Day 17 5/9/2015: What's on earth am I here for?

WE ARE MEMBERS OF GOD’S FAMILY

Rick Warren 

“In Christ, we who are many form one Body, and each member belongs to all the others.” Rom. 12:5 (NIV)

 

      “…let us do good to all people, especially those who belong to the family of believers.”         Gal. 6:10 (NIV)

 

I.    THE GROWTH OF THE 1^stCHURCH (JERUSALEM)

·     Acts 1:15 “120 believers”  

·     Acts 2:41 “3000 were added to the church that day”

·     Acts 2:47 “the Lord added dailythose being saved”

·     Acts 4:4    “the number of men grew to 5,000”

·     Acts 5:14 “more & more believed & a multitude was added”

·     Acts 5:28 “you’ve filled Jerusalem with your teachings”

·     Acts 6:1   “the number of disciples rapidly multiplied”

·     Acts 6:7    “the number of believers increased rapidly”

·     Acts 21:20 “tens of thousandshave become believers”

     

II.  WHERE DID THEY MEET?

      “(They met) day after day, in theTEMPLE COURTS AND from HOUSE TO HOUSE...”     Acts 5:42

LARGE GROUP WORSHIP

      “They met together at the Temple Courts…” Acts 2:46 (NLT) 

    SMALL GROUP FELLOWSHIP

“Greet the church that meets in their home.”  Rom. 16:5 (NLT) 

 

ADVANTAGES: Homes are…                                              

            • Relational(build relationship)

            • Flexible(change time, change 

               location)

            • Expandable

            • Economical

 We need a team to fulfill the dreams.

7 MARKS OF A HEALTHY GROUP: ACTS 2:42-47 

      1.      Study the bible together

       “They devoted themselves to the apostles teaching...”

 

      2.      Fellowship around food 

       “They devoted themselves… to the fellowship”

       “They ate together with glad and sincere hearts”

 

      3.      Share the communion 

      “They devoted themselves… to the breaking of bread”

 

      4.      Pray for each other

       “They devoted themselves… to prayer”

 

      5.      Help each other in practical way

       “They gave to anyone as he had a need…”

 

      6.      Worship together

       “They praised God and enjoyed the favor of all the people”

 

      7.      Bring people to church

      “Everyday, the number in their group continued to grow as the Lord added those who were being saved”

                             Each One Reach One – Easter, April 4

Day 16 4/9/2015: What's on earth am I here for?

WHAT MATTERS MOST

All About Love: 1 Cor. 13

Rick Warren

 

      “There was a rich man whose land produced a bountiful harvest.  He asked himself,'What shall I do, for I don’t have space to store my goods?’  Then he said, 'Here’s what I’ll do: I’ll tear down my barns and build me larger ones!  Then I’ll say to myself, "I have so many good

things stored up for me - now rest, eat, drink, and be merry!”  But God said to him, 'You fool, this night your life will be demanded of you; and   then to whom will all your things belong?’  Thus will it be for anyone who stores up treasure for himself but is not rich in what matters to God." Luke 12:16-21 (NAB)

 

“If you are a follower of Christ Jesus ... All that matters is your faith that makes you love others.”  Gal. 5:6 (CEV)

 

IF I DON’T LIVE A LIFE OF LOVE...

1.   ...NOTHING I SAY WILL MATTER.

      “If I could speak in any language in heaven or on earth but didn't love others, I would only be making meaningless noise like a loud gong or a clanging cymbal.”  1 Cor. 13:1 (NLT)

Word without love is empty. 

2.   ...NOTHING I KNOW WILL MATTER.

      “I may have the gift of prophecy.  I may understand all the secret things of God andhave all knowledge.  But if I do not have love, then I am nothing” 1 Cor. 13:2a (NCV)

3.   ...NOTHING I BELIEVE WILL MATTER.

      “Even if I had the gift of faith so that I could speak to a mountain and make it move, I would still be worth nothing at all without love.”      1 Cor. 13:2b (LB))

I can't say I love God but I hate the other people, I'm liar. 

4.   ...NOTHING I GAVE WILL MATTER.

