Storyside Church

If everything’s important, nothing’s important. If everything’s a priority, nothing’s a priority.— Craig Groeschel   You must have a strategy or a plan.  Keep your goals a priority in your life.  Addition / Subtraction  Calendar / Schedule 62% “My mother was the making of me. She was so true, so sure of me: and I felt I had something to live for, someone I must not disappoint.”Who we are influenced by really matters. How they influence us really matters. What am I called to influence? Who am I called to influence? Deuteronomy 71 The Lord your God will bring you into the land. You are entering that land to own it. As you go in, he will force out these nations: the Hittites, Girgashites, Amorites, Canaanites, Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites. These seven nations are stronger than you. 2 The Lord your God will hand these nations over to you. You will defeat them. You must destroy them completely. Do not make a peace treaty with them. Do not show them any mercy. 3 Do not marry any of them. Don’t let your daughters marry their sons. And don’t let your sons marry their daughters. 4 Those people will turn your children away from me. Your children will begin serving other gods. The Lord will be very angry with you. And he will quickly destroy you. 5 This is what you must do to those people: Tear down their altars. Smash their holy stone pillars. Cut down their Asherah idols and burn their idols in the fire. 6 You are holy people. You belong to the Lord your God. He has chosen you from all the people on earth. You are his very own.The land you are entering to possess is a land polluted by the corruption of its peoples. By their detestable practices they have filled it with their impurity from one end to the other. You are not strong enough on your own. You must ________________________. This radical, complete destruction was important because of the depraved nature of the worship of the Canaanites, who worshipped male and female gods of sex and who presented their children for human sacrifice.Asherah was also the name of the mother goddess of the Canaanite pantheon, the deity responsible for fertility and the productivity of soil, animals, and humankind. Prominent in its services was sacred prostitution involving priests and priestesses who represented the male and female deities. Each generation will reap what the former generation has sown.2 Corinthians 6:14 — Don’t develop partnerships with those who are not followers of Jesus’ teachings. For what real connection can exist between righteousness and rebellion? How can light participate in darkness?Those people will turn your children…If we never have headaches through rebuking our children, we shall have plenty of heartaches when they grow up.— Charles H. SpurgeonThe true soldier fights not because he hates what is in front of him, but because he loves what is behind him.— G.K. ChestertonWhere does God want to take me?  On my own, I am not enough. We will defeat them.What is a must for me in 2026?I’m fighting for more than just myself. 

What comes to your mind when I say Christmas time?“We hold this day holy, not like the pagans because of the birth of the sun, but because of Him who made it."Celebrate Christ’s BirthCelebrate Christ’s Death Romans 12:18 — If it is possible, as much as it depends on you, live peaceably with all men. As much as it depends on ME. The Gift of ServingPhilippians 2:4 — Don’t be interested only in your own life, but care about the lives of others too.Romans 12:13 — When God’s people are in need, be ready to help them. Always be eager to practice hospitality.1 Peter 4:10 — God has shown you his grace in many different ways. So be good servants and use whatever gift he has given you in a way that will best serve each other.The Gift of Presence 6 Days / Month 70 Days / Annually Places don’t matter to people any more. Places aren't the point. People are only ever half present where they are these days. They always have at least one foot in the great digital nowhere.The Gift of GraceThe Gift of FlexibilityHold your plans loosely so you can hold people tightly. The Gift of ForgivenessMark 11:25 — And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive them, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins.Colossians 3:12 — Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.Colossians 3 — So, chosen by God for this new life of love, dress in the wardrobe God picked out for you: compassion, kindness, humility, quiet strength, discipline. Be even-tempered, content with second place, quick to forgive an offense. Forgive as quickly and completely as the Master forgave you. And regardless of what else you put on, wear love. It’s your basic, all-purpose garment. Never be without it.The GIFT of SERVINGThe GIFT of PRESENCE The GIFT of GRACE The GIFT of FLEXIBILITY The GIFT of FORGIVENESS 

