Game Changer: Good Things

Revision on Acts 14.8-20: Good Things

The more Dan prepared to preach on this passage, the more he was drawn to the theme of good things, rather than success.

1)    Identify some of the “good things” that people experience or receive referenced in this passage [hint: verse 10, 15, 17]. Who gives each of these good things? Who gets credit for these good things?

Gratitude is a good things, but this passage and Dan’s sermon taught us that being grateful for good things can be problematic when a) we look at good things as ultimate things or b) we treasure/worship the good thing above the giver of the good thing. We need to shift our mind and hearts from good things to the giver of good things.

2)    Read James 1:17. Rewrite this verse in your own words. Try practicing embracing this truth. Make a list of three “good things” in your life, be as specific as possible. For each of these things, is your heart tied more to the good thing, or to the Giver of the goodness of the thing, God? Spend some time using specific examples to thank God for being the giver of all good gifts.

Game Changer: Success [Sermon Prep for May 17]

Getting to Know You:

Recount a time when something you accomplished gained some glory or notoriety. What kind of attention did you get? How did it feel? How hard had you worked for that praise?

Getting to Know the Bible:

Read Acts 14:8-20

1) What strikes you?

2) Sketch a brief simple outline of the public sentiment on Paul and Barnabas [how do the crowds feel about them from one moment to the next?]

3) What did the lame man do to earn his healing?

4) What were the crowds of Lystra aim to do for Paul and Barnabas? Why do you think they were so eager and insistent with their behavior? How does this contrast what you learn from question 3?

5) How would you feel if you received the treatment Paul and Barnabas did? How do the crowds' reactions make Paul and Barnabas feel? Why?

How do I apply myself to this message?

Do we recognize that not all positive response to our work are positive response s to God? 

How do we keep ourselves out of the way when things go well?

Game Changer: For Our Children [Sermon Prep for Mother's Day]

Getting to Know You: What is one treasured skill, quote, or memory your mother provided for you? If not your own mother, perhaps one from a mother-figure in your life. 

Getting to Know the Bible: 

Read Acts 16:1-5. Who all was involved in bolstering and empowering Timothy into effective ministry? 

Read 2 Timothy 1:3-8. How has the faith of Christians who have gone before you in your life been a gift to you?

Read 2 Timothy 3:14-17. From the perspective of a child, recall an elder [a parent, a teacher, someone who has gone before you in the faith] from whom you've learned anything about God and the Bible. How has their teaching worked towards the purpose described in this passage?

How Do I Apply Myself to this Message:

Re-Read Acts 16:1-5. How have you [or might you have] had opportunities to serve in the various adult roles the played a part in empowering Timothy, for other youth in your life ?

Re-Read 2 Timothy 1:3-8. How have you or could you make your faith your own, not simply something you receive from the person/people who lead you to it? 

Re-Read 2 Timothy 3:14-17. From the perspective of an adult within our Christian community, what does this passage say to you about the value of your spiritual investment and instruction of the children in our midst? 

Game Changer: Loyalties [Sermon Prep for May 3]

Week 5: Loyalties

Getting to Know You:

Imagine if your personality were a male name. Which would fit you best?
1)    Melvin
2)    Gunther
3)    Earl
4)    Rico
5)    Chad
6)    Jacques

Getting to Know the Bible:

In defense of his faith, Stephen challenges the Jewish leaders’ view of the temple.  His argument betrays a profound understanding of God but it costs him his life. 

Read Acts 6:8-8:3

1) Stephen gives a nice succinct summary of the history of the People of God. Does anything strike you or stand out to you in reading this overview?

2) In verse 14, the elders and the teachers of the law specifically challenge Stephen’s respect for Moses. What do Stephen and Moses share in common?  What does Stephen’s defense do to enlighten us to the relevant truths about Moses in Stephen’s estimation and context?

3) How does the theme of idolatry [giving praise, devotion, loyalty to someone other than God] come up throughout this whole passage, through Stephen’s historical summary as well as his rebuke of the elders and teachers of the law?

