CHANGE IS POSSIBLE NxT-G: Maximum Impact ImpactDoingChurchDifferently.org NXT-G: MAXIMUM IMPACT
REMARKABLE AWAITS...
TABLE OF CONTENTS From Pastor Olu and Pastor Candice: What Do You Want? 08 Change Makes It Possible Clarified 10 Celebrating 10 Years of Doing Church Differently TM : Smashing the Status Quo 12 NxT-G: Impact s Next Generation 16 More of What You d Like to Know 25 Guide 29 Small Group Study Guide 35 Invitation to Change Makes It Possible Launch & Commitment Sundays 56
Organizations that destroy the status quo win. Whatever the status quo is, changing it gives you the opportunity to be remarkable. SETH GODIN
FROM PASTOR OLU AND PASTOR CANDICE: WHAT DO YOU WANT? 08 09 Something phenomenal happens in our individual lives when we connect with others to make community dreams a reality. Momentum builds, overflows and spreads to everyone involved. It s truly amazing! At Impact, we ve all seen it happen time and time again. Your performance in school improves because your family is better supported. You can handle stuff that stresses you out because people who care about you are praying with you and helping in ways that matter. WHAT DO YOU WANT? It is phenomenal; yet, it is not magic. It s about connection not what you can get for yourself. When we wanted a fresh, lit approach to living out God s call on our lives, we connected with a handful of other people who were feeling restless also. Now over 2,300 people connect weekly via Impact Church to pursue and build opportunities to smash the status quo for ourselves and for our communities. We seek the kind of change that impacts our whole beings, change that has never happened before spiritual, emotional, educational, economic, social and physical. Doing Church Differently TM has never been about church. It s always been about YOU ALL of us and what we want. Our desires are rooted in why God created us. What did we come here to do? What do you want? What change will you make in this world? As young people growing up in our hometowns, we knew of God s call early, and we weren t always sure of how we could become all that God was showing to us. But we dared to take a few steps forward and soon others joined us and before we knew it, we d achieved another goal. Time after time, God continues to demonstrate God s faithfulness in our lives and in the lives of all who are connected to Impact. This Change Makes It Possible adventure will be no different than any of our other quests. Pursuing and building our individual and collective goals is a collaborative venture. At Impact, we believe that we re all in this together. We get together. We worship and serve together. We achieve together. Collaboration means that we make room for more. We never say no because we know that with God, more is always possible and remarkable always awaits. WILL YOU JOIN US? Catching up to remarkable! Pastor Olu & Pastor Candice
CHANGE MAKES IT POSSIBLE CLARIFIED 10 11 We do church differently so that YOU can LIVE differently REMARKABLY beyond anyone s imagination of what s possible. What s Around You Works with You Impact's environment cooperates with your dreams by not just providing a space to which you may come, we make room for you to hear the whispers of God s heart to yours. Your dreams become reality, supported by your faith and coming to life by our actions and relationships as a community. When we pursue and build the remarkable, our rooms will protect and encourage the most vulnerable and frightened among us. Being Responsible with the Goods Facts are that we are just sitting on 50,000 undeveloped square feet of what God has given to us. And we know that we need to invest more in people and spaces for spiritual development. When we do these things, we will receive one of the greatest returns on our investment as a faith community. Beyond that, key to Impact s future is our ability to serve families. Every week we place adults in overflow and turn away children from Imcredibles and Impact Kidz because we simply do not have enough room. Continuing to do this means we not only risk losing families as attendees, but we will not be able to continue to attract new families to Impact. So, we re also losing opportunities to share the love of Christ with them. Stretching the Ministry Did you know that the 2014 income per person in East Point was $19,076? How can someone live remarkably with this income? Exactly. Knowing these kinds of struggles makes Impact want to expand our ministry, multiplying what we do on our campuses with the rest of the world. We literally can give people what they need and create opportunities that will transform their futures. Then all of us will live remarkably, revitalizing our communities. The Center of Everything, Every Day By creating access to every inch of our campuses for the support and development of community needs, we are making the most of what God has already provided. We become efficient custodians of our resources. Impact Church is determined not to waste one bit of God s favor. Not only do these properties provide the expected functions of a church, but they are also key community assets, locations around which God s people from all walks of life may get together to connect, create and act. Essentially Different Pastor Olu often reminds us that there are far too many churches for us simply to be another church. His words have always inspired us to be more than stuck within four walls and a steeple. For this reason, over the last 10 years throughout our networks, we have helped lead the way in improving relationships with other faith and non-faith-based communities. We know that we can shape more change with all of our resources. Maximum Impact s unique lifestyle can influence even more change with our Change Makes It Possible adventure Live, Work and Play Salvation for every part of you (body, mind and soul) has always been a cornerstone of the Impact DNA. Your soul is important, but we re also concerned about your emotional, mental and physical health. We are concerned about whether you achieve your dreams. More than a place to worship and serve, we have created room for all people to live, work and play. Providing this