Be Fruitful and Multiply

Creation Story

God created everything - Gen 1:1-3

Man and Woman are to be fruitful and multiply - Gen 1:24-31

Man has the breath of life - Gen 2:4-7

It is not good for the man to be alone - Gen 2:15-25

Your life group doesn't have to be perfect - just available.

Remember - the apostles had issues of their own.

Gospel Age

God has regenerated us

God still wants us to be fruitful and multiply

Make disciples - Mat 28:18-20;

Preach the good news to all creation - Mark 16:14-20

Preach repentance and forgiveness to all nations - Luke 24:45-53

Those who have faith in Jesus will do what he did - John 14:5-14

As the Father sent me I am sending you - John 20:19-23

God wants to use you in 2006

He wants to use you inside the body (i.e. the local congregation)

He wants to use you outside the body (i.e. evangelism and discipleship)

You can't multiply by yourself

Take stock of 2005

Did you expand the Kingdom in 2005?

If not, what will you do differently in 2006?

Following Jesus

The Son is in charge - Psalm 2; Acts 4:23-30; Acts 13:29-37

Why do the nations rage? - Acts 4:23-30

You are my Son, today I have become your Father - Acts 13:29-37; Heb 1:5; Heb 5:5

Kiss the Son

Jesus launches his ministry

Baptism - Mat 3:13-17

This is my Son, whom I love . . .

Temptation - Mat 4:1 - 11; Heb 2:18; Heb 4:15

Lust of the flesh, lust of the eyes, pride of life - Gen 3:1-8; 1John 2:15-17

Jesus used scripture

Jesus and worship

Worship the Lord your God and serve him only - Mat 4:10; Deut 6:13

Jesus accepted worship

Magi - Mat 2:2,11

Man born blind - John 9:38

Women at the tomb - Mat 28:9

Disciples - Mat 28:17

The Father has entrusted everything to the Son - John 5:16-47

By calling God his Father Jesus acknowledged his equality with God

Honor the Son as you honor the Father

Trying to go around the Son dishonors the Father

Recruits Disciples - Mat 4:17-22

Jesus knew that he needed to extend himself through others

Who are you extending yourself through?

We have benefitted from those who extended themselves through us

Coutney McBath and Michael Harrison came alongside me to support me.

Karen Cummings helped to move me into ministry.

Ed Johnson, Purcell Dorsey, Pastor Andy, Chris Hill

Meets Needs - Mat 4:23-25

Jesus addressed the people's perceived needs.

Whose needs are you addressing?

Following Jesus (continued) - Mat 5 - 6

Jesus launches his ministry and teaches his disciples (continued)

Light of the world - Mat 5:14-16

Don't hide your light under a bowl

"Salt" from salt marshes could lose its saltiness.

