Catalyst Church of Carrollton

SHIFT

Clarify what matters.

 

“Do your planning and prepare your fields before building your house.”‭‭ -Proverbs‬ ‭24:27‬ ‭NLT

 

“What do you want me to do for you?” Jesus asked. “My Rabbi,” the blind man said, “I want to see!” -Mark‬ ‭10:51‬ ‭NLT‬‬

 

Make every decision around it.

 

“Commit your work to the LORD, and your plans will succeed.” -Proverbs‬ ‭16:3‬ ‭CEB‬‬

 

Budget your money around it.

 

“Turn my heart to your laws, not to greedy gain. Turn my eyes away from looking at worthless things. Make me live by your way.”‭‭ -Psalms‬ ‭119:36-37‬ ‭CEB

 

Build your relationships around it.

 

“Do not be fooled: “Bad friends will ruin good habits.” Come back to your right way of thinking and stop sinning…” -1 Corinthians‬ ‭15:33-34‬ ‭NCV‬‬

 

Raise your kids around it.

 

“And if it seems evil to you to serve the Lord, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” -Joshua‬ ‭24:15‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

 

Stop running crazy today for success tomorrow.

 

“If the Lord doesn’t build the house, the builders are working for nothing. If the Lord doesn’t guard the city, the guards are watching for nothing. It is no use for you to get up early and stay up late, working for a living. The Lord gives sleep to those he loves. Children are a gift from the Lord; babies are a reward. Children who are born to a young man are like arrows in the hand of a warrior. Happy is the man who has his bag full of arrows. They will not be defeated when they fight their enemies at the city gate.” ‭‭-Psalms‬ ‭127:1-5‬ ‭NCV‬‬

 

Stop doing things that stopped working a long time ago.

 

“Then Jesus told this story: “A man planted a fig tree in his garden and came again and again to see if there was any fruit on it, but he was always disappointed. Finally, he said to his gardener, ‘I’ve waited three years, and there hasn’t been a single fig! Cut it down. It’s just taking up space in the garden.’ “The gardener answered, ‘Sir, give it one more chance. Leave it another year, and I’ll give it special attention and plenty of fertilizer. If we get figs next year, fine. If not, then you can cut it down. “ ‭‭-Luke‬ ‭13:6-9‬ ‭NLT‬‬

 

Cosmetic change alone won’t change your life.

 

“This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!” ‭‭-2 Corinthians‬ ‭5:17‬ ‭NLT‬‬

 

Stop fighting unnecessary battles AND setting yourself up for unnecessary battles.

 

“Her parents were overwhelmed, but Jesus insisted that they not tell anyone what had happened.” -Luke‬ ‭8:56‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Rags to Riches

Luke 15:11-32

Proverbs 3:5-6

Luke 5:4-6

John 21:6-8

2 Corinthians 10:5

2 Corinthians 4:18

Isaiah 1:18

John 10:10

Romans 5:17

1 Peter 5:7

Matthew 11:30

Matthew 16:25

Proverbs 18:10

Fear Is Your Scriptwriter

Some Major Fears In Your Life-

 

FEAR OF NOT BEING ENOUGH/NOT HAVING ENOUGH 

 

“So God created human beings in his own image. In the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.” -Genesis‬ ‭1:27‬ ‭NLT‬‬

 

“For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.” -Ephesians‬ ‭2:10‬ ‭NLT‬‬

 

FEAR OF BEING VULNERABLE

 

“Each time he said, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me. That’s why I take pleasure in my weaknesses, and in the insults, hardships, persecutions, and troubles that I suffer for Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” -‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭12:9-10‬ ‭NLT‬‬

 

“But He gives more grace. Therefore He says: “God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble.” -James‬ ‭4:6‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

 

FEAR OF CHANGE

 

“But whenever someone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. For the Lord is the Spirit, and wherever the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. So all of us who have had that veil removed can see and reflect the glory of the Lord. And the Lord—who is the Spirit—makes us more and more like him as we are changed into his glorious image.” -2 Corinthians‬ ‭3:16-18‬ ‭NLT‬‬

 

FEAR OF THINGS FALLING APART

 

“God says, “Be still and know that I am God. I will be praised in all the nations; I will be praised throughout the earth.” -‭‭Psalms‬ ‭46:10‬ ‭NCV‬‬

