Being in his presence - Heb 4:14-16; Heb 10:19-22; 1Pet 2:4-5
Let God's presence transform you
Moses speaks to God - Ex 33-34; 2Cor 3
The glory of the old way of doing church is fading
Old covenant has fading glory - 2Cor 3:1-18
New covenant - Jer 31:31-34; Heb 8:1-13
Apostles carve out new territory in existing systems and structures. They articulate the needed changes whenever the old system conflicts with the new one.
Acts 2:32 - The gift is for you
Knowing God
Boast about knowing the Lord - Jer 9:23-24; 1Cor 1:31; 2Cor 10:17
"They will all know me" - Jer 31:31-34;
Walking with God - Gen 5:18-24; Heb 11:5-6
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
4 P's
Purpose
Position
Plan
Partner
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 (based on the indicated scriptures)
Group A:
Ex 34:28-35; 2Cor 3:1-18 (continued from last week)
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?
Group B:
1Kings 19:1-18; John 10:14-16, 24-30
Can you relate to Elijah's experience? Have you ever heard God in a gentle whisper?
How often during the week are you aware of God speaking to you?
In what ways do you listen for God's voice?
How much time do you spend listening for God's voice?
How does the effort you put into listening to God compare with the effort you put into others aspects of your life?
What are you going to do about what you've just discussed?
Group C:
John 14:15-26; John 16:12-15; Gal 5:16-18
Describe your experiences of being guided by the Holy Spirit.
In what ways has he helped you keep Jesus on the throne of your life?
How has he guided you in building relationships with non-Christians?
What are you going to do about what you've just discussed?
Group D:
Judges 6:33-34; Judges 14:5-6; Luke 24:45-49; Acts 1:8
In what ways have you experienced the Holy Spirit's power?
In what ways do you want to experience his power in your life?
In what ways has he empowered you to draw people to Jesus Christ?
What are you going to do about what you've just discussed?
Group E:
Jer 31:31-34; Heb 8:1-13
What appeals to you about the "New Covenant"?
What were the limitations of the "Old Covenant"?
Does your current approach to God reflect the old or the new covenant?
What are you going to do about what you've just discussed?
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?