Fueling the Flame: Part 4 - Sacrifice

MICRO CHURCH GUIDE
September 07, 2025

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ANNOUNCEMENTS

OneLife Students, United Night Bonfire/Tailgate - September 24th
On Wednesday, September 24th, our middle & high school students from BOTH campuses will be coming together for a night of connection, worship, and unity! There will be games, food, student led worship, and a student led message! It will take place at the East Campus at 6:30pm and we will wrap up at 8:15pm. For more information mark the OneLife Students box on the Connection Card.

24 Hours of Prayer - September 19 - 20
Join us for a powerful 24-hour prayer vigil as we continue our journey through the 40 Days of Prayer. From 7pm on September 19th to 7pm on September 20th, both Campuses will be open for continuous prayer and reflection. Come for an hour or stay longer—this is a time to seek God’s presence, intercede for our community, and align our hearts with His purpose. Let’s unite in faith and expectancy, believing that when we pray, heaven moves. To register for a time go to onelifeknox.com/events

God’s Economy: Stewardship Class - September 7 - 17
Discover how obedience to Christ unlocks the door to abundant blessing. In this two-session class, we’ll address debt, dishonest gain, distraction, and the life-changing blessings that come from obedience. Our micro churches will be going through the sessions as they meet, but for anyone not in a micro church we still want you to experience this! We will offer sessions on Sundays, September 7th and 14th at 10:45am in the meeting room of our North Campus. East campus will offer sessions on Wednesday, September 10th and 17th in the meeting room of our East Campus. To register go to onelifeknox.com/events.

Baptism
If you’ve given your life to Jesus but haven’t gone public with your story through baptism then it’s time to take that step! Mark the baptism box on your Connection Card and we’ll help you get started.

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GIVE BACK
Give Jesus your best! Make a one-time tithe or offering or to set up a recurring tithe or offering: Click Here To Give Online.
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START TALKING:
When have you seen someone give up something they love for someone else or something else that they love even more?

When have had or done something that you loved and at the time could have never imagined giving it up, but then you discovered someone or something else you loved even more so you were willing to give up the original thing?

START THINKING:
Read Matthew 13:44-46.
There are several similarities in the two parables. What are they? Pay especially close attention to the things that are mentioned or referenced twice (in both parables) as that means Jesus is really driving these points home!

Re-read the passage four times, each time emphasizing one of the words below. As you emphasize and focus on each word, how does it help you understand the passage? How does the meaning come into focus? What does it teach?

1. Found
2. Went
3. Sold all/everything
4. Bought


START SHARING:
"The kingdom" isn't a place or a realm, but a rule and a reign. How have you experienced the kingdom - the rule and reign of Jesus - in your life after you followed Jesus? How was it hidden from you before then and what led you to find it? What helps you to experience it from day to day now?

In each parable, the newly discovered treasure was worth investing in and protecting, and both have implications that it was for others to benefit from the newly found treasure. Who or what in your life invested in the kingdom and sacrificed so that you could experience the kingdom? In other words, who fueled the flame of the kingdom for you so that you could be part of it? What sacrifice did it require of them?

Read Hebrews 12:2.
Sacrifice isn't easy. It sure wasn't easy for Jesus to endure the cross. But sacrifice is a simple decision when true joy, because of what will come later, is experienced. If you knew for sure that your sacrifice would lead someone you love to experience the kingdom, what would you be willing to give up?

START DOING:
What do you love that you are willing to give up this week and beyond so that the Kingdom - what you hopefully love even more - will be fueled? Think about that in terms of:

- Fasting
- Generosity
- Your time
- Your preferences

Read Romans 13:8. This gives a step we each have to take to be freed up to love, which leads to sacrifice. If we owe too much to too many people, we won't be able to sacrifice. That's obvious when it comes to finances. It is also true of time and any other way we can be overextended. What changes do you need to make so that you are to over obligated to too many people and things so that you can sacrifice?

What is one thing you do every day or every week that costs something and if you gave it up for just six months and gave that to our shared mission of fueling the flame it would add up?

START PRAYING:
Pray for each other in the micro church to experience the kingdom - the rule and reign of Jesus - each and every day this week. Pray that each of our hearts would be motivated to give up what we love for what we love even more: the kingdom being fueled for even more people to experience. Pray that the joy of knowing and following Jesus would overpower the temporary happiness that earthly material and earthly experiences may bring. Pray that each of us look more like Jesus who endured the cross and gave up what he loved for what he loves even more - you and me.
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CONNECTION CARDS
Be sure to fill out the online Connection Card to let us know next steps, prayer requests, or other information you'd like to share, click here.
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MULTIPLICATION
Share spiritual/missional conversations you've had where you live, work, and play:
  - Who did you have a conversation with that took a spiritual/missional turn this week?
  - What questions did you ask to discover where God is at work in their life, even if they are not aware?
  - How were you able to share your story of life change or how you have experienced Jesus?
  - How can you be intentional this week with people where you live, work, and play to have spiritual/missional conversations if the opportunity arises?
  - Who in your life do you think could be disciple-able or open to spiritual/missional conversations?
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WHAT'S NEXT?
  - Discuss the next step for your micro church. When will we gather again, and which purpose will it fulfill (missions, fellowship/care, growth, worship, multiplication)?/giveback/giveback
  - Discuss the next step for your micro church. When will we gather again, and which purpose will it fulfill (missions, fellowship/care, growth, worship, multiplication)?