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?

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?

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?

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?

Aim
It’s good to acknowledge our longings and discontent so that we realize we need Jesus to fill those needs and empty spaces.

Application Questions
1. What kind of painful memories does Christmas bring for you (if any)?   What are some good memories it brings?
2. Is your life the way you always thought it was “supposed” to be?  In what ways yes or no?
3. Have there been times you’ve felt like you were trapped in a dark hole?  If so, describe.
4. What are some other things with which you or others try to fill the empty space inside?
5. What are some areas in your life that you try to keep Jesus out of?
6. Discuss if you think God is punishing people who go through difficulties.
7. Describe times when everything in your life looked good on the outside but inside you were empty.   Or someone you know in this situation.
8. How easily do you believe that God loves and forgives you and wants to be your friend?
9. Do you long for eternity?
10. Have you had a glimpse of Who Jesus is?
11. What is God to you?
12. What will you do with Jesus this Christmas?    And always?

Outline

I. Setting our minds on Christ (Colossians 3:1-4)

II. What to “put off” (Colossians 3:5-10)

III. What to “put on” (Colossians 3:11-14)

Content 

1. Setting our minds on things above means thinking about Jesus’s victory over sin and death, His authority and His seat at the right hand God.
2. “Setting our minds” is a purposeful act involving planning time, space, materials and activities. Pastor Zoe recommended 3 books for those looking for a way to begin- Richard Foster’s Celebration of Discipline, Sarah Young’s Jesus Calling, Oswald Chambers’ My Utmost for His Highest. Pastor Zoe quoted Brother Lawrence (The Practice of the Presence of God), “The soul’s eye must be kept on God…(S)ince much time and effort are needed to perfect this practice, one should not be discouraged by failure.”
3. Jesus is becoming our lives, not just an add-on to the rest of our lives. When we are consumed with Him, we are like ones consumed by anything- we know everything we can, do everything we can to be close or know more, share with whomever will pay attention. We eliminate things that get in the way of our experiencing our passion (Jesus? Something else?) because it no longer fits into our lives.
4. Paul compares making Christ the center of our lives to putting off and putting on clothing- not as a “do this, don’t do this” list of rules, but as a way to becoming available to Jesus, the object of our affection.
5. Put off: vices- they choke the life out of us; sexual immorality- activity that takes away from God’s intended design for our good; lust- natural desire corrupted by sin; evil desires- desire for what is forbidden; greed- an insatiable desire to have more, making the thing desired an idol; idolatry- looking to something or someone else to satisfy a need; anger- slow brewing; rage- quick tempered, irritability; malice- meanness and evil plans to injure ones; slander- hurtful speech that defames one’s character, such as gossip; filthy language- foul, obscene, innuendoes that cover underlying impurity, abusive language.
6. Jesus is the only One you can fully give yourself to that will not ultimately enslave or destroy you. He will set you free. 
7. TKN: Guard your words. Are they True, Kind and Necessary? (Proverbs 18:21, Eph 4:29)
8. Sometimes we have a hard time putting off our sin because we secretly enjoy it, which is just what the enemy would have you do. This keeps us from the accountability and encouragement we may need from others. See James 5:16.
9. Put on: compassion- tenderness of heart, deep feelings for another, mercy; kindness- gracious sensitivity toward others, lack of harshness; humility- exemplified in Christ who being God took the form of a servant; gentleness- power under control; bearing with- putting up with difficult circumstances or people; forgiveness- an act of grace, freely offered; love- affectionate good will, God is love.
10. The things we think may be stripping us of these virtues are calling us, warning us to put on these virtues. 

Aim

Living a “Son-Centered” life means setting our hearts and minds on Christ, putting to death the old life and clothing yourself in new life today and every day until you see Him face to face. 

Application Questions

I. Setting our minds on Christ (Colossians 3:1-4) 

• Has Jesus become a regular part of your thoughts, decision making and life style?
• How far are you willing to go to keep His commandments?
• What keeps you tangled up and tied down to a dead-end life? 

II. What to “put off” (Colossians 3:5-10) 

• What issues are you having trouble putting off? What is keeping you from fully embracing Jesus on a daily basis?
• What struggles are you keeping secret and why?
• How can you let others help you become accountable and become sources of encouragement for you?

III. What to “put on” (Colossians 3:11-14) 

• What is your next step to living a life with Jesus at the center?
• What can we do together to help each other take the necessary steps to become Christ-centered?

Content
1. We’ve been learning in this series that Jesus is the center of all things, not us.  We struggle to live like He is at the center because other forces try to take us off course.
2. Paul laid out essential truths that say that Jesus is the center and He is in us. But other forces try to take center stage.
3. People sometimes think they need something more than Jesus for safety and security.
4. Things people look to for security include:  power, money, a fit body, religion (rules, do’s & don’t’s), or in what other people think of them.
5. We’re brought to fullness in Christ, not by success, failures, bank account, what other people think, etc.
6. No force can deliver us, set us free, forgive us, and give us security like Jesus can.  Other forces tell us we aren’t good enough and want to enslave us.
7. All the fullness of God dwells in Jesus’ body, and in Christ we have been brought to fullness as well. (v. 9)
8. All we need is Jesus’ love.  He loves us even if we let Him down.
9. We have life, security and salvation when we have Jesus.
10. When we are born into Christ our old life is peeled away; it doesn’t define us.  His story defines ours; it’s what matters most.

