John 17:17 Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth.

Jesus is praying for us, here, yes you heard that right, Jesus is praying for us! How powerful and encouraging is that?

Here are 3 things we see:

1st: He set me apart to grow in Him [sanctification] – this is a life-long process.

2nd: We grow to be like Him through HIS WORD – daily time hearing from Jesus by readying His WORD.

3rd: Truth does not describe His WORD, rather His WORD is TRUTH – the Bible is truth, God’s very Words to us!

Imagine this…

Imagine daily talking with God and hearing from Him

How to Live the Golden Rule

Matthew 7:12-14 “So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets. 13″Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. 14For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few. [ESV]

1] What is the key to living out the Golden Rule?

2] What does it mean to surrender to Jesus’ way?

3] What does God extend to us that allows us to repent before Him?

4] Who can we shower with grace this week?

[How can we live out the Golden Rule this week?]

 Remember we must live selflessly, here is how we do that…

1st: We don’t admire Jesus’ way, we surrender to His way, 2nd: We don’t show remorse, we express repentance, 3rd: We don’t live for this life, we live for the life to come

Imagine this…

Imagine reflecting Jesus by being gracious to those who may never experience grace

There are no two ways about it, Jesus turned our way of viewing things and thinking upside down. Probably the most incredible way He did this was in the midst of His greatest suffering. Jesus showed us a different way to act, behave and handle ourselves in the midst of our pain. Jesus taught us so much, and He set us an example even while enduring the cross for us, which was His greatest trial. Tak a look at this passage…

John 19:25-27 but standing by the cross of Jesus were his mother and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. 26When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to his mother, ”Woman, behold, your son!” 27Then he said to the disciple, ”Behold, your mother!” And from that hour the disciple took her to his own home. [ESV]

We immediately see Jesus showing care for others while He is hanging on His cross. Specifically we see Him honoring His mother – this is quite relevant to our lives this week as Mother’s Day is approaching this Sunday. Jesus loved and honored His mother, and He is showing care for others even while He is suffering, what an example He is to us. Lets draw a couple of things from this for our lives.

2 Things Jesus taught us in the midst of suffering:

1] How we react and what we do in the midst of our suffering matters

We never see Jesus complaining, whining, and wondering why no one is coming to His rescue. We do see Him showing care for others. He used His suffering to reach out to others. We may not realize it, but people are watching us and watching how we handle suffering. If we can get past ourselves, in the midst of our struggles, God can use us to reach out and even care for others while we are going through a trial. That leads to the second point…

2] We should be consistent in the midst of suffering

The cross was Jesus purpose for coming, and He did that to make a way for us. He did not have an attitude of selfishness while He was suffering, He was generous and sacrificed deeply for others through His greatest suffering. Think about this, Jesus was not acting differently while on the cross. He was consistent. He always loved His mother, He always honored her, He always obeyed her, and He was making sure she would be taken care of even while He was suffering.

What is the first thing we do when facing a problem in our lives?

Where do we run to when we feel like things are falling apart?

How do we re-act when things don’t go our way or we feel some pain?

Imagine this…

Imagine making sacrifices for others in the midst of your struggles

REMEMBER – SUNDAY IS MOTHER’S DAY, HONOR YOUR MOM!!!

How Not to be a Judgmental Jerk

discussion questions Lesson #1

Matthew 7:1-6 “Judge not, that you be not judged. 2For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you. 3Why do you see the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? 4Or how can you say to your brother, “Let me take the speck out of your eye,” when there is the log in your own eye? 5You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye. 6″Do not give dogs what is holy, and do not throw your pearls before pigs, lest they trample them underfoot and turn to attack you. [ESV]

Remember this… It is easy to be judgmental and ungracious when we get around people who sin differently than we do.

Don’t forget who we are and what we are NOT called to… We are not moral police, we are redeemed sinners!

Think about these questions:

1] In what ways do I/we tend to be more judgemental, rather than assuming the best of other peoples motives?

2] How does my talk conflict with my walk?

3] What are some practical ways I/we can begin to have a gracious attitude above an attitude of superiority?

Imagine this…

Imagine if we lived to graciously understand others above being quick to judge others

God’s Word is meant for everyday living, and it applies to every aspect of our lives.

Lesson #1: How NOT to be a Judgemental Jerk – Matthew 7:1-6

Lesson  #2: How to Make the Big Ask – Matthew 7:7-11

Lesson #3: How to Live the Golden Rule – Matthew 7:12-14

Lesson #4: How to be a Fruit Inspector – Matthew 7:15-20

Lesson #5: How to Know If God Knows Me – Matt. 7:21-23

Lesson #6: How to be a Fool – Matt. 7:24-27

Lesson #7: How to Know Your Authority – Matt. 7:28-29

It’s All About Jesus

2nd Chances week 4 discussion questions

Matthew 3:13-17

Remember this – Jesus came to identify with sinners, so that sinners would have the opportunity to find their identity in Him

1] What is the point of my life? What purpose do I strive to live for?

2] Why was Jesus baptized?

3] What does baptism symbolize?

4] Am I willing to share my testimony about how I came to follow Jesus?

[If so, then share with your P.O.D.]

Religion Isn’t the Answer

discussion questions week 3

Matthew 3:7-12

Remember this:

We can “DO” everything we think is right and good, and still be dead wrong

1] How do we sometimes pride ourselves on doing what looks good to others?

2] What are some ways we place doing what we think is right above Jesus?

3] Name some ways your life has changed since surrendering to follow Jesus.

4] In what ways do we focus on doing good things above knowing Jesus?

Imagine this…

Imagine no longer being defined by what you do, but by who you know

Doing a 180

2nd Chances week 2 discussion questions

Matthew 3:1-6

1] What needs to be removed from your life?

2] What does it mean to truly have repentance present in your life?

3] How do you go about turning your life around?

4] What are you moving towards in your life and is this the direction you desire to take your life?

1st: PRAY – Fast from something in your life this week and fill that time with Bible reading and prayer. Praise Jesus for what HE has accomplished for you. Join us on Good Friday at Image Church, at 7:30p.m. for a Concert of Prayer

2nd: INVEST - Make an eternal investment in someones life by inviting them to join you for Easter at Image. Their are people where we work live and play who are desperately in need of a 2nd Chance through Jesus Christ!

3rd: GATHER - Let’s all show up, ready for worship, expecting and believing Jesus to do a great work in peoples lives. We will gather at 9:30 and 11:00 a.m. [Help us with the crowds by considering to come to the 9:30 gathering!]

Our entire theme and series is about 2nd Chances. Bring that one person with you who may be in need of just that – a 2nd Chance! 

Imagine This…

Imagine those of us who will never die, being passionate about those who may be in need of a 2nd Chance

Looking for 2nd Chancer’s

Discussion Questions

Book of Jonah, Matthew 21:1-10, Mark 11:1-10, Luke 19:28-40, Luke 15:4-10

1] How can I be obedient to Jesus, this week,  in order to experience His great work in my life?

2] Do I value people the way Jesus values them?

3] What are some ways I could share Jesus where I work, live, and play?

4] Who is one person, in my life, that could use a 2nd Chance?