Great discussion in LG on Saturday. So glad that we have a LG where people talk about real issues and have a desire to participate in the discussions.
Isaiah started this passage by telling others, or praising God. We used his list and added our own praises to get the following:
Provision, Kindness, Blessings, Protection, Hope, Steadfast Love, Compassion, Strength, Peace, Grace, Faithfulness, Goodness, Mercy, and Love.
Just as the Israelites praised God when they remembered the Good Old Days, we should take time to talk to each other and tell stories to our kids about what God has done for us.
Challenge: Remember what He has done and then praise Him.
Be intentional.
Travis
LIFE GROUPS: You don’t have to be a member of the church to join one of Lake Pointe’s small groups called Life Groups…it’s “the church within the church”. Life Groups are made up of people with similar ages or family structures meeting together for: •Living For Others | Mission/Ministry •Interactive Bible Study •Fellowship •Encouragement This is where real, life-enriching relationships can form and develop.
Monday, November 30, 2015
Monday, November 23, 2015
Weekly Challenge: Be Like Joe
LG Family and Friends:
Our passage of study last week was Isaiah 61:1-9. We read how God the Son was stating He was Anointed (Hebrew -Messiah, Greek -Christ) by God the Spirit and will bring good news to the poor, bind and heal the brokenhearted, proclaim liberty to the captives, release the prisoners of darkness, comfort mourners, etc.
It is a great passage of hope and encouragement.
This is the same passage Jesus read in church as described in Luke 4:14-21. Someone handed Him a scroll to read, he read this passage out of Isaiah (of His own words), and then told the audience that He read about Himself! Awesome.
We ended with a story about a guy named Joe who lived a very hard life. Then he decided to follow Jesus, changed his life, had a new purpose, and began serving others. The people he served did not know Jesus. But they knew Joe and they saw how he changed and they wanted to be like Joe.
My challenge to you this week is to be like Joe. When you are around your family, friends, and enemies during Thanksgiving, be like Joe. Help people see Jesus through you.
Be intentional.
Travis
Our passage of study last week was Isaiah 61:1-9. We read how God the Son was stating He was Anointed (Hebrew -Messiah, Greek -Christ) by God the Spirit and will bring good news to the poor, bind and heal the brokenhearted, proclaim liberty to the captives, release the prisoners of darkness, comfort mourners, etc.
It is a great passage of hope and encouragement.
This is the same passage Jesus read in church as described in Luke 4:14-21. Someone handed Him a scroll to read, he read this passage out of Isaiah (of His own words), and then told the audience that He read about Himself! Awesome.
We ended with a story about a guy named Joe who lived a very hard life. Then he decided to follow Jesus, changed his life, had a new purpose, and began serving others. The people he served did not know Jesus. But they knew Joe and they saw how he changed and they wanted to be like Joe.
My challenge to you this week is to be like Joe. When you are around your family, friends, and enemies during Thanksgiving, be like Joe. Help people see Jesus through you.
Be intentional.
Travis
Tuesday, October 20, 2015
Weekly Challenge -Isaiah 52:13-53:3
This passage of scripture is an amazing summary of the grace that is the good news of the gospel:
In this passage we are shown just how unfathomable God's ways are to us. He warns us that we must pay close attention if we are to fully "see" Christ because He is not going to be or do the things that we expect.
In this passage we are shown just how unfathomable God's ways are to us. He warns us that we must pay close attention if we are to fully "see" Christ because He is not going to be or do the things that we expect.
This week my challenge is to really seek Jesus Christ - investigate what he looks, speaks and acts like. Intimately comb the word to find the real Him!
Be intentional.
Jamie
Be intentional.
Jamie
Monday, October 5, 2015
Weekly Challenge -Isaiah 48:17-22
In this section of scripture God says several things to us:
1. He reminds us of who He is.
2. He reminds us that His ways are not only good but also good for us.
3. He makes a promise to us of what will happen if we listen to Him.
4. He tells us to be free from captivity even when we can't live up to our end of the deal and to proclaim the greatness of Christ and the freedom He provides.
5. Finally He reminds us that we can not do this on our own and that to be truly free we must hand over whatever is holding us captive to Him and return to His arms.
My challenge to all of us this week is to meditate on whatever has or is holding us captive. Put a name to it, put it at the foot of the cross and then live fully in the freedom that Christ has bought for us.
Be intentional.
Jamie
1. He reminds us of who He is.
2. He reminds us that His ways are not only good but also good for us.
3. He makes a promise to us of what will happen if we listen to Him.
4. He tells us to be free from captivity even when we can't live up to our end of the deal and to proclaim the greatness of Christ and the freedom He provides.
5. Finally He reminds us that we can not do this on our own and that to be truly free we must hand over whatever is holding us captive to Him and return to His arms.
My challenge to all of us this week is to meditate on whatever has or is holding us captive. Put a name to it, put it at the foot of the cross and then live fully in the freedom that Christ has bought for us.
Be intentional.
Jamie
Monday, September 28, 2015
Weekly Challenge -Isaiah 45
Life Group community:
· If you were on trial, would you be convicted of being a Christian?
Quick summary of the last few weeks:
Chapter 43
–God says you are my redeemed. You are
my witnesses. Gave us a message of
comfort, protection, hope, steadfastness.
We will be tested, but God will remain faithful.
·
The
question to you is, are you a good witness for God?· If you were on trial, would you be convicted of being a Christian?