Applying Yourself to this Message:

1)    What old loyalties are we clinging to that may be challenging our devotion to Christ? 

2)    What do you fear it will cost you to challenge those loyalties?

Game Changer: Strength [Sermon Prep for April 26]

Getting to Know You

Recount a time when you pleasantly surprised yourself with your own strength, capacity, or ability.

Getting to Know the Bible

Read Acts 3:1-26

1)    What is the gate called where the lame man is sitting? When he asks Peter and John for alms, what is the first thing Peter says in response? What do you think the man sees when he looks at Peter and John?

2)    Observe the lame man’s behavior and actions after he is healed [through verse 11]. What strikes you?

3)    Reread vs. 11-26.

a.     Look carefully at verse 17. How does Peter address his audience? How does this feel to you in the context of the rest of what he is saying in these verses? Especially note the stark contrasts illustrated in verse 15 that convey the gravity of Peter’s message.

4)    By whose faith was the man healed?

Applying Yourself to this message

Read vs 19-20 what part of this offer appeals to you?

Peter draws a crowd with a miraculous work but makes it clear that the powerful work is not of his own doing.  Where do we draw our strength? 

What kind of work would we be able to do if we were drawing on the power of Jesus?

Game Changer: Vision [Sermon Prep for April 19]

Getting to Know You

What’s one of the most longstanding and monotonous routines in your life?  

Getting to Know the Bible

Read Acts 1:1-11

1)    Where are they now? With where is Jesus concerned?

2)    Last Sunday, Dan focused on the angel’s question, “Why do you seek the living among the dead?” [check out the sermon online if you missed it!] In the same way, how would you unpack the angels’ question in this passage, “Why do you stand looking into heaven?” (verse 11) What might the angels be getting at with this question? How does it move the apostles’ behavior?

Applying Yourself to this message

What borders have we erected to constrict God’s work? 

How far does God want to expand our understanding of his work and power?

Sermon Prep: Easter

[please note: due to Dan's illness last Sunday, he will be preaching this sermon April 12 instead. More time to prepare!]

Easter: Dan Wells, "Why do you seek the living among the dead?"  

Getting to Know You: How do you like to celebrate Easter? How might you continue to celebrate Easter, the memorial of the most miraculous and significant event in all of history, beyond the one day itself?

Getting to Know the Bible:

1)    Read Luke 24:1-12

After reading through this whole passage once, come back to revisit the sentence, “Why do you look for the living among the dead?” How does this question confront their thinking and misconceptions? How can you apply yourself to this story? 

2)    Read Romans 8:35-39

How do we think of Christ as “among the dead” now? Ineffectual, something trapped in the past, something that no longer has the life force to move and work and have an impact in the world? How does this passage stand in stark contrast to a picture of people who “seeking the living among the dead”?

3)    Read Matthew 28:16-17

Post resurrection, Jesus commissions the disciples. How have their hearts been transformed since His crucifixion? What more work needs to be done? How are they still “seeking the living among the dead,” at this point? How has your heart been transformed by His crucifixion? How has your life been transformed by His resurrection? What more work do you need to do?

Applying yourself to the message:

Where can/should you now seek after Christ? Where do you find Him? 

Your Kingdom Come: 2 Service Opportunities

1) Habitat for Humanity: Saturday, 28 March
 

The United Methodist Church will be doing a service day with Habitat this coming Saturday and there is room for 5 or 6 more volunteers to merge with their team. It is a great way to get introduced to what HFH Seven Rivers ME is working on. For the first 6 folks to email me [zoefaithreyes@gmail.com] I can put you in touch with their team leader to sign you up. (Note: youth under 15 are not permitted on the construction site).

Here're the details:

When: Saturday, 28 March, 8:15am – 3:30 pm (or as long as you are able to stay)

Where: The build site is on Sills Rd (Rt. 123) near Hope Lane. (heading towards Cook’s Corner from Maine St take a right on Sills Rd/Rt 123. Look for the build site 0.7 miles on the left.

What to bring: work clothing and shoes, your own food and water, your own tool belt—if you have one.

