ICEBREAKERS
Make sure to start off with prayer. Then choose one or more questions to open up with.
- Did you have any nicknames when you were growing up? Did you like your nickname or was it forced on you?
- What do you want to be remembered for? Why?
Message Review
Main points and scriptures from this week's message.
Isaiah 60:1 (NIV)
Rise up and shine, for your light has come. The shining-greatness of the Lord has risen upon you.
A Bit of background to this verse. The writings here are prophetic writings by the Prophet Isaiah, written about 700 years B.C. They are calling on Gods church (of the future) to “Rise UP” in the earth. To rise up in the darkness of sorrow, confusion and sin, and to SHINE!
Vengeance, Hate, Racism, are not political issues. It’s not a Black and White issue. It's not just an American issue, it’s a heart issue! And ONLY GOD can change the heart!! ONLY GOD can heal the heart!!
Times like these are opportunities for God's people to be used by God to sow love, peace and unity. Not to sow strife and division, but unity.
We have an opportunity to build trust and confidence instead of doubt and fear.
This is what it means to Rise UP and Shine!
Matthew 22 shows us a glimpse of what Jesus would say, and what it was like during his time on Earth. He lived in a time where there was a lot of racial tension. Like the time we live in today, religious leaders and government leaders were at war with each other.
And we see in Matthew 22 an expert in the law come up to Jesus. And in simplest terms asks Jesus to clear away the clutter, get past the complexity of our governing laws, social and religious arguments, and clarify what is the most important thing to focus on. What would be the best way for me to live my life and make a positive contribution to the world around me?
Matthew 22:35–39 (NIV)
One of them, an expert in the law, tested him with this question: “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” Jesus replied: “’Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’”
POINT 1: Whatever is first in your life sets the precedent for everything that follows.
- If politics is first then everything else flows out of your political views.
- If your job is first in your life then everything else is subjected to the priority you put on your job.
- If being rich is first in your life then everything else is affected by the priority that wealth and riches have in your life.
- If another person or your family is first then that sets a precedent for everything else.
Matthew 6:25–33 (NIV)
Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?“ And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.
This scripture tells us about not worrying about everything. We can choose to spend all of our time worrying about things that are outside of our control or outside of our influence. Or as this image shows we can spend time in our circle of influence.
What are some areas of your world or people in your world you can influence? Simply put, do not just spend your time criticizing all that you see as being wrong with the world, but spend some time making your world better.
Rising up means we do what we can, where we are., with what we have. Then we trust God, have faith, and pray. Walk in confidence that God will prevail, that light will come to the areas we have concern about.
If you want people in your world to be saved, then invite them to church. We have At The Movies coming up in August, which is a great opportunity to invite.
If you see injustice in the world and want your community to be better than get involved. Here are some things Champions Foundation is doing in our communities that you can get involved in.
1. On Friday nights, we partner with the Tree House at Mary Bridge children’s hospital, to provide dinner and movie nights for families of children in critical care.
2. On Fridays and Saturdays, at Youth Care in Seattle, we prepare and serve meals to homeless youth.
3. Every month we participate in Search & Rescue to give a meal, prayer, and an opportunity to go through the recovery program for homeless in the streets of Tacoma.
4. On the first Sunday of each month, we prepare dinner to serve at the Rescue Mission.
5. We throw a monthly event with S.P.A.R.K, celebrating the birthdays of homeless children staying at the Rescue Mission.
6. In August, close to our Bellevue campus, we help teachers set up for their school year at Spirit Ridge Elementary School.
7. Every 8 weeks, Cascade Regional Blood Services bring their bus to Tacoma Campus for a Blood Drive.
8. Annually in October, we host a Walk For Freedom in Bellevue, joining a global movement with the A21 campaign to raise awareness of human trafficking.
9. Last week, we started our Cuts for a Cause Love Events, providing haircuts and styling for homeless women and girls, which we will continue to do quarterly.
10. Throughout the month of July, and again in November, we participate in Operation Christmas Child, providing gifts and an opportunity for children in third-world countries to go through a Discipleship program.
11. Monthly, we hold an Anti-Trafficking Education and Awareness Meeting working to educate our Piece County Community.
12. During the school year, we prepare meals every Thursday morning in Bellevue for children IN need through Back Pack Meals for Kids.
What are you going to do to Rise up and Shine right where you are at?
Message Discussion Questions
The following questions will help guide your discussions and give your group some opportunities to open up and share.
- When you think about Jesus' comment in Matthew 22 about the greatest commandment being to Love God with all of you, does it simplify things for you?
- Do you believe that loving God involves action?
- What are some ways that you are loving God?
- What is easier for you, loving God or loving people?
- What is the greatest threat to overtake God as being first in your life? (family, money, other people, success, an addiction, work, etc)
- On a daily basis, how much time do you spend thinking about things in your circle of concern vs. your circle of influence.
- What holds you back from inviting people to church?
- What is one volunteer opportunity you want to get involved in?
Live It Out
Encourage your group to start doing. Commit to a step, and live it out this week.
- On a piece of paper draw the circle of concern you see above. Write out things that belong in each circle. What are you concerned about vs. what can you actually do something about.
- Pray for the things that are listed in your circle of concern. Develop a checklist for those things in your circle of influence and treat it like your to-do list.
- Get involved in a Champions Foundation serving opportunity. For more information go to championsfoundation.com.
Closing Thoughts
- Finish group with prayer requests and praise reports.
- More resources always available here: Small Group Resources