Cell Group Meeting Week 2

The easiest cell group to lead is when the Holy Spirit is meeting with you. The Holy Spirit was present. We watched the DVD then I read aloud the first question from the workbook. From that point, the entire group just expressed from their hearts. There was a real openness. We discussed interdependence with group members probing each other asking how we can develop this to a greater degree at FCC. Several remembered when they first began attending FCC worship services and had feelings of not feeling welcome.

I really respected our group as it was not a griping or complaining session. We went deeper asking each other why that was and what we need to change.

There was discussion that our lives are so busy with all kinds of activities. Therefore we don't take time to build relationship or for that matter even acknowledge the person next to us in the worship service. It is more about me than me having the best interest of others in mind.

One conclussion that we came to was that prayer is vital to building interdependence. We even noted that after the the January "First Tuesday" pray meeting that people stayed around and chatted. When we pray together we will grow together.

Secondly, we must be intentional. I personally was convicted this night. I have sinned by not interacting with people on Sunday morning. Here is how I was convicted. When someone sits close to me and I don't know who they are. It is a sin if I do not seek them out and at a minimum introduce myself to them.

Prayer builds interdependce!

We also came up with definitions for What is the church? and What is Christ's mission? Give me your comments on the definitions.

Lesson2 - Day 5 Channeling Desires into Diciplines

As I work through this lesson, I am reminded of the LifeShaping motto Hear.Know.Do. We have heard and know now it is time to do.

This section has a key to being able to "do the do" or as the lesson says channel our desires into disciplines. The key is finding and having one or two people that will pray with you. Praying together brings accountability, encouragement and stregthens our faith.

The last paragraph of this lesson said:

Now the adventure really begins. I can almost visualize you springing
up like a shoot of new life - rooted in Christ - rising up alongside a cluster
of growing disciples reflecting Christ's beauty and reproducing his life in
others.

Let's make that our pray for each other.

Are you in? The adventure has begun.

Lesson2 - Day 4 Becoming a Reproducing Church Requires Reproducing Leaders

One of the first tasks of the 11 disciples was to choose a spiritual leader to replace Judas. The disciples role in the early church was huge as they modeled, taught and nurtured spiritual and relational vitality. They led the church toward the kind of risk-taking faith that resulted in disciples and congregations being multiplied around the world.

For the early church, selecting the right apostle was part human discernment and part divine guidance. We don't select apostles today, but we still need both discernment and guidance to raise the leaders to oversee and shepard the church body.

Let's pray for our spiritual leaders at Faith Community Church.

• Pray that they hear from God. - John 12:49-50
• Pray that the message is clear and fruit-bearing. - I Thes 1:2-8
• Pray for balance between ministry and family.
• Pray for the ministry and for understand your part. - 1 Cor 12:4-5
• Pray for authentic relationships with other men. - 1 Sam 18:1-3

Lesson2 - Day 3 Call to Go and Make Disciples

Praise God that the first church of 120 people in Acts did not become inwardly focused, but took the blessing of spiritual and relational vitality and shared it with others. Bring this a little more up to date. I thank God for Don and Anita Hopper who were very instumental in me becoming a Christ follower.

The Life Cycle of a church was interesting to see in print.

Reproduction is a key here huh! Not only in us as individuals but us as a church also. We must continue to plant churches.

Personal inventory was pretty tough to swallow. I am lacking in this area of fruitful ministry and clearly do not have Christ's vission for the lost.

Lesson2 - Day 2 Calls Us to Follow Him Together

Christ's desire is to shape his followers into a community of disciples whose relationships reflect his love and truth. Christ showed us love by speaking the truth in love, by demonstrating servanthood, by exercising grace and patience, by mercy and forgiveness and by laying down his life for us. His command to us is "Love each other as I have loved you."

The personal inventory on Interdependence is great. It reinforced that building relationships is something I need to work on.

Lesson2 - Day 1 Come and Follow Me.

This lesson opens with a couple great questions:

1. How can we make our times of worship, prayer and Bible study genuinely more about spending time with the Lord and getting to know him better?
2. What fresh faith experiences will he lead us into that will make us the kind of church capable of casting the net and drawing in a great catch?

