July 23 – What We Were Made For (Matt 28:18-20)
VBS Kickoff
Each year, we give it everything we have. We want this week of Vacation Bible School to be the most fun, the best experience, and some of the greatest memories our kids every have. But all of that is because of our purpose – as believers, as a church, and certainly as we pour out our energy this week. We want our kids (and everyone else) to know Jesus. We want homes to be changed by His power. We want the lost to be found and the hopeless to find hope in Jesus’ name. We didn’t just make this up. Jesus Himself gave us these marching orders. We’re going to kick off our VBS week by talking about ‘The Great Commission.’ Have you been busy doing what you were made to do?
Go
Make Disciples
Always With You
QUESTION: What do we need to do to go and make disciples? Will you help in any way you can (prayer, volunteer, bring kids, etc) to make this week’s VBS eternally effective? When it feels like you’re all alone and nothing is happening, will you remember that Jesus will NEVER leave you?
July 30 – God’s Plan for You (2 Peter 2:4-10)
VBS Closing
Life can be confusing. Just when you think you have one problem solved, three more crop up. There are moments when it feels like you’re juggling so much already, and life throws one more thing into the mix. Some people say God has a plan for your life. Could that be true? And what would be His plan with all that seems so chaotic and out of place. One of Jesus’ closest friends while He lived on earth was Peter, and Peter wrote a few books. We’re going to look at what Peter has to say about God’s plan for you. It may not be what you think! But it might be better than you could imagine.
God Building Your Life (v. 4-6)
When you come to the Living stone…
Trust in Him – never put to shame
Rejecting God’s Plan (v. 7-8)
Stumble / fall
Declare Him (v. 9-10)
Darkness / light
You are a people…
Received mercy
QUESTION: Will you embrace God’s plan for you by letting Him be the One to build your life? Will you devote yourself and your family to being a part of God’s people? Will you declare Him?
August 6 – Forgiven Much (Luke 7:36-50)
COMMUNION
Have you ever been grateful beyond words? Maybe someone did something for you so important or thoughtful that you were just overwhelmed. It feels like you’re searching for something to say or do that would ‘measure up’ to the gratitude that you feel. In the story we’re studying today, we see a woman who has this kind of thankfulness for Jesus. It is beyond words and so she finds an unusual way to express it. Those who watch what she does see it as a scandal. But Jesus gets it and has a way of both explaining it to them and challenging us.
A Woman’s Gratitude (v. 36-38)
Extravagant and visible – sacrificial and passionate
Do we have any gratitude like this? What does it take to love Jesus like this?
More At Stake (v. 39-43)
Jesus tells a short riddle to illustrate her motivation
Do we see ourselves as forgiven for MUCH or for just a little?
Are we desperate or just needing a little help?
How seriously do you take your sin? How big of a deal is it that Jesus offers forgiveness to you?
The Contrast (v. 44-50)
One with faith – forgiven
The ones with contempt and pride – not thinking they need forgiving and thinking they have the right to question Jesus’ authority to forgive
LOST
QUESTION: Has it been a while since you’ve been overwhelmed with gratitude for the forgiveness you’ve received? What would be a way you could express that gratitude? How can you hold onto that mindset?
August 13 – Jim Jefferson Speaking - Matthew 25:31-46
August 19 – Dave Hallahan Speaking / Teen Service
August 26 – Community for Jesus’ Sake (Galatians 6:1-2, 10)
First responders are known for many things, but what is always amazing is that when crisis hits, they run TOWARDS the trouble. Most of us hear an explosion or gunshot or whatever and we protect ourselves. It is what comes naturally. But these heroes are lauded for their willingness to do the exact opposite. Could it be that we are so deeply moved by this because it reflects Almighty God? He moved towards our trouble, embracing the cost and the pain to save us. And He calls us to follow in His steps. Why isn’t the church at full function in this area? Could it be that one crucial element is being stripped away in our American culture? Let’s dig into what Paul says about what happens when the church embraces community.
