#1 - That found people really will find people…and that we would see every single relationship we have through eternal lenses…and beg God to use us to reach as many people for Him as possible. (Read Psalm 2:8 about the promise God makes to us. Also…if you have been sharing Christ with someone and/or inviting them to church and they keep telling you “no” then consider Matthew 7:7-8 & Luke 18:1-8…don’t give up!)
#2 - That saved people really will serve people…and that we would embrace how God has gifted us and then use the gift He has given us for HIS glory! (With this in mind read Matthew 25:14-30 and ask how did the Master treat the people who used what he blessed them with? And what was his response to the guy who had buried it? AND…which person are you in that story?) (AND…once again HERE IS THE WEBSITE where you can take a spiritual gifts/personality profile that will take about an hour but will offer you insight into how God has wired you for life and ministry. The cost of the test is normally $10…but if you will enter the code “serve” in at checkout it will only cost you $5.)
#3 - That we would really believe at the core of our being that we cannot out give God. (Read Psalm 24:1, who does EVERYTHING belong to? Read Deuteronomy 8:10-20 and consider…
- What warning is issued in Deuteronomy 8:10-11?
- What can happen when we fall in love with what God has blessed us with rather than God (Deuteronomy 8:12-14)?
- WHO is the source of all we’ve been blessed with (Deuteronomy 8:15-18)?
- What is the warning to us if we forget about God (which include forgetting Him in our finances)? See Deuteronomy 8:19-20
- Here is our giving page at NewSpring that has our 90 tithe challenge on it as well as a place where you can sign up for financial coaching.
#4 - That we really would embrace the fact that growing people change. (With that in mind we would, once again, read and PRAY Psalm 139:23-24, asking the Lord to reveal our next step to us. Also read Ezekiel 14:1-6 and notice that God clearly says when people come to Him seeking answers and direction that the FIRST thing He is going to specifically deal with is the idolatry in their hearts! So…is there anything you are holding onto that He is telling you to let go of?)
#5 - That we would all embrace the fact that we cannot do life alone. (With that in mind read Daniel 3, specifically Daniel 3:16-18 and count the number of times “we” is used in this particular text. Notice that the three guys made the decision to stand together…and they stuck to it! When we have people in our lives that love Jesus and love us…we can literally walk through any fire that the world sends our way!)
What a GREAT week…before you leave though spend some time praying for tomorrow’s service at whatever campus you attend as well as the rest of the summer…asking God to do things in our church that only HE can get the glory for (see Habakkuk 1:5!)