God Finds Us

Notes:

Only the one who gave you life has the authority to identify you.

Only 1 has the right and authority to tell you who you are. Circumstances are not powerful enough to define you.

You are who God says you are!!!

God has given you a name.

Any person or system that seeks to diminish the value of who I am is actually anti-God.

Your weakness is a platform for the strength of God to be displayed through your life.

You will live up to or down to whatever you believe to be true about who you are.

If we act like who God is calling us is who we really are, then we will see blessings explode in our lives.

We can be on the real estate of God’s blessings but not be able to enjoy it if we don’t know our identity.

While religions try to reach up to find god, our God keeps coming down to reach out to us.

“The Word became flesh and moved into the neighborhood.”

In the place where we are trying not to be found, God finds us.

Our belief (or unbelief) doesn’t shift the truth.

Discussion:

1. What does your inner monologue tend to sound like? How could you improve it and make it line up with scripture more?

2. Identify one negative though that goes through your head a lot. What do you think God would say to that thought?

3. How do we go about giving God our weaknesses? What does that look like practically?

4. Have you ever tried to change your name/identity? Why? and how did it go/what was the outcome?

Really think this month about how you speak to yourself. What’s going on in your internal dialogue? Are you constantly thinking negatively about yourself? Are you proclaiming scripture in your life?

Read:

• Genesis 17: 1-8

  • What can we learn from how God changed Abram’s name? What would it have meant to Abraham and what does it mean for you?

• Judges 6: 11-12 (go further read 6: 11-40)

  • What do you think Gideon learned from this interaction?

• Exodus 3: 1-14

  • What can we learn from how God chooses to identify Himself for Moses?

• Matthew 21: 33-41 (In this parable, identity: Who is the landowner? Who are the evil tenants? Who are the messengers sent by the landowner? Who is the landowner's Son? - the Bible is a love story, God's love for us. Over and over again, the overarching message in the Bible is God's love, forgiveness and mercy for us. Agree/Disagree?)

Copy That

What you copy is what you become. In “Copy That,” Pastor Steven Furtick of Elevation Church challenges us, not to replicate what we see in culture, but to imitate the character of Christ.

Hebrews 13:7

7  Remember your leaders, who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith. 8  Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. (NIV)

NOTES

Don’t look for the gold, look forward to the Glory of God. 
What do you want to be filled with?  Fear? Depression?  - All you have to do, is what you see the world doing, but if you want to be filled with joy unspeakable full of Glory in the Holy Ghost – you can’t do what the world does and get what THE WORD says. 

People do what people see.

That that which you copy is that which you become. That which you believe is that which you become. – it is important that we are careful what we copy.

So, when he says, "Remember your leaders, who spoke the word of God to you…" There are a lot of words that were spoken to you and over you and about you that have to be uprooted before the word God spoke about you can be planted. 

Even Moses… As holy as he was, as important as he was, as amazing as he was, Moses could only lead them so far. In the middle of this he gives them an instruction as he concludes his letter. He says, "Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith". Or in other words, copy that.

Romans 12:2 says, "Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind".  Conform is something you can change. It's like an attitude or a posture. Transform is different. Transform is something that has to happen because of what's on the inside. Since you have Christ inside of you now… 

So, what's in you has to come out, and that's why the writer of Hebrews says, "Remember the word of God that was spoken to you, and copy that in your heart. Copy that in your life". 

How do you copy what you never saw? "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever". The Devil isn't very creative. God is a creator; the Devil is not. The Devil is so uncreative he only has three temptations. "The love of the world is the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life".

The world worships talent. The world worships sensuality. But the weirdest thing about our culture right now is the way we worship youth. We don't remember our leaders who spoke the Word of God over us. They're irrelevant. They're not trendy. We'd rather go find somebody who hasn't even lived long enough that we can even know if they make it through their 20s. Do they even live to be 30? And we will copy that.

You need to spend more time remembering those who spoke the Word over you, because that's what Jesus did every time he was tempted, and that's what you copy. You fight the world with the Word. You fight the spirit of the world with the Word. So, every time the Devil said, "Do it," Jesus said, "It is written…"

All three things Jesus did to fight temptation, to fight hunger, to fight pride, to fight his senses, and to agree with the Spirit… All three things he said were already written in Scripture. 

You know how the Enemy condemns you. "You're worthless. You're this. You're that". Then you start to believe that, and you copy that, and you identify yourself with that. You're a good person. Christ has made you new. You're a new creation in Christ. God made you that way. But if you have bad patterns… The pattern of this world and the renewing of your mind. There are always voices speaking over you and to you and about you. What are you going to copy?

I am not consulting with my Enemy for my life strategy. I'm not going to copy it. I'm not going to take these thoughts and just think them, because I know where they lead.  The Enemy will take you back to what you saw all your life. Even as God is blessing you with something better, you will sink back down to the baseline of what you saw, because what you copy in your heart sets the direction of your life.

Discussion Questions:

1.     Has God ever directed you to copy someone else?  Who was it?

2.     Have you ever found yourself worshiping the things of this world? What do/did you worship?

3.     What example do you want to set for others?

4.     What are ways we can put God first in our lives?

5.     Do you find fulfillment in chasing God, or chasing the things of this world (Money, cars, fame, etc.)?

6.     People do what people see. - Whether we know it or not, we can influence others just by the things we do and what others see us do.  We lead by example *so we need to be careful about our choices and the example we set*  Agree/Disagree? (Or what do you think that means?)

7.     What was your biggest take away?

• Read Mathew 4, 5 & 6.

• Read Romans 12:2

• "Tell me who your friends are, and I'll tell you who you are." It's a proverb so old, some say no one really knows where it came from anymore.  – but the actual book of Provers 13:20 says:  If you want to grow in wisdom, spend time with the wise.  Walk with the wicked and you’ll eventually become just like them. (The Passion Translation) - Which is why it is important to be plugged in with a monthly growth group, a weekly home group and serving on a team – Church is not enough; those close interpersonal relationships can help us deal with life’s pressure and stress.  Are you attending a home group or serving on an FV team? If not consider getting plugged in.

