Leadership Packet. Week of February 26, This week s Leadership Packet includes

Size: px

Start display at page:

Download "Leadership Packet. Week of February 26, This week s Leadership Packet includes"

Rolf Reynolds
5 years ago
Views:

1 Leadership Packet Week of February 26, 2012 This week s Leadership Packet includes Leader s Notes Small Group Announcements Parenting with a Purpose flier

2 James 1:2-4 It comes from trials and leads to maturity. Spiritual endurance is one of the key tools for God s development in our lives. Growth through difficulty. Bringing it Home 1. Do you feel like you are losing an edge in your spiritual devotion to Jesus because of legitimate things? What are some personal examples of legitimate things for you? What might it take to throw off those legitimate things? This sermon made me question my plans for the future. So plans might be a legitimate thing that I need to take a good hard look at. Currently, all my plans revolve around comfort, prosperity, security and family. Hhhhmmm what if God isn t most interested in that for my family and me? 2. One aspect of endurance is managing discomfort. How would you rate your current level of discomfort in life? What can you do to respond to that discomfort so that you can stay in the race spiritually? Just a look back, for me, on this question. The end of last year was very challenging for me (John), for a bunch of reasons. My discomfort level was really high, forcing me to respond in some way. One thing I did was turn to strategic people in my life for care and comfort. It was hard, and quite humbling (embarrassing) at times, but God used His people in my life to help me stay focused on and engaged with His kingdom plans. 3. This week Pastor Jeremiah said that, God has called us to be encouragers of one another. (Hebrews 10:24-25) What encourages you when it s hard to endure faithfully in the spiritual race? Gary Chapman talks about the five love languages, the ways that we experience love. I m personally encouraged when people speak my love language. It strengthens me, fills me up and focuses my resolve of full devotion to Jesus. How about you, leader? When do you feel encouraged? How could your group members be mutually encouraging; helping each other run with perseverance. Running with Endurance Dr. David Jeremiah February 26, 2012 Hebrews 12:1-3 Sermon Notes I. We have examples from the past. - Hebrews 12:1; 10:24-25 II. We have exhortations for the present. - Hebrews 12:1b A. We are exhorted to lay aside the things that encumber us. "lay aside every weight..." B. We are exhorted to lay aside the things that ensnare us. "the sin which so easily ensnares us..." C. We are exhorted to lay aside the things that entangle us. "and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us." 1 Corinthians 9:24; Romans 12:12; Hebrews 10:36 III. We have encouragement for the future. - Hebrews 12:2-3 A. We are encouraged to look to Jesus. - Hebrews 12:2; Acts 7: He is the forerunner of our faith. - Hebrews 12:2b; 4: He is the finisher of our faith. - Hebrews 12:2b-3; Luke 24:26; Psalm 69:7, 19; Philippians 2:8; Isaiah 40:28-31 B. We are encouraged to look for joy. - Hebrews 12:2, 11; 10:35-38 Small Group Questions Getting Started 1. Describe the longest run, or walk, you remember having. What did you like best and/or least about it? This is all about helping them have context with the spiritual metaphor in Hebrews 12. The metaphor in Hebrews 12 works because we know what it s like to push through physically in the world Greenfield Drive, El Cajon, CA 92019, Copyright 2012 by Shadow Mountain Ministries

3 2. Imagine being in a long, grueling race. What would be hard about being in a race like that? What are some of the things you would feel physically in a race like that? Increased heart rate, shortness of breath, sharp pain in the side, cramping legs, dry mouth, etc. The physical race is hard, remember? So is the spiritual one. Digging Deeper 1. Why do you think some are able to endure the discomfort of a long race while others don t? What keeps some from running with endurance? So many underestimate the pain involved. Some never literally push through the pain to discover that they can do it. Some haven t developed a higher pain threshold by running more, and longer. Some tell themselves the wrong message while running. What would that wrong message be, leaders? Enoch (11:5-6) Make it your life goal to please God. Faithfully seek God, even in a world that calls you to seek everything else. Abraham (11:8-10) Follow God s direction even when you can t see where He s leading you. Trust His direction. Moses (11:24-29) Align your aspirations and plans with those who honor and pursue God, not with those who resist and oppose God. Rahab (11:31) Go out on a limb and be about God s purposes, even when no one else will. The Persecuted (11:36-38) Straight up, endure pain, persecution and deprivation if it means running faithfully. 2. Think now about the spiritual race we re all in. What are the aspects of that race that are uncomfortable for us runners? What makes it hard to run faithfully in the spiritual race? Saying no to temptation when the rest of the world says yes. Being misunderstood and mocked by those around us; those who say yes to sin and no to God. The challenge of race can feel relentless and unyielding; it just goes on and on and gets harder and harder. The world we are in isn t becoming more like Jesus. 3. If we want to run with endurance we are going to have to focus fully on Jesus. How does it affect your spiritual stamina knowing that Jesus runs ahead of us and that He endured the pain and shame of the cross (Philippians 2:1-8)? I think I would make this a meditative question. Maybe give group members quiet time to focus on the Philippians passage and on Hebrews 12:2-3 in prayer with Jesus. Just allow them to interact with Him prayerfully and then talk about what they are thinking and feeling about Jesus example of endurance. 4. The followers of God in Hebrews 11 bear testimony about enduring faithfully with God. What might the champions, listed below, say to us runners today? What would their message be to those of us still in the race? Able (11:4) Offer your best to God; don t give Him seconds. Give Him the best of you. 5. We learned that even legitimate things can slow us down and dull our devotion to God. What kinds of legitimate things might slow down and distract a Christian from being fully devoted to Jesus? Straight from Dr. J s sermon- Love of family. Love of comfort. Contentment with our jobs. Security in our present situation. Overindulgence in entertainment, like TV, etc. Making money! Really it boils down to anything that we elevate above God and His Kingdom plans for us. 6. What do the following verses tell us about spiritual endurance? Luke 8:15 One key to enduring is taking in and metabolizing the word of God, which produces life results (i.e., a crop). Galatians 5:7 One criteria for racing well is obedience over the long haul. You were running a good race. Who cut in on you and kept you from obeying the truth? Philippians 3:12-14 Focus is critical for spiritual endurance. When we ve left something we need to let it go and focus ahead on what God has in front of us. Romans 5:3-5 Endurance (perseverance) comes from enduring suffering and it produces character, which then leads to hope.

