Notes from May 3/4, 2008

Sermon Notes for Small Group Leaders

“To What Length Will God Go?” “The Jesus Way” series

Pastor Jim Zippay

May 3/4, 2008

Acts 8:1-8, 26-38

Outline

1. God uses human suffering to push us out.

2. God uses divine promptings to send us out.

Content

1. God allowed the early believers’ surroundings to no longer be comfortable, which pushed them out into surrounding areas to spread the gospel. (Acts 1:8)

2. God is the Great Evangelist and desires that no one perish.

3. God uses setbacks to push us forward and have opportunities to share our faith.

4. We need to die to self and embrace God’s agenda. (John 12:24 – kernel of wheat)

5. Setbacks, pain and persecution are part of the price we pay when we follow God.

6. We all have stories of the length God went to for us.

7. The Ethiopian understood the pain of humiliation and knew the emptiness of success.

8. Some people have an important job but still feel empty inside; they reached their dream job/situation but don’t feel the satisfaction they expected, now know that success doesn’t satisfy.

9. Jesus understood humiliation, injustice, pain and rejection because He experienced it.

10. Jesus endured pain and separation from God so we don’t have to; He died so we can have eternal life.

11. Pray that God will open our eyes and mouth to people to tell them about Jesus

Aim

The only way to find true fulfillment in life is in Jesus.

Application Questions

1. Describe a time you were out of your comfort zone and saw God work through you.

2. When was a time you experienced hardship or suffering and as you looked back you saw how God had worked in your life?

3. What is your reaction to/opinion of the quote, “The blood of the martyrs is the seed of the church.”?

4. Describe when you had a dream/goal in life and reached it, but weren’t satisfied.

5. When is a time you prayed that God would give you an opportunity to tell about Him and you did? Or you remained silent?

6. Was there a time God went to great lengths to reach you?

Great Power and Much Grace -- 26 & 27 April 2008

Sermon Notes for Small Group Leaders
Great Power and Much Grace – The Jesus Way
Pastor Jim Zippay
April 26 & 27, 2008
Acts 4.32-5.16

Outline
I. God’s presence dwells in His people
II. God’s power and grace flow out of our purity

Content
1. The loss of strength and flexibility in the physical, spiritual, and emotional arenas is a reality of growing older. Unity and generosity are good indicators of a healthy heart attitude.
2. Faith in Jesus creates bonds to people and cuts bondage to things; the early church set a standard of using possessions as a means of loving people.
3. We need to watch out for the snare of success because possessions can dull us to a full experience of God’s power and grace.
4. The root of gratitude is grace, a sense that we don’t deserve what we have; when we realize it's all a gift from God our hearts will produce generosity.
5. Generosity inspires others to be good examples, but not all of these motives are noble. We often envy the esteem others receive and begin coveting attention.
6. In the church, we are particularly susceptible to pretending and putting forward a good image.
7. Integrity is more important than image. Ananias and Sapphira received a harsh judgment because they chose to deceive the church and keep up their image.
8. Satan can try to exploit our weaknesses, but we decide how to respond to the devil’s voice.
9. Society tells us to avoid things that make us feel bad about ourselves. Instead, we should welcome some holy dread. The Bible gives us permission to feel bad about our mistakes.
10. It’s best to come clean and confess sin so we can receive a fresh measure of God’s power and grace (1 John 1.9).

Aim
Firmness in our relationships and freedom with our things produces the kind of community that experiences God’s power and grace.

Application Questions
I. “The church can be a dangerous place.” What do you think of this statement? What motivates you to give? How have you tightened your grip on things at the expense of relationships?
II. When have you put up a good front instead of being honest about what’s really going on behind the façade? What happens when others find out? What image are you portraying to others? How accurately does it reflect what’s going on in your heart? When have you experience “holy dread”?

Additional Resource
People of the Lie by M. Scott Peck

4-20-08 Notes

Sermon Notes for Small Group Leaders
Heritage Missionary Weekend
Guest Teaching Pastor, Peter Nicoll, International Director, H.R., Operation Mobilization
April 20, 2008
Scripture Passages: Psalm 67, Jonah 3:10 - 4:11


Outline
I. The Condemned City
II. The Callous Believer
III. The Compassionate God

Content

1. A people will not walk in the ways of God.
2. A people with out the word of God
3. A people facing the wrath of God
4. We are without excuses.
5. Know God’s mind but did not have Gods heart
6. Idolatry – John 2:8
7. God provided a great wind – 1:4
8. God provided a fish – 1:17
9. God provided a vine – 4:6
10. God provided a worm – 4:8
11. God provided a scorching east wind – 4:8

Aim
God’s desire is for each individual believer to go into the world to share the gospel as the Spirit leads, whether it is next door or around the globe.

Application Questions
I. Who was is that God sent to share the Good News with you?
II. Where do you think you would be if that persons of a group of people never obeyed God’s call on their life to share His Truth with you?
III. Who, quite specifically, has God called you to share His truth with? Are you willing to do it?