Chapter 44
–Idolatry is a lie. Recognize
that God is the Creator, and that He has not left His creation to determine its
own path. God is continually working
within creation. Though the events, powers, and strategies of the world may
hide God’s work, God has made promises to His chosen people Israel to remind
them that God has not abandoned them.
Chapter 45
starts off with a big intro to Cyrus. He
was mentioned in 41 but now we see more detail.
The surprise to the Israelites is that Cyrus is called the Lords
shepherd and his anointed. For Cyrus
himself was a pagan idolater! God may
disapprove of idolatry but use an idolater for some good purpose. The fact that
he uses someone in a specific way does not mean that he approves of that
person’s total lifestyle. That is great
news for me. It means that He can still
use me even though I have idols in my life!
In Isaiah 45, God is explaining why idols get in the way
of allegiance to Him. So my challenge to you this week is to
repeat the challenge from last week.
Spend time identifying what you place more importance than your
Creator. Where is your security? Where is your control? What can you not live without? Where, what, or who do you go to for rest,
hope, security, etc.?
Be intentional.
Travis
Monday, September 21, 2015
Weekly Challenge -Isaiah 44 Idols
Life Group Community,
Our discussion was based on the topic of how an idol is a lie. Isaiah was very descriptive about the deception of the idol maker and detailed on how the created is worshipping the created.
Since idol worshipping seems very old testament and part of other religions, we can often pass over these truths as irrelevant. So we spent time making a definition of an idol. This summary from Tim Keller covered all the points from our discussion:
“It is anything more important to you than God, anything that absorbs your heart and imagination more than God, anything you seek to give you what only God can give. A counterfeit god is anything so central and essential to your life that, should you lose it, your life would feel hardly worth living. An idol has such a controlling position in your heart that you can spend most of your passion and energy, your emotional and financial resources, on it without a second thought. It can be family and children, or career and making money, or achievement and critical acclaim, or saving “face” and social standing. It can be a romantic relationship, peer approval, competence and skill, secure and comfortable circumstances, your beauty or your brains, a great political or social cause, your morality and virtue, or even success in the Christian ministry.
My challenge to you this week is to spent time in solitude and stillness while asking God to help you identify the idols you have placed in your life. Then discuss your idols with your spouse and with your life group as we go through this together.
Be intentional.
Travis
Our discussion was based on the topic of how an idol is a lie. Isaiah was very descriptive about the deception of the idol maker and detailed on how the created is worshipping the created.
Since idol worshipping seems very old testament and part of other religions, we can often pass over these truths as irrelevant. So we spent time making a definition of an idol. This summary from Tim Keller covered all the points from our discussion:
“It is anything more important to you than God, anything that absorbs your heart and imagination more than God, anything you seek to give you what only God can give. A counterfeit god is anything so central and essential to your life that, should you lose it, your life would feel hardly worth living. An idol has such a controlling position in your heart that you can spend most of your passion and energy, your emotional and financial resources, on it without a second thought. It can be family and children, or career and making money, or achievement and critical acclaim, or saving “face” and social standing. It can be a romantic relationship, peer approval, competence and skill, secure and comfortable circumstances, your beauty or your brains, a great political or social cause, your morality and virtue, or even success in the Christian ministry.
My challenge to you this week is to spent time in solitude and stillness while asking God to help you identify the idols you have placed in your life. Then discuss your idols with your spouse and with your life group as we go through this together.
Be intentional.
Travis
Sunday, September 13, 2015
Weekly Challenge -Isaiah 43
Life Group family:
Those were comforting words from God to the Israelites, and us, in chapter 43. Words of protection, love, steadfastness, comfort, control, holiness, etc.
Those words were for a group in captivity (Israelites) back then, and are for groups in captivity today such as the 30 million people involved in human trafficking today. 80% of them are female. 50% of them are children. God can deliver them as he delivered the Israelites.
I enjoyed the discussion on the trial imagery that God and Isaiah brought in this chapter. We are His witnesses and must tell others about God. We can do this by the way we live, but that has to be combined with us telling people how God loves us and how we have been changed by living for Him.
We can also do this by how we live and act while being tested by the water and fire (as Isaiah described in verse 2). We should have hope, living for the eternal, and still finding ways to love and help others.
My challenge to you this week is to spend some quiet time and ask God to show you the worries (water/fire) which you need to give away to your sovereign Lord. Then share with your spouse and family.
Be intentional.
Travis
Those were comforting words from God to the Israelites, and us, in chapter 43. Words of protection, love, steadfastness, comfort, control, holiness, etc.
Those words were for a group in captivity (Israelites) back then, and are for groups in captivity today such as the 30 million people involved in human trafficking today. 80% of them are female. 50% of them are children. God can deliver them as he delivered the Israelites.
I enjoyed the discussion on the trial imagery that God and Isaiah brought in this chapter. We are His witnesses and must tell others about God. We can do this by the way we live, but that has to be combined with us telling people how God loves us and how we have been changed by living for Him.
We can also do this by how we live and act while being tested by the water and fire (as Isaiah described in verse 2). We should have hope, living for the eternal, and still finding ways to love and help others.
My challenge to you this week is to spend some quiet time and ask God to show you the worries (water/fire) which you need to give away to your sovereign Lord. Then share with your spouse and family.
Be intentional.
Travis
Tuesday, September 8, 2015
Weekly Challenge -Isaiah 42
Life Group family:
We covered a lot of ground on Saturday with the timeline along with the study of Isaiah 42.