Expose yourself to the unbelieving world

Cell ministry is an excellent way to do this

Light the world around you so that people can see it as it really is

Don't shine a spotlight in people's eyes to blind them

Jesus fulfills the Law and the Prophets - Mat 5:17-20

Do not murder / Do not be angry - Mat 5:21-26

The Law explicitly refers to external behaviors

Jesus identified the law's true intention and direction

Anger is a root issue that can take various forms

blatant: murder, violence, rage

verbal: cursing, yelling, sarcasm, cynicism

internal: bitterness, resentment, depression

Anger is a dangerous emotion

In your anger do not sin - Psalm 4:4, Eph 4:26

Don't let the sun go down on your anger - Eph 4:26

acts of the flesh can keep you out of the Kingdom - Gal 5:16-21

Examples

Columbine

The time I hit Amelia in 6th grade

urban violence

The World's way

Anger is often feared

Anger is often celebrated

in movies, on television and in other media

especially where young men are concerned

in some movements

social: Black nationalism, environmentalism, feminism

religious: Islamic fundamentalism

Christian: persecution of gays; bombing abortion clinics

Anger has various causes

behavior of others - threats, abuse, abandonment, rejection

impersonal events

ourselves - failures, inadequacies, our personal attributes

Resentments and quarrels - James 3:13 - 4:12

Trade in old fantasies for fresh vision from the Lord

Anger has a solution

Don't use the world as your model

Do not love the world - 1John 2:15-17

Don't gain the world and lose yourself - Luke 9:23-25

Don't conform to the world's pattern - Rom 12:1-2

Give it to God

Give your burdens to Jesus - Mat 11:28

Do not be anxious about anything - Isa 26:3; Phil 4:6-7

Our struggle is not against flesh and blood - Eph 6:12

If you're not praying you are defenseless against anger

Discipline yourself

You must master sin - Gen 4:1-12; Rom 6:12-13; Rom 8:5-6

Your actions

Your words

Watch what you say - James 3:2-12

Complaining

Israel complained - Num 11:1; Num 14:27

Don't complain - Phil 2:14

Your associations

Avoid "brothers" or "sisters" who slander - 1Cor 5:11

Seek deliverance

Jesus cast out demons and expected his disciples to do the same

Initial commissioning - Mat 10:1; Mat 10:8; Luke 10:19

greater works - John 14:12

If repeated attempts at discipline fail, you may need deliverance

Deliverance is not a panacea

it often changes the fight from impossible to difficult

it is not a substitute for walking in the Spirit

it is not a substitute for discipline

Practice a lifestyle of reconciliation

Be reconciled to God - 2Cor 5:14-20

A brother/sister who is angry with you is in spiritual danger - vs 24

Covenant Faithfulness - Mat 5:27-37

Adultery

Dangerous thinking errors

Minimization - "One time won't hurt"

Rationalization -

Denial

Relabeling - telling it like it wasn't

Justification - "I couldn't help it"

Spiritual rationalization -

Distorted Thinking -

"It will turn out OK - I won't get caught."

"No one will get hurt."

"They weren't really upset with me."

"They will get over it."

"Nothing harmful will come of this."

Entitlement

"I'm entitled to a little fun."

"I deserve it."

"I deserve a break today."

"No one appreciates me."

"I've been so good."

"I'm not as bad as most husbands are."

"I've done so much for God."

"My wife really doesn't like sex much."

"I've led such a sheltered life."

"I've been pure all these years."

"I need something to lift my spirits."

"God intended that we enjoy life."

Divorce

God hates divorce (among other things) - Mal 2:16

God forgives us if we repent

If you're divorced

Acknowledge your contribution, if any and apologize

Don't break up a new marriage to renew an old one

If reconciliation is possible pray and seek pastoral counsel about your situation

Oaths / Swearing - Just be truthful

Dealing with bad people - Mat 5:38-48

"Eye for eye" is not revenge - Ex 21:18-27; Ex 24:17-21; Lev 19:18

Turn the other cheek

Love your enemies

Greeting only your brothers is not acceptable

Going against the grain gets people's attention

Powerful people don't need to show off their power

Hyprocrisy - Mat 6:1-18

Don't do righteous acts for show

Don't pray for show

Your Kingdom come - ask for the needs of the ministry

What resources would enable you to serve more effectively?

What obstacles hinder you from serving more effectively?

Give us our daily bread - Ask for your needs

Store up treasure in heaven

Greed - Mat 6:19-24

Store up treasure in heaven, not on earth

"eyes are good (single)" - be generous

You can't serve two masters

Religion vs. Kingdom Life

Old Covenant - God demands what's external to get what's internal

New Covenant - God demants what's internal and the external follows

Are we doing the work of the Kingdom?

Are we just being religious?

Rules taught by men - Isa 29:13; Mat 15:1-9

Religion focuses on familiar and comforting rituals

Religion offers status and the approval of other people whether God is pleased or not

Kingdom life focuses on hearing from God and obeying

If you love me you will obey what I command - John 14:15

Why don't we obey?

We don't want to

We don't know how

We think that we don't have the resources

We think that we're not capable

We tell ourselves: "I'm not ready yet"

You need help to live this way

You need the Holy Spirit

You need your brothers and sisters

Emphasize LOVE rather than INTIMACY

Give people permission to tell you when you're "tripping"

What if I risk opening myself to real friendship?

Seize windows of opportunity for discipleship

Emphasize befriending new believers rather than follow-up

God is waiting on us!!!

