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Connection group questions:
(1) What is a testimony of something God has started in you in the past few weeks?
(2) Do you have a fear of not being able to complete what God has started in you?
(3) Do you see a pattern of quitting, burn out, or back sliding in your past?
(4) What did God teach you on sunday about endurance?
(5) What are the biggest things that keep you motivated in hard times to keep going?
(6) What are some areas of prayer that we can join with you in that you are facing right now?
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during the fast, and really thru the process of my husband searching for a job, I was truly relying on the Lord for every step, for every breath that I took. I had nothing to give and nothing to make our situation better, all I could do was rely on the Lord. Thru it God really showed me that that is how it should always be. Simply because it was the most difficult thing I’d ever been thru shouldn’t cause me to respond any differently than I do at any other time during my walk. Every day I should cry out to Him, every day I should get on my knees and lean on Him with everything that I have. My circumstance should not determine my dependance on Him. During the fast one night Elenor prayed for me that nothing would change in me after my husband got a job, that I wouldn’t feel like I have reached the goal other than a financial one, the next day he got a job. I know it was the Lord confirming in me that just because he did something amazing, spoke something truly profound and life altering, that that is no time to rest but to keep running. Sunday morning I was going to go up to pray (but realized the time, and the cafe was calling), that just because the fast was over that our reliance on him should remain the same. The fast should be a vessel to ignite our walk after the fast, not a way to sprint to the finish line and feel like we’ve heard so much and learned so much during it that we are good to go till the next Encounter or next fast, or next trial for that matter ….. It was pretty amazing when you started preaching, I laughed a little at the Lord and thought ok I get it now, really
It was just amazing, I love the Lord! I love his style, I love his creativity in teaching me…..I love that he loves me and knows how to reach ME.
Your sermon on Sunday was really eye opening! I realized how I have a sprinters mentality and I need to be a long distance runner! Sometimes I’m running fast and hard…like during times of fasting. I’m so focused and desperate for God, and once I’ve finished my sprint then I think I can just STOP? It’s like I’ve run hard so now I don’t have to seek God or be desperate at the intensity I was before…like I finished my shorterm goal so now I’ll just coast for a bit. I justify my laziness by looking at my last sprint. I don’t want to live on mountaintop and valley experiences based on how I run. I want to run steady and with endurance.
Mel,
really cool testimony you and kyle have truly proven your endurance in this house and I am blessed to see what God is going to do in this next season. The lessons you learned in that very hard season will stick with you forever.
Lauren,
what powerful thoughts. I love the part where you wrote “I justify my laziness by looking at my last sprint.” I am going to use this on sunday. I know this was a timely message for this church… We have to learn to run with endurance.
The message jacked me up and made me take a step back and realize that what I have to offer in this race can only be everything because anything less is nothing. I was overwhelmed with the thoughts of not being able to do all that God has for me to do and was convicted even tonight in group that “I” cannot do it but only Christ that lives in me can. But the enemy tried still to get me and so group started off on a sour note with some late cancellations but I am reminded that God is in control and moving in a mighty way. Two of my guys have car issues and with that last minute cancellation it was only myself and my boy Josh. Needless to say God planned it that way. We realized that we both have cycles that need to be broken and are both aware that God has much for us to do and only endurance will get us to the finish line. The motivation for me to finish is simply not EVER wanting to be apart from God again. Josh had recently experienced a physical cleansing and noted that, that was a starting point for him get fit physically but more so spiritually so he can continue his servitude towards the Father. We both needed that iron sharpening tonight and God was faithful. Pray that I can adhere to the needs of the guys in my life, the way GOD wants me to adhere to them.
James,
It is crazy how God works when 2 or 3 are gathered. I believe that God used you and Josh. What a powerful night. We are excited to see your keep growing.
Our group had a few cancellations due to illness, and car issues. So my group was nice and personal with just two of us.
