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End of the World #3

SERIES:  IT’S THE END OF THE WORLD AS WE KNOW IT!

Week 3

Icebreaker

 How many Michael Jackson songs do you know?

Recap

This week in our series we looked at the signs of the times.  Specifically,  5 signs of the nearing arrival of Christ, and 5 things that need to be in place for the arrival of Christ.  All of these simply help us see that things are lining up in place for “the end” to be legitimately near.  All in all, the point of each of these weeks is still is the same…it’s not to get lost in possible dates or timelines, but to be prepared, be ready, and be active in our call as Christians to reach our families, our communities, and our world with the Good News of Jesus.

Open Your Bibles

Read Matthew 24:3-14. Discuss as a group what stood out to you. Did anything make you go “Hmmm?”

Focus Questions
  1. Have you ever ignored the signs? These could be traffic or directional signs or perhaps things that have happened that when you look back was an obvious sign that you decided not to pay attention to. What happened? 
  2. Think about the character of someone who invites you to an event but is vague about where it occurs or how to get there. How does it speak to God’s character that He gives us signs that He is coming back? Why do you think God wants to provide those signs to us?
  3. During the End Times we can expect chaos and an increase in wickedness, wars and famine. What qualities of God do you attach yourself to in order to anchor or tether yourself to Christ during these times?
  4. Knowing that more evil is coming, our natural fight or flight response wants to kick in. How do we stay present and hopeful in God in the knowledge that chaos will increase?
  5. If you were planning a trip you would prepare a bag of essential items to take with you. What would you pack in your bag to prepare for God’s return? (Read your Bible, memorize scripture, intentional prayer.) 
  6. How do you need to rearrange your schedule and reprioritize to prep and prepare for the return of God and what you need to pack in your bag?
  7. It is a gift to prepare for God’s return. How can we rephrase the stereotypical End Times narrative and show others what a blessing it is? How can we explain or show how knowing the signs God has prepared for us is meant to give us peace and guidance, rather than fear and anxiousness?

Send Out Question

Let’s assume for a moment that these are the end times. What then? How should we, as a Christian, respond? How are we to live a life of satisfaction, purpose, and meaning in the end times? What would you change about your current habits, career, spending, leisure time, etc., knowing these are the end times? (See II Peter 3:10-12, John 9:4 and Galatians 6:10)
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End of the World #2

SERIES:  IT’S THE END OF THE WORLD AS WE KNOW IT!

Week 2

Icebreaker

 Is there a right way and a wrong way to mow a lawn?

Recap

This week in our series we dove into the subject of when could the end be coming?  Some Bible scholars look to the creation account as a possible blueprint for the time frame of humanity on earth.   As quoted in Psalms 90:4 and 2 Peter 3:8 “a day is like a thousand years with the Lord”.  This perspective argues that the seven day creation account points to a seven thousand year time frame for this world.  And with the final one thousand years taking place as described in Revelation as the Millennium, this would place us currently near the end of day 6.  It’s definitely food for thought.  But our greatest takeaway is simply this… if we are nearing the end, it should greatly impact the way we live.  It’s time to hustle!  It’s time to get on-mission with God!  It’s time to live rightly with Him!  It’s time… because time might just be running short.
   

Focus Questions
  1. What really matters in the truth of who Jesus is and what Jesus did for you? Is there any area that, if someone didn’t agree with you, would challenge your entire understanding of and relationship you have with Jesus? (Tithe 10% entirely to one church or split between several? Speaking in tongues? Working on Sundays?)
  2. Are there any topics, beliefs, or explanations during this series about the End Times that you’ve been struggling with or things that have just “rubbed you the wrong way?” Have you experienced any tension or discomfort when discussing or listening to others talk about the End Times?
  3. If you knew Jesus was coming for you at the end of next month, how would you prepare? Is there anything you would stop or start doing? Are there things you would give away? Why? Are there any relationships you would want to focus on?
  4. Is there someone in your life who you wish knew Jesus? Do you act differently around them than your believing friends? Are you more bold in your talk about Jesus or more hesitant? How can you share the truth of Jesus to someone who needs to hear that message?
  5. Is there anything that you know God has called you to do that you’ve been neglecting? A gift or talent you should be using for Him but have placed on the back burner? How will you explain to God the reason you decided not to use the gifts He gave you for His kingdom purposes? How will you explain your choice to turn down His call on your life?
  6. What changes do you need to make today to live life in a way that draws people into authentic conversations where they hear the good news about Jesus instead of hearing formulaic or pat answers to their questions? In what other ways can we communicate our faith and the importance of being in a relationship with Jesus to nonbelievers? How can we enter into these conversations without coming off as a judgy know-it-all?  
  7. Are believers at the same risk as non-believers to “miss the mark” in understanding who Jesus is and what He has done for us? How do we talk to other Christians who might not see the impact secularism has had on the way we are living in this world? 
   