Notes from April 12/13

Sermon Notes for Small Group Leaders

The Early Church Community in Acts

Pastor Pavi Thomas

April 12-13, 2008

Acts 2:22-3:19

Outline

1. The early believers devoted themselves to (Acts 2:42):
1. The apostles teaching
2. Fellowship
3. The breaking of bread
4. Prayer
2. Four words shape this communal practice of breaking bread (Acts 2:46, Luke 22:19-20):
1. Take
2. Bless
3. Break
4. Give

Content

1. Peter preaches that Jesus is the Christ, the Messiah, the King of Kings and is the one whom God promised through the prophets (Acts 2:22-36).
2. Three thousand people repented and were baptized in response to Peter’s sermon. Everyone was filled with awe (Acts 2:37-41).
3. God raised up a community of believers that devoted themselves to the apostles teaching, fellowship, the breaking of bread and prayer.
4. They experienced a beautiful picture of community that caused them to do amazing things. (Acts 2:42-46).
5. As people “we give up what we value less to get what we value more”.
6. More people repented and turned to God daily (Acts 2:47-3:19).
7. In the middle of all these amazing things that God was doing, the believers took time to break bread together (Acts 2:46).
8. They broke bread because they saw the fulfillment of the promises of God in Jesus. They saw his body given for them, his blood shed for them on the cross (Luke 22:19-20).
9. Christ:
1. ‘Takes’ us as we are
2. ‘Blesses’ us by offering our gifts to the Father with thanksgiving
3. ‘Breaks’ us in gentleness and love
4. ‘Gives’ us back more than we gave

Aim

God is the author of true community. As a community we break bread together in remembrance and response to Christ.

Application Questions

1. What were the characteristics of the community found in Acts chapter two and three?
2. Share a time when you experienced true community. What was it that allowed for this true community to exist?
3. How does breaking bread together (communion) build community?
4. Jesus took, blessed, broke and gave Peter. How has he done this in your life?

Extras

• Isaiah 53 – how Jesus was taken, blessed, broken and given

Notes from April 5/6

Sermon Notes for Small Group Leaders
The Jesus Way Part 10 – Something Strange is Happening
Pastor Jim Zippay
5 & 6 April 2008
Acts 2.2-12

Outline
I. The Kingdom is Coming
II. The Spirit is Moving
III. The Church is Emerging

Progression of the Book of Acts
“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." (Acts 1.8)
Acts 2-7 – Jerusalem: Jerusalem is reached by contagious contact. (Acts 2.42)
Acts 8-12 – Judea and Samaria: Judea and Samaria are reached by intentional infection. (Acts 8.3-4)
Acts 13-28 – The Ends of the Earth: The ends of the earth are reached by ordained outbreak. (Acts 16.9-10)

Content
1. God is not beyond doing something strange or unorthodox to turn our attention toward Jesus.
2. God purposefully chose Pentecost, the Jewish feast of first fruits, for this strange occurrence because it was the beginning of the harvest yet to come.
3. The gathering of nations in a worldwide community is integral to the Kingdom, and one evidence of the Kingdom coming is diverse and distant people praising Jesus. (Jeremiah 3.7, Revelation 7.9)
4. As a church, let’s pray that God would continue to use us to bring one more voice, one more people group around the throne.
5. Communication is a spiritual thing. When you speak the language of the heart, the Spirit of God is there tearing down barriers so that we can hear and be healed.
6. When we connect with soul-level language spoken in geographic and circumstantial dialects, that communication can reach the remotest part of the world, the human heart.
7. The gift of tongues – speaking in known and unknown languages not previously learned – is real. We shouldn’t limit the Spirit’s power.
8. The gospel of reconciliation can bridge every divide, bringing united community under the banner of Christ.
9. “Jerusalem” represents the people closest to us. “Judea and Samaria” represent our associates and acquaintances. “The ends of the earth” represent a new frontier.
10. Mystery requires faith because it’s beyond our comprehension. Let’s not lessen what Jesus wants to do because we haven’t experienced it.


Aim
The Spirit of God enables us to speak the language of the heart so that others might hear and respond to the gospel of reconciliation.

Application Questions
1. When have you spoken the language of the heart? How were others affected?
2. Who are the people in your Jerusalem? In your Judea and Samaria?
3. What would it take to get you to extend yourself to the ends of the earth?
4. How can you more intentionally reach others with the gospel of reconciliation?
5. When have you allowed real or perceived differences exclude you from God’s people?
6. What has God done in your life that you need to share with others?

Upcoming Events
· Justice Revival – April 16-18, 2008, Columbus, OH www.sojo.net
· God’s Call to Bless the Nations, Heritage Missions Weekend 2008, April 18-20, 2008; register online http://www.heritagecc.org/calendarserviceuregister.php

Supplemental Resource
“Just Walk Across the Room” by Bill Hybels

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