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
Apostles carve out new territory in existing systems and structures. They articulate the needed changes whenever the old system conflicts with the new one.
The gift is for everyone - Joel 2:28-32; Acts 2:1-32
Jesus makes it possible for us to enter the Father's presence
Old Covenant - Heb 9:1-10
New Covenant - Heb 9:11-28
Approach the throne - Heb 4:14-16; Heb 10:19-22; 1Pet 2:4-5
Knowing God
Boast about knowing the Lord - Jer 9:23-24; 1Cor 1:31; 2Cor 10:17
"They will all know me" - Heb 8:1-13
Spectators don't know or understand the Lord.
Walking with God - Gen 5:18-24; Heb 11:5-6
Faith (work the relationship) - 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
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
Are You a Christian?
Two Gaps:
Gap between sinful man and God - only Jesus' death fixes this
Gap between redeemed man and God - we must fully embrace the relationship
3 Stages
OT
Passover and Crossing Of Red Sea
Initial Wilderness - getting to know God
Canaan - living in the relationship
NT
John's Baptism of Repentance
3.5 Years - getting to know Jesus
The Cross, Resurrection, Pentecost - walking in the relationship
Do you really want a relationship with God?
Review Principles:
God exists
God loves you and wants a relationship with you
A relationship with God must be on his terms
God's terms are: "Follow Jesus" - John 6:29
The word "Christian"
In Scripture - Acts 11:26; Acts 26:28; 1Pet 4:16.
Transliteration
Greek word cristianos (pronounced christianos) ---> Christ
Hebrew word "masshiach" ---> messiah
The Anointed One
"Christian" means follower of Christ
Jesus' Own Words
What does Jesus say about himself?
He is the Christ - Mat 16:13-20; John 10:22-39
What does Jesus want us to do?
Repent and believe the good news - Mark 1:14-15
Repent - turn, change your mind
Good News - Luke 2:1-20; Luke 4:14-21; Luke 7:17-23
Believe in him
He encouraged it - John 9:35-38
Believing in him is believing in the Father - John 12:44-50
Follow him
If you don't follow you're not worthy - Mat 10:32-42
Take up your cross - Mark 8:31-38
His sheep follow him - John 10:27
Those who want to serve him must follow him - John 12:20-36
Unite with him and with each other - John 17
Proclaim the Good News - Mark 16:14-16
Ordo Salutis - Rom 8:28-39
We want to illustrate with simple Bible passages
Ideally with Jesus' own words (especially via his parables)
Patterns
Foreknown, Predestined, Called by God, Justified, Glorified - Rom 8:28-39
Hearing, Believing, Calling on God, Salvation - Rom 10:1-17
Repentance, Faith, Baptisms - Heb 6:1-2
The Foundation
The Problem - Mankind is alienated from God
The Provision - God wants everyone to be saved
Jesus' death, burial, and resurrection
Jesus redeemed us as a man - Mat 3:1 - 4:17; Heb 5:7-9
Foreknowledge - God knew who would respond to him
Implies relationship
Predestination - God predestined the elect to become like Jesus
Calling
Phases (Repentance, Faith, Baptism, etc.) - Heb 6:1-2
Where will you be the next time the Holy Spirit shows up?
What do you do when the Holy Spirit simply shows up?
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.
Resurrection Revolution (continued)
Revolution Pattern (continued):
The Revolution - Round 2
People - Acts 2:42-47
Power - Acts 3:1-8
Proclamation - Acts 3:9-26
Persecution - Acts 4:1-22
Persistence - Acts 4:23-31
Principles
Prayer increases our capacity to be a channel for God's power.
People provide opportunities for us to be channels of God's power.
"Who touched me?" - Luke 8:40-56
Preparation increases our ability to benefit from God's power.
Elisha and the Widow's Oil - 2Kings 4:1-7
Position is critical for maximizing the effectiveness of God's power.
Jesus sends out the 12 - Mat 10:1-16
Jesus sends out the 72 - Luke 10:1-12
Questions:
What are you devoting yourself to?
What are you sharing with your brothers and sisters in Christ?
Have you asked God to make you bold?
How's your prayer life? Are you praying for God to use you?
What needs are you encountering in the people around you? Are you asking God to enable you to meet them?
How are you preparing for God to use you?
The Revolution - Round 3
People - Acts 4:32 - 5:11
Power - Acts 5:12-16
Proclamation - Acts 5:17-25
Persecution - Acts 5:26-40
Persistence - Acts 5:41-42
Questions:
What are you doing to meet the needs of other believers?
