THE SKY’S THE LIMIT

Mark 9:33-35 (NASB)

MINISTRY IS:

1. HOW WE BECOME GREAT.

“…on the way they had argued about who was the greatest. Sitting down, Jesus called the Twelve and said, ‘IF anyone wants to be first, he must be the very last, and the servant of all.’ ” Mark 9:33b-35 (NIV)

2. HOW WE DECIDE OUR PRIORITIES.

“Then a despised Samaritan came along, and when he saw the man, he felt deep pity. Kneeling beside him, the Samaritan soothed his wounds with medicine and bandaged them. Then he put the man on his own donkey and took him to an inn, where he took care of him.” Luke 10:33-34 (NLT)

3. HOW WE FOLLOW JESUS.

“… He now showed the disciples the full extent of his love. So he got up from the table, took off His robe, wrapped a towel around His waist, and poured water into a basin. Then He began to wash the disciples’ feet and to wipe them with the towel He had around Him… ‘I have given you an example to follow. Do as I have done to you.’” John 13:1b, 4-5, 15 (NLT)

WE PRODUCE MINISTRY BY:

1. CHOOSING OBEDIENCE OVER CONVENIENCE.

“(Jesus said,) ‘If you love Me, obey My commandments.’ ” John 14:15 (NLT)

“He (Jesus) replied, ‘But even more blessed are all who hear the word of God and put it into practice.’ ” Luke11:28 (NLT)

2. RESPONDING TO OPPORTUNITIES FOR MINISTRY.

“And if you give even a cup of cold water to one of the least of My followers, you will surely be rewarded.”

Matthew 10:42 (NLT)

“If you try to keep your life for yourself, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for My sake and for the sake of the Good News, you will find true life.” Mark 8:35

February 1, 2009

THE SKY’S THE LIMIT

PRODUCE MINISTRY

Sermon’s, like clouds, come in all shapes and sizes. But if you look closely, you’ll see a picture. God’s picture provides an environment of growth and development. For the next few weeks, we’ll discuss the catalysts that God used to grow a big life. In God’s plan for you, “The Sky’s the Limit” in growing spiritually.

Curriculum Guide

Introduction

If you have ever volunteered to do something for which you felt totally unqualified, then you already know what an experience like that can do in helping you grow up to at “The Sky’s the Limit” faith. One of the primary ways God grows us up is through our having a ministry. In this lesson we will explore the relationship between our faith and having a ministry in the church.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

Be reminded that these are some of the dynamics God uses to build a “Sky’s the Limit” faith.

Growing faith is the essence of a growing relationship with Christ.

. Our relationships

. Our circumstances

. Our Disciplines

. Our Ministries

. Our Learning

Use one of these questions, or a combination of these questions to introduce this week’s lesson. The goal is to surface the tension we feel when God is urging us to serve in a setting for which we feel ill-equipped or inadequate.

1. Have you ever been asked individually or in a group setting to serve in a church or ministry-related context?

2. What has your initial response been to those kinds of requests?

3. What is your response to the commitment card in the area of “Service” in regard to being in a ministry?

4. Have you ever sensed that God was urging you to do something, yet you refused to do it because you felt inadequate or unprepared? If so, what was it? Why did you refuse?

5. When have you ever said yes to something God was urging you to do for which you felt unprepared? What was the impact of that experience on your faith?

Read Mark 9:33-35 and John 13:1, 4, 5 and 15

6. What excuses do you use to avoid being involved in a ministry?

7. When you consider Jesus, and his call to follow him, and a ministry opportunity presents itself, and you say no because you feel unqualified, unprepared, on unable, what have you forgotten to factor into the equation?

The lesson is, we do what we can do, and trust God to do what only he can do.

Aren’t you glad somebody took a chance, ignored their fear, and stepped through the door of their own insecurity in order to serve you?

8. Who has chosen to serve you in spite of the fact that she/he was busy, ill-equipped, and unsure of how things would turn out?

9. Is there someone who has set aside time to invest in you or in those close to you?

10. What opportunities do you sense God opening to you in response to the “Sky’s the Limit” commitment card?

MOVING FORWARD

Having a personal ministry enables us to experience God’s power in our weakness. We may feel illequipped and unprepared, but these opportunities, possibly presented in the commitment card, are incredibly rich experiences through which God grows our faith. At first, you may perform an act of ministry in order to benefit our church or another person. Looking back, though, most people feel like they are the ones that benefited the most. Identify a skill, talent, or experience to exercise this week as a measure of personal ministry. Pray that God will use whatever skill, talent, or experience you might have as he sees fit.

CHANGING YOUR MIND

“Jesus sat down and called the twelve apostles to him. He said, “Whoever wants to be the most important must be last of all and servant of all.” Mark 9:35