Then I had this thought as I looked at the section "Come and be with me . . ." We must get into the trenches. Being with Jesus is not contained within the walls of the church building. Being with Jesus is also in our homes, neighboorhoods, workplace and with friends. Or, simply stated our daily activities.

Are we learning to trust Jesus enough to obey his commands in our daily lives? This was certainly something that he challenged his disciples with and therefore we are challenged likewise. Christ wants us to increasingly experience Him as trustworthy and to follow Him joyfully with obedient faith.

Lesson 2 Preparing His People

Acts 1:12-14 (New International Version)

12Then they returned to Jerusalem from the hill called the Mount of Olives, a Sabbath day's walk from the city. 13When they arrived, they went upstairs to the room where they were staying. Those present were Peter, John, James and Andrew; Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew; James son of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot, and Judas son of James. 14They all joined together constantly in prayer, along with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers.

Christ expands his reign by preparing his people to reflect his glory and reproduce his life in others. Making that statement a little more personal. May we be transformed more and more into Christ's likeness so that we reflect His glory and by that we would reproduce the life of Christ in others. The early church understood and lived this.

How else could a small group of disciples multiply into the large global movement we see later in Acts and are a part of today. Think about how impractical this was or even would be today. How many businesses are know globally? Yes, there are some, but think about them how long did it take them to be recongnized worldwide. The only thing I know that even compares would be this technology that we are using right now. That being the internet. Back to our little group who started this. They were uneducated men and women who faced external opposition, internal conflict and obstacles of every kind. Yet in a few decades this movement (don't like that word) was global in nature.

Prayer and interdependence on each other were key in this.

Week 2 - Sermon "Preparing His People"

To listen or download sermon clip here.

Biblical waiting involves active participation not passive resignation. We are challenged with two aspects of active participation. Those being joining together in loving interdependence and a shared dependence on God expressed through pray with other Christ followers.

Tranformation is a work of God. I as an individual and we as a church need transformation. God will move in response to the united prayers of His people. Tim Haugen gave us two action step of having a prayer partner and joining in the "First Tuesday" prayer meeting which is February 7 at 7 pm. Another practicle step is our small groups. I encourage you to use the prayer focus for each week. We have 48 small groups. Do you think God will respond and honor our prayers? I do! Let's pray for the glory our Lord is due.

Where have I been?

Hopefully I will get caught up on my posting. I have been very sick since Saturday. I don't remember being this sick since I had Mono. My toes ached. I will not discribe all that I went through.

I hope to catch up rapidly so posts will be frequent in the next couple days.

Cell Group Meeting Week 1

How can a group that has been together for 3 years be a group that was totally different? Well that was what I experienced last Friday as we met for our first Fire & Reign discussion. There was a different dynamic. I am not good at analyzing exactly what was going on, but the entire group felt it. There was heart felt sharing going on. Not just talking about the text of scripture, but taking the text and applying it to ourselves and our church. There was honesty and no holding back. We shared what was really happening not some sugar-coated self-protecting story. It will be exciting to see what happens in the next 8 weeks.

I want to share part of our discussion on the missions temperature of our church. We got to talking about all the people who have gone on a mission trip in the last year. We conservatively estimated that more than 100 people spent time on some type of mission trip this past year. Listing some of these: Mexico, Youth trip to Canada, China, several college age adults, India and there are others. Most of what we discussed was global and there are many things happening more locally in our community. We talked about not only the people going but also the pray and financial support that many others contributed to. We were amaized at God's activity.

Please share your groups highlights. It doesn't have to be the group leader sharing the stories.

Lesson1-Day 5 Until He Comes. . .

After he said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight. They were looking intently up into the sky as he was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them. "Men of Galilee," they said, "why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven." Acts 1:9-11

It's not a day for standing and watching - it's a day for seeing and waiting.

