Archives for 2025 | Overflow Church Grand Prairie, Tx | Notes
Overflow Church Grand Prairie, Tx
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People of The Way: God's Will and Way | Mark 14:32–48





Psalm 103:7 (NIV) He made known his ways to Moses, his deeds to the people of Israel.

Mark 14:32–48 (NLT) 32 They went to the olive grove called Gethsemane, and Jesus said, “Sit here while I go and pray.” 33 He took Peter, James, and John with him, and he became deeply troubled and distressed. 34 He told them, “My soul is crushed with grief to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.” 35 He went on a little farther and fell to the ground. He prayed that, if it were possible, the awful hour awaiting him might pass him by. 36 “Abba, Father,” he cried out, “everything is possible for you. Please take this cup of suffering away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine.” 37 Then he returned and found the disciples asleep. He said to Peter, “Simon, are you asleep? Couldn’t you watch with me even one hour? 38 Keep watch and pray, so that you will not give in to temptation. For the spirit is willing, but the body is weak.” 

God’s will:
1. God’s will is not automatic, we pray it in.

Matthew 6:9-13(NIV) 9 “This, then, is how you should pray: 10 your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. 11 Give us today our daily bread. 12 Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. 13And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.’

2. We are to center our lives around Him
“He is THE Priority.”
Mark 12:30 (NIV) Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.

“If Jesus is central, your priorities will fall into alignment.”

3. We are to consider His will.
“Most are praying for God’s help in their plans instead of asking him about His plans.”

James 4:13–16 (NLT) 13 Look here, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we are going to a certain town and will stay there a year. We will do business there and make a profit.” 14 How do you know what your life will be like tomorrow? Your life is like the morning fog—it’s here a little while, then it’s gone. 15 What you ought to say is, “If the Lord wants us to, we will live and do this or that.” 16 Otherwise you are boasting about your own pretentious plans, and all such boasting is evil.

4. God’s will is not hard to know.

Proverbs 3:5–6 (NIV) 5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; 6 in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.

“Love God and do whatever you please: for the soul trained in love to God will do nothing to offend the One who is Beloved”. 
-St. Augustine of Hippo

5. We don’t do God’s will FOR him; We do it WITH Him.
Romans 8:28–29 (NIV) 28 We know that in all things, God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. 29 For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son.
 
John 15:4 (NIV) Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.

The People of The Way: The Straight and Narrow | Matthew 4:18–22





Matthew 4:18–22 (NIV) 18 As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon called Peter and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. 19 “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will make you fishers of men.” 20 At once they left their nets and followed him. 21 Going on from there, he saw two other brothers, James son of Zebedee and his brother John. They were in a boat with their father Zebedee, preparing their nets. Jesus called them, 22 and immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him.


Disciple: mathēteuō- pupil, learner, disciple, student, scholar of a new way of life.  A Disciple is one who seeks to learn from another. Not only a partaker of information but also one who seeks to become like his or her teacher. 


“Urgent and willing are the qualifiers to following Jesus.”

“Come, Follow Me”

“Coming to Jesus is free. Following him is costly.”

Matthew 7:13–14 (NIV) 13 “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. 14 But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.

“Check your baggage and your burdens.” 

Matthew 11:28–30 (NIV) 28 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
 
Walking The Straight and Narrow 
1. We follow him

2. We walk by faith
2 Corinthians 5:7 (ESV) We walk by faith, not by sight.

“The good life is not the easy life, and the easy life isn’t the good life.”

“Faith is grown in friendship with God.” 

3. We stay in step with the Spirit
Galatians 5:25 (NIV) Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.

4. We walk with diligence

Hebrews 11:6 (NIV) Without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.

5. We live in Surrender 
Matthew 16:24–26 (NIV) 24 Then Jesus said to his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. 25 For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it. 26 What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul?

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

People of The Way: We The People | Acts 2:42-47





Ephesians 2:19 (NIV) You are no longer foreigners and aliens, but fellow citizens with God’s people and members of God’s household.

“Heaven is more than a place in the cosmos it’s a place in the family.”

John 17:20–23 (NLT) 20 “I am praying not only for these disciples but also for all who will ever believe in me through their message. 21 I pray that they will all be one, just as you and I are one—as you are in me, Father, and I am in you. And may they be in us so that the world will believe you sent me. 22 “I have given them the glory you gave me, so they may be one as we are one. 23 I am in them and you are in me. May they experience such perfect unity that the world will know that you sent me and that you love them as much as you love me.

“We get the privilege to answer the prayer that Jesus prayed.”

“God is glorified when we are unified.”

Acts 2:1 (NIV) 2 When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place.

Psalm 133:1–3 (NIV)1 How good and pleasant it is when God’s people live together in unity! 2 It is like precious oil poured on the head, running down on the beard, running down on Aaron’s beard, down on the collar of his robe. 3 It is as if the dew of Hermon were falling on Mount Zion. For there the Lord bestows his blessing, even life forevermore.

Acts 2:42–47 (NIV) 42 They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. 43 Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. 44 All the believers were together and had everything in common. 45 They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. 46 Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, 47 praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.

1. Follow-ship 
42 “They devoted themself to following Jesus and the teaching from the apostles.”

2. Fellowship
46  “They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts.”

3. Fulfilling Needs
John 13:34–35 (NLT) 34 So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other. 35 Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.”

Romans 12:15 (NIV) Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn.

Hebrews 10:24–25 (NLT) 24 Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. 25 And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near.