Send Out Question

If the gospel of Jesus Christ is the most wonderful message that has ever come to earth, why do so many Christians allow secular living to interrupt and upstage Christ’s clear message to us?
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End of the World #1

SERIES:  IT’S THE END OF THE WORLD AS WE KNOW IT!

Week 1: REUNION

Icebreaker You are allowed to grab twelve items to put inside a bag to help you survive; what do you get?
Recap During this first week of It’s The End Of The World As We Know It, we talked about the next major biblical event in human history.  This being the return of Christ.

Pastor Josh talked about 3 things that should spur hope in us from this upcoming event, the return, the rapture, and the reunion.

Early Christians found such hope from this future event that they greeted one another with the greeting “maranatha”, which means “O Lord Come”.  How have we lost sight of this point of hope in Christ followers?  How does/could it bring you hope for today?
Scripture Reference 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18
Focus Questions
  1. What is your reaction to, impression of, or perspective of “the End Times?” Is this something you fear or get confused by? Is this even a thing? Are you worried the world is ending?
  2. Is there anything you’re experiencing personally, or is going on in the world where you would just like it to stop or end completely? Are there things you would want to pause but then pick back up later? Are there things you wish you never had to deal with again ever? 
  3. Have you waited for someone’s return that you were really looking forward to seeing again? What was it like to eagerly await seeing them again? What was your reunion like? Did you hug, cry, or just start talking like you were never away from each other again? 
  4. Have you ever been told you were going to see someone you did not necessarily want to deal with again? What were the days or hours leading up to that reunion like? How do our relationships affect the amount of eagerness or dread we feel leading up to being reunited (or simply running into unexpectedly) someone?
  5. How would you prepare for a reunion with a friend or relative? What things would you do to prepare yourself? What are some things you should be doing to ready yourself for a reunion with Christ? How should we invest our days in what truly matters (God and others) while we wait?
  6. How would you answer someone who pointed out that Jesus hasn’t come back in two thousand years; He would have done so already or He isn’t coming. 
  7. How can we grow in the hope of Christ’s coming so that it affects our daily lives?
Digging Deeper (A Personal Study) Think about a relative or friend whom you have not seen for many years. Is the relationship in disrepair? Take time to contact that person and restore the relationship if possible. If there is unrepentant sin, take time to pray for a new heart, whether for yourself or someone else. Remember that as God sent His Son into the world to restore His relationship with us, so too must we be ministers of reconciliation (Matt. 5:21–26).
Send Out Question We may not know the day or the hour, but it would still be helpful to know how we as Christians should live until Jesus returns. This week, list ways you should live until Jesus returns. What will you focus on first?
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Jesus for President #3

Jesus For President – Week #2

Recap: We continued in our series Jesus for President and looked to scripture for our own attitude adjustments as we head toward this election.  We looked to statements Jesus made and biblical principles that would direct our hearts during this season.  The 3 attitude adjustments we honed in on were: (1) No matter what, I honor who is in office.  (2) No matter what, I seek the peace and prosperity of the place where I live.  (3) No matter what, my God is in control.

Scripture: Romans 12:17-18; Romans 13:1-7; Jeremiah 29:4-7; Psalm 103:19; Daniel 4:34-35

Icebreaker: If you had to change your first name (and actually be called by it), what name would you choose?

