GPYP 2 :: micro devotional

5-Day Micro Devotional

Read the passage & then pray through the suggestion

1. Colossians 1:13-15; 1 John 2:12 Thank God for the power of his forgiveness in your life. Tell Him how it has changed you.
2. 2 Corinthians 2:5-11 Pray for those you need to forgive. Ask God to help you as you begin the process of forgiving someone.
3. Acts 8:22-23; Ephesians 4:29-32 Ask God to help you remove the stains on your heart that have been created by your bitterness.
4. Job 5:2; Mark 11:25; Luke 6:27-36 Tell God the things that are holding you back from forgiving others. Ask Him to help you remove these things.
5. 1 John 1:9; Romans 8:1-2 Confess your sins and ask God for His forgiveness in cleansing you of your sins. 

GPYP 2 :: discussion questions

This Week

Talking through the message during the week helps you turn what God is saying to you into action steps. These talking points, questions, and scriptures are designed to help you take the next step.

• What was one of the worst things you did as a child that you asked forgiveness for? What did you learn from your experience?

Read Hebrews 12:15, Matthew 6:14-15 and Matthew 18:21-35.

• These passages show us why we should forgive those who hurt us.
• Why is it so difficult to forgive those who have severely hurt us?
• How have you seen unforgiveness and bitterness hurt yourself and others?
• When you think about the people you need to forgive, who comes to mind? What is keeping you from forgiving this person?
• What can the forgiveness we have received from God teach us about forgiving those who hurt us?

Read Matthew 5:43-44 and Colossians 3:13.
These verses demonstrate how to forgive those who hurt us.

• Why is prayer such a vital part of forgiving others?
• How have you been set free by the power of God’s forgiveness?
• How different would your life and your relationship with Christ be if you removed all bitterness from your heart by forgiving those who have hurt you?
• What specific steps do you need to take immediately in order to forgive someone who has wronged you?

Next Steps
Here are some specific things you can do this week that will help you overcome bitterness and embrace the power of forgiveness:

• Because forgiveness is such a fundamental part of our relationship with Christ, the Bible has much to say about the dangers of bitterness and the delivering power of forgiveness. During your time with God this week, read the passages below and allow God’s Word to deliver you from your bitterness and embrace his forgiveness.
• If there is someone in your life who you need to forgive, take the next steps toward forgiving that person this week. Follow the Biblical principles that Pastor Mike discussed in his message on how to forgive others by first praying for that person and then forgiving that person in the same way God forgave you. 

GPYP 1 :: breaking the labels that bind

this last sunday we talked about labels
  ...labels that lie
  ...labels that hurt
  ...labels that damage


and we started to talk about the new names that God gives
  ...names that are true
  ...names that give life
  ...names that bring meaning


grow into the name that God calls you by
grow into the purpose that he is unfolding
grow into the future he has for you.

GPYP 1: breaking the labels that bind

Yesterday, we identified labels...

Today, we want to be thinking about the new name that Jesus gives us.

• What are some of those new names?

GPYP 1: breaking the labels that bind

A couple of questions that come out of Sunday's message:

• What are the things we believe about ourselves that keep us withdrawn, shameful, and without freedom?
• What are the labels others have given you?

GPYP 1 :: micro devotional

5-Day Micro Devotional

Read the passage & then pray through the suggestion

1.       2 Corinthians 5:17-19 Share with God the negative labels that you have in bondage. Ask for His help to free you from these labels.

2.       2 Corinthians 12:9-10 Ask God to help you take your greatest weaknesses and turn them into strengths.

3.       Jeremiah 29:11-14 Ask God to show you the purpose He has designed for you. Ask Him to guide you in taking your next steps towards embracing that purpose.

4.       Isaiah 62:2-4 Thank God for the new name, purpose and future He has given you because of your life in Christ.

5.       Philippians 4:8-9 Commit to God that you will no longer allow the labels of your past hold you back from embracing your purpose and future. 

GPYP 1 :: discussion questions

This Week

Talking through the message during the week helps you turn what God is saying to you into action steps. These talking points, questions, and scriptures are designed to help you take the next step.

• What was one of your least favourite nicknames you were called growing up? Why did you dislike your nickname?

