Map
March 30, 2008 –
Main Idea: Jesus gives us a route to greatness but it is not easy
Desired Outcome: To identify what needs to be sacrificed in your life
Scripture: Mark 10:17-31
Title: “The Route to Greatness” - Simply Amazing: When Life Encounters Jesus- Part 1
Metaphor:
Ideas: Libbie Coleman talk about “Nothing But Nets”
April 6, 2008
Main Idea:
Desired Outcome:
Scripture: Mark 6:1-3,6 Matthew 8:5-10, Hebrews 11:6
Title: “When Loosing Control Is a Good Thing” - Simply Amazing: When Life Encounters Jesus- Part 2
Metaphor:
Ideas: “Nothing But Nets”
April 13, 2008
Main Idea:
Desired Outcome:
Scripture: John 9, Mark 5, John 8, Luke 17:12-13, 15-17
Title: “When You’ve Missed the Cut” - Simply Amazing: When Life Encounters Jesus-3
Metaphor:
Ideas: “Nothing But Nets”
April 20, 2008
Main Idea: Jesus says there is only one force that still has the power to turn heads in a world gone cynical from the slick, relentless, inescapable drumbeat of self-promotion: When individual human beings deliberately sacrifice their own time or energy or resources to help somebody else for no strategic reason al all.
Desired Outcome: To say to God, “God, I want my light to shine brighter than it is right now.”
Scripture: Matthew 5:14-16
Title: “The Head-Turning Power of Compassion”
Metaphor: A light bulb
Ideas: Talk a bit about General Conference
April 27, 2008 – Holy Communion
Main Idea: Prayer, Scripture Reading and Holy Communion are means to a heart renewed after the image of God.
Desired Outcome: To be persuaded to pray, read God’s Word and regularly take Communion
Scripture: Malachi 3:7, Acts 2:42-44
Title: “The Means of Grace” – Wesley’s Sermon
Metaphor:
Ideas:
May 4, 2008 – Bloomsday - Kay Fischer Preaching
Main Idea:
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Scripture:
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Metaphor:
Ideas: Perhaps a Saturday night service and only a 9 am Sunday. Youth are all gone to serve at Bloomsday
May 11, 2008 – Mother’s Day and Pentecost
Main Idea: God , as David puts it, “will neither slumber or sleep”. There is never a moment in life when God is not paying attention – no one solitary moment. If a job, a crisis, a baby, or whatever has you up in the darkest hours of the night – whatever your need, He knows, and He’s “on the job.” The God Who sits next to you will never fall asleep there. He’s a “24-7” kind of God.He’s a “24-7” kind of God.
Desired Outcome:
Scripture: Psalm 121
Title: “The God Who Works the Night Shift”
Metaphor:
Ideas: Drama “Mother’s Chair”
May 18, 2008
Main Idea: Building the Kingdom of God is a huge challenge. And the people who Jesus surrounds himself with will have a great deal to do with whether or not the Kingdom will advance in the manner He had in mind. We will look at five tests of followership today.
Desired Outcome: To ask of ourselves do we pass the tests of followership?
Scripture: Luke 5:1-11
Title: “Passing the Fellowership Test”
Metaphor:
Ideas:
May 25, 2008 – Guest Preacher – Wey Simpson - Ben’s graduation
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Scripture:
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Metaphor:
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June 1, 2008 – Communion
Series Description: Like a plethora of energy drinks on the market today, there is sustenance from God’s Word that we can drink in to fuel us for living a healthy Christian life. In this series, the Book of James offers counsel that speaks to the necessity of applying scriptural truths that can lead to wellness. Handling temptation, growing through trials, avoiding class bias and favoritism, understanding how good works mesh with the faith experience, controlling the tongue and maintaining verbal disciplines, building relationship with God through prayer—all of us need the wisdom and fuel of Scripture to strengthen our resolve in moving toward Christ likeness in these areas
Main Idea: When we look into God’s Word, it provides us with an accurate reflection of who we truly are. And Scripture makes it clear that it’s not God tempting us to do wrong things, but we ourselves who are responsible for giving in to temptation and sin and choices that lead to destruction. Believers must learn to trust fully in the Word of God and the reality that God provides for us only good and perfect gifts that will lead to new and better lives. If we’re seeking true change, we must not be content with just reading or hearing God’s Word, but we must apply it. God’s ways provide perfect and consistent guidance.
Desired Outcome: To apply God’s Word and submit to its authority
Scripture: James 1:13-25
Title: Fuel – Part 1 “The Best Way to Live”
Metaphor:
Ideas: Drama “The River”
June 8, 2008
Main Idea: Although we are a society with a passion for comfort, most of us face trials of one sort or another—illness, financial concerns, loss, maybe even persecution for our faith. James 1:2 says we should consider it pure joy whenever we face trials of many kinds. Although we likely will not know in this life why we go through our particular trials, we do know that trials test our faith and make clear what it is that we believe and what is the foundation upon which we’re building our faith.
Desired Outcome: Will you trust in God’s goodness and will you become more like Jesus as you endure through trials?
