GM 2011-11-30 Advent Midweek 1

Advent Midweek, 1

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GM 2011-11-27 Anticipation, Part 1

Advent Season – Anticipation, Part 1

Readings:
Isaiah 64
1 Corinthians 1:3-9
Mark 13:33-37

Notes:

God is…
-Powerful
-Surprising
-Compassionate
-Just

We are…
-Unclean
-Pathetic
-Powerless
-Rebellious

The Situation is…
-Dire
-Dreadful
-Doomed

The Good News is…
YET, Jesus is…
-Gracious
-Forgiving
-Determined

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GM 2011-11-23 Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving – Give Thanks in All Circumstances

Please check back for Readings and Notes…

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GM 2011-11-20 Transformation, Part 8

Transformation, Part 8 – The Practice of Scripture Reflection

Readings:
Psalm 1
2 Timothy 3:16-17
John 15:4-10

Notes:
Romans 12– Transformed by renewing your mind.
Ephesians 5– Washing of water by the Word

Immersion:
-Condemns
-Cleans
-Creates

Pointers:
1. Ask God to meet you in the Scripture.
2. Read the Bible with a humble & repentant spirit.
3. Meditate on a fairly brief passage or narrative.
4. Take one thought or verse with you through the day.
5. Allow this thought to become part of your memory.

“Now with God’s help, I shall become myself.” – Soren Kierkegaard

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GM 2011-11-13 Transformation, Part 7

Transformation, Part 7 – The Practice of Holy Spirit Guidance

Readings:
Acts 8:26-39
Luke 12:8-12

Notes:

Prayer: It’s one thing to speak to God… quite another to listen.
Purpose of Guidance: It’s not just to get us to perform the right actions. His purpose is to help us become the right people.

What we’re talking about:
-Leadings
-Promptings
-Impressions

What causes us to miss them?
-Laziness (see part 2 in this series)
-Recognition (part 3)
-Being Busy (part 4)
-Pride (part 5)
-Avoidance (part 6)
-Spiritual Mindlessness (part 7)

What Spiritual Guidance is not:
-”Insider info”
-A Badge of Spirituality
-A Way to Avoid Risk
-Being Passive

What to do?
-Listen for it
-Submit it to Scripture
-Act upon it
-Remember the Cross

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GM 2011-11-06 Transformation, Part 6

Transformation, Part 6 – Sin Confession

Readings:
1 John 1:1-10
Matthew 7:1-5

Notes:
We should be saddened by sin, but not so surprised by sin
confession is for our healing
confession is a process, not just a single act

Elements of confession
Preparation
Self Examination
Perception

Questions to ask yourself
What did I do
Why did I do it?
What happened as a result?

Godly sorrow leads to life, worldly sorrow produces death

True and Powerful confession focuses on:
The satisfaction of Jesus
The redemption of Jesus

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GM 2011-10-30 Transformation, Part 5

Transformation, Part 5 – The Practice of Servanthood

Readings:
Philippians 2:6-11
Matthew 20:17-28

Notes:
“We are all worms. But I do believe that I’m a glow worm.” – Winston Churchill

Pride:
-Vanity
-Stubbornness
-Exclusion
At the deepest level, pride is the choice to exclude both God and other people from their rightful place in our hearts.
We have all, in our own way, been trying to take God’s place ever since Eden.

When Jesus came in the form of a servant, he was not disguising who God is, He was revealing who God is.
Servanthood is:
The Ministry of:
-The mundane
-The interrupted
-Weakness & limitations
-Holding your tongue
-Bearing others’ burdens

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GM 2011-10-23 Transformation, Part 4

Transformation, Part 4 – The Practice of “Slowing”

Reading:
Matthew 14:13-23

Notes:
A Disciplined person can do the right thing at the right time in the right way for the right reasons with the right spirit.
Key: You must relentlessly eliminate hurry from your life.
The Disease:
-Hurry Sickness “Hurry is not of the devil, hurry is the devil.” – Carl Jung
The Symptoms:
-Constantly speeding up daily activities
-Multi-tasking
-Clutter
-Superficiality
-Inability to Love
“People nowadays take time more seriously than eternity.” – Thomas Kelly

The great danger is not that we will renounce our faith, but that we will settle for a mediocre version of it…
The Cure:
-Slowing
-Solitude
-Stillness
-Surveying
-Surrender

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GM 2011-10-16 Transformation, Part 3

Transformation, Part 3 – The Practice of Celebration

Readings:
Nehemiah 8:1-18
Philippians 4:1-7

Notes:
“Joy is the serious business of heaven.” – C.S. Lewis

Problem Observed:
We live our lives in transit, going from one place to another, waiting in lines, etc…
Result:
Postponed Joy
Key:
Arranging life for joyful celebration so that sin loses its attraction.
Practical Steps:
Begin now. Don’t put it off.
Find a joy mentor– someone to help you celebrate.
Set aside time for connecting with God and with others (aside from church). Celebrate at least once/week.
Unplug. Recharge.
Develop biblical perspective.

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GM 2011-10-09 Transformation, Part 2

Transformation, Part 2 – The Truth About Spiritual Disciplines

Readings:
1 Corinthians 9:19-27
1 Timothy 4:13-16

Notes:
Desire, Discipline, Delight
Trying vs. Training

Truths:
Spiritual Disciplines are not a barometer of spirituality
Spiritual Disciplines are not necessarily unpleasant
Spiritual Disciplines are not a way to gain favor with God

A disciplined person can do:
the right thing
at the right time
in the right way
for the right reasons
with the right spirit

Wise Training:
respects the freedom of the Spirit
respects the uniqueness of the individual
respects the inevitability of peaks and valleys
begins with a clear decision

“The Life You’ve Always Wanted” by John Ortberg

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