Leadership Packet Week of January 23, 2011 This week s Leadership Packet includes Leader s Notes pages 2-3 Hot Sheet page 4 Ecuador Mission Trip Flyer pages 5-6 www.shadowmountain.org/smallgroups 619.590.2166
perspective after making this decision. Our temporal possessions include time, talent, and treasure. Examples of turning these into everlasting wealth are: going on a mission trip, giving more financially this year than you did last year, serving in places of need, choosing to influence those around you for Christ, paying attention to the needs of your wife and children, actively moving toward relationship with people who can help you move forward in your relationship with God. Bringing it Home 1. Dr. Jeremiah said, A steward is someone who manages the assets or affairs of another. In this case, the assets are God's and we manage them in a way that is consistent with His affairs (His plans and purposes) on this earth. How might you be lacking in this area of stewardship? What part of your life are you acting as owner instead of manager? What would it take to change this part of your life? As God continually shines His Holy Spirit light upon areas in our hearts that are resistant to Him, we realize that we are ready to grow a little more. This may be a time for those in your group to express their need and allow the group to support them as they let God mature them. 2. Are you comfortable with God being the originator, owner, and overseer of everything in your life? Are you comfortable with not owning anything, with simply being a steward of His possessions? If so, pause right now and recommit yourself to a lifetime of investing for eternity. Others in your group may simply be at a place of re-committing to this lifestyle of keeping their perspective where it needs to be, but a part of living the Christian life is vigilance. This is a perfect time to recommit to a vigilant stance as a steward of the time, treasure, and talent that God supplies. www.shadowmountain.org/smallgroups 2100 Greenfield Drive, El Cajon, CA 92019, 619.440.1802 Copyright 2011 by Shadow Mountain Ministries It All Belongs to You Dr. David Jeremiah I Chronicles 29:10-19 January 23, 2011 Sermon Notes I. Three observations about God A. God originates everything. Genesis 1:1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Isaiah 44:24 - I am the LORD, who makes all things. John 1:3 All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. Acts 17:24 - God who made the world and everything in it... Ephesians 3:9...God who created all things... Colossians 1:16 By Him all things were created... All things were created through Him and for Him. Revelation 4:11 For You created all things... B. God owns everything. I Chronicles 29:11 - For all that is in heaven and in earth is Yours." Genesis 14:19, 22 "The Possessor of heaven and earth." Exodus 19:5 all the earth is Mine. Leviticus 25:23 "...for the land is Mine... Job 41:11 - Everything under heaven is Mine... Psalm 24:1 The earth is the Lord's... Psalm 50:10-11 For every beast of the forest is Mine, and the cattle on a thousand hills. Ezekiel 18:4 Behold, all souls are Mine... Haggai 2:8 The silver is Mine, and the gold is Mine... C. God oversees everything. I Chronicles 29:11-12 And You reign over all. Ephesians 1:22...and gave Him to be head over all things to the church... II. Three observations about Man A. Man doesn't own anything. I Chronicles 29:14 For all things come from You... I Timothy 6:7 For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out." B. Man gets what he has from God. I Corinthians 4:2...it is required in stewards that one be found faithful. C. Only what we give back to God will last forever.