Can you rejoice at suffering disgrace for the name of Jesus?
The Revolution - Round 4
People - Acts 6:1-7
Power - Acts 6:8
Proclamation - Acts 6:9-10
Persecution - Acts 6:11-15
Persistence - Acts 7:1-60
Questions:
Can you be faithful to the point of death?
Can you forgive your persecutors?
Conclusion
The disciples responded to the great commission by filling Jerusalem with their teaching - Acts 5:28
What is your Jerusalem?
Who is your team?
What are you doing fill your Jerusalem with the gospel?
Following Jesus (continued)
How do I follow Jesus? (continued)
Are You a Christian? (continued)
Conversion process
Warning about treatment of unsaved family members
The "cross-fade" metaphor
old lifestyle loses credibility due to contradictions
internal contradictions
external contradictions
commitment to old lifestyle wanes due to lost credibility
Kingdom of God becomes more and more credible
Phase 1
No effective awareness of Kingdom of God
Complete commitment to independance from God
Attitude Examples
I lie because it works and anyone who has sense does too.
Phase 2
Awareness of Kingdom of God
Commitment to Kingdom growing
Commitment to old lifestyle exceeds commitment to Kingdom
Attitude Examples
I lie because it works for me, but I know there are some people who can get along without lying.
Phase 3
Commitment to Kingdom of God matches commitment to old lifestyle
Candidate may have one or more experiences that are labelled as conversion experiences
Candidate is "double-minded"
Attitude Examples
I lie, but I'm thinking about giving it up.
Phase 4
Commitment to Kingdom of God exceeds commitment to old lifestyle
Candidate settles into practical church membership
Attitude Examples
I usually tell the truth, but there are some situations where lying is acceptable.
Phase 5
All lingering commitment to old lifestyle is extinguished - this is full repentance
Candidate is fully committed to those aspects of the Kingdom that he/she knows about
There is a clear path for future spiritual growth
Attitude Examples
Lying is wrong and I rarely do it - if I lie, it's because I was in a sudden jam and fell back on an old habit.
Peter's Progression in Faith
John 5:39-42
Mat 4:18-22
Luke 5:1-11
Glorification
kabod / doxa
Parable of the Sower - Mat 13:1-23; Luke 8:4-15
Some neglect and ultimately abandon the relationship with God.
No one can snatch them out of my hand - John 10:27-30
It is impossible to be lost when you still genuinely want a relationship with God through Jesus Christ.
If your hand offends you - Mat 5:27-30
Disqualified - 1Cor 9:24 - 1Cor 10:13 (ref. Luke 12:35-48)
Impossible for the enlightened to return - Heb 6:1-12
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?
Spiritual Maturity - Heb 6:1-12
Following Jesus Leads to Spiritual Maturity
Accountability
Stability
Taking Responsibility For Your Own Growth
Taking Responsibility for Ministry
Reproducing Yourself
Obstacles to Spiritual Maturity
Focusing on life's worries, riches, and pleasures - Luke 8:4-15
Failure to focus on the things of the Spirit - 1Cor 2:6-12; Col 3:1-10
Misunderstanding what spiritual maturity is
Spiritual maturity is not sinlessness
Spiritual maturity is a lifestyle of effective engagement (i.e. engagement that produces real results).
Spiritual Consumerism
Accountability / Holiness
To God - Blamelessness (not sinlessness) - Gen 6:9; Gen 17:1
To other believers
Walking in the light - 1John 1:5 - 2:6
Exposing your actions
Exposing your thoughts
Exposing your motives
Consistent availability - Heb 13:7, 17
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.
Stability - Eph 4:10-17; James 1:2-4
Taking Responsibility For Your Own Growth - Philip 3:1-15; Heb 5:11-14
Learning lifestyle vs. Entertainment lifestyle
Fight until the fight becomes automatic. Wounded people are not always able to fight, but once they experience healing they must learn to do the fighting that they’ve been avoiding and keep fighting until they automatically hold their ground.
Dramatize the “impossible switch” (ref Staples Easy Button)
Sabbath discipline - prioritizing the Lord
Taking responsibility for ministry - Mat 6:33; Luke 9:23-25; Rom 12:3-8
Pleasing God must be more important than pleasing ourselves
Luke 22:42; John 4:27-38; John 6:38;
Your actions and words should build up others - Eph 4:29; 1Pet 4:11
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"
Charles's recollection at the retreat
My own frequent sharing of things Bishop said to me
"I trust you with souls"
Taking Responsibility For 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
Require maturity from individuals in the congregation.