kind of practical and exciting space for our community creates a platform for individuals to reach new heights. As we nurture each other, we will help sustain connections for generations after you. Connect From personal hygiene resources for our neighbors in need to incubators for emerging entrepreneurs, Impact intends to fulfill its pledge of being deeply engaged with the East Point and Greater Atlanta communities. We are committed to joining in service at various points on the spectrum of need, to connecting in relevant and tangible ways, and to igniting the processes that help all of us move forward along pathways of progress. Supporting the dignity of each human being along with the aspirations of the dreamers among us, Impact acts daily as the hands, feet and heart of Christ. Pursue Ten years in, Impact continues to repeat consistently and successfully how we know to do church differently. Over and over and over again, we redefine ministry by making everything we do relevant in fresh and exciting ways. We encourage your presence with sincere, uncompromising hospitality. Maximum Impact s unboxed lifestyle makes us a soulcial community, one that is complete and integrated, addressing all parts of our lives. We understand that we are not successful on our own, that we are connected to a legacy which we are intentional about passing to you, the next generation. Part of God s vision for Impact is to lead the way in developing creative ideas and plans that result in impact that we can measure and that makes a real difference. Multiplying in one location is not enough; we pursue repetition in any community that desires to do church differently. Build Our Change Makes It Possible adventure will help increase our total seating to 2,300 for an assortment of worship styles and community special events. Impact will continue to invest in being a church with more than one campus, strengthening Impact on Main s presence in the community and planting a third location. We will also expand Imcredibles, Impact Kiz and your youth spaces to accommodate not only more students, but also to give you access to more creative and interactive experiences that will support your educational and personal goals. What an opportunity to influence Maximum Impact lives, preparing you for remarkable futures on fleek!
CELEBRATING 10 YEARS OF DOING CHURCH DIFFERENTLY SMASHING THE STATUS QUO 12 13 The story of Impact Church begins with Pastor Olu s vision of a place where people of all backgrounds can come simply to be and connect with others without judgment. Our faces are the ones he saw the day that he peered through the window of Brown Middle School. Along with other attendees who founded Impact, Pastor Olu dared to believe God for the impossible, time and time again. We developed core values of service, prayer, honesty, community, compassion and economic development. Impact became a place committed to building relationships before membership, to giving 10% of its revenue to other nonprofits, and to insisting on less strict operating processes. Within our first year we added a second worship experience. As God continues to bless Impact with atypical growth (#56 of 2016 s 100 fastest growing churches in the United States, Outreach Magazine), we continue to meet God as God calls us to more experiences, a larger facility, more campuses, a greater impact. Today, we come together, worship and serve from two sites in East Point, GA (just north of our airport) Impact on Sylvan (IOS) and Impact on Main (IOM). IOS has four worship experiences (often with people in overflow) while 50,000 sq. ft. of this campus remains undeveloped. We are not satisfied with this situation; it must change. Since in-person worship attendance has grown from approximately 1,000 in 2008 to over 2,300 in 2016 (and online attendance almost doubling), we have to be ready for God to blow up attendance yet again. IOM, near the East Point MARTA station, is key to Impact s mission to the community and to Change Makes It Possible. IOM cares for the neighborhood by providing water, referrals to social service agencies and prayer. That campus also serves hot soup to our neighbors in need during the holidays and hosts Family Fun Nights that include food, movies and games. Worship at IOM is growing as well, requiring a second experience in 2017. Providing 300 children/week (for 10 weeks) from lower income households with summer lunches, transporting 589 college students/week to worship (fall semester), and hosting more than 3,500 children, youth and adults for an unbelievably fun Harvest Fest, is simply not enough. With our Change Makes It Possible adventure we will be able to offer more support and needed change for the 25,000 families within the 3-9 mile radius of Impact: 24/7 access to a safe, supportive environment Tutoring Business incubation resources Community centers addressing urban decay, high crime rates, unemployment and other highly visible social threats in and around East Point Tomorrow, because of Change Makes It Possible, Impact Church will continue to do church differently by living outside of our campuses. We will continue to add locations that make sense for their immediate communities. As we do this, we will shift from simply commuting to East Point for worship to being fully invested in this neighborhood. Our investment will produce consistent, real-time service to our neighbor, strengthening our reach and effectiveness as people who inspire and create change. We are more than observers, we comment and then, take action for the cause of Christ. This is how we passionately smash the status quo, removing limitations and making room for remarkable futures. We will more than build a space that makes all this possible; we will build relationships that impact an entire world. And while all this amazing stuff is happening in the life of Impact, it will also happen for YOU. All that is possible collectively is also possible individually. Possible is for YOU. Remarkable is for YOU. Change Makes It Possible ignites another Impact movement of spiritual empowerment, spirituality and social change from our babies to our older adults. YOU! ALL OF US! IMPACT!
