Quiet Times Search

• flirtation to a pure friendship
• gossip to a righteous conversation
• alcohol to a friendly gathering
• pornography to a web search
• shoplifting to a normal shopping trip

• Must set mind on things above
• Not - Just read and pray more
• Not - Accountability partners
• Not - making it a habit

• Old Way: “Treat … younger women as sister, with absolute purity”
• New Way: “…strength to comprehend with all the saint what is the breadth and length and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge”

• Understands that he a citizen of the kingdom of heaven
• Jesus is Lord of the kingdom
• Jesus delivered him into the kingdom through his blood
• His sins placed him in Satan’s domain
• Live gratefully for Jesus rather than self
• Should anticipates the King’s glorious return
• Want no one to perish
• Should no fear man
• Only agenda is God’s agenda

1. What influences have shaped your worldview?
2. How has the world tried to squeeze your mind into its mold?
3. How can you resist – even reverse – this persistent pressure from the world?
4. Why should you “gird the loins of your mind”?
5. When and how did Saul/Paul repent?
6. What is the difference between a fleshly mind and a spiritual mind?
7. At a popular level, what is the difference between WWJD and WWJT?
8. Why are spiritual disciplines more effective after one has experienced the paradigm shift of metanoia?

• Many call press conferences to get there side of the story our first
• Once guilt is found, party than give a “heart-felt” apology – sorrow for getting caught
• Sin is destructive. It ruins relationships, reputation, peace of mind and personal integrity

• Some believe the abundance of tears is repentance
  • Forgiven women (forgiven)
  • Peter, Paul vs Cain (became angry)
  • Esau (wailed loudly)
  • Judas (deeply regretted)
• All three shed tear but not one repented
• Claiming to be a victim doesn’t make one a victim
• Tears can be self-affirming to one with self-pity (can become more sinful)
• Ones mostly likely to enable and least likely to help you

Zeal reject the “whatever…” attitude as it determines to do “Whatever to takes!”
Lack of surrender robs zeal
Completely denying all we are, path to God becomes clear and passionate

1. Does Sandi’s story convict you about an unresolved sin in your life? If so, what should you do?
2. What are some Biblical examples of individuals who exhibit godly sorrow? What are some Biblical examples of groups who exhibit godly sorrow?
3. Consider William Law’s assertion that our “sins are due to the fact that we do not intend to please God in all the actions of our lives.” Is this true for you? How does godly sorrow reverse this condition?
4. Why does sin require confession? Is confession only before God? To whom have you confessed sins besides God?
5. What does a short list indicate?
6. Do you believe Proverbs 28:13? Do you practice it? Why or why not?
7. How does indignation promote repentance? When were you last indignant over sin?
8. How does “fear” promote repentance? How does it work together with “longing” to produce repentance?
9. Has anyone ever marveled at your zeal to repent – why or why not?
10. Are you ready to completely the avenge the wrong caused by sin and self? What next steps will you take?

1. Try this
2. You are damaged goods
3. Doing it again will not make you more unclean
4. They don’t/won’t understand
5. Never tell them about this

• Not the kind of group you would expect to win the world for the Christ.
• Represented an average cross section of the society of their day
• Some already had joined the revival movement of John the Baptist
• Jesus can use anyone who wants to be used.
• Kept the group small enough to be able to work effectively with them.
  • More special than the twelve was the three – Peter, James, John
    • Jairus’ daughter (mark 5:37, Luke 8:51)
    • Mount of Transfiguration (Mark 9:2, Matthew 17:1)
    • Waited Near the Lord when He prayed. (Mark 14:33, Matthew 26:37)
  • Choose twelve – Luke 6:13-17, Mark 3:13-19
  • Others – the 70 (Luke 10:1), Mark and Luke (gospel writers), James, His own brother (1 Cor 15:7)
• Rapidly diminishing priority given to those outside the twelve.
• Staked His whole ministry on them. Everything depended upon their faithfulness.
• Some believe that focusing on a few is favoritism
• Jesus however did not neglect the crowds.
  • Taught them
  • Healed the sick
  • Blessed the children
  • Wept for them
  • He died for them.

