Set It Off (Part 5)

Pastor Rocklyn E. Clarke - Sunday July 8, 2007

© 2007 Life Church Ministries, Inc.

http://www.lifechurchministries.org/

 
V Introduction
* Bible Reading 7/1 - 7/7: 2Kings 18:13 - 1Chron 5:17; Acts 21-25; Psalm 149-150, 1-5; Prov 18:8-19
> Review
V New Material
> Preparation
V Set It Off
V How do I follow Jesus? (continued)
V Remember the unity of the Godhead
* Following Jesus is following the Father
* Following the Spirit is following Jesus
V The three are one (they can finish each others' sentences)
* Jesus and the Father are one - John 10:30; John 17:11,22
V The problems that Jesus overcomes:
V In the natural - rehabilitating a convicted criminal
* Must pay the penalty for the crime
* Must destroy old behavior patterns
* Must establish new behavior patterns
V In the spiritual - our salvation (reflect on Rom 7)
* Our guilt must be atoned for - Jesus does this
* We must destroy old behavior patterns - by the power of the Spirit
* We must establish new behavior patterns - by listening to the Spirit
* The Spirit only leads us to greater levels of Christlikeness
V What does it take to keep Jesus on the "throne"?
V Hearing his voice - John 10:14-16, 24-30
* Often a gentle whisper - 1Kings 19:1-18
V Living by the Spirit- John 14:15-26; John 16:12-15; Gal 5:16-18
* Living a life of dependance on the Holy Spirit - Mat 3:13-17; 1Cor 2:6-13; Eph 5:15-18
* Being led by the Holy Spirit - Mat 4:1; Rom 8:13-16
V Operating in his power - Luke 24:45-49; Acts 1:8
* Othniel - Judges 3:7-11
* Gideon - Judges 6:33-34
* Jephthah - Judges 11:29
* Samson - Judges 14:5-6; Judges 14:19; Judges 15:14
* Saul - 1Sam 10:1-13
* David - 1Sam 16:13
* The Cadillac and the team of horses
V Being in his presence - Heb 4:14-16; Heb 10:19-22; 1Pet 2:4-5
V Let God's presence transform you
* Moses speaks to God - Ex 33-34; 2Cor 3
V 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
V 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
V Faith - Heb 11:1; Mark 11
* Believe and act on what God says - Gen 12 - 15
V Talk and act like a son/daughter
* Sonship first - then brotherhood
* Sunday service is like Thanksgiving - we should all be together.
V Expectation - Mat 9:18-26
* you are vulnerable to God disappointing you
* Obedience / faithfulness - Luke 12:35-48
V Become like little children - Mat 11:25; Mat 18:1-6; Mat 19:13-15
V New Babies
* breathe and cry right away.
* hear from their parents right away.
V 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
V 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
V 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?
V Habits Of Highly Effective Believers
V Relating to God
V Prayer
* Talking with God - Jer 29:11-14; 2Cor 3; 1Pet 1:17
* Hearing from God boosts assurance of salvation
V Worship
* Gratitude - Luke 7:36-50
* Love for God - 1Pet 1:8-9;
V Learning and Doing God's Word
* No flying "by the seat of your pants"
V Relating to Believers
V Fellowship
* Love for others - Mat 25:31-46; John 13:34-35; 1John 3:18
* Holiness
* Discipleship
* Service
V Relating to Unbelievers
* Caring
* Service
V Evangelism
V 4 P's
* Purpose
* Position
* Plan
* Partner
V Relating to My Community
* Service
V Spiritual Maturity - Luke 8:14; 1Cor 2:6; Eph 4:13; Philip 3:15; Heb 5:14; Jas 1:4
V 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.
V Walking in the light - 1John 1:5 - 2:6
* Exposing your actions
* Exposing your thoughts
* Exposing your motives
V Taking responsibility for ministry
V 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
V Your life should produce "scripture" - 1Pet 4:11
* Charles's recollection at the retreat
V My own frequent sharing of things Bishop said to me
* "I trust you with souls"
V Pleasing God must be more important than pleasing ourselves
* Luke 22:42; John 4:27-38; John 6:38;
V 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
V Discussion Questions / Topics (based on the indicated scriptures)
VGroup 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?
VGroup 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?
VGroup 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?
VGroup 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?
VGroup 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?
V Works Activities For This Week's Life Group Meetings (repeated from last week)
V 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.
V 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.
V 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.
V 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?
* Has anyone invited him/her to a Sunday service?