Once Upon A Time - Part 1: Motives
MICRO CHURCH GUIDE
June 6, 2021
_____________________
ANNOUNCEMENTS
OneLife Students Pool Party
This Wednesday night at 6:30pm, OneLife Students is having pool parties for each of our campuses! If you are in Middle or High School then you don’t want to miss it! Also, if you are a 5th Grader that’s heading into 6th grade this fall you’re invited too! To get the address for your campus’s pool party visit onelifeknox.com/students or mark the OneLife Students box on your Connection Card.
Women’s Bible Study
On Monday nights throughout the summer we are hosting a Women’s Bible Study at each campus. This will be a great chance to meet other ladies, be challenged through an awesome group study, and have some fun too. For more information or to sign up visit onelifeknox.com/biblestudy.
Kid City’s Bring A Friend Sunday
Every week during the summer, Kid City has a special themed day. Next Sunday is a “Bring-A-Friend” Sunday. So if you have an elementary student or preschooler, make sure they bring a friend with them next week to Kid City, and let’s pack out Kid City together!!
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 so we can help you get started.
_____________________
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.
_____________________
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?
_____________________
SERMON NOTES
Psalm 78:2-3
I will teach you hidden lessons from our past - stories we have heard and known, stories our ancestors handed down to us.
BOTTOM LINE: What motivates me matters
Number 22:21-22 NLT
So the next morning Balaam got up, saddled his donkey, and started off with the Moabite officials. But God was angry that Balaam was going, so he sent the angel of the LORD to stand in the road to block his way. As Balaam and two servants were riding along
Numbers 22:22-23 NLT
As Balaam and two servants were riding along Balaam’s donkey saw the angel of the LORD standing in the road with a drawn sword in his hand. The donkey bolted off the road into a field, but Balaam beat it and turned it back onto the road.
Numbers 22:24-25 NLT
Then the angel of the LORD stood at a place where the road narrowed between two vineyard walls. When the donkey saw the angel of the LORD, it tried to squeeze by and crushed Balaam’s foot against the wall. So Balaam beat the donkey again.
Numbers 22:26-27 NLT
Then the angel of the LORD moved farther down the road and stood in a place too narrow for the donkey to get by at all.27 This time when the donkey saw the angel, it lay down under Balaam. In a fit of rage Balaam beat the animal again with his staff.
Numbers 22:28-29 NLT
Then the LORD gave the donkey the ability to speak. “What have I done to you that deserves your beating me three times?” it asked Balaam. “You have made me look like a fool!” Balaam shouted. “If I had a sword with me, I would kill you!”
Numbers 22:30 NLT
“But I am the same donkey you have ridden all your life,” the donkey answered. “Have I ever done anything like this before?” “No,” Balaam admitted.
Numbers 22:31 NLT
Then the LORD opened Balaam’s eyes, and he saw the angel of the LORD standing in the roadway with a drawn sword in his hand. Balaam bowed his head and fell face down on the ground before him.
Numbers 22:32 NLT
“Why did you beat your donkey those three times?” the angel of the LORD demanded. “Look, I have come to block your way because you are stubbornly resisting me.
Numbers 22:33 NLT
Three times the donkey saw me and shied away; otherwise, I would certainly have killed you by now and spared the donkey.”
Numbers 22:34 NLT
Then Balaam confessed to the angel of the LORD, “I have sinned. I didn’t realize you were standing in the road to block my way. I will return home if you are against my going.”
1. Motives make decisions.
2. Motives are exposed.
3. Motives can change.
_____________________
Start Talking
Talk about a time that you were motivated to accomplish something or finish a major task. How did everything in your life orient around that during that time?
Start Thinking
Read Numbers 22:21-23. Why did God block the way, and do you think he does that for you as well?
Read Numbers 22:24-30. Why do you think the donkey could see the angel of the Lord, but Balaam couldn’t? What should have been a sign to Balaam that God was trying to stop him?
Start Sharing
When have you seen God block your way - or try to block you from going toward something you wanted or thought was best for you?
In this story, Balaam’s motives are exposed when he doesn’t get what he wants and beats the donkey three times. How have you seen this play out in your life? When have your motives been exposed, even if they had been previously hidden from you, because of how you reacted when something didn’t happen the way you wanted or expected? How did it affect the people around you?
Start Doing
Read Numbers 22:34. What do you need to do like Balaam ultimately does in this story so that your motives align with the motives of God?
If you were motivated by sharing your story and making a difference in the lives of the people where you live, work, and play, how would that show up in your decisions? How would the motive be exposed to the people around you? What needs to happen so your motivation changes to this being a priority?
_____________________
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.