What will we do? The exterior of the house is nearly completed, we will be working on the interior (i.e. drywall, painting, and light carpentry). It is normal to separate groups into teams that work on different chores based on skills.

Email me [zoefaithreyes@gmail.com] I can put you in touch with their team leader to sign you up!

2) Double Mileage: Rides for Students 

I want to give a huge shout out to the awesome folks of North Harbor who have been volunteering to provide rides for a local Congolese family seeking to gain English speaking skills at Merrymeeting Adult Ed. With Dan and Lisa leading the way in willingness, a host of other partners [4 people every week] have stepped up to cover even just a one way ride here and there when they can so this family can get to class twice/week - and with each person's small contribution, our congregation has been covering their transportation successfully all semester. Y'all rock! 

Excited and inspired by your friends? Want to join in their generous effort? You can email Paul Elisha [husband to our beloved Elsbeth] to be added to the team's email list where they coordinate sign ups each week. Paul: paul.elisha@maine.edu .

This family, three adult children and their mother, are taking ESL classes at Merrymeeting Adult Education (one block from the Orion) on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9AM - 12 noon and need rides to and from class.   They live at the former Base housing complex in Cook's Corner Brunswick.  We currently have three individuals providing rides but we really need several more drivers to help cover the schedule.  Drivers must have enough seats in their vehicle for four adults and be available to pick the family up at 8:40AM at Cook's Corner and / or bring them home after class at noon.  This family is a real blessing to be with and are very grateful for any assistance provided. 

Can't offer rides but still want to help? Maybe you have an available vehicle, could chip in on gas money, or have another creative idea? email zoe: zoefaithreyes@gmail.com.

What could you give up to serve God's Kingdom?

Sermon Prep March 22, 2015: I Give Up . . . My Plans

Sermon Prep Guides this season will be simplified. I will simply ask you to meditate during the week on a given passage of scripture and spend time in prayer with God. Consider giving the passage a read at least once in the week, perhaps once each day, and spending the time you would usually spend studying sitting quietly, listening, watching, waiting for God’s leading, word, presence, and consolation in your life. We encourage community gropus to consider giving something up during this season – either choose something in common to give up, or simply support one another in pursuing this discipline. Just remember, Lent, and all spiritual disciplines, need to be about God and your relationship with Him – not your need for a slimmer waist [through giving up chocolate for selfish reasons, for example].

 If you would like to learn more about Lent or work with additional resources, you might find this website and its accompanying videos/apps/links/resources helpful:http://www.thelentexperience.com/

As you repent, my prayer for our church is that you would relinquish your sin so that you can receive God’s grace.

Passage for meditation:  2 Corinthians 5; Jeremiah 29.4-14

I Give Up . . . My Plans ( Adam and Kim Forney )

For Further Group Discussion if needed:

Through His Incarnation [God becoming Man], Jesus Christ gave up EVERYTHING out of the desire to be with us, to eliminate the barrier of sin that stands between us [us and God, us and each other]. Pick any of the four Gospels [Matthew, Mark, Luke, or John], and read for awhile, as if you were digging into a memoir or biography. Begin a list of all the things you see that Jesus gave up in coming to Earth, add to it as more realizations come to you. 

In the season of lent, and through this sermon series, we have an opportunity to consider, what should/could/would I give up for the sake of drawing closer to Christ, God, my spouse, my family, my neighbor, all that God might be glorified?

Discuss with your groups what you are working on giving up, or what you know you need to give up.

If you were one of the people who was getting up on stage during this series, what would you share about having given up? Have you needed to give up your pride [like John Andrade], People Pleasing [like Ruth Perry], your Perspective [like John Schanck], your plans [like the Forneys]? If you missed any of these Sundays, and your answer to any part of that question was yes, consider going back and listening to the online audio on our website. 

How does all this thought on giving things up make you look forward to Easter in a different way? How does it change your expectation, anticipation, longing for the celebration of the risen Lord? 

Start discussing with your group how you might celebrate Christ rising from the dead as a conclusion to this series. Perhaps you might throw a party, have a time of celebratory music/dancing, share a festive meal. As the season of "giving up" comes to a close, what will you take hold of anew that will bring renewed life to your relationship with Jesus and His people? 