Further Study:

• Watch: Be Careful What You Copy | Pastor Steven Furtick | Elevation Church - YouTube
                https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7YowL9QXxyk

• Watch Denzel Washington’s “Put God First” speech:  Put God First - Denzel Washington Motivational & Inspiring Commencement Speech - YouTube      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BxY_eJLBflk&t=212s

Last Night On The Boat

T D Jakes - Last Night on the Boat from Enoch Lee on Vimeo.

Notes

John 21

Just because you are in the will of God doesn’t mean you won’t face adversity.  Just because you love the Lord doesn’t mean you won’t go through trauma.  (But God is always with you!)

Get off of that boat! Get out where you can see the Glory of God, and don’t be afraid! (Be brave and step out from the comfortable.)

I’ve Got bigger things for your than you’ve ever done before. I’ve got a plan that’s bigger than what you’ve ever experienced.  I’ve got a plan for you, but I cannot show you as long as you keep holding on to the things you used to do.  (Break away from old habits, so God can give you a new direction.)

People will follow you even when you are confused. (So it is important that we have a solid foundation and a compass set on Jesus!)

For all of our intense efforts to do things like we’ve always done them, when are we ever going to come to the point that we admit that what we are used to doing isn’t working anymore? (The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result.  It's time to step away from old habits and go where God called us to be.)

We are working hard, but sometimes working hard, is hardly working.  Turn it around Lord! We need to look towards Jesus.  If you want to find Jesus, find a worshiper, whenever there is a worshiper in the house, there will be Glory!  Look to the Lord and feel the shift.  There is a change coming, bless God and get ready! 

John says, “that’s Jesus” and Peter jumps off the boat, diving into the ocean to swim to the shore and get to Jesus.

Forget the fish, give me Jesus! (Stop focusing on what you want, and stay focused on Jesus.) 

“33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” (Matthew 6:33 KJV).  Jesus says if you choose me, you will lose nothing, but gain it all.

This is the last night, you’ll never go back to business as usual again, this is the last night – the last night on the boat! 

Discussion Questions:

• Has God ever strategically placed you into a situation for you to help someone else?

• Have you ever found yourself going back to the familiar when times got tough?

• Have you ever found yourself in a situation where you needed to help someone, but you were struggling yourself?

• Has God ever done anything that you didn’t expect Him to do?

• This month, choose a verse about God’s calling, and a new name.

• Read Luke 5:1-11

• Read Matthew 14:22-33; What can we learn from the account of Peter walking on water?

  •  What can we learn from the account of Peter walking on water? | GotQuestions.org

Further Study:

• exegesis - Why was Peter Fishing Naked (John 21:7)? - Christianity Stack Exchange

• Why did Jesus ask Peter "Do you love me?" three times? | GotQuestions.org

• Love Takes Action | :60 Commercial | New York Life Insurance - YouTube

• What are the 4 types of Love ️ in Biblical Greek | The Bible Explain - YouTube

4 Greek words for Love:

Philia – Love that starts as affection from a friendship.
Storge – Love for a parent or family member (brother/sister).
Eros – Love as passion, and attraction.
Agape – Love as an action.  It takes courage, sacrifice, and strength. 

How Great Is Our God

“The Lord merely spoke, and the heavens were created. He breathed the word, and all the stars were born.” ‭‭Psalms‬ ‭33:6‬ ‭NLT‬‬

“He counts the stars and calls them all by name.” Psalms‬ ‭147:4‬ ‭NLT‬‬

“Look up into the heavens. Who created all the stars? He brings them out like an army, one after another, calling each by its name. Because of his great power and incomparable strength, not a single one is missing.” Isaiah‬ ‭40:26‬ ‭NLT‬‬

“It is the Lord who provides the sun to light the day and the moon and stars to light the night, and who stirs the sea into roaring waves. His name is the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, and this is what he says:” Jeremiah‬ ‭31:35‬ ‭NLT‬‬

“Who else has held the oceans in his hand? Who has measured off the heavens with his fingers? Who else knows the weight of the earth or has weighed the mountains and hills on a scale?” Isaiah‬ ‭40:12‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Ok, so He breathed (spoke) and created the stars, He counted them all and gave them each a name! As if that’s not enough his hands spanned the heavens.

I mean

HOW

BIG

IS

OUR

GOD!

But how intimately He loves each one of us!

“You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body and knit me together in my mother’s womb. Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex! Your workmanship is marvelous—how well I know it. You watched me as I was being formed in utter seclusion, as I was woven together in the dark of the womb. You saw me before I was born. Every day of my life was recorded in your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed. How precious are your thoughts about me, O God. They cannot be numbered! I can’t even count them; they outnumber the grains of sand! And when I wake up, you are still with me!” ‭‭Psalms‬ ‭139:13-18‬ ‭NLT‬‬

“He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.” Col 1:17 (NIV)

Discussion Questions:

• When you consider how big God is, and yet how intimately He loves you, how does that affect the problems you are dealing with?

• Does this kind of scientific fact help you in your faith?

• What was your biggest takeaway from this message?

This week, choose a verse about God’s greatness, and a verse about His love, and meditate on them, journal about them, really study them. How should they change how we see God, and interact with Him?

• How to: Bible Journal

• How to: Do a SOAP Study

Battle Strategy

The Bible is full of strategy. God moves in different ways at different times. Like a football team has mapped out their plays, like an army general would map out battle strategy, we can find in scripture promises to follow that will give us victory in every day life. 

• Who is/who is NOT the enemy? Read Ephesians 6:12 & discuss as a group.

• Be on guard, but don’t give him too much attention. How do we stay on guard? What are we looking for? Read I Peter 5:8 & discuss as a group.