Ephesians 5:19-20Encourage each other with psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your hearts to the Lord. Always give thanks to God the Father for everything in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.Always Thankful We pray for the big things and forget to give thanks for the ordinary. — Dietrich BonhoefferGratitude is the memory of the heart. We give thanks not because life is easy, but because God is good.The world is full of God’s wonders, but only the grateful see them.— G.K. ChestertonThanksgiving is inseparable from true prayer.— John WesleyThere is always, always, always something to be thankful for.— Ralph Waldo EmersonPhilippians 4:4 — Always be filled with joy in the Lord. I will say it again. Be filled with joy.Philippians 4:4 — Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!Always Rejoice(Joy) 2 Corinthians 9:8 — And God will generously provide all you need. Then you will always have everything you need and plenty left over to share with others.Always Generous “When I have money, I get rid of it quickly, lest it find a way into my heart.” Earn all you can. Save all you canGive all you can.Luke 18:1 — One day Jesus told his disciples a story to show that they should always pray and never give up.Always Pray Never Give Up Acts 24:16 — So I strive always to keep my conscience clear before God and man.Acts 24:16 — And herein do I exercise myself, to have always a conscience void to offense toward God, and toward men.Always Clear (Offense) People who wish to be offended will always find some occasion for taking offense.— John Wesley Towards God Towards Men Matthew 11:6 — And blessed is he who does not take offense at Me.It’s a poor sermon that gives no offense; that neither makes the hearer displeased with himself nor with the preacher. — George Whitefield Diapontos — Constantly/Continual Be Slow To Anger — James 1:19 Overlook Offense — Proverbs 19:11 Keep No Record Of Wrongs — I Corinthians 13:5 Forbear/Forgive — Colossians 3:13 The Benefit Of The Doubt — Luke 23 Surreal how many folks are hunting for things to be offended by. How about we start a "benefit of the doubt" movement?— Author Scott Sauls 1 Corinthians 15:58 — So, my dear brothers and sisters, stand strong. Don’t let anything change you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord. You know that your work in the Lord is never wasted.Always Give Yourself Fully 10 Minutes Always ThankfulAlways RejoiceAlways GenerousAlways PrayerfulAlways Clear (Offense) Always Fully Following

Matthew 28:20 — Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.Matthew 28:19-20So go and make followers of all people in the world. Baptize them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach them to obey everything that I have told you to do. You can be sure that I will be with you always. I will continue with you until the end of time.Psalm 139 Is there anyplace I can go to avoid your Spirit? to be out of your sight? If I climb to the sky, you’re there! If I go underground, you’re there! If I flew on morning’s wings to the far western horizon, You’d find me in a minute— you’re already there waiting! Then I said to myself, “Oh, he even sees me in the dark! At night I’m immersed in the light!” It’s a fact: darkness isn’t dark to you; night and day, darkness and light, they’re all the same to you.Broken Places Psalm 34:18 — The Lord is close to the brokenhearted; he rescues those whose spirits are crushed.Psalm 34:18 — If your heart is broken, you’ll find God right there; if you’re kicked in the gut, he’ll help you catch your breath.Empty Places 1 Kings 19:3-4 When Elijah heard this, he was afraid. So he ran away to save his life. He took his servant with him, and they went to Beersheba in Judah. Then Elijah left his servant in Beersheba and walked for a whole day into the desert. Then he sat down under a bush and asked to die. He said, “I have had enough, Lord! Take my life. I am no better than my ancestors.”Unworthy PlacesLuke 15:17-19The son realized that he had been very foolish. He thought, ‘All my father’s hired workers have plenty of food. But here I am, almost dead because I have nothing to eat. I will leave and go to my father. I will say to him: Father, I have sinned against God and have done wrong to you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son. But let me be like one of your hired workers.’Impossible PlacesLuke 1:37 — For nothing will be impossible with God.We have a God who delights in impossibilities.— Billy Sunday Intimidating PlacesDaniel 313 King Nebuchadnezzar was furious. So he sent for the three young men and said, 14 “I hear that you refuse to worship my gods and the gold statue I have set up. 15 Now I am going to give you one more chance. If you bow down and worship the statue when you hear the music, everything will be all right. But if you don't, you will at once be thrown into a flaming furnace. No god can save you from me.”16 The three men replied, “Your Majesty, we don't need to defend ourselves. 17 The God we worship can save us from you and your flaming furnace. 18 But even if he doesn't, we still won't worship your gods and the gold statue you have set up.”Daniel 3:24-25 Then Nebuchadnezzar the king was astonished, and rose up in haste and spoke and said unto his counsellors, Did we not cast three men bound into the midst of the fire? They answered and said unto the king, True, O king. He answered and said, Behold, I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and they have no hurt; and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God.The best of all is, God is with us.— John Wesley 

