Buzzwords: Part 5 - Believe
MICRO CHURCH GUIDE
July 30, 2023
YouVersion
Sermon Page
_____________________
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Serve The City, July 30 - August 12
Our church is going out into the community to lead tons of different service projects in an annual initiative we call Serve The City. We’ll be serving in our local schools, senior and community homes, homeless ministries, and much more. To find a project to get involved with, visit onelifeknox.com/servethecity or use the Serve The City card in your chair.
OneLife Students Back to School Bash - August 2nd
To kick off the new school year, on Wednesday night August 2 at 7pm we’ll be having our Back-To-School Bash at the North Campus. So mark your calendars and make plans to be there!
Next Gen Sunday, August 6
Don’t miss this awesome day where we feature our next generation of disciples and leaders, hear stories from our family ministry, experience an awesome time of worship featuring our preschoolers and elementary students leading us in one of their worship songs, and much more!
Micro Church Launch, August 20
On Sunday night, August 20 at 6pm at our North & East campuses, all of our existing Micro Churches as well as several new ones will be kicking off the new semester together! If you’re not a part of a Micro Church, this is the perfect opportunity for you to join one. Everyone will meet, have a potluck dinner together, and experience what a typical Micro Church gathering will look & feel like. Childcare will be provided. Mark the “Micro Church” box on your Connection Card and we’ll follow up with more info!
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.
___________________
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.
_____________________
Believe/Faith:
To place confidence in.
To entrust.
James 2:19 NLT
19 You say you have faith, for you believe that there is one God. Good for you! Even the demons believe this, and they tremble in terror.
James 2:14 NLT
14 What good is it, dear brothers and sisters, if you say you have faith but don’t show it by your actions? Can that kind of faith save anyone?
Does it move me to action?
James 2:15-17 NLT
15 Suppose you see a brother or sister who has no food or clothing, 16 and you say, “Good-bye and have a good day; stay warm and eat well”—but then you don’t give that person any food or clothing. What good does that do? 17 So you see, faith by itself isn’t enough. Unless it produces good deeds, it is dead and useless.
Does it make me look and act like Jesus?
James 2:18-20 NLT
18 Now someone may argue, “Some people have faith; others have good deeds.” But I say, “How can you show me your faith if you don’t have good deeds? I will show you my faith by my good deeds.” 19 You say you have faith, for you believe that there is one God. Good for you! Even the demons believe this, and they tremble in terror. 20 How foolish! Can’t you see that faith without good deeds is useless?
Does it go beyond an idea to a lifestyle?
_____________________
Start Talking
When have you known something to be true, right, or best for you, but it didn't change anything in what you did or how you lived? What were the consequences of that? (i.e. you knew the speed limit but didn't change your speed, you knew the assignment was due but still didn't do it, etc.)?
What have you known something to be true, right, or best and had such confidence in it that it led you to take action or change your lifestyle? What did other people around you think or how did they misunderstand?
Start Thinking
Read James 2:14. Why do you think he's asking questions here instead of just giving instruction?
When he asks the question "Can that kind of faith save anyone?" what does it make you think about (what kind of examples come to mind)? How would you answer this question?
How can you use the two questions in these verses to have simple conversations with people who say they believe in God?
Start Sharing
Read James 2:15-18. Each time James talks about good deeds, Christians and churches usually assume that means we need to force ourselves to do good things to prove our faith. But James seems to be explaining it the other way around. Just like an apple tree naturally produces apples and doesn't have to force itself to do that, faith will naturally produce good deeds including obedience, sacrifice, trust, forgiveness, and generosity.
When you have truly had faith - confidence in Jesus and entrusting him with your whole self - what were natural responses to that did you see happen? What did you want to do that you didn't want to do before that were "good" to do? What did you naturally find yourself doing to entrust Jesus more and with more?
Read James 2:19-20. When have your actions and lifestyle shown that you think you have faith simply because you "believe" intellectually that God is real? What does the reality that even the demons believe that make you think or feel?
Start Doing
Process as a micro church each of the three questions about what you consider to be your faith as it stands now. Answer these honestly about where you are now, not where you want to be (we'll do that next!).
Does it move me to action? How? Why or why not?
Does it make me look and act like Jesus? How? Why or why not?
Does it go beyond an idea and to a lifestyle? How? Why or why not?
As you answered those questions honestly, what did you feel conviction about or what did you sense the Spirit of God leading you to do?
Now, what are you going to do about it?!
Start Praying
Take a moment to pray for each person in the micro church to obey and take steps to do something about what you sensed the Spirit leading you to do. Pray that we will help each other take these steps, encourage each other to do what God is leading us to do, and to hold each other accountable. Pray that people in our lives where we live, work, and play would see our faith in action and be open to spiritual conversations.
