Grace Church

disciple = mathetes = learner = apprentice   Big Idea: Following Jesus doesn't just change what you do. It changes what you're made of.   1. The man who took a seat in the shadows. Nicodemus (John 3:1-3).   2. The Woman who Took a Seat at the feet of Jesus: Mary (Luke 10:38-42) 3. Fans Confuse Behavior Modification for True Transformation.  Micro-Skill #1: Start with Five Minutes. Micro-Skill #2: Find Your Chair.Micro-Skill #3: PRAY to Encounter Jesus.  P = Praise. Start by telling God who he is. Before you ask for anything, remember who you're talking to. What's true about his character?  R = Repent. Come honest. Where have you been running on your own power? Where have you shut him out? You don't clean up before you sit down.  A = Ask. Bring your needs. Physical, relational, spiritual. But notice where this comes in the order. You're not leading with your wish list.  Y = Yield. Stop talking. Start listening. Open your hands and say, God, I've told you what I want. Now I want to hear what you want. And then

The 4 ways one word wrecks every excuse.   Excuse #1 - “I’m not good enough.” 1. ANYONE is Welcome.   Excuse #2 - "I'd never fit in here.”  2. ANYONE means Everyone.   Excuse #3 - "I need to get my life together first."  3. ANYONE means No Excuse.   Excuse #4 - "I'm already good with the man upstairs."  4. It’s ANYONE but it’s Everything.   Next Steps: Spend some time this week to DTR - honestly define the relationship between you and God Join us for the next 2 weeks as we explore what it means when Jesus says Follow Me.  For more series information visit whoisgrace.com/read   

“My God, why have you forsaken me?"  Big Idea: Jesus was forsaken so you would never have to be.   3 things Jesus’ question exposes in us. 1. We've all known darkness.  2. We fear the temporary silence of God means He’s abandoned us forever.         - Deus absconditus = The hidden God.  3. We want a faith that always feels good.        - Psalm 22   Next Step  Pray Psalm 22 slowly and out loud.   Holy Week details at: whoisgrace.com/easter  Get other series resources at whoisgtace.com/read  

Jesus is here for you.  Jesus wants you to remember your history. (John 21:1-14; Romans 7:24)  Jesus wants to restore you relationship with Him. (John 21:15-19; Romans 8:1-2) “Do you love Me?”  Jesus wants to commission you for your calling. (John 21:15-19; John 14:15) “Feed my lambs… Follow Me.”  Next Step: Find your chair and honestly answer Jesus: “Do you love Me?” If your answer is “Yes!” then meditate on obeying His command: “Follow Me.” If you’re not ready to answer, spend time with Jesus. Read one chapter a day in John’s gospel. 

“Why don’t you do what I say?”  Big Idea: Agreement with Jesus is not the same as allegiance to Jesus.  Agreement is most often intellectual or emotional. Allegiance, is relational and action-oriented.  “Comes to Me”  - “Hears My Words”  - “Follows Me” How To Move from Agreement to Allegiance: 1. Get to Know His Voice  2. Identify the Competing Voice Voice of the Flesh Voice of the World Voice of the Enemy Voice of Wounds 3. Name the “But”  Next step.  Write your answer to Jesus' question, “Why don’t you do what I say?”  

Big Idea: Your soul is precious.  Jesus reveals 2 truths about himself (Matt 16:24) He is serious about dying.  He is dying for the sake of your soul  Soul = the essence of your life  “For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul?  Or what shall a man give in return for his soul?”   Jesus exposes a truth in you (Matt 16:26) How you prioritize the soul is a big deal. Success Self  Next Step: Find your chair and honestly answer Jesus’ questions: What do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul?  Is anything worth more than your soul? 