I enjoyed discussing how Isaiah was writing about God the Son coming as The Servant for Israel and for all believers. This was written 0ver 700 years before Jesus came as the Messiah.
He was chosen. He will bring justice and unity. He will not break, quit, or give up. He will not throw away the lowly and the weak. He will heal and free people.
750 years later, Philip was able to discuss this section of Isaiah with the eunuch to show him how Jesus is the Messiah. Another 2,000 years later, we get to sit in a room and discuss the same!
My challenge to you this week is to study the timeline and read Isaiah 43 to prepare for more great discussion time this Saturday.
Be intentional.
Travis
We covered a lot of ground on Saturday with the timeline along with the study of Isaiah 42.
I enjoyed discussing how Isaiah was writing about God the Son coming as The Servant for Israel and for all believers. This was written 0ver 700 years before Jesus came as the Messiah.
He was chosen. He will bring justice and unity. He will not break, quit, or give up. He will not throw away the lowly and the weak. He will heal and free people.
750 years later, Philip was able to discuss this section of Isaiah with the eunuch to show him how Jesus is the Messiah. Another 2,000 years later, we get to sit in a room and discuss the same!
My challenge to you this week is to study the timeline and read Isaiah 43 to prepare for more great discussion time this Saturday.
Be intentional.
Travis
Timeline:
|
Dates BC
|
Event
|
|
|
2000
|
Abraham
|
|
|
1900
|
Jacob changes name to
Israel
|
Had a divided
house. Sons of Leah and sons of Rachel
|
|
1750 - 1450
|
Israel nation
captivity in Egypt
|
|
|
1450
|
Israel entered the
Promised Land
|
|
|
1440
|
Land divided into 12
tribes
|
|
|
1050
|
Saul becomes first
King
|
From tribe of Benjamin
(Rachel)
|
|
1010
|
King David
|
From tribe of Judah
(Leah)
|
|
970
|
King Solomon
|
|
|
930
|
Israel divided
|
(10 tribes in North
-called Israel) and (2 tribes in South -called Judah)
|
|
740
|
Isaiah ministry begins
|
was
called by God ‘in the year that King Uzziah died’ (6:1)
|
|
722
|
Assyrian captivity
|
|
|
586
|
Babylonian captivity
|
|
|
538
|
Cyrus allows Jews to
return home
|
|
Sunday, August 30, 2015
Weekly Challenge
1) Israel is the chosen servant of the One True God
2) God's command for them to follow is to "Fear not!"
3) The means by which they can obey this command is bountiful: God will strengthen, uphold, be with, help, redeem, shame enemies, protect, hold their hand, and more...
4) Meanwhile God will transform the "worm" Israel into a "threshing sledge" that will shatter mountains. The fact that they will be transformed into a threshing sledge tells us that there will be much work to do. While God does in fact go before them, He will put them to work albeit His work and it might not be easy.
5) The purpose of ALL of this however has nothing to do with them, the purpose is to ultimately "rejoice in the Lord" and "glory in the Holy One of Israel."
The Challenge:
As the King/Swanson Life Group transitions over the coming weeks and months it is very natural for many if not all of us to experience fear. Those of us being sent off fear the unknown, those of us remaining in place fear change, those of us who are unsure what to do fear making the wrong decision. The fact of the matter is this: God is at work at Lake Pointe Church. God is at work in the King/Swanson Life Group. God is at work at Crosspoint Community Church. God is at work in Rockwall, Texas. God is at work just as we saw in Isaiah 41:8-9. Joining God in His work is not the wrong decision, therefore FEAR NOT!
We are all "worms" before the Almighty Creator of the universe. However, we are His servants chosen by Him and He has "threshing sledge" work for us to do. Whatever building you decide to practice corporate worship in I challenge you to step up and step into "threshing sledge" work. There is no shortage of need in the King Life Group, whether it be teaching, coordinating, planning events, running the facebook page, greeting, following up with visitors, praying, the list goes on and on and on. There is work to be done. If you know what you are good at, tell Travis or Jamie. If you don't know what you are good at but you wish to offer your services, tell Travis or Jamie. Crosspoint Community Church has 1 paid staff member who will do about a 3rd of the preaching. Therefore everything else will be done by volunteers....every week...and that means EVERYTHING, because they don't even have their own building, they are at the mercy of a middle school. There is "threshing sledge" work to be done.
But no matter what, no matter where you "attend" church, no matter what building you sing worship songs in, no matter what class you are a part of...we are ALL a part of the universal body of Jesus, equipped and sent to share Christ and build believers, and as we saw in Isaiah 41:16 the ultimate purpose is to "rejoice in the Lord" and "glory in the Holy One of Israel." It doesn't matter whether Crosspoint reaches a certain number of members or if the King Life Group reaches some ideal, what matters is that we rejoice in the Lord and glorify God. So fear not and get to work!
In Him,
Aaron
Sunday, August 23, 2015
Weekly Challenge
The Weekly Challenge:
Challenge 1:
Read Isaiah 41:8-16 and meditate on it this week in preparation for class this Saturday.
If you did not read Isaiah 40 last week, I highly recommend you do that as well.
Challenge 2:
Over the past 3 weeks we have discussed the leading we feel and subsequent decision to step out in faith to help launch a new church called Crosspoint Community Church. Mike and Jennifer Henry as well as Will and Cortney Schale also shared that they will be doing the same.
