The Advent Conspiracy

Gift Ideas For Relational Giving

Here are a few ideas to get your own creative juices flowing.

The gift of time –
Create a fun certificate stating the gift of time you want to give, for example, help with a project around the house or help with errands. Bring coffee, tea of lunch and flowers when you come, be intentional about really connecting while you’re together!

Here are some ideas for spending time together:
• Wrap popcorn, gourmet root-beer and a classic DVD for a movie night with a friend
• Host a Hockey Night in Canada party and make homemade pizza
• Wrap 2 copies of a used classic book to read with a friend
• Bundle up, grab a hot chocolate and take a walk through the Christmas lights in Victoria Park with friends or family

Give creative coupons:
• Babysitting for a worn out sister-in-law, sibling or neighbour
• Yard work for an elderly person in you life
• Massage for that person who has been working a bit too hard lately
• Road trip to go on an out-of-town adventure with your child
• Car maintenance to change the oil in a friend’s car (if you know now)
• House project to help build a shed, clean the garage, closets etc.

Give a certificate for a day together doing something that person is passionate about:
• A new bat and a trip to the batting cages
• A new guitar strap and trip to the guitar center to play guitars together
• A day trip with your cameras for the photographer friend
• A day hike together, you bring the lunch

Things to make with the kids:
• Simple scrapbook with pictures of time with the person you’re giving it to
• A home “published” story, written and illustrated by the kids, the time you spend with the kids creating it is priceless
• A DVD of your life these days for long distance friends and family

Ask yourself: “What can I DO?” And give of yourself!
“What do they like to do?” Make time to do it with them.

A side note:
This isn’t about creating a bunch of new rules to be legalistic about for Christmas. It’s ok to spend some money (in fact sometimes creating something cool can be much more expensive – so be aware of that) don’t create a whole separate set of pressures, worry and guilt by feeling like you can’t spend a dime. Just step out of the consumerism, be thoughtful and enjoy the celebration!

Don’t forget to visit www.rethinkingchristmas.com for ideas from people around the world.

The Game of LIFE: RISK

CONNECTION GROUP QUESTIONS
RISK: Playing to Win
Sunday November 30, 2008

Opening:
What is the riskiest thing you’ve ever done? It could be anything- jumping out of a plane, or joining a Connection Group! Share with each other some of your greatest, riskiest, adventures!

Digging Deeper
The bible is stuffed full of stories about God calling people to take a risk, and people responding. You can first share some of your favorite bible stories of risk. Or jump right into this story…

Read Luke 5:1-11
Put this story into context. What has happened leading up to this? Review what brings Jesus and these fishermen to this point.

After reviewing the story, discuss the implications of what unfolds: what would have happened if Simon didn’t throw down his net? Why is he frightened after the miraculous catch? What does it mean that he left everything? What does it mean to really follow Jesus now?

Now, what does this all imply for our lives? Have you ever missed an opportunity to take a risk for God? Have you ever tried to put off obeying God? Is Jesus asking you to obey him now?

What would “throwing down your net” mean for you? How can you obey Jesus in a simple and obvious way? How might that begin to change your life?

Looking to the theme of risk- do you desire a life of comfort and safety, or a life of risk? Do the two ever cross paths? What is actually riskier- following Jesus, or following your own will?

What does Jesus mean when he tells all the disciples in Matthew 10:39, “Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.”?

Closing:
Challenge one another to he risky wonderful life of following Jesus. What is one risk you can take tonight? What is a risk you can take this week? Pray about it, and pray for one another.

Sorry: The Game of Sweet Revenge

Connection Group Questions
SORRY: Playing with Revenge
November 23, 2008

Opening
This game is a little different. There is no way to win at the game of revenge and anger. Where as we want to play and win our other games- pursuing meaning, sex and money- we don’t want to play this game. We want to walk away from the table.
Share with the group your questions or personal struggles with revenge and anger. Have you ever sought revenge? What was the result? Have you held onto anger? How did that affect you? How did that affect those with whom you were angry? How did it affect other people in your life?

Digging Deeper
The bible talks a lot about this game of revenge and anger.
Read Ephesians 4: 25-32.
Review what this teaches us about anger and discuss:
Is anger a natural human emotion? Is it ever all right to be angry? In what ways or under what circumstances? What does it mean to command, “In your anger do not sin”?
What do you do with your anger: do you bottle it up, or spit it out? How can both be dangerous? Is there a better way to deal with it?

“A fool gives full vent to his anger but a wise person keeps himself under control (Proverbs 29:11).”

Why is it so important to not let the sun go down on a season of anger? Did you have a season of anger in your life? Has it crept into following seasons?

In the end the command is direct- “get rid of it.” It’s also understood in terms of Christ’s forgiveness. Why is it so vital to always view our lives, our emotions, and our relationships in light of Christ? How should the forgiveness we have in Christ guide the forgiveness we offer others?

If you have time: read Romans 12:17-21.
This is more directly related to the area of revenge, Discuss this rather difficult passage- “do not take revenge but leave room for God’s wrath.” Will God take revenge? Will He avenge? What will He avenge?

Closing
If the command is to get rid of it, let’s make sure we do just that. Within the comfort level of the group take time to share the following:

First, identify those with whom you are angry or seek revenge.

Second, identify why you want revenge or hold a grudge. What did they do to you or take from you?

Third, just get rid of it. If this means you’ll need to make a call, make the call. If it means you need to leave it before God, leave it with him. But whatever you do, don’t let the sun go down on another season of your life playing this game of revenge!

Monopoly: Playing with Money

Connection Group Questions Monopoly: Playing with Money November 16, 2008

Opening
We are not uncomfortable with the subject of money, but rather, the subject of OUR money- our income, our expenses, our debts, our spending habits.

If you have any, share some really amazing “spending” stories- something you bought that brought you joy, meaning and deep fulfillment. Or, share any spending stories that have brought you grief and regret.
Or, if you have any, share some really amazing “giving” stories- something or someone you blessed with your giving that brought you joy, meaning and fulfillment.

Digging Deeper
Within the group’s comfort level, discuss the subject of budgets. What were you taught about money growing up? How was it valued? How was it managed?
Talk about you own money matters. Do you have a budget? Do you know how much money comes in? Do you know
how much money goes out? Do you know where the money is going?

Jesus talks more about money than any other subject next to his mission. What do you currently think/believe that the bible teaches regarding money? Reference bible passages. What is the picture of money that emerges? Was Jesus pro or against money, or something else entirely?

Let’s look at Matthew 6:19-24
In the first section Jesus introduces an eternal perspective of “stuff.” What should we value, and what should we not? What perspective pre-occupies most of your time, thinking and decision-making?

In the second section Jesus talks about longings. What are looking at/longing for? How does this affect you? Can you think of any situations where your desire for more stuff detracted from a healthy view of life? Does the 10th Commandment shed any light on this?

In the third section, Jesus says his most famous money statement. Is it really this sever? Have you felt this tension in your life? What does a life of serving money, as compared to God, look like? How does your life compare?

Even Deeper Now!
A very simple plan to start winning the game of money was presented in worship:

• Give a minimum of 10%,
• save a minimum of 10%,
• live on and enjoy 80%.
• As time passes, increase the first two.