“Who do you say that I am?” The Poll question: “Who do people say that I am? (:13-14)  The Personal Question: “Who do YOU say that I am?” (vv. 15-16) Big idea: Your answer to the question of Jesus determines your approach to everything else.  3. Jesus’ three incredible declarations (vv. 17-19) The revelation of faith comes from the Father. Jesus is building his church.  Jesus entrusts his mission to his people.   Next step. Commit to being here all 5 weeks of this series.  Write your answer to Jesus' question, “Who do you say that I am?”   For more series information visit whoisgrace.com/read  

Our vision: By 2035, 30,000 people from Cleveland to Buffalo have been mobilized to step into their kingdom calling to bring gospel influence into the everyday places of life.   Big Idea: When ordinary people take steps of ordinary obedience, God can awaken entire regions.   Three Small Steps Toward Our Big Dream  Multiplying everyday disciples. Multiplyingeverydayinfluencers. whoisgrace.com/handcrafted   Multiplying everywhere churches. whoisgrace.com/awakethelake   Pray: "God, stir a spiritual awakening in our time, and let it begin with me."   Find more series resources at whoisgrace.com/read  

Big Idea: God has a disciple-making journey for you to walk, will you take the next step?  1. Compassionate Storyteller: I know God’s story, my place in it, and am motivated to tell the people in my life.  2. Savvy Follower: I will discern God’s voice and follow his lead at the right time in the right way.  3. Intentional Friend: I will build healthy relationships and help God restore broken ones,  4. Embedded Influencer: I understand how God has purposefully gifted and positioned me to multiply His work in the world   Four Roles: Role Models Compassionate Storyteller: The Samaritan Woman (John 4) Savvy Follower: Daniel (Daniel 1, 6)  Intentional Friend: Barnabas (Acts 9, 11, 15)  Embedded Influencer: Esther (Esther 4)  Next Step:  Decide to Own your Spiritual Growth (find information at whoisgrace.com/awakethelake ) Join a LAUNCH Class in February/ March  Try a Training Lab Sampler  Savvy Follower – March 2 Intentional Friend – March 3 Familiarize yourself with the Dream Disciple roles and tools Find more se

3 Plans for Financial Freedom  Make the decision to plan.   Plan #1 - Make a BUDGET plan   3 Easy Steps to Budgeting  Determine your income for the NEXT month.  Enter all of your expenses for NEXT month.  Make your income and expenses equal EXACTLY ZERO.  Plan #2 - Make a DEBT plan.  Plan #3 - Make a GENEROSITY plan.   Generosity Motivation Scale.  Tips.  Cause or Crisis.  Systematic Obedience.  Spirit-Directed Generosity.   Next steps.  Access tools, forms and resources over at our read page at whoisgrace.com/read.  Sign up for Financial Peace University classes starting on February 15 and February 17 –Go to whoisgrace.com/give  

Big Idea: Everything you have belongs to God.   3 Questions   1. What does it mean that God is the Owner?  (Psalm 24:1)  God owns everything God owns You. You belong to God.  Everything you have belongs to God.  Everything you have is a gift from God.    2. What are our responsibilities with God’s Money?  (Dt. 8:10-18)  3. What Are the Benefits of This Arrangement?  It Improves Your Prayer Life  It Frees you to Be Generous  It Eliminates Fear   Next Steps  Take Financial Peace University – more details at whoisgrace.com/give  Every time you spend money, pause and whisper, "This is Yours, God. Help me manage it well."  Find more series information at whoisgrace.com/read  

Big Idea: Be alert to attack, stand firm in Christ General Paul’s Battle-Preparedness Plan Spiritual Battles Require Spiritual Solutions Analyze Before You Attack: The fundamental struggle of believers is not against other people but against the spiritual forces of hell Spiritually Suit Up Use Unconventional Methods  “Stop fighting and know that I am God” -Psalm 46:10  Next Step:  Memorize 1 John 4:4 Bring your physical Bible with you wherever you go this week 

How do we encounter demonic forces?  Oppression – demonic forces working externally around us.  Possession – demonic forces totally take over someone’s body  Occupation – demonic forces are given space in our lives to fuel sin and lies.   What does demonic activity actually feel like in real life?  lies that feel true  temptations that feel irresistible.   Specific times you can expect spiritual attack.  Seasons of spiritual growth.  Times of kingdom advancement.  Trying to break free from sin.  Preparing for a season of blessing.   5 Practices that protect your soul Renew your mind by protecting what you put into it.  Familiarize yourself with the promises of God  Guard your heart against temptation.  Overcome your sinful blind spots through community.  Pray faith-filled prayers in the Spirit.   Next Step  A call to prayer  For more series resources visit: whoisgrace.com/read  