NXT-G: IMPACT S NEXT GENERATION 16 17 Imagine what s possible for your future. Take a chance to dream. Your possibilities are endless. Can you see it? 11,000 sq. ft. of safe space Afterschool spaces to help with your schoolwork, including tutoring Areas to help you start your own businesses Exciting outdoor recreation zone, including a climbing wall Training for youth in music, creative programming and coding Even space for your parents/guardians and other family members In life, we don t often get a chance to peek at what s to come. Maximum Impact s Change Makes It Possible adventure is one of those moments. You are looking at your future as your faith community positions itself on purpose to provide direct care and programming that will enhance your life and the lives of your middle and high school classmates today and for generations of tomorrow. Of the 50,000 sq. ft. that we will develop, 11,000 sq. ft. will be for NxT-G, providing a safe and sacred space filled with amazing spirit, energy, wonderment and innovation. From technology to physical fitness to family enrichment zones, in this space, any one of you will dare to dream of remarkable futures, believing that one day they will become reality for you. Just imagine how this kind of space will broaden what s possible for the many students like you in and around Impact s community whose families today are struggling to provide life s necessities of food, clothing and shelter! Imcredibles, Impact Kidz and Maximum Impact not only receive one of the primary beneficiaries of Change Makes It Possible, you will participate in critical ways. You will have your own version of this adventure s prayer and study guides, along with your own generosity goals and games to help you along your way.
17 Take twelve stones from here out of the middle of the Jordan, from the place where the priests feet stood, carry them over with you, and lay them down in the place where you camp tonight. When your children ask in time to come, What do those stones mean to you? 25% then you shall tell them these stones shall be to the Israelites a memorial forever. I m satisfied and proud of the things I did even the bumps and the bruises that I ve had on the way. You fall down, you get up, you brush yourself off and you keep going. And that s what we re doing. GUCCI MANE JOSHUA 4:1-7, NRSV
20 21 IT CAN BE EASIER TO LABEL SOMETHING IMPOSSIBLE THAN TO EXPLORE OUR POWER TO CHANGE IT. I feel like it s two key ingredients when it comes to following your dreams, making something happen that the average person deems difficult. If you truly believe it, that s step one. Step two, is the hard work that goes along with it. J. COLE Will you join us in exploring just how remarkable we can become?
24 25 MORE OF WHAT YOU D LIKE TO KNOW Why another campaign so soon after the last one? In our wildest imagination, we never dreamed that God would bless Impact with such amazing growth so soon after moving into Impact on Sylvan. Weekly attendance has increased from approximately 1,400 to 2,300. Since we are serious about redefining the church experience and realizing impact being a revolution and not an institution we always want to respond to what God is doing in the lives of God s people. By launching our Change Makes It Possible adventure, we continue to revitalize our local and global communities as we reach every sphere of life with the love of God today, tomorrow and the future. Actually, I Share We Impact was not our latest campaign. During the summer of 2016, we came together to purchase three vans to transport students to our campus for worship and other community events. In 2015, we had another successful capital campaign for NxT-G. As we continue to be a community that sparks change, shapes culture and carries the Gospel, we will always do church differently. This reality means that we ll probably always be in expansion mode. Always growing is a blessing that can seem risky. Yet it reminds us of the church s beginning in the book of Acts that records how God added daily to their numbers. God is moving in similar ways with Impact Church; we are committed to following wherever God sends us on this exciting adventure. That s a lot of money. Yes, the amount is large and challenging. As Impact s leadership team added up the numbers, we all paused at the scale of this project. Yet even more powerful for us is the testimony we have of God always being present and allowing provision for all parts of our journey to date. We are confident that this project is our best and preferred option. We want you to know that we ve completed our research, already investing hundreds of hours exploring options and talking to experts to make sure that we are excellent stewards with both the vision and the provision to achieve it. Time and time again we ve witnessed God not only be faithful to us as a community for believing God for what seems impossible, but we have countless stories of how God has provided in amazing ways for everyone who gives to Impact. I don t have a lot of money to contribute. Please don t worry about the size of your gift. All financial investments of any size are highly valued by Impact, Pastor Olu, Pastor Candice and all of our leaders. We know that everyone cannot give large amounts of money. Impact started and grew because of amazing visionaries, leaders and generous donors who shared their time, talents and treasure at various levels. We ve never asked anyone to give more than what they had available to share and look at what we ve done with God s blessing. We expect Change Makes It Possible to be yet another awesome testimony to the big things God can do with our little. Simply, we just need everyone to be willing to participate. Also, we are grateful for the increase of attendees and donors to our community who help share the responsibility of investing in our future. We are confident that they recognize the movement of God here and will join those of us who ve been here a while on our adventure.
