08.23.10 - Two Fellows In A Ship

Two Fellows In A Ship

Prov 27:17 Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend. KJV

Monday, August 23, 2010

10:03 AM

1. 1. Why Is Fellowship So Important?

1. a. 1 John 1:6 If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth:7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. 8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us. KJV

1. i. Fellowship defined -  associate, partner, from two words that means literally shared by several or shared by more than one.

1. 1. Follow up the Scriptures from last week:

1. a. Eccl 4:9 Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour. 10 For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him that is alone when he falleth; for he hath not another to help him up. 11 Again, if two lie together, then they have heat: but how can one be warm alone? 12 And if one prevail against him, two shall withstand him KJV

1. b. Lev 26:8 And five of you shall chase an hundred, and an hundred of you shall put ten thousand to flight: and your enemies shall fall before you by the sword. KJV

1. c. Gen 3:1 Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the Lord God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden? KJV

1. i. Where was Adam?

1. ii. Satan came to attack, to tempt, to deceive when Eve was alone

1. 1. Consider what might have happened if Adam and Eve were together when Satan came.

1. 2. How much more are we tempted when we are alone, or when we are not in fellowship with others?

1. 2. The Devil Made Me Do It

1. a. Gen 3:12 And the man said, The woman whom thou gavest to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I did eat. 13 And the Lord God said unto the woman, What is this that thou hast done? And the woman said, The serpent beguiled me, and I did eat. KJV

1. i. The man blamed the woman, the woman blamed the snake, we blame the government, the government blames the economy and on and on and on it goes.

1. ii. One of the reasons no one wants to take responsibility for wrongdoing is that we understand the penalty for sin.  Adam and Eve quickly got it and deep down inside most realize when we do wrong that there is a price to pay.

1. 1. Gen 3:21 Unto Adam also and to his wife did the Lord God make coats of skins, and clothed them. KJV

1. 2. Rom 6:23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. KJV

1. a. Sin, simply put, brings death.

1. b. Consequences of sin include but are not limited to:

1. i. Separation from God

1. ii. Guilt

1. iii. Shame

1. iv. Sickness

1. v. Interruption of fellowship not only with God but with each other

1. vi. Lack of intimacy (to hide our sin, we lie and deceive so we won't get caught, then do the same when we do)

1. 3. Fenced In

1. a. Fellowship creates accountability, accountability creates boundaries, boundaries create a safer place to live.

1. i. Track for a bit:

1. 1. You are in the red light district in Amsterdam, an area well known for lewd behavior, legal prostitution, public intoxication and just about anything else that can make you feel good.  Sin Central.  Whatever your vice, you can find it there.

1. a. How might you handle yourself if you were there alone? (Don't be noble, don't give "good" answers, be REAL.) 

1. i. Consider what this passage really means "Matt 4:8 Again, the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and sheweth him all the kingdoms of the world , and the glory of them" KJV

1. ii. Do you think what Christ saw was "G" rated?

1. b. Now, how might you handle yourself if your mother were there, or your pastor, or your daughter?  What about your best friend?  What about someone from church?

1. i. Those people would create boundaries that you would not dare cross in their presence.  Problem is they won't likley be there when temptation comes, worse, your mother or daughter is not likely to come to you after a weekend business trip alone and ask you did you have sexual thoughts of someone other than your spouse, did you get high? What did you look at on the internet?

1. c. Boundaries are good, if they are watched and the gate is checked, that is where church fellowship and accountability comes in

1. 4. 'Fess Up!

1. a. We are to CONFESS!

1. i. We are to confess first and foremost to God, who forgives.

1. 1. 1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. KJV

1. ii. We are to confess our sin to each other! 

1. 1. James 5:16 Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much. KJV

1. b. Confessing to God is one thing, but spilling it all to someone with skin on is entirely different, more difficult and VERY humbling.  For this very reason some do not go to church or choose to assemble with other believers.  Think about this:

1. i. Why would you choose to NOT confess your most secret sin?

1. ii. Have you ever been in a church service, among maybe hundreds of others, and felt that the sermon was being preached about YOU? Why do you think that is?

