Living in the Lion's Den: Part 5 - Sovereign Assignment
MICRO CHURCH GUIDE
October 15, 2023
Sermon Page
YouVersion
_____________________
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Halloween On Mission - October 21-31
Halloween is right around the corner, and it’s an incredible time for you to live on mission in your neighborhood. From neighborhood pumpkin carvings, to reverse trick-or-treating, to making your house the best stop in the neighborhood on Halloween night, and more - there are tons of ways for you to engage your neighborhoods this Halloween. Use the card in your chair for some ideas to get started, and then let us know how you’re going to live on mission this Halloween! CLICK HERE
Salvation and Baptism Class - for Elementary Kids & Parents, October 22
We want to equip you to have great conversations at home with your elementary students about their faith and about baptism! So - join us for our Kids Salvation & Baptism class Sunday, October 22 at 9am in the Meeting Room of our North & East campuses. Mark that box on your Connection Card to sign up.
OneLife Students, United Night - November 1
Wednesday night, November 1, our middle & high school students from both campuses will be coming together for a United Night. This will be a night of student led worship, a great message from our Student Director Matt, and a lot of fun for all our middle and high schoolers at both campuses! It will take place at the North Campus at 7pm and we will wrap up at 8:15pm. For more information mark the OneLife Students box on the Connection Card. We can’t wait to see you there!
Join a Volunteer Team
There’s never been a better time to join a OneLife volunteer team than right now. From our Kid City team, to First Impressions & Security, to Production & Worship, OneLife Students on Wednesdays, and our Connections Team during the week - there are tons of opportunities for you to get involved. Mark the Volunteering box on your Connection Card to 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.
_____________________
BOTTOM LINE: You and I have been given influence to lead and we are accountable.
Daniel 5:21 NLT
21 He was driven from human society. He was given the mind of a wild animal, and he lived among the wild donkeys. He ate grass like a cow, and he was drenched with the dew of heaven, until he learned that the Most High God rules over the kingdoms of the world and appoints anyone he desires to rule over them.
HOW DID YOU GET TO WHERE YOU ARE NOW?
Break, Promotion, Degree, Hard work, Family/Luck, Smart
1. If we really believed, how would your life be different?
*We would live differently everyday with a new perspective.
*We woud keep everything in perspective and aligned.
2. Your influence is a gift and can be taken away from you.
Daniel 5:1-2 NLT
1 Many years later King Belshazzar gave a great feast for 1,000 of his nobles, and he drank wine with them. 2 While Belshazzar was drinking the wine, he gave orders to bring in the gold and silver cups that his predecessor, Nebuchadnezzar, had taken from the Temple in Jerusalem. He wanted to drink from them with his nobles, his wives, and his concubines.
Daniel 5:5-7 NLT
5 Suddenly, they saw the fingers of a human hand writing on the plaster wall of the king’s palace, near the lampstand. The king himself saw the hand as it wrote, 6 and his face turned pale with fright. His knees knocked together in fear and his legs gave way beneath him. 7 The king shouted for the enchanters, astrologers, and fortune-tellers to be brought before him. He said to these wise men of Babylon, “Whoever can read this writing and tell me what it means will be dressed in purple robes of royal honor and will have a gold chain placed around his neck. He will become the third highest ruler in the kingdom!”
Daniel 5:11 NLT
11 There is a man in your kingdom who has within him the spirit of the holy gods. During Nebuchadnezzar’s reign, this man was found to have insight, understanding, and wisdom like that of the gods. Your predecessor, the king—your predecessor King Nebuchadnezzar—made him chief over all the magicians, enchanters, astrologers, and fortune-tellers of Babylon.
Daniel 5:18-30 NLT
18 Your Majesty, the Most High God gave sovereignty, majesty, glory, and honor to your predecessor, Nebuchadnezzar. 19 He made him so great that people of all races and nations and languages trembled before him in fear. He killed those he wanted to kill and spared those he wanted to spare. He honored those he wanted to honor and disgraced those he wanted to disgrace. 20 But when his heart and mind were puffed up with arrogance, he was brought down from his royal throne and stripped of his glory. 21 He was driven from human society. He was given the mind of a wild animal, and he lived among the wild donkeys. He ate grass like a cow, and he was drenched with the dew of heaven, until he learned that the Most High God rules over the kingdoms of the world and appoints anyone he desires to rule over them. 22 “You are his successor, O Belshazzar, and you knew all this, yet you have not humbled yourself. 23 For you have proudly defied the Lord of heaven and have had these cups from his Temple brought before you. You and your nobles and your wives and concubines have been drinking wine from them while praising gods of silver, gold, bronze, iron, wood, and stone—gods that neither see nor hear nor know anything at all. But you have not honored the God who gives you the breath of life and controls your destiny! 24 So God has sent this hand to write this message. 25 “This is the message that was written: Mene, Mene, Tekel, and Parsin. 26 This is what these words mean: Mene means ‘numbered’—God has numbered the days of your reign and has brought it to an end. 27 Tekel means ‘weighed’—you have been weighed on the balances and have not measured up. 28 Parsin means ‘divided’—your kingdom has been divided and given to the Medes and Persians.” 29 Then at Belshazzar’s command, Daniel was dressed in purple robes, a gold chain was hung around his neck, and he was proclaimed the third highest ruler in the kingdom. 30 That very night Belshazzar, the Babylonian king, was killed.