• Worship is an offensive weapon, in this battle. How do you use it in your life? Does looking at it like a weapon change anything for you?  Read   II Chronicles 20:22 & discuss as a group.

• Put on your armor. Read Ephesians 6:10-18 & discuss each piece of armor separately.

  • Belt of truth. What does this mean? What are the implications of “truth” being your belt? (also read: John 14:6)

  • Breastplate of righteousness. What does righteousness mean? Why do you think it’s listed as the breastplate? (also read: 2 Corinthians 5:21)

  • Shoes of peace. Why is peace listed as the shoes? (also read: John 14:27)

  • Helmet of salvation. Why do you think salvation is the covering for your head? (also read: Romans 10:9)

  • Shield of Faith. What is faith shielding you from? (read also: Hebrews 11:1)

  • Sword of the Spirit. Why do you think you need a weapon in this fight? (read also: Hebrews 4:12)

Practical tools for studying the Bible:

• Study Bible with cross references

• Google cross reference a passage that speaks to me. 

• Bible Dictionary 

• Search verses in whatever area you want to grow. 

• www.biblegateway.com

• YouVersion Bible App

• The Bible Project on YouTube

What’s your favorite Bible Study tool?

• Try a new Bible Study method! Something you’ve never tried before.

• Take one of the above verses and meditate on it each week this month.

The Miracle in the Mess

Notes

Philippians 1

The most productive parts of your life will not be the prettiest. The greatest miracles of your life will come in the middle of the biggest mess.

What’s happening IN me is always more important than what’s happening TO me.

Something is happening in the soil, something is taking root in your heart right now. In this season of my life, God is giving me. root system. Teaching me to focus. Looking forward to normal, but God is pruning some stuff out of my life right now to get me ready for what’s next.

Fruit without root doesn’t last long.

The smartest thing we’ve said: “I don’t know.”
The coolest thing happening right now is we’re all idiots. We all don’t know.

The truth is in the tension. The presence of faith does not eliminate uncertainty. In fact, it operates BY uncertainty. His clarity is not about the outcome. His clarity is what God is doing in the process.

The only thing you can really control is your focus.

The fruit of the spirit is joy, but the root of spirit is priorities.

You do not NEED to know the things that you cannot directly affect. You do not need to know all the details, to take your next step, just ask Abraham. Releasing my need to know is the hardest thing, because I thought information was the key, but yet Paul says there is a confidence that goes beneath knowledge.

Even though I have LESS money right now, I’m gonna have MORE fruit.

What’s going to come forth out of your life from this prison sentence?

Discussion:

1. What’s one way you are correcting you’re thinking right now? Is there a lie (from the enemy) that you’ve been believing for a while?

2. Furtick said, “the only thing you can control is your focus.” How is that true in your life? Have you been focused on the wrong things in any area?

3. What’s one way you can grow your “root system” this summer? (grow in your faith)

4. Do you have trouble “releasing your need to know”? In what ways?

1. Watch the whole sermon here.

2. If you haven’t already, start the Bible Plan 40 Day Fast From Wrong Thinking.

3. Take one scripture per week from the list below and focus on it, meditate on it, and pray through it.

   1. Read Romans 12:2

   2. Read Philippians 4:8

   3. Read Proverbs 4:23

   4. Read James 1:6-8

   5. Read Luke 21

Don't Drop The Mic

Notes:

Samuel was unable to distinguish between Eli’s voice and God’s. That is the initial stage where God’s voice sounds like the person who mentored you. Gradually you come to a point where the umbilical cord cuts…you come to a place where you realize that it’s God talking and not Eli. So it is my job to gradually lead you from a place where God sounds like me, til you can hear that God sounds like God!

We are looking at a generationally passing of the mic, from Eli to Samuel. Samuel can hear God, but cannot discern him. Eli has lost his ability to hear the voice, but not discern him. We have a generation of people that can hear the voice, but lack the wisdom to know what to do with what they hear.

The promise of God is bigger than the reality of the individual. Greatness must be grown into.

Great preaching is almost musical.

The Word of God does not need crutches. Truth needs no crutches. The human ability to sense truth is utterly amazing. We hear with more than our ears.

Everyone one of us is an orator. Whether we get paid for it or not.

The art of being a great speaker is being a great listener.

The mic is YOURS. It’s not going to be yours, it’s yours. It’s heavier than it looks. Don’t drop it when your feelings get hurt, don’t drop it when you’re angry.

“I wanna hear a Micheal Jordan flu game story. Like I time where you stood…” “I can’t think of a time that I didn’t.”

You become great in your mind, before you become great on a stage.

If you wrestle with insufficiency complexes…Change the way you talk to yourself, you’ll change how your story is…the woman with the issue of blood said within HERSELF…the greatest sermon starts within you!

When you stop getting better, you start dying. When a teacher ceases to be a student, they begin to be irrelevant. The [critical] voices that live in my head, are still the voices that live in my head, but they don’t live too LOUD. The art of it is not to kill the voice, it’s to cut the volume down. Instead of existing at a 10, it exists at a 3. I don’t want to kill it, because then I become arrogant. If I become arrogant, I lose my anointing. God balances my accomplishments with the thorn in my flesh that makes me question myself. I don’t want him to remove the thorn in my flesh, because I want balance for the weight of the glory that he placed in my life. But I don’t want that voice to become so loud that it cannibalizes what he created in me.

Have an inner circle of people you trust to reaffirm you. We need each other.

One of the signs of greatness IS to be self-critical. The more you care about details, the closer you get to greatness.

The further you push me, the higher you go.

• Join our church-wide Bible Study. Comment at least once!

• Watch START Class, if you haven’t already!

• Find one person to talk to regularly, maybe meet for coffee or a hang out night, and just talk about what you’re learning from God right now.

The Crucifixion

Notes:

My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? It is recorded in Aramaic, for greek readers because it is an exact quote of Jesus' words.

