1 10 95 https://church.jhkpress.com/files/original/102041fa347013b0a75795e08a16c1d8.png 79298872644ba9fc0a40f4b36267a8fe https://church.jhkpress.com/files/original/785862a44cf4270612883357c7f6d071.mp4 c504b54516ed5c5070f29edb403a27e3 Moving Image A series of visual representations imparting an impression of motion when shown in succession. Examples include animations, movies, television programs, videos, zoetropes, or visual output from a simulation. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource July 4th 2020 Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource July 4th 2020 https://church.jhkpress.com/files/original/bb68511a6f79f6f5b64248e3dd65e09f.jpg 49c137c04462fbd208f93f4c5afacfb8 Still Image A static visual representation. Examples include paintings, drawings, graphic designs, plans and maps. Recommended best practice is to assign the type Text to images of textual materials. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Fall Festival Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 2015 Description An account of the resource Celebrate the season at Hillside United Methodist Church’s Fall Festival on Saturday, September 26, 2015, from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Join us at 3737 U.S. Hwy 80 W, Phenix City, for a friendly, family-oriented day with music, light refreshments, and activities for all ages as we gather in gratitude for God’s goodness. All are welcome—bring a friend! https://church.jhkpress.com/files/original/12b97c315d79246f7fe14525a2f0793e.jpg c02ca49220c4010068eda0ad265844e2 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource 2022 Moving Image A series of visual representations imparting an impression of motion when shown in succession. Examples include animations, movies, television programs, videos, zoetropes, or visual output from a simulation. Transcription Any written text transcribed from a sound The Blood of Jesus Ephesians 1:7-10 Ash Wednesday has come and gone… we are now in the season of Lent The season of Lent leads us to Easter Easter Sunday is so beautiful. I always think (showing my age) of bright Easter colors and ladies and little girls wearing white gloves (does anyone wear them anymore?) But to get to Easter, we first have to go through the cross. Good Friday Just like our salvation. Today we celebrate Holy Communion together. The bread and the cup It is a New Testament version of Passover. Old Testament Passover was a celebration/commemoration of the original Passover God sent the Death Angel to slay every first born child in every household There is no passing over (no “Passover”) without the blood on the doorposts If the Children of Israel had not applied the blood, they would have lost their children, too. With the Blood came protection. Without it, there was only death. Jesus is: The lamb of God, slain for the sins of the world. (John 1:29) Some things are difficult for our minds to process without the Holy Spirit to reveal them to us. John 6:53: Then Jesus said unto them, “Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you.” John 6:60: Many therefore of his disciples, when they had heard this, said, “This is an hard saying; who can hear it?” “This teaching is too hard. Who can listen to it?” Every morning I approach the Throne of Grace by first recognizing I am nothing of my own effort. I cannot earn the privilege of His presence. Through the Blood of Jesus, we have redemption from our sins The sins that would have otherwise sent us to an eternity in hell. Forever separated, not only from our loved ones, but from God Himself. Through the blood of Jesus, we are redeemed from our past. We regain right standing with God. Righteousness. Our dignity is restored. “Sin hath left a crimson stain…” “Oh, precious is that flow…” We have nothing without Jesus shed blood, but through it, we have total victory. Early last week this verse jumped out at me off the pages of my Bible: Romans 9:16 - It does not, therefore, depend on human desire or effort, but on God’s mercy. Rom 1:17: “This gospel unveils a continual revelation of God’s righteousness—a perfect righteousness given to us when we believe. And it moves us from receiving life through faith, to the power of living by faith. This is what the Scripture means when it says: “We are right with God through life-giving faith!” “We are right with God through life-giving faith!” Faith in what? Faith in the Power of Jesus’ Blood. (mixed with faith) We first recognize we are sinners – and therefore separated from God. Even at our best attempt we can never live right – we can never purify ourselves. Our only hope is to have faith in God’s mercy – and His mercy is made available to us (only) through the shed blood of Jesus. Col 1:20: - And by the blood of his cross, everything in heaven and earth is brought back to himself—back to its original intent, restored to innocence again! The law came through Moses – which showed us our sinfulness Grace and Truth came through Jesus Christ We know ALL have sinned – and scripture also tells us “You have ALL become true children of God by faith in Jesus Christ!” (Gal 3:26) ALL: John 1:12 - “ …to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God” Faith in Jesus Christ means we have faith in Him and what He accomplished for us through His sacrificial death, burial and resurrection. We have faith in the blood of Jesus Eph 1:7 - In him (Jesus) we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace There is power in the blood of Jesus to forgive you from all your sins, and understanding this is crucial to living a victorious life. The enemy fears this truth the most and that is why he attacks this teaching on the forgiveness of sins so vehemently. If the enemy can get you to believe the lie that you are not completely forgiven and keep you sin-conscious, he will be able to keep you defeated, condemned, fearful of God, and caught in a vicious circle of failure. Understand: Jesus is the Son of God and His blood is untainted by any sin. That is why the shedding of His pure and innocent blood is able to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. His blood does not cover sins temporarily like the blood of bulls and goats in the old covenant. His blood blots out and completely erases all our sins. This is the blood of God Himself, shed for the forgiveness of all our sins! We need to start to realize that this is not a “basic teaching.” This is the gospel of Jesus Christ. If we reject the Blood we reject the Gospel In the end times, people are not exactly anti-God, but they are anti-Christ. The anti-Christ movement attempts to devalue Jesus’ deity, the cross and His power to forgive all our sins. That is why, in these last days, we need more preaching about Jesus, His finished work and the new covenant of His unmerited favor. We need to keep the new covenant and the cross of Jesus as the focus of our message. The only way to stem this deception from creeping into the church is to focus on exalting the person of Jesus and the central tenet of the new covenant, which is the complete forgiveness of sins! This is the gospel, and when the gospel truth is preached, people will be set free. There should be no compromise when it comes to the gospel of Jesus. There is no denying the truth – we only accept it or reject it Forgiveness of sins is based on His grace (unmerited favor) alone and we have access into this grace by faith. Our part is to only believe! This is what makes the gospel the good news. Take away the complete forgiveness of sins and it is no longer the “gospel,” which means “good news.” “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be SAVED” Believe that all your sins are forgiven. That is your part in the new covenant. That is how you become established in the new covenant of grace and experience the fullness of His unmerited favor! Eph 1:7 “Because of the blood of Christ, we are bought and made free from the punishment of sin. And because of His blood, our sins are forgiven. His loving-favor to us is so rich.” It starts with that recognition of our lost