Campaigners Mark 6

mark 6:7-13, 30-32

1. purpose of the group was to go out
- vision bigger than group
- how can little group reach so many ppl?
-- can't must rey on god
-- goal is to become closer to god
--- as we try to get closer to god, we get closer together

2. share exp w each other
why? knowing stories/joys/struggles brings group deeper & closer
- encouraging
- learn from eh other
-- really value others
- helps keep us focused
- shared memories = bond
- uplift each other w prayer through struggles

3. place of rest
- come relax and feel refreshed
- place to feel safe and be vulnerable
how?
- be first to be vulnerable
- whats said in campaigners stays here
- put time into relationship outside campaigners

Campaigners 8/27/2008

what is attractive about christ:
saw the need
saved many people
helped despite not having to
loving
willing to forske rules
told her not to cry

1. death meets life
jesus and ppl (life/excitement) vs funeral (death/sadness)
jesus and us vs our non-christian friends
-everyday is like life and death colliding
-in hs, we need to see the world as amission field

2. jesus sees her need and has compassion
- sees her as she is/knows where she's coming from
- for us, we must have compassion
--see the hurt/need, and realize that w/out christ we're the exact same

3. jesus touched the coffin
- willing to get his hands dirty
- coffin was unclean and he was willing to become unclean in the eyes of others
- for us, we have to be active w our compassion
--get involved in ppl and be willing to hurt as they do
--it will be hard

4. the dead are raised to life
christ had a plan in going here
- had a plan for being w ppl
- for us, god has a plan and he will use us

why wouldnt we share christ?
- awkward
- dont know enough
- fear of reaction
- what others think
- might be wrong
- in a minority
- feel alone
- fear of offending
- takes alot of time
- not good
- not good enough

why should we share christ?
- selfish
- knowing what theyre destined for w/out christ
- god told us to (mt28:18-20 last words so it must be important)
- people are hurting and want others to exp life or have a purpose
- gives us a purpose and eternal purpose
- teaches/grows us
- god's work so my lack of knowledge/ability to speak doesnt matter
- word spreads to others (trickle down effect)

how?
- ask others questions and good questions
- ask about others' lives
- talk about how god has transformed your life
- build a relationship/trust w ppl
- living life/good, clean fun
- serving/putting others first
- listen
- being different
- positive attitude/humor (lose the sarcasm)

Great Commission

ff 2008-11-05

mt28:16-20

v19

why is it so hard for us to share excitement re: christ?
- different
- hard to explain
- personal
- vulnerable

response?
& behold i am with you to the end of the age
- knew we were going to have fears
-- that's christ's answer

whenever in ministry, must remember christ is w us

why called great commission?

Lost & Found

Carlisle Evangelical Free Church. Sermon. Pastor Shad.

Luke 15:1-7
1 Now the tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to hear him. 2 And the Pharisees and the scribes grumbled, saying, “This man receives sinners and eats with them.”

3 So he told them this parable: 4 “What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the open country, and go after the one that is lost, until he finds it? 5 And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. 6 And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and his neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep that was lost.’ 7 Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.

- contrast between Christ and religious elite

- What does Jesus think?
--99% isn't good enough
---99 found < 1 lost
---Christ is searching frantically; am I?

- What does Jesus do?
--go after the lost (v4)
--doesn't just call out to lost, going to them
---chases after the lost; active search
---hard to convince them you care unless you make room for them in your life
--carries the lost home (v5)
---not us
---we weren't designed to carry them; if we try, we'll become frustrated/annoying
--He rejoices (v6)
---public party
---any sheep is worth celebrating

- How do I know if I have a heart like Christ?
--do I have love for the lost?
--do I go out to point them home?

-Sheep that are lost will get dirty
--Christ takes them home and cleans them
---doesn't have to be clean to go home

- If I don't have a heart like Christ:
--spiritual amnesia: forgot what it was like to be lost and then found
--never known that experience
--either case, we don't remember/know what Christ did
---must focus on him and his saving grace

Come and See

Campaigner Lesson. John 1:41-53.

Small groups:
- Highs?
- Lows?
- What was the last scripture read and what did it teach you?

READ John 1:43-51
- campaigner; have them listen
READ John 1:43-51
- me; have them underline

Summarize
- What happened?

Why did Philip go to Nathanael?
- Excited about Christ; wants others to know; knew Nathan had to know

Compare 1:43 and 1:45
- v43: “He found Philip and said to him…”
- v45: “Philip found Nathanael and said to him…”
- What does this say about Jesus’ command to follow?

How does Nate react?
- disbelief
- Nazareth = redneck, backwater, nothing good ever came from here, Perry County

Did he want to go?
- No, but he went anyways
- Why?

Would he have come without Philip?
- No
- Christ could have done this but chose to use Philip
- Philip was willing to risk rejection and did get rejected; but didn’t take no for an answer

How did Nate react when he met Jesus?
- Excited, total perspective change

What does Jesus promise Nate?
- promises of greater things
- all he did was come and see and Christ is already changing his life
- both will see these things because of their friendship

Who do you trust? Why?
- They’ve proven themselves trustworthy
- LotR: think the fellowship trust each other?
- didn’t start like that
- what changed?

Same goes for God
- how is he going to prove himself trustworthy if we refuse to let him?
- faith is trusting that Christ is all we need; it’s actively lived out
- many believe in God; few have faith
- if there is no relationship there is no trust
- relationship comes through putting time and effort in
- praying, reading scripture (pray, read twice, underline, apply, pray)
- we’re called to have faith, not just believe
- Pharaoh believed, demons believe but they don’t know God

Monday night
- How’d it go?
- Invite anyone?
- What’s the purpose?

Connection with passage?
- What are we inviting them to see?
- Will people come without us risking?
- like Nate, they’ll reject us initially, you know this
- Christ calls us to follow him, which means follow his lead
- saved and called
- how do we trust God?
- build the relationship, learn what God says
- Christ changes people, not us
- use connections
- Why did Philip go to Nate? They were friends
- talk about it now
- rides to friends/freshmen
- stay after practice/school
- lunch room
- hmwk times

What is a huddle?
- team, learn the play
- play is being intentional

- HUDDLE!
- affirm and lift them up
- here, we’re a team
- Col 1:17, we’re held together by Christ
- games not won in huddle, but on field
- from here we go out and trust
- team has to trust each other or play will fall apart
- our part of the play is to build relationships
- Christ will change lives
- PRAY

- break huddle
- do it