TODAY:

Live No Lies, Part 3: The World – Sinful Society

BIG IDEA:

The Church is an alternative counter-culture that demonstrates the

Gospel to the world

SCRIPTURES:

John 3:16-17, Psalm 139:13-14, 1 John 2:15-16

Genesis 3:6, Matthew 4:1-10, Romans 12:1-2, Philippians 2:15

John 17:14-18, Mark 8:34-35

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:

Q: How would you describe “church” to someone who hasn’t heard of it?

Q: How do the Scriptures/concepts from this week help you grow as a disciple

who loves God, loves people & serves the world (lives on incarnational

mission) in everyday life?

Q: Based on these Scriptures, how can you move from unbelief to belief, from

just knowing to actually doing in your life?

Connect with God (UP)...

Q: Read 1 John 2:15-16. What does it mean to appreciate the world (God’s

creation) & love the world (people – John 3:16-17), but not the world (any

system that is anti-God)?

Q: Read John 17:14-18 & Mark 8:34-35. What does it mean to “pick up our

cross” & allow Jesus to send us out into the world? Does this fill you

excitement or dread? Why?

Q: What do you think about the quote: “It will cost us to follow Jesus, but it will

cost us far more to NOT follow Him.”

Connect with Others(IN)...

Q: How does it help to understand that “church” is both big & small

groups/relationships, as well as both gathering & scattering? How are we

doing well with these & how can we grow? How are you doing well & how

can you grow?

Connect with the World (OUT)...

Q: What are some practical ways that you/we as a church & as the Church live

out the call to be an alternative counter-culture that demonstrates the

Gospel to the world?

NOTES & QUOTES:

WORLD: (cosmos)

1) PLACE – planet, universe,

2) PEOPLE – humanity,

3)PRINCIPLES – system of ideas, values, morals & practicesthat are normalized &

integrated into mainstream & institutionalized into a culture that is corrupted by the

twin sins of rebelling against & denying God, and redefining good & evil. SIMPLE: any

system that is anti-God

CHURCH: (ekklesia) GATHERING, assembly of believers in private homes or public

spaces & SCATTERING throughout the world as the Body of Christ on mission

“The cause of all human miseries is a radical moral dislocation...We no longer get our

bearing form God. The old moral absolutes have been called into question. The new

authority is the authentic self, defined as desire and feelings. As a result, we’ve

completely lost a sense of direction other than our own inner emotional rudders,

which all too frequently leads us astray.” (“Live No Lies”, 208-209)

“It will cost us to follow Jesus, but it will cost us far more to NOT follow Him.”

(Bonhoeffer, “Cost of Discipleship”, paraphrased)

“(The Church is) a robust community of deep relationships that functions as a

counter-culture to the world. In doing so, we’re able to resist the gravitational pull of

all three enemies of the soul (devil, flesh, world). It’s a group on the margins of the

host culture, living in an alternative but compelling and beautiful way. A prophetic

signpost to Kingdom life in a culture of death...It’s not a community of comfort but of

calling...We need the anchor of Sunday gatherings to re-center our minds on Truth

and open our hearts back to God for healing and renewal. Every time we walk in on

Sunday and see other followers of Jesus all around me, I remember: I’m not alone. I’m

part fo the new humanity...ordinary and flawed as we may be.” (“Live No Lies”, 229-

231)

“Frank Stephens’ POWERFUL Speech On Down Syndrome”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vtS91Jd5mac