Pray:
- For a teacher and coordinator to step up from the Life Group to co-teach and lead with Travis
- All of us, regardless of what church building we call home, will continue to live out Ephesians 4 as a "Community of Unity"
- For wisdom for the leaders of the new church
- For the hearts and minds of those stepping out to help launch
In Him,
Aaron
Challenge 1:
Read Isaiah 41:8-16 and meditate on it this week in preparation for class this Saturday.
If you did not read Isaiah 40 last week, I highly recommend you do that as well.
Challenge 2:
Over the past 3 weeks we have discussed the leading we feel and subsequent decision to step out in faith to help launch a new church called Crosspoint Community Church. Mike and Jennifer Henry as well as Will and Cortney Schale also shared that they will be doing the same.
Pray:
- For a teacher and coordinator to step up from the Life Group to co-teach and lead with Travis
- All of us, regardless of what church building we call home, will continue to live out Ephesians 4 as a "Community of Unity"
- For wisdom for the leaders of the new church
- For the hearts and minds of those stepping out to help launch
In Him,
Aaron
Sunday, August 16, 2015
Weekly Challenge
I will just get right to the point.
The Challenge:
We start a new series next week called "Messiah's Coming" which will focus on the latter parts of Isaiah.
Challenge 1:
Read Isaiah this week
OR
At least read Isaiah starting in chapter 40 through the end of the book.
Challenge 2:
Over the past 2 weeks I have discussed that Priscilla and I feel led and are stepping out in faith to help launch a new church called Crosspoint Community Church. Mike and Jennifer Henry also shared last night that they will be doing the same.
Pray:
- For a teacher to step up from the Life Group to co-teach with Travis
- All of us, regardless of what church building we call home, will continue to live out Ephesians 4 as a "Community of Unity"
- For wisdom for the leaders of the new church
- For the hearts and minds of those stepping out to help launch
In Him,
Aaron
The Challenge:
We start a new series next week called "Messiah's Coming" which will focus on the latter parts of Isaiah.
Challenge 1:
Read Isaiah this week
OR
At least read Isaiah starting in chapter 40 through the end of the book.
Challenge 2:
Over the past 2 weeks I have discussed that Priscilla and I feel led and are stepping out in faith to help launch a new church called Crosspoint Community Church. Mike and Jennifer Henry also shared last night that they will be doing the same.
Pray:
- For a teacher to step up from the Life Group to co-teach with Travis
- All of us, regardless of what church building we call home, will continue to live out Ephesians 4 as a "Community of Unity"
- For wisdom for the leaders of the new church
- For the hearts and minds of those stepping out to help launch
In Him,
Aaron
Sunday, August 2, 2015
Weekly Challenge
Psalm 1:1-3 tells that those who delight in and meditate on God's law are blessed. How often do you meditate on God's Word? How often do you find yourself delighting in God's Law?
The Challenge:
Spend time this week meditating on God's Word. If you find being delighted doesn't come easily, spend time in prayer asking God for His delight. Here are some verses to consider:
James 1:25
Galatians 5:14
Roman 3:27
Romans 13:8-10
In Him,
Aaron
The Challenge:
Spend time this week meditating on God's Word. If you find being delighted doesn't come easily, spend time in prayer asking God for His delight. Here are some verses to consider:
James 1:25
Galatians 5:14
Roman 3:27
Romans 13:8-10
In Him,
Aaron
Sunday, June 21, 2015
The Weekly Challenge
I am highly disappointed that Google is having issues and I am unable to upload the "Mawwage" scene from "Princess Bride."
I am not however disappointed in the great conversation we had in class last night. We took a close look at the Creation process in Genesis 1 and 2 and took a dive into how deliberate God was in His creation of marriage and the family. We talked about how marriage and family is an essential part of our faith because it is a physical picture of the Trinity, God's relationship to us, Jesus' relationship to us and our relationship with fellow believers.
Therefore, Satan took no time at all attacking the first married couple and subsequently their children. And he relentlessly attacks marriages and the family today. We discussed that these attacks essentially involve 2 key ingredients: Satan's lies and our pride/selfishness.
The Challenge:
What are the lies you struggle with?
Ask God to reveal those lies and the truth to combat them.
Study the Word to hide the Truth in your heart.
Ask God to give you and your spouse the courage to be completely naked and exposed to one another.
Stand strong and fight for your marriage and the marriage of others.
In Him,
Aaron
I am not however disappointed in the great conversation we had in class last night. We took a close look at the Creation process in Genesis 1 and 2 and took a dive into how deliberate God was in His creation of marriage and the family. We talked about how marriage and family is an essential part of our faith because it is a physical picture of the Trinity, God's relationship to us, Jesus' relationship to us and our relationship with fellow believers.
Therefore, Satan took no time at all attacking the first married couple and subsequently their children. And he relentlessly attacks marriages and the family today. We discussed that these attacks essentially involve 2 key ingredients: Satan's lies and our pride/selfishness.
The Challenge:
What are the lies you struggle with?
Ask God to reveal those lies and the truth to combat them.
Study the Word to hide the Truth in your heart.
Ask God to give you and your spouse the courage to be completely naked and exposed to one another.
Stand strong and fight for your marriage and the marriage of others.
