Sermon Notes: The Core

Theme: Life Be Livin’

“The C.O.R.E!”

Luke 15:11-32

Introduction

Every professional athlete has a solid core. He or she cannot perform if their core is weak or just “so-so.” The stronger the core, the better the athlete is able to perform.  If the core is weak, the athlete’s performance level is capped or handcuffed.

Just as the core is important to our body, or exterior life, so the core is important to the interior life. In other words, since the visible core is important, the invisible core is surely important as well.  In order for you to accomplish what The Lord has for you, you need a strong interior life core.  Similarly, in order for you not to accomplish what the devil has for you, the core of your interior life must be strong!

Question: What is your interior life core?   Answer: S.E.M.
Spiritual – your believing;
Emotional – your feelings; and
Mental – your thinking. S.E.M.!
That is your interior life.  Without question, the quality of your entire life depends on how you manage your S.E.M. core!  (Please read that again.)

There are two (2) basic ways to manage – or try to maximize – your S.E.M. core: with The Lord or without The Lord. I recommend you do it with Him!  If you choose The Lord’s route, then you want to be “graced”! You want The Lord to “kiss your S.E.M. core on the neck “with His grace! No human being understood grace better than Apostle Paul.

Grace! Ephesians 2:8,9

1. Grace is a manifestation of The Lord’s power.
2. Grace is also a manifestation of The Lord’s pardon.
3. We often focus on the pardoning component of God’s grace.
4. Today, we will highlight the power component of His grace. Again, Apostle Paul’s words are very helpful!

C – Confident 2 Timothy 1:12

1. By God’s grace, you can do whatever needs to be done on your Kingdom agenda. Philippians 4:13
2. The Lord’s power – grace – that is available to you is immeasurable!  Ephesians 1:19, 20
3. The same power – grace – that raised Jesus from the dead is available to you!

O – Overcomer Romans 8:37

1. By God’s grace, you can overcome!     2 Corinthians 11:23 –28
2. You have what you have and do what you do because of God’s grace.  2 Corinthians 15:10
3. Since you are grateful for God’s grace, or unmerited favor, you are propelled to do even more.   2 Corinthians 15:10

R – Righteousness 2 Corinthians 5:21

1. By God’s grace, you are the righteousness of God.
2. In spite of Paul’s past, The Lord made him righteous. Acts 9:1– 6
3. The Lord will do—or has done—the same for you!
4. I know it sounds and seems unbelievable. That’s why it’s called g-r-a-c-e.

E – Endurance Colossians 1:11

1. By The Lord’s grace, you will be perfected, strengthened, and settled each step of the way.  1 Peter 5:10
2. Cores are not strengthened overnight or automatically.
3. Cores are strengthened when we go through, not around or over, but through.

Summary

When your inner C.O.R.E.  develops, you grow in your ability to fight and win your battles against both society and the evil one.  By God’s grace, develop your C.O.R.E.:

Confidence – I am confident!
Overcomer – I am an Overcomer!
Righteousness. –  I am the righteousness of God!
Endurance – I will endure!

All of this—and more—is done by God’s grace!

September 21, 2025

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