Icebreaker

Is bacon better crispy or chewy?

Recap

The call to follow Jesus is not a call to comfortability, but a call to be ALL IN. By accepting the call, and choosing to be all in, God will use your passions to reach the people in your life and advance Kingdom territory. The ultimate question is, are you ALL IN?

Scripture Reference

Matthew 4:19-20; Matthew 16:18; Ephesians 5:8-11; Mark 10:17-22; John 21:17-19

Focus Questions

1. What is something that you wouldn’t have done on your own, but have experienced because someone invited you? 
2. Are you comfortable inviting others (to your home, on a walk, for dinner) or do you lean toward sitting back and waiting for others to invite you? What holds people back from inviting others? Does fear of rejection or fear of others not being interested stop us from inviting them to join something important to our hearts? Why does God keep inviting us after we continually reject Him? 
3. This week we learned the Greek word ἐκκλησία – EKKLESIA – which comes from the root word ‘ek kaleo’ which means “called-forth ones.” The word does not connote any special power or authority, rather it indicates purpose. Pastor Josh went on to explain that we are called forth out of the crowd to live differently as the church and as a follower of Christ. In what situations is it easier to go back and blend in with everyone else? Can you think of a time where you were in a situation where you remained quiet about your relationship with Christ or chose to go along with the conversation or activity because you didn’t want to make things awkward by revealing your relationship with Christ?
4. Read Mark 10:17-22. Are you a cultural follower of God, or are you all-in? What do you need to give up in order to go all-in and truly follow God in the way He called you forth?
5. Even those who are “all-in” followers of Christ still make mistakes. Do you believe God will invite you to be in relationship with Him and follow Him just one time, or will He extend that invitation over and over? Do you stop inviting others when they make a mistake, live vastly differently than you, or refuse your invitation? Or do you not even bother inviting them in the first place? 
6. God’s calling to His followers includes a vision that there is an expression of Him in every place where people gather. Where are some places you gather? Do any of those places not include an expression of God? Where do people gather that you think should be impacted by the love of Jesus? 
7. Why is it important for Christians to be intentional about living boldly as a called-forth one for Christ? Why is it important to stand out as a Christ-follower in every place where people gather? What is holding you back? 

Send Out

Do you want to live and speak more boldly for Jesus Christ? How badly do you want it? Do you want it enough to ask, seek, and knock until God answers and to take risks that challenge your fears, anxieties and shyness? Or is it more comfortable to keep sitting on the sidelines, unchallenged, wishing you were one of those bold people? 

The good news is Christian Boldness is not a personality trait, rather it is acting, by the power of the Holy Spirit, on an urgent conviction in the face of some threat.

Let’s look at Acts 4:31. “After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly.”

Jesus’ disciples prayed and asked for boldness. They knew that in order to spread their message and make Jesus known, they could not rely on their strength alone. They needed the gift of boldness to complete what they were called to do. And we can do that, too!

The enemy would love for those of us who know God to sit peacefully and contentedly in our homes, reading our daily devotions, highlighting scripture and praying before meals. The last thing the enemy wants to see is us being bold, stepping out away from the crowd and shining the light of Jesus in every situation we find ourselves in. 

This week, challenge yourself to spend some time digging into the enemy’s playbook. Identify the doubts Satan whispers to you that stop you from going all-in and living boldly for Christ. Then shoot down the enemy’s arrows by looking for the scriptural promises of who you are in Christ (see week 2 of this series if you need a refresher!)

• Does the enemy tell you that you should be quiet, blend back in with the rest of the world?
• Does the enemy tell you that you are not equipped to talk about Jesus to those who do not yet know Him?
• Does the enemy tell you that someone else will take care of the idea that is stirring in your heart that will bring the love of Jesus to those who need Him?

Pray daily to the Holy Spirit for boldness to live as a called-forth one. Saturate yourself with His promises so you can combat the lies of the enemy.