Life Group Lesson: self-control
What food item do you find it almost impossible to say no to?
How would you define self-control?
I have great self control when … (finish the sentence)
I have very little self control when … (finish the sentence)
READ 1 Timothy 3:1-3
Why would it be important for an elder to have self-control?
What are the positive implications of an elder that demonstrates self-control?
What are the negatives if he doesn’t have it?
READ Titus 2:1-10
Why does Paul keep repeating the need for God’s people to have self-control?
Why does Paul place responsibility on us to teach each other self-control?
In v.10, what value is there when Christians can be trusted and seen as people who have self-control?
READ Titus 2:11-14
When you think about God’s grace, what all do you think of?
Do you see a connection between grace and gratitude?
Why do you think we call prayer before dinner grace?
The idea is that God’s grace inspires us to live upright, godly, and self-controlled lives. So if we wanted to be more self-controlled, we should spend time thanking God while meditating on the grace He has shown us.
Do you agree or disagree? What would you add to that statement?
READ Jonah 2:1-9
In the story of Jonah, he rebelled against God, he was unwilling to do God’s will, to do good. But after being thrown from a ship and swallowed by large fish, Jonah had a change of heart. What is interesting is that it was not fear or sorrow that caused him to change, it was something else. Thankfulness & a focus on God’s grace changed Jonah’s heart, it allowed him to finally say “YES” to God. The scriptures say that we can move on from just saying “no” to temptation and that we can start saying “yes” to opportunities to serve; “eager to do good”.
How do you think focusing on God’s grace can help you be more self-controlled?
What do you need to be saying “no” to in your life?
What do you need to be saying “yes” to?
Close in prayer?
Thursday, February 24, 2011
Grace + Thankfulness = Self-Control
I like to think of myself as self-controlled, most times I am. But if you put a chocolate chip cookie in front of me, I will eat it. No self control there. I will eat my children’s last cookie, I will smack their hand away and say, “that’s daddy’s cookie”. It is a problem; I have no self control when it comes to chocolate chip cookies. It is easy to have self-control until you see something you want. If you struggle with bad habits, a rebellious spirit, if you are like me and you feel compelled to be selfish, there’s an app for that, it is called self control. Self control not only helps us say no to sin, but it also helps us say yes to what is good. Paul said in Titus 2:11-12
“11 For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. 12 It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age.”NIV
Thursday, February 17, 2011
Small Group Lesson: pray, pray, pray again
Life Group Lesson: pray, pray, pray again
ILLUSTRATION: In the movie “Rudy” we see the story of an underdog, someone who overachieves and beats the odds. His main goal in life is to play football for Notre Dame. , Rudy's grades had improved dramatically. But three semesters and three rejection letters later, he is devastated and hopeless. His next semester is his last chance, because Notre Dame never allows seniors to transfer. He has managed his way to South Bend, labored in class, and even scraped up enough odd jobs so he can eat. He has been diligent and worked every angle he knew. But it hasn't been enough. Rudy finds himself in the chapel where he meets a priest named Father Cavanaugh. And he poured out his soul to the old priest. "Maybe I haven't prayed enough," Rudy says, almost frantic. Father Cavanaugh answers with kind, narrow eyes, "I'm sure that's not the problem. Praying is something we do in our time. The answers come in God's time." Rudy isn't satisfied. There has to be something else he can do. "Have I done everything I possibly can? Can you help me?" Father Cavanaugh's answer is measured but sure. "Son, in 35 years of religious studies, I've come up with only two hard, incontrovertible facts: There is a God, and I'm not Him."
When you hear someone say something like Father Cavanaugh did about prayer in the movie “Rudy”, do you agree or disagree with his statement?
What do you think when you hear someone say “God answers prayer in His own time?”
READ 2 Peter 3:8-9
The context of 2 Peter 3 is about the Lord’s 2nd coming, however what do we learn about God’s desire and purpose for people?
Whose schedule is He on?
It is also important to see who the focus of God’s love is on. This passage clearly says God works on His time but for our interest. Why is that not always easy to believe?
READ Luke 11:1-12
In v.1-4, Jesus teaches His disciples how to pray. What qualities does Jesus demonstrate in His prayer?
How do qualities like humility, submission, reverence, and trust help us have better prayer lives?
Look at v.5-8, why would a friend give you what you need when you ask them?
(IDEA: You ask, you never stop asking because you believe it will be given to you if you ask enough.)
Do we ask God enough for what we need or want?
Why do we stop asking for what we need?