• Crowd aroused
  • Wanted to make him King by force - John 6:15
  • All men were clamoring for His attention - John 3:26
  • Pharisees admitted that the world has gone after Him - John 12:19
  • Frequently asked those that recipients of His healing to say nothing to prevent mass demonstrations
  • Own brothers and sisters did not understand him - John 7:2-9

• Great Commission
  • Go, baptize and teach
  • Go to the ends of the earth preaching the Gospel - Mark 16:15
  • Not only followed but led others to follow.
• · Pray for workers
  • Mass ripe for harvest – pray for harvesters.
  • God already loves us – we need to pray specifically
  • Only hope for men is to go to them with the gospel of Salvation
  • Won by working faithfully, patiently, painstakingly until they become fruitful Christians

• Why was she picked to give birth to the Savior?
• She already knew how much she needed God as her savior
• Already in a humble state before him - Luke 1:46-55

• Took a jolt on the way to Damascus
• He finally came to see his poverty of spirit
  • Nothing good lives in me - Romans 7:18
    
  • I am the least of the apostles - 1 Corinthians 15:9-10
  • Confessed his poverty to the very end - 1 Timothy 1:12-15

1. Our Father in heaven - Set our minds on personal and intimate relationship we have with our God
2. Hallowed be your name  - Praise and honor him
3. Your Kingdom come  - Pray for his church, disciples, leaders, people whom the gospel has not reached
4. Your will be done - Pray for a submissive heart toward will of God in our lives
5. Give us this day our daily bread - Pray through today's schedule, needs, relying on God
6. Forgive us our debts - Confess specific sin
7. As we also have forgiven our debtors - Commit before God to resolve conflict, hurts, concerns in all relationships
8. Lead us not into temptation - Wrestle with God to be submissive and repentant in areas of weakness
9. Deliver us from the evil one - Pray that God to stop Satan and than God for victories in him

• What can I learn from this problem?
• What is your will for my life?
• What can I change that will make his/her life and our marriage better?

• We think we are not worthy
• Our faith is weak
• We don't know what we want - we need to dream

Bad Trees

Bad trees always produce bad fruit

• Shallow hearts produce shallow disciples
• Hypocrisy multiplies hypocrites
• Impure hearts produced doomed disciples
• Criticaless spreads like a virus
• Faithlessness topples cold heart after cold heart

Until someone sits down and studies the Bible with someone it is impossible to know what kind of heart they have

• Their growth - he would pay the cost
• Patient with someone who was weak - he would pay the cost
• Someone taking advantage of his humility - he would pay the cost
• Was through sticky, uncomfortable issues - he would pay the cost

• He was circumcised the first day it was possible (eighth day)
• He was an Israelite
• He was from the tribe of Benjamin (most honored tribe of all)
• He was a Hebrew of Hebrews - carefully passed on Hebrew language to children

• He was extremely zealous - Galatians 1:14
• He vigorously opposed the church
• He was faultless in the eyes of others

Although is righteousness that is not our own becomes laziness, we show we have the grace of God - Philippians 3:12-16

Despite all that Paul went through and has done - he pressed on
Greek word, dicoko = used in both hunting and foot racing

There is certainly a time to remember what we have done - 2 Thessalonians 2:5
But there is also a time to forget

Paul did not cling to the fact that he planted a lot of churches
He purposely "forgot", so he would not see himself as arriving

Paul was looking forward to the next thing God had in store for him
All who are mature, should think this way

The way to take it higher is to hold on to what you have already grasped and then reach for more

• Listening to Christ everyday
• Holding on to his faith in the fiery trails
• Slowly and painfully

• Pray about adopting a child
• Visit a nursing home
• When the homeless ask for spare change, do not be stingy, give to them - Luke 6:30-38
• On your next vacation, go to a 3rd world country
• See what you can sell to help the poor - Luke 12:33
  
• Get to know a homeless person and have them into your home - Matthew 25:35
• Read the news - follow up with the victims of accidents, fires, robberies

Paraphasing: Since salvation is so awesome, get you heart right! - 1 Peter 2:1-2

Are you craving pure spiritual milk?

• Daily time in Bible study and prayer
• Read the entire Bible?
• How quickly can you shake off the grogginess when you think about God and your mission?
• Do you take notes during sermons?
• Does your enthusiasm rub off on others? Non-Christians take your walk with God seriously?

