Choices: 4 Defining Questions

God’s Mission or Mine?

The following is a study guide which follows the January 8, Sunday AM teaching.

1. How will this year be different for you? What do you hope the Lord will accomplish in your personal life?
2. We are all a part of God’s story...history is His-Story. Joshua challenged his people to make some life-defining choices based on one big question: will I serve God’s mission or mine? What are some ways to help us stay surrendered to the purposes and plan of God?
3. I mentioned four key ways we serve God’s mission: know Him, grow in Him, serve Him and share Him with others. Of those four, which one do you believe needs the most attention in your life? Why? What about in general?
4. How will this year be different? What do you hope the Lord will accomplish through you?

Growing Up or Growing Old?

The following is a study guide which follows the January 15, Sunday AM teaching.

1. Growing old is unavoidable, growing up is optional. What does that mean to you?
2. The key to maturity is time with God, a tithe to God, and training with God’s people. Talk about S-O-A-P (Scripture reading, Observation, Application, Prayer). If you tried this process for learning God’s Word, share how it benefited you.
3. I made the statement that for God’s Old Testament people, tithing was a deeply spiritual experience...an act of worship and gratitude for all God had entrusted to them. How can we make giving God’s tithe and our offerings a more sacred experience?
4. Training with God’s people is essential if we are to grow up in our faith. Have two or three discuss how studying and praying together has helped them grow.

Pay It Forward or Pack It In?

The following is a study guide which follows the January 22, Sunday AM teaching.

1. The idea that we can change our world through doing good and serving God by serving others is not only possible, it is the way we undo the harm and heal the hurts in our lives and the lives of those around us. Please read Romans 12:9-21 aloud. List all the actions we are commanded to carry out toward one another and those in our world.
2. Have several people list six things they are grateful to God for. Why is remembering God’s goodness important to Paying It Forward?
3. Describe a time when you felt excluded or unwelcomed. How did you feel? As Christians, are gatherings are unique because we come together for the expressed purpose of lifting up Jesus Christ. Caring and including others is an important part of lifting Jesus up. I gave two Inclusive Actions which are contagious (Smiling and Sowing Seeds of Peace). Come up with at least five more ways all of us can INCLUDE others in our circle.
4. List three ways to INVEST your time, resources and/or abilities in serving others. What about ways to serve the next generation?

Preparing My Heart For Christmas!

Happy Monday everyone! ...Another great weekend and with it, the official Christmas season is in full swing.

Yesterday, we considered four big ideas from the Christmas story, which I called four fa la la la la fundamentals that help us move past the hype and towards the hope and joy of the Christmas season. The following are some questions to consider as we prepare our hearts for this Christmas season.

1. The first big idea is to receive God’s gift of a Savior. Who do you know who doesn’t know or isn’t currently following after Christ? Each person share a name, and then take a few minutes as a group and pray for these to know Christ at Christmas.
2. Forgiveness is another big idea we take away from the Christmas story. One of the primary reasons Jesus came was to provide us with forgiveness and freedom from sin. With all of the benefits to forgiveness, why is it so hard to offer at times? Describe a time you wrestled to forgive someone (please no names), and then describe how forgiving or “dropping the rope” benefited you. 
3. Read Mark 10:45. List as many benefits as you can that are associated with serving and giving to others. Have a couple of people share how they will serve and give this Christmas season through Albany First Assembly.
4. Yesterday, I shared that instead of viewing life as full of mountain tops (things are really good!) and valleys (things aren’t so good); I now view life as running on two tracks. Each track runs side-by-side simultaneously. On one track we have things in life that are NOT good. On the other, there are things in life that ARE good. Our capacity to celebrate the goodness of God is directly connected to the track we focus on most. Why is this true? Read Philippians 4:8 and discuss how “thinking about such things” affects our attitude and perspective.

Let’s believe that our great God will help us, and help us to help others to make the most of this Christmas season!

Grace and peace,

Pastor Frank

Giving Thanks!

Happy Monday everyone! What a great Thanksgiving weekend!

Mental health experts tell us, and the Bible certainly confirms that giving thanks is one of the healthiest forms of expression. In Psalm 100 we are given four realities for giving thanks, all of which do not depend on our circumstances or performance.  Here are a few questions to consider as we seek to apply God’s truth in our lives this week.

1. Psalm 100 stresses the reality that Jehovah God welcomes us to worship Him. Why is this something we should give thanks for? How does this reality affect the way you approach your devotional time or a worship service?
2. Psalm 100 invites us to know God personally. And, it shows that it is God who initiates this relationship! Why is it easy to take this incredible privilege for granted? What are some ways to stay grateful for this invitation?
3. Psalm 100 puts great emphasis on that fact that we belong to Jehovah God (read V 3). Describe what this incredible truth must have meant to Old Testament Israel as they were exiting Egypt and crossing the desert. Describe what belonging to God means to you.
4. Read Psalm 100:5, and then identify the three character traits it lists about God. How should these three traits affect the way you face challenges and difficulties in life?

Because of who God is, there is much to be thankful for. My prayer for you this week is that we as a church family will be filled up with God’s presence and power (see Eph. 3:19) as we extend His grace and truth to those we encounter this Christmas Season.

Grace and peace,

Pastor Frank

Maintaining My Missionary Focus!

Happy Monday everyone! Another great Sunday! The following are some questions to consider as we endeavor to work yesterday’s message out of Luke 15:25-31 into our lives.