Focus Questions

  1. What is the reason you believe people should become involved in politics? What do you think motivations are?
  2. Are your actions and words to others in person honorable? Are your actions and words on social media honorable?  Are your actions and words behind closed doors honorable?
  3. Have you ever bought something that you regretted buying, but you still owed money on it? God tells us that we owe our rulers honor and respect, regardless of how you feel about them. What are we expected to actually do to show honor to someone we might not want to?
  4. Pastor Josh talked about how honor comes from who we are, not who others are. How would you explain this to someone else?
  5. The Bible is full of examples of good rulers and horrible rulers. If God is in control, why would he allow horrible rulers to govern over His people?
  6. Jeremiah 29:7 tells us to “seek the peace and prosperity of the city;” if we are Christians living for eternity, why is seeking this for our earthly communities important?
  7. What are some ways we can show our concern about the welfare of our fallen world and why must we do this?
  8. Are there any thoughts or attitudes in your life that need to change in response to what you learned this week?
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Jesus for President #2

Jesus For President – Week #2

Recap: We continued in our series Jesus for President and looked to scripture for our own attitude adjustments as we head toward this election.  We looked to statements Jesus made and biblical principles that would direct our hearts during this season.  The 3 attitude adjustments we honed in on were: (1) No matter what, I honor who is in office.  (2) No matter what, I seek the peace and prosperity of the place where I live.  (3) No matter what, my God is in control.

Scripture: Romans 12:17-18; Romans 13:1-7; Jeremiah 29:4-7; Psalm 103:19; Daniel 4:34-35

Icebreaker: If you had to change your first name (and actually be called by it), what name would you choose?

Focus Questions

  1. What is the reason you believe people should become involved in politics? What do you think motivations are?
  2. Are your actions and words to others in person honorable? Are your actions and words on social media honorable?  Are your actions and words behind closed doors honorable?
  3. Have you ever bought something that you regretted buying, but you still owed money on it? God tells us that we owe our rulers honor and respect, regardless of how you feel about them. What are we expected to actually do to show honor to someone we might not want to?
  4. Pastor Josh talked about how honor comes from who we are, not who others are. How would you explain this to someone else?
  5. The Bible is full of examples of good rulers and horrible rulers. If God is in control, why would he allow horrible rulers to govern over His people?
  6. Jeremiah 29:7 tells us to “seek the peace and prosperity of the city;” if we are Christians living for eternity, why is seeking this for our earthly communities important?
  7. What are some ways we can show our concern about the welfare of our fallen world and why must we do this?
  8. Are there any thoughts or attitudes in your life that need to change in response to what you learned this week?
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Jesus for President #1

Jesus for President – Week #1

Summary: This week we dove into the difficult and often contentious subject of politics.  Jesus did make a couple comments about politics in his day.  This week we focused on Jesus’s comment in Mark 8 where He warned the disciples to beware of the yeast of the Pharisees and Herod.  This warning was really a warning of faith and trust.  It was calling out places where we so often are tempted to place our trust and look for hope.  Instead Jesus represented another Kingdom and reminded His disciples where they are to anchor their hearts… in His Kingdom.

Scripture: Mark 8:14-21; Matthew 5:9

Icebreaker: What’s one thing on your bucket list and why?

Focus Questions

  1. Do you avoid, actively engage in, or begin conversations about politics? On a scale from 1 to 10 how uncomfortable are you when the topic of politics comes up? How frustrated do you get when someone doesn’t agree with the same politics as you?
  2. Do you avoid, actively engage in, or begin conversations about God? On a scale from 1 to 10 how uncomfortable are you when the topic of religion comes up? How frustrated do you get when someone doesn’t agree with the same religious beliefs as you?
  3. How do you determine the truth from false information, especially when it pertains to politics and the media? What are the sources you find most helpful? 
  4. What does leadership look like in the world today? What should it look like? If God allows a leader to take a position, does it matter how they lead?
  5. Do you see a difference between servant leadership and public service? How are they the same? What makes them different?
  6. Read Matthew 5:9. What does it mean to be a peacemaker when discussing politics, whether it’s with close friends and family, people you might know in the community, or strangers online? What are some examples from your own life where you (or someone you know) succeeded or failed in being a peacemaker during a conflict you were involved in? 
  7. The value of civility in our culture seems to be diminishing, especially since we’ve seen an increase in accusations, slander, and personal attacks when it comes to discussing politics. If you participate in heated political exchanges, how do you justify the anger in which you communicate with the people God commands you to love? How can you personally improve civility or increase the value of civility in our world today?
  8. Does God want us to stay silent on the topic of politics? As Christ followers, what should be our attitude and our involvement with politics be? How can we express our political viewpoint while putting God first? Is that even possible?
  9. Can you think of a time in history when the “yeast” of God’s principles permeated and changed things for the good? (e.g., abolishment of slavery)  What are some parts of life today in which you can pray and work for that to keep happening?
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Heartwork #3

