1 Samuel 1:10-16
God is our only hope but that hope is real.
1 Samuel 1:17-18
NONE OF US are good enough, but God chooses to use us anyway.
1 Samuel 1:19-29
When God says NO it’s an opportunity to trust.
When God Answers our Prayer (the way we hoped he would)
Relief
Psalm 10:17 NLT
Joy
Romans 15:13
Confidence
Psalm 138:3
Psalm 4:1
1 Samuel 2:1-11
We will never truly experience these things unless we put our trust in the Lord.
1 Samuel 1:1-16
Key Idea: God is our only hope, but that hope is real.
Prayer Time
Matthew 2:1-6
Micah 5:2
Micah 5:4-5a (…he shall be their peace.)
Matthew 2:7-18
We all have been given an invitation to come experience Jesus.
It’s an invitation only YOU can respond to.
There is always a villain trying to take Jesus out of the picture.
How to Ruin Christmas: Make it about something other than Jesus.
It’s a Wonderful Life Clip
The Family Man Clip
A Christmas Carol Clip
Luke 2:8-20
Awake to New Hope – How awake are you?
Believe…
Act One: The Announcement of John (Luke 1:5-25)
“How shall I know this?”
Act Two: The Announcement of Jesus (Luke 1:26-38)
“How will this be?”
Act Three: Mary and Elizabeth Meet (Luke 1:39-45)
“Blessed is she who believed… what was spoken to her from the Lord.”
Believe… no matter what.
Follow your heart, not your head.
Always trust in God.
Stay true in hard times.
worship is the way we glorify God
Man’s chief end is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever
Zephaniah 3: 16-17
Ephesians 5: 18-21
psalm – psalmos meaning sacred song
hymn – humnos meaning religious song
song – oide meaning spiritual song
Examples:
lyrics for The Cross was meant for Me (verses 1 & 2 and chorus)
lyrics for Only King Forever (verse 1 and chorus)
lyrics for Gratitude (verse 1, 2, chorus and verse 3)
Hebrews 10:25
John 4: 23-24
Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything… Ephesians 5 : 19b – 20a NIV
Psalm 149:1
worship in spirit, in truth, with thanksgiving and do it together
Ephesians 5:18
Colossians 3:16
We sing to learn the word.
We sing to encourage each other.
We sing because He is worthy.
1 Peter 3:8
1 Corinthians 12:27
As a community of faith, we can encourage each other.
Hebrews 10:23-25
As a community of faith, we can strengthen one another.
Proverbs 27:17 NIV
1 Thessalonians 5:14-22
As a community of faith, we can correct/restore one another.
Galatians 6:2
As a community of faith, we can support one another.
1 Corinthians 12:26
1 Corinthians 12:27
I am committed to deepening relationships in our community of faith.
Follow Up Questions to Week 9 Message
1 Corinthians 12:27 says Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it. We talked about different aspects of what a community of faith can do for us. How have you experienced each of these the following aspects of community here at Portico?
encourage one another in our faith.
strengthen one another as w4 follow Jesus.
correct one another when we are in error.
restore one another back to Jesus.
support one another in good times and bad.
Are there areas you feel you/we are good at? Are there areas you/we need to grow in?
I am committed to deepening relationships in our community of faith.
In what ways are you pursuing deeper relationships with others at Portico? Are you allowing people to speak into your life? Are you lovingly speaking into other people’s lives as well?
Each week we’ll continue to challenge ourselves with making greater effort to share the gospel with people around us who don’t know Jesus. There are five “steps” we can take to be sure we are doing this consistently:
PRAY for those who don’t believe.
CONNECT with those who don’t know Jesus.
ENGAGE in spiritual conversations.
SHARE the gospel message.
INVITE others to discover and follow Jesus.
Engage. That’s the next step to take. Look for ways to engage the people you are praying for in spiritual conversations.
Each person you are praying for has a unique life and circumstances. Give some thought and prayer as to HOW you could go about initiating a spiritual conversation with each person on your list if the opportunity arises. Is there something happening in their life that you could speak to, or add some spiritual insight, that might draw them toward Jesus?
Pray that God would open doors to those opportunities for you in the next few days with one or more of the people on your list. Ask him to prompt you, letting you know who you should reach out to this week.
