Printer Friendly Version: CLICK HERE

Opening Prayer, Confession of Faith & Worship
 
Big Idea:
A primary purpose of why Jesus came to the world, died for our sins, and birthed the Church, could be summarized in this statement from Pastor Judith’s message on the weekend: Jesus established the Church in the earth “so that the lost could be found, the found could be discipled, and the discipled ones could change our world for the glory of his Name!”

Summary:

During this current series on “the House” we are looking at how God has established, and is establishing, his presence in the earth through his Church.  In Part One we looked at how the Bible often refers to the Church in the context of “God’s house” and that his house, the Church, is worth living for, dying for, praying for and giving for.  This week we explored the fundamental purpose for the existence of God’s house in the earth.  It is to be a place of refuge for all of God’s children, lost and found, where they can find hope, compassion, healing, encouragement, spiritual freedom, and personal purpose.  It is also to be a place where people of all ages, ethnicities, education, experiences, and social status discover their place of belonging  as they explore the love of God and grow in their faith to become fully devoted followers of Jesus Christ. These two statements are from the vision statement for City of Grace.

By His amazing design, and through His incomprehensible wisdom, God has entrusted His Church to be His smile to the downcast, His arms wrapped around the faint, His hand of welcome extended to the skeptical, His shelter to the spiritually homeless, His voice to the hard of hearing, His grace to marginalized, His provision to the destitute, His strength to the weak, and His love to the unlovely.  And all of this is “so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.” Ephesians 4:12b-13 NIV  It all hinges upon our willingness to be what Jesus called every believer to be, the salt and light to the world.  The vision our leaders have for City of Grace is that we would be the City on the Hill that Jesus spoke of, welcoming all who God brings to us and offering them the “best seat in the house,” so that they can experience God’s love through our acceptance and love for them.    ~Lord, help us fulfill this vision as we join our hearts and lives together for your purpose.~~  A-men!

Discussion Points:  Take time in your groups to read and discuss these scriptures.

· Read Matthew 5:13-16  Matthew 22:8-10 
o Talk about what the scripture might be saying to us about our attitude toward “new” people coming into our church and even, perhaps, into our LifeGroups.
· Read James 2:1-4
o Discuss how Western culture puts subliminal pressure in this regard on the Church in America.  Talk about ways you and your LifeGroup can be countercultural in this area.
· Read Romans 12:9-13
o Talk about how you, or someone you know, was impacted by being on the receiving end of what is being described in this passage.  What affect did it have?

Taking Action
Commit yourself to take the entire month of October to look for people in church that seem to be lonely or in need of a kind word, smile or handshake.  Make a point to go out of your way to introduce yourself and ask them about themselves and see what God does. 

Ministry Time

For Printer Friendly copy CLICK HERE

Opening Prayer, Confession of Faith & Worship 

Big Idea:
Building, engaging and becoming God’s “house” in the earth is a core work that the Spirit of God is doing in and through the lives of each person who calls upon the name of Jesus.

Summary:
Throughout the Old and New Testament we see the term “house” used to describe sacred places where people gathered in God’s presence.  Psalm 84 speaks of dwelling in God’s house and being a doorkeeper there.  Psalm 92 speaks of being “planted in the ‘house’ of the Lord.”  In Mark 11:17 Jesus referenced the book of Isaiah in calling God’s house a “house” of prayer for all nations.  1 Peter 2:5 says that we ourselves are living stones in the spiritual “house” God is building in the earth, and in John 14:2-3, Jesus even talks about a room he is preparing for us in His Father’s “house” in heaven.

One very important take away from this is how important the “house of the Lord” is to God and should be to each of us.  In his message, Pastor Terry referenced three rooms in our church home at City of Grace: the front porch, the living room and the kitchen.  He defined “life beyond the weekend” as environments where people can move from the front porch to the living room where spiritual life can be explored more deeply.  The gathering point where you are reading these words right now is a sacred place and serves as one of the “living rooms” of City of Grace.  What you are doing now, in the room where you have gathered in Jesus name, is “living” life together in relationship as God has intended it.  When our church meets in groups to share life at a deeper level, grow in our faith together and to “stir one another on toward love and good deeds,” (Heb. 10:23-25) then we see the “house” being built and the kingdom of God being established in our lives, in our generation and in the earth.

Discussion Points: Take time in your group to read the scriptures below and discuss the following points from the weekend message in the context of the three rooms of our “house” as a church.  The front porch (the weekend services), the living room (groups and classes), and the kitchen (where we serve on and off campus).

   1) Building “The House” is a cause worth living for.  Psalm 84:10

   2) Building “The House” is a cause worth dying for.   Psalm 69:8-3

   3) Building “The House” is a cause worth praying for. Isaiah 56:7, Mark 11:17
          Talk about being a “house of prayer” as it relates to your LifeGroup.

   4) Building “The House” is a cause worth giving for. Malachi 3:10-11

Taking Action
Take time to pray this week about the three rooms of City of Grace and how you are engaging each area.  Ask God to show you how to pray for our church and ways in which he might be leading you to help build “the House.”