In Him,
Aaron
Sunday, June 14, 2015
The Weekly Challenge
The command is simple to say, but not so simple to live out. Jesus said, "Love one another as I have loved you." Jesus went so far as to command us to "love your enemies" and "pray for those who persecute you." He went on to teach that in doing this we are acting like our Father in heaven who reached out to us and offered us grace even while we were still enemies to Him.
My daughter drew the picture to the left. I found myself immediately trying to correct her regarding the missing "r" rather than being amazed by the fact that a 7 year old intently sat through a class for 40 year old married couples and walked away having learned about "grace." I shook my head and looked at her and said, "never mind, keep it like this, it is beautiful." Each one of us is like this picture, beautifully flawed, so how will we respond to each other?
The Challenge:
Spend time reflecting on 1 John 4:7-21.
Determine who the enemies are in your life and pray for them.
Contemplate what you are taught about them and yourself during those prayers.
Other Scriptures for study:
Matthew 5:43-48
John 13:34-35
1 Peter 4:8
In Him,
Aaron
Monday, June 8, 2015
Weekly Challenge - Pray for Campers
In class we spent time listing everyone we could think of from our Life Group who is attending Trek camp this week. We came up with the names of 2 adults who are leading, 1 teen who is leading, and 14 kids who are campers.
The Challenge:
Spend time in prayer this week for these people.
Pray that the leaders would be energized.
Pray that they would be filled with extreme spiritual power.
Pray that love would overflow from them to the kids who so desperately need it.
Pray that the kids would receive Divine guidance and direction.
Pray they would move towards owning their faith.
Pray they would find community and develop God-honoring relationships.
Pray they would know their value in Jesus.
Pray that God would ignite a passion in them for Him.
Pray their relationship with Jesus would deepen.
In Him,
Aaron
The Challenge:
Spend time in prayer this week for these people.
Pray that the leaders would be energized.
Pray that they would be filled with extreme spiritual power.
Pray that love would overflow from them to the kids who so desperately need it.
Pray that the kids would receive Divine guidance and direction.
Pray they would move towards owning their faith.
Pray they would find community and develop God-honoring relationships.
Pray they would know their value in Jesus.
Pray that God would ignite a passion in them for Him.
Pray their relationship with Jesus would deepen.
In Him,
Aaron
Monday, June 1, 2015
Weekly Challenge -Last lesson on Thessalonians
Life Group Community:
Paul told them to listen to his teaching and to follow his example. If you don’t work, you don’t eat.
Paul then told all the believers to never tire of doing what is right.
We
have finished the Spring study of 1 and 2 Thessalonians. 22 weeks of lessons.
The
final lesson covered a lot of topics and we had a good discussion time in
LG. The main topics included:
Paul
worked so he would not be a burden to the church community and to be an example
to the new believers.
Some
believers were not working because of confusion about the end times they could
not work, they were taking advantage of the generosity of the community of
believers, or they were lazy.Paul told them to listen to his teaching and to follow his example. If you don’t work, you don’t eat.
Paul then told all the believers to never tire of doing what is right.
But
how should we react to believers who do not obey biblical instructions? Paul said we need to address the issue, act
in brotherly love, do not associate with him, with the end goal of restoration. The purpose of this
discipline is not final rejection, but only correction. This example shows us how to deal with a
public, deliberate, persistent disobedience to truthful instruction.
This type of confrontation is not always easy, fun, or painless, but it is biblical. My challenge to you this week is to pray for the church body to claim the truth of God, be convicted of sin, remove the sin, and be restored.
Be intentional.
Travis
Travis
Monday, May 18, 2015
Weekly Challenge -2 Thess 2:13-17
Life Group,
Great participation
and discussion on Saturday. Thank you
for the input on 2 Thessalonians 2: 13-17.
In our
passage of study, Paul was telling the young Thessalonian church (and us) to
stand firm, know the word/truth, and hold tight to sound teaching.
So we looked
up seven passages of Paul’s teaching to see how we can stand firm, know the
truth, and hold tight to sound teaching.
Here is a list of some of the truths:
Love rules,
above all, trust Jesus, love comes from the heart, be humble, live in the
Spirit not the law, know where you get the power, be in step, do good, do what
is right even when it is tough, don’t give up, all decisions have consequences,
be changed, act different, encourage, have a pleasing attitude, meditate on
THRPPGEW, pursue righteousness, stay strong, be steadfast, be on guard, stand
firm in the faith, be strong, be courageous, and do everything in love.
Wow. That is sound teaching. My
challenge this week is to read through this list every morning. Allow it to be your truth, the teaching you
can hold on to, the reason why you can stand firm.
Be
intentional.
Travis
Monday, May 11, 2015
Weekly Challenge -2 Thessalonians 2:6-12
Life Group Community:
In our passage and discussion this week, Paul was reminding the young Thessalonian church (and us) to be patient, live with hope, and trust in God.
There is evil and wickedness in the world and there will be a future climax of lawlessness which will follow the removal of the restrainer. However, it is still in God's control. If fact, the evil and wickedness will be removed by the breath of God when it is time.
This knowledge should give the church hope. The challenge for the week is to focus on living with hope. To accomplish this challenge, you need to know the source of hope. Use this prescription for patience and hope found in Isaiah 41:10 to meet the challenge for the week.
Be intentional.
Travis
In our passage and discussion this week, Paul was reminding the young Thessalonian church (and us) to be patient, live with hope, and trust in God.
There is evil and wickedness in the world and there will be a future climax of lawlessness which will follow the removal of the restrainer. However, it is still in God's control. If fact, the evil and wickedness will be removed by the breath of God when it is time.