 

“I leave you peace; my peace I give you. I do not give it to you as the world does. So don’t let your hearts be troubled or afraid.” -John‬ ‭14:27‬ ‭NCV

 

FEAR OF LONELINESS 

 

“How long, Lord? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me? How long must I wrestle with my thoughts and day after day have sorrow in my heart? How long will my enemy triumph over me?” -Psalms‬ ‭13:1-2‬ ‭NIV‬‬

 

“Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.” ‭‭-Psalms‬ ‭23:4‬ ‭NIV‬‬

 

"And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” -Matthew‬ ‭28:20‬ ‭NIV‬‬

 

FEAR OF FAILURE

 

“For a righteous man may fall seven times and rise again…” -Proverbs‬ ‭24:16‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Practice What You Project

“Do not judge others, and you will not be judged. For you will be treated as you treat others. The standard you use in judging is the standard by which you will be judged. “And why worry about a speck in your friend’s eye when you have a log in your own? How can you think of saying to your friend, ‘Let me help you get rid of that speck in your eye,’ when you can’t see past the log in your own eye? Hypocrite! First get rid of the log in your own eye; then you will see well enough to deal with the speck in your friend’s eye.” -Matthew‬ ‭7:1-5‬ ‭NLT‬‬

 

Double Standards Are Destructive. 

 

“You judge me by human standards, but I do not judge anyone. And if I did, my judgment would be correct in every respect because I am not alone. The Father who sent me is with me.” -John‬ ‭8:15-16‬ ‭NLT‬‬

 

“He will not fight or shout or raise his voice in public. He will not crush the weakest reed or put out a flickering candle. Finally he will cause justice to be victorious. And his name will be the hope of all the world.” -Matthew 12:19-21‬ ‭NLT‬‬

 

Take Your Own Criticism. 

Live Your Lectures.

 

“Three things will last forever—faith, hope, and love—and the greatest of these is love.” -1 Corinthians‬ ‭13:13‬ ‭NLT‬‬

 

Don‘t Be A Burger Eater

You Need To Make Room For Your Gifts

4 Just as our bodies have many parts and each part has a special function, 5 so it is with Christ’s body. We are many parts of one body, and we all belong to each other.6 In his grace, God has given us different gifts for doing certain things well. So if God has given you the ability to prophesy, speak out with as much faith as God has given you. 7 If your gift is serving others, serve them well. If you are a teacher, teach well. 8 If your gift is to encourage others, be encouraging. If it is giving, give generously. If God has given you leadership ability, take the responsibility seriously. And if you have a gift for showing kindness to others, do it gladly.9 Don’t just pretend to love others. Really love them. Hate what is wrong. Hold tightly to what is good. 10 Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each other. 11 Never be lazy, but work hard and serve the Lord enthusiastically. Romans 12:4-11 NLT

4 There are different kinds of spiritual gifts, but the same Spirit is the source of them all. 5 There are different kinds of service, but we serve the same Lord. 6 God works in different ways, but it is the same God who does the work in all of us. 7 A spiritual gift is given to each of us so we can help each other. 8 To one person the Spirit gives the ability to give wise advice, to another the same Spirit gives a message of special knowledge. 9 The same Spirit gives great faith to another, and to someone else the one Spirit gives the gift of healing. 10 He gives one person the power to perform miracles, and another the ability to prophesy. He gives someone else the ability to discern whether a message is from the Spirit of God or from another spirit. Still another person is given the ability to speak in unknown languages,  while another is given the ability to interpret what is being said. 11 It is the one and only Spirit who distributes all these gifts. He alone decides which gift each person should have. 1 Corinthians 12:4-11 NLT

Depth Is YOUR Decision

What happened isn’t on you.

What’s happening is on you. 

It’s happening in your heart. 

