Q4 – Four Questions. Answer them well, and find life. Fail to answer them, and risk missing out on what’s most important. These are questions we each must ask individually and as a church. And, they require us to be honest with ourselves and maybe even cause us to make changes. How would you answer them? In this 4-part message series, Rev. Stephen Ramsdell will help us consider the Bible’s answer to each question for our lives and for the church. Ask the questions with us, and be ready to see your life and our church in a whole new light.
Q1 WHO ARE WE?
Click here to link to BibleGateway.com. Enter any of the passages referenced below and then click update.
1. WHO ARE WE IN CHRIST?
A BODY 1 Corinthians 12:27
A FELLOWSHIP Acts 2:42-44
A VISION Acts 4:24
A MINISTRY Acts 6:7
2. HOW DID WE GET HERE?
POWER OF GOD Acts 4:7-10
PURPOSE Matthew 28:19-20
PLAN Proverbs 13:16
PARTICIPATION Romans 12:4-8
3. WHAT WILL HINDER US?
SELF-CENTEREDNESS Acts 4:32-34
SECURITY CONSCIOUSNESS Matthew 14:29
SILENCE Revelation 3:15-16
SATISFACTION Matthew 5:41
4. WHERE ARE WE GOING?
OBEDIENCE Luke 16:1-13
OFFENSIVE STRATEGY Philippians 4:13
ONENESS 1 Corinthians 12:12-27
OPPORTUNITY John 4:35-38
The Sky’s the Limit
Matthew 7:24-25 (NIV)
CONTINUE GROWING
1. IN ACCEPTANCE.
“After Jesus finished speaking, the crowds were amazed at His teaching, for He taught as one who had real authority – quite unlike the teachers of religious law.” Matthew 7:28-29 (NLT)
“And we will never stop thanking God that when we preached His message to you, you didn’t think of the words we spoke as being just our own. You accepted what we said as the very word of God.”
1 Thessalonians 2:13 (NLT)
2. IN HEARING.
“Therefore everyone who hears these words of Mine….” Matthew 7:24a (NIV)
“Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” 2 Timothy 2:15 (KJV)
3. IN APPLICATION.
“…and puts them into practice….” Matthew 7:14 b (NIV)
“You know these things – now do them! That is the path of blessing.”
John 13:17 (NLT)
4. IN CONFIDENCE.
“… like a wise man who built his house on a rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew against the house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundations on the rock.”Matthew 7:24c-25 (NIV)
“But everyone who hears these words of Mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.” Matthew 7:26–27 (NIV)
5. IN CHRIST.
“For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ.” 1 Corinthians 3:11 (NIV)
February 8, 2009
THE SKY’S THE LIMIT
CONTINUE GROWING
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 evelopment. 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
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
How many of the five things God uses to grow us up with a “The Sky’s the Limit” faith can you remember?
. Our relationships
. Our circumstances
. Our Disciplines
. Our Ministries
. Our Learning
Discuss the following?
1. Do you think it’s important for the church to emphasize application?
Read Hebrews 5:12 and Matthew 7:24-28
2. Matthew 7 contains a parable that follows Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount. Why do you think Jesus concluded his sermon with this parable?
3. What does this strong exhortation say about Jesus’ view of his own teaching?
4. What is the relationship between “…and puts them into practice” in verse 24 and “…had its foundation on the rock” in verse 25?
5. Have you ever applied a specific teaching of Scripture that, looking back, prepared you for an unexpected storm?
6. Can you think of a difficult time you have faced that could have been avoided if you had applied the principles of Scripture?
7. In verse 27, Jesus said that the foolish man’s house fell with a great crash. Chances are you know individuals or couples whose lives or marriages could be described in similar terms. Without giving names or too many specifics, describe a situation you know about where someone experienced a great crash that could have been avoided if he or she had consistently applied the teachings of
Jesus.
8. Has this year’s “Sky’s the Limit” stewardship campaign moved your forward in your faith and did your commitment card reflect that?
MOVING FORWARD
“Unapplied truth is like paint. It doesn’t do anybody any good until it’s applied.” We can be the most learned of believers, but if our knowledge doesn’t move us toward application, then our faith will wither. The Bible challenges us to respond to God’s truth in many different ways: love your enemies, show forgiveness, and practice generosity. What have been the most difficult truths from the Bible for you to apply?
Identify areas of your life where a bit more application would make a noticeable difference and then apply?
Did you turn in your “The Sky’s the Limit” commitment card, and does that commitment reflect a “The Sky’s the Limit” faith?
CHANGING YOUR MIND
“Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on a rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on a rock. But everyone who hears these words of mind and does not put them into practice it like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.” Matthew 7:24-27
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
The thought I had from last week’s sermon and from the study questions was how important it is to have a routine of daily bible reading and prayer. Before a sporting event starts, the crowd is exited and ready to go. Click some of the examples below to see what I’m talking about:
Last Year’s Super Bowl Intro of New York Giants
Super Bowl intro of Giants in 2008
Super Bowl intro of Patriots in 2008
Super Bowl Intro of Colts in 2007
Super Bowl intro of Bears in 2007
In the same way, we can be enthusiastic and look forward to a daily bible reading and prayer. We can be excited about what plans God has for us and what experiences He will give us each day.
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