EmbracingPart 1

God's Plan For BodyGrowth & Health

Theme

• Our truest act of kingdom living is partnering with God in reaching out and caring for the needs of people.

• Embracing is holding close the people God has placed in our life to help them in their need and bring them to the Lord. 

Our Theme for the year: Embrace

• We embrace our neighbors in their brokenness; we meet needs as called.

• We embrace, through steadfast prayer, the cares and burdens of others – bringing those burdens to the Lord.

• We embrace people and ministries, partnering together in order to care for those the Lord brings into our lives.

EMBRACE: The very meaningof the word is instructive

Brace < Old French word meaning “arm” < Latin “bracchia” meaning “arms” (plural) < Greek “Brachion” meaning simply “arm”.

Em (the prefix) < Greek “en” meaning in or inward.

The most straightforward meaning of the word is to wrap your arms around from the inside not just the outside. 

How did Jesus go

about embracing

others?

How did Jesus go

about embracing

others?

How did Jesus go

about embracing

others?

1st Essential Embrace:The Word of God

Mt 4:4 Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”

2nd Essential Embrace: Prayer

Prayer is Embracing God

Embrace the SpiritHe directs our prayer

Joh 16:13 But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come.

Ro 8:26 In the same way the Spirit also helps our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words;

Embrace the Christ (Jesus)He makes our prayer

heard in Heaven

Heb. 6:19,20 We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain, where Jesus, who went before us, has entered on our behalf. He has become a high priest for ever...

John 16:23-26 In that day (after Pentecost when I am in heaven and you have the Spirit) you will no longer ask me anything. I tell you the truth, my Father will give you whatever you ask in my name.

Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete… In that day you will ask in my name. I am not saying that I will ask the Father on your behalf.

Embrace the FatherHe answers our prayers

Matt.6: Whenever you begin to pray, pray like this: our Father who resides in Heaven

John 16:23,24 In that day (after Pentecost when I am in heaven and you have the Spirit) you will no longer ask me anything. I tell you the truth, my Father will give you whatever you ask in my name.

Heb. 12:2 Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

When We Pray“In the name of Jesus”

We Pray In Dependence On Christ

• The Father answers prayer because of Christ’s merit, not ours.

• The Father answers our prayer for Christ’s sake.

• The Father answers our prayer because of Christ. 

3rd Essential Embrace:Grace by Faith

Ro. 5:1,2 Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand.

Heb. 4:16 Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.

Heb. 12:15 See to it that no-one misses the grace of God…

4th Essential Embrace: People

To partner with God in reaching out and caring for the needs of people is our truest act of kingdom living.

Holding close the people God has placed in our life to help them in their need and bring them to the Lord.

His Example Is Powerful

Joh. 3:16 “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

1Jo. 4:1o,11 This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.

His Example Is Prayerful

Hebrews 5:7 During the days of Jesus’ life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions with loud cries and tears

to the one who could save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission.

His Example Is Practical

Romans 10:1 Brothers, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for the Israelites is that they may be saved.

His Example Is Personal

Lu 15:20 So he got up and went to his father.

But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him;

he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.

Challenge

Embrace God

Embrace Prayer

Embrace Grace

Embrace People

Theme

• Our truest act of kingdom living is partnering with God in reaching out and caring for the needs of people.

• Embracing is holding close the people God has placed in our life to help them in their need and bring them to the Lord. 

Our Theme for the year: Embrace

• We embrace our neighbors in their brokenness; we meet needs as called.

• We embrace, through steadfast prayer, the cares and burdens of others – bringing those burdens to the Lord.

• We embrace people and ministries, partnering together in order to care for those the Lord brings into our lives.

EMBRACE: The very meaningof the word is instructive

Brace < Old French word meaning “arm” < Latin “bracchia” meaning “arms” (plural) < Greek “Brachion” meaning simply “arm”.

Em (the prefix) < Greek “en” meaning in or inward.

The most straightforward meaning of the word is to wrap your arms around from the inside not just the outside. 

How did Jesus go

about embracing

others?