It's not about gazing into the sky waiting for Jesus to return. It's about expanding Chist's reign. First, we must see it. I must have a focused vision on the living reigning Lord. I must pursue knowing my Lord. The world sees Jesus no more but we through faith do.

And what are we to wait on? We must wait on the Spirit to empower us. We are not waiting for the Spirit to come. That happened at Pentecost. When I am empowered by the Spirit my witness will be alive and fruitful. This quote from John Stott has become my prayer:

" It is therefore impostible for me to worship God truly and yet not care two cents whether anybody else worships him too. . . Worship that is pleasing to God will inevitably send us out to bear witness of the name we have sought to honor."

Lesson1-Day 4 Christ is Revealed Through Spirit-empowered Witness

What I see being emphasised today is that it is not and "I" issue but a "We" issue. Just as Jerry Sheveland pointed out we tend to read Acts in an individual way so that it is all about "me" being a witness in the power of the Spirit. Now there is truth in that, but there is a larger issue. It is the issue of "our" being filled with his Spirit so that "we" as a church might display Christ's life and boldly withness to his gospel.

I was involved in a discussion yesterday concerning the FCC vission statement:

We are pursueing Christ's reign in all of life to advance God's kingdom in all the earth for His glory!

It is not "I am pursueing . . ." it is "We are pursueing. . ." I cannot pursue Christ's reign on my own. It must be in conjuction and community with other Christ followers.

My prayer for FCC is that the Holy Spirit would work in such great power that the life of Christ cannot be contained. And as a result would be reproduced from one life to another and one congregration to another. I pray that each of us would be empowered by His Spirit so that we might bear witness to his living, reigning precence everywhere he sends us.

Lesson1-Day 3 Christ is Reproducing His Church Among All Nations

I liked the quote from Don Richardson:

"We like to think that the Book of Acts is the story of the church bringing the gospel to the world. In fact, it is the story of God's Spirit overcoming the reluctance of the church to bring the gospel to the world."

The prayer then should be asking for our church to have a more ready willingness to embrace His mission. If we embrace His mission, we embrace His passion for people of the world wherever they live.

I think it would be good for us to answer the questions: How is God bringing people from other nations into the community where we live? How is the Lord already connecting our church with ministries in other part of the world? Lets dialogue on these questions. What do you see happening?

Let me get us started by mentioning our relationship with missionaries throughout the world. Cables in Thialand; Lindstroms in Papua New Guinea; Conners in Mexico; Yongs in Cameroon; Nandas in India. There are many others - tell us about them.

Week 1 - Sermon "Embracing Christ's Mission"

To listen or download sermon click here.

A challenge for greater participation in the Spirit. The one thing that is becoming evident to me through this first week is that I must embrace and better understand the work of the Holy Spirit in order to have a fuller life in Christ. The Holy Spirit is to usher in the reign of Christ. The Spirit is making Christ know so that I can have fellowship with Him. The Spirit is also transforming my character in order that I might be a better reflection (image) of God to people I interact with.

Daily the Spirit is trying to mediate for me. I say trying because I do not always cooperate. My obedience to the Spirit needs to be 100%. In my one year Bible reading yesterday I read this encouragement from Romans 5:3-4 ". . . because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, who he has given us."

Lesson1-Day 2 Christ is Restoring God's Reign in the Lives of His Followers

We see in Acts 1:6 the disciples ask Jesus, "Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom of Israel?" Jesus responded with these words, "It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority" (Acts 1:7).

What was Jesus saying? He was affirming that that day was indeed coming. The kingdom of God would be restored, but the timing was God's business, not theirs.

So what is Christ's kingdom mission today as we wait for his return? His mission is to restore God's reign in the lives of his followers. Matthew recorded Christ's mission statement with these words:

Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." Matthew 28:18-20

Making disciples among all nations is about exalting Christ's supreme authority in heaven and earth. And it is about multiplying baptized followers who learn to obey his commands and enjoy his presence.