Is this totally unrealistic for your financial situation right now?
Would you even desire to manage your money this way?
If not, how do you desire to manage your money?
If this is appealing, what is it going to take to move in this direction, get there, and grow? What will have to stop? What will have to change? What habits must you break, and what habits must you start?

_____
Matthew Chapter 6:19-24

19"Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. 20But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

22"The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are good, your whole body will be full of light. 23But if your eyes are bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness!

24"No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money.

The Game of Life: Twister!

November 9, 2008

Opening:
You can draw your own pig at http://drawapig.desktopcreatures.com/
Sex can be a very uncomfortable subject. (Especially here, since participants are encouraged to share about their own lives.) PLEASE do not feel obligated to reveal any more than you feel is comfortable or appropriate. Start the meeting by talking about some ground rules for the discussion, and commit to total confidentiality.

Digging Deeper:
We’ll start with an academic approach. Feel free to check out this article dealing with recent stats regarding sexual activity. And this one on sexual stats among adults.
Sex holds incredible power and prominence in our lives and culture. It’s often powerfully good, or powerfully bad. How can it go to such extremes?
What is the current status of sex in our culture: what is being said? What is being marketed? What is off limits? What is fair game? How do you respond to what might by called our
“over-sexed” society? How are people winning at the game of sex, and how are others losing in the very powerful game.

Now let’s uncover the very basics of what the bible teaches. Read Genesis 1:26-31.
How are humans like the rest of creation? How are we different (in this story)?
What is “the same” about men and women? What is different? Are both sexes needed to reflect the image of God? What is the image of God? Is God a sexual being?
If the story ended here, what would our sexual guidelines be?

Read Genesis 2:18-25.
What wasn’t good in creation? Why would a man need a helper (go ahead, have some fun with this one!)?
What is our connection to creation in this account (v. 19ff)? What does naming imply? Is God surprised that no suitable helper was found? What does God do? Why does God do it this way? Reflect on what this means for male female relationships. (Why the rib?)
What is the new morality outlined in this passage (23ff)?

Discuss George’s proposition regarding sex:
Babies and Bonding, that’s what it’s all about. What does the mean for us, for our relationships, for our marriages? Discuss the implications of the radically exclusive view of engaging in sexual relations?

Closing:
You’ve probably touched a few nerves in your discussion. It may have been more academic, or perhaps some have shared from their experiences. Within the group’s comfort level, discuss how people are winning in the game of sex, and how they are losing. How can we turn the table on the game and play in a way that brings out the real blessings of our sexuality?

_____

Genesis 1:26-28

26 Then God said, "Let us make man in our image, in our likeness, and let them rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, over all the earth, [b] and over all the creatures that move along the ground."

27 So God created man in his own image,
in the image of God he created him;
male and female he created them.

28 God blessed them and said to them, "Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air and over every living creature that moves on the ground."


Genesis 2:20-25
But for Adam [g] no suitable helper was found. 21 So the LORD God caused the man to fall into a deep sleep; and while he was sleeping, he took one of the man's ribs [h] and closed up the place with flesh. 22 Then the LORD God made a woman from the rib [i] he had taken out of the man, and he brought her to the man.

23 The man said,
"This is now bone of my bones
and flesh of my flesh;
she shall be called 'woman, [j] '
for she was taken out of man."

24 For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh.

25 The man and his wife were both naked, and they felt no shame.

The Game of LIFE: BUNCO!

bun·co also bun·ko (bung' ko)
n. pl. bun·cos, also bun·kos
1. A swindle in which an unsuspecting person is cheated; a confidence game.
2. A parlor game played in teams with three dice.
3. A winning throw in the above game; three of a kind of a specified number.

[Probably alteration of Spanish banca, card game, from Italian banca, bank, of Germanic origin.].

Groups are encouraged to plan a games night this month!

I recently discovered BUNCO! It's a blast, made for 12 people, and perfect for Connection Groups. A round takes about 2 hours. Check out this site and read the rules!

Strictly speaking, Bunco is a game of dice, played in rounds. Players take turns rolling the dice and trying to accumulate as many points as possible to win each round. The game is played at tables of four in competing teams of two.

Players score points by rolling three dice and trying to match the number they're supposed to roll for that round. They get a point for each die that rolls the number, and if all three roll the number they score 21 points. They also score 5 points for rolling three of a kind of any other number. They get to keep rolling as long as they score one or more points with each roll. Once they fail to score they pass the dice to their left and the opposing team gets a chance to score.

During each round the teams at the Head Table try to score 21 points. The first team to score 21 points wins the round and play stops. At all other tables play stops when the Head Table play stops and the team with the highest score at each lower table wins the round.

At the end of the round players change seats, the winners at each of the lower tables move up a table, and the losers at the head table move to the lowest table. Players also switch partners at the end of the round, so you never play with the same partner twice in a row.

During play, players track the number of rounds they win and lose as a team, and the number of Buncos scored individually, on their personal scorecard. At the end of the night wins/losses and Buncos are tallied and prizes awarded.

Right.

Now we're going to tell you the truth... Bunco is a social event. It's a party. It's a blast! Twelve of us get together once a month, leaving the cares and worries behind, and leaving the kids with their fathers or baby-sitters.

We fall off our diets, snacking on M&Ms, Chex-Mix, or anything else we can get our hands on. We have appetizers, a (usually) delicious dinner, and seconds on dessert. We drink our favorite spritzer, Chardonnay, or Drink-of-the-night, and we talk.

We talk about our kids. About the neighbors. About anyone who didn't show up. About our husbands, our jobs, their jobs, the builder in our community, TV shows, current events, and anything else that might tickle our fancy.

Oh yeah, and we play a silly, mindless dice game with wild abandon, hoping to take home a few more sheckles then we arrived with.

Now that's Bunco.

GLORI(FIED)

Sunday, October 26, 2008

OPENING

Define/explain the following movements of our salvation:

• Petrified:

• Justified:

• Sanctified:

• Glorified:

Digging Deeper:

Read the following passages and discuss each part:

• What is being said and what does it mean for our lives?

Romans 8:18-30. 18 I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us...

19 The creation waits in eager expectation for the sons of God to be revealed. 20 For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope 21 that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the glorious freedom of the children of God...

22 We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. 23 Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the first fruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies...

28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. 29 For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. 30 And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified...

Connection Group Questions:

Glorification is the endgame of this wonderful gift of salvation. This refers to that time when, at Christ's return, all believers, both living and dead, will have the full and final redemption of their bodies and reach their final state– glorification in Jesus. The process of our regeneration, justification and sanctification will reach its final goal. We will be saved not just from the power of sin, but from the presence of sin. Even death itself will be swallowed in victory.

Glorification is the believer's hope- for the present and the future. It is a comfort in this fallen world where sin continues to wreak havoc on creation and in our lives. God is working even now to purify His children in preparation for our future glory. In a real way we are already glorified, secure in Jesus, evermore a child of God. But at Christ's return God will make all things right and keep it that way for eternity. We will live forever in the new heavens and new earth as glorified saints, enjoying all of the benefits of salvation that Christ has won for us.

• What are the potential "pitfalls" of this promise for believers?
• How can we apply the hope and promise of glorification to our world?
• How can the hope of glorification change your life now?
• Would you say you have experienced the glory of God?

