Weekly Challenge: Philippians 4:1-17

Life Group,
After Paul told us to stand firm, be unified, pursue Christ, grow through the journey, and imitate Paul's example, he tells us to:

• Rejoice in the Lord
• Share your patience and gentleness with everyone
• Do not be anxious about anything
• Accept the peace of God as you pray about everything.

Jesus spoke about anxiety in Matthew 6 where he stated the most common causes of anxiety: physical attributes, clothing, food and drink, and the future.  Our list we made during Life Group probably could be lumped in those categories. 

But when we learn to trust God, to worry about nothing, to get along with others.....  The result is inexplicable peace. 

My challenge to you this week is to make a list of what makes you anxious.  What are you worrying about?  Then spend time with God every day rejoicing in the Lord.  And give it all to Him.

Be intentional.
Travis

Weekly Challenge -Philippians 3:15-21

Life Group,
Paul told the early Christians (and us) to:
1. Continue maturing (pursue God the Son)
2. Watch Paul, imitate Paul, and follow the example of other growing believers
3. Avoid the practices of the enemies of the cross
4. Live as citizens of Heaven

Can people listen to you talk and know that you are a citizen of Heaven? 
Can they observe your actions and recognize that "you are not from around here"?
Reminds me of the clip we discussed in LG...  How Ya Doin'.  Everyone in the bar knew that guy was not from around here!

Challenge: Identify who is watching you (your children, spouse, other family members, co-workers, younger believers, etc.) and adjust your living so you they can imitate you.

Be intentional this week.
Travis

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

King/Swanson Life Group Weekly Challenge

Life Group Family & Friends:

On Saturday, we finished a 20-week study of Colossians.  Paul ends his letter by giving thanks for his close, Christian companions and he also encouraged them.  Some of the people he mentions have left him at certain times.  But he lives out the words he wrote in Ephesians 4 about bearing with one another in love. 

Here are some words Paul used to describe his fellow servants: dear brother, faithful servant, comforter, hard worker, and wrestling in prayer.

 

My challenge to you this week is to discuss these questions with your spouse.

What words would someone who knows you well use to describe your relationship with Christ and with your community of believers?

How can you comfort, support, and encourage each other in our life group?

Be intentional.
Travis