What is the significance of the 9th hour? (6th hour to the 9th hour) noon to 3:00 p.m. - Josephus a Jewish historian, stated that the ninth hour was the time when Jews offered the daily evening sacrifice.

Darkness, not a solar eclipse, Passover occurred during a full moon, and a solar eclipse, can occur only during a new moon, rather, it is a supernatural act of God displaying displeasure and judgment upon humanity for crucifying His Son.

What is the significance of the curtain (veil) tearing during the crucifixion? That we now have access to God through Jesus - No one can come to the Father except through me. (The veil that separated people from the holy of holies (the most holy place)) - signifies the removal of separation between God and people.

What is the significance of Jesus being crucified at Passover? Jesus was the perfect sacrifice, The Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world. - but not only that, sacrifices were made each year, Jesus was the ultimate sacrifice and ended the sacrificial system for atonement

DISCUSSION:

• The darkness that came over the land, was it directed to the whole world, or towards Jesus? Was that part of God’s judgment on Jesus?

• Jesus didn’t once comment on the pain or physical suffering, but He shrieked, screaming over God’s rejection. Why do you think that is?

• What’s your biggest takeaway from these messages?

• When Jesus was suffering, he quotes scripture. What is your favorite verse to quote when you need strength? If you don’t have one, find one and memorize it!

• Read Isaiah 53.

• Research and learn about the Temple Mount and Solomon's Holy Temple

• FURTHER READING: Matthew 21:33-41. Who do you think this parable was about?

In Over Your Head

Notes

Today we’ve got a bunch of prophets who are trying to be Old Testament, but don’t understand Jesus changed everything. Not doom & gloom anymore, but GOOD NEWS.

THE HOLY SPIRIT

1. Not a force, not an aura...He is God. Acts 5:1-5
2. He is a person. John 16:13-15. He’s not some transcendental yoga pose.
3. He’s in charge of present operations. John 16:7-11
4. He is gentle. Matthew 3:16. He will not force you and turn you into something you’re not. He’s brings out who YOU are, but the power is real!
5. He has life in Himself. Romans 8:11. When Jesus died, the Holy Spirit did not.
6. He is creative life. Genesis 1:2. You might feel like you are nothing, but that is the perfect ingredient for God to make SOMETHING. if you tap into the Holy Spirit, you are FULL of potential.

He is likened to:

1. The symbol of “fire”. How do I know the spirit of God is working on you? What we try to conceal, God wants to reveal. He’ll bring the crap to the top. When you are in the refining fire of the Holy Spirit, the only thing that will burn away is bondage.
2. The symbol of “water”. Needed for the germination of seed. The Holy Spirit waters the Word.
3. The symbol of a “dove”. The Holy Spirit will not speak of Himself. Easily frightened...won’t stick around. Don’t grieve the Holy Spirit.
4. The symbol of “wind”. Can’t see it, but the effects of it.
5. The symbol of “oil”. Just like driving a car without oil, don’t live life without the Holy Spirit.

Ezekiel 47:1-9

God wants you in over your head.

Growth, trees, life, maturity. Making salt water fresh.

Knee deep speaks to praying/intercession.

Waist deep speaks to our loins—purity.

Discussion

• Have you ever been baptized in the Holy Spirit? What is it like?

• How do you see the Holy Spirit working in your life?

• Do you still have questions about the Holy Spirit?

• Read John 16. Now, re-read it. Study it. Slowly work your way through it, over the course of a week.

  • What can we learn about the Holy Spirit from this passage?

  • What is God saying to you?

• Read Romans 8. Do the same here. Write notes as you go.

  • What can we learn about the Holy Spirit from this passage?

  • What is God saying to you?

• Read Acts 2. Do the same here. Keep a journal with your findings!

  • What can we learn about the Holy Spirit from this passage?

  • What is God saying to you?

“At what point did you believe the lie?”

Candace’s notes:

“Did God really say?” is the question for all generations.

God created you to never know shame.

If you don’t really know what God says about you, you’re going to spend all of your life chasing the wrong thing and feeling like you’re not good enough.

Turn down the voice of the world, and turn up the voice of God.

“The Shaming Culture” “The Outrage Culture” but God actually created us not to know what shame is.

If the enemy can’t get your soul, he’ll try to get your fruitfulness.

Faith without works is dead. Obedience is not legalism, obedience will lead to a flourishing life.

Don’t have a big dialogue with the devil! Don’t sit there and speak with him!

What you did is not who you are. There is a difference between your who and your do. Confession is not a legalistic thing, it is such a gift that I could go and pour my heart out before God …and He forgives me.

“At what point did you believe the lie?” Who told you?

Discussion Questions

• How can we go about turning down the voice of the world, and turning up the voice of God?

• Do you find yourself listening to that inner voice of shame a lot?

• Would you say your relationship with Jesus is producing fruit in your life?

• What’s your main takeaway from that message?

This month, let’s focus on identifying the areas that we are participating WITH the shame, instead of against it. What does true freedom in Christ look like? What thought patterns, mindsets, and attitudes do you need to work on dismantling and replacing with grace?

• Practice scripture meditation and declaration this month! Pick one of the following verses per week, and write it somewhere you will see it every day. Focus on this verse, spend 10 minutes in the morning thinking about it, saying it out loud over your life, and let it be the last 10 minutes of your day as well.

• Galatians 5:1, “So Christ has truly set us free. Now make sure that you stay free, and don’t get tied up again in slavery to the law.”

• Romans 8:1-2, “So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus. 2 And because you belong to him, the power of the life-giving Spirit has freed you from the power of sin that leads to death.”

• 1 Peter 2:16, “For you are free, yet you are God’s slaves, so don’t use your freedom as an excuse to do evil.”

• 2 Corinthians 12:9, “Each time he said, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me.”

The Point of Prayer

Discussion:

1. We’re in a series about prayer right now as a church…what was your biggest takeaway from this message this past weekend?

