Romans 12....
Study of verses 1- 10

1. What does it mean to “present your bodies as a living sacrifice”?

2. What is “spiritual worship”?

3. I n what ways are you conformed to the image of the world?

4.  Define the "world." (read I John 2:17)5. What does it mean to be “transformed by the renewal of your mind”(vs. 3)?

5.  What does this mean to you? (read Ephesians 2 :1-10)

Read in the Bible:
Revelations3:15-22
Ephesians2:1-10

Rev. 3:15-22

1.  What is worship?

2.  Worship is _______response to ___________ initiation.

3.  Worship starts with ______ who God is & living with _____.

4.  You desperately _______________ God.  

5.  You are ______________________ without Him.

Eph. 2:1-10

1.  God’s highest ________________ is that everyone of His believingchildren should so __________ and ___________ Him.  that we are continuously in His ___________,in ___________, and in truth.

2.  We were created in His _________________.

3.  We have the capacity to know _______________& the instinct to ____________ Him.

4.  Our created _______ :  to _____ God &_____ Him forever!

What does worship look like in your life?

Bible Reading:
Matthew 6:19-21
Romans 12:1-4
Colossians 3:16-17

Questions:
1.  What occupies the greatest amount of your emotional & thinking time/energy in your life?

2.  What is your created purpose?

3.  What needs to change in your life to fulfill that purpose?

4.  Define worship.

Brandon's dad going to Iraq (4 months) - safety
Troisi girls not get sick w/ everyone else
Tray's neighbor in Iraq as Black Hawk Pilot - safety & return home
Alaura's grandfather's back to be healed
Christmas for everyone!
Midterms for Jenny
Zach's criminal justice exam - peace
Taylor's friend Katie visiting & safety
Taylor's grandpa's back
Jenny's drama teacher's husband in hospital
Jenny - just pray for me
Jenny's friend Stephen surgery
Zach's math teacher has mono
Taylor's English teacher's dad in hospital - dying of cancer
Jenny's friend's mom, nichole who's only 15, just died of cancer
Zach's friend who lost his hand
Jess's friend & her marriage

PURPOSE FOR FUSION YOUTH GROUP?

Are we completing our purpose and if the answer is no then what can we do about it?  What needs to change?  Please give us your input!

       1.    SHARE CHRIST WITH OUR COMMUNITY

        IDEA:  http://www.myspace.com/fusionorlando

        Business cards, door hangers, fliers for school (711, cici's, etc...)

2.    Equip: Wednesday nights & journaling through the week with our Bible, God's Word that He gave to us to know Him intimately, makes us ready for questions that will come our way from ourselves, our culture, and even our own families.

            IDEA:  study one book of the Bible at a time

3.    Empower: With the knowledge of who we are in Christ and our created purpose, we want the Bible, God's Word that He left for us to know Him more, to empower FUSION students to walk in their faith & share their faith with their culture.

            IDEA:  sharing your testimony with each other on Wed. nights to get comfortable with sharing.

4.    Encourage: Teen years are filled with struggles and desires. We want to be here for each other to encourage in every day struggles and in sharing our faith with others.

              IDEA:  affirmation nights...we already do a pretty great job at this. 

5.    Created Purpose: to glorify God & worship Him forever with awe-like fear by keeping His commandments as Christ followers. *Romans 15: 1-7; Romans 12:1; Ecclesiastes 12:13-14*

 

Are we completing our purpose and if the answer is no then what can we do about it?  What needs to change?

Luke 19 : 1-27 
Faithfulness with our Kingdom Calling

   Intro: My salvation experience and how God led me to understand the importance of being on mission with Him and being faithful with the calling of the gospel.

 I Corinthians 4: 2 " it is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful"

We are caretakers of the gospel and the kingdom of God; we are required to be faithful in that calling.

We will be held accountable one day for the work that we did with the gospel message.

 
Luke 19:10 – The mission of Jesus that we are to follow

The Son of man came to seek and save the lost

We are to be faithful to that calling and build up His kingdom

 Who does the master represent?

The master represents Jesus and his reign over the kingdom

Just as the people rejected the master in the story so did the Jews reject Jesus: the same people.

Who do the servants represent?

US --We the stewards of the gospel and the workers in the kingdom

I Cor. 4:2: we must be faithful with the calling

 What does the Minas represent? 3 months wage

The gift of the gospel entrusted to the workers of the kingdom( me and you)

God requires and commands our faithful action: He does not need it , it is His desire that we serve Him with all of our hearts and He will reward our faithfulness.

 Observing the servants:

1. 1st servant:

Made ten more: almost a years wage

His reward: masters praise- "well done thou good and faithful servant"

His responsibilities increased

He found favor with the master

      2.  2^nd servant:

Made five more

Did not get the accolades but his responsibilities increased and he was rewarded.

Seems to be recognized as mediocre.

      3.  3^rd servant: did nothing because of fear.

Rebuked for his fear and lack of work

His ten minas were given to the one who had ten already.

God rewards faithfulness and rebukes laziness

Spurgeon said, "the gracious and faithful man obtains more grace and more means of usefulness, while the unfaithful man sinks lower and lower and grows worse and worse. We must either make progress or else lose what we have attained. There is no such thing as standing still in religion".

Why do we fear using our gifts for God's work: why do most of us look like this third servant?

2 reasons why:

1.  We don't believe that God is who He claims to be and we never fully give Him our trust.                  

Israel did not believe God and was punished

Numbers 10 -14: Israel's complaining about Gods provisions and wanting to turn back to Egypt.

They send the spies into the land and ten report that they cannot defeat the people because they are two big but only two believe that God can deliver them and defeat the enemies so that they may take the land.

