Friend of Sinners: Part 1 - Reputation
MICRO CHURCH GUIDE
March 27, 2022
_____________________
ANNOUNCEMENTS
IF Gathering: A Women’s Event, April 2
Ladies, you’re invited to a weekend event called the IF Gathering. There will be a time of worship, incredible teaching from some of the top speakers in the country, and time to share and connect with other ladies. The event will take place from 9am to 4pm on Saturday, April 2 at our North Campus. The cost is $20 per person and a light breakfast and lunch will be provided. Registration is now open, so visit onelifeknox.com/if.
MANDay Night, April 4
April 4 isn’t going to be just another Monday night. For the guys of OneLife, it’s going to be a MANDay night. Come to the North Campus at 7pm for some good food, hang-out time with other guys, and a challenging message geared toward men. Plus, we’ll be watching the Men’s Basketball National Championship game afterward for anyone that wants to stay and watch! Let us know you’re coming by writing “MANDay Night” on your Connection Card or visit onelifeknox.com/manday. Dads, bring your middle school and high school sons with you!
Easter On Mission
To engage our community this Easter, our Micro Churches and other OneLifers will be hosting neighborhood Easter Egg hunts all across Knoxville. This is an awesome way to meet and serve people where we live, and invite people to experience Jesus with us as we approach Easter Sunday on April 17. To sign up to host a hunt, or to find an egg hunt to help out with visit knoxegghunt.com.
Bring Stuffed Easter Eggs! Next Sunday, April 3
As a part of our Easter On Mission, a way for ALL of our OneLifers to get involved is to provide Easter eggs for the egg hunts. Next Sunday, bring plastic eggs stuffed with candy to your campus. There will be a sign in your lobby where you can drop them off. Whether you bring a couple dozen or a couple hundred, any amount will be a huge help!
_____________________
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.
_____________________
SERMON NOTES & DISCUSSION
Luke 7:31-35 NLT
31 “To what can I compare the people of this generation?” Jesus asked. “How can I describe them? 32 They are like children playing a game in the public square. They complain to their friends, ‘We played wedding songs, and you didn’t dance, so we played funeral songs, and you didn’t weep.’ 33 For John the Baptist didn’t spend his time eating bread or drinking wine, and you say, ‘He’s possessed by a demon.’ 34 The Son of Man, on the other hand, feasts and drinks, and you say, ‘He’s a glutton and a drunkard, and a friend of tax collectors and other sinners!’ 35 But wisdom is shown to be right by the lives of those who follow it.”
BOTTOM LINE: My reputation of who I'm drawn to and who is drawn to me is measured by my Father based on its impact.
Luke 7:31-32 NLT
31 “To what can I compare the people of this generation?” Jesus asked. “How can I describe them? 32 They are like children playing a game in the public square. They complain to their friends, ‘We played wedding songs, and you didn’t dance, so we played funeral songs, and you didn’t weep.’
1. My reputation with people is based on meeting their expectations - not God's.
Luke 7:33-34 NLT
33 For John the Baptist didn’t spend his time eating bread or drinking wine, and you say, ‘He’s possessed by a demon.’ 34 The Son of Man, on the other hand, feasts and drinks, and you say, ‘He’s a glutton and a drunkard, and a friend of tax collectors and other sinners!’
2. Authenticity makes me contagious.
3. Authenticity requires intentionality.
Luke 7:35 NLT
35 But wisdom is shown to be right by the lives of those who follow it.”
4. The proof is in the pudding.
Start Talking
How did your parents lead you or encourage you to make friends? How did their opinion of you and the people you are around impact the choices you made? How did your family have an impact on the people you were friends with? How did your friends have an impact on you - good or bad?
Start Thinking
Read Luke 7:31-32. What are children like when they are playing a game outside? What immature emotions might you see? How are adults like this in "adult life" when people don't meet their expectations?
Why do you think people "complain to their friends" when you don't meet their expectations? How does this seem to impact your reputation in the moment...but does it really? And does it really matter?
Start Sharing
Read Luke 7:33-34. Jesus is pointing out that it is impossible to please religious people. John the Baptist followed very closely a set of religious rules, and they criticized him. Jesus, on the other hand, seemed to go against the religious expectations and yet they still criticized him. When have you experienced criticism for following what you were convicted to do in God's Word, like John the Baptist was? When have you experienced criticism from religious people for associating and being friends with people who you "shouldn't" have been, according to them?
Read Galatians 1:10. How would you put this verse into your own words and using your own story? How does this remind us, or even define for us, where our reputation really comes from and what really matters? When it comes to who you are friends with and who is drawn to you, how can this verse impact the choices that you make?
Both Jesus and John the Baptist were being authentic in how they lived, not trying to please anyone but God, but yet both were attractional and contagious, drawing many "sinners" to want to know more about faith. How have you experienced this, either as one who was drawn to someone else's authenticity and/or how you have seen someone drawn to you in wanting to know more about Jesus because of your authenticity?
Start Doing
Read Luke 7:35. How can you measure the impact this week of your authenticity as you live to see others come to know Jesus?
What can you do this week to be intentional about being a friend of sinners? What are practical steps that you are going to take to be more impactful to those around you so that they will want to know more about Jesus?
Start Praying
Each person in the micro church share the names of people in your lives who don't know Jesus. Then pray for each person in the micro church to have the authenticity, intentionality, and boldness to be a friend of sinners like Jesus, who can point them to faith.
Practice praying together what you discussed in the previous section!
_____________________
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.
