Overflow | Week 1 | Pastor Kevin Kringel |
Overflow
Week 1
Eventually, this series will move us toward sharing our faith, but first, I want to focus on your heart.
Sharing our faith was never meant to be a burden to carry, but the natural overflow of a life filled with God.
Series Verse — Romans 15:13
“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”
This is Paul’s prayer for the church in Rome:
The Church in Rome
When Paul wrote this, Christians in Rome were already living under pressure.
Week 1
Running on Empty? What’s Filling Your Heart?
Eventually, this series will move us toward sharing our faith, but first, I want to focus on your heart.
Sharing our faith was never meant to be a burden to carry, but the natural overflow of a life filled with God.
Series Verse — Romans 15:13
“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”
This is Paul’s prayer for the church in Rome:
- That God would fill them
- With joy and peace
- Resulting in lives overflowing with hope
- All by the power of the Holy Spirit
- Joy anchored in God and the Good News, not circumstances
- Peace anchored in God and the Good News, not circumstances
- Hope rooted in God’s activity in the earth, in your life, and in the future He is unfolding
The Church in Rome
When Paul wrote this, Christians in Rome were already living under pressure.
They faced:
- Ridicule
- Exclusion
- Economic consequences
- Family division
- Occasional harassment
The worst was still coming. About seven years later, Nero would launch an intense persecution against Christians.
Paul didn’t write about overflowing hope from a comfortable world. He wrote it to believers living under pressure.
And yet his prayer was still:
“May you overflow with hope.”
Paul didn’t write about overflowing hope from a comfortable world. He wrote it to believers living under pressure.
And yet his prayer was still:
“May you overflow with hope.”
Roots and Fruit Luke 6:43–45
Jesus talks about trees, fruit, and roots.
Trees begin as seeds. Fruit is the culmination of what has been nurtured over time. Fruit is not mainly about the health of the fruit itself; it reveals the health of the tree.
By the time fruit becomes visible, it is already mature enough to affect others. Fruit spreads. Good fruit blesses others. Bad fruit affects others, too.
Paraphrasing, Jesus:
“The mouth speaks what the heart is full of.”
Your words are fruit.
Jesus talks about trees, fruit, and roots.
Trees begin as seeds. Fruit is the culmination of what has been nurtured over time. Fruit is not mainly about the health of the fruit itself; it reveals the health of the tree.
By the time fruit becomes visible, it is already mature enough to affect others. Fruit spreads. Good fruit blesses others. Bad fruit affects others, too.
Paraphrasing, Jesus:
“The mouth speaks what the heart is full of.”
Your words are fruit.
How Do We Know What’s Filling Our Hearts?
We listen to ourselves.
One of the clearest indicators of what’s filling you is what consistently comes out of you.
When pressure hits the cup, what’s inside comes out.
One of the clearest indicators of what’s filling you is what consistently comes out of you.
When pressure hits the cup, what’s inside comes out.
- “Your life leaks whatever your heart holds.”
- Good things stored up in the heart
- Bad things stored up in the heart
What are we holding onto?
What are we rehearsing?
What are we storing up in our hearts?
This is bigger than speech. This is about your life.
It’s about health.
It’s about fruitfulness.
It’s about the direction of your life.
You only get one life, and you must be intentional with it.
Life is not random. It is the overflow of what fills your heart.
What are we rehearsing?
What are we storing up in our hearts?
This is bigger than speech. This is about your life.
It’s about health.
It’s about fruitfulness.
It’s about the direction of your life.
You only get one life, and you must be intentional with it.
Life is not random. It is the overflow of what fills your heart.
Guarding the Heart - Proverbs 4:20–23
“Above all else, guard your heart…”
How do we guard it?
It begins with what voices we listen to.
Don’t become consumed with the wrong things.
Keep your eyes on the Lord. Stay aware of His activity all around you.
There will always be distractions tempting you to look to the right or left, offenses, fears, comparisons, headlines, and someone else’s story.
“Above all else, guard your heart…”
How do we guard it?
It begins with what voices we listen to.
Don’t become consumed with the wrong things.
Keep your eyes on the Lord. Stay aware of His activity all around you.
There will always be distractions tempting you to look to the right or left, offenses, fears, comparisons, headlines, and someone else’s story.
Something may happen over there, but you refuse to stop and live focused on it.
Your life moves in the direction of your most dominant thoughts.
Your feet eventually walk toward where your eyes continually look.
Your life moves in the direction of your most dominant thoughts.
Your feet eventually walk toward where your eyes continually look.
My Cup Overflows - Psalm 23:5 “My cup overflows.”
How different does that sound in a world where everyone feels like they are running on empty?
When your heart is full of joy and peace that come from God and your relationship with Him, gratitude becomes the fruit that forms. I feel this whole chapter is filling the psalmist cup not just the moment of oil being poured out.
How different does that sound in a world where everyone feels like they are running on empty?
When your heart is full of joy and peace that come from God and your relationship with Him, gratitude becomes the fruit that forms. I feel this whole chapter is filling the psalmist cup not just the moment of oil being poured out.
- “Gratitude is the evidence of a full heart.”
- “If you don’t like what’s coming out, change what’s going in.”
A Community That Fills Your Cup - Colossians 3:15–17
Who you surround yourself with matters.
Paul writes to the church in Colossae:
“Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts… and be thankful.”
“Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly…”
“Teach and encourage one another…”
“Sing with gratitude in your hearts…”
“Whatever you do… do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus…”
Notice how communal this is.
This is not isolated Christianity. This is a people helping fill one another with the things of God.
Who you surround yourself with matters.
Paul writes to the church in Colossae:
“Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts… and be thankful.”
“Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly…”
“Teach and encourage one another…”
“Sing with gratitude in your hearts…”
“Whatever you do… do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus…”
Notice how communal this is.
This is not isolated Christianity. This is a people helping fill one another with the things of God.
The voices around you matter.
The people around you matter.
Your Community shapes overflow.
The people around you matter.
Your Community shapes overflow.
Response / Testimony Moment
Would anyone like to give gratitude to the Lord today?
(Testimonies)
Would anyone like to give gratitude to the Lord today?
(Testimonies)
Altar Call Direction
Some people today are empty.
Running on fumes.
Some are filled, but they are filled with fear, anxiety, offense, bitterness, or exhaustion rather than joy and peace.
Today is not about trying harder. It’s about letting God fill your heart again.
What have you been storing up?
What voices have been shaping you?
What has been overflowing from your life?
Invite the Holy Spirit to refill:
Some people today are empty.
Running on fumes.
Some are filled, but they are filled with fear, anxiety, offense, bitterness, or exhaustion rather than joy and peace.
Today is not about trying harder. It’s about letting God fill your heart again.
What have you been storing up?
What voices have been shaping you?
What has been overflowing from your life?
Invite the Holy Spirit to refill:
- Joy in God
- Peace in God
- Hope in God
- Gratitude for God
Because when the heart is full of God, life naturally begins to overflow.
Sing: Goodness of God.
Sing: Goodness of God.