What's In It For Me: Part 2-The Great Paradox

October 12th, 2025

MICRO CHURCH GUIDE
October 12, 2025

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Bottom Line: Making the most of my life requires making it less about me.

Matthew 16:24-25 NIV

Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it.

1. Dethrone myself.

Matthew 16:26 NIV

What good will it be for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul?

2. Become willing to give up everything.

Matthew 16:27 NIV

For the Son of Man is going to come in his Father’s glory with his angels, and then he will reward each person according to what they have done.

3. Following means doing.

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START TALKING:
Share about some paradoxes below that we have all experienced. When have you seen these to be true?

1. The more things change the more they stay the same. And the only constant in life is change.

2. The more you love someone the more you have to be willing to let them go.

3. The more I try to impress someone, the less impressive I become (or the more someone tries to impress me, the less impressive they become!).

START THINKING:
Read Matthew 16:24-27.

What do you think Jesus means by "life" in verse 25 that we must be willing to use? Think about how "deny themselves" means to "dethrone themselves" and how this relates to the "life" most are naturally trying to live.

Read Mark 10:17-23.

How does this real-life interaction between Jesus and a religious man illustrate what Jesus was talking about in Matthew 16? How did this man or didn't this man do each of these?
- Dethrone himself
- Become willing to give up everything
- Follow by doing

START SHARING:
Read Romans 10:9.

The concept of "Lord" is in many ways similar to that of a king. The "lord" in everyday life was the one who was in charge. So confessing Jesus as Lord is to admit and embrace that I have dethroned myself and let Him have complete control. When you began following Jesus, what did you notice He took complete control of beyond just forgiving your sin? What is the hardest thing for you to give up control of? In other words, what do you hold onto as the Lord of your own life?

Read Revelation 12:10-11.

This passage prophesies the end times when the Church prevails over the enemy. It illustrates that those who truly follow Jesus are willing to give up everything, which brings boldness and, ultimately, victory. When have you seen someone so committed to following Jesus that they were completely willing to give up everything? Maybe even their lives? What is hardest for you to give up if necessary so that you are totally depending on Jesus alone?

START DOING:
Following means doing! With that in mind, what can you do in each of these areas to follow Jesus more closely and so you aren't only consuming and taking but also giving?

1. In your personal life and walk with Jesus?
2. In the lives of those where you live, work, and play?
3. In your church family?

START PRAYING:

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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)?

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