The Apostle Paul used three "R" words to describe how the Lord brings us into his kingdom: "rescued," "redemption," and "reconciled."

giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light. For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, 14in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. Colossians 1:12-14

Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior. But now he has reconciled you by Christ's physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation— if you continue in your faith, established and firm, not moved from the hope held out in the gospel. This is the gospel that you heard and that has been proclaimed to every creature under heaven, and of which I, Paul, have become a servant. Colossians 1:21-23

Christ died on the cross and rose from the dead so that people around the world might be rescued from a kingdom of darkness and death, and as forgiven people be reconcipled to God and his kingdom of light.

Personal reflection: This was a challenging devotion. The question that keeps coming to my mind is What am I "saved" for? God has choosen me and I believe with a purpose. As the FCC vission statement says:

We are pursuing Christ's reign in all of life to advance God's kingdom in all the earth for His glory!

I question myself if I am true to the "all of life." Or is "all of life" just when it is convenient or beneficial to me. I need to commit myself to ". . . seek first his kingdom and his righteousness. . ." Matthew 6:33.

Lesson1-Day 1 Christ is Risen and at Work in Our World

All that Luke described about Jesus in his gospel - from birth to resurrection - was just the beginning! Luke emphasizes this truth with these words about the living Christ:

After his suffering, he showed himself to these men and gave many
convincing proofs that he was alive. He appeared to them over a period of forty
days and spoke about the kingdom of God. (Acts 1:3)

The fact is Jesus did not turn his mission over to his disciples and slip off the scene. He is alive and at work in our world. It is still his mission. Jesus did not hand off his mission rather he is still running his race and invites us to join him in what he is doing. He is at work through his Word, his Spirit and his people.

. . . he was taken up to heaven, after giving instructions through the Holy
Spirit to the apostles he had chosen. (Acts 1:2)

Jesus is at work through his Word . He continues to teach his followers by means of instruction, the Bible. Jesus fulfilled the Law and prophets of the Old Testiment and he delivered the New Testiment through his prophets and apostles.

Jesus is at work through his Spirit. Jesus explaind to his followers that is was better for them to have him ascend to heaven. By sending his Spirit, Jesus would be everywhere present among his followers.

"Now I am going to him who sent me, yet none of you asks me, 'Where are you
going?' Because I have said these things, you are filled with grief. But I tell
you the truth: It is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the
Counselor will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you. ( John
16:5-7)

Jesus is at work through his people. Jesus chose and commisioned his apostles to raise up his church that is his people among the nations of this earth.

Personal reflection: If I am a Christ follower then I have been choosen by Jesus to raise up his church. I must embrace this truth.

Lesson 1 Embracing Christ's Mission

Acts 1:1-11 (New International Version)

1In my former book, Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus began to do and to teach 2until the day he was taken up to heaven, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles he had chosen. 3After his suffering, he showed himself to these men and gave many convincing proofs that he was alive. He appeared to them over a period of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God. 4On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: "Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. 5For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit." 6So when they met together, they asked him, "Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?" 7He said to them: "It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority. 8But 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." 9After he said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight. 10They were looking intently up into the sky as he was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them. 11"Men of Galilee," they said, "why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven."

The Book of Acts opens with Christ ascending to heaven after instructing his followers. Eleven disciples are left standing on the Mount of Olives staring into the sky. Two men dressed in white ask them the right question: "Why do you stand here looking into the sky? The point of their question is unmistakable. They are saying. This is not a day for standing and watching. The day of Christ's return will come. Until that day arrives you have your marching orders. Christ's mission is clear. Step out and embrace it.

As members of Chist's church, standing and watching is not an option for us. What does Jesus want us to understand and embrace about his mission?

• It's his mission - he is risen and at work in our world.
• It's his kingdom mission - his is restoring God's reign in the lives of his followers.
• It's his global mission - he is reproducing his church among all nations.
• It's our mission too - he is revealing himself through Spirit empowered witnesses.

Christ is expanding his reign, in and through his followers, by the power of his Spirit.

Personal reflection: Am I standing and watching? At times I have to say yes. There are times when I stand back and watch. I can hear myself saying that is the pastors job. Or the ministry leaders job. I see people in need and I pass them right by thinking someone else will help them. And you know what I bet most of the time someone else does help them. Question is: Is the person that helps a Christ follower and reflect God's glory to that person in need? Am I missing out in honoring God and robbing him of glory also?

