Weekly Challenge (play for the week)

Life Group Family & Friends:

We finished our study of Luke on Saturday.  Luke completed the story of the events surrounding the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus with Jesus appearing to the 2 disciples walking to Emmaus, then appearing to main 12 disciples in the upper room, followed by the ascension from Bethany. 

Luke finished his book for the Gentiles by telling all of us:

1)    God calls each of us first, to faith in Christ
2)    and then to do great things for His kingdom

It was a very funny/ironic description of how the 2 followers thought that the stranger (Jesus) was so out of touch and they tell Him of what He just went through.  The truth was on their lips but not in their hearts.  That can describe us at times as well.  We need to ask Jesus to open our eyes and our hearts when we dive into His word.

My challenge to you for the week is to answer these 2 questions:

What is God’s purpose for his church? 

What specifically does God want me to do?

You are called to do great things for His kingdom.  We have the power of the Holy Spirit. 

Be Intentional.

Travis

Weekly Challenge (Play)

Life Group Team:

A lot of prayer and preparation went into the leadership meeting.  Thank you for being part of the team. 

It was a very special and meaningful moment when we got to honor and thank Bill McKown for his service and leadership to our Life Group as coordinator.  We are excited to see the new role he will take on our team and the help he will give Kevin Mills and Will Schale as they become our coordinator team.  Check out this website for some more information on the Divine Servant sculpture: Max Greiner Jr. art

Our challenge play for the week is to read Ephesians 4 at least once this week.  As you read that chapter, think about our Life Group and how we need to be a community of unity.  Ask the Holy Spirit to open up your eyes and your heart to the words.

Be Intentional.

Travis

Weekly Challenge

Life Group Family & Friends:

Our lesson Saturday night focused on Jesus being sent from Pilate to Herod and back to Pilate because the Jewish leaders wanted him dead.  Even though Pilate and Herod found no fault in Jesus, He was still sentenced to death by crucifixion.  How?  Why?

Not only was Jesus being sentenced to death, but a guilty murderer, Barabbas, was being let go.  The religious leaders were so blind in their anger and opposition to Jesus that they would rather have a murderer released than see Jesus let go.  The name Barabbas means “Son of the father”.  There was great irony in the religious leaders’ request.  They asked that the one named “Son of the father” be released even though he was guilty.  And in his place they wanted to murder the true “Son of the Father”!  The unbelieving Jews would one day be judged by the very One they were so unjustly condemning. 

Even though things seemed so terribly out of control for Jesus and His followers, the truth is that Jesus was in control.  In the midst of the beatings and the blind opposition, He still spoke the truth boldly.  Have you ever found yourself in a position where things seemed out of control but you still were able to speak the truth boldly in the face of spiritually blind opposition?

My challenge to you this week is to spend time as a family praising God for being in control.  Use a dinner time to have your family members identify tough times they are going through in school, with friends, at work, spiritually, physically, etc.  Then praise God for being in control.

 

Be Intentional.

Travis

“Have it Your Way”

“Have it Your Way” Family Devotional

 Adapted from thrivingfamily.com

Plan a night to have hamburgers for dinner. Start the meal off by asking, “Did you know that ketchup and cheese are the most favored hamburger toppings? What do you like on your hamburger? Why?” Once everyone has their burgers made, sat at the table together and you’ve blessed the food start your mealtime discussion.

Table Talk: Have you heard the fast-food restaurant slogan “Have it your way”? What does it mean to you? Why do customers like having choices? Did you know that in the Bible there are stories of men who told God, “Have it Your way”?

·         How did Noah let God “have it His way” when it came to building the ark? Could a canoe have done the job? Why? (See Genesis 6:14-22.)

·         How did Moses let God “have it His way” when he went before Pharaoh? What was the result? (See Exodus 7:1-6.)

·         How did Joshua let God “have it His way” when he marched around Jericho? Did it make sense at the time? Why or why not? What did God prove? (See Joshua 6:1-20.)

Do you remember God’s greatest commandment? (Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. ~Matthew 22:37) If we were to tell God “Have it Your way” what would that look like? (Putting God first everyday)

After Dinner Application: (Prepare this visual beforehand. Put three golf balls in the bottom of a canning jar. Add rice, dried beans or field corn to fill the jar. Make sure the lid will close. Then dump the contents of the jar into a large bowl.)

When we’re not deliberate about putting God first in our daily life, spiritual matters tend to be crowded out. If we’re going to tell God “Have it Your way” about His greatest commandment we have to put Him first. Let me show you an example:

·         Gather the children around the large bowl of contents. Explain that the jar represents their day and all the activities that fill it. Have the children start to add the rice, corn or beans into the jar while naming activities or responsibilities that occur in a typical day.

·         For instance, a small handful of beans may represent brushing teeth; adding another fistful is equated with making the bed. Continue filling the jar to represent activities or chores, such as watching television, playing video games or feeding the family pet.

·         After all of the smaller objects are added, try putting the golf balls in the jar. Describe that the balls represent Bible story time, praying to God and showing love to others. The children will see that the three balls will not fit neatly, and the lid cannot be secured.

·         Now, dump all the contents of the jar back into the bowl. Start with the three balls first, restating that they represent Bible time, praying and showing love to others.

·         Then have the children add all of the smaller items, equating each fistful with activities in their day.

·         When everything is added back in the jar, put the lid on. Explain to the children that when we put God first in our lives, everything else fits.

Discuss some ways each person in the family can let God “have it His way” this week. Have each person make a commitment to put God first for the next five days and see how everything else will fit into place. Each night a dinner review Matthew 22:37 and let each family member share how they “Let God have it His way” that day.

LG Weekly Challenge

Life Group Family & Friends:

The passage we studied in Luke 22:39-62 gave a description of a very dark time in the life of different people.  Jesus was ending his time with the disciples and beginning a lonely road of torture and death.  The disciples saw their hope and their rabbi being arrested.  The religious leaders came in physical darkness and spiritual darkness to arrest God the Son. 

We all have to endure dark times in our lives.  These times may last a week, a month, or many years.  But how do we prepare?  Let’s look at what Jesus taught us:

·         Pray for heavenly help to endure the darkness of trials and temptations, (Luke 22:39-46)
·         Resist the urge to become bitter, to act in ignorant opposition to God’s plans, or to escape persecution for the Kingdom’s sake, (Luke 22:47-53)
·         Turn from self-sufficiency and pride that leads to denial [a failure of nerve and faithfulness], (Luke 22:54-62)

Luke gave a lot of detail to the story and contrast of how Jesus prepared for enduring the darkness and how Peter struggled and failed in his period of darkness.   However, the fact that Peter recovered from his betrayal and became one of the greatest Christians in history gives hope that anyone can recover.

The challenge for you this week is to read Luke 22:39-62 then read the eight chapters of 1 & 2 Peter.  Talk with your spouse about how Peter learned to endure darkness.

Be Intentional.

Travis

National Day of Prayer

Thursday, May 3 is the National Day of Prayer.  Lakepointe has put together a 7 day prayer guide to help you pray this week and every week for our Nation.