      “If I gave everything I have to the poor and even sacrificed my body, but didn't love others, I would be of no value whatsoever.”  1 Cor. 13:3a (NLT)

5.   ...NOTHING I ACCOMPLISH WILL MATTER.

      “So, no matter what I say, what I believe, and what I do, I'm bankrupt without love.”    

       1 Cor. 13:3b (Mes)

Life is about relationship not accomplishment. 

In God's eyes, God is looking at the relationship you have with God and other people. 

WHAT IS LOVE?

      o LOVE IS A COMMAND

      “Love means doing what God has commanded us, and he has commanded us to love one another”    2 John 1:6 (NLT)

 LOVE is not a feeling, it create feeling. 

 We can't command a feeling. 

      o LOVE IS A CHOICE

      “Go after a life of love as if your life depended on it—because it does!”     1 Cor. 14:1a (Mes)

  Love is giving us what we need.

 

      o LOVE IS A CONDUCT (behaviour)

      “Let us stop just saying we love people; let us really love them, and show it by our actions.”   1 John 3:18 (LB)

     

      o LOVE IS A COMMITMENT

      “ God is love.  If we keep on loving others, we will stay one in our hearts with God, and he will stay one with us.” 1 John 4:16 (CEV)

 

HOW TO BUILD A LIFE OF LOVE

 

      1. Learn how mature love acts and responds. God is love, see from God's perspective.

 

       2. Start your day with a daily reminder to love. In the early morning, think about it.

 

       3. Memorize what God says about love. Read the word of God! Bible. Reprogram our mind.

 

       4. Practice acting in unselfish, loving ways. Love is like muscle, practice will make perfect.

 

       5. Get support from other loving people. Get with people, to learn to be great lover. 

           Start with a small group. 

 

      “Keep company with God and learn a life of love.  Observe how Christ loved us.  His love was not cautious but extravagant.  He didn't love in order to get something from us but to give everything of himself to us.  Love like that.”       Eph. 5:2 (Mes)

 

      “In this life we have three lasting qualities: faith, hope, and love.  But the greatest of these is love!”     1 Cor 13:13 (Ph)

Day 15 3/9/2015: What's on earth am I here for?

YOU WERE FORMED FOR GOD’S FAMILY

Rick Warren

      “God is the one who made all things, and all things are for His glory.  He wanted to have many children share His glory...”  Heb. 2:10a (NCV)

      “God’s unchanging plan has always been to adopt us into His own family by bringing us to Himself through Jesus Christ.”  Eph. 1:5 (NLT)

      “I’m writing… so you’ll know how to live in the family of God.  That family is the church of the living God.”  1 Tim. 3:14-15 (NCV)

      JESUS: “I’m giving you a new commandment: Love each other!  Just as I have loved you, you should love each other.  Your love for each other will prove to the world that you are My disciples.”  John 13:34-35 (NLT)

      THE 2^nd PURPOSE OF LIFE: Fellowship is God’s answer to loneliness!

God hate loneliness 

FOUR LEVELS OF FELLOWSHIP

(Learning how to love)

LEVEL 1: THE FELLOWSHIP OF SHARING TOGETHER

      “All the believers met together constantly and shared everything with each other.”                       Acts 2:44 (LB)

      “Let us not give up the habit of meeting together.  Instead, let us encourage one another...”         Heb. 10:25 (TEV)

·         SHARE EXPERIENCE

      “When you gather, each one of you be prepared with something useful for all: Sing a song, teach a lesson, tell a story, lead a prayer, provide an insight… Take your turn, with no one person taking over.  That way… you all learn from each other.”  1 Cor. 14:26, 30-31(Mes)

·         SHARE SUPPORT

      “Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn.”  Rom. 12:15 (NIV) 

LOVE IS A COMMITMENT. 