“I’m thankful for — The Church”The Church is a place where broken people find a perfect Savior.Matthew 16:18-19And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.1 Timothy 3:14-15I am writing these things to you now, even though I hope to be with you soon, so that if I am delayed, you will know how people must conduct themselves in the household of God. This is the church of the living God, which is the pillar and foundation of the truth.Mathew 18:20 — Whenever two or three of you come together in my name, I am there with you.Acts 2:44-46All the Lord's followers often met together, and they shared everything they had. They would sell their property and possessions and give the money to whoever was in need. Day after day they met together in the temple. They broke bread together in different homes and shared their food happily and freely, while praising God.Acts 4:31 — And when they had prayed, the place where they had gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak the word of God with boldness.1 Corinthians 11:18 — For, in the first place, when you come together as a church…1 Corinthians 11:20 — When you come together…1 Corinthians 11:23 — So then, my brothers, when you come together…1 Corinthians 14:23 — If, therefore, the whole church comes together…1 Corinthians 14:26 — What then, brothers? When you come together…Acts 14:27 — When they had arrived and gathered the church together, they began to report all things that God had done with them and how He had opened a door of faith to the Gentiles.Acts 15:30 — So when they were sent away, they went down to Antioch; and having gathered the congregation together, they delivered the letter.Ephesians 5:19 — When you meet together, sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, as you praise the Lord with all your heart.Colossians 3:16 — Let the teaching of Christ live in you richly. Use all wisdom to teach and strengthen each other. Sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs with thankfulness in your hearts to God.Hebrews 10 21 And since we have a great High Priest who rules over God’s house, 22 let us go right into the presence of God with sincere hearts fully trusting him. For our guilty consciences have been sprinkled with Christ’s blood to make us clean, and our bodies have been washed with pure water.23 Let us hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm, for God can be trusted to keep his promise. 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.Let Us — The Presence Of God The presence of God is the central fact of Christianity. At the heart of the Christian message is God Himself waiting for His redeemed children to push in to conscious awareness of His presence.— A.W. Tozer To be in the presence of God is to be where we were created to be.— R.C. Sproul The presence of God is the sweetest treasure we can know on earth.— John Piper Nearness to God brings likeness to God. The more you see God, the more of God will be seen in you.— Charles Spurgeon You’ll get through this. Not because you’re strong, but because God’s presence is stronger than your storm.— Max Lucado There is nothing impossible when you are in the presence of God.— Smith Wigglesworth Let Us — Hold Tight / Hold Fast Colossians 2:6-7You have accepted Christ Jesus as your Lord. Now keep on following him. Plant your roots in Christ and let him be the foundation for your life. Be strong in your faith, just as you were taught. And be grateful.Let Us — Love / Good Works Let Us — Assemble / Meet The Church is the dearest place on earth. If I had never joined a church till I found one that was perfect, I would never have joined one at all.— Charles Spurgeon