Episode 4: Why Should I Be Involved In Church?
"Those who believe what Peter said were baptized and added to the church that day—about 3,000 in all. All the believers devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching, and to fellowship, and to sharing in meals (including the Lord's Supper), and to prayer. A deep sense of awe came over them all, and the apostles performed many miraculous signs and wonders. And all the believers met together in one place and shared everything they had. They sold their property and possessions and shared the money with those in need. They worshiped together in one place and shared everything they had. They sold their property and possessions and shared the money with those in need. They worshiped together at the Temple each day, met in homes for the Lord's Supper, and shared their meals with great joy and generosity—all the while praising God and enjoying the goodwill of all the people. And each day the Lord added to their fellowship those who were being saved." Acts 2:41-47 (NLT)
1. So that I stay focused on what's important.
"Those who believe what Peter said were baptized and added to the church that day—about 3,000 in all. All the believers devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching, and to fellowship, and to sharing in meals (including the Lord's Supper), and to prayer." Acts 2:41-42
Discussion: What things should we be devoted to?
2. So that I have strength to face life's challenges.
"A deep sense of awe came over them all, and the apostles performed many miraculous signs and wonders. And all the believers met together in one place and shared everything they had." Acts 2:43-44
Discussion: What challenges have you gone through that others have helped you through?
3. So that many of my deepest needs can be satisfied.
"They sold their property and possessions and shared the money with those in need. They worshiped together in one place and shared everything they had. They sold their property and possessions and shared the money with those in need. They worshiped together at the Temple each day, met in homes for the Lord's Supper, and shared their meals with great joy and generosity—all the while praising God and enjoying the goodwill of all the people. And each day the Lord added to their fellowship those who were being saved." Acts 2:45-47
Discussion: What has the church meant to you in your life?
The results? We grow!
Episode 3: Why Did God Make Me?
"Listen to me, all you in distant lands! Pay attention, you who are far away! The Lord called me before my birth; from within the womb he called me by name. He made my words of judgment as sharp as a sword. He has hidden me in the shadow of his hand. I am like a sharp arrow in his quiver. He said to me, 'You are my servant, Israel, and you will bring me glory.' I replied, 'But my work seems so useless! I have spent my strength for nothing and to no purpose. Yet I leave it all in the Lord’s hand; I will trust God for my reward.' And now the Lord speaks—the one who formed me in my mother’s womb to be his servant, who commissioned me to bring Israel back to him. The Lord has honored me, and my God has given me strength." Isaiah 49:1-5
Unreliable Sources Of Self-Confidence:
• Appearance
"Charm can be deceptive and beauty doesn't last..." Proverbs 31:30
"Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart." 1 Samuel 17:7
• Acquisitions
"Confidence placed in riches comes to nothing." Proverbs 11:7
• Achievement
"This is what the Lord says: 'Don't let the wise boast in their wisdom, or the powerful boast in their power, or the rich boast in their riches. But those who wish to boast should boast in this alone: that they truly know me and understand that I am the Lord who demonstrates unfailing love and who brings justice and righteousness to the earth, and that I delight in these things. I, the Lord, have spoken!" Jeremiah 9:23-24
Discussion: What things do you place your confidence in?
Reliable Sources Of Confidence:
1. My identity: God made me unique.
"So God created human beings in his own image. In the image of God he created them; male and female he created them." Genesis 1:27
"You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body and knit me together in my mother’s womb. Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex! Your workmanship is marvelous—how well I know it." Psalm 139:13-14
2. My value: God paid a high price for me.
"For you know that God paid a ransom to save you from the empty life you inherited from your ancestors. And it was not paid with mere gold or silver, which lose their value. It was the precious blood of Christ, the sinless, spotless Lamb of God." 1 Peter 1:18-19
3. My purpose: God has a plan for my life.
"God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it. For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago." Ephesians 2:8-10
Discussion: Where do you derive your confidence? Where should you derive your confidence?
Episode 2: Why Does God Allow Bad Things To Happen?