 

“I know all the things you do. I have seen your hard work and your patient endurance. I know you don’t tolerate evil people. You have examined the claims of those who say they are apostles but are not. You have discovered they are liars. You have patiently suffered for me without quitting. -Revelation 2:2-3 NLT

 

“But I have this complaint against you. You don’t love me or each other as you did at first! Look how far you have fallen! Turn back to me and do the works you did at first. If you don’t repent, I will come and remove your lampstand from its place among the churches. But this is in your favor: You hate the evil deeds of the Nicolaitans, just as I do. “Anyone with ears to hear must listen to the Spirit and understand what he is saying to the churches. To everyone who is victorious I will give fruit from the tree of life in the paradise of God.” -Revelation 2:4-7 NLT  

 

Remember

Repent 

Start Healing-

Focus on what you can control (What You Do. How You Do it. Why You Do It)-Trust in the Lord and do good. Then you will live safely in the land and prosper. Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you your heart’s desires. Commit everything you do to the Lord. Trust him, and he will help you.” -Psalms‬ ‭37:3-5‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Don’t be controlled by what that you can’t control-“Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take.” -‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭3:5-6‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Be at Peace-“And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. Keep putting into practice all you learned and received from me—everything you heard from me and saw me doing. Then the God of peace will be with you.” -Philippians‬ ‭4:8-9‬ ‭NLT‬‬

When It Doesn‘t Go Your Way

Perspective, Perseverance, Peace

 

Perspective

“For My thoughts are not your thoughts, and your ways are not My ways.” This is the Lord’s declaration. “For as heaven is higher than earth, so My ways are higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts.” ‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭55:8-9‬ ‭HCSB

 

Perseverance

 

 “I have told you these things so that in Me you may have peace. You will have suffering in this world. Be courageous! I have conquered the world.” ‭‭John‬ ‭16:33‬ ‭HCSB

 

“Consider it a great joy, my brothers, whenever you experience various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. But endurance must do its complete work, so that you may be mature and complete, lacking nothing. A man who endures trials is blessed, because when he passes the test he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love Him.” ‭‭James‬ ‭1:2-4, 12‬ ‭HCSB

 

Peace

 

“Then Jesus said to His disciples: “Therefore I tell you, don’t worry about your life, what you will eat; or about the body, what you will wear. For life is more than food and the body more than clothing. Consider the ravens: They don’t sow or reap; they don’t have a storeroom or a barn; yet God feeds them. Aren’t you worth much more than the birds? Can any of you add a cubit to his height by worrying? If then you’re not able to do even a little thing, why worry about the rest? “Consider how the wildflowers grow: They don’t labor or spin thread. Yet I tell you, not even Solomon (richest man in human history) in all his splendor was adorned like one of these! If that’s how God clothes the grass, which is in the field today and is thrown into the furnace tomorrow, how much more will He do for you — you of little faith? Don’t keep striving for what you should eat and what you should drink, and don’t be anxious. For the Gentile world eagerly seeks all these things, and your Father knows that you need them. “But seek His kingdom, and these things will be provided for you. Don’t be afraid, little flock, because your Father delights to give you the kingdom.” ‭‭Luke‬ ‭12:22-32‬ ‭HCSB

 

“Don’t worry about anything, but in everything, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses every thought, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.” ‭‭Philippians‬ ‭4:6-7HCSB

 

“Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you believe in Him so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” Romans‬ ‭15:13‬ HCSB

Sundays Aren‘t Enough

“Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong. And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is. May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God. Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think. Glory to him in the church and in Christ Jesus through all generations forever and ever! Amen.” -‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭3:17-21‬ ‭NLT‬‬  

KEEP IT SIMPLE:

Do What Jesus Said And Do What Jesus Did.

What Jesus said-

“Teacher, which is the most important commandment in the law of Moses?” Jesus replied, “‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. A second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ The entire law and all the demands of the prophets are based on these two commandments.” -Matthew‬ ‭22:36-40 NLT

What Jesus did-

“Jesus saw the huge crowd as he stepped from the boat, and he had compassion on them and healed their sick.” -Matthew‬ ‭14:14‬ ‭NLT‬‬

“Then Jesus called his disciples and told them, ‘I feel sorry for these people. They have been here with me for three days, and they have nothing left to eat. I don’t want to send them away hungry, or they will faint along the way.’” -Matthew 15:32 NLT

Commitment To God Is Commitment To People.

Obedience Is How You Build Your Life.

