Wednesday August 14, 2013

Jesus Challenge:

We’ve been talking and thinking about meaning and value in our lives. As a cell group discuss the importance for individual believers to have a goal or vision for their own life.

Spend time praying together that God would show each person in your group what he has in store for them and what their particular life goal should be.

See if each individual can come up with a Bible verse that sums up the purpose or point of their life.

Suggested verses could include

Ephesians 2:8-10, 2 Corinthians 5: 20, 1 Corinthians 12:7, 1 Tim 1:15-16, Psalm 139:14, Philippians 3:12, 14, Philippians 4:11

 

Today's Reading:

Read Mark 1:14-20

It was a small country town dotted with a few churches - some largish, some not so large. The church I was assigned to as a student preacher was small. About 12 people gathered week in, week out to sing four hymns, to give their tithes and to hear the Word of God expounded.

 

As I got to know the people better it became obvious that much of what they were doing was “religion” - in the negative sense of the word. They simply went to church each week as something you had to do. Some had been going for over 70 years without missing a single week! But these very people had probably never known or experienced the love of God. It had never impacted them! It had never changed them!

 

You and I can fall into similar habits can’t we? Attending church, reading God’s Word and praying can become things we simply do. They can easily become motions that we go through. Of course, we will never grow in depth of love and appreciation of God while we ‘do’ religion. It’s like a student doing an assignment on Prime Minister Kevin Rudd - it’s merely information being sorted out and presented. There is no relationship present. Imagine how that student's life would change if he actually got to know the Prime minister as a good friend.

 

God wants to know you as a good friend. In fact, He wants to be your best friend. He wants to lavish you with love and fill you with His presence through the Holy Spirit.

 

So why then, are so many people sitting in churches disengaged and unfulfilled? Why are so many people putting their family, their sport, their shopping and even their house cleaning above meeting with God?

 

When Jesus called the first disciples they left their nets and followed Him. They put down everything they had and made a firm decision to follow Him - to be Jesus-followers, not fishermen! Have you and I made a firm decision to follow Jesus? Have we resolved that come hell or high water we will walk with Jesus? Have we decided that Jesus is our Lord and Savour and we will walk with Him at home, at work, at school, at uni and even with our friends?

 

When you make that decision to forsake all things to follow Jesus, you will have a powerful life that brings glory to God. When you decide to put all things under Jesus’ lordship you will have an incredible impact in your world.

 

God doesn’t want you to just go through the motions. He doesn’t want a robot to follow Him. He doesn’t want you to do religion. He wants your heart, your soul, your mind and your strength. That journey begins with a single decision - will you leave everything to follow Jesus?

 

Prayer:

Write down at least one prayer in each of the categories below based on the following verse.

 

As Jesus walked beside the Sea of Galilee, He saw Simon and his brother  Andrew casting a net into  the lake for they were fisher men.

“Come follow me,”  Jesus said, “and I will make you fishers of men.”

 

Adoration:

 

 

Confession:

 

 

Thanks:

 

 

Supplication:

¥ Pray that Josh Willis, the chaplain at Harristown Public School will have many opportunities to introduce the students and staff to Christ. Pray that God would use Josh greatly in reaching out to these students and staff. Pray that his funding would continue  to flow in.

¥ Pray for the continued work of Uni Impact in NZ. Pray that David and Kristy Richards would bear much fruit in the unis as they work for Uni Impact. Ask God to bring in the harvest through them and the team as they reach out to the students and staff at the unis.

 

Discussion Questions For Families and Groups

1. Do you think that Marcus has ever made this decision to follow Christ? Why or why not?

2. How could you encourage Marcus?

3. What role do Christian friends play in encouraging one another to decide to follow Jesus whole-heartedly?

4. What kind of Christian friend are you?