"One day the members of the heavenly court came to present themselves before the Lord, and the Accuser, Satan, came with them. 'Where have you come from?' the Lord asked Satan. Satan answered the Lord, 'I have been patrolling the earth, watching everything that's going on.' Then the Lord asked Satan, 'Have you noticed my servant Job? He is the finest man in all the earth. He is blameless—a man of complete integrity. He fears God and stays away from evil.' Satan replied to the Lord, 'Yes, but Job has good reason to fear God. You have always put a wall of protection around him and his home and his property. You have made him prosper in everything he does. Look how rich he is! But reach out and take away everything he has, and he will surely curse you to your face!' 'All right, you may test him,' the Lord said to Satan. 'Do whatever you want with everything he possesses, but don’t harm him physically.' So Satan left the Lord’s presence. One day when Job’s sons and daughters were feasting at the oldest brother’s house, a messenger arrived at Job’s home with this news: 'Your oxen were plowing, with the donkeys feeding beside them, when the Sabeans raided us. They stole all the animals and killed all the farmhands. I am the only one who escaped to tell you.' While he was still speaking, another messenger arrived with this news: 'The fire of God has fallen from heaven and burned up your sheep and all the shepherds. I am the only one who escaped to tell you.' While he was still speaking, a third messenger arrived with this news: 'Three bands of Chaldean raiders have stolen your camels and killed your servants. I am the only one who escaped to tell you.' While he was still speaking, another messenger arrived with this news: 'Your sons and daughters were feasting in their oldest brother’s home. Suddenly, a powerful wind swept in from the wilderness and hit the house on all sides. The house collapsed, and all your children are dead. I am the only one who escaped to tell you.'" Job 1:6-19 (NLT)
What To Do When Asking Why:
1. Reject pat answers.
"After the LORD had finished speaking to Job, he said to Eliphaz the Temanite: 'I am angry with you and your two friends, for you have not spoken accurately about me, as my servant Job has. So take seven bulls and seven rams and go to my servant Job and offer a burnt offering for yourselves. My servant Job will pray for you, and I will accept his prayer on your behalf.'" Job 42:7-8
Discussion: Share something you've been through that you just couldn't understand.
2. Embrace no answer.
"Job stood up and tore his robe in grief. Then he shaved his head and fell to the ground to worship. He said, 'I came naked from my mother’s womb, and I will be naked when I leave. The Lord gave me what I had, and the Lord has taken it away. Praise the name of the Lord!' In all of this, Job did not sin by blaming God." Job 1:20-22
Discussion: Share a time where you had to examine your faith because you didn't receive an answer.
3. Expect the ultimate answer.
"I had only heard about you before, but now I have seen you with my own eyes." Job 42:5
"And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them." Romans 8:28
Discussion: Share a time when something didn't make sense at the time, but made sense later.
Episode 1: Why God?
"The fool has said in his heart, 'There is no God.'" Psalm 14:1
1. Because a life not surrendered to God leads to destruction.
"Then the serpent said to the woman, 'You will not surely die. For God knows that in the day you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.'" Genesis 3:4-5
"You shall have no other gods before Me." Exodus 20:3
"Jesus said to him, ‘You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’" Matthew 22:37
"But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was its fall." Matthew 7:26-27
Discussion: Share a time when you didn't surrender to God's instruction.
2. Because a life not centered on God leads to emptiness.
"These are the words of the Teacher, King David’s son, who ruled in Jerusalem. 'Everything is meaningless,' says the Teacher, 'completely meaningless!' I said to myself, 'Come on, let’s try pleasure. Let’s look for the ‘good things’ in life.' But I found that this, too, was meaningless. So I said, 'Laughter is silly. What good does it do to seek pleasure?' After much thought, I decided to cheer myself with wine. And while still seeking wisdom, I clutched at foolishness. In this way, I tried to experience the only happiness most people find during their brief life in this world. I also tried to find meaning by building huge homes for myself and by planting beautiful vineyards. I made gardens and parks, filling them with all kinds of fruit trees. I built reservoirs to collect the water to irrigate my many flourishing groves. I bought slaves, both men and women, and others were born into my household. I also owned large herds and flocks, more than any of the kings who had lived in Jerusalem before me. I collected great sums of silver and gold, the treasure of many kings and provinces. I hired wonderful singers, both men and women, and had many beautiful concubines. I had everything a man could desire! So I became greater than all who had lived in Jerusalem before me, and my wisdom never failed me. Anything I wanted, I would take. I denied myself no pleasure. I even found great pleasure in hard work, a reward for all my labors. But as I looked at everything I had worked so hard to accomplish, it was all so meaningless—like chasing the wind. There was nothing really worthwhile anywhere." Ecclesiastes 1:1-2, 2:1-11
Discussion: Share some things you've done that you did find fulfilling and meaningful.
3. Because a life without God leads to hopelessness.
"The world’s sin is that it refuses to believe in me.' Jesus asked, 'Do you finally believe? But the time is coming—indeed it’s here now—when you will be scattered, each one going his own way, leaving me alone. Yet I am not alone because the Father is with me. I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.'" John 16:9, 31-33
"He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever." Revelation 21:4
Discussion: Share a moment where you felt like it was the end, but God kept you holding on.