LET US RUN APPETIZER: Recap The VISION DINE-IN: Rubber ...
08-30-15: Jamie George
LET US RUN APPETIZER: Recap The VISION Journey Vision: We will dwell in soul environments KNOWING, LIVING, & TELLING the love story of Jesus.
DINE-IN: Rubber Meets The Road
KNOW… Know Jesus. Know His story. Know your story. Redemption is in your story if you can only have eyes to see it. LIVE… Greatest model for living as companion of God = His Son, Jesus. Live out an apprenticeship in the Kingdom of God. Sin of apathy = lack of spiritual practices. Muscles atrophy. In wrestling with questions, seek Truth. Do the work. Otherwise you end up recycling the same questions. Reticular Activating Device: Alerts your brain to what you focus on the most. TWO Questions: 1. How do you start your day? 2. What gets the majority of your focused energy?
Pessimists have trained their brain to see the negative. But what if our Reticular Activating Device was trained differently? WHAT IF… -‐ we were obedient to the commands God has set out before us? -‐ we seriously applied spiritual discipline in our lives? -‐ we set our minds on things above, not on earthly things? -‐ we put to death… whatever belongs to our earthly nature? -‐ we let the peace of Christ rule in our hearts? TELL… What does LOVE require of me? Among other things, LOVE requires that you tell the story of Jesus. The challenge is that many of us are not sure how. “If you’re interested in some feedback… I don’t think much will change without Jesus.” “Scripture is not about the transmission of inert ideas. It is a call to love, and love that does not lead to action is not love.” Brennan Manning, The Importance of Being Foolish
TAKE-OUT:
1. You are not meant to live your God-‐designed life in isolation. If you are new to Journey or haven’t joined a Village, now is still your chance! 2. Engage in one or more of the 3 action points of our Vision this week (Know, Live, Tell). a. KNOW: read scripture, re-‐tell your story to someone from God’s perspective, seek answers to lingering questions. b. LIVE: set aside 20 minutes to pray every single day this week. c. TELL: bring up Jesus in conversation. Be ready to tell someone why He is such a big deal in your life.
Village Conversation HANGOUT (Warm-up) 1. Which is the correct way, FOLD or CRUMPLE? (we all know the answer is FOLD, but it’s a fun exercise in breaking the “ice” ☺)
HEAR (Listen to God through scripture)
2. Read the following scripture aloud twice: Colossians 3:1-17 3. Before responding to it, take 1-‐2 minutes of silence to let the words sink in. a. What verse or idea stands out to you? Why? (Don’t leave this space too quickly. Give good space for people to engage the text)
HUDDLE (Making it Personal & Praying together)
4. How has God helped you “put to death” your sin nature? In what ways are you still struggling? 5. What good characteristics do you seen in others? Take the next 5-‐10 minutes to let people affirm one another. Encourage people to be as specific as possible. This is not a time to be false, fake, or phony. It’s OK if you don’t have anything to say. 6. Verse 13 emphasizes forgiveness. Does anyone need to ask for forgiveness? Is there anyone with whom you need to make things right? Start with your Village. This may take the rest of the time – & that’s OK! 7. Pray in groups of 2-‐3. Have someone re-‐read Colossians 3:12-‐ 17 as a prayer over the Village.
QUOTES/SCRIPTURE… 1 Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. 3 For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.
5 Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. 6 Because of these, the wrath of God is coming. 7 You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived. 8 But now you must also rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips. 9 Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices 10 and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator. 11 Here there is no Gentile or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all, and is in all. 12 Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. 13 Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. 14 And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. 15 Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. 16 Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. 17 And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. - Colossians 3:1-17 2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. - Romans 12:2 3 In the morning, Lord, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait expectantly. - Psalm 5:3 35 Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed. - Mark 1:35 3 “Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? 4 How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? 5 You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye. - Matthew 7:3-5 “Scripture is not about the transmission of inert ideas. It is a call to love, and love that does not lead to action is not love.” - Brennan Manning, The Importance of Being Foolish
LET US RUN APPETIZER: Recap The VISION Journey Vision: We will dwell in soul environments KNOWING, LIVING, & TELLING the love story of Jesus.