SANCTI(FIED)

Opening:
It is important to differentiate between justification and sanctification. Justification is another word for salvation. Jesus gave his life on the cross as a sacrifice for our sins. Believers are saved because of what Christ has already done. We can do nothing to earn salvation, it is the gift given to every child of God regardless of race, age, maturity, or merit.

• Would you say you have been justified through your faith in Jesus?

Digging Deeper:
Sanctification originates from the Greek word hagiazo, which means to be "separate" or to be "set apart." Sanctification relates to a sovereign act of God whereby He "sets apart" a person, place, or thing in order that His purposes may be accomplished.

When a person is sanctified he or she is being set apart by God for a specific divine purpose. The moment we are saved in Christ we are also immediately sanctified and begin the process of being conformed to the image of Christ. As God's children we are "set apart" from that moment to carry out His divine purposes unto eternity. Hebrews 10:14 says, "For by one offering He has perfected forever those who are being sanctified."

• Are you set apart for God?

But what is the work of sanctification? What does it practically mean to be "set apart"? Sanctification can be described as an inward spiritual process whereby God brings about holiness and change in the life of a Christian by means of the Holy Spirit. The effects of living in a fallen world have harmed everybody differently. We all face different issues, struggle with sin, and past hurts of varying degrees, hindering our ability to live the life God desires for us. Once we accept Jesus Christ into our lives, the Holy Spirit enters our life to start a transformation process (progressive sanctification). He convicts us on areas that need to be changed, helping us to grow in holiness. We begin to view the world, people, and personal difficulties from a more biblical perspective. Our choices begin to be motivated by love and truth and not selfishness. For instance, we may have misplaced our confidence and security on beauty, wealth, and materialism, but God may ordain difficult circumstances to liberate us from these growth-hindering snares. The transformation process may be painful, but it is always motivated by God's love for us. Further, God promises in His Word to not give us more than we are able to handle (1 Corinthians 10:13).

• How are you living a life set apart? How does this practically (or impractically) effect your life?

Sanctification is not about trying to be sinless in order to earn the favor of God. Rather, sanctification is for our own benefit. God commands us to pursue sanctification so that through it we may be blessed.

• How has God blessed you through your sanctification?

Read Romans 7:14-8:1. Discuss and consider the following questions:

1. What do you worship instead of Christ? (ie. what root sins do our surface sins point to?)
2. What does it mean to honestly repent?
3. How thankful are you to Christ for your salvation (justification)?
4. Do you struggle with moralism (trying to do it on our own)?

_____
Romans 7:14-8:2
14We know that the law is spiritual; but I am unspiritual, sold as a slave to sin. 15I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. 16And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good. 17As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me. 18I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature.^[c] For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. 19For what I do is not the good I want to do; no, the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing. 20Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it.

21So I find this law at work: When I want to do good, evil is right there with me. 22For in my inner being I delight in God's law; 23but I see another law at work in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within my members. 24What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? 25Thanks be to God—through Jesus Christ our Lord!
So then, I myself in my mind am a slave to God's law, but in the sinful nature a slave to the law of sin.

1Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus,^[a] 2because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death.

JUSTI(FIED)

Sunday, October 12, 2008

Opening:

Last week we began to tell some of our "rebirth" stories. Continue to share where you are at in this journey of regeneration.

Digging Deeper:

While simplified, we are looking at the following trajectory of salvation

Regeneration- Repentance/Faith- Justification- Sanctification- Glorification

Now we examine our next step in the process of our salvation- Justification.

Simply defined, it means to "make just." Biblically, it is God's act of declaring us not guilty of our sins. Discuss this concept– what does it say about us, what does it say about God, what des is say God offers us, what difference does this make in our life here, what difference does it make for our eternity?

Read Romans 5: 1-11. How does this enlighten our understanding of justification? Who are the unrighteous? What does it mean that Christ died for the unrighteous?

It appears in scripture that a very real "fruit" of faith is this justification. What is the role of faith in the Christ-followers life? Read Matthew 8:5-10 and discuss this story. What would it look like to have an "astonishing" faith? What would you do with an astonishing faith?

Closing:

If you had faith, real faith in the promises of the Bible, how would that begin to effect your life? What might you attempt to God?

_____
Romans 5: 1-2
Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God.

Matthew 8:5-10
5When Jesus had entered Capernaum, a centurion came to him, asking for help. 6"Lord," he said, "my servant lies at home paralyzed and in terrible suffering."
7Jesus said to him, "I will go and heal him."
8The centurion replied, "Lord, I do not deserve to have you come under my roof. But just say the word, and my servant will be healed. 9For I myself am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. I tell this one, 'Go,' and he goes; and that one, 'Come,' and he comes. I say to my servant, 'Do this,' and he does it."
10When Jesus heard this, he was astonished and said to those following him, "I tell you the truth, I have not found anyone in Israel with such great faith.

PETRI(FIED)

Series: (FIED)
Sunday, October 5, 2008

Opening:
If any of you have kids, and if you feel comfortable, share some of those birth stories. Go ahead, try to impress each other- longest labor, biggest baby, etc.

Digging Deeper:

• The bible teaches that the Christian’s life in Jesus starts before we do anything- it starts with Regeneration or Rebirth.
• Read Titus 3:3-7. Without trying to go into this whole passage (there’s a lot), discuss the progression of salvation. What is the importance, place and purpose of rebirth? How does it happen
• Read John 3:1-8. We may not have time for the rest of this passage. Who is Nicodemus? What is a Pharisee and ruling council? What doe you imagine was going on in his life to bring him to Jesus? Is he trying to flatter Jesus? Is salvation a matter of knowledge, nationality or behavior?
• Discuss what it means to be born again- is this an offensive phrase? Is it helpful to understand the Christian life?
• Discuss the following definitions and feel free to expand:

1. Regeneration: the work of the Holy Spirit upon those who are spiritually dead, quickening the heart to spiritual life.
2. Repentance: To turn from sin and towards Jesus in faith.

• What is the importance of repentance and regeneration in seeing the Kingdom of God?

Closing:
Throughout the month we’ll be looking at the following “Order of Salvation.”
If you have time, before prayer, discuss:
Regeneration (Repentance/Faith)
Justification
Sanctification
Glorification

___
TITUS 3:3-7
3At one time we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures. We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another. 4But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, 5he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, 6whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life.

JOHN 3:1-8
1Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a member of the Jewish ruling council. 2He came to Jesus at night and said, "Rabbi, we know you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the miraculous signs you are doing if God were not with him."

3In reply Jesus declared, "I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again.^[a]"

4"How can a man be born when he is old?" Nicodemus asked. "Surely he cannot enter a second time into his mother's womb to be born!"

5Jesus answered, "I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit. 6Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit^[b] gives birth to spirit. 7You should not be surprised at my saying, 'You^[c] must be born again.' 8The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit."

Fall 2008 Kick-Off

We have been praying for our groups all summer long- anticipating this kick off! We trust your group will have a great time this semester.

Your first gathering is really about meeting one another, breaking the ice, answering questions and getting on the same page together.

Opening:

Take few minutes to "break the ice" and get to know each other– play a silly game, ask a profound question, eat some good food!

Digging Deeper:

First, talk a littel bit about how you found Connections and what compelled you to sign up for a CG. Make sure folks understand the basics about our Church- our vision and our values.