2. What have you learned about prayer lately?

3. Has God answered any of your prayers lately?

4. What’s the one story or passage from the Bible do you think of, when you think of prayer?

5. What is the point of praying to God?

1. Join FV in our daily Bible Plan on the YouVersion Bible App! Comment each day about what God is teaching you, and read everyone else’s comments.

2. Fast with us for one morning a week, just one breakfast, and pray extra. Make a list of prayer requests maybe, or try some new way of spending time with God. Be intentional about it!

The Sanity Checklist

It’s been a tough year. There is no denying it. Plans cancelled, sickness, worrying about the people you love, anger at people who don’t agree, politics & controversy & chaos. Denying any of this won’t make it go away. So how do we maintain joy and momentum in our spiritual lives when everything feels so overwhelming?

Well, I think I have developed a checklist to help us with this, practically!

1. We acknowledge that we aren’t in control, but we know who is.

   1. something for God

   2. Psalms 63:4-5 TPT, “Daily I will worship you passionately and with all my heart. My arms will wave to you like banners of praise. I overflow with praise when I come before you, for the anointing of your presence satisfies me like nothing else. You are such a rich banquet of pleasure to my soul.”

   3. Read the Bible, make a prayer list, listen to a podcast or YouTube sermon, worship God alone along with some music, spend time in silence listening to Him, etc). List of Spiritual Disciplines here.

2. We acknowledge that it’s okay to feel low, but we can’t stay there.

   1. something for me

   2. Proverbs 17:22 ESV, “A joyful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.”

   3. Fun feeds the soul. (an article from the psychological point of view)

   4. Learning about yourself is also an excellent way to do something for yourself. (Try a personality test, or try something new.)

3. We acknowledge that our behavior and attitudes do have an effect on others.

   1. something for the people closest to me

   2. 1 Thessalonians 5:11, “Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.”

   3. Ideas for married couples, date ideas during COVID, keep kids busy and happy

4. We acknowledge that we can make a difference in the lives of people outside our household too.

   1. something for others

   2. Hebrews 10:23-25 ESV, “Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.”

   3. Reaching out during the pandemic

Throughout this whole year, my mantra has been, “one day at a time”. Some of those days have been incredibly low, and I counted it a win that I just got through it without dissolving into a puddle. There were a couple days where I was just proud of myself for taking a shower, or doing a load of laundry.

I think if I had come up with this list earlier in the year, I might have been somewhat better off. And I think if I start writing these down in a journal, I’ll be amazed to see what it will do after a month, 3 months, a year.

Being vibrant, passionate, and selfless doesn’t come naturally. It comes from Jesus. The Holy Spirit can bring these things out of us, but sometimes we have to discipline ourselves to start the process.

Discussion

1. As a group, list some ways that you can help yourself laugh, even in the middle of the pandemic.

2. What is your favorite way to get closer to God lately?

3. What have you done lately to check on and care for the people that you live with?

4. What can you do this week to reach out to people outside your household?

1. Start a Checklist. I call mine “The Sanity Checklist”…but you can call yours something else if you want. :)

2. Begin to read the book of Psalms. I HIGHLY recommend The Passion Translation.

   1. The book of Psalms always speaks to me when I’m feeling emotions particularly passionately. Because David (the writer of most of the Psalms) did too. And it reminds me that it’s okay to feel low, it’s okay to feel passionate, it’s okay to feel whatever I’m feeling, as long as I’m letting God in on the conversation.

3. If you want to do more, watch this TD Jakes message, about what to do in times of crisis.

"We Are Social Animals"

I’ve always thought of the term “accountability partners” as a solely religious thing. But actually, this term is in the business world too, and it functions pretty much exactly the same way.

God has placed us in community, in families. In the beginning, He said it wasn’t good for man to be alone. We have to believe that’s for a reason!

“Then the Lord God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper who is just right for him.”

— Genesis 2:18

Throughout the Bible, we can see God giving his leaders partners in ministry, life, and leadership! When we need help, God will often send a person!

• Moses said he couldn’t do what God had called him to do at the burning bush, and so God sent Aaron. In Exodus 17.8-15, Aaron and Hur join to hold up Moses's hands that enabled Joshua and the Israelites to over their adversary

• When the prophet Elijah needed food, God sent the widow. When he cried out to God for help, at Mt. Sinai, God appointed more leaders.

• In Luke 10, Jesus sends his disciples out in pairs.

• Paul had many partners in ministry, throughout his missionary journeys.

Ecclesiastes 4:9 ESV, “Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil.

---

In Christian accountability, we tend to focus on 4 main areas of growth:

1. Are you growing in your relationship with God?

2. Are you growing in your relationships with people?

3. Are you becoming a better steward of your resources?

4. Are you growing in your influence with outsiders?

---

If you had someone that you knew was going to ask you those questions every week, how would that change your perspective and mindset? How would you measure whether or not you were growing?

---

Discussion:

1. Have you ever had someone you would have considered an accountability partner? What was that like?

2. What do you think you would look for in an accountability partner?

3. What area do you hope to grow the most in this year (refer to 4 spiritual growth questions above)?

4. Can you think of any other Bible characters that had helpers or partners?

1. Find an accountability partner or two. A group of 3 would work just as well, but probably not many more than that! Don’t be discouraged if you get a “no” at first, stay committed until you find the right person/group for you! It will work best if the whole group is also committed to CALLED, but doesn’t have to be. Plan to meet at least once before our next First Wednesday.

2. Take a serious look at the spiritual growth questions from above. What is your strongest area? What is your weakest area? Where do you hope to grow the most this year? Discuss this with your partner(s). Plan some goals in those areas.

3. GO FURTHER: Watch this video from Pastor Dharius Daniels titled, “What About Your Friends?”. You can see my sermon notes here.

   1. Read 1 Samuel 16-18 at home this month, and really consider the perspective of each character (might mean you have to read previous chapters and maybe watch The Bible Project’s 1 Samuel video for context too).

      • What questions does this bring up for you?

      • After listening to this message, would you consider yourself a good friend?

