Series: WHEN GOD (May 2nd - May 9th)

 

What do you do...

When God feels distant?
When God doesn't cooperate?
When God seems late?

We all face times when it feels like God is far away. Our prayers seem unanswered and our circumstances go from bad to worse. During these times, God doesn't just seem distant; he seems distracted. These are many of the reasons why people stop praying, stop believing prayer works, or even stop believing that God exists.

In these times people tell us to pray more but it seems useless. So how do we keep our connection to God through prayer while not becoming discouraged? In this series, we will the lives of three men from the New Testament, each loved by God, but whose circumstances seemed to tell a different story.

When God is Inattentive

Is God's silence a sign of his absence? Or does it mean something else? In this message, we recount the story of a man Jesus said was the greatest who ever lived. And yet, even this man struggled with God's inattentiveness. How do we handle it when we ask God for something but it seems he is being inattentive? How do we keep praying when it seems that God has lost sight of our struggles and circumstances? The message Jesus sends him in the middle of his doubt contains a secret reassurance for us 2,000 years later.

Has there been a time when God seemed inattentive when you prayed to him? Did it rattle your faith?

Is God actually inattentive to our prayer or is there something else going on?

When God is Uncooperative
We've all seen athletes point to heaven after touchdowns or home runs. And we've heard actors thank God during their acceptance speeches. How come other people seem to have so much success while we pray and seem to never get what we want? How do we keep going when God seems to be saying, "No"? Does a “no” from God mean that he doesn’t love us or that we have done something wrong? What is the point of praying if God always seemingly says “No?”

Imagine a God you could control. What would you like or dislike about him?
Is there value to prayer even if you don’t get the results you are asking for? What is the value?

When God is Late

Why didn't God do something? Sometimes, despite our most fervent prayers, God doesn't show up the way we want him to. The cancer isn't cured. The company fails. The foreclosure goes through. In this message, we will discover what to look for when it feels like God forgot to show up.

How might the idea that God leverages your pain for his glory give you hope during a difficult

circumstance?

 

 

 

Series: WINSOME (March 29th - April 26th)

If we could remove all of the endless distractions of our everyday lives and reduce life to its irreducible minimum, that single element of life which we cannot do without, what would we end up with?

When we look at the gospel, the answer becomes strikingly clear: people need Jesus. We can manage to coast through life without many things, but we cannot afford to walk through life without Jesus. That is life's irreducible minimum.

Winsome reminds us that the gospel was never intended to end with us - it is meant to work in and go through us for the salvation of others. God has called us to be storytellers of grace, pointing those around us to Jesus, the One whom they were created by and for. The time is now to join God's kingdom story. The time is now to see those around us the way God sees them. The time is now to win some.

1.    The Irreducible Minimum (3/29/16)
The big idea is we have found the irreducible minimum in life and its people need Jesus. If that is what life is all about then the lens at which I look at life changes permanently. Every person you know, and every person you will ever meet has a paramount and urgent banner over their life. The banner reads this, “they were created by and for Jesus.”  In other words, nothing on this earth can fill a place that was created for Jesus. When you get the irreducible minimum you get a clear and compelling purpose, to share the Gospel. It’s not pressure to tell it’s just living a life that leads to others asking why.

What do you think when you hear the word evangelism? Does evangelism make you nervous?  What if it was true that when the Gospel is proclaimed people who are searching, open, hungry, hurting respond?

 2.    The Irrefutable Argument (4/5/16)

People are searching, people are open, people are hungry and people are hurting. You are here for that reason. It’s not about converts it’s about living a contagious life. The kind of life that people ask questions about your life. It’s asking God to do something amazing in your life, it’s saying “I want my life to change to the degree that others want what is changing my life.” When this is our reality we have an irrefutable argument. We don’t argue people to Jesus that is not the point, the point is we have an undeniable story when Christ starts changing our lives. We need to share our story.

Do you believe if you have a story of grace you have a story of grace to tell? What stopping you from sharing?

