Bible Reading 2/18 - 2/24: Lev 6 - 18; Mark 3:7 - 8:10; Psalm 37-41; Prov 10:3-16
Review
Don't Refuse God
Do Not Refuse
How shall we escape . . .? - Heb 2:2-3
See that you don't refuse . . . - Heb 12:16-29
Don't Risk God's Rejection
Mat 21:23-27 - Make a decision
Was John's baptism from heaven or from men?
Are you in church to do God's will or to look good to others?
If I say "to do God's will" then he'll say then why aren't you bearing Kingdom fruit?
If I say "to look good to others the rest of the congregation will think I'm not spiritual.
If you're here to do God's will then act like God's really in charge.
Mat 21:28-32 - Don't be left behind
There are people you look down your nose at who are progressing in the Kingdom faster than you are because they have embraced the work.
Prepare and Produce
Mat 24:29-51 - No one knows the hour
Mat 25:1-13 - The Parable Of The Virgins
Olive oil comes from squeezing olives
The foolish virgins tried to do at the end what they should have done at the beginning.
New Material
Preparation
Main Passage
NIV
Hebrew Study Bible
KJV
The Message
NASB
RSV
Exegetical Idea
Subject
Tools: How, Who, What, When, Where, Why
Complement
Developmental Questions
Explain It: What does this mean?
Prove It: Is it True? Do I believe it?
Apply It: What difference does it make? So What?
Homiletical Idea
Purpose of the Sermon
Make it plain
Use accessible language and modern parables
Make sure people do something with the word God gives you for them.
Don't Refuse God (Continued)
Do Not Refuse
God wants to permeate Life Church in a new way.
There are things that God can’t reveal to us until we put him first.
Concept - Transformed In God’s Presence
The recipients of this letter were swimming against a Jewish tide.
How shall we escape . . .? - Heb 2:2-3
See that you don't refuse . . . - Heb 12:1-29
Prepare and Produce
Mat 24:29-51 - No one knows the hour
Mat 25:1-13 - The Parable Of The Virgins
My Dress Shirt @ Courtney's and Janeen's 25th Anniversary
At that time . . .
All the virgins fell asleep
While asleep they were unaware of the lamps' oil consumption
When they awoke there was a crisis - replenishment was needed
It is possible to be unaware of how low your reserves are getting when you are in the company of God's people.
Oil costs you something - pay now or pay later
A sacrifice to the Lord costs you something - 2Sam 24; 1Chron 21
Mat 25:14-30 The Parable Of The Talents
Distinct from the parable of the minas - Luke 19:11-27
Mina - 3 months wages
Talent - 60 minas = 15 years wages or 1 years wages for 15 people
Putting It Into Practice - How do I take my oil and multiply my talents?
It's not rocket science
Don't be overly mystical
Oil and lamps are very well understood technology.
Investing money is also very well understood - (e.g. the bankers).
Be practical
Get a fresh vision of God
How do you view God?
"Jazz is my religion"
H&R Block Commercial - "The Box"
imaginary friend
boss
The Mayor
We have a Lord to serve
God wants us to discover him.
Landscape can be obscured by fog and mist until the sun comes up to disperse it. This is the way it sometimes is as we seek to understand what’s going on in some ministry situations.
People who have faith go exploring.
People who have faith can take a sabbath.
Christianity is obedience, not mere self-help
God knows everything - he only experiences discovery through us.
Pray
The Prayer Reflex - when things aren’t the way they should be I pray
Prayer is not wishing - it's must be based in God's Word.
Pray - Father I want to lead others to spiritual maturity.
Reach out to others who will receive what you have
See this as something you can do
without a seminary degree
without a powerpoint presentation
without a 100 page syllabus
See this as something non-negotiable
These good behaviors are not substitutes for outreach:
prayer
Bible study
faithful church attendance
You have to do the difficult thing God tells you to do. - Heb 12:7-13
See this as a grace task:
Remember Doug Hall’s “Chaos Code”
Like a baby learning to walk you will fall down sometimes.
God's proud of your baby steps - keep walking
Sooner or later you have to walk up and down the stairs.
Sooner or later you have to cross the street by yourself.
This is another opportunity to discover God.
To really know him you have to get out of the "safe spaces".
This strengthens you through:
Prayer - the time you have to spend in God’s presence
Practice - exercising God’s Word
Relationships - forgetting about yourself and giving your life away
Overcome resistance to getting involved in other people’s lives.
Paratroopers have to overcome their fear of heights/falling
Swimmers have to overcome their fear of sinking/drowning.
Navy SEALS have to overcome fear of tied hands and feet.
Keep your eyes on the Kingdom harvest prize.
Keep a notepad and pen so that you can reach out and reconnect with the people you meet.
Discussion Questions / Topics
Reflect on Heb 2:2-3; 12:1-29
What are some ways that people "ignore such a great salvation"?
What are some ways that people "refuse God"?
Will any of the "spirits of righteous men made perfect" in Heb 12:23 be there because of you? If not, are you refusing to obey God by reaching out?
Reflect on Mat 24:36-51
When Jesus returns, what will happen to you? Are you ready?
Are any of your family and friends at risk of being lost when Jesus returns? If so, what are you doing about it? Is your life group a part of your ministry to your family and friends?
Reflect on Mat 25:14-30
How are you using your talents, gifts, and abilities for God's Kingdom?
Do you have any abilities that you can't use for God's Kingdom?
If you need help using your abilities for the Kingdom whom will you talk to?
Do you use your abilities to reach out to non-Christians? If not, why not?
From a Kingdom perspective have you multiplied or buried your talents?
Have you ever "taken a chance" to connect unbelievers to God's Kingdom?
Would you rather do something else for God besides reaching out to others? Why or why not? Is this something you can negotiate with God?
Have you taken any "baby steps" out of your comfort zone lately?
Are you willing to make mistakes in reaching out to others?
Works Activities For This Week's Life Group Meetings (repeated from last week)
Review the current prayer partnerships in your life group.
Make sure that everyone has someone to pray with on a weekly basis.
These can be long-term assignments or your can rotate them.
If you rotate them, the assignments should last at least one month.
Review the list of people you are praying for in your life group.
Make sure that everyone knows who to pray for and how to pray for them.
Make sure that the people who need salvation are getting prayed for every day by the members of the group.
Review each person on the list of people you are reaching out to.
Has anyone invited him/her to lunch/dinner or some other informal activity along with at least one other life group member?
Has anyone invited him/her to a life group fun event?
Has anyone invited him/her to a life group meeting?