            

LEVEL 2: THE FELLOWSHIP OF BELONGING TOGETHER

 

      “...You are members of God's very own family...  and you belong in God's household with every other Christian.”  Eph. 2:19 (LB)

      “In Christ we who are many form one Body, and each member belongs to all the others.”    Rom. 12:5 (NIV)

      “The person who loves God must also love other believers.”  1 John 4:21 (GW)

      “Love your spiritual family!”  1 Pet. 2:17b (Msg)

      “Open your homes to each other without complaining.”  1 Pet. 4:9 (NCV)

      “This is what we proclaimed in word and action when we were baptized.  Each of us is now a part of His Body.”  1 Cor. 12:13 (Mes)

     

     

LEVEL 3: THE FELLOWSHIP OF SERVING TOGETHER

      “We are partners working together for God.”  1 Cor. 3:9a (TEV)

      “Two people are better than one, because they get more done by working together.”    

      Eccl. 4:9 (NCV)

      “The whole Body is fitted together perfectly.  As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole Body is healthy and growing and full of love.” 

      Eph. 4:16 (NLT)

      “When we have the opportunity to help anyone, we should do it.  But we should give special attention to those in our family of believers.”  Gal. 6:10 (NCV)

 

LEVEL 4: THE FELLOWSHIP OF SUFFERING TOGETHER

      “ Share each other's troubles and problems.  In this way you obey the law of Christ.” 

      Gal. 6:2 (NLT)

      “If one member suffers, all suffer together.”    1 Cor. 12:26 (ESV)

      “Be devoted to each other like a loving family.”  Rom. 12:10 (GW)

      

      “We know what real love is because Christ gave up His life for us.  And so we also ought to give up our lives for our Christian brothers and sisters.”   1 John 3:16 (NLT)

WHAT LEVEL ARE YOU IN GOD’S FAMILY?

·         “Sharing together” Fellowship

·         “Belonging together” Membership

·         “Serving together” Partnership

·         “Suffering together” Kinship

“You are all children of God through faith in Christ Jesus.”  Gal. 3:26 (NLT)

Day 14 2/9/2015: What's on earth am I here for?

CONNECTING WITH GOD IN A CRISIS

Rick Warren

“When the foundations are being destroyed, what can the righteous do?"  Ps. 11:3 (NIV)

Worship God!!!

      “Go to the Lord for help, and worship Him.” 1 Chr. 16:11 (TEV)

      “Worship opens doors to all His goodness.”  Ps. 34:9 (Msg)

            When your heart is breaking: WORSHIP GOD the example of Job  (Job 1:1-2:10)

HOW DO I WORSHIP GOD IN A TRAGEDY?

1.   TELL GOD WHAT YOU FEEL

       Be honest to God. 

       Honesty is the best policy.

“Cry out in the night...Pour out your heart like water in prayer to the Lord.” 

Lam.  2:19 (NCV)

      God can handle your emotion.  

      “I can't be quiet!  I’m angry and bitter.  I have to speak!” Job 7:11(TEV)

Jeremiah (Jer. 20:67)   Naomi (Ruth 1:20)   David (Ps. 88:15)

     

      “I believed, so I said, “I am completely ruined!’"  Ps. 116:10 (NCV)

 Complaint to God is statement of faith, but complaint to other is sin!

2.  PRAISE GOD INSPITE OF ANY CIRCUMSTANCES.

      Job said, "I was born with nothing, and I’ll die with nothing.  The Lord gave, and now He has taken away.  May His name be praised!  In spite of everything that had happened, Job did not sin by blaming God.”  Job 1:21-22 (TEV)

What you can praise God for:

·         That He is a good & loving God     Job 10:12

·         That He is all-powerful     Job 36:22,  37:5,23

·         That He notices every detail of my life    Job 23:10, 31:4

·         That He is in control      Job 34:13

·         That He has a plan for my life    Job 23:14

·         That He will protect me        Job 5:11

      “Even though the fig trees have no fruit and no grapes grow on the vines, even though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no grain, even though the sheep all die and the cattle stalls are empty, I’ll still be joyful and glad, because the Lord God is my Savior.”

      Hab. 3:17-18 (TEV)

      Job: “Though He slay me, yet will I trust in Him.”  Job 13:15 (KJV)

 

3.   ASK GOD FOR STRENGTH.

      “Look to the Lord and His strength.”  Ps. 105:4 (NIV)

      “God is the real source of wisdom and strength.”  Job 12:13 (CEV)

“I can lie down and go to sleep, and I’ll wake up again, because the Lord gives me strength.”  Ps. 3:5 (NCV)

      “The Lord saves good people; He is their strength in times of trouble.”  Ps. 37:39 (NCV)

      “So here I am in the place of worship, eyes open, drinking in Your strength and glory.”

