Everyone Needs Followers!

Happy Monday everyone!

How will we ensure that the faith and church we pass on to the next generation will be biblical, vibrant, missional and transformational? Answer: by doing everything within our power to influence them for God and good today!

The following are some questions to consider as we seek to influence the “Timothy’s” God brings into our lives.

1. Yesterday, I mentioned three next generation needs: they need people worth following, a purpose worth pursuing, and a safe place to discover and serve. What are some practical things we can do to ensure these next generation needs are being met today?
2. All of us influence others based on the choices we make everyday. Giving time to God everyday, a tithe to God faithfully and my talents to God in service are three purposeful choices that will have an eternal impact on the next generation. Discuss some additional choices that will leave a lasting impression on those who come behind us. Explain why they are important.
3. How well do you seek to understand this next generation? Without naming anyone, explain a time when you felt like someone already had their mind made up before you had a chance to explain your thoughts and feelings. How did it make you feel? What are some ways to improve our ability to listen?
4. Read Hebrews 1:12, and then discuss what it says about the greatness of Jesus Christ. Now read Philippians 2:1-11. What are some ways we can demonstrate to the next generation the amazing love Jesus showed us?

It is our privilege and responsibility to pass on to the next generation a biblical, vibrant, missional and transformational faith and church. What one thing will you do differently because of this study?

Have a great week!

Grace and peace,

Pastor Frank

Everyone Needs a Friend!

Happy Monday everyone! I so enjoyed yesterday as we explored what the Old Testament Wisdom Book of Proverbs teach about real friendship. Our Sunday evening Small Group Life (SGL) Tailgate Party was a wonderful way to practice what we studied on Sunday morning!

Here are a few questions to consider in your small group or with a few others that will help us all to better establish and development meaningful friendships.

1. Character is being honest (“Upright”) and consistent in all we say and do. Why is this quality so important to developing meaningful friendships?
2. Commitment or loyalty is another indispensible quality for attracting and developing deep friendships. Describe a time when a faithful friend stuck with you through a challenging time. What did that mean to you? How did his/her faithfulness affect the outcome of the situation?
3. The Bible teaches that what we say or don’t say carries enormous potential for good or ill. (e.g., Prov. 11:13; 18:21). Why is confidentiality so important to deep and lasting relationships? Without naming anyone, share a time when a confidence was broken (and it shouldn’t have been). How did it make you feel? Is it helpful to remember that feeling when we are tempted to break a confidence?
4. Speaking the truth in love is a biblical value that fosters both personal and corporate maturity (e.g., Eph. 4:14-25). Why is it so hard at times to speak truthfully to another? What are the dangers of remaining silent? Discuss the difference between making judgments and being judgmental (see Jesus in John 8 and how He made a judgment on the woman caught in adultery “Go and sin no more” without being judgmental “Neither do I condemn you”).

May we all make the value of gathering together a priority in our lives and church family. And, may our great God help us to foster meaningful relationships that go the distance in life!

Grace and peace,

Pastor Frank

Turning Memories into Milestones

Happy Monday everyone!

Yesterday was a special Sunday as we reflected on the ten-year anniversary of 9/11/01 and brought our week of fasting and prayer to a conclusion with a concert of prayer and worship. What a great day!

Here are some questions to consider this week as we seek to turn our personal 9/11s into milestones of maturity and growth.

1. Nehemiah was a man who demonstrated daily trust in God and His purposes. His trust was cultivated over time and showed up in the crisis of Israel’s broken down walls. What are some ways we can grow our trust in God now, so when we encounter our own crises, we will trust in God then?
2. In the Book of Nehemiah, we see a continual focus on serving the purposes of God. Nehemiah and company worked hard at staying focused on the “main thing” which is God and His purposes despite the fact that past memories and present problems tempted to distract them. Why is it so important for God’s people to remain focused on His purposes (i.e., M-O-S-T)? Name some prominent ways churches become distracted from pursuing what matters M-O-S-T. Read Proverbs 29:18...what does it say about vision and focus?
3. One of the primary ways we stay focused on the “main thing” is through examination and repentance. Using a scale of 1 to 10 (1=stinky and 10-stellar), what "score" would God give you when it comes to Making Relationships Central, Offering Something Back, Spreading God’s Grace and Truth, and Training to Follow Christ? Share with others one area you feel God would score you pretty well in and why, and one area you feel God would score you a little lower in and why.
4. Nehemiah and Israel stood side by side and worked together to serve God’s purposes in their generation. What are some ways we can strengthen and encourage one another to do the same?

With God’s powerful help and our faithful commitment to His purposes there isn’t anything we can’t accomplish church family!

Let’s make this fall a season of eternal impact.

Grace and peace,

Pastor Frank 

The Particular about Prayer

Guest blogger: Pastor John Miller

Happy Labor Day! I hope you are all enjoying this beautiful Labor Day weekend.

Yesterday, we worked through James 5:13-20. We looked at four insights that James gives us regarding prayer in this last passage of the book of James. The following questions can be discussed to encourage us as we actively live out our faith.

1.      Prayer deepens our relationship with God. Prayer also changes things; it changes us and our circumstances. How have you changed through prayer? How have your circumstances changed through spending time in prayer?

2.      James tells us that through the power of prayer we receive four things in verses 13-15. We receive help in times of trouble, songs during moments when we are happy, healing when we are sick, and forgiveness to cover over our sin. Take some time and discuss when you have received HELP, SONGS, HEALING, and FORGIVENESS from God through prayer.

3.      We are encouraged to confess to one another and pray for one another in verses 16-18. Confession is not spilling out every detail of everything bad that you have ever done. Confession is openly and honestly taking responsibility for the sin that you have committed with a small group of trusted individuals that will accept you without judging you. Have you ever confessed your sins to one another as James says we ought to do? Ask God to give you wisdom as you take a moment and give the opportunity for people to confess one to another, and then pray for one another as a way to encourage each other.

4.      James says that the prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective. Remember “righteousness” is not perfection; rather it is having a right relationship with God. James shares an example of a righteous man in Elijah, who was a man “just like us” (verse 17). One of the main reasons why James gives Elijah as an example is because Elijah fervently prayed until something happened (P.U.S.H.) in I Kings 18:42-45. We ought to pray until something happens (P.U.S.H.) in our lives too. What is going on in your life that is causing you to P.U.S.H.?

5.      Our prayers should show a dependence on God, desperation for God, and a dedication to God. As we move through this week of Prayer & Fasting beginning Tuesday, Sept 6 through Sunday, Sept 11, let’s active our faith. Let’s believe God for incredible things as we move into the fall season.

May God give each of you a blessed week as we continue to serve Him!

Pastor John