1. 5. The Challenge

1. a. On the back of this sheet you will find a list of questions, some will pertain to you and some won't.  I challenge you to find someone, of your gender, that you can be truly completely HONEST with and every day, or at least every few days, get in contact with that person and ask each other these questions.

1. b. This is not meant to be "fun" or "safe" and it wont' be comfortable. It is meant to bring about genuine intimate fellowship with each other and accountability to the point of setting boundaries and when those boundaries are crossed assisting each other back into right fellowship

1. i. Vertical 
1. a. Have you spent quality time building your relationship with God
2. b. Have you prayed as you should?
3. c. Have you read the Bible as you should?
4. d. Have you been a testimony to the greatness of Christ in both words, actions and thoughts?
2. ii. Horizontal
1. a. Have you honored God in your relationships?
2. b. Have you honored God in your personal finances?
3. c. Have you damaged another person  by your words or actions, either to their face or behind their back?
4. d. Have you allowed yourself to forgive others for faults you find in them or their actions or words against you?
3. iii. Round & Round
1. a. Have you given into any addictive behavior?
2. b. Have you been exposed to sexually alluring material?
3. c. Have you been pure in your thought life? In your actions?
4. d. Have you repented before God of sins?
4. iv. Inside Out
1. a. What have you struggled with spiritually this week?
2. b. What temptations have you overcome?
3. c. Where/when  do you find temptation strongest?
4. d. Have you been completely honest with your answers?

08.23.10 - Accountability Questions

Accountability Questions 

Monday, August 23, 2010

10:48 AM

1. 1. Vertical 

1. a. Have you spent quality time building your relationship with God

1. b. Have you prayed as you should?

1. c. Have you read the Bible as you should?

1. d. Have you been a testimony to the greatness of Christ in both words, actions and thoughts?

1. 2. Horizontal

1. a. Have you honored God in your relationships?

1. b. Have you honored God in your personal finances?

1. c. Have you damaged another person  by your words or actions, either to their face or behind their back?

1. d. Have you allowed yourself to forgive others for faults you find in them or their actions or words against you?

1. 3. Round & Round

1. a. Have you given into any addictive behavior?

1. b. Have you been exposed to sexually alluring material?

1. c. Have you been pure in your thought life? In your actions?

1. d. Have you repented before God of sins?

1. 4. Inside Out

1. a. What have you struggled with spiritually this week?

1. b. What temptations have you overcome?

1. c. Where/when  do you find temptation strongest?

1. d. Have you been completely honest with your answers?

08.16.10 - Why LIFE Groups?

Why LIFE Groups?

Monday, August 16, 2010

1:12 PM

1. 1. Hard Issues

1. a. Questions

1. i. What do you think when you hear someone say they do not need to go to Church to be a Christian?

1. ii. Why do you think people feel that way about Church?

1. iii. What would be some reasons you might choose to attend Church?

1. b. 1 Cor 12:18 But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him. 19 And if they were all one member, where were the body?KJV

1. i. If God has placed us in the Body according to His will, if I do not associate myself with the rest of the body, what does that mean to my Christian walk?

1. 1. Eccl 4:9 Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour. 10 For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him that is alone when he falleth; for he hath not another to help him up. 11 Again, if two lie together, then they have heat: but how can one be warm alone? 12 And if one prevail against him, two shall withstand him KJV

1. 2. Lev 26:8 And five of you shall chase an hundred, and an hundred of you shall put ten thousand to flight: and your enemies shall fall before you by the sword. KJV

1. a. According to the Scriptures, we are better able to cope with life, temptations, enemies and it is the will of God for us to be in fellowship with one another.

1. b. There are so many reason we can come up with to not fellowship, or to stay away from Church.  Most are truly valid, but none can exempt us from what God tells us in His Word to do

1. c. God created us to not only have fellowship with Himself, but each other as well.  That is the reason when we are hurt or are done wrong, we take it so hard and many times fall out of fellowship with other believers.

1. i. Could it be that the reason we take it so hard when things don't go the way they should at Church is because it means so much to us?