Sermon Prep. March 15: I give up . . . My perspective

Sermon Prep Guides this season will be simplified. I will simply ask you to meditate during the week on a given passage of scripture and spend time in prayer with God. Consider giving the passage a read at least once in the week, perhaps once each day, and spending the time you would usually spend studying sitting quietly, listening, watching, waiting for God’s leading, word, presence, and consolation in your life. We encourage community gropus to consider giving something up during this season – either choose something in common to give up, or simply support one another in pursuing this discipline. Just remember, Lent, and all spiritual disciplines, need to be about God and your relationship with Him – not your need for a slimmer waist [through giving up chocolate for selfish reasons, for example].

 If you would like to learn more about Lent or work with additional resources, you might find this website and its accompanying videos/apps/links/resources helpful:http://www.thelentexperience.com/

As you repent, my prayer for our church is that you would relinquish your sin so that you can receive God’s grace.

Passage for meditation: Psalm 127.3-5

I Give Up . . . My Perspective (John Schanck)

Sermon Prep March 8: I give up . . . People Pleasing

Sermon Prep Guides this season will be simplified. I will simply ask you to meditate during the week on a given passage of scripture and spend time in prayer with God. Consider giving the passage a read at least once in the week, perhaps once each day, and spending the time you would usually spend studying sitting quietly, listening, watching, waiting for God’s leading, word, presence, and consolation in your life. We encourage community gropus to consider giving something up during this season – either choose something in common to give up, or simply support one another in pursuing this discipline. Just remember, Lent, and all spiritual disciplines, need to be about God and your relationship with Him – not your need for a slimmer waist [through giving up chocolate for selfish reasons, for example].

 If you would like to learn more about Lent or work with additional resources, you might find this website and its accompanying videos/apps/links/resources helpful:http://www.thelentexperience.com/

As you repent, my prayer for our church is that you would relinquish your sin so that you can receive God’s grace.

Passage for meditation: John 10.7-10

I Give Up People Pleasing (Ruth Perry)

Service Opportunity

North Harbor Community has a great opportunity to serve a local family from the Congo by providing them with rides to their English classes.   This family, three adult children and their mother, are taking ESL classes at Merrymeeting Adult Education (one block from the Orion) on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9AM - 12 noon and need rides to and from class.   They live at the former Base housing complex in Cook's Corner Brunswick.  We currently have three individuals providing rides but we really need several more drivers to help cover the schedule.  Drivers must have enough seats in their vehicle for four adults and be available to pick the family up at 8:40AM at Cook's Corner and / or bring them home after class atnoon.  This family is a real blessing to be with and are very grateful for any assistance provided.  If you are interested in learning more please email or call Pastor Dan [dan@northharbor.org] ASAP as we need drivers immediately.

Sermon Prep March 1: I give up . . . Pride

Sermon Prep Guides this season will be simplified. I will simply ask you to meditate during the week on a given passage of scripture and spend time in prayer with God. Consider giving the passage a read at least once in the week, perhaps once each day, and spending the time you would usually spend studying sitting quietly, listening, watching, waiting for God’s leading, word, presence, and consolation in your life. We encourage community gropus to consider giving something up during this season – either choose something in common to give up, or simply support one another in pursuing this discipline. Just remember, Lent, and all spiritual disciplines, need to be about God and your relationship with Him – not your need for a slimmer waist [through giving up chocolate for selfish reasons, for example].

 If you would like to learn more about Lent or work with additional resources, you might find this website and its accompanying videos/apps/links/resources helpful: http://www.thelentexperience.com/

As you repent, my prayer for our church is that you would relinquish your sin so that you can receive God’s grace.

Passage for meditation: - Ephesians 5.21, 24-28 (John Andrade)

Sermon Prep Feb. 22: I Give Up Part 1

*note: as services were canceled due to snow on Feb. 15, you have one more week to be FULLY prepared for our Lenten sermon series, I Give Up, kicking off with the fabulous Graham Buck.