Three Phases
Developing godly habits
Turning godly habits into skills
Combining godly habits and skills into your ministry
Have you made the “maturity decision” yet?
Godly 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
Get started
God wants to speak to you.
God is able to speak to you.
God is able to make you confident that you've heard from him.
Trust him to do this as you approach him.
Say "Speak Lord - your servant is listening" - 1Sam 3:1-18
Start with praise and thanksgiving (use Psalms as a guide).
Take time to listen.
Write down the thoughts that come to you.
God wants to meet your needs
Children use their parents' resources.
We get to use God's resources.
Keep borrowing God's car and he'll give you one of your own.
Life is God's training program for you.
God wants to share the universe with you.
Apostles make plans with God's resources in mind.
Sometimes God wants us to narrow down the possibilities before we come to him for guidance. Make a list of alternatives with pros and cons. Propose the best solutions to God while allowing him to completely override your selection. God requires that we avoid laziness and inertia in the process of hearing from him.
Warn about saying "I hope" during prayer.
Relating to God - Worship
Gratitude - Luke 7:36-50
Love for God - 1Pet 1:8-9;
Giving
Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift - 1Cor 9:15
Discipline your though life according to God's Word - Rom 12:2
The Bible
Discuss origins, translation, etc.
Discuss inspiration - plenary, verbal, etc.
Discuss versions, translations, paraphrases, etc.
Don't use the Bible just to prove a point.
Relating to Believers - Fellowship
Love for others - Mat 25:31-46; John 13:34-35; 1John 3:18
Sunday service is like Thanksgiving - we should all be together.
Holiness
Relating to Believers - Discipleship
Relational Evangelism Quiz - grade yourself - inviting people to church - inviting people to your life group - winning people on your own - connecting believers you know to an unbeliever you know
Followup
CPR - seconds count - Followup
The Life Church way is one on one
Illustrate demonic opposition to followup / discipleship and how prayer counteracts this opposition.
Discipleship is not a curriculum - it’s a lifestyle.
How many people wish they had someone to disciple them? Provide a solution.
Have I been discipled? How do I know when the job is done? What does discipleship look like?
Relating to Believers - Service
Relating to Unbelievers - Caring
Relating to Unbelievers - Service
Relating to Unbelievers - Evangelism
4 P's
Purpose
Position
Plan
Partner
Relating to My Community - Service
Service
Increase your capacity to serve
Discussion Questions / Topics (based on the indicated scriptures)
Group A: Acts 2:42-47
What are you devoting yourself to?
How faithfully do you meet with your brothers and sisters in Christ?
How is your devotion to Jesus Christ reflected in your Sunday service attendance and in your life group meeting attendance?
Do you get to Sunday service on time? How about your life group meeting? What does this say about your devotion to Jesus Christ?
What are you sharing with your brothers and sisters in Christ?
Group B: Acts 3:1-8
When was the last time a non-Christian needed something from you? How did you respond?
Have you ever tried to meet someone's needs supernaturally?
What needs are you encountering in the people around you? Are you asking God to enable you to meet them?
Group C: Acts 4:1-22
Peter and John were confronted by the Jewish leaders about the miracle that God had performed through them. Have you ever had to talk to unbelievers about something that God did through you?
The leaders noticed that Peter and John were unschooled ordinary men who had been with Jesus. What do you think Jesus could do with you?
Group D: Acts 4:23-31
Have you ever been persecuted as a Christian? How did you respond?
Have you asked God to enable you to speak his Word boldly?
Are you praying for God to use you? In what ways?
Group E: Luke 8:40-56
Has anyone touched you in a way that drew God's power out of you?
Have you experienced more of God's power as a result of praying?
Group F: 2Kings 4:1-7
What do you have in your house (describe your oil)?
What precious substance has God squeezed out of you through the pressure of trials and hardships?
What are you going to pour your oil into?
How are you preparing for God to use you?
Group G: Mat 10:1-16; Luke 10:1-12
Do you have a ministry partner, a ministry team, both?
Describe a time when you took God's power outside of the church?
Have you ever encountered a worthy person or a man or woman of peace (i.e. someone looking for God's peace)? Has such a person ever opened his/her home or sphere of influence to you?
Do you have a base of operations for your ministry?
Witnessing Activities For This Week's Life Group Meetings
Make sure everyone in your life group has a prayer partner.
Pick a base of operations as a focus for your group's outreach ministry.
Plan a social event for your group to which you can invite some of the unbelievers you've been praying for.