Preached by Richard Dixson (1997-05-18)

1 Samuel 16:7

• Worldly things look more appealing
• The people saw the others with better things
  • Most important thing:
    • Everyone spends time to get ready
    • Do you spend more time getting ready for the outside appearance than your inward?
    • The heart is most important

Psalms 51:4-9

• Being true to one's self
• When our conscience violated things are not fun
• Renew the steadfast spirit

Special Place for a special for a special friend

Psalms 63:2-4 - Remember God's Power

Psalms 63:6-7 - The night bed and protection from God

Psalms 91:4 - We are being attacked all the time

Psalms 63:8 - Confidence - God holds us up

• Drain life and beauty away from the church
• Bury Christians in duty
• Nobody will want to take a closer look

Better to:

• Go to class
• Read the textbook
• Study for the test
• Go to study groups
• Talk with the teacher

1 Peter 1:13-14

• Be disciplined
• Non-studying types will not do well

1 Peter 2:1-2 - Crave spiritual milk

1 Peter 3:15 - Tested with questions

1 Peter 4:1 - Get your attitude ready

1 Peter 4:7-12 - Love others with self-control

New Testament

Romans 11:17-21 - You can get arrogant

1 Corinthians 10:1-10 - Do repeat the same misakes of those in the OT

Galatians 6:7-10 - We reap what we sow, do not become weary of doing good

Jude 3-4 - Grace of God is not a license to sin

1 John 4 - Can not love God without loving your brother

2 Timothy 4 - We need to check to see if we have sound doctrine

Hebrew 5 - Teachers can become arrogance

Revelation 2-3 = Churches can loose focus

1. Read and Pray Daily to God
2. We need others in our lives
3. We need meetings of the body
4. Giving to God
5. Complete Openness
6. People are going to heaven or hell
7. Reaching out to others

1. To be alive and thirsty
2. To be dead
3. To be addicted

• What group did Jesus tangle with the most?
• Who start the rumors about Jesus to discredit him?
• Where did the open opposition to Christ come from?
• Who paid the 30 pieces of silver for Jesus' capture
• Who got the crowd to start yelling Barabbas when Pilot was ready to let Jesus go?

• Broke bread in their homes and ate together - Acts 2:46
• The church meet in houses - 1 Corinthians 16:19
• House church at Nymph's house - Colossians 4:15

• Scripture reading becomes I have to read it to understand the gospel for others
• Talking to God suddenly takes on a new purpose - passionate pleas for friends
• Our desire to worship grows as your gratitude grows
• Helps maintain a high standard of purity

1. Time and Energy
How better to expend time and energy than investing into someone who will thank you for enternity?
What other investment will reap so high a reward?

2. Reading and Study
Some effect to make cetain you know what you are talking about

3. Money
The amount of hard cash spent is still relatively low in camparsion to the overwhelming rewards that result
Can't imagine a safer investment

4. Risk of Embarrassment, Rejection or Persecution
Blessed are you when people insult you - great is your reward in heaven - Matthew 5:11-12

5. Complication of Life
It entangles us in the concerns and activities of their lives
We have less independence
Add to our overloaded schedules
But so does getting married, having children, and buying a house
The most important things complicate our lives, but they are worth it!

1. God's Plan for Your Life - Genesis 3:19; Ecclesiastes 3:13, 22; 2 Thessalonians 3:10
   1. It is God's will for us to work hard in order to earn the bread we eat.
   2. God wants us to find satisfaction in our work.
   3. If a person will not work, he cannot eat.
2. Responsibility of the Employee - Colossians 3:22-25; Ephesians 4:28; Acts 5:29
   1. Obedience: We are to be a disciple to our boss on the job. God expects us to obey our boss not just to win his favor, but out of reverence for Christ.
   2. Wholeheartedness: God expects us to put our whole heart into our work. As Christians, we should be the most sincere and hard-working employees on the job.
   3. Do not steal from your employer (e.g. receiving pay for work you did not do, taking supplies, submitting false or exaggerated expense reports).
   4. Obey God first. If asked to do something that is illegal, unethical, or sinful - obey God over men.