4 Week of February 26, 2012 Announcements for your Small Group: Memory Keepers Join the Women s Ministry for Digital & Traditional Scrapbooking 4 Fridays in March, 9:00 am to 12:00 pm in the Family Ministries Building. There is professional instruction, personal assistance & positively wonderful fellowship! Register online at or call First Saturday Prayer Join us for a special hour of prayer the first Saturday of every month, 8:00 am to 9:00 am, Room 11. Pray for National spiritual renewal, our church families, missionaries, and prodigals. Contact: George at gcuff@shadowmountain.org Angel Tree Camp Counselors & Mentors Needed Every year the Prison Ministry puts on a summer camp at Indian Hills for kids, 3rd - 6th grade, who have parents who are incarcerated. These kids are some of the most at-risk kids in our community & we have an opportunity to share the love of Jesus with them. Interested in being a camp counselor for this year s outreach, July 22-27? Training is on Saturday, June 16. For more info, contact Tom Heyer at tomheyer@mac.com, or Parenting with a Purpose See the enclosed flier for info about an upcoming 8 week Parenting study. Saving Lives One Baby Bottle at a Time Have you and your small groupies taken the Baby Bottle challenge yet? You can pick up empty baby bottles from the Pavilion, fill them up with your spare change throughout the next few weeks and then bring them back filled up on Mother s Day (or before). All proceeds will be given to the East County Pregnancy Care Clinic and College Area Pregnancy Services. Announcements for Leaders & Hosts: Upcoming Dates: Saturday, May 19, 6:30 pm - Small Group Leadership Appreciation Dinner Sunday, June 17 - Official Small Group summer break begins Saturday, August 4, 10:00 am - 3:00 pm - Small Group Bay Day Week of February 26, 2012 Announcements for your Small Group: Memory Keepers Join the Women s Ministry for Digital & Traditional Scrapbooking 4 Fridays in March, 9:00 am to 12:00 pm in the Family Ministries Building. There is professional instruction, personal assistance & positively wonderful fellowship! Register online at or call First Saturday Prayer Join us for a special hour of prayer the first Saturday of every month, 8:00 am to 9:00 am, Room 11. Pray for National spiritual renewal, our church families, missionaries, and prodigals. Contact: George at gcuff@shadowmountain.org Angel Tree Camp Counselors & Mentors Needed Every year the Prison Ministry puts on a summer camp at Indian Hills for kids, 3rd - 6th grade, who have parents who are incarcerated. These kids are some of the most at-risk kids in our community & we have an opportunity to share the love of Jesus with them. Interested in being a camp counselor for this year s outreach, July 22-27? Training is on Saturday, June 16. For more info, contact Tom Heyer at tomheyer@mac.com, or Parenting with a Purpose See the enclosed flier for info about an upcoming 8 week Parenting study. Saving Lives One Baby Bottle at a Time Have you and your small groupies taken the Baby Bottle challenge yet? You can pick up empty baby bottles from the Pavilion, fill them up with your spare change throughout the next few weeks and then bring them back filled up on Mother s Day (or before). All proceeds will be given to the East County Pregnancy Care Clinic and College Area Pregnancy Services. Announcements for Leaders & Hosts: Upcoming Dates: Saturday, May 19, 6:30 pm - Small Group Leadership Appreciation Dinner Sunday, June 17 - Official Small Group summer break begins Saturday, August 4, 10:00 am - 3:00 pm - Small Group Bay Day

Leadership Packet. This week s Leadership Packet includes

Leadership Packet. This week s Leadership Packet includes Leadership Packet Week of May 19, 2013 This week s Leadership Packet includes What Are You Afraid Of? DVD Week 5 o Can also be watched online at www.shadowmountain.org/fearvideos Leader s Notes Hot Sheet