Community is a mechanism for restoration
Community is a provision for help
Do you know anyone in need? Don’t let the scammers give you a permanent and impenetrable excuse – there are needs all around you
What if the church ran toward legitimate need – what if we poured ourselves out to meet needs and help others
How would you know? Connection – community – caring!
Community reflects our trademark – the law of Christ
Opportunity – what does Paul have in mind?
QUESTION: What is the current status of your connection to the body of Christ? What would it take for your eyes to be opened to the needs that Jesus wants you to meet around you? Will you take a step forward in these areas starting now?
September 3 – Essential Behaviors (Acts 2:42-47)
COMMUNION
If you’re playing a game, there are always important actions that determine whether you will compete and win, or if you’re going to quickly lose. When playing “Tag”, it is important to know who is “It” and to do all you can to avoid them! If you’re playing cards, you need to understand what you’re allowed to do, and what you’re trying to accomplish in the particular game you’re playing. Board games have rules that imply certain necessary behaviors. If you ignore or don’t know what is needed, you do very poorly in the game. If you’ve ever seen a first-time baseball player run the wrong way on the bases, you know exactly what this looks like. As we talk about church, it is important to be reminded that the Christian life also has some essential behaviors. And the New Testament model teaches us that we do these much more effectively when we’re together. Let’s take a look at the first church and see what they spent their time doing and what effect it had.
DEVOTED THEMSELVES
To What?
“Apostles Teaching” learned – looked at the Scriptures TOGETHER to learn and be challenged in real life ways
Fellowship – friendship, knowing one another, caring about one another, helping one another (more on meeting needs and sharing in 2 weeks)
Breaking of Bread, worshipped together…. Sang – lifting up praise in song (and other ways) to give honor and glory to God
Prayer – taking our own needs and the needs of others before the throne – communicating with God while joined the Spirit with those present
REGULARLY – continued to meet everyday
Why? They understood this to be the fabric of Christian life – connection through meeting together, and these activities done together
What effect did it have? JOY – glad and sincere hearts
Habit / momentum – broke bread in their homes and ate together
Thankful hearts – praising God
Great Testimonies – favor of all the people
Harvest – Lord added daily to their number
If we’re going to follow the pattern of those who were a part of the original church
QUESTION: Do you see how God uses your church family to amplify the impact of these actions in your spiritual life? How devoted are you to these things as a part of our church family? What effect does your level of commitment have on your spiritual life?
September 10 – Bold Cause (Acts 4:18-31)
When the power goes out, life gets very different very quickly. If you’re at home and it’s dark, you suddenly are on a search for flashlights and candles. If you’re at work, everything seems to come to a halt because most of what we do requires power. We are very used to having power on demand, and very aware of the lack whenever we lose it. But are we as sensitive and aware of power loss in our spiritual lives? As we talk about the role of church in our lives, we look at the example of the early church. What we find is that the amazing power they unleashed grew out of their connection to one another – especially in difficult times.
Power Poured Out (v. 31)
Look at this – what is stopping this kind of power in our church? In our lives?
Facing Threats (v. 18-22)
God had done a great miracle – healing a lame beggar
The religious leaders were trying to bully Peter and John (and by extension, the new church) into silence
There are many ways that we can find ourselves in trouble – even when we do the right thing
What has God given us to help us handle these inevitabilities in life?
Praying Together (v. 23-30)
Two points
They came together to PRAY
They prayed for boldness and power
What is the importance of doing this together? Would it have been any different to face this individually?
Don’t they all have the Spirit and the power of God? Why is it such a big thing that they prayed and carried this together?
We carry the weight together much more effectively than isolated and alone
QUESTION: Do you notice a shortage of power or boldness in your life? Can you connect that to any lack of facing trials with other believers? How long has it been since you regularly and intentionally prayed with a group of brothers and sisters in Christ?
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