One voice can change a room, and if one voice can change a room, then it can change a city, and if it can change a city, it can change a state, and if it can change a state, it can change a nation, and if it can change a nation, it can change the world. Your voice can change the world. PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA
12-MONTH PRAYER GUIDE
12-MONTH PRAYER GUIDE 30 31 12-MONTH PRAYER GUIDE JANUARY APRIL Theme Purpose Theme Faith Scripture The Lord said to Abram, Leave your land, your family, and your father s household for the land that I will show you. I will make of you a great nation and will bless you. I will make your name respected, and you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, those who curse you I will curse; all the families of the earth will be blessed because of you. Genesis 12:1-3, CEB God, creator of heaven and earth, thank you for also creating me. As your child, I know I am created in your image for a purpose. Help me live out my calling in your name. Help your church live out its calling in your name. When you call, we have to move. Give us courage to move physically, emotionally, spiritually and financially, in your name. Amen. Scripture MAY Trust in the Lord with all your heart; don t rely on your own intelligence. Know him in all your paths, and he will keep your ways straight. Proverbs 3:5-6, CEB Loving God, thank you for your creation. So often, I try to figure everything out on my own, but God, you have all wisdom. Help me have faith that your grace is sufficient. Help me to remember and believe that you are faithful. Help me to walk in faith, not my own limited sight. Amen. FEBRUARY Theme Scripture Love God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him won t perish but will have eternal life. John 3:16, CEB Theme Scripture Simplicity Tell people who are rich at this time not to become egotistical and not to place their hope on their finances, which are uncertain. Instead, they need to hope in God, who richly provides everything for our enjoyment. Tell them to do good, to be rich in the good things they do, to be generous, and to share with others. When they do these things, they will save a treasure for themselves that is a good foundation for the future. That way they can take hold of what is truly life. 1 Timothy 6:17-19, CEB God of love and life, thank you for giving your only Son so that we may have eternal life. Help me to be generous in love. Give me the courage to give to you because you have so generously given to me, in the name of Christ. Amen. Holy God, I thank you for trusting me with your riches and your wealth. I promise daily, to use that which you provide to the Glory of your kingdom and the creation of resources for others to know you. I pray your strength as I refrain from thinking about financial riches, time and talents as my own, and I view them as gifts from on high. God, help me to live with simplicity so that I can honor you with my resources. Amen. MARCH Theme Confession JUNE Scripture With what should I approach the Lord and bow down before God on high? Should I come before him with entirely burned offerings, with year-old calves? Will the Lord be pleased with thousands of rams, with many torrents of oil? Should I give my oldest child for my crime; the fruit of my body for the sin of my spirit? He has told you, human one, what is good and what the Lord requires from you: to do justice, embrace faithful love, and walk humbly with your God. Micah 6:6-8, CEB God of endless love, we confess that we are often swept up in the tide of our generation. We sometimes forget our purpose and are moved more by private ambition than by social justice. We sometimes neglect love and dream more of our own benefits and comfort than of service and sacrifice. We sometimes turn away from our faith and try to speak your name without relinquishing our glories, without nourishing our souls, without relying wholly on your grace. Help us to make room in our hearts and lives for you. Forgive us, revive us, and reshape us in your image. Amen. Theme Scripture Contentment Why would people gain the whole world but lose their lives? What will people give in exchange for their lives? Matthew 16: 26, CEB Lord, help me to be grateful for what I have, to remember that I don t need most of what I want, and that joy is found in simplicity and generosity. Amen.
12-MONTH PRAYER GUIDE 32 33 12-MONTH PRAYER GUIDE JULY OCTOBER Theme Generosity Theme Wisdom Scripture Generous persons will prosper; those who refresh others will themselves be refreshed. Proverbs 11:25, CEB Scripture Happy are those who find wisdom and those who gain understanding. Proverbs 3:13, CEB Lord Jesus, teach me to be generous; teach me to serve you as you deserve, to give and not to count the cost, to fight and not to heed the wounds, to toil and not to seek for rest, to labor and not to seek reward, except that of knowing that I do your will. Amen. St. Ignatius Loyola God of life, grant me wisdom to serve you wholly. When I make choices, help me have your wisdom. I want to serve you. Though I live in a world that honors wealth over you, help me find home in you. Give me the wisdom to serve you every day. Amen. AUGUST Theme Scripture SEPTEMBER Serving Others Then they will reply, Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison and didn t do anything to help you? Then he will answer, I assure you that when you haven t done it for one of the least of these, you haven t done it for me. And they will go away into eternal punishment. But the righteous ones will go into eternal life. Matthew 25:44-46, CEB Make us worthy, Lord, to serve those here and throughout the world who live and die in poverty or hunger. Give them, through our hands, this day their daily bread; and by our understanding of love, give peace and joy. Amen. St. Teresa of Calcutta (Mother Teresa), adapted NOVEMBER Theme Scripture Time While Jesus and his disciples were traveling, Jesus entered a village where a woman named Martha welcomed him as a guest. She had a sister named Mary, who sat at the Lord s feet and listened to his message. By contrast, Martha was preoccupied with getting everything ready for their meal. So Martha came to him and said, Lord, don t you care that my sister has left me to prepare the table all by myself? Tell her to help me. The Lord answered, Martha, Martha, you are worried and distracted by many things. One thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the better part. It won t be taken away from her. Luke 10:38-42, CEB Welcome into my heart, Holy God. May I spend time with you so that your presence fills my home and my heart. Thank you for wanting to pour your loving presence into my life, if I would but let you. God give me the awareness of time to spend with you and in community with your people. May the time we spend together transform me. May the time spent with your people, in your name, transform the world. Amen. Theme Scripture Gifts We have different gifts that are consistent with God s grace that has been given to us. Romans 12:6a, CEB DECEMBER Theme Joy Dear Lord, teach me to be generous as you have been generous with me. Teach me that all I am and have are gifts from you. And gifts, Lord, are meant to be shared. Show me the joys of generosity. Help me to understand that others, perhaps unknown to me, depend on me for help. Make me a gift to others, in your name. Amen. Scripture My brothers and sisters, think of the various tests you encounter as occasions for joy. After all, you know that the testing of your faith produces endurance. Let this endurance complete its work so that you may be fully mature, complete, and lacking in nothing. James 1:2-4, CEB God of light and shadow, you know that we will experience challenges in our lives, but you have given us the gift of joy. Help us to choose joy in all circumstances, because you are always Emmanuel, God with us. Help us to share joy with others as we experience this holiday season. Amen.