Pastor Dan has just finished a series on Christian Charity called Thy Kingdom Come. If you missed any of his sermons, I strongly encourage you to catch up on them here on our website.

 This series was heavily based on two books several North Harborites have been reading and thinking through, When Helping Hurts and Toxic Charity. These books help challenge our Western view of poverty as being purely material, to understanding the spiritual poverty that plagues rich and poor alike, also helping us to see the dignity and common worth we share with all humanity, regardless of their material wealth.

 Could you use some other people to talk through these topics with? A new commission team centered on these issues is starting up under the stewardship of Elsbeth Elisha. Email zoefaithreyes at gmail.com if you are interested!

 Dan ended the series with a beautiful call for us to turn from approaches that are me-centered: either being so anxious about the problems of poverty that we rush into fix it [centering on my emotions] or spending too much time thinking over the theories of approaches on how to think about poverty that we fail to act all together [centering on my own circumstances] and instead to turn towards a God-centric approach, recognizing that a healthy approach to poverty is one that follows God’s lead in healing and building HIS Kingdom for HIS glory. The When Helping Hurts authors talk about this in terms of learning to honor the “Colossians 1 Jesus.” Colossians 1 is a beautiful description of who Jesus is and how that informs who we are and how we might live. Give it a read, its an awesome chapter of scripture! Or, if you might enjoy a devotional-ish guide through the book, you might check out this book, Grow In [humbly produced by myself, Zoë].

 The point of recapping all this is that Dan’s most recent sermon [on February 8] provides a fantastic bridge into our next sermon series on Lent, which Graham Buck will kick off for us next week. The authors of When Helping Hurts end their book with a call to repentance. They posit that addressing poverty must begin with repentance for our God-complexes with regards to poverty and our own wealth and the poor’s supposed need for us. Instead, we must recognize our own poverty – poverty of relationship, poverty of righteousness – or in other words, we need to recognize and confess our need for God, and our need for all our human sisters and brothers. Lent offers a beautiful forum and structure for us to spend a season in repentance and anticipation of our coming savior who will make us redeemed and whole.

 Sermon Prep Guides this season will be simplified. I will simply ask you to meditate during the week on a given passage of scripture and spend time in prayer with God. Consider giving the passage a read at least once in the week, perhaps once each day, and spending the time you would usually spend studying sitting quietly, listening, watching, waiting for God’s leading, word, presence, and consolation in your life. We encourage community gropus to consider giving something up during this season – either choose something in common to give up, or simply support one another in pursuing this discipline. Just remember, Lent, and all spiritual disciplines, need to be about God and your relationship with Him – not your need for a slimmer waist [through giving up chocolate for selfish reasons, for example].

 If you would like to learn more about Lent or work with additional resources, you might find this website and its accompanying videos/apps/links/resources helpful: http://www.thelentexperience.com/

 As you repent, my prayer for our church is that you would relinquish your sin so that you can receive God’s grace.

 Passage for meditation February 9-February 15:

Psalm 25.1–9 NLT

25.1   O LORD, I give my life to you. 

25.2   I trust in you, my God! 

 Do not let me be disgraced, 

 or let my enemies rejoice in my defeat. 

25.3   No one who trusts in you will ever be disgraced, 

 but disgrace comes to those who try to deceive others. 

25.4   Show me the right path, O LORD; 

 point out the road for me to follow. 

25.5   Lead me by your truth and teach me, 

 for you are the God who saves me. 

 All day long I put my hope in you. 

25.6   Remember, O LORD, your compassion and unfailing love, 

 which you have shown from long ages past. 

25.7   Do not remember the rebellious sins of my youth. 

 Remember me in the light of your unfailing love, 

 for you are merciful, O LORD. 

25.8   The LORD is good and does what is right; 

 he shows the proper path to those who go astray. 

25.9   He leads the humble in doing right, 

 teaching them his way.

