The Big 5: #5 Reproducing Disciples who can Disciple - August 29, 2010

The Big “5”
5.5 – Reproducing Disciples who can Disciple

Acts 2:42-47 (NIV)
They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common. Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.

John 5:16-18 (NIV)
So, because Jesus was doing these things on the Sabbath, the Jews persecuted him. Jesus said to them, "My Father is always at his work to this very day, and I, too, am working." For this reason the Jews tried all the harder to kill him; not only was he breaking the Sabbath, but he was even calling God his own Father, making himself equal with God.

John 17:4 (NIV)
I have brought you glory on earth by completing the work you gave me to do.
What was the work?

Matthew 28:19-20 (NIV)
Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."
God Expects each of us to be a part of that movement.

Ephesians 4:11-13 (NIV)
It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, to prepare God's people for works of service, 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.

The Question is – “Why?”
1.    So that we can know Him.
1 John 5:19-20 (NIV)
We know that we are children of God, and that the whole world is under the control of the evil one. We know also that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know him who is true. And we are in him who is true—even in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life.

2.    So that we can grow.
Ephesians 4:14-16 (NIV)
Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming. Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ. From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.

3.    So that we can care for one another.
Romans 12:9-11 (NIV)
Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves. Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord.

Some Questions:
1.    Has your Spiritual Life Stagnated?
2.    Could you share your faith with a friend?
3.    Are you Serving in the Kingdom in some way?
4.    Do you really care about the people around you?
5.    How does that show up in your life?

Big 5: #4 Serving God Gives Life - August 22, 2010

The Big “5”
5.4 – Serving God gives Life

Acts 2:42-47 (New International Version)
They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common. Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.

Serving God give us life.  Serving self always takes it away.
Luke 9:23-25 (NIV)
Then he said to them all: “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will save it. What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit his very self?”
We are wired to find fulfillment in serving one another.

Galatians 5:13 (NIV)
You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature; rather, serve one another in love.

Service Show Stoppers:
1.    The Belief that God is holding out on us.
John 10:10 (NIV)
The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.

2.    The Belief that what we are doing is not noticed.
Matthew 6:3-6 (NIV)
But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. "And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.

3.    Over Spiritualizing Selfishness
James 1:22 (NIV)
Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.

4.    Trying to do things for God and doing too little with God.Matthew 19:26-27 (NIV)
Jesus looked at them and said, "With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible." Peter answered him, "We have left everything to follow you! What then will there be for us?"

5.    Making choices because of fear.
Hebrews 11:6 (NIV)
And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.

Hebrews 10:39 (NIV)
But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who believe and are saved.

Some Questions to ask this week:
1.    Am I serving in the Kingdom?
2.    Am I fulfilled in my service?
3.    Am I getting life or getting the life sucked out of me by doing what I am doing?
4.    What would I change about what I am doing in the Kingdom right now?
5.    What am I avoiding doing in the Kingdom that God is asking me to do?
6.    What am I holding onto that God wants me to let go of so that I can live by faith, not fear?

Big 5: Growth Focused - August 15, 2010

The Big “5”
Focused on Growth

Acts 2:42-47 (New International Version)
They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common. Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.

2 Parts to Growth: Corporate and Individual.  They were committed to both
1.    Corporate Growth
“…And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.”

1 Corinthians 3:6-8 (NIV)
I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God made it grow. So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow. The man who plants and the man who waters have one purpose, and each will be rewarded according to his own labor.

Luke 19:10 (NIV)
For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost.
 
2 Peter 3:9 (NIV)
The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.
 
2.    Personal Growth
Hebrews 6:1-3 (NIV)
Therefore let us leave the elementary teachings about Christ and go on to maturity, not laying again the foundation of repentance from acts that lead to death, and of faith in God, instruction about baptisms, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment. And God permitting, we will do so.

Personal Spiritual Growth can be measured in 2 ways:
1.    Fruit of the Spirit
Galatians 5:22-23 (NIV)
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.

2.    Willingness to risk in your faith
James 1:22 (NIV)
Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.
 
Matthew 10:32-33 (NIV)
Whoever acknowledges me before men, I will also acknowledge him before my Father in heaven. But whoever disowns me before men, I will disown him before my Father in heaven.

Personal Growth is always hard, but always worth it.
 
John 8:31-36 (NIV)
To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” They answered him, “We are Abraham's descendants and have never been slaves of anyone. How can you say that we shall be set free?” Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, everyone who sins is a slave to sin. Now a slave has no permanent place in the family, but a son belongs to it forever. So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.”

Weekly Questions: Explain what we are doing with these…
1.    Am I willing to be uncomfortable so that God could add to our number daily?
2.    What does that look like?
3.    Do I believe in God’s agenda enough to share my faith with my friends who don’t know Him?
4.    Who am I sharing my faith with right now that doesn’t know Jesus yet?
5.    What does Jesus want to set me free from?
6.    Why am I holding onto that in my life?