(IDEA: either we don’t really need it or we have a lack of faith)
In v.9-10, Jesus says that we are to ask, seek, and knock expecting God to hear us and to give us what we need. The previous verses mention that prayer requires audacity. Prayer requires a faith that is both unstoppable and determined. Compare you’re life right now to that which is described here, do you pray with audacity? Why or why not?
I love and v.11-12, because we are reminded that God is a loving Father who meets our needs, who gives us His Holy Spirit that transforms us to be more and more like Jesus. Close in prayer.
ILLUSTRATION: In the movie “Rudy” we see the story of an underdog, someone who overachieves and beats the odds. His main goal in life is to play football for Notre Dame. , Rudy's grades had improved dramatically. But three semesters and three rejection letters later, he is devastated and hopeless. His next semester is his last chance, because Notre Dame never allows seniors to transfer. He has managed his way to South Bend, labored in class, and even scraped up enough odd jobs so he can eat. He has been diligent and worked every angle he knew. But it hasn't been enough. Rudy finds himself in the chapel where he meets a priest named Father Cavanaugh. And he poured out his soul to the old priest. "Maybe I haven't prayed enough," Rudy says, almost frantic. Father Cavanaugh answers with kind, narrow eyes, "I'm sure that's not the problem. Praying is something we do in our time. The answers come in God's time." Rudy isn't satisfied. There has to be something else he can do. "Have I done everything I possibly can? Can you help me?" Father Cavanaugh's answer is measured but sure. "Son, in 35 years of religious studies, I've come up with only two hard, incontrovertible facts: There is a God, and I'm not Him."
When you hear someone say something like Father Cavanaugh did about prayer in the movie “Rudy”, do you agree or disagree with his statement?
What do you think when you hear someone say “God answers prayer in His own time?”
READ 2 Peter 3:8-9
The context of 2 Peter 3 is about the Lord’s 2nd coming, however what do we learn about God’s desire and purpose for people?
Whose schedule is He on?
It is also important to see who the focus of God’s love is on. This passage clearly says God works on His time but for our interest. Why is that not always easy to believe?
READ Luke 11:1-12
In v.1-4, Jesus teaches His disciples how to pray. What qualities does Jesus demonstrate in His prayer?
How do qualities like humility, submission, reverence, and trust help us have better prayer lives?
Look at v.5-8, why would a friend give you what you need when you ask them?
(IDEA: You ask, you never stop asking because you believe it will be given to you if you ask enough.)
Do we ask God enough for what we need or want?
Why do we stop asking for what we need?
(IDEA: either we don’t really need it or we have a lack of faith)
In v.9-10, Jesus says that we are to ask, seek, and knock expecting God to hear us and to give us what we need. The previous verses mention that prayer requires audacity. Prayer requires a faith that is both unstoppable and determined. Compare you’re life right now to that which is described here, do you pray with audacity? Why or why not?
I love and v.11-12, because we are reminded that God is a loving Father who meets our needs, who gives us His Holy Spirit that transforms us to be more and more like Jesus. Close in prayer.
To love or to hate?
On Valentine’s Day I witnessed two very different interactions between people. The first one was between children at a Valentine’s Day party for Abby’s class. There was this little kid who was about two maybe three years old, he was obviously a younger sibling of one of Abby’s classmates, and he was into everything. He was going around the room shooting people (mostly 3rd graders) with his finger. Of course he was making that shooting sound with his mouth that required saliva being spit out in the process. Most of the 3rd graders were very patient with him, because he was two. But one 3rd grader after this two year put his finger on his back and shot him, turned around with an angry face and an angry tone, and he said “Get away, I’m going to kill you kid”. It was shocking for me and the others that witnessed the event. Immediately I felt sad for this young man, this 3rd grader who had enough anger and hate in him to say something evil in such a threatening way. It broke my heart to see someone so young being led by anger and hate, being led Satan. That 3rd grader was angry before he came into that class; he woke up and decided to be angry. When confronted with an annoying 2 year old, he was given the opportunity to display that anger.
Later that same day Stacy and I were drinking coffee at Barnes and Noble (that’s what cool people do), and we witnessed something powerful. There were two other couples sitting in the coffee section of the store, one older the other younger. The older couple said to the younger one, “we haven’t seen you in a while at church”, and the younger couple said “yeah we moved down to Franklin and go to church down there.” Then the older couple said, “are you still trying to adopt a child?” The younger couple said, “yes, but it is very expensive, we are trying to adopt an orphan from Haiti, and we have had to start a fund raising campaign to make it happen.” The older couple said, “we want to contribute to that account, we want to help you adopt a child.” While he was writing out a check he said, “I woke up thinking that God would use me today to bless someone financially”.