1. What do I need to repent of in relation to my job? Be specific.
2. Am I doing anything as a part of my job that is sinful or goes against my conscience?

1. Honor God with your Wealth - Proverbs 3:9
   1. Will I obey the scriptures
   2. Will I, as a mature Christian, increase my weekly giving?
2. Guard Your Heart - Proverbs 4:23
   1. What sins of the heart have I confronted and repented of in regard to my finances?
   2. Am I ready to give out of a pure heart and a sincere love for God?
3. A Living Sacrifice - Romans 12:1
   1. In what ways am I going to live a more sacrificial lifestyle in order to advance God's kingdom?
4. Give and It Will Be Given To You - Luke 6:38
   1. Have I made decisions to give by faith and to give joyfully to the Lord?
5. A Spirit of Self-Discipline - 2 Timothy 1:7
   1. Have I prepared a budget that I am ready to live by? If not, when will I have it completed?
   2. Have I sought input?
6. Free At Last - Romans 13:8
   1. Have I gained deep convictions about getting out of debt?
   2. What is my plan to eliminate sinful/foolish debt from my life?
7. A Light to the World - Matthew 5:14
   1. How am I going to work at my job in such a way that my life is an upward calling to everyone around me?
   2. Am I fulfilling my financial responsibilities as a disciple in the areas that God expects?

1. Yourself - 1 Thessalonians 4:11-12
   1. We need to be financially independent in the sense that we take care of our own. As adults we should not be dependent on parents, family, friends, or the church except in rare instances.
   2. Non-Christians do not respect people who do not carry their weight financially. We hinder the spread of the Gospel if we are irresponsible with our finances.
2. Family - 1 Timothy 5:4-8
   1. Taking care of our family is one of the most basic responsibilities we have. If we fail, we deny the faith.
   2. Responsibility includes at least parents, grandparents, spouse, children, 7 brothers and sisters.
   3. It is right for us to repay our parents and grandparents.
3. Government - Romans 13:1-7
   1. We need to support the government through the payment of taxes.
   2. We pay not according to what we can get away with but what is right to pay.
4. The Church - 1 Cor 16:1-2
   1. Each one has the responsibility to take care of the church financially.
   2. Set aside on the first day of every week.
   3. Plan and save for special contributions.
5. The Poor - Luke 12:33; James 1:27

1. In which of the above areas am I not fulfilling my responsibilities?

• Because you contacted them out of blue
• Both of you want to see all the changes that have happened since you last saw them

• Just witnessed 5,000 people being feed
• They were looking for free food but in reality they had to work at it find it
• The bread they needed was to spend time to know about Jesus - the bread of life
• Are you searching for the right kind of bread?
• The search and hunger for God does not end when we are baptized, it only begins
  

• We need to find God like hidden treasure
• God does not change but our viewpoint changes
• Example - Engagement ring to a couple verse the a jewelery store owner

• Money, worries, wasted time choke out our hunger for him
• During the holidays this becomes a bigger issue

• They asked for a miracle but they had already forgotten about the miracle they just saw - feeding the 5,000
• The work is to believe - it takes work to believe
• NOT working to get salvation but we need to work at our salvation

• Should be titled "Jesus, the seeker of Zacchaeus"
• Introduction starts with Jesus calling out Zachhaeus
• How did he know him? Jesus was present when God gave him life - John 1:3
• The crowd was less than delighted
  • They enjoyed the fruit of Jesus' miracles
  • Failed to grasp his love

• Enjoying the fellowship
• Benefiting from counseling
• Learning how to change bad habits

• Battle between good and evil
• Battle between faith and action

• v22 - Faith and works - work together
• Faith without deeds is dead
• Where am I not following exactly?
• What am I not submitting to God's will?

James 4:7-8 - God calls us to submit to him fully

Trust in God and not your situation

1 Samuel 13:11-12 - Saul doubted that Samuel was coming

James 1:5-8 - we should believe and not doubt

Proverbs 3:5 - Trust in God and not on one's own understanding
Depending on one's own understanding creates:

• Pride
• Controlling person
• Self-reliant
• Unreliable - allows our situations to change us
• Lose of conviction

• Knowledge of the Bible
• Daily prayer/walk with God
• Brotherly fellowship

Examples of those seeking God:

Ethiopian eunuch - Acts 8:26-40

• What do we know about this seeker?
  • He is important and therefore certainly busy, but still finds time for God.
  • He reads the Scriptures himself and asks questions about what he is reading.
  • He is humble and sincere enough in his search to ask for help.
    
