The Wilderness

Sermon Notes for Small Group Leaders
The Wilderness / Epic series
Pastor Jim Zippay
Feb. 4/5, 2012
1 Cor. 10:1-13

Outline
1. A solid beginning is still the best way to start.
2. But it doesn’t guarantee a strong finish.
3. Every wilderness tests the heart.
4. Four common tests/ trials/temptations:
    Idolatry - wanting God to be different
    Immorality - wanting God’s rules to be different
    Trying - wanting God’s provision to be different
    Grumbling - wanting God’s leaders to be different
5. If you don’t want to fall, you need to learn to lean.
    Lean on the fact that your struggle is common.
    Lean on the truth that God is still in control.
    Lean on the expectation that your escape is certain.

Content
1. Life isn’t always lived in a straight line; it’s often one step back and two steps forward.
2. God rescued Israel from Egypt, but it was hard to get Egypt out of them.
3. Just as the wilderness part of the Exodus story is often left out, it’s the same in our lives.  We tell people only the good, happy, successful parts of our lives.  We don’t want people to know the bad things that happened, but those are the places that shaped us and where we saw God most clearly.
4. Our personal relationship with Christ is only one side of faith; community is the other side.  When we become a part of Christ, we also become a part of His body.  Membership makes a commitment that says we belong and helps us plug in somewhere.  Making commitments and vows helps keep us from bailing out of a situation (church, marriage) during tough times.
5. Even if we have a good start in a certain area of life, we can waver, get sidetracked, fall off the wagon, etc.
6. In the wilderness, Israel complained and thought that being in Egypt wasn’t as bad as they had thought it was.  In the same way, we can be enslaved to alcohol, pornography, etc, and have selective memory.
7. It takes maturity to willingly obey from the heart.  It happens over time, through trials.
8. The calling on our lives, just as the Israelis’, is to be holy people, royal priests, God’s people.  Just as pure gold comes out of fire, holiness comes from trials.
9. The root of trials is that we set our hearts on evil things.   We don’t truly know our hearts and think they are better than they are.
10. God can’t be contained or controlled.  What He’s revealed about Himself can’t be captured in any one image.
11. In the wilderness of a tough situation, we can think we need a distraction and it’s easy to compromise our values and morals.  When we fall, there’s no such thing as “it just happened.”  What were we doing in that situation/location in the first place?
12. Discontentment and complaining stem from ungratefulness and are rooted in the thinking that we deserve more or better.  Only when we come to grips with what we really deserve will we see God’s provisions as pure grace.
13. Disagreeing with leaders/authority doesn’t release us from responsibility because authority is under God.  Obeying the laws shows we believe that God is in control.
14. Even though God forgives us, there are still consequences to our actions.
15. Our responsibility in a wilderness is to look to see how we should respond.  He might not take us out of the wilderness but He can keep us from falling if we ask Him for His help.

Aim
God allows us to go through wilderness times to shape us and help us grow.  Remember that He knows the situation and won’t abandon us or let it bury us.  Our situation might not change, but we can change through it.

Application questions
1. What have some backwards steps been in your life?
2. What are some signs of Egypt (past life) in you?
3. How open are you to telling people about bad parts of your life?
4. What have you done to help you feel plugged in at Heritage?   Have you placed membership at Heritage?
5. What are some trials or tests that happened in your life that helped you grow?
6. Jim mentioned alcohol and porn as things that people are enslaved to.   What other things enslave us?
7. When was a time you fell that would not have happened if you hadn’t been in a certain situation or place?
8. Do you tend to be thankful or complain a lot?
9. Are you going through a wilderness now?  If so, what kind?

