Download Practice Prepares us for Game Time

Practice Prepares us for Game Time
January 21-22, 2017
SERIES: Follow like a Champion
SPEAKER: John Williamson (Timberlake/Downtown), Glen Robinson (Altavista)
STUDY GUIDE: Jason Kolar
CONNECT (5-10 min)
Leaders Note: The purpose of this time is to help the members of the group grow in relationships with
one another so all people in the group know they matter. Spend some time discovering what is
happening in the lives of your group members.
GROW – Review the Message Summary (30-45 min)
Leaders Note: The goal of this section is to apply the truth of the message (not teach) so each
participant is familiar with the message from Sunday morning. Good facilitators “share the leadership”.
If your group has been meeting at least 8-12 weeks you should have an “apprentice”. This would be a
good section for your apprentice to facilitate.
Read: Luke 10:1-16
Jesus Sends Out the Seventy-Two
10 After this the Lord appointed seventy-two[a] others and sent them on ahead of him, two by two, into
every town and place where he himself was about to go. 2 And he said to them, “The harvest is
plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out
laborers into his harvest. 3 Go your way; behold, I am sending you out as lambs in the midst of wolves. 4
Carry no moneybag, no knapsack, no sandals, and greet no one on the road. 5 Whatever house you
enter, first say, ‘Peace be to this house!’ 6 And if a son of peace is there, your peace will rest upon him.
But if not, it will return to you. 7 And remain in the same house, eating and drinking what they provide,
for the laborer deserves his wages. Do not go from house to house. 8 Whenever you enter a town and
they receive you, eat what is set before you. 9 Heal the sick in it and say to them, ‘The kingdom of God
has come near to you.’ 10 But whenever you enter a town and they do not receive you, go into its
streets and say, 11 ‘Even the dust of your town that clings to our feet we wipe off against you.
Nevertheless know this, that the kingdom of God has come near.’ 12 I tell you, it will be more bearable
on that day for Sodom than for that town.
Woe to Unrepentant Cities
13 “Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the mighty works done in you had been done in
Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago, sitting in sackcloth and ashes. 14 But it will be more
bearable in the judgment for Tyre and Sidon than for you. 15 And you, Capernaum, will you be exalted
to heaven? You shall be brought down to Hades.
16 “The one who hears you hears me, and the one who rejects you rejects me, and the one who rejects
me rejects him who sent me.”
Notes…
Sent by His Authority for His Purpose (v.1)
 The AUTHORITY to do ministry is from Jesus (v.1a)
 Healthy, effective ministry requires PARTNERS (v.1b)
 Begin where you are and focus on preparing people for JESUS (v.1c)
Jesus’ strategy for sending them intentionally (vv.2-9)
 The act of GOING is always joined with the discipline of PRAYING (v.2)
 Going requires spiritual DISCERNMENT (v.3)
 Going requires God DEPENDENCE and URGENCY (v.4)
 Going requires establishing RELATIONSHIPS (vv.5-6)
 Going requires HONORING your host (vv.7-8)
 Going requires us to be ACTIVE SERVANTS and COMMUNICATORS (v.9)
Jesus’ strategy for how to handle rejection (vv.10-11)
 ASSUME rejection (v.10a)
 Don’t let the rejection POLLUTE
Bottom Line: Jesus mission and message require a response that has consequences
For those not yet living a Jesus-centered life:
1. Receive
For those living a Jesus-centered life:
2. Pray!
3. Serve!
4. Tell!
Discussion Questions
1. What stood out most to you from the passage or from the sermon this week?
2. Re-read vs. 1-2, why is prayer the action step?
3. Has there been a time the Lord has called you to something that you felt inadequate for? How
did the Lord bring you through?
4. How is your prayer life? Have you ever prayed for the Lord to send out laborers?
5. What has God called you to right now? How’s it going, and how can we pray for you?
6. How might you serve those around you right now where the Lord has placed you?
7. Are there any people of peace in your life currently? What’s the next step in proclaiming Grace
and Truth to them?
8. What has God revealed to you? What are you going to do about it? Do you need any
accountability from the group?
Related LifeShape: The Octagon
Presence
Do you truly believe that Jesus is where you are?
If you do how does that affect your life?
Passing Relationships
How do you view those people that you meet in passing?
How does Christ view these interactions?
Permanent Relationships
Do you find it easier to love permanent relationships or
Passing relationships?
How might you become more intentional with those that are truly
In your life?
Proclamation as Identification
What are ways that we can identify people of peace?
Preparation
How did you move along the scale to finally accept Christ as your savior?
Power
How can you lean into the Spirit in order to help bring people along the scale?
Perception
What may be the signs that someone is interested in learning something about the spiritual realm or about eternity?
Person of Peace
Are there any people of peace in your life currently? What’s the next step in proclaiming Grace and Truth to them?
SERVE: intentionally caring for others in a tangible way (15-20 min)
Close the small group discussion with a time of praying. Who do the members of the group have
influence with that you could pray for specifically? Perhaps spend some time praying Paul’s prayer in
Ephesians 3:14-21. If anyone shared a need during your meeting, be sure you have made plans to
intentionally care for that person! Did you hear about or observe anything at Crosspoint this week that
offers you an opportunity to serve others?
Throughout The Week: (Optional)
MONDAY: Review the text
Read: Luke 10:1-16
What truth did God reveal to you from the sermon this past week?
TUESDAY: Receive
Read: John 1:9-18
What does this passage say? What does it mean? What did Jesus give to those that received him?
Have you? How has that changed your life? Are there people in your life that haven’t? What’s a step
you can take in order to shine light into their life?
WEDNESDAY: Pray!
Read: Pray
Spend time pray to the Lord. Cast your burden on Him! Pray that He would send laborers for Lynchburg.
Listen to the Lord and ask what He wants from you.
THURSDAY: Serve!
Read: Philippians 2:1-11
What does this passage say? What does it mean? How did Christ serve? How does this encourage you
to live in humility and service? What’s the mindset that you must have? How does that compare to the
mindset you’re living in? How can you take a step to look more like Christ?
FRIDAY: Tell!
Read: Tell
Have you had dinner with a nonbeliever this week? If not take the time to pray about it, and then go
ask! We have 21 meals a week. It’s a great opportunity for us to spend that time intentionally investing in
others! Also spend time to thank the Lord for all that He has done! How can we go tell someone
something that hasn’t first overwhelmed and changed our hearts? The good news is news worth
believing!
SATURDAY: Spend time today praying for the prayer requests of your small group members. Pray for the
leaders who will be leading us in musical worship and delivering God’s word. Are there certain people
that the Lord has laid on your heart to pray for their salvation? Are there people you can have a
conversation about God with this weekend?