3.    The Irresistible Attraction (4/12/16)
Winsome is living a life that leads to “why?” When was the last time people asked what is the deal with you? What God has done for us and in us is what people are really looking for. The degree that we really have embraced the Gospel is reflected in the attractiveness of our lives to the world. Because of the Gospel we are extravagant in a selfish world, secure in and insecure world, faithful in a fickle word, and confident in a shaky world. Do you stick out?

Is the Gospel in you to go through you?

4.    The Irrepressible Longing (4/19/16)
Do you believe what God did in you can happen to anybody? Do you have confidence to share your story? We gain confidence when we get all are searching and have eternity written on their hearts. We become free to share when we realize it’s our role only to define God not defend Him. Bottom line the results belong to God and we are called to care for other and share.

What do you think it means to be in the world but not of it? How does this playout for you in be winsome?

5.    The Irreplaceable Plea (4/26/16)

God works when we pray. The city is waiting for the church to pray. No one is praying for the city if we are not. There is a connection between our prayers and the Gospel. We need to really see others to pray. We pray when we see people. We pray when we grasp our responsibility and opportunity to mediate for the Mediator. You should have friends that aren’t praying, but you shouldn’t have friend who aren’t being prayed for. Are you sleepwalking through life missing the moment that heaven is open today?

Who are you praying for to become winsome in their faith for the harvest is plentiful but the workers are few? Who are you praying for to come to faith in Jesus?

Series: CHOOSE JOY (Feb. 23rd - March 15th)

We live in a world that spends the majority of its time focusing on things that will make them happy. This study will help students to gain a firm understanding of what joy is and where it comes from. It will help them discover that God wants us to have joy and not just live a life looking for happiness. This study will also help students gain the knowledge of how live a life of joy each day. It will also help them learn how to be content in life no matter what comes their way.

Session 1 Real Joy | Proverbs 14:13; 1 Peter 1:3-9; Galatians 5:22-23 (2/23/16)

Joy and happiness are two different things. Happiness is based on things we do or things we receive. Happiness can come and go depending on what we are pursuing at that moment. Joy is internal. Real joy—true joy—can only come from one source and His name is Jesus. When Christ comes in and is a part of your life, He becomes your Source of joy. Joy becomes a part of our character as a believer. Joy is being able to look beyond the moment, even if it is bad, and know that it is going to be OK because of your relationship with Jesus. How would you describe the difference between joy and happiness?

Session 2 Joy and Contentment | Philippians 4:10-20 (3/1/16)

While happiness is based on circumstances, joy and contentment are not. Being content means that all of your needs have been met in Christ Jesus. Joy and contentment are found solely in the power of Christ. We experience frustration and dissatisfaction in life when we try to do things in our own power. Knowing that God will provide for our every need brings joy and contentment. Learning to live a life where our only desire is to know Christ more is the key to finding and keeping joy and contentment. What would you say your contentment level is?

Session 3 Joy in Tough Times | James 1:2-4 (3/8/16)

It is a fact of life that you will experience trials in your life. Trials are not the same as temptations. Trials provide an opportunity for us grow in our faith and relationship with God; temptations are intended to break our fellowship with God. When we face trials, we are still to maintain joy in our lives. Trials provide the opportunity for God to display His greatness to others as you lean on Him to get you through. When you have walked through a trial, it is then that you are able to look back and discover just much you have grown as a result of the trial.

Session 4 Take a Look Around | Romans 5:11; Proverbs 17:22; Psalm 118:24 (3/15/16)

Because of our salvation in Christ, we are able to rejoice in Him because of what He has done for us. Coming to Jesus and the change that He brings should cause us to rejoice. Studies have shown that those who have joy in their lives live longer and more productive lives. Living a life of joy causes people to want to be around you more. Every day is a new day that God gives us the chance to be joyful. We don’t have to look very far each day to discover something to be joyful about.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCE

Parenting Teens is a monthly magazine designed to provide relevant information, practical ideas, and biblical encouragement to parents of teenagers. Go to www.lifeway.com/parenting teens