Ask if there was anythign from the Wiii Church series that the group wants to talk about.

Begin by going over the CG Covenant (See below) and discuss the structure of a CG meeting. Add any of your own elements (child care plans, etc) and distribute copies to the group.
Read Acts 2:38-41. What does it mean to repent? Why is baptism so important? Why is the Holy Spirit even more important? What is the promise and how does it apply to us?

Read Acts 2:42-47. There is so much in this passage, but focus on three points:

Common Purpose:

Do people lack purpose today? Where are they looking? What is the purpose of being the church and our CG's?

Common Place:

Is there an isolation problem in our society? Do you feel "rootless?" How can you be a presence in your neighborhood?

Common Possessions:

Do we struggle with materialism and greed? How can we begin to care for one another's needs?

Closing:

Pray for one another.

Fall 2008 Connection Groups Catalog

Here's how the catalog works
• email gsaylor@connectionschurch.ca with your name and the group you're interested in;
• A leader will contact you!

All groups start the week of September 28,
and end the second week in December, unless otherwise noted.

Central (Black Friars)
Tuesdays 7-8:30pm, 122 Paul St.

Central Lunch
Wednesdays 12-1pm, 531 Talbot St.

East Central
Wednesdays 7-8:30pm, 689 Ecclestone St.

Northwest London (Hyde Park)
Sundays 6:30-8pm, 106 Barrydale Cres.

Northwest (Sherwood)
Mondays 8-9:30pm, 23 Blanchard Cres.

North Central (Masonville)
Wednesdays 7-8:30pm, 1326 Hastings Dr.

Southwest (Byron)
Sundays 6:30-8pm, 736 Griffith St.

West (Strathroy)
Every other Friday 7:30pm, 304 Helen Dr.
________________
Connection Group- ALPHA
Tuesdays, 6:30-8:30pm, 1072 Quinton Road

Faith Workout

Series: BREAKOUT
July 6, 2008

Opening:
Read Philippians 2:5-11 just as a refresher. Let the attitude of Christ soak in through prayer and silence for a few moments.

Digging Deeper:
Now, in the mind of Christ together, let’s get into a salvation workout. Read 2:12-13. What’s the difference between working out our salvation, and earning our salvation? What does it mean that God is working in us? Does this mean that God will force us to will and act according to his plans? What hope does God’s “good purpose” give us?
Talk about the workout equipment mentioned in the sermon: WATCH

• Word of God
• Attentive Prayer
• Think it Through
• Counsel of the Saints
• Hand of God

Has God use one, all, or a combination of these in your life to help you work out your salvation?

Closing:
Break into 2 groups, men and women, and pray for one another.

A Theology of Suffering

Series: Breakout
June 15, 2008

Opening

Ask one or more from the group to share a story of their suffering. What was the source of suffering? How did you handle the suffering? What has the suffering changed in you? Read Philippians 1:12-30 together.

Digging Deeper

Jesus taught about suffering. Read Matthew 5:1-12

No human suffered more than Paul. Read 2 Corinthians 11:22-33, 12

The bible teaches that we will suffer, and specifically for our faith. Read 1 Peter 3:13, 4:12-19

How have you experienced suffering caused by:

1. Your own choices
2. Others evil choices
3. A fallen world
4. God's plan

Will your suffering be a crisis that sends you into a tailspin, or will it be an opportunity:

To grow

To witness

Conclusion:

"Christians are like nails- the harder you hit them, the deeper they go." When you suffer, how can you go deeper?

An in depth study, "Toward a Biblical View of Suffering," can be downloaded at:
http://www.relationshipskills.com/acticles.htm
_____

A Mini-Biblical Theology of Suffering
From pastors.com

God created everything good, without pain or evil. But giving us the freedom to choose sin, and knowing that we would go astray, God allowed the possibility of sin and suffering to enter the world. But He is good and made everything good. Genesis 1

Of course, man chose his own desire over God’s revealed will, by sinning, rebelling--and that's precisely when pain and suffering entered the world.

Immediately after the Fall, in Genesis 3:15, God promised a Savior who would crush Satan and save the "seed" or children of the woman, that is, a godly line of people would be preserved throughout history, and another line, the "seed" of the serpent, would always be in rebellion against God and His people. See Revelation 12.

Israel and all nations continually sinned and paid the price, God continually rescued His people, but they would always spiral down in a cycle of more sin. See the book of Judges.

God took matters into his own hands by delivering His people over and over, but finally, when the "fullness of time" came, God came into the sinful world to take matters onto His own body and soul as a man. He suffered, He felt our pain, He tasted death. Hebrews 2:9-18 and 4:12-16.

God understands our pain not just because He's God, but because He became a man. When we ask "Why?" He doesn't give us a book, but He gives us His hands, nail-pierced, and draws us close to His side, spear-scarred. We don't need an explanation, we need a helper, a comforter, a strengthener.

Christians have a comforter, the Holy Spirit, to help us fight sin and find grace in suffering (Romans 8). We have a Savior who went before us as a Pioneer in suffering and came out triumphant on our behalf, Jesus, who is also the Perfector of our faith (Hebrews 12:1-3). We have the Father of all comfort (2 Corinthians 1) who comforts us and helps us to comfort others in the midst of suffering.

Ultimately, the Garden of Eden will be restored, even in an improved way, when the new heavens and earth are established (Revelation 21 and 22). No more tears, no more pain, and not even the possibility of sin entering the gates. Restoration and relief and righteousness forever will reign. We will be free and happy.

You could sum up God’s response to our suffering with these concepts:
1. God’s given us not just an answer, but a Person, a powerful and sympathizing Comforter
2. God suffered with us and for us in Christ
3. God is present with us to actually help us in our need
4. God is transforming and will one day fully redeem our suffering to His glory and our good

Sin and suffering are perplexing realities. There are mysterious and unknown aspects. But the bottom line is that we experience them both and we need help from both.

There are two responses to suffering:

1) Turn away from God in anger and rely on yourself or others or the world's cures. "How could you let this happen?" "You don't care about me (or them)!" etc. In other words, in your pain and confusion, turn away from the only ultimate Help and Healer, the all-wise God.

2) Turn to God for help. Recognize that He is not responsible for sin--we are. Find help for the here and now to deal with the pain, and find ultimate healing in eternity. Humans cause most of the suffering in the world. God uses natural disasters to wake people up so that they ultimately won't be destroyed eternally. The proper response to sin and suffering is to repent, to draw near to Him, and to stay in His strong and safe shelter and loving arms.

To All the Saints...

Series: Breakout
June 1, 2008

Opening.
First read Acts 16:11-40. Review the major events in starting the church in Philippi.

Digging Deeper:
Now read the letter to the church in Philippi, at least chapter 1. Read the whole thing out loud and share what strikes you first.

Look at the greeting. What does it mean to be a servant-saint? How can you live this out, embrace this identity, fulfill this calling?
Talk about grace and peace. Have you experienced these gifts from God?

Closing:
Talk about what you’d like to break free from. I know this is hard, but take some time to begin prayerfully examining yourself. Pray for each other that through this study of Philippians you will break free and break into the joy-filled Christian life.