  • What he learns he acts on right away, as seen with his baptism.
• How did he feel after coming to know God better?
  
• The burning questions he had about God were answered in an afternoon.
  

Bereans - Acts 17:10-12

• What was it about these Berean seekers that made Luke refer to them as having “noble character”?
  • Enthusiastic
  • Great Eagerness - explain
    
  • Examined the scriptures daily
    
• Why was it important for them to “examine the Scriptures every day” for themselves?
• What was the result of this eager yet diligent attitude?
  
• As with prayer, reading the Bible is vitally important to knowing God.

John 1:18

• Jesus has made God known.
  
• Where do we begin our search for God? We begin by getting to know Jesus.
  
• To the degree that we know Jesus, we will know God.

John 20:30-31

• The Word of God produces faith in Jesus.
• What will we find if we seek God by coming to know Jesus through God’s Word? Finding God begins with coming to faith in Jesus
  which promises true life now and eternal life later!
• As we take a closer look at Jesus, are you willing to make a heartfelt effort to draw closer to God by praying and reading the Bible?

• Jesus is God in the flesh. He is the unique Son of God: fully God and fully man!
• God came to earth as a man in order that we could come to know him.
  
• If you were an all powerful and invisible God, how would you have tried to communicate your love to your creation?
  
• Illustration: Imagine trying to talk to an ant - How do you communicate with them without terrifying them? Become an ant yourself
  

• All the fullness of God lives in Jesus Christ.
  
• Every aspect of God’s character can be found in Jesus.
  
• Reading through any of the Gospels describing Jesus life and words will give you insight into God’s character and will for your life.
  

• Mark 1:21-22 - Jesus was an amazing teacher whose words were spoken with authority.
• Mark 1:23-28 - Jesus cast out demons, showing that the power of God was present in him.
• Mark 1:29-31 - Jesus met people’s felt needs and healed the sick.
• Mark 1:32-34 - Jesus focused his attention on others and selflessly gave of himself.
• Mark 1:35 - Jesus was dependent upon God in prayer for his strength and direction.
• Mark 1:36-39 - Jesus was consumed with his mission to preach the good news.
• Mark 1:40-42 - Jesus was filled with compassion for all people.
• Mark 10:32-34, 45 - Jesus came to serve, and gave his perfect life as a ransom for sinners. As predicted, he was rejected by his people and crucified - but he rose from the dead three days later.

• All Scripture is inspired by God, God-breathed
  
• Should be applied to our lives so that we can be ready for every spiritual challenge
  • Word used to learn what God says by teaching
  • Word used to correct things we are not doing
  • Word used to warn us by rebuking us
  • Word used to put things into practice through training
• Why should we go through this type of learning? Be thoroughly equipped for all good works

• The word of God is relevant and can expose and convict us of sin in our lives - not collecting dust somewhere
• It exposes us for what or who we are - Not everything in the Bible feels good at the time
  
• Sharper than any double edged sword - It can cut us, but its purpose is to cut out the bad, so that we can be healed - just like a surgeon’s scalpel.

• We need to watch how we live and what we teach - both essential to salvation
  
• Illustration: Which wing of an airplane is most important? So it is with what you teach and how you live out those beliefs.
  
• What is the result of careful attention to our life and doctrine?

• The cross is a demonstration of God’s justice in the face of sin.
• God would not be righteous if he simply looked the other way in the face of sin and evil.
  
• The cross is the greatest demonstration of God’s love. Because God loves us, Jesus Christ died for our sins.

• Jesus understood God’s plan for him to give himself as a ransom for us - to die for our sins.
• He could do this only because of his sinless life.

• One account of the crucifixion. As you read and discuss each section, ask the question: “Why did God allow this to happen to Jesus?” Because He loves us! (To better describe the physical torments of the crucifixion, you may also wish to read “The Passion of the Christ from a Medical Point of View” by C. Truman Davis, M.D.)