Ministry Time

For Prienter Friendly Version:  CLICK HERE

Opening Prayer, Confession of Faith & Worship
 
Big Idea:
As followers of Christ, Jesus is leading us to become like our Father, being generous at the core of our character.

Summary:
A fundamental attribute of God’s character, which is revealed in the book of Nehemiah and throughout every book of scripture, is this: “Our God is a generous God.”  Generosity is at the core of creation and it is the very premise of Love’s redemption.  Jesus came into the world to GIVE his life in obedience to the Father’s will and to GIVE his life in ransom for you and me.  This should evoke our response to GIVE him thanks and GIVE him back the life he has purchased with his own blood.

The words “believe, believer, believing, pray, prayer, praying, love, lover and loving” all describe essentials of being a disciple of Christ.  All combined, these words appear in scripture approximately 1,360 times.  In contrast, the words “give or giving” appears in the Bible 2162 times.  In addition to the actual word “give,” the concept of generosity permeates throughout the teachings of Scripture.  For example, look at Jesus’ words in John 15:13-14
Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command.
The word “give” is not a part of this verse, but this verse represents the pinnacle of generosity.  Let’s focus our study this week on the example of God’s generous character.

Discussion Points: (read the scriptures & discuss)
In his message over the weekend, Pastor Terry gave us five benefits of growing in generosity.  Let’s review these five benefits and expand the concept in our group discussion.

1. Generosity draws me closer to God.  Read Matthew 6:19-21
Pay special attention to the phrase “where your treasure is there will your heart be also.”  With this statement of Jesus in mind, discuss how we are moved closer to God when we express generosity toward the things that are important to God.
2) Generosity gives me victory over materialism. 
The culture of the world, especially Western culture, equates quality of life with possessions.  Discuss how embracing the concept we read about in Matt. 6 can serve to give us victory over the cultural stronghold of materialism.
Consider Pastor Terry’s perspective that “you make a living by what you get, but you make a life by what you give” and contrast that view with the marketing philosophy people are bombarded with every day by corporate America.
3) Generosity blesses me in return.  Read Proverbs 11:25
Take time to hear one or two personal testimonies of how someone was blessed as a result being generous.
4) Generosity establishes my legacy.  Read Psalm 112:5-6
Read the quote below and think of the last funeral you attended.  Is Calvin Coolidge’s statement accurate?
“No man is ever honored for what he received in life. He’s only honored for what he gave.”
5) Generosity releases joy in my life.   Read Matthew 10:38-40
What does this principle of the kingdom have to do with “joy?”

Taking Action: Prayerfully consider the three challenges we were given this weekend…
1) To begin to tithe to God’s kingdom work. 2) Pray about your “Heart for the House offering” being received Sunday Sept. 20th 3) Make the decision to get involved at your church

Ministry Time

For Printer Friendly Curriculum:   CLICK HERE

Opening Prayer, Confession of Faith & Worship 

Big Idea:

As we see in Nehemiah 12, after they completed the wall surrounding Jerusalem, they brought the people together to dedicate the wall and to…  “celebrate the dedication with gladness, both with thanksgivings and singing… so that the joy of Jerusalem was heard afar off.”  Nehemiah 12:27&43

The first thing Nehemiah led the people to do after the wall was built was to worship the one who made it all possible.  As it is modeled throughout the scriptures, especially during the reign of King David, exuberant, extravagant worship is a significant hallmark of the kingdom of God in our midst.  A worshiping church is a church that is alive to the presence and life of God.

Summary:

Worship is a crucial facet for the powerful life of God to be known in our individual lives, in our LifeGroups, in our church and in our world.  In Matthew chapter six, Jesus said, “this then is how you should pray.”  And in that prayer he included this insight, “Your kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.”  We are given a very limited view into the activity of heaven, but one thing that the Lord seems to want to make clear to us about eternity is that worship is very present there.  So, when we worship in spirit and truth here on earth, we are truly experiencing the reality of the Lord’s will being “done on earth as it is in heaven.”

Discussion Points: (read the scriptures & discuss)

Read Revelation 5:9-14
Discuss this passage in the context of the Lord’s prayer mentioned above.  How does this glimpse into heaven encourage us in our worship here on earth.

Read John 4:23-24
Read this passage out loud, and then take a moment to pause and mediate on the extraordinary insight Jesus gives us about God when he says,
 “for such people the Father seeks to be his worshipers.” NAS

Acts 16:22-34
These 13 verses are a minefield full of insightful treasures.  Read the passage aloud and talk about this story in light of Paul and Silas’ activity, considering that they were bleeding, in shackles, and locked in prison.  Then talk about the powerful manifestation of God’s presence that resulted from their activity and how God was glorified.  What if the apostle’s had been whining instead of praising?  What can we learn from these apostle’s example as we face our own trials and when we are treated unfairly.
Taking Action: Consider your expression of worship.  Think creatively about how you can refresh worship in your personal life.  Talk in your group of ways you can practically try new ways of worship in you LifeGroup (A time of giving thanks.  Someone lead in a song.  Poetry.  Listening to a portion of Jim Caviezel’s The Word of Promise audio book, etc).
Ministry Time