Numbers 11:23:  The arm of the Lord does not fall short.(read this verse)

We must believe and trust that God is who He claims to be and through Him all things are possible.

   2.   We put too much confidence in our own flesh.

This leads to failure and depression and unfaithfulness

We can do nothing on our own strength but in Christ we can do all things

Paul writes that he puts no confidence in the flesh but all confidence in Christ Jesus. Philippians 3: 1- 14

Psalm 147: God is not impressed with our strength or physical prowess; He wants to use those who fear the Lord and walk in His steadfast love.

Conclusion:  Which of these servants do you see yourself as?

Live out the Gospel--Don't Fear Failure. Remember that the arm of the Lord does not fall short and there are no risks involved with being a faithful follower of God.

Devotional reading:

Read Numbers 13 and 14 (breakdown):

 
Thurs:   Numbers 13:1-25                                 Mon:    Numbers 14: 8-25       

Fri:       Numbers 13: 26-33                              Tues:    Numbers 14: 26-45

Sat:      Numbers 13:1-33                                 Wed:    Numbers 14:1-45

Sun:      Numbers 13: 31-33 & 14:1-9

 
Read this story a little bit each day and we will discuss this passage next week. You may not understand it all at first but dig deep and try to figure out what is going on. Remember to use your journals and have fun! This is meant to stretch your mind and challenge you to understand the word and begin to develop a true hunger and thirst for it. If you have questions, call me 727-744-0847. Here are some questions to challenge your thought process, they are just a guideline to get you thinking, don't try and answer them all in one sitting, spread them out throughout the week as you read or try to answer the questions that seem to make sense from your reading that day.

 

*Try and describe what is going on in this story

*How do you relate to the people of Israel?

*What is Gods intention for these people?

*How does God feel about sin in our lives?( use the example of Israel's rebellion as a guide)

*What is their response to Him?

*What is Gods response to Israel's rebellion towards God?

*What is the hope in this story?

*How can you avoid these mistakes in your own life?

*How do you respond to Gods calling in your life?

*What do you think about Caleb's response in 13: 30?

*Do you feel more like him or the other spies when it comes to your belief in God?

*DO YOU BELIEVE THAT God is who He says He is and that He can do the things that seem impossible to accomplish His will?

*Does God want us to believe/ how does this make you feel?

 

 

Atonement:

Atonement is a reconciliation of alienated parties, the restoration of a broken relationship.

Atonement is accomplished by making amends, blotting out offenses and giving satisfaction for wrongs done.

According to scripture every person sins and needs to make atonement but lacks the power and recourses for doing so.

We have offended our Creator:

    *God hates and punishes sin

    *Read: Jer. 44: 4, Habakkuk 1: 13, Psalm 5: 4-6, Romans 1: 18-2:5-9 Those who have sin cannot have fellowship with God, atonement must be made!

You cannot establish your own righteousness

Read Isaiah 64 and Romans 10: 2,3

For Example: When I was younger, I shot my brother's friend Brian with the b.b. gun, then I tried to make atonement by giving him Nintendo games and money so he would not tell his parents. I was trying to buy my way out of punishment and avoid embarrassment. Nothing I said or did kept me from my punishment!

Here is OUR HOPE

How did they try and make atonement in the Old Testament?

*Lev. 17:11 - these animal sacrifices were types or pictures of Christ's ultimate sacrifice - His blood sacrifice for us on the cross.

CONCLUSION:
Read I John 2:1-6 -- You can't continually make your own sacrifice; you must understand that Christ paid the ultimate sacrifice once and for ALL OF US so that our relationship with God could be fixed/restored.  The cross propitiated God - the cross quenched His wrath against us and extinguished our sins and removed them from His sight.

CHRIST'S DEATH ON THE CROSS (and only His Death) MADE OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH HIM POSSIBLE AGAIN!

 

 

    In consideration of participation with CrossPointe Church Orlando, we (I), being 21 years of age or older, do for myself (and for and on behalf of my child-participant if said child is not 21 years or age or older) do hereby release, forever discharge and agree to hold harmless CrossPointe Church Orlando and the directors thereof from any and all liability, claims or demands for personal injury, sickness or death, as well as property damage and expenses, of any nature whatsoever which may be incurred by the undersigned and the child-participant that occur while said child is participating in activities, trips and events sponsored by CrossPointe Church Orlando.

    Furthermore, we (I) (and on behalf of our (my) child-participant) hereby assume all risk of personal injury, sickness, death, damage and expenses as a result of participation in recreation and work activities involved therein.

    Further, authorization and permission is hereby given to said church to furnish any necessary transportation, food and lodging for this participant.

    The undersigned further hereby agree to hold harmless and indemnify said church, its directors, employees and agents, for any liability sustained by said church as the result of the negligent, willful or intentional acts of said participant, including expenses incurred attendant thereto.

    We (I) are the parent(s) or legal guardian(s) of this participant, and hereby grant our (my) permission to take said participant to a doctor or hospital and hereby authorize medical treatment, including but not in limitation to emergency surgery or medical treatment, and assume the responsibility of all medical bills, if any.

    Further, should it be necessary for the participant to return home due to medical reasons, disciplinary action or otherwise, we (I) hereby assume all transportation costs.


___________________________   _________________________________________________
(Type or print name of participant)          Father                               date

___________________________   _________________________________________________
(Parent(s) home phone)                          Mother                               date

___________________________   _________________________________________________
(Parent(s) work phone)                          Legal Guardian                    date


Hospital insurance O yes O no                                NOTARIZE BELOW
Insurance company:
____________________________
____________________________
Policy number _________________
Physician _____________________
Physician's phone _______________
Emergency phone 's ____________
_____________________________