Evil exists in a 3-fold cord Our FLESH The WORLD  Our ENEMY   Where Did Satan Come From?  Ezekiel 28 and Isaiah 14.   What was Satan's Rebellion?  “I will ascend to heaven” - Entitlement  "I will raise my throne above the stars of God" – Ambition.  "I will sit on the mount of assembly" – Control  "I will ascend above the heights of the clouds" – Vainglory.  "I will make myself like the Most High" – Self-Worship.   Three schemes of the Devil:  1. Deception He Lies About God He Lies TO and ABOUT You.  2. Division  3. Destruction   Next step  Write down a lie you’re believing. Then find the truth from Scripture that corrects the lie.  Memorize 1 John 4:4. "Greater is he who is in you than he who is in the world.”  

Big Idea: You're in a battle you didn't start. But you're on the winning team.   5 Truths about Spiritual Warfare Truth 1 – There is an invisible world that’s just as real as the visible world. Truth 2: We are involved in an invisible war.  Truth 3: Our Foe Is Formidable Truth 4: We must respect our foe but not fear him  Satan is a created being.  Satan is not God's equal.  Satan is not omniscient.  Satan is not omnipotent.  Satan is not omnipresent.  TRUTH 5: We Don't Fight FOR Victory—We Fight FROM Victory  Next Step Memorize 1 John 4:4. "Greater is he who is in you than he who is in the world."   The Only 2 Responses that Make Sense  The Electrician's Caution: The power is real, but it's limited.  The Pilot's Trust: trust your gauges, not your senses.  For more series resources visit whoisgrace.com/read  

God’s Faithfulness through Every Twist and Turn.  Act one: Promise.  Act two: Kingdom.  Act three: Exile and beyond.   Big Idea: God always keeps his covenant promises.   Meeting Mary  How God Keeps His Promises.    God Keeps His Promises Through Unexpected People.  God’s promises require costly surrender God's Promises Always Point to Jesus.   Next Steps:  Pray Mary's prayer: "Let it be to me according to your word."  Think of one person in your life who needs to hear that nothing is impossible with God. Send them a text today. Just say, "Come with me to Christmas at the Warner."  For more series resources visit whoisgrace.com/read  

Big Idea: Jesus came FROM the very people he came FOR.  3 Truths from Jesus’ Messy Family Tree 1. Your Mess Doesn’t Disqualify You.  Tamar the Forsaken.  Rahab the Fearful.  Ruth the Foreigner.  Bathsheba the Fallen.   The Common Thread: your mess doesn't disqualify you.   2. God draws straight lines with crooked sticks.  3. Your worst moment isn’t your last chapter.    Next Step:  Stop pretending and bring your brokenness to the table this Christmas.  Pray about who God wants you to invite to Christmas at the Warner and then extend an invitation.  Find more series resources at whoisgrace.com/read  

Big Idea: The Feast of the Father is an echo of God’s endgame.The Story We’re All Living In.Creation | Fall | Redemption | Mission | RestorationThe Feast is the Destination.The Feast points us to Joy.Both Brothers at the Feast.What should a seat at the Father’s table do to us?A New Communion“Let the kingdom feast begin right now!”For more series information, visit whoisgrace.com/read

Review: The Story So Far   What it Means to Walk in the Way of Grace.  Understand that your homecoming was free to you but cost someone everything Admit you need someone to come for you. Trust that the perfect grace-giver has made a way for you to come home.  Next Step: Come Home For more series resources visit whoisgrace.com/read  

2 things an honorable Middle-Eastern dad would never do:  Run in public.  Cancel the Shunning Ceremony.   Act II. The Older Brother’s Response   4 Indicators You’re Religious but May not Know Jesus. You get furious when life doesn't go as planned (:28)  Your obedience is mechanical and joyless. (:29)  You feel superior to people who sin differently than you. (:30) You have no assurance of the father’s love. (:29)   2 Challenges to Older Brothers You need a new kind of repentance.  You need a new level of rejoicing.   Next Step:  This week, stop and honestly answer this question: What's keeping me outside?  Name it. Confess it to God.   For more series resources visit whoisgrace.com/read