(Ps 25.1–9 NLT-SE)

Sermon Prep Feb. 8. Thy Kingdom Come Part 6: Looking to the Trees and Holy Waste

Part 6: Tentative urgency. Looking for the Trees – Holy Waste

 Getting to Know You: This week, instead of a question, attempt to take up this challenge, then tell your group members about your experience. For one week, attempt to “waste” some time. On the first day, try to note how many times you reach for your phone, computer, tv remote, radio, etc. just to fill some time or silence. Just become aware of it and take note of the frequency with a tally. On the next day, try to resist one of those opportunities to kill time and instead allow yourself to simply be present in the moment around you – pay more attention to the people you are with or simply endure a moment of silence without worrying about gaining any new knowledge, entertainment, or productivity. See how long and how often you can tolerate silence.  What is it like?

 For extra challenge and support, learn more about Brother Lawrence, a simple cook who spent his life “Practicing the Presence of God” and what that diligent work yielded for him: http://thepracticeofthepresenceofgod.com/

 Getting to Know the Bible:

Pursuing Christian charity is a hard balance between being effectively motivated to action in serving the kingdom with being thoughtful about how to act effectively. Perhaps the balance is best struck by looking not to great theories of practice, or even Biblical precepts, as much as it is about looking to God Himself in how he leads us to follow Him in the here and now – be it in action or inaction as the situation and moment calls for – so long as we are primarily focused on obeying and glorifying our Heavenly Father.

 Read 2 Samuel 5:17-25

In this passage, God instructs David to NOT act, but to wait, and to watch. [I always picture the scene in Lord of the Rings, the ghost army at the Battle of Pelennor Fields when I picture what it might have been like to see the tops of the Balsam trees starting to stir as David is about to venture into yet another battle with the Philistines.] How does this picture of obedience to God compare to how you typically think about God’s commands for us?

 What do you think it must have been like for David, standing there vulnerable, with the Philistines before him and having to wait?

 What would it be like to watch and wait for God’s movements leading us into the “battle” of building His Kingdom? Doing charity?

 Read John 5:19

How does Jesus exemplify this strategy of not acting on His own power and initiative, like David by the Balsam trees?

 If this is how Jesus acts [especially in a situation where religious pressure is confronting Him . . . check out the surrounding context], what are the implications for how we should enter into any acts of charity?

Do you believe that God is living and active around you? Do you see Him at work? How busy do you imagine God is? What do you think this means for our tendencies towards lazy inaction? What grace is there to be found in your failure to or failed attempts to respond well to poverty when you consider God at work around us?

 Read John 12:1-8

What is Jesus’ reaction to the waste in this story?

 Can you identify with Judas’ frustrated reaction to the scene – whatever his true motivations were - could you imagine yourself speaking his lines?

 What does this story tell us about poverty and how we should respond to it?

 Read Matthew 25:31-46

Consider this lesson from Christ in tension with the above passage. As you hold the two together, how do they seem to contradict each other?

 How does teasing out their differences and similarities push you to a deeper understanding of how to respond to poverty?

 Applying Myself to this Message: Take the challenge to Practice the Presence. Find ways to make holy waste. Watch and listen in place of opportunities to be seen or to speak.

 How does God console you with grace through these passages?

 When you start to pay attention to the movement of God’s presence around you, how does God empower you to move and live and act?

Sermon Prep. February 1: Joel Furrow

This coming Sunday,  Joel Furrow of the Root Cellar will be speaking with us about his experience seeking for God's Kingdom come in his work. This can be a good opportunity to review what we've been learning about thus far by catching up on any sermons you missed [or could stand to listen to twice!] or going over any passages and questions you haven't been able to spend enough time with yet. 

Click here for Sermons

Sermon Passages and study questions:

Part 1: Where we've been and how we proceed

Part 2: The Already, Not Yet Kingdom

Part 3: Who Are the Poor?

Part 4: Responsible Giving

Sermon Prep for Jan. 25 - Kingdom Come Part 4: Responsible Giving

to access recent sermons click here.

Getting to Know You: What’s one of the most fun gifts you’ve ever given?