_____________________
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?
_____________________
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)?/connect
March 27, 2022
_____________________
ANNOUNCEMENTS
IF Gathering: A Women’s Event, April 2
Ladies, you’re invited to a weekend event called the IF Gathering. There will be a time of worship, incredible teaching from some of the top speakers in the country, and time to share and connect with other ladies. The event will take place from 9am to 4pm on Saturday, April 2 at our North Campus. The cost is $20 per person and a light breakfast and lunch will be provided. Registration is now open, so visit onelifeknox.com/if.
MANDay Night, April 4
April 4 isn’t going to be just another Monday night. For the guys of OneLife, it’s going to be a MANDay night. Come to the North Campus at 7pm for some good food, hang-out time with other guys, and a challenging message geared toward men. Plus, we’ll be watching the Men’s Basketball National Championship game afterward for anyone that wants to stay and watch! Let us know you’re coming by writing “MANDay Night” on your Connection Card or visit onelifeknox.com/manday. Dads, bring your middle school and high school sons with you!
Easter On Mission
To engage our community this Easter, our Micro Churches and other OneLifers will be hosting neighborhood Easter Egg hunts all across Knoxville. This is an awesome way to meet and serve people where we live, and invite people to experience Jesus with us as we approach Easter Sunday on April 17. To sign up to host a hunt, or to find an egg hunt to help out with visit knoxegghunt.com.
Bring Stuffed Easter Eggs! Next Sunday, April 3
As a part of our Easter On Mission, a way for ALL of our OneLifers to get involved is to provide Easter eggs for the egg hunts. Next Sunday, bring plastic eggs stuffed with candy to your campus. There will be a sign in your lobby where you can drop them off. Whether you bring a couple dozen or a couple hundred, any amount will be a huge help!
_____________________
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.
_____________________
SERMON NOTES & DISCUSSION
Luke 7:31-35 NLT
31 “To what can I compare the people of this generation?” Jesus asked. “How can I describe them? 32 They are like children playing a game in the public square. They complain to their friends, ‘We played wedding songs, and you didn’t dance, so we played funeral songs, and you didn’t weep.’ 33 For John the Baptist didn’t spend his time eating bread or drinking wine, and you say, ‘He’s possessed by a demon.’ 34 The Son of Man, on the other hand, feasts and drinks, and you say, ‘He’s a glutton and a drunkard, and a friend of tax collectors and other sinners!’ 35 But wisdom is shown to be right by the lives of those who follow it.”
BOTTOM LINE: My reputation of who I'm drawn to and who is drawn to me is measured by my Father based on its impact.
Luke 7:31-32 NLT
31 “To what can I compare the people of this generation?” Jesus asked. “How can I describe them? 32 They are like children playing a game in the public square. They complain to their friends, ‘We played wedding songs, and you didn’t dance, so we played funeral songs, and you didn’t weep.’
1. My reputation with people is based on meeting their expectations - not God's.
Luke 7:33-34 NLT
33 For John the Baptist didn’t spend his time eating bread or drinking wine, and you say, ‘He’s possessed by a demon.’ 34 The Son of Man, on the other hand, feasts and drinks, and you say, ‘He’s a glutton and a drunkard, and a friend of tax collectors and other sinners!’
2. Authenticity makes me contagious.
3. Authenticity requires intentionality.
Luke 7:35 NLT
35 But wisdom is shown to be right by the lives of those who follow it.”
4. The proof is in the pudding.
Start Talking
How did your parents lead you or encourage you to make friends? How did their opinion of you and the people you are around impact the choices you made? How did your family have an impact on the people you were friends with? How did your friends have an impact on you - good or bad?
Start Thinking
Read Luke 7:31-32. What are children like when they are playing a game outside? What immature emotions might you see? How are adults like this in "adult life" when people don't meet their expectations?
Why do you think people "complain to their friends" when you don't meet their expectations? How does this seem to impact your reputation in the moment...but does it really? And does it really matter?
Start Sharing
Read Luke 7:33-34. Jesus is pointing out that it is impossible to please religious people. John the Baptist followed very closely a set of religious rules, and they criticized him. Jesus, on the other hand, seemed to go against the religious expectations and yet they still criticized him. When have you experienced criticism for following what you were convicted to do in God's Word, like John the Baptist was? When have you experienced criticism from religious people for associating and being friends with people who you "shouldn't" have been, according to them?
Read Galatians 1:10. How would you put this verse into your own words and using your own story? How does this remind us, or even define for us, where our reputation really comes from and what really matters? When it comes to who you are friends with and who is drawn to you, how can this verse impact the choices that you make?
Both Jesus and John the Baptist were being authentic in how they lived, not trying to please anyone but God, but yet both were attractional and contagious, drawing many "sinners" to want to know more about faith. How have you experienced this, either as one who was drawn to someone else's authenticity and/or how you have seen someone drawn to you in wanting to know more about Jesus because of your authenticity?
Start Doing
Read Luke 7:35. How can you measure the impact this week of your authenticity as you live to see others come to know Jesus?
What can you do this week to be intentional about being a friend of sinners? What are practical steps that you are going to take to be more impactful to those around you so that they will want to know more about Jesus?
Start Praying
Each person in the micro church share the names of people in your lives who don't know Jesus. Then pray for each person in the micro church to have the authenticity, intentionality, and boldness to be a friend of sinners like Jesus, who can point them to faith.
Practice praying together what you discussed in the previous section!
_____________________
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.
_____________________
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?
_____________________
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)?/connect
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