SMALL GROUP STUDY GUIDE
REMARKABLY GENEROUS 36 37 Remarkably Generous is Impact Church s three-week, intensive church wide study of generosity. This guide will be your journal as we journey together during this part of our More Than Possible experience. For each week of our study, this guide provides you with sermon notes, scriptural references, prayer and devotion assignments, weekly readings and group discussion questions. Organizations that destroy the status quo, win. Whatever the status quo is, changing it gives you the opportunity to be remarkable. SETH GODIN Our Goal: Be remarkably generous and witness ourselves smash not only the status quo for churches, but the status quo within our communities and around the world. More Than Possible is our passionate pursuit of a continuing quest to do church differently. We are removing limitations and making room for remarkable futures for ourselves and for others. As we journey together to be remarkably generous, get ready for transformation in your life. More than the change we ll see in our lives, we journey for the expanse of Christ in the hearts and minds of people. Let s become remarkably generous together!
SMALL GROUP STUDY GUIDE 38 39 SMALL GROUP STUDY GUIDE WEEK 1 : MORE THAN POSSIBLE CARE FOR IT WEEK 1 : MORE THAN POSSIBLE CARE FOR IT Sermon Notes Scriptural Reference Earthly & heavenly treasures 19 Stop collecting treasures for your own benefit on earth, where moth and rust eat them and where thieves break in and steal them. 20 Instead, collect treasures for yourselves in heaven, where moth and rust don t eat them and where thieves don t break in and steal them. 21 Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. Seeing & serving 22 The eye is the lamp of the body. Therefore, if your eye is healthy, your whole body will be full of light. 23 But if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light in you is darkness, how terrible that darkness will be! 24 No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be loyal to the one and have contempt for the other. You cannot serve God and wealth. Worry about necessities 25 Therefore, I say to you, don t worry about your life, what you ll eat or what you ll drink, or about your body, what you ll wear. Isn t life more than food and the body more than clothes? 26 Look at the birds in the sky. They don t sow seed or harvest grain or gather crops into barns. Yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Aren t you worth much more than they are? 27 Who among you by worrying can add a single moment to your life? 28 And why do you worry about clothes? Notice how the lilies in the field grow. They don t wear themselves out with work, and they don t spin cloth. 29 But I say to you that even Solomon in all of his splendor wasn t dressed like one of these. 30 If God dresses grass in the field so beautifully, even though it s alive today and tomorrow it s thrown into the furnace, won t God do much more for you, you people of weak faith? 31 Therefore, don t worry and say, What are we going to eat? or What are we going to drink? or What are we going to wear? 32 Gentiles long for all these things. Your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33 Instead, desire first and foremost God s kingdom and God s righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34 Therefore, stop worrying about tomorrow, because tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. Matthew 6:19-34, CEB Pray this prayer every morning and every night during Week One. Devotion What are five key things God is saying to you personally in this passage? God, as you examine my heart, examine my thoughts about the five things you are speaking to me about in this passage. Help me to hear your voice and change my direction. Show me how I can gain joy in transforming my thoughts about generosity. In areas where I am lacking, increase my knowledge, increase my understanding, and increase my ability. Allow me to change my perspective to match your purpose. This is my eternal prayer. Amen.