Background

Poverty Alleviation Vocab: 3 types of aid [from When Helping Hurts]

For diagram see: http://kingdomatwork.files.wordpress.com/2011/04/relief-rehap-dev-graphic1.jpg

Relief: The urgent and temporary provision of emergency aid to reduce immediate suffering from a natural or man-made crisis. “stop the bleeding” A provider gives assistance [often material] to a receiver who is largely incapable of helping himself at that time.

Rehabilitation: seeks to restore people and their communities to the positive elements of their pre-crisis conditions. Provider and receiver are working together – receiver is participating in the process of recovery.  

Development: process of ongoing change that moves all the people involved – both the “helpers” and the “helped” – closer to being in right relationship with God, self, others, and the rest of creation, enabling individuals to better fulfill their calling of glorifying God. **promoting and empowering process in which all the people involved  become more of what God created them to be, moving to levels of reconciliation they’ve never experienced before.

 Getting to Know the Bible:

1)    How would you define “good religion”?

a.     Read James 1:27-2:7. What are your initial impressions?

b.     How does James define good religion? How does your own experience of religion match up with this definition?

c.     If you are really honest, has anyone ever entered a church you were attending and made you uncomfortable because of how they looked/acted? Describe that experience.

2)    What in your opinion qualifies an individual as deserving of aid?

a.     Read1 Timothy 5:3-16. What are your initial impressions?

b.     How does this passage help delineate between true need and simpler categories of individuals we might consider as needy?

c.     What individuals fall into the sphere of your own responsibility to care for? [parents, grandparents, children] What if these people and a nonprofit are asking for your support, how should you distribute what you are able to give?

d.     Reread vs. 5. What does it mean for this widow to put her hope in the Lord? What does it mean for you? What does this have to do with charity?

3)    What is the difference between being busy and being a busy-body?

a.     Read 2 Thessalonians 3:6-13. What are your initial impressions?

b.     Reread all of the assigned passages for this week in addition to 1 Timothy 6:17-19. As you do so, highlight all the times the author mentions the importance of good or just deeds or behavior.

c.     How do you view/explain this emphasis on good deeds with a gospel and Kingdom of grace freely given?

d.     Consider the above vocabulary definitions of types of poverty alleviation. Consider this biblical emphasis on doing good. Discuss the intersections between the two: guidelines for who should receive aid, guidelines for why you should give aid, goals for both the provider and the recipient in the process of participating in aid.

 Applying Myself to this Message:

What good do you have to give? Are you giving it to whom it should be given in the appropriate time that they truly need it? [distributing appropriately according to a need for relief, rehabilitation or development]

What aid could you stand to receive in order to become more of what God created you to be?

What is God’s grace to you through these messages?

Sermon Prep for Jan. 18: Part 3: Who are the poor?

Getting to Know You: Describe a time when you received “help” in someway from someone else [specifically human – not just “God sightings” here, though of course all good gifts come from God!]. Did you agree with the giver about your need for that “help”? What did that feel like? Did it make you feel small or dignified?

Before you begin, try to write out your own definition of poverty.

**A good supplemental resource in preparing for this week’s sermons are two videos on Right Now Media, which you can find here: HWOH video part 1 & 2 [https://www.rightnow.org/Media/Series/2881] If you do not have a Right Now Media account, you can get free access by emailing Lisa Wells lisa@northharbor.org.**

Getting to Know the Bible:

1)    Read 1 Corinthians 12:12-26

a.     Where do “the poor” show up in this passage?

b.     For good measure, reread vs. 22-26. What does this passage reveal to you about God’s heart? What would it mean for you to grow more into a person after God’s own heart in this regard?

c.     How does this passage challenge both conservative and liberal viewpoints? How does this passage challenge “the poor”? How does this passage dignify “the poor”?

2)    Applying Myself to this Message:

a.     Consider your own social/racial/economic privileges [in what ways are you considered more honorable in our society] in contrast to the “poor” [“inferior members”] in these arenas. [For further challenge, consider reading the following essay about privilege and use this as an example exercise for yourself as you consider your own privileges: https://www.isr.umich.edu/home/diversity/resources/white-privilege.pdf]

b.     Consider your own poverty. Even with your “wealth” in social/racial/economic arenas, in what ways are you poor and in need of receiving help?