1. 2. The Church

1. a.   The birth of the Church can be traced back to the Book of Acts, Chapter 2

1. i. They were all in one accord, in one place, for one reason, because Jesus had told them to be there and wait 

1. ii. Once the Holy Ghost fell, those in the upper room left, went into the "world" and began to do exactly what the Lord had told them to do, preach the Gospel to all nations and make disciples of all nations

1. 1. What are some differences between the gathering of believers before Acts 2 and those after Acts 2?

1. a. Before:

1. i. Prior to Acts 2, there was no formal meetings other than those few instances such as the Sermon on the Mount where true teaching was given.

1. ii. The meetings that were held in the synagogues, were very legalistic, law centered and works based

1. b. After

1. i. More and more believers began to gather outside of the "synagogue" in places that included homes

1. ii. More emphasis was given on discipleship, heart condition and inward cleanness that outwards works based religion

1. iii. Discipleship was commanded of every believer, to both BE and disciple and to MAKE disciples

1. b. "Church" is defined as "assembly of those who are called out"

1. i. Today, church is likely much different than the church in the early days:

1. 1. We have organized programs, a schedule to adhere to, set meeting places, etc

1. a. While in some ways better, some ways we are not doing what we were commissioned to do

1. 2. The days of the early Church were full of fellowship, personal discipleship and intimacy.  2000 something years later, some of that intimacy has been lost or traded for "programs," fellowship has given way to hi and bye and personal one on one discipleship is practically unheard of

1. 3. Getting It Back

1. a. The truth is that God has sanctioned the modern Church, else souls would not be saved and lives changed.  But that does not mean there is not room for improvement

1. i. When we look at the answers to the first three questions listed above, how many of those answers involve possible failure on behalf of the Church as a whole?

1. 1. Failure to recognize and meet a need?

1. 2. Failure to help people connect with others in the Body who are able to assist in Christian maturity?

1. 3. Failure to individually, personally and intimately DISCIPLE whosoever will?

1. b. Jesus did not command us to make Christians, He commanded us to make DISCIPLES and we cannot do that in just three hours a week! Discipleship comes FROM the Body of Christ and should extend TO the Body of Christ 

1. i. 1 Cor 4:15 For though ye have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet have ye not many fathers : for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel. 16 Wherefore I beseech you, be ye followers of me. KJV

1. 1. Do you remember your kindergarten teacher? What was his/her name? For what period of time were they personally involved in your life?  Did they teach you life skills that you still use today?  Could you call on them today if you had a need?

1. 2. What was your father's name? Ask the same questions above about him.  

1. 3. See the difference?  A pastor, teachers, altar worker or anyone else at the church can teach you, can lead you to the Lord and can even if called upon answer a question or two.  But we need to have, if we are to truly come to Christian maturity, we MUST have Biblical relationships with those in the Body of Christ whom we can be totally transparent and real.  This does not always happen in the typical church setting or around the altar.

1. a. Have you ever gone to the altar with a need and left with the same need because you did not feel you could be totally real with the altar worker/pastor/preacher?

1. 4. Putting It In Perspective

1. a. Honestly, biblically and seriously, the truth is we need each other.  We need those upon whose shoulder we can cry, upon whom we can depend to speak to us Biblical truths, in love, and we need Christian mentors and leaders . We don't just need another teacher, we don't need to be "taught." we need to become a disciple and we need to be "discipled."

1. b. We need to be accountable.  My kindergarten teacher either flunked me or passed me.  One year and she was done.  My father on the other hand had much more of an investment in my life, he knew me personally and not only wanted me to succeed but did his best to pour into me those things I needed for success

1. c. L.I.F.E. stands for "Living In Fellowship Everyday.  LIFE is so much more worth the living when done God's way, with God's people right beside and behind. May you find LIFE in these meetings and commit yourselves one to another each and every day! 

Prayer : Most High God, You created us for fellowship.  I pray that the Holy Ghost will strengthen our fellowship with You and that through these meetings, through this time, we will build Godly relationships with one another that will last a lifetime.