      • What does healthy accountability look like in your life?

The Best Part of Waking Up

READING ASSIGNMENT THIS WEEK:

Read Matthew 8-10 this week. Comment here to discuss!

Speak To Me

KEY SCRIPTURES

And the Lord came and called as before, “Samuel! Samuel!” And Samuel replied, “Speak, your servant is listening.”
1 Samuel 3:10 NLT

“Be still, and know that I am God! ...”
Psalm 46:10 NLT

Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take.
Proverbs 3:6 NLT

SERMON NOTES

Don’t pray for God to speak, unless you want to hear what He has to say.

Prayer is communicating with our God, our Father, going before His throne room of grace. It’s not us just talking to Him, but praying is actually listening to God. God is always speaking, the question is, are you ever listening? God is a speaking God.

How do I hear the voice of God?

1. Fight to be still before God. Pause and rest in His presence. Psalm 46

   1. God speaks through His Word.

   2. God speaks through people.

   3. God speaks through circumstances.

   4. God speaks through His spirit. Unusual senses or promptings. “God, who do you want me to pray for? Sit and listen. Breathe in, listen, and out, say the name.”

2. Be willing.

3. Be ready.

DISCUSSION

1. Would you describe yourself as more of a talker or a listener?

2. Did you pray at mealtime with your family when you were growing up? If so, what sort of prayer did you pray?

3. How do you most often hear from God?

4. In order to hear God’s voice, we need to be still, be willing, and be ready. Which of those three things do you think you struggle with the most? Why?

5. What is God showing you right now?

STUDY AT HOME

1. Read 1 Samuel 3:1-21. When was the last time you were completely still before God, listening for His voice?

2. How do you most often hear from God? Dedicate some time this week to listening in that way.

3. Are you tired of playing it safe with your faith? Then check out the Dangerous Prayers Bible Plan at: www.go2.lc/dangerousprayers

Make Me Bold

KEY SCRIPTURES

Our prayers are just too safe. Predictable. Mundane. Rote. Safe. Sometimes I look at prayers like that and wonder if God looks at them almost like an insult.

“Let me clearly state to all of you and to all the people of Israel that he was healed by the powerful name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, the man you crucified but whom God raised from the dead.”
Acts 4:10 NLT

You killed him. But God raised him from the dead. Sadducees did not believe in resurrection of any kind, so Peter was basically declaring war.

The members of the council were amazed when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, for they could see that they were ordinary men with no special training in the Scriptures. ...
Acts 4:13 NLT

They did NOT pray: “Keep us safe from the bad guys. Don’t let anything bad happen to us.”

“And now, O Lord, hear their threats, and give us, your servants, great boldness in preaching your word. Stretch out your hand with healing power; may miraculous signs and wonders be done through the name of your holy servant Jesus.” After this prayer, the meeting place shook, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit. Then they preached the word of God with boldness.
Acts 4:29-31 NLT

How amazed are people by YOUR boldness? Rate yourself 1-10.
From a Biblical sense, boldness is not a personality trait. You can be naturally quiet, but when the Holy Spirit comes on you, you’re proclaiming truth with boldness.
Lots of ways to be bold:

• Choosing not to gossip, when everyone else is.

• Dressing modestly, when no one else is.

• Bringing people to church, vs, inviting to church

• Standing up for truth when no one else is.

What would happen if every day this week you took a few moments and just asked God to make you bold today. (Set an alarm on your phone)

“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere ...”
Acts 1:8 NLT

They arrested the apostles and put them in the public jail. But an angel of the Lord came at night, opened the gates of the jail, and brought them out. Then he told them, “Go to the Temple and give the people this message of life!” So at daybreak the apostles entered the Temple, as they were told, and immediately began teaching. ...
Acts 5:18-21 NLT

If you’re daring enough to pray a very dangerous faith filled prayer of boldness:

1. Almost always triggers spiritual opposition. Acts 5:18-21

2. Boldness often releases God’s miracles. Acts 5:19

3. Boldness always requires faith.

You never know what our God might set into motion with a single act of bold obedience.

“We gave you strict orders never again to teach in this man’s name!” he said. “Instead, you have filled all Jerusalem with your teaching about him, and you want to make us responsible for his death!” But Peter and the apostles replied, “We must obey God rather than any human authority.”
Acts 5:28-29 NLT

DISCUSSION

1. How comfortable are you with prayer?

2. What does it mean to have bold faith?

3. How would living more boldly change your life?

4. Talk about a recent time when you had an opportunity to share your faith or were bold for Jesus.

5. Would you be willing to pray out loud in a room full of people? Why or why not?

STUDY AT HOME

1. Read Acts 4:1-31. On a scale of 1 to 10, how amazed are people by your boldness?

2. Think about the people you interact with. What opportunities do you have to be bold in your faith this coming week?

3. Set a goal for yourself to pray longer than you ever have before.

   • Father, thanks to You, we don’t have to live a life of fear. You give us the boldness to overcome any obstacle that comes our way. Help us to trust You no matter how difficult life seems and to step forward in obedience, knowing You’ll always be with us. In Jesus’ name, amen.

4. How is God calling you to live boldly? Consider this question this week, and then commit to pursuing whatever God sets in front of you.

Dangerous Prayers from the book:

• Search Me

• Break Me

• Use Me

The Ministry of a Mentor

SERMON NOTES

Matthew 17:14-20

The players on the field play the game, but the coaches on the sideline came up with the game plan. God put the talent in, but it takes a coach to pull it out.  No one can be their best self, by themselves. You will hit a season where you’ve got the ability, but not the expertise. The willpower, but not the wisdom.

The origin of the issue was satanic.  A person who keeps getting diagnosis wrong, will never experience seasons.  They’ll get stuck in a cycle. Doesn’t change with time, it changes when I do.  Cough syrup wouldn’t fix this issue. 

What have you missed out on because you left too soon?  Our ego has caused us to abandon something prematurely.