SMALL GROUP STUDY GUIDE 40 41 SMALL GROUP STUDY GUIDE WEEK 1 : MORE THAN POSSIBLE CARE FOR IT ASSIGNMENT 1 WEEK 1 : MORE THAN POSSIBLE CARE FOR IT ASSIGNMENT 2 Read Matthew 6:19-34 Chapter 1 of The Treasure Principle Week One s Principles for Consideration: More Than Possible Read Matthew 25:14-30 Chapter 2 of The Treasure Principle Week One s Principles for Consideration: Care for It Complete Imprint Group Discussion Questions Complete Imprint Group Discussion Questions Principles for Consideration: More Than Possible We all worry about money and spend money on needless things. Money is not our idol; rather, money reveals our idols. An idol is a pseudo-salvific treasure, and we are treasuring things above God when we place our hope and faith in them. What do you worry about and spend money on unnecessarily? Clothes to make you feel beautiful or handsome? Special types of food for every situation to prove that you are healthy or a foodie? Or do you spend money on security, because you want to have control over the future? Therefore, stop worrying about tomorrow, because tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. Mathew 6:34, CEB If we take hold of this passage, it will both convict and transform our thinking and our way of being. We need to take a hard look at what we are seeking above God and determine what it will take for us to seek God first. What would it take for us to believe that there is More Than Possible for our lives with Jesus as the focus and creating a space where God can be revealed on earth amongst us? Principles for Consideration: Care for It We are stewards of everything, owners of nothing. What we have is not our own. We are merely managers of the resources God is entrusting to us. However, our attitudes and actions toward money often reflect the opposite belief. We often have a difficult time when asked to give, saying things like, Don t they know how hard I worked for this money? or Didn t they just ask us for something last week? These questions not only reveal our inability to recognize who really owns our resources, they also demonstrate our lack of understanding of what it means to further God s work in the world through our generosity. We re praying for the Lord to grow us into faithful stewards, who use Jesus resources for Jesus purposes. Weekly Treasure Principle God owns everything; I am God s money manager. Weekly Treasure Principle You can t take it with you, but you can send it on ahead.
SMALL GROUP STUDY GUIDE 42 43 SMALL GROUP STUDY GUIDE WEEK 1 : MORE THAN POSSIBLE CARE FOR IT Imprint Group Discussion Questions Pursue Individuals. Pursue Purpose. Build Environments. Build Relationships. WEEK 1 : MORE THAN POSSIBLE CARE FOR IT 9. How do you feel when you read you can send it on ahead? What are ways you can begin doing that now? (see The Treasure Principle, p. 18) 1. What in this life do you tend to see as valuable? 2. How does this compare to the value of eternal treasure? 10. What does a money manager do? What does it mean that you are God s money manager? (see The Treasure Principle, p. 25) 3. Is it significant that 15% of Christ s teaching deals with money and possessions? (see The Treasure Principle, p. 9) 11. What is the difference between thinking like an owner and thinking like a money manager? 4. If it is significant, why? And does this surprise you? 12. The book, The Treasure Principle, teaches that one of our central spiritual decisions is determining what is a reasonable amount to live on. How much thought have you given to this central spiritual decision? (see The Treasure Principle, p. 27) 5. What does the author mean when he writes that your spending habits are proof of your spiritual condition? (see The Treasure Principle, p. 11) 13. How should God s grace motivate us to give? (see The Treasure Principle, p. 31) 6. What would your spending habits say about you? 14. What does it mean that giving is an act of worship? Do you view giving with this perspective? Why or why not? (see The Treasure Principle, p. 33) 7. What are some ways to store treasures in heaven? (see The Treasure Principle, p. 15) 15. What personal attitudes or actions would change if you viewed every ordinary moment of each day as eternally important? (see The Treasure Principle, p. 35) 8. What is meant by the phrase deferred gratification, and is it hard for you? (see The Treasure Principle, p. 16)
SMALL GROUP STUDY GUIDE 44 45 SMALL GROUP STUDY GUIDE WEEK 2 : THE MATERIALISM ANTIDOTE WEEK 2 : THE MATERIALISM ANTIDOTE Sermon Notes Scriptural Reference Encouragement to give generously Brothers and sisters, we want to let you know about the grace of God that was given to the churches of Macedonia. 2 While they were being tested by many problems, their extra amount of happiness and their extreme poverty resulted in a surplus of rich generosity. 3 I assure you that they gave what they could afford and even more than they could afford, and they did it voluntarily. 4 They urgently begged us for the privilege of sharing in this service for the saints. 5 They even exceeded our expectations, because they gave themselves to the Lord first and to us, consistent with God s will. 6 As a result, we challenged Titus to finish this work of grace with you the way he had started it. 7 Be the best in this work of grace in the same way that you are the best in everything, such as faith, speech, knowledge, total commitment, and the love we inspired in you. 8 I m not giving an order, but by mentioning the commitment of others, I m trying to prove the authenticity of your love also. 9 You know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. Although he was rich, he became poor for our sakes, so that you could become rich through his poverty. 2 Corinthians 8:1-9, CEB Pray this prayer every morning and every night during Week Two. Devotion What are five key things God is saying to you personally in this passage? God, you are the best practice for giving. A divine majesty, you took on an earthly body and entered into poverty so that we can have eternity. As I journey to be a more remarkable giver, help me to reflect on your example. Help me to remember your sacrificial offering. Help me to be committed and pattern my giving life after your goal in my creation. Through your grace, help me to be the gift on earth and within humanity, as you purposed. This is my eternal prayer. Amen.