• Written about 700 years before Jesus, this chapter predicted what the Messiah would do at the cross and why. (Note: In Luke 22:37, Jesus quotes from Isaiah 53 and says it was about him.) Read entire chapter. Points of emphasis:
  
  • Verses 1-3 – despised and rejected
  • Verses 4-6 – pierced for our transgressions; crushed for our iniquities; by his wounds we are healed. Suggestion: read this passage again putting in your own name.
  • Verses 7-9 – like a lamb to the slaughter; for the transgressions of my people he was stricken. You may want to remind the person of the sins he/she described in earlier study.
  • Verses 10-12 – he is a guilt offering; but after the suffering of his soul, satisfaction (resurrection)
    

• Why did Jesus die on the cross for us? So that we might die to sin and live for righteousness.
  
• This is our whole-hearted response to the cross.

Sinner’s Prayer? 1 Peter 3:21

• Some claim that a person needs only to pray a “sinner’s prayer” or “ask Jesus into his/her heart” in order to be saved.
• This is the predominant view in the evangelical Christian world. However, this is not the message that was preached in the Book of Acts.
• Everyone was called to repentance, faith and baptism, and as Peter wrote here, “baptism now saves us” by the resurrection of Christ from the dead.

Acts 22:7-16

• After encountering Jesus, repenting, praying, fasting (Acts 9:9-11), being healed, and being called by God,
  Paul remains in sin.
• What was left for him to do?
• Why the urgency - what is so pressing about the need for baptism?
• What remains for you to do or think about before you are ready to be united with Christ in baptism?

Acts 2:40-47

• The first 3000 converts joined together in devotion to the Apostles’ teaching, fellowship, breaking of bread, and prayer.
• A beautiful view of the early church. How would you like to be part of such a church?

Romans 12:1-8

• The church is a community of people
  • devoted to God (vv1-2)
  • belonging to one another (vv3-5) 
  • devoted to one another (vv 6-10).

1 Corinthians 12:12-27

• The Spirit baptizes us into the body of Jesus, his church.
• The church consists of distinct yet unified parts, just like a human body.
• God himself has arranged it this way.
• We are the church; each of us must actively look for the distinct yet unified ways we are to support this body.
• How will you help build up the body of Christ?

• Bible does not condemn homosexuality
• Committed homosexual relationships is compatible with Biblical unity

• In the past, people were ashamed to go public
• People did not have to address it because it was understood
• Francis Turretin  (17th century) said that homosexuality was  - "sin against nature"

• v12 - Everyone that want to live a Godly life will have to go through persecution
• Question: What do you think that means - being persecuted for living a Godly life?
• v14-15 - Apostle Paul instructs Timothy to continue to believe to believe in the scriptures because it is able to make you wise in the choices of life
• v4:4 - Bible says that people will start to listen to and follow man (ideas and myths) rather than God
• If we read the Bible daily then we will know God's will for our lives. If we don't we will start to follow what people say, think, and feel.
• Question: How can reading the Bible daily change your life? What happens if you don't read daily?
• Question: Why do you think God wants you to read his word daily? So you can know him!

• Jesus is talking to the Jewish people and tells them that is they don't hold to his teachings, then they are not really his disciples
• Just because someone acts religious or know a lot about the Bible does not mean they are following Jesus
• Question: What does Jesus say it takes to be his disciple? Then you'll know what? Then what?
• When you read someone's journal you get to know that person more and more each day - same goes for reading God's word
• Question: How often do you read the Bible?
• Challenge: Read the Bible daily and make one decision each day.

• God knows what you and I have done but he wants to help us get our lives in order
• The more we read, the more we understand God is merciful and loving
• He is serious about us changing our lives to fit His will vs us trying to change the Bible to fit our will

• Jesus is the ultimate reflection of God on earth
• Just as Jesus didn't come with a critical judgment = God does not either
• v46 - He shows us the way out of darkness - when we don't have a close relationship with him
• Question: What does Jesus say will actually judge us? God's words

1. Read the Bible daily so we can know him
2. We must apply the Bible to our lives, let it change us, and let our lives change others
3. Let's study the Bible together at least once a week for the next 3 weeks