Read 2 Corinthians 5:17-21 and Isaiah 62:2.
We learn in these verses, that in Christ, we are all new creations and labels no longer apply because of the new name God has given us.

• What negative labels have followed your name? How have these labels influenced the way you see yourself?
• Why do so many of us accept negative labels and let them define us? 
• How does having a God-centered view of yourself change the way you see yourself?
• What new name would best describe your new life in Christ?

Read Matthew 16:17-18, Jeremiah 29:11 and Philippians 3:13-14.
These verses show us that God has given us a purpose and a new future.

• In what ways have you seen your strengths grow out of your weaknesses?
• What God-given purpose are you growing into? What next step(s) do you need to take to embrace that purpose?
• How have you let the labels of your past limit God’s plan for your future?
• How can knowing that God has a future planned for you help you overcome your negative labels? What next step(s) do you need to take?

NEXT STEPSHere are some specific things you can do this week that will help you overcome the negative labels of your past and embrace the purpose and future God has given you:
One of the best examples in the Bible of a person breaking free from the bondage of their negative labels is Rahab, in the Book of Joshua. Read Rahab’s story in Joshua 2 & 6.

• Write down the negative labels that continue to define you and influence the way you see yourself
• Next to each label write the new name that God has given you to replace that label. For example if your label is “average,” write “extraordinary” next to it. If your label is “addict,” write “overcomer” next to it. Place your list somewhere you’ll see it often to remind you that you no longer will let labels define you, but instead be defined by your life in Christ. 

Getting Past Your Past
Is your future caged up in your past?
Instead of being dragged down & immobilized by guilt, pain, or a lingering sense of failure, we can find freedom and joy in Christ. You can Get Past Your Past and live life.
Over the next 4 weeks we are going to explore some of these themes:
16 Oct :: breaking the labels that bind
23 Oct :: forgiving those who hurt you
30 Oct :: initiating restoration
  6 Nov :: getting past your personal failures

Gal 3:1-9 :: What Makes Spirituality Christian

From books and movies to TV shows, there is a rising interest in all things spiritual. And in the midst of this booming spiritual melting pot, the question we must ask ourselves is, “What makes spirituality Christian?” 

In Galatians 3:1-9, Paul teaches that the spiritual Christian is someone who is cross-shaped, empowered by the Holy Spirit, carried by the grace of God, marked by suffering, and is fully submitted to scripture.

Galatians 2:15-21 Who Am I?

Paul is continuing, in this passage, to teach and instruct on the centrality of being FREE, because of Jesus. In this passage, we will start to unpack some of the big theological words and phrases that are so central to christianity:

• faith in Christ
• justified
• not by law
• works
• crucified with Christ 

Gal 2:1-10 The Things that Make for Peace

In a world that is marked by divisions, conflicts, and wars, what are the things that make for peace? The followers of Jesus Christ are to be a people who, instead of finding ways to divide people, look for ways to bring people together. As followers of Jesus, we are called to orient our lives around making peace and spreading peace wherever we go. And the foundation for peace is the gospel. The message of faith alone in Christ alone is the only foundation for true peace.

FREE :: idols

In this week’s sermon, Mike talked about the “idols” that we have created in our society.
Idols of possessions, power, and relationships. 
One way you can know if you have an idol in your life is that when that thing is removed you are devastated, you are absolutely destroyed. 
Take a few minutes to reflect upon your life. 
Are there idols in your life? 
What are they?
What is there in your life that if that thing is removed, you are absolutely destroyed?
 

FREE :: what's worth fighting about :: introduction

series: FREE
title: what's worth fighting about
date: 26 september 2010
text: Galatians 1:6-10

In this week’s sermon, Mike began by sharing how our society is becoming more and more litigious. Today, just about anything can lead to a lawsuit. Even in the church, there is often great conflict over the most frivolous things. And in such a fight-drenched society, we must pause and ask ourselves, “What is it that is truly worth fighting for?” According to Paul, the answer is the gospel – a gospel that is marked by God’s call, grace, and humility.

FREE :: rescued :: LIFEGroup notes

series: FREE

title: rescued

date: 19 sepetember 2010

text: Galatians 1:1-5

OUTLINE

Does truth matter?