SMALL GROUP STUDY GUIDE 46 47 WEEK 2 : THE MATERIALISM ANTIDOTE ASSIGNMENT 1 Read Complete 2 Corinthians 8:1-9 Chapters 3-5 of The Treasure Principle Week Two s Principles for Consideration: The Materialism Antidote Imprint Group Discussion Questions Principles for Consideration: The Materialism Antidote Remove ALL excuses when God calls us to give. The Macedonian churches were in several trials, seasons of anything except abundance. And yet, they gave generously - even beyond their ability. What an example! With the Macedonian churches in mind, examine your own heart. Imagine the Lord inviting you to deeper, and more sacrificial, generosity. How often does your heart initially react by providing God (or others) with all of the reasons why you cannot give at this time? The Macedonian churches actually begged Paul for the opportunity to give, even during a time when they felt they could not. As you think through 2 Corinthians 8:1-9, let the Macedonian churches encourage you. The grace of Jesus (2 Corinthians 8:9) can make our hearts more like theirs. Let s learn together what it means to give sacrificially, regardless of circumstances. Weekly Treasure Principle Heaven, not earth is my home. I should live not for the dot, but for the line. Giving is the only antidote to materialism. God prospers me not to raise my standard of living, but to raise my standard of giving.
SMALL GROUP STUDY GUIDE 48 49 SMALL GROUP STUDY GUIDE WEEK 2 : THE MATERIALISM ANTIDOTE Imprint Group Discussion Questions Pursue Individuals. Pursue Purpose. Build Environments. Build Relationships. 1. When asked (by Jesus or others) to give sacrificially, have you ever excluded yourself because of your circumstances? How does 2 Corinthians 8 address that? WEEK 2 : THE MATERIALISM ANTIDOTE 8. Take money off the table for a moment. Think of the other resources you have: your home, your clothes, your electronics, your season tickets, etc. Do you honor God with these resources by giving them over to God? Do you use your home as a resource for God? How could you better do that? Do you lend (or give) your extra car to those in need? When you have extra tickets, do you try to sell them, or do you bless a teenager who has wanted to see a performer for her entire life, and may never have the opportunity to go to a concert? Are you honoring the Lord with all that you have? 2. The primary goal of this generosity journey is 100% participation from all persons in the church (regardless of amount). We want everyone within our faith community to lean in on generosity as a principle for life, not just this moment in time. What barriers or excuses might God be asking you to remove so that you can be part of the mission to create a safe sacred space for all within the community and the world? 9. This may be painful, but it will provide evidence. Please pull your last month's bank statement, including all of your debit card transactions. (You do NOT have to show this to anyone.) Get your calculator and take a hard look at where you have placed value. You want to pay attention to one-time payments, items that are not essential for living. Add up how much you spent on the following: 3. If you woke up tomorrow morning and prayed, Lord, help me to live for the line instead of the dot today, how would your day be different? (see The Treasure Principle, p. 50) Entertainment... (cable, concerts, movies, show tickets, etc.) Personal Beauty... (non-essential products, includes manicures, fill-ins, and pedicures, etc.) $ $ 4. What are some practical things you will do this week to live for the line, not the dot? (see The Treasure Principle, p. 50) 5. Respond to the following statement: Nothing makes a journey more difficult than a backpack filled with nice, but not unnecessary things.pilgrims travel light. What does it mean to be a pilgrim and to travel lightly? What are steps you can take to lighten your load? (see The Treasure Principle, p. 53) 6. Have you ever encountered a person whose possessions own them? What did this look like, especially in terms of their energy and attention? (see The Treasure Principle, p. 54) Dining/Eating Out... (restaurants/eateries, fast food, etc.) Clothing/Shoes... (non-essential for work/life) Gifts... (for others or self) Other Discretionary... (other funds spent doing things you like) GRAND TOTAL... (Considering this amount, how much of your total expenditures helped advance God s work on earth?) $ $ $ $ $ 7. What things would change if God truly got your first, not your last? (see The Treasure Principle, p. 62)
SMALL GROUP STUDY GUIDE 50 51 SMALL GROUP STUDY GUIDE WEEK 3 : ACTIVELY GENEROUS WEEK 3 : ACTIVELY GENEROUS Sermon Notes Scriptural Reference A costly sacrifice 18 That same day Gad came to David and told him, Go up and build an altar to the Lord on the threshing floor of Araunah from Jebus. 19 So David went up, following Gad s instructions, just as the Lord had commanded. 20 Araunah looked up and saw the king and his servants approaching him. Araunah rushed out and bowed low before the king, his nose to the ground. 21 Araunah said, Why has my master and king come to his servant? David said, To buy this threshing floor from you to build an altar to the Lord, so the plague among the people may come to an end. 22 Then Araunah said to David, Take it for yourself, and may my master the king do what he thinks is best. Here are oxen for the entirely burned offering, and here are threshing boards and oxen yokes for wood. 23 All this, Your Majesty, Araunah gives to the king. Then he added, May the Lord your God respond favorably to you! 24 No, the king said to Araunah. I will buy them from you at a fair price. I won t offer up to the Lord my God entirely burned offerings that cost me nothing. So David bought the threshing floor and the oxen for fifty shekels of silver. 25 David built an altar there for the Lord and offered entirely burned offerings and well-being sacrifices. The Lord responded to the prayers for the land, and the plague against Israel came to an end. 2 Samuel 24:18-25, CEB Pray this prayer every morning and every night during Week Three. Devotion What are five key things God is saying to you personally in this passage? God, despite my income, despite my current giving, despite my service, I offer to you only a sacrifice that will cost me something to give. I actively determine in my heart and in my soul to be generous with my time, with my talents, with my finances, and with every great gift you have bestowed upon me. I am intentional in my decision and determination to see plagues lifted from society as a result of my commitment to be remarkably generous. This is my eternal prayer. Amen.
