Fearless Faith - Breakout #3

BO3 – dare to take action

Last Breakout - "study to share..."

Peter told us to...

“…give an answer to everyone who asks”

scan – state - search

We probe to analyze…

We allow God to speak…

3 - Scenarios…

2 - Teammates…

1 – Choice…

(team mates A and B play all three roles!)

· I am an atheist – I don’t believe in the existence of a God, or Supreme intelligent Being.

· I am religious – I pray three times a day and I give money to the church and I help my neighbor wash her poodle.

· The skeptic – I don’t believe that a God so loving could send someone to hell.

Scan	State	Search
“Do you have any kind of spiritual beliefs?”	(Romans 3:23) for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,	“Are you a sinner?”
“To you, who is Jesus?”	(Romans 6:23) For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.	“Do you want forgiveness for your sins?”
“Do you think there is a heaven and a hell?”	(John 3:3) In reply Jesus declared, "I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again."	“Do you believe Jesus died on the cross for you and rose again?”
“If you died right now, where would you go?”	(John 14:6) Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.	“Are you willing to surrender your life to Christ?”
“If what you believe were not true, would you want to know it?”	(Romans 10:9-11) That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10) For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved. 11) As the Scripture says, "Anyone who trusts in him will never be put to shame."	“Are you ready to invite Jesus into your life and into your heart?”
	(2 Corinthians 5:15) And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again.
	(Revelation 3:20) Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me.

Fearless Faith - Breakout #2

BO2 – study to share

Last breakout: The #1 obstacle is… fear in sharing!

There is also a need is three-fold: training, preparation, and confidence.

“How do I study to share?”

But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect,

(1 Peter 3:15)

1. The radar always pans __________ and ___________…

· “…give an answer”

· “to everyone who asks”

i. ________to scan (probe)

ii. ________to state (proclaim)

iii. ________to search (pull-together)

2. We probe to _____________…

· “Do you have any spiritual beliefs?”

· “To you, who is Jesus?”

· “Do you think there is a heaven and a hell?”

· “If you died right now, where would you go?”

· “If what you believe were not true, would you want to know?”

3. We allow ________ to ________…

· Romans 3:23

· Romans 6:23

· John 3:3

· John 14:6

· Romans 10:9-11

· 2 Corinthians 5:15

· Revelation 3:20

“How do I study to share?”

Scan	State	Search
“Do you have any kind of spiritual beliefs?”	(Romans 3:23) for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,	“Are you a sinner?”
“To you, who is Jesus?”	(Romans 6:23) For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.	“Do you want forgiveness for your sins?”
“Do you think there is a heaven and a hell?”	(John 3:3) In reply Jesus declared, "I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again."	“Do you believe Jesus died on the cross for you and rose again?”
“If you died right now, where would you go?”	(John 14:6) Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.	“Are you willing to surrender your life to Christ?”
“If what you believe were not true, would you want to know it?”	(Romans 10:9-11) That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10) For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved. 11) As the Scripture says, "Anyone who trusts in him will never be put to shame."	“Are you ready to invite Jesus into your life and into your heart?”
	(2 Corinthians 5:15) And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again.
	(Revelation 3:20) Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me.

Fearless Faith - Breakout #1

BO1 – overcome the obstacle

The #1 obstacle for Christians is fear.

Fear when it comes to sharing our faith… the Good News.

“How do I overcome this fear?”

Now listen, you who say, "Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money." Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. Instead, you ought to say, "If it is the Lord's will, we will live and do this or that." As it is, you boast and brag. All such boasting is evil. Anyone, then, who knows the good he ought to do and doesn't do it, sins.

James 4:13-17

1. To effectively introduce others to Jesus, I must have that _______________!

2. As Christ-Followers, many times we _____________________many things.

3. Will I ever truly capture ________________________?

4. I need to obey the commands of _____ ___________ and _____ ___________.

5. No one needs my ___________ , but all need God’s _______________(fact).

6. My great obstacle is clearly an ________________ of _____________________.

“How do I overcome this fear?”