Later that same day Stacy and I were drinking coffee at Barnes and Noble (that’s what cool people do), and we witnessed something powerful. There were two other couples sitting in the coffee section of the store, one older the other younger. The older couple said to the younger one, “we haven’t seen you in a while at church”, and the younger couple said “yeah we moved down to Franklin and go to church down there.” Then the older couple said, “are you still trying to adopt a child?” The younger couple said, “yes, but it is very expensive, we are trying to adopt an orphan from Haiti, and we have had to start a fund raising campaign to make it happen.” The older couple said, “we want to contribute to that account, we want to help you adopt a child.” While he was writing out a check he said, “I woke up thinking that God would use me today to bless someone financially”. Two things I learned on Valentine’s Day: First, do not conduct business around me because apparently I will eavesdrop. Second and more importantly, the older couple woke up that day and decided that they would bless someone, that they would live by the Spirit of God, and that they would do something special for someone out of love. When we hate or love, it is not an accident, it is a commitment we live with everyday. To live without God or to ignore the urgings of the Spirit is to choose hate, but when we choose God, we choose to live His Spirit; it is to commit to love people before you even meet them.
Tuesday, February 15, 2011
Walking By the Spirit is Easier Than Crashing in the Flesh
While practicing military night training exercises, a Huey Cobra messed up the landing and landed on its tail rotor. The landing was so hard that it broke off the tail boom. However, the chopper fortunately remained upright on its skids, sliding down the runway doing 360s. As the Cobra slid past the tower, trailing a brilliant shower of sparks, this was the radio exchange that took place...
Tower: "Sir, do you need any assistance?"
Cobra: "I don't know, Tower, we ain't done crashin' yet."
I think for most of us, we are just not done crashing yet. Whether it’s sadness or fear, anger or hate, anxiety or depression, lust or jealousy … We are just not done crashing yet. As Christians, when we sin or when we spiritually crash, we feel guilty, maybe even angry. Sometimes we crash because we made a sinful choice, other times we crash because we were not prepared for a loss or tragedy that impacted us. If you feel like you are crashing today, listen to the words of the Apostle Paul:
“16 So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. 17 For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want.” Galatians 5:16-17 NIV
The Greek word for flesh is (sarx). It refers to the sinful state of human beings who are often in opposition to the Spirit of God. The “flesh” refers to the part of us that is intentionally sinful; the part of us that says “it’s all about me and what I want”. To live by the Spirit is to live in harmony with the will of God. It means that we wake up each day to be Christian on purpose, that in every moment we choose to be connected to God through Christ. If you are tired of crashing, then make a commitment to no longer be controlled by whims and events of world but to be empowered and led by the Spirit of God that brings peace and life.
Tower: "Sir, do you need any assistance?"
Cobra: "I don't know, Tower, we ain't done crashin' yet."
“16 So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. 17 For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want.” Galatians 5:16-17 NIV
The Greek word for flesh is (sarx). It refers to the sinful state of human beings who are often in opposition to the Spirit of God. The “flesh” refers to the part of us that is intentionally sinful; the part of us that says “it’s all about me and what I want”. To live by the Spirit is to live in harmony with the will of God. It means that we wake up each day to be Christian on purpose, that in every moment we choose to be connected to God through Christ. If you are tired of crashing, then make a commitment to no longer be controlled by whims and events of world but to be empowered and led by the Spirit of God that brings peace and life.
Friday, February 04, 2011
Everyone will be watching the BIG GAME; it has become quite the spectacle. Everyone comes together to watch two of the best NFL teams compete for the championship. When it comes to the Super Bowl, we don’t know who will win until the game is over, that is part of the fun and excitement. We all have opinions on who will win. Will the Steelers win in a blowout or will the Packers pull out a last second play to win the game? When it comes to football there is a lot of speculation, because we don’t know who will win. So who do you think will win?
Now for a spiritual thought. Let’s pretend that the Super Bowl is not about two teams playing each other, but rather it will be a contest between God and Satan. Is there any speculation on who you think will win? Absolutely not, God wins every time. That is the good news; when it comes to defeating Satan’s work in our lives God wins every time. There is no suspense, there is no worry of a fourth quarter comeback by Satan, he loses and God wins. Therefore we win, and we are defined by God’s victory.
There’s An APP for That … Series: PEACE
Life Group Lesson: Peace
Today is the big game. Who do you think will win the Super Bowl? Who do you want to win?
Answer the Following question on a scale of 1 to 10. (1 meaning very little and 10 being very much)
How strong is God in your life?
How powerful is He in your life?