condition that we have without Christ. Jesus: “Blessed are the poor in spirit (who realize their spiritual poverty – that they are spiritually needy,) for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” Romans 5:9 - And there is still much more to say of his unfailing love for us! For through the blood of Jesus we have heard the powerful declaration, “You are now righteous in my sight.” And because of the sacrifice of Jesus, you will never experience the wrath of God. This is the Gospel – this was God’s plan for ALL of us 2 Tim 1:10: Jesus “destroyed death and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel.” I preach the gospel of grace because the good news of Jesus changes lives. The gospel is the good news that at the moment you receive Jesus into your life and make Him your Lord and Savior, all your sins are forgiven and you receive the gift of eternal life. Heb 10:10 - For God’s will was for us to be made holy by the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ, once for all time. Chinese version: By God's will, Jesus Christ sacrificed His body only once to make us holy forever. We have faith in Jesus sacrifice that: cleanses us - redeems us - makes us righteous, free from sin - heals us Heb 10:19 - Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus… Rev 1:5 – Jesus “loves us and has freed us from our sins by His blood” You are justified and made righteous through your faith in Jesus Christ. Your righteousness is a gift from Him. In Christ you now have perfect standing before God, paid for by the precious, eternal blood of His Son. There is no more judgment, punishment, and curse for you because the full judgment, punishment, and curse for all your sins fell upon our Lord Jesus at the cross. Jesus paid it all! The same blood that tore the veil removed your sins. We can never make light of the awful price Jesus paid for our redemption. “Who loved me and gave Himself for me.” “…for the Joy that was set before Him, He endured the cross.” “Oh, precious is that flow…” Acts 2:38: Peter replied, “Each of you must repent of your sins and turn to God, and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. Then you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource The Blood ​血液 Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 03/06/2022 Description An account of the resource Eph 1:7 – In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace 以 弗 所 書 1:7: 在基督之中，我们凭借他的血（死）， 享有自由，罪孽得到赦免，是根据他那丰富的恩典所赐。(pg 1894) Romans 9:16 - It does not, therefore, depend on human desire or effort, but on God’s mercy 罗马书 9:16: 由此可见，这不在于人的意愿，也不在于人的努力，而在于施怜悯的神。(pg 1834) Col 1:20: - And by the blood of his cross, everything in heaven and earth is brought back to himself—back to its original intent, restored to innocence again! 歌罗西书 1:19,20: 因为上帝乐意让一切的丰盛住在祂里面， 又借着祂在十字架上所流的血成就了和平，使天地万物借着祂与上帝和好。(pg 1909) Romans 5:9 - And there is still much more to say of his unfailing love for us! For through the blood of Jesus we have heard the powerful declaration, “You are now righteous in my sight.” And because of the sacrifice of Jesus, you will never experience the wrath of God. 羅 馬 書 5:9: 由于基督血的奉献，我们得到了上帝的认可，所以，通过基督，我们肯定会得以拯救，免遭上帝的愤怒。(page 1828) Heb 10:10 - For God’s will was for us to be made holy by the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ, once for all time. 希 伯 來 書 10:10: 凭上帝的意旨，耶稣基督只牺牲了自己的身体一次，便使得我们永远圣洁。(pg 1950) Heb 10:19 - Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus 希 伯 來 書 10:19: 所以，兄弟姐妹们，我们有信心借助耶稣的血进入至圣处 (pg 1951) Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource 2024 Moving Image A series of visual representations imparting an impression of motion when shown in succession. Examples include animations, movies, television programs, videos, zoetropes, or visual output from a simulation. Transcription Any written text transcribed from a sound By Grace Alone Titus 3:3-5 Ripley’s Believe It Or Not There was a time – many decades ago – when going to the gym was a daily part of my routine. Not just the treadmill, either. The iron plates! The usual crowd was there most days – and since we knew each other, we worked out together – spotting each other at the bench press, etc. More than once during this time period, I would get to the point that I needed help getting the heavy weights off my chest. I just couldn’t push them off of me and onto the rack all by myself. If I didn’t ask for help, I wasn’t going anywhere. The weight would only get heavier. There are situations in all of our lives where we can’t take care of things all by ourselves. The burden just gets too heavy. Like the burden of our sins. as Step 2 of the Twelve Steps describes it, “We came to be aware that a Power greater than ourselves”… was necessary. U2: “Sometimes you can’t make it on your own” Tough. You think you've got the stuff You're telling me and anyone - You're “hard enough” You don't have to put up a fight - You don't have to always be right Listen to me now - I need to let you know - You don't have to go it alone. Trying to bench press too much weight and discovering that you are trapped by your own denial of human limitations – is a lot like what we do when we try to live a victorious life under our own power. PRIDE could have kept me trapped under those heavy weights… how would that have ended? (what if I had been all alone in that gym?) As long as you’re running away, you’re going to miss the greatness God put in you. You can’t conquer what you don’t confront. Too often we’re comforting what we should be confronting. We’re making lists of excuses. But you can’t run from everything that’s uncomfortable. You can’t ignore issues, sweep them under the rug, and think they’ll go away. When you get honest with yourself, when you confront what you know you need to deal with, it may be uncomfortable, but God gives you the grace, the strength, and the power to do what you couldn’t do on your own. THIS is why Jesus came. This is why He shed His blood. THIS is why He died on that cross. For you and for me. Revelation: If I preach anything less that our complete and total redemption because of Christ alone, I am not truly preaching the cross – and therefore, not preaching the truth. “ …he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy.” Today’s Message is entitled: By Grace Alone. My purpose for this message is to instill in a deeper way the truth that we are saved by grace through faith, and not of works. We can never earn our salvation. It is a gift. (Eph 2:8) A gift we should receive with gratitude and humility. Wesley: “It is strange that any whom he has actually saved should doubt the universality of his grace!” “We allow, it is the work of God alone to justify, to sanctify, and to glorify; which three comprehend the whole of salvation.” “I believe justification by faith alone, as much as I believe there is a God…I have never varied from it, no, not a hair’s breadth from 1738 to this day.” “Taking the word in a more particular sense, faith is a divine evidence and conviction, not only that ‘God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself,’ but also that Christ ‘loved me, and gave himself for me.'” Martin Luther: "We do not become righteous by doing righteous deeds but, having been made righteous, we do righteous deeds." R.C. Sproul: "The whole basis for our relationship with God is rooted and grounded in grace, that which is not earned." Anyone who has shared the gospel with others has discovered people who said things like, “I try to live a good life.” “I hope my good outweighs my bad.” They think they can push off that weight (and debt) of sin under their own power. Here is an illustration of Salvation through Grace by Faith, as illustrated by Jesus: Luke 18:9-14 (read) The publican goes to heaven not because he is special but because he is shown mercy by God through receiving the redemption of Christ the Savior. A sinner does not need to pay any cost to go to heaven because the Lord Jesus has paid everything on the cross. The Pharisee perishes because he does not have the Savior, whereas the publican is saved because he has