____________________
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 disciple-able 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)?/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)?
July 30, 2023
YouVersion
Sermon Page
_____________________
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Serve The City, July 30 - August 12
Our church is going out into the community to lead tons of different service projects in an annual initiative we call Serve The City. We’ll be serving in our local schools, senior and community homes, homeless ministries, and much more. To find a project to get involved with, visit onelifeknox.com/servethecity or use the Serve The City card in your chair.
OneLife Students Back to School Bash - August 2nd
To kick off the new school year, on Wednesday night August 2 at 7pm we’ll be having our Back-To-School Bash at the North Campus. So mark your calendars and make plans to be there!
Next Gen Sunday, August 6
Don’t miss this awesome day where we feature our next generation of disciples and leaders, hear stories from our family ministry, experience an awesome time of worship featuring our preschoolers and elementary students leading us in one of their worship songs, and much more!
Micro Church Launch, August 20
On Sunday night, August 20 at 6pm at our North & East campuses, all of our existing Micro Churches as well as several new ones will be kicking off the new semester together! If you’re not a part of a Micro Church, this is the perfect opportunity for you to join one. Everyone will meet, have a potluck dinner together, and experience what a typical Micro Church gathering will look & feel like. Childcare will be provided. Mark the “Micro Church” box on your Connection Card and we’ll follow up with more info!
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.
___________________
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.
_____________________
Believe/Faith:
To place confidence in.
To entrust.
James 2:19 NLT
19 You say you have faith, for you believe that there is one God. Good for you! Even the demons believe this, and they tremble in terror.
James 2:14 NLT
14 What good is it, dear brothers and sisters, if you say you have faith but don’t show it by your actions? Can that kind of faith save anyone?
Does it move me to action?
James 2:15-17 NLT
15 Suppose you see a brother or sister who has no food or clothing, 16 and you say, “Good-bye and have a good day; stay warm and eat well”—but then you don’t give that person any food or clothing. What good does that do? 17 So you see, faith by itself isn’t enough. Unless it produces good deeds, it is dead and useless.
Does it make me look and act like Jesus?
James 2:18-20 NLT
18 Now someone may argue, “Some people have faith; others have good deeds.” But I say, “How can you show me your faith if you don’t have good deeds? I will show you my faith by my good deeds.” 19 You say you have faith, for you believe that there is one God. Good for you! Even the demons believe this, and they tremble in terror. 20 How foolish! Can’t you see that faith without good deeds is useless?
Does it go beyond an idea to a lifestyle?
_____________________
Start Talking
When have you known something to be true, right, or best for you, but it didn't change anything in what you did or how you lived? What were the consequences of that? (i.e. you knew the speed limit but didn't change your speed, you knew the assignment was due but still didn't do it, etc.)?
What have you known something to be true, right, or best and had such confidence in it that it led you to take action or change your lifestyle? What did other people around you think or how did they misunderstand?
Start Thinking
Read James 2:14. Why do you think he's asking questions here instead of just giving instruction?
When he asks the question "Can that kind of faith save anyone?" what does it make you think about (what kind of examples come to mind)? How would you answer this question?
How can you use the two questions in these verses to have simple conversations with people who say they believe in God?
Start Sharing
Read James 2:15-18. Each time James talks about good deeds, Christians and churches usually assume that means we need to force ourselves to do good things to prove our faith. But James seems to be explaining it the other way around. Just like an apple tree naturally produces apples and doesn't have to force itself to do that, faith will naturally produce good deeds including obedience, sacrifice, trust, forgiveness, and generosity.
When you have truly had faith - confidence in Jesus and entrusting him with your whole self - what were natural responses to that did you see happen? What did you want to do that you didn't want to do before that were "good" to do? What did you naturally find yourself doing to entrust Jesus more and with more?
Read James 2:19-20. When have your actions and lifestyle shown that you think you have faith simply because you "believe" intellectually that God is real? What does the reality that even the demons believe that make you think or feel?
Start Doing
Process as a micro church each of the three questions about what you consider to be your faith as it stands now. Answer these honestly about where you are now, not where you want to be (we'll do that next!).
Does it move me to action? How? Why or why not?
Does it make me look and act like Jesus? How? Why or why not?
Does it go beyond an idea and to a lifestyle? How? Why or why not?
As you answered those questions honestly, what did you feel conviction about or what did you sense the Spirit of God leading you to do?
Now, what are you going to do about it?!
Start Praying
Take a moment to pray for each person in the micro church to obey and take steps to do something about what you sensed the Spirit leading you to do. Pray that we will help each other take these steps, encourage each other to do what God is leading us to do, and to hold each other accountable. Pray that people in our lives where we live, work, and play would see our faith in action and be open to spiritual conversations.
____________________
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 disciple-able 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)?/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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