How do we know what is true? (Galatians 1:1)

“The world we live in is conspicuously and sadly lacking in the experience of freedom.”
Eugene Peterson

Who needs to hear the truth? (Galatians 1:2)

What are some of the tests of the truth? (Galatians 1:3)

What is the truth Paul was defending? (Galatians 1:4) 

LIVING THE TEXT

Looking at the Text

• Read Galatians 1
• Who is this letter written to?
• Why do you think Paul is defending his authority?
• In what way did Jesus give himself for our sins (v4)?
• Paul writes about being rescued (v4) in this passage.
  o   What does this mean?
  o   In what sense is rescue is both “from” and “to”?
  o   In what way does God rescue us?
  o   How have you been rescued?
• Why do you think Paul refers to “the present evil age” (v4)
• What is “grace and peace” (v3)?
• In what way does it come (only?) from “God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ” (v3)?
  o   Why do you think Paul refer to both the Father and Jesus?
  o   What is the significance of using “our”?

Living the Text

• Looking at these introductory verses, especially the words grace, peace, rescue, glory; what difference does understanding these things make in how we live?
• What are some of the things that stop us from living the lives of freedom that we are designed for?

For Next Week

• Read all of Galatians (use more than one version). You may want to use one the Bibles listed here.

Bibles

UPDATED

If you want to read the Bible online, or use different versions, here are some links:

biblegateway.com

• multiple translations available

blueletterbible.com

• multiple translations availble
• easy to use Greek and Hebrew tools

youversion.com

• multiple translations available
• you can add you own notes
• mobile versions available

net.bible.org

• a good translation based on the Hebrew/Greek
• excellent footnotes giving reasons for word selection
• other resources available as well

FREE :: rescued :: observations

series: FREE

title: rescued

date: 19 september 2010

text: Galatians 1:1-5

On Sunday we began looking at the apostle Paul's letter to the churches in Galatia.

This short letter (6 chapters) has often been reduced to being about legalism. But Galatians is about much more. It is about how to be FREE - because of Jesus Christ and because of God, the Father, and because of the Holy Spirit. Anything less than a full blown triune understanding leads us into creating our own religion. 

Take time to read, to reflect on the words of this little letter. Let the truths that we discover permeate your heart and impact how you live.

Introductory Matters

Author

Paul

Date

Paul has visited the area at least once, so that would date the letter no earlier than 49AD.

If Paul has visited the area at least twice, then the earliest date would be 53AD.

Location of Galatian Churches

The region of Galatia includes the cities of Posodian Antioch, Iconium, Lystra, Derbe

There has been debate as to whether Paul was writing to churches in North Galatia or South Galatia.

Who are the Galatian "agitators"?

We'll identify them, as we work our way through the text.

Resources

Commentaries / Books
This is a partial list of some of the commentaries/books available on Galatians. Ones marked with an * I find to be helpful.

• Bruce, F.F., The Epistle to the Galatians: A Commentary on the Greek Text, New International Greek Testament Commentary (Eerdmans, 1982)
• Fung, Ronald Y.K., The Epistle to the Galatians. The New International Commentary on the New Testament (Eerdmans, 1988)
• Guthrie, Donald, Galatians. New Century Bible Commentary Series. (London: Marshall, Morgan & Scott, 1973)
• Keller, Tim, Paul's Letter to the Galatians (New York, New York: Redeemer Presbyterian Church, 2003) 
• Longenecker, Richard N., Galatians, Word Biblical Commentary (Thomas Nelson, 1990)
• * McKnight, Scot, Galatians, The NIV Application Commentary (Zondervan, 1995)
• Morris, Leon, Galatians: Paul’s Charter of Christian Freedom (Inter-Varsity Press, 1996)
• * Peterson, Eugene, Traveling Light: Reflecting on the Free Life (InterVarsity Press, 1982)
• * Stott, John R.W. The Message of Galatians. The Bible Speaks Today Series.(InterVarsity Press, 1968)
• Swindoll, Charles R., Galatians: Letter of Liberation.(Word, 1984) 

free

starting Sunday Sepember 19

Good Friday

For a variety of reasons, our OFEM Good Friday Service, which was to be held at First Baptist, has been moved to Calvary Pentecostal Tabernacle (375 Westmount Dr. N. behind Country Produce) at 10:30am with all the other churches involved.

We look forward to gathering together to celebrate the cross.