Epic: Creation

Sermon Notes for Small Group Leaders
Creation: Week 1 of the Series, “Epic”
Jim Zippay, Lead Pastor
January 7/8, 2012
Genesis 1:1-Genesis 2:3

Outline

I. Introduction to the new series, “Epic”
Related Scripture: Ezekiel 47:1; Revelation 22:1; Romans 11:36
II. God creates and celebrates His creation
Related Scripture: Romans 4:17; Proverbs 3:19, 8:30-35, 9:10; Romans1:20; Psalm 19:1, 148:1-13
III. Humanity is endowed with dignity and destiny
Related Scripture: Psalm 8:3-7
IV. Creation brings order but it needs to be cared for
Related scripture: Genesis1:1-2 

Content 

1. The teaching series, “Epic,” will go through the Bible for the next five months because the scriptures give a clear description of what is ahead and who is in charge.
2. The Bible is indeed an epic, a long poetic literary structure centered on a hero and His great achievements. Although the New Testament is more sequentially ordered than the current order of the Old Testament, the OT Jesus read began in Genesis and ended in Chronicles, giving a sense of “beginning to Kingdom-world-without-end.”
3. In this Epic, there are three main characters: God, the people, and the land.
4. God created substance out of nothing by his word (Rom 4:17). Proverbs 3:19 says God used wisdom and understanding to create. We also have access to wisdom (Proverbs 8:20-35, 9:10).
5. God celebrated his creation. Creation reflects the attributes of God (Romans 1:20, Psalm 19:1, Psalm 148:1-13) and God is meant to be the object of our worship, not creation itself.
6. There is no mention of morning or evening on the seventh day. It has no beginning or end.
7. Humanity is endowed with dignity because we are image bearers of God, without conditions. Whatever robs fundamental dignity from people should be opposed.
8. Our role as image bearers is linked to our destiny - our responsibilty as rulers (Psalm 8:3-6). We have access to wisdom so that we can continue building on what God began, although our “creating” is not the same as God’s. Like priests we reflect God. Like rulers we access wisdom and can dream great thoughts and plans for God.
9. God’s word brings structure for greater order.
10. This world created by God was given to us to use and protect, not simply exploit. Christians have been slow to recognize that creation brings order but also needs to be cared for. (Pastor Jim referenced a book by Tony Campolo, How to Rescue the Earth without Worshipping Nature, written about 20 years ago.)
11. Everything flows from God: order, beauty, change, creativity; all beginnings start with God. 

Aim

As we look to the future, we need to begin with the God who is the only One who can create something from nothing, the only perfectly creative One, the God who is in control of the past, present and future.

Application Questions

I. Assess your understanding of the whole story of the Bible. What are your strengths and weaknesses? What are your biases, fears, and/or hopes as we begin this five month study?

II. In what ways do we worship the creation rather than the Creator? What is the danger of this? How do we correct it?

III. What stands in the way of your seeing yourself as an image bearer of God? of your seeing others as image bearers of God? When and how do you need to access “wisdom” and “understanding?” In what way do you need to begin again with God? 

IV. What is the Christian’s responsibility toward God’s creation? How does our relationship to God affect our responsibility to His creations?

The Abolition of Slavery

Sermon Notes for Small Group Leaders
The Abolition of Slavery
Pastor Andy Sieberhagen, Missions Pastor
Jan. 1, 2012
Gal 4:21-26, 31, 5:1

Outline
1.  Freedom from slavery to the law
2.  Live by the Spirit
3.  The power of choice
4.  Live as sons and daughters