Jesus, the leader, takes responsibility for something that isn’t his fault.  It’s not my fault, but it is my responsibility. I couldn’t understand the content until I understood the conTEXT.

Matthew 10:1. He gave them authority.  He equipped them. Trained them.  

You became so close and familiar with me, you took my audience for granted. 

Nothing that God ever does is irrelevant. Wait til you get to chapter 17.

Apathy produces procrastination.  Procrastination is the assumption you’re going to have another opportunity. 

Whenever you get access to greatness, don’t ask greatness to adjust for you.  YOU adjust for IT.

They were not trying to impress someone they were trying to learn from. 

Jesus saved them YEARS with one conversation.  Mentorship allows you to go to school at the expense of someone else’s tuition. 

The thing that got me to one level, is not always the thing that gets me to the next. You need somebody in your life that’s not so impressed with you...that tells you the truth.  You must SEE who He sends. We gotta recognize them. 

Jesus is the Master Mentor - 4 Traits

1. Character

   1. If you are in a relationship with someone...their character becomes your crisis. Not manipulative, representing you in a courtroom. Successful doesn’t mean safe. 

2. Coaching

   1. The quality of the questions you ask.

   2. Re-teach me to do something I thought I already knew how to do. 

   3. What don’t you know, ‘cause you don’t ask. Where are you making assumptions, where you could be educated.

3. Correction

   1. People who are going to the next level must be willing to have their ERROR exposed.  Prov 12:1 It is dumb to want to be right more than you want to be well. 

   2. Correction only sings like judgement to those who are in love with their mediocrity. 

   3. Matthew 16:22-23: Some of us couldn’t walk with Jesus, cause we couldn't handle correction.

4. Covering

   1. I’m some people’s pastor, I’m some people’s preacher, and for some I’m just the guy that preaches at that church they come to sometimes. 

      1. I’m not everyone’s spiritual father.

      2. You can’t mentor anyone who’s deciding and then telling you.

   2. Covering should not be a limiting cap.  It should be an umbrella. It covers you at any level, allows you to rise. 

DISCUSSION

1. Do you have a mentor? Why or why not?

2. Could you see yourself being a good mentor for someone? Why or why not?

3. Would you say you know how to ask good questions? How do you do that?

4. “Correction only sings like judgement to those who are in love with their mediocrity.” What do you think this means?

STUDY AT HOME

• Spend time in prayer asking God who could serve as a good mentor in your life.

• Read Matthew 10-17.

  • As you read, make a list of all the disciples names, and write down traits or characteristics that you notice about each. (example: Peter…seems loyal…) This is called a character study. Read more about them here.

  • What do you observe about how Jesus interacts with his disciples?

  • Which disciple do you identify most with?

We Are Not That Close

SERMON NOTES

Genesis 13:8

The success of the team is not just contingent upon who they have on the court or the field, but the success of the team is contingent upon whether or not those people are in the right positions.  It’s not just people, it’s place. 

Put people where they NEED to be, not necessarily where they want to be.  

An associate is what I call a “tweener” position. It’s not evil, it’s just unique.  A person that’s not evil enough to be an enemy, but not safe enough to be a friend. 

• Doesn’t mean that the fruit for friendship is not there or is not developing.  But it might mean that you might have the time or the desire to do the kind of inspection that would determine whether or not you want to take the relationship beyond the surface level.

• An associate may get your stuff, but a friend gets YOU. 

• An associate may get your skill, but a friend gets your SELF.  

  • ability/transparency. 

  • With someone/on someone

• An associate relationship is a result of intersecting schedules or interests.

Vision is a picture of God’s preferred future. 

“I wanna make your name great”

In order for me to do what’s never been done, you gotta become someone you’ve never been (not someTHING, someONE).  Abram’s not enough. 

• You ready for me to blow you up?? I’m getting ready to blow everything up. 

• You can’t receive vision without disruption

• People who are unwilling to let God disrupt their life, are people who will live without clarity. 

• With vision comes disruption.

• Moses had to move from his country, his family, his household.  You can’t become a new person without new influences. And I gotta move you, Abraham, because you’re going to shrink to the smallness of your circle. 

• Right now, just go north.  Just walk, and as you walk, I’m going to make clear to you what the next steps are.  Before you want the next word, be a good steward of the last one. 

• Maybe God is silent because He’s waiting on some of us to obey the last piece of instruction He gave us. 

Gen 13:1

The beauty of the Bible is in the detail. 

Sometimes when God pushes people into an uncomfortable future, they want to carry something with them from their past. 

God made Abraham wealthy & influential...Lot got the overflow of Abraham’s blessing. 

He probably starts confusing association with personal anointing. 

This tension is created, the dynamic starts to shift--that’s what happens when you carry Lot further than you’re supposed to carry it. Lot was a good relationship for Abram, not Abraham. Some relationships are at their best when you’re at your worst. Abraham addresses the awkwardness. The physical separation can be a metaphor for emotional separation. Abraham acknowledged that this relationship isn’t what it used to be.  

I’m not willing to lose my herds over you. 

Priority for Abraham was distance, not a destination. “Which ever way you go, I’ll go the opposite.” He didn’t mess up the relationship he just acknowledged that they weren’t close.  If I have to manufacture passion to fight for this--I shouldn’t. Many people mismanage this. You become distracted from purpose and you don’t make deposits in the most important relationships, because you're treating Lot like your friend instead of your associate. 

3 TYPES OF ASSOCIATES

1. Parasite.

   1. Lives and is sustained at the expense of the host. 

   2. For this relationship to live, I got to die.

   3. They cause: sleep disorders (you can’t rest), teeth grinding (you gotta grind necessarily), immune system dysfunction (you become more vulnerable, because you're depleted your defenses)

2. Partner

   1. Friends build into you, partners are people you build with. 

   2. These people want my gifts, not me. There’s a spirit of friendship, but it’s really my gift. And that’s not evil, it’s a fact. ‘Cause if you weren’t that good, ya’ll might not be that close. It is a transactional relationship.