3)    Read Matthew 25:31-46

a.     What does this passage tell us about who the poor are? Who are the hungry, thirsty, strangers, and naked? Think creatively.

b.     How does Jesus’ identification with the poor and as His family challenge how you currently and in the past have thought about the poor?

c.     How does this passage dignify “the poor”?

4)    Applying Myself to this Message:

a.     Consider times you have encountered the hungry, thirsty, strangers, and naked. Try to list a few times you have both helped these people and disregarded these people. Try to think of one person in these categories you encounter on a regular basis. What is one way you could shift your thinking about them to appreciate their identity and familial relationship with Christ? How will that transform your behavior?

Sermon Prep for January 11: Part 2: Thy Kingdom Come – Leviticus, Exodus, Beatitudes, Today the Day of Salvation

Getting to know you: What is something you have pursued in your life? A goal, a person, an object . . . something you’ve been willing to focus for, sacrifice for, been determined to secure for yourself? How long did you pursue it? Did you attain it? What was that like? Did anything change in your thinking/feelings/behavior in the process of that pursuit?

 Getting to know the Bible:

1)    Off the top of your head, how would you define or describe what is the Kingdom of God is or is like?

2)    What would the Jews have thought the Kingdom of God was about at the time of Jesus’ birth?

a.     Read Exodus 19:3-6

3)    What did Jesus say the Kingdom of God was like/about?

a.     Read Luke 4:14-30

b.     Read Mark’s version of the above story in Mark 1:14-15 [note both accounts immediately follow the temptation in the desert and are followed by Jesus’ cleansing of the man with the unclean spirit]

c.     Read Matthew 5:3-12

4)    What does Jesus’ take on the Old Testament show us about what God has always had in mind with regards to the poor and the Kingdom of God? Read at least two of the following:

a.     Deuteronomy 14:22-29;

b.     Deuteronomy 15:1-18;

c.     Leviticus 19:1-10;

d.     Leviticus 25:1-28;

e.     Leviticus 19:11-19 (do not favor poor or wealthy)

 How do I apply myself to this message?

What does the reality of the Kingdom of God and its nature do to instruct how we can a) think about God’s plan for the world around us b) feel towards God, and feel towards people around us and c) live our lives accordingly?

Sermon Prep. for January 4

Part 1: Starting Point – 1 John 3.14-20, Isaiah 58, Matthew 25.14-30

For the next seven weeks, we will be in a sermon series called Thy Kingdom Come, looking at how to practice responsible Christian charity. A few months ago, to begin investigation into how our community could enhance our charity practices, we administered a Community Ministry Interests Survey. If you have not already done so, you can fill out this survey here and submit it to zoefaithreyes@gmail.com to give us a more complete overview of our community resources and interests moving forward.  

Getting to know you: What were the high and low points of your holiday?

Getting to know the Bible: 

1)    Read 1 John 3.14-20

a.     As a new year begins, begin by applying yourself to this message: Use this passage in a time of quiet as a guide for some honest self-reflection. Are you of the truth? Do not miss the power of vs. 20. How are you challenged? How are you encouraged? Does this alter the way you evaluate your own or others’ spiritual health at all?

2)    Read Isaiah 58 verses 1-2

a.     On a scale of 1-10, how much does this picture of religion so far line up with your idea of good spiritual practice?

b.     Read vs. 3-7: Where do you see the “bonds of wickedness” and people being oppressed around you? How much does this alternative picture of religion line up with what you practice?

c.     Read vs. 8-12: What do you find appealing in these verses?

d.     Read vs. 13-14: Why do you think Isaiah included these comments on Sabbath with this passage?

e.     How do I apply myself to this message? Read the chapter all together. What do you find to be challenging in this passage? What do you find to be hopeful in this passage?

3)    Read Matthew 25.14-30

a.     How did the third servant’s view of the master affect how the master ended up assessing him?

b.     How do I apply myself to this message? What is your assessment of who God is? How does that affect how effectively you are able to serve Him?