Radical Part 4: Radical Love

MICRO CHURCH GUIDE
April 25, 2021
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ANNOUNCEMENTS

MyOneLife - Starts May 2
If you’ve been coming to OneLife but haven’t gotten involved, then it’s time to get started! Your next step is to attend our 4-week Sunday morning small group experience called MyOneLife. You’ll hear about the history, vision & values of our church, discover your personal mission and spiritual gifts, and have opportunities to take next steps such as joining a volunteer team, Micro Church, and more. It takes place on Sunday mornings in the Meeting Room at your campus beginning May 2. To sign up text “myonelife” to 94000.

Baptism
If you’ve given your life to Jesus but haven’t taken the step of baptism then there’s never been a better time than now. Go to onelifeknox.com/baptism and we’ll help you get started.

Join a Volunteer Team
Did you know it takes several hundred volunteers every week to make a service at OneLife happen at our campuses? So if you haven’t started volunteering, then it’s time to get on the team! From First Impressions & Security, to Kid City, to Production & Worship, to OneLife Students, weekday teams, and more - there’s plenty of opportunities for everyone to serve. To get started go to onelifeknox.com/volunteering.

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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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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 discipleable or open to spiritual/missional conversations?

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SERMON NOTES

RADICAL: Very different from the usual or traditional, extreme.

Bottom Line: A radical Jesus requires radical love.

Matthew 5:43.-48 NLT
43 “You have heard the law that says, ‘Love your neighbor’ and hate your enemy. 44 But I say, love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you! 45 In that way, you will be acting as true children of your Father in heaven. For he gives his sunlight to both the evil and the good, and he sends rain on the just and the unjust alike. 46 If you love only those who love you, what reward is there for that? Even corrupt tax collectors do that much. 47 If you are kind only to your friends, how are you different from anyone else? Even pagans do that. 48 But you are to be perfect, even as your Father in heaven is perfect.

1. Radical love looks weird.

2. Radical love is not about me.

3. Radical love requires grace.

4. Radical love is hard.

5. Radical love is impossible without the Holy Spirit.
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DISCUSSION GUIDE

Start Talking

• What are some things you've done that required something from you? (Joined the military, completed your degree, got a driver's license)
• What are some things you've seen or have been a part of that were just weird or not normal? (The UFO in the front lawn, people who keep their Christmas decorations up in the summer)
  
  

Start Thinking 

• Read Matthew 5:43-44. How does Jesus tell us to love versus how "the law" or even just the world these days tells us to love? How is this weird?
• Jump back a few verses and read Matthew 5:38-42. What are the biggest differences between how we would normally respond in these situations compared to how Jesus would have us respond?
  
  

Start Sharing

• How have you experienced the "ME" culture we talked about in the sermon today where everything in our world is all about making things better for "me"? How have you been guilty of putting yourself above others - especially in times of conflict and hurt? What do you need to do instead in order to follow what Jesus instructs in Matthew 5:44?
• Read Matthew 5:45. How have you experienced God's grace? Is it easy or is it hard for you to offer grace to someone that has wronged you? Why?

Start Doing

• Read Matthew 5:46-48. What will it take for you to be different than the "corrupt tax collectors" and "pagans"? What will it take, even starting this week, for you to love the hard way and not just take the easy way out and do what's comfortable and familiar? (Hint... remember point 5.)
• How will loving people with the radical love that Jesus requires change the way people see you (read John 13:35 for help)? How will you use that to share your story and to help lead someone to Jesus where you live, work & play?

Start Praying

• Pray that the Holy Spirit would push you to:
  - Embrace being weird (love your enemies)
  - Love in a selfless way that's not about "me"
  - Offer grace
  - Not settle for loving in a way that's easy and comfortable
  - Deny trying to love people from our flesh, but rather the Holy Spirit

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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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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)?