Works Activities For This Week's Life Group Meetings

Keep sharing your testimonies

List the people in your oikos on a 3 x 5 card (one person per card)

Ministry Systems Dynamics

Reinforcing Feedback

Vicious Cycles

Backsliding

Virtuous Cycles

Sanctification

overflow of giving - 2Cor 9:6-15

sowing seed

Balancing Processes

faucet/eye/hand system filling a glass of water

Balancing Processes With Delay

thermostat

shower temperature control

Limits To Growth

Church grows to point where intimacy is lost

Shifting The Burden

Drug addiction

Sexual addictions

Television addictions

Escalation

arguments

arms race

Tragedy Of The Commons

multiple flocks on a singlle field

environmental pollution

Success To The Successful

Growth and Underinvestment

attendance falls off due to crowding before new space is achieved

Accidental Adversaries

Employee / Company example

employees are rewarded for political gamesmanship

company is rewarded for pursuit of growth rather than development

Traditional Church and the Arts

Traditional Church and other Areas of Gifting

Fixes That Fail

EGC Questions

Question 1

We don't ask:"How will WE get a building in the South End?"

We ask: How can OUR COMMUNITY provide a BUILDING for us?"

Question 2

We don't ask: "How do WE plant CHURCHES?"

We ask: "How does THE CITY plant CHURCHES?"

Question 3

We don't ask: "How do WE stop CRIME?"

We ask" "How does the CITY stop its OWN CRIME?"

Question 4

We don't ask: "How does EGC do EVANGELISM?"

We ask: "How does the CITY do EVANGELISM?"

Question 5

We don't ask: "How do WE set up an urban training school for uban ethnic ministry leaders?"

We ask: "How do urban ethnic ministry LEADERS work with a seminary to SET UP their OWN urban training school?"

Question 6

We don't ask: "How can WE get more urban ethnic students into Christian schools?"

We ask: "How can urban ethnic STUDENTS recruit their OWN PEOPLE to Christian schools?"

Question 7

We don't ask questions THAT PRODUCE: short-term, counterproductive ends

We ask QUESTIONS THAT PRODUCE: long-term multiply-productive ends

Question 8

We don't ask QUESTIONS that: make us design OUR organization to DO a task

We ask QUESTIONS that: force us to find how the SOCIAL REALITY we are working in will become the PRIMARY DOER of the task

Reflect on Mat 4:12-25

Who are you partnering with in ministry?

What are you doing to address the needs of others outside the church?

Reflect on Mat 5:14-16

Have you been the "salt of the earth" in your personal life? If so. how?

Have you lost your "saltiness". If so, in what way?

Have you been the "light of the world" in your personal life? If so, how?

Is your light hidden or on display? If so, in what way?

Reflect on Mat 5:21-26 and James 3:2 - 4:12

Are you angry? What makes you angry?

Has anger ever caused difficulty in your relationship with God?

Has anger ever hindered you from doing what God wanted you to do?

Have you ever celebrated anger in others? In yourself?

Describe a time when you turned your anger over to Jesus. What happened?

Does your tongue need taming? How so?

What complaining or slander, if any, have you been involved in?

Describe any times when you have rebuked demonic spirits of anger.

Describe a time when you've reconciled with a believer or needed to.

Describe a time when you "left your gift at the altar" to reconcile with someone.

Reflect on Mat 5:27-37

What strategies do you find helpful for coping with lust?

What can other brothers and sisters do to help you in this area?

Have you ever struggled with making your "Yes" Yes and your "No" No?

Reflect on Mat 5:38-48

What opportunities have you had to "turn the other cheek" recently?

What opportunities have you had to "love your enemies" recently?

Reflect on Mat 6:1-18

How do you let your light shine without doing good deeds for show?

What resources would enable you to serve more effectively?

What obstacles hinder you from serving more effectively?

Reflect on Mat 6:19-24

What are you doing to store up treasure in heaven?

What people or things compete with God for your allegiance?

Religion vs. Kingdom Life

Have you ever been religious rather than Kingdom focused?

In what ways does your desire for human approval get in the way of serving God?

Describe a time when God wanted you to do something that resulted in disapproval:

from people in the world

from people in the church

How can your life group help you avoid hypocrisy?

Following Jesus (Part 3)

Pastor Rocklyn E. Clarke - Sunday January 22, 2006