Review Night: January 29,2014

INTRO: We started with a YouTube video about nature. 

We discussed our thoughts and reactions behind the video:

-Some commented that it's amazing to see a world, smaller than our own, functioning and fighting to survive

-Katie commented on how the music connects with the video, reminding us that everything is moving to it's own beat.

-Pastor Dan mentioned the mass amount and variety of color that God has given the "bug world" and how he is in absolute awe over the fact that God gives us the privilege to SEE color in the first place.

Then we basically just reviewed what we have discussed the past few weeks... The idea was to not only educate ourselves on God’s special revelation (scripture), but to apply it to our everyday lives. If we continue to read, and move on, read and move on, we won’t remember to apply our learnings from each week. This is why it is important to go back and review at times. 

Reviewed This Discussion:

-What name of God currently seems most significant to YOU?

Referenced Verses:

-Hebrews 12:3

-Philippians 2

We also discussed the book of Job a bit

THIS WEEK’S ASSIGNMENT:

Notate where you see God moving, where you haven’t seen him before. And might we possibly be able to join Him in that movement?

God's Natural Revelation: January 22, 2014

INTRO: Natural Revelation vs. Special Revelation

-Natural revelation is God revealing Himself through nature

-Special revelation is God revealing Himself through scripture, the bible, etc.

NATURAL REVELATION

GROUP ACTIVITY (20 mins)

Read the following scripture and answer the following questions:

-What does God tell us about nature?

-What does nature tell us about God?

GROUP 1

Psalm 65: 9-13

Psalm 147: 7-9

Psalm 104: 21-30

Nature tells us that if we give praise and worship, He will extend his hand and provide.

God tells us that he will provide for us through nature. (Fields of grain, etc.)

“Read your bible, pray everyday and you’ll grow, grow, GROW”

“Don’t read your bible, forget to pray and you’ll shrink, shrink, SHRINK”

GROUP 2

Romans 1: 18-20 -His invisible attributes are visible through nature

                          -His special revelation confirms his natural revelation

Psalm 114: 1-8 -Even the stationary creations MOVE (nature obeys God)

Matthew 5: 44-48 -Our natural characteristics causes us to WANT to sin, but through Christ, we obey.

GROUP 3

Matthew 6: 28-32 -Cycle of life and death

Matthew 10: 29-31 -God takes care of our special needs (no matter how small we are)

Proverbs 8: 22-31   -Vast areas of God’s creation haven’t even been discovered

                             -We were God’s main focus during his creation of the Earth

Our importance to God is proven through TRUST

There are cycles, and if we follow God’s pattern, He will take care of us (TRUST). 

Pastor Dan's Message: January 19, 2014

Pastor Sarita's Message: January 12, 2014

How Do We Find God's Will?---January 15, 2014

INTRO: Lizzie Velasquez Video (What defines YOU?)

EXPERIENCING GOD

How do you know what God wants you to do?

-Talk to Him

-Listen

-Don’t always listen to others

-We don’t always know, most of the time it just happens

-Decisions can be confirmed down the road

-Keep up with your daily “walk”

-Sometimes it’s a feeling

GROUP ACTIVITY

Group 1: John 14:1-7

What does God give you to find the way? ----- HIMSELF as Jesus

-Jesus is the way to the Father (the way, the truth & the light)

-Trust in Jesus because he is the path to God and heaven 

-Not all evidence of God is visual but if you trust, believe and obey, 

you will find your way

-Jesus comforts his disciples, so even though he is leaving, he will still provide comfort

Group 2: John 15:1-8

What does God give you to find the way? ----- HIMSELF as our vine (source of life)

-God is the vine, we are the branches

-Whether we are living in Christ or not, there will be trimming

-If we live WITH Him, bad things are cut away

-If we live WITHOUT Him, we are cut away from Him

-He will prune us to better us

-If the branch isn’t attached to the vine, it doesn’t get nourishment 

Group 3: John 14: 15-20 & 25-26

What does God give you to find the way? ----- Love, Holy Spirit, and His Commands

-Keep His commands

-Confirmation

-Holy Spirit

-Wants you to live in Him, as He lives in you

-If (Because) you love me, you will (want to) obey my commands

**Not said in a manipulative way

***If you love Him you will have the desire to obey

SUMMARY OF GROUP ACTIVITY

When we ask God for direction, what does He give us?

-HIMSELF

-as Jesus

-as the source of life

-as the Holy Spirit

*See the story of Abraham

-Abraham believed God and it was counted to him as Righteousness

Searching for Answers

-We complicate things by wanting all the answers

-However, there is no exact answer

-As we get to know God and His will, we will learn to walk with more confidence in Him

-The more we know Him, the more we can trust

The way He communicates with us or guides us, changes as our relationship grows.

-For some it’s silent, for some it’s a whisper, and for some it’s even physical

How do we know if our decision is “right”?

-God gives confirmation

-It should be scripturally “right”

-Scripture suggests that it shouldn’t affect or hurt your neighbor

*Remember that Jesus LEARNED obedience

HOMEWORK

-Write down one thing that stuck with you tonight?

-What practical step are you going to take to do something with what stuck with you?

FFC Service Jan 5, 2014

Getting To Know God: January 8, 2013

HOW DO WE COME TO KNOW GOD?

-Search for Him

-Remove yourself from everyday life (ex: Nature)

-Study His word

-Experience (Healing, personal touch, etc.)

-Seeing people use gifts from God

-Through His people

A lot like meeting a person...

-First you MAY hear about that person

-You do not know much about that person

-Begin to develop an interest

-Introduction to that person 

As a group we split up the following verses to summarize the roles God plays according to scripture. See the following:

Job 16:19 

-God as a WITNESS and an ADVOCATE

John 6:35

-God is the BREAD OF LIFE (provider,brings joy, provision)

Jeremiah 8:18

-God COMFORTS in sorrow (Grief comes from losing someone/something that you LOVE)

Psalms 71:5 

-God is CONFIDENCE

-Youth may be in reference to your faith

-Gives you TRUST during TRANSITIONS

Isaiah 9:6

-God is Prince of Peace, Everlasting Father, Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God

Psalms 68:5 

-God is a FATHER (hope for the lonely) and defender of the widows (fills a void)

Psalm 140:7

-God is a STRONG shield

Revelations 19:11

-God is FAITHFUL and TRUE

Isaiah 64:8

-God is our CREATOR, FATHER, SHAPER (Think of pottery)

John 15:14

-God is our FRIEND (if you obey commands).....see context

Isaiah 28:16 

-God is the CORNERSTONE (a sure foundation)

Genesis 17:1

-God is ALMIGHTY

2Corinthians 1:3

-God is COMPASSION and COMFORT

Psalm 18:47

-God is an AVENGER

Psalm 51:14

-God is SALVATION

Psalm 48:14

-God is our GUIDE forever (A good guide leads you to GOOD THINGS)

Ephesians  5:23

-God is the HEAD (He is ‘Da Man’)

Psalm 33:20

-God is our HELP and SHIELD

Psalm 32:7

-God is our PROTECTION

SUMMARY:

-What name of God currently seems most significant to YOU?

-What aspect of God would you like to EXPERIENCE MORE OF in 

the upcoming week?

CHALLENGE:

-Tell SOMEONE what name of God seems most significant to you.

-Ask someone to pray for you to experience more of what you would like to find this week.