3. Pace Makers

   1. Don’t talk to all the time, but they give you that boost.  Battery pack. Good periodically, not good consistently. 

   2. You don’t want them under your skin too long they might cause infection.

Just cause you’re not in pain, don’t mean you’re healed.  

DISCUSSION:

1. How do you think this message will help you in your life?

2. “Friends build into you, partners are people you build with.” Who do you have in your life that builds into you? Who are you building with?

3. “The beauty of the Bible is in the detail.” What do you think this means?

STUDY AT HOME:

1. Find a detail in Genesis 13 to research and study. Bring notes in and tell the group about it.

2. Try to come back next week with a Bible or God question to ask the group and get their opinion on.

"It is not for you to know"

SERMON NOTES

Acts 1:1-9

BEGAN - we would like to think that when Jesus left the earth, his ministry stopped. Not so.

CHOSEN - “you’re still chosen”

You can live life chasing or chosen. We don’t want to be clout chasers. Looking for approval in all the wrong places from all the wrong people.

Are you still focused on the wrong thing? Getting God to change other people rather than transforming you.

“It is not for you to know.”

The Holy Spirit will no longer visit, but inhabit. He doesn’t want a guest room, he wants all the access to my life. The power of His presence.

The presence of Jesus is powerful when you run out of stuff. What was empty without me, is now overflowing WITH me.

If you’re going through a storm right now, if He is on your boat, you won’t go down. When you put your little bit in the hands of a God who created everything.

The Kingdom was inaugurated with what they perceived to be His absence.

He never really leaves. However, he does change forms, and creates space where we need Him.

It’s difficult for us to believe that in the moments we feel Him or understand Him the least, He might be working the most. In the absence of answers, faith is born. In the absence of resource, creativity is born. When is the last time we thanked God for what He didn’t give us, because it showed us who we really are?

Ya ever have somebody that you thought you couldn’t live without, and then you did?

We like the CONCEPT of being used by God. We like the CONCEPT of a relationship with Him. But what about the moments when the kingdom becomes inconvenient?

There’s nothing more painful than in between. If it’s over, I can bury it. If it’s beginning, I can deal with it.

He did not leave them, He changed forms.

Maybe you weren’t ghosted, maybe you were gifted. He no longer wants to just be with you, he wants to be in you.

John 16:7, “But very truly I tell you, it is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Advocate will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you.”

I can’t go off of what feels good TO me, I have to believe that what God says is good FOR me.

We all have “some area” where God is working through.

Instead of Jesus giving them something to DO, he gave them something to BE. I’m doing it through some area of your life that you never expected.

That place that you call lack, is the space where God’s spirit wants to live.

DISCUSSION

• Has God ever “ghosted” you? Have you had unanswered questions for Him? What did you do in that season?

• What do you think would have happened if Jesus didn’t go back to heaven? Would the disciples have been able to accomplish what was assigned?

• What was your biggest takeaway from this message?

• What was your biggest takeaway from FV’s “Souls to Save”?

STUDY AT HOME:

• Read Acts 1 & 2.

  • Have you been baptized in the Holy Spirit? Do you have questions about it?

  • What seems to be the difference between Peter before the Holy Spirit, and Peter after?

  • What do you think is the significance of Acts 2:36?

What About Your Friends?

SERMON NOTES

Proverbs 18:24

If nothing has hit your life yet that requires that emotional assistance—keep on living.

We also need support for blessings. It was a success that was so weighty, it began to sink the boat. Their friends got the overflow of their harvest! Some people’s problem is, they left you too soon. One who has unreliable friends is living life unsupported. Anointed/successful, but unsupported. God did not create us to live life without support.

God’s about to send you some burden bearers! Moses, Aaron is coming!

In culture, we call people friends that we like…. From a biblical perspective, when you have friends, they are family. “Closer than a brother.”

Friends get a different type of access

• Love is freely given, access must be earned. Access to the intimate places of your life, heart, confidential information that you just don’t share with anybody. People that are reckless with access are reckless with their life.

• You’d be amazed at how many people are more guarded with their house, than they are with their heart.

• Some people feel owed access.

Friends get a different type of expectation.

• You have a right to expect things from friends, that you don’t expect from other relationships. Jesus got frustrated with the disciples for sleeping, when he asked them to pray.

Friends get a different type of investment.

• Every need is not your responsibility. You’ve got to know who they are, because if not, you will spend out your currency of time and energy making investments into people who don’t meet that criteria!

• There must be the ability to discern, define, and align these relationships. It’s not by feelings, but by FRUIT. Feelings are deceitful.

• I’m not judging, it just makes me sick. I need to see it, so I can separate myself from it.

Fruit inspection must be done seasonally! Every harvest season, you’ve got to go back to the tree and see if it’s still bearing fruit.

• 1 Samuel 16:21-22

• 1 Samuel 18:9-11

• In chapter 17 David defeated Goliath. Influence few. Popularity increased. Saul was cool with David as long as David was running behind him.

• Saul throws spears, people who’s fruit has changed, throw comments.

When you have friends, you get 3 things:

• Accountability

  • Only works when there’s exposure.

  • When your heart is not healthy, you’ll confusing hating with accountability.

• Assistance

  • If you’re always doing the rescuing, that’s not a friend.

• Advancement

DISCUSSION

1. What do you think Pastor Dharius means by “access”? How would you describe it in your life?

2. After listening to this message, would you consider yourself a good friend?

3. What does healthy accountability look like in your life?

4. What spoke to you the most out of this message?

STUDY AT HOME

• Read 1 Samuel 16-18 at home this week, and really consider the perspective of each character (might mean you have to read previous chapters and maybe watch The Bible Project’s 1 Samuel video for context too).

  • What questions does this bring up for you?

  • After listening to this message, would you consider yourself a good friend?

  • What does healthy accountability look like in your life?