A Mundane, Miraculous, Messy Life The Passage & Story • A travelogue Acts 20:1-6 • A sermon with a intermission Acts 20:7-12 • Another travelogue Acts 20:13-16 • A farewell and future Acts 20:17-38 Why The Mundane Matters It’s where most of us will most of our . 1 Thessalonians 4:11-12/ Ephesians 2:10 & Ephesians 4:22-24 How does “mundane” fit in with the Jesus promised? John 10:10 • The abundant life is not an . John 16:33/ 2 Timothy 3:12/ 1 Peter 1:3-7 • It might not even be fully in this . Hebrews 11:32-40 Who I is far more important than what I . 1 Corinthians 13:1-6/ Luke 12:15-21/ James 4:14/ Ecclesiastes 2:4-11, 17-23 It takes lots of to get to the . If I can’t find and in the mundane, I’ll find them anywhere. To be trusted with , be with . Luke 16:10-12 ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Support Our Ministry If you found this message beneficial and you would like to help continue our ministries, we would be grateful for your support. Go to northcoastchurch.com/give ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Weekly Digital Bulletin The Digital Bulletin can be found at myncc.info ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Food for Thought For the week of November 22, 2020 (Questions and Scriptures for further study & discussion) WHAT’S YOUR HIGHLIGHT? This weekend we heard how our character is more important than our accomplishments or our possessions. Developing character is a partnership between God and us. We have our part to play, and He has His part. What do you learn about the character-building process and the partnership we have with God in building our character from 2 Peter 1:3-9? 2 Peter 1:3-9 New International Version (NIV) 3 His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. 4 Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature, having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires. 5 For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; 6 and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; 7 and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love. 8 For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 But whoever does not have them is nearsighted and blind, forgetting that they have been cleansed from their past sins. As you think about the development of your character, is there anything you need to start, stop or do more to see growth? One of the secrets to living an abundant life in the midst of the mundane and messy is maintaining an eternal perspective. The Apostle Paul had many challenging experiences in his life, and it would have been easy for him to give up, yet he was consistently able to maintain an eternal perspective. What do you see in 2 Corinthians 4:16-18 that helps explain how he was able to keep going when the mundane and messy got difficult? 2 Corinthians 4:16-18 New International Version (NIV) 16 Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. 17 For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. 18 So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. Paul mentions his “light and momentary troubles” in 2 Corinthians 4:17. Later in 2 Corinthians, he unpacks what he meant by that phrase. How do you think he was able to describe the difficulties and challenges he had been through as “light and momentary” in 2 Corinthians 11:23-29? 2 Corinthians 11:23-29 New International Version (NIV) 23 Are they servants of Christ? (I am out of my mind to talk like this.) I am more. I have worked much harder, been in prison more frequently, been flogged more severely, and been exposed to death again and again. 24 Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one. 25 Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was pelted with stones, three times I was shipwrecked, I spent a night and a day in the open sea, 26 I have been constantly on the move. I have been in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from my fellow Jews, in danger from Gentiles; in danger in the city, in danger in the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from false believers. 27 I have labored and toiled and have often gone without sleep; I have known hunger and thirst and have often gone without food; I have been cold and naked. 28 Besides everything else, I face daily the pressure of my concern for all the churches. 29 Who is weak, and I do not feel weak? Who is led into sin, and I do not inwardly burn? As we celebrate Thanksgiving this week in the midst of a pandemic, it’s fitting to pause and remember all we have to be thankful for. Read Psalm 118 and thank God for who He is, what He has done, what He is doing and what He will do. The Apostle Paul also encourages this kind of prayer in Philippians 4:4-9. Check it out and give it a try. Psalm 118 New International Version (NIV) 1 Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever. 2 Let Israel say: His love endures forever.” 3 Let the house of Aaron say: His love endures forever.” 4 Let those who fear the LORD say: His love endures forever.” 5 When hard pressed, I cried to the LORD; he brought me into a spacious place. 6 The LORD is with me; I will not be afraid. What can mere mortals do to me? 7 The LORD is with me; he is my helper. I look in triumph on my enemies. 8 It is better to take refuge in the LORD than to trust in humans. 9 It is better to take refuge in the LORD than to trust in princes. 10 All the nations surrounded me, but in the name of the LORD I cut them down. 11 They surrounded me on every side, but in the name of the LORD I cut them down. 12 They swarmed around me like bees, but they were consumed as quickly as burning thorns; in the name of the LORD I cut them down. 13 I was pushed back and about to fall, but the LORD helped me. 14 The LORD is my strength and my defense; he has become my salvation. 15 Shouts of joy and victory resound in the tents of the righteous: “The LORD’s right hand has done mighty things! 16 The LORD’s right hand is lifted high; the LORD’s right hand has done mighty things!” 17 I will not die but live, and will proclaim what the LORD has done. 18 The LORD has chastened me severely, but he has not given me over to death. 19 Open for me the gates of the righteous; I will enter and give thanks to the LORD. 20 This is the gate of the LORD through which the righteous may enter. 21 I will give you thanks, for you answered me; you have become my salvation. 22 The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone; 23 the LORD has done this, and it is marvelous in our eyes. 24 The LORD has done it this very day; let us rejoice today and be glad. 25 LORD, save us! LORD, grant us success! 26 Blessed is he who comes in the name of the LORD. From the house of the LORD we bless you. 27 The LORD is God, and he has made his light shine on us. With boughs in hand, join in the festal procession up to the horns of the altar. 28 You are my God, and I will praise you; you are my God, and I will exalt you. 29 Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever. Philippians 4:4-9 New International Version (NIV) 4 Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! 5 Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. 6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. 8 Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. 9 Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.