the Savior. Like that Pharisee, PRIDE can keep you buried under those heavy weights… Pride can keep you lost. Pride can keep you bound. “That’s just the way I am” If you argue for your limitations, you get to keep them. God sent us a savior because we needed to be saved Watchman Nee: Salvation is the free gift of God, and it is freely given to all sinners who believe. “In summary, you who are good men, do not boast in yourselves, for your good cannot save you. And you who are bad men, do not be discouraged, for your bad may not be your condemnation. Praise and thank God, how wonderful is His salvation! Though we all are like the publican, being hopeless and helpless sinners who deserve eternal punishment, God nevertheless has caused the Lord Jesus to die on the cross for us that we may be saved by believing and accepting Him as our Savior. What amazing grace this is! Let the sinners follow in the steps of the publican. Come to God, confess your sins, and ask Him in faith, saying: “God, be merciful to me a sinner, for the Lord Jesus has indeed died on the cross for me.” God will save you. Thank Him for His so great salvation.” Straight is the Gate Matt 7:14: But the gate that opens the way to true life is narrow. And the road that leads there is hard to follow. Only a few people find it. John 3:36 - “He that believeth on the Son hath eternal life; but he that believeth not the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abideth on him” This grace not only saves us, but also empowers us to live the Godly life we wanted to live: Titus 3:8: This is a trustworthy saying, and I want you to insist on these teachings so that all who trust in God will devote themselves to doing good. These teachings are good and beneficial for everyone. John 5:24: “Very truly I tell you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be judged but has crossed over from death to life.” Rev 22:17: The Spirit and the Bride say, “Come.” And let the one who hears say, “Come.” And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who desires take the water of life without price. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource By Grace Alone 恩典 Description An account of the resource Titus 3:5: He saved us because of his mercy, and not because of any good things we have done. God washed us by the power of the Holy Spirit. He gave us new birth and a fresh beginning. 提 多 書 3:5: 他拯救了我们，不是因为我们的行为，而是靠他的怜悯、重生的洗礼和使我们更新的圣灵。(page 1936) Matt 7:14: But the gate that opens the way to true life is narrow. And the road that leads there is hard to follow. Only a few people find it. 馬 太 福 音 7:14: 但是，通向永生的门是非常窄小和艰难的，只有极少数的人才能找到它。(page 1568) John 3:36 - “He that believeth on the Son hath eternal life; but he that believeth not the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abideth on him” 约翰福音 3:36: 信子的人有永生；不信子的人得不到永生，上帝的烈怒常在他身上 (page 1721) John 5:24: “Very truly I tell you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be judged but has crossed over from death to life.” 约翰福音 5:24:“我实实在在地告诉你们，谁听从我的话，又信差我来的那位，谁就有永生，不被定罪，已经出死入生了。(pg 1725) Rev 22:17: The Spirit and the Bride say, “Come.” And let the one who hears say, “Come.” And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who desires take the water of life without price. 啟 示 錄 22:17: 啟 示 錄 22:17: 圣灵和新娘说∶“来！”愿听到的人都说∶“来！”愿口渴的人都过来。愿任何想得到赋予生命的泉水的人，都无偿地得到它。 (page 2017) Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 01/14/2024 https://church.jhkpress.com/files/original/9bbb6eadd4bbf17991dbae594a102ea8.mp4 1742b23d85bcff46e1bf5aacd9757e92 https://church.jhkpress.com/files/original/8787a0e86d2600f60fe4b65310c7eaa1.mp4 91dca853781450b0d9669b4b021fc2c6 Moving Image A series of visual representations imparting an impression of motion when shown in succession. Examples include animations, movies, television programs, videos, zoetropes, or visual output from a simulation. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Church Building Bird Eye View Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource June 27, 2020 https://church.jhkpress.com/files/original/e8106b76b56c275d541f20ea73511337.jpg 1f0469f996565e461a139c3c210b1b0a Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource 2022 Still Image A static visual representation. Examples include paintings, drawings, graphic designs, plans and maps. Recommended best practice is to assign the type Text to images of textual materials. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Homecoming 2022 https://church.jhkpress.com/files/original/92296573fc6c4178e4f163c9a9af9eae.jpg eb2db9155416b8af7ba0fe475152b3e3 https://church.jhkpress.com/files/original/96860948748aa66e1c1961b2f44ab64b.mp4 779c98d81587360933ae141f0138b612 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource 2026 Moving Image A series of visual representations imparting an impression of motion when shown in succession. Examples include animations, movies, television programs, videos, zoetropes, or visual output from a simulation. Transcription Any written text transcribed from a sound CODE VII — WONDER Psalm 62:5–8 Norman Vincent Peale once used a humorous illustration about problems. He asked an audience how many had problems — hands went up everywhere. Then he asked how many would like to live somewhere with absolutely no problems — just as many hands went up. Peale said such a place existed nearby: nobody there worried about money, work, or tomorrow. Nobody had any problems whatsoever. Then he revealed the place: THE CEMETERY. Suddenly, getting rid of all our problems didn't sound quite so appealing. Because problems are part of being alive. As long as we're living, we're going to encounter problems. Maybe when we're running short of them, as Peale said, it's time to get on our knees and say: "God...don't You trust me anymore?" The goal of life isn't to eliminate difficulty — it's to learn how to live fully in the middle of it. And maybe God wants us to rediscover something many of us lost along the way. Something children understand naturally. Something called... WONDER. Monday morning, I woke up thinking this CODE series was finished. Six messages. Done. And then God surprised me. God has a way of doing that for us… if we stop long enough to notice. I started thinking about Monday mornings. How do we greet them? “Oh no…another Monday”? Same job. Same responsibilities. Same problems. Same routine. Or could we wake up and say: “Lord…what do You have for me today?” Same Monday. Same circumstances. But an entirely different way of seeing them. When we really start living from God's CODE, something begins happening inside us. We become more aware. More grateful. More expectant. More alive. And gradually our hearts begin opening to this extraordinary experience called WONDER. Wonder is that mixture of surprise, admiration and amazement we experience when we encounter something beautiful, unexpected or beyond our understanding. What would happen if we began living our ordinary lives with amazed admiration? Not because everything was perfect, but because we began looking for God in everything. Paul prays in Ephesians 3 that God's people would have the power to understand how wide, long, high and deep God's love really is. God's love, goodness, and presence were already there. We simply needed the ability to perceive it. That's what gratitude does. Gratitude isn't merely saying "thank you." Gratitude is noticing. Psalm 63: "I lie awake thinking of you, meditating on you through the night... I cling to you; your strong right hand holds me securely." Pause in life. Reflect on God's goodness and mercy. When you practice gratitude, you stop letting life rush past unnoticed. You start seeing what you used to take for granted: the person beside you, a sunrise, another morning. Ordinary things stop feeling quite so ordinary. The other night I was talking face-to-face with someone in Melbourne, Australia — thousands of miles away, no delay, like they're in the next room. We nowadays call that "normal." Show that to somebody 150 years ago, and they'd call it a miracle. We call it “Tuesday.” Maybe the