Walk Hard

Series: Connections Gives Back
May 25, 2008

Opening:
Last week we heard about the International Justice Mission (ijm.ca) and their Four-Fold Purpose:
1. Victim Relief
2. Perpetrator Accountability
3. Structural Prevention
4. Victim Aftercare
Justice is of the utmost concern for our God. Read the following verses: Psalm 9:8, 16, Psalm 36:6, Proverbs 18:5, Isaiah 1:17, Jeremiah 21:12, Amos 5:21-24, Matthew 12:18, Luke 11:24, Romans 3:22-26, Revelation 19:11. Discuss the four-fold purpose.

Digging Deeper:
Read Micah 6:1-8
Discuss the setting and background of this passage. Place the three-fold command in context. Come up with a biblical definition of Justice, Mercy and a Humble Walk. Examine your walk with God in light of the four characteristics discussed:
1. Putting God in the Lead
2. Going His Direction
3. Moving at His Pace
4. Agreeing on the Destination

Closing:
Look at the Sea to Sea insert. Discuss ways your group can help end the cycle of poverty in our community or in our world. How can your group support the riders from our church?

Read more at seatosea.org

Seek Justice

Series: Connections Gives Back
Read the sermon at cccsermons.blogspot.com or listen at connectionschurch.ca

Opening:
Justice is of the utmost concern for our God- agree or disagree? Read the following verses: Psalm 9:8, 16, Psalm 36:6, Proverbs 18:5, Isaiah 1:17, Jeremiah 21:12, Amos 5:21-24, Matthew 12:18, Luke 11:24, Romans 3:22-26, Revelation 19:11

Digging Deeper:
Read over the IJM insert from the bulletin (or go to IJM.ca for other resources. IJM's Four-Fold Purpose

• Victim Relief - Relieve the victim of the abuse currently being committed.
• Perpetrator Accountability - Bring accountability and just consequences under the law to the specific perpetrator(s) of abuse.
• Structural Prevention - Prevent the abuse from being committed against others who are also at risk by strengthening community factors that are likely to deter potential oppressors, reduce the vulnerability of at-risk populations and empower local authorities to stop such abuses.
• Victim Aftercare - Provide access to services to help victims transition to their new lives and to encourage long-term success.

Read Micah 6:1-8
Discuss the setting and background of this passage. Place the three-fold command in context. Come up with a biblical definition of Justice.

Closing:
Discuss ways you, your group and our church might become agents of justice in God’s world. Next week we’ll look closely at the love of mercy and a humble walk with God.

_____
1 Listen to what the LORD says:
"Stand up, plead your case before the mountains;
let the hills hear what you have to say.

2 Hear, O mountains, the LORD's accusation;
listen, you everlasting foundations of the earth.
For the LORD has a case against his people;
he is lodging a charge against Israel.

3 "My people, what have I done to you?
How have I burdened you? Answer me.

4 I brought you up out of Egypt
and redeemed you from the land of slavery.
I sent Moses to lead you,
also Aaron and Miriam.

5 My people, remember
what Balak king of Moab counseled
and what Balaam son of Beor answered.
Remember your journey from Shittim to Gilgal,
that you may know the righteous acts of the LORD."

6 With what shall I come before the LORD
and bow down before the exalted God?
Shall I come before him with burnt offerings,
with calves a year old?

7 Will the LORD be pleased with thousands of rams,
with ten thousand rivers of oil?
Shall I offer my firstborn for my transgression,
the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?

8 He has showed you, O man, what is good.
And what does the LORD require of you?
To act justly and to love mercy
and to walk humbly with your God.

Mother's Day

May 11, 2008

Opening:
Read 1 Samuel 1:1-20
Just review the story briefly. Use a study bible to put the story in context within redemptive history.

Digging Deeper:
Read 1 Samuel 1:21-2:11
Hannah had (approximately) 3-4 years with Samuel. It’s hard to imagine giving up a child so young, yet old enough to truly develop a bond. Look over the song of Hannah. Spend some time looking into the personal nature of this song- how does it reflect Hannah, Samuel and God’s character.
Think about your own upbringing. What was the song your parents sang over you? Or, what do you wish they sang/prayer over you? If you are a parent, how can we begin to sing the songs of our children? How do we shape and direct them, while letting them grow into their own persons? What does it look like for us, in practice, to give our children to God? In what ways does this free us? In what ways does it intensify our responsibilities?

Closing:
Take a few minutes to write a song over yourself, your spouse, or your child(ren). Share this with the group if you are comfortable.

Serving God's People

Opening:

If you have access to a computer, watch the video of the girl in the yellow dress at makepovertyhistory.com and take the time to feel it.

Start by sharing in the group any experiences you've had in serving other people- volunteering, mission trips, things you've done for family or friends. Share how these experiences made you feel or how they challenged you.

Digging Deeper:

Read the parable of "The Good Samaritan," in Luke 10.

First, examine the situation. What all does the experts question imply about our lives and eternity? What does Jesus say? What is his answer? Where have we seen this before (check out Deut. 6:4-5 and Lev. 19:18)? What does, "…he wanted to justify himself" mean?

Now look at the story itself and break it down a bit- it's really a simply story, but part of the power is in understanding the people groups: who were priests, Levites and Samaritans? How is this a brilliant answer to a rather dumb question?

25On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. "Teacher," he asked, "what must I do to inherit eternal life?

26"What is written in the Law?" he replied. "How do you read it?"

27He answered: " 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind'^[c]; and, 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'^[d]"

28"You have answered correctly," Jesus replied. "Do this and you will live."

29But he wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, "And who is my neighbor?"

30In reply Jesus said: "A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he fell into the hands of robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. 31A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. 32So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. 33But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. 34He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, took him to an inn and took care of him. 35The next day he took out two silver coins^[e] and gave them to the innkeeper. 'Look after him,' he said, 'and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.'

36"Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?"

37The expert in the law replied, "The one who had mercy on him."
Jesus told him, "Go and do likewise."

Closing:

"Go and do likewise." How can you do service- in and through our church, as a Connections Group, and a family or individual?

Stewarding God's Gifts

Opening:
Last week we got into worship- which is really saying we, as people, belong to the God whom we worship. Stewardship is the "logical" next step- worshipping God through giving him everything. Does this logic make sense and how so?

Digging Deeper:
Going back to the Acts 2 passage, we read in v. 44, "All the believers were together and had everything in common." Discuss the picture of Christian community and stewardship- is this applicable to modern life and culture?

Read Genesis 1:26-31. Discuss the implications of this passage for what life was supposed to look like.
Read 1 Peter 4:10 "Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God's grace in its various forms." What does this teach us about stewardship?
Matthew 25:14-30. Read this parable and discuss the stewardship principles.

Closing:
What time can you steward better for God, yourself and neighbor?
What talent(s) can you use and in what way for God's glory?
What treasure(s) can you better steward? Are you giving to the church and/or other ministries?

Soaring in Worship

Signs of Belonging
“You are a member of God’s family, and you belong in God’s household with every other Christian.” Ephesians 2:19

Belonging. It taps into something very deep within us - the yearning to be part of something larger than ourselves, to be accepted and loved by others with all of our gifts and limitations. Jean Vanier says that belonging does for human beings what soil does for plants: it nurtures us, and enables us to grow and to blossom.
Despite what we know about the importance of belonging, too many people experience its opposite: loneliness and isolation. “Belonging" remains a tragically elusive goal.
But it doesn’t have to be this way.
Discover the Signs of Belonging, and uncover a radical new way to live in community.