SMALL GROUP STUDY GUIDE 52 53 WEEK 3 : ACTIVELY GENEROUS ASSIGNMENT 1 Read Complete 2 Samuel 24:18-25 Chapter 6 of The Treasure Principle Week Three s Principles for Consideration: Actively Generous Imprint Group Discussion Questions Principles for Consideration: Actively Generous As David is building the altar for the Lord, he knows that the sacrifice won t mean anything if it doesn t cost him something. He knows that a costless sacrifice won t honor the Lord. When we give to the Lord, often only we know whether it required faith and is sacrificial. A person can give a very large amount and it not be honoring to God, if it didn t really cost them anything. So let s examine our giving. Is it requiring faith and sacrifice? God wants us to give in a way that changes us, changes communities, and honors God. Weekly Treasure Principle My heart always goes where I put God s money.
SMALL GROUP STUDY GUIDE 54 55 SMALL GROUP STUDY GUIDE WEEK 3 : ACTIVELY GENEROUS Imprint Group Discussion Questions Pursue Individuals. Pursue Purpose. Build Environments. Build Relationships. 1. Are you currently giving in such a way that is changing you, that is sacrificial and requiring faith? If so, celebrate that work of grace in your heart. If not, what s holding you back? WEEK 3 : ACTIVELY GENEROUS 8. Would the above value statement be true about you? Or is there something that needs to be explained or modified? 9. Choose to make your giving to God the type of priority you want it to be. What will that mean for your MTP commitment? 2. What is one gift you have given that was incredibly fun to give? Why was it such a significant experience for you? (see The Treasure Principle, p. 39) 10. If you keep this commitment over the next two years, what type of spiritual change will that cause in you? 3. This week s Treasure Principle reads, My heart always goes where I put God s money. How has this been true in your life? (see The Treasure Principle, p. 43) 11. How will you leverage this change to influence others such as your children, your co-workers, your friends, your family, and others in your circles of influence? 4. Take a look at the giving journey on pages 27-31 of The Treasure Principle. Where would you currently find yourself on this journey? Where might God be challenging you to move? 5. List the financial commitments you currently have, especially those that go beyond a one-time payment, but that have a time duration. Examples would be a home mortgage, a lease agreement, a car loan, a cell phone contract, your child s tuition for school, your own tuition for school, etc. 6. Now list the commitment you are planning to make for More Than Possible (MTP). Where does it fall in the priority of those other commitments? Do you need to change or modify one or more of these other commitments to be able to manage well and complete your MTP commitment? What would that require? Is there a financial commitment you currently have that appears to be prioritized above your ability to make a sacrificial giving commitment? 7. If someone who didn t know you looked at your financial commitments, what would they say you value?
CHANGE IS POSSIBLE LAUNCH SUNDAYS 01.29.2017 02.05.2017 COMMITMENT SUNDAYS 03.05.2017 03.12.2017 Committing to Change Makes It Possible is a decision that creates a covenant between us and God as well as with each other. A covenant is a deep, abiding coming together of two or more people for a common goal. The meaning of a covenant is more than a simple agreement; it involves our faith, beliefs, dreams and sacrifices. IMPACT ON SYLVAN 7:30AM // 9AM // 11AM // 12:30PM IMPACT ON MAIN 10AM IMPACT ON SYLVAN 7:30AM // 9AM // 11AM // 12:30PM IMPACT ON MAIN 10AM We invite you to our Change Makes It Possible Launch (January 29th or February 5th) and Commitment Sundays (March 5th or 12th) as we celebrate reaching beyond different to remarkable connecting, pursuing and building more and more room for ALL of God s people.