Heart Work – Week #3

Recap: We’re wrapping up our 3-week series on Heart Work based on  Psalm 27. Our heart can remain strong in spite of the world around us. A heart in line with God can be stronger than our circumstances, bigger than our future, and more than enough to help us through life. But all of that is only true if we’re willing to put in the work.

Scripture: Psalm 27

Icebreaker: What is one incredibly boring fact about you? (Sometimes there’s just so much pressure to name something interesting about ourselves, isn’t it?)

Focus Questions

  1. Read Psalm 27:9-10. David seems desperate and afraid that God will reject and abandon (forsake) him. Have you endured a time when you felt there was no way God could love you or want you?
  2. Describe a time when you were living your life focused entirely on your circumstances and that prevented you from hearing God. How did you snap out of it and shift your focus back to Christ?
  3. When someone tells you to focus on God’s promises, what are some ways you can find out what those promises are? What is a promise of God you cling to?
  4. Read Psalm 27:11-12. What did David ask for when enemies and false witnesses rose against him? Think about David receiving what he asked for; would there still be work for David to do? Or could David just sit back and let the Lord take over? 
  5. Read Psalm 27:13. When does David expect God to answer his prayers? 
  6. Name a goodness of the Lord you have seen in the land of the living this week. What makes it easy for you to see the Lord’s goodness? What gets in the way of you seeing His goodness?
  7. Read Psalm 27:14. Why do you think David repeats the need for us to wait?
  8. How are you going to participate in the hard (heart) work of waiting on God this week?

Digging Deeper (A Personal Study)

After every church service growing up, the kids would be ushered off to Sunday School while our parents ran off to grab cups of coffee and visit, returning an hour later to pick us back up. My mother always went to the home of my grandparents about two miles away where aunts and uncles gathered and filled themselves on coffee cake and the latest goings-on. There were times when the conversation and laughter overpowered the clock on the wall and my mother would swing in the church parking lot ten minutes after everyone else had gone home. Still, she always showed up.

One particular Sunday my mom was later than usual. After about fifteen minutes of waiting, our Sunday School teacher asked, “are you sure your mother is on her way?” All four of us siblings answered yes. The teacher had family arriving for dinner and she needed to leave to prepare. “We can wait,” we assured her. “She’ll be here!” 

Looking back, it never occurred to us to be worried. Instead, we played tag in the church parking lot, sang show tunes from the top of the church steps, and played the most epic game of I Spy we’ve ever had! From an outsider’s perspective (and, if I’m honest, from my perspective as a parent myself now) we were four children under the age of 8, all alone, left in a church parking lot in the middle of nowhere, with absolutely no form of communication. We had no cell phones, and the church doors were locked.

My mother finally showed up an hour later. She had had a flat tire and needed to walk to a nearby home to use their phone to call back to my grandparent’s house to get help. There were no apologies necessary because she did what she said she would do: pick us up, just as we trusted and believed she would do. 

Something has happened, though, over the years. The sheer act of waiting has become a lost art. A skill set diminished to the point of near extinction.

Long gone are the days where a slow pace was just a part of life. We’ve replaced summer vacations at Grandma’s Farm with jam-packed daily itineraries to see everything we can see. We’ve traded dinners around the table for food ordered through a speaker, delivered through a window and eaten in the car in order to get to the next activity on time. Results are expected to be instantaneous: next day delivery, refreshing computer screens to get test results, driving apps that point out expected wait times so those areas can be avoided. 

