Wednesday PM, April 15: Beauty for Ashes - Wk3
MESSAGE VIDEO:
ZOOM GROUPS:
LIVE 6:45-7:15pm
Each small group will be meeting separately each week!
For all links and codes, click
HERE
BOTTOMLINE THIS WEEK:
We can stay connected in COMMUNITY even when we are distant SOCIALLY.
Galatians 6:2
“Share each other’s burdens, and in this way obey the law of Christ.”
Romans 12:15
“Be happy with those who are happy, and weep with those who weep.”
Other Scripture referenced in message:
Ecclesiastes 4:12; Proverbs 27:6; Luke 10:24-37
You and I have watched the sun pass over our heads enough times to learn many trends. One of those trends is the working of our enemy. I can definitively say that our enemy isn’t creative, but he is crafty. He has used the same lies since the beginning of time. He is good at giving them a fresh look. The lie I am speaking of is, “You are alone.” God is very clear about how He created us. He created us to not be alone. He created us for community. It is from this that we always say, “We are better together.”
Can you imagine the fresh ways that the enemy has been able to spin this same ole lie during all this? People are literally in isolation! This lie is going to feel validated easier than it already has been. No doubt people are losing this battle in their minds in the hurt they feel. This is why this message today is so important for me to share with you. This could be in your home. This could be with your neighbor. This could be barely visible through the cracks of people posting on social media. Whatever the case we need to realize that the enemy has not shut down the weapon against this! Our weapon against this is community!
Community doesn’t just happen. It is not our natural lean. This takes time and intentionality. We have to learn to see people the way Jesus sees people. This is through a spiritual lens. Maybe we ourselves are in need of community. We should be wise and go find it! Maybe we realize there are people who are hurting and need community. We then must be wise to invite people into our community!
CONSIDER ASKING FOR CONVERSATION:
-What did you hear tonight?
-(Discuss) What is so important about community?
(Bottom line, we want everyone to see and understand this is the way we have been created. When we are in a place that we are created to be then we experience the gifts that the creator intended for us to experience.
Exercise
: Find some of the verses in which God says “one another” just to show how serious He is about this.)
-Read Romans 12:15 together. Discuss: How important is it that we follow this and what does it really accomplish?
(In a single phrase this gives two sides of the coin. Community doesn’t just help those who are hurting, it also helps heighten the love people feel! This needs to be what we are doing for others…)
-Who knows of hurts and struggles that people are carrying right now?
(USE this question as a guide! Either you know quickly some hurts or you don’t really have any that come to mind. If you do know... then pray for them and then reach out to them in some way to let people know THEY ARE NOT ALONE. If you don’t know of anything let that be a call to look! We know there are plenty of pains and hurts, so our plates are open our shoulders are capable of helping someone carry their burden! I encourage you to reach out before you stand up from this conversation. Then also take the challenge this week too!)
FAMILY CHALLENGE: Who are the people who need celebrating? (Text, Call, Post about THEM more than what’s happening within your own home this week.)
WORSHIP:
We create a playlist for each series on Spotify that has songs that go along with our messages!
Our staff has also compiled a playlist of our favorite worship songs for you!
BIBLE PLAN:
We are starting a new Bible plan on Youversion tonight that relates to this series. Click this link to join our group and read with us!
As a family… use this time of “distancing” to connect. Thank the people in your lives who are people who will love you well. Call out in you the areas that you need correcting! Pray for them and pray to be able to be that kind of person for someone else… pointing others toward Jesus!
THANK YOU FOR TRUSTING US WITH YOUR STUDENTS. WE PRAY THIS NIGHT AND THIS RESOURCE PROVIDES GREAT CONVERSATION THAT POINTS YOU ALL TOWARD CHRIST!
