Becoming More

 

Sermon Notes

“Life’s not about how hard of a hit you can give… it’s about how many you can take, and still keep moving forward.”
- Rocky Balboa

For what we proclaim is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, with ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake.
- 2 Corinthians 4:5

“but we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us
- 2 Corinthians 4: 7

We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed;
- 2 Corinthians 4: 8-9

For it is all for your sake, so that as grace extends to more and more people it may increase thanksgiving, to the glory of God
- 2 Corinthians 4:15

So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison
- 2 Corinthians 4:16-17

So we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.
- 2 Corinthians 4:18

Table Group Resources

Mixer

I have way too many of these in my home...

‘Neighborly’ - Daily Devotional

To get the Daily Devotionals delivered to you every morning, text ‘dailydevotional’ to 97000.

  1. In the 10/17/22 entry, Non-Conformity, Pastor Ken reminds us that God has called us to be holy - and set apart from the world around us. What does holiness look like for the Christian living among the non-believers around you? Reflect on this question: Does God want me to separate myself from ______, or could He be asking me to be set apart while amongst _______? What would be your next steps?

  2. In the 10/21/22 entry, What’s It Worth?, Garden Music’s Jacob Cruz introduces us to the term: Worth-ship, the ascribing of the highest worth to God. What is God worth to you? As you consider what holds value in your heart, reflect on this statement to help you answer this question: A good indicator of what you are worshiping is how you respond when it is threatened or it is no longer present.

Sermon Questions

Scriptures: 2 Corinthians 4:5, 7, 8-9, 15, 16-17, 18

  1. What challenged you about this statement: God cares more about developing your Christ-like character than your comfort?

  2. Are you mentally and spiritually ready for God to move you out of your comfort zone in order to help you grow? Why or why not? How can your group help?

  3. In 2 Corinthians 4:7, Paul reminds us that we have a treasure. What is this treasure (vs 6)? What is this treasure stored in? In the metaphor, what do the jar of clay and the treasure represent?

  4. Knowing what the treasure is, is a jar made out of clay a safe place for this treasure? Why do you think God entrusts his treasure to such a fragile environment? Read Judges 7:17-22 to see God’s purpose for fragility.

  5. Pastor Sean stated that we can maintain different postures (outlooks) about ourselves. Describe the person of each posture below. How does #3 set a person apart for God’s use over the others?

    1. We can view ourselves as only a broken ____ of ____, or

    2. We can view ourselves as the shining _____, or

    3. We can view ourselves as a ____ of ____ with the _____ of Christ in us.

  6. How are you able to sit with the idea of being the Posture #3 person - cracked and easily broken but of value to Kingdom work despite? Why do we try to cover up our cracks versus embrace them? Describe how Christ might be attempting to shine through one of your cracks currently - and your response

  7. Read 2 Corinthians 4:7-9 and 16-18. Like in Pastor Sean’s story about his call to ministry and the reaction of his parents, what excites you the most about taking a step out of your comfort zone to allow God to use you? What is He calling you to do?

    For further inspiration, read The Cracked Pot

Serve

Trunk or Treat is Saturday, Oct 29 this year, 4-6pm. We would LOVE IT if you, or your group, could lend us a hand to make this event a blast! We need people to provide the Trunks - decorate your trunk and pass out candy. Or volunteer with us for set up, run the event, and/or tear down. Follow these links:

VOLUNTEER

DECORATE CARS

Pray

Pray over our church’s Trunk or Treat event this Saturday and all the people who will come! Pray that God will use this event to create a strong community in and between families. Pray for safety over the event and fun times for all.

Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.
- 1 Thessalonians 5:11