And when we find ourselves in a situation where waiting is inevitable, our attitudes crumble. We become impatient, annoyed, inconvenienced, frustrated, angry, put-out. We don’t feel we should have to endure waiting for anything or anyone. So how can we know how to wait on the Lord?

In The Treasury of David, author Charles H. Spurgeon writes: 

“‘Wait on the Lord.’ Wait at his door with prayer; wait at his foot with humility; wait at his table with service; wait at his window with expectancy.”

Waiting on God is not passive – it’s work! And it isn’t easy. Psalm 27 shows the kind of anguish and energy that goes into a prayer of waiting.

Waiting on God means that we ask God for what we need and desire, but we leave the how and the when up to him. God and God alone determines when He will answer and what that answer looks like.  

Waiting is believing that God is good all the time and that his timing is perfect… even when we feel we’ve been waiting longer than we wish for His answer. It’s understanding that while we wait, God is transforming us, getting us ready to receive his answer. Waiting strengthens our character by teaching us patience and dependency.

Let’s look at Psalm 27:14 in the Amplified version:  

Wait for and confidently expect the Lord;

Be strong and let your heart take courage;

Yes, wait for and confidently expect the Lord.

God doesn’t want us waiting for Him all depressed and whiny, lying in bed bemoaning how miserable our situation is. God wants us to wait on and confidently expect Him. It takes action to be filled with brave and courageous hope (instead of doubt and despair).

Wayne Stiles explains, “Waiting is a very active part of living. Waiting on God, if we do it correctly, is anything but passive. Waiting works its way out in very deliberate actions, very intentionally searching the Scriptures and praying, intense moments of humility, and self-realization of our finiteness. With the waiting comes learning. I can’t think of much I’ve learned that’s positive from the times I’ve plowed ahead without waiting on God.” 

  1. What situation in your life do you need to put back or keep in God’s hands and wait on Him?
  2. What are some specific actions you can take to show your faith while you wait for God to answer your prayers?
  3. What might God be producing in you as you wait?
  4. How long are you prepared to wait for the Lord? 
  5. Read 2 Peter 3:8-9. If a day with the Lord is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day, if you waited ten years for an answer from God, what would that be calculated out in “God’s Timing?” Does this math calculation help put waiting on God in perspective?
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Heartwork #2

Heart Work Week #2

Recap: In week 2 of Heart Work we begin by asking the question, “If there was  one thing you could ask of the Lord, what would it be?  King David asks to dwell in His presence and “seek the Lord”.  He briefly touches in verse 5 on some of the incredible impacts that comes from this one desire of the heart.  What ONE THING will your heart will chase after this week?

Scripture: Psalm 27:4-8;

Icebreaker: When you set a morning alarm, do you snooze for a while, or wake up right away?

Focus Questions

  1. If a friend or family member was describing you to a stranger, what would they say your favorite topic of conversation was? (This could be baseball, muscle cars, politics, cooking, farming, etc.) Stop and take note of what you think about the most. Would you agree with your friend/family member? 
  2. How would your life be different if throughout every waking moment all you were trying to do was do whatever was necessary to find and experience God?
  3. For every Christian, our personal relationship with Christ should be the “one” thing that soothes our sorrows, guides us in difficulty, and strengthens us in weakness.  What are some other avenues (people, habits, food) you use to soothe, guide and strengthen yourself? 
  4. If you could ask God for one thing, what would it be?
  5. What does it mean to pray expectantly? How would you describe that to a new believer? Over the course of your faith journey, have your prayers strengthened or have they become stagnant? What holds you back from praying expectantly?
  6. Do you practice Psalm 46:10, “Be still and know that I am God”?  What is the longest continuous amount of time you have spent listening with your whole heart for His still, small voice? How does not sitting in God’s presence limit your relationship with Him? 
  7. Is praising God your daily habit? Should your praise be quiet? How does Psalm 27:6 say we should praise God? What can you do to begin praising God this way?

Digging Deeper (A Personal Study)

Read Psalm 27:4-7-9 from The Message:

“I’m asking GOD for one thing, only one thing: To live with him in his house my whole life long. I’ll contemplate his beauty; I’ll study at his feet. That’s the only quiet, secure place in a noisy world, The perfect getaway, far from the buzz of traffic. God holds me head and shoulders above all who try to pull me down. I’m headed for his place to offer anthems that will raise the roof! Already I’m singing God-songs; I’m making music to GOD. Listen, GOD, I’m calling at the top of my lungs: “Be good to me! Answer me!” When my heart whispered, “Seek God,” my whole being replied, “I’m seeking him!” Don’t hide from me now!”