3. Your life is temporary and on loan. You are accountable for how you use it.
THE FATHER IS SOVEREIGN OVER ALL - ESPECIALLY MY LIFE.
_____________________
START TALKING
When you were growing up, what were you taught or led to believe would be the keys to success? Who are most people taught is really in control of getting to where you are or want to be in life?
When most people think of leadership or leaders, what comes to mind?
START THINKING
Read Daniel 4:17.
What is this verse really saying (how would you restate it in your own words?)? How is this verse teaching something different than what most people are taught or believe about how they get to where they are or want to be?
Would embracing this truth be freeing or frustrating for most people? Why?
How do these phrases point to our difficulty embracing God’s sovereignty rather than our own sovereignt:
- I don’t believe God would really…
- I don’t think God should expect…
- I don’t believe a good God would do…
How did King Nebuchadnezzar ultimately experience that this really is true, that God is ultimately sovereign?
START SHARING
Read Daniel 5:1-6.
When have you experienced something like this, where God got your attention in a way that might have been frightening or something you’ve never experienced before? Why do you think God did this in Daniel 5 and why do you think he does that for us?
Read Daniel 5:18-26. Belshazzar had his influence taken from him because he had not used it well acknowledging God’s sovereignty. Who has God given you influence with in your three big circle of life where you live? Where you work? Where you play?
Why do you think we minimize or don’t recognize the influence that God has given to each of us? What are the parts of our life and influence that are temporary and on loan, but in the moment it is hard to realize that? Why is that?
START DOING
If you really believe that God is sovereign over all, what will you do differently this week?
How is the Holy Spirit showing you that God has given you more influence than you thought? What can you do this week to own and step in to that influence?
START PRAYING
Pray for each other and the ways you shared from above that you have an opportunity to trust God’s sovereignty and use the influence he has given you. Pray that each of us will not get distracted by the temporary details of the mission but stay aligned with God’s sovereign plan and purpose for each of us.
____________________
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)?
October 15, 2023
Sermon Page
YouVersion
_____________________
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Halloween On Mission - October 21-31
Halloween is right around the corner, and it’s an incredible time for you to live on mission in your neighborhood. From neighborhood pumpkin carvings, to reverse trick-or-treating, to making your house the best stop in the neighborhood on Halloween night, and more - there are tons of ways for you to engage your neighborhoods this Halloween. Use the card in your chair for some ideas to get started, and then let us know how you’re going to live on mission this Halloween! CLICK HERE
Salvation and Baptism Class - for Elementary Kids & Parents, October 22
We want to equip you to have great conversations at home with your elementary students about their faith and about baptism! So - join us for our Kids Salvation & Baptism class Sunday, October 22 at 9am in the Meeting Room of our North & East campuses. Mark that box on your Connection Card to sign up.
OneLife Students, United Night - November 1
Wednesday night, November 1, our middle & high school students from both campuses will be coming together for a United Night. This will be a night of student led worship, a great message from our Student Director Matt, and a lot of fun for all our middle and high schoolers at both campuses! It will take place at the North Campus at 7pm and we will wrap up at 8:15pm. For more information mark the OneLife Students box on the Connection Card. We can’t wait to see you there!
Join a Volunteer Team
There’s never been a better time to join a OneLife volunteer team than right now. From our Kid City team, to First Impressions & Security, to Production & Worship, OneLife Students on Wednesdays, and our Connections Team during the week - there are tons of opportunities for you to get involved. Mark the Volunteering box on your Connection Card to 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.
_____________________
BOTTOM LINE: You and I have been given influence to lead and we are accountable.
Daniel 5:21 NLT
21 He was driven from human society. He was given the mind of a wild animal, and he lived among the wild donkeys. He ate grass like a cow, and he was drenched with the dew of heaven, until he learned that the Most High God rules over the kingdoms of the world and appoints anyone he desires to rule over them.
HOW DID YOU GET TO WHERE YOU ARE NOW?
Break, Promotion, Degree, Hard work, Family/Luck, Smart
1. If we really believed, how would your life be different?
*We would live differently everyday with a new perspective.
*We woud keep everything in perspective and aligned.