DINE-IN: Rubber Meets The Road
KNOW… Know Jesus. Know His story. Know your story. Redemption is in your story if you can only have eyes to see it. LIVE… Greatest model for living as companion of God = His Son, Jesus. Live out an apprenticeship in the Kingdom of God. Sin of apathy = lack of spiritual practices. Muscles atrophy. In wrestling with questions, seek Truth. Do the work. Otherwise you end up recycling the same questions. Reticular Activating Device: Alerts your brain to what you focus on the most. TWO Questions: 1. How do you start your day? 2. What gets the majority of your focused energy?
Pessimists have trained their brain to see the negative. But what if our Reticular Activating Device was trained differently? WHAT IF… -‐ we were obedient to the commands God has set out before us? -‐ we seriously applied spiritual discipline in our lives? -‐ we set our minds on things above, not on earthly things? -‐ we put to death… whatever belongs to our earthly nature? -‐ we let the peace of Christ rule in our hearts? TELL… What does LOVE require of me? Among other things, LOVE requires that you tell the story of Jesus. The challenge is that many of us are not sure how. “If you’re interested in some feedback… I don’t think much will change without Jesus.” “Scripture is not about the transmission of inert ideas. It is a call to love, and love that does not lead to action is not love.” Brennan Manning, The Importance of Being Foolish
TAKE-OUT:
1. You are not meant to live your God-‐designed life in isolation. If you are new to Journey or haven’t joined a Village, now is still your chance! 2. Engage in one or more of the 3 action points of our Vision this week (Know, Live, Tell). a. KNOW: read scripture, re-‐tell your story to someone from God’s perspective, seek answers to lingering questions. b. LIVE: set aside 20 minutes to pray every single day this week. c. TELL: bring up Jesus in conversation. Be ready to tell someone why He is such a big deal in your life.
Village Conversation HANGOUT (Warm-up) 1. Which is the correct way, FOLD or CRUMPLE? (we all know the answer is FOLD, but it’s a fun exercise in breaking the “ice” ☺)
HEAR (Listen to God through scripture)
2. Read the following scripture aloud twice: Colossians 3:1-17 3. Before responding to it, take 1-‐2 minutes of silence to let the words sink in. a. What verse or idea stands out to you? Why? (Don’t leave this space too quickly. Give good space for people to engage the text)
HUDDLE (Making it Personal & Praying together)
4. How has God helped you “put to death” your sin nature? In what ways are you still struggling? 5. What good characteristics do you seen in others? Take the next 5-‐10 minutes to let people affirm one another. Encourage people to be as specific as possible. This is not a time to be false, fake, or phony. It’s OK if you don’t have anything to say. 6. Verse 13 emphasizes forgiveness. Does anyone need to ask for forgiveness? Is there anyone with whom you need to make things right? Start with your Village. This may take the rest of the time – & that’s OK! 7. Pray in groups of 2-‐3. Have someone re-‐read Colossians 3:12-‐ 17 as a prayer over the Village.
QUOTES/SCRIPTURE… 1 Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. 3 For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.
5 Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. 6 Because of these, the wrath of God is coming. 7 You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived. 8 But now you must also rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips. 9 Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices 10 and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator. 11 Here there is no Gentile or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all, and is in all. 12 Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. 13 Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. 14 And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. 15 Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. 16 Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. 17 And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. - Colossians 3:1-17 2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. - Romans 12:2 3 In the morning, Lord, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait expectantly. - Psalm 5:3 35 Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed. - Mark 1:35 3 “Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? 4 How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? 5 You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye. - Matthew 7:3-5 “Scripture is not about the transmission of inert ideas. It is a call to love, and love that does not lead to action is not love.” - Brennan Manning, The Importance of Being Foolish