On a road trip a few years ago, we pulled into a fast food drive-thru for lunch in order to continue driving toward our goal. Because I have celiac disease, I need to be extra careful with my choices (which can be depressingly limited). To keep it somewhat simple, I ordered the biggest hamburger they had with all the fixings – without the bun.

Exiting the drive thru, we pulled over to pass out everyone’s lunch. Mine came in a plastic bowl but there was no fork to eat with. We pulled back into the restaurant parking lot to run in and ask for a fork in person. It didn’t take long and we were back on the road in no time!

Except when I went to pull the lid off my bunless burger, the fork slipped and fell between my seat and the car door. I peeked, felt around, stuffed my hand as far as it could go, but could not find the fork. I meekly asked if we could please pull over (again) so I could deal with my fork.

But the fork wasn’t there. We had the door swung wide open, in the middle of a bright afternoon, using the flashlights on our phones and checked everywhere. We moved the seat back. We moved the seat forward. We checked in the car door. We checked in the bag. We checked in places we knew there was no possible way it could end up, like the closed glove compartment and in my pockets.

Everyone in the car searched for the fork because if I wanted to experience the goodness of this greasy burger, dripping with mayonnaise and ketchup, tomatoes and onions, relish and lettuce – I needed the fork. Sure, I could use my fingers but that wasn’t the way the food was intended to be eaten. It’d be a mess. Sauce would be dripping down my arm, I’d probably spill and get frustrated. Although we were eager to get to our final destination we understood the importance of pausing to look for (seek) the fork.

We know we can live our life without God. That, however, isn’t the way God intended it. He will definitely allow us to make a mess. Get frustrated, angry, fed up. He will allow us to walk around dirty and stained from the sin that we let drip all over us. And the whole time He’s thinking how much easier things would be if we just pulled over, paused, and took however long it takes until we find Him.

When being interviewed about her song, “First,” singer/songwriter Lauren Daigle said, “When we are finding our identity and security in [God] and constantly seeking Him first, His desires first, His will first, His character first — when we are found in that, nothing else can come and take its place. Fear can’t come and survive because His love pushes it out.”

We need to focus on God’s perfect love, on His Kingdom. But how do we do that? Here are a couple challenges for this week for you to consider:

CHALLENGE: Seek God through prayer! Daniel 6:10 describes a pattern to pray three set times per day. Luke 18 shows that we are to pray night and day. Acts 3:1 gives us a sense of prayer length when it describes Peter and John going to temple for the “hour of prayer.” For one day this week, set an alarm to pray three separate times for an hour each. Make a list of people or things you want to pray for and just go through the list. Even if you run out of things to say, you can sit still with God thinking about Him. He knows your heart.

CHALLENGE: Seek God through His Word! In order to know and do the will of God, the Scriptures need to be meditated upon, read, or heard two or more times per day (Deut 6:4-9, Joshua 1:8). Choose one day this week to read the Bible on your own or with others. This can include Bible studies, devotions, or studying the origin of biblical words in scripture.

CHALLENGE: Seek God through Others! Seeking God and helping others are always tied together in the scriptures! When Jesus was asked what was the most important part of the Law of Moses, He said, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets” (Matthew 22:37-40). Take one day this week and decide that is your day to serve others! Fill your day with simple things like holding a door open for others, but also make an earnest effort toward something more impactful. Offer to watch someone’s children to allow the parents to go on a coffee date – you can even give them a gift card to your local coffee shop. Drop off a dinner to an elderly neighbor. Follow Walworth In Action on Facebook (or your local community volunteer page) to see ways you can help others in your community.

