¹ And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him. ² Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.

SEXUAL REVOLUTION: 1. Give your Bod to God 2. Great sex is Worship (God’s Sex is the Best Sex) 3. Do things Different 4. Great Sex starts between the ears before it’s between the legs 5. Great sex brings about God’s Best

SMALL STEPS TO ADULTERY

• They enjoy common interests.                                   
• They share personal information.       
• They anticipate time together.
• They hide the relationship from their spouses.
• They flirt with minor arousing touch.
• They invent excuses to call or meet.
• They deceive their spouse with words and actions.
• They engage sexually.

SMALL STEPS TO AVOID ADULTERY

• Never be alone with the opposite sex.
• Never discuss your marriage with the opposite sex.
• Never hang around in the wrong environments.
• Always keep accountability.
• Always romance your spouse.
• Always nurture your relationship with Christ.

HOW TO BEGIN TO OVERCOME SEXUAL SIN

• Admit to the secret sin.
• Take your hurt to God.
• Confess your secret shame.
• Get Biblical counseling. 

¹ And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him. ² Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.

SEXUAL REVOLUTION: 1. Give your Bod to God 2. Great sex is Worship (God’s Sex is the Best Sex) 3. Do things Different 4. Great Sex starts between the ears before it’s between the legs 5. Great sex brings about God’s Best

SMALL STEPS TO ADULTERY

• They enjoy common interests.                                   
• They share personal information.       
• They anticipate time together.
• They hide the relationship from their spouses.
• They flirt with minor arousing touch.
• They invent excuses to call or meet.
• They deceive their spouse with words and actions.
• They engage sexually.

SMALL STEPS TO AVOID ADULTERY

• Never be alone with the opposite sex.
• Never discuss your marriage with the opposite sex.
• Never hang around in the wrong environments.
• Always keep accountability.
• Always romance your spouse.
• Always nurture your relationship with Christ.

HOW TO BEGIN TO OVERCOME SEXUAL SIN

• Admit to the secret sin.
• Take your hurt to God.
• Confess your secret shame.
• Get Biblical counseling. 

I realize that fasting can raise a lot of questions so I thought I would try and address a few here on my blog today and throughout the next two weeks.

some things that fasting is not:

1. a diet. With all the trend diets in our culture we have to be careful to not see a fast or even a Daniel’s fast as the next great way to shed unwanted pounds. Truly, that concept my backfire because denying yourself of food can cause you to over-indulge later.

2. a merit. Fasting does not earn you credit with God. In fact, nothing does. God is already pleased with you, He loves you. He has unmerited favor for us, all we have to do is humbly turn to Him and accept it. Eph. 2:9

Which brings me to a couple things that fasting is:

1. a humbling of ourselves. It is a way to declare that our desire for God exceeds our desire for even necessary supplement or our favorite activity. However expressed, humility will always produce spiritual growth.

2. a disconnect with the world. Prayer always connects you to heaven, fasting is a discipline of disconnecting from the world. So, if the entire time you are fasting you are focused on the one thing you gave up, well, you aren’t fasting. Which is why Jesus said not to make a big deal about it, but to make it a private act of devotion to God.

Next week I will write more about private and corporate fasting found in the Bible.

Here are a few practical tips when it comes to fasting:

- Make it more about how you are wanting to devote your life to God and less about whatever it is you are giving up.

- Even if it is in a season of corporate fasting, keep your fast to yourself. If you are thinking about doing multiple days of intense fasting then you will want to confide in some people as well as consult a physician. Even then, don’t fast in order to draw attention to yourself.

- Whatever you give up, let it make room for more of God. If you decide to fast a meal, then spend that time praying or reading. If you decide to fast entertainment media like FaceBook, TV, or blogs, spend that time in prayer and devotion.

Here is what Jesus had to say about fasting:

^{Matthew 6:16} “And when you fast, don’t make it obvious, as the hypocrites do, for they try to look miserable and disheveled so people will admire them for their fasting. I tell you the truth, that is the only reward they will ever get. ¹⁷ But when you fast, comb your hair and wash your face. ¹⁸ Then no one will notice that you are fasting, except your Father, who knows what you do in private. And your Father, who sees everything, will reward you.”

Make no mistake about it, your heavenly Father will reward you. Why? Because He is good like that. Read Matthew 6 for the full story.

This month we will be walking through the book of Nehemiah. A life-changing story highlighting the ability of God to use ordinary people to change the world! God wants you to dream a dream so big and so powerful that when it is fulfilled everyone will realize it wasn’t just a you thing, it was a God thing!

If you are in the St. Louis area you can join us in the Des Peres Movie Theater at 10a on Sunday mornings:

Week 1, January 8th: “Ordinary World Changers” find their purpose, Live their potential and Change their world!

Week 2, January 15th: “Develop the Leader Within You” yes you! God is calling you to be a leader, be one!

Week 3, January 22nd: “Defeating Discouragement” is necessary because you will be discouraged at times when you are going after the Dream God has put in your heart. You have to learn how to press past the adversity!

Week 4, January 29th: “Finishing Strong” because it isn’t always about how you start, but more about how you finish!