Marine Corp example

Solider learned to respect autority promptly and correctly by carrying out commands / seeing pure fear and humilation as punishment
Some actually learn to enjoy the challenge of the tough, disciplined life

Solider grows a personal relationship with the general but always conscious of the vast difference in rank between them
It was a different kind of awe - a greater sense of respect and admiration

Later he realizes how much the general cares for him by putting his life on the line for the solider

Jesus often spoke in parables, fictional stories that as if they really happened
Helps express more abstract spiritual concepts

Awe is defined as:

• An emotion in which dread, veneration, and wonder are vairously mingled
• Submissive and admiring fear inspired by authority
• A fearful reverence inspired by deity

• Question: What is Jesus saying to you in v26? What relationship would be the most challenging? Why?
• Question: In v28-30, if you start to follow Jesus then stop how will that effect the people that have seen you start?
• Question: In v31-33, which king will win? Will the losing king still be a king? No, stop fighting God and serve him
• Question: What do you see as something that will be a cost for you in following Jesus?

• Question: How much authority does Jesus have? What does His authority exclude? Nothing!
• Question: What does Jesus commission us to do? Who should you start with in fulling this commission from Jesus? Yourself

1. Get to know someone = read the Bible and pray daily (Word Study)
   
2. Dating stage = commit to coming to church, Bible discussion group, and studying the Bible (Discipleship study)
   
3. Engagement = making a decision to commit your life to God (Sin and Repentance study)
   
4. Wedding ceremony = baptism

• Judas had already decided in his heart and actions to betray Jesus. Then he watched for an opportunity to carry out sin.
• Share: A person's heart can be so hard that they no longer fear God - Psalms 36:1-3
• In spite of knowing that Judas was lying and plotting to have him killed, Jesus still loved him.
• The disciples had no clue who it was.
• Jesus' heart and actions never expressed any anger/resentment toward Judas

• Peter accepted the words of Jesus until it came time to apply them to his life.
• Share: Peter's prideful refusal to accept Jesus will for his life lead other down the wrong path

• Jesus suffered for you and me because he loves us that much (willing to take our pain)
• Not only did Jesus bear the physical pain but the emotional and spiritual pain as well.
• This pain and separation from God was more than he could take (lead to his overwhelming death)
• Question: How do you feel about the fact that Jesus went through all this for you? How does it make you feel toward Jesus?
• Question: Did you know that Jesus loved you this much? How does it make you feel toward Jesus?
• Question: How do you feel about your sin now that you know what Jesus went through?

• Worldly Sorrow = feel bad because you did wrong and/or got caught doing something
• Godly Sorrow = repentance, earnestness, eagerness to clear yourself, longing, concern, indignation, alarm, ready to see justice done
• Share: God wants you to respond by repenting of your sin and showing love to him because he loved you first - 1 John 4:19

• Our heart should be to give "cheerfully" out of gratitude for all that God's done for you
• Weekly contribution is an opportunity to express our gratitude to God weekly.
• Share: You wouldn't want someone to love you because they "have to" instead because they "want to".
• God doesn't make you give he wants you to give "cheerfully"
• Question: How do you feel about giving contribution weekly?
• Share: Once a year we have a special contribution to help in special areas (explain what special is about)

• Each disciple is different (racially, socially, economically, culturally, etc) and God wants it that way.
• Each disciple is different but each person is important. What gift do you see yourself adding to the body?
• v18 - God arranges the body parts the way he wants them to be (our relationships are orchestrated by God)
• God has the person that He wants you to (marry, roommate, etc) already in mind for you (trust him)

• Honor your father and mother - Matthew 19:19
• Let your "Yes" be a yes and your "No" be a no - James 5:12
• Live in harmony with one another - Romans 12:16
• Love one another - John 13:34-35
• Must not quarrel - 2 Timothy 2:24
• Pray continuously - 1 Thessalonians 5:17
• Pray for persecutors - Matthew 5:44; Luke 6:28
• Rejoice in the Lord - Philippians 3:1
• Rejoice in your trails - James 1:2-3

Started reading the one another scriptures in the Bible:

• Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you - Romans 15:7
• Admonish one another - Colossians 3:16
• Be at peace with each other - Mark 9:50
• Be devoted to one another in brotherly love - Romans 12:10
• Be kind and compassionate to one another - Ephesians 4:32
• Be patient, bearing with one another in love - Ephesians 4:2
• Bear with each other - Colossians 3:13
• Build each other up - 1 Thessalonians 5:11
• Carry each other’s burdens - Galatians 6:2
• Clothe yourselves with humility toward one another - 1 Peter 5:5

• Make your love increase and overflow for each other - 1 Thessalonians 3:12
• Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling - 1 Peter 4:9
• Pray for each other - James 5:16
• Serve one another in love - Galatians 5:13
• Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs - Ephesians 5:19
• Spur one another on toward love and good deeds - Hebrews 10:24
• Stop passing judgment on one another - Romans 14:13
• Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ - Ephesians 5:21
• Teach[one another] - Colossians 3:16
• Wash one another’s feet - John 13:14; John 13:34-35; John 15:12; John 15:17
• When you come together to eat, wait for each other - 1 Corinthians 11:33

• Daniel 2:31-45- Dream's dream
  
• Isaiah 2:2 - All nations will stream to it
  
• Isaiah 4:2 - In that day the Branch of the LORD will be the pride and glory of the survivors in Israel
  
• Genesis 49:10 - He to whom it belongs shall come and the obedience of the nations shall be his
• Malachi 3:1- I will send my messenger, who will prepare the way before me.
• Malachi 4:1-6 - I will send the prophet Elijah to you before that great and dreadful day of the LORD comes

• Advocate - 1 John 2:1
• Almighty - Revelation 1:18
• Alpha and Omega - Revelation 1:8; 22:13
• Amen - Revelation 3:14
• Angel - Genesis 48:16; Exodus 23:20,21
• Angel of God's presence - Isaiah 63:9
• Angel of the Lord - Exodus 3:2; Judges 13:15-18

• Apostle - Hebrews 3:1
• Arm of the Lord - Isaiah 51:9; 53:1
• Author and Finisher or our faith - Hebrews 12:2
• Beginning of the creation of God - Revelation 3:14
• Blessed and only Potentate - 1 Timothy 6:15
• Branch - Jeremiah 23:5; Zechariah 3:8; 6:12
• Bread of Life - John 6:35,48

• Counselor - Isaiah 9:6
• David - Jeremiah 30:9; Ezekiel 34:23
• Day-spring - Luke 1:78
• Deliverer - Romans 11:26
• Desire of all nations - Haggai 2:7
• Door - John 10:7
• Elect of God - Isaiah 42:1

• Forerunner - Hebrews 6:20
• Glory of the Lord - Isaiah 40:5
• God - Isaiah 40:9; John 20:28
• God blessed for ever - Romans 9:5
• God's fellow - Zechariah 13:7
• Good Shepherd - John 10:14
• Governor - Matthew 2:6

• Plant of renown - Ezekiel 34:29
• Prince of life - Acts 3:15
• Prince of peace - Isaiah 9:6
• Prince of the kings of the earth - Revelation 1:5
• Prophet - Luke 24:19; John 7:40
• Ransom - 1 Timothy 2:6
• Redeemer - Job 19:25; Isaiah 59:20; 60:16

• v3:10-12 - given a mission

1. Moses was given an important mission
2. Moses thought God had the wrong guy!
3. Just as he was with Moses, God is with us in our evangelism

• v3:13 - lack of knowledge
• v4:1 - fear of rejection
• v4:10-12 - lack of eloquence
• v4:4:13-14 - reluctance to obey
• This is the real issue - God is angry at our excuse-making
  

• v1:5 - God has a mission for our lives, too
• v1:8 - God rejected Jeremiah’s excuse of youth
  • God command us not to fear
  • God is with us! (God + one = a majority)

• v6:1 - He has an awesome vision of the awesome God.
• v6:5 - “Woe to me!”
  • Isaiah saw God in all his glory
  • He realized his own lostness
  • He realized the lostness of everyone else.
• v6:6-7 - Experiencing God’s forgiveness transforms our lives
• v6:8 - Then and only then are we ready to go and spread God’s word

• I will give the land to you and your descendants
• You will spread out to the north, south, east and west
• People on earth will be blessed through you
• I am with you and will watch over you
• I will not leave you