Series: Revolution

September 26, 2010

Scripture

Mark 12:28-34
28 One of the teachers of the law came and heard Jesus arguing with the Sadducees. Seeing that Jesus gave good answers to their questions, he asked Jesus, “Which of the commands is most important?” 29 Jesus answered, “The most important command is this: ‘Listen, people of Israel! The Lord our God is the only Lord. 30 Love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength.  31 The second command is this: ‘Love your neighbor as you love yourself. There are no commands more important than these.”

32 The man answered, “That was a good answer, Teacher. You were right when you said God is the only Lord and there is no other God besides him. 33 One must love God with all his heart, all his mind, and all his strength. And one must love his neighbor as he loves himself. These commands are more important than all the animals and sacrifices we offer to God.”

34 When Jesus saw that the man answered him wisely, Jesus said to him, “You are close to the kingdom of God.” And after that, no one was brave enough to ask Jesus any more questions.

Engage

Share a time in your life when you’ve been most in awe of God.  (If needed, ask, “Are there any times not related to his creation?”)

Discuss

 1.      Why is it important for people to be in awe of God?  Do you ever intentionally take a step back and enjoy God’s creation?

2.      Psalm 19:1  “The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of His hands.”  Do you think many non-believers see creation and recognize a creator?  What do you think they see?

3.      First Corinthians 2:9 says, “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him.”  Do you ever wonder if what we see here on earth is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to seeing the awe of God?  We don’t have to know much about heaven to know that we want to be there to forever see God’s glory.

4.      Sometimes what we see is based on what we are looking for or expect.  What ways should we be able to see God’s wonder in our everyday lives that we don’t see anymore because we’re so accustomed to seeing it?

5.      How does the wonder of God affect our love for Him?
 

Challenge

Take some time this week to look for the wonder and awe of God in our daily lives.

Other Passages Cited

Matthew 10:28

Revelation 8:1

Psalm 29

Matthew 6:22-23

Series: What 2 Live 4

Dr. Les Hughes

January 24, 2010

Scripture:

Genesis 14:17-24

17 After Abram returned from defeating Kedorlaomer and the kings allied with him, the king of Sodom came out to meet him in the Valley of Shaveh (that is, the King’s Valley). 18 Then Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine. He was priest of God Most High, 19 and he blessed Abram, saying, “Blessed be Abram by God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth. 20 And blessed be God Most High, who delivered your enemies into your hand.” Then Abram gave him a tenth of everything. 21 The king of Sodom said to Abram, “Give me the people and keep the goods for yourself.” 22 But Abram said to the king of Sodom, “I have raised my hand to the LORD, God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth, and have taken an oath 23 that I will accept nothing belonging to you, not even a thread or the thong of a sandal, so that you will never be able to say, ‘I made Abram rich.’ 24 I will accept nothing but what my men have eaten and the share that belongs to the men who went with me—to Aner, Eshcol and Mamre. Let them have their share.”

Malachi 3:8-10

8 “Will a man rob God? Yet you rob me. “But you ask, ‘How do we rob you?’ “In tithes and offerings. 9 You are under a curse—the whole nation of you—because you are robbing me. 10 Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,” says the LORD Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it.

Proverbs 3:9 “Honor the Lord with your wealth, the firstfruits of all your crops”

Opening Questions

Discussing the Scripture & Life

(Life-Changing Lessons are in bold type.)

1. Do you believe that everything I have God has given me? Does your attitudes towards your possessions testify to this truth?  If not, why not?

2. Do you view the practice of giving a tithe to God as a missional  sacrifice?  Can any one share how God used a gift they had given to reach someone with the Gospel?

3. We learned this morning that when we have a generous heart God blesses us. One of the ways that God blesses his people is by changing their heart.  Is there any amount of money that can quantify a heart changed by God?

4. Read 1 Timothy 6:6. What are some ways you can be more content with what God has given you?  Can you truly give out of the overflow of your love for God and people if you are not content with what God has given you?

Closing Challenge

What are some commitments you want to make to God and to your family as a result of today’s sermon?

The Challenge of a Changing World

Dr. Larry Reeser

February 8, 2009

Scripture

Acts 1:8 –  “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

Acts 11:22-27 – 22News of this reached the ears of the church at Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas to Antioch. 23When he arrived and saw the evidence of the grace of God, he was glad and encouraged them all to remain true to the Lord with all their hearts. 24He was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and faith, and a great number of people were brought to the Lord. 25Then Barnabas went to Tarsus to look for Saul, 26and when he found him, he brought him to Antioch. So for a whole year Barnabas and Saul met with the church and taught great numbers of people. The disciples were called Christians first at Antioch.27During this time some prophets came down from Jerusalem to Antioch. 28One of them, named Agabus, stood up and through the Spirit predicted that a severe famine would spread over the entire Roman world. (This happened during the reign of Claudius.) 29The disciples, each according to his ability, decided to provide help for the brothers living in Judea. 30This they did, sending their gift to the elders by Barnabas and Saul.

Acts 13:1-3 – “1In the church at Antioch there were prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen (who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch) and Saul. 2While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” 3So after they had fasted and prayed, they placed their hands on them and sent them off.”

Acts 13:46-47 – Then Paul and Barnabas answered them boldly: “We had to speak the word of God to you first. Since you reject it and do not consider yourselves worthy of eternal life, we now turn to the Gentiles. 47For this is what the Lord has commanded us: 
   ” ‘I have made you a light for the Gentiles, that you may bring salvation to the ends of the earth.”

Opening Questions

What are some ways you have seen the world change? Has it changed for the good or the bad?

How has the Church (universal – not just Westwood) changed to meet the ever-changing world?

Digging for Truth

1. Dr. Reeser said that 72,000 people die everyday who have never heard the Gospel.  How does this make you feel?

2.  Dr. Reeser said that we live in the most un-churched county in the state of Alabama.  How does this make you feel? What are you doing about it?

3. Read Acts 1:8. What is your Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria and the ends of the Earth?

4. Read Acts 11:22-27. List what attributes were evident in the Church at Antioch?

5.  Read Acts 11:23.  What are tangible ways to give evidence of the grace of God? Are these evident in your life?

6.  Dr. Reeser said that passion for God will precede and produce compassion for men.  What does this mean to you?

7.  Dr. Reeser challenged us to find our place in the Kingdom.  If you are willing share with the group what you feel is your place in His Kingdom.  Are you currently fulfilling your role?

Closing Thought

What is God calling you to do as a result of today’s study?  God’s plan for the world is redemption.  There is not one person or people group whom God does not want to reach.  The amazing part is he has written you into his story to be his mouthpiece of grace down the street and around the world.  There is much work to be done.  Are you willing to go?