Small Groups: Church Shift Week #3: What Kind of Life are You Living?
Small Groups: Church Shift – 11.7&8
Week 3: What Kind of Life are You Living?
Purpose: To help students recognize that Christians should be the best at everything they do. When they are, that is when the world takes notice and we have influence with them.
Series Scripture: “Ask of me, and I will make the nations your inheritance” – Psalm 2:8
Scripture:
- John 15:5, Matt 6:33, Matt 5:13, I Pet. 2:12, I Peter 2:15, Ecc. 9:10
Main Ideas:
- We will only find success in transforming our workplace, our families, our social spheres, and our society as we abide by Kingdom rules.
- We must be fully impacted by His nature so that we have His nature
- People must be addicted to God. A kingdom addiction is the only addiction we’re allowed to have in this life
- We’ve used people to build our churches and ministries, and in doing so we have not honored those called by God to minister in commerce, media, arts, government, social services, and most other occupations outside the influence of the organized church.
- The reason we are alive and saved is to have maximum impact for Him by transforming our nations.
- Your job is not just a job. It’s a platform God has given to you to change society.
- To change and improve the world you must have a superior position and live by superior principles.
- I Pet. 2:12 – Live such good lives among the pagans that though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God.
- We must work better and harder than anybody else. We must respect all people. We must be the best in every area of our lives.
- By the business you build and how you conduct yourself, you are actually building the Kingdom through your life.
- One of the most neglected ingredients in so many Christians’ lives is plain hard work.
- Business leaders ask me, “How should we deal with Christians who are working for us and who are unreliable, undisciplined, and sluggardly?” My feeling is that anyone who has that kind of attitude to his job is simply not a Christian. Christians must be the first and best in everything; they must be transparent examples of victorious living.
- You will not fulfill your potential in God’s Kingdom without hard work. Failure in life never means a person lacks gifts. But it may mean he failed to put the gifts to work.
- I Peter 2:15 – It’s God’s will that you silence the ignorant talk of foolish men by doing good.
- God will not give you something big if He doesn’t see your faithfulness in small things.
- Ecc. 9:10 – Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all of your might!
- It doesn’t matter how many years or months you have been following Christ. What matters is whether your character and life reflects Jesus Christ or not.
- Love people! Love them no matter who they are or what they do. Love people regardless of their faults. Love them unconditionally!
- Love and help people before you ever try to influence them.
- Nobody will listen to ministers of God if they don’t love. People don’t come to church to be taught. They’re seeking love, and that’s our first commission!
Challenge:
- Pray for 1 student for 1 minute at 1 p.m. every day. (Pick up a 141@1 card!)
Things to Remember:
- Lunch and a Movie – Sunday after the 11 a.m. Service – Christmas Carol! Cost: $25
Church Shift – Week #3 – What Kind of Life are You Living?
- Do you have a job? Play a sport? Involved in an activity?
- Do you view your job, sport, or activity as just that, or an opportunity to be a witness for God?
- Have you made a difference on the job? Sport? Activity? Do you have a story about how you impacted someone’s life?
- What is your attitude like when you’re at your job, sport, activity? What about your work ethic?
- If you were the leader or in charge, and someone had the same work ethic and attitude you usually do, would you be pleased with them?
- Has your attitude/work ethic ever negatively affected someone? Positively?
- Last week we talked about finding your promise land… Are you working hard in the area you’re passionate about and gifted at? Can other people tell?
- God said if you’re faithful with little, I’ll make you faithful over much… In what areas are you being faithful over little in right now?
- Does your life (all areas – family, spiritual, physical, career, social, etc.) point people to God? What areas does it point to God? What areas doesn’t it?
10. Do you love people before you try to influence them? Or do you just try to influence them?
11. If we asked people in your school if you were a person that loves others, what would they say?
12. Do you think people are really only looking to be loved in life? Are you loving people unconditionally?
13. Do your actions speak louder than words? Or do your words speak louder than your actions?