world hasn't become less amazing. Maybe we've just become harder to amaze. Gratitude wakes us up. It says: "Look. Notice. Pay attention." But Wonder needs something else: HOPE. Hope is important because it can make the present moment less difficult to bear. If we believe that tomorrow will be better, we can bear a hardship today. Psalm 62:5 says, “Yes, my soul, find rest in God; my hope comes from Him.” Another translation captures the thought: “My expectation is from Him.” Expectation means something is still possible. God is still working. God isn't finished. Mark 9:23: (Jesus)“If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth.” And this is where gratitude and hope come together: WONDER IS WHAT HAPPENS WHEN GRATITUDE FOR WHAT GOD HAS DONE MEETS EXPECTATION FOR WHAT GOD WILL DO. Gratitude looks backward and says, “God has been faithful.” Hope looks forward and says, “God isn't finished.” And Wonder stands right in the middle and says: “I can't wait to see what He does next.” Sometimes living with hope reminds me of using GPS. You put in the destination. It calculates the route. Everything looks good. …And then… you miss the turn. Imagine if your GPS responded like some of us respond to life: “THAT'S IT! YOU MISSED THE TURN! YOUR ENTIRE TRIP IS RUINED!” Thankfully, GPS doesn't do that. It simply says: “Recalculating.” Maybe somebody needs to hear this today: YOU HAVE MISTAKEN A RECALCULATION FOR A CANCELLATION. Something didn't happen the way you expected. A relationship changed. A door closed. A plan failed. Life took a turn you never expected, and you thought: “It's over.” But maybe God is saying: “No. We're recalculating.” Sometimes our hopes have to adjust to the changing highway. And what God has in mind may be better than the best route we could have calculated ourselves. You may not understand the road you're traveling right now. But that doesn't mean God has abandoned the destination. “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” Romans 8:28 doesn't say everything that happens is good. It says that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him and are called according to His purpose. That's different. The event itself may not be good. But God can still work through it. God can redeem it. Teach through it. Redirect through it. Develop something inside us through it. The closed door becomes a redirection. The setback becomes preparation. The wound becomes wisdom. Sometimes… the mess becomes the message. So instead of only asking, “Why is this happening to me?” we begin asking: “God…what can You do with this? Where is the lesson? Where is the opportunity? Where is the gift?” That doesn't deny pain. It simply means pain doesn't get the final word. Psalm 62:8 says: “Trust only in God every moment! Tell him all your troubles and pour out your heart-longings to him… Pause in his presence.” Notice: it doesn't say pretend you don't have problems. Tell Him your troubles. It doesn't say figure everything out. It says trust. And then… pause. Maybe that's where we've lost some of our wonder? We don't pause anymore. We're moving. Scrolling. Planning. Worrying. Reacting. But wonder requires enough stillness to notice. Maybe the world isn't short on miracles. Maybe we're short on awareness. Maybe God hasn't stopped surprising us. Maybe we've stopped noticing. So today, can we take life exactly as it is right now? Not the life you wish you had. Not the life you thought you would have by now. This life. With its blessings and disappointments. Victories and unanswered questions. Open doors and closed doors. Joys and problems. Can we place all of it into the loving hands of our Savior and allow Him to replace fear with trust, anxiety with expectation, disappointment with hope, routine with gratitude—and certainty with something even more beautiful: WONDER? You don't have to understand everything God is doing to trust that God is doing something. You don't have to know the entire route to take the next step. And you don't have to have a problem-free life to have an abundant one. So tomorrow morning, when your eyes open—before you reach for the phone, before you start rehearsing your problems—pause for a moment. Breathe. Recognize: “I'm alive. God is here. This day has never happened before.” And instead of GROANING, “it's Monday again,” maybe we could say: “God…it's Monday. I wonder what You have for me today.” Maybe that's the final piece of the CODE: Not having everything figured out, but trusting the One who does. Living awake. Living grateful. Living hopeful. Living expectant. Living with our eyes open to the possibility that God may be doing something extraordinary right in the middle of what looks ordinary. And when the road changes, instead of immediately asking, "God, why is this happening to me?" maybe we learn to ask: "God...what are You doing with this? Where are You taking me? How will You turn my mess into Your message?" So before we leave this moment, let's do something with it - not just hear it. If you're running on empty, tired of white-knuckling your way through disappointment, do one simple thing right now: open your hands. Palms up, right where you're sitting. Let that be your prayer – even before you say a word: "I'm done gripping this so tightly. I'm placing it in Your hands." And if you're ready, pray this with me: "God, I don't have it all figured out, and I'm done pretending I do. I place my disappointments, my questions, my unfinished story into Your hands. I surrender to YOU as a branch. Replace my fear with trust, my routine with gratitude, my certainty with wonder. Starting today, I want to live awake to what You're doing. Amen." If you meant that, tell someone this week. Say it out loud: "I'm choosing to live in wonder." A decision spoken out loud is harder to walk away from. And then... we watch. We trust. We expect. And we live... IN WONDER. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Code VII : Wonder 生命密码7: 奇妙 Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 08/16/2026 Description An account of the resource Psalm 62:5 Yes, my soul, find rest in God;my hope comes from Him. 诗篇 62:5 我的心啊，你当默默无声，专等候神；我的盼望是从祂而来。 Psalm 62:8 Trust only in God every moment!Tell him all your troubles andpour out your heart longings to him;God is our refuge. 诗篇 62:8 你们要时时刻刻信任祂！在祂面前倾心吐意；神是我们的避难所。 Psalm 63:6 8 I lie awake thinking of you,meditating on you through the night.Because you are my helper,I sing for joy in the shadow of your wings.I cling to you;your strong right handholds me securely. 诗篇 63:6 8 我一生一世在你面前敬拜，在你名下举手。我渴想你，如旱地渴想水。我在床上记念你，夜间思想你；因你是我的帮助，我要在你翅膀的荫下欢呼。我紧紧跟随你；你的右手扶持着我。 Ephesians 3:18 19 May have power, together withall the Lord’s holy people,to grasp how wide and long andhigh and deep is the love of Christ,and to know this love that surpassesknowledge—that you may be filledto the measure of all the fullnessof God. 以弗所书 3:18 19 并且能够以和众圣徒一同明白基督的爱是多么长阔高深，并且知道这爱是超过人所能测度的，便叫神一切所充满的，充满了你们。 Romans 8:28 And we know that in all thingsGod works for the good of thosewho love him, who have been calledaccording to his purpose. 罗马书 8:28 我们晓得万事都互相效力，叫爱神的人得益处，就是按祂旨意被召的人。 GRATITUDE LOOKS BACK. HOPE LOOKS FORWARD. WONDER EXPECTS GOD. 感恩回顾过去。盼望展望未来。惊奇期待神的作为。 Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Pastor: Mike Koger Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Hillside United Methodist Church 3737 US 80 Phenix City AL 36870 United States https://church.jhkpress.com/files/original/ad5c57601a19ee87040218a0bf7dd747.png 556fc46a3053dbf27e31a4fb58e3600f https://church.jhkpress.com/files/original/ab809632bf8f2df06c7c3c2472ccf672.mp4 4a74e8ecd72f630debdde6d7a5128f34 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource 2026 Moving Image A series of visual representations imparting an impression of motion when shown in succession. Examples include animations, movies, television programs, videos, zoetropes, or visual output from a simulation. Transcription Any written text transcribed from a sound Updating the Code: God's Predictive Coding and Spiritual Transformation Let me ask you something.Have you ever decided how a conversation was going to go — before it even happened? You walk into a room and already know what to expect. You already know how your spouse is going to respond. You meet someone new, but something about them reminds you of someone who hurt you — and before they've done anything, you've already made a judgment. And sometimes we even do this with God. We've already decided what God thinks about us before we've even given Him a chance to speak. Why do we do that? Because your brain isn't just a recording device. Your brain is a prediction machine. There's a concept in neuroscience called predictive coding. The basic idea is actually very simple: Your brain uses what has happened before to predict what is going to happen next. And most of the time, that's helpful. Your brain is constantly making predictions based on everything you've experienced before. Then it compares those predictions with what is actually happening. If everything happens the way you expected, your brain basically says, "Yep. I knew it." But when something happens that doesn't fit your prediction, your brain has a decision to make: Do I hold onto my old understanding... or do I update it? It's like a software update running in the background of your mind. Here's a simple example. Have you ever sung the wrong words to a song for years? Creedence Clearwater Revival sang: "There's a bad moon on the rise." But thousands of people heard: "There's a bathroom on the right." And once your brain decided those were the words, that's what you kept hearing! You weren't really listening anymore. You were hearing what you expected to hear. And that's where this gets important. Because we don't just do this with song lyrics. We do it with life. We do it with people. We do it with ourselves. And sometimes... we even do that with God. Something happened to you years ago. Someone hurt you. Someone labeled you. You failed at something. A prayer wasn't answered the way you expected. And your brain took that experience and wrote a prediction: "This is just the way life works." "People can't be trusted." "I'll never be good enough.""Nothing is ever going to change." "Maybe God has forgotten me." And without realizing it, you can spend years interpreting today's reality through yesterday's prediction. So here's the question I want us to wrestle with today: What predictions are running in the background of your life right now? And an even more important question: What happens when God gives you new information? Because sometimes God doesn't immediately change your circumstances. Sometimes God challenges the mental model through which you interpret your circumstances. Your brain uses what happened before to predict what will happen next. But what happens when God says something that doesn't fit your prediction?” And that's exactly what He did with a man named Gideon. (more on that in a few moments… stay tuned) Today is the sixth edition of this CODE journey we have taken together Our KEY Verse: He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end. We often think we have things figured out, but...Predictive Coding can only work so far... GOD is sovereign CODE I - God's Code Is Written on Our Hearts God doesn't merely give rules; He transforms us from the inside out. Hebrews 10:16: This is the covenant I will make with them after that time, says the Lord. I will put my laws in their hearts, and I will write them on their minds. Jeremiah 31:33 "I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts.\" CODE II – KNOWN - Before we understand God's ways, we discover God's heart-and we realize He already knows us. Psalm 139:1: Lord, you have searched me and known me. John 10:14: "I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me." CODE III – Alignment - The Christian life is not merely believing in Jesus, but allowing our lives to align with His. Romans 12:2 : Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind... Amos 3:3: "Can two walk together unless they have agreed to do so?" CODE IV - The Greatest - God's definition of greatness is completely different from the world's. Matthew 23:11: "The greatest among you will be your servant." Mark 10:45: "For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many." CODE V – Courage - Courage isn't personality-it is the result of being with Jesus. Acts 4:13: "...They recognized that they had been with Jesus." Joshua 1:9: "Be strong and courageous... for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go." God writes His Code on our hearts.(Hebrews 10:16) Then we discover we are fully known by Him.(Psalm 139:1) Knowing His heart leads us into alignment with His will.(Romans 12:2) Alignment changes our priorities-greatness becomes service.(Matthew 23:11) And serving Christ faithfully produces courageous living.(Acts 4:13) Eccl 3:11: He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end. This verse is remarkable because it says two things simultaneously: God placed eternity in us. We still cannot fully comprehend His plans. In other words...We were created to keep learning God rather than assuming we've already figured Him out. (a continuous, lifelong process) God continually updates His people. The danger isn't ignorance.The danger is believing yesterday's revelation is the end of today's conversation. Predictive Coding says: "I've seen this before.” Faith says: "God may do something I've never seen before." Your future will largely be determined by which voice you allow to make your predictions. Will it be:your past? your failures? your culture? your fears? Or... the voice of the Holy Spirit? Judges 6:11:16 (read) Gideon's situation is a clear illustration of "predictive coding. The angel says: "The Lord is with you, mighty warrior." (Judges 6:12) Gideon's internal predictive model immediately pushes back: "If the Lord is with us, why has all this happened?\" (v.13) \ "My clan is the weakest...\" (v.15) \ "I am the least in my family.\" (v.15) Notice what's happening psychologically. God isn't merely giving Gideon a command - God is challenging the mental model through which Gideon interprets reality. Gideon isn't seeing facts objectively. He's filtering everything through years of Midianite oppression, family insignificance, disappointment, and fear. His predictions about himself determine what he believes is possible. God doesn't begin by changing Gideon's circumstances. He begins by changing Gideon's identity. Gideon's Predictive coding: "I'm the weakest." God identifies him as: "Mighty warrior." When the angel calls Gideon a "mighty warrior," God is not describing Gideon's present performance. GOD is speaking to the identity He intends to develop. (God's perspective) Most of us aren't trapped by our circumstances. We're trapped by the story we've been telling ourselves about our circumstances. Look at Gideon's encounter with the angel of the Lord: Nothing had changed. Midian was still there. Israel was still oppressed. Gideon was still hiding in a winepress. The only thing that changed was the conversation. Our brains continually predict our future from our past. God speaks our future into our present. Think about the life stories of Moses… Abraham… Gideon… Peter Every major biblical transformation required someone to let God rewrite their internal predictions. "Don't become so committed to yesterday's understanding of God that you miss today's invitation." We never abandon truth. But we need to expand our understanding of it. For six weeks we've talked about God's Code. But God's Code isn't static — it's relational. He is still speaking, still shaping, still calling us into what's next. Don't let yesterday's assumptions become tomorrow's limitations. Keep your heart open, your spirit teachable, and your life available, because the Author of your story is still writing. Predictive coding says, "I've always been this way, so I'll probably always be this way." God says, "I know who you are becoming, even before you do." The question was never whose prediction is more convincing — the question is whose prediction you will believe. God writes a new code on our hearts so we begin to see ourselves, others, and the world the way He does. He knows you. He aligns you. He reshapes your values. He gives you courage. He continues to update you. The goal of the Christian life isn't to become a better version of who you were. It's to become the person God has always seen. Hebrews 8:1 promises, "I will put My laws in their minds and write them on their hearts." And Isaiah reminds us, "In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength." Psalm 31:24: Be strong and take heart, all you who hope in the Lord. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Code VI : Updating the Code 生命密码6: 更新你的代码 Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 08/09/2026 Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Pastor: Mike Koger Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Hillside United Methodist Church 3737 US 80 Phenix City AL 36870 United States Description An account of the resource Ecclesiastes 3:11 He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end. 传道书 3:11 神造万物，各按其时成为美好；又将永恒安置在世人心里。然而神从始至终的作为，人不能参透。 Isaiah 43:18 19 Forget the former things;do not dwell on the past.See, I am doing a new thing!Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?I am making a way in the wildernessand streams in the wasteland. 以赛亚书 43:18 19不要记念从前的事，也不要思想古时的事。看哪，我要做一件新事！如今要发现，你们岂不知道吗？我必在旷野开道路，在沙漠开江河。 Philippians 3:13 14 Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it.But one thing I do:Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead,I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. 腓立比书 3:13 14 弟兄们，我不是以为自己已经得着了；我只有一件事，就是忘记背后，努力面前的，向着标竿直跑，要得神在基督耶稣里从上面召我来得的奖赏。 2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come:The old has gone, the new is here! 哥林多后书 5:17 若有人在基督里，他就是新造的人；旧事已过，都变成新的了。 Romans 12:1 2 Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy,to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. 罗马书 12:1 2 所以，弟兄们，我以神的慈悲劝你们，将身体献上，当作活祭，是圣洁的，是神所喜悦的；你们如此侍奉，乃是理所当然的。不要效法这个世界，只要心意更新而变化，叫你们察验何为神的善良、纯全、可喜悦的旨意。 Psalm 31:24 Be strong and take heart,all you who hope in the Lord. 诗篇 31:24 你们要刚强，与主相交的，都当壮胆！ GOD CONTINUES TO UPDATE HIS PEOPLE. STAY TEACHABLE. STAY AVAILABLE. STAY CLOSE TO HIM. 神不断更新祂的子民。 保持谦卑，保持顺服，始终亲近祂。 https://church.jhkpress.com/files/original/222f376f2dad44008fb42dd2c5d7b6a4.png 17e9bc383e3ae22253ef981aae7d1e20 https://church.jhkpress.com/files/original/adee43729c0f76e923eadf5f4a4c703f.mp4 69d39b03ce2aecce8f38c395a5709766 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource 2026 Moving Image A series of visual representations imparting an impression of motion when shown in succession. Examples include animations, movies, television programs, videos, zoetropes, or visual output from a simulation. Transcription Any written text transcribed from a sound CODE V: COURAGE Acts 4:12-14 Have you ever noticed... Courage almost always looks ordinary... ...until history looks back on it. Peter and John weren't superheroes. They weren't famous. They weren't educated. They weren't powerful. They were just two ordinary men... ...who had been with Jesus. The best definition of courage is the mental or moral strength to face danger, fear, or difficulty. It is not the total absence of fear, but rather the choice and willingness to act in pursuit of what is right, despite that fear. In Acts 3, Peter and John, under the anointing of the Holy Spirit, healed the lame man. “Silver and gold have I none…” Acts 4 gives us one of the most remarkable moments in the early church. Peter and John had just healed a man who had been unable to walk since birth. As crowds gathered in amazement, they didn't take the credit—they pointed everyone to Jesus. The religious leaders didn't like that. So they arrested them, threw them in jail overnight, and the next day brought them before the highest court in the land. Imagine that. Two ordinary fishermen standing before the most educated and powerful religious leaders of their day. The council demanded, "By what power... and in whose name have you done this?" Filled with the Holy Spirit, Peter didn't hesitate. He boldly declared that the man had been healed by the power of Jesus Christ—the very One they had crucified, but whom God had raised from the dead. then the Word says: "When they saw the boldness of Peter and John... they were amazed." Why were they amazed? Because these weren't polished scholars. They hadn't been through the prestigious rabbinical schools. They were ordinary, everyday men. But something about them was unmistakable. The leaders recognized that these men had been with Jesus. That's the difference. Not a diploma. Not a title. Not natural talent. They had spent time with Jesus. And being with Jesus had given ordinary people extraordinary courage. "When you've been with Jesus... courage becomes your new code." Here's the truth for us today: Wherever God is calling you to go... it will require courage. Whether it's leading your family, standing for your faith, forgiving someone who hurt you, starting something new, or stepping into God's purpose for your life... Godly leadership always requires courage. Deut. 31:6: Be strong and of good courage, do not fear nor be afraid of them; for the LORD your God, He is the One who goes with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you Daniel 11:32 states: "The people that do know their God shall be strong, and do exploits." My coffee cup: “Life Begins at the End of Your Comfort Zone” Heb 11:8: Faith motivated Abraham to obey God’s call and leave the familiar to discover the territory he was destined to inherit from God. So he left with only a promise and without even knowing ahead of time where he was going, Abraham stepped out in faith. Abraham walked away from certainty... toward a promise. from our scripture today… The leaders realized that the source of this POWER and AUTHORITY that Peter and John had was due to the time they had spent walking and living with Jesus. Where WE are CALLED to GO will require Boldness… it will require COURAGE Where YOU are CALLED to GO will require Boldness… it will require COURAGE “To boldly go where no man has gone before…” Courage is the CODE God writes into the hearts of people who have been with Jesus. Courage doesn’t deny the emotion of fear… it just means we ACT ANYWAY. “Do the thing, and you shall have the power.” Wherever YOU are called to go... it will require courage. Imagine Peter and John – ushering in a New Covenant – totally moving people away from what they have known – and from what their culture and religion had taught them and their ancestors Q: Did you ever have a slingshot? Ever shoot a bow & arrow? The force that pulls backward eventually launches the projectile forward. Throughout history... whenever churches become more concerned about pleasing culture (obeying the global mindset) rather than pleasing Christ... God raises up courageous men and women who lovingly call people back to the Gospel. (bow and arrow) The tension pulling us back toward the world is transformed into the release of our Divine Destiny in Christ Jesus says, “Repent and believe the Gospel” When I was young, the challenge to stand for biblical truth wasn’t nearly as challenging. …but here we are today. What will we do with what we (now) have to work with? The Mission is still the same. “Good times create weak people. Weak people create bad times. Bad times create strong people. And strong people create great times.” Napoleon Hill: “The Crucible of Purpose” (the #1 regret…) Forged in Private - Shaped by Adversity - Definiteness of Purpose Napoleon Hill's philosophy treats purpose not as an accidental discovery, but as something forged in the private discipline and hard tests of life. (the crucible) The ultimate regret in this framework is reaching the end of life having surrendered your potential to the expectations of others. ( ) A crucible is a vessel used for melting and purifying metals at high temperatures. In biblical literature, the term "crucible" is often used metaphorically to describe a process of