Scripture: James 1:1-22
Title: Fuel – Part 2 “Trials and Testing”
Metaphor:
Ideas:
June 15, 2008 – Father’s Day
Main Idea: Fathering is a challenge. Through a series of True or False questions we will encourage biological dads, step-dads, and other father figures to take time to learn from others as they seek to perfect their fathering skills. The key to having impact on both sons and daughters is engagement, being there; and the power of an earthly father’s affection is almost incalculable. A father’s attitude on life issues of his actions toward others has a lifelong effect on a child, and it’s important that dads raise their children consistent with Scriptural teachings and with a strong spiritual base. Fathers must avoid physical and verbal abuse, both of which can cause wounds that last a long time; and children who have been wounded in any way by their fathers can lean into the reality that greater than the wounding power of any earthly father is the healing power of our heavenly Father.
Desired Outcome: To experience the eternal and healing power of God
Scripture: Proverbs 10:1, 22:6, 2 Corinthians 5:17
Title: “The Father Factor”
Metaphor:
Ideas: Car Show
June 22, 2008
Main Idea: Each of us in the walk of life is at one time or another categorized into a sub- class of society. For some, the designation feels very good, very powerful; for others, it may feel like—and be—total rejection, total separation from other segments of society. James 2:1 tells us that ‘believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ must not show favoritism.’ Is that how it works with you and with your church? Or have you a supposedly secret list that categorizes desirables from undesirables based on financial status, physical appearance, clothes, race, athleticism, academic standing?
Desired Outcome: Make it matter that Christ-followers believe the church should be a classless place of acceptance and that the way we treat others reveals what we really believe about God.
Scripture: James 2:1-13
Title: Fuel – Part 3 “No Class”
Metaphor:
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June 29, 2008
Main Idea: In James 2 we read that ‘people are justified by what they do and not by faith alone.’ How does that mesh with what Christians believe about faith by grace? We know that for some, faith can be solely intellectual or it can be both intellectual and emotional. Unfortunately, James tells us that even the demons believe in that way. But a dynamic faith includes a third dimension: the will. This depth of faith manifests itself outwardly through good works—a demonstration that faith conversion has taken place on the inside.
Desired Outcome: To understand genuine faith and what Jesus himself and other New Testament writers say about the place of works in faith.
Scripture: James 2:14-26
Title: Fuel – Part 4 “Faithworks”
Metaphor:
Ideas:
July 6, 2008 – Guest Preacher
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Title: Metaphor:
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July 13, 2008
Main Idea: The tongue wields amazing power. It can speak words that bring affirmation and encouragement and love; but it can also speak words that hurt and leave lasting scars on those at whom the words are directed. It has the power to do great amounts of soul damage to the very people that Jesus gave his life for.
The reality is that what comes out of our mouths is an indication of what’s really going on inside of our hearts. We need the same God who can forgive us for the misuse of our lips to cleanse our hearts and fill them continually with his grace and his mercy—so that with our tongues we can bless and honor him and we can speak words that bless and build up others.
Desired Outcome: To experience cleansing.
Scripture: James 3:1-14
Title: Fuel – Part 5 “Open Wide and Say Ahhh”
Metaphor:
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July 20, 2008
Main Idea: Whether we’ve been the recipient or the giver of words that are expressed through name calling, blaming, generalizing, criticism, or anger, we need to understand that words shape the way our spiritual lives do or do not progress. It’s important to know how to balance our verbal disciplines so we control our communication and so we can be sensitive to not withholding what needs to be said. When words are divisive and relationships breakdown, the power of the gospel is at stake.
Desired Outcome: To learn of the many instructions Christ-followers have in Scripture of the model of Jesus for learning how to use words in a godly way that brings grace and truth together.
Scripture: Proverbs 8:21, James 3:5-6
Title: Fuel – Part 6 “The Power of Words”
Metaphor:
Ideas: Clip from “Cheaper by the Dozen”
July 27 or an August Sunday
Main Idea: In our ‘it’s all about me’ society, we find little need to exercise control over our impulses. It just feels right and powerful to make ourselves the center of the universe. However, being the center of and being centered in—big difference. On our own, it’s impossible to resist the devil and the ensuing troubles we encounter because of submitting to him rather than submitting to God and his power. As arrogance is replaced by humility, God lovingly provides all we need to stand against temptation and to stand in community with him and his creation.
Desired Outcome: To ask: Will you choose to humble yourself today?
Scripture: James 4:1-14
Title: Fuel – Part 6 “The Center of the YOU-niverse”
Metaphor:
Ideas: Drama – “Acceptable Speech”
August 2008
Main Idea: Is prayer important enough that we should take the time to go to God with
our thanks, our petitions, our fears, our doubts? And when we do pray, does God even hear our prayers? The answer to both is yes. Prayer allows us to focus on who God is relative to our humanness. We can grasp his hugeness, his power, his wisdom, his comfort. And God accepts our prayers however we present them. Prayer frees us as we release to God all that we are, all that we’re grateful for, and all that we’re struggling with. God created us for connection with him. Be aware of his presence with you all day long. Pray to him. God listens and God loves.
Desired Outcome: To raise our awareness of the presence of God
Scripture: James 5:16-18
Title:
Metaphor:
Ideas: Video Clip from bluefishtv.com “Live Richly”