CHALLENGE: Seek God through Avoiding Distractions! There are many things that ‘get in the way’ of us seeking God the way we were designed to. Work, children, school, parents, taxes, lawn maintenance, car repairs, finances, health concerns, and so much more that tends to distract us from seeking God. Pick one day this week to take serious steps to intentionally clear your calendar from interruptions and diversion. Choose either silence or Christian music when driving in the car. Choose either to read the Bible, pray with your family, or watch an online sermon after dinner. Do not check your emails or respond to text messages for 24-hours. Make no plans with anyone (unless it’s a Bible Study or volunteer opportunity). Take a complete 24-hour period in your life to intentionally spend with God. Pray while sorting laundry. Thank God out loud for all the blessings you’ve been handed while washing the dishes. When you’re on your run, listen to a Christian podcast. Twenty-four hours. No distractions. Just you and God.

Are you in a right relationship with God? How would you define your relationship with God? As an acquaintance, neighbor, casual friend, best friend, dating, engaged, newly married, married for a little while, or celebrating your 50th wedding anniversary? Ask God to show you how you can improve your relationship with Him.

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Heartwork #1

Heart Work – Week #1

Recap: This week Kate unpacked how King David faced his fears in Psalm 27 as he was surrounded by his enemies. In the first few sentences of his psalm David addresses his fears by acknowledging who God is first, faces the reality of what the fear is, and then anchors himself in God’s character. These actions helped David move from a position of being lost in his fear to standing firm in his faith.

Scripture: Psalm 27:1

Icebreaker: What is your favorite jelly bean flavor & what’s the worst you’ve ever heard of?

Focus Questions

  1. Was there a time when you were fearful of the future and acted out on that fear (i.e., leading to anxiety, etc.)? What happened?
  2. What are your top two fears you are facing right now? How could they be opportunities to show faith?
  3. What if your fear came true and it really happened, would God still be good? Would He still be there with you…then why is it so hard to let go and trust?
  4. Read Matthew 14:22-33. Why does Jesus not address Peter saying, “You of much fear.”? Why does Jesus bring up faith in this situation? 
  5. What does it mean when people say God is good “all the time?” Do you believe this? How have you experienced His goodness during times of tragedy, chaos or unrest?
  6. How does the mind (what we think and meditate on) affect fear and faith? 
  7. How does remembering God’s promises in His Word help us fight the temptation to fear and instead grow in the fear of the Lord? What verses or Bible stories can you lean into when tempted by fear that would help grow your faith in God’s promises?
  8. This week how are you going to stand out as a person who has a relationship with the Sovereign God and react to scary things differently than your peers? What will show your trust in who God is?
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Summer Playlist #10

Summer Playlist Week #10

Recap: In this week’s final song for our Summer Playlist Series we listened to “Champion” by Bethel. “Champion” is a song that presses into some difficult Kingdom concepts. Concepts like carrying Christ’s victory, being seated with Christ in the heavenly realms, and having His authority. Pastor Josh looked at where Christ is seated in Ephesians 1 and finally where we are seated in Ephesians 2. God, who is outside of time, doesn’t look at our lives chronologically, but our past, present and future simultaneously. He sees our kingdom identity as the standard for living our current life… as Champions.

Scripture: Ephesians 1 & 2; Revelation 4 & 5

Icebreaker: What food do you crave the most often?

Focus Questions

  1. If God were to walk in your shoes this week, what would he have to face? How do you think He would handle what you face? Is there anything you think God could not handle?
  2. Everything in culture seems pretty chaotic right now, but read Psalm 29:10-11. How does that verse bring you peace with the current newsreels? Why is your answer easy to say, but hard to move to the heart and believe?
  3. Our soul seated with Christ is in a secure position founded on our salvation. What piece of armor in Eph. 6:17 is salvation and what does this piece of armor actually mean? How do you put on the helmet of salvation?
  4. Read Romans 12:2. Is the renewing of your mind a command? If so, why? Why can’t the unsaved do this? How do you renew your mind? 
  5. What do you feel you’re a slave to right now? Thought cycle? Speed of life? Daily news feed? Fear? How can you apply Romans 6:14 over it and live out Galatians 5:1? 
  6. This week, what is one area in your life where you will fight to renew your mind with the Word and be at rest, seated with Christ?