Ephesians 5:15-17
Psalm 139:16
Ephesians 2:8-10
Titus 3:8
John 9:4
The God who saved you and gave you eternal life is asking you to give Him your time. Are you giving it to Him?
Romans 12:6-8
1 Peter 4:10-11
The God who saved you and gave you eternal life is asking you for your gifts and talents. Are you giving it to Him?
Matthew 25:14-30
Mark 12:41-46
The God who saved you and gave you eternal life is asking you for your treasures (resources). Are you giving it to Him?
James 1:16-18
Are you being a contributor or a consumer in the kingdom?
I am going all-in for the glory of God and the sake of His kingdom.
Follow Up Questions to Week 8 Message
The God who saved you and gave you eternal life is asking for your time, your talents (gifts), and your treasure (resources).
Which one is easiest for you to give him, and why? Which ones do you struggle with the most, and why do you think that is?
One of the questions asked in the message was this:
Are you a being contributor or consumer in the kingdom?
Who would you answer that question, and why do you feel that way?
I am giving going all in, giving God my time, my talent (gifts) and my treasure (resources) in order to help build His kingdom.
In what ways is this statement true in your life? What adjustments can you make to move toward being a greater contributor (and less of a consumer) when it comes to God’s kingdom work?
(continued on the back side)
Each week we’ll continue to challenge ourselves with making greater effort to share the gospel with people around us who don’t know Jesus. There are five “steps” we can take to be sure we are doing this consistently:
PRAY for those who don’t believe.
CONNECT with those who don’t know Jesus.
ENGAGE in spiritual conversations.
SHARE the gospel message.
INVITE others to discover and follow Jesus.
PRAY. CONNECT. ENGAGE. SHARE. INVITE.
Last week was to PRAY, so please continue to pray regularly for the 3-5 or more people that God put on your heart.
This week is CONNECT. It often takes effort on our part to connect with people who don’t know Jesus. So…
Who on your “list” will you make an effort to connect with this week?
Specifically, how and when will you do it?
Philemon 1:4-6
We are doing it, but aren’t good at it.
We are doing it, but people aren’t open to Jesus.
We just aren’t doing it.
Romans 1:16a (end after: believes…”)
Jesus is God’s plan for salvation, but I am God’s plan for sharing it with the world.
Matthew 28:18-20
Romans 10:14
2 Timothy 4:1-2
1 Peter 3:15
Everything in a house that needs repair or attention is a war that has not yet been fought. ~Jordan B. Peterson:
PRAY. CONNECT. ENGAGE. SPEAK. INVITE.
I am sharing the gospel with others around me.
Follow Up Questions to Week 5 Message
I am sharing the gospel with those around me.
Is this statement true for you? To what degree? What are main things that stand in the way: Inadequacy? Fear? Apathy? Inadequacy? Something else?
In the message we talked about these ideas:
PRAY for those who don’t believe.
CONNECT with those who don’t know Jesus.
ENGAGE in spiritual conversations.
SHARE the gospel message.
INVITE others to discover and follow Jesus.
PRAY. CONNECT. ENGAGE. SHARE. INVITE.
Which ones are easiest for you? Which ones do you struggle with the most? Why do you think that is?
In the message, you were extended an invitation to join in a renewed effort to fight on behalf of those who do not yet know Jesus. If you are willing to step into it, write down the names of 3-5 (or more) people that you will pray for each day or throughout the week.
Pray that their hearts and minds would be open to Jesus. Pray that they would see him at work in their lives. Pray that God would use you to help them come to know Jesus.
2 Corinthians 5:17
2 Corinthians 5:10-21
2 Corinthians 5:10
1 Corinthians 3:10-15
Luke 19:11-26 (don’t put the verses up for this one, just list the passage)
2 Corinthians 5:11
2 Corinthians 5:12
2 Corinthians 5:13
2 Corinthians 5:14
2 Corinthians 5:15
2 Corinthians 5:16
2 Corinthians 5:17
Christ cannot be our Savior without also being our Lord
Matthew 7:21-23
2 Corinthians 5:18-19
2 Corinthians 5:20
Our identity is as messengers
2 Corinthians 5:21
(There are no follow-up questions for this particular message.)