Opening:

Have you experienced a profound sense of belonging in any area of your life? Have you experienced the pain of realizing you don't belong with a person, group, or organization that meant a great deal to you?

Digging Deeper

Joe Myers talks about 4 spaces in which we long to belong: Public, Social, Personal and Intimate. Is there one you're more comfortable in? One that eludes you? What is the importance of each in our church? Can we foster an environment where belonging can grow in each of these areas (check out the Connections Groups blog for more background on this topic).

Read Acts 2:42-47

Pick this apart and see if you can find all the "signs of belonging." What priority is placed on worship in this passage?

Westminster Q&A #1 What is the chief end of man? To glorify God and enjoy Him forever.

How does worship glorify God? What else brings God glory? Can all of our lives really be worship? Would you say that you "enjoy God?" Do we really want to worship God forever?

Closing:

How can we make worship glorifying to God at Connections? What signs should always mark our worship? How can we enjoy worship more? In what areas will we make worship a priority this week?

___
Joe Myers has done some fascinating research on belonging and has identified very simply four spaces of belonging- Public, Social, Personal and Intimate. Our lives are lived out in these four spaces where each of us is longing to belong. Life is not just saying we belong of don’t belong, but it’s about finding ways a places to belong Publicly, Socially, Personally and Intimately.

Public belonging is a gathering such as this- worshiping in this theatre as Connections Community Church. There is a huge need that we as individuals have to belong in public ways. So we gather together as a whole church and get excited about seeing a bunch of people together for the same purpose, though we don’t even know everybody gathered. It can be very powerful. But not necessarily. There may well be some folks who were dragged here who really get no sense of belonging out of this gathering. It’s the same in sports for me- I can go to a football game and feel a part of the vast crowd of cheering fans just because I’m wearing my teams colors. I go to baseball game and feel like a complete stranger.

Social space is what happens before and after the service. Folks take the time to talk with a few individuals in smaller groups. Not a lot is shared, and there may not be a lot of history, but the interaction is very meaningful because we begin to express ourselves to one another. Some folks call it small talk, but there’s really nothing small about it. We see it as an essential part of the Connections culture. Two things would ruin it- the first would be if I tried to preach while everyone was socializing. That would subvert the social belonging. The second would be if I pressed you to share on a deeper and more intimate level. Instinctively folks would clam up if I was like- everyone share your deepest pain now.

That kind of talk reserved for Personal space. That happens where people begin to call one another friends or close friends. This is where more personal and confidential revelation occurs. It’s usually confined to one-on-one, but can occasionally happen in small groups. Our hope is that this can happen in our Connections Groups, but to be honest, it’s really difficult to predict, manage, or control. No one, and no program, can make us get personal. Many churches, I believe, make the mistake of thinking that they can make personal belonging happen, but all we really can do is create opportunities and environments where is may happen.

Last is intimate space. This is generally reserved for marriage, family, and maybe a very select few in our lives. This is where we can truly get real, get naked.

All of us are strongest in one or two spaces. Some of us are terrified by one or two spaces. All of us must navigate these spaces in our lives. And all of us ultimately want to find a place of belonging in each- public, social, personal and intimate belonging.

Our job as a church is to create opportunities for belonging to happen in each area, then let you navigate yourself through. We serve coffee for social belonging and hanging out after the service. We gather for public worship here in the theatre. We offer Connections Groups in homes for personal space and belonging. And if two folks here fall in love I’ll officiate the wedding for their intimate belonging! See, we’ve got all the bases covered!

The Anointed One

Series: Vantage Point
Sermon: The Anointed One
George J. Saylor
March 23, 2008

Opening: Read through the anointing narrative, John 12:1-11

Digging Deeper: What does it mean that Jesus sis the Christ, the anointed one? What is the significance of his burial? How is this central to fulfilling his mission?
Moving ahead- read the resurrection narrative in John 20:1-18
What would it mean if Jesus was not resurrected?
What does it mean if he was?
Does the Christian faith really hang on the truth of the resurrection?
Read 1 Corinthians 5
Examine v. 14- is this really true? Does the resurrection matter this much?
Feel free to let this conversation on the resurrection follow its own course. Ponder the mystery, explore its implications, apply its truths, experience its power.

Closing: Take time to share with each other what difference the resurrection makes in your life and in our world.

BONUS!!!!!
Read and discuss this fascinating article by N.T. Wright on Easter. What do most pastors preach, and where do they miss the point. This might just rock your world!
http://ship-of-fools.com/Features/frameit.htm?0403/wright_wrong.html

___
John 12:1-11
1Six days before the Passover, Jesus arrived at Bethany, where Lazarus lived, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. 2Here a dinner was given in Jesus' honor. Martha served, while Lazarus was among those reclining at the table with him. 3Then Mary took about a pint^[a] of pure nard, an expensive perfume; she poured it on Jesus' feet and wiped his feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.

4But one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, who was later to betray him, objected, 5"Why wasn't this perfume sold and the money given to the poor? It was worth a year's wages.^[b]" 6He did not say this because he cared about the poor but because he was a thief; as keeper of the money bag, he used to help himself to what was put into it.

7"Leave her alone," Jesus replied. " It was intended that she should save this perfume for the day of my burial. 8You will always have the poor among you, but you will not always have me."

9Meanwhile a large crowd of Jews found out that Jesus was there and came, not only because of him but also to see Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead. 10So the chief priests made plans to kill Lazarus as well, 11for on account of him many of the Jews were going over to Jesus and putting their faith in him.

John 20: 1-18

1Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene went to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the entrance. 2So she came running to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one Jesus loved, and said, "They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we don't know where they have put him!"

3So Peter and the other disciple started for the tomb. 4Both were running, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. 5He bent over and looked in at the strips of linen lying there but did not go in. 6Then Simon Peter, who was behind him, arrived and went into the tomb. He saw the strips of linen lying there, 7as well as the burial cloth that had been around Jesus' head. The cloth was folded up by itself, separate from the linen. 8Finally the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went inside. He saw and believed. 9(They still did not understand from Scripture that Jesus had to rise from the dead.)

Jesus Appears to Mary Magdalene

10Then the disciples went back to their homes, 11but Mary stood outside the tomb crying. As she wept, she bent over to look into the tomb 12and saw two angels in white, seated where Jesus' body had been, one at the head and the other at the foot.

13They asked her, "Woman, why are you crying?"

"They have taken my Lord away," she said, "and I don't know where they have put him." 14At this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not realize that it was Jesus.

15"Woman," he said, "why are you crying? Who is it you are looking for?"
Thinking he was the gardener, she said, "Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will get him."

16Jesus said to her, "Mary."
She turned toward him and cried out in Aramaic, "Rabboni!" (which means Teacher).

17Jesus said, "Do not hold on to me, for I have not yet returned to the Father. Go instead to my brothers and tell them, 'I am returning to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.' "

18Mary Magdalene went to the disciples with the news: "I have seen the Lord!" And she told them that he had said these things to her.

1 Corinthians 15

The Resurrection of Christ

1Now, brothers, I want to remind you of the gospel I preached to you, which you received and on which you have taken your stand. 2By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in vain.