Digging Deeper (A Personal Study)

I have a relative who was addicted to pornography for 14 years. He grew up hearing all the right sermons, believed in Jesus, read his Bible, has great parents and friends, and can make anyone in any situation laugh. I’ve asked him before why it was such a fierce battle to break free of this addiction. Sorrow covered his face as he went into depth of how he would say no and knew it was wrong, but felt like a slave to it. Like it dragged him down to a pit that he wanted out of so badly, but didn’t know how to break free of. He felt alone, living in a daily personal agony of shame… he was living in a hell only he knew about. Just hearing that he “needed more Jesus” or needed to pray more or harder were not working. He knew Jesus had saved him and could save him from this pit, but he didn’t know how to walk in that salvation or how to battle it. Satan had attacked one of his most vital armor pieces before he really knew how to put it on… his helmet of salvation. His identity. The enemy had worked hard at snuffing out his  capability to see that he even had authority over sin by creating strongholds of lies in his head that kept him from viewing God and himself in the right way. Wounds had been inflicted and brick walls grew, creating a mental prison cell of darkness, loneliness, and shame. His soul was saved but his mind was enslaved to the law of sin.

 

How many of us would say that we feel enslaved to something? Some, like myself, can even say we feel slaves to our minds… our thought patterns. You don’t have to have a major title addiction to not walk in the salvation you have been given. It can be one of the hardest spiritual warfare areas of our lives as  Christians. In Ephesians 4:17 and Romans 6:12 Paul had just finished summing up what Christ did and what it meant to be saved. He uses the word therefore, indicating that because of this then action needs to take place. Salvation isn’t a stationary tick mark on your life timeline; it is something you walk in and have to daily put on. He is saying that because you are now under the law of grace and not the law of sin, live this way and practice your authority against sin this way. The jostling point to make here, though, is that the following verses after therefore directly address the mind. Paul does not say, “Start acting this way or saying these things”. He says, “Do not let sin reign in your mortal body, so that you obey its desires,” and, “You should no longer walk as the Gentiles walk in their futility of their thoughts” (Rom. 6:12 & Eph. 4:17). Salvation is a grace-filled freedom of the soul in the eternal spectrum, but it is freedom of the mind in the finite. We sit in this salvation with Christ in the heavenly realm, but we have to walk in it on Earth. And walking in it is the action of renewing our minds to be the minds of Christ. Satan cannot affect the destiny of our souls after we are in the palm of the Almighty, so he tries to tamper with the freedom we could be walking in through our salvation (he’s sneaky that way).  

 

My relative has been sober for three years and now leads a small group of men toward their own victory in Christ. The emphasis he makes, though, when we talk about his victory, is that his literal renewing of his mind as Paul talks about in Romans 12:2 had to be in Christ. It could not be done by his own will because he alone did not have the authority to conquer that sin. He does not have the authority by himself to say no to pornography nor I to judgmental and prideful thinking. But what does that mean, to renew in Christ? The answer lies in John 1:1-5. Jesus is the Word. We renew our mind and conquer sin by the ultimate power of the ink on the pages of the Living Word. We need to cover our bathroom mirrors, sticky note our desks, mark up our kitchen white boards, fill our ears with sound bites of verses, and buy verse memorizing apps with the very Word that was written for this exact reason… to be the ultimate truth and power of this world. We are not the power; we are the tool through which the power of the Almighty can work. 

 

So, how badly do you want to walk in freedom and the authority of your salvation? I ask because the enemy is constantly scheming to find our mental weaknesses, so we must be working just as hard to reinforce our helmets and knowledge of our identity in the salvation we have been given. Start by reading and really studying Romans 5-8 & 12. Memorize those truths and fight to take back your identity… your freedom. Galatians 5:1 (KJV) “Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.” In the NLT translation it is stated this way, “So Christ has truly set us free. Now make sure that you stay free, and don’t get tied up again in slavery to the law.”

 

If you are in need of some authentic Christ-followers to help you learn to walk in the freedom of your salvation, please consider joining Celebrate Recovery. We have a group that meets at Lakeland, and they would love to walk with you as you learn to renew your mind in Christ. If you do not live near the church building, Celebrate Recovery has groups that meet all over the world; there is probably a group near you.  

 

Resources

The Armor of God by Priscilla Shirer

Conquer Series by Kingdom Works Studios

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