      Ps. 63:2 (Msg)

4.   KEEP FOCUSED ON GOD AND HIS PROMISES.

 

      “Therefore we do not lose heart…For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.  So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen.  For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.”  

      2 Cor. 4:16-18 (NIV)

      Jesus: “(By) trusting Me, you will be unshakable and assured, deeply at peace.  In this godless world you will continue to experience difficulties.  But take heart!  I've conquered the world."  John 16:33 (Msg)

      “Do you see what we've got?  An unshakable kingdom!  And do you see how thankful we must be?  Not only thankful, but brimming with worship, deeply reverent before God!” 

      Heb. 12:28 (Msg)

      “Those who worship God will be encouraged.”  Ps. 69:32 (TEV)

Day 13 1/9/2015: What's on earth am I here for?

HOW TO TELL GOD YOU LOVE HIM

Essentials for 21^st Century Living

Rick Warren

 

 

“Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.  This is the first and greatest commandment.”  Matt. 23:37-38 (NIV)

 

“Expressing my love to God” is called worshiping.

 

1.  BY SINGING TO HIM

 

“Sing out your thanks to Him; sing praises to our God…”  Ps. 147:7 (LB)

 

Regularly – Occasionally – Rarely

 

 

2.  BY TALKING TO HIM

 

“I love the Lord because He hears and answers my prayers.  Because He bends down and listens, I will pray as long as I have breath!”  Ps. 116:1-2 (NLT)

 

Regularly – Occasionally – Rarely

 

 

 

3.  BY LISTENING TO HIM

God taking through the bible. His words

God speaking through your experience.

God speaking through the people. 

 

“I am the good shepherd I know My own sheep, and they know Me… and they listen to My voice.”  John 10:14, 16 (NLT)

How often do I pause to listen to God?

Regularly – Occasionally – Rarely

 

4.  BY PUBLICLY IDENTIFY WITH HIM

    Let people know your identity. 

A)Communion. 

b) Baptism 

“If anyone is ashamed of Me and My teaching then I will be ashamed of him when I come with the glory of My Father…”  Mark 8:38 (ICB)

 

 Powerful symbol.

2 WAYS:  COMMUNION & BAPTISM

Communion

Jesus has paid for 

1) save from penalty of sin.

2) save from power of sin.

 Forgiven

 Freedom 

 Future

“When we went under the water, we left the old country of sin behind; when we came up out of the water, we entered into the new country of grace – a new life in a new land!  That’s what baptism into the life of Jesus means.  When we are lowered into the water, it is like the burial of Jesus; when we are raised up out of the water, it is like the resurrection of Jesus.”  Rom. 6:3 (Mes.)

 

“Going under the water was a burial of your old life; coming up out of it was a resurrection, God raising you from the dead as He did Christ.”  Col. 2:12 (Mes)

 

“Your baptism in Christ was not just washing you up for a fresh start.  It also involved dressing you in an adult faith wardrobe – Christ’s life, the fulfillment of God’s original promise.”  Gal. 3:27 (Mes.)

 

Regularly – Occasionally – Rarely

 

 

5.  BY COMMITTED TO HIM

 

 5 commitments

1) Given my life to Jesus Christ. 

2) Commit my life to his family, church. 

3) Choose to growth in spiritually.

4) Using my ability gift to serve. Ministry.

5) Sharing the good news to people. Mission. 

“Take your everyday, ordinary life – your sleeping, eating, going-to-work and walking-around life – and place it before God as an offering.  Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him.”  Rom. 12:1 (Mes)

Regularly – Occasionally – Rarely

 

 

 

6.  BY GIVING TO HIM

 You can't love God without giving. 

 

“Just as you excel in faith, in speech, in knowledge and in complete earnestness… see that you also excel in the grace of giving.  I am not commanding you, but I want to test the sincerity of your love.”  2 Cor. 8:7-8 (NIV)

God love cheerful giving, no fearful giving. 

 

Regularly – Occasionally – Rarely