Reflect > Refocus > Realign > Release

"Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation.” -- Mark 16:15

Reflect> (What person(s) in my world are near the flames?)

· This urgency is meant to convince us of the need to Go…!

· Read Jude 21-23 and see if the underlined section is anything less than urgent!

21) Keep yourselves in God's love as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life. 22) Be merciful to those who doubt; 23) snatch others from the fire and save them; to others show mercy, mixed with fear--hating even the clothing stained by corrupted flesh.

Refocus> (Where do I need to tighten up my center-of-attention?)

· Is my love for those “other” people more of a noun or a verb?

· Does God’s mercy and love drive me or does my indifference bind me?

Realign> (Why did I choose Christ to begin with? Love or truth or both?)

· When I walk across the room, I need to seek hearts, not arguments.

· Does sharing God’s truth make me uncomfortable?

· Does sharing God’s love make me uncomfortable?

· Have I been alien to a healthy balance of both?

Release> (How will today’s message change me?)

Mark 12:28-31 One of the teachers of the law came and heard them debating. Noticing that Jesus had given them a good answer, he asked him, "Of all the commandments, which is the most important?" (29) "The most important one," answered Jesus, "is this: 'Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one. (30) Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.' (31) The second is this: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' There is no commandment greater than these."

1. Will I take an “intersecting faith” into this world this week?

2. Do I have this relationship with God? (v. 30)

3. Do I consistently practice this relationship with my Neighbor? (v.31)

Remember to… Pray! Practice! Prepare!

Become Contagious

Decisions

Have I been influenced by the gospel? Am I a reconciled - reconciler?

When was the last time that I used authority?
When was the last time that a great influence was needed by someone I know?

Which mold do I fit best…?

1. Authority figure?

2. Influencer?

Responsibilities

Consider this moment of influence...

One of the teachers of the law came and heard them debating. Noticing that Jesus had given them a good answer, he asked him, "Of all the commandments, which is the most important?" "The most important one," answered Jesus, "is this: 'Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.' The second is this: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' There is no commandment greater than these."

(Mark 12:28-31)

Which command is most obeyed?

Which command could use some TLC?

What person would benefit from both being lived out loud in your life?

Challenges

What is your biggest challenge when connecting people to God?

a. People to influence?

b. Courage to reach out?

c. Instructions/training on how to do it?

d. Desire to try?

Go time!

How can I be more available to influence others?

a. With my time…?

b. With my talents…?

c. With my treasures…?

d. With the entire T3 package?

“Authority shapes what you do, influence shapes who you become?” -- McManus

Remember 95% commitment is 5% short!

What will be remembered after the decisions, responsibilities, and challenges?

Who you are or What you did?

What needs to happen in order for you to become a Contagious Christian?

pass it on...

We find Jesus in the beginning of John chapter six being interrupted by the masses while He sought to spend some focused time with His disciples…

Discipleship – an ongoing process of conditioning steps that move one towards spiritual maturity.

Let’s share about our week…

Were you tested this week? SHARE an example…OUTLOUD!

Budget – finances, plan, funds, resources, accounts, arrangements.

Have someone read -- John 6:5-7

Was Philip faced with an arrangement challenge?

What was Philip’s need? calculator or compass?

Worldview – the established understanding that one has about the culture and world in which they live.

Have someone read – John 6:15

Why would Jesus withdraw to a mountain by Himself?

Was it wrong for the Jews to want Jesus as their king?

James 1:2-4

2) Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, (3) because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance.
(4) Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.

Should I expect trials when revealing the good news of my changed life…

Does my community see a faithful compass or skeptical calculator in me…?

According to Scripture, is Jesus subject [slave] to the world? (Romans 5:8)

If so, how can He deal with man’s sin?

Will I face the trials, point to God, and worship Jesus as Lord?

