The Crisis of Decision - Matthew 26:36-46

How to CREATE Bad Decisions . . .

• Judas' decision - Matthew 26:14-16
• Peter's decision - Matthew 26:31-35
• Caiphas' decision - John 11:45-53
• Herod's decision - Luke 23:7-11
• Pilate's decision - John 18:28-38
• The Crowd - John 18:39-40

Five Decisions that will destroy your life

• Live your life as if there is no God - Proverbs 9:10
• Choose people who are spiritually foolish to be your closet friends - Proverbs 13:20
• Never learn to control your emotions - Proverbs 29:11
• Stay down once you have fallen down - Proverbs 24:16
• Fail to spend your entire life learning - Proverbs 9:9
• Bonus - Disregard God's principles about money - Proverbs 23:4-5

How to CREATE Great Decisions . . .

• The Productivity Paradox
  • We are making more decisions than ever.
  • Our attention is under unprecedented attack.
  • We are suffering from a personal energy crisis.

• 5 Choices - Ephesians 5:15-18

1. Act on the Important - Don't react to the urgent. ('be very careful how you live, not as unwise, but wise)
2. Go for the Extraordinary - Don't settle for ordinary. ('making the most of every opportunity')
3. Schedule the Big Rocks - Don't sort gravel! ('do not be foolish'
4. Rule your Technology - Don't let it rule you. ('understand what the will of the Lord is')
5. Fuel Your Fire - Don't burn out. (be filled with the Holy Spirit')

The Five Choices - The Path to Extraordinary Productivity (Kory Kongon/Adam Merrill/Leena Rinni)

Rejoice always = Hype? - Philippians 4:4

Gentleness, the Lord is near - Philippians 4:5

Don't worry, instead - Philippians 4:6

 . . . prayer & petition
. . .  thankfulness

Peace - Philippians 4:7

. . . it transcends understanding
. . . it comes in Christ

Think right - Philippians 4:8

Psalms 119:92, Psalms 119:97, Romans 12:1-2

Peace in "prison" - Philippians 4:9

A Carpenter? - Matthew 13:53-58

The work of Jesus - John 5:17, 36 / John 17:4

Jesus' call for workers - Matthew 9:35-38

God Works! - Genesis 2:2-3

- God gives Man work before the fall - Genesis 2:15
- God gives Man work after the fall - Genesis 3:23
- God gives Man a day off - Exodus 20:8-10
- God works inside of us - Ephesians 2:10 / Philippians 1:6, 2:13

Seven Biblical Attitudes to Create a Healthy Work Life

1. I must start working with all my heart - Colossians 3:23
2. I must understand who I am really working for - Colossians 3:23
3. My work habits determines my potential - Galatians 6:7-9
4. I need to work and live to please God - 1 Thessalonians 4:1
5. I need to work in such a way to win the respect of outsiders - 1 Thessalonians 4:11-12
6. I need to do my part of the work for God's kingdom - Ephesians 4:16
7. I need to realize I will be rewarded for my work - Matthew 16:24-27

God and Your Work Place

• What is my real attitude about my work?
• What is the culture I am creating at work?
• What is my impact on those far from God at my work?
• What is God teaching me through my workplace?
• How many of the things that are frustrating me at work right now would be no big deal if I chose to see God as my boss?

What pulls your train? - John 17:17, John 8:32, 2 Corinthians 5:7

Experience, don't suppress, your emotions - Romans 12:15, Proverbs 25:20, John 11:35, Psalms 34:18, Psalms 56:8, Isaiah 57:15

Avoiding stuckness . . . processing your emotions

circumstances >>>thinking>>>emotions - Psalm 4:4, Isaiah 9:6, Psalm 42:11

Substitutions . . . unhealthy avoidance of emotions - Isaiah 55:2, 6, John 5:5-6

Honest . . . real . . never alone - Psalm 62:8, 1 Peter 5:7, Romans 14:8