God loves you and wants to have a relationship with you.
A relationship with God must be on his terms.
God's terms are: Follow Jesus!
How do I follow Jesus?
Live for Jesus, not for yourself
Let go of our self-love (narcissism)
The Rich Fool - Luke 12:16-21
Common television sitcom fare
"The Office", "Seinfeld", "Friends", "Frasier", "I Love Lucy", "Home Improvement"
Slavery to our pain
Drugs, Alcohol, Cigarettes
Sex, Crowd-pleasing behavior, Music, Clubbing
Risky Behavior
Trying to feel good rather than be good
Life is a complex system pervaded by unintended consequences. Only God can guide us through them properly.
Our sinful independence encourages more independence.
When I do "my own thing" I make it easier for everyone else to do "their own thing"!
Copycat crimes
Broken Windows Theory
This is true even when we're at our best
Doing your own thing is death. - Rom 6:23
You have a choice. You can organize your life around:
seeking happiness and freedom from pain.
learning and doing God's will.
Which will you choose?
Jesus changes everything; you must be born again - John 3
You will is not really free - 1Cor 2:14; Gal 5:16-21; Rom 8:5-9
Cite personal testimony.
It takes God to free you - he responds to the prayers of others.
You aren't born again because I personally persuaded you.
You are born again because you responded to God's invitation.
Cornelius' Conversion
This is an unusual situation, but we can learn from it.
Acts 10:1-8 - Introducing Cornelius
God exists, loves you, wants a relationship
A relationship with God must be on his terms (see Acts 11:12-14)
Acts 10:9-20 - God prepares Peter
Acts 10:21-33 - First Contact
Peter began by asking a question to fill in the blanks.
He responded to the open door by extending hospitality.
He didn't go by himself - he included other brothers.
He refused worship - God entrusts the message to people.
He was honest about his shifting understanding of scripture.
He sought clarity by asking another question.
Acts 10:34-43 - The Message
God's acceptance is conditional - based on "God's terms".
Peter started with what Cornelius already knew.
He used Jesus as the foundation - 1Cor 3:10-15
He presented who Jesus is: Lord of all.
He presented what Jesus did.
He presented himself as a witness of Jesus life.
He testified to the Jesus resurrection from the dead.
He explained the mission Jesus had given him.
He explained that Jesus will judge the living and the dead.
He explained what the audience needed to do.
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.
Set It Off
4 P's
Purpose
Position
Plan
Partner
How do I follow Jesus? (continued)
Cornelius' Conversion (continued)
Acts 10:44-48 - The Harvest
Peter affirmed the salvation of Cornelius' household.
He baptized them.
He followed up.
Acts 11:1-21 - The Aftermath
Recognize that there are three types of people:
Natural (soulish) Man - 1Cor 2:14
May be ignorant of the gospel.
May be hostile to the gospel.
May be "church friendly", but a hypocrite.
May be "spiritual" in a new age sense.
Can't receive the things of the Spirit - 1Cor 2:14; John 3:3,8; John 14:17
Spiritual Man - 1Cor 2:15; Gal 5:22-24
Worldly (carnal) Man - 1Cor 3:1-3; Gal 5:19-21; Philip 3:17-19
At best - "Follows the rules" in his/her own strength
At worst - Makes his/her natural desires a priority
Which type are you? - Gal 5; Rom 8
Put him In Charge
on the "throne" of your life
running your "control center"
What does it take to keep Jesus on the "throne"?
Hearing his voice / Living by the Spirit - John 14:25-26; John 16:12-15
Being in his presence
Let God's presence transform you
Moses speaks to God - Ex 33-34; 2Cor 3
His power - Acts 1:8; Eph 5:18
The Cadillac and the team of horses
Walking with God - Gen 5:18-24; Heb 4:14-16; Heb 10:19-22; Heb 11:5-6; 1Pet 2:4-5
Faith - Heb 11:1; Mark 11
Believe and act on what God says - Gen 12 - 15
Talk and act like a son/daughter
Sonship first - then brotherhood
Sunday service is like Thanksgiving - we should all be together.
Expectation - Mat 9:18-26
you are vulnerable to God disappointing you
Obedience / faithfulness - Luke 12:35-48
Become like little children - Mat 11:25; Mat 18:1-6; Mat 19:13-15
New Babies
breathe and cry right away.
hear from their parents right away.
