to watch what we say in Part Five of our Bring It series.

There;s almost always a tension at work in our lives. Each of us has personal desires, which causes us to be att odds with others much of the time. Essentially, we are all somewhat selfish, and we don't want the same things other people want. According to James, this is what leads to fights and quarrels. So, how do we resolve the conflict within us? Brad Parkhurst explains in Part Six of our Bring It series.

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• Bring It - Part Six - Sermon Notes/ Digging Deeper

Our Bring It series continues as we look at what James had to say about money. As always, James had some strong opinions about how we can exercise our faith with our finances. Mike Linch explains four ways we can give to God and to others, and still have "plenty" for ourselves.

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• Bring It - Part Seven - Sermon Notes/ Digging Deep

Worship Pastor Daniel Hoover concludes our summer Bring It series by taking a look at what James had to say about prayer. By examining these verses, we can answer three key questions: When should I pray? How can I pray effectivey? What kind of person can pray?

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• Bring It - Part Eight - Sermon Notes/ Digging Deep

We learn a number of lessons from the life of the Virtuous Woman in Proverbs 31. Man or woman, she possessed qualities all of us would hope to carry with us. Today, Mike Linch explains how each of us can learn from this woman, and how God can use these lessons to enable us to build Godly homes for our families.

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• Honor - Part One - Sermon Notes

In Part Two of our Honor series, we recognize and celebrate high school and college graduates. While it is an end of one chapter in their lives, in the grand scheme of things, it is only the beginning. And though it is important to get off to a promising start, finishing well is even more vital. Today, Mike Linch explains four secrets to having a strong finish.

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• Honor - Part Two - Sermon Notes

On Memorial Day weekend we remember the fallen heroes who have given their lives so that we might have freedom in this country And we honor our Ultimate Hero, Jesus Christ, as we obsere Communion. He gave His live so that we might have life.

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• Honor - Part Three - Digging Deeper

Part of understanding the enemy is knowing his history. Who was Lucifer created to be? How did he fall from grace? Why does he still exist today? These are all questions we ask about the Villain, and the answers can be found in scripture.

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• Villain - Part One - Sermon Notes

Many of us believe that if we're being tempted, or if we are facing spiritual tests, that we must not be in the will of God. But, that is actually far from the truth. A faith that is not tested means very little. It's how we respond to temptation that tells the story. Mike Linch explains what we all need to know about temptation, and reveals the simple, but effective plan, our villain uses to ensnare us.

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• Villain - Part Two - Sermon Notes

We can learn all we want to about the Villain, and we can pray to God for His protection and guidance. But, at the end of the day, it is almost always our attitude that directs our thoughts and actions. We conclude our Villain series, as Mike Linch explains three attitudes we need to employ to overcome the enemy's schemes.

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• Villain - Part Three - Sermon Notes

Over the next eight weeks, we will closely examine Jesus' famous Sermon on the Mount, also known as the Beatitudes. Why was this message so important to Jesus' mission during his time on earth? This was his first message to his followers, and like all of his messages, it thinned out the crowd. Jesus talked about the distinguishing charateristics of being one of his disciples. Today, Mike Linch kicks off the series talking about the Mark of Bankruptcy.

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• Marked - Part One - Sermon Notes

Week Two of our Marked series focuses on brokenness. What does it really mean to be broken before God? One of the ways we become broken is by mourning over the sin in our lives. Today, Mike Linch explains three ways we are drawn closer to the Father - and to those who mean the most to us - when we begin to take sin seriously and get right with God.

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• Marked, Part Two - Sermon Notes

There seems to be a misunderstanding about the word meekness. Many believe that demonstrating meekness is the equivalent of showing weakness. It's actually the opposite. Today, Steve Roach explains what meekness really means, and why Jesus said it was such a big deal to his followers.

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• Marked, Part Three - Sermon Notes

We spend a lot of time chasing things that don't satisfy us. The problem for most of us is that we just don't know what it is that we want. But, Jesus tells is that his followers need to hunger and thirst for righteousness. Essentially, we should all strive to be Christ-like. Mike Linch clues us in on three ways we determine if we are craving being right with the Lord.

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• Marked, Part 4 - Sermon Notes

Showing mercy to others involves action. It isn't simply having pity on them. In fact, pity without action is nothing more than hypocrisy. In part five of our series, Mike Linch explains three ways we can extend mercy to others, and avoid being judgmental - and why it was so critical for Jesus to communicate this message to his followers.

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• Marked, Part Five - Sermon Notes

When Jesus said, "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God," what he was really referring to is our motives. Today, Mike Linch asks this question: What does it mean to be pure in heart? The answers may not be as obvious as they seem.

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• Marked, Part Six - Sermon Notes

Another term for pacemaking is reconciliation. It happens when we value other people more than we value being right. Today, Mike Linch discusses why being a peacemaker is so important in becoming like Christ.

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• Marked, Part Seven - Sermon Notes

We wrap up our 8-part series with perhaps the toughest "mark" of all - the mark of persecution. Jesus didn't say "Blessed are you IF people insult you." He said WHEN they insult you. Daniel Hoover asks three important questions about persecution, and how we are to deal with it as followers of Christ.

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• Marked, Part Eight - Sermon Notes

We begin our two-week He Said, She Said sermon series with a message all about the guys. What it is that men so desperately crave in any relationship? Mike Linch explains what that is, and why it's so critical to a thriving marriage.

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• He Said - Sermon Notes

Women, as we all know, are quite different from men. Therefore, their needs in a relationship are very different than a man's needs. What are the most critical things men need to know to give their special lady in a relationship? Mike Linch reveals the message that every woman longs to hear and feel, and three ways men can effectively and genuinely express this to them.

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• She Said - Sermon Notes