We will be posting the audio files at www.ThriveChurchSTL.com 

²¹ This includes you who were once far away from God. You were his enemies, separated from him by your evil thoughts and actions. ²² Yet now he has reconciled you to himself through the death of Christ in his physical body. As a result, he has brought you into his own presence, and you are holy and blameless as you stand before him without a single fault. ²³ But you must continue to believe this truth and stand firmly in it. Don’t drift away from the assurance you received when you heard the Good News.

My 2 favorite parts of the above:

- “You are holy and blameless as you stand before him without a single fault!” Think about it. “without a single fault.” By His grace that is how God sees you. The death of Jesus did something for us if we believe, something powerful. Total forgiveness.

- “Don’t drift away from the assurance you received when you heard the Good News.” When we first hear about the audacity of God to accept us by mere faith, it is often and rightly received with joy. All too often, we start trying hard to be better and do more. But remember, from start to finish it isn’t about our own effort but it’s all about free forgiveness! Let’s keep the joy of knowing God has chosen to love us!

A revolution is something that has perpetual impact. It’s influence is forever felt on the lives of those involved as well as on the planet as a whole. Jesus was a revolutionary, they killed him for it, and then it got contagious. The message of Jesus went viral and now it is time for you and I to get sick with it.

11/6 RADICAL FAITH – 11/13 SCANDALOUS FAITH – 11/20 DOUBTERS’ FAITH – 11/27 PSEUDO-FAITH

for times and location go to www.ThriveChurchSTL.com

Fall Splash is This Sunday October 30th from 5:30-8p at the Des Peres Lodge.

• Food, Fun and great Friends
• Baby Dedication, and pictures
• Baptism in the Des Peres Swimming Pool
• Dinner and Communion!
• Child-care is provided

If you are one of the many who God is changing then it is time to tell the world and Go Public with your faith.

• Join us at 5:30p at the Lodge in Des Peres, and let us know you are ready!
• Wear clothes you can get wet. Darker colors work best.
• Long shorts or pants are required.
• Bring Dry clothes to change into after.
• Be ready for what God is already doing in your life to hit a whole new level!

I look forward to celebrating with you!

I’ll be honest, this last week’s message was one of the toughest I’ve ever spoken. Mostly because I know how difficult relationships can be, I know that many of us struggle with finding ways to excel in our relationships. I also believe that faith is lived out in our relationships so it makes sense that it is a difficult area.

I’m not an expert when it comes to relationships. But, I have learned a great deal from those who specialize in this area. I’d like to pass on some of the resources that I’ve gained from in hopes that your relationships might thrive!

-       Relationship Coaching. I see so much value in connecting with those who can professionally help deal with crisis or even take my relationships to a new level. A Licensed Clinical Psychologist is trained to advise you and help you relate to others in constructive life giving ways. A professional counselor can give you valuable tools that will help you grow in relationships.

• Locally I’d like to recommend a friend, my relationship coach. Kelly DeVere LPC www.kellyDeVere.com
• For those who are in a marriage crisis let me encourage you to check out   www.nationalmarriage.com “you can still put the pieces back together”

-       Relationship Books. There are so many great books that will give you new tools to better communicate. Here are a few that I have enjoyed.

• How to Avoid Marrying a Jerk, by John Van Epp Amazon link http://www.amazon.com/How-Avoid-Marrying-Jerk-Foolproof/dp/0071472657
• The 5 Love Languages, by Gary Chapman Amazon link http://www.amazon.com/Five-Love-Languages-Heartfelt-Commitment/dp/1881273156
• His Needs, Her Needs, by William F. Harley Jr. Amazon link http://www.amazon.com/His-Needs-Her-Affair-Proof-Anniversary/dp/0800717880
• Boundaries: When to Say Yes, How to Say No to Take Control of Your Life, by Clowd and Townsend link http://www.amazon.com/Boundaries-When-Take-Control-Your/dp/0310247454

-       Church. The local church is the hope of the world. And if there is any way I can help you connect better at Thrive Church please let me know!

• Here is a link to some life giving churches nationwide. Click Here
• If you are in St. Louis area join us this Sunday 9a or 10:20a as we continue the conversation and take our “Work Life” to where you dream it could be!
• The best way to get more involved and become a part of what God is doing among us is to join us at our Growth Track.

My prayer is that your life would thrive!

Last week: we covered “Finances” I wanted to give you a link to a couple of resources that have helped us in putting a plan together for our Financial Life .

www.DaveRamsey.com

www.Mint.com

This Week: From Here to There in Relationships. Everyone has a relationship we want  to improve! Invite a friend to join you and I will see you at 9a or 10:20 inside the Des Peres Movie Theater. If you are planning on joining us at 9 you will want to be on time!

I want to say a huge THANK YOU to my amazing leaders and launch team! I am surrounded by so many fantastic people who own the vision of seeing lives changed personally.

I also want to say a huge THANK YOU to the Association of Related Churches (ARC) for their dynamic training, systems, resource and coaching!

I love being a part of what God is doing in St. Louis. It feels like a New Testament move of His Spirit!

www.ThriveChurchSTL.com