_____________________
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)?
June 6, 2021
_____________________
ANNOUNCEMENTS
OneLife Students Pool Party
This Wednesday night at 6:30pm, OneLife Students is having pool parties for each of our campuses! If you are in Middle or High School then you don’t want to miss it! Also, if you are a 5th Grader that’s heading into 6th grade this fall you’re invited too! To get the address for your campus’s pool party visit onelifeknox.com/students or mark the OneLife Students box on your Connection Card.
Women’s Bible Study
On Monday nights throughout the summer we are hosting a Women’s Bible Study at each campus. This will be a great chance to meet other ladies, be challenged through an awesome group study, and have some fun too. For more information or to sign up visit onelifeknox.com/biblestudy.
Kid City’s Bring A Friend Sunday
Every week during the summer, Kid City has a special themed day. Next Sunday is a “Bring-A-Friend” Sunday. So if you have an elementary student or preschooler, make sure they bring a friend with them next week to Kid City, and let’s pack out Kid City together!!
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 so we can help you get started.
_____________________
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.
_____________________
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?
_____________________
SERMON NOTES
Psalm 78:2-3
I will teach you hidden lessons from our past - stories we have heard and known, stories our ancestors handed down to us.
BOTTOM LINE: What motivates me matters
Number 22:21-22 NLT
So the next morning Balaam got up, saddled his donkey, and started off with the Moabite officials. But God was angry that Balaam was going, so he sent the angel of the LORD to stand in the road to block his way. As Balaam and two servants were riding along
Numbers 22:22-23 NLT
As Balaam and two servants were riding along Balaam’s donkey saw the angel of the LORD standing in the road with a drawn sword in his hand. The donkey bolted off the road into a field, but Balaam beat it and turned it back onto the road.
Numbers 22:24-25 NLT
Then the angel of the LORD stood at a place where the road narrowed between two vineyard walls. When the donkey saw the angel of the LORD, it tried to squeeze by and crushed Balaam’s foot against the wall. So Balaam beat the donkey again.
Numbers 22:26-27 NLT
Then the angel of the LORD moved farther down the road and stood in a place too narrow for the donkey to get by at all.27 This time when the donkey saw the angel, it lay down under Balaam. In a fit of rage Balaam beat the animal again with his staff.
Numbers 22:28-29 NLT
Then the LORD gave the donkey the ability to speak. “What have I done to you that deserves your beating me three times?” it asked Balaam. “You have made me look like a fool!” Balaam shouted. “If I had a sword with me, I would kill you!”
Numbers 22:30 NLT
“But I am the same donkey you have ridden all your life,” the donkey answered. “Have I ever done anything like this before?” “No,” Balaam admitted.
Numbers 22:31 NLT
Then the LORD opened Balaam’s eyes, and he saw the angel of the LORD standing in the roadway with a drawn sword in his hand. Balaam bowed his head and fell face down on the ground before him.
Numbers 22:32 NLT
“Why did you beat your donkey those three times?” the angel of the LORD demanded. “Look, I have come to block your way because you are stubbornly resisting me.
Numbers 22:33 NLT
Three times the donkey saw me and shied away; otherwise, I would certainly have killed you by now and spared the donkey.”
Numbers 22:34 NLT
Then Balaam confessed to the angel of the LORD, “I have sinned. I didn’t realize you were standing in the road to block my way. I will return home if you are against my going.”
1. Motives make decisions.
2. Motives are exposed.
3. Motives can change.
_____________________
Start Talking
Talk about a time that you were motivated to accomplish something or finish a major task. How did everything in your life orient around that during that time?
Start Thinking
Read Numbers 22:21-23. Why did God block the way, and do you think he does that for you as well?
Read Numbers 22:24-30. Why do you think the donkey could see the angel of the Lord, but Balaam couldn’t? What should have been a sign to Balaam that God was trying to stop him?
Start Sharing
When have you seen God block your way - or try to block you from going toward something you wanted or thought was best for you?
In this story, Balaam’s motives are exposed when he doesn’t get what he wants and beats the donkey three times. How have you seen this play out in your life? When have your motives been exposed, even if they had been previously hidden from you, because of how you reacted when something didn’t happen the way you wanted or expected? How did it affect the people around you?
Start Doing
Read Numbers 22:34. What do you need to do like Balaam ultimately does in this story so that your motives align with the motives of God?
If you were motivated by sharing your story and making a difference in the lives of the people where you live, work, and play, how would that show up in your decisions? How would the motive be exposed to the people around you? What needs to happen so your motivation changes to this being a priority?
_____________________
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.
_____________________
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)?
Posted in Micro Church Guides
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