Small Group Questions Getting Started 1. Finances have a way of dominating our thoughts. Describe a time when you went to sleep afraid about your finances and that you might not have enough money. What was going on in your life at that time? What challenges were coming at you? We have all experienced the fear of the unknown. We ask questions like, What if I don t make enough money? What if I have surprise expenses that come up I can t foresee? What about the future? What will happen in a week, a month, a year? These questions fill our minds with fear and fear leads to all kinds of other emotions: doubt, insecurity, paranoia, anger, depression, helplessness, fight-or-flight, and the list can go on. Emotions are an indicator of what s happening in our spirit. Our circumstances can influence our emotions. Emotions and circumstances are like road signs in our lives; they warn us of the conditions inside our hearts. Many times, clarity about life doesn t come until we pay attention to our emotions and circumstances. 2. Now, describe an experience of giving over your finances to God. What life events caused you to change your perspective and trust God? How did you feel about your life once you made this change? On the other side of life is this thing called submission. Giving over control to God helps us do life the way God intended. He designed us to trust in Him, not our finances. Trusting in Him frees us to live, really live. When we live like the example in question #1, we move away from thriving in God s care to surviving in our own care. 2. We learned that whoever gives us our paycheck is not our provider, but our employer; only God provides. Describe why this is either A) an easy truth to embrace, or B) challenging to accept that your employer is simply another part of God s work in your life. I m sure everyone in your small group has gotten this backwards, at one time or another. It s the prodigal son story played out in the workplace. God has always been a father who provides, but when we get out of relationship with Him, He can begin to look like an employer who pays us our wages until we mess up. If/when we mess up, we could get fired. If we get fired, we can t pay our bills in this life, we may not have the best employer in the world and we could lose our primary means of income, but we will never lose our provider. God, the Father, will always take care of the needs of His children. 3. Go back to the outline and re-read through the scriptures; A) Which scripture reminds you of where your financial perspective has been in the past? B) Which one reminds you of where your perspective is right now? C) Which passage makes you think about your future? This outline is a tremendous, Bible-pointing tool to help the small group become clear on where they are in comparison to God s word. The more specific we can dialogue about God s word, the more specific we can find reasons to be thankful, seek guidance, and repent. Digging Deeper 1. Perspective: What was your financial perspective three months ago? What percentage of your mental focus was on how you would accomplish your financial responsibilities? What percentage of your focus was on relying on God and being thankful that He would care for your needs? Just like the Bible reminds us, remembering lessons in our lives (and in others lives) can help us become more aware of God s truth and become more submissive to that truth in our present circumstances. By paying attention to our past perspective, we can see where we were on track (in trusting relationship to God) and off track (out of trusting relationship with God). 4. Read Matthew 6:19-24. Describe a person who makes investing for eternity their top financial goal. What types of decisions do they make? How do they order their life? Describe how they prioritize their finances. Eternity investors look very different than temporal spenders. Our sinful inclination is to live temporary financial lives (spending money on things that fade, break and get thrown away). God s Spirit works in us to change our inclination to a submissive, trusting, eternity-minded one. Engaging our minds on these questions helps us cooperate with what the Spirit is already doing. 5. A.W. Tozer wrote, Any temporal possession can be turned into everlasting wealth. Describe a time when you acted on this idea. What temporal possession did you allow to be turned into everlasting wealth? Describe your