1. We learned from the Prodigal Son’s older brother, three warning signs that we may be losing our missionary focus. Read Luke 15:25-31 again and identify the places where the brother Kept Score, Compared himself with his younger brother, and Complained.
2. Of the three warning signs, which one is easiest for you to fall into? Why is that?
3. Renewing our missionary focus involves at least three decisions: shifting my focus from self-centeredness to God-centeredness, from temporary values to eternal ones, and from comfort to sacrifice. Give an example of what each of these three “Shifts” could look like in a Christian’s life. In other words, what are some ways to flesh out these three “Shifts in focus?” Consider Oskar Shindler's example.
4. Which shift in focus do you feel may be the most difficult for Christians living in America? Which one presents the greatest challenge to you?

Church family, these are important times for the Church in America. I believe we are living in unprecedented times! May our great God help us to maintain a sharp missionary focus as we Make Friends for Eternity... across the street and around the world!

Grace and peace,

Pastor Frank 

The Value of One!

Happy Monday everyone! Another great Sunday...and TONIGHT, a great night of fun and fellowship with a couple thousand friends from our community for our annual Light the Night outreach at the Linn County Fair Grounds!

Yesterday, we began a new series entitled, “Making Friends for Eternity” based on Jesus’ words recorded in Luke 15.

The following are some questions to consider as we seek to live out the truths from this passage.

1. In Luke 15, Jesus shares three consecutive parables to illustrate the same eternal truth. What does that say about the importance of reaching one single person who has no relationship with the God of the Bible?
2. You and I have never seen a person that God doesn’t love. How should that truth affect the way we view pre-Christians?
3. Read Luke 16:22-26 again. Jesus’ parable recorded in Luke 16 illustrates the reality, agony and finality of eternal separation from God. How should this affect the way we view people without a personal relationship with Jesus Christ? Given this truth, who will you pray for between now and the end of the year, who doesn’t enjoy a personal relationship with Jesus?
4. Each group of people Jesus shared these parables with (tax collectors sinners, religious leaders and disciples) represent three different chairs that people “sit” in today. Jesus’ three parables offer encouragement to all three groups. To the first group, He says “Give Up”...give up trying to fill the emptiness in your life and come to Jesus. To the second group He says “Wake Up”... wake up to your critical and condemning heart, and turn to Jesus so He may forgive and heal you. To the third group He says “Look Up”... look up to Jesus, keep your eyes on Him and His mission. Keep searching for those who are not currently connected to God because each one is loved by Him, lost without Him, and it is God Himself who longs they be found. Which encouragement best fits where you are currently sitting?

Light the Night tonight is a wonderful opportunity to show and share God’s amazing love...may He help us to be a bright light of love and grace in dark places.

Grace and peace,

Pastor Frank 

No Limits!

Well, I’m writing my “Monday Morning Blog” on Wednesday, which provides a little insight into my week! Thus, I believe it is appropriate to claim the old adage which says, “Better late than never!”

God chose to grace us with His presence last Sunday in some wonderful ways. I received a great deal of encouraging feedback...God is good!

The following are some questions to consider as we seek to live out the truths from Acts 16.

1. A.W. Tozer said “what comes into our mind when we think about God is the most important thing about us.” Our story in Acts 16 illustrates the profoundness or mystery of God, as well as His powerful and personal nature. Describe a time when you were amazed by something God did. How about a time when He did or didn’t do something that caused you to ask “why?”
2. The more we learn to love and trust a God of “No Limits” the more we are equipped to face some of life’s most common obstacles. Describe a time when God gave you courage to face a fear or concern. Courage grows through small steps of obedience. What is the next step God has for you? Reread 1 John 4:18 and then discuss how it relates to courage.
3. Uncertainty is a subtle but power obstacle that can hinder us from healthy levels of risk for God. Worshipping a “No Limits” God cultivates confidence in who He is and what He says He will do. Describe a time when you sensed God’s leading to take a step of faith, but you chose not to do so. What about a time when you did take the step? How did it make you feel?
4. Adversity is perhaps one of the greatest potential hindrances to being used by God. The obstacle of adversity is merely an opportunity for God to deepen our level of commitment to Him. Describe a time when God used a difficult situation to develop and deepen your commitment to Him.

Nothing is every wasted with God! The more we entrust to Him, including the fears, uncertainties and adversities life brings, the more He will accomplish in and through our lives!

Make it a great week!

Grace and peace,

Pastor Frank     

Everyone Needs One To Follow

Happy Monday everyone! How important is it to have those in our lives who serve as mentors or spiritual mothers and fathers? It’s vital if we are to achieve all that God has for us! Where would the ancient leaders, Timothy and Titus have been without the influence of an Apostle Paul?

The following are some questions to consider as we seek out spiritual mentors in our lives.

1. Describe what delighting in God means to you? What are some tangible signs the Bible gives about a person who delights in God (see Proverbs 8)? Who do you know that demonstrates this quality in his/her life?  
2. To be a disciple of Jesus is to serve Him as an apprentice. List several qualities and skills Jesus exhibited that show we are following Him faithfully.
3. Disciples love God’s Word, obey God’s ways and submit to God’s will. We “love,” “obey” and “submit.” What are some ways that happens in your life?  
4. Refreshing others or putting others ahead of one’s self is at the core of a missionary heart. Read Philippians 2:1-11 and discuss all of the actions that are described in verses 1-5, and all the actions in the Christ Hymn recorded in verses 6-11. Now read John 13:13-17.  

As we go about this week let’s purposefully take “a walk across the room” and connect with those who are wiser and (often) older than us. Many have gained a lifetime of wisdom and experience that we can learn from as we offer them our respect, appreciation, and time!

Have a great week...and let’s continue to pray and believe God for an amazing iMissions Missions Convention!

Grace and peace,

Pastor Frank