3For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance^[a]: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, 5and that he appeared to Peter,^[b] and then to the Twelve. 6After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep. 7Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles, 8and last of all he appeared to me also, as to one abnormally born.

9For I am the least of the apostles and do not even deserve to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. 10But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace to me was not without effect. No, I worked harder than all of them—yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me. 11Whether, then, it was I or they, this is what we preach, and this is what you believed.

The Resurrection of the Dead

12But if it is preached that Christ has been raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? 13If there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. 14And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith. 15More than that, we are then found to be false witnesses about God, for we have testified about God that he raised Christ from the dead. But he did not raise him if in fact the dead are not raised. 16For if the dead are not raised, then Christ has not been raised either. 17And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins. 18Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ are lost. 19If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are to be pitied more than all men.

20But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. 21For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man. 22For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive. 23But each in his own turn: Christ, the firstfruits; then, when he comes, those who belong to him. 24Then the end will come, when he hands over the kingdom to God the Father after he has destroyed all dominion, authority and power. 25For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. 26The last enemy to be destroyed is death. 27For he "has put everything under his feet."^[c] Now when it says that "everything" has been put under him, it is clear that this does not include God himself, who put everything under Christ. 28When he has done this, then the Son himself will be made subject to him who put everything under him, so that God may be all in all.

29Now if there is no resurrection, what will those do who are baptized for the dead? If the dead are not raised at all, why are people baptized for them? 30And as for us, why do we endanger ourselves every hour? 31I die every day—I mean that, brothers—just as surely as I glory over you in Christ Jesus our Lord. 32If I fought wild beasts in Ephesus for merely human reasons, what have I gained? If the dead are not raised,
"Let us eat and drink,
for tomorrow we die."^[d] 33Do not be misled: "Bad company corrupts good character." 34Come back to your senses as you ought, and stop sinning; for there are some who are ignorant of God—I say this to your shame.

The Resurrection Body

35But someone may ask, "How are the dead raised? With what kind of body will they come?" 36How foolish! What you sow does not come to life unless it dies. 37When you sow, you do not plant the body that will be, but just a seed, perhaps of wheat or of something else. 38But God gives it a body as he has determined, and to each kind of seed he gives its own body. 39All flesh is not the same: Men have one kind of flesh, animals have another, birds another and fish another. 40There are also heavenly bodies and there are earthly bodies; but the splendor of the heavenly bodies is one kind, and the splendor of the earthly bodies is another. 41The sun has one kind of splendor, the moon another and the stars another; and star differs from star in splendor.

42So will it be with the resurrection of the dead. The body that is sown is perishable, it is raised imperishable; 43it is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory; it is sown in weakness, it is raised in power; 44it is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body.
If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body. 45So it is written: "The first man Adam became a living being"^[e]; the last Adam, a life-giving spirit. 46The spiritual did not come first, but the natural, and after that the spiritual. 47The first man was of the dust of the earth, the second man from heaven. 48As was the earthly man, so are those who are of the earth; and as is the man from heaven, so also are those who are of heaven. 49And just as we have borne the likeness of the earthly man, so shall we^[f] bear the likeness of the man from heaven.

50I declare to you, brothers, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. 51Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed— 52in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. 53For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality. 54When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: "Death has been swallowed up in victory."^[g]
55"Where, O death, is your victory?
Where, O death, is your sting?"^[h] 56The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. 57But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

58Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.

If Only?

Opening: Spend some time sharing your plans for Holy Week.

Digging Deeper: Read John 11: 1-16. Who were Lazarus, Mary and Martha? Read Luke 10:38-42

What did they expect Jesus to do?

Examine the conversation with the disciples. Why the hesitation? What is their confusion? Look at what Thomas says in v. 16. What is Thomas usually remembered for? Why is this statement so important?

V. 17-37. Notice both Martha and Mary's "If…" statements. They are usually seen very differently, but here they are at the same place in their faith.

What's the significance of "I am the resurrection and the life" statement?

Why is her belief so important to Jesus?

What is the significance of Jesus' weeping? What does this reveal in him?

V. 38-44. It's so Mary to worry about appearances. How dos that hinder her faith? Why the outspoken prayer? Examine its importance.

Closing:

What are the "If only's" of your life? How can we move toward a faith that asks instead, "What if?" What stones do you need to roll away? What are those stinking areas of your life? Will you hear Jesus' command to come out?

Vantage Point- Week 2

Series: Vantage Point
Sermon: Iamwhoiam
George J. Saylor
March 9, 2008

“Jesus cannot be our Savior unless he is first our Lord.”
~ Hugh C. Barr

There are certainly many vantage points on interpreting the life of Jesus. Last week we dove directly into the vantage point of the bible and the first thing most often said about Jesus- he was the Christ. But not a political Christ, or a false Christ- a different kind of Christ.
Today we take a step closer to the vantage point of Jesus himself. Who did he think he was, who did he say he was, why does it matter 2000 years later?

You can read the sermon at cccsermons.blogspot.com

Opening:
Examine the quote from Hugh Barr, “Jesus cannot be our Savior unless he is first our Lord.” Is this true? Are the two even distinguishable?

Digging Deeper:
Read John 8: 48-59
Examine the “trilemma” in light of this passage. Does Jesus really leave us only one option? What about those that disagree?
Read Exodus 3:1-15
Why all the fuss over the name of God?

Closing:
Let’s spend the bulk of the time getting personal. What would it look like to take the Lordship of Jesus to heart? How would it change our work, studies, families, friendships, ambitions, goals, etc? What is Lordship really about? Why does it matter so much to Jesus? Why should it matter to us? What practical differences can it make in our lives?

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John 8:48-59
48The Jews answered him, "Aren't we right in saying that you are a Samaritan and demon-possessed?"

49"I am not possessed by a demon," said Jesus, "but I honor my Father and you dishonor me. 50I am not seeking glory for myself; but there is one who seeks it, and he is the judge. 51I tell you the truth, if anyone keeps my word, he will never see death."

52At this the Jews exclaimed, "Now we know that you are demon-possessed! Abraham died and so did the prophets, yet you say that if anyone keeps your word, he will never taste death. 53Are you greater than our father Abraham? He died, and so did the prophets. Who do you think you are?"

54Jesus replied, "If I glorify myself, my glory means nothing. My Father, whom you claim as your God, is the one who glorifies me. 55Though you do not know him, I know him. If I said I did not, I would be a liar like you, but I do know him and keep his word. 56Your father Abraham rejoiced at the thought of seeing my day; he saw it and was glad."

57"You are not yet fifty years old," the Jews said to him, "and you have seen Abraham!"

58"I tell you the truth," Jesus answered, "before Abraham was born, I am!" 59At this, they picked up stones to stone him, but Jesus hid himself, slipping away from the temple grounds.

Exodus 3:1-15
1 Now Moses was tending the flock of Jethro his father-in-law, the priest of Midian, and he led the flock to the far side of the desert and came to Horeb, the mountain of God. 2 There the angel of the LORD appeared to him in flames of fire from within a bush. Moses saw that though the bush was on fire it did not burn up. 3 So Moses thought, "I will go over and see this strange sight—why the bush does not burn up."

4 When the LORD saw that he had gone over to look, God called to him from within the bush, "Moses! Moses!"
And Moses said, "Here I am."