I realize I cannot do it all and I should not seek to do it all. I believe what God is asking of me is this. As I go about my daily buisness the Holy Spirit will prompt me with opportunities to engage in Christ's mission. Don't stand and watch rather act in faith and obedience so that God's glory will be reflected.

"First Tuesday" - January 10th

Wow! What an awesome evening we had. Over 150 people showed up for our time of corporate prayer last night. God was here also in a big way. It was evident that the Holy Spirit was among us. Just the "buzz" in the auditorium. It was great to seek God together.

To me personally, Acts 2:42-47 came to mind. In this passage the Christ followers devoted themselves to prayer. And verse 47 says "praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. . ." After our time of prayer people hung around and we got to know each other more. It was a great feeling of community and unity.

Without God we are merely ordinary men and women. With God we can be courageous men and women in advancing Jesus' reign. Acts 4:13 "When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus."

I am looking expectantly to our next "First Tuesday" on February 7.

Introduction

What would happen if the Holy Spirit took full control of my life today? The fact that I am a follower of Jesus Christ means that the Spirit is leading me day by day. Am I hearing, listening and obeying the Spirit? What would this look like? Would that mean preaching on street corners or another continent? Would I do things that cause my family, friends, neighbors and coworkers to think I am foolish? Would my life be stripped of fun, pleasure and relaxation and replaced with grinding responsibility and suffering?

Probably not. Rather the Spirit would change me into the kind of person we read about in the Book of Acts:

• I would be a man whose love for God and other people is so strong, real and infectious that people would wnat to know its source.
• I would wait on the Lord's direction and empowerment and then watch God use me to do remarkable things beyond what I can imagine.
• Speak the truth boldly, yet in humility always aware that it is only by Christ's sacrifice that I am rescued from God's wrath.
• My door and heart would be open to people as I watch God transform broken people into devoted followers of Jesus Christ.
• I would have a confident faith and hope that nothing could discourage or dissuade me from doing God's will.

How about my church what would that look like if the Spirit was more alive? Would people begin practicing spiritual gifts? Would healings and miracles be commonplace? Would worshippers become more physically expressive?

More likely it would be along these lines:

• People drawn to repentance from sin.
• Greater understanding of Christ's priorities for His church.
• Empower Chirst followers to make a measurable impact for Christ in the community.
• Stir a passion to know Jesus, become more like Him and display Him to a world that needs Him.
• Prompt people to reconcile differences, seek each other's gain and love one another as Christ loves His church.

As I ponder this, I have to ask myself if I want more of the Holy Spirit's power and presence in my life and in my church? There is a fear in me. What will happen to me? What will people think? Oh, my insecurities and lack of faith. It's time to face into them!

It's high time I give Christ's Spirit more authority in my life and in my church.

Fire & Reign

My home church is beginning a sermon series to reacquaint our congregration with Christ's kingdom priorities for His church and to evoke Spirit empowered engagement to achieve His mission. We are calling this emphasis on spiritual renewal "Fire & Reign" - the fire of God's Spirit for the reign of God's Son.

Have you ever wondered how does the Lord shape, change and grow a spiritually healthy and fruitful congregration?

The first seven chapters of the Book of Acts tell the story of the Jerusalem church. A small band of Galilean disciples grew together into a multicultural movement that changed lives and impacted communities and nations. How did it happen? The answer is found in the power of God's Spirit at work in the lives of believing people.

That first church shared the same challenges and uncertainties we face today. How does a fellowship of believers characterized by strong personalities and human fralitiess follow Christ together? The account of the Jerusalem church is our case study for thinking about Jesus' priorites for our congregration and the next chapter is waiting to be written.

This study was written to help participants personally embrace Jesus' kingdom priorities for His church. It is written by Jerry Sheveland President of the Baptist General Conference. More information about this study can be found here.

Over the next 10 weeks I will be posting my thoughts as I work through the Study.