Aim
We need to continue to live our lives in Jesus with Him at the center and find our security in Him.  The only true security we have comes from Jesus.

Application Questions
1. What are some things that try to take center stage in your life, your family’s life?
2. Where do you go to find security? 
3. Describe a time when you found security in Jesus.   A time when you went to something else.
4. What does finding security in Jesus mean?  What are some practical ways you can do that?

Content

1. Keeping Jesus at the center of our lives is difficult because our hearts and minds are too distracted and Jesus is so respectful of us and waits on us to turn our hearts to him.

2. Jesus is the image of the invisible God (Heb 1:1-3), and Jesus is the firstborn over all creation.

3. The Hebrew word for “In the beginning” is ‘bereshit’ and can be translated as beginning, firstborn, supreme, or head. (In the Firstborn, Jesus, God created; In the Supreme One, Jesus, God created…)

4. Creation is all about Jesus, from beginning to end.

5. Jesus is the wisdom of God. (Prov 8:27-31)

6. In Colossians, Paul is inviting us to a life of true wisdom through Jesus. We move from wisdom to foolishness when we allow anything to displace Jesus from the center.

7. Jesus created powers—thrones, dominions, rulers, and authorities. A power is anything and anybody that can make stuff happen.

8. Evil is that which is inevitable when Jesus is displaced from the center.

9. The most powerful consequence of this corruption is death, to which we are closer  than we realize, but we don’t know what to do with death even though every one of us will face it.

10. (v.18) Jesus is the firstborn from the dead, and the solution to death involves a new beginning. 

11. Jesus sees us and the evil that has come upon all His good creation, and all the evil in the world and the corruption it creates He takes on Himself on the cross. 

12. Jesus has the first place in everything because he delivers us from the greatest of fears—death.

13. (v.19-20) Jesus makes peace between Himself and His enemies (those of us who have not reconciled ourselves with Him) through the blood of His cross and by laying His life down for His enemies.

14. Jesus’ take on forgiveness: I’ll do whatever it takes so I can forgive you, and I’ll pay the price so I can forgive you.

15. He doesn’t forgive us for any other reason except that He gave His life for us.

Aim

There is freedom in our lives when Jesus is at the center.

Questions

1. Read John 11:25-27. Do you truly believe what Jesus said to Martha?

2. How have you experienced Jesus being at the center? How do you feel when you know He is not?

3. Is He worth giving up everything to follow? Can you view this as a call to freedom?

Content
1. This passage shows Jesus’ church and what He wants it to be.  Attention is being drawn to the throne and everyone and everything is focused on God.
2. Creatures are proclaiming God’s purity and holiness.  This should prompt others to worship, focusing on God and not thinking about other things.  It did, as the 24 elders fell down and worshipped.
3. Casting off our crowns gives value to God and shows that He is more worthy than what we treasure.
4. Giving as an act of worship is about how much; the amount makes a message.  It states the value we place on the One we’re giving to, the One we say is worthy.
5. Giving should be sacrificial and change our lives.  It’s a statement of Who God is.
6. God is the Creator King.  Living creatures and elders worship Him, responding to the King Who is the Creator.
7. Christ is the Victor King.  He is in the center of the picture in this passage, the Lamb Who was victorious.  He paid for God’s plan to save all people with His own blood, so we can be included in His kingdom.
8. The heavenly host — thousands of angels — responded to the invitation to enter into worship.
9. We should use God’s standards to evaluate how good a worship service is — did everyone worship, were they in awe of God’s worthiness, did they encounter God and give Him His due?
10. Worship is driven by Who God is and having the whole church body respond to that.
11. When we worship, we put our talents and wealth at God’s feet.  We acknowledge His sovereignty and surrender our whole selves to Him. We also need to leave our baggage at His feet — our sin and failures — and let Him give us a new heart to worship.
12. Worship is an eternal response.  God makes what is insufficient in us powerful for His kingdom.  He prepares us for an eternal response before His throne.

Aim
Worship is honoring the One Who is worthy.

Application Questions
1. What do you look at/focus on most of the time?
2. Have you ever been in a situation that you felt God wasn’t aware of, felt like He wasn’t there?  And/or, describe a time when you could feel God’s presence.
3. What does it take to get you engaged in worshipping God?  What helps get your attention focused heavenward?
4. What’s valuable to you?
5. When is the last time you left your crown — achievements, accomplishments — at God’s feet?
6. Describe a time when you’ve been in awe of God and seen Him, which resulted in a change in you.
7. How do you evaluate a worship service?  Are the ones you attend usually “good”?