My lady has seen the lord start to work in the area of self-reliance in regards to fiances. She realized that it’s much easier to let God just be in control of her money, her bills, and her frustrations because when she starts to do it on her own everything falls apart. She has no real fear, but an excitement of seeing the lord bring her through this time. She also has seen times of quitting, but her motivation comes through her dependancy on Jesus, her encouragement through her husband and connection group. This really blessed me when I heard that, because our connection groups are designed for just that. To build one another up and keep enduring. And on top of that, she has been working on a friend of hers, who is also struggling in this season.
Sunday was fantastic. Enduring was key for me. IF you just keep your eyes on what jesus did and how like hebrews said Jesus endured the cross, it really motivates me to keep on running. Knowing that my suffering, if I can even call it that, can never compare to the sufferings of jesus. That gives me joy knowing that my GOD has already finished and he is going give me the strength to keep going. Thank you Jesus!
WOW!!! WHAT A NIGHT FOR DISCIPLESHIP!! I am telling you that this new format is incredibly effective. I was completely blown away by the way the Holy Spirit came and moved among all of us, exposing things and allowed us to dig deeper into the word. Tonight, we feasted on meat and put tha bottle down ya know? God is completely working in this house and I am STOKED about it. Bring that stuff!!!
group was productive this night. you never know who is going to walk up and ask “hey guys i was just wondering what faith are you guys talking about?” that was a question from Jake the Jack in the box employee. I told him Jesus! and that’s the only way to believe. He said that he was raised catholic but is looking for something and is in the process of checking into the Jehovah’s witness program. Before this discipleship thing I probably would’ve said oh that’s cool good luck, but tonight it was a fight and i told him, you really don’t want to check that out. Jesus is the only One that died for your sins and can give you everlasting life. I invited him to the church website and got his number so all of you please pray that the Holy Spirit will reveal himself to Jake these next few days as I call him.
Back to the group, tonight we were so encouraged that the truth is we CAN finish this race because of what Christ did for us. A lot of times we think what we go through is going to kill us, and Hebrews 12:3 tells us to consider the hostility that Jesus endured from the sinners so that we will not grow weary and fainthearted.
It’s a relief to rest in the truth that we have a beginner of our faith and a finisher, it totally takes it off of my own strength.
I thought of marathon runners. they train so hard but little by little so that their endurance can be strengthened. When you see them at the starting line and that gun is shot i’m willing to bet that their only thought and vision is them finishing the race. They don’t see the finish line from there but in hope they do.
Running and swimming and biking have different endurance levels needed to be achieved, so they can finish the race. some probably don’t even think about 1st,2nd, or 3rd they just have that focus of finishing the race.
If we took on this mind set then no matter what level of endurance is required we will be able to accomplish it because of Jesus. It’s not in our own strength that we finish but it’s fixing our eyes on the Lord as OUR FINISHER. Thank you Jesus for enduring it all. You didn’t go half way, you didn’t die for some of my sins, and you weren’t beaten less than 39 times on your body, because of your Endurance we can finish the race. Halleluah! Selah!
Yeah guys,
I love this group updates.. This is sick.
Dave,
Yeah bro… I am praying for a huge open door to share the gospel. Lets all pray!
My group turned out alright tonight. It was a full house, I had 7 people not counting myself. The group was rather hyper tonight unfortunately so it was hard to get through what I needed to. I was doing a series on sexual purity, and I wrapped that up tonight in preparation for the weeks to come. We set aside time to hit on the three major points of group, the prophet, priest, and king.
It was crazy. A newer addition to the group that started coming a few months ago brought one of his friends with him. I over heard him talking badly about the group after it was over when we were in the skatepark, so I am not sure if he will be back or not. We will have to see how God works in his life. We will definitely spend time praying for him, as well as other lost people in the weeks ahead. And I will definitely have more to say that is ON TOPIC in the weeks to come as well.
Our group was incredible last night…I felt like the questions helped us to really dig in deeper and get to some root issues. And it helped us as leaders keep the discussion on track and effective. I'm excited about the growth we are about to see in our groups…because I know that we had growth from just last night and that's amazing.