5 "Do not come any closer," God said. "Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy ground." 6 Then he said, "I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob." At this, Moses hid his face, because he was afraid to look at God.

7 The LORD said, "I have indeed seen the misery of my people in Egypt. I have heard them crying out because of their slave drivers, and I am concerned about their suffering. 8 So I have come down to rescue them from the hand of the Egyptians and to bring them up out of that land into a good and spacious land, a land flowing with milk and honey—the home of the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites. 9 And now the cry of the Israelites has reached me, and I have seen the way the Egyptians are oppressing them. 10 So now, go. I am sending you to Pharaoh to bring my people the Israelites out of Egypt."

11 But Moses said to God, "Who am I, that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?"

12 And God said, "I will be with you. And this will be the sign to you that it is I who have sent you: When you have brought the people out of Egypt, you ^[a] will worship God on this mountain."

13 Moses said to God, "Suppose I go to the Israelites and say to them, 'The God of your fathers has sent me to you,' and they ask me, 'What is his name?' Then what shall I tell them?"

14 God said to Moses, "I am who I am . ^[b] This is what you are to say to the Israelites: 'I AM has sent me to you.' "

15 God also said to Moses, "Say to the Israelites, 'The LORD, ^[c] the God of your fathers—the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob—has sent me to you.' This is my name forever, the name by which I am to be remembered from generation to generation.

Vantage Point

Who was Jesus-The promised one, a charlatan, a revolutionary, a miracle worker, a king? Was he an illegitimate child who died a criminal’s death, or the Son of God who gave his life as a sacrifice? Jesus was a mysterious figure even during his life on earth- revered by some, reviled by others. 2000 years later he remains an enigma- worshiped some, slandered by others.

Join us March 2008 at Connections Community Church.
See Jesus from five different vantage points.
Discover one life changing truth.

Week 1: whatsyourvantagepoint?

Does the truth depend on our vantage point? Can we getting a better picture of the truth by taking different vantage points? We have four gospels that tell the story of Jesus. The last one says that the world could not hold all the books that could be written about Jesus (John 21:25). We’ll start our series with an overview of the options- what did people say about Jesus, who did Jesus say he was? What is our vantage point 2000 years later on the one who was called, and claimed to be, the Christ?

Opening:
Discuss the different vantage points of Jesus that we find in the world today? Discuss examples that you’ve seen in TV, in movies, magazines and books.
Digging Deeper:
What’s you vantage point on Jesus- liar, lunatic, Lord?
If you grew up in the church, how has it changed since you were a kid? How should we portray Jesus to our children- “the Lamb of God” or “the Lion of Judah?”
If you’re just considering Jesus now, what draws you to him? What holds you back? What are the competing options?
Does the “liar, lunatic, Lord” argument hold any weight?

Read Matthew 16:13-20
The gospels record Jesus using the title “Son of Man” more than anything else, over 80 times. What could this mean?
The disciples mention some of the competing interpretations of Jesus- some have him confused with John, others say he’s the reincarnation of one of the prophets. Peter says he’s the Christ.
What is the significance of being the Christ? Is it different than the Messiah?
Why does Jesus say that his Father in heaven revealed this to Peter?
What does this tell us about the revelation of God and our ability to know and confess Jesus as the Christ?
Why the warning to keep their mouths shut?

Closing:
As we move closer to Easter, what can we do to move closer to Christ? Share ideas, disciplines and prayer for each other.
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Matthew 16:13-20

Peter's Confession of Christ

13When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, "Who do people say the Son of Man is?"

14They replied, "Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets."

15"But what about you?" he asked. "Who do you say I am?"

16Simon Peter answered, "You are the Christ,^[b] the Son of the living God."

17Jesus replied, "Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by man, but by my Father in heaven. 18And I tell you that you are Peter,^[c] and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades^[d] will not overcome it.^[e] 19I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be^[f] bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be^[g] loosed in heaven." 20Then he warned his disciples not to tell anyone that he was the Christ.

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Lord, Liar, or Lunatic?

Even those who are not persuaded by Christianity often have great respect for Jesus. Among those who reject the idea that Jesus was God incarnate, there are many who are nevertheless followers of him to some degree. “Jesus was a great moral teacher”, some say, “but he wasn’t God”. According to this view, Jesus is to be followed as a great human being, but not as a divine one.

This idea that Jesus was merely a great human being, i.e. a great human being but nothing more, is, as C.S. Lewis argued in Part 2 of Mere Christianity, indefensible.

Jesus made the most astonishing claims, not only about God, society and ethics, but also about himself. He claimed to have the authority to forgive sins, to be the representative of all humanity come to die in order to reconcile man to God, and to be the only way for people to attain salvation.

Faced with the fact that Jesus made these claims about himself, there are three things that we might say about him: Either Jesus’ claims were false and he knew it, or his claims were false and he didn’t know it, or his claims were true. None of these suggests that Jesus was a great, but merely human, teacher. Anyone who has that view needs to think again.

The first thing that we might say about Jesus is that his claims were false and he knew it, in which case he was a liar. If Jesus did not believe that his claims about himself were true, then when he made those claims he was lying.

Jesus’ claims about himself were so central to his teachings, though, that if they were lies then he can hardly be deemed a great teacher. If Jesus set out to systematically deceive people about who he was and how their sins were to be dealt with, then he was among the worst teachers that have ever walked the earth.

The second thing that we might say about Jesus is that his claims were false and he didn’t know it, in which case he was a lunatic. If Jesus believed that his claims about himself were true, and they weren’t, then he was a delusional egomaniac. If an ordinary person believes himself to be God incarnate, then that person is, put quite simply, insane.

Again, if this were the case, if Jesus taught that this is who he was and was mistaken, then he was as bad a teacher as there has ever been.

The third thing that we might say about Jesus is that his claims were true, in which case he was, and is, Lord. If Jesus believed that his claims about himself were true and they were, then Jesus was not only a great human being, but was also God on Earth.

If we take Jesus seriously, then we must take Jesus’ claims about himself seriously. We cannot say that Jesus was a great teacher whom we admire and look up to, but that the most fundamental element of his teachings was a monumental error. Jesus was not a great, but merely human, teacher; he was either much less than this, or much more.

Those who respond to this argument by writing Jesus off as either a liar or a lunatic are, for all that has been said so far, just as reasonable as those who respond by accepting Jesus as Lord. This argument is an attack only on the view that Jesus was a great teacher but not God; there is nothing in it that counts against the view that Jesus was a terrible teacher. In order to show that it is better to view Jesus as Lord than as either a liar or a lunatic, it would have to be demonstrated that there is some reason to take Jesus’ claims seriously.

Do we have any reason, though, to take Jesus’ claims seriously? Many have argued that we do, that we have the strongest possible evidence that Jesus knew what he was talking about when it came to the supernatural. There is, it is argued, substantial historical evidence that Jesus was raised from the dead, endorsing his claims to religious authority.

The Resurrection, it is said, was a divine endorsement of Jesus’ teachings, God’s confirmation that Jesus’ teachings were true. If this is correct, then there can be no doubt as to which of the three positions concerning Jesus outlined above is the correct one. If there is significant evidence for the resurrection, then we have to take Jesus seriously.