This knowledge should give the church hope. The challenge for the week is to focus on living with hope. To accomplish this challenge, you need to know the source of hope. Use this prescription for patience and hope found in Isaiah 41:10 to meet the challenge for the week.
|
Prescription
for Patience and Hope (Isaiah 41:10)
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Sunday
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“Do not be afraid”
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Monday
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“I am with you”
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Tuesday
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“Do not be dismayed”
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Wednesday
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“I am your God”
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Thursday
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“I will strengthen you”
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Friday
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“I will help you”
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Saturday
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“I will uphold you with my righteous right hand”
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Be intentional.
Travis
Saturday, April 18, 2015
Jesus Said Love
Here are some eye-opening stats about the women that we serve:
1. 96% in Sexually oriented business have been abused
2. 93% have sexual abuse in their past
1. 96% in Sexually oriented business have been abused
2. 93% have sexual abuse in their past
3. 80% are mothers
4. 69% have PTSD which is more than the average man coming home from war
5. 90% live in poverty
6. 89% say they want out
7. 70% of women that are trafficked come through the commercial sex industry
8. 87% are abandoned by family from a troubled home, resulting in homelessness or a runaway situation
9. Within 48 hours of being cast out, girls/women are approached by a sex trafficker
4. 69% have PTSD which is more than the average man coming home from war
5. 90% live in poverty
6. 89% say they want out
7. 70% of women that are trafficked come through the commercial sex industry
8. 87% are abandoned by family from a troubled home, resulting in homelessness or a runaway situation
9. Within 48 hours of being cast out, girls/women are approached by a sex trafficker
10. Houston is the #1 sex trafficked city in the nation
11. Dallas is #2
12. San Antonio is #3
13. 300,000 children a year are coerced & manipulated into sex trafficking each year in the United States.
14. In Dallas alone, sex trafficking is a 99 Billion dollar industry a year
15. There is an estimate of 400 trafficked teens being used on the streets of Dallas right now
16. The average age for a girl to enter the commercial sex industry in any form is between 11 – 13 years of age.
17. These women have been forced into transit lifestyles – abortions, unwanted pregnancies, & a demeaning lifestyle that could make them $1000 a night, but is handed over to their “john”
18. Many of the older women we come across don’t even understand that they have been trafficked because they don’t know any other lifestyle.
19. As you can see, for the vast majority, stripping is not a choice.
11. Dallas is #2
12. San Antonio is #3
13. 300,000 children a year are coerced & manipulated into sex trafficking each year in the United States.
14. In Dallas alone, sex trafficking is a 99 Billion dollar industry a year
15. There is an estimate of 400 trafficked teens being used on the streets of Dallas right now
16. The average age for a girl to enter the commercial sex industry in any form is between 11 – 13 years of age.
17. These women have been forced into transit lifestyles – abortions, unwanted pregnancies, & a demeaning lifestyle that could make them $1000 a night, but is handed over to their “john”
18. Many of the older women we come across don’t even understand that they have been trafficked because they don’t know any other lifestyle.
19. As you can see, for the vast majority, stripping is not a choice.
Ways to be involved:
1. Pray: subscribe to the Dallas JSL Update at http://jesussaidlove.com/blog/.
2. Volunteer for: Gift Bag Team, or Hospitality team by clicking here: http://jesussaidlove.com/volunteer/. If you feel called to serve on the Payer Team, Club Team, or Security team, please let me know. We can use anyone who is willing to help in any capacity.
3. Give: give to the 1500 Columbus renovation project by clicking here: http://jesussaidlove.com/1500. Sponsor a monthly outreach or join our support team on a monthly basis. For more info: http://jesussaidlove.com/donate/
*Please note: if you want to give a monthly outreach, the BEST way to ensure the gift is applied to DALLAS is to mail a check to the address provided & write DALLAS CLUB OUTREACH on the envelope & the check. If you want to give online, please denote that on the form AND whichever way you choose, please let me know when you gave & how much so I can let Jodi know to be looking for it.
4. Influence: like & share Jesus Said Love on Social Media:
On Instagram: jesussaidlove
My hope & prayer is that you will be blessed as much as I am by this incredible ministry to serve the most underserved women in health & education services as well as spiritual care & concern in our city.
TO YOUR UNSTOPPABLE SUCCESS!
Emilie Quisenberry
Emilie Quisenberry
Tuesday, March 31, 2015
Weekly Challenge -1 Thessalonians 5
Life Group
Community:
“This is very important,” the woman continued. “I want to be buried with a fork in my right hand.”
The pastor stood looking at the woman, not knowing quite what to say.
“That surprises you, doesn’t it?” the woman asked.
“Well to be honest, I am puzzled by the request,” replied the pastor.
The week
before we finished 1 Thessalonians 4 with Paul reviewing the rapture event with
the group of new believers. This week we
read 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11 in which Paul told the church about the day of the
Lord which occurs after the rapture. It
is inevitable, sudden, and inescapable.
Which is why he used the simile of labor pains upon a pregnant
woman.
As
believers, we can respond to this news with faith, love, and hope. We use these to encourage other believers,
build each other up, and stay focused on our commission to offer hope in a
hopeless world.
We read
several stories during LG. One story
was how Jim Bakker is now selling End of the World Biscuits on his website for
donations at marked up prices. You can
see other items and “donation” amounts here. You
can pick up a Time of Trouble food bucket for $3,000!!