Our group was amazing! It was crazy to see that when we talked about a testimony of what God was doing in our lives it was a pretty similiar thread. We were all being challenged to trust the Lord and let go of control. To depend on Him and not lean on what we know. So that was really good…but then we started talking about endurance and what God was showing us about that and running to him instead of sin. And just knowing we are to forget the past (not our testimony) but the past and look to Jesus as our goal. That to have endurance is to run until we meet Jesus face to face. This race doesn’t end until we meet Jesus. That we will not be judged on if/when we started the race but on whether or not we endured/stayed in it and finished. So, it was good stuff! – Also on a side note – we have been meeting at the same Starbucks for months and the employees know us and we are building relationship. One guy might even come to church on sunday. His name is Geo (not sure of the spelling). Please pray that he will be compelled to come and get connected to other believers and turn back to the Lord.
It is amazing to have such a great group of men partnering together to see freedom in our lives and to get outside of ourselves. Group was as Dave said productive. We saw some major lack of endurance in our lives and are able to call the root of the cycles out as the lies that they are. I can see in my own life a constant pushing forward and then sliding back into comfortable complacency. Over the last few months the Lord has given me a heart to fight and this endurance series is so gonna rock us to the core. Learning to not just fight and run but to run the race with endurance…Awesome Giving anything less than all I’ve got is just plain whimpy. It makes me think..in what area(s) of my life do I most easily become complacent or choose to give only what I think is enough. It makes me want to run like never before..not away or to hide but straight forward into Jesus. Only with His strength is what we are talking about possible. Thank you Jesus
I don’t know who’s idea it was for leaders to post updates from group meetings, but I love this! Not only do I get to hearing different perspectives from different people which gives me a broader sense of whatever the topic is and helps me to understand, but I also feel a bit more connected to everyone this way. The comments, feedback, and just communication in general just seems to add to the unity of this body. I think it’s awesome!!!
I am quickly realizing why God invented the internet, blogs and so forth. He knew that we would be so “busy” with our lives in just trying to make it that he planted this technological agenda in the minds of people. I feel so driven to take back the internet just like we need to take back the rainbow. In just two nights I feel like I am more a part of LCC than other time and more apart of the body of Christ. Let’s just make certain that we continue doing the church of Acts too. I would like to implement a 6 foot rule like in customer service. If we come in contact with anyone within 6 feet of us we should greet them at least with a smile or hello. ESPECIALLY at church….what do you think?
Deb,
That is why they are doing it and I am glad we can all be a bit more united. Feel free to join in the fun and put what you got out of your group.
I just got so stirred up at Vision University tonight! We are doing a class on John and we took time to recognize that John is nothing but evangelism! He was passionate about making it known that Jesus is the only way, He is all man and all God, and the answer to every issure!! So that when we step out on the confidence we have in Jesus we will see seeds planted and lives changed! Then to top it off on the way home Hans and Sampson practiced what we talked about and told two guys about Jesus! JESUS!! I just really want to talk about Him! He is everything! Phoenix will be serving Jesus!
I hope it’s okay to just blog my thoughts on this page! I gotta get these thoughts out so here goes! I just had an overwhelming thought! I get so busy with life (not the overwhelming thought,thats more of the same old thought!) and I feel like in order for me to have time to study the Word, or even read things like these amazing blogs about Jesus, I have to do all my chores. If I don’t have everything done then I feel guilty for taking time out of my busy yet unproductive day to just study! Well I realized that if I had a 9 to 5 job I couldn’t call in and say I can’t come to work because I haven’t folded the mountain of laundry on my couch! My priority would be not only getting to work but being on time and doing it in excellence! How much more necessary and powerful is it to set that same priority with studying the Word!! If I was working a 40 hour week I would have to figure out how to fold my laundry still but it would be in order! I have to get over my selfishness and laziness and find out who Jesus is! I am so grateful that Jesus is relevent to the times and that our church is utilizing the gifts God has given us! We are totally going to grow in our confidence in who He is verses how we do this thing called church! Jesus is blowing my mind! I agree with Deb we are growing together and unifying because we are living life together everyday through the internet! Not just Sunday anymore or even your group night but literally everyday we have the opportunity to learn from each other and challenge each other! This is great!!! Thanks so much Aaron and Kyle for stepping out in you gifts! Not just preaching and leading worship, but technology! I can now sing “I love technology…”