1. Devotion to God Word Matthew 13:18-23 (NIV) 18 “Listen then to what the parable of the sower means: 19 When anyone hears the message about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is the seed sown along the path. 20 The one who received the seed that fell on rocky places is the man who hears the word and at once receives it with joy. 21 But since he has no root, he lasts only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, he quickly falls away. 22 The one who received the seed that fell among the thorns is the man who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke it, making it unfruitful. 23 But the one who received the seed that fell on good soil is the man who hears the word and understands it. He produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.”

2. “Jesus is beyond Measure” Theme: The Surpassing Righteousness of Christ John 8:31-41 Sunday, January 30, 2005 Larry Cantrell

3. “Jesus is beyond Measure” Jesus calls us to what is beyond… John 8:31 1.Initial Faith “The Jews who had believed” 2.Further commitment “If you hold to my teaching” 3.Freedom “You are really my disciple”

4. “Jesus is beyond Measure” Jesus calls us beyond slavery… John 8:34 We all stumble in sin. The habit of specific sins enslaves. Only Jesus can set us free from sin. Only Jesus can give us a permanent place in God’s family.

5. “Jesus is beyond Measure” Living beyond measure… 1.Are we making disciples for this congregation, or is this church making disciples of Jesus? 2.Are we helping people to make our programs better or living a radical lifestyle of Christ’s surpassing righteousness? 3.Does our attachment to this church isolate us from the world or equip us for a changing world?

6. Lord’s Invitation Romans 6:20-23 (NIV) 20 When you were slaves to sin, you were free from the control of righteousness. 21 What benefit did you reap at that time from the things you are now ashamed of? Those things result in death! 22 But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves to God, the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life. 23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.