We closed
with a story about the woman who wanted to be buried with her fork. It was a great reminder of how the best is
yet to come. Do you believe it? Are you responding to your family with faith,
love, and hope? Do people at work see
it? Do your friends? Does your community?
My challenge
this week is to be intentional in asking God to show you how to encourage
others every day this week.
STORY
There was a
woman who had been diagnosed with a terminal illness and had been given three
months to live. As she was getting her things in order she contacted her pastor
and had him come to her house to discuss certain aspects of her final wishes.
She told him which songs she wanted sung at her service, what scriptures she
would like read and what outfit she wanted to be buried in. The woman also
requested to be buried with her favorite Bible. Everything was in order and the
pastor was preparing to leave when the woman suddenly remembered something very
important to her.
“There is
one more thing,” she said excitedly.
“What is
that?” came the pastor’s reply.“This is very important,” the woman continued. “I want to be buried with a fork in my right hand.”
The pastor stood looking at the woman, not knowing quite what to say.
“That surprises you, doesn’t it?” the woman asked.
“Well to be honest, I am puzzled by the request,” replied the pastor.
The woman
explained, “In all my years of attending church socials and pot luck dinners, I
always remember that when the dishes of the main course were being cleared,
someone would inevitably lean over and say, ‘Keep your fork.’ It was my
favorite part because I knew that something better was coming…like velvety
chocolate cake or deep-dish apple pie. Something wonderful, and with substance!
So, I just want people to see me there in the casket with a fork in my hand and
I want them to wonder, ‘What is with the fork?’ Then I want you to tell them:
“Keep your fork…the best is yet to come!”
The pastor’s
eyes welled up with tears of joy as he hugged the woman good-bye. He knew that
this would be one of the last times he would see her before her death. But he
also knew that the woman had a better grasp of heaven than he did. She knew that something better was coming.
At the
funeral people were walking by the woman’s casket and they would notice the
pretty dress she was wearing, her favorite Bible and the fork placed in her
right hand. Over and over, the pastor heard the question, “What is with the
fork?” And over and over he smiled. During his message, the pastor told the
people of the conversation he had with the woman shortly before she died. He
also told them about the fork and about what it symbolized to her. The pastor
told the people how he could not stop thinking about the fork and told them
that they probably would not be able to stop thinking about it either. He was
right. So the next time you reach down for your fork, let it remind you, “That
the best is yet to come!”
Sunday, March 22, 2015
Weekly Challenge - 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18
Life Group,
What happens to believers when they die? When is Jesus coming back? When will we be caught up, raptus, or raptured? How will we know it has happened? What will happen to all the believers who have died before the rapture? Is it ok for me to grieve or mourn when a believer dies?
These are some of the questions the new Thessalonian believers had for Paul. Paul was telling all believers that we have hope which non-followers do not have. This hope should bring joy and encouragement. Then we should encourage others with this truth.
One way to find hope is to seek it in God's word. It was encouraging to me to listen to our LG community read passage after passage about hope in the bible!
My challenge to you this week is to ask God to provide you opportunities to encourage someone this week because of the hope which you have. This is not a wish type of hope. It is anticipation, expectation, confidence type f hope.
Be intentional this week.
Travis
Here are a couple images from the lesson prep regarding the timing of the rapture:
What happens to believers when they die? When is Jesus coming back? When will we be caught up, raptus, or raptured? How will we know it has happened? What will happen to all the believers who have died before the rapture? Is it ok for me to grieve or mourn when a believer dies?
These are some of the questions the new Thessalonian believers had for Paul. Paul was telling all believers that we have hope which non-followers do not have. This hope should bring joy and encouragement. Then we should encourage others with this truth.
One way to find hope is to seek it in God's word. It was encouraging to me to listen to our LG community read passage after passage about hope in the bible!
My challenge to you this week is to ask God to provide you opportunities to encourage someone this week because of the hope which you have. This is not a wish type of hope. It is anticipation, expectation, confidence type f hope.
Be intentional this week.
Travis
Here are a couple images from the lesson prep regarding the timing of the rapture:
Friday, March 20, 2015
Weekly Challenge 1 Thessalonians 4:9-12
Life Group,
I really enjoyed preparing and leading this lesson. The main topic was loving each other and the power of community.
We also talked about living in unity and not causing dis-unity. This reminded me to go back and read through Ephesians 4 several times this week along with Hebrews 12:18.
Ephesians 4 has been our Life Group descriptive chapter on living in community for several years. Words jump off the page to me when reading about bearing with each other in love, we are unified because of our savior, each of us in community have different roles, it is time to mature and grow, be intentional, deal with issues between believers early, don't sin when you get angry, be wholesome in your speech, uplifting, not gossiping and judgmental. Love, Love Love.
Also, here is the link to the crazy story of neighbors escalated feud over a Facebook post.
http://abcnews.go.com/US/feuding-neighbor-fence-hand/story?id=27884426
Be intentional this week.
Travis
I really enjoyed preparing and leading this lesson. The main topic was loving each other and the power of community.
We also talked about living in unity and not causing dis-unity. This reminded me to go back and read through Ephesians 4 several times this week along with Hebrews 12:18.
Ephesians 4 has been our Life Group descriptive chapter on living in community for several years. Words jump off the page to me when reading about bearing with each other in love, we are unified because of our savior, each of us in community have different roles, it is time to mature and grow, be intentional, deal with issues between believers early, don't sin when you get angry, be wholesome in your speech, uplifting, not gossiping and judgmental. Love, Love Love.