Content
1. William Wilberforce changed the course of history for thousands of people in a movement that brought freedom.
2. There is sometimes a kind of slavery in the church.
3. Freedom in Jesus gives us fullness of life that He promised we could have on earth because of what He did on the cross.
4. Paul uncovered the lineage of Christianity and Islam in this passage:
Christianity — through Isaac from a covenant promise from God; from Sarah, a free woman, Israel; Jesus; the church; live by grace, free from the law
Islam — through Hagar, a slave; Ishmael; law and slave to the law
5. Some people think Christianity is a list of rights and wrongs, dos and don’ts, with the thought that if you do certain things you’re a good Christian.
6. The law can’t keep us from sinning; it sets us up for failure.
7. The victim of legalism in the church is joy; legalistic Christians often don’t have joy.
8. Freedom from the law means no more condemnation.
9. The gospel is about coming as we are and Jesus transforms us into who we need to be.
10. We have complete freedom to do whatever we want, but God calls us to walk by the Spirit and not gratify the desires of the flesh.  If we’re led by the Spirit, we’re not under the law. (Gal 5:16-18, Rom. 8:1-6)  We will want to obey God because we love Him.
11. If we’re truly committed to God, our desires change; we desire things of the Spirit, not the flesh.  We will then live righteously.  We’re saints because Jesus bought us at the cross.
12. When someone is caught up in sin, we usually give them more boundaries, more laws, which sets them up for failure.  What we should do is take them to Jesus.
13. We have the power to choose how we will live because we’re sons and daughters of Christ.  We shouldn’t claim that someone “made us do” something.  We have the power to say “no” to sin.  The lie that we don’t have a choice is from the enemy.
14. Walk in Jesus’ truth; it sets us free.

Aim
Because of Jesus’ sacrifice for us on the cross, we have freedom to choose to walk by the Spirit and live righteously for Him as His sons and daughters.

Application Questions
1. Are you or have you ever been under a yoke of bondage?  Describe.
2. Are you truly free in Jesus?. Which lineage do you belong to — freedom or slavery to the law?
3. Have you been in a church that has a lot of laws for things like baptism, communion, clothing, etc?  Discuss.
4. Describe a time when you thought you weren’t good enough for Jesus (if you’ve experienced that), or felt not worthy to go to church or to Him.   Or has someone you know struggled with this?
5. How long can you live with sin in your life?
6. Describe a time when you had a choice to engage in a sinful activity and what choice you made.   Did someone try to coerce you into it?

Next steps
~ Attend the Transformation: 2012 conference next weekend
~ Participate in the Radical experiment
More information about these opportunities is on the website

The Nativity Story: The Crowd

Sermon Notes for Small Group Leaders

Advent Series: The Crowd

Pastor Jim

December 17/18, 2011

Luke 2 & Matthew 2

Outline:

I. The Shepherds

II. The Magi

III. Religious leaders/Political rulers

Content:

1. Creches (nativity scenes) from around the world depict Jesus, Mary, Joseph, and the crowd, in a way that is unique to their own cultures. It represented Christ for sure, but also represented them.
2. We can get our heads around Jesus being born in Bethlehem, and even in a manger (everyone loves a rags-to-riches story), but why give the announcement to a bunch of shepherds?
3. Luke 2: 10-12: The word ‘you’ is mentioned three times in three verses, emphasizing who the audience is, which is critical to this communication.
4. If we had needed info, technology, money, or pleasure, God would have sent someone different, but beause we need forgiveness, God send us a Savior.
5. People who work seemingly menial jobs are more aware of their stuff and more in touch with what isn’t right, and so to get news like this is like holding the winning lottery ticket. (1Co 1:27-29)
6. Being aware of our needs is what determines if we’ll see the Child as Savior.
7. Matt 2: 1-2 (Magi): The church celebrates what’s called Epiphany (the arrival of the Magi, word means to reveal or make known). Eastern Orthodox denomination includes other moments of revelation in this celebration, like when Jesus was baptized, or His first miracle
8. God uses this revelation to make His Son known to all people. 
9. The Magi were stargazers, but also seeking for God. (Ps 19:1-2; Rom 1:20)
10. Pastor Jim mentioned the book Eternity in their Hearts by Don Richardson as examples of stories from different cultures pointing to one true God who comes to earth to rescue people.
11. Like with creation, there are signs, indications, and clues that God is there and that He’s trying to get you to see; seeing is a heart thing.
12. Religious leaders/political rulers didn’t go to see.  (Matt 2:3-6)
13. There are many who believe in God, but do not follow Jesus.
14. Why didn’t King Herod go?—The text says he was ‘disturbed’ by the news. He probably felt threatened by what he might hear or need to change.
15. Inside our own hearts dwells a little King Herod, a mentality/perspective that says I rule, I reign, I’ll do whatever I want to do.