“Anyone who listens to my teaching and follows it is wise, like a person who builds a house on solid rock. 25 Though the rain comes torrents and the floodwaters rise and the winds beat against that house, it won’t collapse because it is built on bedrock. 26 But anyone who hears my teaching and doesn’t obey it is foolish, like a person who builds a house on sand. 27 When the rains and floods come and the winds beat against that house, it will collapse with a mighty crash.” -Matthew 7:24-27 NLT

Be More Committed To Jesus Than Consumed By Circumstances. 

Not that I was ever in need, for I have learned how to be content with whatever I have. I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little. For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.” -Philippians‬ ‭4:11-13‬ ‭NLT‬‬ 

Make The World Better. Don’t Let The World Break You. 

“You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden. No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.” -Matthew‬ ‭5:14-16‬ ‭NLT

Don‘t Give Up On Here

Don’t give up on this season.

 

If you’re still in it, God isn’t done with it. 

 

“From then on Jesus began to preach, “Repent of your sins and turn to God, for the Kingdom of Heaven is near.”” -‭‭Matthew‬ ‭4:17‬ ‭NLT‬‬

 

“Don’t be like them, for your Father knows exactly what you need even before you ask him! Pray like this: Our Father in heaven, may your name be kept holy. May your Kingdom come soon. May your will be done on earth, as it is in heaven.” ‭‭-Matthew‬ ‭6:8-10‬ ‭NLT‬‬

 

One day the Pharisees asked Jesus, “When will the Kingdom of God come?” Jesus replied, “The Kingdom of God can’t be detected by visible signs. You won’t be able to say, ‘Here it is!’ or ‘It’s over there!’ For the Kingdom of God is already among you.” -‭‭Luke‬ ‭17:20-21‬ ‭NLT‬‬

 

“After John was put in prison, Jesus went into Galilee, preaching the Good News from God. He said, “The right time has come. The kingdom of God is near. Change your hearts and lives and believe the Good News!”” ‭‭-Mark‬ ‭1:14-15‬ ‭NCV‬‬

 

 “... It is now time for you to wake up from your sleep, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed.” ‭‭-Romans‬ ‭13:11‬ ‭NCV‬‬

 

Action brings hope to life. 

 

You won’t possess your promise without preparing for it. 

 

“He then said, “God’s word: Dig ditches all over this valley. Here’s what will happen—you won’t hear the wind, you won’t see the rain, but this valley is going to fill up with water and your army and your animals will drink their fill. This is easy for God to do; he will also hand over Moab to you…” -2 Kings 3:16-18 Message  

 

The deeper you dig, the more you can hold.

Life After Loss

Loss is a good teacher-

 

You Learn To Live-

 

“Better to spend your time at funerals than at parties. After all, everyone dies— so the living should take this to heart. Sorrow is better than laughter, for sadness has a refining influence on us.”

‭‭Ecclesiastes‬ ‭7:2-3‬ ‭NLT

 

My comfort in my suffering is this: Your promise preserves my life.”

‭‭Psalms‬ ‭119:50‬ ‭

 

You Learn to Give- 

 

“All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is our merciful Father and the source of all comfort. He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us.”

‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭1:3-4‬ ‭NLT‬‬

 

When you lose because of people-

 

“So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up.”

‭‭Galatians‬ ‭6:9‬ ‭NLT‬‬

 

Instead, “If your enemies are hungry, feed them. If they are thirsty, give them something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals of shame on their heads.” Don’t let evil conquer you, but conquer evil by doing good.”
‭‭Romans‬ ‭12:20-21‬ ‭NLT‬‬

When you lose because of bad choices-

 

“He destroyed the record of the debt we owed, with its requirements that worked against us. He canceled it by nailing it to the cross. When he disarmed the rulers and authorities, he exposed them to public disgrace by leading them in a triumphal parade.”

‭‭Colossians‬ ‭2:14-15‬ ‭CEB‬‬

 

“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

‭‭I John‬ ‭1:9‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

 

When you lose because of life-

 

"We are pressed on every side by troubles, but we are not crushed. We are perplexed, but not driven to despair. We are hunted down, but never abandoned by God. We get knocked down, but we are not destroyed.”

‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭4:8-9‬ ‭NLT

 

“….When the enemy comes in like a flood, The Spirit of the Lord will lift up a standard against him.”

‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭59:19‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

 

Perspective-

 

“No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us.” Philippians‬ ‭3:13-14‬ ‭NLT‬‬