2. Your influence is a gift and can be taken away from you.
Daniel 5:1-2 NLT
1 Many years later King Belshazzar gave a great feast for 1,000 of his nobles, and he drank wine with them. 2 While Belshazzar was drinking the wine, he gave orders to bring in the gold and silver cups that his predecessor, Nebuchadnezzar, had taken from the Temple in Jerusalem. He wanted to drink from them with his nobles, his wives, and his concubines.
Daniel 5:5-7 NLT
5 Suddenly, they saw the fingers of a human hand writing on the plaster wall of the king’s palace, near the lampstand. The king himself saw the hand as it wrote, 6 and his face turned pale with fright. His knees knocked together in fear and his legs gave way beneath him. 7 The king shouted for the enchanters, astrologers, and fortune-tellers to be brought before him. He said to these wise men of Babylon, “Whoever can read this writing and tell me what it means will be dressed in purple robes of royal honor and will have a gold chain placed around his neck. He will become the third highest ruler in the kingdom!”
Daniel 5:11 NLT
11 There is a man in your kingdom who has within him the spirit of the holy gods. During Nebuchadnezzar’s reign, this man was found to have insight, understanding, and wisdom like that of the gods. Your predecessor, the king—your predecessor King Nebuchadnezzar—made him chief over all the magicians, enchanters, astrologers, and fortune-tellers of Babylon.
Daniel 5:18-30 NLT
18 Your Majesty, the Most High God gave sovereignty, majesty, glory, and honor to your predecessor, Nebuchadnezzar. 19 He made him so great that people of all races and nations and languages trembled before him in fear. He killed those he wanted to kill and spared those he wanted to spare. He honored those he wanted to honor and disgraced those he wanted to disgrace. 20 But when his heart and mind were puffed up with arrogance, he was brought down from his royal throne and stripped of his glory. 21 He was driven from human society. He was given the mind of a wild animal, and he lived among the wild donkeys. He ate grass like a cow, and he was drenched with the dew of heaven, until he learned that the Most High God rules over the kingdoms of the world and appoints anyone he desires to rule over them. 22 “You are his successor, O Belshazzar, and you knew all this, yet you have not humbled yourself. 23 For you have proudly defied the Lord of heaven and have had these cups from his Temple brought before you. You and your nobles and your wives and concubines have been drinking wine from them while praising gods of silver, gold, bronze, iron, wood, and stone—gods that neither see nor hear nor know anything at all. But you have not honored the God who gives you the breath of life and controls your destiny! 24 So God has sent this hand to write this message. 25 “This is the message that was written: Mene, Mene, Tekel, and Parsin. 26 This is what these words mean: Mene means ‘numbered’—God has numbered the days of your reign and has brought it to an end. 27 Tekel means ‘weighed’—you have been weighed on the balances and have not measured up. 28 Parsin means ‘divided’—your kingdom has been divided and given to the Medes and Persians.” 29 Then at Belshazzar’s command, Daniel was dressed in purple robes, a gold chain was hung around his neck, and he was proclaimed the third highest ruler in the kingdom. 30 That very night Belshazzar, the Babylonian king, was killed.
3. Your life is temporary and on loan. You are accountable for how you use it.
THE FATHER IS SOVEREIGN OVER ALL - ESPECIALLY MY LIFE.
_____________________
START TALKING
When you were growing up, what were you taught or led to believe would be the keys to success? Who are most people taught is really in control of getting to where you are or want to be in life?
When most people think of leadership or leaders, what comes to mind?
START THINKING
Read Daniel 4:17.
What is this verse really saying (how would you restate it in your own words?)? How is this verse teaching something different than what most people are taught or believe about how they get to where they are or want to be?
Would embracing this truth be freeing or frustrating for most people? Why?
How do these phrases point to our difficulty embracing God’s sovereignty rather than our own sovereignt:
- I don’t believe God would really…
- I don’t think God should expect…
- I don’t believe a good God would do…
How did King Nebuchadnezzar ultimately experience that this really is true, that God is ultimately sovereign?
START SHARING
Read Daniel 5:1-6.
When have you experienced something like this, where God got your attention in a way that might have been frightening or something you’ve never experienced before? Why do you think God did this in Daniel 5 and why do you think he does that for us?
Read Daniel 5:18-26. Belshazzar had his influence taken from him because he had not used it well acknowledging God’s sovereignty. Who has God given you influence with in your three big circle of life where you live? Where you work? Where you play?
Why do you think we minimize or don’t recognize the influence that God has given to each of us? What are the parts of our life and influence that are temporary and on loan, but in the moment it is hard to realize that? Why is that?
START DOING
If you really believe that God is sovereign over all, what will you do differently this week?
How is the Holy Spirit showing you that God has given you more influence than you thought? What can you do this week to own and step in to that influence?
START PRAYING
Pray for each other and the ways you shared from above that you have an opportunity to trust God’s sovereignty and use the influence he has given you. Pray that each of us will not get distracted by the temporary details of the mission but stay aligned with God’s sovereign plan and purpose for each of us.
____________________
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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