Also, here is the link to the crazy story of neighbors escalated feud over a Facebook post.
http://abcnews.go.com/US/feuding-neighbor-fence-hand/story?id=27884426
Be intentional this week.
Travis
Monday, January 19, 2015
Weekly Challenge -1 Thessalonians 2:1-4
Life Group Community:
Our discussion of 1 Thessalonians 2:1-4 included 2
main topics. First, why can it be hard
for us to speak with boldness? Second,
how do we define success as Christians?
For the first topic of boldness, we saw that Paul
spoke boldly and we know that the young believers in Thessalonica spoke with
boldness. Both parties were suffering
for the cause. We viewed a clip from God’s
Not Dead where only one student spoke boldly because he knew it was the right
thing to do. I am sure he was not the
only believer in that class.
The second topic of defining success as a Christian
was enjoyable as well. Some Christ
followers might say we cannot talk about being successful because we will never
“arrive” as a Christian. While it is
true that we don’t achieve a special perfect status, Paul said that he was
successful. The other end of the spectrum is the home of
the Christians who look at their actions and life status as success. I have been on 20 mission trips, I have not
been divorced, my children know all the books of the bible, my kids have never
been on a date, the pastor finds me to shake my hand, etc. (you get the
point).
We decided as a class that success comes back to the
heart. We know there has to be enough
evidence to convict you if you were arrested for being a Christian. Jesus said in Matthew 7, that by their fruits
you will know them. But your serving,
mission trips, parenting, loving your spouse, and being in community have to
come from a heart of love and thanksgiving.
Then you will be changed, your
family will be changed, your community will be changed. That sounds successful to me!
My challenge to you this week is to ask God the
Spirit to show you how to adjust your heart.
Maybe you need to stop judging other parents, or couples who have been
divorced. Maybe you need to evaluate why
you are doing activities. Is it to check
the Christian box, or is it so your heart will produce the fruits?
Be intentional this week.
Travis
Monday, January 12, 2015
Weekly Challenge -1 Thessalonians
Life Group,
These young/new believers were expectantly "Waiting" for the return of Jesus, but they were not passive. Their actions were making a difference all across Greece. That is such a great story. Just imagine people asking them why they are doing these things?, why they have hope?, why they are acting different?
The new believers from Thessalonica could not open their bibles to give answers. They could not draw out the Roman Road to salvation. They could not use church answers and use words like exegetical, theological, and pedagogical.
But they could say something like "I don't know much, but I do know that when I heard Paul talk about this hope, I felt it was true and decided to follow it. Now I have joy and peace because I have a new hope. So I have decided to pass it along to other people"
So what is your story? What do you tell others about how your life was changed or why you are a part of a community of believers?
My challenge to you this week is to make this a discussion during a family dinner.
Be intentional.
Travis
These young/new believers were expectantly "Waiting" for the return of Jesus, but they were not passive. Their actions were making a difference all across Greece. That is such a great story. Just imagine people asking them why they are doing these things?, why they have hope?, why they are acting different?
The new believers from Thessalonica could not open their bibles to give answers. They could not draw out the Roman Road to salvation. They could not use church answers and use words like exegetical, theological, and pedagogical.
But they could say something like "I don't know much, but I do know that when I heard Paul talk about this hope, I felt it was true and decided to follow it. Now I have joy and peace because I have a new hope. So I have decided to pass it along to other people"
So what is your story? What do you tell others about how your life was changed or why you are a part of a community of believers?
My challenge to you this week is to make this a discussion during a family dinner.
Be intentional.
Travis
Monday, January 5, 2015
Weekly Challenge -HOPE
Life Group
Community:
We had a great start to our new study of 1 and 2 Thessalonians. Aaron and I are both excited about the opportunity to teach through these 2 letters.
During LG, we spent a lot of time on Saturday reviewing the introduction to the new church in Thessalonica and the purpose, places, people, and dates.
We have the same hope as these new followers of God the Son. We get to live with hope (anticipation, expectation, and confidence) and be linked by community.
I may not be the man I could be;
I may not be the man I one day will be;
but praise God, I’m not the man I once was . . .
and that makes all the difference.
We had a great start to our new study of 1 and 2 Thessalonians. Aaron and I are both excited about the opportunity to teach through these 2 letters.
During LG, we spent a lot of time on Saturday reviewing the introduction to the new church in Thessalonica and the purpose, places, people, and dates.
Our study
would make a great movie. We have a story of HOPE which includes Jewish/Christian
converts, Greek converts, mobs, Jason hiding people, Paul and Silas having to
escape out of town, Timothy meeting with the new believers and reporting to
Paul, and locations such as Thessalonica, Corinth, Lystra, and Philippi.
We have the same hope as these new followers of God the Son. We get to live with hope (anticipation, expectation, and confidence) and be linked by community.
The
challenge for the week is to read 1 Thessalonians again, but think about the
hope the new followers have even through the trials, confusion, persecution,
being made fun of, taken to jail, and losing contact with their leader.
Think about
this quote from Martin Luther King, Jr (and possibly others before him):
I may not be
the man I want to be;
I may not be
the man I ought to be; I may not be the man I could be;
I may not be the man I one day will be;
but praise God, I’m not the man I once was . . .
and that makes all the difference.
Be
intentional this week.
Travis
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