4. Functioning together
43 “Many wonders and signs performed by the apostles.”


5. Fruitful together
47 “And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.”


Next steps...
  1. Be Real
  2. Be forgiving
  3. Get in

People of The Way: The Jesus Way | John 14






Acts 8:1 (NLT) Saul was one of the witnesses, and he agreed completely with the killing of Stephen. 

Acts 9:1–2 (NLT) 1 Saul was uttering threats with every breath and was eager to kill the Lord’s followers. So he went to the high priest. 2 He requested letters addressed to the synagogues in Damascus, asking for their cooperation in the arrest of any followers of the Way he found there. He wanted to bring them—both men and women—back to Jerusalem in chains.

Acts 9:3–6 (NLT) 3 As he was approaching Damascus on this mission, a light from heaven suddenly shone down around him. 4 He fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul! Saul! Why are you persecuting me?” 5 “Who are you, lord?” Saul asked.  And the voice replied, “I am Jesus, the one you are persecuting! 6 Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.”

The grace of conversion
Conversion: the process of changing or causing something to change from one form to another.
1.  We develop a desire to know him.
2. We obey the LORD. 
Acts 9:17–20 (NLT) 17 Ananias went and found Saul. He laid his hands on him and said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road, has sent me so that you might regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” 18 Instantly, something like scales fell from Saul’s eyes, and he regained his sight. Then, he got up and was baptized. 19 Afterward, he ate some food and regained his strength.

3. We see clearly

4. We get baptized

5. We have a new identity.

Acts 9:19–20 (NLT) 19 Saul stayed with the believers in Damascus for a few days. 20 And immediately, he began preaching about Jesus in the synagogues, saying, “He is indeed the Son of God!”

Acts 24:10–16 (NLT) 10 The governor then motioned for Paul to speak. Paul said, “I know, sir, that you have been a judge of Jewish affairs for many years, so I gladly present my defense before you. 11 You can quickly discover that I arrived in Jerusalem no more than twelve days ago to worship at the Temple. 12 My accusers never found me arguing with anyone in the Temple, nor stirring up a riot in any synagogue or on the streets of the city. 13 These men cannot prove the things they accuse me of doing. 14 “But I admit that I follow the Way, which they call a cult. I worship the God of our ancestors, and I firmly believe the Jewish law and everything written in the prophets. 15 I have the same hope in God that these men have, that he will raise both the righteous and theunrighteous. 16 Because of this, I always try to maintain a clear conscience before God and all people.

The Jesus Way
1. The Way is a person
“Who are you, Lord?”
Hosea 6:3 (NLT) Oh, that we might know the Lord! Let us press on to know him. He will respond to us as surely as the arrival of dawn or the coming of rains in early spring.”

John 14:1–7 (NLT) 1 “Don’t let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me. 2 There is more than enough room in my Father’s home. If this were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you?  3 When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am. 4 And you know the Way to where I am going.”  5 “No, we don’t know, Lord,” Thomas said. “We have no idea where you are going, so how can we know the way?” 6 Jesus told him, “I am the Way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me. 7 If you had really known me, you would know who my Father is. From now on, you do know him and have seen him!” 

1. The Way to the Father
  • “Heaven is more than a place in the cosmos, it’s a place in the family.”

2. The Way of The Father

“Jesus came so that we can get God right!”
Hebrews 1:1–3 (NIV) 1 In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets at many times and in various ways, 2 but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom also he made the universe. 3 The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word

3. The Way is our Way. 

“As People of The Way, we are providing a way for Jesus.”



Times Of Refreshing | Acts 3:19





Acts 3:19(NIV) Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord.

 Repent!

2 Corinthians 7:10 (NLT) For the kind of sorrow God wants us to experience leads us away from sin and results in salvation. There's no regret for that kind of sorrow. But worldly sorrow, which lacks repentance, results in spiritual death.

Proverbs 26:11 (NIV) As a dog returns to its vomit, so a fool repeats his folly.

"If you change how you think, you will change how you live."

Ephesians 4:21–24 (NLT) 21 Since you have heard about Jesus and have learned the truth that comes from him, 22 throw off your old sinful nature and your former way of life, which is corrupted by lust and deception. 23 Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes. 24 Put on your new nature, created to be like God—truly righteous and holy.

"Repentance is not just turning from sin, but towards God."

Hosea 6:3 (NLT) Oh, that we might know the Lord! Let us press on to know him. He will respond to us as surely as the arrival of dawn or the coming of rains in early spring."


Staying refreshed.

1. Connect with Jesus daily
Acts 3:20(NLT) ...Then times of refreshment will come from the presence of the Lord

2. Ask for a new song
Psalm 40:3 (NIV) He put a new song in my mouth...
Ephesians 5:19–20 (NIV) 19 Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, 20 always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

3. Refuse to be self-centered
Proverbs 11:25 (NLT) The generous will prosper; those who refresh others will themselves be refreshed.

4. Practice Repentance
2 Corinthians 10:5 (NIV) We take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.

5. Embrace the newness of life.
2 Corinthians 5:17 (NLT) Anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!

Isaiah 43:18–19 (NIV) 18 Forget the former things;  do not dwell on the past. 19 See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland.

LOOK AHEAD:
  • Deeper Track: If you want to join Overflow, Deeper Track starts this Sunday, January 5th.
  • 5 Nights of Prayer: January 6-10th @ 7 pm. Let's start 2025 together in Prayer and Worship
  • Groups start: On January 18th. Find a group! Let's follow Jesus together.
  • Child Dedications: January 19th To dedicate your child, sign up at overflowdfw.com/nextsteps



Pastor Josh shares a New Year message on Acts 3:19. In the message, we will discuss how repentance and refreshing are connected to the believer's life.