Aim:

God demonstrates a desire to make His Son known to all people.

Application Quesions:

Why would God give the announcement of His Son to people who are not well-off or famous?

How do you see Him? Do you liken yourself to a shepherd in need or a King Herod, protecting what you think is yours?

With so many ways to hear about Christ, especially around Christmas, what is holding you and others back from believing in Him after being presented with the Good News so many times?

How do you resist bowing to the manger? How can we help one another to recognize our need for Christ as Savior and Lord?

The Nativity Story: The Couple

Sermon Notes for Small Group Leaders
Advent Series- The Nativity Story: The Couple
Pastor Jim Zippay
December10/11, 2011
Luke 1 and Matthew 1

Outline

I. Preconditions to Jesus’s coming
II. Mary and Joseph say “Yes”
III. What will we say?

 Content 

1. In biblical times, engagements lasted about a year. Prior to the husband taking his new wife home, both were sexually pure.
2. Joseph was a descendant of David, a part of the lineage that would produce the Messiah.
3. Upon meeting the angel, Mary was afraid, but also wondered why she was favored.
4. The message that Mary would become pregnant by the Holy Spirit before she was married meant that she would probably be subject to humiliation and her life would become totally different than what she had hoped and imagined. Still, Mary said, “May your word to me be fulfilled.” (Matthew 1:36).
5. This divine conception was necessary to satisfy the two conditions of Messiah. The Messiah had to be born fully human if he was to pay the debt for humankind’s sins. He also had to be fully God so that He would be sinless. 
6. We don’t know when and how Joseph learned about Mary, but he decided not to disgrace her publicly. When the angel spoke to him in a dream, Joseph acted on what the angel said and took Mary to be his wife.
7. Both Mary and Joseph believed and acted on what they believed to be true from God, even though it would disrupt their lives. We often do not step out in faith and act on the things we say we believe. (Pastor Jim referenced the book, Radical, by David Platt and the challenge at the end of the book, a challenge to live what we say we believe.)
8. The story of the Nativity reminds us that sexuality is part of spirituality, not just a biological urge to be satisfied as needed. Remember that Joseph and Mary abstained from a sexual relationship until after the birth of Jesus, and that Jesus, the most sexually healthy human, is a virgin.
9. Mary and Joseph encountered difficulties - dealing with the pregnancy, the trip to Bethlehem during late pregnancy, and having no suitable place to stay in Bethlehem for the birth of the child. Mary and Joseph said yes because they recognized that what God was doing was not just for them, but was bigger than their own small lives, and was what God purposed. This humility led them to surrender their decisions and choices.
10. God doesn’t owe us a comfortable life when we say yes to the will of God. God’s promise is that our actions serve the greater good and accomplish his intentions when we become the Lord’s servants.

Aim

It is time for us to say yes to serving God, becoming servants of God simply because He is God with a perfect plan, not because we will get something out of it.

Application Questions 

• When you imagine yourself in Mary’s or Joseph’s shoes, how do you imagine your response to the situations they faced?
• Where does what you believe connect to what you do? Where does what you believe seem to have little or no connection to how you act and what you say and do? Why do you think that is?
• Think about the difficulties Mary and Joseph encountered surrounding the birth and childhood of Jesus. Did God promise them an easy life? What about us? What does that mean for the choices we make? (Remember, we know the end of the story of Jesus’s sacrifice for our sins and how He prepares a wonderful place for us. Mary and Joseph did not.)
• What is your next step? Who and what do you need to take the next step? How can our life group support each other as we move toward becoming servants of the Most High God?