testing, refining, and purifying individuals We must have the Corgae or communities through trials and tribulations. Proverbs 17:3 A crucible for silver and a furnace for gold, but the LORD is the tester of hearts. Godly Leadership Requires COURAGE Declaration of Independence: "we mutually pledge to each other our lives, our fortunes, and our sacred honor" What are we willing to pledge? Think about how words like “CODE” and “Alignment” fit this situation We must have courage to stand for this CODE – this ultimate truth: (Acts 4:12) "There is no one else who has the power to save us, for there is only one name to whom God has given authority by which we must experience salvation: the name of Jesus.” “I am not ashamed…” Maybe we need to be picked up again today… so we can try again. It takes courage to try again. Recommit to the purpose (the mission) we have for being here… …both as individuals and as a church Maybe you’re disappointed by your previous results. A failed attempt at change. Somebody needs to hear this today... One disappointing result... is not... a divine verdict. That disappointment has been pulling back your bow string… …but there comes a point when the tension is just too much and you say, “That’s it. I’ve had it! I will not compromise with the world any longer!” About 6 years ago we experienced together - a radical worldwide shift that impacted every part of our lives (yes – your life) At times it felt like the end, but it actually propelled Hillside (bow and arrow) into what is literally a humble but global online ministry. Now the string of the bow again pulls our churches back, saying, “Be like the world… think like the world… conform to the pattern of this world…” If we are bold and act with courage, the same thing happens now. Notice the release – the launch into the NEW thing… it happens when we let go. Sometimes our strength, our courage … comes out of our stillness To “Be Still and KNOW” If we listen, we hear God speaking to us as He did in Joshua 1:9: “This is my command—be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.” Will you pull back the bow today? To prepare to release those things that have tried to hold you back? Feel the tension one more time… it is time to let go and let GOD. The Sanhedrin remembered Peter and John because they had been with Jesus. I hope our time here together will be remembered the same way. Prayer: Father, prepare my heart and strengthen my faith for the opportunities You have ordained. Help me recognize my moment and give me the courage to act without fear. Keep me diligent in preparation so I am ready when You open the door. May I honor You by making the most of every opportunity You bring into my life. 2 Tim 1:6: This is why I remind you to fan into flames the spiritual gift God gave you when I laid my hands on you. Romans 1:11: For I long to see you, that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to strengthen you… Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Code V: Courage 生命密码5: 勇气 Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 08/02/2026 Description An account of the resource Acts 4:12 “There is no one else who has the power to save us, for there is only one name to whom God has given authority by which we must experience salvation: the name of Jesus.” 使徒行传 4:12 “除他以外，别无拯救；因为在天下人间，没有赐下别的名我们可以靠着得救，只有耶稣。” Acts 4:13 “When they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated and ordinary men, they were astonished. And they recognized that they had been with Jesus.” 使徒行传 4:13 “他们看见彼得、约翰的胆量，又看出他们是没有学问的小民，就希奇；又认出他们是与耶稣同过的。” Deuteronomy 31:6 “Be strong and of good courage, do not fear nor be afraid of them; for the LORD your God, He is the One who goes with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you.” 申命记 31:6 “你们要刚强壮胆，不要惧怕，也不要惊惶；因为耶和华 — 你的神必与你同去，他必不撇下你，也不丢弃你。” Daniel 11:32 “The people that do know their God shall be strong, and do exploits.” 但以理书 11:32 “认识他们神的百姓必刚强行事。” Hebrews 11:8 “By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place that he was to receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going.” 希伯来书 11:8 “亚伯拉罕因着信，蒙召的时候就遵命出去，往将来要承受为业之地去；他出去的时候，还不知道往哪里去。” Joshua 1:9 “Be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.” 约书亚记 1:9 “我岂没有吩咐你吗？你当刚强壮胆！不要惧怕，也不要惊惶，因为你无论往哪里去，耶和华 — 你的神必与你同在。” Proverbs 17:3 “A crucible for silver and a furnace for gold, but the LORD is the tester of hearts.” 箴言 17:3 “银子要在炉中炼过，金子要在熔炉中炼过；惟有耶和华熬炼人心。” 2 Timothy 1:6 “This is why I remind you to fan into flames the spiritual gift God gave you when I laid my hands on you.” 提摩太后书 1:6 “我提醒你，使你将神藉我按手所赐的恩赐再如火挑旺起来。” Romans 1:11 “For I long to see you, that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to strengthen you…” 罗马书 1:11 “因我切切地想念你们，要把一些属灵的恩赐分给你们，使你们坚固…” Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Pastor: Mike Koger Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Hillside United Methodist Church 3737 US 80 Phenix City AL 36870 United States https://church.jhkpress.com/files/original/89498b0fb87ee9e906b72dec1bf8653a.jpg 63a086c2d6461e58118c3087b90aa5a2 https://church.jhkpress.com/files/original/c7a193c0a2674e45410e789eadfa1423.mp4 29fbc350cb0438253cc0e79927a92a60 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource 2026 Moving Image A series of visual representations imparting an impression of motion when shown in succession. Examples include animations, movies, television programs, videos, zoetropes, or visual output from a simulation. Transcription Any written text transcribed from a sound CODE IV: The Greatest Matthew 23:11,12 We live in the age of the “Adult Temper Tantrum…” (how did we get here?) “There must be a better way!” Who better than Jesus to guide us to a better way of navigating through this life… Jesus offered an entirely different Code for living Matthew 23:11,12: "The greatest among you will be the one who always serves others from the heart. Remember this: If you have a lofty opinion of yourself and seek to be honored, you will be humbled. But if you have a modest opinion of yourself and choose to humble yourself, you will be honored." Life (should be) about contribution Ask: “What is my gift?” The gift you carry isn’t just for you. The gift God gave you was never intended to stop with you. Do you see yourself as unable to serve – to make a contribution to others? I will say this with love: Thinking we are limited is actually true conceit. If we accomplish something and it is all done with our own abilities, then who gets the glory? the credit? the praise? (selah) John 15:8: When your lives bear abundant fruit, you demonstrate that you are my mature disciples who glorify my Father! It isn’t about YOU – it is about the Gift. 2 Cor 4:7: “We have this treasure…” “We are like common clay jars that carry this glorious treasure within, so that this immeasurable power will be seen as God's, not ours.” The treasure isn't the jar. It is the gift gets the attention. The Giver gets the glory. Paul uses this analogy to highlight a core message. The power to transform and save belongs entirely to God, not to human strength or cleverness. When we go through difficulties or weaknesses, God's power shines through our frail humanity to make it clear where the strength is truly coming from. Joshua 1:9: “Have boldness to share your gift…” Jesus said to the Jewish leaders, John 8:47: If you really knew God, you would listen, receive, and respond with faith to his words. The Secret of Living is Giving Every culture has a code—a way of defining what success looks like. In our culture, greatness is often measured by followers, fame, influence, possessions, or power. But Jesus completely rewrites the code. In God's Kingdom, the greatest person in the room isn't the one being served. It's the one serving. The Greatest opportunity is TODAY. NOW. Take ALL you have learned, experienced – and yes, even all you have regretted, and use it to build your legacy. Ed Mylett: YOU are now most qualified to help the person or people that You used to be. Your failures become valuable the moment they become someone else's instruction. Your scars become