Newborn Christians - 2Pet 2
should start praying right away.
should expect for God to talk to them right away.
should start reading God's Word right away
Some abandon salvation.
If your hand offends you - Luke 9:43-48
Disqualified - 1Cor 9 (ref. Luke 12:48)
Impossible for the enlightened to return - Heb 6:1-20
Can you lose your salvation?
Can you divorce your husband/wife?
Can you abandon your children?
Can you turn your back on your parents?
Can you reject your friends?
Habits Of Highly Effective Believers
Relating to God
Prayer
Talking with God - Jer 29:11-14; 2Cor 3; 1Pet 1:17
Hearing from God boosts assurance of salvation
Worship
Gratitude - Luke 7:36-50
Love for God - 1Pet 1:8-9;
Learning and Doing God's Word
No flying "by the seat of your pants"
Relating to Believers
Fellowship
Love for others - Mat 25:31-46; John 13:34-35; 1John 3:18
Holiness
Discipleship
Service
Relating to Unbelievers
Caring
Service
Evangelism
Relating to My Community
Service
Spiritual Maturity - Luke 8:14; 1Cor 2:6; Eph 4:13; Philip 3:15; Heb 5:14; Jas 1:4
Accountability / Holiness
Sunday service PLUS life group
Not - one church for Sunday and another for life group
You should develop intimate friendships and accountability with the same people you fellowship with on Sunday.
Walking in the light - 1John 1:5 - 2:6
Exposing your actions
Exposing your thoughts
Exposing your motives
Taking responsibility for ministry
The New Testament writers weren't trying to write scripture.
They were trying to serve other believers.
In doing so they produced scripture - 2Pet 3:15-16
Your life should produce "scripture" - 1Pet 4:11
Charles's recollection at the retreat
My own frequent sharing of things Bishop said to me
"I trust you with souls"
Pleasing God must be more important than pleasing ourselves
Luke 22:42; John 4:27-38; John 6:38;
Reproducing yourself
Fruitfulness - Mat 7:15-20; Luke 13:6-9; John 15:1-8
God has promised you spiritual offspring
Pray - Father I want to lead others to spiritual maturity.
Define evangelism, followup, discipleship
Work in the vineyard
Discussion Questions / Topics
Reflect on 1Cor 3:1-3; Gal 5:19-24; Philip 3:17-19
What fruit is evident in your life now? What fruit would you like to see?
Are there acts of the sinful nature (i.e. the flesh) evident in your life?
Do your life group members see acts of the sinful nature in your life?
How are you dealing with the issues raised in these passages?
Reflect on Rom 8:1-9
In what ways do you set your mind on the desires of the sinful nature?
In what ways do you set your mind on what the Holy Spirit desires?
Do you live according to the sinful nature or the Spirit?
Reflect on John 14:25-26; John 16:12-15
Describe a time when the Holy Spirit helped you through a situation by reminding you of a scripture.
Based on John 16:13-14, whose agenda does the Holy Spirit follow?
Reflect on Ex 34:28-35; 2Cor 3:1-18
Do you spend time in God's presence? If so, how do you get there?
Have you ever experienced anything like Moses did in these passages?
Describe an occasion when you were changed in God's presence?
Are you satisfied with your current level of experience with God?
What, if anything, are you doing to improve your time in his presence?
Reflect on Acts 10:9-33 (continued from last week)
How did God prepare Peter to meet with Cornelius? How has God prepared you to reach out to the unsaved people in your world?
How many times did Peter ask a question in this passage? Have you ever used questions in a ministry situation?
Peter extended hospitality to the people that Cornelius sent. Have you ever done anything like this?
Peter took some of the local brothers with him to visit Cornelius. Have you ever included other believers in your outreach to unbelievers?
Peter told Cornelius that he was "only a man" (vs. 10:26). How do the unbelievers in your life see you?
Peter was honest about his initial discomfort in visiting a non-Jew. Have you been honest with the unbelievers you know about similar areas of discomfort in your relationship with them?
Works Activities For This Week's Life Group Meetings (repeated from last week)
Understand the "Natural Man", "Spiritual Man", and "Carnal Man".
Reflect on 1Cor 2:1-16; 1Cor 3:1-4; Gal 5:19-24; Philip 3:17-19
Choose one of your life group members who attended our May retreat to present the "Natural Man" / "Spiritual Man" / "Carnal Man" diagram.
The other members should discuss the diagram and practice drawing it.
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?