How much is He in your life?
Is anyone willing to explain the ratings they gave to the previous questions?
The things we do, the way we act is connected to the strength of our God. The smaller or lesser view of God we have the more powerful our fears and stress will be because all the power and answers fall on us and not on God. Is there any peace being independent from God?
How would you define peace? How would you explain the idea of “inner peace”?
How does the following passage help you?
“I can do all this through him who gives me strength.” Philippians 4:13 NIV
Does it inspire you to be closer to God so you can be stronger?
How has God strength brought you peace?
READ Matthew 11:28-29
In Matthew 11 Jesus has traveled through the towns of Capernaum and Bethsaida. He saw the lack of faith and peace in their lives, therefore Jesus warned them of this & predicted that their independence from God would destroy them.
What does Jesus promise us in v.28?
What does Jesus say we need to learn if we are to have peace or rest?
To be gentle means that I do not force my will upon others including God. How does being gentle in this way help you find peace?
How does humility help us find God’s strength?
What part of your life do you experience the most peace from God’s strength?
What part of your life do you experience the least amount of peace?
If you are ready to allow God to give you strength, if you want peace, then do as v. 29 says, learn from Jesus, follow His example of humility and trust in God. Close in prayer.
Today is the big game. Who do you think will win the Super Bowl? Who do you want to win?
Answer the Following question on a scale of 1 to 10. (1 meaning very little and 10 being very much)
How strong is God in your life?
How powerful is He in your life?
How much is He in your life?
Is anyone willing to explain the ratings they gave to the previous questions?
The things we do, the way we act is connected to the strength of our God. The smaller or lesser view of God we have the more powerful our fears and stress will be because all the power and answers fall on us and not on God. Is there any peace being independent from God?
How would you define peace? How would you explain the idea of “inner peace”?
How does the following passage help you?
“I can do all this through him who gives me strength.” Philippians 4:13 NIV
Does it inspire you to be closer to God so you can be stronger?
How has God strength brought you peace?
READ Matthew 11:28-29
In Matthew 11 Jesus has traveled through the towns of Capernaum and Bethsaida. He saw the lack of faith and peace in their lives, therefore Jesus warned them of this & predicted that their independence from God would destroy them.
What does Jesus promise us in v.28?
What does Jesus say we need to learn if we are to have peace or rest?
To be gentle means that I do not force my will upon others including God. How does being gentle in this way help you find peace?
How does humility help us find God’s strength?
What part of your life do you experience the most peace from God’s strength?
What part of your life do you experience the least amount of peace?
If you are ready to allow God to give you strength, if you want peace, then do as v. 29 says, learn from Jesus, follow His example of humility and trust in God. Close in prayer.
Wednesday, February 02, 2011
Peace that overcomes weakness and fear.
There’s An APP for That … Series / Peace that overcomes weakness and fear.
How strong is God in your life? How powerful is He in your life? How much is He in your life? The truth is if we can’t answer “God is strong in my life” then we probably enjoy little to no peace. When we believe God is working in our lives, we commit to and do big things. Can you honestly say the following words and mean them?
“I can do all this through him who gives me strength.” Philippians 4:13 NIV
The things we do, the way we act is connected to the strength of our God. Most of us have a hard time believing that the all powerful, always strong, and forever loving God is with us. The smaller or lesser view of God we have the more powerful our fears and stress will be. There is no peace if we believe we have a weak God. If God is not our strength, then all the problems and struggles of life fall on us. That’s stressful! Imagine everyday not being determined by the powerful and loving God working in our lives, but rather our confidence and faith being determined by the random events of each day. There is no peace in that. If you feel weak, pushed around, filled with fear; there’s an app for that. It is found in letting God be big and strong in your life.
How strong is God in your life? How powerful is He in your life? How much is He in your life? The truth is if we can’t answer “God is strong in my life” then we probably enjoy little to no peace. When we believe God is working in our lives, we commit to and do big things. Can you honestly say the following words and mean them?
“I can do all this through him who gives me strength.” Philippians 4:13 NIV
The things we do, the way we act is connected to the strength of our God. Most of us have a hard time believing that the all powerful, always strong, and forever loving God is with us. The smaller or lesser view of God we have the more powerful our fears and stress will be. There is no peace if we believe we have a weak God. If God is not our strength, then all the problems and struggles of life fall on us. That’s stressful! Imagine everyday not being determined by the powerful and loving God working in our lives, but rather our confidence and faith being determined by the random events of each day. There is no peace in that. If you feel weak, pushed around, filled with fear; there’s an app for that. It is found in letting God be big and strong in your life.
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