someone's survival guide. Your perceived liability can be transformed into your greatest asset. ASK: “What can I give?” “What could I give?” “What do I have to give?” Discovering your (maybe currently) hidden gift will totally revolutionize your life. “Let YOUR LIGHT so SHINE…” (good works) What have you survived? What have you learned? What mistake taught you something valuable? What prayer did God answer? What gift have you buried? Who needs what only you can give? 1 Corinthians 10:11: All these things happened to them as examples—as object lessons to us —to warn us against doing the same things; they were written down so that we could read about them and learn from them. John Maxwell has a new book entitled: How to Get a Return on Failure He asks: What would change if you stopped seeing failure as something to avoid and started using it as something to build from? What have we learned in life that needs to be shared with others? Some lessons are hard – but they are still lessons. (the Bible is full of these lessons) Our learning should be used to bless others. Honestly: Are there any success stories that don’t include set-backs and adversity? ( ) I mean… have you never seen a Rocky movie? Karate Kid? I recently revisited Og Mandino’s classic: “A Better Way to Live” Og Mandino (20th century writer) went from being a homeless, suicidal alcoholic to one of the world's best-selling inspirational authors. After serving as a World War II bomber pilot, he struggled to find work, leading to severe depression, bad life choices, and the loss of his family. Hitting rock bottom, he wandered into a library, read self-help books, and rebuilt his life. His book, “A Better Way to Live”, not only shares his testimony of personal recovery and transformation, but also includes 17 Principles for living a better life. Principle # 3 says, “Whenever you make a mistake or get knocked down by life, don't look back at it too long. Mistakes are life's way of teaching you. Your capacity for occasional blunders is inseparable from your capacity to reach your goals. No one wins them all, and your failures, when they happen, are just part of your growth. Shake off your blunders.” It’s all about reframing the setbacks to decide how you can use these things to bless others. "The greatest among you will be the one who always serves others from the heart.” Anyone can serve if they have the desire to. You are not the hero because you conquered something. You are the hero because you came back with something worth giving. Prov 24:16: …for though the righteous fall seven times, they rise again What propels us to get back up? I believe it is the CODE at work in our hearts, causing us to obey Jesus commands What are those commands? Matthew 22:37-40: Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment.  And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” Tony Robbins: "Life is a gift, and it offers us the privilege, opportunity, and responsibility to give something back by becoming more.” "It is not what we get - but who we become, what we contribute... that gives meaning to our lives." Matthew 23:11-12: The greatest among you shall be your servant.  Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted. We sometimes learn hard lessons If we can humble ourselves and accept the lesson that comes with the mistakes, we can use that to make not only our own life, but the lives of others better for it having happened. Let your test become your testimony. Let GOD put His “Super” on your “natural” Romans 8:10: "Now Christ lives his life in you! And even though your body may be dead because of the effects of sin, his life-giving Spirit imparts life to you because you are fully accepted by God." It’s time to pick ourselves up – or rather, let Christ pick us up, and get back into the game. It’s time to move on - to “drive on” – to look forward instead of looking back. Change is never a matter of ability. It's always a matter of strong enough reasons. “Christ lives his life in you” The world says, "Hide your failures." Jesus says, "Use them." The world says, "Become important." Jesus says, "Become a servant." Because the greatest people are never remembered for what they accumulated. They're remembered for what they gave. One day... our money (or lack of it) won't matter. Our titles won't matter. Our possessions won't matter. Only what we invested in people. Only what we gave away. Only what Christ was able to do through us. John 12:25 "The person who loves his life and pampers himself will miss true life! But the one who detaches his life from this world and abandons himself to me, will find true life and enjoy it forever!" "The greatest among you will be the one who always serves others from the heart.” Christ lives His life in you. The treasure is already there. Your story—your victories, your failures, your lessons, your faith—can become someone else's encouragement. We so often underestimate our potential to give – to contribute – to serve So don't ask, 'How can I become greater?' Ask, 'How can I serve more faithfully?' Because according to Jesus, the greatest among you will be the servant… the one who serves from the heart. That is the Code. If you feel stuck - like you are missing something - and you’re exhausted from trying. The Lord is saying to you, “Look higher than you are looking! Why are trying to walk according to man’s ways and methods? Why are you trying to be provider? But if you SEEK ME, ALL THESE THINGS shall be added.” Let's pray together. Father, thank You for Jesus, who showed us that true greatness is found not in being served, but in serving. Forgive us for the times we've chased applause instead of purpose, for the times we've hidden our failures instead of letting You use them. Take our stories - the victories and the wounds, the lessons learned the hard way - and use them to encourage someone who needs exactly what we've been through. Remind us daily that the treasure of Christ already lives in us, and that we don't need to become greater; we simply need to serve more faithfully. Give us courage to live out this Code - to love You with all our heart, soul, and mind, and to love our neighbor as ourselves - starting today, starting now. We ask this in the name of Jesus, who served us first. Amen. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Code IV - The Greatest 生命密码4 - 最伟大的人 Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 07/26/2026 Description An account of the resource Matthew 23:11-12 (NIV) The greatest among you will be the one who always serves others from the heart. For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted. 马太福音 23:11-12 (CUVS) 你们中间谁为大，谁就要作你们的用人。 凡自高的，必降为卑；凡自卑的，必升为高。 John 15:8 (NIV) When your lives bear much fruit, you show that you are my disciples. This brings great glory to my Father. 约翰福音 15:8 (CUVS) 你们多结果子，我父就因此得荣耀，你们也就是我的门徒了。 2 Corinthians 4:7 (NIV) We have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. 哥林多后书 4:7 (CUVS) 我们有这宝贝放在瓦器里，要显明这莫大的能力是出于神，不是出于我们。 Proverbs 24:16 (NIV) for though the righteous fall seven times, they rise again. 箴言 24:16 (CUVS) 因为义人虽七次跌倒，仍必兴起。 Romans 8:10 (NIV) But if Christ is in you, then even though your body is subject to death because of sin, the Spirit gives life because of righteousness. 罗马书 8:10 (CUVS) 然而基督若在你们心里，身体就因罪而死，心灵却因义而活。 John 12:25 (NIV) Whoever loves their life will lose it, while whoever hates their life in this world will keep it for eternal life. 约翰福音 12:25 (CUVS) 爱惜自己生命的，就失丧生命； 在这世上恨恶自己生命的，就要保守生命到永生。 Matthew 22:37-40 (NIV) Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself. All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two. 马太福音 22:37-40 (CUVS) 你要尽心、尽性、尽意爱主——你的神。 这是诫命中的第一，且是最大的。 其次也相仿，就是要爱人如己。 这两条诫命是律法和先知一切道理的总纲。 Joshua 1:9 (NIV) Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go. 约书亚记 1:9 (CUVS) 我岂没有吩咐你吗？你当刚强壮胆！ 不要惧怕，也不要惊惶；因为你无论往哪里去，耶和华——你的神必与你同在。 Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Pastor: Mike Koger Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Hillside United Methodist Church 3737 US 80 Phenix City AL 36870 United States