Big 5: #2 Others Centered - August 8, 2010

Make Me a Servant, Lord

Introduction
-     Greatest Commandment
 
Luke 10:27 (New International Version)
He answered: "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind;” and, “Love your neighbor as yourself."

-    The greatest act of selfishness – Riverton, WY

I.    Judging Others
Matthew 7:1-5 (NIV)
Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. 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? 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? 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.
    A.    When judging is legitimate
   B.    Can’t judge others until you judge yourself (vs 4)
   C.    Don’t judge others who can’t receive it (vs 6)

II.    Serving others
Matthew 20:20-26 (NIV)
Then the mother of Zebedee's sons came to Jesus with her sons and, kneeling down, asked a favor of him. "What is it you want?" he asked. She said, "Grant that one of these two sons of mine may sit at your right and the other at your left in your kingdom." "You don't know what you are asking," Jesus said to them. "Can you drink the cup I am going to drink?" "We can," they answered. Jesus said to them, "You will indeed drink from my cup, but to sit at my right or left is not for me to grant. These places belong to those for whom they have been prepared by my Father." When the ten heard about this, they were indignant with the two brothers. Jesus called them together and said, "You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant,
   A.    These boys had learned well at home
   B.    Jesus demonstrated how to serve others
John 13:5-11 (NIV)
After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples' feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him. He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, "Lord, are you going to wash my feet?" Jesus replied, "You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand." "No," said Peter, "you shall never wash my feet." Jesus answered, "Unless I wash you, you have no part with me." "Then, Lord," Simon Peter replied, "not just my feet but my hands and my head as well!" Jesus answered, "A person who has had a bath needs only to wash his feet; his whole body is clean. And you are clean, though not every one of you." For he knew who was going to betray him, and that was why he said not every one was clean.
   C.    Everyone wants to be the CEO

      a.    Pyramid turned upside down
Matthew 20:25-28 (NIV)
Jesus called them together and said, "You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave— just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many."

   D.    Bible heroes were servants
      -    Paul – II Corinthians 11
      -    James & John

   E.    The needy are to be served 
Matthew 25:31-46 (NIV)
When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his throne in heavenly glory. All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left. Then the King will say to those on his right, “Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.” Then the righteous will answer him, “Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?” The King will reply, “I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.” Then he will say to those on his left, “Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.” They also will answer, “Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?” He will reply, “I tell you the truth, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.” Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.
 
James 1:27 (NIV)
Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.

III.    When others hurt you
II Timothy 4:14-15 (NIV)
Alexander the metalworker did me a great deal of harm. The Lord will repay him for what he has done. You too should be on your guard against him, because he strongly opposed our message.
 
   A.    Sticks and stones…
     a.    Paul didn’t whine

  B.    We shouldn’t be surprised when others hurt us
   C.    Proven to set boundaries
Matthew 5:23 (NIV)
Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you,

Matthew 18:15-17 (NIV)
If your brother sins against you, go and show him his fault, just between the two of you. If he listens to you, you have won your brother over. But if he will not listen, take one or two others along, so that “every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.” If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if he refuses to listen even to the church, treat him as you would a pagan or a tax collector.

Matthew 6:14 (NIV)
For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.
 
Hebrews 12:15 (NIV)
See to it that no one misses the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many.

Serving others helps us to:
1.    Be like Jesus
2.    Unite the body
3.    Be productive in service
4.    See God happen
5.    Have Joy to live
6.    Make like meaning

The Big 5: #1 Kingdom is at hand - August 1, 2010

The Kingdom is at Hand

Matthew 6:25-33 (New International Version)
Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, “What shall we eat?” or “What shall we drink?” or “What shall we wear?” For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

Matthew 7:21 (NIV)
Not everyone who says to me, “Lord, Lord,” will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.

I.    Sense of Urgency
Acts 2:42-47 (NIV)
They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common. Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.

II.    Dedicated to Duty 
II Timothy 2:2 (NIV)
And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable men who will also be qualified to teach others.

III.    Kingdom minded people have a heart of sensitivity
Luke 19:41 (NIV)
As he approached Jerusalem and saw the city, he wept over it.
“This is not the future’s first verse!

Always it keeps coming – at supersonic speeds.
Suddenly in the desert stands

John the Baptist.
“Repent!” he shouts,
“The future – God’s future – is at hand!”
It will not wait

And so Jesus comes.
Are we ready?
Do we welcome Him?
Do we love Him?
Do we serve Him?
Do we see Him for who He is?
Or do we go on, hating the Romans,
Talking about the price of eggs?
Still the future speeds;
Tomorrow starts today.
People move.
Cities grow.
Times change.
In the name of God, we must do better than before!
The future will not wait!”