The Good News… WILL I PASS IT ON?

Function Over Fashion

glancing or gazing…?

• We dishonor God by action or neglect.
• David (2 Samuel 11:2-3) chose to take Bathsheba’s beauty and curiously commit to something ugly.
• We all have a choice to either gaze or glance.

Every turn is an opportunity to honor or dishonor God?

Honestly, which do we do most often?

Gather your group’s input and explain your answer?

“People don’t need friendly churches, people need friends.” – Rick Warren

· For decades, church leaders have struggled to program the church.

· What was key to you being here today…? (building/friend/pastor/family)

What did you need more?

a. Church membership?

b. A relationship with God?

How did your group fare? (a or b)

Playgrounds and Playmates…

• Children require constant attention.
• Parents often have to steer their children away from dangerous places/influences.

How were those around you influenced this week past?

What kept your focus this week – the important or the urgent?

Give a group consensus!

How can my glances remain innocent?

How will I steer clear of dangerous places/people this coming week?

How will I focus on the important and not be distracted by the urgent?

How's your fruit inspection today...?

Fruit Inspection Time – Worship / Service / Character

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.

Galatians 5:22-26

How is my [God-ward] Fruit?

The first three have to do with God and my life -- Worship

Love – Is God’s unmerited care real in my life?

Joy – Do I have assurance of God’s care through any circumstance?

Peace – In my life, do I have the peace that only comes from God?

How is my [man-ward] Fruit?

The second three have to do with others and my life -- Service

Patience – Do I bravely endure or do I quit often?

Kindness – Is there a level of kindness in me that is “above the norm”?

Goodness – From this kindness, is “love in action” a reality in my life?

How is my [self-ward] Fruit?

The final three have to do with me and my life -- Character

Faithfulness – Which am I… “Mr. Dependable” or “Mrs. Flaky”?

Gentleness – How do I use power and authority over others?

Self-control – Can you depend upon yourself not to blow up?

the battle that we fight...

Every year in the United States of America there is a battle hidden to most. We are losing this battle and the sad truth is that we have the resources to be winners.

Annually, the U.S. discards enough “good” food to equal what dollar amount…?

 $237 million /  $43 billion /  $13 billion /  $556 million

In what area does America face its greatest challenge?

A. Food production amounts?

B. Food purchase amounts?

C. Food accountability across the board?

D. I don’t really know!

Read Ephesians 6:10-12 (see bottom for Scripture)

*** We are encouraged to access the Lord’s Supernatural strength and power.

· Take your Bible and locate the Scripture referenced along with verse 10.

· Where do we find the greatest evidence of God’s mighty power?

· What role do I have when it comes to His power?

*** Look closely at how Personal verse eleven really is…

· Is this armor worn by God or supplied by Him?

· Does that indicate that God dresses me each day?

· Paul writes that this is to be “your stand”; can’t someone else fight this battle for you?

· God is personal, my stance is personal -- what would that make the devil’s schemes?

· What is your common move…? Running towards or away from the devil’s schemes?

*** Take a moment read the Spiritual emphasis found in verse twelve again…

· Turn left in your Bible from Ephesians and locate the supporting Scripture (2 Cor. 10:4-5)

· What is Paul talking about in this section?

· Read Ephesians 1:18-23 and focus on verse 21.

· How does Satan have dominion over this earth? (i.e., Prince of darkness, God of this World, etc.)

· Would you consider that there is more than meets the eye concerning spiritual warfare?

The Battle that We Fight is…

1. Supernatural – not to be fought in our own power, but in God’s strength.

2. Personal – not a responsibility to be passed along or shirked.

3. Spiritual – not visible but very real and extremely serious.

Ephesians 6:10-12

(10) Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. (Eph. 1:18-20; Rom. 6:4)

(11) Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. (1 Cor. 3:10-12)

(12) For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. (2 Cor. 10:4-5; Eph. 1:18-23)