SMALL GROUP HOT SHEET Week of January 23, 2011 This Week s Leadership Packet Includes... Leader s Notes & Hot Sheet Ecuador Mission Trip flyer Group photos? Hey Small Groupies, we d love to have pictures of your small group for our online photo page. We think it will be a great way to promote your small group and show them how fun you all can be. Just email them to smallgroups@shadowmountain.org. Thanks! Ecuador Mission Trip Looking to go on a short-term mission trip in the summer? Jim Shankula, Border Ministry Coordinator, and his wife are leading a one week trip to Ecuador, July 2-10. The team will help build a cabin for the Word of Life Youth Camp used to house up to 24 youth campers. Work will include construction, landscaping, sewing, painting, decorating, cleaning and maintenance. See the enclosed flyer for cost & informational meetings. A Season of Service: Sports Clinic The Prison Ministry is looking for volunteers for the Baseball & Softball Sports Clinic held this Saturday, January 29, 8 am - 1 pm. This clinic is put on for kids, ages 7-15, who have a parent incarcerated or kids from single parent families. You can sign up to help out right up to the day of the event. They are also taking donations for school supplies & sports related items (balls, cleats, bats, etc.). If you d like to volunteer or donate items, please contact Tom Heyer at tomheyer@mac.com or 619.590.2107. The need for more Small Groups at SMCC... Leaders: Do you know someone in your small group who may be a candidate for a Turbo Group? We re forming Turbo Groups to begin in February. These groups are training small groups to get people ready to lead their own group in the fall. If someone comes to mind, can you let us know? Contact dale.bacon@shadowmountain.org or 619.590.2148. Want to receive our Enewsletter? Go to www.shadowmountain.org/sgscoop Contact us: smallgroups@shadowmountain.org / 619.590.2122 SMALL GROUP HOT SHEET Week of January 23, 2011 This Week s Leadership Packet Includes... Leader s Notes & Hot Sheet Ecuador Mission Trip flyer Group photos? Hey Small Groupies, we d love to have pictures of your small group for our online photo page. We think it will be a great way to promote your small group and show them how fun you all can be. Just email them to smallgroups@shadowmountain.org. Thanks! Ecuador Mission Trip Looking to go on a short-term mission trip in the summer? Jim Shankula, Border Ministry Coordinator, and his wife are leading a one week trip to Ecuador, July 2-10. The team will help build a cabin for the Word of Life Youth Camp used to house up to 24 youth campers. Work will include construction, landscaping, sewing, painting, decorating, cleaning and maintenance. See the enclosed flyer for cost & informational meetings. A Season of Service: Sports Clinic The Prison Ministry is looking for volunteers for the Baseball & Softball Sports Clinic held this Saturday, January 29, 8 am - 1 pm. This clinic is put on for kids, ages 7-15, who have a parent incarcerated or kids from single parent families. You can sign up to help out right up to the day of the event. They are also taking donations for school supplies & sports related items (balls, cleats, bats, etc.). If you d like to volunteer or donate items, please contact Tom Heyer at tomheyer@mac.com or 619.590.2107. The need for more Small Groups at SMCC... Leaders: Do you know someone in your small group who may be a candidate for a Turbo Group? We re forming Turbo Groups to begin in February. These groups are training small groups to get people ready to lead their own group in the fall. If someone comes to mind, can you let us know? Contact dale.bacon@shadowmountain.org or 619.590.2148. Want to receive our Enewsletter? Go to www.shadowmountain.org/sgscoop Contact us: smallgroups@shadowmountain.org / 619.590.2122
Join us as we build a cabin for Word of Life Ecuador at their Camp Property near Quito, Ecuador. You can serve in: Construction Landscaping Sewing Painting Decorating Cleaning Maintenance ECUADOR One Week... Eternal Results Information Meetings Sunday, Dec. 5, 4:30-6:00pm Sunday, Jan. 30, 4:30-6:00pm Location: SMCC Lower Campus Rm. G-11 Training / Planning Meetings Sunday, Feb. 20, 4:30-6:00pm Sunday, April 10, 4:30-6:00pm Sunday, May 22, 4:30-6:00pm Sunday, June 12, 4:30-6:00pm All meetings will be in: SMCC Lower Campus Rm. G-11 Shadow Mountain Missions Ecuador Mission Trip Jim Shankula 619-201-8654 jshankula@shadowmountain.org Join our Work Team July 2 10, 2011
One Week... Eternal Results Word of Life Ecuador ministers to thousands of youth each year through Bible Clubs in local churches, evangelistic activities, drama teams, discipleship, and youth camps. Daniel & Ana Gonzalez Director, Word of Life Ecuador Directed by Daniel and Ana Gonzalez, Word of Life recently bought a property to build a youth camp located in a beautiful rain forest only forty minutes north of Quito, Ecuador. This camp will serve youth from all over Ecuador. With only two cabins on the property, our purpose is to build a new cabin with two rooms and a bathroom, which will house 24 campers. We pray that God will fill that cabin many times with young people that will make eternal decisions. Join our team. Many different skills are needed. Men and women are welcome! Cost per person: approx. $1,700 (Includes food, bed, transportation) Support raised should be sent to SMCC Missions to receive tax-deductible receipts. Eligible participants may receive partial support from SMCC. How do I Join? Fill out an application. Schedule an interview. Be accepted by trip leaders. Recruit prayer partners. Raise support for trip. Complete training and preparation